PEOPLE v. HAITH (2007)

Judgment, Supreme Court, New York County (Carol Berkman, J. on motions for new counsel;  Renee A. White, J. at jury trial and sentence), rendered February 1, 2005, convicting defendant of robbery in the second degree, and sentencing him to a term of 5 years, unanimously affirmed.

 The verdict was based on legally sufficient evidence and was not against the weight of the evidence.   The element of physical injury was established by evidence that defendant repeatedly pulled the strap of the victim's bag, knocked her to the ground and dragged her along the street, causing abrasions, bruising and swelling (see People v. Chiddick, 8 N.Y.3d 445, 834 N.Y.S.2d 710, 866 N.E.2d 1039 [2007];  People v. Henderson, 92 N.Y.2d 677, 685 N.Y.S.2d 409, 708 N.E.2d 165 [1999] ).   The victim's testimony, itself, supported the conclusion that she sustained substantial pain (see People v. Guidice, 83 N.Y.2d 630, 636, 612 N.Y.S.2d 350, 634 N.E.2d 951 [1994] ).   Moreover, this Court has viewed photographs introduced at trial, which reveal injuries that would be expected to cause “more than slight or trivial pain.”  (People v. Chiddick, 8 N.Y.3d at 447, 834 N.Y.S.2d 710, 866 N.E.2d 1039).

 The court properly exercised its discretion in denying defendant's requests for substitute counsel since defendant failed to establish good cause (see People v. Linares, 2 N.Y.3d 507, 780 N.Y.S.2d 529, 813 N.E.2d 609 [2004] ).   In each instance, the court conducted a proper inquiry by asking defendant to furnish particulars about his counsel's alleged deficiencies, but defendant was unable to do so.   After exploring defendant's complaints, the court reasonably concluded that defendant's general objections about a lack of communication with counsel were without merit or substance.

For the reasons stated in our decision in People v. Lemos, 34 A.D.3d 343, 824 N.Y.S.2d 289 [2006], lv. denied 8 N.Y.3d 924, 834 N.Y.S.2d 514, 866 N.E.2d 460 [2007], we find unpreserved defendant's argument that the court unlawfully imposed a mandatory surcharge and fees when it did so only in writing, and we decline to review it in the interest of justice.   Were we to review it, we would find it without merit.