People v. Kern (149 A.D.2d 187, 1989)

OPINION OF THE COURT

Mollen, P. J.

This appeal arises out of the highly publicized confrontation between a group of white teen-agers and three black men during the early morning hours of December 20, 1986, in Howard Beach, Queens County, which resulted in the death of one of the black men, Michael Griffith and the severe beating of his companion, Cedric Sandiford. The three defendants involved in this appeal, Scott Kern, Jon Lester and Jason Ladone, were convicted, after a joint jury trial, of manslaughter in the second degree and assault in the first degree as a result of their involvement in the events of that fateful night. Additionally, Kern and Lester were found guilty of conspiracy in the fifth degree. On appeal, the defendants contend, inter alia, that the evidence adduced at trial was legally insufficient to support their manslaughter and assault convictions, that their respective inculpatory statements made to the police should have been suppressed, and that the trial court erred in ruling that the defense, in exercising its peremptory challenges, was required to articulate a race-neutral explanation for its challenges to black jurors. The defendants also challenge the propriety of certain trial rulings and they argue that their respective sentences were excessive. Based upon our review of the extensive trial record herein and our analysis of the issues raised on appeal, we conclude that the judgments of conviction should, in all respects, be affirmed.

I. THE FACTS

INTRODUCTION

Shortly after the occurrence of the "Howard Beach incident”, which drew considerable public attention and outcry, a Special State Prosecutor was appointed (see, Executive Law § 63) to investigate the circumstances surrounding the attack and to prosecute those responsible. As a result of the ensuing investigation, the Grand Jury returned an eight-count indictment against Scott Kern, Jon Lester, Jason Ladone, Robert Riley, Michael Pirone and seven other youths. Scott Kern and Jon Lester were charged with (1) the crimes of murder in the second degree (Penal Law § 125.25 [2]) and manslaughter in the second degree (Penal Law § 125.15 [1]) in connection with the death of Michael Griffith, (2) attempted murder in the second degree (Penal Law §§ 110.00, 125.25 [1]) and assault in the first degree (Penal Law § 120.10 [1]) with regard to the attack on Cedric Sandiford in the vicinity of 156th Avenue in Howard Beach and (3) assault in the second degree (Penal Law § 120.05 [2]) as a result of the attack on Sandiford outside the New Park Pizzeria in Howard Beach. Jason Ladone was charged with (1) manslaughter in the second degree in connection with Griffith’s death and (2) attempted murder in the second degree and assault in the first and second degree arising out of the attacks on Sandiford. Robert Riley was charged with murder in the second degree and manslaughter in the second degree in connection with Griffith’s death, and criminal facilitation in the fourth degree (Penal Law § 115.00 [1]). Michael Pirone was charged with manslaughter in the second degree in connection with Griffith’s death and assault in the second degree in connection with the attack on Sandiford near the New Park Pizzeria. All of the defendants were charged with riot in the first degree (Penal Law § 240.06). Additionally, Scott Kern, Jon Lester and Robert Riley were charged with conspiracy in the fifth degree (Penal Law § 105.05 [1]), and Jon Lester was charged with inciting to riot (Penal Law § 240.08). Kern, Ladone, Lester and Pirone were jointly tried before a jury.

HUNTLEY HEARINGS

A. Jason Ladone

On the afternoon of December 21, 1986, one day after the Howard Beach incident occurred, Detectives Francis Paulson and Richard Mandel went to the Ladone residence in Howard Beach and spoke with Jason Ladone’s mother. The detectives advised Mrs. Ladone that they wished to speak to her 16-year-old son in connection with the December 20th incident. The detectives testified that they did not consider Ladone to be a suspect at that time. Mrs. Ladone informed the detectives that her son was at his job in Brooklyn and offered to accompany the detectives to that location. Before leaving her home, Mrs. Ladone attempted several times to contact Ladone’s father, as well as their family attorney. Her efforts were unsuccessful.

The detectives and Mrs. Ladone left the Ladone residence at approximately 2:15 p.m. in the detectives’ unmarked car and arrived in Brooklyn at Ladone’s place of employment approximately one hour later. Upon their arrival, Mrs. Ladone exited the car and returned several minutes later with her son. The detectives informed Ladone of the purpose of their inquiry and, when asked if he had any information regarding the December 20th attack, he stated that he had no knowledge of the incident. A few minutes later, however, Ladone stated that he did have some information but that his involvement in the incident was limited to punching "a guy a few times”. Ladone stated that he had "nothing to do with the death of the other guy”. At that point, the detectives ceased their questioning and advised Mrs. Ladone that her son would be arrested. When Mrs. Ladone asked if her son needed an attorney, Detective Mandel replied "[i]t’s up to you”. No further reference to an attorney was made by Mrs. Ladone in the detectives’ presence. The detectives, in compliance with Mrs. Ladone’s request, returned her to her house in Howard Beach and provided her with a paper containing their names and the telephone number of the 106th Precinct. The detectives advised Mrs. Ladone that if she had any questions as to where her son would be, she should contact the precinct in about an hour.

Thereafter, Ladone expressed a desire to cooperate with the police and the detectives brought him to the 112th Precinct so that he could view photographs in an attempt to identify the other persons involved in the attack. Upon his arrival at the precinct, Ladone was escorted to a room on the second floor and advised of his Miranda rights. Ladone signed a written waiver of his rights and, at approximately 4:15 p.m., provided an oral statement concerning his involvement in the attack. The statement was subsequently reduced to writing and signed by him. In his statement, Ladone recounted the events leading to the confrontation with the three black men and admitted to involvement in the subsequent chase and attack on those men. Sometime after Ladone provided the police with his written statement, he was transported to the 106th Precinct.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Ladone, after arriving home, continued her efforts to contact Ladone’s father and their family attorney. Approximately 15 minutes after arriving home, she called the 106th Precinct and was advised that the detectives were not in the building. She eventually contacted Ladone’s father at approximately 5:00 p.m. and, shortly thereafter, Mr. Ladone went to the 106th Precinct. Mrs. Ladone stated that Detective Mandel returned her phone call at approximately 6:00 p.m. but refused to respond to her questions concerning the whereabouts of her son. Mrs. Ladone finally contacted the family attorney at about 9:15 p.m. at his home. After receiving Mrs. Ladone’s telephone call, the attorney telephoned the 106th Precinct and informed the police that he represented Ladone and that he was trying to locate him. The attorney was advised to contact the 112th Precinct. At approximately 11:15 p.m., the attorney located Ladone at the 106th Precinct.

