People v. Perry

OPINION OF THE COURT

Herman Cahn, J.

In a prosecution for murder, may the defense attempt to demonstrate, by extrinsic evidence, that the prosecution’s chief witness’ testimony is motivated by his self-interest? Specifically, the defense seeks to show that in a pending unrelated case in which the witness is a defendant, a Justice of this court told the witness and his attorney that consideration would be given the witness if he testified (truthfully) in the instant case.

Defendants are on trial, accused of murder in the second degree. One of the People’s witnesses, John McKoy, allegedly an…