State v. Hughes

169 S.E.2d 1 (1969) 5 N.C. App. 639

STATE of North Carolina
v.
Curtis M. HUGHES.

No. 6921SC368.

Court of Appeals of North Carolina.

August 13, 1969.

Atty. Gen. Robert Morgan, by Deputy Atty. Gen. Harrison Lewis and Staff Atty. D. M. Jacobs, Raleigh, for the State.

Deal, Hutchins & Minor, by Edwin T. Pullen, Winston-Salem, for defendant appellant.

MORRIS, Judge.

The prosecuting witness Casey testified on direct examination, over objection, that when he first saw the defendant on the night in question he was standing near the bus station near a lighted area. Casey pointed to the defendant Hughes and stated that he was the man he saw standing near the bus station and who later robbed him. Casey also testified that he observed the defendant in his rear view mirror as he drove toward the purported destination. The witness stated that his in-court identification of the defendant was based on observations made on the night of the robbery.

On cross-examination, it was brought out by defendant's attorney, that Casey had been called by the police approximately one week following the robbery and asked to come to the jail and look at a suspect. When Casey arrived at the jail, the defendant was brought out into the hallway and immediately identified by Casey. There is no evidence that the defendant had been informed of his right to have counsel at this confrontation. At the close of the State's evidence the defendant moved "to strike the testimony of the prosecuting witness as to the identification." This motion was denied by the trial judge.

Recent cases have established that confrontation for the purposes of identification is a critical stage of pretrial criminal proceedings and requires the presence of an attorney unless voluntarily waived. United States v. Wade, 388 U.S. 218, 87 S. Ct. 1926, 18 L. Ed. 2d 1149; Gilbert v. California, 388 U.S. 263, 87 S. Ct. 1951, 18 L. Ed. 2d 1178. Evidence of an out-of-court identification, not meeting these requirements is incompetent. State v. Wright, 274 N.C. 84, 161 S.E.2d 581. And an in-court identification is incompetent if it was a result of the illegal out-of-court confrontation. State v. Williams, 274 N.C. 328, 163 S.E.2d 353.

We need not decide whether the out-of-court confrontation violated recently enunciated constitutional standards under our interpretation of this case. We need only decide whether the in-court identification, assuming that the out-of-court identification was improper, was "tainted" by the out-of-court identification. As stated in United States v. Wade, supra:

"We think it follows that the proper test to be applied in these situations is that quoted in Wong Sun v. United States, 371 U.S. 471, 488, [83 S. Ct. 407, 9 L. Ed. 2d 441, 455,] `` "[W]hether, granting establishment of the primary illegality, the evidence to which instant objection is made has been come at by exploitation of that illegality or instead by means sufficiently distinguishable to be purged of the primary taint." ' * * * Application of this test in the present context requires consideration of various factors; for example, the prior opportunity to observe the alleged criminal act, the existence of any discrepancy between any pre-lineup description and the defendant's actual description, any identification prior to lineup of another person, the identification by picture of the defendant prior to the lineup, failure to identify the defendant on a prior occasion, and the lapse of time between the alleged act and the lineup identification. It is also relevant to consider those facts which, despite the absence of counsel, are disclosed concerning the conduct of the lineup." Quoted in State v. Williams, supra.

In the present case Casey stated that when the defendant got into the taxicab he was standing in a lighted area, and that he observed the defendant through his rear view mirror at various times while in route to the destination. Casey stated: "I base it [the in-court identification] on what I saw on November the 17th, on a Sunday night. That is what I base that on." We think it was uncontradicted that the in-court identification was not "tainted" by the confrontation which took place in the jail, and had its origin independently of the witness's observation of the defendant at the jail. The trial judge correctly overruled defendant's motion to exclude this evidence. The evidence of Casey's opportunity to observe the defendant being uncontradicted, the failure of the trial judge to insert such findings into the record was harmless error. State v. Williams, supra.

Defendant argues that the trial judge committed prejudicial error in refusing to allow a continuance until the next day because of the absence of witnesses. Defendant's attorney during the course of the trial excused three of the defendant's witnesses upon the belief that the State would take the balance of the afternoon in presenting their evidence. This was not the case. The granting of a continuance is a matter entirely within the discretion of the trial judge and not reviewable unless there is a clear abuse of discretion. Dupree v. Virginia Home Insurance Co., 92 N.C. 417, 418; State v. Banks, 204 N.C. 233, 167 S.E. 851; and State v. Murphy, 4 N.C. App. 457, 167 S.E.2d 8. We think this rule is in accord with sound policy. In this day of crowded court calendars, Judges, with the aid of attorneys, should and must take steps to insure the smooth flow of cases. However, in some cases, in the interest of justice, a continuance should be granted. Absent a clear showing of an abuse of discretion, the trial judge's decision on this matter should stand. This assignment of error is overruled. Likewise, the court's refusal to allow defendant to reopen his case must stand. State v. Graves, 252 N.C. 779, 114 S.E.2d 770; State v. Coffey, 255 N.C. 293, 121 S.E.2d 736.

Upon the request for a continuance until the next day by defendant's counsel, the trial judge asked if defendant had any other evidence to present. Defendant's attorney answered no, and the trial judge then inquired if the defendant was going to testify. After a conference at the bench, the court again stated, "You're not going to offer the defendant then?" These statements were made in the presence of the jury. Defendant argues that these statements by the trial judge violated his constitutional privileges against self-incrimination. If any error was committed, we think the trial judge in his charge to the jury "properly and effectively removed any prejudicial effect that might have resulted" from these statements. State v. Lewis, 256 N.C. 430, 124 S.E.2d 115, and cases there cited.

Affirmed.

CAMPBELL and BROCK, JJ., concur.