If the recommendation of the jury is that the defendant be sentenced to death, the judge shall impose a sentence of death in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 15, Article 19 of the General Statutes.? If the recommendation of the jury is that the defendant be imprisoned for life in the State‘s prison, the judge shall impose a sentence of imprisonment for life in the State’s prison, without parole.

The judge shall instruct the jury, in words substantially equivalent to those of this section, that a sentence of life imprisonment means a sentence of life without parole. (1977, c. 406, s. 2; 1993, c. 538, s. 29; 1994, Ex. Sess., c. 21, s. 5; c. 24, s. 14(b).)

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Terms Used In North Carolina General Statutes 15A-2002

  • Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
  • state: when applied to the different parts of the United States, shall be construed to extend to and include the District of Columbia and the several territories, so called; and the words "United States" shall be construed to include the said district and territories and all dependencies. See North Carolina General Statutes 12-3