Court Opinion

ID: 2164562
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2013-10-30 08:30:24.686575+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T10:31:47.357029
License: Public Domain

86 Mich. App. 430 (1978)
272 N.W.2d 672
PEOPLE
v.
JERRY JOHNSON
Docket No. 77-1573.
Michigan Court of Appeals.
Decided October 17, 1978.
Frank J. Kelley, Attorney General, Robert A. Derengoski, Solicitor General, and Gary R. Holman, Prosecuting Attorney (Prosecuting Attorneys Appellate Service, Thomas C. Nelson, Assistant Attorney General, of counsel), for the people.
Wickett, Erickson, Bartl & Haslett, P.C., for defendant on appeal.
Before: J.H. GILLIS, P.J., and R.B. BURNS and ALLEN, JJ.
AFTER REMAND
ALLEN, J.
On October 31, 1974, defendant was convicted by a jury in Barry County Circuit Court of possession of marijuana with intent to deliver, contrary to MCL 335.341(1)(c); MSA 18.1070(41)(1)(c). The case was subsequently appealed to this Court, People v Jerry Johnson, 68 Mich. App. 697; 243 NW2d 715 (1976), and remanded *432 for a hearing pursuant to People v Robinson, 391 Mich. 555; 218 NW2d 1 (1974). The record reveals that the prosecution failed to produce a res gestae witness whose testimony could have been relevant to important issues disputed at trial.
Upon remand, the missing res gestae witness was located and a hearing was held for the purpose of taking his testimony on September 3, 1976. After the hearing, the trial court ruled that the missing witness's testimony was merely cumulative and, hence, defendant was not entitled to a new trial. Defendant appeals, contending that the trial court erred in ruling that the testimony of the missing witness was cumulative.
We agree with defendant. At the hearing upon remand the formerly missing res gestae witness invoked the Fifth Amendment on four occasions. On key questions his testimony was evasive. The transcript is illustrative:
"Q. [Mr. Wickett, defense counsel] It's very simple. Question: You were there Sunday. Did you see that bag of marijuana there at that time?
"A. Mr. Wickett, I already asked you once. I said I really would have to advise my attorney over this case, because it's getting involved.
"THE COURT: Mr. Magnum, I don't think that your answer to that question would incriminate you, so I direct you to answer.
"THE WITNESS: Well, I think I have my own rights too, and to an attorney don't I?"

