New York Court of Appeals
The People of the State of New York v. Oneal Brown
January 21, 197026 N.Y.2d 88
Summary
The New York Court of Appeals reversed Oneal Brown's murder conviction, holding that a declaration against penal interest is admissible when the declarant is unavailable because of death, jurisdictional issues, or invocation of the Fifth Amendment privilege. The court found the trial court erred in excluding Shelton Seals's admissions about picking up a gun after the shooting and ordered a new trial.