Opinion
March 3, 1998
Appeal from the Supreme Court, Bronx County (John Moore, J.).
Defendant's guilt of the second-degree murder counts under a theory of depraved indifference was amply supported by the evidence, notwithstanding that the evidence would have also supported a finding of intentional murder ( People v. Arce, 242 A.D.2d 508). The verdict was not against the weight of the evidence. We see no reason to disturb the jury's credibility determinations.
The court properly determined that the prosecutor provided race-neutral nonpretextual explanations for the challenged peremptory strikes of venirepersons. The court's determinations on this subject are entitled to great deference ( People v. Hernandez, 75 N.Y.2d 350, 356-357, affd 500 U.S. 352).
The court properly admitted, as a prior inconsistent statement to impeach a hearsay declarant's credibility, the rebuttal testimony of a prosecution witness who stated that he overheard the unavailable hearsay declarant implicating defendant in the murders. This statement directly contradicted the hearsay declarant's statement exonerating defendant, which defendant had placed in evidence as a declaration against penal interest. "[I]f there was never any opportunity to cross-examine the declarant, the inconsistent statement may be shown without a foundation" (Prince, Richardson on Evidence § 8-111 [Farrell 11th ed]; see also, Martorella v. Prudential Ins. Co., 238 App. Div. 532).
We perceive no abuse of sentencing discretion.
Concur — Milonas, J. P., Nardelli, Williams and Mazzarelli, JJ.