People v. Penn

Defendant was charged with first-degree felony-murder. MCL 750.316; MSA 28.548. As part of a plea bargain, he was permitted to plead to second-degree murder, MCL 750.317; MSA 28.549, in exchange for his promise to testify against his codefendants. He testified as promised, and, at the sentencing, the probation department recommended a sentence of from 8 to 15 years. Instead, however, the trial court sentenced defendant to life imprisonment. Defendant appeals as of right.

At the sentencing, the trial court expressly stated that it interpreted life imprisonment as it had been interpreted before…