Majority
OPINION OF THE COURT
Defendant’s appeal from a conviction of first degree manslaughter, involving the death of six-year-old Lisa Steinberg, centers on his contention that only a person with medical expertise can form the requisite intent to cause serious physical injury to a child by failing to obtain medical care. We conclude that this contention, as well as the several others defendant advances, lack merit, and that the Appellate Division order sustaining the conviction should be affirmed.
I.
In the evening of November 1, 1987, defendant and Hedda Nussbaum were at home in their one-bedroom Greenwich Village apartment, with their two "adopted” children, Lisa, then six years old, and Mitchell, 16 months old. Nussbaum was in the kitchen with Lisa while defendant dressed in the bedroom for his dinner appointment with a friend. Lisa went into the bedroom to ask defendant to take her with him. Moments later, defendant carried Lisa’s limp body out to Nussbaum, who was then in the bathroom, and they laid the child on the bathroom floor. Lisa was unconscious, having
While Nussbaum attempted to revive Lisa, defendant continued dressing. Defendant told Nussbaum to let her sleep, promised to awaken the child upon his return, and then left for dinner. Nussbaum did not seek medical care for Lisa because she believed defendant had supernatural healing powers, and felt that calling for assistance would be considered a sign of disloyalty.
Defendant returned about three hours later, at 10:00 p.m., retrieved a file relating to his oil well investments, and left again. When he came back a few minutes later, Nussbaum urged him to revive the still-unconscious child. Defendant declined — explaining that they "ha[d] to be relating when she wakes up” — and he instead freebased cocaine for the next several hours. Finally, at 4:00 a.m., after Nussbaum’s repeated urgings, defendant carried Lisa from the bathroom floor to the bedroom, where her breathing seemed to sound better. Defendant rested his arm on Lisa, and continued talking to Nussbaum.
At 6:00 a.m., when Nussbaum left the room, defendant called out that Lisa had stopped breathing. Defendant initially rejected Nussbaum’s offer to call 911, but finally acceded when his attempts to resuscitate the child failed. Police and paramedics arrived shortly after being summoned, administered oxygen, and rushed Lisa to the hospital.
At the hospital, defendant explained that Lisa had gone to bed complaining of a stomach ache, and had vomited during the night, but that he believed she was otherwise all right until he checked on her around 6:00 a.m. and discovered that her breathing was coarse. In fact, the doctors determined that Lisa, who was in a coma, was suffering from severe head injuries — a result of blunt trauma — and placed her on life support equipment. Lisa’s condition did not improve, and neurological tests performed on November 3 indicated that she was brain dead. Life support was discontinued on November 5.
Defendant was indicted for second degree (depraved indifference) murder, first degree manslaughter, and seven charges that were severed or dismissed. Defendant was acquitted of murder but convicted of manslaughter, and the Appellate
II
First degree manslaughter requires proof that defendant, with intent to cause serious physical injury,[1] caused death (Penal Law § 125.20 [1]). The People’s theory, as charged to the jury, was that defendant performed both acts of commission (striking Lisa) and acts of omission (failure to obtain medical care), each with intent to cause serious physical injury, and that such acts caused Lisa’s death. Defendant contends that failure to obtain medical care for a child cannot, as a matter of law, support the mens rea element of first degree manslaughter — intent to cause serious physical injury —unless defendant has medical expertise, and would thereby know that serious injury will result from a lack of medical attention. That contention — which he characterizes as the core question on this appeal — is meritless.
The Penal Law provides that criminal liability may be based on an omission (see, Penal Law § 15.05), which is defined as the failure to perform a legally imposed duty (Penal Law § 15.00 [3]). Parents have a nondelegable affirmative duty to provide their children with adequate medical care (Matter of Hofbauer, 47 NY2d 648 , 654-655; Family Ct Act § 1012 [f] [i] [A]). Thus, a parent’s failure to fulfill that duty can form the basis of a homicide charge (see, People v Flayhart, 72 NY2d 737 ; People v Henson, 33 NY2d 63 ).
Although Flayhart and Henson involved prosecutions for reckless manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide, the failure to obtain medical care can also support a first degree manslaughter charge, so long as there is sufficient proof of the requisite mens rea — intent to cause serious physical injury.
The revised Penal Law, in accord with the modern trend (see, 1 LaFave and Scott, Substantive Criminal Law § 3.5 [b], at 305 [1986]), distinguishes between "intent” and "knowledge” (see, Penal Law § 15.05 [1], [2]; People v Kaplan, 76 NY2d 140 ). A person acts intentionally when there is a "conscious objective” to cause the result proscribed by statute (Penal Law § 15.05 [1]; People v Gallagher, 69 NY2d 525 , 529).
