Opinion ID: 1397664
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Whether New Mexico's Capital Felony Sentencing Act, NMSA 1978, Sections 31-20A-1 through 31-20A-6 (Repl.Pamp. 1981), is unconstitutional because the death penalty is cruel and unusual punishment.

Text: Leslie Goodwin (Goodwin) testified that on September 10, 1981, at approximately 2:15 a.m., she and Gabe Nava (Nava) left Ned's El Portal (Ned's), a bar in Albuquerque, New Mexico. They walked over to Nava's car and stood there in the parking lot talking. Cheadle approached them branishing a gun. Cheadle stated, Come on let's go,    I will kill you if you don't, and then by waving a silver-colored gun instructed them in which direction to proceed. After walking a short distance and stopping between buildings, Cheadle instructed Nava and Goodwin to stand facing the wall of the building in a spread eagle position with their backs to Cheadle. Cheadle then demanded money which they both gave to him. Nava was then instructed to take off his jeans and shirt, which he did. Nava and Goodwin were then ordered to move about ten to twelve feet down the alley. They moved to a fence, when again they were ordered to put their hands on the fence and stand in a spread eagle position. Cheadle then ordered Goodwin to remove her clothes. At about that time, Cheadle shot Nava for the first time. Cheadle again demanded that Goodwin remove her clothes and told her that he would kill her if she did not. She complied. Cheadle then attempted to rape Goodwin, but could not get an erection. Goodwin was then instructed to put her clothes back on. At that time, Cheadle shot Nava a second time. Cheadle ordered Goodwin back to Nava's car. Upon arriving at Nava's car, Cheadle then got into the front seat and reached over to unlock the driver's door for Goodwin. Goodwin ran and stopped a passing police car, explained what happened and gave a description of the offender to the police. Nava died later that morning from gunshot wounds to the head.