Opinion
June 22, 1998
Appeal from the Supreme Court, Richmond County (Rooney, J.).
Ordered that the judgment is affirmed.
There is no merit to the defendant's contention that the trial court erred in accepting the People's explanation for challenging a black venireperson during jury selection. The court properly found that the race-neutral reason proffered for the challenge was not pretextual ( see, People v. Richie, 217 A.D.2d 84).
Pizzuto, J.P., Santucci, Altman and Luciano, JJ., concur.