State v. McLellan

VAUGHN, Judge.

Defendant brings forward two assignments of error, neither of which discloses prejudicial error.

Defendant first argues the trial court abused its discretion in appointing a relative of the robbery victim to interpret his testimony. We disagree.

A court has the inherent authority to appoint an interpreter for the proper transaction of its business. Wise v. Short, 181 N.C. 320, 322, 107 S.E. 134, 136 (1921). Because of the possibility of inadvertent distortion of testimony, however, an interpreter should not be appointed unless necessary. Such necessity arises when the witness’s…