Case Name: The People of the State of New York, Respondent, v. Thomas Pratt, Appellant
Court: New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 2000-03-29
Citations: 270 A.D.2d 958
Docket Number: 
Parties: The People of the State of New York, Respondent, v Thomas Pratt, Appellant.
Judges: 
Reporter: Appellate Division Reports
Volume: 270
Pages: 958–959

Head Matter:
The People of the State of New York, Respondent, v Thomas Pratt, Appellant.
[705 NYS2d 310]

Opinion:
—Judgment unanimously affirmed. Memorandum: Defendant's conviction is supported by legally sufficient evidence and the verdict is not against the weight of the evidence (see, People v Bleakley, 69 NY2d 490, 495). The contention of defendant that he was entitled to a justification charge is not preserved for our review (see, CPL 470.05 [2]), and we decline to exercise our power to review it as a matter of discretion in the interest of justice (see, CPL 470.15 [6] [a]). Assuming, arguendo, that defense counsel erred in failing to establish the unavailability of the declarant of an alleged statement against penal interest, we conclude that defendant failed to show " 'that there is a reasonable probability that, but for counsel's error [ ], the result of the proceeding would have been different' " (People v Alicea, 229 AD2d 80, 87, lv denied 90 NY2d 890, quoting Strickland v Washington, 466 US 668, 694). (Appeal from Judgment of
Monroe County Court, Bristol, J. — Murder, 2nd Degree.) Present — Pine, J. P., Wisner, Hurlbutt, Kehoe and Lawton, JJ.