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Error Associated With Defendant’s Being Handcuffed During the Suppression Hearing Harmless/Error Associated with Defendant’s Wearing a Stun Belt During Trial Waived

The Fourth Department, in affirming defendant’s first degree murder conviction, determined the court’s failure to place on the record the reason defendant was hand-cuffed during the suppression hearing was harmless error, and the error associated with the defendant’s wearing a stun belt during the trial was waived:

With respect to being restrained in handcuffs, the court denied defense counsel’s request to remove defendant’s handcuffs during the suppression hearing in accordance with the County Sheriff’s policy. Although the court’s response was error, inasmuch as a court “must state a particularized reason for [restraining defendant] on the record” even at a bench trial …, we nevertheless conclude that the error is harmless beyond a reasonable doubt because the error “did not contribute to the [court’s decision]” on the suppression issue … . With respect to the stun belt, we note that the requirement to wear the stun belt is not a mode of proceedings error and, therefore, such an error may be waived … . Here, defendant waived his contention because he agreed to wear the stun belt, despite the court having informed defendant that he was entitled to a hearing to make findings as to the necessity of the belt … .  People v Ashline, 2015 NY Slip Op 00037, 4th Dept 1-2-15

 

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