People v. Jackson

On October 23, 1972, at 9:30 p.m., the police room of Astoria Houses, a New York City housing development, at 420 Astoria Boulevard, Queens, was humming with activity. A man, who, earlier that evening had been shot in the chin, was being ministered to by two ambulance attendants. At least four New York City Housing Authority patrolmen and two women who had been engaged in a fight were crowded into a small room. According to one prosecution witness, the room was “ hectic and noisy ”.

Outside, the ground-floor office a crowd, curious about the incident involving the two women, had collected.

Accor…