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People v. Benberry
180 N.W.2d 391
Mich. Ct. App.
1970
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T. M. Burns,

P. J. On August 25,1967, defendant called the Detroit police. He told them that he had shot and killed a Mr. Bennie McCormick by mistake. The defendant stated that while he was visiting at the flat of a Mr. Edward Prince, he heard footsteps on the back stairs. The defendant said that he thought a burglar might be trying* to break in, as the flat was on the second floоr and since it was about 5 a.m. He further stated that with that in mind, he mistakenly shot and killed his friend, Bennie McCormick, as he opened the apartment door.

Defendant was taken to police headquarters. After being advised as to his rights, he made a statement.

Preliminary examination was held on September 5,1967, and defendant was bound over to Recorder’s Court for trial on a charge of murder in the second degree. MCLA § 750.317 (Stat Ann 1954 Rev § 28-.549). Defendant was found guilty by a jury on April 15,1968, and was sentenced to serve from 8 to 20 years in prison.

On appeal, defendant seeks to raise five issues for our consideration.

*191 Did the lower court fail to properly suрervise the procedure whereby a written statement was taken into the jury room?

Defendant’s signed and sworn affidavit states that the jury foreman came out of the jury trial room and requested a written copy of defendant’s oral admissions. The court granted the request and the prosecutor handed the foremаn a written statement. This statement was not read by either the judge or defense counsel. The defendant asserts that there is no assurance that the paper given the foreman ‍​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‍was his statement about the shooting which had been admitted into evidence. He says it could have been a written copy of his oral admission relating to the use of narcotics which was present in the court room but had not been admitted into evidence because of its prejudiciаl nature. Therefore, defendant contends he was denied the right to be confronted by his accusers and due process of law.

There is nothing in the trial transcript to substantiate defendant’s contention that the unadmitted admission concerning the use of narcotics was given to the jury. Defendant by his affidavit only says that thе admission concerning narcotics might have been the document sent'into the jury, not that it was the document. It is within the discretion of the trial court in a criminal cаse to permit papers and documents to be taken to the jury room for consideration of the jury. People v. De Frenn (1929), 247 Mich 698; People v. La Londe (1917), 197 Mich 76. However, it would have been error to permit a jury to take with them, during deliberation, matter which was not admitted into evidence. People v. Krueger (1968), 99 Ill App 2d 431 (241 NE2d 707). This claim, however, was advanced for the first time on appeal. It has not been the subject of a motion *192 for new trial, and the defendant never sought an evidentiary hearing on this issue.

Therefore, since there is nothing in the record to suрport defendant’s speculations as to the possibility that the document which was given the jury was anything other than what the judge directed to be given to it, there is nothing before us to review for possible error.

Was the introduction of narcotics testimony, in the course ‍​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‍of the trial proceedings, prejudicial to thе defendantf

The defendant contends that the introduction of evidence concerning the use of narcotics by the prosecutor was so prejudicial that it denied him a fair and impartial trial. The trial judge ruled that the portions of defendant’s statement relating to narcotics was not to be read into еvidence. However, the prosecution did ask questions about narcotics and thereby, according to defendant, denied him a fair trial.

Defense counsel’s objection was sustained, however, when Mr. Prince was asked if-he knew whether defendant used narcotics. Counsel did not object when the same question was asked as to other parties involved. It is the duty of the defense to make timely objections so that the questions may be preserved for appeаl. People v. Dodson (1967), 9 Mich App 123. Since timely objection to this line of questioning was not made, the question is not properly before us.

Did the lower court err when it failed to rule on the defendant’s motion for a mistrial?

The defendant argues that the trial judge was under a duty to rule on his motion for a mistrial when allegedly prejudicial testimony concerning nаrcotics was introduced into the jury trial proceedings. The defendant further urges that the effect of the *193 failure to rule on a motion has been held to be equivalent to ‍​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‍an adverse ruling and was therefore, renewable on appeal. People v. Sartori (1912), 168 Mich 308.

