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People v. Veras

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Second Department
Apr 13, 1992
182 A.D.2d 729 (N.Y. App. Div. 1992)

Opinion

April 13, 1992

Appeal from the Supreme Court, Kings County (Firetog, J.).


Ordered that the judgment is affirmed.

The defendant's conviction stems from his sale on January 25, 1989, of two glassine envelopes containing heroin to an undercover police officer. On appeal, he contends that the People failed to prove his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt because of the suspect credibility of the arresting officers. Viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the People (People v Contes, 60 N.Y.2d 620), we find that it was legally sufficient to establish the defendant's guilt. The inconsistencies cited by the defendant are insufficient to render the officers' testimony incredible as a matter of law (see, People v Di Girolamo, 108 A.D.2d 755). Furthermore, resolution of issues of credibility, as well as the weight to be accorded 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). 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). Upon the exercise of our factual review power we are satisfied that the verdict is not against the weight of the evidence (see, CPL 470.15).

We also discern no error in the trial court limiting the cross-examination of one of the police officers, and in precluding certain proffered testimony of another police officer as a potential defense witness. Insofar as the matters which defense counsel sought to explore were collateral and at best of a speculative nature, the court's exercise of discretion in this regard was proper (see, People v Davis, 43 N.Y.2d 17, 27, cert denied 435 U.S. 998; People v Martinez, 177 A.D.2d 600; People v O'Connor, 154 A.D.2d 626).

We also reject the defendant's contention that he was deprived of the effective assistance of counsel because the trial court rejected defense counsel's request for an overnight adjournment to prepare his summation, and instead required defense counsel to commence his summation following a brief adjournment after the defense had rested. The defendant has failed to demonstrate surprise or other prejudice as a result of this circumstance warranting reversal (cf., People v Murphy, 88 A.D.2d 1000; see also, People v Spears, 64 N.Y.2d 698).

Finally, the defendant has failed to preserve for appellate review his contention that he was deprived of a fair trial as the result of improper statements by the prosecutor during summation (see, People v Dordal, 55 N.Y.2d 954; People v Booth, 177 A.D.2d 495). In any event, the remarks cited by the defendant were fair responses to the comments of the defense counsel made during his summation (see, People v Ashwal, 39 N.Y.2d 105; People v Sykes, 151 A.D.2d 523). Sullivan, J.P., Lawrence, Ritter and Santucci, JJ., concur.


Summaries of

People v. Veras

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Second Department
Apr 13, 1992
182 A.D.2d 729 (N.Y. App. Div. 1992)
Case details for

People v. Veras

Case Details

Full title:THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, Respondent, v. JUAN VERAS, Appellant

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

Date published: Apr 13, 1992

Citations

182 A.D.2d 729 (N.Y. App. Div. 1992)
582 N.Y.S.2d 458

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