State v. Hanks case brief

State v. Hanks case brief summary
665 A.2d 102 (1995)

CASE SYNOPSIS

Defendants appealed a judgment of the Superior Court in the Judicial District of Fairfield (Connecticut), which convicted them of assault in the first degree, assault of an employee of the Department of Corrections, attempted escape in the first degree, rioting at a correctional institution. Defendants were both charged with conspiracy to commit assault in the first degree, however, only one of them was convicted of that charge.

CASE FACTS
Defendants were involved in an attempted escape from a jail. A corrections officer was assaulted as part of the escape plan. Defendants contended that the evidence was insufficient to sustain their convictions, that the trial court improperly instructed the jury in several respects, and that prosecutorial misconduct during closing argument constituted reversible error.

DISCUSSION

• The court held that (1) the evidence at trial was sufficient to show that defendants were active participants in the assault on the corrections officer, not innocent bystanders as they contended; 
• (2) the evidence was also sufficient for the jury to find that defendants were involved in the attempt to escape from the jail because their actions went beyond mere preparation and were done with the intent to commit the crime; 
• (3) the remarks by the prosecutor during closing argument represented an isolated instance of alleged misconduct and thus, defendants did not establish the clear existence of a violation of their constitutional rights; and 
• (4) in reviewing the charge to jurors as a whole, it was not unfair or misleading to jurors in anyway.

CONCLUSION
The court affirmed defendants' convictions.

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