PEOPLE v MOORE
Docket No. 110180
Court of Appeals of Michigan
Submitted October 4, 1990, at Lansing. Decided March 8, 1991; approved for publication May 7, 1991, at 11:00 A.M.
189 Mich. App. 315
The Court of Appeals held:
Murder is reduced to voluntary manslaughter where the element of malice is negated by provocation and the homicide is committed in the heat of passion. While provocation is not an element of voluntary manslaughter, and thus need not be proven by the prosecution beyond a reasonable doubt, a jury should be instructed regarding voluntary manslaughter only where there is at least a modicum of evidence of provocation. Because there was no evidence from which the jury reasonably could find that the killing was the result of provocation, it was error to instruct the jury regarding voluntary manslaughter.
Reversed.
WAHLS, P.J., cоncurring, also stated that the prosecutor engaged in misconduct during the trial which deprived the defendant of a fair trial.
HOMICIDE — VOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER — PROVOCATION — JURY INSTRUCTIONS.
It is error mandating reversal in a trial for second-degree murder
REFERENCES
Am Jur 2d, Homicide §§ 45, 53, 56, 57, 533.
Lesser-related state offense instructions: modern status. 50 ALR4th 1081
Propriety of manslaughter conviction in prosecution for murdеr, absent proof of necessary elements of manslaughter. 19 ALR4th 861.
Frank J. Kelley, Attorney General, Gay Secor Hardy, Solicitor General, Norman R. Hayes, Prosecuting Attorney, and Dawn Pyrek, Chief Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, for the people.
State Appellate Defender (by F. Martin Tieber), for the defendant on appeal.
Before: WAHLS, P.J., and DOCTOROFF and G. S. ALLEN,* JJ.
PER CURIAM. Tried by an Otsego Circuit Court jury on a charge of second-degree murder,
The charge against defendant arose out of the death of Jerry Tobias, an oil well worker employed by Acme Tool, whose frozen body was found around 4:00 P.M. on December 8, 1986, in the bed of his pickup truck, which was parked near the City of Gaylord Fire Hall. When found, jumper cables entwined his hands, and his shirt was pulled up around his head, torn and stained with blood. Scrape marks, running lengthways, scarred his cowboy boots. There were areas of recent bleeding over the right temple, behind the right ear, over the crown of the head, over the left midpаrietal area, and over the left ear below that.
Patricia Newhouse, the state‘s pathologist, testified at trial that the marks on Tobias’ boots were
The case against defendаnt was totally circumstantial, built primarily upon evidence that (1) linked Tobias to Walt‘s Butcher Shop, a business owned by defendant, his mother, and his wife, a prominent Gaylord attorney, (2) suggested that Tobias was to meet defendant at midnight on Friday, December 5, 1986, for a cocaine buy, and (3) established that decedent used сocaine.
Don and Becky Nelson testified that Tobias had come to their house at approximately 8:00 P.M. on December 5, 1986, and that they gave him $200 to purchase cocaine. At that time, Tobias stated that he was to meet with defendant at Walt‘s around midnight and that he would be in contact with them later that night or on Saturday. The following day, December 6, Becky Nelson saw defendant at Walt‘s and inquired regarding whether defendant had seen Tobias. Defendant responded that he had met Tobias around midnight but that nothing had come through.
Newhouse testified that she discovered multiple puncture wounds present at the bend in Tоbias’ arms opposite the elbows which appeared fresh. Tobias’ wife testified that she knew of one incident in May 1986 when her husband had mainlined cocaine. Urine taken from Tobias showed the presence of cocaine and cocaine metabolites. His blood was not tested for the рresence of cocaine.
A search of Tobias’ truck led to the discovery of
On this evidence, the prosecution theorized that Tobias had been killed by defendant during a drug deal that had gone bad.
Defendant presented Laurence Simson, a board-certified forensic pathologist, who testified that the skewer was not the weapon that killed Tobias. He also testified that he did not believe that Tobias died of head injuries because he would expeсt to see skull fractures, skin lacerations, and swelling where a blow to the head was struck with sufficient force to cause brain injury. He testified that the hemorrhaging could have been caused by the freezing and thawing of the body. Simson further testified that he did not know the cause of death, but noted that cocaine could have played a significant role in Tobias’ death. He was critical of the prosecution‘s failure to make every effort to find out more about Tobias’ drug use.
Following the close of proofs, the prosecution asked the court to instruct the jury regarding second-degree murder and voluntary manslaugh-
On appeal, defendant raises thirteen issues. Becаuse reversal is mandated by error on defendant‘s first issue, we find it unnecessary to address defendant‘s remaining issues.
Defendant argues that the trial court erroneously instructed the jury, over his objection, on the offense of voluntary manslaughter. We agree.
At a criminal trial, the judge functions both as a neutral arbiter bеtween the two contesting parties and as the jury‘s guide to the law. This role requires that the judge instruct the jury regarding the law applicable to the case,
Our Supreme Court has described manslaughter
It requires that a defendant be found to have had an intent to kill or an intent to do serious bodily harm to the deceased. To this extent the offense parallels the crime of murder; but, as noted above, it is distinguished from murder by an absence of malice. Tо reduce a homicide to voluntary manslaughter the fact finder must determine from an examination of all the circumstances surrounding the killing that malice was negated by provocation and the homicide committed in the heat of passion. People v Scott, 6 Mich 287, 295 (1859). [People v Townes, 391 Mich 578, 589; 218 NW2d 136 (1974).]
