State v. Chavez

521 P.2d 1040, 86 N.M. 199
CourtNew Mexico Court of Appeals
DecidedFebruary 27, 1974
DocketNo. 1338
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 521 P.2d 1040 (State v. Chavez) 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. Chavez, 521 P.2d 1040, 86 N.M. 199 (N.M. Ct. App. 1974).

Opinion

OPINION

WOOD, Chief Judge.

Convicted of murder in the second degree, defendant appeals. Section 40A-2-1 (B), N.M.S.A.1953 (2d Repl.Vol. 6). The issues concern: (1) insanity as a matter of law; (2) exhibits to the jury during its deliberation; and (3) validity of imprisonment for costs.

Insanity as a matter of law.

At the close of the evidence, defendant moved for a directed verdict on the basis that he was insane at the time of commission of the offense. There is no issue as to the legal definition of insanity. See State v. Padilla, 66 N.M. 289, 347 P.2d 312, 78 A.L.R.2d 908 (1959); State v. White, 58 N.M. 324, 270 P.2d 727 (1954). The claim is that defendant was insane as a matter of law. In support of this claim, defendant would apply the uncontradicted evidence rule stated in Medler v. Henry, 44 N.M. 275, 101 P.2d 398 (1940).

The contention is based on language in State v. Gardner, 85 N.M. 104, 509 P.2d 871 (1973), cert. denied, 414 U.S. 851, 94 S.Ct. 145, 38 L.Ed.2d 100 (1973), which states:

“We can accept the proposition, at least guardedly, that cases may arise where, absent evidence to the contrary, the defendant’s evidence on the issue of insanity may be so clear and of such overpowering and persuasive force that reasonable minds can move only in the direction of a finding of insanity. In such a case, a court need not hesitate to rule on the issue as a matter of law.

See also, State v. Wilson, 85 N.M. 552, 514 P.2d 603 (1973).

A defense witness, Dr. Shankel, testified that defendant was insane at the time of the killing. Asserting that Dr. Shankel’s evidence is uncontradicted, defendant examines rebuttal evidence of the State, and contends this evidence failed to contradict the testimony of Dr. Shankel. We do not concern ourselves with whether evidence introduced by the State directly contradicted. Dr. Shankel’s conclusion. Rather, we examine the evidence to determine whether the uncontradicted evidence rule is applicable.

Medler v. Henry, supra, states that the uncontradicted evidence rule does not apply where the facts and circumstances of the case cast reasonable doubt upon the truth or accuracy of the oral testimony. Facts and circumstances casting doubt on the accuracy of Dr. Shankel’s conclusion are as follows:

(a) Dr. Shankel, a psychiatrist, testified that psychiatry is not “a precise science I have no way of knowing with certainty what his mental condition was.” His testimony of insanity was the doctor’s “considered opinion.”

(b) Dr. Shankel testified that defendant suffered from a mental illness known as schizophrenia. The schizophrenia was described as chronic, paranoid type. Dr. Shankel, and Dr. Rosenstein, who testified for the State, agreed that a diagnosis of schizophrenia does not necessarily mean that the schizophrenic is criminally insane.

(c) According to Dr. Shankel, defendant stated he had no memory of the events surrounding the killing. There is evidence casting doubt on defendant’s lack of memory. Dr. Shankel testified that whether defendant had lied about his lack of memory would not be pertinent; that it made no difference whether or not defendant remembered the crime. Dr. Rosenstein stated that amnesia was “one of the elements that you use in coming to your conclusion.” Dr. Rosenstein also testified that if a defendant were unable to give any recollection of the events which had transpired, this lack of memory affects the examiner’s ability to come to a conclusion as to sanity or insanity.

(d) Dr. Shankel referred to defendant’s hallucinations in his first report and stated the hallucinations had ceased in a subsequent report. Dr. Shankel testified that whether or not defendant had had hallucinatory experiences made no difference on the question of legal insanity. Dr. Shankel also testified that his diagnosis of schizophrenia was not based on hallucinations. Dr. Rosenstein approached the legal definition of insanity on the basis that the definition involved a psychosis and testified that hallucinations were primarily symptoms of psychosis.

(e) Dr. Rosenstein testified that if the legal definition of insanity equated with psychosis, then Dr. Shankel’s diagnosis of schizophrenia did not fit within the legal definition. “By definition, the schizophrenia does not preclude the ability to preceive [sic] reality with some accuracy.” Whether a chronic schizophrenic was capable of understanding the nature and quality of his actions “would depend on his mental state at any particular time.”

In light of the foregoing circumstances, the uncontradicted evidence rule was not applicable. In the light of the foregoing, Dr. Shankel’s testimony was neither so clear nor of such persuasive force that it required a ruling of law that defendant was insane. State v. Gardner, supra. The trial court did not err in denying the motion for a directed verdict; it correctly submitted the insanity issue to the jury.

Exhibits to jury during its deliberation.

While deliberating, the jury requested “to see the Doctors [sic] reports that were introduced as evidence.” The record indicates all exhibits, except clothing and a mannequin, were sent to the jury. Defendant claims this was error, relying on State v. Ross, 85 N.M. 176, 510 P.2d 109 (Ct.App.1973).

Ross, supra, considered the question of sending exhibits to the jury during its deliberation under the law existing prior to the effective date of the Rules of Criminal Procedure. This case is subject to the Rules of Criminal Procedure.

Section 41-23-42(c), N.M.S.A.1953 (2d Repl.Vol. 6, Supp.1973) states: “Upon its request to review any exhibit during its deliberations, the jury shall be furnished all exhibits received in evidence.” Under this rule, all exhibits, received in evidence, are to be furnished to the jury if the jury requests any exhibit.

Defendant does not complaint of the failure to send the clothing and mannequin to the jury. His complaint concerns the exhibits that were furnished. Since § 41-23^42 (c), supra, authorized sending those exhibits to the jury, there was no error in doing so.

Validity of imprisonment for costs.

Defendant was sentenced to not less than ten nor more than fifty years in the penitentiary. Section 40A-2-1, supra; § 40A-29-3(B), N.M.S.A.1953 (2d Repl. Vol. 6). He was also ordered to pay all court costs incurred as a result of the trial. Section 41 — 13—4, N.M.S.A.1953 (2d Repl. Vol. 6). The district court clerk certified costs of $4,050.86. The amended commit-merit, directs penitentiary officials to confine'defendant until the sentence is served and the costs are paid.

The showing in this record is that defendant is an indigent.

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Related

State v. Valley Villa Nursing Center, Inc.
637 P.2d 843 (New Mexico Court of Appeals, 1981)
State v. Fried
585 P.2d 647 (New Mexico Court of Appeals, 1978)
Chavez v. State
521 P.2d 1030 (New Mexico Supreme Court, 1974)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
521 P.2d 1040, 86 N.M. 199, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-chavez-nmctapp-1974.