People v. Minor

OPINION OF THE COURT

Memorandum.

The order of the Appellate Division should be reversed and a new trial ordered.

The defendant was indicted for selling drugs to an undercover police officer. At the trial he raised an entrapment defense which he sought to prove by testifying with respect to the statements made to him by the paid police informer who introduced him to the undercover officer. In each instance, however, the court sustained the prosecutor’s objection on the ground of hearsay and directed the jury to disregard any testimony concerning the informant’s statements.

As defense counsel noted…