THE EVIDENCE THE COMPLAINANT SUFFERED “SERIOUS PHYSICAL INJURY” FROM MULTIPLE STAB WOUNDS WAS LEGALLY INSUFFICIENT; CONVICTIONS REDUCED TO ATTEMPTED GANG ASSAULT, ASSAULT AND ROBBERY (SECOND DEPT).

The Second Department reduced defendant’s convictions to attempted gang assault first, attempted assault first, attempted robbery first and attempted assault second because the proof the complainant suffered “serious physical injury” was lacking:

… [W]e find that the evidence was not legally sufficient to establish the defendant’s guilt on these counts. Although the complainant was stabbed multiple times, there was no evidence of serious and protracted disfigurement, protracted impairment of health, or protracted loss or impairment of the function of any bodily organ … .

However, the evidence at trial established beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant acted with the intent to inflict serious physical injury and came “dangerously near” to committing the completed crimes … . People v Mayancela, 2022 NY Slip Op 04741, Second Dept 7-27-22

Practice Point: Here, although the complainant was stabbed multiple times, the wounds did not damage any organs and were treated with sutures. Therefore the proof the complainant suffered “serious physical injury” was legally insufficient. The convictions were reduced to attempted gang assault, assault and robbery.