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PEOPLE WERE UNABLE TO DEMONSTRATE WITNESS’S REFUSAL TO TESTIFY WAS THE RESULT OF DEFENDANT’S THREATS, NEW TRIAL ORDERED, DEFENSE COUNSEL’S REQUEST TO BE RELIEVED REQUIRED FURTHER INQUIRY BY THE COURT (SECOND DEPT).

The Second Department reversed defendant’s conviction and ordered a new trial because the People did not demonstrate, at a Sirois hearing, that a witness’s refusal to testify was the result of defendant’s threats. The trial court had ruled the witness’s grand jury testimony could be read to the jury. The Second Department also held the court should have inquired into the defense attorney’s request to be relieved because the defendant had filed a grievance against him:

At the Sirois hearing, the People were required to “demonstrate by clear and convincing evidence that the defendant, by violence, threats or chicanery, caused a witness’s unavailability” … . Here, although the People presented evidence that the witness was afraid to testify, they failed to meet their heavy burden of showing that her fear was caused by a threat made by the defendant … .

Under the circumstances of this case, this error cannot be considered harmless … . Thus, the judgment must be reversed, and the matter remitted to the Supreme Court, Kings County, for a new trial … .

The Supreme Court also should not have denied defense counsel’s request to be relieved without first having made at least some minimal inquiry in light of defense counsel’s statement that the defendant had filed a grievance against him … . People v Middleton, 2017 NY Slip Op 06378, Second Dept 8-30-17

 

CRIMINAL LAW (PEOPLE WERE UNABLE TO DEMONSTRATE WITNESS’S REFUSAL TO TESTIFY WAS THE RESULT OF DEFENDANT’S THREATS, NEW TRIAL ORDERED, DEFENSE COUNSEL’S REQUEST TO BE RELIEVED REQUIRED FURTHER INQUIRY BY THE COURT (SECOND DEPT))/SIROIS HEARING (CRIMINAL LAW, PEOPLE WERE UNABLE TO DEMONSTRATE WITNESS’S REFUSAL TO TESTIFY WAS THE RESULT OF DEFENDANT’S THREATS, NEW TRIAL ORDERED, DEFENSE COUNSEL’S REQUEST TO BE RELIEVED REQUIRED FURTHER INQUIRY BY THE COURT (SECOND DEPT))/ATTORNEYS (CRIMINAL LAW, DEFENSE COUNSEL’S REQUEST TO BE RELIEVED REQUIRED FURTHER INQUIRY BY THE COURT (SECOND DEPT))

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