Court Opinion

ID: 9741091
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 20:49:26.516216+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:24:22.236421
License: Public Domain

M. J. Kelly, J.
(dissenting). I agree with the majority that the straight razor with its five-inch handle and three-inch blade was not a dangerous weapon per se, and the question of whether it was carried as a weapon was properly one for the jury. I disagree however, that the deficiency, which could have been corrected by one simple sentence in the court’s charge, was so significant as to warrant reversal absent objection of counsel. If there is any such thing as a perfect trial I have yet to see one. This defendant had a fair trial.
From a full reading of this record it is incredible that the jury failed to find the defendant guilty of attempted unarmed robbery. The case was extremely well-tried and ably argued by defense counsel and could not be considered to be anything short of a complete victory. His failure to object to the charge as given by the court may have been a trial tactic prompted by the impact of the razor which was introduced as an exhibit at trial.
Even if it was not a trial tactic, the failure to object certainly does not, in my view, rise to such proportions as to reasonably amount to manifest and serious error. There certainly was no fundamental injustice here where the defense very clearly carried the day. As I understand the inherent power rule, it is to be exercised sparingly *596under unusual circumstances, and only to cure manifest and serious errors. People v Farmer, 380 Mich 198, 208; 156 NW2d 504 (1968), People v Dorrikas, 354 Mich 303; 92 NW2d 305 (1958), People v Wynn, 386 Mich 627; 194 NW2d 354 (1972). No objection having been made, the error alleged has not properly been saved for review, and there are no unusual circumstances in this record which should cause us to exercise our inherent power to avoid a miscarriage of justice. If anything, the scales have already been tipped far over to defendant’s side. The conviction should be affirmed.