State v. Waring, 364 N.C. 443 (Nov. 5, 2010)

(1) In the guilt phase of a capital trial, the trial court did not err by limiting the defendant’s re-cross-examination of law enforcement officers about whether an alleged accomplice cooperated with the police. The defendant failed to establish how the accomplice’s cooperation was relevant to the defendant’s guilt. Furthermore, the State’s questioning did not elicit responses that required explanation or rebuttal or otherwise opened the door for the defendant’s questions. (2) In the sentencing phase of a capital trial, the trial court did not abuse its discretion by overruling the defendant’s objection to the State’s cross-examination of a defense expert seeking to elicit a concession that other experts might disagree with his opinions regarding whether the defendant was malingering. (3) In the sentencing phase of a capital trial, the trial court did not err by failing to intervene ex mero motu when the prosecutor asked the defendant’s expert witness whether he was ethically obligated to record the defendant’s test results on a score sheet and about the defendant’s scores in the scale for violence potential.