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

 

AC41869 - State v. Pjura (Assault in second degree; larceny in sixth degree; "The defendant, John Pjura, appeals from the judgment of conviction, rendered after a jury trial, of one count of assault in the second degree in violation of General Statutes § 53a-60 (a) (1) and one count of larceny in the sixth degree in violation of General Statutes § 53a-125b. The defendant claims on appeal (1) that there was insufficient evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that he intended to cause serious physical injury to the victim, and (2) that he was denied his right to a fair trial because the prosecutor committed improprieties during the trial by (a) attempting to place evidence of the defendant's postarrest silence before the jury, (b) arguing facts not in evidence, and (c) arguing to the jury that, in order to find the defendant not guilty, it would have to find that two eyewitnesses and the victim were lying. We affirm the judgment of the trial court.")

AC42703 - State v. Anderson (Assault in first degree with firearm; assault of peace officer with firearm; self-defense; "The defendant, Lonnie Anderson, appeals from the judgment of conviction, rendered after a jury trial, of assault in the first degree by means of the discharge of a firearm in violation of General Statutes § 53a-59 (a) (5) and of assault of a peace officer by means of the discharge of a firearm in violation of General Statutes § 53a-167c (a) (1); his sentence was enhanced pursuant to General Statutes § 53-202k. On appeal, the defendant claims that the trial court improperly declined to instruct the jury on self-defense. We disagree and affirm the judgment of the trial court.")