People v. Jew

• Decision Date: 04 February 1970
• Docket Number: No. 1,Docket No. 5743,1
• Parties: PEOPLE of the State of Michigan, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Willie T. JEW, Defendant-Appellant
• Court: Court of Appeal of Michigan — District of US

Page 544

175 N.W.2d 544

21 Mich.App. 408

PEOPLE of the State of Michigan, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Willie T. JEW, Defendant-Appellant.

Docket No. 5743.

Court of Appeals of Michigan, Division No. 1.

Feb. 4, 1970.

Released for Publication April 3, 1970.

Carl Levin, Arthur J. Tarnow, Legal Aid and Defender Ass'n, Detroit, for appellant.

Frank J. Kelley, Atty. Gen., Robert A. Derengoski, Sol. Gen., William L. Cahalan, Pros. Atty., Dominick R. Carnovale, Chief, Appellate Div., Luvenia D. Dockett, Asst. Pros. Atty., for appellee.

Before LESINSKI, C.J., and J. H. GILLIS and QUINN, JJ.

J. H. GILLIS, Judge.

On the evening of July 22, 1967, defendant, Willie T. Jew, and several others were present in the basement of an after-hours drinking establishment located in the city of Detroit. The men were drinking and gambling. During their dice game, a heated argument developed between defendant, one Albert Lewis, and two other participants. The game was then broken up by Charles Watson, proprietor of the establishment. Subsequently, defendant and Lewis exchanged abusive language. An argument ensued and a fight seemed imminent. At the time, Lewis was holding a beer bottle by its neck in his left hand. Defendant pulled a gun and shot Lewis through the neck, killing him. After arrest and examination, defendant was proceeded against upon an information charging him with second degree murder, M.C.L.A. § 750.317 (Stat.Ann.1954 Rev. § 28.549). He was found guilty by jury verdict of manslaughter, M.C.L.A. § 750.321 (Stat.Ann.1954 Rev. § 28.553), and sentenced to serve 10 to 15 years in prison. Defendant's motion for new trial was denied and he appeals.

On appeal, defendant contends (1) that the trial court's instructions to the jury were erroneous in several respects; (2) that a mistrial should have been declared upon testimony that defendant made no statement after his arrest; and (3) that defendant's sentence should be vacated for error in the imposition of punishment.

I The Trial Court's Insutructions

At trial, it was defendant's theory that the deceased was shot by accident. At the close of the proofs, the trial court asked defense counsel whether there were any requests to charge. None was submitted. An extensive charge followed, including specific instructions regarding self-defense. At the conclusion of the court's charge, counsel for defendant expressed his approval. He then requested an additional instruction on accidental discharge which was given by the court. Defendant contends that, since his theory was accidental discharge, the court erred in giving an instruction regarding self-defense. We cannot agree. During the trial, testimony was elicited on behalf of the defense which tended to show that defendant had acted in self-defense. Since a theory of self-defense was fairly within the range of the evidence, the court did not err in submitting the issue of self-defense to the jury. Cf. People v. Sherman (1968), 14 Mich.App. 720, 166 N.W.2d 22. Moreover, this objection is not appropriately before us, since counsel for defendant expressly approved the court's instruction on self-defense. Defendant may not for the first time on appeal claim error in the instructions. GCR 1963, 516.2; People v. Jefferson (1969), 18 Mich.App. 9, 170 N.W.2d 476 and cases therein cited.

Defendant claims that the court's instruction on accidental discharge improperly placed the burden of proving that the deceased was shot by accident upon the defendant. We would agree that reversal would be required, if such were the result of the court's charge. People v. Cismadija (1911), 167 Mich. 210, 132 N.W. 489; People v. Cathey (1922), 220 Mich. 628, 190 N.W. 753; People v. Asbury (1932), 257 Mich. 297, 241 N.W. 144; People v. Clark (1954,) 340 Mich. 411, 65 N.W.2d 717. The necessary inquiry then is whether it can fairly be said that the charge, when read as a whole, might have been construed by the jury as placing upon the defendant the burden of proving accidental discharge. See People v. Fuhrman (1895), 103 Mich. 593, 61 N.W. 865; People v. Tubbs (1907), 147 Mich. 1, 110 N.W. 132; People v. Statkiewicz (1929), 247 Mich. 260, 225 N.W.2d 540; People v. Cathey, Supra; People v. Clark, Supra. We are satisfied that, considered in its entirety, the charge could not have lead the jury to believe that the burden of proof of accident rested on defendant. Repeatedly, the trial judge instructed the jury that the presumption of innocence accompanies a defendant throughout trial and that the people bear the burden of proving defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. The trial judge specifically instructed the jury that ('defendant) has no obligation to prove anything.' In his instruction regarding self-defense, the judge charged the jury:

'In order to rely on a defense of self-defense * * * the defendant is not required to prove self-defense. The burden is on the prople to prove he did not act in self-defense * * *.'

Compare, People v. Cathey, Supra; People v. Ashbury, Supra. While the court in its supplemental instruction did not repeat that defendant was not required to prove accident, there is no reason to believe that the jury understood otherwise in light of the court's instruction on proof of self-defense. We hold that the charge was a fair one and is not susceptible of an interpretation that the burden of proof was placed on defendant to prove the claim of accident. People v. Fuhrman, Supra; People v. Tubbs, Supra; People v. Statkiewicz, Supra. See also, People v. Hunley (1946) 313 Mich. 688, 21 N.W.2d 923; People v. Pearson (1968), 13 Mich.App. 371, 164 N.W.2d 568.

After a careful review of the entire charge by the court to the jury, we find other allegations of instructional error to be without merit. An appellate court considers the entire charge in reviewing claimed errors in the instructions. People v. Dye (1959), 356 Mich. 271, 96 N.W.2d 781; People v. Thomas (1967), 7 Mich.App. 519, 152 N.W.2d 166; People v. Gardner (1968), 13 Mich.App. 16, 163 N.W.2d 668. The charge, when completely read, presented the jury with a fair statement of the law and was not erroneous.

II Defendant's Motion for Mistrial

At trial, the people called as a witness the police officer who had arrested defendant. The prosecution attempted to elicit from the witness whether the weapon used in the shooting was ever found. The following colloquy occurred:

'Q. Now, at the time you arrested him, did he have any weapons on him?

'A. No sir.

'Q. Did you ever locate the weapon that was used in connection with this shooting?

'A. No, sir.

'Q. You did talk to the defendant?

'A. I advised him of his constitutional rights immediately after placing him under arrest for murder in the first degree.

'Q. But--

'A. (Interposing): He made no statement.

'Q. You never learned the whereabouts of any weapon?

'A. No sir. He made no statement.' (Emphasis supplied.)

Defense counsel moved for a mistrial on the ground that the underscored remarks infringed upon defendant's right not to testify in his own behalf. The motion was denied. The trial court reasoned:

'I, of course, listened to the testimony and heard the testimony, and I can agree with Mr. Sage (prosecuting attorney) that that statement made by the witness was volunteered. It was not...