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 Supreme Court Slip Opinion

by Booth, George

 

SC20407 - State v. Gomes (Assault in the 2nd Degree; whether "Investigative Inadequacy" jury instruction prejudiced defendant; whether Supreme Court should overrule or limit State v. Williams and State v. Collins and invoke its supervisory authority to prescribe a jury instruction on investigative inadequacy; "The defendant, Wagner Gomes, appeals from the judgment of the Appellate Court affirming his conviction, rendered following a jury trial, of assault in the second degree in violation of General Statutes ยง 53a-60 (a) (2). The defendant claims that the Appellate Court incorrectly determined that the trial court's investigative inadequacy jury instruction did not mislead the jury or otherwise deprive him of his right to present an investigative inadequacy defense. We agree and, accordingly, reverse the judgment of the Appellate Court.")