People v. Phifer

Appeal by the defendant from a judgment of the County Court, Suffolk County (Mallon, J.), rendered July 21, 1989, convicting him of burglary in the first degree (two counts), robbery in the first degree, robbery in the second degree, and assault in the second degree, upon a jury verdict, and imposing sentence.

Ordered that the judgment is reversed, on the law, and a new trial is ordered. No questions of fact have been raised or considered.

The trial court erred in precluding the defense counsel from cross-examining the complainant as to his prior convictions for manslaughter and attempted…