The hearing court denied Ladone’s motion to suppress his oral and written statements. The court initially found that Ladone’s statement, made in his mother’s presence in the police vehicle, was uttered before he was considered a suspect and that, therefore, Miranda warnings were not required. The hearing court noted that, while Mrs. Ladone did make inquiry concerning her son’s need for legal representation, at no point did Ladone or his mother invoke Ladone’s right to counsel. Additionally, the court determined that Ladone’s custodial statements were made after he had voluntarily and knowingly waived his Miranda rights and before anyone on his behalf had contacted the precinct to indicate that an attorney had been obtained for him.

B. Scott Kern

On the evening of December 21,1986, the police, based upon unconfirmed information provided by witnesses, came to believe that 17-year-old Scott Kern might have been a participant in the Howard Beach attack. Detectives Kelly and Fiorillo were instructed to proceed to the Kern residence for the purpose of interviewing him. The detectives arrived at the Kern home at approximately 3:30 a.m. and initially spoke to Scott’s father. The detectives informed Mr. Kern that his son’s name "came up” in the police investigation of the Howard Beach incident and they requested that Scott accompany them to the precinct. When Mr. Kern awakened his son, Scott told the detectives that he did not know anything about the attack. Mr. Kern and his son thereafter agreed to go to the precinct.

After their arrival at the 106th Precinct at approximately 4:10 a.m:, the Kerns were escorted into an interview room and, when asked by the detectives what he knew about the incident, Scott said that "he had heard about it but he had not been a participant and had nothing to do with it”. The detectives then left the room and conferred with several investigators who indicated that Scott had indeed been a participant in the attack. Detective Kelly reentered the room with Detective Mandel, and Scott was advised that he was under arrest and was given his Miranda rights. Scott acknowledged that he understood his rights and both he and his father signed a written waiver. Thereafter, Scott, in response to Detective Mandel’s questions, made an oral statement which was later reduced to writing and signed by him. In his statement, Scott recounted the events of the late evening and early morning hours of December 19, and 20, 1986, and acknowledged his participation in the chase of the three black men. Although Scott disclaimed any involvement in the actual physical attacks, he did admit that, while the group of teenagers was at a nearby pizzeria shortly after the attack, he bragged to a deliveryman that he had hit one of the black men with a tree limb.

The hearing court denied Kern’s motion to suppress his oral and written statements, finding that the statements were made after he had been fully advised of his Miranda rights and after he had waived those rights in the presence of his father. The hearing court also ruled that there was no evidence of coercion or threats by the police in connection with the investigation and questioning of Kern.

C. Jon Lester

At approximately 7:00 a.m. on December 22, 1986, based on positive witness identification as to Jon Lester’s involvement in the Howard Beach incident, Lieutenant John Driscoll, the squad commander of the 106th Precinct, instructed Police Officer William Ahern and his partner to proceed to the Lester residence and to arrest him. The officers went to the Lester residence and placed the 17-year-old Lester under arrest. According to the hearing testimony, while en route to the 106th Precinct, Lester repeatedly inquired as to why he had been arrested. Officer Ahern, who initially refused to respond, thereafter stated, "you know what you’re being arrested for”. Lester then stated, "[i]t has something to do with those niggers the other night”.

Lester arrived at the 106th Precinct at approximately 7:30 a.m. and was interviewed by Detective Paulson as to his pedigree. When the detective began to ask questions regarding the attack, Lester stated that he did not want to discuss the matter and requested an attorney. The detective then ceased his questioning. At approximately 9:00 a.m., Lester telephoned his mother and she later arrived at the precinct, provided her son with a change of clothing and then left. Officer Ahern remained in the room with Lester and, although they conversed, they did not speak further about the Howard Beach attack.

At approximately 11:30 a.m., Officer Ahern left the precinct to get something to eat. In response to the officer’s inquiry, Lester requested a soda and gum. When the officer returned, he had with him a newspaper, a sandwich, gum and soda. The officer gave Lester one half of the sandwich together with the soda and gum that he had requested and when Lester asked to see the newspaper, the officer told Lester to wait until he had read it. When the officer eventually provided Lester with the newspaper, which contained a front-page headline about the Howard Beach incident, Lester read it and declared, "[t]his isn’t what happened. It’s not even close”. At that point, Officer Ahern advised Lester, for the first time, of his Miranda rights and, after Lester signed the Miranda card, he stated that he was willing to speak with the police in order to "clear [this] up”. Thereafter, Detective Fiorillo elicited a lengthy statement from Lester regarding his involvement in the Howard Beach attack. At approximately 1:50 p.m., the detective ceased questioning Lester when he was informed that Lester’s attorney had telephoned.

At approximately 1:00 p.m., Assistant District Attorney Brad Wolk arrived at the 106th Precinct to assist in the police investigation. While Wolk was standing in the squad room shortly before 2:00 p.m., Lester, who was seated, uncuffed, on a chair in an adjoining room, motioned to Wolk. Wolk recounted his conversation with Lester as follows: "[Lester] said to me, '[a]re you an attorney?’ I said, '[j]ust so you know, I’m an Assistant District Attorney’. After I said that [Lester] motioned me towards him with a finger. I walked a few steps towards him and I stood next to him. [Lester] said * * * T know people are giving me up. I won’t give anybody up. I was taught you don’t rat on your friends, but I’ll tell you what I did.’ I stood there and he continued * * * T chased the taller black guy with a baseball bat and I struck him with the baseball bat, but I didn’t chase the other guy.’ Then he repeated again, T won’t tell you what anybody else did. I was taught you don’t rat on your friends’ ”. Following this conversation, Wolk walked away from Lester.

The hearing court ruled that Lester’s declaration to Officer Ahern in the police car while en route to the precinct, as well as the lengthy statement made to Detective Fiorillo without the benefit of Miranda warnings and after Lester had invoked his right to counsel, were inadmissible at trial. The court, however, denied suppression of Lester’s statement made to Officer Ahern upon viewing the newspaper, and his remarks to Assistant District Attorney Wolk on the basis that those statements were voluntarily and spontaneously made by Lester and not in response to police interrogation.

