PEOPLE v. RAMBALI (2006)

Appeal by the defendant from a judgment of the Supreme Court, Queens County (Aloise, J.), rendered June 17, 2004, convicting him of kidnapping in the second degree, assault in the third degree, and endangering the welfare of a child, upon a jury verdict, and imposing sentence.

ORDERED that the judgment is affirmed.

The defendant's contention that his conviction of kidnapping in the second degree merged with rape and sodomy charges of which he was acquitted is unpreserved for appellate review (see CPL 470.05[2];  People v. Stokes, 282 A.D.2d 553, 554, 722 N.Y.S.2d 753;  People v. Freeman, 267 A.D.2d 470, 471, 700 N.Y.S.2d 754;  People v. Salimi, 159 A.D.2d 658, 658, 552 N.Y.S.2d 964).   In any event, the contention is without merit (see People v. Gonzalez, 80 N.Y.2d 146, 589 N.Y.S.2d 833, 603 N.E.2d 938;  People v. Stokes, 282 A.D.2d 553, 554, 722 N.Y.S.2d 753).

 Similarly, the defendant's contention that the complainant did not sustain a “physical injury” within the meaning of Penal Law § 10.00(9) was not raised with specificity in the trial court and, accordingly, is not preserved for appellate review (see CPL 470.05[2];  People v. Williams, 23 A.D.3d 589, 806 N.Y.S.2d 610).   In any event, viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution (see People v. Contes, 60 N.Y.2d 620, 467 N.Y.S.2d 349, 454 N.E.2d 932), we find that it was legally sufficient to establish, beyond a reasonable doubt, that the complainant sustained a “physical injury” within the meaning of Penal Law § 10.00(9) (see People v. Williams, 23 A.D.3d 589, 806 N.Y.S.2d 610;  People v. Williams, 203 A.D.2d 608, 610 N.Y.S.2d 613;  People v. Sloan, 202 A.D.2d 525, 609 N.Y.S.2d 67;  People v. Soto, 184 A.D.2d 673, 674, 584 N.Y.S.2d 877).   The evidence established that the defendant struck the complainant repeatedly with his fists, a knife, and a rope, that the complainant sustained numerous bruises, scratches, bite marks, and rope marks, and that a day or two after the incident, the bruises the defendant had inflicted upon the complainant “were very painful.”   Additionally, there were several witnesses who observed the injuries sustained by the complainant, including an acquaintance, two police officers, and a physician's assistant who examined her when she sought medical treatment shortly after the incident.

Moreover, resolution of issues of credibility, as well as the weight to be accorded to the evidence presented, are primarily questions to be determined by the jury, which saw and heard the witnesses (see People v. Gaimari, 176 N.Y. 84, 94, 68 N.E. 112).   Its determination should be accorded great weight on appeal and should not be disturbed unless it is clearly unsupported by the record (see People v. Garafolo, 44 A.D.2d 86, 88, 353 N.Y.S.2d 500).   Upon the exercise of out factual review power, we are satisfied that the verdict of guilt was not against the weight of the evidence (see CPL 470.15[5] ).

The defendant's contention that the Supreme Court improperly considered charges of which he was acquitted as a basis for imposing sentence is unpreserved for appellate review (see CPL 470.05[2] ), and in any event, is without merit (see People v. Ponder, 1 A.D.3d 616, 767 N.Y.S.2d 661).

The sentence imposed was not excessive (see People v. Suitte, 90 A.D.2d 80, 455 N.Y.S.2d 675).