State v. McGee

267 S.E.2d 67 (1980)

47 N.C. App. 280

STATE of North Carolina v. Carl Edward McGEE.

No. 8025SC83.

Court of Appeals of North Carolina.

June 17, 1980.

*70 Atty. Gen. Rufus L. Edmisten by Sp. Deputy Atty. Gen. W. A. Raney, Jr., Raleigh, for the State.

Byrd, Byrd, Ervin, Blanton & Whisnant by Robert B. Byrd and Joseph K. Byrd, Morganton, for defendant-appellant.

HARRY C. MARTIN, Judge.

Defendant argues four assignments of error. After a careful consideration of the record, briefs and oral arguments of counsel, we find no error in defendant's trial.

First, defendant contends the bill for murder in the second degree should be quashed because it does not contain the word "aforethought," modifying malice. The offense of murder in the second degree requires malice as an element, but not malice aforethought. "Aforethought" means "with premeditation and deliberation" as required in murder in the first degree. It is not an element of murder in the second degree. State v. Duboise, 279 N.C. 73, 181 S.E.2d 393 (1971). Defendant also insists the state should be estopped from prosecuting defendant on the charge of murder in the second degree because the district court judge failed to find probable cause on the murder charge and only bound the defendant over for trial on manslaughter. Defendant's counsel candidly concede this Court has reached a contrary result in State v. Lee, 42 N.C.App. 77, 255 S.E.2d 602 (1979), but request the Court to reconsider this holding. A finding of probable cause by the district court is not a prerequisite to the returning of a true bill of indictment. The actions of a grand jury are not limited by the charges presented or determined at a probable cause hearing in the district court. We see no reason to abandon this beacon of the law to embark on uncharted seas. Defendant contends the present law may result in abuse of authority by the district solicitor. The ballot box is the remedy for such abuse. We find no merit in this assignment of error.

Defendant insists that the trial court erred in denying his motion to dismiss the charges of murder and voluntary manslaughter at the close of all the evidence. On such motion, the state is entitled to every reasonable inference arising from the evidence, which must be considered in the *71 light most favorable to the state. State v. Witherspoon, 293 N.C. 321, 237 S.E.2d 822 (1977). The introduction by the state of exculpatory statements by a defendant does not preclude the state from showing the facts concerning the crime to be different, and does not require nonsuit if the state contradicts or rebuts defendant's exculpatory statements. State v. May, 292 N.C. 644, 235 S.E.2d 178, cert. denied, 434 U.S. 928, 98 S. Ct. 414, 54 L. Ed. 2d 288 (1977).

The state's evidence showed defendant to be living with deceased's wife in a motel room. Upon seeing deceased's truck hit his jeep, defendant took an automatic shotgun, loaded with 12-gauge buckshot, and went out of the motel before the deceased had gotten out of his vehicle. Johnny Van Horn only had a tire tool, eighteen inches long, in his possession. These events happened in the daytime, shortly after defendant got off work at 5:30 p.m., daylight saving time, 10 July 1979. Defendant shot Van Horn while he was behind a vehicle some twenty-two feet away. There is no evidence Van Horn was assaulting or threatening to assault defendant in any way. Defendant voluntarily left the safety of his motel room and could have easily returned there if he feared an assault from Van Horn.

Malice is presumed in the law from the intentional firing of the shotgun resulting in the killing of Van Horn. State v. Jackson, 284 N.C. 383, 200 S.E.2d 596 (1973). The state's evidence is sufficient to throw a different light on the circumstances of the killing and to impeach defendant's exculpatory statements. It was for the jury to say whether defendant's guilt of murder or manslaughter had been proved beyond a reasonable doubt. The assignment of error is overruled.

