Smith's Criminal Case Compendium
Table of Contents
Evidence
Arrest, Search, and Investigation
Criminal Offenses
Drug Offenses
State v. Wright, 210 N.C. App. 52 (Mar. 1, 2011)
The court rejected the defendant’s argument that plain error occurred when the prosecutor misrepresented the results of the SBI Crime Lab phenolphthalein blood tests. At trial, a SBI agent explained that a positive test result would provide an indication that blood could be present. On cross-examination, he noted that certain plant and commercially produced chemicals may give a positive result. The defendant argued that the prosecutor misrepresented the results of the phenolphthalein blood tests during closing argument by stating that the agent tested the clothes and they tested positive for blood. Based on the agent’s testimony, this argument was proper.