{
  "id": 4220890,
  "name": "STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA v. WINDSOR DEVONE INGRAM",
  "name_abbreviation": "State v. Ingram",
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    "judges": [
      "Judges ELMORE and STROUD concur."
    ],
    "parties": [
      "STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA v. WINDSOR DEVONE INGRAM"
    ],
    "opinions": [
      {
        "text": "STEELMAN, Judge.\nWhere the State presented substantial evidence that it was defendant who committed the crime charged, the trial court did not err in denying defendant\u2019s motions to dismiss. In determining whether the State presented substantial evidence, it is not the role of the appellate courts to assess the credibility of witnesses. Where all of the evidence suggested that defendant committed murder with intent, premeditation and deliberation, the trial court did not err in declining to instruct the jury on the lesser included offense of second-degree murder.\nI. Factual and Procedural Background\nOn the afternoon of 10 September 2007, T.K., then ten years old, returned home from school. She observed her cousin, Tamorris Raynor (Raynor), emerging from the home. A'man in a white t-shirt, whom T.K. had seen before, exited a gray automobile and spoke with Raynor. The man and Raynor went behind the house. After the man met with Raynor, he departed in his vehicle, parked it around the comer by a funeral home, and returned to the property via a concealed, wooded path.\nWhen T.K. returned, she heard gunfire and saw Raynor come around the house. The other man came around the house and shot Raynor. T.K. gave a statement to the police. She identified the photograph of Windsor Ingram (defendant) from a photographic lineup as the man who shot Raynor.\nErnest Raynor (Ernest), Raynor\u2019s uncle, ran outside after hearing shots and found Raynor on the ground. He saw a man flee down a path and get into a gray Lincoln LS automobile. Ernest described the man as being 5\u20198\u201d or 5\u20199\u201d, wearing a white t-shirt, white cap, and jeans.\nTelephone records revealed that Raynor had used Ernest\u2019s telephone to call two different phone numbers that day, one of which was that of defendant\u2019s cellphone.\nDefendant was charged with first-degree murder based on premeditation and deliberation. His first trial ended in a mistrial when the jury could not reach a unanimous verdict. The case was tried a second time before a jury at the 14 November 2011 Criminal Session of the Superior Court for Wayne County. The jury found defendant guilty of first-degree murder. The trial court sentenced defendant to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.\nDefendant appeals.\nII. Denial of Motion to Dismiss\nIn his first argument, defendant contends that the trial court erred in denying his motion to dismiss the charge of first-degree murder. We disagree.\nA. Standard of Review\n\u201cThis Court reviews the trial court\u2019s denial of a motion to dismiss de novo\u201d State v. Smith, 186 N.C. App. 57, 62, 650 S.E.2d 29, 33 (2007).\n\u201c \u2018Upon defendant\u2019s motion for dismissal, the question for the Court is whether there is substantial evidence (1) of each essential element of the offense charged, or of a lesser offense included therein, and (2) of defendant\u2019s being the peipetrator of such offense. If so, the motion is properly denied.\u2019 \u201d State v. Fritsch, 351 N.C. 373, 378, 526 S.E.2d 451, 455, cert. denied, 531 U.S. 890, 148 L. Ed. 2d 150 (2000) (quoting State v. Barnes, 334 N.C. 67, 75, 430 S.E.2d 914, 918 (1993)).\n\u201cSubstantial evidence is such relevant evidence as a reasonable mind might accept as adequate to support a conclusion.\u201d State v. Smith, 300 N.C. 71, 78-79, 265 S.E.2d 164, 169 (1980).\n\u201cIn making its determination, the trial court must consider all evidence admitted, whether competent or incompetent, in the light most favorable to the State, giving the State the benefit of every reasonable inference and resolving any contradictions in its favor.\u201d State v. Rose, 339 N.C. 172, 192, 451 S.E.2d 211, 223 (1994), cert. denied, 515 U.S. 1135, 132 L. Ed. 2d 818 (1995).\nB. Analysis\nIn the instant case, the issue presented to the trial court upon defendant\u2019s motion to dismiss was whether there was substantial evidence that it was defendant who shot and killed Raynor. Defendant contends that the State\u2019s evidence that defendant was the shooter was unreliable.\nT.K. testified that defendant shot Raynor. T.K. identified defendant from a photographic line-up. Defendant\u2019s contention that this identification was questionable goes to the credibility of the evidence, not its sufficiency for purposes of withstanding a motion to dismiss. The credibility of witnesses is not for this Court to determine. State v. Buckom, 126 N.C. App. 368, 375, 485 S.E.2d 319, 323 (1997) (quoting State v. Hanes, 268 N.C. 335, 339, 150 S.E.2d 489, 492 (1966)).\nDefendant also contends that the State\u2019s evidence of motive was insufficient. However, \u201c[mjotive is not an element of first-degree murder, nor is its absence a defense[.]