Opinion
June 6, 1995
Appeal from the Supreme Court, New York County (Stephen Crane, J.).
The Supreme Court properly denied defendant's motion to dismiss the indictment on speedy trial grounds since the People were ready for trial within 6 months of the time he was arraigned on the felony complaint (CPL 30.30 [a]; [3] [b]; [4]).
With respect to the first contested time period, defendant concedes that the Supreme Court erroneously charged the 16 day period from July 24, 1990 to August 9, 1990 to the People since he consented to the adjournment (CPL 30.30 [b]). With respect to the disputed period between September 6, 1990 and September 27, 1990, while defendant correctly contends that he may not be found to have consented to an adjournment merely because his attorney was absent ( People v. Liotta, 79 N.Y.2d 841), he has failed to preserve this contention for appellate review ( see, People v. Luperon, 85 N.Y.2d 71, 77-78). Where, as here, defendant fails to raise the issue in his moving papers and further fails to challenge the Supreme Court's ruling finding such time period excludable, the issue has not been preserved ( see, People v Pagano, 207 A.D.2d 685; People v. Robinson, 171 A.D.2d 475, 478, lv denied 78 N.Y.2d 973), and we decline to review in the interest of justice. Similarly, the 18 day period from November 8, 1990 to November 26, 1990 was excludable since defendant failed to challenge this period of delay in his motion papers and further failed to object to the court's ruling, after the speedy trial hearing, that such time period was not chargeable to the People because defendant had consented to the adjournment.
Contrary to defendant's contention, the court properly excluded the 18 day period after the People announced their readiness for trial, during which the prosecution was permitted to investigate defendant's newly interposed alibi defense since defense counsel participated in the setting of the adjourned date ( see, People v Smith, 82 N.Y.2d 676, 678), and since the delay was occasioned by motion practice. The 7 day period of post-readiness delay caused by court backlog was also properly excluded ( see, People v Brothers, 50 N.Y.2d 413, 417).
The People concede that the Supreme Court erred in failing to charge them with the 13 day period from June 20, 1991 to July 3, 1991 and the defendant concedes that the court erred in charging the People with 5 days following the filing of defendant's speedy trial motion (CPL 30.30 [a]).
Since the record amply supports the conclusion that the People were ready for trial well within the 6 month deadline, the Supreme Court properly denied defendant's motion to dismiss the indictment.
Concur — Sullivan, J.P., Rosenberger, Wallach, Ross and Mazzarelli, JJ.