RECORD SILENT ON WHETHER DEFENSE COUNSEL WAS APPRISED OF A JURY NOTE, MURDER CONVICTION REVERSED.
The Fourth Department determined a mode of proceedings error required reversal of a murder conviction. The record was silent about whether defense counsel was apprised of the contents of a jury note requesting further instruction:
… [A] mode of proceedings error occurred and reversal is required because the record fails to show that defense counsel was advised of the contents of a jury note requesting, inter alia, further instruction on reasonable doubt, murder in the second degree and manslaughter in the first degree … . Moreover, because the record does not establish that the court advised defense counsel of the contents of the note, we cannot assume that the court complied with its core responsibilities pursuant to CPL 310.30 and People v O’Rama (78 NY2d 270) … . People v Owens, 2016 NY Slip Op 07431, 4th Dept 11-10-16
CRIMINAL LAW (RECORD SILENT ON WHETHER DEFENSE COUNSEL WAS APPRISED OF A JURY NOTE, MURDER CONVICTION REVERSED)/JURY NOTE (RECORD SILENT ON WHETHER DEFENSE COUNSEL WAS APPRISED OF A JURY NOTE, MURDER CONVICTION REVERSED)/MODE OF PROCEEDINGS ERROR (RECORD SILENT ON WHETHER DEFENSE COUNSEL WAS APPRISED OF A JURY NOTE, MURDER CONVICTION REVERSED)