People v. Hughes

199 A.D.3d 937

154 N.Y.S.3d 453 (Mem)

The PEOPLE, etc., respondent,

v.Chivona HUGHES, appellant.

2017–01549

Ind. No. 8527/14

Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Second Department, New York.

Argued—September 30, 2021

November 17, 2021

Patricia Pazner, New York, NY (Nao Terai of counsel), for appellant.

Eric Gonzalez, District Attorney, Brooklyn, NY (Leonard Joblove and Seth M. Lieberman of counsel), for respondent.

REINALDO E. RIVERA, J.P., ROBERT J. MILLER, LARA J. GENOVESI, WILLIAM G. FORD, JJ.

DECISION & ORDER

Appeal by the defendant from a judgment of the Supreme Court, Kings County (Neil Jon Firetog, J.), rendered January 11, 2017, convicting her of murder in the second degree, upon a jury verdict, and imposing sentence.

ORDERED that the judgment is affirmed.

The defendant was convicted, after a jury trial, of murder in the second degree ( Penal Law § 125.25[1] ) in connection with the killing of Richard Saunders, who was found stabbed to death with 87 sharp-force injuries to his body.

Viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution (see People v. Contes, 60 N.Y.2d 620, 467 N.Y.S.2d 349, 454 N.E.2d 932 ), we find that it was legally sufficient to establish the defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, as the circumstantial evidence established a prima facie case as to her intent to kill the victim (see People v. Alman, 181 A.D.3d 694, 117 N.Y.S.3d 603 ; People v. Torres, 177 A.D.3d 579, 581, 113 N.Y.S.3d 707 ). Moreover, in fulfilling our responsibility to conduct an independent review of the weight of the evidence (see CPL 470.15[5] ; People v. Danielson, 9 N.Y.3d 342, 849 N.Y.S.2d 480, 880 N.E.2d 1 ), we nevertheless accord great deference to the jury's opportunity to view the witnesses, hear the testimony, and observe demeanor (see People v. Mateo, 2 N.Y.3d 383, 410, 779 N.Y.S.2d 399, 811 N.E.2d 1053 ; People v. Bleakley, 69 N.Y.2d 490, 495, 515 N.Y.S.2d 761, 508 N.E.2d 672 ). Upon reviewing the record here, we are satisfied that the verdict of guilt was not against the weight of the evidence (see People v. Romero, 7 N.Y.3d 633, 826 N.Y.S.2d 163, 859 N.E.2d 902 ). The defendant's homicidal intent could be inferred from, among other things, the evidence of the number, location, and severity of the stab wounds she inflicted upon the victim. Any conflict regarding her claim that she could not have formed the requisite intent to kill the victim due to her consumption of alcohol directly before the stabbing created a credibility issue, of which the jury's resolution is supported by the record (see People v. Walker, 195 A.D.3d 954, 955, 146 N.Y.S.3d 517 ; People v. Bourguignon, 177 A.D.3d 762, 763, 110 N.Y.S.3d 330 ).

The defendant's claim of prosecutorial misconduct on summation is unpreserved for appellate review, since the defendant failed to object to the allegedly improper comments and failed to request curative instructions or move for a mistrial on the grounds now argued on appeal (see CPL 470.05[2] ; People v. Gonzalez, 183 A.D.3d 663, 121 N.Y.S.3d 625 ). In any event, the comments at issue were responsive to the defense summation, were "within the bounds...