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People v. Cruz

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Second Department
Aug 1, 1994
207 A.D.2d 358 (N.Y. App. Div. 1994)

Opinion

August 1, 1994

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


Ordered that the judgment is affirmed.

The defendant's contention that the evidence was not sufficient to prove his guilt because the eyewitness' description was not completely accurate is unpreserved for appellate review, as it was not raised at the trial (see, CPL 470.05; People v Udzinski, 146 A.D.2d 245). In any event, the contention is without merit. 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 support his conviction beyond a reasonable doubt. The witness testified that he saw the defendant facing the victim, he saw a flash, and the victim fell down. The victim was later found dead with a gunshot wound to the face. In addition, the witness testified that the defendant chased the witness with a gun and shot the gun. The defendant also raises an issue as to the credibility of the People's witnesses. However, 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 have examined the defendant's remaining contentions, including those raised in his supplemental pro se brief, and find them to be either without merit or unpreserved for appellate review. Mangano, P.J., Bracken, Joy and Hart, JJ., concur.


Summaries of

People v. Cruz

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Second Department
Aug 1, 1994
207 A.D.2d 358 (N.Y. App. Div. 1994)
Case details for

People v. Cruz

Case Details

Full title:THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, Respondent, v. FELIX CRUZ, Appellant

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

Date published: Aug 1, 1994

Citations

207 A.D.2d 358 (N.Y. App. Div. 1994)
616 N.Y.S.2d 202