Court Opinion

ID: 9573051
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 20:47:09.933177+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:36:17.405681
License: Public Domain

Bobbitt, J.,
dissenting in part as to defendant Knight: In my opinion, the admission-over Knight’s objection of (1) Mr. Vanderford’s testimony as to what Knight said to him on September 15, 1962, and (2) of the -drawings referrad to- in this/testimony, was prejudicial error for which Knight is entitled to a new trial. This evidence tended to show that Knight, prior to- September 15, 1962, had studied the working parts of safes and had “robbed” one -or more safes and was the kind -of person you would siospect whenever there was a “robbery” of a safe.
The applicable rule is stated as follows: “Evidence of other offenses •is inadmissible if its only relevancy iis to- show the character of the accused- or his -disposition to commit an offense of the nature of the one -charged; but if it tends to prove .any other relevant fact it will not foe excluded -merely -because it also shows him to-.-have been guilty of an independent crime.” 'Stamisbury, North Carolina Evidence, Second Edition, § 91. In my opinion, the -general rule -controls here and the- evi-*31deuce should Lave been excluded. Here there is no question ¡ais to the animus of the person(s) who broke 'and entered Dr. MoAnal-ly’s home and carried away his safe and its contents.