Case Name: PEOPLE v. HUGHES
Court: Michigan Court of Appeals
Jurisdiction: Michigan
Decision Date: 1969-11-26
Citations: 20 Mich. App. 294
Docket Number: Docket No. 6,535
Parties: PEOPLE v. HUGHES
Judges: Before: J. H. Gillis, P. J., and McGregor and V. J. Brennan, JJ.
Reporter: Michigan appeals reports; cases decided in the Michigan Court of Appeals.
Volume: 20
Pages: 294–295

Head Matter:
PEOPLE v. HUGHES
Criminal Law — Evidence—Conflicting Testimony — Credibility. Contradictions between defendant’s testimony and. that of the complainant in a prosecution for indeeent liberties raises an issue of credibility which the court, as the trier of fact, able to observe the witnesses, is best qualified to resolve (MOLA § 750.336).
Reference for Points in Headnote
30 Am Jur 2d, Evidence § 1124.
Appeal from Livingston, Michael Carland, J.
Submitted Division 2 November 4, 1969, at Lansing.
(Docket No. 6,535.)
Decided November 26, 1969.
George Edward Hughes was convicted of indecent liberties. Defendant appeals.
Affirmed.
John R. Brennan, for defendant.
Before: J. H. Gillis, P. J., and McGregor and V. J. Brennan, JJ.

Opinion:
Per Curiam.
Defendant was convicted by the court of committing indeeent liberties with a child (MCLA § 750.336, Stat Ann 1954 Rev § 28.568). The sole issue raised by defendant on appeal is whether the prosecution proved its case beyond a reasonable doubt.
Examination of the record discloses that there was sufficient proof presented by the people to establish the guilt of the defendant. While defendant's testimony contradicted that of the complainant, the trial court as the trier of fact had an opportunity to examine the demeanor of the witnesses as they testified and could properly consider their interest or lack of interest in the outcome of the case in evaluating their testimony. The underlying issue is credibility, which is an issue confided for resolution to the trier of fact and not to us. See People v. Szymanski (1948), 321 Mich 248, 253; People v. Doris White (1965), 2 Mich App 104, 106; People v. Ritzema (1966), 3 Mich App 637; and People v. Wheeler (1967), 7 Mich App 576.
Affirmed.