People v. McKinney

Defendant was convicted by a jury of delivery of heroin 1 and sentenced to 10 to 20 years imprisonment. The Court of Appeals affirmed. Because of an unfairly prejudicial line of inquiry pursued by the prosecutor during his cross-examination of defendant, we reverse the Court of Appeals, vacate the conviction and sentence, and remand the case for a new trial._

I

Defendant testified in his own behalf. He specifically denied ever using or selling heroin. While cross-examining him, the prosecutor inquired at great length and in detail about defendant’s knowledge of heroin, its use, and the use of…