People v. Blount

Appeal by the defendant from a judgment of the County Court, Nassau County (Lipp, J.), rendered October 30, 1987, convicting him of assault in the second degree, upon a jury vedict, 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.

During the cross-examination of the defendant, the trial court directed an overnight recess, and directed defense counsel, over his objection, not to discuss the defendant’s testimony with the defendant "at all”. This instruction violated the defendant’s right to…