Court Opinion

ID: 3203252
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-05-13 13:04:40.85253+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:39:40.522589
License: Public Domain

STATE OF MICHIGAN

                           COURT OF APPEALS

PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN,                                   UNPUBLISHED
                                                                   May 12, 2016
               Plaintiff-Appellee,

v                                                                  No. 323403
                                                                   Ingham Circuit Court
JORDAN LEWIS DUNN,                                                 LC No. 14-000028-FC

               Defendant-Appellant.

Before: HOEKSTRA, P.J., and O’CONNELL and MURRAY, JJ.

PER CURIAM.

      Following a jury trial, defendant appeals as of right his conviction of first-degree
premediated murder, MCL 750.316(1)(a). For the reasons explained in this opinion, we affirm.

                      I. BASIC FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

       Defendant struck and killed Benjamin Berlin with his pick-up truck at a mobile home
park on October 30, 2013. Shortly before this incident, defendant posted on Facebook, stating:
“I wanna kill” and, later, “i prob wont be here im bout to go do sumthin stupid and ill b gone for
awhile lol for reall see ya.” Not long after posting these comments, defendant and his friend,
Corey McCulloch, went to pick up their friend, Nicole Benn, at the mobile home park where
Berlin also lived with his family. On his way to collect Benn, defendant drove erratically
through the trailer park, speeding well-above the 15 mph posted limit, running stop signs, and
squealing his tires. Berlin and others yelled at defendant to slow down; and, when defendant
stopped to pick up Benn, a resident of the park approached the vehicle and asked them to slow
down. Nonetheless, after picking up Benn, defendant continued speeding through the park.

       As defendant drove toward the park’s exit, he again passed Berlin, who was outside with
several family members and friends. Although there are some discrepancies among the
witnesses’ descriptions of what followed, the evidence indicates that defendant ran a stop sign at
a nearby intersection and, as a result, Berlin again yelled out to defendant to slow down. In
response, defendant abruptly stopped his vehicle, squealing his tires in the process, and then
quickly reversed. After defendant reversed, Berlin was positioned somewhat to the front of the
truck. Defendant then paused, perhaps as long as 30 to 45 seconds. Defendant then quickly
accelerated, driving straight for Berlin, and struck him with the truck. Berlin went flying over

                                               -1-
the hood of the truck and hit his head on the windshield before eventually falling to the ground.
Berlin later died from his injuries after being removed from life support.

        After hitting Berlin, defendant did not stop. He drove home and, rather than park in the
driveway, he parked on the side of the house in an area partially concealed by trees, making it
more difficult to see his truck from the road. Defendant later dropped Benn down the road from
the mobile home park, but he avoided going into the park. The following day, when other efforts
to find defendant proved unsuccessful, police went to look for defendant at his grandmother’s
house. While police were there, defendant arrived as a passenger in a vehicle. Ignoring police
requests to stop, the vehicle fled, prompting a police pursuit. When the vehicle eventually
stopped, defendant then fled on foot until he was apprehended by police.

        Defendant was charged with one count of open murder, MCL 750.318. Following a
lengthy trial, the jury received instructions on first- and second-degree murder and involuntary
manslaughter. The jury convicted defendant of first-degree premediated murder. Defendant
filed a motion for a new trial in the trial court, arguing that the evidence adduced at trial was
insufficient to support the verdict and that his trial counsel had provided ineffective assistance.
The trial court denied the motion. Defendant appeals to this Court as of right.

                            I. SUFFICIENCY OF THE EVIDENCE

        On appeal, defendant argues that the prosecutor presented insufficient evidence to
support his first-degree murder conviction and that, in particular, the prosecutor failed to
establish premeditation. According to defendant, the scene was “frantic” and “chaotic,” and
defendant made his decision in a matter of seconds without sufficient time to reflect. In making
this argument, defendant highlights the inconsistencies in the testimony offered by the various
prosecution witnesses, he champions testimony favorable to his version of events, and he
discounts the significance of the Facebook posts. Ultimately, defendant admits that he “may
have acted rashly in the heat of the moment;” but he maintains that “he is not a killer.”

        We review a challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence do novo. People v Harverson,
291 Mich. App. 171, 177; 804 NW2d 757 (2010). “We examine the evidence in a light most
favorable to the prosecution, resolving all evidentiary conflicts in its favor, and determine
whether a rational trier of fact could have found that the essential elements of the crime were
proved beyond reasonable doubt.” People v Ericksen, 288 Mich. App. 192, 196; 793 NW2d 120
(2010). “Circumstantial evidence and reasonable inferences that arise from such evidence can
constitute satisfactory proof of the elements of the crime.” People v Kanaan, 278 Mich. App.
594, 619; 751 NW2d 57 (2008). We “will not interfere with the trier of fact’s role of
determining the weight of the evidence or the credibility of witnesses.” Id. “Minimal
circumstantial evidence is sufficient to prove an actor's state of mind.” People v Ortiz, 249 Mich
App 297, 301; 642 NW2d 417 (2001).

