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People v. Rafajlovski

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Second Department
Jul 3, 1989
152 A.D.2d 608 (N.Y. App. Div. 1989)

Opinion

July 3, 1989

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


Ordered that the judgment is affirmed.

The defendant's claim that the videotaping procedure used before the Grand Jury was improper and prejudicial is without merit. CPL 190.32 (3) and (5) authorize the presentment to the Grand Jury of the videotaped testimony of a witness found to be physically ill or incapacitated (see, People v Robinson, 125 A.D.2d 612). It is undisputed that the witness could not come into the Grand Jury room because of her physical condition. She could not speak because she had bandages on her mouth, as a result of being shot in the jaw. Yet, the defendant asserts that the complainant's physical appearance was unduly prejudicial. However, as the trial court observed, the witness appeared tastefully dressed in her hospital gown, had no exposed wounds, and had only a bandage over her mouth, and did not express visible pain during the taping. Under the circumstances, the defendant's claim is unavailing.

We also reject the defendant's claim that the indictment must be dismissed because he was not permitted to testify before the Grand Jury. First, the defendant's motion, dated January 13, 1986, to dismiss the indictment was untimely (see, CPL 190.50 [c]; People v Moore, 145 A.D.2d 510; People v Hunter, 131 A.D.2d 877; People v MacCall, 122 A.D.2d 79). In addition the defendant failed to preserve his right to testify before the Grand Jury because "[t]here is nothing in the record to indicate that the District Attorney was served with written notice [pursuant to CPL 190.50 (5) (a)] of the defendant's intention to testify" (People v Hunter, supra, at 877-878; see also, People v MacCall, supra, at 79).

The claim that the verdict was repugnant is unpreserved for appellate review (see, People v Stahl, 53 N.Y.2d 1048; People v Figueroa, 96 A.D.2d 515). In any event, it is without merit (see, People v Tucker, 55 N.Y.2d 1; People v Harris, 128 A.D.2d 432).

The grounds offered to support the defendant's claim of ineffective assistance of counsel are either not properly before this court (see, People v Whaley, 144 A.D.2d 510) or without merit (see, People v Baldi, 54 N.Y.2d 137).

The defendant's claim that his sentence was unduly harsh is without merit (see, People v Suitte, 90 A.D.2d 80). Mangano, J.P., Brown, Kunzeman and Kooper, JJ., concur.


Summaries of

People v. Rafajlovski

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Second Department
Jul 3, 1989
152 A.D.2d 608 (N.Y. App. Div. 1989)
Case details for

People v. Rafajlovski

Case Details

Full title:THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, Respondent, v. CANE RAFAJLOVSKI…

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

Date published: Jul 3, 1989

Citations

152 A.D.2d 608 (N.Y. App. Div. 1989)
543 N.Y.S.2d 715

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