* "Serious physical injury” is "physical injury which creates a substantial risk of death, or which causes death or serious and protracted disfigurement, protracted impairment of health or protracted loss or impairment of the function of any bodily organ.” (Penal Law § 10.00 [10].)
Contrary to defendant’s claim, even a person without specialized medical knowledge can have the intent to cause serious physical injury by withholding medical care. If the objective is to cause serious physical injury, the mental culpability element of first degree manslaughter is satisfied— whether or not defendant had knowledge that the omission would in fact cause serious injury or death.
Defendant argues that "everyone” knows that failure to supply food to a child will lead to death, and thus intentional homicide is a proper charge under those circumstances (see, e.g., Zessman v State, 94 Nev 28 , 573 P2d 1174 ; Harrington v State, 547 SW2d 616 [Tex Grim App]), but that the need for medical care is often a matter of opinion, and a layperson could not be expected to know the gravity of the situation. The distinction defendant would have us draw, as a matter of law, between defendants who have a medical background and those who do not, is unsupportable.
Putting aside defendant’s attempt to import a knowledge requirement into a statute that has none, and putting aside that the mens rea for first degree manslaughter is intent to cause serious physical injury, not death — it is plain that defendant’s argument centers on factual, not legal, distinctions. Certainly there are situations where the need for prompt medical attention would be obvious to anyone — a child bleeding profusely, for example, or a six-year-old girl laying unconscious after a blunt head trauma. Thus, defendant’s argument that the failure to obtain medical care for a child may not, as a matter of law, support a homicide charge that requires intent must be rejected.
III.
Having found no defect in the prosecution’s legal theory, we next consider whether the evidence is legally sufficient to sustain the conviction. In undertaking this review, the evi
There was no dispute at trial that Lisa’s death was a homicide. Even the defense expert agreed that the child’s death was caused by brain trauma as a result of abuse. The medical testimony, including Lisa’s treating physicians and the postmortem examination, confirmed beyond a reasonable doubt that Lisa’s death was a consequence of an assault and a failure to obtain prompt medical attention.
The evidence was also legally sufficient to support the jury’s determination that the assault was administered by defendant — and not Nussbaum, as the defense had argued. Nussbaum herself testified that she did not strike Lisa that night; that moments after Lisa went into the bedroom, defendant carried her unconscious body out; and that defendant admitted to knocking Lisa down. There was also evidence that defendant had physically abused Lisa several days before her death, and that defendant’s knuckles had fresh bruises on November 2. Moreover, there was evidence of Nussbaum’s debilitated physical condition on November 1 from which a jury could infer that she did not deliver the fatal injury. Thus, based on the evidence, a rational jury could have concluded, beyond a reasonable doubt, that it was defendant who caused the head trauma that led to Lisa’s death.
The evidence was also sufficient to support the jury’s determination that defendant struck Lisa and thereafter failed to summon medical assistance, each with the intent to cause serious physical injury. Intent may be inferred from conduct as well as the surrounding circumstances (see, People v Smith, 79 NY2d 309 , 315; People v Bracey, 41 NY2d 296 , 301). The expert testimony described the tremendous force necessary to inflict the head trauma that caused Lisa’s death. Moreover, after Lisa was rendered unconscious, defendant left for dinner, and when he returned three hours later, freebased cocaine while the child lay on the bathroom floor. Addition
In sum, the evidence was sufficient to establish the elements of first degree manslaughter.
Similarly, there is no merit in defendant’s claim that Nussbaum’s testimony was insufficiently corroborated. Although many States, and the Federal courts, permit a conviction to rest solely on the uncorroborated testimony of an accomplice (see, People v Moses, 63 NY2d 299 , 310-311 [Jasen, J., dissenting]), our Legislature requires that accomplice testimony be corroborated by evidence "tending to connect the defendant with the commission” of the crime (CPL 60.22 [1]). The corroboration must be independent of, and may not draw its weight and probative value from, the accomplice’s testimony (People v Moses, 63 NY2d, at 306 , supra; People v Hudson, 51 NY2d 233 , 238). The corroborative evidence need only "tendQ to connect” the defendant to the crime; it need not establish all the elements of the offense (CPL 60.22 [1]; People v Hudson, 51 NY2d, at 238 , supra; People v Cunningham, 48 NY2d 938 , 940). Seemingly insignificant matters may harmonize with the accomplice’s narrative so as to provide the necessary corroboration (People v Bretti, 68 NY2d 929 , 930; People v Moses, 63 NY2d, at 306 , supra; People v Cunningham, 48 NY2d, at 940 , supra). So long as the statutory minimum is met, it is for the jury to decide whether the corroboration satisfies them that the accomplice is telling the truth (see, People v Glasper, 52 NY2d 970 , 971; People v Fiore, 12 NY2d 188 , 201-202).
