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People v. Thompson

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Second Department
May 8, 1995
215 A.D.2d 514 (N.Y. App. Div. 1995)

Opinion

May 8, 1995

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


Ordered that the judgment is affirmed.

The defendant admitted to whirling around and firing one shot in the direction of a group of people following closely behind him, thereby killing a man. On appeal, he contends that the evidence presented by the People was legally insufficient to establish that he acted with depraved indifference to human life (see, Penal Law § 125.25). Initially, we find that the defendant's motion to dismiss at the close of the People's case was not sufficiently specific to preserve this issue for appellate review (see, CPL 470.05). In any event, viewing the evidence in a light most favorable to the prosecution (see, People v Contes, 60 N.Y.2d 620), a rational trier of fact could have found beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant's actions constituted reckless conduct which was imminently dangerous and presented a grave risk of death to another person (see, Penal Law § 125.25; People v Roe, 74 N.Y.2d 20, 24). In short, the jury could have properly concluded that the conduct of the defendant was so wanton as to amount to depraved indifference to human life (see, e.g., People v Jernatowski, 238 N.Y. 188; People v Brisbane, 203 A.D.2d 89).

Moreover, upon the exercise of our factual review power, we are satisfied that the verdict of guilt was not against the weight of the evidence (see, CPL 470.15).

The defendant's remaining contentions, including those raised in his supplemental pro se brief, are without merit (see, People v Johnson, 66 N.Y.2d 398, 403; People v Greene, 153 A.D.2d 439, 443-444, lv denied 76 N.Y.2d 735, cert denied 498 U.S. 947; People v Suitte, 90 A.D.2d 80). Miller, J.P., Pizzuto, Joy and Krausman, JJ., concur.


Summaries of

People v. Thompson

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Second Department
May 8, 1995
215 A.D.2d 514 (N.Y. App. Div. 1995)
Case details for

People v. Thompson

Case Details

Full title:THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, Respondent, v. ROGER THOMPSON…

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

Date published: May 8, 1995

Citations

215 A.D.2d 514 (N.Y. App. Div. 1995)
627 N.Y.S.2d 395

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