People v. Monroe

Jun 10, 2008
Reporters:
,

Ordered that the judgment is affirmed.

Viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution, we find that it was legally sufficient to establish the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt (see People v Contes, 60 NY2d 620, 621 [1983]; People v ‍‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‍Hunt, 13 AD3d 160, 160-161 [2004]; People v Petteys, 223 AD2d 992, 993 [1996]). Resolution of issues of credibility is primarily a matter to be determined by the trier of fact, which saw and heard the witnesses, and its determination should be accorded great deference on appeal (see People v Romero, 7 NY3d 633, 644-645 [2006]; People v Mateo, 2 NY3d 383, 410 [2004], cert denied 542 US 946 [2004]). Upon the exercise of our factual review ‍‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‍power (see CPL 470.15 [5]), we are satisfied that the verdict of guilt was not against the weight of the evidence (see People v Danielson, 9 NY3d 342, 349 [2007]; People v Romero, 7 NY3d at 636; People v Hunt, 13 AD3d at 160-161).

To the extent that the defendant’s claim of ineffective assistance of counsel involves matter dehors the record, namely, defense counsel’s failure to offer a certain letter for admission into evidence, it may not ‍‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‍be reviewed on direct appeal (see People v Gillespie, 36 AD3d 626, 627 [2007]; People v Jackson, 19 AD3d 614, 615 [2005]). Otherwise, defense counsel provided meaningful representation (see People v Satterfield, 66 NY2d 796, 798-799 [1985]; People v Baldi, 54 NY2d 137, 146-147 [1981]). Defense counsel prepared and pursued trial strategies and defense theories, presented a clear and cogent summation, and adequately cross-examined the People’s witnesses to develop his defense theories. Hindsight does not elevate counsel’s ‍‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‍unsuccessful trial strategies to ineffective assistance of counsel (see People v Benevento, 91 NY2d 708, 712 [1998]; People v Satterfield, 66 NY2d at 798-799; People v Baldi, 54 NY2d at 146-147). Mastro, J.P., Skelos, Balkin and Leventhal, JJ., concur.