State v. Ketchie

HUSKINS, Justice.

The sole question brought forward on defendant’s appeal to this Court is whether the prosecution is privileged to refuse disclosure of the informer’s identity. Both the trial court and the Court of Appeals answered in the affirmative and defendant urges reversal of that decision.

The general rule, subject to certain exceptions and limitations, recognizes the prosecution’s privilege to withhold the identity of an informer. State v. Cameron, 283 N.C. 191, 195 S.E. 2d 481 (1973) ; State v. Fletcher and State v. St. Arnold, 279 N.C. 85, 181 S.E. 2d 405 (1971) ; State v. Swaney,…