Case ID: nc-app_24/html/0392-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "\n      BROCK, Chief Judge.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA v. EDDIE LEE BURNS
    No. 7418SC851
    (Filed 2 January 1975)
    Assault and Battery § 14 — felonious assault — sufficiency of evidence
    , The State’s evidence was sufficient to support the verdict finding defendant guilty of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury where it tended to show that defendant shot his brother twice without justification and that defendant’s brother underwent three operations and suffered permanent injury as á result of the gunshot wounds.
    • ON writ of certiorari to review a trial before Kivett, Judge, 5 October 1973 Session of Superior Court held in Guil-ford County. Heard in the Court of Appeals 20 November 1974.
    Defendant was charged in a bill of indictment with the felony of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill and inflicting serious bodily injury. G.S. 14-32(a). The jury found him guilty of the felony of assault with a deadly weapon and inflicting serious injury. G.S. 14-32 (b).
    
      Attorney General Carson, by Assistant Attorney General Hamlin, for the State.
    
    
      Public Defender Harrelson, for the defendant.
    
   BROCK, Chief Judge.

Defendant and his brother, the victim of the assault, went to their aunt’s home for a visit. Defendant carried a bottle of whiskey. Defendant, his brother, their aunt, and a roomer in their aunt’s home gathered in the living room. The four of them sat and talked while they had a few drinks. Defendant’s aunt upset defendant’s bottle of whiskey, and defendant became agitated. He drew a pistol from his pocket. His brother asked him to put it away. He shot his brother in the abdomen. As defendant’s brother ran out the front door, defendant shot him in the back.

Defendant’s brother was hospitalized, underwent three operations, and suffered permanent injury as a result of being shot by defendant.

Defendant’s brother (the victim), defendant’s aunt, and the roomer in the aunt’s home each testified for the State. Their testimony was unequivocal upon the basic fact that defendant shot his brother twice and that he did so without justification. The State’s evidence was clearly ample to support the verdict. The defendant offered no evidence.

We have reviewed defendant’s several assignments of error. They are not sustained. In our opinion defendant had a fair trial free from prejudicial error.

No error.

Judges Hedrick and Martin concur.