       “The elements of first-degree murder are (1) the intentional killing of a human (2) with
premeditation and deliberation.” People v Bennett, 290 Mich. App. 465, 472; 802 NW2d 627
(2010). “To premeditate is to think about beforehand; to deliberate is to measure and evaluate
the major facets of a choice or problem.” People v Plummer, 229 Mich. App. 293, 300; 581
NW2d 753 (1998) (citation omitted). “Some time span between the initial homicidal intent and

                                                -2-
the ultimate killing is necessary to establish premeditation and deliberation.” People v Unger,
278 Mich. App. 210, 229; 749 NW2d 272 (2008). “While the minimum time necessary to
exercise this process is incapable of exact determination, the interval between initial thought and
ultimate action should be long enough to afford a reasonable man time to subject the nature of
his response to a second look.” Plummer, 229 Mich. App. at 300 (internal quotation marks and
citation omitted). “Premeditation and deliberation may be inferred from all the facts and
circumstances, but the inferences must have support in the record and cannot be arrived at by
mere speculation.” Id. at 301. Factors relevant to the consideration of premedication and
deliberation include “(1) the prior relationship of the parties; (2) the defendant's actions before
the killing; (3) the circumstances of the killing itself; and (4) the defendant's conduct after the
homicide.” People v Orr, 275 Mich. App. 587, 591; 739 NW2d 385 (2007) (citation omitted).

        In this case, with regard to defendant’s conduct before the killing, Benn testified that
before defendant arrived to pick her up at about 7:30 p.m., she saw two posts on Facebook that
were authored by “Sean Smoke,” an alias used by defendant. The first, dated October 30 at 6:37
p.m., stated, “I wanna kill.” The second, dated October 30 at 7:08 p.m., stated, “i prob wont be
here im bout to go do sumthin stupid and ill b gone for awhile lol for reall see ya.” Although
Berlin was not specifically mentioned as the target of defendant’s intentions, it is reasonable to
infer from the posts that—less than 90 minutes before striking Berlin with his pick-up truck—
defendant was deliberating a killing as well as the possible consequences of such a crime and
that he had in fact formed an initial homicidal intent. See Unger, 278 Mich. App. at 229; People v
Eliason, 300 Mich. App. 293, 301; 833 NW2d 357 (2013).

        Shortly after posting about his deliberations, defendant then drove to the trailer park,
where he drove dangerously through the park and ultimately acted upon his previously expressed
desire to kill by using his truck as a weapon against Berlin. That is, the facts and circumstances
surrounding the killing itself support the conclusion that defendant acted with premeditation and
deliberation. Testimony shows that, after Berlin shouted, defendant could have continued
driving, but he chose to stop his vehicle and to reverse. According to McCulloch, after
defendant reversed, 30 to 45 seconds passed before defendant drove his truck forward at Berlin.
Eyewitness testimony established that defendant aimed his truck at Berlin, driving directly at him
or even turning to aim for Berlin. McCulloch stated that defendant “floored it,” Benn testified
that defendant “gunned it,” and other testimony confirmed that defendant quickly accelerated
toward Berlin. In other words, the evidence establishes that—after stopping, reversing, and
pausing—defendant deliberately used his truck as a weapon, purposefully running Berlin down
on the road. The moments that passed as defendant stopped, reversed, and paused before driving
forward were sufficient for him to deliberate about the action he would take and the
consequences of it. See People v Tilley, 405 Mich. 38, 46; 273 NW2d 471 (1979) (concluding
that an interval of a minute or less between procuring gun and firing was evidence of
premeditation and deliberation).

        Additionally, defendant’s conduct after the commission of the crime provides further
circumstantial evidence of deliberation and premeditation. Defendant not only fled the scene,
but also later fled from the police when he encountered them outside his grandmother’s house.
Evidence of flight can support an inference of guilt, and it was for the jury to determine whether
the flight occurred under circumstances indicative of guilt. Unger, 278 Mich. App. at 226.
Additionally, a police officer testified that defendant’s truck was found “kind of concealed by

                                               -3-
trees back by the bonfire.” Efforts at concealment after a killing, in this case attempting to hide
what was essentially the murder weapon, can serve as evidence of premeditation and
deliberation. See People v Gonzalez, 468 Mich. 636, 641; 664 NW2d 159 (2003); People v
Haywood, 209 Mich. App. 217, 230; 530 NW2d 497 (1995).

       Given all the facts and circumstances, viewing the evidence in a light most favorable to
the prosecution, we conclude that there was sufficient evidence of premeditation to sustain
defendant’s conviction of first-degree murder.1

                  III. HANDLEY JURY INSTRUCTION & VERDICT FORM

        Next, defendant argues that the jury instructions viewed together with the verdict form
failed to apprise the jury of the proper order of deliberations as set forth in People v Handley,
415 Mich. 356, 361; 329 NW2d 710 (1982) with regard to consideration of principal and lesser
included offenses. In particular, although the trial court read M Crim JI 3.11, which correctly
imparts the Handley ordering information, defendant contends that the trial court’s additional
comments confused the issue and the jury form incorrectly forced the jury to choose between not
guilty and guilty before considering the next lesser offense, without clarifying that they could
consider the lesser offense if they were merely unable to agree whether to convict or acquit on
the greater offense. Defendant maintains that that this error entitles him to a new trial and that,
in the alternative, counsel provided ineffective assistance by failing to object.

