People v. Jones
| Decision Date | 10 March 1980 |
| Citation | 425 N.Y.S.2d 376,74 A.D.2d 854 |
| Parties | The PEOPLE, etc., Respondent, v. Joe H. JONES, Appellant. |
| Court | New York Supreme Court — Appellate Division |
Roger Bennet Adler, New York City (Thomas M. Cardoza, Law Student, on the brief), for appellant.
Eugene Gold, Dist. Atty., Brooklyn (Julian L. Kalkstein, Brooklyn, of counsel), for respondent.
Before MOLLEN, P. J., and LAZER, GIBBONS and COHALAN, JJ.
MEMORANDUM BY THE COURT.
Appeal by defendant from a judgment of the Supreme Court, Kings County, rendered November 16, 1978, convicting him of murder in the second degree, attempted murder in the second degree (2 counts) and criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree, upon a jury verdict, and imposing sentence.
Judgment reversed, on the law and as a matter of discretion in the interest of justice, and new trial ordered.
The evidence adduced at the trial disclosed that on November 16, 1976, between approximately 10:30 P.M. and 11:30 P.M., an altercation took place between the defendant and his girl friend, Evelyn Vaughn, with whom he was living in an apartment at 1057 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn, New York. The apartment was also occupied by Evelyn's mother, her sister, Cynthia Vaughn, a friend, Brenda Swinton, and several other persons.
The argument was heated and the defendant and Evelyn were yelling and pushing and hitting each other in the hallway. Cynthia also became involved and, at one point, picked up an orange juice bottle. The melee continued for about 20 minutes and culminated in the shooting which forms the basis of the instant indictment. The defendant was charged with having fired two shots at Evelyn, which ultimately caused her death, and two shots at both Cynthia and Brenda which resulted in such serious injury to them as to require hospital care. In the course of the trial two different versions were given as to what occurred just before and leading to the shooting.
Cynthia Vaughn testified for the prosecution that as the participants in the quarrel moved down the hallway to the door of Evelyn's bedroom, the defendant entered the bedroom, pulled a revolver from a box, pointed it at Evelyn and discharged it at her. As Cynthia ran down the hall the defendant followed and fired two shots at her, striking her in the lower back, and then fired two more shots striking Brenda Swinton in her arm and thigh.
The defendant, on the other hand, testified that he had resided with Evelyn Vaughn for some time and that on the day of the shooting he had been drinking and that he and Evelyn were talking about moving out of the apartment into one of their own when Cynthia entered the room. The defendant testified that Cynthia and Evelyn had a close relationship, and that Cynthia felt that he was "coming between the relationship," and she blamed him for the impending separation. About an hour later the defendant heard Evelyn and Cynthia arguing in the kitchen about the contemplated move and when he heard his name mentioned he became involved in the argument. When they all moved into the hallway Cynthia became upset and pushed him. The defendant pushed back. He went into Evelyn's bedroom and Cynthia followed and continued to harass him.
After a while he decided to take some record albums and leave the apartment. Cynthia insisted on seeing the albums, but defendant resisted. He finally did permit her to see the albums. Another argument began and defendant and Cynthia began pushing each other. Evelyn told defendant not to push her sister and grabbed him. He shoved Evelyn causing her to hit her back on a mirror. Her back began to bleed. Defendant tried to leave but was stopped by Cynthia. When defendant went to push her away, she picked up a bottle and attempted to strike him with it. He took it away from her and pushed her. Evelyn then ran into the bedroom and picked up a gun from a box behind the door. Defendant stated, . He stated that he did not intend to kill Evelyn, Cynthia or Brenda; it was "just reflex, the gun went off". He admitted that he was so angry, that it was possible he would have shot anyone that day.
In light of the evidence, the trial court instructed the jury on the charges of murder in the second degree, attempted murder in the second degree, assault in the first degree, and criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree, and defined the element of intent as an essential element of such offenses. The court also charged the lesser crimes of manslaughter in the first degree where death ensues when the intent was to cause serious physical injury rather than death, and manslaughter in the second degree where death results from reckless conduct.
During the course of the trial inculpatory statements given to Detective Reuben Bankhead and Assistant District Attorney David Covey were received in evidence.
At a pretrial Huntley hearing it was established that, at about 11:30 P.M. on April 20, 1977, after the defendant had been given his constitutional warnings and he had knowingly waived the same, Detective Bankhead asked him what he had done with the gun after the shooting. He replied that he had put it into an ashcan on Eastern Parkway. When, after having made this response, he requested a lawyer, the interrogation by the detective terminated.
It was also established that, thereafter, while still in the stationhouse, defendant was further interrogated, this time by Assistant District Attorney Covey. After giving the defendant his constitutional warnings, Covey also obtained an inculpating statement from the defendant. The interrogation finally terminated when the defendant refused to answer further questions. Upon termination of this interrogation, the Assistant District Attorney learned of the defendant's...
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