People of Michigan v. Nima Nassiri ( 2016 )

STATE OF MICHIGAN
COURT OF APPEALS
PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN, UNPUBLISHED
April 7, 2016
Plaintiff-Appellee,
v No. 324868
Houghton Circuit Court
NIMA NASSIRI, LC No. 2014-002750-FC
Defendant-Appellant.
Before: BOONSTRA, P.J., and WILDER and METER, JJ.
PER CURIAM.
Defendant appeals by right his conviction, following a jury trial, of second-degree
murder, MCL 750.317. The trial court sentenced him to a prison term of 20 to 40 years. We
affirm.
I. PERTINENT FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
Defendant admitted that he became angry when he awoke just before midnight on
December 8, 2013 and saw his wife, Sanaz Nezami, using her cell phone. Defendant testified
that he “lost it” and attacked his wife, pushing and shoving her, forcing her cell phone into her
mouth until her mouth bled, kicking her legs out from under her, and, as she lay on the ground,
getting on top of her and slamming her head against both the carpeted living room floor and the
linoleum kitchen floor. Sanaz called 911. At some point before medical assistance arrived,
Sanaz vomited and fainted. She never regained consciousness. Photographs from Sanaz’s
autopsy were admitted into evidence during the testimony of Dr. John Weiss, who had performed
the autopsy. Weiss testified that Sanaz died as a result of an acute subdural hematoma caused by
blunt force trauma to the head.
Defendant was interviewed by police on December 9, 2013. After waiving his Miranda
1
rights, he gave substantially the same account of events that he testified to at trial. He
additionally stated that he had a history of drug and alcohol abuse, and that he had been drinking
on the night of the incident but had not been using drugs. The prosecution, when cross-
1
Miranda v Arizona, 384 US 436; 86 S Ct 1602; 16 L Ed 2d 694 (1966).
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examining defendant, elicited testimony from defendant that he had a medical marijuana card
“off and on between 2005 and 2013” and that he smoked marijuana to relieve emotional
problems.
Defendant was convicted and sentenced as described above. This appeal followed.
II. INEFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE OF COUNSEL
Defendant first argues that his trial counsel committed numerous errors that rendered his
performance constitutionally ineffective.2 We disagree. “Whether defense counsel performed
effectively is a mixed question of law and fact; this Court reviews for clear error the trial court’s
findings of fact and reviews de novo questions of constitutional law.” People v Trakhtenberg,
493 Mich 38, 47; 826 NW2d 136 (2012). Because defendant did not move the trial court for a
new trial or for a Ginther3 hearing, and this Court denied defendant’s motion to remand for an
evidentiary hearing,4 our review is limited to any errors apparent on the record below. People v
Sabin (On Second Remand), 242 Mich App 656, 658-659; 620 NW2d 19 (2000); People v Buie
(On Remand), 298 Mich App 50, 60-61; 825 NW2d 361 (2012).
Effective assistance of counsel is presumed, and a defendant claiming ineffective
assistance of counsel bears a heavy burden of proving otherwise. People v Seals, 285 Mich App
1, 17; 776 NW2d 314 (2009). In order to show ineffectiveness of counsel, a defendant must
show that counsel’s performance fell below an objective standard of reasonableness, and that
there is a reasonable probability that, but for counsel’s errors, the results of the proceedings
would be different. People v Lockett, 295 Mich App 165, 187; 814 NW2d 295 (2012).
Additionally, defense counsel has wide discretion regarding matters of trial strategy, People v
Heft, 299 Mich App 69, 83; 829 NW2d 266 (2012), and we will not substitute our judgment for
that of trial counsel on matters of strategy, nor will we employ the benefit of hindsight to assess
the competence of counsel, People v Payne, 285 Mich App 181, 190; 774 NW2d 714 (2009).
Decisions regarding what evidence to present, People v Horn, 279 Mich App 31, 39; 755
NW2d 212 (2008), and whether to call or question witnesses, People v Ackerman, 257 Mich App
434, 455; 669 NW2d 818 (2003), are presumed to be matters of trial strategy, as is a decision not
to raise an objection to procedures followed, People v Unger, 278 Mich App 210, 242, 253; 749
NW2d 272 (2008).
2
Defendant also argues in the alternative that his counsel was ineffective for failing to object to
what defendant alleges were incomplete jury instructions, the erroneous admission of other acts
evidence, and the erroneous admission of autopsy photographs. We address those claims in their
respective sections of this opinion.
