People v. Gawthrop

T. M. Burns, P.J.

On February 20, 1979, defendant was convicted after a jury trial of breaking and entering an occupied dwelling with intent to commit larceny, MCL 750.110; MSA 28.305, and felonious assault, MCL 750.82; MSA 28.277, and was subsequently sentenced to concurrent terms of from 4-1/2 to 15 years and 2-1/2 to 4 years imprisonment. He appealed as of right. On June 3, 1981, this Court affirmed. 106 Mich App 722; 308 NW2d 621 (1981). However, on May 16, 1983, the Supreme Court remanded this case "for reconsideration in light of People v Lytal, 415 Mich 603 (1982)”. 417 Mich 983 (1983).

On September 25, 1978, the trial court signed an order consolidating defendant’s case with that of codefendant Lionel Gonzales. However, the day before trial, Gonzales pled guilty. Even though he was never indorsed, Gonzales testified for the prosecution the second day of trial. He testified that the prosecution had asked him to testify only the night before. After he was sworn in, the following exchange occurred:

”Mr. Otto [defense counsel]: Your Honor, for the benefit of the record, we would object to this witness as not having previous notice before today that he was going to testify, and he is not endorsed as a witness.

"Miss Higgs [Assistant Prosecutor]: It is my understanding, your Honor, that I do not have to endorse accomplices.

"The Court: That is correct, your objection is overruled.”

Although the res gestae rule has been eliminated in most other jurisdictions, it is still quite vital in Michigan. A long-standing exception to this rule is that the prosecution usually need not call or indorse an accomplice witness. People v Pearson, 404 Mich 698, 735, fn 11; 273 NW2d 856 (1979); People v Knoll, 258 Mich 89; 242 NW 222 (1932); People v Baker, 112 Mich 211, 212; 70 NW 431 (1897); People v Resh, 107 Mich 251; 65 NW 99 (1895); People v Lyle Brown, 37 Mich App 25; 194 NW2d 450 (1971); People v Green, 32 Mich App 482; 189 NW2d 122 (1971). Some panels of this Court have held that, because the prosecution need not indorse an accomplice, it may call the accomplice as a witness even if the witness was never indorsed. People v Hence, 110 Mich App 154; 312 NW2d 191 (1981); People v Lytal, 96 Mich App 140; 292 NW2d 498 (1980), and People v Thomas, 49 Mich App 682, 686-687; 212 NW2d 728 (1973). The Supreme Court reversed this Court in Lytal, holding that "[t]he prosecutor is required to indorse the name of an accomplice that he intends to call, [but] he is not required to produce or call an accomplice”. People v Lytal, 415 Mich 603, 611-612; 329 NW2d 738 (1982).

Considering the Supreme Court’s holding in Lytal, it was error for the trial court to allow Gonzales to testify for the prosecution without being indorsed. Once the prosecutor decided to use Gonzales as a witness, she should have indorsed him.

We conclude that this error was not harmless. Defendant’s objection to the prosecution’s use of Gonzales as a witness was on the basis that he lacked previous notice. Both surprise and a lack of time to prepare are implicit in this statement. The prosecution did not even know it would call Gonzales until the day before. Normally a defendant must request a continuance to preserve this issue for appeal. People v Southern, 306 Mich 324; 10 NW2d 901 (1943). In this case, as in Lytal, defendant’s failure to request a continuance was not fatal. Imposing such a duty on defense counsel could prejudice his position before the trial court and jury. The lack of notice to defendant that Gonzales would be used as a witness prejudiced his ability to investigate and prepare for cross-examination of Gonzales.¹

Of the eight witnesses who testified for the prosecution, only two directly implicated defendant. The victim testified that defendant struck her. She said that she had met defendant once before and did not know his name. The police officer answering the call testified that the victim was hysterical at the time. In fact, his testimony about what she told him after the incident was somewhat different than her testimony at trial. The only other witness directly implicating defendant was Gonzales. We cannot say that the evidence in this case was so strong that the error was harmless.

Before the new trial on remand, the prosecutor should file an amended information indorsing Gonzales. See Lytal, supra, p 612.

Reversed and remanded for a new trial.

Bronson, J., concurred.

1 In the instant case, when the trial court was informed that Gonzales was to testify, it should have granted a recess to allow defendant to investigate and prepare for cross-examination of Gonzales. People v Heading, 39 Mich App 126; 197 NW2d 325 (1972), lv den 389 Mich 782 (1973).