PEOPLE v. SINGH (2009)

Appeal by the defendant from a judgment of the County Court, Nassau County (Quinn, J.), rendered May 25, 2006, convicting him of murder in the second degree, arson in the first degree (two counts), arson in the third degree, assault in the first degree, stalking in the third degree, and menacing in the third degree, upon a jury verdict, and imposing sentence.

ORDERED that the judgment is affirmed.

 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 (see People v. Casey, 37 A.D.3d 1113, 1114-1115, 829 N.Y.S.2d 309;  People v. Brown, 281 A.D.2d 700, 700-701, 728 N.Y.S.2d 100).   Moreover, in fulfilling our responsibility to conduct an independent review of the weight of the evidence (see CPL 470.15[5];  People v. Danielson, 9 N.Y.3d 342, 348, 849 N.Y.S.2d 480, 880 N.E.2d 1), we nevertheless accord great deference to the jury's opportunity to view the witnesses, hear the testimony, and observe demeanor (see People v. Mateo, 2 N.Y.3d 383, 410, 779 N.Y.S.2d 399, 811 N.E.2d 1053, cert. denied 542 U.S. 946, 124 S.Ct. 2929, 159 L.Ed.2d 828;  People v. Bleakley, 69 N.Y.2d 490, 495, 515 N.Y.S.2d 761, 508 N.E.2d 672).   Upon reviewing the record here, we are satisfied that the verdict of guilt was not against the weight of the evidence (see People v. Romero, 7 N.Y.3d 633, 826 N.Y.S.2d 163, 859 N.E.2d 902).

 The trial court properly denied the defendant's motion to sever the stalking and menacing counts from the remaining counts.   The motion was untimely (see CPL 255.20), and the defendant failed to demonstrate good cause for the untimeliness (see People v. Vernon, 304 A.D.2d 679, 757 N.Y.S.2d 493;  People v. Garcia, 259 A.D.2d 630, 687 N.Y.S.2d 650).   In any event, the separate offenses were properly joinable in a single indictment pursuant to CPL 200.20(2)(b), as the nature of the proof of the stalking and menacing counts was material and admissible as evidence upon the trial of the remaining counts (see People v. Laverpool, 52 A.D.3d 622, 860 N.Y.S.2d 565).

The defendant was not denied the effective assistance of counsel (see People v. Benevento, 91 N.Y.2d 708, 712, 674 N.Y.S.2d 629, 697 N.E.2d 584).

The defendant's remaining contentions are unpreserved for appellate review and, in any event, are without merit.