Table of Authorities Vi

1

index

table of authorities...... vi

Questions Presented

Statement of the Case

Statement of the Facts

Guilt Phase Evidence

Penalty Phase Evidence

Argument

pretrial and jury selection issues

i.the trial court committed reversible error in denying defendant’s motion to recuse himself, or not at least referring the motion to another judge, where the presiding judge was also the district court judge who found probable cause to bind defendant over for action by the grand jury, and necessarily expressed his opinion that defendant was responsible for these crimes.

Ii.The trial court committed reversible error in denying defendant’s motion to continue, as newly appointed counsel had grossly inadequate time to prepare, thereby denying defendant his federal and state constitutional rights to the effective assistance of counsel and due process.

iii.THE TRIAL COURT COMMITTED STRUCTURAL ERROR BY VIOLATING THE STATUTORY REQUIREMENT FOR RANDOM JURY SELECTION WHEN, OVER DEFENDANT’S OBJECTION, IT EXCUSED AN AFRICAN AMERICAN PROSPECTIVE JUROR, CARSON ALLEN, FROM COURT FOR ONE DAY AND CONTINUED jury SELECTION BEFORE ALLEN RETURNED TO THE VENIRE, thereby CONTRIBUTing TO THE SELECTION OF A JURY UNREPRESENTATIVE OF THE COMMUNITY AND OF DEFENDANT’S RACIAL GROUP.

iv.the trial court erred by failing to dismiss for cause potential juror william brian Thorpe, or to allow defendant an additional peremptory challenge, thereby denying defendant HIS CONSTITUTIONAL and statutory RIGHT TO A NEUTRAL AND UNBIASED JURY.

V.The trial court erred in denying defendant’s motion for a mistrial WHEN prospective juror amity parker, having been threatened or intimidated by someone she erroneously believed was related to defendant, told another juror about this incident and the trial court failed to make an adequate inquiry to determine if another juror had been tainted with this information.

vi.DEFENDANT’S CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO A JURY SELECTED WITHOUT REGARD TO RACE WAS VIOLATED BY THE PROSECUTOR’S DISCRIMINATORY USE OF PEREMPTORY STRIKES AGAINST POTENTIAL JURORS OF AFRICAN AMERICAN DESCENT.

vii.tHE TRIAL COURT COMMITTED REVERSIBLE ERROR IN trying defendant for first-degree murder and entering a judgment of death upon a THE MURDER INDICTMENT WHich UNCONSTITUTIONALLY FAILED TO ALLEGE ALL THE ELEMENTS OF FIRST DEGREE MURDER.

guilt phase issues

viii.the trial court committed reversible error in overruling defendant’s objection to the prosecutor showing the victim’s mother an autopsy photograph of her son which resulted in an extremely prejudicial emotional outburst and later abused its discretion in denying defendant’s motion for a mistrial, as this prejudicial outburst, caused by the prosecutor’s improper use of the photograph, denied defendant his constitutional rights to a fair trial and due process of law.

ix.The trial Court committed reversible error in permitting the state to impeach two of its own witnesses with prior inconsistent statements when the prosecutor was not surprised by the actual testimony of these witnesses, thereby denying defendant his federal and state constitutional rights to a fair trial and due process of law.

x.The trial court committed reversible error or, in the alternative, plain error in allowing the prosecutor to cross-examine defendant about having worked as a male stripper, as this information constituted impermissible character evidence and was wholly irrelevant and greatly prejudicial, thereby denying defendant his federal and state constitutional rights to a fair trial.

xi.the trial court committed reversible error by failing to censure the state's gross misconduct during guilt phase closing argument in which the prosecutor argued extremely prejudicial matters which were beyond the scope of the law and evidence in the case, thereby violating defendant's state and federal rights to due process of law.

xii.the trial court committed plain error in defining “aggressor” for the jury in its explanation of the law of self-defense by failing to make clear that a person is not the aggressor if he is provoked by the victim, thereby denying defendant his federal and state constitutional rights to a fair trial and due process of law.

xiii.the trial court committed reversible or, in the alternative, plain error in its instruction on lying in wait as this explanation did not apply to the facts and misled the jury regarding this theory of first-degree murder, thereby denying defendant his federal and state constitutional rights to a fair trial and due process of law.

penalty phase issues

XIv.THE TRIAL COURT COMMITTED REVERSIBLE ERROR IN ALLOWING THE JURY TO CONSIDER AND FIND AS AGGRAVATING CIRCUMSTANCES BOTH A MURDER COMMITTED USING A WEAPON THAT CREATED A RISK OF DEATH TO MORE THAN ONE PERSON AND A MURDER COMMITTED DURING A COURSE OF CONDUCT INVOLVING VIOLENCE TO MORE THAN ONE PERSON AS THESE WERE BASED ON THE SAME EVIDENCE AND INHERENTLY DUPLICITOUS on the facts of this case.

xv.THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN DENYING DEFENDANT’S MOTION FOR A MISTRIAL or failing to take other curative action WHEN AN INCIDENT OCCURRED THAT INTIMIDATED A SEATED JUROR JUST BEFORE THE PENALTY PHASE DELIBERATIONS BEGAN, ESPECIALLY WHEN THAT JUROR RELATED THIS INCIDENT TO ANOTHER SEATED JUROR.

xvi.the trial court committed reversible error in denying defendant’s motion to continue the penalty phase as counsel had grossly inadequate time to prepare for this important portion of the trial, thereby denying defendant his federal and state constitutional rights to the effective assistance of counsel and a reliable capital sentencing determination.

