Summary
In People v Rivera (74 A.D.2d 589) a reversal in the interest of justice was required because of the failure to give a justification charge, although defendant denied the assault completely, because there was sufficient proof to warrant such a charge and the jury actually considered "self defense" in its deliberations.
Summary of this case from People v. CintronOpinion
February 4, 1980
Appeal by defendant from a judgment of the County Court, Dutchess County, rendered January 5, 1978, convicting him of two counts of assault in the second degree, upon a jury verdict, and imposing sentence. Judgment reversed, as a matter of discretion in the interest of justice, and new trial ordered. The trial court's failure to charge justification based upon defendant's denial that he assaulted the officers was improper. Refusal to charge such an alternative defense, when there is sufficient evidence to support it, is reversible error (People v. Steele, 26 N.Y.2d 526; People v. Ortiz, 52 A.D.2d 518; People v. Rizzo, 65 A.D.2d 582; People v. Carlos C. [Anonymous], 58 A.D.2d 655). Even if defendant may be deemed to have acquiesced in the trial court's instructions that "under the facts of this case the defense of self-defense is not an issue", reversal is still mandated in the interest of justice (see People v. Butts, 14 A.D.2d 486). If the jury had been properly charged on self-defense, it might have decided on the evidence adduced that defendant's actions were either completely justified or, at least, that they negated the intent elements of the assault counts: "intent to cause serious physical injury" and "intent to prevent a peace officer * * * from performing a lawful duty" (Penal Law, § 120.05, subds 1, 3). Indeed, the jury was clearly considering such possibilities, as indicated by its question to the court: "If we are debating about self-defense, does that have to come into the picture of intent?" Mollen, P.J., Damiani, Mangano and Martuscello, JJ., concur.