Case ID: mich-app_18/html/0575-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Per Curiam.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

PEOPLE v. SZELES
    1. Trial — Evidence—Witnesses—Exclusion.
    Trial court did not abuse its discretion when it refused to permit a defense witness to testify at a criminal trial where a mutual request of the prosecution and the defense to exelude all witnesses before the taking of any testimony had been granted and the witness in question was an unindorsed witness, had heard the command of the court excluding witnesses, and had stayed in the courtroom and had heard mueh of the testimony before defendant attempted to have the witness testify.
    2. Evidence — Weapons—Conspiracy.
    Admission in evidence of guns at defendant’s criminal trial for conspiracy to commit murder following testimony by defendant’s landlady that there were no guns in her house until defendant became a roomer was not error where the guns were introduced to show that they were, or could be inferred to be, in the possession of the defendant and were not essential to the establishment of a conspiracy.
    3. Trial —■ Evidence — Preliminary Examination — Testimony — Witnesses.
    Beading of preliminary examination testimony of a witness to a jury was proper where that witness refused to testify at the criminal trial, and the defendant was represented at the preliminary examination by counsel who extensively cross-examined the witness at that time (CL 1948, § 768.26).
    Beferences for Points in Headnotes
    
       53 Am Jur, Trials §§ 31-33.
    Effect of witness’ violation of order of exclusion. 14 ALB3d 16.
    
       29 Am Jur 2d, Evidence § 288.
    
       29 Am Jur 2d, Evidence § 739.
    Use in criminal case of testimony given on former trial, or preliminary examination, by witness not available at present trial. 15 ALB 495, 79 ALB 1392, 122 ALB 425, and 159 ALB 1240.
    
      Appeal from Recorder’s Court of Detroit, Vincent J. Brennan, J.
    Submitted Division 1 November 14, 1968, at Detroit.
    (Docket No. 1,916.)
    Decided August 25, 1969.
    Edward Szeles, Jr., was convicted of conspiracy to commit murder and extortion. Defendant appeals.
    Affirmed.
    , Frank J. Kelley, Attorney General, Robert A. Derengoski, Solicitor General, William L. Cahalan, Prosecuting Attorney, Samuel J. Torino, Chief Appellate Lawyer, and Thomas P. Smith, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, for the" people.,
    
      Seymour Posner (Ruth Ritter, of counsel), for defendant on appeal.
    Before: Lesinski, C. J., and J. H. Gillis and Beer,, JJ.
    
      
       Circuit judge, sitting on the Court of Appeals by assignment.
    
   Per Curiam.

Defendant asserts, he was deprived of a fair trial because the trial judge refused to permit a certain witness to be called in his behalf. Both prosecution and defense asked the trial court to exclude all witnesses before the taking of any testimony. ' The judge granted their-mutual request. The witness in question was an- iinindorsed witness who admitted hearing the command of the court excluding witnesses. It- appears ■ that she stayed in the courtroom and heard much of the testimony before defendant attempted to have her called in defense. We find no abuse of discretion on the part of the trial judge in refusing to permit the witness to take the stand. . ' .

Defendant also contends that certain gnns were improperly admitted as evidence. A landlady testified there were no gnns on her premises before defendant became a roomer. However, after his arrival she found the guns and informed the police. The guns were admitted as evidence by the court. We find no error here since the guns were introduced to show that they were, or could be inferred to be,-in the possession of the defendant and were not essential to the establishment of a conspiracy.

Deprivation of a constitutional right is asserted by defendant because a witness, who had testified at the preliminary, examination, refused to testify at the trial. The testimony of that witness at the preliminary examination was then read to the jury. The record discloses that defendant was represented by counsel at the preliminary examination and entered into extensive cross-examination of the witness at that time. The trial judge properly permitted the reading of the testimony on the preliminary examination given by this recalcitrant witness. CL 1948, § 768.26 (Stat Ann 1954 Rev § 28.1049); People v. Pickett (1954), 339 Mich 294.

Conviction affirmed.