People v. Le Grand

The defendant moves, pursuant to CPL 330.30 (subd 1) to set aside the verdict of a jury which found defendant guilty of one count of bribing a witness.

Defendant was charged with the crime of bribing a witness under section 215.00 of the Penal Law. The theory of the prosecution was that defendant offered or sought to confer a benefit upon a material witness in a then pending criminal case against him in order that such witness absent herself or otherwise avoid or seek to avoid appearing or testifying at such action or proceeding.

The evidence was based on defendant’s taped conversations that he…