State v. Adams, 212 N.C. App. 413 (Jun. 7, 2011)

In a case in which two defendants were convicted of attempted murder and felonious assault, the trial judge committed plain error by giving jury instructions that impermissibly grouped the defendants together in presenting the charges and issues to the jury. In its instructions, the trial court repeatedly referred to the defendants collectively (e.g.,: “For you to find the defendants guilty of this offense . . . .”; the State must prove “that [when] each of the defendant had this intent[,] they performed an act that was calculated and designed to accomplish the crime”).