Xvii.THE TRIAL COURT COMMITTED REVERSIBLE CONSTITUTIONAL ERROR BY FAILING TO REQUIRE THE STATE TO DISCLOSE THE AGGRAVATING CIRCUMSTANCES ON WHICH IT INTENDED TO RELY AT SENTENCING.

Xviii.THE TRIAL COURT COMMITTED REVERSIBLE CONSTITUTIONAL ERROR OR PLAIN ERROR BY SUBMITTING POTENTIALLY DUPLICATIVE AGGRAVATING CIRCUMSTANCES TO THE JURY UNDER INSTRUCTIONS WHICH FAILED TO INSTRUCT THE JURY IN A MANNER WHICH WOULD HAVE PREVENTED JURORS FROM CONSIDERING THE SAME EVIDENCE IN SUPPORT OF MORE THAN ONE AGGRAVATING CIRCUMSTANCE.

proportionality review

xiX.the death sentence imposed upon defendant must be vacated because it is excessive and disproportionate to the penalty imposed in similar cases.

non-capital sentencing issues

xx.the trial court erred in imposing a sentence in the aggravated range for the non-capital offenses of felonious assault and discharging a firearm into occupied property by considering as aggravating factors that defendant induced others to participate in the offense and that defendant occupied a position of leadership or dominance of other participants in the commision of the offense, as these factors were not supported by the evidence.

preservation issues

xXI.the trial court violated defendant's statutory and constitutional rights and committed plain error by telling the sentencing jury that it must be unanimous to answer "no" at issues i, iii, and iv on the issues and recommendation sheet.

xXIi.The trial court committed plain error in its instructions defining the burden of proof applicable to mitigating circumstances which violated the fifth, sixth, eighth, and fourteenth amendments because they used the inherently ambiguous and vague terms "satisfaction" and "satisfy", thus permitting jurors to establish for themselves the legal standard to be applied to the evidence.

xXIii.The trial court violated defendant's constitutional and statutory rights by instructing jurors to decide whether nonstatutory mitigating circumstances, even those for which the factual basis was uncontroverted, have mitigating value.

xXIV.the trial court committed reversible error by instructing the jury on a definition of mitigation which was unconstitutionally narrow.

xxV.The trial court committed reversible error by its use of the term "may" in sentencing issues three and four, thereby making consideration of proven mitigation discretionary with the sentencing jurors, in violation of the fifth, sixth, eighth, and fourteenth amendments.

xxVI.the trial court committed reversible error in its penalty phase instructions which allowed each juror in deciding issues three and four to consider only the mitigation found by that juror at issue two, thereby limiting the full and free consideration of mitigation required by the state and federal constitutions.

xxVII.the trial court committed reversible error in allowing death qualification of the jury by excusing for cause certain jurors who expressed an unwillingness to impose the death penalty, as this process created a conviction-prone jury and denied defendant a fair trial.

xxVIII.the north carolina death penalty statute and consequently the death sentence in the case is unconstitutional, is imposed in a discriminatory manner, is vague and overbroad, and involves subjective discretion, all in violation of the eight and fourteenth amendments to the united states constitution and Article i, sections 19 and 27 of the north carolina constitution.

Conclusion

certificate of filing and service

table of authorities

Cases

United States v. Gaudin,
515 U.S. 506, 132 L.Ed.2d 444 (1995)...... 78

Ake v. Oklahoma,
470 U.S. 68, 84 L.E.2d 53 (1985)...... 132

Batson v. Kentucky,
476 U.S. 79, 90 L.Ed. 69 (1986)...... 70

Boyde v. California,
494 U.S. 370, 108 L.Ed.2d 316 (1990)...... 122

Burnham v. Superior Court of California,
495 U.S. 604, 109 L.Ed.2d 631 (1990)...... 82

