People v. Minuto

• Decision Date: 12 November 1973
• Citation: 349 N.Y.S.2d 122,43 A.D.2d 574
• Parties: The PEOPLE, etc., Respondent, v. Mario MINUTO, Appellant.
• Court: New York Supreme Court — Appellate Division

Page 122

349 N.Y.S.2d 122

43 A.D.2d 574

The PEOPLE, etc., Respondent, v. Mario MINUTO, Appellant.

Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Second Department.

Nov. 12, 1973.

Before HOPKINS, Acting P.J., and LATHAM, SHAPIRO, CHRIST and BENJAMIN, JJ.

MEMORANDUM BY THE COURT.

Appeal by defendant from a judgment of Supreme Court, Queens County, rendered June 20, 1973, convicting him of murder and attempted robbery in the first degree, upon a jury verdict, and imposing sentence.

Judgment reversed, on the law and the facts, new trial ordered and case remanded to the trial court for further proceedins not inconsistent herewith.

At the trial a statement obtained by an assistant district attorney was received into evidence. The statement was taken from defendant at a time when he had been indicted for the crime for which he was ultimately convicted. It is true that that indictment was subsequently superseded, but for all intents and purposes the interrogation of defendant by which the statement was procured concerned the crime of which he was accused. At the questioning by the assistant district attorney defendant was without counsel and no counsel had yet been assigned to him.

It further appears that prior to the taking of the statement, but on the same day, defendant was interrogated by the same assistant district attorney. At that time, upon the warnings mandated by Miranda v. Arizona (384 U.S. 436, 86 S.Ct. 1602, 16 L.Ed.2d 694), defendant requested counsel. The assistant district attorney then ended his questioning and attempted to communicate with the Legal Aid Society so that defendant might be afforded counsel. The record is unclear as to the exact efforts of the assistant district attorney or as to the results of his efforts. Following this abortive questioning, defendant was removed to a hospital and received unknown ministrations. After returning to the district attorney's office, defendant was again questioned and his statement was taken after the Miranda warnings were again given.

At the hearing held to suppress the statement, it was not disclosed by the People that the first questioning had occurred and that at that time defendant requested counsel. It was not until the trial and upon cross-examination of a detective that this fact became known. It is also conceded by the prosecution that the assistant district attorney questioning defendant was unaware that defendant had already been indicted for the crime concerning which he was being...