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People v. Mitchell

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Second Department
Sep 19, 1988
143 A.D.2d 421 (N.Y. App. Div. 1988)

Opinion

September 19, 1988

Appeal from the Supreme Court, Queens County (Linakis, J.).


Ordered that the judgment is affirmed.

Contrary to the defendant's contentions, the trial court's decision to permit the complainant to testify in his Navy uniform did not serve to deprive him of a fair trial (see, People v Lloyd, 141 A.D.2d 671).

The defendant's challenge to the court's identification charge is unavailing. A review of the court's entire charge shows that the court properly explained to the jurors the factors to be considered by them in evaluating identification testimony and the jury was clearly instructed that identification must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt (see, People v Whalen, 59 N.Y.2d 273, 279; People v Hambrick, 122 A.D.2d 163, lv denied 69 N.Y.2d 712; People v Daniels, 88 A.D.2d 392). Thus, we find that the isolated portion of the court's charge challenged by the defendant did not deprive him of a fair trial.

The defendant's further challenge to the trial court's decision to permit a police officer to testify that one of the victims had identified him at a pretrial lineup is equally unavailing. In People v Cwikla ( 46 N.Y.2d 434, 444), the Court of Appeals stated: "For purposes of permitting testimony of a prior identification pursuant to this statute [CPL 60.25], a determination by a trial court that a witness does not possess sufficient present recollection to permit an in-court identification of the defendant must be accorded the same effect as a statement by the witness that he cannot now identify the defendant".

Inasmuch as the trial court found that the victim could not identify the defendant at the time of trial, the introduction of third-party identification testimony did not violate CPL 60.25 (cf., People v Black, 130 A.D.2d 353).

We have considered the defendant's remaining contentions including those raised in his pro se supplemental brief and find them to be either unpreserved for appellate review or without merit. Lawrence, J.P., Kunzeman, Kooper and Harwood, JJ., concur.


Summaries of

People v. Mitchell

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Second Department
Sep 19, 1988
143 A.D.2d 421 (N.Y. App. Div. 1988)
Case details for

People v. Mitchell

Case Details

Full title:THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, Respondent, v. VINCENT MITCHELL…

Court:Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Second Department

Date published: Sep 19, 1988

Citations

143 A.D.2d 421 (N.Y. App. Div. 1988)

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