PEOPLE v. GILLEO (2010)

Appeal by the defendant from a judgment of the County Court, Dutchess County (Dolan, J.), rendered April 1, 2008, convicting him of murder in the first degree (20 counts), murder in the second degree (10 counts), arson in the third degree (2 counts), robbery in the first degree (6 counts), conspiracy in the fourth degree, perjury in the second degree, and conspiracy in the fifth degree, upon a jury verdict, and imposing sentence.

ORDERED that the judgment is affirmed.

The defendant failed to preserve for appellate review his contention that the evidence was legally insufficient to establish his guilt, beyond a reasonable doubt, of 20 counts of murder in the first degree, 10 counts of murder in the second degree, 2 counts of arson in the third degree, 6 counts of robbery in the first degree, and perjury in the second degree (see CPL 470.05[2];  People v. Hawkins, 11 N.Y.3d 484, 491-492, 872 N.Y.S.2d 395, 900 N.E.2d 946).   In any event, viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution (see People v. Contes, 60 N.Y.2d 620, 621, 467 N.Y.S.2d 349, 454 N.E.2d 932;  People v. Scott, 67 A.D.3d 1033, 888 N.Y.S.2d 757), we find that it was legally sufficient to establish the defendant's guilt of those crimes beyond a reasonable doubt.   Although the defendant preserved for appellate review his contention that his conviction of conspiracy in the fourth degree and conspiracy in the fifth degree was not supported by legally sufficient evidence, the evidence was legally sufficient to establish his guilt of those crimes beyond a reasonable doubt.

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, 348-349, 849 N.Y.S.2d 480, 880 N.E.2d 1;  People v. Hernandez, 67 A.D.3d 820, 889 N.Y.S.2d 218), 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, 636, 826 N.Y.S.2d 163, 859 N.E.2d 902;  People v. Tyrell, 67 A.D.3d 827, 888 N.Y.S.2d 610).

The defendant's claim that the trial court erred in denying his motion to strike the panel of jurors is based on matter dehors the record, and cannot be reviewed on direct appeal (see People v. Tomlinson, 67 A.D.3d 826, 887 N.Y.S.2d 862;  People v. Mingo, 66 A.D.3d 1043, 887 N.Y.S.2d 666;  People v. Robinson, 159 A.D.2d 598, 552 N.Y.S.2d 457).

 Defense counsel's stipulation to the admission into evidence of a witness's statement in its entirety did not constitute ineffective assistance of counsel.   The defendant failed to demonstrate the absence of strategic or other legitimate explanations for counsel's conduct in this regard (see People v. Moore, 66 A.D.3d 707, 717, 886 N.Y.S.2d 468;  People v. Clarke, 66 A.D.3d 694, 696, 886 N.Y.S.2d 753).

 The defendant's contention that the trial court erred in refusing to allow him to impeach a witness with extrinsic evidence is without merit.   A party cross-examining a witness cannot introduce extrinsic evidence to contradict a witness's answers concerning collateral matters solely for the purpose of impeaching that witness's credibility (see People v. Carey, 67 A.D.3d 925, 888 N.Y.S.2d 615;  People v. Olivares, 34 A.D.3d 602, 824 N.Y.S.2d 172).   Here, the identities of the inmates who were incarcerated in the same unit as both the defendant and the witness sought to be cross-examined were collateral matters, bearing only on that witness's credibility.

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

The defendant's contention in his supplemental pro se brief that the grand jury proceedings were defective is not reviewable on this appeal.   Here, the defendant's conviction was based upon legally sufficient evidence and, under the circumstances of this case, the validity of the order denying the defendant's motion to inspect the grand jury minutes and dismiss the indictment is not reviewable (see People v. Smith, 4 N.Y.3d 806, 808, 796 N.Y.S.2d 1, 828 N.E.2d 958).   Specifically, the defendant's claims as to the competency of the evidence before the grand jury are not properly before this Court (see People v. Smith, 4 N.Y.3d at 808, 796 N.Y.S.2d 1, 828 N.E.2d 958;  People v. Prezioso, 199 A.D.2d 343, 344, 604 N.Y.S.2d 256;  CPL 210.30[6] ).

The defendant's remaining contentions in his supplemental pro se brief are without merit.