People v. Libbett

— Judgment reversed, on the law, and a new trial granted. Memorandum: The inflammatory, prejudicial and misleading remarks by the prosecutor on summation deprived defendant of a fair trial and compel reversal and a new trial. Defendant and another had been indicted for the kidnapping and rape of a 16-year-old girl. While those charges were pending, defendant allegedly attempted to bribe the victim and her mother to induce them to drop the charges. As a result, he was indicted on two counts of bribery. A jury trial on the kidnapping and rape charges resulted in a hung jury. When retried…