#### STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA v. JAKIE HAMMONDS

No. 65A01

(Filed 9 November 2001)

Appeal pursuant to N.C.G.S. § 7A-30(2) from the decision of a divided panel of the Court of Appeals, 141 N.C. App. 152, 541 S.E.2d 166 (2000), finding no error in a judgment imposing a sentence of life imprisonment entered by Hooks, J., on 10 March 1997 in Superior Court, Robeson County, upon a jury verdict finding defendant guilty of first-degree murder. Heard in the Supreme Court 15 October 2001.

Roy A. Cooper, Attorney General, by Steven M. Arbogast, Special Deputy Attorney General, for the State.

Staples Hughes, Appellate Defender, by Janet Moore, Assistant Appellate Defender, for defendant-appellant.

American Civil Liberties Union of North Carolina Legal Foundation, Inc., by SethH. Jaffe, amicus curiae.

PER CURIAM.

AFFIRMED.

Justice EDMUNDS did not participate in the consideration or decision of this case.