Mirin v. State

Nevada Supreme Court

Mirin v. State

560 P.2d 145, 93 Nev. 57, 1977 Nev. LEXIS 468

CourtNevada Supreme Court

DecidedFebruary 8, 1977

DocketNo. 8653

StatusPublished

Cited by9 cases

This text of 560 P.2d 145 (Mirin v. State) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Nevada Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook

Mirin v. State, 560 P.2d 145, 93 Nev. 57, 1977 Nev. LEXIS 468 (Neb. 1977).

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Opinion

OPINION

Per Curiam:

After being convicted, by jury verdict, of murder in the second degree, William Mirin was sentenced to a term of years in the Nevada State Prison. In this appeal his only contentions [59]*59that warrant comment are that he was denied a fair trial because the trial judge erroneously: (1) ruled the testimony of Ray King — a prosecution witness — was competent; (2) refused to instruct on the defense of self-defense and, instead, instructed that such defense was not available to appellant; and, (3) refused to admit evidence of the victim’s character.

1. In support of his first assignment of error, Mirin contends that Ray King was intoxicated at the time he testified; therefore, he concludes that King was an incompetent witness. Intoxication does not necessarily disqualify a witness from testifying. Cf. Fox v. State, 87 Nev. 567, 491 P.2d 35 (1971). “When the competency of any witness has been questioned, it is within the discretion of the trial court to consider factors relative to qualification and to determine if such person is competent to testify.” Shuff v. State, 86 Nev. 736, 738, 476 P.2d 22, 24 (1970). Here, the trial judge held hearings outside the jury’s presence concerning King’s competency, and concluded that King was capable of comprehending questions and responding in a lucid manner. The record supports that determination. Additionally, the judge gave special cautionary instructions to the jury. Under such circumstances, we perceive no error. Fox, supra.

2. Mirin next argues the trial judge erred by not instructing the jury on the defense of self-defense. However, “[a]n instruction must be given only if there is evidence to support it.” Krueger v. State, 92 Nev. 749, 557 P.2d 717 (1976). In this case there is no such evidence and, in fact, the record establishes that Mirin was the pursuer and aggressor; thus, the court properly refused to instruct on self-defense. Williams v. State, 91 Nev. 533, 539 P.2d 461 (1975). In this factual context, it was not error to instruct that self-defense was not available to appellant. Johnson v. State, 92 Nev. 405, 551 P.2d 241 (1976).

3. Because he could not avail himself of the defense of self-defense, Mirin’s contention that the trial court erred by excluding evidence of the victim’s character is misplaced and, therefore, without merit. Coombs v. State, 91 Nev. 489, 538 P.2d 162 (1975); State v. Helm, 66 Nev. 286, 209 P.2d 187 (1949).

[60]*60Mirin’s subordinate contentions are also without merit; accordingly, they are summarily rejected.

Affirmed.¹

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OPINION

Per Curiam:

After being convicted, by jury verdict, of murder in the second degree, William Mirin was sentenced to a term of years in the Nevada State Prison. In this appeal his only contentions [59]*59that warrant comment are that he was denied a fair trial because the trial judge erroneously: (1) ruled the testimony of Ray King — a prosecution witness — was competent; (2) refused to instruct on the defense of self-defense and, instead, instructed that such defense was not available to appellant; and, (3) refused to admit evidence of the victim’s character.

1. In support of his first assignment of error, Mirin contends that Ray King was intoxicated at the time he testified; therefore, he concludes that King was an incompetent witness. Intoxication does not necessarily disqualify a witness from testifying. Cf. Fox v. State, 87 Nev. 567, 491 P.2d 35 (1971). “When the competency of any witness has been questioned, it is within the discretion of the trial court to consider factors relative to qualification and to determine if such person is competent to testify.” Shuff v. State, 86 Nev. 736, 738, 476 P.2d 22, 24 (1970). Here, the trial judge held hearings outside the jury’s presence concerning King’s competency, and concluded that King was capable of comprehending questions and responding in a lucid manner. The record supports that determination. Additionally, the judge gave special cautionary instructions to the jury. Under such circumstances, we perceive no error. Fox, supra.

2. Mirin next argues the trial judge erred by not instructing the jury on the defense of self-defense. However, “[a]n instruction must be given only if there is evidence to support it.” Krueger v. State, 92 Nev. 749, 557 P.2d 717 (1976). In this case there is no such evidence and, in fact, the record establishes that Mirin was the pursuer and aggressor; thus, the court properly refused to instruct on self-defense. Williams v. State, 91 Nev. 533, 539 P.2d 461 (1975). In this factual context, it was not error to instruct that self-defense was not available to appellant. Johnson v. State, 92 Nev. 405, 551 P.2d 241 (1976).

3. Because he could not avail himself of the defense of self-defense, Mirin’s contention that the trial court erred by excluding evidence of the victim’s character is misplaced and, therefore, without merit. Coombs v. State, 91 Nev. 489, 538 P.2d 162 (1975); State v. Helm, 66 Nev. 286, 209 P.2d 187 (1949).

[60]*60Mirin’s subordinate contentions are also without merit; accordingly, they are summarily rejected.

Affirmed.¹

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560 P.2d 145, 93 Nev. 57, 1977 Nev. LEXIS 468, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/mirin-v-state-nev-1977.

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