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People v. Melvin

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Fourth Department
Feb 4, 1994
201 A.D.2d 907 (N.Y. App. Div. 1994)

Opinion

February 4, 1994

Appeal from the Supreme Court, Erie County, Forma, J.

Present — Callahan, J.P., Green, Balio, Lawton and Boehm, JJ.


Judgment unanimously affirmed. Memorandum: Supreme Court properly denied defendant's motion for a mistrial after a police witness, during cross-examination, inadvertently referred to defendant's parole status. The court examined each juror individually and determined that the jurors remained impartial in spite of the reference to defendant's parole status (see, People v. Young, 48 N.Y.2d 995, 996; People v. Kirkland, 177 A.D.2d 946, 947, lv denied 79 N.Y.2d 859; People v. Nagi, 153 A.D.2d 964, 965). Defendant's challenge to the court's charge on circumstantial evidence was not preserved for our review (see, CPL 470.05; People v. Freeman, 149 A.D.2d 727, 728). In light of the overwhelming proof of defendant's guilt, any error in admitting testimony concerning the contents of a record not produced at trial was harmless (see, People v. Crimmins, 36 N.Y.2d 230, 242). Defendant was provided meaningful representation (see, People v Baldi, 54 N.Y.2d 137).

Although defense counsel did not request a Wade hearing, defendant has failed "to demonstrate the absence of strategic or other legitimate explanations for counsel's failure" to request such hearing, especially given the many neighborhood witnesses familiar with defendant (People v. Rivera, 71 N.Y.2d 705, 709; see also, People v. Simmons, 184 A.D.2d 1062, lv denied 82 N.Y.2d 726; People v. Brown, 122 A.D.2d 546, lv denied 68 N.Y.2d 810). The evidence is sufficient to support defendant's conviction and the verdict is not contrary to the weight of the evidence (see, People v. Bleakley, 69 N.Y.2d 490).


Summaries of

People v. Melvin

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Fourth Department
Feb 4, 1994
201 A.D.2d 907 (N.Y. App. Div. 1994)
Case details for

People v. Melvin

Case Details

Full title:THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, Respondent, v. CRAIG MELVIN, Appellant

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

Date published: Feb 4, 1994

Citations

201 A.D.2d 907 (N.Y. App. Div. 1994)
607 N.Y.S.2d 803

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