Hyperlawhypertext legal database People v. Castillo 29 N.Y.3d 935

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People v. Castillo

29 N.Y.3d 935 Court N.Y. Decision date 2017-03-23 English

Judges Chief Judge DiFiore and Judges Rivera, Abdus-Salaam, Stein, Fahey, Garcia and Wilson concur.

Contents

Majority

p. 935
[73 NE3d 341, 51 NYS3d 1]
The People of the State of New York, Respondent, v Elmer Castillo, Appellant. The People of the State of New York, Respondent, v Brian Degraffenreid, Appellant.
Decided March 23, 2017
p. 937
APPEARANCES OF COUNSEL
Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, New York City (Akash M. Toprani, George R. Painter IV and Samuel S. Brickfield of counsel), for appellant in the first above-entitled action.
Robert S. Dean, Center for Appellate Litigation, New York City (Barbara Zolot of counsel), for appellant in the second above-entitled action.
Dar cel D. Clark, District Attorney, Bronx (Lori Ann Farrington of counsel), for respondent in the first and second above-entitled actions.

OPINION OF THE COURT

Memorandum.

The order of the Appellate Division should be affirmed in each case. Codefendants Elmer Castillo and Brian Degraffen-reid appeal from orders of the Appellate Division affirming their convictions for manslaughter in the first degree. Co-defendants’ challenge to the trial court’s general charge on causation is unpreserved, and there was no mode of proceedings error (see People v Gray, 86 NY2d 10 , 19 [1995]; see also People v Thomas, 50 NY2d 467 , 472 [1980]; People v Patterson, 39 NY2d 288 , 295 [1976]). In addition, defense counsel’s failure to object to the charge does not constitute ineffective assistance, as the jury instructions, viewed in totality, neither improperly shifted the burden to codefendants nor relieved the People of their burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt (see Thomas, 50 NY2d at 472 ; see also People v Drake, 7 NY3d 28 , 33-34 [2006]). Additionally, codefendants’remaining ineffective assistance of counsel claims are without merit as both codefendants received meaningful representation (see People v Baldi, 54 NY2d 137 , 147 [1981]; see also People v Benevento, 91 NY2d 708 , 714 [1998]; People v Mahboubian, 74 NY2d 174 , 183-184 [1989]; People v Stultz, 2 NY3d 277 , 287 [2004]).

Chief Judge DiFiore and Judges Rivera, Abdus-Salaam, Stein, Fahey, Garcia and Wilson concur.

p. 938
In each case: On review of submissions pursuant to section 500.11 of the Rules of the Court of Appeals (22 NYCRR 500.11), order affirmed, in a memorandum.

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