State v. Brown , 59 N.C. App. 411 ( 1982 )

296 S.E.2d 839 (1982)

STATE of North Carolina
v.
John Earl BROWN.

No. 8218SC175.

Court of Appeals of North Carolina.

November 16, 1982.

Atty. Gen., Rufus L. Edmisten by Sp. Deputy Atty. Gen., Isham B. Hudson, Jr., Raleigh, for the State.

E.S. Schlosser, Jr., Greensboro, for defendant-appellant.

ROBERT M. MARTIN, Judge.

Defendant first assigns as error the failure of the trial court to grant his motion to dismiss because of violation of his statutory right to a speedy trial. Specifically, defendant contends that the lower court erred in its refusal to include in the computation made pursuant to G.S. 15A-701(a1)(1) the 42 days between the judge's commitment order on 28 January 1981 and the day defendant was finally sent to Central Prison for his mental examination on 12 March 1981.

The pertinent section of the Speedy Trial Act, N.C.Gen.Stat. 15A-701(a1)(1) provides:

(a1) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) the trial of a defendant charged with a criminal offense who is arrested, served with criminal process, waives an indictment or is indicted, on or after October 1, 1978, and before October 1, 1983, shall begin within the time limits specified below:

(1) Within 120 days from the date the defendant is arrested, served with criminal process, waives an indictment, or is indicted, whichever occurs last;

To determine the time elapsed under G.S. 15A-701(a1)(1), the court is instructed under N.C.Gen.Stat. 15A-701(b)(1)(a) that

(b) The following periods shall be excluded in computing the time within which the trial of a criminal offense must begin:

(1) Any period of delay resulting from other proceedings concerning the defendant including, but not limited to, delays resulting from:

(a) A mental or physical examination of the defendant, including all time when he is awaiting or undergoing treatment or examination, or a hearing on his mental or physical capacity; (emphasis added)

We find no merit in defendant's first assignment of error, since the North Carolina Supreme Court has recently recognized that G.S. 15A-701(b)(1)(a) does not restrict the excludable period to the period of time a person is actually in custody of the hospital. State v. Harren, 302 N.C. 142, 273 S.E.2d 694 (1981). The court stated that the reason for excluding the time between the order and transportation of defendant to the hospital was that "the State cannot bring the defendant to trial during this time period because to do so would deprive him of the benefit of the mental examination." Id. at 146, 273 S.E.2d at 697.

Although Harren dealt with G.S. 15A-701(b)(1)(a) as amended in 1981, that amendment adding the words "including all time when he is awaiting or undergoing treatment or examination," the Speedy Trial Act is a procedural statute with any amendment thereto being treated as if part of the original statute. State v. Morehead, 46 N.C.App. 39, 264 S.E.2d 400, cert. den., 300 N.C. 201, 269 S.E.2d 615 (1980). We conclude that the trial court properly excluded the 42 day period between the commitment order and transport to the hospital, with the remaining includable periods of delay being within the time limit set by G.S. 15A-701(a1)(1).

Defendant next contends that the trial court erred by denying him access to a statistician to aid him in an attempt to prove that his indictment was not returned by a grand jury representing a fair cross-section of the community. Under N.C.Gen.Stat. § 7A-454 a trial court has the power to allow a fee for the service of an expert witness who testifies for an indigent defendant. N.C.Gen.Stat. § 7A-450(b) also provides that "it is the responsibility of the State to provide him (an indigent person) with counsel and the other necessary expenses of representation." The question of whether an expert should be appointed at State expense to assist an indigent defendant is within the discretion of the trial judge. State v. Tatum, 291 N.C. 73, 229 S.E.2d 562 (1976).

Defendant's constitutional and statutory right to a State appointed expert arises only upon a showing that there is a reasonable likelihood that such an expert would discover evidence which would materially assist defendant in the preparation of his defense. State v. Alford, 298 N.C. 465, 259 S.E.2d 242 (1979). There is no requirement that an indigent defendant be provided with investigative assistance merely upon the defendant's request. State v. Parton, 303 N.C. 55, 277 S.E.2d 410 (1981). We hold that the trial judge did not abuse his discretion in denying defendant access to a statistician. Newspaper articles merely expressing the opinions of the Governor of North Carolina, the North Carolina Courts Commission, and the North Carolina Human Relations Council failed to show the reasonable likelihood of material assistance which Alford requires.

Defendant's next assignment of error suggests that the trial judge unfairly prejudiced defendant's case by asking one of the State's witnesses five questions, which elicited testimony as to the defendant's whereabouts before and on 6 January 1974. It is well established that a trial judge may question witnesses as long as the judge does not violate the prohibition against expressing an opinion as to the weight of the evidence or the credibility of the witness. 1 Brandis on North Carolina Evidence § 37 (1982). "[J]udges should be regarded not merely as referees of prize fights, but rather as responsible participants in the difficult attempt to ascertain the truth (not always faithfully aided by counsel)." Id. See also Eekhout v. Cole, 135 N.C. 583, 47 S.E. 655 (1904). Not only may the judge question a witness for the purpose of promoting a better understanding of the testimony, State v. Fuller, 48 N.C.App. 418, 268 S.E.2d 879, review denied 301 N.C. 403, 273 S.E.2d 448 (1980), but the judge may also direct questions to the witness in an effort to elicit overlooked pertinent facts. State v. Monk, 291 N.C. 37, 229 S.E.2d 163 (1976).

We find no error in the five questions which the trial judge asked the State's witness. Questions 1, 2, 3, and 5 began with the qualifying language "where do you say," "when you say," and "you say." That language clearly precludes any interpretation of the judge's questions as an expression of his opinion. He was merely attempting to clarify and develop the testimony already presented. Although Question 4 did not begin with the neutral language of the other questions, taken in conjunction with the other questions it does not constitute an improper expression of opinion by the trial judge. The mere fact that the judge's questions may produce answers which contain new testimony, or cause the witness to repeat testimony already given on direct or cross examination, does not automatically create prejudicial error. Here the judge's questions were both necessary and proper to "insure justice and aid the jury in their search for a verdict that speaks the truth." State v. Pearce, 296 N.C. 281, 285, 250 S.E.2d 640, 644 (1979).

The next assignment of error deals with the trial judge's denial of defendant's motion to set aside the verdict. Defendant's motion to set aside the verdict was addressed to the discretion of the trial court and refusal to grant the motion is not reviewable absent a showing of an abuse of discretion. State v. McNeil, 280 N.C. 159, 185 S.E.2d 156 (1971). We find that the verdict was adequately supported by the evidence and that there was no abuse of discretion.

Furthermore, as to defendant's fifth assignment of error, we are unable to find any fatal error or defect appearing on the face of the record and therefore find no error with the trial judge's refusal to arrest the judgment. Id.

Defendant contends that the trial court improperly increased defendant's original sentence, after discovering that the crime defendant was convicted of was committed prior to a change in a parole law which the judge had erroneously taken into consideration when imposing the original sentence. The trial court acted properly in changing the defendant's sentence after discovering it had mistakenly applied the wrong parole law when originally sentencing defendant. Until the end of the term the orders and judgments of the court are in fieri and the judge has within his discretion the power to make any changes that he finds appropriate for the administration of justice, and for that purpose he may hear further evidence in open court. State v. Godwin, 210 N.C. 447, 187 S.E. 560 (1936). In the present case the defendant's sentence was changed only after a hearing in open court at which both parties, represented by counsel, were present and we find no error.

We have carefully reviewed defendant's final assignment of error and find no merit.

In the trial we find

No error.

ARNOLD and WHICHARD, JJ., concur.