People v. Retamozzo

OPINION OF THE COURT

McGuire, J.

The issue on appeal is whether the trial court deprived defendant of his constitutional right to a fair trial by excessive interference in the examination of witnesses.

At trial, Detective Vargas and other witnesses called by the People testified that on January 8, 2003 Vargas and a confidential informant met defendant in Washington Square Park. When Vargas asked to “see the pills,” defendant, who was seated in a car, asked Vargas whether he had $7,500. Vargas replied that he did, but had to retrieve it from his car; after Vargas left, defendant drove off and…