State v. Reaves

GRAHAM, Judge

Through his first five assignments of error defendant challenges the court’s admission of his in-court identification by the prosecuting witness, William Page.

After an extensive voir dire examination the court made findings of fact and concluded that the in-court identification of defendant was based entirely on Page’s observation of defendant at the scene of the robbery and was not tainted by an out-of-court identification that took place when defendant was not represented by counsel and at a time when he had not waived his right to counsel. The court’s findings, which are supported by the evidence and in turn support the conclusions made, are binding on appeal. State v. Accor and State v. Moore, 281 N.C. 287, 188 S.E. 2d 332; State v. Lassiter, 15 N.C. App. 265, 189 S.E. 2d 798.

Moreover, the uncontroverted evidence elicited on voir dire tended to show that the out-of-court identification of defendant by the witness Page did not result from any illegal procedure. The identification took place in District Court when defendant and eighteen or twenty other prisoners entered the prison box to be tried for various unrelated offenses. Page, who was in the courtroom at the time, immediately pointed out defendant as one of the men who had participated in the robbery. Defendant was not under arrest for the armed robbery at that time, nor was he even suspected of involvement in it. Therefore, the identification did not occur during any prosecutive stage, much less during a critical stage at which defendant would have been entitled, as a matter of constitutional right, to counsel. See Kirby v. Illinois, 406 U.S. 682, 92 S.Ct. 1877, 32 L.Ed. 2d 411 (1972).

Defendant contends the case should have been nonsuited because (1) the State proved that $135.63 was taken from the prosecuting witness or in his presence; whereas, the bill of indictment stated the amount as $271.26, and (2) the evidence was insufficient to show the use of a pistol or other deadly weapon. These contentions are without merit.

It is not necessary in an armed robbery prosecution to allege or prove the particular value of the property taken, provided the indictment and proof show that the property was that of the person assaulted or under his care, and that such property is the subject of robbery and that it had some value. State v. Owens, 277 N.C. 697, 178 S.E. 2d 442.

As to defendant’s second reason for insisting that the case should have been nonsuited, suffice to say the prosecuting witness repeatedly and without objection referred to the instrument stuck in his stomach by defendant as a gun or pistol and described it in detail.

Finally, defendant contends that the court should have submitted to the jury issues relating to his possible guilt of various lesser included offenses. The necessity for instructing the jury as to an included crime of lesser degree than that charged arises only when there is evidence from which the jury could find that such included crime of lesser degree was committed. State v. Carnes, 279 N.C. 549, 184 S.E. 2d 235. The evidence in this case tends to show a completed robbery. The court charged the jury that they could return a verdict of guilty as charged in the bill of indictment, guilty of common law robbery or not guilty. There was no evidence that would warrant or support a finding that defendant was guilty of any other lesser included offense.

No error.

Judges Parker and Vaughn concur.