Summary
In People v. Ramsey (1970), 23 Mich. App. 11, our Court reversed an armed robbery conviction because the trial court had refused to consider evidence of the defendant's narcosis in deciding whether he had the specific intent to commit the crime.
Summary of this case from People v. StonerOpinion
Docket No. 5,736.
Decided March 27, 1970. Rehearing denied May 12, 1970.
Appeal from Recorder's Court of Detroit, George W. Crockett, Jr., J. Submitted Division 1 March 4, 1970, at Detroit. (Docket No. 5,736.) Decided March 27, 1970. Rehearing denied May 12, 1970.
Eric Ramsey was convicted of armed robbery. Defendant appeals. Reversed and remanded.
Frank J. Kelley, Attorney General, Robert A. Derengoski, Solicitor General, William L. Cahalan, Prosecuting Attorney, and Arthur N. Bishop, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, for the people.
Carl Levin and Arthur J. Tarnow (Defenders' Office — Legal Aid and Defender Association of Detroit), for defendant on appeal.
Before: LESINSKI, C.J., and QUINN and V.J. BRENNAN, JJ.
Following a nonjury trial, defendant was convicted of armed robbery. This appeal concerns the availability of the intoxication defense.
MCLA § 750.529 (Stat Ann 1970 Cum Supp § 28.797).
At trial substantial evidence was introduced tending to establish that defendant was under the influence of narcotics at the time of the commission of the robbery. In closing, defense counsel requested that the court consider the effect of the narcotic intoxication upon defendant's specific intent to commit the armed robbery. The trial court refused, stating that armed robbery was not a specific intent crime. Upon the authority of People v. Walker (1878), 38 Mich. 156, we hold that the trial court's action constituted reversible error. See, also, People v. Kelley, 21 Mich. App. 612.
Reversed and remanded for a new trial.