State v. McCormick

COPELAND, Justice.

In his fifth assignment of error, defendant contends that the trial judge committed prejudicial error in improperly restricting the testimony of a defense witness as to the reputation of the prosecutrix, Beatrice Bethea. We agree; therefore, the defendant’s conviction must be reversed.

The applicable law in this State provides that an impeaching character witness, who knows the general reputation and character of the witness about which he plans to testify, may state the reputation of the witness “categorically, i.e., simply saying that it is good or bad, without more, or he…