TRIAL

The Prosecution

During the early evening hours of December 19, 1986, Michael Griffith, Curtis Sylvester, Cedric Sandiford and Timothy Grimes left Brooklyn in a car driven by Sylvester and traveled to the home of Grimes’ brother located in St. Albans, Queens County. Upon reaching their destination, they found that Grimes’ brother was not at home and the foursome then set out to return to Brooklyn. As they were traveling westbound on the Belt Parkway, their car began to overheat, forcing them to leave the parkway at the Cross Bay Boulevard exit in Queens. The group drove in a southerly direction on Cross Bay Boulevard through Howard Beach and continued for approximately 10 minutes towards the Rockaways. The car eventually came to a halt on the shoulder of Cross Bay Boulevard. Sandiford, Grimes and Griffith left Sylvester with the car, walked to a nearby bridge toll plaza and eventually returned to the disabled car with a container of water. Despite their efforts, the car remained inoperable and the men agreed that Griffith, Grimes and Sandiford would summon assistance and then return to Brooklyn. Sylvester intended to remain with the car and wait for a tow truck. Grimes, Griffith and Sandiford proceeded on foot northbound along Cross Bay Boulevard in search of a gas station and the train. The trio arrived in Howard Beach at approximately midnight.

Meanwhile, in Howard Beach, a birthday party was being held which was attended by approximately 30 teen-agers including Scott Kern, Jon Lester, Jason Ladone and Robert Riley. At approximately 12:20 a.m., Kern’s girlfriend, Claudia Calogero, who had a 12:30 a.m. curfew, left the party and was driven home by Salvatore DeSimone. They were accompanied by Jon Lester and a fourth youth. As DeSimone was turning the corner from Cross Bay Boulevard onto 157th Avenue, Griffith, Grimes and Sandiford started to cross the street towards the New Park Pizzeria. According to Calogero’s testimony, three black men darted in front of the car forcing DeSimone to stop the car suddenly. An argument ensued between the pedestrians and the occupants of the car. According to Calogero’s testimony, Sandiford stuck his head in the car window and stared at the teen-agers. According to Sandiford’s testimony, however, the occupants of DeSimone’s car stuck their heads out the window and yelled "Nigger[s], get [out of] the neighborhood”. Following that confrontation, the three black men crossed the street and entered the pizzeria. The youths continued on their way. After bringing Calogero home, DeSimone, Lester and the other youth returned to the party.

Robert Riley was sitting on the outside steps of the house where the party was being held, when DeSimone, Lester and the other youth arrived. Lester shouted, "There were some niggers on the boulevard, let’s go up there and kill them”. A few minutes later, a number of youths, including Kern, Lester, Ladone and Pirone, left the party to track down the three black men. DeSimone led the caravan of cars from the party to the New Park Pizzeria in his car with Lester and Ladone. Riley followed in his own car with three male teen-agers and Laura Castagna, whom Riley intended to escort home. John Saggese followed the group in his car. Although Riley did not know which car Kern and Michael Pirone had traveled in, he observed the two when the group eventually arrived at the pizzeria.

Meanwhile, at approximately 12:45 a.m., Grimes, Sandiford and Griffith, who had finished eating their pizza in the New Park Pizzeria, exited the restaurant. At that point, the several vehicles containing the teen-agers pulled into the parking lot outside the pizzeria and the youths, with the exception of Laura Castagna, emerged from the cars. The group, wielding bats and sticks, confronted Griffith, Grimes and Sandiford outside the pizzeria and shouted, "Niggers get * * * out of the neighborhood”. Riley testified that Kern was banging a baseball bat on the ground as the teen-agers formed a semicircle around the three black men who, according to Riley, were each holding a knife. According to Grimes, several of the youths were carrying bats and sticks, and one youth held "something that looked like an iron pipe”. Sandiford testified that he did not have a weapon and that he did not observe whether Griffith or Grimes displayed any weapons. Grimes testified that he pulled out a knife and held it in front of him as the youths approached. At that point, Sandiford was struck in the back by a bat. Although Riley never saw Kern swing the bat that he had been holding, he did testify that after Sandiford was struck, Riley grabbed the bat from Kern because he (Riley) said he could swing it "harder”. As the three black men began to flee across Cross Bay Boulevard, Riley, Kern, Ladone, Lester, Pirone, and several other youths gave chase.

Griffith, Grimes and Sandiford ran in different directions. Grimes headed north on Cross Bay Boulevard and managed to escape his attackers. Sandiford was struck several times with bats and tree limbs by his assailants as they continued to chant, "Niggers, get * * * out of the neighborhood”. Sandiford was able to break away from the youths. He was eventually joined by Griffith as they ran north down an alleyway behind several stores located parallel to Cross Bay Boulevard. The two men were followed by Kern, Ladone, Lester, Riley, Pirone and two other youths. The alleyway ended at a three-foot-high barricade where it intersected with 156th Avenue. Both Sandiford and Griffith jumped over the barricade and made a left turn on 156th Avenue. They were still being followed by the group of teen-agers who were approximately 30 feet behind.

The youths jumped over the barricade and continued the chase. Riley, who also climbed over the barricade, got into the back seat of Saggese’s car which had just pulled up and proceeded westbound on 156th Avenue closely behind the other youths who were on foot. At the intersection of 90th Street and 156th Avenue, Griffith turned right onto 90th Street and proceeded north. He was followed by Saggese’s vehicle which pulled up ahead of Kern, Lester, Ladone, Pirone and the other youths who were on foot. A three-foot-high guardrail was located at the end of 90th Street separating 90th Street from the Belt Parkway, a six-lane highway which runs east to west. Shore Parkway, a service road for the Belt Parkway, which also runs east to west, partially intersects 90th Street at the guardrail on the easterly side and leads to Cross Bay Boulevard. After the Saggese car came to a halt about three quarters of the way down 90th Street, Lester ran over to the car, grabbed a bat from Riley, and he and Riley, Kern and Ladone ran toward the end of 90th Street after Griffith. Griffith jumped over the guardrail and ran onto the Belt Parkway. When the youths reached the guardrail, Riley observed Griffith run across the three eastbound lanes of the highway, jump the center median and enter the westbound lanes, where he was struck by a vehicle being driven by Dominic Blum. As a result of the impact, Griffith was propelled 10 feet into the air and thrown approximately 75 to 125 feet forward where he landed on the highway pavement. The impact was so severe that one of Griffith’s legs was partially amputated and he suffered an open skull fracture as well as numerous contusions and other fractures.