        Initially, we note that defendant waived any claim of error regarding the jury instructions
because defense counsel expressed approval with the instructions at trial. See People v Eisen,
296 Mich. App. 326, 329; 820 NW2d 229 (2012). Nonetheless, because defendant challenges
counsel’s effectiveness in failing to object to the purportedly defective instructions, we will
consider the propriety of the jury instructions in the context of resolving defendant’s claim of
ineffective assistance. See id. at 329-330. To establish a claim of ineffective assistance of
counsel, the defendant must show “(1) that counsel's representation fell below an objective
standard of reasonableness, and (2) that there is a reasonable probability that, but for counsel's
unprofessional errors, the result of the proceeding would have been different.” People v
Douglas, 496 Mich. 557, 592; 852 NW2d 587 (2014) (internal quotation marks and citation

1
  In his discussion of the sufficiency of the evidence, defendant also intermittently asserts that the
verdict was against the great weight of the evidence. However, defendant fails to articulate the
legal standards applicable to this analysis or to differentiate this analysis from his sufficiency
argument, meaning that the issue has been abandoned. People v Huffman, 266 Mich. App. 354,
371; 702 NW2d 621 (2005). In any event, our review of the evidence shows that it did not
preponderate so heavily against the verdict that it would be a miscarriage of justice to allow the
verdict to stand. People v Lacalamita, 286 Mich. App. 467, 469; 780 NW2d 311 (2009).
Although there were conflicts in the evidence and testimony presented, credibility questions are
within the exclusive province of the jury, and conflicting testimony does not warrant a new trial.
Id. at 469-470.

                                                 -4-
omitted). “Effective assistance of counsel is presumed, and the defendant bears a heavy burden
to prove otherwise.” People v Mack, 265 Mich. App. 122, 129; 695 NW2d 342 (2005).

        “A criminal defendant is entitled to have a properly instructed jury consider the evidence
against him.” People v Hawthorne, 474 Mich. 174, 182; 713 NW2d 724 (2006) (internal
quotation marks and citation omitted). “Challenges to jury instructions are considered in their
entirety to determine whether the trial court committed error requiring reversal.” Eisen, 296
Mich. App. at 330 (internal quotation marks citation and omitted). When conducting this analysis,
“[t]he verdict form is treated as, essentially, part of the package of jury instructions.” Id. “[A]n
imperfect instruction is not grounds for setting aside a conviction if the instruction fairly
presented the issues to be tried and adequately protected the defendant's rights.” People v
Kowalski, 489 Mich. 488, 501-502; 803 NW2d 200 (2011). Likewise, defense counsel will not
be deemed constitutionally ineffective for failing to object to an imperfect instruction that fairly
presents the applicable law and sufficiently protects the defendant’s rights. People v Clark, 274
Mich. App. 248, 257; 732 NW2d 605 (2007).

        Relevant to defendant’s argument, in Handley, the Court set forth the necessity of
instructing the jury on the ordering of deliberations when a case involves a principal offense as
well as lesser included offenses. The Court explained:

       [A] jury . . . must be told to consider the principal charge first. It should then be
       instructed that if it fails to convict or acquit or is unable to agree whether to
       convict or acquit on that offense, it may then turn to lesser offenses. The correct
       instruction would be that after the jury has given consideration to the greater
       offense, it may turn to lesser offenses either if it finds the defendant not guilty of
       the greater offense or if it is unable to agree on whether the defendant is guilty or
       not guilty of the greater offense. The judge may add that it is for the jury to
       decide how long to spend considering the greater offense before turning to a
       consideration of lesser offenses or, stated differently, it is for the jury to decide
       whether, having failed to reach an agreement on guilt or innocence on a greater
       offense, to spend more time in an attempt to reach unanimous agreement on the
       greater offense or whether the time has come to turn to lesser offenses. The judge
       may also add that of course the jury will not turn to lesser offenses if it finds the
       defendant guilty of the greater offense. [Handley, 415 Mich. at 361.]

       In this case, consistent with Handley, the trial court instructed the jury in keeping with M
Crim JI 3.11(6), in relevant part, as follows:

              In this case, there are several different crimes that you may consider.
       When you discuss the case, you must consider the crime of first-degree,
       premeditated murder first. If you all agree that the Defendant is guilty of that
       crime, you may stop your discussions and return your verdict.

               If you believe that the Defendant is not guilty of first-degree premeditated
       murder, of if you cannot agree about that crime, you should consider the less
       serious crimes of second-degree murder and/or involuntary manslaughter.

                                                -5-
                You should decide how long to spend on first-degree premediated murder
         before discussing second-degree murder and/or involuntary manslaughter.

