THE PEOPLE DID NOT DISPROVE THE JUSTIFICATION DEFENSE; MANSLAUGHTER CONVICTION REVERSED (FOURTH DEPT). ​

The Fourth Department, reversing defendant’s manslaughter conviction, determined the People did not disprove the justification defense. The evidence demonstrated shots were fired at the car in which defendant was a passenger before defendant fired his weapon:

A person is justified in using deadly physical force against another person if they “reasonably believe[ ] that such other person is using or about to use deadly physical force” (Penal Law § 35.15 [2] [a]). Deadly physical force “encompasses not merely the striking of the first blow or infliction of the first wound. It also encompasses acts by a person that cause the defendant reasonably to believe that the defendant is facing the ‘imminent threat’ of deadly force,” and therefore “the imminent threat to use a gun constitute[s] the threat of deadly physical force even if the gun is never fired” … . The evidence at trial established that defendant told the police that the unnamed assailants started shooting at the occupants of the vehicle before any shots were fired by those inside the vehicle. A witness to the shootout testified that she saw one of the unnamed assailants remove a gun out of his pocket and then she saw and heard gunshots. The evidence further established that multiple rounds were fired at the vehicle from the outside. Contrary to the People’s contention, they did not establish beyond a reasonable doubt that defendant, who was not the driver of the vehicle, could have retreated with complete personal safety before he used deadly physical force, or that he knew he could do so … . People v Major, 2026 NY Slip Op 04585, Fourth Dept 7-24-26

Practice Point: Multiple shots were fired at the vehicle in which defendant was a passenger before defendant fired his weapon. The People failed to disprove the justification defense and the manslaughter conviction was reversed.