State v. Pait

PHILLIPS, Judge.

The only issue before us is whether defendant entered his guilty plea voluntarily and knowingly or whether it was coerced by the trial judge in violation of defendant’s constitutional rights to a fair trial and effective assistance of counsel. At the hearing on the motion defendant had the burden of establishing the facts essential to his claim by a preponderance of the evidence. G.S. 15A-1420(c)(5). The findings made by the trial court are binding if they are supported by any competent evidence, State v. Stevens, 305 N.C. 712, 291 S.E. 2d 585 (1982), and the trial court’s…