Case ID: ad2d_158/html/0714-02.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 Melvin Graham, Appellant.
   At his trial, the defendant’s confession, which was both oral and videotaped, was detailed and comprehensive, and satisfactorily explained his part in the crime. In addition, the defendant did not repudiate his confession, and he was identified in court by a witness to the crime. Thus, the overwhelming evidence of the defendant’s guilt renders any error in admitting the codefendant’s "interlocking” confession harmless beyond a reasonable doubt (see, People v DiNicolantonio, 74 NY2d 856; People v West, 72 NY2d 941; People v Flores, 153 AD2d 585).

That being so, the defendant, whose conviction became final prior to the decision in Cruz v New York (481 US .186, on remand 70 NY2d 733; see, People v Graham, 120 AD2d 611, supra) is not entitled to relief under GPL 440.10 (1) (h), even if we were to assume, arguendo, that Cruz v New York (supra), should be given retroactive effect as to cases on collateral review (Teague v Lane, 489 US 288, 109 S Ct 1060; Allen v Hardy, 478 US 255).

We have considered the contentions raised by the defendant in his supplemental pro se brief and find them to be without merit. Mollen, P. J., Eiber, Sullivan and Rosenblatt, JJ., concur. [See, 140 Misc 2d 417.]