We are unpersuaded by the people’s argument that the defendant did not put his objection to the testimony in the form of a motion. However, a review of the situation in context convinces us that the trial judge did not abuse his discretion in denying a mistrial under the circumstance that the question put to Prince regarding Benberry’s use of narcotics was answered in the negative by Prince. The sequence was:

“Q. Do you know whether Lawrence Benberry used narcotics'?

“Mr. Long [defendant’s counsel]: All right, now, I’m going to object to that.

“A. No, sir.

“The Court: The objection is sustained.

“Mr. Long: I think it ought to be declared a mistrial. That’s the most prejudicial thing I have ever heard.

“The Court: Well, there’s been no answer to it. The jury will disregard the questiоn. There is no evidence here that Mr. Benberry is involved in narcotics. The jury should disregard it.”

If the answer had been, “Yes, Benberry was a narcotics user”, a different question might be presented.

Under this circumstance presented to us here, the trial judge did not err in failing to declare a mistrial.

Did the lower court err when it failed to properly instruct the jury ‍​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‍on the issue of the duty to retreat while in the dwelling of anotherf

The defendant asserts that the lower court erred by failing to instruct the jury on the issue of the duty to retreat or not to retreat while in the dwelling house of another, which was critical to his con *194 tention that he acted in self-defense. He argues that since he was dwelling in the kitchen of the flat for the night, he was under no duty to retreat.

Having reviewed the instructions given, we consider that the court adеquately instructed the jury in respect to the crime involved, including instructions on justifiable and excusable killing, self-defense and retreat. At the time, defense counsеl stated that he was satisfied with the instructions that were given. Since he failed to object or request further instructions, defendant cannot object for the first time оn appeal in the absence of plain error. See People v. Guillett (1955), 342 Mich 1, 7, 8; People v. Liggett (1967), 378 Mich 706, 714; People v. Oberstaedt (1964), 372 Mich 521, 526; see also 2 Honigman & Hawkins, Michigan Court Rules Annotated (2d ed), p 566.

Did the lower court properly deny the defendant’s motion for a directed verdict, in the сourse of the trial proceedings?

The defendant asserts that his motion for a directed verdict was improperly denied because the prosecution failed to sustain its burden of proof. The prosecution, according to the defendant, failed to introduce any evidence concerning maliсe aforethought which is an essential element of second-degree murder. People v. Potter (1858), 5 Mich 1.

A review of the facts show that there was sufficient evidence before the court to submit the issues of fact to the jury. Materially, the fact of the crime had been established and the fact that defendant had killed McCormick was not ‍​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‍in disрute. The disputed issue was the nature of the crime or whether it was excused or justified. The trial magistrate was duty-bound to submit the issue to the jury under the circumstances, and a refusal to do so would have re- *195 suited in usurping the function of the jury. People v. Hancock (1950), 326 Mich 471.

It has long been the rule in Michigan that:

“The sufficiency of the evidence is exclusively for the jury. It is only where there is no evidence, upon a material рoint, that the court can take the case from the jury.” People v. Eaton (1886), 59 Mich 559; People v. Abernathy (1931), 253 Mich 583.

A review of the facts shows sufficient evidence, if believed, to find defendant guilty beyond a reasonаble doubt. The presence of malice requires an intent to cause the harm that results or some harm of the same general nature, or an act done in wanton or willful disregard of the plain and strong likelihood that some such harm will result. People v. Hansen (1962), 368 Mich 344. It also requires the absence of justification, excuse, or recognized mitigation. Such matters are questions of fact for the jury to determine.

Finding no reversible error, we affirm.

Affirmed.

All concurred.

Case Details

Case Name: People v. Benberry
Court Name: Michigan Court of Appeals
Date Published: May 28, 1970
Citation: 180 N.W.2d 391
Docket Number: Docket 7,330
Court Abbreviation: Mich. Ct. App.
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