You are here: / / DEFENSE COUNSEL’S LACK OF PREPARATION AND FAILURE TO LIMIT MOLINEUX...
,

DEFENSE COUNSEL’S LACK OF PREPARATION AND FAILURE TO LIMIT MOLINEUX EVIDENCE DEPRIVED DEFENDANT OF EFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE; NEW TRIAL ORDERED (FOURTH DEPT). ​

The Fourth Department, reversing defendant’s conviction, determined defendant was not provided with effective assistance of counsel:

… [T]he record reveals that on several occasions as the case neared trial, including during the Mapp and Molineux hearings, and subsequently at the trial defense counsel was unfamiliar with and had not reviewed relevant and critical discovery obtained from defendant’s cell phones following the execution of a search warrant. For example, defense counsel initially failed to object to the admission of a flash drive containing the entire contents of defendant’s cell phones, but, when the People later isolated a portion of the cell phone contents as a separate exhibit for the jury, defense counsel objected—although the contents had already been admitted—and acknowledged that he had not had a chance to review “the exact exhibit.” Defense counsel also failed to object to the portion of those contents containing voice notes, which constituted improper hearsay … . Additionally, defense counsel’s failure to review the contents of defendant’s cell phones had the result that he could not appreciate how important certain text messages and other communications were to the People’s case. Defense counsel belatedly sought to admit certain physical evidence of financial transactions that had not previously been disclosed during discovery to counter the communications presented by the People. County Court, however, precluded that physical evidence. Furthermore, defense counsel never sought a limiting instruction on the Molineux evidence that the People were permitted to introduce … . We conclude that “[t]here is simply no legitimate explanation for” defense counsel’s failure to properly investigate the law, facts, and issues relevant to the case and that “[t]his failure seriously compromised defendant’s right to a fair trial” … . People v Cousins, 2025 NY Slip Op 01535, Fourth Dept 3-14-25

Practice Point: Here defense counsel did not review evidence provided in discovery and failed to seek a limiting instruction on the Molineux evidence the People were allowed to introduce. A new trial was ordered.

 

You might also like
OUT-OF-POSSESSION LANDLORD DEMONSTRATED IT WAS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIR OF THE DANGEROUS CONDITION; LANDLORD’S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT IN THIS SLIP AND FALL CASE SHOULD HAVE BEEN GRANTED (FOURTH DEPT).
Arbitrator’s Misapplication of Law Is Not Reviewable by a Court
DEFENSE VERDICT SHOULD HAVE BEEN SET ASIDE; DEFENDANT MADE A LEFT TURN IN FRONT OF PLAINTIFF’S MOTORCYCLE (FOURTH DEPT).
THE JUDGMENTS ISSUED BY THE NATION COURT FOR A VIOLATION OF A CAYUGA NATION ORDINANCE CONSTITUTED FINES; A FOREIGN COUNTRY’S JUDGMENTS FOR FINES ARE NOT RECOGNIZED OR ENFORCEABLE IN NEW YORK STATE COURTS (FOURTH DEPT).
Biogas Facility Which Is Located on a Farm and Which Produces Electricity from Manure Is Not Entitled to a Tax Exemption Pursuant to the Former Version of RPTL 483-a
SURCHARGE, DNA DATABANK FEE, CRIME VICTIM ASSISTANCE FEE SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ASSESSED AGAINST A JUVENILE OFFENDER (FOURTH DEPT).
THE WAIVER OF APPEAL WAS INVALID BECAUSE THE JUDGE STATED THE WAIVER WAS AN ABSOLUTE BAR TO AN APPEAL (FOURTH DEPT).
DEFENDANT’S REQUEST FOR A DARDEN HEARING SHOULD HAVE BEEN GRANTED, PEOPLE DID NOT DEMONSTRATE INFORMANT WAS LEGITIMATELY UNAVAILABLE (FOURTH DEPT).

Categories

Sign Up for the Mailing List to Be Notified When the Site Is Updated.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Copyright © 2025 New York Appellate Digest, Inc.
Site by CurlyHost | Privacy Policy

THE EVIDENCE THAT DEFENDANT HAD USED ALCOHOL TO EXCESS AT THE TIME OF THE CRIME... PLAINTIFF, A CANISIUS COLLEGE STUDENT IN 2020, DID NOT STATE A CAUSE OF ACTION...