Case Name: The People of the State of New York, Respondent, v. Joseph Astol, Appellant
Court: New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1986-03-03
Citations: 118 A.D.2d 578
Docket Number: 
Parties: The People of the State of New York, Respondent, v Joseph Astol, Appellant.
Judges: 
Reporter: Appellate Division Reports
Volume: 118
Pages: 578–578

Head Matter:
The People of the State of New York, Respondent, v Joseph Astol, Appellant.

Opinion:
Appeal by the defendant from a judgment of the Supreme Court, Queens County (Rubin, J.), rendered January 19, 1982, convicting him of attempted rape in the first degree, assault in the first degree, burglary in the first degree (two counts) and criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree, upon a jury verdict, and imposing sentence.
Judgment reversed, on the law, and new trial ordered. The findings of fact have been considered and determined to have been established.
The trial court erred in denying the defense counsel's several requests to charge that the People must disprove the defendant's alibi beyond a reasonable doubt. Such an instruction is an important element of any charge on the issue of alibi. The trial court must unequivocally convey this burden of proof to the jury (see, e.g., People v Victor, 62 NY2d 374).
In addition, the court's charge on interested witnesses was unbalanced in that it stressed the application of that rule to the defense witnesses without any mention of the People's witnesses to whom it might have also applied (cf. People v Gadsden, 80 AD2d 508).
In view of the prejudicial effect of these errors, the defendant is entitled to a new trial. Lawrence, J. P., Fiber, Kunzeman and Kooper, JJ., concur.