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People v. Woodson

73 A.D.2d 862 Court N.Y. App. Div. Decision date 1980-01-08 English

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p. 862
The People of the State of New York, Respondent, v James Woodson, Appellant.

— Judgment of conviction, Supreme Court, Bronx County, rendered November 2, 1977, after trial to a jury, reversed, on the law, and the case remanded for a new trial. Amongst other errors called to our attention was an improper charge concerning defendant’s alibi defense: the court did not charge unqualifiedly that an alibi which raises a reasonable doubt entitles a defendant to acquittal. (People v Brown, 62 AD2d 715 .) Further, improper hearsay testimony concerning a detective’s conversations with defendant’s relatives was admitted. Additionally, without proper foundation therefor, the court permitted the prosecutor to argue that a relative of defendant was a "missing witness” under a party’s control, and gave the usual charge appropriate to such a circumstance. Concur — Birns, J. P., Sandler, Sullivan, Markewich and Yesawich, JJ.

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