People v. Webster

Decision Date29 June 2016
PartiesThe PEOPLE, etc., respondent, v. Javaas WEBSTER, appellant.
CourtNew York Supreme Court — Appellate Division

Lynn W.L. Fahey, New York, N.Y. (Nao Terai of counsel), for appellant.

Kenneth P. Thompson, District Attorney, Brooklyn, N.Y. (Leonard Joblove, Jodi L. Mandel, and Arieh Schulman of counsel), for respondent.

RUTH C. BALKIN, J.P., ROBERT J. MILLER, SYLVIA O. HINDS–RADIX, and VALERIE BRATHWAITE NELSON, JJ.

Appeal by the defendant from a judgment of the Supreme Court, Kings County (Mangano, Jr., J.), rendered March 28, 2014, convicting her of attempted assault in the first degree, assault in the second degree, menacing in the second degree (two counts), and criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree, upon a jury verdict, and imposing sentence.

ORDERED that the judgment is affirmed.

Viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution (see People v. Contes, 60 N.Y.2d 620, 621, 467 N.Y.S.2d 349, 454 N.E.2d 932

), we find that it was legally sufficient to establish the defendant's guilt of assault in the second degree beyond a reasonable doubt (Penal Law § 120.05[2] ). Contrary to the defendant's arguments, the evidence was legally sufficient to prove that the victim sustained “physical injury” within the meaning of Penal Law § 10.00(9) (see

People v. Chiddick, 8 N.Y.3d 445, 447, 834 N.Y.S.2d 710, 866 N.E.2d 1039 ; People v. Martinez, 116 A.D.3d 983, 984, 983 N.Y.S.2d 839 ). Moreover, upon our independent review pursuant to CPL 470.15(5), we are satisfied that the verdict of guilt as to the crime of assault in the second degree, including the “physical injury” element, was not against the weight of the evidence (see

People v. Romero, 7 N.Y.3d 633, 643, 826 N.Y.S.2d 163, 859 N.E.2d 902 ). The complainant was stabbed four times, visibly bleeding, and noted his pain level was “moderate.” Furthermore, the complainant received medical treatment that included X rays, stitches, and pain medication. At trial, more than a year after the incident, the complainant testified that his arm feels “tingly” and has “nerve damage.”

The defendant's contention that portions of the expert medical testimony were improperly admitted is without merit. The defendant was charged with, inter alia, attempted assault in the first degree, which requires proof that the defendant intended to inflict serious physical injury (see Penal Law § 120.10[1]

) and came dangerously near to doing so (see Penal Law § 110.00 ; People v. Kassebaum, 95 N.Y.2d 611, 618, 721 N.Y.S.2d 866, 744 N.E.2d 694 ). Here, the expert medical testimony regarding the proximity of vital bodily areas to the complainant's actual injuries...

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11 cases
  • People v. Kluge
    • United States
    • New York Supreme Court — Appellate Division
    • February 5, 2020
    ...to prove that he caused "physical injury" to the complainant within the meaning of Penal Law § 10.00(9) (see People v. Webster, 140 A.D.3d 1196, 1197, 34 N.Y.S.3d 502 ). The evidence presented at trial established that the complainant experienced bruising on her inner and outer cheeks and h......
  • People v. Freire
    • United States
    • New York Supreme Court — Appellate Division
    • January 23, 2019
    ...the meaning of Penal Law § 10.00(9) (see People v. Chiddick, 8 N.Y.3d 445, 447, 834 N.Y.S.2d 710, 866 N.E.2d 1039 ; People v. Webster, 140 A.D.3d 1196, 1197, 34 N.Y.S.3d 502 ; People v. Uceta, 127 A.D.3d 1002, 1002, 6 N.Y.S.3d 149 ; People v. Martinez, 116 A.D.3d 983, 984, 983 N.Y.S.2d 839 ......
  • People v. Sosa-Marquez
    • United States
    • New York Supreme Court — Appellate Division
    • November 27, 2019
    ...degree ( Penal Law §§ 10.00[10] ; 120.10[1] ), and did not unduly prejudice the defendant or mislead the jury (see People v. Webster, 140 A.D.3d 1196, 1197, 34 N.Y.S.3d 502 ; People v. White, 79 A.D.3d 1460, 913 N.Y.S.2d 818 ). Moreover, cross-examination of the defendant regarding his gang......
  • People v. Sams
    • United States
    • New York Supreme Court — Appellate Division
    • June 29, 2016
    ...467 N.Y.S.2d 349, 454 N.E.2d 932 ), we find that it was legally sufficient to establish the defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.140 A.D.3d 1196 Moreover, in fulfilling our responsibility to conduct an independent review of the weight of the evidence (see CPL 470.15[5] ; People v. Da......
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5 books & journal articles
  • Relevance & materiality
    • United States
    • James Publishing Practical Law Books Archive New York Objections - 2018 Contents
    • August 2, 2018
    ...“he fact that defendant could not excluded as a contributor to the DNA recovered from the handgun is admissible.” People v. Webster , 140 A.D.3d 1196, 34 N.Y.S.3d 502 (2d Dept. 2016). In a trial for attempted irst degree assault, which requires proof that the defendant intended to inlict se......
  • Relevance & materiality
    • United States
    • James Publishing Practical Law Books Archive New York Objections - 2020 Contents
    • August 2, 2020
    ...“he fact that defendant could not excluded as a contributor to the DNA recovered from the handgun is admissible.” People v. Webster , 140 A.D.3d 1196, 34 N.Y.S.3d 502 (2d Dept. 2016). In a trial for attempted irst degree assault, which requires proof that the defendant intended to inlict se......
  • Relevance & materiality
    • United States
    • James Publishing Practical Law Books Archive New York Objections - 2019 Contents
    • August 2, 2019
    ...“he fact that defendant could not excluded as a contributor to the DNA recovered from the handgun is admissible.” People v. Webster , 140 A.D.3d 1196, 34 N.Y.S.3d 502 (2d Dept. 2016). In a trial for attempted irst degree assault, which requires proof that the defendant intended to inlict se......
  • Relevance, materiality & presumptions
    • United States
    • James Publishing Practical Law Books Archive New York Objections - 2021 Contents
    • August 2, 2021
    ...“he fact that defendant could not excluded as a contributor to the DNA recovered from the handgun is admissible.” People v. Webster , 140 A.D.3d 1196, 34 N.Y.S.3d 502 (2d Dept. 2016). In a trial for attempted irst degree assault, which requires proof that the defendant intended to inlict se......
  • Request a trial to view additional results

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