Casteneda v. Partida,
430 U.S. 482, 51 L.Ed.2d 498 (1977)...... 54

Duren v. Missouri,
439 U.S. 357, 58 L.Ed.2d 579 (1979)...... 54

Eddings v. Oklahoma,
455 U.S. 104, 71 L.Ed.2d 1 (1982)...... 153, 155

Engle v. Isaac,
456 U.S. 107, 71 L.Ed.2d 783 (1982)...... 148

Espinosa v. Florida,
505 U.S. 1079, 120 L.Ed.2d 854 (1992)...... 138

Fleming v. Kemp,
794 F.2d 1478 (11th Cir. 1986)...... 73

Georgia v. McCallum,
505 U.S. 42, 120 L.Ed.2d 33 (1992)...... 71

Gray v. Mississippi,
481 U.S. 648, 95 L.Ed.2d 622 (1987)...... 49

Gregg v. Georgia,
428 U.S. 153, 49 L.Ed.2d 859 (1976)...... 127, 132, 152

Ham v. South Carolina,
409 U.S. 524, 35 L.Ed.2d 46 (1973)...... 56

Hamling v. United States,
418 U.S. 87, 41 L.Ed.2d 590 (1974)...... 78

Hance v. Zant,
696 F.2d 940, 952-53 (11th Cir.), cert. denied, 463 U.S. 1210, 77 L.Ed.2d 1393 (1983) 111

Harrelson v. State Farm Insurance,
272 N.C. 609, 158 S.E.2d 812 (1968)...... 44

Haslam v. Morrison,
113 Utah 14, 190 P.2d 520 (1948)...... 34

Hernandez v. New York,
500 U.S. 352, 114 L.Ed.2d 395 (1991)...... 72

Hopt v. Utah,
110 U.S. 574 (1884)...... 150

Irvin v. Dowd,
366 U.S. 717, 6 L.Ed.2d 751 (1961)...... 104

Johnson v. Mississippi,
486 U.S. 578, 100 L.Ed.2d 575 (1988)...... 152

Jones v. United States,
526 U.S. ___, 143 L.Ed.2d 311 (1999)...... 135

Lockett v. Ohio,
438 U.S. 586, 57 L.Ed.2d 973 (1978)...... 155

McClendon v. Clinard,
38 N.C. App. 353, 247 S.E.2d 783 (1978)...... 33

McKoy v. North Carolina,
494 U.S. 433, 108 L.Ed.2d 369 (1990)...... 154, 157

Mills v. Maryland,
486 U.S. 367, 100 L.Ed.2d 384 (1988)...... 155, 157

Neal v. Delaware,
103 U.S. 370, 26 L.Ed. 567 (1881)...... 72

North Carolina National Bank v.Gillespie,
291 N.C. 303, 230 S.E.2d 375 (1976)...... 30

Penry v. Lynaugh,
492 U.S. 302, 106 L.Ed.2d 256 (1989)...... 153, 155

Ponder v. Davis,
233 N.C. 699, 65 S.E.2d 356 (1951)...... 29

State v. Abraham,
338 N.C. 315, 451 S.E.2d 131 (1994)...... 136

State v. Ahearn,
307 N.C. 584, 300 S.E.2d 689 (1983)...... 144

State v. Allison,
298 N.C. 135, 257 S.E.2d 417 (1979)...... 117

State v. Allred,
275 N.C. 554, 169 S.E.2d 833 (1969)...... 64

State v. Anderson,
283 N.C. 218, 195 S.E.2d 561 (1973)...... 90

State v. Ashe,
314 N.C. 28, 331 S.E.2d 652 (1985)...... 53

State v. Avery,
299 N.C. 126, 261 S.E.2d 803 (1980)...... 157

State v. Bailey,
80 N.C. App. 678, 343 S.E.2d 434, disc. rev. improvidently allowed,
318 N.C. 652, 350 S.E.2d 94 (1986)...... 101

State v. Barnes,
345 N.C. 184, 481 S.E.2d 44, cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 139 L.Ed.2d 134 (1997).....73

State v. Bass,
121 N.C. App. 306, 465 S.E.2d 334 (1996)...... 106

State v. Bishop,
346 N.C. 365, 488 S.E.2d 769 (1997)...... 98

State v. Blackstock,
314 N.C. 232, 333 S.E.2d 245 (1985)...... 88

State v. Bondurant,
309 N.C. 674, 309 S.E.2d 170 (1983)...... 140

State v. Bonney,
329 N.C. 61, 405 S.E.2d 145 (1991)...... 67, 128

State v. Bowman,
349 N.C. 459, 509 S.E.2d 428 (1998), cert. denied, 144 L.Ed. 802 (1999)...... 49

State v. Boykin,
291 N.C. 264, 229 S.E.2d 914 (1976)...... 57

State v. Bracey,
303 N.C. 112, 277 S.E.2d 390 (1981)...... 56

State v. Braswell,
312 N.C. 553, 324 S.E.2d 241 (1985)...... 37

State v. Bridges,
178 N.C. 733, 101 S.E. 29 (1919)...... 119

State v. Britt,
288 N.C. 699, 220 S.E.2d 283 (1975)...... 32, 105

State v. Burr,
341 N.C. 263, 461 S.E.2d 602 (1995), cert. denied, 517 U.S. 1123, 134 L.Ed.2d 526 (1996) 45

