Summary
finding that questions on whether the criminal defendant was a "religious man" violated the statute
Summary of this case from Nahshal v. Fremont Ins. Co.Opinion
Docket No. 29055.
Decided April 18, 1978.
Frank J. Kelley, Attorney General, Robert A. Derengoski, Solicitor General, William F. Delhey, Prosecuting Attorney, John J. Hensel, Senior Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, and Elizabeth Osgood Pollard, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, for the people.
George W. Parker, for defendant on appeal.
Before: N.J. KAUFMAN, P.J., and D.E. HOLBROOK, JR. and D.F. WALSH, JJ.
Defendant was tried by jury and convicted of statutory rape. MCLA 750.520; MSA 28.788. Thereafter sentenced to a prison term of not less than 10 nor more than 20 years, defendant appeals as of right.
While defendant raises numerous issues on appeal one is dispositive and mandates reversal.
During the course of the trial the prosecutor asked: (1) defendant's wife if she was a "God fearing woman"; (2) defendant's sister if the defendant was a "religious man"; and (3) defendant's mother if defendant was a "God fearing man".
Questions such as the above are of the nature condemned and held to be reversible error in People v Hall, 391 Mich. 175; 215 N.W.2d 166 (1974), and People v Bouchee, 400 Mich. 253; 253 N.W.2d 626 (1977). Nor can defendant's conviction be saved by People v Burton, 401 Mich. 415, 418; 258 N.W.2d 58 (1977), where swift action on the part of the trial judge cured any error. Unlike Burton, supra, nothing was done by the trial judge, in the instant case, to correct the obviously improper questions by the prosecutor.
Resolution of the foregoing issue being dispositive, discussion of defendant's remaining allegations of error is rendered unnecessary.
Reversed and remanded for a new trial.