Opinion
June 19, 1989
Appeal from the Supreme Court, Kings County (Beldock, J.).
Ordered that the judgment is affirmed.
An accused's right to counsel at a lineup attaches only at or after the time that adversary judicial proceedings have been initiated against him (see, People v. Coleman, 43 N.Y.2d 222). The two lineups to which the defendant was subjected occurred prior to the initiation of any adversary judicial proceedings against him and so there was no obligation to provide the defendant with an attorney (see, People v. Hawkins, 55 N.Y.2d 474, 485, 487, cert denied 459 U.S. 846; People v. Petillo, 137 A.D.2d 843). Accordingly, the defendant was not entitled to suppression of the identification testimony on that ground.
The defendant also contends that his guilt was not proven beyond a reasonable doubt, and that the prosecution's witnesses, because of their criminal histories and involvement with illegal gambling activities, should not have been believed by the jury. Viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution (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. Moreover, 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). 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 was not against the weight of the evidence (CPL 470.15).
Further, the sentence imposed was not unduly harsh or excessive under the circumstances, and therefore we decline to disturb it (see, People v. Suitte, 90 A.D.2d 80).
We have examined the defendant's other contention and find it to be unpreserved for appellate review (CPL 470.05). Brown, J.P., Sullivan, Harwood and Rosenblatt, JJ., concur.