Opinion ID: 1331712
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: appeal of defendant hunter

Text: Defendant Hunter contends first that the court erred in admitting evidence relating to his pretrial in-custody statement. This contention is based primarily, if not solely, on the assumption that the trial judge did not make findings of fact that the statement was intelligently and voluntarily made, therefore, it was inadmissible. He cites State v. Biggs, 289 N.C. 522, 223 S.E.2d 371 (1976). We note that following the trial, defendant Hunter's trial counsel died and that Messrs. Campbell and Chavis were appointed to perfect the appeal. In his brief defendant states that he was unable to find anywhere in the trial record any findings by the trial judge based upon evidence presented at the voir dire. Since defendant filed his brief, we have allowed the state's motion to file an addendum to the record which includes those findings. They are fully supported by the evidence and support the court's conclusion that the statement was intelligently and voluntarily made. That being true, the findings will not be disturbed on appeal. State v. Harris, supra . Defendant Hunter's other contention is that the district attorney in his jury argument exceeded the bounds of propriety to the prejudice of said defendant. We are not impressed with this contention. The record discloses that no defendant made any objection at trial to the district attorney's jury argument. It also appears that the arguments of defense counsel were not transcribed, therefore, we are unable to consider fully the context in which the prosecutor's argument was made. Ordinarily, an impropriety in counsel's jury argument should be brought to the attention of the trial court before the case is submitted to the jury in order that the impropriety might be corrected. State v. Peele, 274 N.C. 106, 161 S.E.2d 568 (1968), cert. denied, 393 U.S. 1042, 89 S.Ct. 669, 21 L.Ed.2d 590 (1969). This rule does not apply however when the impropriety is so gross that it cannot be corrected. State v. Miller, 271 N.C. 646, 157 S.E.2d 335 (1967). We have held many times that wide latitude is allowed counsel in his argument to the jury, including the use of illustrations and anecdotes; and counsel is entitled to argue the law and the facts in evidence together with all reasonable inferences to be drawn therefrom. 4 Strong's N.C. Index 3d, Criminal Law § 102.1. The control of the argument of the district attorney and counsel must be left largely to the discretion of the trial judge and his rulings thereon will not be disturbed in the absence of gross abuse of discretion. Ibid § 102.2. With the aforestated principles in mind, we have carefully reviewed the district attorney's jury argument, with particular reference to the portions designated by defendant, and conclude that the district attorney did not exceed the bounds of propriety in this case.