Court Opinion

ID: 9589872
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 23:49:48.420684+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:06:12.009941
License: Public Domain

Justice Lake
dissenting.
The defendant was tried in the Superior Court of Buncombe County upon two indictments, one charging him with rape, the other charging him with first degree burglary. He was found guilty as charged on each count with no recommendation by the jury as to sentence. Consequently, the superior court, at that time, imposed a sentence of death in each case. Upon appeal, this Court, unanimously, adjudged that there was no error. State v. Childs, 269 N.C. 307, 152 S.E. 2d 453.
Thereafter, the Superior Court of Buncombe County denied the petitioner’s application to it for post conviction relief. The Court of Appeals denied his petition to it for a writ of certiorari to review that action of the superior court. The defendant then filed his petition in the Supreme Court of the United States for a writ of certiorari, which was allowed, and the Supreme Court of the United States entered its order, 29 L.Ed. 2d 859, stating:
“On petition for writ of certiorari to the Superior Court of North Carolina, Buncombe County. Motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis granted. Petition for writ of certiorari granted. Judgment, insofar as it imposes the death sentence, reversed and case remanded to the Superior Court of North Carolina, Buncombe County, for further proceedings. [Citations omitted.] Mr. Justice Black dissents.”
Thereupon, the Superior Court of Buncombe County brought the defendant again before it, denied his motion for *586a new trial, and in each case (rape and burglary) entered judgment sentencing the defendant to confinement in the Central Prison “for the remainder of his natural life.” From these judgments, the defendant has now appealed to this Court, contending that he should be awarded a new trial.
The life sentences from which the defendant now appeals were not imposed by the superior court pursuant to any mandate or direction from this Court. However, the procedure followed by the superior court upon the remand of the cases to it by the Supreme Court of the United States, is that which was directed by the majority of this Court to be followed by the respective superior courts in cases contemporaneously remanded to us by the Supreme Court of the United States. State v. Hill, 279 N.C. 371, 183 S.E. 2d 97; State v. Atkinson (rape), 279 N.C. 385, 183 S.E. 2d 105; State v. Atkinson (murder in the first degree), 279 N.C. 386, 183 S.E. 2d 106; State v. Williams, 279 N.C. 388, 183 S.E. 2d 106; State v. Sanders, 279 N.C. 389, 183 S.E. 2d 107; State v. Roseboro, 279 N.C. 391, 183 S.E. 2d 108.
Neither in the present cases nor in the cases above cited, which were remanded by the Supreme Court of the United States to us and by us to the respective superior courts which tried them, did the Supreme Court of the United States direct the imposition of a sentence to imprisonment for life.
In each of the above cited cases so remanded to this Court by the Supreme Court of the United States, I voted to affirm the imposition of the death sentence on the initial appeal to this Court, just as I did in the present cases. I am still aware of no error in those judgments. However, the Supreme Court of the United States has held there was error in each of the cases, so the death sentences affirmed by this Court cannot be carried out. Upon the remand by us to the appropriate superior court of each of the above cited cases, subsequent to the order of the Supreme Court of the United States reversing the judgment therein, “insofar as it imposes the death penalty,” I dissented from the decision of this Court directing the superior court to enter a sentence to life imprisonment. The reasons1 for my dissents therein are stated in my dissenting opinion in State v. Hill, supra, at p. 378. I adhere to the views there expressed.
Neither the Supreme Court of the United States nor this Court may lawfully direct or authorize a superior court of *587North Carolina to enter a judgment imposing a sentence to imprisonment, which sentence is not supported by the verdict of the jury in the record. The Supreme Court of the United States has not directed the superior court to enter life sentences in this defendant’s cases. As in the above cited cases, the sentences to imprisonment for life now imposed by the Superior Court of Buncombe County upon this defendant are not supported by the verdict of the jury. The only sentence supported by that verdict is a sentence to death. Consequently, a valid sentence to imprisonment for life cannot be imposed upon this defendant in either of these cases without a new trial and a new verdict.
The defendant, having appealed to this Court and having requested a new trial, both upon the present appeal and upon the original appeal to this Court, as well as in the superior court, may not complain, if his request be granted, that such new trial violates his constitutional protection against double jeopardy.
At the hearing in the superior court, pursuant to the remand from the Supreme Court of the United States, it was made to appear that the prosecuting witness is now physically unable to testify if such new trial were to be ordered. In that event, it does not necessarily follow that the defendant would be acquitted at the new trial. The sworn, recorded testimony of the prosecuting witness at the former trial could be offered in evidence by the State. State v. Cope, 240 N.C. 244, 81 S.E. 2d 773; Stansbury, North Carolina Evidence, 2d Ed, § 145; 31A CJS, Evidence, § 396.