State v. Smith

452 P.2d 195, 80 N.M. 126
CourtNew Mexico Court of Appeals
DecidedFebruary 28, 1969
Docket240
StatusPublished
Cited by29 cases

This text of 452 P.2d 195 (State v. Smith) 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. Smith, 452 P.2d 195, 80 N.M. 126 (N.M. Ct. App. 1969).

Opinion

OPINION

OMAN, Judge.

Defendant appeals from a judgment convicting him of second degree murder.

The pertinent facts are:

(1) Defendant and his wife had been estranged for some time prior to August S, 1967.

(2) During the afternoon and evening of August 5, 1967, defendant, having learned where his wife and children were living, went by the house on several occasions, but no one was at home. He returned to the house at about 11:00 p.m. He had been waiting outside just a short time when his wife, children and decedent, a Mr. Robert Perea, arrived. The wife, children and decedent entered the house without seeing defendant, who remained in hiding outside. He could hear and see only portions of what was said and done by those inside the house. At one point he claims he did see his wife and decedent embrace and heard decedent express his. love for her.

(3) Shortly after the lights went out and all inside the house had apparently retired for the night, which was about midnight, he went to his automobile, which was parked about a block away, and secured a gun. He returned to the house, broke in through a screen door, proceeded to a bedroom, saw decedent in bed, or getting out of bed, and shot him.

(4) Defendant then drove back to the home of a friend with whom he had been staying. He arrived there at about 1:1S a.m., and at about 2:00 a.m. told his friend he had shot a man.

(5) At about 7:30 that morning, which was a Sunday, defendant and his friend heard on the radio or television that the man who had been shot died. Thereupon defendant telephoned a lawyer and was. told to come to the lawyer’s office. He and his friend went to the office previously occupied by the lawyer. The office was-locked.

(6) After some discussion, the friend then drove defendant to the police station^

(7) Defendant entered the police station, approached Officer Rhoten, and announced: “I want to turn myself in.” The-officer replied: “Okay.” Officer Rhoten knew defendant from a prior incident, and also knew he was wanted for investigation in connection with the homicide.

(8) Officer Rhoten took defendant to Officer Parker at the booking desk. Officer Parker advised defendant of his rights-to remain silent and to consult with a lawyer, that a lawyer would be appointed for him if he was unable to employ one, and that he was being booked for homicide.

(9) While defendant was being booked, Officer Rhoten remarked, “* * * that Robert [decedent] must have given him [defendant] a bad time.” The officer testified that plaintiff said, “yeah, that he-[defendant] had been after him [decedent] for a long time to get him.” The testimony of Officer Rhoten, as to his remark and. defendant’s reply, was received into evidence without obj ection.

(10) From the booking desk, Officer Rhoten took defendant to Detective Chavez. Officer Chavez advised defendant of his rights by reading from a standard form used by the Albuquerque Police entitled, “Advice of Rights Form.” Officer Chavez also gave defendant a copy of this “Advice of Rights Form.” The following appears on the form which was used in this case, and which was signed by Officer Chavez and witnessed by Officer Garcia:

. “Suspect: Elden S. Smith
“On this 6 day of Aug., 1966, at 11:30 a.m. o’clock * * * I gave the following warning and received the following responses from the above named suspect:
“1. We are investigating murder of Robert Perea.
“2. You have a right to remain silent.
“3. Anything you say can be used against you in Court.
“4. You are entitled to talk to a lawyer before answering any questions, and to have one here during questioning.
“5. If you want a lawyer, but do not have the money to hire one, then one will be provided for you by the judge.
“6. Do you understand what I have told you? Yes.
“7. Do you want to go ahead and talk to me about this matter? I will tell you what I did.”

(11) Defendant then proceeded to relate many of the details leading up to the shooting, the shooting of decedent by him, and where he had thrown the gun after the shooting. The gun was later recovered.

(12) Defendant admitted that, after he told Officer Chavez he did not wish to make any statements until he had talked to a lawyer, no further questions were asked of him.

Defendant objected to the testimony of Officer Chavez concerning what he had related to the officer. As we understand his objection, he admitted that the matters recited on the “Advice of Rights Form” complied with the requirements set forth in Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436, 86 S.Ct. 1602, 16 L.Ed.2d 694, 10 A.L.R.3d 974 (1966), but he urged that the officer’s testimony was inadmissible because there was a failure by the State to produce a written waiver of these lights signed by defendant, and a failure of the evidence to establish that defendant had knowingly and understandingly waived these rights.

The trial court heard defendant’s arguments and permitted defendant to examine the officer at length out of the presence of the jury. The court ruled that the officer could properly relate what defendant had stated by way of confession, and that the question of the voluntariness of the confession would be submitted to the jury.

Defendant relies upon two points for reversal. His first point is that he “* * * was denied due process of law and his right against self-incrimination * * * when the trial judge admitted, over objection, the alleged oral statements by Defendant to Officer Chavez, * * *” Although the point as stated does not include the remark made by defendant at the booking desk, which is referred to in Paragraph No. 9 above, defendant argues that the advice given by Officer Parker to defendant as to his rights was inadequate, and that, in any event, there is no evidence of an intelligent waiver of his privilege against self-incrimination.

As above stated no objection was made to the testimony of Officer Rhoten in which he related the content of his remarle and defendant’s response thereto. Defendant had already been advised of his rights to an attorney and to remain silent. Even if defendant had a right to have this testimony excluded, he waived such right when he failed to make objection thereto or to raise any question as to its admissibility. See State v. Minor, 78 N.M. 680, 437 P.2d 141 (1968); State v. Sharp, 78 N.M. 220, 430 P.2d 378 (1967); State v. James, 76 N.M. 376, 415 P.2d 350 (1966).

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
452 P.2d 195, 80 N.M. 126, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-smith-nmctapp-1969.