People v. Huggins

Memorandum. The disclosure of an informer’s identity at suppression hearings is a matter left to the sound but reviewable discretion of the hearing court. In People v Darden (34 NY2d 177) recognizing the delicacy of the task, we furnished certain guidelines to assist the courts in exercising their discretionary powers in conducting suppression hearings to hold in camera inquiries as to the existence of an informer and with respect to the communications made by the informer to the police. In the present case, though requested, such an inquiry was denied. In the circumstances disclosed in this…