Blum testified that, as he was driving on the highway in the vicinity of the Cross Bay Boulevard exit, he was in the left westbound lane of the highway. The car in front of him slowed down and instead of applying his brakes, Blum proceeded to move over to the middle lane. At that point, Blum heard a "bang”. Noticing that his windshield was cracked, Blum pulled over onto the right shoulder of the highway. Unaware of what he had hit, Blum looked back onto the highway and, after he observed that the traffic appeared to be flowing normally, he resumed his trip to Brooklyn. Blum explained that he had never considered the possibility that he had struck a person. When he arrived home, Blum realized the full extent of damage to his car and, after speaking with his father, Blum and his father returned to the scene of the accident where they spoke to the police.

Meanwhile, several motorists who had observed Griffith’s body lying in the highway proceeded to the nearest exit and telephoned the police. The first telephone call received by the police regarding the incident was recorded at 12:55 a.m. At about that time, Grimes was seen running down the westbound shoulder of the highway. Grimes approached one of the motorists who had pulled over to the shoulder near Griffith’s body, and asked for a ride. He was refused. Shortly thereafter, Grimes secured a ride to a nearby train station.

After the youths had observed Griffith being struck by Blum’s vehicle on the Belt Parkway, Riley returned to the car with Saggese, Pirone and a third youth. Lester, who was still carrying a bat, together with Kern and Ladone, ran past the car toward 156th Avenue where they met two other youths. The occupants of the Saggese vehicle drove back to the parking lot near the New Park Pizzeria where Riley exited the car and rejoined Laura Castagna, who had been waiting for him. The remaining three youths in the car made a U-turn and headed towards 156th Avenue.

Sandiford, who had managed to temporarily escape his assailants, was walking west on 156th Avenue when he was attacked from behind by the group of teen-agers who beat him with bats and tree limbs. Sandiford stated that he managed to grab the bat being wielded by Lester as he pleaded, "Please, oh God, don’t kill me, I have a son like * * * you”. At that point a car pulled up and, as its occupants exited the car and approached, Sandiford released the bat which Lester then swung at Sandiford, striking him in the head and causing blood to run down the back of his head. Sandiford stated, "I fe[lt] like my brain * * * busted apart”.

Sandiford broke away from his attackers and ran across the street but was eventually caught by them. They continued to hit him with "bats and tree limbs”. The chase ended when Sandiford tried to climb a chain link fence which ran parallel to the Belt Parkway. The youths pulled Sandiford down from the fence, kicking and beating him. Sandiford cried for help to Theresa Fisher, who was standing in the doorway of a house across the street. In response to Sandiford’s cries, Fisher called the police. A redacted tape recording of Ms. Fisher’s telephone call, which was received by the 911 police emergency operator at 12:52 a.m., was admitted into evidence after Ms. Fisher testified at trial as to her observations that evening.

The beating of Sandiford continued even though he had managed to run to a grassy area diagonally across from the house occupied by Ms. Fisher. Sandiford was again knocked onto the ground and upon being hit in the eye, exclaimed "Oh God, I’m dead”, covered his face with his hands and lay on the ground. The beating eventually ended and the assailants entered their cars and left the area. The final attack was witnessed by George and Marie Toscano, who also telephoned the police.

Shortly after his attackers left, Sandiford stood up and observed an unidentified individual crawl through a hole in the fence which bordered the eastbound lanes of the Belt Parkway. Sandiford passed through the fence as well and, upon seeing one of the cars containing two of his assailants, ran across the parkway to the westbound side and began running towards Brooklyn. As he ran through a construction site on the parkway, he threw highway cones onto the roadway to attract the attention of passing motorists. A police vehicle stopped, picked Sandiford up and brought him to the area where Griffith’s body was located. Sandiford described his physical condition at that time: "My eyes [were] swollen up and busted up. The left eye was half-inch closed up. There were black and blue marks all over my body. My head was busted”.

At approximately 2:00 a.m., Sandiford, who was bleeding from his eye and the back of his head, was escorted to Griffith’s body and made a positive identification. Sandiford became hysterical and was placed in the rear seat of the police car. He refused medical treatment at the scene; however, after he was transported to the 106th Precinct at approximately 3:00 a.m., he agreed to accept such treatment. An emergency medical technician examined Sandiford at approximately 4:30 a.m., and observed numerous contusions and bleeding lacerations on the back of Sandiford’s head, face, arms, legs and back. Sandiford’s right eye was swollen. He was later transported to Jamaica Hospital where he was treated for his injuries.

Lester, Pirone, DeSimone and a fourth teen-ager returned to the party approximately 40 minutes after their departure. At that time, Lester was holding a wooden bat.

In addition to the various statements made to the police by Kern, Ladone and Lester, each of which was redacted to delete references to the other defendants, the prosecution also entered into evidence a redacted version of a statement made by Pirone on December 22, 1986, at the 106th Precinct in the presence of his father. In his statement, Pirone admitted his involvement in the initial confrontation with the three black men outside the pizzeria; however, he stated that he did not see anyone hit Grimes, Griffith or Sandiford nor did he see any of the youths display a bat or a weapon. Pirone stated that he did not join the chase of the black men because of a difficulty he had with his legs as a result of a prior accident. Pirone stated that while the chase was in progress, he walked across Cross Bay Boulevard toward 157th Avenue and continued in the direction of his house. When Pirone reached the vicinity of 187th Street, Saggese pulled up in his car, picked up Pirone and they returned to the party.

The results of the autopsy performed on Michael Griffith established that he was killed almost instantaneously upon being struck by Blum’s vehicle. Additionally, expert testimony was presented to establish that, based upon an analysis of Griffith’s urine and brain tissue, Griffith had ingested cocaine at least 10 hours prior to his death and that, since the effects of cocaine last no longer than six hours, Griffith was not under the influence of cocaine at the time of his death.

