People v. Langford, Docket No. 30112

• Decision Date: 08 June 1977
• Docket Number: Docket No. 30112
• Citation: 256 N.W.2d 578,76 Mich.App. 197
• Parties: PEOPLE of the State of Michigan, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Terry Young LANGFORD, Defendant-Appellant. 76 Mich.App. 197, 256 N.W.2d 578
• Court: Court of Appeal of Michigan — District of US

Page 578

256 N.W.2d 578

PEOPLE of the State of Michigan, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Terry Young LANGFORD, Defendant-Appellant.

Docket No. 30112.

76 Mich.App. 197, 256 N.W.2d 578

Court of Appeals of Michigan.

June 8, 1977.

Released for Publication Aug. 12, 1977.

[76 MICHAPP 197] Robinson & Ford by David A. Swanson, Benton Harbor, for defendant-appellant.

Frank J. Kelley, Atty. Gen., Robert A. [76 MICHAPP 198] Derengoski, Sol. Gen., John A. Smietanka, Pros. Atty., for plaintiff-appellee.

Before J. H. GILLIS, P. J., and D. E. HOLBROOK and ALLAN C. MILLER, ^* JJ.

D. E. HOLBROOK, Judge.

Defendant was convicted by the trial court, after proper waiver of jury trial, on November 7, 1975, of two counts of first-degree murder, M.C.L.A. § 750.316; M.S.A. § 28.548. The record reveals that defendant was found guilty of executing Brenda Freeman and her seven-year-old son Johnny. The homicides were committed as part of an insurance fraud scheme in which defendant herein was a hit man in this murder which the trial court found: "as the most brutal, planned, heartless, savage killings, in the county's history". Following conviction defendant's motion for a new trial, alleging that his confession which was used at trial was involuntary, was denied. Defendant appeals.

The record reveals that defendant herein was charged with these murders and was at least under suspicion for other similar homicides. Defendant initiated discussions concerning a possible bargaining agreement and subsequently confessed to these two murders. In return for testimony against the other parties to these murders, these charges were to be dismissed and defendant was to be allowed to plead guilty to second-degree murder in another homicide. Defendant's confessions supplied graphic and horrifying detail into these murders for money. Defendant subsequently refused to [76 MICHAPP 199] testify against the others and went to trial on these two counts of first-degree murder. Defendant maintains now that his confession was per se involuntary.

Defendant did not challenge the voluntariness of this confession before or during trial. ¹ No Walker ² hearing was held or requested. Absent a finding of manifest injustice this issue has not been preserved for appellate review, M.C.L.A. § 769.26; M.S.A. § 28.1096, People v. Carroll, 396 Mich. 408, 240 N.W.2d 722 (1976).

The record reveals that defendant initiated discussions concerning the "plea bargain". Defendant even demanded that the agreement be in writing. Defendant was fully informed of all his Miranda ³ rights several times. Defendant was represented and advised by counsel. There is no claim that defendant was illiterate, of unsound mind, was under coercion or duress, or in any other way deprived of the exercise of free will. Defendant was able to weigh all the circumstances involved. He freely chose to confess and reveal the facts herein. Defendant, however, later changed his mind and refused to live up to his end of the plea bargain and justifiably these charges were then brought. Defendant now argues that his confession was per se inadmissible. ⁴ Based on the record [76 MICHAPP 200] below, we disagree. The trial court, following argument on the motion for new trial, found as follows:

"The trial record shows that after his arrest and after being told of his Miranda rights on apparently at least two different occasions, the defendant told the police he wanted to make a deal and that he would talk about some unsolved murders in the Benton Harbor area. The police called Prosecutor Smietanka, who in turn called the defendant's attorney, Mr. David Peterson. Both attorneys then came to the jail.

"The record in this case shows that Attorney Peterson counselled privately with the defendant; then both attorneys met with the defendant who once again was informed of his rights not only by the prosecutor but also by his own attorney, Mr. Peterson. Defendant says he understood his rights and he wanted to waive them. Apparently not content with the verbal promises of an agreement by the prosecutor, the defendant got the agreement in writing, signed not only by him but apparently by the prosecutor, the defense counsel and one or two police officers. The defendant, it appears then, in the presence of his own attorney gave the calculated and the bloody details of the slaying of the Freemans with which we are concerned in this case.

"There is no claim that to get his confession beatings were used or that the defendant did not receive and understand his rights or that he is an illiterate or of unsound mind or was under the influence of any drug or alcohol or that he was denied his counsel or that he was tricked. There is no claim in this case that the prosecutor would not have kept his part of the plea agreement had the defendant done so.

"The claim, boiled down, is that even though he voluntarily and knowing his rights under the law furnished the details of the slayings which tied in or dovetailed with the evidence then known, the defendant had a right to violate his agreement and at the same time bar the prosecutor from showing the facts which he himself had supplied to the prosecutor.

[76 MICHAPP 201] "There is no case cited by either counsel on every point with the one with which we are now concerned. There certainly is no case in Michigan. The case that comes closest to our situation is that of Earl Gunsby v. The State of Florida, found in 316 Southern Reporter 2d Series 313, decided by the District Court of Appeals of Florida, Second District, on July 2, 1975. I would like to quote from page 314 as follows:

" 'Appellant contends that since the agreement to testify against Smith was part of the plea bargain, his statement and subsequent deposition should not have been introduced in evidence against him after the plea bargain was set aside.' Citing various cases which I will omit, but continuing the same paragraph, 'Appellant contends that his admissions were improperly introduced because they were not voluntary.'

"The appeal court in Florida quoted from the trial judge again at page 314 as follows; and this is the trial judge speaking quoted with apparent approval by the appeal court:

" 'This statement was made freely, voluntarily and in the full knowledge and presence of counsel and may not now be withdrawn. To allow this would sanction the total frustration of criminal justice in cases of multiple defendants merely by one of them doing as this defendant has done and then claiming relief from his wrongful act on the basis that since he has again been allowed to change his plea he should also be allowed to withdraw his sworn statement.' That is the end of the quote of the trial judge.

"The appeal court continues on, however, speaking for itself, 'The Appellant brought on the problem by changing his testimony. He should not now be allowed to repudiate a statement which he made under oath' departing for a moment, it's conceded in this case of Langford this was not under oath, but continuing on in the quote 'in the presence of counsel and after weighing his options, merely because he was guaranteed a sentence less than the maximum in return for it. On the peculiar set of facts of this case, the statement was properly admitted.' And then the citation of another...