People v. Williams

Judgment unanimously affirmed. Memorandum: Defendant contends on appeal that the court erred in conducting his trial in absentia. We disagree. On May 5, 1988, the court informed defendant that "the trial now has been set for Monday, May 16th. It will probably be eleven o’clock because of the other commitments that morning. So eleven o’clock the trial will commence. You have to be there. Of course, the trial could be held without you, you understand that?” Defendant acknowledged that he understood the court’s admonition. On May 16, 1988, the case was called for trial, but defendant did not…