Opinion
April 10, 1989
Appeal from the County Court, Westchester County (Cowhey, J.).
Ordered that the judgment is affirmed.
Upon our review of the record, we do not find that the defendant made a knowing, intelligent and voluntary waiver of his right to appeal the suppression ruling. The record reflects the defendant's lack of comprehension of the condition attached to his plea and, thus, the waiver is unenforceable (see, People v. Williams, 36 N.Y.2d 829, cert denied 423 U.S. 873; People v. Smith, 133 A.D.2d 864). We accordingly reach the merits and upon our review thereof, we find that the trial court did not improvidently exercise its discretion in granting the People's application to reopen the Wade hearing. The People amply demonstrated their good-faith efforts to procure the appearance of the key identifying witness. Inasmuch as the People could not establish an independent source for an in-court identification without the testimony of this witness, they were entitled to a reopened Wade hearing at which such evidence could be presented (see, People v. Dodt, 61 N.Y.2d 408, 418; People v. Havelka, 45 N.Y.2d 636, 643; People v. Andriani, 67 A.D.2d 20, 24-25, cert denied sub nom. Boutureira v. New York, 444 U.S. 866). Thompson, J.P., Bracken, Brown and Rubin, JJ., concur.