Summary
In People v Maclin, 101 Mich App 593, 596; 300 NW2d 642 (1980), this Court concluded that a victim's actions in self-defense could not be used to reduce an aggressor's crime of murder to manslaughter.
Summary of this case from People v. BeauchampOpinion
Docket Nos. 46029, 46030.
Decided November 20, 1980.
Frank J. Kelley, Attorney General, Robert A. Derengoski, Solicitor General, William L. Cahalan, Prosecuting Attorney, Edward Reilly Wilson, Principal Attorney, Appeals, and Timothy L. Cronin, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, for the people.
Gerald S. Surowiec, for defendants.
Before: D.C. RILEY, P.J., and N.J. KAUFMAN and MacKENZIE, JJ.
Defendants were convicted of two counts of first-degree felony murder in violation of MCL 750.316; MSA 28.548 after a jury trial in Detroit Recorder's Court which commenced on April 3, 1979. Defendant Harvey was also convicted of possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony in violation of MCL 750.227b; MSA 28.424(2). On April 18, 1979, the trial court dismissed this latter conviction on the grounds that it was unconstitutional and then sentenced both defendants to life in prison. Defendants appeal as of right, pursuant to GCR 1963, 806.1.
Of the issues raised by defendants on appeal, the first presents a novel question. Defendants argue that a requested instruction of manslaughter should have been given. They point to evidence on the record suggesting that defendant Harvey shot one of the victims because she pulled a gun on him. We note that there was no direct testimony at trial that either deceased had a weapon. The only evidence presented that could possibly have suggested provocation was testimony of an accomplice, Rudolph, who had turned state's evidence. Rudolph stated that when defendant Harvey returned to the car, he said he had shot one of the victims because she had tried to draw a gun.
What defendants were, in essence, requesting was a self-defense instruction. It is well established by case law, and dictated as well by common law and common sense, that an aggressor has no right of self-defense. See People v Etheridge Turner, 37 Mich. App. 226, 229; 194 N.W.2d 546 (1971), lv den 387 Mich. 767 (1972), People v Couch, 49 Mich. App. 69, 74; 211 N.W.2d 250 (1973), lv den 391 Mich. 755 (1973), CJI 7:9:04. The defendants, therefore, had no right to shoot the victim even if it was believed that she attempted to defend herself by drawing a gun.
Defendants' argument in this case, however, is not that the killing was in self-defense but rather that a victim's attempted self-defense can be viewed as adequate and reasonable provocation which would so influence one's passions as to reduce the killing to manslaughter.
Generally, the provocation necessary to reduce the crime of murder to manslaughter is that which would cause one to act out of passion rather than with due deliberation and reflection. See Maher v People, 10 Mich. 208 (1862), People v Younger, 380 Mich. 678; 158 N.W.2d 493 (1968). While no cases have been found directly addressing the issue of whether a robbery victim's attempted self-defense can be viewed as sufficient provocation to reduce murder to manslaughter, reason dictates that this cannot be.
Manslaughter is not a necessarily lesser included offense of first-degree murder. People v Van Wyck, 402 Mich. 266; 262 N.W.2d 638 (1978). In fact, the only reason a second-degree murder instruction was given was that it was required. Nothing in the evidence suggested a crime less than felony murder. Under such circumstances, the statement in the CJI Homicide Commentary is well taken: "It would be somewhat ludicrous to let the felon kill in self-defense after creating the danger * * * where, but for the felony, the death would not have occurred". CJI 16-126.
Defendant Harvey asserts a separate ground of error, which we shall address but briefly. He contends that there was insufficient evidence offered to support the verdict with respect to him. In reviewing the sufficiency of evidence, this Court must consider whether or not the evidence is sufficient for reasonable jurors to find defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. People v Hampton, 407 Mich. 354; 285 N.W.2d 284 (1979).
In the present case, the testimony of Rudolph, the alleged accomplice, established that Harvey planned to rob one of the victims. The testimony of one witness, Mr. Carter, was that Harvey shot both victims. There was also evidence that immediately after the shooting Harvey stated that, "* * * when I tell a bitch to give me some money, I want the money". This could indicate actual intent to kill. It is therefore concluded that there was sufficient evidence to support the conviction of defendant Harvey.
Defendant Maclin asserts two grounds of error, applicable only to him, which we shall address in turn. First, defendant Maclin contends that the trial court erred by admitting evidence of Maclin's prior conviction for attempted larceny from a person. Defendant Maclin claims that the trial court abused its discretion because the prior conviction for attempted larceny from a person was similar to the crime of armed robbery, the underlying felony in the instant case.
When the prior conviction and the charged offense are similar, a court should consider the similarity as a factor weighing heavily against admissibility. Gordon v United States, 127 US App DC 343; 383 F.2d 936 (1967), People v Green, 86 Mich. App. 142; 272 N.W.2d 216 (1978). However, in People v Hughes, 93 Mich. App. 333, 337; 287 N.W.2d 226 (1979), the Court stated that "similarity does not per se bar every impeachment by evidence of a prior conviction". See also People v Townsend, 60 Mich. App. 204; 230 N.W.2d 378 (1975).
The trial court did consider the similarity issue, which was raised at the time of its ruling on admissibility, and found that the crimes were not particularly similar. We agree. The crimes are significantly dissimilar. The crime of armed robbery is assaultive in nature, whereas the prior conviction was for a nonassaultive crime. The trial court's ruling in the present case is certainly supportable, and there was no abuse of discretion. See Hughes, supra.
As his final ground of error, defendant Maclin argues that there was insufficient evidence of the requisite intent on his part to defeat his motion for a directed verdict. The evidence, as we view it, was wholly inconsistent with defendant Maclin's claim that he was merely present. He accompanied Harvey to the scene and, after Mrs. Williams was shot, a witness testified that Maclin took money from her pocket. Both Maclin and Harvey ran from the scene to the car where Rudolph was waiting.
In deciding whether or not to grant a motion for a directed verdict of acquittal, the trial court must consider the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution and determine whether a rational trier of fact could find that the essential elements of the crime were established beyond a reasonable doubt. Hampton, supra.
In light of the evidence that defendant Maclin actively participated in the armed robbery, we find that there was sufficient evidence of all elements of the crime to support the denial of a directed verdict.
Affirmed.