               You can go back to first-degree murder after discussing second-degree
         murder and/or involuntary manslaughter if you want.

This was an accurate statement of law that fairly presented the issues and adequately protected
defendant’s rights. Indeed, M Crim JI 3.11(6) was patterned on Handley2 and M Crim JI 3.11 is
considered “a sound instruction . . . .” People v Pollick, 448 Mich. 376, 386; 531 NW2d 159
(1995). See also People v Gonzalez, 197 Mich. App. 385, 399; 496 NW2d 312 (1992).

       Despite this proper instruction, defendant nonetheless maintains that the trial court
confused the jury with additional incorrect comments and the use of an improper jury verdict
form. In this regard, immediately after giving the instruction detailed above, the trial court went
on to describe the jury form as follows:

                 Now, we do have a jury verdict form that we will be sending back to the
         jury when you go in. And you only can return one verdict for the charge. So we
         have here Count 1, homicide, open murder: Not guilty or guilty of first-degree
         murder. Then it says if you decide that the Defendant is guilty of first-degree
         murder, you may stop your deliberations and return your verdict. There is a spot
         for the foreperson to sign.

                 If you find that the Defendant is not guilty of first-degree murder, you may
         also consider the less serious crime of second-degree murder, which also has a not
         guilty or guilty. If you decide that the Defendant is not guilty, either first-degree
         or second-degree, you may consider the less serious crime of involuntary
         manslaughter. That also has guilty or not guilty. So it’s more accurate to say that
         you can only return one guilty verdict for any charge. You have to consider not
         guilty on all three. When I said you can only return one verdict for this charge,
         that’s only one guilty verdict for this charge in this matter.

Defendant now contends that these instructions, which were mirrored on the jury verdict form,
improperly suggested that the jury could not move on to consideration of a lesser charge unless
they reached a guilty or not guilty verdict, without clarifying that they could also move on to a
lesser charge if they simply could not agree. See Handley, 415 Mich. at 361. Although the jury
had previously been instructed accurately on this point, relying on People v Hess, 214 Mich. App.
33, 37; 543 NW2d 332 (1995), defendant contends that, because there were correct and incorrect
instructions presented to the jury, it must be presumed that the jury followed the incorrect
charge.

      Considering the instructions as a whole, we do not see error requiring reversal.
Although, if viewed in isolation, the jury form and the court’s explanation of the form did not

2
    See M Crim JI 3.11, Use Note.

                                                 -6-
impart all the information required by Handley, the trial court in fact gave the required Handley
instruction, expressly stating that the jury could move to consideration of a lesser offense if they
could not reach a unanimous verdict regarding the principal charge. The form and the court’s
subsequent instructions regarding the form did not overtly contradict this clearly articulated point
of law. That is, the verdict form and the court’s additional comments were silent on what the
jury should do if it could not agree on the principal charge, and thus there was no conflict with
the court’s earlier explicit instruction to move on to consideration of a lesser charge if the jury
could not agree.3 When considering the instructions as whole, the latter instructions simply
explained the use of the verdict form, in particular the use of the “guilty” and “not guilty” check
boxes which appeared on the form for each offense. See generally People v Wade, 283 Mich
App 462, 468; 771 NW2d 447 (2009) (holding that a jury verdict form has to give the jury the
option of returning a general not guilty verdict or a not guilty verdict with regard to each
offense). In short, even if the form and the court’s instruction thereon were imperfect on their
own, when they are read in conjunction with the express Handley instruction, we see no basis for
reversing defendant’s conviction.

        Indeed, even if the verdict form or the trial court’s explanation of the form arguably
created some confusion by implying that the jury could not move on to a lesser offense without
first reaching a unanimous verdict on the principal charge, it is plain that the trial court later
again clarified this point in response to a jury question, and a jury will not be presumed to have
followed an incorrect instruction that has been corrected by the trial court. See People v
Hardesty, 139 Mich. App. 124, 132; 362 NW2d 787 (1984). In particular, compliant with Hadley,
the trial court responded “yes” when the jury asked: “If we do not unanimously agree on a
charge for 1st degree, and we do have a unanimous guilty verdict on a lesser charge, can we
render a verdict on the charge we agree on?”4 The trial court’s response to the jury’s question
again made plain that the jury could consider a lesser charge before reaching a unanimous

3
  Cf. Hess, 214 Mich. App. at 36 (presuming the jury followed incorrect instruction when the jury
was instructed that accident was a defense to manslaughter and also instructed that accident is
not a defense to manslaughter). See also People v Clark, 340 Mich. 411, 418; 65 NW2d 717
(1954) (“Where conflicting instructions are given, one erroneous and the other correct, we must
presume that the jury followed the erroneous instruction.” (emphasis added)).
4
  Defendant contends that the jury’s question evinces the fact that the jury reached a unanimous
verdict regarding a lesser offense, but that they refrained from returning such a verdict because
of their confusion over whether they had to reach a unanimous verdict on the principal charge
before considering the lesser offenses. However, the jury’s question is plainly hypothetical,
asking what they should do “if” they “do not unanimously agree on a charge for 1st degree, and
we do have a unanimous guilty verdict on a lesser charge[.]” Moreover, the jury went on to
deliberate for several more hours after the trial court’s affirmative response to their question,
belying a claim that they had reached a verdict. Indeed, if, at the time they posed their question,
they had reached a verdict regarding a lesser offense without having reached a unanimous verdict
on the principal offense, this fact would only demonstrate the jury’s understanding of the concept
that it was free to move on to deliberation of lesser offenses if it could not reach a unanimous
verdict regarding the principal offense.

