People v Caldavado
2010 NY Slip Op 08591 [78 AD3d 962]
November 16, 2010
Appellate Division, Second Department
As corrected through Wednesday, January 19, 2011


The People of the State of New York, Respondent,
v
AlmaCaldavado, Also Known as Alma Calderaro, Appellant.

[*1]Brafman & Associates, P.C., New York, N.Y. (Mark M. Baker of counsel), forappellant.

Richard A. Brown, District Attorney, Kew Gardens, N.Y. (John M. Castellano, Nicoletta J.Caferri, and William H. Branigan of counsel), for respondent.

Appeal by the defendant from a judgment of the Supreme Court, Queens County (McGann,J.), rendered April 1, 2009, convicting her of assault in the first degree and endangering thewelfare of a child, upon a jury verdict, and imposing sentence.

Ordered that the judgment is affirmed.

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[2007]), 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 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 not against theweight of the evidence (see People vRomero, 7 NY3d 633 [2006]).

Contrary to the defendant's contentions, the trial court providently exercised its discretion inpermitting a PowerPoint presentation as to the injuries associated with shaken baby syndromeand in allowing an expert witness to shake a doll in order to demonstrate the force necessary toinflict shaken baby syndrome, as the probative value of the presentation outweighed itsprejudicial effect (see People vSulayao, 58 AD3d 769, 770 [2009]; People v Mora, 57 AD3d 571, 572 [2008]; People v Yates,290 AD2d 888, 889-890 [2002]). Moreover, any prejudice was minimized by the court's limitinginstructions to the jury (see People v Sulayao, 58 AD3d at 770).

The sentence imposed was not excessive (see People v Suitte, 90 AD2d 80 [1982]).

The defendant's remaining contention is without merit. Prudenti, P.J., Covello, Florio andBelen, JJ., concur.


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