Defendant makes several exceptions to the court's charge on self-defense. He argues the court should have instructed the jury that the eighteen-inch tire tool was a deadly weapon as a matter of law. From an examination of the tire tool, which was offered into evidence and forwarded to this Court as an exhibit, it is obvious that it is not a deadly weapon as a matter of law. Whether it was a deadly weapon as used in this case depends upon the weapon itself, how it was being used, the size, strength and physical ability of the party using it, Van Horn, as opposed to that of defendant, and the other facts and circumstances of the case. State v. Cauley, 244 N.C. 701, 94 S.E.2d 915 (1956). The court properly refused to instruct the jury that the tire tool was a deadly weapon as a matter of law.

Defendant argues that where there is evidence of self-defense the presumptions of unlawfulness and malice, which arise from the intentional shooting with a deadly weapon, disappear. This argument has been resolved by our Supreme Court in State v. Hankerson, 288 N.C. 632, 220 S.E.2d 575 (1975), rev'd on other grounds, 432 U.S. 233, 53 L. Ed. 2d 306 (1977), where the Court held that Mullaney v. Wilbur, 421 U.S. 684, 95 S. Ct. 1881, 44 L. Ed. 2d 508 (1975), does not preclude the continued use of our traditional presumptions of unlawfulness and malice arising from the intentional use of a deadly weapon resulting in death.

Defendant contends the court should have instructed the jury as a matter of law that Van Horn was the aggressor under the facts of this case. We do not agree. This was properly a question for the jury and the court so instructed.

The court correctly charged the jury on the law of self-defense under the circumstances of this case. There was no evidence to require a specific instruction that defendant could defend his habitation, the motel room, in order to prevent a forcible entry. State v. Jones, 299 N.C. 103, 261 S.E.2d 1 (1980).

A person has the right to use deadly force in the defense of his habitation in order to prevent a forcible entry, even if the intruder is not armed with a deadly weapon, where the attempted forcible entry is made under such circumstances that the person reasonably apprehends death or great bodily harm to himself or the occupants of the home at the hands of *72 the assailant or believes that the assailant intends to commit a felony. . . . The occupant may use deadly force when it is actually or apparently necessary to do so, and the jury is the judge of the reasonableness of the defendant's apprehension.. . . . . . . . Thus, when there is competent evidence in the case to raise the issue of defense of home, the jury must be instructed on this defense and the fact that the jury was instructed on defense of a family member does not cure the error.

Id. at 107, 261 S.E.2d at 5.

In Jones, the deceased had made an assault on the house in an effort to force entry; he beat on the door, broke the lock on the door, tore the screen and broke several panes of glass in the front door, all after warning shots had been fired by defendant Jones. In our case, there is no evidence of such attack by Van Horn; he was some twenty-two feet from the motel when killed. The court's instructions were correct.

Last, defendant objects to the jury arguments by counsel for the state. He points out eight places in the arguments, which are part of the record, in which he contends prejudicial error was committed. They read:

