State v. Faison

• Citation: 368 S.E.2d 28,90 N.C.App. 237
• Decision Date: 17 May 1988
• Docket Number: No. 874SC598,874SC598
• Court: Court of Appeal of North Carolina (US)
• Parties: STATE of North Carolina v. Terry FAISON.

Page 28

368 S.E.2d 28

90 N.C.App. 237

STATE of North Carolina v. Terry FAISON.

No. 874SC598.

Court of Appeals of North Carolina.

May 17, 1988.

C. Branson Vickory, Jr., Mount Olive, and Roland C. Braswell, Goldsboro, for defendant-appellee.

Atty. Gen. Lacy H. Thornburg by Sp. Deputy Atty. Gen. Edmond W. Caldwell, Jr., Raleigh, for the State.

JOHNSON, Judge.

The only issue before this Court is whether the trial court abused its discretion during the sentencing hearing, as appellant contends, for failing to consider four mitigating factors.

On 16 July 1986, the trial judge held a sentencing hearing. The trial judge ruled that the aggravating factors outweighed the mitigating factors and sentenced defendant to an active term of seven years; four years in excess of the presumptive sentence.

Defendant contends that the trial court erred by failing to find the following statutory mitigating factors:

1. The defendant committed the offense under duress, ... which was insufficient to constitute a defense but significantly reduced his culpability. G.S. sec. 15A-1340.4(a)(2)(b)

2. The defendant committed the offense under ... threat, ... which was insufficient to constitute a defense but significantly reduced his culpability. G.S. sec. 15A-1340.4(a)(2)(b)

3. The defendant was suffering from a mental or physical condition that was insufficient to constitute a defense but significantly reduced his culpability for the offense. G.S. sec. 15A-1340.4(a)(2)(d)

4. The defendant acted under strong provocation, ... G.S. sec. 15A-1340.4(a)(2)(i)

Where the evidence in support of a mitigating factor is substantial, uncontradicted and inherently credible, it is error for the trial court to fail to find such a mitigating factor. State v. Matthews, 69 N.C.App. 526, 317 S.E.2d 62 (1984). The defendant has the burden of establishing such mitigating factors by a preponderance of the evidence. State v. Hinnant, 65 N.C.App. 130, 308 S.E.2d 732 (1983).

We first address defendant's contention that the trial court erred in failing to find as a mitigating factor that defendant acted under strong provocation. Defendant's contention is without merit.

Provocation within the meaning of subdivision (a)(2)(i) requires a showing of a threat or challenge by the victim to the defendant. State v. Braswell, 78 N.C.App. 498, 337 S.E.2d 637 (1985). When evidence is offered to support a claim for a mitigating factor of strong provocation, the trial judge must determine what facts are established by the preponderance of the evidence, and then determine whether those facts support a conclusion of strong provocation. Only if the evidence offered at the sentencing hearing so clearly establishes the fact in issue that no reasonable inferences to the contrary can be drawn is the court compelled to find that the mitigating factor exists. State v. Clark, 314 N.C. 638, 336 S.E.2d 83 (1985).

In State v. Highsmith, 74 N.C.App. 96, 327 S.E.2d 628 (1985), this Court held that the trial court did not err by failing to find the mitigating factor of strong provocation where, after the original altercation which evidenced a threat or challenge to defendant by the victim, defendant proceeded to his residence six blocks away, obtained a shotgun and shells, and then returned to the vicinity of the original fight. This Court stated that "returning to the vicinity of the original fight manifest[s] actions more consistent with a prior determination to seek out a confrontation rather than a state of passion without time to cool placing defendant beyond control of his reason." Id. 74 N.C.App. at 100-01, 327 S.E.2d at 631.

Similarly, in the case sub judice, the evidence showed that defendant approached the victim at work and a discussion ensued during which no weapons were displayed. After the discussion, defendant left the building, went to his car, obtained a rifle and returned to the building. Upon seeing the victim, defendant fired a total of eight shots and eventually shot the victim numerous times. Thus, as in Highsmith, in the case sub judice, we believe that the evidence does not compel the conclusion that strong provocation has been proved by the preponderance of the evidence.

As to defendant's other three arguments concerning the mitigating factors of duress, threat and mental condition, we believe the trial court erred when it relied on the jury's verdict of the lesser included offense of assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury to determine that these statutory mitigating factors had been satisfied. The finding by the jury of a lesser included...