People v. Adams

Feb 24, 2003
Versions:302 A.D.2d 601
755 N.Y.S.2d 641

Appeal by the defendant from a judgment of the Supreme Court, Kings County (Chambers, J.), rendered March 22, 2001, convicting her of assault in the first degree, upon a jury verdict, and imposing sentence.

Ordered that the judgment is affirmed.

The defendant’s contention that the People failed to prove her guilt by legally sufficient evidence is unpreserved for appellate review (see CPL 470.05 [2]; People v Gray, 86 NY2d 10, 19-20 [1995]; People v Udzinski, 146 AD2d 245, 250 [1989]). In any event, viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution (see People v Contes, 60 NY2d 620 [1983]), we find that it was legally sufficient to support the defendant’s conviction of assault in the first degree (see Penal Law § 120.10 [1]). The evidence showed that the defendant, in an act of revenge, participated in an attack with several accomplices where she slashed the victim with a box cutter causing a severe life-threatening 13-inch laceration to her scalp, a three-inch laceration above her lip, and a laceration to the right side of her mouth, leaving permanent scars (see People v Rivera, 268 AD2d 538, 539 [2000]). In addition, the victim suffered two lacerations on the inner lip and a laceration above the right buttock. The fact that two of the People’s witnesses had unsavory backgrounds, and one of them testified pursuant to a cooperation agreement, does not render their respective testimony incredible as a matter of law (see People v Louis, 294 AD2d 377 [2002], citing People v Toro, 272 AD2d 351 [2000]; People v McDaniel, 233 AD2d 343 [1996]; People v Ellis, 188 AD2d 1043 [1992]). 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 [5]).

The sentence imposed was not excessive (see People v Suitte, 90 AD2d 80 [1982]). Altman, J.P., S. Miller, Friedmann and McGinity, JJ., concur.