                                                -7-
verdict on first-degree murder. Consequently, defendant has not shown error entitling him to
reversal, and he has not established his ineffective assistance of counsel claim.

           III. VOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER & ACCIDENT INSTRUCTIONS

         With regard to jury instructions, defendant also argues that trial counsel was ineffective
for failing to request an instruction on accident and voluntary manslaughter because the evidence
at trial supported the giving of these instructions. For example, defendant emphasizes that
numerous people were yelling at defendant, that Berlin used profanity, and that there was
evidence that Berlin may have swung at the vehicle. McCulloch also testified that there were
numerous people around at the time of the incident and that, although he did not fear for his
safety, he felt “a little bit” “threatened.” Defendant maintains that these circumstances merited
instructions on accident and voluntary manslaughter such that counsel acted unreasonably by
failing to request these instructions, particularly when counsel in fact argued at trial that
defendant made his decisions in a “snap second,” without time to calm down after being
provoked.

       Voluntary manslaughter is a lesser included offense of murder. People v Mendoza, 468
Mich. 527, 541; 664 NW2d 685 (2003). “Consequently, when a defendant is charged with
murder, an instruction for voluntary . . . manslaughter must be given if supported by a rational
view of the evidence.” Id. See also MCL 768.32(1). Generally, “to show voluntary
manslaughter, one must show that the defendant killed in the heat of passion, the passion was
caused by adequate provocation, and there was not a lapse of time during which a reasonable
person could control his passions.” Mendoza, 468 Mich. at 535. Whether the provocation was
adequate is “that which would cause a reasonable person to lose control.” People v Sullivan,
231 Mich. App. 510, 518; 586 NW2d 578 (1998). While the “determination of what is reasonable
provocation is a question of fact for the factfinder,” the trial court may determine as a matter of
law that no reasonable jury could find that the provocation was adequate. People v Pouncey, 437
Mich. 382, 390-391; 471 NW2d 346 (1991).

        In this case, trial counsel was not ineffective for failing to request an instruction on
voluntary manslaughter because a rational view of the evidence did not support the instruction,
and counsel cannot be considered ineffective for failing to advocate a meritless position. Mack,
265 Mich. App. at 130. At most, the evidence shows that, while outside with a group of family
and friends, Berlin may have used profanity when yelling for defendant to slow down and that he
may have swung at the truck. During these events, defendant was, at all times, in the safety of
his vehicle, and he had the option of simply driving away. Cf. Pouncey, 437 Mich. at 391-392.
In these circumstances, a reasonable person would not view Berlin’s minor insults as sufficient
provocation for deliberately running him down with a pick-up truck. See id. at 389, 391.
Furthermore, the testimony established that defendant had a “cooling off” period before he struck
Berlin, during the time that he stopped, reversed, and then paused for 30 to 45 seconds before
driving forward. This time was a reasonably sufficient “cooling off” period to alleviate whatever
passions were incited by Berlin’s words and conduct. See People v Wofford, 196 Mich. App. 275,
280; 492 NW2d 747 (1992). Quite simply, given this evidence, a reasonable jury could not
conclude that “defendant’s emotions [are] so intense that they distort the defendant’s practical
reasoning.” Pouncey, 437 Mich. at 389. For this reason, the evidence did not warrant an

                                                -8-
instruction on voluntary manslaughter, and counsel was not ineffective for failing to make a
meritless request.5 See Mack, 265 Mich. App. at 129.

        Moreover, even if counsel should have requested such an instruction, defendant has not
shown prejudice. The jury was in fact given the option of lesser included offenses aside from
voluntary manslaughter but they nonetheless convicted defendant of first-degree murder.
“[W]here a defendant is convicted of first-degree murder, and the jury rejects other lesser
included offenses, the failure to instruct on voluntary manslaughter is harmless.” Sullivan, 231
Mich. App. at 520. See also People v Raper, 222 Mich. App. 475, 483-484; 563 NW2d 709
(1997). Thus, defendant was not prejudiced by counsel’s failure to seek this instruction, and his
ineffective assistance of counsel claim must fail.

        Defendant’s argument that he is entitled to a new trial because counsel failed to request
an instruction regarding an accident defense fails for the same reasons. First, the instruction was
not warranted because there was no evidence that defendant accidentally or inadvertently struck
Berlin. Cf. Mills, 450 Mich. at 82. Second, instructed on first-degree and second-degree murder
as well as involuntary manslaughter, the jury returned a verdict of first-degree murder, which
required a finding of intent wholly inconsistent with a finding of accident. See People v
Hawthorne, 474 Mich. 174, 185; 713 NW2d 724 (2006). If the jury had any doubts with regard
to defendant’s intent, it would have returned a lesser verdict. Cf. id. On these facts, defendant
has not shown a reasonable probability that the result would have been different with an accident
instruction. Therefore, his ineffective assistance of counsel claim must fail.