The Trial Judge enumerated specific items of independent, corroborative evidence for the jury’s consideration: (i) defendant’s presence at the apartment at 6:30 a.m. on November 2, as confirmed by police and paramedics; (ii) defendant’s own
IV
This evidence, if credited by the jury — as was their prerogative — was sufficient to meet the "tending to connect” standard of CPL 60.22 (1). Thus, we reject defendant’s assertions that there was insufficient corroboration as a matter of law.
The final issue that warrants discussion concerns defendant’s claim that the trial court erred in its response to a jury note. As one of its numerous requests during deliberations, the jury asked for the following "clarification”: "If there was no apparent intention to cause injury, but the acts resulted in serious physical injury nonetheless, would that be grounds to conclude intent as spelled out by law?” Defense counsel suggested that the court simply respond in the negative, but the trial court, to alleviate possible juror confusion, instead chose to give a more expansive supplemental charge.
The trial court is generally in the best position to evaluate the jury’s request, and therefore is vested with discretion in framing an appropriate response (People v Malloy, 55 NY2d 296 , 302, cert denied 459 US 847 ). In all instances, the court must "respond meaningfully” to an inquiry (People v Almodovar, 62 NY2d 126 , 131). A meaningful response may, depending on the circumstances, include simply rereading the initial charge (see, People v Malloy, 55 NY2d, at 302 , supra). The adequacy of the trial court’s response is gauged by the form of the jury question, the particular issue of which inquiry is made, the supplemental instruction actually given, and the prejudice (if any) to the defendant (People v Almodovar, 62 NY2d, at 131-132 , supra, quoting People v Malloy, 55 NY2d, at 302 , supra).
Intent can be a difficult issue to grasp, and thus the trial court cannot be faulted for giving a broader response than defendant would have liked. In substance, the trial court explained that the People had the burden of proving, beyond a
Nothing in the court’s supplemental charge was a misstatement of the law, nor did it suggest a positive response to the jury’s question. Indeed, as the Appellate Division noted, while a simple negative response would have informed the jury that it could not automatically infer intent to cause the injuries merely because the injuries occurred, such a response might have obscured the jury’s right to make a factual finding of intent based on the natural and probable consequences of defendant’s acts and the surrounding circumstances. For these reasons, the trial court’s supplemental charge was not erroneous.
Defendant’s remaining contentions, to the extent they are preserved for our review, are without merit.
Accordingly, the order of the Appellate Division should be affirmed.
Chief Judge Wachtler and Judges Simons, Hancock, Jr., and Bellacosa concur; Judge Titone taking no part.
Order affirmed.
Cases cited
- People v. Cobos 57 NY2d 798 p. 675
- People v. Jennings 69 NY2d 103 p. 675, p. 676, p. 677
- People v. Malagon 50 NY2d 954 p. 675
- People v. Bell 48 NY2d 913 p. 675
- People v. Tucker 55 NY2d 1 p. 675
- People v. Zackowitz 254 NY 192 p. 675
- People v. Caruso 246 NY 437 p. 675
- People v. Roe 74 NY2d 20 p. 675
- People v. Patterson 39 NY2d 288 p. 676
- Patterson v. New York 432 US 197 p. 676
- People v. Almodovar 62 NY2d 126 at 131 p. 676, p. 684
- People v. Lourido 70 NY2d 428 p. 676
- People v. Malloy 55 NY2d 296 at 302 p. 676, p. 677, p. 684
- People v. Gonzalez 293 NY 259 p. 676, p. 677
- People v. Flynn 290 NY 220 p. 676, p. 677
- People v. Gezzo 307 NY 385 p. 676
- People v. Miller 6 NY2d 152 p. 676
- People v. Lupo 305 NY 448 p. 676
- People v. Segal 54 NY2d 58 p. 676, p. 677
- People v. Moran 249 NY 179 p. 676, p. 677
- People v. Colavecchio 11 AD2d 161 p. 676, p. 677
