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People v. Washington

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Second Department
Oct 3, 1988
143 A.D.2d 707 (N.Y. App. Div. 1988)

Opinion

October 3, 1988

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


Ordered that the judgment is affirmed.

We find unpersuasive the defendant's contention that his guilt was not established beyond a reasonable doubt by the testimony of two key prosecution witnesses who were concededly intoxicated at the time their observations relating to the crime were made. Viewing the evidence 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 the defendant's identity as the gunman and excluded to a moral certainty every reasonable hypothesis of his innocence (see, People v Benzinger, 36 N.Y.2d 29). Both witnesses related their observations in a logical and lucid manner at trial (cf., People v Reed, 64 N.Y.2d 1144, 1147), and there is no indication that either witness suffered from any inability to accurately perceive and recollect the events he witnessed on the day of the murder. Both witnesses knew the defendant and recognized him. The testimony of Felix Mosely placed the defendant in close proximity to the scene of the crime and in possession of a gun within minutes of the shooting, while the testimony of Ollie Nimmon revealed that the defendant had threatened to kill the victim earlier that same day.

Moreover, upon the exercise of our factual review power, we are satisfied that the verdict of guilt was not against the weight of the evidence (see, CPL 470.15).

We have considered the defendant's remaining contentions and find them to be either unpreserved for appellate review or without merit. Bracken, J.P., Lawrence, Kunzeman and Spatt, JJ., concur.


Summaries of

People v. Washington

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Second Department
Oct 3, 1988
143 A.D.2d 707 (N.Y. App. Div. 1988)
Case details for

People v. Washington

Case Details

Full title:THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, Respondent, v. MICHAEL WASHINGTON…

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

Date published: Oct 3, 1988

Citations

143 A.D.2d 707 (N.Y. App. Div. 1988)

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