PEOPLE OF MI V ANDRE WOODS
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STATE OF MICHIGAN
COURT OF APPEALS
PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN,
UNPUBLISHED
May 15, 1998
Plaintiff-Appellee,
v
No. 191138
Recorder’s Court
LC No. 94-010636 FC
TYRONE K. WOODS,
Defendant-Appellant.
PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN,
UNPUBLISHED
Plaintiff-Appellee,
v
No. 191141
Recorder’s Court
LC No. 94-010636 FC
ANDRE WOODS,
Defendant-Appellant.
Before: Cavanagh, P.J., and Doctoroff and Saad, JJ.
PER CURIAM.
Both defendants were convicted at a joint jury trial of four counts of first-degree premeditated
murder, MCL 750.316; MSA 28.548, one count of assault with intent to murder, MCL 750.83; MSA
28.278, and one count of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, MCL 750.227b;
MSA 28.424(2). Defendant Tyrone Woods was sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility
of parole for each first-degree murder conviction, twenty-five to fifty years’ imprisonment for the assault
with intent to murder conviction, plus a consecutive two-year prison term for the felony-firearm
conviction. Defendant Andre Woods was sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of
parole for each first-degree murder conviction, twenty to fifty years’ imprisonment for the assault with
intent to murder conviction, plus a consecutive two-year prison term for the felony-firearm conviction.
Both defendants appeal their convictions as of right. We affirm all the convictions.
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I
Defendant Andre Woods argues that there was insufficient evidence presented to convict him of
first-degree murder, and that there was insufficient evidence presented at his preliminary examination to
bind him over for trial on the murder charges. We disagree. There was sufficient evidence to conclude
that Andre Woods either killed the victims or aided and abetted Tyrone Woods in the murders, that he
intended to kill the victims, and that this killing was deliberate and premeditated. Viewing the evidence
in a light most favorable to the prosecutor, a rational jury could have found beyond a reasonable doubt
that Andre Woods was guilty of four counts of first-degree premeditated murder. See People v Jolly,
407 Mich 354; 502 NW2d 177 (1993); People v Tilley, 405 Mich 38, 44-45; 273 NW2d 471
(1979); People v Youngblood, 165 Mich App 381, 386-387; 418 NW2d 472 (1988). Because there
was sufficient evidence to convict Andre Woods of the murders, any error in binding him over on those
charges was harmless. See People v Meadows, 175 Mich App 355, 359; 437 NW2d 405 (1989).
Defendant Tyrone Woods also asserts that insufficient evidence was presented to convict him of
first-degree murder or assault with intent to murder. We disagree. Viewing the evidence presented
below in a light most favorable to the prosecutor, a rational jury could find beyond a reasonable doubt
that Tyrone Woods either killed the victims or committed acts which assisted or encouraged Andre
Woods in committing the murders, that Tyrone Woods intended to kill the victims, and that the killing
was deliberate and premeditated. See Jolly, supra; Tilley, supra; Youngblood, supra. Based on the
evidence a rational jury could also have concluded beyond a reasonable doubt that Tyrone Woods
possessed the intent to kill required to convict him of assault with intent to murder. See Jolly, supra;
People v Rockwell, 188 Mich App 405, 411; 470 NW2d 673 (1991).
II
Defendant Andre Woods claims that the trial court erred by failing to sua sponte instruct the
jury regarding the cognate lesser included offense of involuntary manslaughter. No manifest injustice
occurred due to this omission, so appellate review of this issue is waived by defendant’s failure to
request such an instruction. See People v Johnson, 187 Mich App 621, 627-628; 468 NW2d 307
(1991).
III
Defendant Andre Woods maintains that the trial court erred by denying his motion for a
separate trial. We find no error. Andre Woods’ and Tyrone Woods’ defenses were neither mutually
exclusive nor irreconcilable, so it was not necessary to grant them separate trials. See People v Hana,
447 Mich 325, 345-346; 524 NW2d 682 (1994).
IV
Defendant Andre Woods asserts that the trial court denied him a fair trial by conducting the jury
voir dire in a manner that prevented his trial counsel from determining that one juror was biased in favor
of the police. We disagree. Review of the transcript shows that the trial court did not abuse its
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discretion in conducting voir dire. See People v Tyburski, 445 Mich 606, 619; 518 NW2d 441
(1994). The record shows that Andre Woods’ trial counsel was made aware that the juror’s brother
was a policeman during voir dire of the jury, yet did not raise the issue of potential bias until after the
verdict was delivered. Defendant will not be permitted to let a potential error pass in the trial court, then
proceed to seek redress on appeal. See People v Potra, 191 Mich App 503, 512; 479 NW2d 707
(1991).
V
Defendant Andre Woods argues that the trial court erred by allowing the prosecutor to cross
examine him regarding prior bad acts. We find no abuse of discretion. Defendant put his character at
issue while testifying, so the prosecutor was allowed to question him about his illegal business activities.
