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People v. Clark

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, First Department
Mar 26, 1996
225 A.D.2d 472 (N.Y. App. Div. 1996)

Opinion

March 26, 1996

Appeal from the Supreme Court, Bronx County (Phylis Skloot Bamberger, J.).


The trial court appropriately exercised its discretion in denying defendant's application for a visit to the crime scene on the ground that various photographs of the scene and a dimensional exhibit prepared by the defense, combined with eyewitness testimony of the arresting officer, the defendant's investigator, photographs, and other relevant testimony, permitted it, as finder of fact, to determine the contested issue of whether defendant could have entered and exited the premises through a broken window, as alleged ( see, People v Robinson, 133 A.D.2d 473, lv denied 71 N.Y.2d 1032).

The parties were given the opportunity to deliver summations in the order provided for a trial by jury, and the trial court thereafter rendered its verdict (CPL 320.20 [c], [d]). The record indicates that defense counsel was, in effect, permitted to give two summations. To the extent the order of the proceedings was varied, defense counsel's extended arguments in connection with his application for a trial order of dismissal, understandably misunderstood by the trial court to encompass his summation argument, provided a compelling reason for the variation ( see, People v Seiler, 246 N.Y. 262, 269-270; cf., People v Fujah, 182 A.D.2d 774). There is no indication in the record that the trial court did not duly consider all arguments of counsel.

Concur — Milonas, J.P., Wallach, Ross and Mazzarelli, JJ.


Summaries of

People v. Clark

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, First Department
Mar 26, 1996
225 A.D.2d 472 (N.Y. App. Div. 1996)
Case details for

People v. Clark

Case Details

Full title:THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, Respondent, v. JOHNNY CLARK, Appellant

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

Date published: Mar 26, 1996

Citations

225 A.D.2d 472 (N.Y. App. Div. 1996)
639 N.Y.S.2d 801

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