- People v. Westergard 113 AD2d 640 p. 676, p. 677
- People v. Westergard 69 NY2d 642 p. 676, p. 677
- Wolfe v. Sibley Lindsay & Curr Co. 36 NY2d 505 p. 676
- Nehrbas v. Incorporated Village of Lloyd Harbor 2 NY2d 190 p. 676
- People v. Bailey 58 NY2d 272 p. 676
- People v. Wood 66 NY2d 374 p. 676
- People v. Balls 69 NY2d 641 p. 676, p. 677
- People v. Bagarozy 132 AD2d 225 p. 676, p. 677
- People v. Jorge 171 AD2d 498 p. 676, p. 677
- People v. Morales 147 AD2d 381 p. 676
- People v. Lewis 140 AD2d 714 p. 676
- People v. Canty 31 AD2d 976 p. 676
- People v. Stevens 76 NY2d 833 p. 676
- People v. Pobliner 32 NY2d 356 p. 676
- People v. Blake 139 AD2d 110 p. 676
- People v. Harris 150 AD2d 723 p. 676
- Bram v. United States 168 US 532 p. 676
- People v. Vidal 155 AD2d 307 p. 676
- People v. Alvino 71 NY2d 233 p. 676, p. 678
- People v. Correal 160 AD2d 85 p. 676
- Parker v. Gladden 385 US 363 p. 676
- People v. Brown 48 NY2d 388 p. 676, p. 678
- People v. Ciaccio 47 NY2d 431 p. 676
- Remmer v. United States 347 US 227 p. 676
- Remmer v. United States 350 US 377 p. 676
- People v. Lavender 117 AD2d 253 p. 676
- People v. Gordon 77 AD2d 662 p. 676
- Gardner v. Florida 430 US 349 p. 677
- Williams v. New York 337 US 241 p. 677
- National Broadcasting Co. v. Cooperman 116 AD2d 287 p. 677
- Sheppard v. Maxwell 384 US 333 p. 677, p. 678
- Chandler v. Florida 449 US 560 p. 677
- Estes v. Texas 381 US 532 p. 677
- People v. Solomon 138 Misc 2d 587 p. 677
- People v. Brensic 136 AD2d 169 p. 677
- Poughkeepsie Newspapers, Inc. v. Rosenblatt 92 AD2d 232 p. 677
- People v. Logan 74 NY2d 859 p. 677
- People v. Bynum 70 NY2d 858 p. 677
- People v. Stahl 53 NY2d 1048 p. 677
- People v. Dekle 56 NY2d 835 p. 677
- People v. Karabinas 63 NY2d 871 p. 677
- In re Eichner 73 AD2d 431 p. 677
- Eichner v. Dillon 52 NY2d 363 p. 677
- In re Hofbauer 47 NY2d 648 at 654-655 p. 677, p. 680
- People v. Pierson 176 NY 201 p. 677
- People v. Henson 33 NY2d 63 p. 677, p. 680
- People v. Getch 50 NY2d 456 p. 677
- People v. Jackson 76 NY2d 908 p. 677
- People v. Cooke 292 NY 185 p. 677
- People v. Boettcher 69 NY2d 174 p. 677
- People v. Hoke 62 NY2d 1022 p. 677
- People v. Chin 67 NY2d 22 p. 677
- People v. Galloway 54 NY2d 396 p. 677
- People v. Tutt 38 NY2d 1011 p. 677
- People v. Fleming 70 NY2d 947 p. 677
- People v. Lovello 1 NY2d 436 p. 677
- People v. Rosario 9 NY2d 286 p. 677
- People v. Simonds 73 NY2d 945 p. 677
- People v. Ventimiglia 52 NY2d 350 p. 678
- People v. Gines 36 NY2d 932 p. 678
- People v. Berrios 71 NY2d 905 p. 678
- People v. Hudy 73 NY2d 40 p. 678
- People v. Carter 77 NY2d 95 p. 678
- People v. Brown 160 AD2d 440 p. 678
- People v. Brown 78 NY2d 874 p. 678
- People v. Green 35 NY2d 437 p. 678
- People v. De Lucia 20 NY2d 275 p. 678
- Stein v. New York 346 US 156 p. 678
- McDonald v. Pless 238 US 264 p. 678
- People v. Hentley 155 AD2d 392 p. 678
- People v. Crimmins 26 NY2d 319 p. 678
- People v. Redd 164 AD2d 34 p. 678
- People v. Moore 42 NY2d 421 p. 678
- Oliver v. Postel 37 AD2d 498 p. 678
- Oliver v. Postel 30 NY2d 171 p. 678
- Nebraska Press Ass'n v. Stuart 427 US 539 p. 678
- People v. Boudin 90 AD2d 253 p. 678
- People v. Harris 84 AD2d 63 p. 678
- People v. Harris 57 NY2d 335 p. 678
- Murphy v. Florida 421 US 794 p. 678
- People v. DiPiazza 24 NY2d 342 p. 678
- Stephens v. People 19 NY 549 p. 678
- People v. Flayhart 72 NY2d 737 p. 680
- People v. Kaplan 76 NY2d 140 p. 680
- People v. Gallagher 69 NY2d 525 at 529 p. 680
- People v. Contes 60 NY2d 620 at 621 p. 682
- People v. Bleakley 69 NY2d 490 at 495 p. 682
- People v. Steinberg 170 AD2d 50 at 65-70 p. 682
- People v. Smith 79 NY2d 309 at 315 p. 682
- People v. Moses 63 NY2d 299 at 310-311 p. 683
- People v. Hudson 51 NY2d 233 at 238 p. 683
- People v. Bretti 68 NY2d 929 at 930 p. 683
- People v. Glasper 52 NY2d 970 at 971 p. 683
- People v. Fiore 12 NY2d 188 at 201-202 p. 683