North Carolina § 15A-977 - Motion to suppress evidence in superior court; procedure.

§ 15A-977. Motion to suppress evidence in superior court; procedure.

A motion to suppress evidence in superior court made before trial must be in writing and a copy of the motion must be served upon the State. The motion must state the grounds upon which it is made. The motion must be accompanied by an affidavit containing facts supporting the motion. The affidavit may be based upon personal knowledge, or upon information and belief, if the source of the information and the basis for the belief are stated. The State may file an answer denying or admitting any of the allegations. A copy of the answer must be served on the defendant's counsel, or on the defendant if he has no counsel. The judge must summarily grant the motion to suppress evidence if: The motion complies with the requirements of subsection (a), it states grounds which require exclusion of the evidence, and the State concedes the truth of allegations of fact which support the motion; or The State stipulates that the evidence sought to be suppressed will not be offered in evidence in any criminal action or proceeding against the defendant. The judge may summarily deny the motion to suppress evidence if: The motion does not allege a legal basis for the motion; or The affidavit does not as a matter of law support the ground alleged. If the motion is not determined summarily the judge must make the determination after a hearing and finding of facts. Testimony at the hearing must be under oath. A motion to suppress made during trial may be made in writing or orally and may be determined in the same manner as when made before trial. The hearing, if held, must be out of the presence of the jury. The judge must set forth in the record his findings of facts and conclusions of law. History (1973, c. 1286, s. 1.)