Opinion
May 22, 1997
Appeal from Supreme Court, New York County (Dorothy Cropper, J.),
The verdict was supported by legally sufficient evidence and was not against the weight of the evidence ( People v. Bleakley, 69 N.Y.2d 490). We decline to disturb the jury's findings concerning the reliability of the identification evidence.
Defendant's claim that the court's Sandoval ruling violated his right against self-incrimination by permitting the prosecutor to question him about his use of an alas in a pending criminal case is unpreserved for review ( People v. Michalek, 82 N.Y.2d 906, 907) and we decline to review it in the interest of justice. Were we to review it, we would find that any error was harmless in view of the overwhelming evidence of guilt ( People v. Roberts, 163 A.D.2d 120, lv denied 76 N.Y.2d 943).
Also unpreserved is defendant's contention that the court improperly denied his request, made immediately prior to jury selection, for permission to call two alibi witnesses for whom timely alibi notice was not filed ( People v. Gonzalez, 233 A.D.2d 190). In any event, this request was properly denied, because defendant failed to provide any reasons establishing good cause for such untimeliness either on that occasion or on a previous date when he had unsuccessfully sought permission to file late notice ( People v. Alvarez, 223 A.D.2d 401, lv denied 88 N.Y.2d 980).
Defendant was not deprived of his right to counsel when the court instructed defense counsel to cease speaking aloud to defendant during its final charge ( see, People v. Colon, 71 N.Y.2d 410, 417-418, cert denied 487 U.S. 1239; compare, People v Joseph, 84 N.Y.2d 995).
Concur — Sullivan, J.P., Milonas, Ellerin, Tom and Mazzarelli, JJ.