Appeal by the defendant from a judgment of the Supreme Court, Kings County (George, J.), rendered December 22, 1998, convicting him of assault in the first degree and criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree, upon a jury verdict, and imposing sentence. The appeal brings up for review the denial, after a hearing (D’Emic, J.), of that branch of the defendant’s omnibus motion which was to suppress his videotaped statement to law enforcement officials.
Ordered that the judgment is affirmed.
Contrary to the defendant’s contention, the trial court properly rejected his claim that the prosecutor violated Batson
Furthermore, the hearing court properly found that the videotaped statement which the defendant gave to an Assistant District Attorney was voluntary. The defendant was fully apprised of his Miranda rights (see, Miranda v Arizona, 384 US 436) before he agreed to speak on videotape. When the defendant exhibited some confusion and initially gave conflicting responses as to whether he was willing to speak, the Assistant District Attorney responded by explaining who he was, and that his role was to prosecute the case. After a short break, the defendant was once again advised of his constitutional rights, and confirmed that he was willing to speak on videotape. Under these circumstances, there is no merit to the defendant’s argument that the Assistant District Attorney improperly importuned him to speak after he had unequivocally invoked his right to remain silent (see, People v Williams, 254 AD2d 441; see also, People v Seda, 289 AD2d 422; People v Sprague, 267 AD2d 875, 878-879).
The defendant’s remaining contention is without merit. Ritter, J.P., Smith, Krausman and Townes, JJ., concur.