Smith's Criminal Case Compendium
Table of Contents
Criminal Procedure
Indictment & Pleading Issues
Evidence
Criminal Offenses
Drug Offenses
State v. Rollins, 226 N.C. App. 129 (Mar. 19, 2013)
The trial court did not err by finding the defendant’s statements to his wife voluntary. The defendant’s wife spoke with him five times while he was in prison and while wearing a recording device provided by the police. The wife did not threaten defendant but did make up evidence which she claimed law enforcement had recovered and told him defendant that officers suspected that she was involved in the murder. In response, the defendant provided incriminating statements in which he corrected the wife’s lies regarding the evidence and admitted details of the murder. The court rejected the defendant’s argument that his statements was involuntary because of his wife’s deception and her emotional appeals to him based on these deceptions.