State v. Caddell,
287 N.C. 266, 215 S.E.2d 348 (1975)...... 83

State v. Campbell,
340 N.C. 612, 460 S.E.2d 144 (1995), cert. denied, 133 L.Ed.2d 871 (1996)...... 138

State v. Carey,
285 N.C. 497, 206 S.E.2d 213 (1974)...... 49

State v. Carver,
286 N.C. 179, 209 S.E.2d 785 (1974)...... 115

State v. Carver,
319 N.C. 665, 356 S.E.2d 349 (1987)...... 122

State v. Chapman,
294 N.C. 407, 241 S.E.2d 667 (1978)...... 66

State v. Chatham,
308 N.C. 169, 301 S.E.2d 71 (1984)...... 144

State v. Cherry,
298 N.C. 861, 257 S.E.2d 551 (1979), cert. denied, 446 U.S. 941, 64 L.Ed.2d 796 (1980) 125

State v. Clemmons,
319 N.C. 172, 353 S.E.2d 209 (1987)...... 101

State v. Cofield,
320 N.C. 297, 357 S.E.2d 622 (1987)...... 70

State v. Colbert,
311 N.C. 283, 316 S.E.2d 79 (1984)...... 49

State v. Cole,
331 N.C. 272, 415 S.E.2d 716 (1992)...... 50

State v. Cope,
309 N.C. 47, 305 S.E.2d 676 (1983)...... 93

State v. Covington,
317 N.C. 127, 343 S.E.2d 524 (1986)...... 114

State v. Crandell,
322 N.C. 487, 369 S.E.2d 579 (1988)...... 70

State v. Cunningham,
333 N.C. 744, 429 S.E.2d 718 (1993)...... 58

State v. Dais,
22 N.C. App. 379, 206 S.E.2d 759 (1974)...... 88

State v. Davis,
325 N.C. 607, 386 S.E.2d 418 (1989)...... 121

State v. Davis,
349 N.C. 1, 506 S.E.2d 455 (1998), cert. denied, 465 U.S. 1034, 144 L.Ed.2d 219 (1999) 124, 138

State v. DeCastro,
342 N.C. 667, 467 S.E.2d 653, cert. denied, 136 L.Ed.2d 170 (1996)...... 151

State v. Duncan,
282 N.C. 412, 192 S.E.2d 65 (1972)...... 77

State v. Earnhardt,
307 N.C. 62, 296 S.E.2d 649 (1982)...... 113, 115

State v. East,
345 N.C. 535, 481 S.E.2d 652, cert. denied, 522 U.S. 918, 139 L.Ed.2d 236 (1997)..123

State v. Erlewine,
328 N.C. 626, 403 S.E.2d 280 (1991)...... 145

State v. Fie,
320 N.C. 626, 359 S.E.2d 774 (1987)...... 29

State v. Foust,
258 N.C. 453, 128 S.E.2d 889 (1963)...... 84

State v. Fullwood,
323 N.C. 371, 373 S.E.2d 518 (1988), sentence vacated, 454 U.S. 1022, 108 L.Ed.2d 601 (1990) 154

State v. Gaines,
345 N.C. 647, 483 S.E.2d 396, cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 139 L.Ed.2d 177 (1997)....73

State v. Gay,
334 N.C. 467, 434 S.E.2d 840 (1993)...... 138

State v. Gibbs,
335 N.C. 1, 436 S.E.2d 321 (1993), cert. denied, 512 U.S. 1246, 129 L.Ed.2d 881 (1994) 123, 145

State v. Gibson,
229 N.C. 497, 50 S.E.2d 520 (1948)...... 37

State v. Gladden,
315 N.C. 398, 340 S.E.2d 673, cert. denied, 479 U.S.870, 93 L.Ed.2d 166 (1986)....157

State v. Goode,
341 N.C. 513, 461 S.E.2d 631 (1995)...... 98

State v. Goodman,
298 N.C. 1, 257 S.E.2d 569 (1979)...... 121, 137, 140

State v. Hall,
89 N.C. App. 491, 366 S.E.2d 527 (1988)...... 114

State v. Hardison,
326 N.C. 646, 392 S.E.2d 364 (1990)...... 67

State v. Hare,
243 N.C. 262, 90 S.E.2d 550 (1955)...... 81, 136

State v. Harris,
289 N.C. 275, 221 S.E.2d 343 (1976)...... 113, 115

State v. Harris,
290 N.C. 681, 228 S.E.2d 437 (1976)...... 37

State v. Hennis,
323 N.C. 279, 372 S.E.2d 523 (1988)...... 83

State v. Hewitt,
295 N.C. 640, 247 S.E.2d 886 (1978)...... 114

State v. Hightower,
331 N.C. 636, 417 S.E.2d 237 (1992)...... 58, 150

State v. Hill,
331 N.C. 387, 417 S.E.2d 765 (1992), cert. denied, 122 L.Ed.2d 684 (1993)...... 154

State v. Hill,
45 N.C. App. 136, 263 S.E.2d 14, disc. rev. denied,
300 N.C. 377, 267 S.E.2d 680 (1980)...... 32

