Opinion
October 19, 1981
Appeal by defendant from a judgment of the Supreme Court, Kings County (Felig, J.), rendered December 17, 1979, convicting him of murder in the second degree, upon a jury verdict, and imposing sentence. Judgment reversed, on the law, and new trial ordered. Defendant was indicted and charged with murder in the second degree. The prosecution's evidence at trial showed that defendant had stabbed the victim with a knife. On this appeal defendant argues, inter alia, that it was error for the trial court to have denied his request to charge the jury as to the defense of justification. We agree. Contrary to the trial court's determination, defendant's position at trial, that he neither possessed a knife nor stabbed the victim, did not bar submission of the defense of justification to the jury (see People v Steele, 26 N.Y.2d 526). According defendant the most favorable view of the record (see People v. Steele, supra), and recognizing the jury's prerogative to accept or reject part or all of the testimony of a single witness, under proper circumstances (People v. Scarborough, 49 N.Y.2d 364), we find that there was sufficient evidence to raise the defense of justification (see Penal Law, § 35.15). The jury, therefore, should have been so charged. It was also error to have permitted the prosecution to introduce evidence as to an uncharged crime allegedly committed by defendant. The probative value, if any, of such evidence was outweighed by its prejudicial effect. We have reviewed defendant's remaining contentions and find them to be without merit. Damiani, J.P., Gulotta, Margett and Bracken, JJ., concur.