People v. Hamilton

Appeal from a judgment of the County Court of Tompkins County (Barrett, J.), rendered December 17, 1985, upon a verdict convicting defendant of the crime of arson in the second degree.

The prime issue to be resolved on this appeal from defendant’s conviction of arson in the second degree is whether defendant’s guilt was established beyond a reasonable doubt. In our view it was not. Viewing the evidence in a light most favorable to the People, the proof was insufficient to establish defendant’s presence at the scene of the fire when it started or his possession of an accelerant on the day of…