State v. Pope

BROCK, Chief Judge.

In his sole assignment of error, defendant asserts that the trial court committed reversible error when it allowed the State to impeach its own witness, Richie Nelson Pope, by introducing evidence of prior inconsistent statements made by him.

In State v. Tilley, 239 N.C. 245, 79 S.E. 2d 473 (1954), justice Ervin acknowledged that the rule prohibiting a party from impeaching his own witness was roundly condemned by commentators on the law of evidence, but upheld the rule as being sound in this State and as having received legislative recognition. In its latest pronouncement…