\u201d State v. Carver, _ N.C. App. _, _, 725 S.E.2d 902, 905 (2012) aff\u2019d, _ N.C. _, 736 S.E.2d 172 (2013) (quoting State v. Elliott, 344 N.C. 242, 273, 475 S.E.2d 202, 216 (1996), cert. denied, 520 U.S. 1106, 137 L.Ed.2d 312 (1997)). The State had no burden to show that defendant had a motive; it merely had to show that defendant unlawfully killed Raynor with premeditation and deliberation. We note further that the trial court correctly instructed the jury:\nProof of motive for the crime is permissible and often valuable, but never essential for conviction. If you are convinced beyond a reasonable doubt that the Defendant committed the crime, the presence or absence of motive is immaterial. Motive may be shown by facts surrounding the act if they support a reasonable inference of motive. When thus proved, motive becomes a circumstance to be considered by you. The absence of motive is equally a circumstance to be considered on the side of innocence.\nThis argument is without merit.\nIII. Instruction on Lesser Included Offense\nIn his second argument, defendant contends that the trial court erred in declining to instruct the jury on the lesser included offense of second-degree murder. We disagree.\nA. Standard of Review\n\u201c[Arguments] challenging the trial court\u2019s decisions regarding jury instructions are reviewed de novo by this Court.\u201d State v. Osorio, 196 N.C. App. 458, 466, 675 S.E.2d 144, 149 (2009).\n\u201cAn instruction on a lesser-included offense must be given only if the evidence would permit the jury rationally to find defendant guilty of the lesser offense and to acquit him of the greater.\u201d State v. Millsaps, 356 N.C. 556, 561, 572 S.E.2d 767, 771 (2002).\nB. Analysis\nThe jury was instructed on the charge of first-degree murder based upon premeditation and deliberation. During the jury charge conference, the following discussion took place:\nTHE COURT: Addressing the proposed verdict sheet, my ah ... I would suggest the verdict be guilty of first degree murder or not guilty.\nMR. GURLEY: Yes, sir.\nMS. BEDFORD: Yes, sir.\nTHE COURT: Does anyone want to be heard or request any other verdict?\nMR. GURLEY Um ... your Honor, I... I -1 guess the Court could consider a lesser included, but again, it\u2019s up to the Court.\nTHE COURT: State?\nMS. BEDFORD: Your Honor, the State has considered that ... it is possible that the evidence might have shown second degree. That would be up to your judgment.\nTHE COURT: As I recall the evidence is - evidence in the light most favorable to the State, which the Defendant denies, but is not negating the evidence except to the extent he\u2019s not the one that committed the crime.\nMR. GURLEY: Right.\nTHE COURT: Is that a shooter came around behind the victim and the victim fell dead with crack cocaine apparently in his hand, nothing else being shown.\nThere were multiple shots, and the Medical Examiner, Examiner Dr. Butts indicated that most of the shots, if not all of the shots, were entry wounds in the back. No weapon being found on the ah - the victim. I mean to me it\u2019s either - I\u2019ll hear from you, but it looks like it\u2019s either first or nothing.\nMS. BEDFORD: Okay. Your Honor, that sounds good.\nMR. GURLEY: I ask the Court to consider to reconsider the motion, but yeah, I understand what the Court is thinking.\nTHE COURT: All right. First degree - guilty of first degree - by unanimous verdict guilty of first degree murder or not guilty.\nLater, the following discussion occurred between the trial court and defense counsel:\nTHE COURT: . . . And then my intention would be to give the substantive offense instruction, 206.13. It\u2019s titled first degree murder where a deadly weapon is used not involving self-defense covering all lesser included homicide offenses. Of course I will not be instructing as to any lessers.\nMR. GURLEY: Yes, sir.\n(Emphasis added) The trial court did not charge on any lesser offenses to first-degree murder.\nBased upon the transcript of the jury charge conference, it is unclear that defendant requested a jury instruction on the lesser included offense of second-degree murder, and if so, whether that request was later waived by his acquiescence to the court\u2019s proposed charge. If defendant did not request the jury instruction, then any alleged error is not properly preserved for appeal, and we would only examine the issue under plain error review. See State v. Lawrence, _ N.C. _, _, 723 S.E.2d 326, 334 (2012). On appeal, defendant has not argued that the trial court committed plain error, however, and any such argument is deemed abandoned. N.C. R. App. P. 28(b)(6).\nAssuming arguendo that defendant properly preserved this matter for appellate review, the trial court did not err in failing to instruct the jury on second-degree murder.\nFirst-degree murder is an unlawful killing based upon premeditation and deliberation, whereas second-degree murder is an unlawful killing that lacks these elements. Our Supreme Court has held that:\nIf the evidence is sufficient to fully satisfy the State\u2019s burden of proving each and every element of the offense of murder in the first degree, including premeditation and deliberation, and there is no evidence to negate these elements other than defendant\u2019s denial that he committed the offense, the trial judge should properly exclude from jury consideration the possibility of a conviction of second degree murder.