State v. Thompson

MEYER, Justice.

With respect to the State’s contention that the trial judge properly considered in aggravation that the offense was committed for pecuniary gain, we find no evidence in this record that the defendant was hired or paid to commit the offense — evidence which we have recently held to be necessary to support a finding of this factor. See State v. Abdullah, 309 N.C. 63, 306 S.E. 2d 100 (1983). Nor do we agree that there is sufficient evidence on this record to support a finding of an attempted taking of property of great monetary value. The defendant apparently intended to take…