The Defense

Detective Robert Howell and Sergeant Harold Knorr spoke to Sandiford on several occasions, beginning on December 20, 1986. During their questioning concerning his confrontation with the white teen-agers, Sandiford stated that he and Griffith had run down 156th Avenue and that the initial attack occurred at or near the intersection of 87th Street and 156th Avenue. Sandiford further indicated that after he had managed to flee, he was beaten again near 86th Street. It was at that point that Sandiford observed Griffith, who was being chased, pass through a hole in a fence separating 156th Avenue from the Belt Parkway. The youths did not follow Griffith. Sandiford feigned unconsciousness and, when his attackers left the area, he ran through the hole in the fence and proceeded westbound. At that time, Sandiford heard "a noise [or] a boom”. A similar account of the events surrounding the attack was given by Sandiford to an Assistant District Attorney on December 22,1986.

Scott Kern’s father, who did not testify at the Huntley hearing, testified at the trial as to the events of December 22, 1986, when his son was questioned by the police. Mr. Kern testified that while he and his son were at the precinct, his son informed the police that on the night in question he had ridden to the New Park Pizzeria with four youths and, when they arrived outside the pizzeria, he observed three black males, one of whom had a knife and another had "a very pointy object”. The three black males started to run across Cross Bay Boulevard and the teen-agers ran after them. According to Mr. Kern, his son stated that he had stopped on the center median of the roadway because of the passing traffic. Thereafter, he followed the group down the alleyway behind the stores near Cross Bay Boulevard and, at that time, observed Riley jump over the barricade at the end of the alley with another youth passing a baseball bat. According to Mr. Kern, his son stated that he had difficulty climbing over the barricade and by the time he came out on 156th Avenue, he had lost sight of the youths. A few minutes later, while Scott was standing near 88th Street and 156th Avenue, Saggese pulled up in his car, picked him up, and they returned to the party.

Mr. Kern further testified that while his son was recounting the events surrounding the incident, Detective Paulson made remarks indicating that he did not believe Scott’s story. Similarly, Detective Mandel continually stated that he wanted Scott to tell the truth. After his son gave his statement, the police kept Mr. Kern and his son at the precinct and, at approximately 8:00 A.M., Scott was advised of his Miranda rights. Mr. Kern, who stated that he was in a confused state at the time, and his son both signed the Miranda card. Mr. Kern stated that his son never made a statement to the officers after receiving his Miranda warnings and that, at that point, Mr. Kern requested an attorney. Mr. Kern testified that the police did not advise them that Scott was being placed under arrest until approximately 11:30 p.m.

Dr. Thomas Manning, a toxicologist, who reviewed the autopsy and toxicological reports regarding Michael Griffith, testified that based upon his review of the reports, it was his opinion that Griffith had ingested cocaine approximately 15 minutes to two hours before his death. Accordingly, he concluded that Griffith was under the influence of the drug at the time of his death.

Jury Charge

In connection with the fourth count of the indictment, assault in the first degree (i.e., intentionally causing serious physical injury to another by means of a dangerous instrument [Penal Law § 120.10 (1)]), which concerned the attack on Sandiford in the vicinity of 156th Avenue, the defendants requested a charge on the lesser included offense of assault in the second degree (Penal Law § 120.05 [2] [intentionally causing physical injury to another by means of a dangerous instrument]). The court agreed to the defendants’ request based on the court’s expressed belief that a question of fact existed as to the seriousness of the injuries sustained by Sandiford as a result of that attack. When the court denied the defendants’ request for a charge of assault in the third degree (Penal Law § 120.00 [1] [intentionally causing physical injury to another]), the defendants sought to withdraw their prior request that assault in the second degree be charged. The court rejected that request and the defendants objected to that ruling.

In its charge concerning the count of manslaughter in the second degree, the court explained the concept of causation and advised the jury that it should consider whether Griffith's alleged impaired state by the ingestion of cocaine and/or Blum’s alleged negligent operation of the automobile which struck Griffith constituted intervening acts which were the direct cause of Griffith’s death.

Following the court’s jury charge, the defendants renewed their request for a charge on the lesser included offense of assault in the third degree. That request was again denied.

Jury Verdict

The jury found Kern and Lester guilty of manslaughter in the second degree in connection with Griffith’s death, guilty of assault in the first degree with respect to the attack on Sandiford and guilty of conspiracy in the fifth degree. Ladone was found guilty of manslaughter in the second degree and assault in the first degree. Pirone was acquitted of all charges.

Sentence

Lester, who had a prior conviction for criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree for which he had been adjudicated a youthful offender and sentenced to 1 to 3 years’ imprisonment therefor, was sentenced on January 22, 1988, to consecutive terms of 5 to 15 years’ imprisonment on his manslaughter and assault convictions. He also received a concurrent term of one year imprisonment on the conspiracy count. Lester’s application for a stay of execution of his sentence was denied by order dated February 29, 1988, and he is presently incarcerated.

On February 5, 1988, Kern was sentenced to consecutive sentences of 3 to 9 years’ imprisonment on the manslaughter in the second degree and assault in the first degree counts. Those sentences were to run concurrently with Kern’s one-year term of imprisonment for his conviction of conspiracy in the fifth degree. Kern’s sentence was stayed pending appeal (see, People v Kern, 137 AD2d 862).

Ladone was sentenced on February 11, 1988, to consecutive sentences of 2Vi to TVi years’ imprisonment on the manslaughter in the second degree and first-degree assault convictions respectively. Ladone’s sentence was stayed pending appeal by order dated February 11, 1988.

II. THE LAW

MANSLAUGHTER IN THE SECOND DEGREE

The defendants maintain that the evidence adduced at trial was legally insufficient to establish their guilt of manslaughter in the second degree (Penal Law § 125.15 [1]) in connection with the death of Michael Griffith. The defendants assert that their actions, insofar as Griffith was concerned, amounted to no more than a chase through the streets of Howard Beach while screaming racial epithets which ended when Griffith jumped over the barricade at the end of 90th Street. In the defendants’ view, the evidence demonstrated that by the time Griffith climbed over the barricade, the defendants had, in large measure, given up their chase and, thus, it would require a "quantum leap in logic” to find that any of the defendants were aware of a grave risk of death to Griffith, that they disregarded that risk and that their conduct constituted a gross deviation from the standard of conduct that a reasonable person would have observed under the circumstances. Additionally, the defendants take the position that the evidence adduced at trial on the issue of causation was legally insufficient and that, in any event, two intervening acts took place which broke the chain of causation between their actions and Griffith’s subsequent death; to wit, Blum’s negligent operation of his vehicle and Griffith’s intoxicated state by reason of his ingestion of cocaine. We disagree.