State v. Hines,
131 N.C. App. 457, 508 S.E.2d 310 (1998)...... 67

State v. Hunt,
324 N.C. 343, 378 S.E.2d 754 (1989)...... 90

State v. Hunter,
315 N.C. 371, 338 S.E.2d 99 (1986)...... 114

State v. Hutchins,
303 N.C. 321, 279 S.E.2d 788 (1981)...... 141

State v. Jackson,
309 N.C. 26, 305 S.E.2d 703 (1983)...... 140

State v. Jackson,
322 N.C. 251, 368 S.E.2d 838 (1988), cert. denied, 490 U.S. 100, 104 L.Ed.2d 1027 (1989) 73

State v. Jennings,
333 N.C. 579, 430 S.E.2d 188, cert. denied, 510 U.S. 1028, 126 L.Ed.2d 602 (1993) 123, 138

State v. Johnson,
298 N.C. 355, 259 S.E.2d 752 (1979)...... 84

State v. Jones,
309 N.C. 214, 306 S.E.2d 451 (1983)...... 144

State v. Jones,
336 N.C. 229, 443 S.E. 2d 48, cert. denied, 513 U.S. 1003, 130 L.Ed.2d 423 (1994)..156

State v. Jones,
336 N.C. 490, 445 S.E.2d 23 (1994)...... 53

State v. Jones,
342 N.C. 523, 467 S.E.2d 12 (1996)...... 46

State v. Kandies,
342 N.C. 419, 467 S.E.2d 67 (1996)...... 138

State v. Kirkley,
308 N.C. 196, 302 S.E.2d 144 (1983)...... 149

State v. Kirksey,
227 N.C. 445, 42 S.E2d 613 (1947)...... 77

State v. Lattimore,
310 N.C. 295, 311 S.E.2d 876 (1984)...... 145

State v. Lawson,
310 N.C. 632, 314 S.E.2d 493 (1984), cert. denied, 471 U.S. 1120, 86 L.Ed.2d 267 (1985) 141

State v. Lee,
292 N.C. 617, 234 S.E.2d 574 (1977)...... 63

State v. Lee,
335 N.C. 244, 439 S.E.2d 547, cert. denied, 513 U.S. 1035, 130 L.Ed.2d 532 (1994).156

State v. Leonard,
296 N.C. 58, 248 S.E.2d 853 (1978)...... 58

State v. Leroux,
326 N.C. 368, 390 S.E.2d 314, cert. denied, 498 U.S. 871, 112 L.Ed.2d 155 (1990)..117

State v. Linden,
316 N.C. 497, 342 S.E.2d 509 (1986)...... 100

State v. Locklear,
322 N.C. 349, 368 S.E.2d 377 (1988)...... 88

State v. Lovette,
299 N.C. 642, 263 S.E.2d 751 (1980)...... 94

State v. Lynch,
327 N.C. 210, 393 S.E.2d 811 (1990)...... 117

State v. Maher,
305 N.C. 544, 290 S.E.2d 694 (1982)...... 47

State v. Mason,
315 N.C. 724, 340 S.E.2d 430 (1986)...... 84

State v. McCarver,
341 N.C. 364, 462 S.E.2d 25 (1995), cert. denied, 517 U.S. 1110, 134 L.Ed.2d 482 (1996) 151

State v. McFadden,
292 N.C. 609, 234 S.E.2d 742 (1977)...... 37, 132

State v. McKoy,
323 N.C. 1, 372 S.E.2d 12 (1988), sentence vacated, 494 U.S. 133, 108 L.Ed.2d 369 (1990) 150

State v. McLaughlin,
323 N.C. 68, 372 S.E.2d 49 (1988), vacated and remanded, 494 U.S. 1021, 108 L.Ed.2d 601 (1990) 47

State v. McLaughlin,
341 N.C. 426, 462 S.E.2d 1 (1995), cert. denied, 516 U.S. 1133, 133 L.Ed.2d 879 (1996) 151

State v. Mercer,
275 N.C. 108, 165 S.E.2d 328 (1969)...... 83

State v. Miller,
223 N.C. 184, 25 S.E.2d 623 (1943)...... 114

State v. Miller,
271 N.C. 646, 157 S.E.2d 335 (1967)...... 107

State v. Miller,
315 N.C. 773, 340 S.E.2d 290 (1986)...... 145

State v. Miller,
330 N.C. 56, 62-63, 408 S.E.2d 846, 850 (1991)...... 90

State v. Monk,
286 N.C. 509, 212 S.E.2d 125 (1975)...... 106

State v. Montague,
298 N.C. 752, 259 S.E.2d 899 (1979)...... 114

State v. Moore,
300 N.C. 694, 268 S.E.2d 196 (1980)...... 94

State v. Morgan,
315 N.C. 656, 340 S.E.2d 84 (1986)...... 98

State v. Morrison,
84 N.C. App. 41, 351 S.E.2d 810 (1987)...... 104

State v. Murphy,
321 N.C. 738, 365 S.E.2d 615 (1988)...... 84

State v. Noell,
284 N.C. 670, 202 S.E.2d 750 (1974), vacated in part, 428 U.S. 902, 49 L.Ed.2d 1205 (1976) 58

