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People v. Rivera

158 A.D.2d 340 Court N.Y. App. Div. Decision date 1990-02-13 English

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p. 340
The People of the State of New York, Respondent, v Freddie Rivera, Appellant.

The complainant was knocked to the ground by a punch to the throat, after which a gold chain was violently ripped from her neck. Bystanders chased defendant and apprehended him. Neck pain persisted for at least a week, and residual effects were still felt at trial more than a year and one half later. The pain suffered by the victim is sufficient to meet the definition of "physical injury” (Penal Law § 10.00 [9]) and to sustain conviction for robbery in the second degree (Penal Law § 160.10 [2] [a]).

Defendant’s other contentions—that the prosecutor’s summation shifted the burden of proof on the question of physical injury, that he vouched for the credibility of the victim as a witness, and that he denigrated the defense—have been reviewed and found to be without merit. Concur—Kupferman, J. P., Milonas, Kassal, Wallach and Rubin, JJ.