Court Opinion

ID: 9702469
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-25 23:12:39.87068+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:21:37.799950
License: Public Domain

Allen, P. J.
(concurring). I concur in the deci*345sion to reverse because of the possibility that the jury may have felt that the defendant’s failure to retreat automatically required his conviction. For the reasons so eloquently expressed by Judge Riley, I agree that the law should take into account the fact that other lives may be lost if a security guard retreats in order to save his own life. Therefore, even if retreat is possible, I agree that it should not be absolutely required in all cases.
However, I am afraid that the opinion may be interpreted as establishing a rule that a security guard is entitled to stand and fight even if he could retreat without immediately jeopardizing anyone’s safety.
I prefer the approach adopted by the proposed new Michigan Criminal Jury Instructions which state that a failure to retreat when retreat is possible is a circumstance which the jury may consider in determining whether the defendant was justified in using deadly force. See Michigan Criminal Jury Instructions (1975 Draft), Volume II, Chap 6, p 370.