Court Opinion

ID: 9686920
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 16:11:21.855943+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:18:22.957107
License: Public Domain

R. B. Burns, P.J.
Defendant was convicted by a jury of first-degree murder, MCL 750.316; MSA 28.548, and appeals. We reverse.
The defense in this case was alibi. The victim, Joseph Swetay, was killed during the course of an apparent robbery between 2 and 3 a.m. on May 2, 1971. Defendant testified that on that night he helped Judy Evans and Raymond Pritchett paint their newly rented home. Judy Evans corroborated defendant’s story. Raymond Pritchett, called over defense objection by the prosecution, testified that the house had already been painted by the date of the murder, that he had done most of the painting himself, and that defendant helped only intermittently, never more than 30 minutes at a time and never in an all-night session.
Defendant had filed a notice of alibi prior to trial, listing Judy Evans and Raymond Pritchett as witnesses. MCL 768.20(1); MSA 28.1043(1). Defendant’s objection to Raymond Pritchett’s testimony was premised upon the prosecution’s failure to list Pritchett on a notice of rebuttal. MCL 768.20(2); MSA 28.1043(2), MCL 768.21(2); MSA 28.1044(2). The trial court overruled the objection, finding *320that no one would be surprised by the testimony of the witness.
Plaintiff argues that it need not have listed Pritchett on a notice of rebuttal, because Pritchett’s testimony was used to impeach Judy Evans’ testimony, not to rebut the alibi. See People v Gillman, 66 Mich App 419; 239 NW2d 396 (1976). However, unlike the situation in Gillman, Pritchett’s testimony both impeached the alibi witness and rebutted the alibi. Pritchett’s testimony directly contradicted defendant’s alibi that he was painting a house at the time of the murder. Thus, plaintiff was required to list Pritchett as a witness in a notice of rebuttal. MCL 768.20(2); MSA 28.1043(2).
Plaintiff also argues that its failure to provide notice is excusable because the witness was listed in defendant’s notice of alibi and there was no surprise as to the existence of the witness or as to what he would testify. People v Terry Alexander, 82 Mich App 621; 267 NW2d 466 (1978), holds squarely to the contrary, and is not distinguishable from the instant case. The statute protects defendant not only from the types of surprise listed above, but also from the surprise of having the prosecution call an unlisted witness:
"The purpose of alibi and rebuttal of alibi notice is to prevent surprise at trial. * * * This purpose can be attained only if both sides give the statutorily required notice. While a defendant arguably should know how a witness whom he has listed on a notice of alibi will testify, a defendant should also be entitled to know whether the prosecution will rely on that witness in rebuttal. ” 82 Mich App at 627.
The sanction for failure to state the name of a rebuttal witness on the notice of rebuttal, exclu*321sion of the testimony of that witness, is mandatory. MCL 768.21(2); MSA 28.1044(2), People v Terry Alexander, supra.
Nor can the prosecution’s failure to serve notice of rebuttal be excused on the theory that the trial court, by overruling defendant’s objection to Pritchett’s testimony, permitted notice "at such other time as the court may direct”. MCL 768.20(2); MSA 28.1043(2). The statute clearly contemplates service of a written notice, which implies such notice should be served in advance of trial. Unless service is made before trial, a defendant cannot rely upon the notice, or lack thereof, in formulating trial strategy, and will be surprised.
Reversed and remanded for a new trial.
Mackenzie, J., concurred.