People v. Chi Keung Seto
The defendant, Chi Keung Seto, moved to dismiss his indictment, which included charges of first-degree kidnapping and second-degree assault, citing a violation of his speedy trial rights under CPL 30.30. The legal action began in November 1990, but a bench warrant was issued in March 1991 after Seto failed to appear in court. The People contended they exercised due diligence in locating Seto, who was later discovered to have been a shooting victim, comatose in a hospital under a different identity, and subsequently transferred to a rehabilitation center and then to California. Following a May 1994 hearing, the court, presided over by Justice Alfred H. Kleiman, ruled that the prosecution's efforts constituted due diligence despite not linking the shooting victim to the outstanding warrant. Consequently, the court denied the defendant's motion to dismiss the indictment.