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People v. Brown

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Second Department
Feb 13, 1996
224 A.D.2d 539 (N.Y. App. Div. 1996)

Opinion

February 13, 1996

Appeal from the Supreme Court, Queens County (Joy, J.).


Ordered that the judgment is reversed, on the law, and a new trial is ordered.

The trial court erred by not directing a mistrial where the prosecution failed to turn over to the defense, until the jury had begun deliberating, a police firearm discharge report which constituted Rosario material. The report, which was written by one of the testifying officers, stated that the officer was located substantially further from the crime scene than he testified to at trial. The prosecution failed to provide an adequate explanation for its failure to locate this document earlier, and its offer to place the document into evidence and allow the jury to read it was clearly an inadequate remedy as the defense would not have the opportunity to cross-examine the officer and test his credibility. Since the prosecutor's delay substantially prejudiced the defense, the judgment is reversed and a new trial is ordered (see, People v. Martinez, 71 N.Y.2d 937; People v. Ranghelle, 69 N.Y.2d 56).

In light of our determination, it is unnecessary to reach the defendant's remaining contentions. Bracken, J.P., Balletta, Thompson and Hart, JJ., concur.


Summaries of

People v. Brown

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Second Department
Feb 13, 1996
224 A.D.2d 539 (N.Y. App. Div. 1996)
Case details for

People v. Brown

Case Details

Full title:THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, Respondent, v. STEVEN BROWN, Appellant

Court:Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Second Department

Date published: Feb 13, 1996

Citations

224 A.D.2d 539 (N.Y. App. Div. 1996)
638 N.Y.S.2d 345