People v. Cobos

• Decision Date: 05 October 1982
• Citation: 455 N.Y.S.2d 588,57 N.Y.2d 798,441 N.E.2d 1106
• Court: New York Court of Appeals Court of Appeals
• Parties: , 441 N.E.2d 1106 The PEOPLE of the State of New York, Respondent, v. Gino COBOS, Appellant.

Page 588

455 N.Y.S.2d 588

57 N.Y.2d 798, 441 N.E.2d 1106

The PEOPLE of the State of New York, Respondent, v. Gino COBOS, Appellant.

Court of Appeals of New York.

Oct. 5, 1982.

Edward J. Nowak and Howard A. Bloch, Rochester, for appellant.

Donald O. Chesworth, Jr., Dist. Atty. (Kenneth R. Fisher and Sheldon Boyce, Rochester, of counsel), for respondent.

OPINION OF THE COURT MEMORANDUM.

The order of the Appellate Division should be affirmed, 85 A.D.2d 893, 446 N.Y.S.2d 749.

Defendant argues that the witness Destino was an accomplice as a matter of law in the intentional murder of James Amico. The People counter that though Destino was an accomplice as a matter of law in the earlier assault of and attempt to rob Amico, the murder was a later and separate crime and, in any event, the issue was not preserved. Defendant's attorney moved for a trial order of dismissal at the close of the People's case on the ground of insufficiency of Destino's testimony because he was an accomplice as a matter of law and was granted an exception by the Trial Judge when he ruled to the contrary on the intentional murder count. He also submitted a written request for a charge that Destino was an accomplice as a matter of law at the end of the trial. Clearly, therefore, the issue was brought to the attention of the Trial Judge in ways that pinpointed the legal question (People v. Le Mieux, 51 N.Y.2d 981, 982, 435 N.Y.S.2d 710, 416 N.E.2d 1045; People v. Cona, 49 N.Y.2d 26, 34, 424 N.Y.S.2d 146, 399 N.E.2d 1167; see CPL 470.05). Nor can it be said that by requesting the addition of a sentence to the accomplice as a matter of fact charge given by the court, he waived the legal issue previously twice raised.

Though the question was preserved, we agree with the Trial Judge that under the circumstances of this case Destino could not be said to have been an accomplice a matter of law to the intentional murder charge. The corroboration rule established by CPL 60.22 applies, according to subdivision 2, to a witness who "according to evidence adduced in such action, may reasonably be considered to have participated in: (a) The offense charged; or (b) An offense based upon the same or some of the same facts or conduct which constitute the offense charged." Thus, defendant would be entitled to a charge that Destino was an accomplice as a matter of law only if on the evidence the jury could reasonably reach no other conclusion than that he participated in an offense within that definition. Here that is not the case.

Nothing connects Destino to the intentional murder other than the use of his car. As to that, the only evidence adduced is that the car was provided so that Amico could be taken to a hospital, and that it was not until four hours later that Destino learned that the others (with whom he had been involved as the driver in the robbery attempt and assault upon Amico) had dumped Amico in the Barge Canal instead of taking him to the hospital. Had the loan of the car followed upon the heels of the assault there might be a basis for defendant's argument. Here, however, there was a significant time interval, the agreement by Destino to allow use of his car was made so far as appears for a completely different purpose, and there is no evidence suggesting that the intention to murder rather than assist Amico was formed until after the car was loaned. Nor can Destino's participation in removing bloodstains from the interior of his car after the murder make him an accomplice (Grunewald v. United States, 353 U.S....