It is well established that the standard for appellate review of the legal sufficiency of evidence of guilt in a criminal case is whether " 'after viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution, any rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt’ ” (People v Contes, 60 NY2d 620, 621, quoting Jackson v Virginia, 443 US 307, 319; see, People v Bleakley, 69 NY2d 490). Manslaughter in the second degree, as charged herein, is defined as "recklessly causpng] the death of another person” (Penal Law § 125.15 [1]). The term "recklessly” is defined as "[a] person acts recklessly with respect to a result * * * when he is aware of and consciously disregards a substantial and unjustifiable risk that such result will occur or that such circumstance exists. The risk must be of such nature and degree that disregard thereof constitutes a gross deviation from the standard of conduct that a reasonable person would observe in the situation” (Penal Law § 15.05 [3] [emphasis added]). A defendant’s awareness of the risk created by his conduct dictates the degree of his culpability (see, People v Montanez, 41 NY2d 53). Thus, if a defendant fails to perceive a substantial and unjustifiable risk created by his actions, he may be found to be guilty of criminally negligent homicide but not of reckless homicide (Penal Law § 125.10). However, if the defendant is aware of the risk of death and consciously disregards it and the risk is of such a nature that disregard thereof is a gross deviation of the standard of conduct that a reasonable person would have observed under those circumstances, he is guilty of reckless manslaughter in the second degree if death results (Penal Law § 125.15 [1]; see, People v Licitra, 47 NY2d 554; People v Montanez, supra, at 57). The varying degrees of culpability, i.e., recklessness and criminal negligence, are not capable of direct proof, but rather are to be inferred from the facts and circumstances of a particular case and involve " 'fine gradations along but a single spectrum of culpability’ ” (People v Green, 56 NY2d 427, 432, quoting People v Stanfield, 36 NY2d 467, 473).

The evidence adduced at trial, when viewed in a light most favorable to the prosecution, provided more than a sufficient basis upon which a rational trier of fact could have determined that the defendants, who were thoroughly familiar with the area in which the events occurred, were aware that their actions in continuing to chase and threaten Griffith as he ran to the end of 90th Street, leaped over the barricade and ran onto the Belt Parkway created a grave risk of death to Griffith which risk the defendants were aware of and consciously chose to disregard (see, Matter of Anthony M., 63 NY2d 270; People v Heinsohn, 92 AD2d 574, affd 61 NY2d 855). The geographic layout of the area at the end of 90th Street was such that Griffith had a choice of either turning onto Shore Parkway, which would have led him back to Cross Bay Boulevard, or climbing over the barricade which separated 90th Street from the Belt Parkway. By this point in time, Griffith had been physically threatened and continually chased by the defendants and their cohorts through the streets of Howard Beach, an area unfamiliar to Griffith, during the dark morning hours of December 20, 1987. When he reached the end of 90th Street, Griffith, with his assailants in close pursuit, obviously concluded that if he turned right onto Shore Parkway, his assailants would continue to follow and inflict injury or death upon him if they caught him. Similarly, if he climbed the barricade and ran along the shoulder of the parkway, rather than cross it, the youths, who did not display any signs of abandoning their chase, would in all likelihood continue to follow him. Moreover, contrary to the defendants’ assertions, the evidence clearly established that the defendants did not abandon their chase of Griffith once they reached 90th Street. In fact, the evidence, when viewed in the light most favorable to the prosecution, established that the defendants exhibited little, if any, signs of abandoning their pursuit until Griffith ran across the parkway and they saw him struck by a passing motorist. Under these circumstances, the evidence was legally sufficient to support the jury’s finding that the defendants perceived a grave risk of death to Griffith by chasing him onto the Belt Parkway, that they consciously chose to disregard that risk and that, in doing so, the defendants grossly deviated from the standard of care which reasonable persons would have observed under the circumstances.

We note that the defendants’ reliance on the case of People v Montanez (41 NY2d 53, supra) on this point is misplaced. Therein, the evidence established that the defendant and the decedent, who were long-time friends, were in the kitchen of the decedent’s apartment while the decedent’s wife and several other individuals were in the living room. A loud popping sound emanated from the kitchen and the decedent staggered into the living room holding his bloody neck and yelling to the defendant, "What did you shoot me with?”. The defendant, who was observed holding a small revolver, replied that he was just "showing it to him” and he did not mean to do it. The defendant was convicted of reckless manslaughter. However, on appeal, the Court of Appeals reversed the conviction and dismissed the indictment due to the lack of legally sufficient evidence to establish that the defendant acted recklessly. The Montanez court noted that the two men were alone in the kitchen when the shot was fired and, even though the jury could have concluded from the statements made after the shooting that the defendant was in possession of the gun when it discharged, "there is nothing which leads inescapably to the conclusion that the defendant was responsible or that his conduct * * * constituted 'a gross deviation from the standard of conduct that a reasonable person would observe in the situation’ (Penal Law § 15.05, subds 3, 4)” (People v Montanez, supra, at 57). In the case at bar, however, the jury could readily conclude that the defendants’ continued hot pursuit of Griffith as he fled onto the Belt Parkway demonstrated both an awareness of the grave risk posed by crossing a six-lane highway in the dark hours and a conscious disregard of that risk amounting to a gross deviation from the standard of conduct that a reasonable person would have observed under these circumstances (Penal Law § 15.05 [3]).

Furthermore, under these circumstances, the defendants’ actions were a "sufficiently direct cause” of Griffith’s ensuing death so as to warrant the imposition of criminal liability (People v Kibbe, 35 NY2d 407, 413; see also, People v Stewart, 40 NY2d 692, 697). To this extent, this case is strikingly similar to Commonwealth v Joyce (18 Mass App 417, 467 NE2d 214) which involved a chase through the streets of south Boston of a black male and his white companion by several white men, including the defendants, who were shouting threatening racial slurs. The chase concluded on a platform of a nearby train station. The black male, fearing for his life, attempted to escape by jumping upon the tracks. Within minutes, he was struck and killed by an oncoming train. The Joyce court found the defendants’ claim, that there existed insufficient evidence that their attack on the decedent was the proximate cause of his death, to be without merit. The court stated, "[w]e reject the claims, as there was evidence that [the decedent] took the only route of escape and that once on the tracks, he had no reasonable alternative but to continue to run or walk along them until he reached the next station, or at least a point beyond where he was killed * * * The defendants’ actions need not have been the sole cause which contributed to [the decedent’s] death” (Commonwealth v Joyce, supra, 467 NE2d, at 217; see, People v Kibbe, 35 NY2d 407, 412, supra).

