People v. Sweeper

OPINION OF THE COURT

Myriam J. Altman, J.

Jury selection in this homicide prosecution was completed on November 14, 1983, with testimony scheduled to commence the following morning. Later that day the key prosecution witness, Bobby Edmonds, was murdered. The People consequently seek the admission of Mr. Edmonds’ Grand Jury testimony. The defendant contends that such admission would deprive him of his Sixth Amendment right of confrontation.

The Sixth Amendment of the Constitution of the United States provides that, in a criminal trial, a defendant has the right to confront the witnesses against…