Summary
In People v Green (187 A.D.2d 528 [2d Dept 1992]), the oral notice given stated that defendant "may wish to testify", thus, the Court found no affirmative position by defendant.
Summary of this case from People v. RiversOpinion
November 9, 1992
Appeal from the Supreme Court, Kings County (Lipp, J.).
Ordered that the judgment is affirmed.
The defendant contends that the indictment was obtained in violation of his right to testify before the Grand Jury. However, since he failed to comply with the written notice requirements of CPL 190.50 (5) (a), his right to testify never accrued (see, People v Harris, 150 A.D.2d 723; People v MacCall, 122 A.D.2d 79; People v Reynolds, 35 A.D.2d 529). Defense counsel's oral notice that the defendant "may wish to testify" was insufficient (see, People v Harris, supra; People v Taylor, 165 A.D.2d 800) and, contrary to the defendant's further contention, the prosecutor's response that the People would contact defense counsel did not relieve the defendant from his statutory obligation. In order to preserve his or her statutory pretrial rights, including the right to testify before the Grand Jury, a defendant must assert them "at the time and in the manner that the Legislature prescribes" (People v Lawrence, 64 N.Y.2d 200, 207; People v Saldana, 161 A.D.2d 441; see also, People v Jennings, 69 N.Y.2d 103). Accordingly, the Supreme Court properly denied the defendant's motion to dismiss the indictment. Mangano, P.J., Sullivan, Balletta and Miller, JJ., concur.