The People of the State of New York, Respondent v. Paris Drake, Appellant

Summary

The Court affirmed the defendant's convictions for first-degree assault and third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, holding that the trial court's limited expert testimony ruling and the overall jury charge were not prejudicial, and that the trial court's evidentiary rulings did not constitute an abuse of discretion. Justice G.B. Smith dissented, arguing that the erroneous instruction on expert testimony was prejudicial and that the refusal to allow an in‑camera review of a key witness's psychiatric records violated the Sixth Amendment.