People v. Smith

Defendants, Rufus Jackson and Ronnie Lee Smith, were convicted of the charge of armed robbery, MCLA 750.529; MSA 28.797. The trial was unique in that each defendant had a separate jury to decide their respective cases, but were present in the same courtroom and heard the same evidence. Both defendants were represented by the same attorney. At the trial, defendant Jackson elected to testify in his own behalf, while defendant Smith chose not to testify. Defendant Jackson was the only witness presented by the defense. The jury verdicts were handed down on February 25, 1976. On March 10, 1976,…