People v. Al-Kanani

Chief Judge Fuld.

Charged with killing his wife in their guffolk County home, the defendant pleaded not guilty and not guilty by reason of insanity. After his indictment and arraignment, at which he was represented by counsel, the defendant was examined, without notice to his attorney or to the court, by a psychiatrist retained by the prosecution. Based, in part, on the results of that examination, he was convicted of murder *475in the first degree and sentenced to a term of imprisonment for life. On appeal, the Appellate Division unanimously reversed the conviction and ordered a new trial on the…