From Casetext: Smarter Legal Research

People v. Gaston

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Second Department
Nov 13, 1995
221 A.D.2d 464 (N.Y. App. Div. 1995)

Opinion

November 13, 1995

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


Ordered that the judgment is affirmed.

The defendant shot and killed his brother in 1991. At trial, he proffered an insanity defense, arguing that voices had instructed him to commit the murder. Further, he argued that he was suffering from the delusion that his brother had tried to poison him by putting "roots" on him, and that he was controlled by his brother.

On appeal, the defendant argues that the court's instruction to the jury concerning his affirmative defense of mental disease or defect (see, Penal Law § 40.15) was insufficient to meet the requirements of People v Kohl ( 72 N.Y.2d 191) because it failed to make clear the People's primary, ultimate, and nontransferable burden of proving intent beyond a reasonable doubt. However, the defendant's exceptions to the court's charge were insufficient to preserve this argument for appeal (see, CPL 470.05; People v Somers, 78 N.Y.2d 1058). In any event, the court's instruction to the jury, as a whole, complied with the guidelines of People v Kohl (supra) and properly conveyed the correct standard (see, People v Kohl, supra; People v Robson, 197 A.D.2d 602; People v Somers, 161 A.D.2d 954, affd 78 N.Y.2d 1058, supra).

The defendant's remaining contentions are either unpreserved for appellate review or without merit. Balletta, J.P., Ritter, Copertino and Friedmann, JJ., concur.


Summaries of

People v. Gaston

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Second Department
Nov 13, 1995
221 A.D.2d 464 (N.Y. App. Div. 1995)
Case details for

People v. Gaston

Case Details

Full title:THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, Respondent, v. J.W. GASTON, Appellant

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

Date published: Nov 13, 1995

Citations

221 A.D.2d 464 (N.Y. App. Div. 1995)
633 N.Y.S.2d 561

Citing Cases

People v. Kiarie

05[2]; People v Laufer, 187 A.D.3d 1052, 1054). In any event, the charge was not erroneous as given (see…

People v. Kiarie

05[2]; People v Laufer, 187 A.D.3d 1052, 1054). In any event, the charge was not erroneous as given (see…