Public-domain · open source
OpenJurist

20 N.C. App. 297

State v. Matthews

Court of Appeals of North Carolina

Decided December 27, 1973

Court of Appeals of North Carolina · decided 1973-12-27

Cited by 2 later decisions — most recently March 1986

2 state decisions

Relies on Bruton v. United States · Roberts v. Russell · State v. Fox

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Decided 1973-12-27

View the full empirical analysis of this case →

CAMPBELL, Judge.

¶1We will treat the two appeals separately.

¶2Collins’ Appeal

¶3This appeal presents only the record for review. We have carefully examined the record, including the bill of indictment, plea and the judgment; and we find no prejudicial error appearing therein.

¶4Matthews’ Appeal

¶5There was plenary evidence when considered in the light most favorable to the State to take the case to the jury. There was no error in denying the defendant Matthews’ motion for nonsuit.

¶6The defendant Matthews assigns as error the denial of his motion for a severance and mistrial on account of the incriminating statement made by the codefendant Collins.

¶7The defendant relies upon the rule laid down in Bruton v. United States, 391 U.S. 123, 20 L.Ed. 2d 476, 88 S.Ct. 1620 (1968) and Roberts v. Russell, 392 U.S. 293, 20 L.Ed. 2d 1100, 88 S.Ct. 1921 (1968), reh. denied, 393 U.S. 899, 21 L.Ed. 2d 191, 89 S.Ct. 73 (1968). We do not think the Brutonrule is controlling in the instant case. The statement objected to in the instant case was made in the presence of the defendant Matthews when they were both in the same cell and with each other. State v. Bryant, 250 N.C. 113, 108 S.E. 2d 128 (1959). In State v. Fox, 274 N.C. 277, 291, 163 S.E. 2d 492, 502 (1968), the North Carolina Supreme Court, in discussing the Brutonrule, stated:

“ . . . The foregoing pronouncement presupposes (1) that the confession is inadmissible as to the codefendant (see State v. Bryant, supra),and (2) that the declarant will not take the stand. ...”

¶8In the instant case the declarant Collins did not take the stand; but since under the rule of State v. Bryant the confession was admissible, the Brutonrule does not apply. Furthermore, any incrimination of Matthews by the statement attributed to Collins was of insignificant probative value in relation to the mass *302of competent and admitted evidence against Matthews. State v. Jones, 280 N.C. 322, 185 S.E. 2d 858 (1972).

¶9The charge to the jury was unexcepted to and not in the record. It is therefore presumed to be adequate, fair and nonprejudicial.

¶10In the trial of Matthews we find no prejudicial error.

¶11Collins no error.

¶12Matthews no error.

Judges Hedrick and Baley concur.
/20/ncapp/297 · .json · Public domain