\nState v. Locklear, 363 N.C. 438, 454-55, 681 S.E.2d 293, 306 (2009) (quoting State v. Strickland, 307 N.C. 274, 293, 298 S.E.2d 645, 658 (1983), overruled in part on other grounds by State v. Johnson, 317 N.C. 193, 203-04, 344 S.E.2d 775, 781-82 (1986)).\nThe State had the burden of presenting substantial evidence of premeditation and deliberation. Defendant contends that there was no direct evidence of intent to kill.\nOur Supreme Court has held that \u201c \u2018specific intent to kill is a necessary element of first-degree murder,\u2019 and proof of premeditation and deliberation is also proof of intent to kill.\u201d State v. Hamilton, 338 N.C. 193, 209, 449 S.E.2d 402, 411-12 (1994) (quoting State v. Holder, 331 N.C. 462, 474, 418 S.E.2d 197, 203 (1992)). In the absence of direct evidence, premeditation is generally proven by circumstantial evidence. See State v. Chapman, 359 N.C. 328, 374, 611 S.E.2d 794, 827 (2005) (holding that premeditation and deliberation are \u201cgenerally proved by circumstantial evidence.\u201d).\nAt trial, the evidence presented by the State was that defendant drove from Goldsboro to Raynor\u2019s home, met with Raynor, concealed Ms veMcle nearby, returned to the Raynors\u2019 home, shot Raynor six times in the back while Raynor fled, ran away while Raynor lay dying, and then Md Ms motor veMcle. Our Supreme Court has held that the fact that a defendant drove a long way to the victim\u2019s house, that the victim was shot repeatedly m the back, and that the defendant left Ms victim to die, are all evidence of premeditation and deliberation. State v. Hunt, 330 N.C. 425, 428-29, 410 S.E.2d 478, 481 (1991); see also State v. Keel, 337 N.C. 469, 489, 447 S.E.2d 748, 759 (1994) (holdmg that evidence that a murder was committed in a particularly brutal fasMon, as well as the number of the victim\u2019s wounds, supports a findmg of premeditation and deliberation).\nDefendant contends that there was evidence before the trial co.urt to suggest a lack of premeditation and deliberation. Defendant contends on appeal- that defendant was provoked, and that Raynor possessed drugs. We acknowledge that testimony was offered at trial that crack cocaine was found in Raynor\u2019s hand. However, any provocation by Raynor is completely speculative, and not supported by evidence. On appeal, it is the appellant who must point to some evidence m the record to support Ms argument. State v. Griffin, 5 N.C. App. 226, 227, 167 S.E.2d 824, 825 (1969).\nFor a jury to have found defendant guilty of second-degree murder wMle acqmttmg him of first-degree murder, there must have been some evidence m the record wMch might suggest a lack of premeditation or deliberation. All of the evidence tends to show that defendant had the mtent to kill Raynor, along with premeditation and deliberation. Defendant does not pomt to any evidence to suggest that his conduct lacked premeditation or deliberation. We hold that the trial court\u2019s first-degree murder instruction was proper.'\nTMs argument is without merit.\nNO ERROR.\nJudges ELMORE and STROUD concur.",
        "type": "majority",
        "author": "STEELMAN, Judge."
      }
    ],
    "attorneys": [
      "Roy Cooper, Attorney General, by Marc Bernstein, Special Deputy Attorney General, for the State.",
      "Rudolf Widenhouse & Fialko, by M. Gordon Widenhouse, Jr., for defendant-appellant."
    ],
    "corrections": "",
    "head_matter": "STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA v. WINDSOR DEVONE INGRAM\nNo. COA12-1327\nFiled 21 May 2013\n1. Homicide \u2014 first-degree murder \u2014 motion to dismiss \u2014 sufficiency of evidence \u2014 shooter\u2014motive not required\nThe trial court did not err by denying defendant\u2019s motion to dismiss the charge of first-degree murder because the State presented substantial evidence that defendant was the shooter. Further, the State had no burden to show that defendant had a motive.\n2. Homicide \u2014 first-degree murder \u2014 failure to instruct on lesser-included offense of second-degree murder\nThe trial court did not err in a first-degree murder case by declining to instruct the jury on the lesser-included offense of second-degree murder. Assuming arguendo that defendant properly preserved this issue for appellate review, all of the evidence tended to show that defendant had the intent to kill the victim with premeditation and deliberation.\nAppeal by defendant from judgment entered 18 November 2011 by Judge Robert F. Floyd, Jr. in Wayne County Superior Court. Heard in the Court of Appeals 11 April 2013.\nRoy Cooper, Attorney General, by Marc Bernstein, Special Deputy Attorney General, for the State.\nRudolf Widenhouse & Fialko, by M. Gordon Widenhouse, Jr., for defendant-appellant."
  },
  "file_name": "0383-01",
  "first_page_order": 393,
  "last_page_order": 399
}
