THERE WAS INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE DEFENDANT PARTICIPATED IN THE MUGGING, INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE THE VICTIM SUFFERED PHYSICAL INJURY, AND INSUFFICENT EVIDENCE DEFENDANT CONSTRUCTIVELY POSSESSED THE VICTIM’S WALLET AND CELL PHONE (THIRD DEPT).

The Third Department, reversing defendant’s convictions, determined the convictions were not supported by legally sufficient evidence and were against the weight of the evidence. The victim said he was mugged by three men and his wallet and cell phone were stolen. The police were able to track the cell phone and, based on the tracking device, stopped a car 30 to 40 minutes after the mugging. There were four men, including defendant, in the car. The other three men in the car pled guilty. The wallet and cell phone were found in the car. The evidence that defendant participated in the mugging was insufficient, the evidence the victim suffered physical injury was insufficient, and the evidence defendant constructively possessed the wallet and cell phone was insufficient:

… [W]e find that the People failed to prove, beyond a reasonable doubt, defendant’s identity as one of the perpetrators of the robbery and assault.  * * *

Given the paucity of proof regarding the victim’s injuries, we agree with defendant that the evidence fails to establish that the victim suffered a physical injury within the meaning of Penal Law § 10.00 (9) … . * * *

… [T]he … circumstantial evidence falls short of proving, beyond a reasonable doubt, that defendant constructively possessed the wallet and the credit and debit cards contained therein or that any such possession was knowing. Although the testimony demonstrated that the wallet was found somewhere in the back seat, there was no other evidence connecting defendant to the stolen property or demonstrating his awareness of its presence inside the vehicle. … [T]he victim asserted that there were three black males involved in the robbery and assault and there were four black males in the vehicle when it was stopped some 30 to 40 minutes afterward, leaving open the possibility that one of the passengers entered the vehicle after the robbery and assault … . People v Green, 2021 NY Slip Op 02841, Third Dept 5-6-21