Court Opinion

ID: 9665197
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 00:42:30.642823+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:15:13.849203
License: Public Domain

Williams, C.J.
(concurring with Justice Boyle). I concur with part v of Justice Boyle’s opinion regarding the sufficiency of the evidence of premeditation and deliberation at the preliminary examination. While this Court may disagree with the findings of a magistrate at preliminary examination, it may not substitute its judgment for that of the magistrate except in the case of a clear abuse of discretion. People v Doss, 406 Mich 90, 101; 276 NW2d 9 (1979). In my opinion, a clear abuse of discretion did not occur in this case.
There was evidence that the defendant approached the bathroom with his hand in the pocket in which he carried his knife. When confronted by the victim, Tower, defendant opened his knife with both hands, verbally challenging the victim. When, after receiving the first wound, the victim retreated into the bathtub, the defendant pursued him and stabbed him again. Although these events unfolded quickly, it was not shown that they were instantaneous. Witnesses at the preliminary examination put the total elapsed time at two seconds to a couple of minutes.1 Al*119though the issue is close, I believe the evidence was sufficient to create a factual question whether the defendant had time to subject his actions to a "second look.”
*120The dissenting opinion states that the defendant did not know the victim. Although Barbara Reed testified that the two men were not acquainted, logic dictates that such a statement from a third party cannot be regarded as conclusive. It is not possible for a person to know that two other people don’t know each other. Even if the men were not previously acquainted, there were other factors which suggested possible motives, including their relationships with Barbara Reed, and the victim’s apparent indignation regarding the defendant’s rough treatment of her. In any event, an apparent lack of motive does not preclude consideration of a first-degree murder charge. Motive is a relevant but not essential fact in proof of murder. People v Kuhn, 232 Mich 310, 312; 205 NW 188 (1925).
Although the evidence supporting a verdict of first-degree murder was sketchy, and that charge was ultimately rejected by the jury, it was, in my opinion, within the magistrate’s discretion to allow the case to proceed to trial on that charge.
I concur generally with the remainder of Justice Boyle’s opinion, particularly with regard to the defendant’s constitutional arguments.

 There are three references in the preliminary examination transcript to the lapse of time regarding the incident in the bathroom. The first occurs in the testimony of witness Rick Urbina:
Q. How long, Mr. Urbina, from the time that Roy Towers [sic] asked Henry what was goin’ on or, "What are you doin’ ” or whatever his exact words are, would you say it was between that time and the time he was stabbed?
A. Maybe about two seconds.
*119Q. How long would you say it would have been, if you can estimate, and if you can’t, say you can’t, from the time that Henry says, "Come on,” and Roy gets stabbed?
A. Well, I’d say it would be about two seconds at the most. It wasn’t too long, 'cause it happened quick.
Q. How long would you say this total thing happened, you know, it took for this whole thing to occur in the bathroom before you left out of there?
A. How long, okay, it took for everything that happened or before it started?
Q. Well, from the time Henry got in the door until you were able to get out of there, how long would you say you were in there?
A. Well, I really can’t answer that. I don’t know.
The second reference is in the testimony of Flip Lake:
Q. Just answer my question. How long between the time he went into the bathroom and the time that he came out?
A. I don’t know.
Q. A short time?
A. Yep.
Q. Just a couple of seconds?
A. Uh-huh.
The third reference is by Barbara Reed:
Q. Okay. And what did Henry say then?
A. I don’t know.
Q. You don’t recall him saying . . .
A. No.
Q. . . . anything?
A. I remember — all I remember him saying, when he walked in the bathroom, he told Mr. Tower, "Hey, this is not, you know, your concern, you know.” I mean this . . .
Q. Okay, he said, "It’s none of your concern.” Who was he talking to, then?
A. He was talking . . .
Q. Mr. Urbina, to you or Towers [sic]?
A. To Mr. Tower.
Q. And how long after that was it that you saw Henry with his knife in his hand?
A. Oh, moments. A couple minutes, you know.