Similarly, in People v Kibbe (supra), the defendants, who had been in a bar drinking with the obviously inebriated decedent, offered him a ride. While the decedent was in the vehicle, the defendants proceeded to rob him. The decedent was forced out of the vehicle, on an unilluminated rural highway, without his shoes, eyeglasses or outer clothing, and with his trousers pulled down around his ankles. There was several inches of snow on the shoulder of the highway. Sometime after the decedent was forced out of the defendants’ vehicle, the decedent was struck and killed by a passing motorist as he sat in the middle of the roadway. The defendants were ultimately convicted of murder in the second degree. The Kibbe court, in rejecting the defendants’ claim that the prosecution failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that they caused the decedent’s death, stated: "We subscribe to the requirement that the defendants’ actions must be a sufficiently direct cause of the ensuing death before there can be any imposition of criminal liability, and recognize, of course, that this standard is greater than that required to serve as a basis for tort liability. Applying these criteria to the defendants’ actions, we conclude that their activities * * * were a sufficiently direct cause of the death of [the decedent] so as to warrant the imposition of criminal sanctions. In engaging in what may properly be described as a despicable course of action, [the defendants] left a helplessly intoxicated man without his eyeglasses in a position from which, because of these attending circumstances, he could not extricate himself and whose condition was such that he could not even protect himself from the elements. The defendants do not dispute the fact that their conduct evinced a depraved indifference to human life which created a grave risk of death, but rather they argue that it was just as likely that [the decedent] would be miraculously rescued by a good Samaritan. We cannot accept such an argument. There can be little doubt but that [the decedent] would have frozen to death in his state of undress had he remained on the shoulder of the road. The only alternative left to him was the highway, which in his condition, for one reason or another, clearly foreboded the probability of his resulting death” (People v Kibbe, supra, at 413).

Similarly, in the case at bar, the only reasonable alternative left open to Griffith while being persistently chased and threatened by the defendants and their friends, several of whom were carrying weapons, was to seek safety by crossing the parkway where he unfortunately met his death. Clearly, on the basis of these facts, it cannot be said that the defendants’ despicable conduct was not a sufficiently direct cause of Griffith’s death (see, People v Kibbe, 35 NY2d 407, supra). The defendants will not be heard to complain that, in desperately fleeing their murderous assault, Griffith chose the wrong escape route.

The defendants’ further assertion that Blum’s alleged negligent operation of his vehicle was an intervening proximate cause of Griffith’s death is also without merit. Based on the circumstances surrounding the incident, including the dark early morning hour, it cannot be said that an intervening wrongful act occurred to relieve the defendants from the directly foreseeable consequences of their actions (see, People v Kibbe, 35 NY2d 407, 413, supra). Moreover, even if we assume that Blum was less than cautious in the operation of his vehicle, the facts demonstrate that his actions were not the sole cause of Griffith’s ensuing death since it was the defendants’ wrongful conduct which forced Griffith to seek refuge from his assailants by crossing the highway (see, Matter of Anthony M., 63 NY2d 270, 280, supra; LaFave and Scott, Criminal Law § 35, at 258-261). Additionally, although the defendants introduced some evidence to indicate that Griffith may have been under the influence of cocaine at the time of his death, there was more than sufficient evidence presented by the prosecution upon which the jury could have found that Griffith was not under the influence of cocaine at the time he was chased onto the Belt Parkway and ultimately to his death.

ASSAULT IN THE FIRST DEGREE

The defendants also assert that the evidence adduced at trial was legally and factually insufficient to support their convictions for assault in the -first degree. In particular, the defendants contend that the evidence failed to establish that Sandiford sustained "serious physical injury” as a result of the attack within the meaning of Penal Law § 120.10 (1), § 10.00 (10). We disagree.

The provisions of the Penal Law define the different degrees of assault on the basis of, among other factors, the extent of the injury sustained by the victim. Thus, an individual is guilty of assault in the first degree when, inter alia, "[w]ith intent to cause serious physical injury to another person, he causes such injury * * * by means of a deadly weapon or a dangerous instrument” (Penal Law § 120.10 [1] [emphasis added]). One is guilty of assault in the second degree when, inter alia, "[w]ith intent to cause physical injury to another person, he causes such injury * * * by means of a deadly weapon or a dangerous instrument” (Penal Law § 120.05 [2] [emphasis added]). The term "serious physical injury” is defined as "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] [emphasis added]). The term "physical injury” means simply "impairment of physical condition or substantial pain” (Penal Law § 10.00 [9]). Generally, the issue of whether the victim sustained "serious physical injury” as opposed to mere "physical injury” is a question of fact for the jury to determine (see, People v Greene, 70 NY2d 860; People v Rojas, 61 NY2d 726; Matter of Philip A., 49 NY2d 198). However, the prosecution is required to submit sufficient proof to meet an "objective level” of serious physical injury before the issue may be submitted to the jury (see, People v McDowell, 28 NY2d 373, 375).

At trial, Sandiford described his physical condition following the attack as follows, "My eyes [were] swollen up and busted up. The left eye was half-inch closed up. There were black and blue marks all over my body. My head was busted”. Despite the pain of his injuries, Sandiford initially declined medical treatment at the scene as well as when he arrived at the 106th Precinct. He eventually agreed to receive treatment at approximately 4:30 a.m. At that time, an emergency medical technician examined Sandiford and observed several contusions on his face, arms, back and legs. Sandiford also had a laceration, contusion and hematoma on the back of his head. His forehead and right eye were swollen and there were bruises around the eye and cheek. The technician placed a splint on Sandiford’s left wrist and bandaged the back of his head. Thereafter, Sandiford was transported to Jamaica Hospital for further examination and treatment.