State v. Norris,
303 N.C. 526, 279 S.E.2d 570 (1981)...... 112

State v. Odom,
307 N.C. 655, 300 S.E.2d 375 (1983)...... 115

State v. Oglesby,
379 S.E.2d 891 (S.C. 1991)...... 73

State v. Oliver,
302 N.C. 28, 274 S.E.2d 183 (1981)...... 123

State v. Oliver,
309 N.C. 326, 307 S.E.2d 304 (1983)...... 150

State v. Parks,
290 N.C. 748, 228 S.E.2d 248 (1976)...... 115

State v. Parton,
303 N.C. 55, 277 S.E.2d 410 (1981)...... 47

State v. Payne,
328 N.C. 377, 402 S.E.2d 582 (1991)...... 111

State v. Payne,
337 N.C. 505, 448 S.E.2d 93 (1994)...... 152

State v. Poole,
305 N.C. 308, 289 S.E.2d 335 (1982)...... 33

State v. Pope,
287 N.C. 505, 215 S.E.2d 139 (1975)...... 94

State v. Porter,
326 N.C. 489, 391 S.E.2d 144 (1990)...... 73

State v. Price,
326 N.C. 56, 388 S.E.2d 84, sentence vacated, 498 U.S. 802, 112 L.Ed.2d 7 (1990)..111

State v. Quisenberry,
319 N.C. 228, 345 S.E.2d 446 (1987)...... 121, 137

State v. Riddle,
311 N.C. 734, 319 S.E.2d 250 (1984)...... 106

State v. Robbins,
319 N.C. 465, 356 S.E.2d 279, cert. denied, 484 U.S. 918, 98 L.Ed.2d 226 (1987)...125

State v. Robinson,
283 N.C. 71, 194 S.E.2d 811 (1973)...... 84

State v. Robinson,
330 N.C. 1, 409 S.E.2d 288 (1991)...... 73

State v. Robinson,
336 N.C. 78, 443 S.E.2d 306 (1994), cert. denied, 513 U.S. 1089, 130 L.Ed.2d 650 (1995) 155, 156, 157

State v. Rollins,
131 N.C. App. 601, 508 S.E.2d 554 (1998)...... 144

State v. Rouse,
339 N.C. 59, 451 S.E.2d 543 (1994)...... 138

State v. Sanderson,
336 N.C. 1, 442 S.E.2d 33 (1994)...... 32, 108

State v. Sanmiquel,
74 N.C. App. 276, 328 S.E.2d 326 (1985)...... 145

State v. Scott,
318 N.C. 237, 347 S.E.2d 414 (1986)...... 98

State v. Shank,
322 N.C. 243, 367 S.E.2d 639 (1988)...... 149

State v. Shope,
118 N.C. App. 270, 454 S.E.2d 716 (1995)...... 58

State v. Skipper,
337 N.C. 1, 446 S.E.2d 252 (1994), cert. denied, 513 U.S. 1134, 130 L.Ed.2d 895 (1995) 155, 157

State v. Smith,
240 N.C. 631, 83 S.E.2d 656 (1954)...... 107

State v. Smith,
289 N.C. 143, 221 S.E.2d 247 (1976)...... 94

State v. Smith,
328 N.C. 99, 400 S.E.2d 712 (1991)...... 73

State v. Sorrells,
33 N.C. App. 374, 235 S.E.2d 70, cert. denied, 293 N.C. 257, 237 S.E.2d 359 (1977).88

State v. Sparks,
307 N.C. 71, 296 S.E.2d 451 (1982)...... 107

State v. Stegman,
286 N.C. 638, 213 S.E.2d 262 (1975), sentence vacated, 428 U.S. 902, 49 L.Ed.2d 1205 (1976) 105

State v. Sturdivant,
304 N.C. 293, 283 S.E.2d 719 (1981)...... 136

State v. Swann,
322 N.C. 666, 372 S.E.2d 533 (1988)...... 47

State v. Taylor,
304 N.C. 249, 283 S.E.2d 761 (1981), cert. denied, 463 U.S. 1213, 77 L.Ed.2d 1398 (1983) 64

State v. Temple,
302 N.C. 1, 273 S.E.2d 273 (1981)...... 83

State v. Tucker,
329 N.C. 709, 407 S.E.2d 805 (1992)...... 145

State v. Tunstall,
334 N.C. 320, 432 S.E.2d 331 (1993)...... 37

State v. Turner,
330 N.C. 249, 410 S.E.2d 847 (1991)...... 88

State v. Vereen,
312 N.C. 499, 324 S.E.2d 250, cert. denied, 471 U.S. 1094, 85 L.Ed.2d 526 (1985)...47

