State v. Williams

184 S.E.2d 875 (1971) 280 N.C. 132

STATE of North Carolina
v.
Robert WILLIAMS, Jr.

No. 134.

Supreme Court of North Carolina.

December 15, 1971.

Atty. Gen. Robert Morgan and Asst. Atty. Gen. Myron C. Banks for the State.

Winston, Coleman & Bernholz, by Barry T. Winston, Chapel Hill, for defendant.

BRANCH, Justice.

All of defendant's assignments of error are directed to the charge.

Defendant contends that the court erred in instructing the jury as to second degree murder and manslaughter. In this connection, the trial judge instructed the jury:

There is no evidence of malice in this case other than the presumption if you find from the evidence beyond a reasonable doubt that the Defendant intentionally inflicted the wound upon the deceased, Mr. Stroud, as he has been referred to here in the Bill of Indictment. Then, if you so find, that it proximately resulted, there is from no other cause, the death of Mr. Stroud, that the wound was intentionally inflicted by the Defendant, that raises the presumption that he is guilty of murder in the second degree.

The correct rule concerning the presumptions which arise in a homicide case are found in State v. Propst, 274 N.C. 62, 161 S.E.2d 560. There the Court stated:

If and when the State satisfied the jury from the evidence beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant intentionally shot Taylor with a .38 pistol and thereby proximately caused Taylor's death, two presumptions arose: (1) that the killing was unlawful, and (2) that it was done with malice. Nothing else appearing, the defendant would be guilty of murder in the second degree. State v. Gordon, 241 N.C. 356, 85 S.E.2d 322; State v. Adams, 241 N.C. 559, 85 S.E.2d 918; State v. Wagoner, 249 N.C. 637, 107 S.E.2d 83; State v. Revis, 253 N.C. 50, 116 S.E.2d 171; State v. Phillips, 264 N.C. 508, 515, 142 S.E.2d 337, 340; State v. Price, 271 N.C. 521, 525, 157 S.E.2d 127, 129-130; State v. Cooper, 273 N.C. 51, 57, 159 S.E.2d 305, 309.

Here the charge does not mention the intentional use of a deadly weapon. Nor are the presumptions which arise from the intentional use of a deadly weapon correctly stated. Further, nothing appears in this part of the charge which indicates that the presumption of malice might be rebutted. Thus, even a cursory examination of this portion of the charge reveals that it does not comply with the rule as correctly stated in State v. Propst, supra.

The court thereafter charged:

Now, manslaughter, ladies and gentlemen of the jury, as I have told you before, if you find from the evidence beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant, Mr. Williams, intentionally inflicted the wound in the chest of the deceased, Jerry Stroud, and that it proximately resulted in death of Mr. Stroud, then he would be presumed to be guilty of murder in the second degree; . . .

The court set out to charge on manslaughter, but proceeded to give a definition of murder in the second degree.

Again, in discussing distinctions in homicides, the record shows:

[The presence in one case of premeditation and deliberation and the absence of the other, or one or both of these elements is the distinction different between murder in the first degree and murder in the second degree.]

To the above portion of the charge as set out in brackets, the Defendant excepts. DEFENDANT'S EXCEPTION NO 4

[The presence of the one and the absence of the other element of malice is the distinction between murder in the second degree and manslaughter.]

The chief purpose of a charge is to give a clear instruction which applies the law to the evidence in such manner as to assist the jury in understanding the case and in reaching a correct verdict. State v. Biggs, 224 N.C. 722, 32 S.E.2d 352; Lewis v. Watson, 229 N.C. 20, 47 S.E.2d 484.

Defendant further contends that the trial judge expressed opinions to the jury. In support of this contention defendant cites portions of the record which show the following:

Criminal negligence is more than carelessness. The Defendant's act of criminal negligence, if it was done, was with recklessness or carelessness and showed a thoughtless disregard for consequences or heedless indifference for the safety and rights of others. That would be what is known in law as culpable negligence or criminal negligence . . . . and the State of course will further prove to you in both murder in the second degree and manslaughter that Jerry Stroud's death was a natural and probable result of the Defendant's act.

Defendant correctly contends that this portion of the charge amounted to a statement of opinion that, if the stabbing was done, an act of criminal negligence had been committed by defendant.

In that connection, you are instructed, ladies and gentlemen of the jury, the State of North Carolina has satisfied you beyond a reasonable doubt that the Defendant, Mr. Robert Williams, Jr., unlawfully, willfully and feloniously, in a criminal and negligent way and the act was criminally negligent, reckless, and careless and showed total disregard for consequences or heedless indifference to the safety and rights of others and such act was done with a deadly weapon, as that term has been described to you, and you are further satisfied from the evidence that the deceased, Mr. Stroud's death was a natural and probable result of the Defendant's act, it would be your duty to return a verdict of involuntary manslaughter.

This part of the court's instructions omitted the single word "if". Undoubtedly this was an inadvertent omission. It resulted, however, in an expression of opinion by the court that the State had already shown that defendant's act was criminally negligent.

In the case of State v. Kea, 256 N.C. 492, 124 S.E.2d 174, the trial judge charged "Manslaughter is the unlawful killing of a human being with malice . . . ." It was apparent that the trial judge intended to charge that "Manslaughter is the unlawful killing of a human being without malice." There the trial court in other places correctly charged as to this element of manslaughter; nevertheless, this Court held that such charge resulted in prejudicial error.

It is clear that some of the errors in this charge resulted from lapsus linguae on the part of the trial judge; however, in all fairness to this experienced trial judge, we feel compelled to observe that it is also apparent that many of the errors of omission and commission resulted from the taking and transcription of the record.

This Court, however, is bound by the record as certified and can judicially know only what appears of record. State v. Morgan, 225 N.C. 549, 35 S.E.2d 621; State v. Winford, 279 N.C. 58, 181 S.E.2d 423.

We seriously doubt that any part of the charge as challenged by any one assignment of error would constitute prejudicial error; however, without attempting to discuss all assignments of error, we conclude that the total charge failed to clarify the material issues so as to aid the jury in reaching a verdict.

For reasons stated, there must be a

New trial.