People v Vincent

Holding The conviction was reversed and the case remitted for a new trial because the trial court improperly admitted a police detective’s opinion on surveillance video footage, which usurped the jury’s fact-finding role, and admitted Molineux testimony where the prejudicial effect substantially outweighed its probative value. The court found these errors were not harmless given that the evidence of guilt was not overwhelming.

The court’s words

Here, considerable portions of the detective's testimony improperly usurped the jury's function by interpreting the evidence

2026 NY Slip Op 06149, at the official text

the prejudicial effect substantially outweighed the probative value of that testimony

2026 NY Slip Op 06149, at the official text

the error cannot be deemed harmless since the evidence of the defendant's guilt, without reference to the error, was not overwhelming

2026 NY Slip Op 06149, at the official text