THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK RESPONDENT v. CHRISTOPHER HORR DEFENDANT APPELLANT (2017)

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER

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

Memorandum:  Defendant appeals from a judgment convicting him following a jury trial of, inter alia, assault in the second degree (Penal Law § 120.05 [3] ).  Defendant failed to preserve for our review his contention that Supreme Court failed to articulate a sufficient jury instruction with respect to the causation element of Penal Law

§ 120.05 (3) (see generally People v. Townsley, 50 AD3d 1610, 1611, lv denied 11 NY3d 742), and we decline to review that contention as a matter of discretion in the interest of justice (see CPL 470.15[6][a] ).  Viewing the evidence in light of the elements of the crimes as charged to the jury (see People v. Danielson, 9 NY3d 342, 349), we conclude that the verdict is not against the weight of the evidence (see generally People v. Bleakley, 69 N.Y.2d 490, 495).

We reject defendant's contention that the court abused its discretion in denying his request for new counsel.  The general assertions of defendant that counsel was “not complying with [his] wishes” and that he was not “being represented properly” were not sufficient to raise a “ ‘serious complaint’ “ warranting substitution of counsel (People v. Adger, 83 AD3d 1590, 1591, lv denied 17 NY3d 857).  Finally, the court properly granted defendant's request to proceed pro se after inquiring into defendant's education and knowledge of legal matters, making defendant aware of the disadvantages of proceeding without counsel, and appointing standby counsel to assist defendant at trial, if necessary (see generally People v. Providence, 2 NY3d 579, 582).

Frances E. Cafarell

Clerk of the Court