                     IV. ADMISSIBILITY OF ELECTRONIC EVIDENCE

       Defendant argues that trial counsel provided ineffective assistance by failing to object to
the admission of the Facebook posts. According to defendant, counsel should have objected to
the messages because they were irrelevant, MRE 401, unduly prejudicial, MRE 403, not properly
authenticated, MRE 901, and not the original writing, MRE 1002.

         As discussed in more detail below, defendant has not shown that counsel was
unreasonable in failing to challenge the admission of the Facebook posts or that such an
objection would have altered the outcome of the proceedings. See Douglas, 496 Mich. at 592.
The decision to object or to move for the exclusion of evidence is typically a matter of trial
strategy, Eliason, 300 Mich. App. at 302-303; and, we will not second-guess counsel on matters of
trial-strategy, People v Horn, 279 Mich. App. 31, 39; 755 NW2d 212 (2008). As noted,
“[e]ffective assistance of counsel is presumed, and the defendant bears a heavy burden to prove

5
  Insofar as defendant notes on appeal that his counsel presented an argument consistent with
voluntary manslaughter without requesting such an instruction, this does not demonstrate
defendant’s entitlement to a voluntary manslaughter instruction. Counsel’s arguments are not
evidence, and the presentation of a theory during arguments “does not provide the supportive
evidence needed to warrant a jury instruction of the same.” People v Mills, 450 Mich. 61, 82 n
15; 537 NW2d 909 (1995), mod 450 Mich. 1212 (1995).

                                                -9-
otherwise.” Mack, 265 Mich. App. at 129. Counsel will not be considered ineffective for failing
to advocate a meritless position. Id. at 130.

                                           A. MRE 901

         Under MRE 901(a), authentication constitutes a condition precedent to admissibility. To
merit admission, there must be sufficient evidence “to support a finding that the matter in
question is what its proponent claims.” MRE 901(a); People v McDade, 301 Mich. App. 343,
352; 836 NW2d 266 (2013). MRE 901(b) sets forth a non-exhaustive list of methods of
authentication, including testimony from a witness with knowledge that a matter is what it is
claimed to be, MRE 901(b)(1), and evidence of “distinctive characteristics,” meaning
“[a]ppearance, contents, substance, internal patterns, or other distinctive characteristics, taken in
conjunction with circumstances,” MRE 901(b)(4). “It is axiomatic that proposed evidence need
not tell the whole story of a case, nor need it be free of weakness or doubt. It need only meet the
minimum requirements for admissibility.” McDade, 301 Mich. App. at 353 (citation omitted).
Moreover, “a trial court may consider any evidence regardless of that evidence's admissibility at
trial, as long as the evidence is not privileged, in determining whether the evidence proffered for
admission at trial is admissible.” Id. (citation omitted).

        In this case, the posts in question were made on an account under the name of “Sean
Smoke.” Both Benn and McColloch, friends of defendant and witnesses with knowledge,
confirmed that this was defendant’s alias and defendant’s Facebook account.6 For example,
Benn identified the profile picture as a Halloween photograph of defendant, and she explained
that she knew it was defendant’s account because they had been in contact through the page,
during the 3 or 4 years that they had been Facebook friends. This was sufficient evidence to
establish that the posts were made on a page belonging to defendant. See MRE 901(b)(1). See
also Campbell v State, 382 S.W.3d 545, 550 (Tex App 2012) (recognizing that one of the
problems with authenticating social media postings is that “anyone can establish a fictitious
profile under any name”); Smith v State, 136 So 3d 424, 432 (Miss 2014) (same).

        Nonetheless, defendant argues that counsel should have objected because the prosecutor
failed to establish that defendant personally posted the specific comments in question. See
Campbell, 382 S.W.3d at 550 (recognizing that a second problem with authenticating social media
postings is that “a person may gain access to another person's account by obtaining the user's
name and password,” meaning that it “cannot be certain that the author is in fact the profile
owner”). However, defendant makes this claim in the ineffective assistance context and, in this
context, he has not shown counsel performed unreasonably or that a different result would have
been probable.

       In particular, we note that defendant has never actually denied authorship of the first post
in question—not in the trial court, not in his affidavit supporting his request for a new trial, and

6
 Out of the presence of the jury, Benn explained that defendant used a pseudonym on Facebook
because he was a registered sex offender subject to prohibitions regarding his Internet usage.

