Case Name: PEOPLE v. DENEWETH
Court: Michigan Court of Appeals
Jurisdiction: Michigan
Decision Date: 1968-12-02
Citations: 14 Mich. App. 604
Docket Number: Docket No. 3,085
Parties: PEOPLE v. DENEWETH
Judges: J. H. Gillis, J., concurred with Quinn, J.
Reporter: Michigan appeals reports; cases decided in the Michigan Court of Appeals.
Volume: 14
Pages: 604–618

Head Matter:
PEOPLE v. DENEWETH
Opinion of the Court
1. Criminal Law—Mueder—Instructions to Jury.
Trial court’s instruction to jury that it could find defendant, being tried on the charge of first degree murder, guilty of first degree murder, guilty of second degree murder, guilty of manslaughter, or innocent by reason of insanity; but that it could not find defendant not guilty in a case where defendant admitted shooting the victim but contended that he was insane at the time, held, reversible error because it amounts to the direction of a verdict of guilty by the trial court, and thus deprives defendant of his right to be tried by a jury (Const 1963, art 1, §20; CL 1948, § 750.316).
Concurring Opinion Levin, J.
2. Criminal Law—Murder—Trial—Instructions to Jury.
Defendant tried on charge of first degree murder, who sought to prove insanity at time of commission of offense, is entitled to new trial where trial court instructed jury that it could not bring in a verdict of not guilty.
3. Same—Plea of Not Guilty—Defense of Insanity.
Plea of not guilty to a criminal charge puts in issue every element of the people’s case even if defendant gives the prosecution notice that he plans to interpose a defense of insanity.
References for Points in Headnotes
[1, 2] 53 Am Jur, Trial § 407.
21 Am Jur 2d, Criminal Law §§ 46, 508.
40 Am Jur 2d, Homicide § 499.
21 Am Jur 2d, Criminal Law § 221.
40 Am Jur 2d, Homicide §§ 492, 493.
21 Am Jur 2d, Criminal Law § 209 et seq.
4. Same—Murder—Manslaughter—Elements of Offense.
Intent to Mil is an essential ingredient of the offenses of first degree murder, second degree murder, and voluntary manslaughter; and defendant does not admit his guilt of any of these offenses when he testifies that he shot the victim but did not intend to Mil him.
5. Same—Trial—Due Process—Trial by Jury—Verdict on the Merits.
One of the substantial elements of the right to a trial by jury is the right to have the jury give a general verdict on the merits.
6. Same—Evidence—Instructions to Jury—Comment on Evidence.
The trial court in instructing the jury on the law of a given case may also malee such comment on the evidence as in its opinion the interest of justice may require, but it may not direct a verdict of guilty or express an opinion about what the verdict should be (OL 1948, § 768.89).
7. Same—Murder—Due Process—Double Jeopardy.
A conviction of second degree murder serves to acquit a defendant of first degree murder if he was charged with that offense; and thus if there should be a new trial, first degree murder may not be included in the charge.
Appeal from Macomb, Carroll (Howard R.), J.
Submitted Division 1 November 7, 1967, at Detroit.
(Docket No. 3,085.)
Decided December 2, 1968.
Rehearing denied January 7, 1969. Leave to appeal denied March 25, 1969.
Robert Deneweth was convicted of second-degree murder. Defendant appeals.
Reversed and remanded for new trial.
Frank J. Kelley, Attorney General, Robert A. Derengoski, Solicitor General, George N. Parris, Prosecuting Attorney, Thaddeus F. Ramera, Chief Appellate Lawyer, and Max D. McCullough, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, for the people.
Roy W. Rogensues, for defendant.

Opinion:
Quinn, J.
Defendant was tried on a charge of first-degree murder. MCLA § 750.316 (Stat Ann 1954 Rev § 28.548). Defendant introduced evidence to establish his insanity at the time the offense was committed. He was convicted of second-degree murder. MCLA § 750.317 (Stat Ann 1954 Rev § 28.549). His appeal questions the propriety of the trial court instructing the jury that it could not bring in a verdict of not guilty.
The instruction complained of constitutes reversible error. People v. Woody (1968), 380 Mich 332.
This determination obviates discussion of the other point raised on appeal.
Reversed and remanded for new trial, at which the charge of first-degree murder shall be eliminated.
J. H. Gillis, J., concurred with Quinn, J.