Case Name: PEOPLE v. GARRICK SMITH
Court: Michigan Court of Appeals
Jurisdiction: Michigan
Decision Date: 1976-04-05
Citations: 68 Mich. App. 329
Docket Number: Docket No. 20477
Parties: PEOPLE v GARRICK SMITH
Judges: Before: Lesinski, C. J., and R. B. Burns and M. J. Kelly, JJ.
Reporter: Michigan appeals reports; cases decided in the Michigan Court of Appeals.
Volume: 68
Pages: 329–336

Head Matter:
PEOPLE v GARRICK SMITH
Opinion of the Court
1. Criminal Law — Plea of Guilty — Factual Basis — Admissions— Manslaughter.
There was sufficient factual basis for the acceptance of a guilty plea to manslaughter where the defendant admitted on the record that he had committed the crime and that he had stabbed two people, and although the record actually showed that four people were stabbed, only one of whom died, the record also showed that the defendant was the only person in possession of a knife.
Dissent by Lesinski, C. J.
2. Criminal Law — Plea of Guilty — Factual Basis — Manslaughter —Multiple Assaults — Defendants’ Admissions.
It is not necessary that a defendant detail on the record every essential element of a crime to which he pleads guilty, but there is not a sufficient factual basis for the acceptance of a plea of guilty to manslaughter where the offense involved three female stabbing victims, only one of whom died, the defendant admitted stabbing only one woman, and there is nothing in the record to indicate that the woman that defendant admitted stabbing was the decedent.
3. Criminal Law — Plea of Guilty — Inculpatory Inferences — Speculations — Factual Basis — Avoidance of Duties — Substantial Error.
A factual basis for the acceptance of a guilty plea exists if an inculpatory inference can reasonably be drawn by a jury from the facts admitted by the defendant even if an exculpatory inference could also be drawn and defendant asserts the latter is the correct inference; but mere speculation on the part of the trial court that the defendant committed the crime, without the establishment of a firm factual basis, calls into question the integrity of the plea-taking process and is an avoidance by the court of its mandated duties, constituting substantial error.
References for Points in Headnotes
[1-3] 21 Am Jur 2d, Criminal Law § 484 et seq.
Court’s duty to advise or admonish accused as to consequences of plea of guilty, or to determine that he is advised thereof. 97 ALR2d 549.
Appeal from Recorder’s Court of Detroit, Joseph A. Gillis, J.
Submitted April 11, 1975, at Detroit.
(Docket No. 20477.)
Decided April 5, 1976.
Garrick G. Smith was convicted, on his plea of guilty, of manslaughter. Defendant appeals by leave granted.
Affirmed.
Frank J. Kelley, Attorney General, Robert A. Derengoski, Solicitor General, William A. Cahalan, Prosecuting Attorney, Patricia J. Boyle, Principal Attorney, Research, Training and Appeals, and Arthur N. Bishop, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, for the people.
Gerald S. Surowiec, for defendant on appeal.
Before: Lesinski, C. J., and R. B. Burns and M. J. Kelly, JJ.

Opinion:
R. B. Burns, J.
The defendant appeals the trial court's denial of his motion to vacate his sentence and set aside his plea of guilty to the added count of manslaughter. MCLA 750.321; MSA 28.553. We affirm.
The court advised and informed the defendant of his rights, as provided by GCR 1963, 785.7.
While the court was taking the defendant's plea, the record indicates the following questions and answers:
'The Court: Why are you pleading guilty to killing Constance Richards ?
"Defendant: Because I did it.
"The Court: Well, did you do it?
"Defendant: I did. I blacked out, and I stabbed the girl."
Later the record indicates the following:
"Defendant: I remember stabbing two people, Ricky Richards and stabbing the girl."
The record actually shows the defendant stabbed four people, one man and three women. One woman died. The record also shows that at the time of the stabbing the defendant was the only person in possession of a knife.
The judge ascertained a sufficient factual basis to accept the defendant's plea of guilty.
Affirmed.
M. J. Kelly, J., concurred.