Opinion
275
February 25, 2003.
Judgment, Supreme Court, Bronx County (Harold Silverman, J.), rendered December 20, 1999, convicting defendant, after a jury trial, of attempted murder in the second degree, and sentencing him to a term of 2 to 6 years, unanimously affirmed. The verdict was based on legally sufficient evidence and was not against the weight of the evidence. There is no basis for disturbing the jury's determinations concerning credibility. Defendant's intent to kill could be readily inferred from the totality of his conduct, including his act, along with his friends, of surrounding the victim and his act of slashing the victim's abdomen, injuring vital organs (see People v. Suero, 235 A.D.2d 357,lv denied 89 N.Y.2d 1101).
Cheryl D. Harris, for respondent.
Larry Sheehan, for defendant-appellant.
Before: Tom, J.P., Andrias, Sullivan, Friedman, Marlow, JJ.
The court properly denied defendant's challenge for cause, since the prospective juror ultimately made an unequivocal declaration of his ability to be fair (see People v. Chambers, 97 N.Y.2d 417).
The court properly exercised its discretion in discharging a sick juror and replacing her with an alternate after she informed the court that she would not be able to attend court that day and probably would not be able to attend the following day as well (CPL 270.35; People v. Jeanty, 94 N.Y.2d 507).
Defendant's remaining contentions are unpreserved and we decline to review them in the interest of justice. Were we to review these claims, we would reject them.
THIS CONSTITUTES THE DECISION AND ORDER OF THE SUPREME COURT, APPELLATE DIVISION, FIRST DEPARTMENT.