Court Opinion

ID: 9526873
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 03:25:26.513152+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:25:16.078528
License: Public Domain

V. J. Brennan, P. J.
(dissenting). I concur in my brother Heading’s opinion on all issues except that pertaining to the prosecutor’s failure to disclose all records and witnesses to defense counsel prior to trial.
The trial court ordered the prosecution to submit a complete list of witnesses as well as all the admissible police reports to defendant. To the best of its ability, the prosecution did so. I would only note that I share the prosecution’s position that witnesses who were not a part of the res gestae of the crime are not required to be endorsed or produced by the prosecution and that internal police "tip sheets” are not discoverable as official "police reports”. See, regarding res gestae witnesses, People v Harrison, 44 Mich App 578, 585-586; 205 NW2d 900 (1973). See, regarding internal departmental police "tip sheets”, People v Walton, 71 Mich App 478, 485; 247 NW2d 378 (1976).
Beyond these matters, the trial court also ordered a private investigation to be conducted by an investigator hired by defendant and paid by Shiawassee County. This investigation occurred and provided defendant valuable information. Generally, in fact, defendant was given wide latitude in regard to all he requested.
Defendant was allowed to develop completely his *137theories of the case. Because of extensive cross-examination by defense counsel, the jury knew the entire background of every prosecution witness. Defense counsel and the prosecution delved thoroughly into the previous police records of witnesses. Through defense counsel’s able and extensive cross-examination, any potential advantage to be gained by a witness’s testifying against defendant was exposed.
In short, defense counsel obtained every advantage for his client which a very strong prosecution, admittedly based on circumstantial evidence, would permit. I thus find no error in the trial court’s consideration and handling of this case. I would vote to affirm defendant’s conviction.