People v. Bell

OPINION OF THE COURT

Memorandum.

The orders of the Appellate Division affirming the convictions of defendants Bell and Pritchett should be reversed and the cases remitted for new trial.

There can be no question on review of the record that defendant Pritchett did not have effective assistance of counsel, within the meaning of our holdings in People v Brown (45 NY2d 852) and People v Droz (39 NY2d 457) (see, also, People v Gonzalez, 47 NY2d 606). His retained attorney not only failed to request any pretrial hearings, conduct any voir dire of jurors or make any opening statement, but also asserted…