3
People v Ginther, 390 Mich 436, 443; 212 NW 2d 922 (1973).
4
People v Nassiri, unpublished order of the Court of Appeals, entered June 1, 2015 (Docket No.
324868).
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A. EXPERT MEDICAL WITNESS
Defendant claims that defense counsel failed to consult with and call an expert witness to
challenge the pathologist’s testimony that a traumatic blow to the head caused the lethal subdural
hematoma that resulted in Sanaz’s death. He contends that because intent was the disputed issue
in this case, a defense expert could have created reasonable doubt by testifying that Sanaz had a
preexisting condition that caused the substantial brain bleeding or that the injury was a “freak
accident” resulting from the assault. The record reveals, however, that the trial court granted
defense counsel’s request for funding for a defense expert. Although defense counsel did not
call a defense expert to testify at trial, the record is silent with respect to defendant’s assertion on
appeal that counsel never consulted with an expert.
Irrespective of whether defense counsel’s decision to consult with or call an expert was
proper trial strategy, defendant merely speculates that a hypothetical defense expert could have
provided favorable testimony. Defendant has therefore not established the factual predicate for
his claim, People v Hoag, 460 Mich 1, 6; 594 NW2d 57 (1999), and has failed to show that the
retention and use of a defense expert would have altered the outcome of the lower court
proceedings. Payne, 285 Mich App at 190.
B. CHANGE OF VENUE/PRETRIAL PUBLICITY
Defendant next argues that counsel was ineffective in failing to move for a change of
venue due to the “pervasive, continuing, and overwhelmingly negative publicity surrounding the
prosecution of this case.” Defendant’s argument is premised on the voir dire that occurred
during the selection of the jury. “The purpose of voir dire is to elicit enough information for
development of a rational basis for excluding those who are not impartial from the jury.” People
v Tyburski, 445 Mich 606, 618; 518 NW2d 441 (1994). Jury selection is a matter of trial
strategy. Unger, 278 Mich App at 258.
Generally, a defendant must be tried in the county where the crime is committed.
MCL 600.8312; People v Jendrzejewski, 455 Mich 495, 499; 566 NW2d 530 (1997). However,
a trial court may change venue to another county where justice so demands or a statute so
provides. MCL 762.7; Jendrzejewski, 445 Mich at 499-500. “[I]t may be appropriate to change
venue of a criminal trial when widespread media coverage and community interest have led to
actual prejudice against the defendant.” Unger, 278 Mich App at 254. However, mere exposure
by jurors to media accounts of the crime does not give rise to a presumption that defendant’s due
process rights were violated or that he is entitled to a change of venue. People v DeLisle, 202
Mich App 658, 664-665; 509 NW2d 885 (1993). Instead, a defendant must show that
there is either a pattern of strong community feeling against him and that the
publicity is so extensive and inflammatory that jurors could not remain impartial
when exposed to it, or that the jury was actually prejudiced or the atmosphere
surrounding the trial was such as would create a probability of prejudice. [People
v Cline, 276 Mich App 634, 639; 741 NW2d 563 (2007) (internal quotation marks
and citation omitted).]
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The record of the voir dire reveals that jurors were questioned about exposure to pretrial
coverage of the incident. Jurors who indicated that they had read articles and would be unable to
disregard what they knew about the case were removed for cause or by peremptory challenge.
However, defendant argues that defense counsel failed to adequately voir dire (regarding pretrial
publicity) the potential jurors who had replaced removed jurors. Defendant’s assertion is not
supported by the record. As new potential jurors were called, the prosecutor asked if there was
anything that they felt would prevent them from giving a fair and honest evaluation of the
evidence, and defense counsel questioned jurors about media coverage in general. Further,
defendant concedes that the seated jurors stated that they would disregard their knowledge of the
case from the media and confine their deliberations to only the trial evidence. Defendant has
thus not demonstrated that the jury actually chosen could not remain impartial, or that there was
any actual prejudice or probability of prejudice. Cline, 276 Mich App at 639. Therefore, a
motion for change of venue from defense counsel would have been futile; counsel is not
ineffective for failing to raise futile motions. People v Milstead, 250 Mich App 391, 401; 648
NW2d (2002).
Further, given the overwhelming evidence in this case, there is no basis for concluding
that the result of the proceedings would have been different if the trial had been conducted in a
different county. Accordingly, defendant has failed to establish ineffective assistance of counsel
as a result of defense counsel’s failure to move for a change of venue or counsel’s questioning of
potential jurors on the subject of pretrial publicity. Payne, 285 Mich App at 190.
C. CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT NOT TO TESTIFY
Next, defendant argues that defense counsel wrongly advised him that the trial court
required him to testify. The alleged error is not apparent on the lower court record and defendant
has not established the factual predicate for this claim. Hoag, 460 Mich at 6. Defendant asserts
that his trial counsel told him during a recess, after defendant had told counsel that he was not
ready to testify, that the trial judge would require him to testify. Even if this assertion were true,
a reasonable interpretation of this statement is that trial counsel had advised defendant that if he
did not wish to testify at that time, he would not be granted a recess or adjournment to testify at a
later time.
Further, even if trial counsel communicated to defendant erroneously or inadvertently,
that he would be required to testify, any negative impact stemming from defendant’s testimony
was harmless in light of defendant’s police interview, which was played for the jury. Further,
there was substantial evidence, including Sanaz’s statement to the 911 operator, that defendant
had physically assaulted Sanaz and that he had done so with the requisite intent. Payne, 285
Mich App at 190.
D. MIDDLE EASTERN BIAS
Defendant, who was born and raised in southern California, is of Middle Eastern descent.
The record of the jury voir dire reveals that trial counsel did not ask the prospective jurors
whether any of them harbored prejudice against Middle Eastern men. Defendant argues that
counsel’s failure to do so evidences ineffective assistance. However, an inquiry into racial
prejudice is constitutionally required only where race is a bona fide issue in the matter. Ristaino
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v Ross, 424 US 589, 594; 96 S Ct 1017; 47 L Ed 2d 258 (1976); People v LeBlanc, 465 Mich
575, 586-587; 640 NW2d 246 (2002).
Nothing in the record suggests that race was a bona fide issue in this case. Defendant
offers in support of his argument the affidavit of an attorney/jury consultant who opines that a
bias toward men of Middle Eastern descent exists in America and that trial counsel should
inquire into potential jurors’ bias given the “overwhelmingly white” demographic of Houghton,
Michigan. Defendant also offers scholarly articles concerning the presence of anti-Middle
Eastern sentiment in America. However, defendant presents no specific evidence that the jurors
actually selected in this case harbored bias against men of Middle Eastern descent.5 The fact that
defendant is of Middle Eastern descent by itself is not sufficient to conclude that race was a bona
fide issue in this case. At issue was defendant’s intent at the time that he assaulted Sanaz.
Because defendant need not question potential jurors on matters not in issue, and unnecessary
jury voir dire about racial matters might have had the effect of making race an issue when it was
not, possibly to defendant’s detriment, trial counsel’s decision not to inquire about race during
voir dire was a reasonable trial strategy. See LeBlanc, 465 Mich at 583-584.
III. JURY INSTRUCTIONS
Defendant also argues that the trial court erred in failing to provide the jury with an
instruction on voluntary manslaughter. He further asserts that defense counsel was ineffective
for failing to ask for such an instruction or, relatedly, objecting to the trial court’s jury
instructions. “A party must object or request a given jury instruction to preserve the error for
review. Absent an objection or request for an instruction, this Court will grant relief only when
necessary to avoid injustice.” Sabin (On Second Remand), 242 Mich App at 657. We therefore
review defendant’s claim for plain error affecting substantial rights. People v Gonzalez, 468
Mich 636, 644-645; 664 NW2d 159 (2003). We review his claim of ineffective assistance of
counsel as a mixed question of fact and law. Trakhtenberg, 493 Mich at 47.
When a defendant is charged with murder, an instruction for voluntary and involuntary
manslaughter must be given if the instruction is “supported by a rational view of the evidence.”
People v Mendoza, 468 Mich 527, 541; 664 NW2d 685 (2003). In People v Mitchell, 301 Mich
App 282, 286-287; 835 NW2d 615 (2013), this Court provided the following relevant guidance:
To prove that a defendant committed 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.’ ” People v Reese, 491 Mich 127, 143; 815
NW2d 85 (2012), quoting Mendoza, [468 Mich 527, 535; 664 NW2d 685 (2003)].
However, provocation is not an element of voluntary manslaughter; rather, it is a
circumstance that negates the presence of malice. Mendoza, 468 Mich at 536. In
People v Tierney, 266 Mich App 687; 703 NW2d 204 (2005), this Court held that
“[t]he degree of provocation required to mitigate a killing from murder to
5
We note that the record does not reveal the race or national origin of the jurors selected.
