Case Name: The People of the State of New York, Respondent, v. Evon Blackwood, Appellant
Court: New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 2017-02-07
Citations: 147 A.D.3d 462
Docket Number: 
Parties: The People of the State of New York, Respondent, v Evon Blackwood, Appellant.
Judges: Concur — Friedman, J.P., Andrias, Moskowitz, Kapnick and Kahn, JJ.
Reporter: Appellate Division Reports
Volume: 147
Pages: 462–462

Head Matter:
The People of the State of New York, Respondent, v Evon Blackwood, Appellant.
[46 NYS3d 413]

Opinion:
Judgment, Supreme Court, Bronx County (Peter J. Benitez, J.), rendered December 12, 2014, convicting defendant, after a jury trial, of assault in the first degree, and sentencing him to a term of eight years, unanimously reversed, as a matter of discretion in the interest of justice, and the matter remanded for a new trial.
As in People v Velez (131 AD3d 129 [1st Dept 2015]), the court's charge did not convey to the jury that an acquittal on the top count of attempted murder based on a finding of justification would preclude consideration of the other charges. We find that the error was not harmless, and that it warrants reversal in the interest of justice (see e.g. People v Flores, 145 AD3d 568 [1st Dept 2016]; People v Delin, 145 AD3d 566 [1st Dept 2016]).
In light of this determination, we find it unnecessary to reach any other issues.
Concur — Friedman, J.P., Andrias, Moskowitz, Kapnick and Kahn, JJ.