Court Opinion

ID: 9571321
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 20:30:49.27581+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:27:00.811002
License: Public Domain

O’Hara, J.
(dissenting). I respectfully disagree with my colleagues.
Specific intent is a state of mind largely unprovable by extrinsic facts. It is almost invariably an inference to be drawn from other facts.
Defendant, in placing an object which resembled a razor at complainant’s throat and saying, “This is it, old man,” evidenced an intent less than amicable toward complainant. This assault coupled with the complainant’s res gestae statement, “That man in there is trying to rob me”, made within easy earshot of defendant, but undenied by him, furnished ample evidentiary basis for an inference of an intent to rob.
“Silence in face of an accusation is received in evidence under certain circumstances on the theory *590that such silence indicates acquiescence in the accusation.” People v. Gisondi (1967), 9 Mich App 289, 293.
There is no error. The conviction should be affirmed.