Case Name: The People of the State of New York, Respondent, v. Robert White, Appellant
Court: New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1976-10-18
Citations: 54 A.D.2d 744
Docket Number: 
Parties: The People of the State of New York, Respondent, v Robert White, Appellant.
Judges: 
Reporter: Appellate Division Reports
Volume: 54
Pages: 744–744

Head Matter:
The People of the State of New York, Respondent, v Robert White, Appellant.

Opinion:
Appeal by defendant from a judgment of the County Court, Rockland County, rendered April 10,1975, convicting him of criminal sale of a controlled substance in the third degree (two counts), upon a jury verdict, and imposing sentence. Judgment affirmed. It was improper for the trial court to instruct the jury that a person mentioned during the testimony of a prosecution witness was "available" to the defense, since it implied that there was a duty on the defense to call such person as a witness. However, the error was not prejudicial or reversible (see People v Crimmins, 36 NY2d 230, 242). Hopkins, Acting P. J., Martuscello, Latham, Rabin and Hawkins, JJ., concur.