The Court of Appeals has announced a new decision: People v. McGrantham (Ct. App. 6/25/2009) (SSM), reversing a conviction for Criminally Negligent Homicide. The defendant was driving a vehicle. He intended to enter the Belt Parkway but missed the entrance. He mistakenly drove up the exit ramp instead. He realized his mistake and made a U-turn across three lanes of traffic. A motorcycle collided with his car; the operator died. "Viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the People, defendant's motion seeking to dismiss the count of the indictment charging him with criminally negligent homicide must be granted. Defendant's decision to make a U-turn across three lanes of traffic to extricate himself from a precarious situation was not wise, but it does not rise to the level of moral blameworthiness required to sustain a charge of criminally negligent homicide."
In addition, there are new decisions today from the First and Third Departments. (LC)
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