* * *
"Q. Do you know how much that cost?
"A. Well 
"THE COURT: Again, your answer to this possibly could incriminate, so I don't know, so I instruct you again that you may not answer.
"THE WITNESS: I ain't going to answer that.
"Q. (By Charles Wickett) Did you contribute any *433 money towards its purchase? Again you should ask the Judge.
"THE COURT: Again, your answer might tend to incriminate you so have that in mind before you answer.
"THE WITNESS: I am not answering no more questions."
We are convinced  and strongly so  that had the jury heard at trial the same testimony as the witness gave at the Robinson hearing, had the jury viewed and heard the witness's evasiveness on the key question of the transaction forming the basis for the conviction, had defense counsel been able to impeach the witness for a prior conviction of receiving stolen property,[1] the jury verdict may well have been different. Because the witness was not called by the prosecution the jury did not hear the testimony. In effect, the defendant was denied a fair trial. This being so, and but for People v Giacalone, 399 Mich. 642, 645; 250 NW2d 492 (1977), the proper procedure in this case would be a new trial.
Does Giacalone preclude a new trial? The people argue that the answer is "yes" since Giacalone holds that where either the prosecution or defense knows a witness will assert his Fifth Amendment rights it is error to call such witness.
"The American Bar Association standards relating to the prosecution and defense functions provide that it is unprofessional conduct for a prosecutor or a lawyer representing a defendant
"  `knowingly and for the purpose of bringing inadmissible matter to the attention of the judge or jury to offer inadmissible evidence';
"  `to call a witness who he knows will claim a valid *434 privilege not to testify, for the purpose of impressing upon the jury the fact of the claim of privilege.'" Giacalone, supra, at 645.
We are not persuaded that Giacalone goes so far. There, the prosecutor called as a witness an accomplice, whom the prosecutor knew in advance would take the Fifth. In that case, assertion of the Fifth Amendment rights was highly prejudicial to the defendant. Here, the situation is reversed since here the witness's resort to remaining silent, if anything, helps the defendant and prejudices the plaintiff. For these reasons, Giacalone is clearly distinguishable. In our initial opinion in this case, People v Jerry Johnson, 68 Mich. App. 697; 243 NW2d 715 (1976), we held that the failure to call the missing res gestae witness was sufficient error to mandate remand. Now, on remand, it is quite clear to us that the witness's testimony may well lead to a different verdict. This being so, the testimony is clearly more than cumulative. Accordingly, we reverse the trial court and remand for a new trial.[2]
Reversed and remanded for a new trial.
R.B. BURNS, J., concurred.
J.H. GILLIS, P.J. (dissenting).
As pointed out by the majority, on appeal defendant contends, inter alia, that the trial court erred in ruling that the testimony of the missing witness was cumulative.
During his first appeal to this Court, defendant argued that the testimony of the missing witness was important to his defense for two reasons. First, the missing witness might have been able to *435 testify about how the marijuana came to be in defendant's house trailer since he had visited the trailer on the day previous to the police raid. Also, during the raid some marijuana was found in the missing witness's automobile. Second, the missing witness could have been the secret police informant who had provided the police with information concerning the marijuana found in defendant's trailer. Defendant had indicated a desire to put forth an entrapment defense if the police informant could be located.
This Court recognized the materiality of defendant's arguments and stated:
"If the witness is produced, and, after hearing his testimony, the court is at that time convinced that it is merely cumulative, then defendant Jerry Johnson's conviction will be affirmed. If the witness is produced, and, after hearing his testimony, the court is convinced that it contains new evidence of a material nature, then a new trial is ordered as to defendant Jerry Johnson." People v Jerry Johnson, 68 Mich. App. 697, 702-703; 243 NW2d 715 (1976).
The circuit court's opinion, which concluded that the missing witness's testimony was cumulative, summarized the witness's testimony as follows:
"That on January 31, 1974, he was in defendant's home at the time the officers arrived and also present were the defendant, defendant's wife, Dawn Johnson, Marty Warner and Warner's wife, Mary Sue Warner; that witness had gone there on business; that he did not recall what the officers said while he was present; that the officers came in, went from room to room and found some `pot'  he doesn't know where they found it; that the officers placed this substance on the counter and at the time it was in plastic bags; that he had been in defendant's home for one-half to one hour before the officers arrived; that the defendant was a friend of *436 witness and that witness went to defendant's home every day; that the witness owned no part of the marijuana which was seized by the officers nor did he go with the defendant when he acquired it; that he was in defendant's house on Sunday night before the raid and saw no bag of `pot' at that time; that he did not inform the police of the presence of marijuana in defendant's house. Witness at one point exercised his 5th Amendment right when he was questioned by defense counsel as to his possible involvement in drug related activities."
A careful review of the record supports the trial court's determination. The missing witness's testimony offered no further enlightenment as to the transaction in question other than the testimony originally presented at defendant's trial. People v Keefe, 69 Mich. App. 431; 245 NW2d 78 (1976), People v Saunders, 68 Mich. App. 546; 243 NW2d 679 (1976).
It should also be noted that there is no indication whatsoever that the missing witness had any connection with the investigation which resulted in defendant's arrest. The missing witness's use of the Fifth Amendment in response to defense counsel's questions suggests that he may well have been an accomplice. Additionally, in light of the witness's assertion of his Fifth Amendment rights, it would be improper for the prosecution or defense to call him to testify at any subsequent trial. People v Giacalone, 399 Mich. 642; 250 NW2d 492 (1977).
The other issues raised by defendant do not warrant a discussion by this Court and do not, in my opinion, constitute reversible error.
I would affirm the conviction.
NOTES
[1]  At the Robinson hearing the witness indicated that he had a prior conviction for receiving stolen property.
[2]  On April 19, 1977, execution of defendant's sentence to prison for 18 months to 4 years was stayed by the trial court pending the outcome of the present appeal.