State v. Vick,
287 N.C. 37, 213 S.E.2d 335 (1975)...... 37

State v. Walls,
342 N.C. 1, 463 S.E.2d 738 (1995), cert. denied, 517 U.S. 1197, 134 L.Ed.2d 794 (1996) 46

State v. Westbrook,
279 N.C. 18, 181 S.E.2d 572 (1971), sentence vacated, 408 U.S. 939, 33 L.Ed.2d 76 (1972) 106

State v. Williams,
286 N.C. 422, 212 S.E.2d 113 (1975)...... 49

State v. Williams,
308 N.C. 47, 301 S.E.2d 335, cert. denied, 464 U.S. 865, 78 L.Ed.2d 177 (1983)....140

State v. Williams,
317 N.C. 474, 346 S.E.2d 405 (1986)...... 106

State v. Williams,
341 N.C. 1, 459 S.E.2d 208 (1995)...... 96

State v. Wooten,
104 N.C. App. 125, 408 S.E.2d 202 (1991)...... 97

State v. Wynn,
278 N.C. 515, 180 S.E.2d 135 (1971)...... 114

State v. Young,
287 N.C. 326, 215 S.E.2d 60 (1975), sentence vacated, 428 U.S. 902, 49 L.Ed.2d 1206 (1976) 58

State v. Young,
312 N.C. 669, 325 S.E.2d 181 (1985)...... 141, 158

State v. Zuniga,
320 N.C. 233, 357 S.E.2d 898 (1987)...... 112

Strickland v. Washington,
466 U.S. 668, 80 L.Ed.2d 674 (1984)...... 37, 132

Taylor v. Louisiana,
419 U.S. 522, 42 L.Ed.2d 690 (1975)...... 49

Turner v. Fouche,
396 U.S. 346, 24 L.Ed.2d 567 (1970)...... 54

Turner v. Louisiana,
379 U.S. 466, 13 L.Ed.2d 424 (1965)...... 104

United States v. Chapman,
158 F.2d 417 (10th Cir. 1946)...... 64

United States v. Gaudin,
515 U.S. 506, 132 L.Ed.2d 144 (1995)...... 136

United States v. Joe,
928 F.2d 99 (4th Cir. 1991)...... 73

United States v. Kennedy,
714 F.2d 968 (9th Cir. 1983), cert. denied, ____ U.S. ____, ____ L.Ed.2d ____ (1984) 101

United States v. Lane,
866 F.2d 103 (4th Cir. 1989)...... 73

United States v. Morlang,
531 F.2d 182 (4th Cir. 1975)...... 91

United States v. Peterman,
841 F.2d 1474 (10th Cir. 1988), cert. denied, 488 U.S. 1004, 102 L.Ed.2d 774 (1989).91

