Court Opinion

ID: 9854696
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-09-24 06:12:05.491185+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:23:16.147727
License: Public Domain

Justice EXUM
dissenting as to sentence.
For the reasons stated in Part I of my dissent in State v. Pinch, 306 N.C. 1, 38, 292 S.E. 2d 203, 230 (1982), I disagree with the majority’s conclusion in Part VI of its opinion. In my view it was prejudicial error for the trial judge to instruct the jury that it had a duty to recommend the death sentence if it answered certain issues favorably to the state. My vote, therefore, is to vacate the judgment imposing the death sentence and remand for a new sentencing hearing.
I concur in the majority’s conclusion that there is no error in the guilt phase of the case.