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People v. Avent, Carrol, Williams, Swinson

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Second Department
Nov 18, 1985
114 A.D.2d 963 (N.Y. App. Div. 1985)

Opinion

November 18, 1985

Appeal from the Supreme Court, Queens County (Balbach, J.).


Judgments affirmed.

After a jury trial, all of the defendants, along with one Marcel Marable, were found guilty of 16 counts of robbery in the first degree, four counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree, and felony murder. The evidence established that defendants participated in the robbery of Bell Hall's Social Club in Far Rockaway, Queens, and that in immediate flight therefrom one of the participants in the robbery shot and killed a police officer. Defendants Swinson and Williams contend that the evidence against them was insufficient to establish guilt beyond a reasonable doubt because, among other things, they were not positively identified at the scene of the shooting. We find this contention to be without merit. The jury could properly find that Swinson and Williams were participants in the robbery based on positive identifications of them, and as such, were accomplices to the participant who shot the officer in immediate flight from the robbery (see, Penal Law § 125.25; People v Gladman, 41 N.Y.2d 123; People v Victory, 33 N.Y.2d 75, 86, cert denied 416 U.S. 905). Thus, they were properly found guilty of felony murder.

With respect to the other contentions of legal error raised by all of the defendants which have been preserved for our review, we find that they do not warrant reversal of the instant convictions (see, People v Crimmins, 36 N.Y.2d 230). As to those contentions not preserved for our review, we decline to exercise our interest of justice jurisdiction. Lazer, J.P., Gibbons, Niehoff and Kunzeman, JJ., concur.


Summaries of

People v. Avent, Carrol, Williams, Swinson

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Second Department
Nov 18, 1985
114 A.D.2d 963 (N.Y. App. Div. 1985)
Case details for

People v. Avent, Carrol, Williams, Swinson

Case Details

Full title:THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, Respondent, v. ROBERT AVENT, RUSSELL…

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

Date published: Nov 18, 1985

Citations

114 A.D.2d 963 (N.Y. App. Div. 1985)