People v. Aska

OPINION OF THE COURT

Memorandum.

The order of the Appellate Division should be affirmed.

The issue here is whether the trial court improperly precluded the testimony of a defense witness. On August 21, 1995, defendant and the complainant, Makasi Knight, met by chance on Church Avenue in Brooklyn. Knight testified that upon reaching the defendant he calmly inquired about an alleged “slapping incident” that he believed had occurred five days earlier between the defendant and Knight’s girlfriend. According to Knight, the defendant did not respond but instead pulled out a knife, stabbed him in the…