People v. Ocasio

OPINION OF THE COURT

Fuchsberg, J.

Wilfredo Ocasio, whose conviction for burglary stands affirmed by the Appellate Division, posits his appeal to us entirely on a claim that his trial was unfair because the Trial Judge refused to preclude the prosecution from attacking the credibility of his only witness by confronting her with a 32-year-old conviction of manslaughter for the fatal stabbing of her mother.

The case is simple. Arrayed against the defendant were the burglary victim and a lone identification witness who testified he saw the defendant depart the building in which the crime was…