People v. Rodriguez
876 N.Y.S.2d 902
N.Y. App. Div.
2009
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THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, Respondent, v WILLIAM POWELL, Appellant.

Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Second Department, New York

[876 NYS2d 903]

Appeal by the defendant from a judgment of the Supreme Court, Queens County (Kron, J.), rendered July 25, 2007, convicting him of murder in the second degree, kidnapping in the second degree, and criminal solicitation in the second degree, upon a jury verdict, and imposing sentence.

Ordered that the judgment is affirmed.

In fulfilling our responsibility to conduct an independent review of the weight of the evidence (see CPL 470.15 [5];

), we nevertheless accord great deference to the jury’s opportunity to view the witnesses, hear the testimony, and observe demeanor (see
, cert denied
;
). Upon reviewing the record here, we are satisfied that the verdict of guilt was not against the weight of the evidence (see
).

The defendant’s remaining contention is unpreserved for appellate review and, in any event, is without merit.

Prudenti, P.J., Santucci, Florio and Belen, JJ., concur.