Opinion
March 7, 1966
In a coram nobis proceeding, defendant appeals from an order of the Supreme Court, Kings County, entered July 29, 1964, which denied after a hearing his application to vacate a judgment of the former County Court, Kings County, rendered February 8, 1954, convicting him of robbery and grand larceny (both in the first degree) and of assault in the second degree, upon a jury verdict, and imposing sentence. Order reversed on the law and proceeding remitted to the Supreme Court, Kings County, for the purpose of: (a) holding a hearing de novo, before a Judge other than the one who presided at defendant's sentence in 1954, on the question as to whether defendant's failure to file a timely notice of appeal was attributable to any act or omission on the part of the trial court and/or any statement or conduct on the part of defendant's assigned trial counsel; and (b) making a determination de novo on the basis of the proof adduced upon such hearing. In our opinion, absent proof on defendant's claim that his failure to file a timely notice of appeal was attributable to an omission on the part of the trial court, this issue was properly not considered by the court below. However, in view of the fact that defendant made this claim in his petition, we are also of the opinion that the interests of justice would be served if the entire question were determined at a hearing de novo as indicated. Whether defendant is entitled to any relief must necessarily depend upon the proof adduced (cf., People v. Bjornsen, 40 Misc.2d 986, affd. 21 A.D.2d 978; People v. Barsey, 21 A.D.2d 828; People v. Kalan, 2 N.Y.2d 278; Douglas v. California, 372 U.S. 353; Pate v. Holman, 341 F.2d 764). Beldock, P.J., Ughetta, Christ, Hill and Rabin, JJ., concur.