Case ID: ny-2d_63/html/0754-03.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

The People of the State of New York, Respondent, v Charles Wing and Sharon Wing, Appellants.
    Argued September 7, 1984;
    decided September 20, 1984
    
      APPEARANCES OF COUNSEL
    
      Edward J. Nowak, Public Defender (Peter D. Braun of counsel), for appellants.
    
      Howard R. Relin, District Attorney CMichael J. Nelson of counsel), for respondent.
   OPINION OF THE COURT

Memorandum.

The order of the County Court should be reversed and the case remitted to the Town Court of Chili for further proceedings on the information.

The abundance of inadmissible hearsay evidence permitted by the trial court created a “substantial probability of irreparable prejudice” to defendants’ case. (Matter of Leon RR, 48 NY2d 117, 122; see, also, People v Crimmins, 36 NY2d 230, 242.) Over the objections of the defendants, the prosecution was repeatedly allowed to elicit testimony and to introduce documents that were clearly hearsay, despite the absence of any recognized exception to the rule against hearsay. Considering these errors cumulatively, it cannot be said that they were harmless.

In view of the foregoing, we need not reach defendants’ other contentions.

Chief Judge Cooke and Judges Jasen, Jones, Meyer, Simons and Kaye concur in memorandum; Judge Wachtler taking no part.

Order reversed, etc.