AMICUS AI
Citation Codes
Equivalent Citations
citation codes
Are you a practicing lawyer?
Enhance your digital presence and reach by creating a Casemine profile.
Upload pleading to use the new AI search
Cites
Cited by
Citation Codes
Equivalent Citations
citation codes

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, Respondent, v. MARK DALLARA, Appellant.

Judgment affirmed.

Defendant's sole defense at trial was justification. While his state of mind is the crucial factor to be considered ( People v Miller, 39 N.Y.2d 543, 551), defendant's subjective belief under the facts and circumstances of the subject incident as they appeared to him concerning the imminence and seriousness of danger must be reasonable ( People v Desmond, 93 A.D.2d 822; People v Miller, supra, p 548; People v Governale, 193 N.Y. 581, 588).

Penal Law § 35.15 (2) specifically prohibits the use of deadly physical force upon another person unless the actor reasonably believes that such person is using or is about to use deadly physical force against him and he cannot with complete safety avoid using deadly physical force by retreating.

Based upon the record, we agree with Criminal Term that the People established beyond a reasonable doubt that the defense of justification was not available to defendant. Defendant was not justified in using deadly physical force against the decedent, and he could have avoided its use by retreating with complete safety.

Gibbons, J.P., Thompson, Weinstein and Brown, JJ., concur.

Use AI to get other relevant cases.

Comments

PEOPLE v. DALLARA
(Feb 19, 1985)