Opinion ID: 1210547
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: First degree murder with use of a deadly weapon.

Text: NRS 200.030(1) provides in part: Murder of the first degree is murder which is: (a) Perpetrated by ... any other kind of willful, deliberate and premeditated killing; (b) Committed in the perpetration or attempted perpetration of ... kidnaping, ... robbery, [or] burglary ...; or (c) Committed to avoid or prevent the lawful arrest of any person by a peace officer .... Although Thomas could have been convicted of first degree murder under any one of these three theories, he argues that insufficient evidence exists only for premeditated murder under NRS 200.030(1)(a). Specifically, he argues that the evidence fails to show his specific intent to kill. We conclude that sufficient evidence exists to support Thomas' conviction under the felony-murder and avoid-arrest theories. See NRS 200.030(1)(b) and (c). As discussed above, sufficient evidence exists that Thomas committed burglary, robbery and kidnapping, and Dixon and Gianakis were both killed during those crimes. Also, Hall testified that in the car after the incident, Thomas expressed his preference for not leaving witnesses when committing a robbery. Nash and Smith testified that Thomas explained that he had to get rid of two people. Accordingly, regardless of whether sufficient evidence exists under a premeditation theory, Thomas was properly convicted of first degree murder under either the felony-murder or avoid-arrest theories. [3] Moreover, sufficient evidence exists that Thomas committed premeditated murder. Premeditation need only occur for an instant. Scott v. State, 92 Nev. 552, 555, 554 P.2d 735, 737 (1976). Thomas confessed that he stabbed Dixon several times and Gianakis twice. The medical examiner testified that Dixon was stabbed nineteen times. See DePasquale v. State, 106 Nev. 843, 848, 803 P.2d 218, 221 (1990) (Premeditation and deliberation can be inferred from the nature and extent of the injuries, coupled with repeated blows). The state also presented evidence that Thomas searched for Gianakis and chased him before fatally stabbing him. Additionally, Thomas later told his aunt, Nash, that he killed one man (Dixon), that the other (Gianakis) got away, and that Thomas hoped that he died. Taken together, the jury could reasonably conclude that Thomas premeditated the murders within moments of killing Dixon and Gianakis, even if he did not previously plan to kill them. Accordingly, sufficient evidence exists to support Thomas' murder counts.