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People v. Colonna

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Second Department
Feb 14, 1989
147 A.D.2d 582 (N.Y. App. Div. 1989)

Opinion

February 14, 1989

Appeal from the Supreme Court, Kings County (Leone, J.).


Ordered that the judgment is affirmed.

Initially, we conclude that the hearing court properly denied that branch of the defendant's omnibus motion which was to suppress his oral and videotaped statements. While there was evidence indicating that the defendant had been drinking on the night of the stabbing and that his arrest occurred shortly thereafter, there is no indication that he was so intoxicated that he was unable to comprehend the meaning of his statements, or that he lacked an awareness or understanding of his admission (see, People v Schompert, 19 N.Y.2d 300, cert denied 389 U.S. 874; People v Provosty, 141 A.D.2d 867; People v Jenkins, 134 A.D.2d 523).

The defendant's further contention that due to his alleged intoxication, he could not have acted recklessly in stabbing his victim, is without merit. Voluntary intoxication does not negate the element of recklessness necessary to sustain a conviction of manslaughter in the second degree (see, Penal Law § 15.05; § 125.15 [1]; People v Register, 60 N.Y.2d 270, cert denied 466 U.S. 953).

In addition, viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution, we find that it was legally sufficient to support the defendant's conviction (see, People v Contes, 60 N.Y.2d 620). Moreover, upon the exercise of our factual review power, we are satisfied that the verdict was not against the weight of the evidence (see, CPL 470.15).

Furthermore, the sentence imposed was not excessive (see, People v Suitte, 90 A.D.2d 80).

We have considered the defendant's remaining contentions and find that they are either unpreserved for appellate review or are without merit. Thompson, J.P., Rubin, Spatt and Balletta, JJ., concur.


Summaries of

People v. Colonna

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Second Department
Feb 14, 1989
147 A.D.2d 582 (N.Y. App. Div. 1989)
Case details for

People v. Colonna

Case Details

Full title:THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, Respondent, v. JOHN COLONNA, Appellant

Court:Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Second Department

Date published: Feb 14, 1989

Citations

147 A.D.2d 582 (N.Y. App. Div. 1989)
537 N.Y.S.2d 877

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