People v. Heard

Defendant was tried before a jury in the Recorder’s Court for the City of Detroit on the charge of first-degree murder. He was found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment. Defendant’s counsel informed the jury in his opening statement that they had the right to ask questions of witnesses if they so desired, during the course of the trial. He further stated that they should write out these questions and that the trial judge had the right to limit the scope of the questions. The prosecutor objected to this statement and, after extended discussion, the trial judge stated that the jurors had…