State v. Marquez

634 P.2d 1298, 96 N.M. 746
CourtNew Mexico Court of Appeals
DecidedSeptember 29, 1981
Docket5054
StatusPublished
Cited by18 cases

This text of 634 P.2d 1298 (State v. Marquez) 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. Marquez, 634 P.2d 1298, 96 N.M. 746 (N.M. Ct. App. 1981).

Opinion

OPINION

WOOD, Judge.

After breaking into the residence, defendant armed himself with a knife and then killed Jeanette King. Defendant appeals his convictions of aggravated burglary and second degree murder. See § 30-16-4(B), N.M.S.A.1978 and § 30-2-1, N.M.S.A. 1978 (Cum.Supp.1981). Issues listed in the docketing statement, but not briefed, were abandoned. State v. Gallegos, 92 N.M. 336, 587 P.2d 1347 (Ct.App.1978). We discuss the three issues that were briefed: (1) the trial court’s refusal to instruct on voluntary manslaughter; (2) the trial court’s refusal of defendant’s requested instruction defining mental disease; and (3) the trial court’s denial of a mistrial when a prosecution witness referred to defendant’s prior indictment for rape.

Refusal to Instruct on Voluntary Manslaughter

Defendant was entitled to an instruction on voluntary manslaughter only if there was evidence to support this crime. State v. Manus, 93 N.M. 95, 597 P.2d 280 (1979). In this case, the question is whether there was evidence of adequate provocation. State v. Robinson, 94 N.M. 693, 616 P.2d 406 (1980); see State v. Garcia, 95 N.M. 260, 620 P.2d 1285 (1980).

There were two eyewitnesses to the killing- — defendant and Margaret King, the mother of Jeanette. The claim of adequate provocation involves a vase that Jeanette threw at defendant.

Defendant’s relationship with Jeanette had been turbulent for some time preceding the killing. On the day of the killing, defendant had attempted to contact Jeanette at her place of employment by subterfuge and had threatened Chadwick, who had dated Jeanette. Defendant believed Jeanette would press charges against him for violating an order which prohibited defendant from having contact with Jeanette.

In the evening, defendant went to Jeanette’s home; no one was there. After waiting about fifteen minutes, defendant broke a window, unlocked the window and entered the house. Wandering from room to room, defendant picked up a knife from the kitchen and stuck it in his belt, then went upstairs.

Margaret returned to the house; so did Jeanette a short time later. The two were sitting in the den talking. As the two were discussing defendant, Margaret looked up and saw defendant standing in the doorway of the den. According to defendant, he decided to go downstairs and confront the two women. According to defendant, when Jeanette, who was sitting with her back to the doorway, saw the defendant she jumped up and screamed.

Defendant testified that he directed Jeanette to sit down; Jeanette responded by asking defendant if he knew it was illegal to break into a house. After further argument about Chadwick, defendant ordered Jeanette to come sit by him; she did not comply. Defendant then ordered Jeanette and Margaret to come over to him; they did not comply.

Defendant pulled out the knife and, exploding in anger, started stabbing at the wooden part of the chair. Jeanette screamed, ran to the middle of the room and continued screaming. Defendant ran to Jeanette, pushing Margaret out of the way to get to Jeanette. Defendant started stabbing Jeanette, who knocked the knife from defendant’s hand and ran out of the room. Defendant retrieved the knife and caught up with Jeanette in the kitchen. According to defendant, it was at this point Jeanette threw the vase.

Defendant’s testimony did not raise an issue as to adequate provocation.

Margaret testified that when Jeanette saw defendant in the doorway of the den Jeanette became very angry and accused defendant of committing “another offense” by breaking into the house. As defendant walked into the room, Jeanette threw a vase which hit defendant on the shoulder. Defendant continued into the room and sat down. Defendant then ordered Jeanette to come over to him. She did not go. Defendant then ordered Jeanette and Margaret to lie down in front of him. They did not comply. Jeanette ran behind Margaret. Defendant brought out the knife and the stabbing began. After killing Jeanette, defendant told Margaret that he had to kill her also; Margaret escaped.

Nothing in Margaret’s testimony suggests, or permits an inference, that defendant reacted in any manner to the vase incident to which Margaret testified. Compare State v. Najar, 94 N.M. 193, 608 P.2d 169 (Ct.App.1980). Margaret’s testimony is that defendant reacted when the women refused to comply with his orders. Compare State v. Garcia, supra, and State v. Robinson, supra. Margaret’s testimony did not raise an issue as to adequate provocation.

In contending there was adequate provocation, defendant combines some of defendant’s testimony with some of Margaret’s testimony, with the result that the testimony relied on has been distorted. For example, in relying, in the appeal, on Margaret’s version of the vase incident, defendant omits all reference to the orders he gave to the women and, in relying on defendant’s version, defendant fails to mention that he testified that he did not know whether Jeanette threw a vase at him while in the den. State v. Manus, supra, points out such distortions are improper.

Even if there were evidence that defendant reacted, and thus was provoked by the vase incident to which Margaret testified, the vase incident would not be adequate provocation in this case. State v. Manus, supra, points out that the exercise of a legal right, no matter how offensive, is not provocation adequate to reduce homicide from murder to manslaughter. Jeanette threw the vase at defendant, a burglar. Whether Jeanette threw the vase to protect herself or her home, she had a right to do so. State v. Pollard, 139 Mo. 220, 40 S.W. 949 (1897). See State v. Couch, 52 N.M. 127, 193 P.2d 405 (1946); U.J.I.Crim. 41.50 and 41.51. If there was any provocation, it was not brought about by Jeanette throwing a vase, but by defendant’s illegal entry into Jeanette’s home. Thus, if defendant had any provocation, that provocation would not reduce the homicide from murder to manslaughter. State v. Martin, 336 S.W.2d 394 (Mo.1960).

Refused Instruction Defining Mental Disease

The approved instruction on insanity, U.J.I. Crim. 41.00, was given. A part of the instruction given states: “A person is insane if, as a result of a mental disease, he could not prevent himself from committing the act.”

Defendant requested an instruction defining mental disease. It read: “The mental disease comprehended by the insanity defense is any abnormal condition of the mind which substantially affects mental or emotional processes and substantially impairs behavior controls.”

The defense theory was that defendant was insane at the time of the killing. No claim is made that the approved instruction on insanity was improperly given.

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Bluebook (online)
634 P.2d 1298, 96 N.M. 746, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-marquez-nmctapp-1981.