
    The People of the State of New York, Respondent, v Yahya Alsaidi, Appellant.
    [64 NYS3d 581]
   Appeal by the defendant from a judgment of the County Court, Westchester County (Zambelli, J.), rendered April 21, 2015, convicting him of assault in the first degree, gang assault in the first degree, and assault in the second degree, upon a jury verdict, and imposing sentence.

Ordered that the judgment is affirmed.

In fulfilling our responsibility to conduct an independent review of the weight of the evidence (see CPL 470.15 [5]; People v Danielson, 9 NY3d 342, 348-349 [2007]), we nevertheless accord great deference to the jury’s opportunity to view the witnesses, hear the testimony, and observe demeanor (see People v Mateo, 2 NY3d 383, 410 [2004]). Upon reviewing the record here, we are satisfied that the jury’s rejection of the defendant’s justification defense and its verdict of guilt were not against the weight of the evidence (see People v Valentin, 29 NY3d 57, 61-62 [2017]; People v Romero, 7 NY3d 633 [2006]; People v Bennett, 279 AD2d 585 [2001]).

The sentence imposed was not excessive (see People v Suitte, 90 AD2d 80 [1982]).

Hall, J.P., Roman, Cohen and Barros, JJ., concur.  