People v. Springer, 164 N.W.2d 675

Per Curiam.

Defendant was convicted of first-degree murder. * The people contended that the homicide occurred during the perpetration of a robbery.

On appeal ‍‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‍defendant alleges reversible error in that (1) the court failed to charge the jury on included offenses, (2) the court refused to instruct the jux’y that no presumption is created against the defendant because of his failure ‍‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‍to take the stand and testify, and (3) that the court by its instruction to the jury coerced a verdict.

Under the facts of this case there was no reversible error committed by the trial court in failing ‍‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‍to charge as to included offenses. People v. Hearn (1958), 354 Mich 468.

A review of the record discloses that the court substantially covered all of the defendant’s requested instructions to the jury.

After 2-1/2 hours of deliberation the jury returned to the courtroom and ‍‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‍announced inability at that time to reach a verdict. The court suggested that the jury try to continue its deliberations and attempt to reach a verdict. “We find no coercion in the court’s comments to the jury.

Affirmed.

J. ‍‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‍H. G-illis, P. J., and R. B. Burns and Kelley, JJ., concurred,

Notes

*

CL 1948, § 750.316 (Stat Ann 1954 Rev § 28.548).

Case Details

Case Name: People v. Springer

Court Name: Michigan Court of Appeals

Date Published: Oct 22, 1968

Citations: 164 N.W.2d 675; 13 Mich. App. 621; 1968 Mich. App. LEXIS 1120; Docket 3,345

Docket Number: Docket 3,345

Court Abbreviation: Mich. Ct. App.