Court Opinion

ID: 9675573
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 04:58:06.475016+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:16:35.656729
License: Public Domain

V. J. Brennan, J.
(dissenting). I disagree with the majority’s disposition insofar as it is based on the question of intimidation of the complainant.
The facts surrounding the defendant’s claim of prosecutorial intimidation of the complainant are as follows. On the day before trial the complainant visited the prosecutor and stated that she wanted to drop the charges and that defendant "didn’t touch” her. The prosecutor then reviewed the complainant’s preliminary examination testimony and explained that if she changed her testimony she could be prosecuted for perjury. When asked at trial why she wanted to drop the charges the complainant stated that she didn’t like courtrooms and she wanted to "get out of going to Court”.
After reaffirming her original version of the incident, the following colloquy took place between the complainant and the prosecutor:
"BY MR. HAMLIN [Prosecutor]:
"Q * * * has Lieutenant Hogmire and myself had conversations with you in the last couple of days? •
"A Yes.
"Q During each of these conversations have we indicated to you that we wanted you to tell the truth?
"A Yes.
"Q Now, have you told the truth?
"A Yes.
"Q Now, when Mr. Hogmire came to your house that night, you indicated in response to Defendant Attorney’s questions that he asked you several times whether or not you had sex with him. Do you remember answering the Defense Attorney’s question?
"A I said yes.
"Q Yes he asked you several times. In the first of those several times that he asked you what was your reply?
*728"A No.
"Q Was there a reason why your reply was no?
"A Because I didn’t know what he would do.
"Q Pardon me?
"A I didn’t know what Ted [the defendant] would do if I told.
"Q Was your parents there when he was asking you those questions?
"A Yes.
"Q Has anybody told you what to say today or yesterday or when you testified yesterday?
"A Tedi [the defendant’s daughter], she told me to say he didn’t do it.
"Q Has Lieutenant Hogmire or myself told you what to testify to?
"A The truth.
"Q Have we given you words to testify to?
"A No.”
I would find the present case controlled by People v Zinn, 63 Mich App 204; 234 NW2d 452 (1975). There two prosecution witnesses who had made written statements prior to trial did not want to testify at trial. The prosecutor then warned both of the witnesses of the penalties for perjury. The jury was aware of this as it was heavily stressed in cross-examination by defense counsel. Upon testifying both witnesses maintained that they had not been intimidated when the prosecutor reminded them of the penalties for perjury. The Court held that the prosecutor did not commit error.
The facts in the present case are quite similar. The complainant, on the day before trial, did not want to testify. The prosecutor informed her of the penalties for perjury and at trial the complainant reaffirmed her original version. Any possibility of taint through intimidation was eliminated when the complainant stated that her original version *729was the truth and that the prosecutor and the police lieutenant only wanted her to testify to the truth.
Taking into account the reason for the complainant wanting to change her testimony, the emphasis by the prosecutor that the complainant tell the truth, and the fact that the complainant did testify that her original version was the truth, I would hold the prosecutor’s action in apprising the complainant of possible perjury penalties not to be error.