Once the sufficiency of the evidence standard as set fоrth in People v Hampton, 407 Mich 354, 368; 285 NW2d 284 (1979), cert den sub nom Michigan v Hampton, 449 US 885 (1980), has been satisfied regarding the murder charge, the jury may consider the lesser charge if there is “only a modicum of evidence of provocation.” People v King, 98 Mich App 146, 152; 296 NW2d 211 (1980). The standard has been defined as “slight but sufficient” evidence. Id. Because provocation is not an element of voluntary manslaughter, it need not be proven by the prosecution beyond a reasonable doubt. Id., 150-151. Therefore, though there need not be proof beyond a reasonable doubt of provocation, there must be some “slight but sufficient” evidence in order for the instruction on voluntary manslaughter to be given.
Our review of the record fails to disclose evi-
There must be some evidence on the record to support the elements of the requested lesser included (cognate) offense. [Emphasis added.]
Beсause we find no evidence on the record to support the giving of the voluntary manslaughter instruction, we hold that the giving of the instruction amounts to error warranting reversal. Accordingly, defendant‘s conviction of manslaughter is reversed.
Reversed.
WAHLS, P.J. (concurring). I concur in the majority opinion. However, I find it necessary to address certain errors which occurred at trial that were attributable to the prosecuting attorney. In my opinion, the prosecutor‘s repeated display of personal animosity towards defendant resulted in severe and reprehensible prosecutorial misconduct and denied defendant a fair trial.
During closing arguments the prosecutor mischaracterized and disparaged defendant‘s presumption of innocence by stating that defendant was “clothed in a shroud of — of innocence, throughout the course of this trial” and insinuated that defendant was hiding from the jury because defendant
During opening, closing, and rebuttal arguments, the prosecutor denigrated defense counsel by attеmpting to portray defense counsel as a sharp conniving attorney who was intentionally trying to mislead the jury. It is improper for the prosecutor to engage in arguments which attack defense counsel. Such arguments undermine the defendant‘s presumption of innocence and impermissibly shift the jury‘s focus from the evidence itself to defense counsel‘s personality. People v Dalessandro, 165 Mich App 569, 580; 419 NW2d 609 (1988); People v Wise, 134 Mich App 82, 101-102; 351 NW2d 255 (1984).
A review of the prosecutor‘s entire closing argument leaves one with the impression that the prosecutor was attempting to shift the burden of proof. The prosecutor suggested that defendant had to prove his contentions or come up with a reasonable explanation for the evidence against him. Such argument is wholly improper.
In sum, the prosecutor‘s demeanor at trial “blatantly transgressed the rules of conduct imposed on him as a public officer.” People v Bracato, 17 Mich App 277, 304; 169 NW2d 483 (1969). The statement that defendant was hiding from the jury was, in and of itself, gross error, went beyond the bounds of propriety, and constituted a level of prejudicial impact which could not have been overcome by the sustained objection.
A careful review of the entire record, including a separate record made outside the presence of the jury, offers an explanation for the prosecutor‘s misconduct throughout the course of defendant‘s
“[P]rosеcutors are sworn ministers of justice, and not advocates employed to procure convictions without regard to legal guilt or innocence.” People v Carr, 64 Mich 702, 708; 31 NW 590 (1887). In the instant case, the calculated manner in which the prosecutor introduced error in the presence of the jury was a violation of his public trust. Our Supreme Court and this Court have on many occasions been called upon to express an opinion concerning the duty of the prosecutor to ensure that the accused has a fair and impartial trial. See People v Evans, 72 Mich 367, 383; 40 NW 473 (1888); People v Erb, 48 Mich App 622, 631-632; 211 NW2d 51 (1973); People v Farrar, 36 Mich App 294, 299-300; 193 NW2d 363 (1971). One would think that, at this point in time, it would be unnecessary for this Court to further reiteratе the prosecutor‘s role as a public official. However, in light of the prosecutor‘s conduct in the instant case, I find occasion to cite Berger v United States, 295 US 78, 88-89; 55 S Ct 629; 79 L Ed 1314 (1935), regarding the duty of a prosecuting attorney:
He may prosecute with earnestness and vigor — indeed, he should do so. But, while he may strike hard blows, he is not at liberty to strike foul ones. It is as much his duty to refrain from improper methods calculated to produce a wrongful convic-
tion as it is to use every legitimate means to bring about a just one. It is fair to say that the average jury, in a greater or less degree, has confidence that these obligations, which so plainly rest upon the prosecuting attorney, will be faithfully observed. Consequently, improper suggestions, insinuations, and, especially, assertions of personal knowledge are apt to carry much weight against the accused when they should properly carry none. . . .
In these circumstances prejudice to the cause of the accused is so highly probable that we are not justified in assuming its non-existence.
See also People v Kirby, 4 Mich App 201, 204; 144 NW2d 651 (1966); Bracato, supra, p 304.
A prosecutor may not disregard with impunity his duty as an administrator of justice. Vindictive conduct by persons vested with the awesome power of prosecuting attorneys is unacceptable and cannot be tolerated. Here, defendant was entitled to that which he did not have, a fair trial.