People v. Utley

77 Misc. 2d 86, 353 N.Y.S.2d 301, 1974 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 1091
CourtNew York County Courts
DecidedFebruary 25, 1974
StatusPublished
Cited by20 cases

This text of 77 Misc. 2d 86 (People v. Utley) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering New York County Courts primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
People v. Utley, 77 Misc. 2d 86, 353 N.Y.S.2d 301, 1974 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 1091 (N.Y. Super. Ct. 1974).

Opinion

Richard C. Delist, J.

The defendant, Richard Utley, through his attorney, moves this court for the following relief:

(A) That the court inspect and examine the stenographic minutes of the Grand Jury proceeding which resulted in the instant indictment, for the purpose of determining, under CPL 210.30 whether the evidence before the Grand Jury was legally sufficient to support the indictment, and each count thereof;
(B) That the court dismiss the indictment and each count thereof, under CPL 210.20 (subd. 1, par. [b]), in that the evidence before the Grand Jury was not legally sufficient to establish any of the offenses charged;
(C) That the District Attorney be directed to file a bill of particulars, pursuant to CPL 200.90, supplying the following items of information:
1. the exact dates and times of the occurrence of the offenses listed in the indictment;
2. the exact. location and description of the places wherein the crimes alleged in the indictment occurred;
3. the exact amounts of money allegedly stolen;
4. the exact description of any weapons displayed by the defendant;
5. the manner in which the defendant allegedly used a weapon to injure the victim; and,
6. a description of acts committed by codefendants.
(D) That the court issue an order -of discovery as to any oral or written statements made by the defendant;
(E) That the court direct pretrial hearings pursuant to article 710 of the CPL to determine the illegality or taint' of any evidence to be used against the defendant at trial;
(F) That the court release the defendant in his own recognizance under CPL 630.40; and,
(G) That the court grant such other and further relief as to the court seems just and proper.

I. AS TO INSPECTION AND DISMISSAL

An indictment is presumptively based on legal and sufficient evidence, and this presumption continues until there is satis[88]*88factory proof, to the contrary (People v. Sexton, 187 N. Y. 495; People v. Howell, 3 N Y 2d 672; People v. Bergerson, 17 N Y 2d 398). This presumption is generally overcome only by sworn allegations of fact set forth in moving papers. Surmise, conjecture or speculation does not give rise to reasonable cause to believe the Grand Jury evidence may not have been legally sufficient,” and does not warrant the granting of a motion to inspect the minutes (CPL 210.30, subds. 2, 3; People v. Banks, 27 Misc 2d 557; People v. Harrington, 9 Misc 2d 216; People v. Glen, 173 N. Y. 395).

The defendant attempts to supply the necessary reasonable cause by stating that M [he] does not believe that the evidence presented to the Grand Jury was legally sufficient * * * [and] there was no testimony presented to the Grand Jury identifying * * * [him] as the perpetrator of the alleged crimes ”. The defendant’s papers do not meet the burden of CPL 210.30 (subd. 2). The court, therefore, is not mandated to grant the motion to inspect the Grand Jury minutes (CPL 210.30, subd. 3).

The court has the discretion under CPL 210.30 (subd. 4) to grant the motion to inspect, notwithstanding the lack of reasonable cause to believe that the evidence before the Grand'Jury was insufficient. In this case, however, the court records indicate that the defendant was arrested almost immediately after the. alleged crimes, and the defendant, in his moving papers, states that he gave oral and written confessions to the police. Congested calendars no longer permit exercises in futility. The court declines to exercise Its discretion under this section.

The motions to inspect and to dismiss are denied.

II. as to the bill of particulars

The purpose of a bill of particulars is to clarify the indictment and to enable the defendant to adequately prepare or conduct his defense (Practice Commentary to CPL 200.90 by Richard G. Denser).

The court grants the defendant’s motion to the extent that the answering affidavit of the District Attorney is deemed a bill of particulars.

As to those items of information not ¡supplied by the District Attorney, the motion is denied, since the information requested is either evidentiary in nature (CPL 200.90, subd. 3), or is not found to' be necessary to the defense (People v. Ricci, 59 Misc 2d 259; Matter of Edgar L., 66 Misc 2d 142). The defendant is granted leave to renew the motion upon a proper showing that [89]*89the information requested is necessary, not merely useful, to his defense.

in. AS TO DISCOVERT

(A) WRITTEN STATEMENTS

The defendant has a statutory right to discovery of any written or recorded statement made by him to law enforcement personnel, or to persons acting under their direction or in co-operation with them (CPL 240.20, subd. 1, par. [b]). This was established law in New York prior to the enactment of the Criminal Procedure Law (People v. Remaley, 26 N Y 2d 427; People v. Bach, 33 A D 2d 560; People v. Quarles, 44 Misc 2d 955; People v. Chirico, 61 Misc 2d 157).

These statements are discoverable whether or not the prosecutor intends to use them at trial, as the statute and case law do not differentiate between inculpatory and exculpatory statements.

The manner in which the defendant’s oral statements have been written or recorded is immaterial. If they are summarized, abridged, referred to, or reflected in any book, record or paper in the possession of law enforcement personnel, they are subject to discovery. (People v. McMahon, 72 Misc 2d 1097; People v. Zacchi, 69 Misc 2d 785; People v. Bennett, 75 Misc 2d 1040, 1051; CPL 240.10, subds. 1, 2; CPL 240.20, subd. 1, par. [b]; People v. Powell, 49 Misc 2d 624.) In the event that such a recording is contained in exempt or privileged property, that part of such property not affected by this order may be excised or redacted prior to the defendant’s inspection of same (CPL 240.10, subd. 3; People v. Bennett, supra, pp. 1051-1052).

The District Attorney is directed to permit the defendant’s attorney to inspect and to copy or photograph such statements within 30 days of the entry of this order.

(B) ORAL STATEMENTS

Is the defendant entitled to the particulars of his oral statements, not recorded or written, ¡but which are within the knowledge of law enforcement authorities and may well be used against him at trial?

In People v. Quarles (44 Misc 2d 955), the court was asked to compel pretrial disclosure of all notes and stenographic minutes of defendant’s statements to the police and an Assistant District Attorney. The request was made approximately seven years before the existence of a statutory right to such material. The learned Judge, after a consideration of Gideon v. Wainwright (372 U. S. 335), Massiah v. United States

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Bluebook (online)
77 Misc. 2d 86, 353 N.Y.S.2d 301, 1974 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 1091, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-utley-nycountyct-1974.