People v. Camara

50 A.D.2d 932, 377 N.Y.S.2d 201, 1975 N.Y. App. Div. LEXIS 11860

Opinion

— Appeal by defendant from (1) a judgment of the County Court, Rockland County, rendered June 18, 1974, convicting him of murder (two counts) and conspiracy in the first degreé, upon a jury verdict, and imposing sentence, and (2) an order of the same court, entered August 1, 1975, which denied his application for a new trial based on newly discovered evidence. Permission to appeal from the order is hereby granted by Mr. Justice Martuscello. Judgment and order affirmed (People v Crimmins, 36 NY2d 230). Martuscello, Acting P. J., Latham, Brennan and Shapiro, JJ., concur; Margett, J., concurs in the affirmance of the order, but otherwise dissents and votes to reverse the judgment and grant a new trial, with the following memorandum: The comments made by the prosecutor during summation were so prejudicial as to deprive defendant of a fair trial. Among other things, the prosecutor improperly speculated upon facts not in evidence, characterized defendants as proven killers, personally vouched for the honesty of several prosecution witnesses, and commented on the weight of the evidence, particularly that the jury should not be bothered by the doctrine of reasonable doubt. Such behavior mandates a new trial (People v Crimmins, 36 NY2d 230).