Opinion ID: 1138767
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: insufficiency of evidence to prove intent to murder

Text: Sanchez argues that evidence of his blood alcohol content after arrest (.2%), the expert's testimony as to Sanchez' inability to distinguish right from wrong, the testimony of witnesses who stated that Sanchez appeared in a daze after the killing, the possibility that Sanchez also had taken dangerous medication, the dubious nature of Garcia's testimony and the lack of a motive, all taken together, constitutes overwhelming evidence of a lack of deliberate intent. The State points to Salas' testimony that Garcia had told her that Sanchez had threatened to kill the victim, and not just to kill in the abstract, that another witness testified that Sanchez and the victim had argued on the evening of the killing, that following the killing Sanchez told another witness that he didn't care that he had killed the victim, that the victim's throat was cut not once, but several times, and that Sanchez was not so drunk that he could not drive an automobile to Las Vegas and safely park the automobile. The State argues that the existence or nonexistence of intent is a question for the jury, citing State v. Sparks, 102 N.M. 317, 694 P.2d 1382 (Ct.App. 1985). We agree with the State that there was sufficient evidence presented to permit the jury to find the requisite elements of first-degree murder, including specific intent. Sparks and State v. Roybal, 66 N.M. 416, 349 P.2d 332 (1960), are controlling. The jury found the requisite intent, and we will not disturb the jury's finding.