People v. Hector

Appeal by the defendant from a judgment of the Supreme Court, Kings County (Carroll, J.), rendered October 28, 2003, convicting him of criminal sale of a controlled substance in the third degree, upon a jury verdict, and imposing sentence.

Ordered that the judgment is reversed, on the law, and a new trial is ordered.

The defendant contends that he was denied his right to a public trial (see US Const, 6th Amend; Civil Rights Law § 12; Judiciary Law § 4; People v Jones, 96 NY2d 213 [2001]). During a Hinton hearing (see People v Hinton, 31 NY2d 71 [1972], cert denied 410 US 911 [1973]), the…