Opinion
November 10, 1992
Appeal from the Supreme Court, New York County (Bernard Fried, J.).
We agree with the defendant that a reversal of his conviction is warranted based on the trial court's refusal to impose any sanction for the loss of Rosario material. The lost "request for laboratory examination" form was filled out by the arresting officer when he sent the gun, which formed the basis of the defendant's arrest, for a ballistics analysis. This form contained a "Details of Offense" section in which the officer testified that he indicated from where the gun was recovered. At trial, the officer testified that the gun was recovered from the rear tire of a van. However, another officer testified that he recovered the gun from the left front tire of the van. The defendant denied ever possessing the gun.
Contrary to the trial court's determination, the defendant was prejudiced by the unexplained loss of the form. The prosecutor initially assured the court that the form contained no narrative other than the voucher number and nature of the weapon and, therefore, duplicated the gun voucher and the ballistics detective's report which had been turned over to the defendant. The arresting officer testified that the form contained a statement as to the location from which the gun was recovered, and the officers' testimony conflicted as to this location. The trial court abused its discretion in declining to impose a sanction as the defendant was clearly prejudiced by the loss of the form (People v Wallace, 76 N.Y.2d 953; People v Martinez, 71 N.Y.2d 937).
In light of the foregoing, we do not reach the defendant's remaining contentions.
Concur — Carro, J.P., Milonas, Rosenberger and Asch, JJ.