605 N.Y.S.2d 342 | N.Y. App. Div. | 1993
Appeal by the defendant from a judgment of the Supreme Court, Kings County (Grajales, J.), rendered August 9, 1991, convicting him of robbery in the second degree, upon a jury verdict, and imposing sentence. The appeal brings up for review the denial, after a hearing, of that branch of the defendant’s omnibus motion which was to suppress identification testimony.
Ordered that the judgment is affirmed.
The defendant argues, inter alia, that both the lineup and the in-court identification should have been suppressed because three of the lineup fillers had skin tones significantly darker than his. However, it is clear that lineup fillers need not be identical in physical characteristics to the defendant, but only need be reasonably similar in appearance (see, People
We find that the trial court did not improvidently exercise its discretion in permitting the prosecution to impeach the defendant with the underlying facts of several prior convictions which involved offenses similar in nature to the present offense. Questions concerning other crimes are not automatically precluded simply because the crimes to be inquired about are similar to the crimes charged (see, People v Pavao, 59 NY2d 282; People v Toro, 161 AD2d 819). Further, theft related offenses are particularly relevant to the issue of credibility since they demonstrate the defendant’s willingness to place his interests above those of society (see, People v Ellis, 162 AD2d 611; People v Boseman, 161 AD2d 601).
We have reviewed the defendant’s remaining contentions and find them to be without merit. O’Brien, J. P., Copertino, Pizzuto and Santucci, JJ., concur.