New York Court of Appeals
The People of the State of New York, Respondent v. Stephanie Wernick, Appellant
November 21, 199689 N.Y.2d 111
Summary
The Court affirmed the conviction, holding that CPL 60.55(1) does not eliminate the Frye reliability requirement for novel psychiatric evidence and that the trial court correctly limited the expert's testimony on a neonaticide syndrome profile. The admission of a photograph of the infant was also upheld. Justice Simons dissented, arguing that CPL 60.55 permits such expert testimony without a Frye hearing.