State v. Payne

HIGGINS, Justice.

The victim of the alleged assault was 9 years of age. The defendant was 15 years, 11 months and 27 days of age. He weighed 155 to 160 pounds. Because of the tender age of the victim and the nature of the charge, the court had discretionary authority, and exercised it properly, to permit the solicitor to ask leading questions. State v. Clanton, 278 N.C. 502, 180 S.E. 2d 5; State v. Pearson, 258 N.C. 188, 128 S.E. 2d 251.

Likewise it was in the discretion of the court to determine whether to order the jury to visit and view the trailer where the assault occurred. The description…