Case Name: PEOPLE v. LAWSON
Court: Michigan Court of Appeals
Jurisdiction: Michigan
Decision Date: 1971-06-25
Citations: 34 Mich. App. 620
Docket Number: Docket No. 9202
Parties: PEOPLE v. LAWSON
Judges: Before: R. B. Burns, P. J., and Fitzgerald and J. H. Gillis, JJ.
Reporter: Michigan appeals reports; cases decided in the Michigan Court of Appeals.
Volume: 34
Pages: 620–621

Head Matter:
PEOPLE v. LAWSON
Rape — Evidence—Complaint by Prosecutrix — Admissibility.
The fact of a complaint by a rape victim can be shown in corroboration of the prosecutrix, but the details related cannot.
Reference for Points in Headnote
44 Am Jur, Rape § 82 et seq.
Appeal from Yan Burén, David Anderson, Jr., J.
Submitted Division 3 June 10, 1971, at Grand Rapids.
(Docket No. 9202.)
Decided June 25, 1971.
Leave to appeal denied, 385 Mich 787.
Elmer Lawson was convicted of statutory rape. Defendant appeals.
Affirmed.
Frank J. Kelley, Attorney General, Robert A. Derengoski, Solicitor General, and William G. Buhl, Prosecuting Attorney, for the people.
Neal $ Grier, for defendant.
Before: R. B. Burns, P. J., and Fitzgerald and J. H. Gillis, JJ.

Opinion:
Per Curiam.
The 17-year-old defendant was convicted by a jury of statutory rape, MCLA § 750.520 (Stat Ann 1954 Rev § 28.788). His defense was alibi.
We have reviewed the alleged errors. A proper foundation was laid for the admission of people's exhibit 1 (a pair of sperm-stained panties). It was not error to ask the defendant about his previous criminal record to test his credibility. MCLA § 600-.2159 (Stat Ann 1962 Rev § 27A.2159); People v. Nelson White (1970), 26 Mich App 35; People v. Cantrell (1970), 27 Mich App 210; and People v. Butler (1970), 27 Mich App 404. Testimony that the 13-year-old complainant said she had been raped was properly admitted under the ancient rule of the common law that the fact of complaint by a rape victim could be shown in corroboration of the prosecutrix but the details could not. People v. Baker (1930), 251 Mich 322. The credibility of the witnesses was for the jury to determine. People v. Wolfe (1970), 27 Mich App 223.
Affirmed.