Opinion ID: 1381545
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: claim of merger of offenses

Text: Finally, defendant requests that we pass upon the question whether charges against him should merge. He argues that the killing was an unpremeditated aberration committed in the course of a rape. He notes that under cases such as State v. Boyd, 287 N.C. 131, 214 S.E.2d 14 (1975), had the State proceeded under the felony murder rule, at least two of the charges would have merged. We are not inclined to discuss extensively the various combinations of guilt and the consequences thereof which might have resulted had the State proceeded to trial on the original indictments. Clearly, the merger doctrine, which is well established in North Carolina, would have arisen had a jury found defendant guilty of felony murder. State v. Squire, 292 N.C. 494, 234 S.E.2d 563, cert. denied sub nom. Brown v. N. C., 434 U.S. 998, 98 S.Ct. 638, 54 L.Ed.2d 493 (1977); State v. Williams, 284 N.C. 67, 199 S.E.2d 409 (1973); State v. Thompson, 280 N.C. 202, 185 S.E.2d 666 (1972). Here, however, the issue of merger is not before us. This is so because defendant entered into a negotiated plea of guilty to second degree murder, first degree rape and first degree burglary in specific exchange for a sentence of two consecutive life terms. Defendant has in no way, on this appeal, attacked the validity of the terms of his plea bargain and we find no impropriety with respect to it. We further note that while, as stated above, we granted certiorari on the basis of G.S. 15A-979(b), we also treated the petition as one to bypass the Court of Appeals. G.S. 7A-27(a) provides that there is no appeal of right to this Court when a sentence is based on a plea of guilty even when that sentence is life imprisonment. The proper court to hear this appeal, if motion to bypass is not made and granted, is the Court of Appeals. We have carefully examined all of defendant's assignments of error and find them devoid of merit. We find no error in either defendant's suppression or sentencing hearing. No error. BROCK, J., took no part in the consideration or decision of this case.