Opinion
10-24-2017
The PEOPLE of the State of New York, Respondent, v. ANONYMOUS, Defendant–Appellant.
Robert S. Dean, Center for Appellate Litigation, New York (Samuel E. Steinbock–Pratt of counsel), for appellant. Cyrus R. Vance, Jr., District Attorney, New York (Sheila O'Shea of counsel), for respondent.
Robert S. Dean, Center for Appellate Litigation, New York (Samuel E. Steinbock–Pratt of counsel), for appellant.
Cyrus R. Vance, Jr., District Attorney, New York (Sheila O'Shea of counsel), for respondent.
Judgment, Supreme Court, New York County (Mark Dwyer, J.), rendered July 22, 2015, convicting defendant, after a nonjury trial, of murder in the second degree, and sentencing him to a term of 17 years to life, unanimously affirmed.
The verdict was not against the weight of the evidence ( People v. Danielson, 9 N.Y.3d 342, 348–349, 849 N.Y.S.2d 480, 880 N.E.2d 1 [2007] ). There is no basis for disturbing the court's rejection, after considering conflicting expert testimony, of defendant's insanity defense and his claim that he lacked the intent to kill. Defendant's homicidal intent could be reasonably inferred from his conduct and the surrounding circumstances, including defendant's infliction of numerous stab wounds to the victim's torso in the vicinity of vital organs, two of which pierced the victim's heart and one his left lung (see e.g. People v. Pusepa, 135 A.D.3d 559, 22 N.Y.S.3d 846 [1st Dept 2016], lv. denied 27 N.Y.3d 1004, 38 N.Y.S.3d 113, 59 N.E.3d 1225 [2016] ).
We perceive no basis for reducing the sentence.
RENWICK, J.P., KAPNICK, GESMER, KERN, JJ., concur.