Smith's Criminal Case Compendium
Table of Contents
State v. Presson, 229 N.C. App. 325 (Aug. 20, 2013)
(1) The trial court did not err by denying the defendant’s motion to dismiss homicide charges. The defendant argued that the evidence showed perfect self-defense. Noting that there was some evidence favorable to the defendant as to each of the elements of perfect self-defense, the court concluded that there was also evidence favorable to the State showing that the defendant’s belief that it was necessary to kill was not reasonable, and that defendant was the aggressor or used excessive force. (2) The trial court did not commit plain error by instructing the jury that the defendant would lose the right to self-defense if he was the aggressor. The defendant had argued that the State failed to put forth evidence that the defendant was the aggressor.