Smith's Criminal Case Compendium
Table of Contents
Criminal Procedure
Indictment & Pleading Issues
Arrest, Search, and Investigation
Criminal Offenses
Drug Offenses
State v. Thompson, ___ N.C. App. ___, ___ S.E.2d ___ (May. 21, 2019)
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.