Opinion ID: 1331712
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: appeal of defendant lattimer

Text: Defendant Lattimer contends first that the trial court erred in admitting evidence of his in-custody statement for the reason that it was not freely and voluntarily given. This contention has no merit. Before admitting evidence of the statement, the court conducted a voir dire hearing at which evidence for the state and defendant was presented. Following the hearing the court made findings of fact and concluded that before making the statement defendant Lattimer knowingly and intelligently waived counsel and that he made the statement freely and voluntarily. The court's findings are fully supported by the evidence, therefore, will not be disturbed on appeal. State v. Harris, supra . Defendant Lattimer contends next that the trial court erred in admitting into evidence the in-custody statement of defendant Hunter which tended to incriminate Lattimer and cites Bruton v. United States, supra . There is no merit in this contention. Lattimer did not object to the introduction of Hunter's statement. It is well settled that with the exception of evidence precluded by statute in furtherance of public policy [which exception does not apply to this case], the failure to object to the introduction of the evidence is a waiver of the right to do so, and its admission, even if incompetent, is not a proper basis for appeal. 4 Strong's N.C. Index 3d, Criminal Law § 162, p. 825. See also: Rule 10, Rules of Appellate Procedure, 287 N.C. 671, 698. Finally, defendant Lattimer contends the court erred in denying his motion to dismiss the charges against him because of lack of evidence. We disagree with this contention. In the light most favorable to the state, the evidence against Lattimer tended to show: He was with defendants Barrios and Hunter in their barracks at Fort Bragg from noon until around 5:00 p. m. on the day in question. Thereafter, he rode with them in Hunter's car to Lumberton (approximately 45 miles), carrying his .38 pistol with him. While Barrios and Hunter entered the store, attempted the robbery with Hunter using Lattimer's gun, and Barrios shot West, Lattimer stayed with the car which was parked on the shoulder of a road some 300 feet from the store. When Barrios and Hunter returned to the car after committing the offenses, they entered the car and all three sped away together with Lattimer driving part of the way back to Fayetteville. After arriving in Fayetteville, the three of them went to a trailer house on Apache Street where they spent the remainder of the night and were together there the next morning. On a motion by a defendant to dismiss the charges for lack of evidence, the evidence will be viewed in a light most favorable to the state; and the state is entitled to every reasonable inference arising therefrom; contradictions and discrepancies, even in the state's evidence, are for the jury to resolve and do not warrant dismissal. 4 Strong's N.C. Index 3d, Criminal Law § 104 and cases therein cited. The evidence was sufficient to support a finding by the jury that Lattimer was acting in concert with Barrios and Hunter when they attempted to rob the towel store; that he stayed with the getaway car and that he participated with his codefendants in fleeing from the scene of the crime. The evidence was also sufficient to support a finding by the jury that Lattimer and his codefendants conspired to rob the towel store; and that the murder of West was committed by Barrios in the attempted perpetration of the crime, thereby making each and all of the defendants guilty of murder in the first degree. 6 Strong's N.C. Index 3d, Homicide § 2. In defendants' trial and the judgments entered, we find No error.