State v. Evans

In State v. Evans, 279 N.C. at 447, 183 S.E.2d, our Supreme Court reversed the defendant's conviction where there was no evidence the defendant knew that the two people who provided him a ride planned to rob a restaurant upon reaching their destination. Evans, 279 N.C. at 453-54, 183 S.E.2d at 544-45. Five or ten minutes prior to the robbery, the defendant entered a vehicle with the driver and a passenger for the sole purpose of receiving a ride. Id., 279 N.C. at 450, 183 S.E.2d at 543. The two people in the car never informed defendant of their intention to commit a robbery and neither the driver nor the passenger discussed their plans regarding the robbery in defendant's presence. Id. The Evans Court reasoned that the defendant's "mere presence" at the scene of the crime during its commission was not sufficient to show his involvement in the crime. Evans, 279 N.C. at 453-54, 183 S.E.2d at 545.