People v. Demars

Clark, J. Defendant was convicted of rape of a female child under the age of 16 years, contrary to section 15211, 3 Comp. Laws 1915. We discuss the questions presented on error: That the court erred in denying the motion for a new trial on the ground of newly-discovered evidence. The prosecuting witness, testifying, fixed the date of the offense at (the same as charged in the information) August 13, 1924, and the hour at about 10 or 11 o’clock in the forenoon, and the place, a certain vacant store in the township of Warren, Macomb county. The claimed newly-discovered evidence is that of the lessee of the store that it was not vacant at that time, and of an employer of defendant that he worked in a Detroit factory that day. The lessee was known. Her name was mentioned by a witness in the trial. Defendant, of course, knew his employer. A requirement for new trial on this ground is that the *261 party could not, with reasonable diligence, have discovered and produced the evidence at the trial. It is clear that such requirement has not been met. That the court’s instruction relative to penetration is erroneous. The instruction follows the law as announced in People v. Courier, 79 Mich. 366, and People v. Bernor, 115 Mich. 692. The girl testified of previous acts of sexual intercourse with defendant. This was competent. People v. Coston, 187 Mich. 538. Another question is so well answered by the record itself that we decline to discuss it. We find no reversible error. Judgment affirmed. Sharpe, C. J., and Bird, Snow, Steere, Fellows, Wiest, and McDonald, JJ., concurred.