The People of the State of New York v. Bruce Register

Summary

The New York Court of Appeals affirmed the murder and assault convictions, holding that the statutory element “circumstances evincing a depraved indifference to human life” is not a mens rea element that can be negated by intoxication evidence, and that the evidence was sufficient to support a depraved‑mind murder conviction. Justice Jasen dissented, arguing that intoxication should be admissible to negate that element.