People v. Hudson

Full title: PEOPLE v HUDSON

Court: Michigan Court of Appeals

Date published: Dec 13, 1982

123 Mich. App. 624 (Mich. Ct. App. 1982)

333 N.W.2d 12

Opinion

Docket No. 58444.

Decided December 13, 1982.

Frank J. Kelley, Attorney General, Louis J. Caruso, Solicitor General, Douglas A. Jacobson, Prosecuting Attorney, and Michael A. Nickerson, Assistant Attorney General, for the people.

State Appellate Defender (by Susan J. Smith), for defendant on appeal.

Before: M.J. KELLY, P.J., and R.M. MAHER and R.L. TAHVONEN,^_ JJ.

_ Circuit judge, sitting on the Court of Appeals by assignment.

PER CURIAM.

Defendant was convicted by a jury of breaking and entering an unoccupied dwelling with the intent to commit a larceny, MCL 750.110; MSA 28.305. Defendant was sentenced to 24 months probation with the first 6 months to be spent in Gladwin County jail and was ordered to pay $1,700 restitution, a $100 fine, and $200 in costs.

During trial, the trial court informed the jury that a preliminary examination had been conducted, the purpose of which was to establish that a crime had been committed and that there was probable cause to believe that the defendant had committed the offense. The judge distinguished between probable cause and proof beyond a reasonable doubt. No objection was raised. However, we cannot say that it is inconceivable that the jury would have reached a different result but for the error.

The trial court erred in explaining the purpose of the preliminary examination to the jury. In effect, the jury was informed that there was probable cause to believe that defendant was guilty. Such an instruction is likely to place the burden of proof on the defendant to prove his innocence. The burden of proof in a criminal case may not be placed on the defendant and instructions of the trial judge susceptible of any such interpretation are erroneous. People v Clark, 340 Mich. 411, 418; 65 N.W.2d 717 (1954). We have not found the error harmless beyond a reasonable doubt and, therefore, defendant is entitled to a new trial. We find no merit in defendant's other assignments of error.

Reversed and remanded.