Opinion
267 KA 14-01503.
04-29-2016
The PEOPLE of the State of New York, Respondent, v. Darshawn A. MORRIS, Also Known as Slink, Defendant–Appellant.
The Legal Aid Bureau of Buffalo, Inc., Buffalo (Caitlin M. Connelly of Counsel), for Defendant–Appellant. Frank A. Sedita, III, District Attorney, Buffalo (Matthew B. Powers of Counsel), for Respondent.
The Legal Aid Bureau of Buffalo, Inc., Buffalo (Caitlin M. Connelly of Counsel), for Defendant–Appellant.
Frank A. Sedita, III, District Attorney, Buffalo (Matthew B. Powers of Counsel), for Respondent.
PRESENT: WHALEN, P.J., CENTRA, CARNI, DeJOSEPH, AND TROUTMAN, JJ.
Opinion
MEMORANDUM: Defendant appeals from a judgment convicting him following a jury trial of murder in the second degree (Penal Law § 125.25[1] ), rape in the second degree (§ 130.30[1] ), and criminal sexual act in the second degree (§ 130.45[1] ). Defendant failed to preserve for our review his contention that the evidence is legally insufficient to support the murder conviction (see People v. Cobb, 72 A.D.3d 1565, 1565, 900 N.Y.S.2d 224, lv. denied 15 N.Y.3d 803, 908 N.Y.S.2d 162, 934 N.E.2d 896 ). In any event, we conclude that the conviction is supported by legally sufficient evidence with respect to all of the crimes charged (see People v. Bleakley, 69 N.Y.2d 490, 495, 515 N.Y.S.2d 761, 508 N.E.2d 672 ). Contrary to defendant's further contention, viewing the evidence in light of the elements of the crimes as charged to the jury (see People v. Danielson, 9 N.Y.3d 342, 349, 849 N.Y.S.2d 480, 880 N.E.2d 1 ), we further conclude that the verdict is not against the weight of the evidence (see Bleakley, 69 N.Y.2d at 495, 515 N.Y.S.2d 761, 508 N.E.2d 672 ).
Contrary to defendant's contention, the verdict sheet, with the inclusion of defendant's nickname—“Slink”—was not substantively annotated in a manner not authorized by CPL 310.20(2) (see People v. Miller, 18 N.Y.3d 704, 706, 944 N.Y.S.2d 433, 967 N.E.2d 656 ). Furthermore, Supreme Court properly denied defendant's Batson application inasmuch as the prosecutor clearly provided a race-neutral basis for the challenge, i.e., that the decision-making ability of the prospective juror might be affected by the fact that her aunt had been murdered and that she herself had previous encounters with the criminal justice system (see People v. Dixon, 202 A.D.2d 12, 17–18, 615 N.Y.S.2d 904 ).
We reject defendant's contention that his Miranda waiver was involuntary. Although the evidence establishes that defendant had left an emergency psychiatric unit before waiving his rights, there is no evidence that defendant was mentally ill or otherwise impaired during his interrogation (see People v. Williams, 279 A.D.2d 276, 277, 719 N.Y.S.2d 227, affd. 97 N.Y.2d 735, 742 N.Y.S.2d 597, 769 N.E.2d 343 ) and, “under the totality of the circumstances,” we conclude that defendant's statements were knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily made (id. at 276–277, 719 N.Y.S.2d 227 ; see People v. Love, 57 N.Y.2d 998, 999, 457 N.Y.S.2d 238, 443 N.E.2d 486 ).
