Opinion
April 28, 1988
Appeal from the Supreme Court, New York County, Harold J. Rothwax, J., Myriam Altman, J., Howard Bell, J.
We hold this appeal in abeyance, so that this matter may be remanded for a Wade hearing. The Calendar Judge erred in summarily denying defendant's motion to suppress the complainant's identification testimony without a hearing. Defendant's allegations in his motion papers, that he and two other suspects were jointly displayed to the complainant, handcuffed and surrounded by uniformed police officers, were sufficient to raise a question as to the propriety of the identification procedure and required that a hearing be held.
Although at the hearing on the motion to suppress physical evidence, Justice Altman, the presiding Judge, commented that defense counsel could elicit information about the identification procedure as well, the court eventually declined to make any rulings on the identification issue, concluding that "there just wasn't a complete opportunity to discuss that issue." We also decline to reach the merits of the other issues and instead remand for a prompt hearing.
Concur — Sullivan, J.P., Carro, Asch and Milonas, JJ.