— Appeal by the defendant from a judgment of the County Court, Suffolk County (Weiss-man, J.), rendered May 28, 1985, convicting him of robbery in the second degree, robbery in the third degree (two counts), and grand larceny in the second degree, upon a jury verdict, and imposing sentence. The defendant, pro se, has submitted a brief in which he, inter alia, argues that he was denied effective assistance of appellate counsel.
Ordered that Stanley J. Krawitz is relieved as attorney for the defendant and he is directed to turn over all papers in his possession to new counsel assigned herein; and it is further,
Ordered that Alan Schneier, of 115 S. Corona Ave., Valley Stream, N. Y., 11580, is assigned as counsel to perfect the appeal; and it is further,
Ordered that the People are directed to furnish a copy of the stenographic minutes to the new assigned counsel; and it is further,
Ordered that in the interim, the appeal is to be held in abeyance.
Based upon this court’s independent review of the record, the brief submitted by the assigned counsel, and the defendant’s pro se supplemental brief, we conclude that the defendant was denied effective assistance of appellate counsel. Under the circumstances, the defendant’s appeal must be held in abeyance, his assigned counsel relieved, and new appellate counsel assigned to serve and file a brief on behalf of the defendant (see, People v Casiano, 67 NY2d 906; People v Gonzalez, 47 NY2d 606). Bracken, J. P., Weinstein, Rubin and Kooper, JJ., concur.