Opinion ID: 2086237
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: People v Farrell

Text: Defendant sought postjudgment relief, pursuant to CPL 440.10 (1) (f), to set aside his affirmed conviction of manslaughter in the first degree (judgment of conviction, Sup Ct, Richmond County, Jan. 4, 1991, affd 206 AD2d 541, lv denied 84 N.Y.2d 825). He claimed prosecutorial trial prejudice because of an alleged Rosario violation ( People v Rosario , 9 N.Y.2d 286, cert denied 368 US 866). Defendant complains of the prosecutor's omission to provide defense counsel with an audio tape related to the preparation of the medical examiner's autopsy report. Supreme Court ruled that the audio tape was not Rosario material and denied defendant's postjudgment effort (159 Misc 2d 992). The Appellate Division dismissed defendant's appeal on the ground that an appeal as of right did not lie (decision and order on motion, Apr. 18, 1994; CPL 450.10, 450.15, 440.10 [1] [f]). Defendant now appeals, by leave of a Judge of this Court, alleging that this limitation on a criminal defendant's automatic right to appeal a denial of a CPL 440.10 (1) (f) motion (premised on prejudicial prosecutorial misconduct not appearing on the record) violates article VI, § 4 (k) of the New York Constitution, as well as due process and equal protection guarantees.