Court Opinion

ID: 9728521
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 14:10:07.31192+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:25:49.410783
License: Public Domain

Per Curiam.
Defendant was charged in a three-count information with assault with intent to murder, MCL 750.83; MSA 28.278, possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony, MCL 750.227b; MSA 28.424(2), and felonious assault, MCL 750.82; MSA 28.277. After a jury trial, he was found not guilty on the first two charges, and on the third, was found guilty of the included offense of aggravated assault, MCL 750.81a; MSA 28.276(1).1 He was sentenced to one year in prison, and now appeals by right.
The complainant testified that on June 11, 1978, he went to a barbershop. The defendant’s brother Alvin was also there, and the two men engaged in a "tussel”, allegedly over a grudge held by Alvin against the complainant. The fight was broken up by bystanders. Approximately three hours later, the complainant and his sister were alone at his father’s home; and, while they were sitting in the living room, they heard one shot which came from outside. They looked out the window and saw a car traveling down the street in front of the house. Alvin was driving, defendant was in the front seat, *610and defendant’s pther brother, Karl, and his sister’s boyfriend were in the back seat. The complainant testified that Alvin had his hand sticking out of the window and was holding a gun and that, as the car was still moving, the defendant jumped out and ran up onto the porch of the house and opened the screen door. The complainant testified that, while he was diving towards the front door in order to shut it, defendant stepped into the house, aimed, and fired. The bullet did not strike anyone and landed in the hallway wall. Defendant ran from the porch followed by the complainant, returned to his car, retrieved a steel pipe from the car, and hit the complainant on the head. The blow knocked the complainant unconscious.
Defendant first argues that the prosecution failed to present sufficient evidence of a serious or aggravated injury so as to sustain the burden of proof on a charge of aggravated assault.2 The statute provides as follows:
"Any person who shall assault another without any weapon and indict serious or aggravated injury upon the person of another without intending to commit the crime of murder, and without intending to inflict great bodily harm less than the crime of murder, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by imprisonment in the county jail or the state prison for a period of not *611more than 1 year, or fine of $500.00, or both.” (Emphasis added.) MCL 750.81a; MSA 28.276(1).
CJI 17:3:01, which was given to the jury during the trial court’s instructions, further defines "serious or aggravated injury” as "substantial bodily [physical] injury or injury that necessitated immediate medical treatment or caused disfigurement, impairment of health or impairment of any bodily part”. The evidence will be deemed sufficient if it would justify a reasonable person in concluding that the element was established beyond a reasonable doubt. People v Johnson, 83 Mich App 1, 17-18; 268 NW2d 259 (1978).
Several persons testified at trial concerning complainant’s injuries. Their testimony revealed that he had been rendered unconscious by the blow to the head, and that his head hit concrete as he fell. He suffered cuts on his face, an eye injury, and a bruised neck. We hold this evidence was sufficient to justify a reasonable person in concluding that defendant inflicted a serious or aggravated injury on complainant. See People v Chadwick, 301 Mich 654, 656-657; 4 NW2d 45 (1942). While complainant did not seek medical attention until the evening following the attack, the need to seek immediate medical attention is only one factor used in determining whether the element is established.
The defendant also argues that expert testimony is required on the question of whether a serious or aggravated injury has been inflicted. We know of no such requirement, and decline to imply one. Expert testimony is important if it can aid the trier of fact in resolving complex issues beyond the experience of a person not trained in a specific field. See MRE 702. We believe, however, that a jury is normally capable of applying the statutory *612language involved in the instant case without the need of expert testimony.
