From Casetext: Smarter Legal Research

People v. Perez

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Second Department
Mar 27, 1995
213 A.D.2d 682 (N.Y. App. Div. 1995)

Opinion

March 27, 1995

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


Ordered that the judgment is affirmed.

Viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution (see, People v. Contes, 60 N.Y.2d 620), we find that the People disproved the defense of justification beyond a reasonable doubt (see, People v. Reed, 40 N.Y.2d 204). At trial, the defendant contended that the victim had attacked him with a knife and then fell on the knife himself. However, the People presented testimony that the victim merely struck the defendant with his bare hands. An expert also testified that the victim's injuries were inconsistent with his falling on the knife. Moreover, the defendant admitted that he stabbed the victim twice more as the victim attempted to retreat to his room. Although the defendant claims that the People's eyewitness was an admitted liar and, therefore, should not have been believed, resolution of issues of credibilty, 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 of guilt was not against the weight of the evidence (see, CPL 470.15).

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


Summaries of

People v. Perez

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Second Department
Mar 27, 1995
213 A.D.2d 682 (N.Y. App. Div. 1995)
Case details for

People v. Perez

Case Details

Full title:THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, Respondent, v. ANGEL PEREZ, Appellant

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

Date published: Mar 27, 1995

Citations

213 A.D.2d 682 (N.Y. App. Div. 1995)
624 N.Y.S.2d 199

Citing Cases

People v. Vecchio

viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the defendant, a jury, based upon any reasonable view of…

People v. Sullivan

05; People v Hines, 97 NY2d 56, 62; People v Gray, 86 NY2d 10, 19; People v Ward , 65 AD3d 1172). In any…