People v. Rutledge

*405In this prosecution for the knifepoint robbery and assault of a woman in the elevator of the building where she worked, it was reversible error for the prosecutor in summation to tell the jury that as "sophisticated New Yorkers, you know there’s an appeal process * * * to safeguard that defendant’s rights * * * So a verdict of guilty is not final and you need not agonize in this case there is nothing to agonize over”. This statement was interrupted twice by defense objections which were overruled by the court.

The People concede that the trial prosecutor’s comment was improper because it could…