During the cross-examination of complainant, in response to a question asked by defense counsel, complainant implied that defendant had recently been released from incarceration.3 On appeal, defendant argues the trial court erred in not giving a curative instruction. While defendant’s trial counsel did request a mistrial, which was denied, no request for a curative instruction was made. Accordingly, this issue is not preserved for our review absent a showing of manifest injustice. People v Phillips, 61 Mich App 138, 149-151; 232 NW2d 333 (1975). We do not believe manifest injustice will result from our refusal to reach this issue. The response was not solicited, and did not directly convey the fact of defendant’s prior incarceration. Defendant’s reliance on People v Killebrew, 61 Mich App 129; 232 NW2d 329 (1975), lv den 395 Mich 817 (1975), is misplaced, as defense counsel in Killebrew actually requested a curative instruction.
Defendant finally contends that the jury should not have been instructed on the crime of which he was convicted, as instruction on this lesser included offense was barred by People v Chamblis, 395 Mich 408, 429; 236 NW2d 473 (1975), where the Supreme Court stated:
"We are establishing a rule, today, as a matter of policy, limiting the extent of compromise allowable to a jury in deciding whether to convict of a lesser included offense. In any case wherein the charged offense is punishable by incarceration for more than two years, *613the court, whether or not requested, may not instruct on lesser included offenses for which the maximum allowable incarceration period is one year or less.”
The rule is applicable in the instant case, as the charged offense, felonious assault, carries a maximum sentence of four years4 and the included offense, aggravated assault, is punishable by a maximum sentence of one year.5
It is not clear from the record whether the trial court gave the instruction on its own accord, or whether it was requested by one of the parties. Although the record does not establish that the instruction was requested by the defense, it does reveal that defendant made no objection to this specific charge. As a result, appellate review is precluded absent manifest injustice. See, e.g., People v Jones, 92 Mich App 100, 108; 284 NW2d 501 (1979), People v Clay, 91 Mich App 716, 723; 283 NW2d 870 (1979).
We do not believe manifest injustice will result from a failure to reach this issue. In the course of formulating rules to govern lesser included offenses, the Supreme Court adopted the rule in Chamblis as a brake on the power of the jury, in the "exercise of conscience”, to compromise beyond reasonable limits. The rule was to protect both the defendant and the community. An endless procession of lesser included offenses could amount to harassment and could, ultimately, lead to a conviction on a lesser offense bearing no reasonable relation to the charge on which the defendant was originally brought before the court. On the other hand, those who have actually committed a serious offense should be punished as such and should not *614be allowed the chance to escape with conviction on a charge that is technically a lesser included offense but is logically unrelated to the charged offense.
Applying these policy considerations to the instant case, we believe that the underlying concerns expressed in Chamblis are not present. The offenses of felonious assault and aggravated assault are of the same class, and bear a reasonable relationship to one another. See People v Brown, 87 Mich App 612; 274 NW2d 854 (1978). The Supreme Court has modified the Chamblis rule in cases where the motivating policies of the rule are not offended. People v Miller, 406 Mich 244; 277 NW2d 630 (1979). Additionally, this Court has encouraged the Supreme Court to allow modification of the rule in such circumstances. People v Vasher, 97 Mich App 372; 296 NW2d 30 (1980). While we point out these considerations solely in support of our opinion that defendant has suffered no manifest injustice, we too urge the Supreme Court to reconsider the presently broad sweep of Chamblis.
Affirmed.

 Sometimes referred to as “assault and infliction of serious injury”.

 The prosecution argues that defendant is attacking his conviction as against the great weight of the evidence. Accordingly, it argues that the issue is not properly preserved for appeal as defendant did not first raise the claim by way of a motion for a new trial. See People v Jagosz, 253 Mich 290; 235 NW 160 (1931), GCR 1963, 527.1(5). We construe defendant’s argument as attacking the sufficiency of the evidence rather than its weight. In other words, defendant is arguing that the prosecution failed to establish an element necessary to the charged ofiense. In these circumstances, no motion for a new trial need be made. Arnsteen v US Equipment Co, 52 Mich App 177; 217 NW2d 61 (1974), lv den 392 Mich 769 (1974), People v Bruce, 35 Mich App 358, 360; 192 NW2d 634 (1971), lv den 387 Mich 788 (1972).

 The question and response were as follows:
"Q How many times did you see him during the last six months?
"A I didn’t see him that much, you know, like I heard he was out but I didn’t see him.”

MCL 750.82; MSA 28.277.

MCL 750.81a; MSA 28.276(1).