Opinion
January 18, 2000
Judgment, Supreme Court, Bronx County (George Covington, J.), rendered June 9, 1997, convicting defendant, after a jury trial, of rape in the first degree (two counts), sodomy in the first degree (two counts), burglary in the first and second degrees, sexual abuse in the first degree, intimidating a victim or witness in the third degree, criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree, menacing in the second degree and criminal contempt in the second degree (two counts), and sentencing him to an aggregate term of 15 1/3 to 40 years, unanimously affirmed.
Edward L. Schnitzer, for Respondent.
Robert Blossner, for Defendant-Appellant.
ROSENBERGER, J.P., ELLERIN, WALLACH, LERNER, ANDRIAS, JJ.
We find no violation of defendant's right to be present. Since the conferences in question involved questions of law as to the scope of cross-examination of a witness and the propriety of defendant's opening statement, defendant's presence was not required because his absence would not have had a substantial effect on his ability to defend (see, People v. Rodriguez, 85 N.Y.2d 586; People v. Morales, 80 N.Y.2d 450).
On the existing record, which defendant has not sought to expand by way of a CPL 440.10 motion, we find that defendant received meaningful representation (see, People v. Benevento, 91 N.Y.2d 708, 713-714).
THIS CONSTITUTES THE DECISION AND ORDER OF SUPREME COURT, APPELLATE DIVISION, FIRST DEPARTMENT.