Case Name: The People of the State of New York, Respondent, v. Francisco Castro, Appellant
Court: New York Court of Appeals
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1978-10-31
Citations: 45 N.Y.2d 934
Docket Number: 
Parties: The People of the State of New York, Respondent, v Francisco Castro, Appellant.
Judges: 
Reporter: New York Reports
Volume: 45
Pages: 934–936

Head Matter:
The People of the State of New York, Respondent, v Francisco Castro, Appellant.
Argued September 22, 1978;
decided October 31, 1978
APPEARANCES OF COUNSEL
Irving Engel for appellant.
Eugene Gold, District Attorney (Salvatore Russo and David Harrigan of counsel), for respondent.

Opinion:
OPINION OF THE COURT
Memorandum.
Order of the Appellate Division affirmed. Because of the structural simplicity of the case, it was tried by counsel for both sides without the usual elaboration. Nevertheless, the only real issue was one of identity, and that turns on credibility of the witnesses — the victim, the defendant, and, on the posttrial hearing, the owner of the driving school where, according to the victim, defendant had been employed. The record on the main trial fully supports the Trial Judge's findings. Moreover, the testimony upon the posttrial hearing, held at defendant's request, failed to undermine the victim's testimony concerning defendant's employment. Being legally sufficient and having been affirmed, the findings are beyond review in this court.
Despite defense trial counsel's protestations of his blunders, their effect, if blunders they were, was nullified by the post-trial hearing and the opportunity to produce any additional witnesses. Overall, there was no inadequacy of counsel to merit overturning the determination made (cf. People v Droz, 39 NY2d 457, 462-463).
Chief Judge Breitel and Judges Jasen, Gabrielli, Jones, Wachtler, Fuchsberg and Cooke concur.
Order affirmed in a memorandum.