Court Opinion

ID: 9687840
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 16:51:11.839708+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:18:32.295974
License: Public Domain

T. M. Burns, J.
(dissenting). I cannot agree with the majority decision that there was not a sufficient showing of any deal upon the record to justify further inquiry.
The majority concedes that "if Goeppner’s and Carl’s testimony was secured by promises of leniency, the jury must be apprised of that fact”. See Giglio v United States, 405 US 150; 92 S Ct 763; 31 L Ed 2d 104 (1972); People v Nettles, 41 Mich App 215; 199 NW2d 845 (1972). However the majority concludes that the length of time between the date the testimony was given and the date the motions for new trial were made militated against a finding that there was any deal made by the prosecutor to secure the testimony.
*515I do not believe that the period of time between the date the testimony was given and the date the motions for new trial were made is dispositive of the question of the existence of a deal. The delay in resentencing is not inconsistent with defendant’s theory. Goeppner and Carl were originally sentenced to life imprisonment. If there in fact was a deal whereby they would have their sentences reduced to a minimum of 7-1/2 years, the delay of 2 years certainly did not prejudice them. These witnesses would not be harmed by the delay in bringing the actions for a new trial until the expiration of the aforementioned 7-1/2 years.
After carefully reviewing the record in this case, I am convinced that in spite of the denials by Goeppner and Carl, a deal in fact had existed. Defendant’s counsel did not have sufficient information at his disposal to prove the existence of a deal, and while he was able to hint that such a deal existed when cross-examining these witnesses, he could not conclusively prove its existence.
Whether the prosecution merely failed to obtain this evidence rather than actively suppressed evidence already in hand is of no consequence here. People v Jordan, 23 Mich App 375, 388; 178 NW2d 659 (1970). The fact remains that the existence of a deal was effectively suppressed from the jury. This information would have been of immeasurable benefit to the jury in determining Goeppner and Carl’s credibility where credibility was such an important issue as in the instant case. The defendant did not receive a fair trial. Consequently, he is entitled to a new trial where once the question of the existence of a deal has been raised, the prosecution should be required to show by clear and convincing evidence that no such deal existed.
I vote to reverse and remand for a new trial.