Summary
In People v. Martin, 58 A.D.3d 519, 872 N.Y.S.2d 16 (1st Dept.2009), lv. denied 12 N.Y.3d 818, 881 N.Y.S.2d 26, 908 N.E.2d 934 (2009), we found that a codefendant's statement was violative of Bruton under analogous circumstances, even though the “brief references merely placed defendant at the scene, and his presence at the scene was essentially consistent with the defense theory of the case” (id. at 519, 872 N.Y.S.2d 16). The incriminating implications against defendant are far stronger here.
Summary of this case from People v. JohnsonOpinion
January 20, 2009.
Judgment, Supreme Court, Bronx County (Dominic R. Massaro, J.), rendered November 1, 2006, convicting defendant, after a jury trial, of murder in the second degree, and sentencing him to a term of 25 years to life, unanimously affirmed.
Before: Mazzarelli, J.P., Friedman, Buckley, Acosta and Freedman, JJ.
When the court ordered a joint trial over defendant's objection, and permitted the People to introduce the nontestifying codefendants' statements, without redacting references to defendant, this was error under Bruton v United States ( 391 US 123). However, we find the error harmless ( see People v Crimmins, 36 NY2d 230) in that there was overwhelming evidence of defendant's guilt based upon the testimony of his cousin. The references to defendant in the codefendants' statements could not have affected the verdict. These brief references merely placed defendant at the scene, and his presence at the scene was essentially consistent with the defense theory of the case. Defendant's argument that the court should have delivered a limiting instruction is unpreserved and we decline to review it in the interest of justice. With regard to defendant's independent Confrontation Clause claim under Crawford v Washington ( 541 US 36) based on the testimonial nature of the statements ( see generally United States v Lung Fong Chen, 393 F3d 139, 150), we likewise find any error harmless.