State v. Primus

PLEICONES, J.,

concurring in part and dissenting in part in a separate opinion.

Justice PLEICONES.

I concur in part and dissent in part. I would hold that assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature (ABHAN) is not a lesser-included offense of first degree criminal sexual conduct and would vacate Primus’s ABHAN conviction. See State v. Elliott, 346 S.C. 603, 552 S.E.2d 727 (2001)(Pleicones, J., dissenting). I agree with the majority’s conclusion that the assistant solicitor’s improper statement in closing argument does not warrant a new trial.