PEOPLE v. PERADZE (2005)

Appeal by the defendant from a judgment of the County Court, Dutchess County (Dolan, J.), rendered March 15, 2002, convicting him of murder in the second degree, upon a jury verdict, and imposing sentence.   The appeal brings up for review the denial, after a hearing, of that branch of the defendant's omnibus motion which was to suppress physical evidence.

ORDERED that the judgment is affirmed.

 There is no merit to the defendant's contention that the court erred in denying that branch of his omnibus motion which was to suppress physical evidence.   The reliability of the informants and the basis of their knowledge was established (see People v. Ketcham, 93 N.Y.2d 416, 690 N.Y.S.2d 874, 712 N.E.2d 1238;  People v. Griminger, 71 N.Y.2d 635, 639, 529 N.Y.S.2d 55, 524 N.E.2d 409;  People v. Reid, 184 A.D.2d 668, 669, 584 N.Y.S.2d 873;  People v. Crowder, 198 A.D.2d 369, 370, 603 N.Y.S.2d 343).   Accordingly, the police had probable cause to arrest the defendant and to seize his clothing incident to the arrest.

 Moreover, contrary to the defendant's contention, the trial court properly allowed the People to inquire into certain of his prior bad acts on cross-examination.   A court may permit inquiry into an otherwise prohibited subject if the accused gives untruthful or misleading testimony regarding that subject (see People v. Brown, 97 N.Y.2d 500, 743 N.Y.S.2d 374, 769 N.E.2d 1266;  People v. Sims, 245 A.D.2d 316, 666 N.Y.S.2d 433;  People v. Thomas, 262 A.D.2d 213, 692 N.Y.S.2d 341).   Here, the defendant testified that his marriage was “wonderful,” thereby opening the door to questioning regarding marital difficulties between him and his wife (see People v. Sims, supra;  People v. Thomas, supra).

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 the defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.   Moreover, upon the exercise of our factual review power, we are satisfied that the verdict of guilt was not against the weight of the evidence (see CPL 470.20[2] ).

Viewing the defense counsel's conduct in its entirety, the defendant was not deprived of the effective assistance of counsel (see People v. Benevento, 91 N.Y.2d 708, 674 N.Y.S.2d 629, 697 N.E.2d 584;  People v. Rivera, 71 N.Y.2d 705, 530 N.Y.S.2d 52, 525 N.E.2d 698;  People v. Baldi, 54 N.Y.2d 137, 444 N.Y.S.2d 893, 429 N.E.2d 400).

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

The defendant's remaining contentions either are unpreserved for appellate review or without merit.