New York Court of Appeals

The People of the State of New York v. Burnis Caviness

December 29, 197538 N.Y.2d 227

Summary

The Court of Appeals reversed Caviness's conviction, holding that the bystander's spontaneous declaration was admissible as a hearsay exception and that the trial court abused its discretion by allowing evidence of a remote prior gun‑possession conviction, which was unduly prejudicial.