People v. Jonah P.

OPINION OF THE COURT

Eve Preminger, J.

A court will not ordinarily permit a defendant to introduce *536evidence of a third party’s good character in the hope of impressing the jury with the virtue of his own. Defendant, accused of robbing and assaulting a police officer, nevertheless seeks to adduce evidence of the good reputation of his deceased brother, shot and killed by the same policeman.

The events giving rise to the instant application took place on June 12, 1985 in a little frequented stretch of Morningside Avenue bordering Morningside Park. That evening a young police officer in plain…