Court Opinion

ID: 6731582
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-20 23:13:09.081877+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:01:40.024977
License: Public Domain

BALEY, Judge.
Defendant contends that the trial court erred in its charge to the jury on the issue of alibi. This contention is without merit.
In State v. Hunt, 283 N.C. 617, 619, 197 S.E. 2d 513, 515, the North Carolina Supreme Court approved the following charge on alibi:
“An accused, who relies on an alibi, does not have the burden of proving it. It is incumbent upon the State to satisfy the jury beyond a reasonable doubt on the whole evidence that such accused is guilty. If the evidence of alibi, in connection with all the other testimony in the case, leaves the jury with a reasonable doubt of the guilt of the accused, the State fails to carry the burden of proof imposed upon it by law, and the accused is entitled to an aquittal.”
The charge approved in the Hvnt case and the one given by Judge McConnell differ in their wording, but in substance they are identical. No burden of proof was placed on the defend*648ant to prove an alibi, but the State was required to satisfy the jury beyond a reasonable doubt that defendant was present and participated in the crime. In part the court stated:
“Therefore, as to the alibi, I charge you that, if upon considering all the evidence, including the evidence about the alibi, you have a reasonable doubt as to the defendant’s presence or participation in the crime, you would have a reasonable doubt and would find him not guilty.”
There was no error in the charge, and it is approved.
Upon conflicting evidence the jury accepted the State’s version of the facts. Defendant has received a fair trial free from prejudicial error.
No error.
Judges Campbell and Hedrick concur.