Case Name: The People of the State of New York, Respondent, v. Erik D. Sosby, Appellant
Court: New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1996-02-02
Citations: 224 A.D.2d 955
Docket Number: 
Parties: The People of the State of New York, Respondent, v Erik D. Sosby, Appellant.
Judges: 
Reporter: Appellate Division Reports
Volume: 224
Pages: 955–956

Head Matter:
The People of the State of New York, Respondent, v Erik D. Sosby, Appellant.
[638 NYS2d 368]

Opinion:
—Judgment unanimously affirmed. Memorandum: Defendant was convicted after a jury trial of manslaughter in the first degree (Penal Law § 125.20) and sentenced to an indeterminate term of 81/s to 25 years. The contention of defendant that the verdict is against the weight of the evidence is without merit (see, People v Bleakley, 69 NY2d 490, 495). Although the two isolated remarks by the prosecutor on summation may have been inappropriate, the contention of defendant that they deprived him of a fair trial is not preserved for our review (see, CPL 470.05 [2]). Further, were we to reach the merits, we would conclude that, given the overwhelming evidence of defendant's guilt, the prosecutor's conduct did not cause such substantial prejudice to defendant as to deprive him of a fair trial (see, People v Rubin, 101 AD2d 71, 77-78; People v McCormick, 100 AD2d 723). In light of the nature of the crime, we conclude that the sentence is neither unduly harsh nor severe. (Appeal from Judgment of Niagara County Court, Fricano, J. — Manslaughter, 1st Degree.) Present — Pine, J. P., Lawton, Wesley, Davis and Boehm, JJ.