See People v Golden, 121 Mich App 490, 496; 328 NW2d 667 (1982).
VI
Defendant contends that he was denied a fair trial because the prosecutor failed to produce res
gestae witnesses, the pathologist who performed the autopsies on the victims, or bullet fragments
retrieved from the head of one of the victims. We disagree. A prosecutor’s duty with regard to res
gestae witnesses is only to list such witnesses known at the time of the filing of the information and those
that become known before trial. There is no duty to endorse or produce such witnesses. People v
Paquette, 214 Mich App 336, 343; 543 NW2d 342 (1995). Furthermore, Andre’s trial counsel did
not object to the prosecutor’s failure to produce the medical examiner who performed the autopsies,
nor did he demand production of the bullet fragments despite the fact that their existence was apparent
from the reports provided to both defense counsel. Because the absence of this evidence did not
prejudice the defense, trial counsel’s failure to demand its production waives the issue on appeal. See
People v Jackson, 178 Mich App 62, 66; 443 NW2d 423 (1989).
VII
Both Andre Woods and Tyrone Woods argue that their respective trial counsel’s performance
denied them effective assistance of counsel. We disagree. Neither defendant has shown that his trial
counsel committed errors so serious that counsel was not functioning as an attorney as guaranteed under
the Sixth Amendment, nor has either defendant shown any resulting prejudice to the defense. See
People v Reed, 453 Mich 685, 694-695; 556 NW2d 858 (1996); People v Pickens, 446 Mich 298,
302-303; 521 NW2d 797 (1994). Nor has Tyrone Woods shown that an actual conflict of interest
adversely affected his trial counsel’s performance. See People v Smith, 456 Mich 543, 556; ___
NW2d ___ (1998).
VIII
Both defendants assert that their convictions should be reversed because the prosecutor
violated the trial court’s discovery order when she failed to provide their trial counsel with copies of an
eyewitness’s statement. Neither defendant has shown that this statement was somehow exculpatory or
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that its earlier absence somehow prejudiced his defense. Review of the record shows that when this
omission came to light, the trial court directed the prosecutor to provide defense counsel with copies of
the statement, and told counsel that they could recall the witness after they had a chance to review his
statement. The trial court did not abuse its discretion by dealing with the omission in this manner. See
People v Fink, 456 Mich 449, 458-459; ___ NW2d ___ (1998); People v Young, 212 Mich App
630, 642; 538 NW2d 456 (1995).
IX
Defendant Tyrone Woods argues that the trial court erred by refusing to allow him to proceed
to represent himself after he expressed dissatisfaction with his trial counsel. The trial court denied
Tyrone Woods’ request because it was not satisfied that he had made an intelligent and knowing waiver
of his rights. At the next day of trial, Tyrone Woods told the court that he had no problem with his trial
counsel’s performance and was glad he took the court’s advice. The trial court did not abuse its
discretion by denying Tyrone Woods’ request to represent himself without counsel. See People v
Adkins (After Remand), 452 Mich 702, 722-723, 727; 551 NW2d 108 (1996).
X
Defendant Tyrone Woods claims that he must be re-tried because the jury instructions did not
specify whether he was being charged as a principal or an aider and abettor. No manifest injustice
occurred, so review of this issue is waived by defendant’s failure to object to the jury instructions at
trial. See People v Sammons, 191 Mich App 351, 371-372; 478 NW2d 901 (1991); Johnson,
supra.
XI
Defendant Tyrone Woods maintains that the prosecutor denied him a fair trial by making
improper remarks during trial and in her closing and rebuttal arguments. We disagree. The
prosecutor’s statements fall within the normal boundaries of advocacy and did not deny Tyrone Woods
a fair trial. See People v Bahoda, 448 Mich 261, 267, 282; 531 NW2d 659 (1995).
XII
Defendant Tyrone Woods contends that the trial court erred by giving a cautionary instruction
regarding bad acts evidence that had been introduced against Andre Woods, but not giving a similar
instruction with regard to Tyrone Woods. Since no miscarriage of justice resulted from failure to give
this instruction, defendant’s failure to object waives this issue on appeal. See Sammons, supra;
Johnson, supra.
XIII
Finally, Tyrone Woods argues that his conviction must be reversed because the prosecutor
suppressed evidence of the type of bullet fragments taken from one victim’s head, and asserts that the
cumulative effect of all errors denied him a fair trial. We disagree with both arguments. The prosecutor
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did not suppress the bullet evidence. Both defense counsel were provided copies of the ballistics
report, which, according to the trial court, indicated the size of that bullet. Because we have concluded
that no errors occurred at trial, we reject the argument that the cumulative effect of the errors requires
reversal. Cf. People v Maleski, 220 Mich App 518, 525; 560 NW2d 71 (1996).
Affirmed.
/s/ Mark J. Cavanagh
/s/ Martin M. Doctoroff
/s/ Henry William Saad
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