People v. Link

Appeal from a judgment of the County Court of Broome County (Monserrate, J.), rendered December 9, 1988, upon a verdict convicting defendant of the crime of arson in the third degree.

Defendant was convicted by a jury of arson in the third degree as a result of the incendiary destruction of the residence of Owena Vail and was sentenced to an indeterminate term of imprisonment of 4 to 8 years. At the heart of the *840People’s case was a theory that Vail engaged defendant to set the fire so that Vail could recover on her insurance policy. Several witnesses testified at trial that they observed…