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manslaughter ‘is that which causes the defendant to act out of passion rather than
reason.’ ” Id. at 714-715[ ], quoting People v Sullivan, 231 Mich App 510, 518;
586 NW2d 578 (1998). Further, “[i]n order for the provocation to be adequate it
must be that which would cause a reasonable person to lose control.” Tierney,
266 Mich App at 715 (citation and quotation marks omitted). Whether the
provocation was reasonable is a question of fact; but if “no reasonable jury could
find that the provocation was adequate, the court may exclude evidence of the
provocation.” Id. (citation and quotation marks omitted).
In determining whether a voluntary manslaughter instruction is appropriate, a reviewing court
may consider the theory of the case advanced by the defendant at trial. See Mendoza, 468 Mich
at 546-548.
In this case, although defendant testified that he was “crazy”6 and that he “lost it” because
Sanaz would not “give him space,” the theory of the case advanced by defendant was that the
blows he inflicted to Sanaz’s head were not sufficient to constitute “blunt force trauma” and that
he did not intend to kill her or to inflict great bodily harm. Consistent with this defense, defense
counsel requested an instruction on involuntary manslaughter. Defendant presented no evidence
that he had acted in the heat of passion or that any such passion was caused by adequate
provocation that would cause a reasonable person lose control, see People v Roper, 286 Mich
App 77, 88; 777 NW2d 483 (2009); in fact, defendant testified that Sanaz “did nothing” to
provoke the incident. Because no reasonable person could have found legally adequate
provocation, the lack of a voluntary manslaughter instruction was not plain error, and the failure
of counsel to request such a jury instruction was not ineffective assistance of counsel. See
People v Gonzalez, 468 Mich at 644-645.
IV. OTHER ACTS EVIDENCE
Defendant next argues that the prosecutor improperly elicited irrelevant other acts
testimony regarding defendant’s prior drug use in violation of MRE 404(b), and that counsel was
ineffective for failing to object to the testimony. To preserve an evidentiary issue for appellate
review, a party must timely object at trial and specify the same ground for objection as is
asserted on appeal. People v Toma, 462 Mich 281, 323; 613 NW2d 694 (2000). Defendant did
not object to the allegedly improper questions. We therefore review defendant’s claim for plain
error affecting substantial rights. People v Carines, 460 Mich 750, 763; 597 NW2d 130 (1999).
We review his claim of ineffective assistance of counsel as a mixed question of fact and law.
Trakhtenberg, 493 Mich at 47.
The questions asked by the prosecution concerning past drug use and defendant’s medical
marijuana card were not relevant to any issue at hand. MRE 401. Although the prosecution
argues that the questions were relevant to demonstrate that defendant lawfully waived his
Miranda rights when interviewed by police, it does not appear that the validity of the waiver was
an issue at trial; indeed defendant testified consistently with his police interview. However,
6
He testified that the term “crazy” was slang for “absurd.”
-6-
assuming that the prosecution erred by questioning both defendant and the detective who
interviewed defendant about whether defendant had a history of prior drug use, defendant has
failed to demonstrate that any such error affected the outcome of the lower court proceedings.
Id. at 763-764. Defendant’s audiotaped interview with the police was played for the jury and
revealed the same information elicited by the prosecutor. And the evidence against defendant
was overwhelming. Defendant admitted that he had inflicted the injuries on Sanaz, and the
medical testimony regarding the severity of Sanaz’s brain injury was compelling and
uncontested. The record does not support the conclusion that the evidence of defendant’s prior
drug use was given any undue weight in light of the other testimony, nor does the record support
a finding that the admission of the evidence of prior drug use resulted in the conviction of an
actually innocent person or undermined the “fairness, integrity or public reputation of judicial
proceedings.” Id.
Defendant also argues that the prosecution erred by asking defendant questions regarding
whether he had ever studied “inflicting pain.” However, assuming that “inflicting pain” would
constitute “other acts” for purposes of MRE 404(b), defendant responded negatively to the
prosecution’s questions and the prosecution made no further inquiry. Thus, defendant cannot
demonstrate that the questions, even if asked in error, prejudiced him. Id.
Because defendant cannot demonstrate any prejudice in the admission of the challenged
testimony, he also cannot demonstrate a reasonable probability that but for his counsel’s conduct
the outcome of his trial would have been different. Lockett, 295 Mich App at 187.
