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People v. Phan

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Second Department
Mar 18, 1996
225 A.D.2d 715 (N.Y. App. Div. 1996)

Opinion

March 18, 1996

Appeal from the Supreme Court, Kings County (Juviler, J.).


Ordered that the judgments are affirmed.

The defendant has not preserved for appellate review his contention that the People failed to prove his identity as one of the perpetrators beyond a reasonable doubt. In any event, viewing the evidence adduced at trial in the light most favorable to the prosecution (see, People v Contes, 60 N.Y.2d 620), we find that it was legally sufficient to establish beyond a reasonable doubt the defendant's identity as one of the individuals who burglarized the complainants' home and robbed the complainants. The complainants had ample opportunity to observe the defendant during the incidents, and were able to identify him at a subsequent lineup.

Contrary to the defendant's contention, the minor discrepancies regarding his height, weight, and appearance contained in the identification testimony did not render that testimony unworthy of belief (see, People v White, 192 A.D.2d 736, 737; People v Hunt, 177 A.D.2d 649, 650). Resolution of issues of credibility, as well as the weight to be accorded to the evidence presented, are primarily questions to be determined by the jury, which saw and heard the witnesses (see, People v Gaimari, 176 N.Y. 84, 94). Its determination should be accorded great weight on appeal and should not be disturbed unless clearly unsupported by the record ( see, People v Garafolo, 44 A.D.2d 86, 88). Upon the exercise of our factual review power, we are satisfied that the verdict was not against the weight of the evidence (see, CPL 470.15).

We do not find the imposition of consecutive sentences to be excessive in light of the defendant's criminal history, the violent and terrorizing nature of the offenses, and the psychological impact of the offenses upon the victims (see, People v White, supra, at 737).

In light of the foregoing, the defendant is not entitled to vacatur of the guilty pleas which resulted in the judgments of conviction under Indictment Nos. 590/93 and 660/93 (see, People v Fagan, 215 A.D.2d 686; cf., People v Taylor, 80 N.Y.2d 1, 15).

The defendant's remaining contentions, including those raised in his supplemental pro se brief, are unpreserved for appellate review (see, CPL 470.05; People v Basora, 75 N.Y.2d 992; People v Burke, 72 N.Y.2d 833; People v Squires, 171 A.D.2d 893, 894; People v Walker, 224 A.D.2d 559) or without merit (see, People v Fardan, 82 N.Y.2d 638, 646; People v Leggett, 221 A.D.2d 371; People v Sanchez, 216 A.D.2d 498; cf., People v Beniquez, 215 A.D.2d 678). Bracken, J.P., Rosenblatt, O'Brien and Goldstein, JJ., concur.


Summaries of

People v. Phan

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Second Department
Mar 18, 1996
225 A.D.2d 715 (N.Y. App. Div. 1996)
Case details for

People v. Phan

Case Details

Full title:THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, Respondent, v. TAM PHAN, Also Known…

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

Date published: Mar 18, 1996

Citations

225 A.D.2d 715 (N.Y. App. Div. 1996)
640 N.Y.S.2d 120

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