State v. Hester

ERWIN, Judge.

Defendant contends that the trial court erred in defining “reasonable doubt” as follows in its charge:

“A reasonable doubt is a doubt based on reason and common sense arising out of some or all of the evidence that has been presented or a lack or insufficiency of the evidence as the case may be.

Proof beyond a reasonable doubt is proof that fully satisfies or entirely convinces you of the defendant’s guilt.”

Relying on State v. Hammonds, 241 N.C. 226, 85 S.E. 2d 133 (1954), defendant maintains that the trial court erred in failing to include “satisfied to a moral certainty” in the…