Court Opinion

ID: 9685434
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 14:37:15.120509+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:18:05.821440
License: Public Domain

Sawyer, J.
(dissenting). Whereas I agree with my colleagues on their analysis and resolution of the first issue as to whether or not defendant’s right to a speedy trial was violated, I respectfully dissent from their resolution as to whether the prosecutor prejudiced defendant’s right to a fair trial by questioning and arguing about defendant’s silence to the police.
*173Defendant testified at trial that he had gone to the victim’s home to make peace, but that the victim had come out of his house firing his handgun at defendant. Defendant went on to testify that he fired his pellet gun once in self-defense as he was driving away from the premises.
On recross-examination of defendant, the prosecutor inquired as to whether defendant had reported the incident to the police. Since self-defense was raised by defendant, and it is natural and reasonable to assume that someone who has been assaulted with a gun would report the incident to the police, defendant’s failure to report the incident to the police, prior to his arrest, casts serious doubts upon his credibility and, therefore, it would be proper for the prosecutor to ask such a question and comment in his closing argument upon defendant’s failure to report. People v Collier, 426 Mich 23; 393 NW2d 346 (1986). A careful review of the record indicates that at no time did the prosecutor make reference to the defendant’s exercising his right to remain silent after he was arrested on this charge. People v Bobo, 390 Mich 355; 212 NW2d 190 (1973), prohibits only questioning and comment which concern a defendant’s exercise of his right to remain silent in the face of accusations. The rule as set forth in Bobo is inapplicable where the defendant has not remained silent. People v Eggleston, 148 Mich App 494; 384 NW2d 811 (1986). I believe that defendant’s answer to the prosecutor’s inquiry did not reveal any exercise by defendant of his right to remain silent and, therefore, no error has occurred.
I would remand this case for an evidentiary hearing as to whether defendant’s right to a speedy trial was violated, but would hold that the prosecutor did not violate defendant’s right to remain silent.