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People v. Hoytt

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Second Department
Jun 15, 1992
184 A.D.2d 659 (N.Y. App. Div. 1992)

Opinion

June 15, 1992

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


Ordered that the judgment is affirmed.

The defendant's contention that the prosecution failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt his identity as the person who committed the charged offenses is without merit. While the testimony of the prosecution witnesses contained a minor inconsistency, the discrepancy did not render their accounts incredible (see, People v. Hainson, 161 A.D.2d 802; People v McCaskill, 144 A.D.2d 496, 497). Rather it created an issue of credibility. 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). In view of the evidence adduced by the prosecution, including the generally consistent testimony of two witnesses who identified the defendant, we find that the jury's resolution of these issues in the People's favor is supported by the record (see, People v Hainson, supra, at 802). 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). In addition, 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 guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

We further determine that the court's identification charge was proper. The jury was properly instructed to consider all of the circumstances surrounding the crime in determining whether the witnesses' identification testimony was credible (see, People v Crawford, 158 A.D.2d 706; People v. Daniels, 88 A.D.2d 392, 401-402). Rosenblatt, J.P., Miller, Ritter and Pizzuto, JJ., concur.


Summaries of

People v. Hoytt

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Second Department
Jun 15, 1992
184 A.D.2d 659 (N.Y. App. Div. 1992)
Case details for

People v. Hoytt

Case Details

Full title:THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, Respondent, v. CHRISTOPHER HOYTT…

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

Date published: Jun 15, 1992

Citations

184 A.D.2d 659 (N.Y. App. Div. 1992)