State v. Ellis

ARNOLD Judge.

This case presents the recurrent question of whether the court erred in refusing to allow defendant to ask questions concerning the identity of the informant. Defendant’s position is that G.S. 15A-978(b) entitled him to this information. We conclude differently, however.

As stated in State v. Ketchie, 286 N.C. 387, at 392-393, 211 S.E. 2d 207 at 211 (1975), “Defendant has made no defense on the merits and does not contend that the informant participated in or witnessed the alleged crime. Therefore, he has no constitutional right to discover the name of the informant. (Citations…