Case Title: State v. Green

Citation: 259 S.E.2d 904, 298 N.C. 793

Docket Number: 

State: north-carolina

Court: North Carolina Supreme Court

Date: 1979-12-04T00:00:00Z

Document:
259 S.E.2d 904 (1979) 298 N.C. 793 STATE of North Carolina v. William Earl GREEN. No. 67. Supreme Court of North Carolina. December 4, 1979. *905 Atty. Gen. Rufus L. Edmisten by Sp. Deputy Atty. Gen. David S. Crump, Raleigh, for the state. Willis A. Talton, Greenville, for defendant-appellant. BRITT, Justice. Defendant contends the trial court erred in the following respects: (1) In denying his motion to suppress evidence relating to his alleged confession; (2) in denying his motion for nonsuit; and (3) in failing to submit attempted arson as an alternative verdict. We find merit in contentions (1) and (3) and hold that defendant is entitled to a new trial. At the 2 January 1979 Session of Pitt Superior Court, Presiding Judge Cowper conducted a pretrial hearing on defendant's motion to suppress all evidence relating to any statements allegedly made by him to police on the ground that the statements were obtained in violation of his constitutional rights. At the hearing the state presented evidence tending to show that defendant was fully advised of his constitutional rights; that he signed a waiver of his right to have an attorney present during questioning; and that he freely and understandingly gave oral and written inculpatory statements. Defendant offered evidence *906 tending to show that he had a very low I.Q.; that while he went to school for some 10 years he had very little education and could barely read; that he could not understand instructions unless they were given slowly and fully explained to him; and that he did not knowingly waive the presence of an attorney while he was questioned by police. Following the hearing, Judge Cowper entered an order in which he briefly reviewed the proceedings before him and then found and concluded in pertinent part as follows: The legal principle involved here is succinctly stated by Justice Huskins in State v. Riddick, 291 N.C. 399, 408, 230 S.E.2d 506, 512 (1976), as follows: In State v. Steptoe, 296 N.C. 711, 716, 252 S.E.2d 707, 710 (1979), Justice Huskins, again speaking for the court, said: We hold that Judge Cowper did not make sufficient findings of fact showing that defendant voluntarily, knowingly and intelligently waived his constitutional rights as set forth in Miranda, particularly his right to consult with a lawyer and have the lawyer present during his interrogation. With respect to his second contention, defendant virtually concedes that the evidence was sufficient to withstand his motion for nonsuit. We expressly hold that it was sufficient and further review of the evidence is not necessary. Regarding his third contention, defendant argues that the trial court erred in not granting his request that the lesser included offenses of attempted arson and damage to real property be submitted to the jury as alternate verdicts. As stated above, we think the trial court should have submitted attempted arson as an alternate verdict. *907 Where there is evidence of defendant's guilt of a lesser degree of the crime set forth in the bill of indictment, defendant is entitled to have the question submitted to the jury even in the absence of a specific prayer for the instruction. 4 Strong's N.C. Index 3d, Criminal Law § 115. The felony of an attempt to commit arson created by G.S. 14-67 is a lesser included offense of the crime of arson. State v. Arnold, 285 N.C. 751, 208 S.E.2d 646 (1974). Occupants of the house testified that although they observed "gas" running under the front door and into the hallway, they discovered the fire outside the back door and on the back porch; and that they escaped from the house through the front door. There was no evidence that the occupants found fire at or near the front door. In his statement to the police, defendant said that he poured some diesel fuel around the front door of the house; that he ignited a piece of paper with his cigarette lighter; that he "was having trouble getting the fire to start"; that he stuck the piece of paper "between the front door" while the paper was burning; that he stood there for a minute and someone in the house said something to someone else; that when this happened he ran down the path and went to some tobacco barns; and that he did not know the house caught on fire because he ran. Although there was sufficient evidence to submit the case to the jury on first-degree arson, there was also evidence that defendant merely attempted to set the house on fire. That being true, the trial court should have submitted attempted arson as an alternate verdict. For the reasons stated, defendant is awarded a New trial.