PEOPLE v. YA KO CHI (2010)

Appeal by the defendant from a judgment of the Supreme Court, Queens County (Gavrin, J.), rendered September 7, 2007, convicting him of assault in the second degree (two counts) and violation of probation, after a nonjury trial, and imposing sentence.

ORDERED that the judgment is reversed, on the law, and the matter is remitted to the Supreme Court, Queens County, for a new trial.

On June 25, 2005, Guillermo Alfonso Moralez Chacon (hereinafter Moralez) was stabbed on the street near a bodega in Queens. Moralez testified that the defendant, whom he knew from the neighborhood, was the person who stabbed him. Although initially he did not correctly identify the defendant at trial, he eventually did identify the defendant as his assailant.

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, 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, 849 N.Y.S.2d 480, 880 N.E.2d 1), we accord great deference to the fact-finder's opportunity at the trial to view the witnesses, hear their testimony, observe their demeanor and assess their credibility (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; People v. Fortunato, 70 A.D.3d 851, 894 N.Y.S.2d 152; People v. Madison, 61 A.D.3d 777, 779, 877 N.Y.S.2d 173).

However, a new trial is required because of the Supreme Court's improper admission into evidence, over the defendant's objection, of Moralez's testimony that a relative of the defendant gave him $5000 not to testify and also offered him additional money. Here, there was no showing that the defendant participated in the alleged attempt by his relative to interfere with Moralez's testimony at trial (see People v. Brooks, 292 A.D.2d 540, 541, 739 N.Y.S.2d 585; People v. Ramdowe, 204 A.D.2d 663, 664, 612 N.Y.S.2d 206). This inflammatory evidence was not admissible to impeach the credibility of the People's own witness, or to infer the defendant's guilt (cf. People v. Fitzpatrick, 40 N.Y.2d 44, 49-50, 386 N.Y.S.2d 28, 351 N.E.2d 675; People v. Freeman, 9 N.Y.2d 600, 603, 217 N.Y.S.2d 5, 176 N.E.2d 39; People v. Brazzeal, 172 A.D.2d 757, 569 N.Y.S.2d 746).

Although the trial court in a nonjury trial is presumed to have considered only competent evidence in reaching its verdict (see People v. Kozlow, 46 A.D.3d 913, 916, 851 N.Y.S.2d 577; People v. Walker, 175 A.D.2d 146, 147, 572 N.Y.S.2d 36; People v. Sims, 127 A.D.2d 805, 806, 511 N.Y.S.2d 935; People v. Reyes, 116 A.D.2d 602, 603, 497 N.Y.S.2d 463), here, this presumption was rebutted when further testimony on the subject was permitted and elicited by the trial court. Under the particular factual circumstances of this case, where the evidence of the defendant's guilt was not overwhelming, this error was not harmless and requires reversal (see People v. Crimmins, 36 N.Y.2d 230, 367 N.Y.S.2d 213, 326 N.E.2d 787; People v. Wilkinson, 71 A.D.3d 249, 892 N.Y.S.2d 535, 2010 N.Y. Slip Op 00550 [2d Dept 2010]; People v. Thomas, 68 A.D.3d 1141, 892 N.Y.S.2d 461).