Upon his arrival at the hospital emergency room, Sandiford was examined by Dr. Shaheed Khan. Dr. Khan observed injuries to Sandiford’s right eye, left arm, scalp and back. The conjunctiva, i.e., the covering of the cornea in Sandiford’s right eye, which is normally transparent, was red, and the upper and lower lids of the eye were swollen. The doctor also observed blood tinge oozing from the right eye. The visual acuity of the right eye was 20/50 and the left eye was 20/20. The doctor diagnosed Sandiford’s condition as traumatic iritis which is an inflammation of the iris of the eye. Antibiotic eyedrops were prescribed for that condition. The laceration on the back of Sandiford’s head required five stitches. Dr. Khan stated that the bruises and swelling which he observed on the patient’s lower back and left forearm were consistent with being struck by a blunt instrument. The doctor was unable to determine how the remaining injuries were inflicted.

Sandiford was subsequently examined by Dr. William Calloway on December 31, 1986. Dr. Calloway initially examined Sandiford’s right eye, which was partially closed due to bruises and swelling, and the white of the eye was red. The pupils of both eyes were equal and reacted to light. The laceration on the back of Sandiford’s head was infected and after treating the infection, Dr. Calloway removed the stitches. Several abrasions and contusions were observed on Sandiford’s legs and arms. Dr. Calloway, who was concerned that Sandiford had a subdural hematoma, referred Sandiford to an opthalmologist and a general surgeon.

On January 21, 1987, one month after the assault, Sandiford was examined by Dr. John Mitchell, an opthalmologist. At that time, Sandiford’s visual acuity in both eyes was 20/20 and the external examination of his eyes was "unremarkable”. Upon an internal examination of Sandiford’s right eye, however, Dr. Mitchell observed dots or accumulations of white and brownish colored pigment on the back surface of the cornea. Additionally, the physician observed "flares” or cells floating in the anterior chamber of the cornea. Dr. Mitchell diagnosed Sandiford’s condition as "iritis” or "keratic precipitates”. Dr. Mitchell explained the condition of the right eye in the following way: "you’re in a theater and there’s smoking that’s taking place * * * you see the beam of light of the projector coming down, that would be equivalent to flare and smoke rising through the particles rising through the beam of light would be cells”. The doctor also explained that "[t]he cells represent the outpouring from the iris and root of the iris, of protein and white blood cells, which are there as a response to some injury or disease * * * to combat inflammation and to combat infection”. Dr. Mitchell opined that Sandiford’s condition was caused by a contusion "rather severe in nature” due to a blunt force striking the cornea.

Finally, Dr. Barbara Justice, a surgeon with considerable experience in trauma treatment, examined and treated Sandiford on January 27 and 30, 1987, and again on October 22, 1987. When Dr. Justice first examined Sandiford on January 27th, she observed multiple soft tissue injuries and swelling all over Sandiford’s body. In addition to the laceration in the rear of Sandiford’s head, Dr. Justice observed swelling and tenderness around the right eye, left forearm and right lower leg. In the doctor’s opinion, the injuries, which she stated were quite serious, were approximately one month old and were consistent with being struck with a blunt instrument. Dr. Justice examined the swelling around Sandiford’s right eye, which was in the process of dissolving, and observed some hemorrhage in the white area of the eye. The doctor also observed decreased vision in the right eye. On January 27 and 30, 1987, Sandiford advised Dr. Justice that because of the seriousness of the injuries, he was having difficulty walking and lying flat on his back. On October 22, 1987, Sandiford advised the doctor that he continued to suffer spasms in his lower and midback. Sandiford also experienced spasms in the right'eye area which were not previously noticeable in January 1987 because of the swelling in the area.

Viewing this testimony in the light most favorable to the People (see, People v Contes, 60 NY2d 620, supra), we conclude that the evidence was legally sufficient to establish that Sandiford sustained serious physical injury within the meaning of Penal Law § 10.00 (10). The evidence established that Sandiford suffered severe trauma to the right eye resulting in an "iritis” condition which existed for more than one month following the assault. Although the iritis condition did not appear to cause decreased visual acuity in Sandiford’s eye, according to Dr. Mitchell’s testimony it did interfere to some extent with the quality of his vision in that eye. Moreover, the trauma injuries sustained to the external area of Sandiford’s right eye, his left forearm, back and legs as well as the laceration in the back of his head were of such a severe nature that they were visible during Dr. Justice’s physical examination of Sandiford which took place over a month after the incident. Sandiford continued to suffer spasms in his lower and midback region as well as in the area of his right eye for approximately one year after the attack. We find this evidence, when viewed most favorably to the prosecution, was sufficient to support the jury’s determination that Sandiford suffered a "protracted impairment of [his] health” as a result of the severe beating by the defendants (Penal Law § 10.00 [10]; see, People v Hall, 89 AD2d 788).

Moreover, upon the exercise of our factual review power (CPL 470.15 [1]), we conclude that the jury’s verdict of guilt was not against the weight of the credible evidence. The jury was charged as to both assault in the first and second degrees and was provided with the statutory definitions of both "serious physical injury” and "physical injury”. Based on the evidence recounted above, we cannot conclude that the jury’s determination that Sandiford suffered serious physical injury was not supported by the evidence.

SUPPRESSION RULINGS

A. Jason Ladone’s Statements

Ladone contends that the custodial confession which was "extracted” from him by the interrogating officers should have been suppressed because the officers effectively cut off all of his avenues of assistance by taking him to the 112th Precinct, rather than the 106th Precinct as they had told his mother they would. Additionally, Ladone asserts that his station house confession was tainted by his previous inculpatory statement made in the custodial setting of the police vehicle prior to the administration of Miranda rights.

It has been consistently recognized that "special care.jnust be taken to insure the rights of minors who are exposed to the criminal justice system” (People v Ward, 95 AD2d 351, 354; see also, People v Alaire, 148 AD2d 731; People v Ventiquattro, 138 AD2d 925; People v Harrell, 87 AD2d 21), and the police are thus required to "exercise greater care to insure that the rights of youthful suspects are vigilantly observed” (People v Hall, 125 AD2d 698, 701). Police conduct which purposely isolates a youthful suspect from his family or other supportive adults in order to secure an inculpatory statement cannot be tolerated (see, People v Bevilacqua, 45 NY2d 508; People v Tow