State v. Guthrie

ARNOLD, Chief Judge.

Defendant’s first argument is that the court erred by not allowing him to cross-examine the victim about the letter. Effective cross-examination is a fundamental right and “is denied when a defendant is prevented from cross-examining a witness at all on a subject matter relevant to the witness’s credibility.” State v. Durham, 74 N.C. App. 159, 163, 327 S.E.2d 920, 923 (1985). The denial of that right “is constitutional error of the first magnitude and no amount of showing of want of prejudice would cure it.” Id. But, the defendant’s right to cross-examination is not…