State v. Carlton

1972 NMCA 015, 495 P.2d 1091, 83 N.M. 644
CourtNew Mexico Court of Appeals
DecidedJanuary 21, 1972
Docket688
StatusPublished
Cited by37 cases

This text of 1972 NMCA 015 (State v. Carlton) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering New Mexico Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State v. Carlton, 1972 NMCA 015, 495 P.2d 1091, 83 N.M. 644 (N.M. Ct. App. 1972).

Opinion

OPINION

COWAN, Judge.

On September 4, 1968, Dennis Paul Carlton and his wife, Pearl Diana Carlton,were charged with murder in Roosevelt County, New Mexico, contrary to § 40A-2-1, N.M.S.A.1953 (Repl.Vol. 6). A first trial, held in Curry County on a change of venue, resulted in a mistrial after the jury was unable to reach a verdict. A second trial resulted in a conviction for second degree murder, from which conviction defendants appealed. Their conviction was reversed by the Court of Appeals [State v. Carlton, 81 N.M. 753, 473 P.2d 367 (Ct.App.1970)] and a new trial ordered. The third trial was held in Lea County, on a second change of venue, and the defendants were again convicted of second degree murder. From a judgment and sentence entered following this conviction, defendants appeal, urging error under 13 points. We affirm.

On August 18, 1968, at 8:22 P.M., the Portales Police Department was advised by a witness that a break-in had occurred at the B & J Drug Store in Portales. Officers found the rear door to the drugstore had been broken open and the body of Elbert Muncy, a pharmacist employed by the drugstore, in the storeroom. His death was caused by multiple gun shot wounds. Defendant Pearl had been an employee of the drugstore for a little over six months.

POINT I.

Defendants’ first point concerns the admission into evidence of eight photographs and one diagram. Three of the photographs and the diagram depicted the interior of the store in which the crime was committed. Defendants claim error in the admission of the three photographs because the lighting was not the same as at the time of the alleged murder. Another objection was that one of the three photographs showed two persons standing in the counter area while witness testimony was that individuals seen in the drugstore were “moving rapidly”. Defendants’ objection to the diagram was that, in the two-week interval between the day of the murder and the day of the preparation of the drawing, “some changes may have taken place”. This seems to have been predicated on the fact that merchandise would change during the period. Since the diagram was introduced to indicate the height of the counters, there would be no prejudice to the defendants, the amount or position of the merchandise being immaterial.

Four of the photographs were of the body of the deceased and defendants claim these to be “duplicatory, repetitious and highly prejudicial to the defendants.”

The eighth photograph was of defendant Pearl taken in the Roosevelt County Sheriff’s office with her height indicated by markings in the background. She claims the photograph depicted her as a criminal.

“The question of admission of photographs into evidence rests largely within the discretion of the trial court; and ordinarily his decision on the question will not be disturbed. * * * ”

State v. Sedillo, 76 N.M. 273, 414 P.2d 500 (1966); State v. Johnson, 57 N.M. 716, 263 P.2d 282 (1953). The latter case, quoting from Potts v. People, 114 Colo. 253, 158 P.2d 739, 159 A.L.R. 1410 (1945), states:

“ ‘Photographs are the pictured expressions of data observed by a witness. They are often more accurate than any description by words, and give a clearer comprehension of the physical facts than can be obtained from the testimony of witnesses. Ordinarily photographs are competent evidence of anything which it is competent for a witness to describe in words. * * * ’ ”

Witnesses testified as to the interior of the store depicted in the three photographs and the diagram. Medical witnesses testified concerning eight bullet wounds in the body shown in four photographs. A witness testified concerning the height of defendant Pearl as measured by the last photograph. “The photographic evidence constituted visual explanations of the testimony of the witnesses and was corroborative of this testimony. The photographs were admissible for these purposes.” State v. Webb, 81 N.M. 508, 469 P.2d 153 (Ct.App.1970). We find nothing in the diagram or any of the photographs, or the number thereof, which would tend to mislead the jury or to arouse prejudice or passion. They were reasonably relevant to the issues of the case.

POINT II.

The defendants assert that the trial court erred in allowing the state to present a witness whose name was not endorsed on the information or bill of particulars. The defendants claimed surprise.

Section 41-6-47, N.M.S.A.1953 (Repl. Vol. 6), provides:

“When an indictment or information is filed, the names of all the witnesses or deponents on which evidence the indictment or information was based shall be endorsed thereon before it is presented, and the district attorney shall endorse on the indictment or information’ at such time as the court may by rule or otherwise prescribe the names of such other witnesses as he purposes to call. A failure to so endorse the said names shall not affect the validity or insufficiency of the indictment or information, but the court in which the indictment or information was filed, shall, upon application of the defendant, direct the names of such witnesses to be endorsed.

State v. Edwards, 54 N.M. 189, 217 P.2d 854 (1950), states:

“ . . . Whether names of witnesses may be endorsed during trial is a matter resting within the sound discretion of the court. It is not enough that a defendant claim surprise or prejudice in the calling of an adverse witness or one whose name does not appear upon the information charging him with crime. Nor is the mere admission of testimony of such witness, error; rather, error follows from a denial of an opportunity to rebut the objectionable evidence. * *”

The day before the witness was called, defendants advised the court that they had had the opportunity to interview the witness and were aware of the nature of his testimony, thus obviating any claim of surprise. No postponement or continuance was requested nor did defendants show to the court denial of an opportunity to rebut the evidence. State v. Edwards, supra; State v. Maes, 81 N.M. 550, 469 P.2d 529 (Ct.App.1970). The admission of the testimony was within the sound discretion of the trial court and, absent abuse of such discretion, the action of the trial court will not be disturbed on appeal. State v. Lujan, 79 N.M. 200, 441 P.2d 497 (1968); State v. Grice, 47 N.M. 197, 138 P.2d 1016 (1943).

POINT III.

Defendants question three items of evidence. They claim the trial court should have declared a mistrial 'because of a gratuitous statement from one of the state’s witnesses. The question, propounded by the defense, and the answer-thereto were as follows:

“Q.

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Bluebook (online)
1972 NMCA 015, 495 P.2d 1091, 83 N.M. 644, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-carlton-nmctapp-1972.