People v. Figueroa

38 A.D.2d 595, 328 N.Y.S.2d 514, 1971 N.Y. App. Div. LEXIS 2656

• Court: Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York
• Decided: December 20, 1971
• Status: Published

Opinion

Appeal by defendant from a judgment of the Supreme Court, Queens County, rendered August 12, 1970 convicting him of criminally selling a dangerous drug in the second degree, criminal possession of a dangerous drug with intent to sell in the second degree, and criminal possession of a dangerous drug in the fourth degree, upon a jury verdict, and sentencing him to concurrent indeterminate terms not to exceed five years on the first two counts and a conditional discharge on the third count. Judgment reversed, on the law, and new trial ordered. The findings of fact below have not been considered. In his summation the prosecutor stated: “ I can vouch for the truthfulness and integrity of four New York City policemen and one civilian chemist. * * * Now, I not only can, I do vouch for their truthfulness.” He thus made himself an unsworn witness supporting his case by his own veracity and position. Further in his summation the Assistant District Attorney remarked about the failure of defendant to call certain members of his family as witnesses, thus inferring that had they been called their testimony might have been damaging to defendant. Aside from the fact that that there is no evidence to show these persons had any knowledge of what transpired, there is no duty upon a defendant to call witnesses. Both of these remarks were highly improper and denied a fair trial to defendant (People v. Lovello, 1 N Y 2d 436; People v. Kearns, 214 App. Div. 804; People v. Ferguson, 245 App. Div. 837). We reach no other question. Martuscello, Acting P. J., Gulotta and Brennan, JJ., concur; Benjamin, J., dissents and votes to affirm. Shapiro, J., not voting.