NC court: Telling others about murder confession fair game

RALEIGH, NC (AP) – A North Carolina appeals court says the fact a murderer confessed the killing to a minister could come out at his trial because the killer told someone else about the confession.

The state Court of Appeals ruled Tuesday on last year’s first-degree murder conviction of 53-year-old Victor Jay Crisco. He beat 21-year-old Carrie Welch to death with a baseball bat inside his home.

State law forbids forcing ordained ministers of an established church from testifying in court about information told them by a person involved.

The appeals court ruled Crisco told a friend he killed Welch and confessed it to a Sanford preacher. Crisco’s friend was permitted to testify about what the killer told him. The court also said there was plentiful other evidence to convict Crisco beyond his confession.

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