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15 N.C. App. 606

State v. Stimpson

Court of Appeals of North Carolina

Decided August 2, 1972

Court of Appeals of North Carolina · decided 1972-08-02

Cited by 1 later decisions — most recently July 1975

1 state decisions

Relies on 4 N.C. App. 641 - State v. Willis · Swain v. Williamson · State v. . Deberry

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Decided 1972-08-02

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BRITT, Judge.

¶1Defendant contends that the court erred in denying his motion for nonsuit. The evidence presented at the second trial was substantially the same as that presented at the first trial *607which is fully set forth in the Supreme Court opinion above cited. A restatement of the evidence here would serve no useful purpose. Suffice to say, it was sufficient to survive the motion for nonsuit.

¶2Defendant contends that the court erred in allowing a layman to testify that something appeared to be blood. This contention is without merit and has been answered by this court in State v. Willis, 4 N.C. App. 641, 167 S.E. 2d 518 (1969), cert. den. 275 N.C. 501 (1969), where it is stated that nonexperts can testify as to the fact of bloodstains and then it is for the jury to determine the weight to be given to the testimony.

¶3Defendant also contends that the court erred in charging the jury that one of the elements of involuntary manslaughter involves the intentional killing of a person. We concede that this was error but fail to see how it was prejudicial to defendant. The portion of the charge involved stated: “As it relates to involuntary manslaughter, intent is not an issue. The crux of that crime is an accused intentionally killed his victim by a wanton, reckless, culpable use of a firearm or other deadly weapon.”

¶4The only effect of such a charge is to place a greater burden upon the State in proving the elements of the lesser offense. A new trial will not be awarded for error in the charge which is favorable or not prejudicial to defendant. State v. DeBerry, 228 N.C. 147, 44 S.E. 2d 722 (1947). Since defendant could only have been helped by this instruction, he has no reason to complain and his assignment of error is overruled.

¶5All of defendant’s assignments of error have been carefully considered and found to be without merit.

¶6No error.

Chief Judge Mallard and Judge Campbell concur.
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