United States v. Pintar,
630 F.2d 1270 (8th Cir. 1980)...... 101

United States v. Webster,
734 F.2d 1191 (7th Cir. 1984)...... 90

United States v. Wilson,
835 F.2d 606 (8th Cir. 1988)...... 73

United States v. Young,
470 U.S. 1, 84 L.Ed.2d 1 (1985)...... 109

United v. Leake,
642 F.2d 715 (4th Cir. 1981)...... 101

Wainwright v. Witt,
469 U.S. 412, 83 L.Ed.2d 841 (1985)...... 157

Walton v. Arizona,
497 U.S. 639, 111 L.Ed.2d 511 (1990)...... 152

Witherspoon v. Illinois,
391 U.S. 510, 20 L.Ed.2d 776 (1968)...... 157

Woodson v. North Carolina,
428 U.S. 280, 49 L.Ed.2d 944 (1976)...... 140

Zant v. Stephens,
462 U.S. 862, 77 L.Ed.2d 235 (1983)...... 151

Statutes

N.C. Gen. Stat. §15A-2000(e)(11)...... 121

N.C. Gen Stat. §14-17...... 81

N.C. Gen. Stat. §15A-1061...... 128

N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15A-1214(a)...... 49

N.C. Gen. Stat. §15-144...... 77

N.C. Gen. Stat. §15A-1061...... 66, 128, 131

N.C. Gen. Stat. §15A-1212...... 48, 58

N.C. Gen. Stat. §15A-1214(c)...... 57

N.C. Gen. Stat. §15A-1214(h) and (i)...... 65

N.C. Gen. Stat. §15A-1223(b)(1)...... 32

N.C. Gen. Stat. §15A-1340.17...... 81

N.C. Gen. Stat. §15A-1340.4(a)(1)(a) (1983)...... 145

N.C. Gen. Stat. §15A-2000...... 148, 152

N.C. Gen. Stat. §15A-2000(b), (c)...... 136

N.C. Gen. Stat. §15A-2000(d)(2)...... 140

N.C. Gen. Stat. §15A-611(b)...... 29

N.C. Gen. Stat. §9-5...... 48

N.C. Gen. Stat. §9-6(f)...... 50

N.C. Gen. Stat.§15A-2000(e)(10)...... 121

N.C. Gen. Stat. 8C-1, Rule 403...... 99

N.C. R. Evid. 401...... 84

N.C. R. Evid. 403...... 84, 91, 101

N.C. R. Evid. 404(a)...... 97, 98

N.C. R. Evid. 607...... 90, 91, 93

N.C. R. Evid. 608...... 98, 100, 101

2 U.S.C. §192...... 76

Other Authorities

42 C.J.S., Indictments and Information, §300...... 81

46 Am. Jr. 2d, Judges §216...... 33

ABA Standards for Criminal Justice 3-5.8(b) (1980)...... 109

Code of Judicial Conduct, Canon 3(C)(1)...... 29, 32

J. Weinstein & N. Berger, Weinstein’s Evidence at 608-35 (1982)...... 101

N.C.P.I.--Crim. 150.10...... 148

Constitutional Provisions

N.C. Const. art. I, § 19...... 70, 105

N.C. Const. art. I, § 23...... 49, 105

N.C. Const. art. I, § 26...... 49, 70, 71

N.C. Const. art. I, § 24...... 49, 70, 105

N.C. Const. art. I, § 27...... 105

U.S. Const. amend. V...... passim

U.S. Const. amend. VI...... assim

U.S. Const. amend. VIII...... passim

U.S. Const. amend. XIV...... passim

1

No. 176A98

SUPREME COURT OF NORTH CAROLINA

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STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA)

)

v.)From Richmond

)

RONALD ROGERS)

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DEFENDANT-APPELLANT’S BRIEF

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Questions Presented

i.did the trial court commit reversible error in denying defendant’s motion to recuse himself, or not at least referring the motion to another judge, where the presiding judge was also the district court judge who found probable cause to bind defendant over for action by the grand jury, and necessarily expressed his opinion that defendant was responsible for these crimes?

II.did The trial court commit reversible error in denying defendant’s motion to continue, where newly appointed counsel had grossly inadequate time to prepare, thereby denying defendant his federal and state constitutional rights to the effective assistance of counsel and due process?

iii.did THE TRIAL COURT COMMIT STRUCTURAL ERROR BY VIOLATING THE STATUTORY REQUIREMENT FOR RANDOM JURY SELECTION WHEN, OVER DEFENDANT’S OBJECTION, IT EXCUSED AN AFRICAN AMERICAN PROSPECTIVE JUROR, CARSON ALLEN, FROM COURT FOR ONE DAY AND CONTINUED SELECTION BEFORE ALLEN RETURNED TO THE VENIRE, thereby CONTRIBUTing to THE SELECTION OF A JURY UNREPRESENTATIVE OF THE COMMUNITY AND OF DEFENDANT’S RACIAL GROUP?

iv.did the trial court err by failing to dismiss for cause potential juror william brian Thorpe, or to allow defendant an additional peremptory challenge, thereby denying defendant HIS CONSTITUTIONAL and statutory RIGHT TO A NEUTRAL AND UNBIASED JURY?

V.did The trial court err in denying defendant’s motion for a mistrial because prospective juror amity parker, having been threatened or intimidated by someone she erroneously believed was related to defendant, told another juror about this incident and the trial court failed to make an adequate inquiry to determine if another juror had been tainted with this information?

vi.was DEFENDANT’S CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO A JURY SELECTED WITHOUT REGARD TO RACE VIOLATED BY THE PROSECUTOR’S DISCRIMINATORY USE OF PEREMPTORY STRIKES AGAINST POTENTIAL JURORS OF AFRICAN AMERICAN DESCENT?

vii.did tHE TRIAL COURT COMMIT REVERSIBLE ERROR IN trying defendant for first-degree murder and entering a judgment of death upon a THE MURDER INDICTMENT WHich UNCONSTITUTIONALLY FAILED TO ALLEGE ALL THE ELEMENTS OF FIRST-DEGREE MURDER?

viii.did the trial court commit reversible error in overruling defendant’s objection to the prosecutor showing the victim’s mother an autopsy photograph of her son which resulted in an extremely prejudicial emotional outburst, and later abuse its discretion in denying defendant’s motion for a mistrial, when this prejudicial outburst, caused by the prosecutor’s improper use of the photograph, denied defendant his constitutional rights to a fair trial and due process of law?

ix.did The trial Court commit reversible error in permitting the state to impeach two of its own witnesses with prior inconsistent statements when the prosecutor was not surprised by the actual testimony of these witnesses, thereby denying defendant his federal and state constitutional rights to a fair trial and due process of law?

x.did The trial court commit reversible error or, in the alternative, plain error in allowing the prosecutor to cross-examine defendant about having worked as a male stripper, where this information constituted impermissible character evidence and was wholly irrelevant and greatly prejudicial, thereby denying defendant his federal and state constitutional rights to a fair trial?