Contrary to defendant's contention, the court did not abuse its discretion in admitting in evidence eight photographs of the victim's body. Although the photographs “ ‘portray[ed] a gruesome spectacle and may [have] tend[ed] to arouse passion and resentment against the defendant in the minds of the jury,’ ” it cannot be said that such was their “sole purpose” inasmuch as the photographs tended to prove, inter alia, defendant's intent to kill (People v. Pobliner, 32 N.Y.2d 356, 369–370, 345 N.Y.S.2d 482, 298 N.E.2d 637, rearg. denied 33 N.Y.2d 657, 348 N.Y.S.2d 1030, 303 N.E.2d 710, cert. denied 416 U.S. 905, 94 S.Ct. 1609, 40 L.Ed.2d 110 ; see People v. Stevens, 76 N.Y.2d 833, 836, 560 N.Y.S.2d 119, 559 N.E.2d 1278 ). In addition, “the photographs were admissible to elucidate and corroborate” the testimony of a medical expert insofar as that testimony concerned defendant's intent (Stevens, 76 N.Y.2d at 836, 560 N.Y.S.2d 119, 559 N.E.2d 1278 ; see People v. Camacho, 70 A.D.3d 1393, 1394, 894 N.Y.S.2d 680, lv. denied 14 N.Y.3d 886, 903 N.Y.S.2d 774, 929 N.E.2d 1009 ; People v. Jones, 43 A.D.3d 1296, 1298, 843 N.Y.S.2d 880, lv. denied 9 N.Y.3d 991, 848 N.Y.S.2d 608, 878 N.E.2d 1024, reconsideration denied 10 N.Y.3d 812, 857 N.Y.S.2d 46, 886 N.E.2d 811 ). The court also properly exercised its discretion in denying defendant's midtrial motion to conduct DNA testing of a latex glove found near defendant's property (see generally People v. Ducret, 95 A.D.3d 636, 636, 945 N.Y.S.2d 232, lv. denied 19 N.Y.3d 996, 951 N.Y.S.2d 472, 975 N.E.2d 918 ). In any event, defendant may still seek relief on that point by making a motion pursuant to CPL 440.30(1–a).
Defendant contends that the court erred in refusing to charge criminally negligent homicide as a lesser included offense of murder in the second degree inasmuch as there was a reasonable view of the evidence to support a finding that defendant committed the lesser offense but not the greater, i.e., that defendant was merely negligent in failing to assist the victim as she was allegedly attacked in defendant's apartment by his cousin. We reject that contention. Criminally negligent homicide is a lesser included offense of murder in the second degree (see People v. Brooks, 163 A.D.2d 832, 832–833, 558 N.Y.S.2d 366, lv. denied 76 N.Y.2d 891, 561 N.Y.S.2d 553, 562 N.E.2d 878 ), but charging the lesser crime would require defendant to have a “familial relationship” with the child victim and, therefore, an affirmative duty to assist her (People v. Myers, 201 A.D.2d 855, 856, 608 N.Y.S.2d 544 ). Here, there is no such familial relationship and, therefore, no such affirmative duty. Thus, even assuming, arguendo, that defendant's cousin attacked the victim, there is no reasonable view of the evidence that defendant committed the lesser offense of criminally negligent homicide (see generally People v. Glover, 57 N.Y.2d 61, 63–64, 453 N.Y.S.2d 660, 439 N.E.2d 376 ).
Defendant further contends that he was deprived of a fair trial based on improper remarks from the prosecutor during the trial regarding his nickname and other remarks made by the prosecutor on summation. Defendant failed to preserve his contention for our review with respect to the majority of instances of alleged misconduct (see CPL 470.05[2] ), and we decline to exercise our power to address those instances as a matter of discretion in the interest of justice (see CPL 470.15[6][a] ). With respect to those instances of alleged misconduct that defendant preserved for our review, we conclude that reversal is not required (see generally People v. Mack, 128 A.D.3d 1456, 1457, 8 N.Y.S.3d 848, lv. denied 26 N.Y.3d 969, 18 N.Y.S.3d 605, 40 N.E.3d 583 ).
Contrary to defendant's contention, the court properly declined his request to redact certain information from the presentence report inasmuch as the contested information was ruled on by the court after a Huntley hearing and was admitted in evidence at trial. Thus, the court did not sentence defendant based upon unreliable information (see People v. Guevara, 68 A.D.3d 1738, 1739, 892 N.Y.S.2d 696 ), and the sentence is not unduly harsh or severe.
Defendant's remaining contentions have not been preserved for our review, and we decline to exercise our power to reach them as a matter of discretion in the interest of justice (see CPL 470.15[6][a] ).
It is hereby ORDERED that the judgment so appealed from is unanimously affirmed.