55 N.C. App. 92 | N.C. Ct. App. | 1981
Defendant argues the judgments against him should be vacated because the verdict form fails to specify with what of
Defendant contends that the judge committed prejudicial error in that he failed to instruct the jury that it must find that defendant knowingly possessed and sold the controlled substance in order to find him guilty. On the facts of this case, the argument is without merit. It is the duty of the judge to declare and explain the law arising on the evidence in the case then being tried. Here the State’s evidence discloses that, after the agent’s request for heroin and payment of $100.00, the defendant went into a duplex, came out shortly thereafter and handed the agent five bags of heroin. Defendant’s evidence did not raise a question as to whether he knew the heroin he sold was in his possession. He denied selling or possessing anything.
“A person is presumed to intend the natural consequences of his act. [Citations omitted.] Hence, ordinarily, where a specific intent is not an element of the crime, proof of the commission of the unlawful act is sufficient to support a verdict. [Citation omitted.] ....
Nothing else appearing, it would not be necessary for the court, in the absence of a prayer, to make reference in its charge to guilty knowledge or intent. Scienter is presumed.
State v. Elliott, 232 N.C. 377, 378, 61 S.E. 2d 93, 95 (1950).
Where, however, a question of guilty knowledge is raised, it then becomes an essential element of the crime which the State must prove beyond a reasonable doubt. It is only then that the “due process” arguments advanced by defendant would be relevant. Here, as in State v. Gleason, 24 N.C. App. 732, 212 S.E. 2d 213 (1975),
“the issue of guilty knowledge is not presented by the evidence, and there was no prayer for instructions. Under these circumstances we do not find error in the failure of the trial court to give instructions on guilty knowledge, either of the fact of ‘possession’ or of the fact of ‘narcotic character.’ ”
No error.