Opinion
May 24, 1994
Appeal from the Supreme Court, Bronx County (Joseph Cerbone, J.).
By intentionally absenting himself from the courtroom during deliberations, defendant forfeited his right to be present (People v. Sanchez, 65 N.Y.2d 436). The trial court made reasonable efforts to locate defendant and waited more than an hour before taking the verdict (People v. Rodriguez, 174 A.D.2d 405, lv denied 78 N.Y.2d 1080).
Contrary to defendant's contention, the spent shell casing, promptly recovered at the scene of the alleged shooting, was sufficiently connected with defendant to be relevant to an issue in the case and was properly admitted (People v. Gonzalez, 193 A.D.2d 360, 361).
Concur — Murphy, P.J., Rosenberger, Kupferman, Ross and Tom, JJ.