V. PHOTOGRAPHIC EVIDENCE
Defendant next argues that he was denied a fair trial by the admission of autopsy
photographs, or in the alternative that his counsel was ineffective for failing to object. We
disagree. Because defense counsel did not object to the admission of the photos, we review this
claim for plain error. Carines, 460 Mich at 763. We review his claim of ineffective assistance
of counsel as a mixed question of fact and law. Trakhtenberg, 493 Mich at 47.
Defendant contends that the photos were not “substantially necessary or instructive to
show material facts or conditions” because the pathologist could have verbally described the
photos and because the photos were not relevant to a contested issue in light of defendant’s
admission that he had caused Sanaz’s injuries.
When a defendant pleads not guilty to a crime, “the prosecution may offer all relevant
evidence, subject to MRE 403, on every element.” People v Mills, 450 Mich 61, 70; 537 NW2d
909, mod on other grounds 450 Mich 1212 (1995). Defendant was charged with second-degree
murder, which includes the element of malice. See People v Goecke, 457 Mich 442, 463-464;
579 NW2d 868 (1998). “Malice is defined as the intent to kill, the intent to cause great bodily
harm, or the intent to do an act in wanton and wilful disregard of the likelihood that the natural
tendency of such behavior is to cause death or great bodily harm.” Id. at 464. Indeed, the only
disputed issue was defendant’s intent to kill.
Photographs that illustrate the nature and extent of the victim’s injuries can be used to
establish intent to kill. Mills, 450 Mich at 71; People v Howard, 226 Mich App 528, 550; 575
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NW2d 16 (1997). Here, the autopsy photographs depicted a subdermal injury to Sanaz’s brain,
the nature and extent of which was relevant to the determination whether defendant’s acts were
intentional. The photographs were relevant and, thus, admissible subject to MRE 403, which
states, in pertinent part, “Although relevant, evidence may be excluded if its probative value is
substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice . . . .” “Evidence is unfairly
prejudicial when there exists a danger that marginally probative evidence will be given undue or
preemptive weight by the jury.” People v Ortiz, 249 Mich App 297, 306; 642 NW2d 417 (2001)
(internal quotation marks and citation omitted). Contrary to defendant’s assertion, the
prosecution need not rely solely on expert testimony to establish the severity and extent of
injuries. Mills, 450 Mich at 76; People v Gayheart, 285 Mich App 202, 227; 776 NW2d 330
(2009). When a photograph is admitted for an otherwise proper purpose, it is not inadmissible
simply because of its gruesome nature or the shocking details of the crime. People v Ho, 231
Mich App 178, 188; 585 NW2d 357 (1998).
In this instance, the probative value of the photographs is not substantially outweighed by
unfair prejudice. First, the photographs were not cumulative to any other physical evidence
admitted at trial. Second, the photographs were highly probative of the severity of Sanaz’s brain
injury and aided in explaining the complex medical testimony regarding the amount of force
necessary to cause the extensive bleeding between Sanaz’s skull and her brain, which caused
great pressure that led to a brain herniation, as well as the significant amount of subdural
bleeding, a subdural lesion, and the acute subdural hematoma that ultimately caused death.
Third, although the photos were graphic, they were not particularly inflammatory or shocking;
the photos were merely autopsy photos depicting Sanaz’s injuries. In short, there is nothing
about the photos that would suggest they were calculated to arouse the sympathies or prejudices
of the jury against defendant. Accordingly, any potential for unfair prejudice did not
substantially outweigh the probative value of the photos, and there was no error in their
admission. Because the photos were properly admitted, defendant’s counsel was not ineffective
for failing to make a futile objection. Milstead, 250 Mich App at 401.
VI. CUMULATIVE ERROR
Finally, defendant argues that the cumulative impact of defense counsel’s errors deprived
him of his constitutional right to a fair trial. “The cumulative effect of several errors can
constitute sufficient prejudice to warrant reversal even when any one of the errors alone would
not merit reversal, but the cumulative effect of the errors must undermine the confidence in the
reliability of the verdict before a new trial is granted.” People v Dobek, 274 Mich App 58, 106;
732 NW2d 546 (2007). However, if the defendant has not established any errors, then reversal is
not warranted. Id. Defendant has not established any errors which, when taken cumulatively,
would require reversal.
Affirmed.
/s/ Mark T. Boonstra
/s/ Kurtis T. Wilder
/s/ Patrick M. Meter
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