Smith's Criminal Case Compendium
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State v. Clevinger, ___ N.C. App. ___, 791 S.E.2d 248 (Sept. 6, 2016)
Although statements made by a law enforcement officer during a videotaped interrogation of the defendant were not relevant, the defendant failed to show prejudice warranting a new trial. The court distinguished cases holding that statements by a law enforcement officer during a videotaped interrogation of the defendant are relevant to provide context for the defendant’s answers, noting, among other things, that in this case the defendant never made any concessions or admissions during the interrogation; instead, he repeatedly denied involvement in the crime. For the same reason, the officer’s statements were not relevant to show his interrogation techniques. Finally, because the defendant never wavered from his denials, the officer’s statements were not relevant to show that the defendant conceded the truth or changed his story.