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People v. Williams

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Fourth Department
May 2, 2001
283 A.D.2d 944 (N.Y. App. Div. 2001)

Opinion

Filed May 2, 2001.

Appeal from Judgment of Supreme Court, Monroe County, Smith, J. — Murder, 2nd Degree.

PRESENT: GREEN, J.P., HURLBUTT, SCUDDER, BURNS AND LAWTON, JJ.


Judgment unanimously affirmed. Memorandum:

Defendant contends that Supreme Court erred in denying his motion to suppress evidence of his flight based upon the absence of a warrant and the lack of geographic jurisdiction by City of Rochester police officers when they arrested defendant in Virginia. We disagree. Defendant did not allege that the police lacked probable cause to arrest him, and thus there is no basis for his contention that a warrant was required ( see, United States v. Watson, 423 U.S. 411, 417-419, reh denied 424 U.S. 979). In addition, the arrest was lawful because the police officers "retained the power as private citizens to place [defendant] under arrest" ( Hall v. Commonwealth, 12 Va. App. 559, 563, 389 S.E.2d 921, 924; see, Tharp v. Commonwealth, 221 Va. 487, 490, 270 S.E.2d 752, 754; see generally, United States v. Di Re, 332 U.S. 581, 589).

The court properly denied defendant's request for a missing witness charge with respect to three uncalled witnesses. Although defendant met his initial burden with respect to one of the uncalled witnesses, the People demonstrated that the witness would not be expected to testify in their favor and thus that the witness was not under their control ( see, People v. Gonzalez, 68 N.Y.2d 424, 428-429). Defendant did not meet his initial burden with respect to the two remaining uncalled witnesses ( see, People v. Gonzalez, supra, at 427; People v Hayes, 261 A.D.2d 872, 873, lv denied 93 N.Y.2d 1019, 1021).

The verdict is not against the weight of the evidence. Upon our review of the record, we cannot say that the jury failed to give the evidence the weight it should be accorded ( see, People v. Bleakley, 69 N.Y.2d 490, 495). The court properly declined to charge manslaughter in the second degree ( see, Penal Law § 125.15) as a lesser included offense of murder in the second degree (Penal Law § 125.25). The evidence at trial established that defendant intentionally shot the victim in the head at close range. Thus, there is no reasonable view of the evidence to support a finding that defendant committed the lesser offense but not the greater ( see, CPL 300.50; People v. Butler, 84 N.Y.2d 627, 631). The sentence is neither unduly harsh nor severe.

Defendant's remaining contentions are not preserved for our review ( see, CPL 470.05), and we decline to exercise our power to review them as a matter of discretion in the interest of justice ( see, CPL 470.15 [a]).


Summaries of

People v. Williams

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Fourth Department
May 2, 2001
283 A.D.2d 944 (N.Y. App. Div. 2001)
Case details for

People v. Williams

Case Details

Full title:PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, PLAINTIFF-RESPONDENT, v. TERRANCE…

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

Date published: May 2, 2001

Citations

283 A.D.2d 944 (N.Y. App. Div. 2001)
723 N.Y.S.2d 909

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