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People v. Williams

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Fourth Department
Jul 3, 1997
241 A.D.2d 911 (N.Y. App. Div. 1997)

Opinion

July 3, 1997

Present — Denman, P. J., Green, Balio, Boehm and Fallon, JJ.


Judgment unanimously affirmed. Memorandum: County Court did not err in admitting evidence of four prior domestic incidents involving defendant and his former girlfriend. That proof was admissible to show the nature of their relationship up to the time of the incident and defendant's motive and intent with respect to the crimes charged. The probative value of the evidence exceeded its potential for prejudice (see, People v. Ventimiglia, 52 N.Y.2d 350, 369; People v. Robinson, 191 A.D.2d 595; People v. Castrechino, 134 A.D.2d 877, lv denied 70 N.Y.2d 1005; People v. Griffin, 126 A.D.2d 743, lv denied 69 N.Y.2d 880). Defendant failed to preserve for our review his contention that the court erred in failing to give a limiting instruction with respect to the evidence of defendant's prior acts of violence (see, CPL 470.05; People v. Maldonado, 220 A.D.2d 212, 213, lv denied 87 N.Y.2d 904), and we decline to exercise our power to review that contention as a matter of discretion in the interest of justice (see, CPL 470.15 [a]).

Contrary to the contention of defendant, the court did not abuse its discretion in admitting into evidence the autopsy photographs of the victims. The photographs were "probative on the issue of depraved indifference to human life, an element of a crime for which he was charged" (People v. Williams, 214 A.D.2d 595, lv denied 85 N.Y.2d 982; see, People v. Wood, 79 N.Y.2d 958, 960; People v. Pobliner, 32 N.Y.2d 356, 369-370, rearg denied 33 N.Y.2d 657, cert denied 416 U.S. 905). Further, the proof of guilt is overwhelming, and there is no significant probability that the jury would have acquitted defendant in the absence of the photographic evidence (see, People v. Crimmins, 36 N.Y.2d 230, 241-242).

Defendant further contends that the prosecutor violated his obligation under Brady v. Maryland ( 373 U.S. 83) to disclose the name and address of a person who had taped a conversation with a prosecution witness. That contention is without merit (see, People v. Baxley, 84 N.Y.2d 208, rearg dismissed 86 N.Y.2d 886; People v. Barbera, 220 A.D.2d 601, lv denied 88 N.Y.2d 844). The record establishes that, prior to trial, the prosecutor furnished defendant with a copy of the tape of the conversation as well as the information he had with respect to the identity of the person.

Lastly, upon our review of the record, we conclude that the verdict is not against the weight of the evidence (see, People v Bleakley, 69 N.Y.2d 490, 495). (Appeal from Judgment of Monroe County Court, Bristol, J. — Murder, 2nd Degree.)


Summaries of

People v. Williams

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Fourth Department
Jul 3, 1997
241 A.D.2d 911 (N.Y. App. Div. 1997)
Case details for

People v. Williams

Case Details

Full title:THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, Respondent, v. ROGER WILLIAMS, II…

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

Date published: Jul 3, 1997

Citations

241 A.D.2d 911 (N.Y. App. Div. 1997)
663 N.Y.S.2d 1023

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