People v. Genova

Defendant appeals from a judgment of conviction rendered by a city magistrate sitting as a Court of Spe-

*497cial Sessions. Defendant was convicted of the crime of leaving the scene of an accidmt without reporting it in violation of the Vehicle and Trafile Law (§ 70, subd. 5-a). He was sentenced to pay a fine of $50 or to serve fifteen days in the city prison and his license to drive was revoked.

The city magistrate’s conceded failure to advise defendant, who was represented by counsel, of his right to “be tried by a court of special sessions ” (N. Y. City Crim. Cts. Act, 5 131) deprived the…