Smith's Criminal Case Compendium
Smith's Criminal Case Compendium
Table of Contents
Smith's Criminal Case Compendium
About
This compendium includes significant criminal cases by the U.S. Supreme Court & N.C. appellate courts, Nov. 2008 – Present. Selected 4th Circuit cases also are included.
Jessica Smith prepared case summaries Nov. 2008-June 4, 2019; later summaries are prepared by other School staff.
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The trial court did not commit plain error by admitting certain testimony that may have suggested that the defendant engaged in witness intimidation. Specifically a detective testified that during a photo lineup a victim appeared to not want to identify the suspect. The detective added that the victim “has had personal dealings with a brother of his in the past that had been killed because he had snitched and didn’t want to become part of that as well.” Even if this testimony suggested that the defendant intimidated the victim, it was properly admitted as relevant to explain why the victim did not identify the shooter and did not testify at trial.
The trial court did not commit plain error by admitting certain testimony that may have suggested that the defendant engaged in witness intimidation. Specifically a detective testified that during a photo lineup a victim appeared to not want to identify the suspect. The detective added that the victim “has had personal dealings with a brother of his in the past that had been killed because he had snitched and didn’t want to become part of that as well.” Even if this testimony suggested that the defendant intimidated the victim, it was properly admitted as relevant to explain why the victim did not identify the shooter and did not testify at trial.