Opinion
December 28, 1998
Appeal from the Supreme Court, Kings County (Hall, J.).
Ordered that the judgment is affirmed.
Contrary to the defendant's contention, he was not denied his constitutional and statutory right to a trial by a jury in whose selection he had participated because the trial court discharged a sworn juror. The inquiry conducted by the court revealed that not only had the juror disregarded its basic instructions, but also that the juror expressed apprehension over the fact that the defendant and he had mutual friends in the neighborhood where they both resided. Moreover, the juror gave ambiguous answers as to whether his anxiety that his identity could become known would affect his ability to be fair and impartial. Accordingly, the court was justified in discharging the juror ( see, CPL 270.35; People v. Buford, 69 N.Y.2d 290, 299; People v. White, 204 A.D.2d 750; People v. Clarke, 168 A.D.2d 686).
The defendant's remaining contentions are either unpreserved for appellate review, without merit, or, to the extent that they relate to any actual error, do not warrant reversal.
Bracken, J. P., Copertino, Thompson and McGinity, JJ., concur.