Court Opinion

ID: 9549997
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 18:27:22.64674+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:21:08.659594
License: Public Domain

OPINION ON REHEARING The foregoing opinion (except for the last paragraph of Part I and the last sentence of Part III) was filed on June 15, 1992. Included in the opinion as filed (but not included in the foregoing opinion) was Part IV, in which we briefly dealt with an issue not discussed by the parties in their briefs: the disposition of the case after reversal of the first degree murder conviction and on remand to the trial court. Based on our independent research; on our view that the evidence adduced at trial, while not sufficient to support a first degree murder conviction, was sufficient to support a conviction of second degree murder; and on the jury’s finding, which was permissible under the evidence, that Garcia either intended to kill Gutierrez or acted with knowledge of a strong probability that Gutierrez would suffer death or great bodily harm, we directed in Part IV that the case be remanded for entry of a judgment of conviction of second degree murder and resentencing as provided by law. See, e.g., Dickenson v. Israel, 482 F.Supp. 1223, 1225-26 (E.D.Wis.1980) (court reversing for insufficient evidence to support one element of offense may order entry of judgment on adequately proved lesser included offense), aff'd, 644 F.2d 308, 309 (7th Cir.1981) (adopting district court opinion); Ex parte Edwards, 452 So.2d 508, 509-10 (Ala.1984) (same). Thereafter, Garcia moved for rehearing on the issue of the appropriate disposition following reversal, contending that he should be retried on the offenses of second degree murder and voluntary manslaughter and be given an opportunity to prove to a jury that he was guilty, at most, of voluntary manslaughter, based on evidence that he was sufficiently provoked to justify the killing under our statute defining voluntary manslaughter. See NMSA 1978, § 30-2-3(A) (Repl.Pamp.1984) (“Voluntary manslaughter consists of manslaughter committed upon a sudden quarrel or in the heat of passion.”); see also SCRA 1986,14-220, -222 (jury instructions on voluntary manslaughter and sufficient provocation). The State did not file a motion for rehearing but did notify us of its concurrence in Garcia’s motion. Having reviewed Garcia’s motion and his brief in support thereof, and in light of the State’s concurrence in the motion, we are persuaded that the interests of justice will be better served in this case by remanding for a new trial on the offenses of second degree murder and voluntary manslaughter. (Of course, retrial on first degree murder is precluded by double jeopardy. Burks v. United States, 437 U.S. 1, 98 S.Ct. 2141, 57 L.Ed.2d 1 (1977)). The cause is therefore remanded to the district court with instructions to proceed in conformity with this opinion. IT IS SO ORDERED. RANSOM, C.J., and FRANCHINI, J., concur.