| People v Kelley |
| 2010 NY Slip Op 03961 [73 AD3d 809] |
| May 4, 2010 |
| Appellate Division, Second Department |
| The People of the State of New York, Respondent, v BenKelley, Appellant. |
—[*1]
Appeal by the defendant from a judgment of the County Court, Suffolk County (Hinrichs,J.), rendered December 13, 2005, convicting him of murder in the second degree, upon a juryverdict, and imposing sentence. The appeal brings up for review the denial, after a hearing, ofthat branch of the defendant's omnibus motion which was to suppress his statements to lawenforcement officials.
Ordered that the judgment is affirmed.
Contrary to the defendant's contention, that branch of his omnibus motion which was tosuppress his statements to law enforcement officials was properly denied. An unnecessary delayin an arraignment, without more, does not cause the accused's right to counsel to attachautomatically, and such a delay is only one factor to consider in assessing the voluntariness of aconfession (see People v Ramos, 99 NY2d 27 [2002]). Here, there is no evidence thatany of the statements made by the defendant were the result of coercive tactics. Rather, theywere freely and voluntarily given after the defendant was apprised of and acknowledged his rightto counsel. Further, there is nothing in the record to indicate that the police delayed thedefendant's arraignment to deprive him of his right to counsel, or that the delay was strategicallydesigned to allow the police to continue to question him outside the presence of an attorney(see People v Williams, 297 AD2d 325 [2002]; People v Diaz, 280 AD2d 553[2001]).
Viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution (see People vContes, 60 NY2d 620 [1983]) we find that it was legally sufficient to establish thedefendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Moreover, in fulfilling our responsibility to conductan independent review of the weight of the evidence (see CPL 470.15 [5]; People v Danielson, 9 NY3d 342,348 [2007]), we nevertheless accord great deference to the jury's opportunity to view thewitnesses, hear the testimony, and observe demeanor (see People v Mateo, 2 NY3d 383,410 [2004], cert denied 542 US 946 [2004]; People v Bleakley, 69 NY2d 490,495 [1987]). Upon reviewing the record here, we are satisfied that the verdict of guilt was notagainst the weight of the evidence (seePeople v Romero, 7 NY3d 633 [2006]).
The sentence imposed was not excessive (see People v Suitte, 90 AD2d 80 [1982]).[*2]
The defendant's contentions in point one of hissupplemental pro se brief relating to alleged Rosario (see People v Rosario, 9NY2d 286 [1961], cert denied 368 US 866 [1961]) and Brady (see Brady vMaryland, 373 US 83 [1963]) violations are unpreserved for appellate review and, in anyevent, are without merit. The defendant's contentions raised in points two, three, and four of hismain brief relating to the admission of police testimony and various evidence, and in point twoof his supplemental pro se brief relating to ineffective assistance of counsel, are without merit.Mastro, J.P., Santucci, Belen and Chambers, JJ., concur.