The mission of the Connecticut Judicial Branch is to serve the interests of justice and the public by resolving matters brought before it in a fair, timely, efficient and open manner.

Criminal Law Appellate Court Opinions

by Booth, George

 

AC40953 - State v. Williams (Larceny in first degree; "The defendant, Diane Williams, appeals from the judgment of conviction, rendered after a jury trial, of larceny in the first degree in violation of General Statutes § 53a-122 (a). On appeal, the defendant challenges the propriety of various evidentiary rulings and the denial of her request to secure the attendance at trial of several out-of-state witnesses. We affirm the judgment of the trial court.")

AC42327 - State v. Edwards (Burglary in first degree; robbery in first degree; conspiracy to commit larceny in first degree; assault in second degree; larceny in second degree; "The defendant, Tywan Edwards, appeals from the judgment of conviction, rendered after a trial to a jury, of larceny in the second degree in violation of General Statutes § 53a-123 (a) (2). On appeal, the defendant claims that (1) the evidence was insufficient to convict him of larceny in the second degree because the jury could not reasonably have found that (a) he possessed stolen property of a value greater than $10,000 or (b) he knew the property in his possession was stolen, (2) the trial court improperly admitted into evidence the testimony that the victim had identified items in a video exhibit as his, in violation of the rule against hearsay, (3) the trial court improperly prevented the defendant from cross-examining a witness concerning her alleged drug dealing subsequent to the crime with which he was charged, and (4) the trial court erroneously instructed the jury concerning reasonable doubt. We affirm the judgment of the trial court.")

AC42481 - State v. Ferrazzano-Mazza (Operating motor vehicle while under influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs; operating motor vehicle without license; "The defendant, Julie A. Ferrazzano-Mazza, appeals from the judgment of conviction of operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs in violation of General Statutes § 14-227a (a), which was tried to a jury, and operating a motor vehicle without a license in violation of General Statutes § 14-36 (a), which was tried to the court. The defendant also pleaded nolo contendere to being a third time offender in violation of § 14-227a (g) (3). On appeal, the defendant claims that the court improperly (1) excluded evidence that she had offered to take a blood test in lieu of a Breathalyzer test and delivered to the jury a limiting instruction on the use of such evidence, and (2) denied her request to instruct the jury that field sobriety tests are not based on science. We affirm the judgment of the trial court.")