PEOPLE v. TAYLOR (2004)

 Defendant appeals from a judgment convicting her following a jury trial of two counts of murder in the second degree (Penal Law § 125.25[1], [3] ) and one count each of burglary in the first degree (§ 140.30[2] ) and robbery in the first degree (§ 160.15[1] ).   Contrary to the contention of defendant, neither her statutory nor due process rights were violated by her alleged absence from the courtroom.   Initially, we note that the record establishes that the defendant was present throughout the trial proceedings.   Her contention that she was asleep at times during the trial, and therefore effectively absent, is without support in the record.

 We also reject the contention of defendant that Supreme Court abused its discretion by not sua sponte ordering an examination of her competency pursuant to CPL article 730.   If facts arise during trial or sentencing that indicate that a defendant is not able to understand the proceedings or to assist in her defense, then the court must inquire into her competency and, if it is of the opinion that she may be incapacitated, order an examination pursuant to article 730 (see People v. Tortorici, 92 N.Y.2d 757, 765-766, 686 N.Y.S.2d 346, 709 N.E.2d 87, cert. denied 528 U.S. 834, 120 S.Ct. 94, 145 L.Ed.2d 80).   The decision to order a competency examination rests in the sound discretion of the court (see People v. Morgan, 87 N.Y.2d 878, 879, 638 N.Y.S.2d 942, 662 N.E.2d 260).   We perceive no abuse of that discretion here.   The information available to the court indicated, at most, that defendant had previously suffered from a mental illness and that she may have stopped taking certain medications.   A history of prior mental illness or treatment does not itself call into question defendant's competence (see People v. Carbonel, 296 A.D.2d 858, 745 N.Y.S.2d 367).   Significantly, defense counsel did not request a hearing or an evaluation (see People v. Gensler, 72 N.Y.2d 239, 243-244, 532 N.Y.S.2d 72, 527 N.E.2d 1209, cert. denied 488 U.S. 932, 109 S.Ct. 323, 102 L.Ed.2d 341).   As there is no indication in the record that defendant was not able to understand the proceedings or to assist in her defense, the court did not abuse its discretion by failing to order a hearing.

We have considered the remaining contentions of defendant, including her contentions with respect to the weight of the evidence and the severity of the sentence, and conclude that they are without merit.

It is hereby ORDERED that the judgment so appealed from be and the same hereby is unanimously affirmed.

MEMORANDUM: