People v. Teal , 20 Mich. App. 176 ( 1969 )

20 Mich. App. 176 (1969) 173 N.W.2d 736

PEOPLE
v.
TEAL

Docket No. 6,018.

Michigan Court of Appeals.

Decided November 25, 1969.

Frank J. Kelley, Attorney General, Robert A. Derengoski, Solicitor General, William L. Cahalan, Prosecuting Attorney, Samuel J. Torina, Chief Appellate Lawyer, and Arthur N. Bishop, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, for the people.

Elliott S. Hall, for defendants.

Before: LESINSKI, C.J., and HOLBROOK and QUINN, JJ.

QUINN, J.

Defendants were convicted by jury verdict of breaking and entering in violation of MCLA § 750.110 (Stat Ann 1968 Cum Supp § 28.305). They were sentenced and they appeal.

The controlling issue on appeal relates to a statement given to the police by defendant Arnold as a result of interrogation. Defendants characterize this statement as a confession and plaintiff refers to it as an admission. We find the distinction meaningless. Bruton v. United States (1968), 391 US 123 (88 S Ct 1620, 20 L Ed 2d 476) deals with extrajudicial statements and covers the statement here involved.

Defendants were tried together and during trial the contents of Arnold's statement were related to the jury by a detective. Arnold did not testify and his statement implicates defendant Teal. The trial judge instructed the jury to disregard the Arnold statement as it related to Teal.

The case at bar was tried in February, 1967. Bruton, supra, was decided in May, 1968 and it was made retroactive by Roberts v. Russell (1968), 392 US 293 (88 S Ct 1921, 20 L Ed 2d 1100). The gist of Bruton is that admission in evidence in a joint trial of an extrajudicial statement by a codefendant who does not testify violates the other defendant's right of cross-examination guaranteed by the confrontation clause of the US Const, Am 6. This sixth amendment right is applicable to the states, Douglas v. Alabama (1965), 380 US 415, (85 S Ct 1074, 13 L Ed 2d 934), and the same right is guaranteed by Const 1963, art 1, § 20. It was error to admit the statement of Arnold.

The Arnold statement is the only evidence which places Teal at the scene of the crime. We are not satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt that the erroneous admission of the statement did not contribute to Teal's conviction. Chapman v. California (1967), 386 US 18, (87 S Ct 824, 17 L Ed 2d 705). The Teal conviction must be reversed.

We have considered Harrington v. California (1969), 395 US 250, (89 S Ct 1726, 23 L Ed 2d 284) and find it inapplicable to the case before us. Harrington just decided Harrington and it is not precedential authority. Harrington specifically reaffirms Chapman, supra. In Harrington, one of three codefendant confessors testified and was cross-examined by Harrington's attorney. Several witnesses, including Harrington, placed the latter at the scene of the crime.

Defendant Arnold contends the statement was inadmissible against him because it was not shown to be voluntary. The trial judge held a separate hearing in the absence of the jury to determine the voluntariness of Arnold's statement. Arnold testified and denied making the statement. The trial judge found that the statement was voluntary. Our review of the record does not establish that this finding was clearly erroneous and we find no error. People v. Walker (1967), 6 Mich App 600.

Defendants question the legality of their arrest for the first time on appeal. This comes too late. People v. Camak (1967), 5 Mich App 655.

Affirmed as to defendant Arnold. Reversed and remanded for new trial as to defendant Teal.

All concurred.