People v. Johnson, Docket Nos. 23307

• Decision Date: 19 October 1976
• Docket Number: 23114,Docket Nos. 23307
• Citation: 71 Mich.App. 602,248 N.W.2d 633
• Parties: PEOPLE of the State of Michigan, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Lawrence David JOHNSON, Defendant-Appellant.
• Court: Court of Appeal of Michigan — District of US

Page 633

248 N.W.2d 633

71 Mich.App. 602

PEOPLE of the State of Michigan, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Lawrence David JOHNSON, Defendant-Appellant.

Docket Nos. 23307, 23114.

Court of Appeals of Michigan.

Oct. 19, 1976.

Released for Publication Jan. 12, 1977.

Leave to Appeal Denied Feb. 16, 1977.

M. Arthur Arduin, Detroit, for defendant-appellant; Carl Ziemba, Detroit, of counsel.

Frank J. Kelley, Atty. Gen., Robert A. Derengoski, Sol. Gen., William L. Cahalan, Pros. Atty., Patricia J. Boyle, Appellate Chief Asst. Pros. Atty., Timothy A. Baughman, Asst. Pros. Atty., for plaintiff-appellee.

Before J. H. GILLIS, P.J., and T. M. BURNS and VanVALKENBURG, ^* JJ.

J. H. GILLIS, Presiding Judge.

Defendant was charged with committing the crime of first-degree murder, M.C.L.A. § 750.316; M.S.A. § 28.548. In another file consolidated for trial with the above case, defendant was charged with second-degree murder, M.C.L.A. § 750.317; M.S.A. § 28.549. Defendant was convicted of first-degree murder in the first case and manslaughter, M.C.L.A. § 750.321; M.S.A. § 28.553, in the second case.

Defendant appeals as of right raising five issues. In an unpublished per curiam opinion, file numbers 23307 and 23114, this Court reversed defendant's convictions on the basis of one of the issues raised.

The prosecutor moved for a rehearing and defendant answered. After a reconsideration of the issue previously discussed and a review of the remaining issues, we now affirm defendant's convictions.

The issue previously considered involved the following excerpt from the judge's instruction to the jury regarding insanity:

'Second, again and understand it was wrong in the violation in the right of another to be sane unless responsible to it, the defendant must be able to know and to understand the nature and quality of his act to distinguish between right and wrong at the time of the commission of the offense.'

The prosecutor admits, and we agree, that as it appears on the record this particular paragraph is confusing.

There was no objection made at trial. In the absence of an objection we will not reverse unless there has been manifest injustice. People v. Cain, 67 Mich.App. 433, 438, 241 N.W.2d 233 (1976); People v. Jones, 66 Mich.App. 223, 234, 238 N.W.2d 813 (1975). In order to determine if this paragraph rendered the instruction inherently confusing we must consider the instruction as a whole. People v. Parsons, 59 Mich.App. 79, 228 N.W.2d 852 (1975).

We note a similar situation addressed by our Supreme Court in the case of People v. Martin, 392 Mich. 553, 221 N.W.2d 336 (1974). ¹ In that case, the following erroneous instruction appeared within the context of the trial transcript:

"In this charge I may say the people produced warrant conviction evidence which convinces you beyond a reasonable doubt.' (Emphasis added.)' 392 Mich. at 563, 221 N.W.2d at 341.

The Court stated that

'(T)he sentence * * * (as quoted above) must be considered either a mis-statement by the trial judge or an error attributable to the court reporter. Defendant, however, interprets this to mean that the people did in fact produce evidence which proved his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Considering the subsequent instructions which elaborate upon the meaning of reasonable doubt, it appears obvious that intelligibly stated and transcribed, the sentence would read, 'The people must produce, to warrant conviction, evidence which convinces you beyond a reasonable doubt.' No objection was raised. We are convinced that the complete instructions regarding reasonable doubt were adequately set forth and the defendant was not prejudiced.' 392 Mich. at 564, 221 N.W.2d at 341.

We find that in the instant case the jury was sufficiently instructed on the legal defense of insanity, and that taken in its entirety the instruction is not misleading or confusing.

Three of the four remaining issues also involve the judge's instructions to the jury.

Two days after the jury began deliberating they requested the definition of manslaughter. The trial judge gave the following supplemental instruction:

'Manslaughter is defined as the unlawful and felonious killing of another without malice expressed or implied. Okay?

'Manslaughter is the unlawful and felonious--now felonious means done with the intent to commit a crime--manslaughter is the unlawful and felonious killing of another without malice. Malice, meaning a wrongful act done intentionally without legal justification or excuse. Manslaughter is the unlawful and felonious killing of another without malice, expressed or implied, okay?'

GCR 1963, 516.4 provides:

'While the jury is deliberating the court may in its discretion further instruct the jury, in the presence of or after notice to counsel. Objections thereto shall be made in a motion for new trial.'

Defendant did not make a motion for new trial. This precludes him from claiming error unless there is manifest injustice. People v. Alcala, 396 Mich. 99, 237 N.W.2d 475 (1976); People v. Tubbs, 22 Mich.App. 549, 560, 177 N.W.2d 622 (1970). No manifest injustice resulted from the additional instruction. The general manslaughter instruction is sufficient. People v. Reed, 67 Mich.App. 229, 236, 240 N.W.2d 492 (1976); People v. Knott, 59 Mich.App. 105, 114, 228 N.W.2d 838 (1975).

Defendant also contends that the trial judge prejudiced him by instructing the jury to carefully scrutinize defendant's claim of self-defense. Again, no objection was made. The trial judge emphasized to the jury that one is justified in committing a homicide if he honestly believes his own life is in jeopardy and also instructed that the prosecution has the burden of proving beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant did not act in self-defense. The instruction is not prejudicial. People v. Statekiewicz, 247 Mich. 260, ...