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People v. Vella

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Second Department
Feb 23, 1998
247 A.D.2d 642 (N.Y. App. Div. 1998)

Opinion

February 23, 1998

Appeal from the County Court, Nassau County (Mackston, J.).


Ordered that the judgment is affirmed.

The defendant's contention that the evidence was legally insufficient to prove the intent element of manslaughter in the first degree, and to disprove his defense of justification, is unpreserved for appellate review. The defendant's motion for a trial order of dismissal was insufficient to raise these particular points ( see, CPL 470.05; People v. Gray, 86 N.Y.2d 10, 20-21; People v. Joseph, 243 A.D.2d 728; People v. Udzinski, 146 A.D.2d 245). In any event, viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the People ( see, People v. Contes, 60 N.Y.2d 620), we find that it was legally sufficient to establish that the defendant intended to cause serious physical injury to the victim. After shooting the victim once, the defendant shot him again, at arm's length, through the heart. The evidence also disproved the defendant's justification defense beyond a reasonable doubt. Moreover, 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).

The defendant's sentence, the terms of which were made consecutive, was neither excessive nor otherwise improper under the facts of this case ( see, People v. Suitte, 90 A.D.2d 80; People v. Charles, 226 A.D.2d 736).

Rosenblatt, J.P., Miller, Ritter and Copertino, JJ., concur.


Summaries of

People v. Vella

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Second Department
Feb 23, 1998
247 A.D.2d 642 (N.Y. App. Div. 1998)
Case details for

People v. Vella

Case Details

Full title:THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, Respondent, v. PAUL VELLA, Appellant

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

Date published: Feb 23, 1998

Citations

247 A.D.2d 642 (N.Y. App. Div. 1998)
669 N.Y.S.2d 236

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