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People v. Stephens

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Second Department
Oct 24, 2000
276 A.D.2d 725 (N.Y. App. Div. 2000)

Opinion

Submitted September 22, 2000

October 24, 2000.

Appeal by the defendant from a judgment of the Supreme Court, Kings County (Marrus, J.), rendered June 30, 1998, convicting him of murder in the second degree, upon a jury verdict, and imposing sentence.

Lynn W. L. Fahey, New York, N.Y. (Michelle Mogal of counsel), for appellant.

Charles J. Hynes, District Attorney, Brooklyn, N.Y. (Leonard Joblove and Camille O'Hara Gillespie of counsel), for respondent.

Before: CORNELIUS J. O'BRIEN, J.P., WILLIAM D. FRIEDMANN, GABRIEL M. KRAUSMAN, ROBERT W. SCHMIDT, JJ.


DECISION ORDER

ORDERED that the judgment is affirmed.

The defendant failed to preserve for appellate review his argument that the evidence was legally insufficient to establish his identity as the perpetrator beyond a reasonable doubt (see, People v. Gray, 86 N.Y.2d 10; People v. Udzinski, 146 A.D.2d 245). In any event, viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the People (see, People v. Contes, 60 N.Y.2d 620), we find that it was legally sufficient to establish the defendant's identity as the shooter beyond a reasonable doubt.

Moreover, 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). Resolution of issues of credibility, as well as the weight to be given to the evidence presented, are primarily questions to be determined by the jury, which saw and heard the witnesses (see, People v. Gaimari, 176 A.D.2d 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).

The sentence imposed was neither harsh nor excessive (see, People v. Suitte, 90 A.D.2d 80).


Summaries of

People v. Stephens

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Second Department
Oct 24, 2000
276 A.D.2d 725 (N.Y. App. Div. 2000)
Case details for

People v. Stephens

Case Details

Full title:THE PEOPLE, ETC., RESPONDENT, v. PATRICK STEPHENS, APPELLANT. (IND. NO…

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

Date published: Oct 24, 2000

Citations

276 A.D.2d 725 (N.Y. App. Div. 2000)
715 N.Y.S.2d 860

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