People v. Puglisi
People v. Puglisi
Opinion of the Court
OPINION OF THE COURT
Memorandum.
The order of the Appellate Division should be reversed, defendant’s conviction vacated, and the case remitted for further proceedings on the indictment.
We conclude that the cumulative effect, at least, of the several preserved errors requires a reversal. Proof of defendant’s guilt turned very largely on the jury’s acceptance of the testimony of Detective Nunez, the only witness to the alleged drug transactions produced by the People; the participating police informer did not take the stand. In this circumstance the significance of the errors on trial became critical. It was error to permit Lieutenant Donnelly to testify by way of inferential explanation for the failure to call the informer that he had promised the informer that the latter’s identity would not be revealed and that he would never be called upon
Chief Judge Breitel and Judges Jasen, Gabrielli, Jones, Wachtler, Fuchsberg and Cooke concur in a memorandum.
Order reversed, etc.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- The People of the State of New York v. Michael Puglisi
- Status
- Published