Case ID: ad2d_203/html/0603-03.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

The People of the State of New York, Respondent, v Michael Smith, Appellant.
    [611 NYS2d 213]
   —Appeals by the defendant from (1) a judgment of the Supreme Court, Queens County (Clabby, J.), rendered May 11, 1992, convicting him of criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree and unauthorized use of a vehicle in the third degree under Queens County Indictment No. 539/91, upon a jury verdict, and imposing sentence, and (2) a judgment of the same court, also rendered May 11, 1992, convicting him of robbery in the first degree under Indictment No. 7382/90, upon his plea of guilty, and imposing sentence.

Ordered that the judgments are affirmed.

We find that the police officers’ testimony indicating that the defendant ran to the stolen vehicle with a jacket underneath his arm was properly admitted to supply background information establishing the basis for the officers’ chase of the defendant and to complete the narrative of events leading to the defendant’s arrest (see, People v Waite, 183 AD2d 796; see also, People v Wells, 134 AD2d 545).

Error, if any, in the admission of a photograph was harmless in light of the overwhelming evidence of the defendant’s guilt (see, People v Crimmins, 36 NY2d 230).

We have examined the defendant’s remaining contentions and find them to be without merit. Bracken, J. P., Copertino, Altman and Friedmann, JJ., concur.