People v. Mollica

—Appeal by the defendant from a judgment of the Supreme Court, Richmond County (J. Goldberg, J.), rendered December 4, 1997, convicting him of robbery in the third degree (two counts), upon a jury verdict, and imposing sentence.

Ordered that the judgment is reversed, as a matter of discretion in the interest of justice, and a new trial is ordered.

As correctly conceded by the People, the Supreme Court erroneously instructed the jury on the charge of robbery by defining its elements following opening statements, and again before closing statements (see, CPL 260.30, 270.40). The court’s…