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not on appeal. In such circumstances, counsel had no reason to doubt the authenticity of the post
and was not unreasonable in pursuing a trial strategy other than an objection under MRE 901.
Indeed, as evinced by an affidavit from Detective Bradley Delaney, presented by the prosecutor
in response to defendant’s motion for a new trial, defendant admitted to police that he made the
first posting. Defendant’s admission of authorship would serve as sufficient evidence for
authentication purposes. See Smith, 136 So 3d at 433. And, defense counsel was evidently
aware of this interview given that, at trial, there was discussion, out of the jury’s presence, as to
whether the attorneys could question the detective about defendant’s explanations for the posts.
In light of defendant’s admission during this interview, any objection under MRE 901 would
have been futile, and counsel will not be considered ineffective for failing to make a futile
objection. See Mack, 265 Mich. App. at 130. Indeed, it was sound trial strategy for counsel not to
object to the authentication of the posts because the prosecution may have been prompted to
elicit foundational testimony from Detective Delaney regarding defendant’s admissions before
the jury. Such testimony would have been damaging to the theory defense counsel argued to the
jury—that defendant’s responsibility for the posts was pure speculation.

        We note that, according to Detective Delaney’s affidavit, during his interview with
police, defendant denied making the second posting. However, given the temporal proximity
between the two posts, the connection in the content of the two messages, and the circumstances
surrounding the post (i.e., defendant’s reckless and even “stupid” behavior shortly after this
posting), we are not persuaded that defendant’s denial of authorship would undermine the
authentication of the second post or that counsel would have prevailed on an objection to this
evidence. See McDade, 301 Mich. App. at 353. In any event, the first post would still have been
admitted and this first, more incriminating, post was, on its own, strong evidence of defendant’s
state of mind, such that defendant cannot show prejudice from counsel’s failure to object to the
second posting. On the whole, defendant has not demonstrated that counsel provided ineffective
assistance by failing to object to the Facebook posts on the basis of MRE 901.

                                   B. MRE 401 AND MRE 403

        In addition, contrary to defendant’s arguments, the Facebook posts were relevant and not
unfairly prejudicial, meaning that counsel was not ineffective for failing to challenge the
admission of the postings on this basis. Under MRE 401, “relevant evidence is any fact that is of
consequence to the determination of the action.” People v Fisher, 449 Mich. 441, 452; 537
NW2d 577 (1995). The posts show that, less than 90 minutes before he drove his truck into
Berlin, defendant made grave remarks about wanting to kill someone and made ominous
predictions about being gone for a while as a result of doing something “stupid.” The posts were
thus highly illustrative of defendant’s state of mind just prior to the killing. Cf. Eliason, 300
Mich. App. at 301; People v Rushlow, 179 Mich. App. 172, 176; 445 NW2d 222 (1989). Indeed,
the posts were evidence of premeditation and deliberation because they suggested that defendant
had considered killing and the consequences of killing before he committed murder. Cf. Eliason,
300 Mich. App. at 301. While decidedly incriminating, the posts were not overly graphic or
sensational, nor did they interject extraneous considerations into the trial. See Mills, 450 Mich. at
75; Fisher, 449 Mich. at 452. Given the strong probative value of the posts with regard to
defendant’s state of mind, the posts’ probative value was not substantially outweighed by the
danger of unfair prejudice. See MRE 403; People v Sabin (After Remand), 463 Mich. 43, 70-71;

                                                -11-
614 NW2d 888 (2000). Counsel was not ineffective for failing to raise a futile objection to the
posts on the basis of MRE 401 and MRE 403.7 Cf. Eliason, 300 Mich. App. at 302.

                                           C. MRE 1002

        We also reject defendant’s argument that the posts should have been excluded under the
“best evidence rule.” “To prove the content of a writing, recording, or photograph, the original
writing, recording, or photograph is required, except as otherwise provided in these rules or by
statute.” MRE 1002. In this case, defendant appears to argue that his computer hard drive
and/or an electronic copy of the postings should have been admitted as the “best evidence.”
However, under MRE 1003, “[a] duplicate is admissible to the same extent as an original unless
(1) a genuine question is raised as to the authenticity of the original or (2) in the circumstances it
would be unfair to admit the duplicate in lieu of the original.” As discussed supra, any
objections regarding authenticity would have proved meritless, and we can see nothing in the
circumstances that would make it unfair to admit duplicates of the Facebook postings such as a
printout. Consequently, duplicates were admissible under MRE 1003, and object by counsel on
this basis would have been futile, and defendant has not shown prejudice. Overall, counsel was
not ineffective for failing to object based on MRE 1002.

                                    V. EXPERT TESTIMONY

        Next, defendant challenges the expert testimony of Dr. John Bechinski, the forensic
pathologist who performed Berlin’s autopsy. Bechinski testified that the cause of death was
blunt force trauma and the manner of death was homicide. However, defendant notes that there
was no physical evidence to show whether death was intentional or accidental, and defendant
contends that Bechinski’s opinion regarding the manner of death was improper because, in
reaching this conclusion, Bechinski relied on hearsay from witnesses at the scene. According to
defendant, this reliance on hearsay deprived defendant of his constitutional right to cross-
examine witnesses and counsel was ineffective for failing to object.

