| People v Townsend |
| 2011 NY Slip Op 03270 [83 AD3d 969] |
| April 19, 2011 |
| Appellate Division, Second Department |
| The People of the State of New York, Respondent, v KevinTownsend, Appellant. |
—[*1] Charles J. Hynes, District Attorney, Brooklyn, N.Y. (Leonard Joblove, Keith Dolan, andMarie John-Drigo of counsel), for respondent.
Appeal by the defendant from a judgment of the Supreme Court, Kings County (Marrus, J.),rendered April 7, 2009, convicting him of murder in the second degree and criminal possessionof a weapon in the third degree, upon a jury verdict, and imposing sentence.
Ordered that the judgment is affirmed.
The defendant's contention that the evidence was legally insufficient to support hisconviction of murder in the second degree is unpreserved for appellate review (see CPL470.05 [2]; People v Hawkins, 11NY3d 484, 491-492 [2008]). In any event, viewing the evidence in the light most favorableto the prosecution (see People v Contes, 60 NY2d 620, 621 [1983]), we find that it waslegally sufficient to establish the defendant's guilt of that crime, including the element of intent,beyond a reasonable doubt (see People vBryant, 36 AD3d 517, 517 [2007]; People v Smith, 35 AD3d 635 [2006]; People v Francis,209 AD2d 539, 540 [1994]). Additionally, in fulfilling our responsibility to conduct anindependent 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 Bleakley, 69 NY2d 490, 495[1987]). Upon reviewing the record here, we are satisfied that the verdict of guilt as to theconviction of murder in the second degree was not against the weight of the evidence (see People v Romero, 7 NY3d 633[2006]).
The defendant's contention that the trial court's charge to the jury on the lesser-includedoffense of manslaughter in the first degree was insufficient is unpreserved for appellate review(see CPL 470.05 [2]; People v Hawkins, 11 NY3d at 491-492; People vShakur, 249 AD2d 424, 425 [1998]). In any event, the charge was sufficient, as it adequatelyapprised the jury of the applicable law (see People v Calderon, 182 AD2d 770 [1992]).Angiolillo, J.P., Balkin, Leventhal and Sgroi, JJ., concur.