Court Opinion

ID: 4550073
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2020-07-22 14:07:57.949051+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:38:31.771947
License: Public Domain

NOT FOR PUBLICATION WITHOUT THE
                               APPROVAL OF THE APPELLATE DIVISION
        This opinion shall not "constitute precedent or be binding upon any court ." Although it is posted on the
     internet, this opinion is binding only on the parties in the case and its use in other cases is limited. R. 1:36-3.

                                                        SUPERIOR COURT OF NEW JERSEY
                                                        APPELLATE DIVISION
                                                        DOCKET NO. A-5253-17T4

STATE OF NEW JERSEY,

          Plaintiff-Respondent,

v.

BRONK H. MILLER,

          Defendant-Appellant.

                   Submitted May 28, 2020 – Decided July 22, 2020

                   Before Judges Alvarez and DeAlmeida.

                   On appeal from the Superior Court of New Jersey, Law
                   Division, Camden County, Indictment No. 16-07-1947.

                   Joseph E. Krakora, Public Defender, attorney for
                   appellant (Laura B. Lasota, Assistant Deputy Public
                   Defender, of counsel and on the brief).

                   Jill S. Mayer, Acting Camden County Prosecutor,
                   attorney for respondent (Jason Magid, Special Deputy
                   Attorney General/Acting Assistant Prosecutor, of
                   counsel and on the brief).

                   Appellant filed a pro se supplemental brief.
PER CURIAM

      Defendant Bronk H. Miller was convicted by a jury of a lesser-included

offense, second-degree reckless manslaughter, N.J.S.A. 2C:11-4(b)(1), but

acquitted of second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-

5(b), and second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose,

N.J.S.A. 2C:39-4(a).1 On June 27, 2018, the judge sentenced defendant to ten

years imprisonment, subject to the No Early Release Act's eighty-five percent

parole ineligibility. See N.J.S.A. 2C:43-7.2. The sentence was to be served

consecutive to one defendant was already serving. For the reasons that follow,

we remand for a hearing forthwith to clarify certain portions of the record. We

do not retain jurisdiction.

      Key to the State's presentation was surveillance footage from cameras

recording at two different bars, as well as the street.     A Camden County

Prosecutor's Office Homicide Unit detective narrated that surveillance footage

over two days. The detective identified defendant as the man wearing "an

Adidas outfit." The detective testified that the man at times displayed a silver

and black handgun, and at one point, confronted the victim outside a bar,

1
  The prosecutor dismissed post-trial the indictment's severed fourth count—
certain persons not to possess, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-7(b).
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                                       2
displaying a gun. The disc we were provided depicting that exterior shot is

blocked by a setup menu consisting of large white letters. These letters obscure

that part of the screen the detective identified as depicting the confrontation as

well as defendant's possession of the gun.

      We inquired whether the discs we were supplied were the discs shown to

the jury, and were informed that indeed it was the same. Because during the

trial there is no discussion of the fact that the detective's description of the action

cannot be independently seen behind the setup menu letters, it is necessary for

us to send this matter back for a further hearing to clarify the point. 2 It is

possible, but requires confirmation, that the jury saw the same taped sequence

provided to us.

      Defendant argues that the detective's narrative, including his alleged

possession of a gun and confrontation with defendant, constituted inadmissible

lay opinion testimony. He claims the detective's explanation of the videos

improperly invaded the jury’s role as the fact-finder and filled in the voids in

the State's case. This is the principal argument being made on appeal.

2
   Curiously, neither party addresses the setup menu in their arguments before
this court.
                                                                               A-5253-17T4
                                          3
      It is well-established that we review a trial court's evidentiary rulings for

abuse of discretion. Hisenaj v. Kuehner, 194 N.J. 6, 12 (2008). But without an

accurate record of the proofs, we cannot address that legal determination.

      If the obscured video footage we have in our possession is the same as

that shown to the jury, defendant has the right to make a motion for a new trial

or for such other relief as he may deem appropriate within thirty days of the

hearing to settle the record. Should a further appeal be necessary, the decision

can be included in any new notice of appeal.

      Remanded. We do not retain jurisdiction.

                                                                           A-5253-17T4
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