People v. Wigfall

Defendant, Johnnie Lee Wig-fall, was convicted by a jury as an aider and abettor of armed robbery, MCL 750.529; MSA 28.797, MCL 767.39; MSA 28.979, and of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, MCL 750.227b; MSA 28.424(2). Defendant was sen tenced to eight to twenty years in prison for the armed robbery and to a mandatory consecutive two-year term for the felony-firearm conviction. He now appeals as of right and we reverse.

Defendant contends he was denied a fair trial when the trial judge repeatedly criticized and belittled defense counsel in the presence of the jury.…