Court Opinion

ID: 9667456
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 01:46:13.567341+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:15:38.080756
License: Public Domain

*182V. J. Brennan, J.
(concurring in part; dissenting in part). I agree with the majority’s disposition of the issues regarding defendants’ constitutional challenges to the statute under which they were convicted. I also concur in the findings relating to the jury selection error because of the clear mandate of People v Miller, 411 Mich 321; 307 NW2d 335 (1981).
However, I do not concur in the majority’s finding that Officer Mangum’s testimony regarding Chaverest’s arrest and the contents of the envelope seized from him which he had purchased from Key was not admissible. Chaverest’s purchase was contemporaneous with Officer Mangum’s purchase and Chaverest was arrested immediately after leaving the scene of the delivery involved herein and the cocaine was taken from him. The majority’s position is that, because the defense was noninvolvement with this officer and the defendants did not claim lack of intent, the prosecutor could not or need not introduce this evidence showing knowledge and intent since these were not material issues in the case. I cannot subscribe to this theory. The prosecutor has the obligation, regardless of the defense, to prove each and every element of the offense beyond a reasonable doubt and knowledge and intent are necessary elements. Defendant’s position or defense is not relevant or controlling on the prosecutor’s obligation to prove these elements. These are always material issues.