People v. Culebro

There was no violation of defendant’s right to be present during jury selection. The record, viewed as a whole and in light of the course of conduct of the court and counsel, sufficiently establishes that the challenged portions of the voir dire occurred in the courtroom after the court excused all individuals not concerned, and that defendant was actually present (see People v Watson, 243 AD2d 426 [1997], lv denied 92 NY2d 863 [1998]). The colloquies with prospective jurors were not sidebars, and the record supports the conclusion that defendant had the same opportunity to see and hear the…