Court Opinion

ID: 9614963
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 04:29:55.908686+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:03:40.821090
License: Public Domain

Justice Martin
concurring.
I concur in the majority opinion and write to state additional reasons in support of the holding of the Court.
The rule of law concerning the inability of the prosecutor to withhold aggravating circumstances from the jury is for the *167benefit of the defendant. The statutes and case law are for the benefit of all defendants so that arbitrariness and capriciousness will not enter into the administration of the death penalty.
Further, N.C.G.S. § 15A-1021(b) states in substance that no person representing the State may bring improper pressure upon a defendant to induce a plea of guilty. The promise to withhold submitting aggravating circumstances to the jury was unlawful and was therefore improper. By making an unlawful promise to the defendant for the purpose of inducing him to plead guilty, the State brought improper pressure upon this defendant within the meaning of the statute. For that reason, the plea of guilty must be set aside.
It is also to be noted that although the prosecution did not submit any other aggravating circumstance to the jury, evidence of another aggravating circumstance was presented to the jury. In short, the State secured the benefit of defendant’s plea of guilty and yet was able to present evidence to the jury of other aggravating facts. Thus, the promise made by the State was illusory at best.