People v. Lester
People v. Lester
Opinion of the Court
Defendant, Clark Lester, was convicted by a jury in the Washtenaw County Circuit Court of murder in the first degree (MCLA 750.316; MSA 28.548). A motion for new trial was filed on August 1, 1968. An evidentiary hearing on the motion was begun but was, on defense counsel’s request, adjourned without date. A supplement to the motion for new trial was filed in August of 1971, and an evidentiary hearing held thereon. On August 4, 1972, the motion was denied. Defendant now appeals.
Defendant first contends that the admission of certain time cards into evidence constituted a violation of his constitutional right of confrontation as guaranteed by Const 1963, art 1, § 20 and the Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution. Although defendant objected to the admission of these cards when they were offered into evidence, his objection was based on relevancy. The prosecution contends that this Court should not now consider this issue because the objection below did not encompass the grounds for reversal now urged. We disagree. It is settled law in this state that failure to object does not preclude this Court from reviewing a claim where a constitutional right is likely to have been infringed. People v Thomas, 44 Mich App 649; 205 NW2d 604 (1973); People v Cotton, 38 Mich App 763; 197 NW2d 90 (1972).
In People v Lewis, 294 Mich 684; 293 NW 907 (1940), our Supreme Court held that it was error to admit business records into evidence in a criminal proceeding under an exception to the hearsay rule because to do so deprives the defendant of his
Defendant next contends that the trial court committed reversible error by allowing the prosecutor to raise and put into issue the defendant’s character and reputation before the defendant had done so. An examination of the record reveals that although defendant’s counsel initially objected to the line of questioning sought to be pursued by the prosecutor in his cross-examination of defendant, an agreement was subsequently reached between
Defendant finally contends that he was deprived of due process of law by the prosecution’s failure to disclose to defense counsel the fact that a .22-caliber pistol and a ballistics test performed thereon were in the possession of the police at the time of trial. This issue was first raised by defendant in his motion for new trial and is thus properly before us for our consideration. People v Stedman, 41 Mich App 393; 200 NW2d 370 (1972).
A hearing was held on defendant’s motion for new trial at which testimony was presented revealing that, from the time defendant was first questioned, the police had in their custody a .22-caliber pistol and ballistics tests which had been performed thereon. Defendant was apprised of the fact that the gun was in the possession of the police during questioning but his counsel was never so informed. No request was made prior to or during trial for disclosure of evidence of this type. There is no allegation that the prosecutor deliberately withheld this information from defendant’s counsel and the record does not reveal any bad faith on the part of the prosecutor. A police officer who participated in the initial investigation of this crime testified that there was
"To invalidate convictions in such cases because a combing of the prosecutors’ files after the trial has disclosed evidence possibly useful to the defense but not likely to have changed the verdict would create unbearable burdens and uncertainties.”
An examination of the trial transcript reveals that defendant’s account and theory of what transpired on the night in question was effectively presented to the jury who chose to disbelieve him. We are unable to perceive how the evidence complained of on this appeal would have changed that result. At the hearing on his motion for new trial, defendant, with respect to this issue, failed to establish anything beyond the fact that his counsel was not apprised of the existence of these items. The statement that this weapon was not involved in the case remains undisputed.
Affirmed.
The holding of the Supreme Court in Lewis was subjected to vigorous criticism in People v Gauthier, 28 Mich App 318; 184 NW2d 488 (1970), leave den, 384 Mich 812 (1971), and is presently being reconsidered in People v Kirtdoll, 44 Mich App 237; 205 NW2d 44 (1972), leave granted, 389 Mich 784 (1973). Until the Supreme Court overrules Lewis we are bound by that decision.
Dissenting Opinion
(dissenting). I cannot subscribe to the majority’s conclusion that the admission of the time cards was harmless error.
The theory propounded by the defense in its opening statement and pursued throughout the trial was that either the prosecution’s only
The admission of the time cards contrary to the mandate of People v Lewis, 294 Mich 684; 293 NW 907 (1940), which proscribes the admission of business records in criminal cases, indicated the companion and the eyewitness’s brother were at work at the time of the killing thus negating the defendant’s theory of the case that the eyewitness, his brother, or their friend committed the crime and that the eyewitness implicated the defendant in order to protect one or more of the trio. Therefore
Clearly the evidence produced against the defendant was not overwhelming. Only one witness was produced who could identify the defendant as the killer. The admission of the time cards not only undermined the defendant’s theory of the case but also impermissibly bolstered the credibility of the eyewitness. It cannot be said that the jury completely ignored the import and purpose of the time card evidence.
Accordingly to cure the prejudice engendered by the time card evidence, I vote to reverse and remand for a new trial.
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