People v. Owens

• Decision Date: 31 December 1998
• Citation: 685 N.Y.S.2d 145,256 A.D.2d 1220
• Parties: 1998 N.Y. Slip Op. 11,836 PEOPLE of the State of New York, Respondent, v. Virgil OWENS, a/k/a "O.V.", a/k/a "V.O.", Appellant.
• Court: New York Supreme Court — Appellate Division

Page 145

685 N.Y.S.2d 145

1998 N.Y. Slip Op. 11,836

PEOPLE of the State of New York, Respondent, v. Virgil OWENS, a/k/a "O.V.", a/k/a "V.O.", Appellant.

Supreme Court, Appellate Division,

Fourth Department.

Dec. 31, 1998.

Linda S. Reynolds by Vincent Gogino, Buffalo, for Appellant.

Frank J. Clark by Paul Williams, III, Buffalo, for Respondent.

Present: DENMAN, P.J., PINE, PIGOTT, BALIO, Jr., and FALLON, JJ.

MEMORANDUM:

Defendant appeals from a judgment convicting him after a jury trial of two counts each of murder in the second degree (Penal Law § 125.25[1], [3] ), robbery in the first degree (Penal Law § 160.15[3] ) and criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree (Penal Law § 265.02[1] ) and one count of assault in the second degree (Penal Law § 120.05[6] ). The charges arose from the robbery and stabbing of one victim on September 25, 1995 and the robbery and fatal stabbing of another on October 19, 1995.

The indictment charged defendant with committing robbery and other crimes against five victims on separate occasions. Defendant moved for a severance and separate trials with respect to each of the victims. County Court granted the motion to the extent of granting separate trials with respect to two victims, but denied a severance and a separate trial with respect to those counts pertaining to the three other victims. We reject the contention of defendant that the court should have granted his motion for a severance and separate trial in its entirety. Defendant failed to make a "convincing showing that [he had] both important testimony to give" concerning the offenses relating to one victim and "a genuine need to refrain from testifying" on the offenses relating to the other victim (CPL 200.20[3][b]; see, People v. Lane, 56 N.Y.2d 1, 8-9, 451 N.Y.S.2d 6, 436 N.E.2d 456; People v. Pratts, 209 A.D.2d 921, 619 N.Y.S.2d 978, lv. denied 85 N.Y.2d 942, 627 N.Y.S.2d 1004, 651 N.E.2d 929). "The stated desire [of defendant] to take advantage of a perceived weakness in the People's case on the issue of identification [with respect to one victim] is alone patently insufficient" to demonstrate a strong need to refrain from testifying with respect to the charges pertaining to the other two victims (People v. Lane, supra, at 10, 451 N.Y.S.2d 6, 436 N.E.2d 456).

The court did not abuse its discretion in allowing the prosecution to cross-examine defendant with respect to two prior theft-related felonies. The court permitted cross-examination regarding only two of the eight prior felony convictions and did not allow the prosecution to cross-examine defendant with respect to the underlying facts of the crimes, which included the use of weapons. Under the circumstances, the court properly determined that the probative value of those prior convictions for impeachment purposes outweighed any prejudice resulting from their use (see, People v. Jamison, 228 A.D.2d 698, 645 N.Y.S.2d 503, lv. denied 89 N.Y.2d 865, 653 N.Y.S.2d 288, 675 N.E.2d 1241).

Defendant contends that the court erred in denying his motion to suppress in-court identifications of him by two prosecution witnesses. We disagree. One of those witnesses identified defendant in two separate lineups conducted within minutes of each other. After the second lineup, however, the witness selected the individual in the number four position as the assailant. He testified that he immediately realized that he had made an inadvertent mistake and that the perpetrator was actually in the number five position. There is no evidence that either lineup procedure was unduly suggestive, and the testimony of the witness regarding his inadvertent mistake was relevant to the weight to be accorded his testimony (see, People v. Ruiz, 176 A.D.2d 683, 684, 575 N.Y.S.2d 828, lv. denied 79 N.Y.2d 952, 583 N.Y.S.2d 206, 592 N.E.2d 814). Even assuming, arguendo, that the photo array viewed by the other prosecution witness was impermissibly suggestive because defendant was the only person portrayed with significant facial hair (see, People v. Moore, 143 A.D.2d 1056, 533 N.Y.S.2d 602), we conclude that the court properly determined that the witness had an independent basis for her in-court identification of defendant (see, People v. Saulters, --- A.D.2d ----, 682 N.Y.S.2d 740; People v. Bates, 249 A.D.2d 929, 671 N.Y.S.2d 373; People v. Gangler, 227 A.D.2d 946, 643 N.Y.S.2d 839, lv. denied 88 N.Y.2d 985, 649 N.Y.S.2d 392, 672 N.E.2d 618, 89 N.Y.2d 922, 654 N.Y.S.2d 724, 677 N.E.2d 296). Contrary to defendant's contention, the witness did not testify that she previously viewed defendant from the photo array, and thus reversal is not warranted pursuant to People v. Wallace, 187 A.D.2d 998, 591 N.Y.S.2d 129.

We reject the contention that the conviction of assault in the second degree should be reversed because the People failed to present legally sufficient proof that the victim suffered a "physical injury" within the meaning of Penal Law § 10.00(9). The victim testified that he was stabbed in the back of the right thigh during the robbery and that, immediately after arriving at his residence, he called for an ambulance. He further testified that he was in substantial pain at the time and that he received hospital treatment for the stab wound. That proof was sufficient to raise an issue of fact for the jury whether the victim suffered substantial pain (see, People v. Gray, 189 A.D.2d 922, 923, 592 N.Y.S.2d 814, lv. denied 81 N.Y.2d 886, 597 N.Y.S.2d 947, 613 N.E.2d 979). We also reject defendant's contention that the three lottery tickets stolen from another victim did not constitute property, and, thus, that the People failed to present legally sufficient evidence to support the conviction of robbery in the first degree on the...