        There is no merit to defendant’s argument. Bechinski was qualified as an expert in
forensic pathology and performed the autopsy on the victim. As a forensic pathologist, it was
within the proper scope of Bechinski’s expert opinion to testify regarding both the cause and
manner of death. See MRE 702; Unger, 278 Mich. App. at 251-252; People v Yost, 278 Mich
App 341, 395; 749 NW2d 753 (2009). This testimony was not impermissible merely because it
embraced the ultimate issue at trial. See MRE 704; People v Smith, 425 Mich. 98, 106; 387

7
  Defendant also briefly challenges the Facebook posts to the extent that the evidence admitted
also contained hearsay in the form of comments from defendant’s “friends” on Facebook in
response to his original postings. See MRE 801. Even if these remarks should not have been
admitted, we cannot see that defendant was prejudiced by counsel’s failure to object. The
significance of defendant’s postings was his state of mind as expressed in the posts authored by
defendant. It is not reasonably probable that his friends’ various comments, even if
objectionable, affected the outcome of the proceedings.

                                                -12-
NW2d 814 (1986). Moreover, “an expert witness may rely on hearsay evidence when the
witness formulates an opinion,” People v Lonsby, 268 Mich. App. 375, 383; 707 NW2d 610
(2005), meaning that Bechinski’s opinion is not objectionable merely because he considered
statements made by individuals present at the scene.

        However, it is true that, under MRE 703, “[t]he facts or data in the particular case upon
which an expert bases an opinion or inference shall be in evidence. . . .” The evidence upon
which the expert based his opinion may be conditionally received, “subject to the condition that
the factual bases of the opinion be admitted in evidence thereafter.” MRE 703. According to
Bechinski’s testimony, his opinion was based on his examination of Berlin’s body, which
showed injuries consistent with a history of having been intentionally struck by a motor vehicle.
Beckinski explained that he had seen other cases where someone used a motor vehicle as a
deadly weapon. Thus, his opinion was based in large part on his own observations and
experience, and was properly admitted. See MRE 702; MRE 703. We recognize that Bechinski
conceded that his opinion of “homicide” was based, in part, on the “circumstances” of the crash
that had been reported to him. However, to the extent defendant emphasizes that these
circumstances included observations made by witnesses at the scene or facts collected by police,
numerous eyewitnesses and police officers testified at trial, meaning that the facts upon which
Bechinski based his opinion were admitted into evidence as required by MRE 703.8 Thus,
defendant has not shown anything improper in Bechinski’s testimony, and counsel did not
provide ineffective assistance by failing to object.

         Further, defendant has not shown a reasonable probability of a different outcome absent
Bechinski’s opinion on “homicide.” From Bechinski’s testimony it is quite clear that his
definition of “homicide” was not intended “to carry any legal significance,” but was “used for
statistical purposes only.” In this respect, Bechinski defined homicide as “when one kills another
person” through “a volitional act.” Given this broad definition, it is clear that Bechinski was not
opining that defendant was guilty of first-degree murder, and thus Bechinski’s “homicide”
classification would not have warranted a first-degree murder verdict, which requires more than
a volitional act resulting in death. See generally Mendoza, 468 Mich. at 534-540; Bennett, 290
Mich. App. at 472. In these circumstances, it does not seem reasonably probable that Bechinski’s
testimony affected the outcome of the proceedings. Further, the jury was instructed to evaluate
expert testimony in the context of the other evidence in the case and that, when assessing expert
testimony, they should “think carefully about the reasons and facts that he gave for his opinion
and whether those facts are true.” “It is well established that jurors are presumed to follow their
instructions.” People v Graves, 458 Mich. 476, 486; 581 NW2d 229 (1998). The instructions in
this case properly informed the jury how to weigh Bechinski’s expert opinion, minimizing any
potential prejudice. Defendant is not entitled to relief on this basis.

                                  VI. CUMULATIVE ERROR

8
  Given the eyewitness testimony at trial and defendant’s opportunity to cross-examine these
witnesses, there is no merit to his cursory claim that he was denied an opportunity for cross-
examination. See generally People v Fackelman, 489 Mich. 515, 528; 802 NW2d 552 (2011).

                                               -13-
        Finally, defendant contends that, even if the individual errors standing alone do not
require reversal, the cumulative effect of those errors merits a new trial. However, “[a]bsent the
establishment of errors, there can be no cumulative effect of errors meriting reversal.” People v
Dobek, 274 Mich. App. 58, 106; 732 NW2d 546 (2007). Having found no errors in this case, the
cumulative error doctrine is inapplicable.9

       Affirmed.

                                                              /s/ Joel P. Hoekstra
                                                              /s/ Peter D. O’Connell
                                                              /s/ Christopher M. Murray

9
  On appeal defendant also requests a remand for a Ginther hearing. For the reasons explained,
defendant’s claims of ineffective assistance of counsel are clearly without merit. Nothing in his
arguments on appeal, or the materials he presented to the trial court in support of his request for a
Ginther hearing, suggests that his position would benefit from an evidentiary hearing. His
request is therefore denied.

                                                -14-