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People v. Washington

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, First Department
Feb 21, 1991
170 A.D.2d 349 (N.Y. App. Div. 1991)

Opinion

February 21, 1991

Appeal from the Supreme Court, New York County (Jerome Marks, J.).


According to the People's witnesses, defendant, on September 15, 1987, pretending to be a police officer, beckoned the complainant away from his friend, Mayhue, pointed a gun at the complainant, and stole his jewelry and wallet. At trial, defendant testified that he merely displayed a badge during a "scam" in which he obtained drugs from dealers by feigning to be a police officer.

Defense counsel cross-examined the complainant regarding his arrest on November 7th, 1987 for possession of a weapon. After the complainant denied that he took drugs that day, counsel sought to discredit this testimony by offering the complainant's arrest photograph, in which the complainant presumably appeared to be "high." Defendant's interpretation of the photograph was, however, highly speculative, and in any event, the photograph was not admissible as extrinsic evidence to impeach the complainant on a collateral matter (Richardson, Evidence § 491 [Prince 10th ed]). No other argument for admission of the photograph was raised below, and accordingly, the court did not err in excluding the photograph.

Furthermore, the prosecutor's comments on summation constituted fair comment on the evidence, and were responsive to defendant's argument that his testimony was consistent with the testimony of the People's witnesses.

Concur — Sullivan, J.P., Milonas, Ross, Asch and Kassal, JJ.


Summaries of

People v. Washington

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, First Department
Feb 21, 1991
170 A.D.2d 349 (N.Y. App. Div. 1991)
Case details for

People v. Washington

Case Details

Full title:THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, Respondent, v. FRANK WASHINGTON…

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

Date published: Feb 21, 1991

Citations

170 A.D.2d 349 (N.Y. App. Div. 1991)
566 N.Y.S.2d 50