NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY

1965 SESSION

 

 

CHAPTER 649

HOUSE BILL 855

 

 

AN ACT TO ABOLISH CAPITAL PUNISHMENT FOR THE CRIME OF DUELING.

 

The General Assembly of North Carolina do enact:

 

Section 1.  G.S. 14-20 is hereby amended by rewriting the Section to read as follows:

"G.S. 14-20.  Killing Adversary in Duel; Aiders and Abettors Declared Accessories. If any person fight a duel in consequence of a challenge sent or received, and either of the parties shall be killed, then the survivor, on conviction thereof, shall be punished by imprisonment for life in the State's prison. All their aiders and abettors shall be considered accessories before the fact.

"Any person charged with killing an adversary in a duel may enter a plea of guilty to said charge in the same way and manner and under the conditions and restrictions set forth in G.S. 15-162.1 relating to pleas of guilty for first degree murder, first degree burglary, arson and rape."

Sec. 2.  All laws and clauses of laws in conflict with this Act are hereby repealed.

Sec. 3.  This Act shall be in full force and effect upon its ratification.

In the General Assembly read three times and ratified, this the 20th day of May, 1965.