PEOPLE v. SMITH (2009)

Appeal by the defendant from a judgment of the Supreme Court, Kings County (Carroll, J.), rendered November 20, 2007, convicting him of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fourth degree, upon a jury verdict, and imposing sentence.

ORDERED that the judgment is reversed, on the law and as a matter of discretion in the interest of justice, and a new trial is ordered.

In fulfilling our responsibility to conduct an independent review of the weight of the evidence (see CPL 470.15[5]; People v. Danielson, 9 N.Y.3d 342, 348, 849 N.Y.S.2d 480, 880 N.E.2d 1), we nevertheless accord great deference to the jury's opportunity to view the witnesses, hear the testimony, and observe demeanor (see People v. Mateo, 2 N.Y.3d 383, 410, 779 N.Y.S.2d 399, 811 N.E.2d 1053, cert. denied 542 U.S. 946, 124 S.Ct. 2929, 159 L.Ed.2d 828; People v. Bleakley, 69 N.Y.2d 490, 495, 515 N.Y.S.2d 761, 508 N.E.2d 672). Upon reviewing the record here, we are satisfied that the verdict of guilt was not against the weight of the evidence (see People v. Romero, 7 N.Y.3d 633, 826 N.Y.S.2d 163, 859 N.E.2d 902).

However, the trial court failed to meaningfully respond to a jury note seeking the testimony of two of the police officers who testified at the trial. The note requested the testimony of the police officers “pertaining to how long they were together” prior to an encounter with an unidentified woman who, according to the arresting officer, informed them that the defendant was in possession of cocaine. The trial court determined, over the defendant's objection, that only one of the officers had testified regarding the issue encompassed by the jury note. However, the arresting officer had testified that he was “by [him]self” prior to the encounter with the unidentified woman. Under the circumstances of this case, the trial court's failure to provide the jury with this additional testimony during the readback seriously prejudiced the defendant and constituted reversible error (see CPL 310.30; People v. Kisoon, 8 N.Y.3d 129, 134, 831 N.Y.S.2d 738, 863 N.E.2d 990; People v. O'Rama, 78 N.Y.2d 270, 277, 574 N.Y.S.2d 159, 579 N.E.2d 189; People v. Agosto, 73 N.Y.2d 963, 966, 540 N.Y.S.2d 988, 538 N.E.2d 340; People v. Lourido, 70 N.Y.2d 428, 435, 522 N.Y.S.2d 98, 516 N.E.2d 1212; People v. Hamilton, 140 A.D.2d 1001, 529 N.Y.S.2d 666; see also People v. Tabb, 13 N.Y.3d 852, --- N.Y.S.2d ----, --- N.E.2d ---- [2009] ).

Additionally, although not preserved for appellate review because no objection was raised (see CPL 470.05[2]; People v. Baldwin, 272 A.D.2d 476, 708 N.Y.S.2d 318), under the circumstances of this case, reversal of the defendant's conviction in the exercise of our interest of justice jurisdiction and a new trial are required because the trial court seriously prejudiced the defendant by completely failing to respond to another jury note requesting a readback of the cross-examination testimony of the arresting officer with respect to the issue of whether he “planted evidence” (see People v. Lourido, 70 N.Y.2d at 435, 522 N.Y.S.2d 98, 516 N.E.2d 1212; People v. Tavares, 212 A.D.2d 646, 622 N.Y.S.2d 579; People v. Colon, 151 A.D.2d 146, 152, 547 N.Y.S.2d 11, cert. denied 508 U.S. 923, 113 S.Ct. 2376, 124 L.Ed.2d 281).