PEOPLE v. COLEMAN

The record establishes a valid waiver of defendant's right to be present at certain sidebar conferences with prospective jurors (see,People v. Brown, 256 A.D.2d 92, lv denied 93 N.Y.2d 967). The waiver was stated by counsel in defendant's presence and after defendant had exercised his right to be present at previous sidebars.

Since defendant's ineffective assistance claim rests primarily on matters of trial strategy, it would require a CPL 440.10 motion in order to further develop the record. To the extent that the present record permits review, we conclude that defendant received meaningful representation (see, People v. Benevento, 91 N.Y.2d 708, 713-714). Counsel's failure to request an alibi charge or to emphasize the alibi issue in summation can be readily explained by the weakness of the alibi testimony.

We perceive no basis for reduction of sentence.

Defendant's remaining contentions, including those relating to the charge on identification, are unpreserved and we decline to review them in the interest of justice. Were we to review these claims, we would reject them.

THIS CONSTITUTES THE DECISION AND ORDER OF THE SUPREME COURT, APPELLATE DIVISION, FIRST DEPARTMENT.