Opinion ID: 2074834
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: State In The Interest of W.C.

Text: During argument on a motion for release of the defendant pending a probable cause hearing before the Hudson County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court with respect to a complaint against a juvenile, W.C., defendant's attorney orally requested a pretrial lineup. Without any proofs having been offered or considered, the trial court ordered that a lineup be held. This hearing was held in August 1980. The State's motion for reconsideration was denied. The record is sparse indeed. All that appears is a complaint in the Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court alleging that on May 30, 1980 at 8:12 p.m., the juvenile, W.C., struck a 15 year old boy, Thomas Hennessey, over the head with a baseball bat and threw him over a cliff, causing a fractured skull and head lacerations requiring 28 sutures. The oral argument of counsel on the motion adds little except that W.C. had been inducted into the United States military service on May 13, 1980 and had left the State in June 1980. He was extradited and returned to New Jersey in August 1980. According to the statement of facts in the briefs of counsel, on May 30, 1980, shortly after 8 p.m., Thomas Hennessey and a group of his friends were walking along Paterson Plank Road. A car stopped and a group of young men, including W.C., alighted. W.C. had a club. He chased one of Hennessey's companions, and then turned on Hennessey, beating him over the head with the club. W.C. allegedly attacked another boy and then struck Hennessey again with the club. W.C. then, with the assistance of others threw Hennessey over a wall, dragged him down a cliff, and continued to beat him with the club until someone intervened and took Hennessey to St. Mary's Hospital in Hoboken. Twenty-eight sutures were required to close the scalp lacerations. Hennessey remained in the hospital for one week. At oral argument before the Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court for reconsideration and before us the prosecutor stated that a witness who had known W.C. for more than five years would be able to identify him so that there was no likelihood of misidentification. At the argument on the motion for reconsideration the juvenile's counsel stated that defendant was not present when Hennessey was beaten, but was painting a hallway in a nearby apartment of the Hoboken Housing Authority. It is contended that W.C. arrived at the scene when Hennessey was being taken away for medical attention. The trial court did not have an appropriate record before it to make the judgment to determine whether a lineup was warranted. No party claims that the pretrial lineup principles should differ because this is a juvenile proceeding involving acts which would constitute crimes if committed by an adult. Accordingly, we are remanding the matter to the trial court to afford the juvenile an opportunity to make an application forthwith for a pretrial identification lineup supported by affidavits or other proofs. Insofar as the time is concerned, the trial court should consider the application as if it had been made in August 1980 and otherwise apply the principles stated herein. Reversed and remanded. For reversal and remandment  Chief Justice WILENTZ and Justices SULLIVAN, PASHMAN, CLIFFORD, SCHREIBER, HANDLER and POLLOCK  7. For affirmance  None.