Judgment affirmed.
At trial, the victim of the crime, when asked whether he had seen defendant prior to identifying him at a lineup, stated that he had seen defendant "in a picture". This testimony was error because it could have caused the jury to infer that the victim had previously identified defendant in a photograph and that defendant, who did not testify at trial, had a criminal record (see, People v Griffin, 29 N.Y.2d 91; People v Caserta, 19 N.Y.2d 18). This error was harmless, however, because proof of defendant's guilt was overwhelming. The identification testimony was very strong (see, People v Mobley, 56 N.Y.2d 584). The victim observed defendant at distances of less than six feet on two separate occasions, one of which included a conversation which lasted for a minute and a half during which time the complainant was looking at defendant's face. Accordingly, we affirm. Mangano, J.P., Thompson, Bracken and Brown, JJ., concur.