[1] Mr. Byrd keeps telling you that the facts are undisputed. Sure the facts are undisputed, but the intent or the truthfulness of the facts might be disputed. You must look at the person, ladies and gentlemen, that's made the statements. Carl McGee is the defendant. He's the man that's on the seat, on the hot seat today. He is the man that has an interest in this case. You must scrutinize very, very carefully, as the Court will instruct you, any person's statements who has an interest in the case. [2] Now the other statement, Detective Buchanan comes in a little bit later, 9:40, which is some thirty-forty minutes later, and he takes a statement. He says well, let me take a statement here. What's Carl McGee say? Now listen to this second statement. Says Pat and Johnny Van Horn are separated over a month, she went back to Johnny for three days. Talking about Pat there, his roommate. Since Sunday, she left Sunday,we stayed at the Rainbow Inn Sunday night. Over at the Rainbow Inn, just the two of them. Rented a room then for a week then at the Morganton Motel. McGee now is making this statement to the officers. Remember again he's an interested witness. He said I signed my name, she didn't sign hers. [3] I tell you, ladies and gentlemen, this case is clear to me. Johnny Van Horn went over there looking for his wife, he didn't go over there looking for trouble. There is absolutely no evidence of any weapon on the person of Johnny Van Horn. No evidence whatsoever. [4] Ladies and gentlemen, the defendant Carl McGee shot and killed Johnny Van Horn, and he is guilty of murder. There is no reasonable doubt in my mind that that's not the case. [5] There is no self-defense. There is a homicide. Carl McGee has ended a very valuable life. He has done it in a very hostile aggravated manner. [6] At the very minimum, ladies and gentlemen, from the evidence, if you believe everything that the defendant said, even inconsistencies, if you believe everything to his favor, the statements to the officers, you would have to find him guilty of voluntary manslaughter because he used excessive force. Even if this [tire tool] were thrown at him he used excessive force. He had not at any time been under a deadly attack, a deadly assault. No evidence. [7] Several things about this case have really bothered me from the standpoint of the contentions made by the defendant. Why, oh why, oh why, Mr. Byrd, did your defendant arm himself with three weapons on this occasion? Why, oh why, Mr. Byrd, did he have two loaded weapons in the motel room, one of them before he ever even talked to Pat Van Horn, the victim's wife, about any threats? Why *73 did he arm himself with three weapons?, when this man had never had any personal contact with him. Had never made a direct threat to him. I think you ladies and gentlemen can see the lies. [8] I'll have you to recall one thing, the defendant didn't give Johnny Van Horn that right. The defendant, Carl McGee, on this occasion at the Morganton Motel with his twelve gauge shotgun with double-ought buckshot was the jury, the judge, and the executioner.

Defendant did not object to numbers 1, 3, 5, 6 and 7 at the time the statements were made. He objected to numbers 2, 4 and 8; the objections were sustained by the court and on number 8 the court instructed the jury not to consider the argument. Defendant does not argue numbers 1, 3, 5 and 6 in his brief. All four are proper arguments, supported by the evidence in the case. While the statement in number 7 is inappropriate, it does not directly accuse any person or witness of lying. Counsel was only submitting the possibility to the jury for their determination. State v. Noell, 284 N.C. 670, 202 S.E.2d 750 (1974), death penalty vacated, 428 U.S. 902, 96 S. Ct. 3202, 49 L. Ed. 2d 1205, 49 L. Ed. 2d 1205 (1976). Defendant made no objection at the time, and it is not so improper as to require the court to order a mistrial ex mero motu. State v. Britt, 291 N.C. 528, 231 S.E.2d 644 (1977). If a timely objection had been made, the court could have removed any possible prejudice by instructions to the jury. State v. Miller, 288 N.C. 582, 220 S.E.2d 326 (1975). Defendant fails to address number 2 in his brief. In any event, it is a proper argument supported by the facts of this case.

In number 4, state's counsel states his opinion as to the guilt of defendant. The court promptly sustained defendant's objection. No further instruction was requested. We do not believe that the statement, although clearly improper, is so grossly prejudicial as to require a mistrial. State v. Britt, supra.

The court sustained defendant's objection to the last quoted statement of counsel, and instructed the jury that they would not consider the argument. Again, although the argument was improper, any possible prejudice was removed by the action of the court and there is not sufficient prejudice to require a new trial.

Nor do we consider the cumulative effect of the contested parts of counsel's arguments to be sufficiently prejudicial to call for a new trial. Jury arguments must be left largely to the control and discretion of the trial judge. Counsel are generally allowed wide latitude in hotly contested cases. State v. Westbrook, 279 N.C. 18, 181 S.E.2d 572 (1971), death penalty vacated, 408 U.S. 939, 92 S. Ct. 2873, 33 L. Ed. 2d 761 (1972). We hold defendant was not deprived of a fair and impartial trial by counsel's arguments. See the excellent collection of authorities by Justice Copeland in Reversible Error in Argument to Jury, Institute of Government, presented at the Conference of Superior Court Judges, Asheville, North Carolina, 22 October 1976.

In defendant's trial, we find

No error.

WEBB and WELLS, JJ., concur.