People v. Townsend

Oct 23, 2007
Versions:44 A.D.3d 970
843 N.Y.S.2d 687

Appeal by the defendant from a judgment of the Supreme Court, Kings County (J. Goldberg, J.), rendered October 31, 2002, convicting him of murder in the first degree, attempted murder in the second degree, and criminal possession of a weapon 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 his statements to law enforcement officials.

Ordered that the judgment is affirmed.

Contrary to the defendant‘s contention, the Supreme Court providently exercised its discretion in making its Sandoval ruling (see People v Sandoval, 34 NY2d 371 [1974]).

Moreover, the evidence supports the hearing court‘s determination that the defendant‘s statements were made after he knowingly and voluntarily waived his Miranda rights (see Miranda v Arizona, 384 US 436 [1966]). The defendant‘s statements were not the product of any distress caused by a medical condition, as evinced by his lengthy delay in mentioning his medical condition to the police (see People v Brown, 5 AD3d 789 [2004]; People v Soto, 295 AD2d 230 [2002]).

The defendant‘s contentions raised in point 2 of his brief regarding the jury charge, and in point 6 of his brief regarding alleged juror bias, are unpreserved for appellate review and, in any event, are without merit. The defendant‘s remaining contentions are without merit or do not require reversal.

Spolzino, J.P., Santucci, Skelos and Dickerson, JJ., concur.