People v. Terrero

Decision Date18 July 2006
Docket Number2004-04510.
Citation31 A.D.3d 672,818 N.Y.S.2d 288,2006 NY Slip Op 05828
PartiesTHE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, Respondent, v. ANGEL TERRERO, Appellant.
CourtNew York Supreme Court — Appellate Division

Ordered that the judgment is modified, on the law, by vacating the conviction of assault in the second degree as a hate crime, vacating the sentence imposed thereon, and dismissing that count of the indictment; as so modified, the judgment is affirmed.

The defendant's contention that the People did not disprove his justification defense beyond a reasonable doubt is unpreserved for appellate review (see CPL 470.05 [2]; People v Gray, 86 NY2d 10 [1995]). In any event, viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution (see People v Contes, 60 NY2d 620 [1983]), we find that it was legally sufficient to disprove the defendant's justification defense beyond a reasonable doubt. At trial, the defendant testified that he used a knife in the fight with the three unarmed complainants. Furthermore, based upon the evidence, the jury could have concluded that the defendant did not reasonably believe that the complainants were about to use deadly physical force against him, and consequently, that there was no justifiable basis for his resort to deadly physical force (see People v Stubbs, 234 AD2d 323 [1996]). Moreover, resolution of issues of credibility, as well as the weight to be accorded to the evidence presented, are primarily questions to be determined by the jury, which saw and heard the witnesses (see People v Gaimari, 176 NY 84, 94 [1903]). Its determination should be afforded great weight on appeal and should not be disturbed unless clearly unsupported by the record (see People v Garafolo, 44 AD2d 86 [1974]). Upon the exercise of our factual review power, we are satisfied that the verdict of guilt of attempted murder in the second degree as a hate crime was not against the weight of the evidence (see CPL 470.15 [5]).

The defendant also asserts that the evidence was legally insufficient to establish that one of the complainants suffered a physical injury within the meaning of Penal Law § 10.00 (9). This claim is unpreserved for appellate review (see CPL 470.05 [2]; People v Gray, supra). In any event, viewing the...

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  • McCall v. Rivera
    • United States
    • U.S. District Court — Southern District of New York
    • June 5, 2013
    ...jury's verdict. People v. Johnson, 23 A.D.3d 686, 687–688, 802 N.Y.S.2d 801, 803 (3d Dep't 2005); see People v. Terrero, 31 A.D.3d 672, 673, 818 N.Y.S.2d 288, 289–290 (2d Dep't 2006), lv. denied,7 N.Y.3d 852, 823 N.Y.S.2d 781, 857 N.E.2d 76 (2006). Ground Five (harsh sentence) Petitioner's ......
  • People v. McDowell
    • United States
    • New York Court of Appeals Court of Appeals
    • August 16, 2011
    ...5 (1st Dep't 1987). However, more substantial bruising, swelling, and lacerations have been sufficient. People v. Terrero, 31 AD3d 672, 818 N.Y.S.2d 288 (2d Dep't 2006), leave to appeal denied, 7 NY3d 852, 823 N.Y.S.2d 781, 857 N.E.2d 76 (2006); People v. Curkendall, 12 AD3d 710, 783 N.Y.S.......
  • Corbin v. Perez
    • United States
    • U.S. District Court — Southern District of New York
    • June 26, 2015
    ...petitioner cannot show theprejudice required for him to prevail on his Sixth Amendment claim. See, e.g., People v. Torrero, 31 A.D.3d 672, 673, 818 N.Y.S.2d 288, 289-90 (2d Dep't 2006); People v. Graham, 297 A.D.2d 579, 579-80, 747 N.Y.S.2d 171, 171-72 (1st Dep't 2002); People v. Rosa, 112 ......
  • People v. Akbar
    • United States
    • New York Supreme Court — Appellate Division
    • February 6, 2019
    ...v. Simpson, 151 A.D.3d 762, 762, 56 N.Y.S.3d 253 ; People v. Landri, 104 A.D.3d 791, 791, 960 N.Y.S.2d 504 ; People v. Terrero, 31 A.D.3d 672, 672–673, 818 N.Y.S.2d 288 ). Moreover, in fulfilling our responsibility to conduct an independent review of the weight of the evidence (see CPL 470.......
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