Case Name: The People of the State of New York, Respondent, v. Chris Tatum, Also Known as Christopher Gray, Appellant
Court: New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1976-11-15
Citations: 54 A.D.2d 950
Docket Number: 
Parties: The People of the State of New York, Respondent, v Chris Tatum, Also Known as Christopher Gray, Appellant.
Judges: 
Reporter: Appellate Division Reports
Volume: 54
Pages: 950–950

Head Matter:
The People of the State of New York, Respondent, v Chris Tatum, Also Known as Christopher Gray, Appellant.

Opinion:
Appeal by defendant from a judgment of the County Court, Westchester County, rendered February 27, 1976, convicting him of attempted rape in the first degree and assault in the third degree, upon a jury verdict, and imposing sentence. Judgment reversed, as a matter of discretion in the interest of justice, and new trial ordered. The prosecutor, in his summation, stated that the attorneys for the defendants in this case (appellant was tried with two codefendants) didn't believe the defendants' story, and yet expected the jury to believe it. That was improper (see People v Coles, 47 AD2d 905; People v Fluker, 51 AD2d 1045) and was reversible error, even in the absence of an objection by defense counsel at the trial (see People v Coles, supra). We have examined appellant's other contentions and find them to be without merit. Martuscello, Acting P. J., Latham, Cohalan, Damiani and Hawkins, JJ., concur.