People v. D'Angelo

Feb 5, 1979
Versions:67 A.D.2d 931
413 N.Y.S.2d 31
1979 N.Y. App. Div. LEXIS 10696

— Appeal by defendant from a judgment of the County Court, Nassau County, rendered September 29, 1977, convicting him of attempted robbery in the first degree, upon a jury verdict, and imposing sentence. Judgment reversed, on the law, and new trial ordered. At the time of his arrest in connection with an attempted truck hijacking defendant indicated to the arresting officer that he wanted to speak with his attorney. The arresting officer then read defendant his Miranda rights. Defendant was eventually transported to the police precinct where he spoke to another police officer, who repeated the Miranda warnings and questioned him. At that point, defendant confessed to the crime. As the District Attorney concedes, it was error for the trial court to admit defendant’s tainted confession at trial (see People v Buxton, 44 NY2d 33; People v Clark, 45 NY2d 432). We cannot agree with the District Attorney’s contention that the error was "harmless beyond a reasonable doubt” (see People v Almestica, 42 NY2d 222). The confession was the most damaging piece of evidence admitted against defendant at trial (cf. People v Jones, 61 AD2d 264). Although the other evidence of his guilt was persuasive, it cannot be said beyond a reasonable doubt, that the error in admitting his statement into evidence did not contribute to his conviction (People v Jones, supra). Defendant’s other contention regarding the refusal to charge attempted grand larceny in the second degree, attempted grand larceny in the third degree, and attempted petty larceny, is without merit. No reasonable view of the evidence, on this record, would warrant such a charge. O’Connor, J. P., Rabin, Gulotta and Shapiro, JJ., concur.