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People v. Blake

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Fourth Department
Feb 2, 1990
158 A.D.2d 979 (N.Y. App. Div. 1990)

Opinion

February 2, 1990

Appeal from the Onondaga County Court, Mulroy, J.

Present — Dillon, P.J., Callahan, Boomer, Pine and Balio, JJ.


Judgment unanimously affirmed. Memorandum: Defendant appeals from a judgment of conviction, following a jury trial, of one count each of first degree murder (Penal Law § 125.27); first degree attempted murder (Penal Law § 110.00, 125.27 Penal [1]); attempted first degree escape (Penal Law § 110.00, 205.15 Penal [2]); second degree murder (Penal Law § 125.25); and second degree criminal possession of a weapon (Penal Law § 265.03).

Defendant's convictions arise out of events that occurred on February 10, 1987. Following an appearance in the Town of Dewitt Justice Court, defendant, while handcuffed to two other individuals, grabbed a gun from a transport Deputy, then shot and killed an Onondaga County Deputy Sheriff and wounded another.

The principal issue on appeal is whether defendant's constitutional and statutory right to be present during jury selection was violated. Specifically, defendant contends that the court committed reversible error by conducting a portion of the voir dire at the Bench, in the presence of both counsel, but in his absence. The bench conferences were recorded and the record contains no objection to the method used to select the jury. Thus, the defendant's claim of error is not preserved for review (see, CPL 470.05), and this is not an appropriate case to review the issue in the interest of justice (see, CPL 470.15 [c]). Defendant's claim of prejudice is unsupported in the record (see, People v Ganett, 68 A.D.2d 81, affd 51 N.Y.2d 991) and it cannot be said that he was denied a fair trial. Further, there is no merit to defendant's claim regarding the court's examination of the 10 sworn jurors and four prospective jurors in Chambers (see, People v Mullen, 44 N.Y.2d 1, 5-6).

In reviewing the other issues raised on appeal, we conclude that County Court's instruction on extreme emotional disturbance does not require reversal (see, People v Cathcart, 154 A.D.2d 939) ; that defendant's sentence was in all respects proper (see, People v Day, 73 N.Y.2d 208, 211-212); that defendant was properly removed from the courtroom following his disruptive and obstreperous conduct and the trial court's full and adequate admonitions (see, CPL 260.20; People v Johnson, 45 A.D.2d 1030, affd 37 N.Y.2d 778); that defendant's claims of prosecutorial misconduct during summation were unpreserved and, in any event, do not require reversal; and that the trial court's charge on intent did not violate the Sandstrom rule (see, People v Getch, 50 N.Y.2d 456).


Summaries of

People v. Blake

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Fourth Department
Feb 2, 1990
158 A.D.2d 979 (N.Y. App. Div. 1990)
Case details for

People v. Blake

Case Details

Full title:THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, Respondent, v. WILLIAM R. BLAKE, JR.…

Court:Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Fourth Department

Date published: Feb 2, 1990

Citations

158 A.D.2d 979 (N.Y. App. Div. 1990)
551 N.Y.S.2d 132

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