Court Opinion

ID: 9628096
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 09:07:26.894958+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:06:57.533371
License: Public Domain

Fondi, D. J.,1
dissenting,
with whom Manoukian, J., agrees:
I respectfully disagree with the majority opinion. The majority states that appellant Laursen planned to kill one of his sons-in-law but missed his shot and killed another son-in-law. This is the very factual question which was taken away from the jury by virtue of the errors committed by the trial court and which are commented upon in the majority opinion. Appellant had been drinking quite heavily on the day of the homicide and the shooting was preceded by a number of interfamily squabbles that day and the preceding day involving appellant, his two daughters, their husbands and appellant’s son.
*572The majority recognizes that the trial judge committed error when the rule set forth in Carlson v. State, 84 Nev. 534, 445 P.2d 157 (1968) was not followed. Had the jury been allowed to determine for itself whether the statement was voluntary or involuntary, it might very well have decided the latter. The statements would then have been disregarded.
The majority concedes that the evidence against appellant incliides substantial evidence of his intoxication at the time the incriminating statements were made. The majority goes on, however, to state that the evidence against appellant was overwhelming and that there were a number of other voluntary incriminating statements to officers. This court has held that intoxication raises an issue of voluntariness. Tucker v. State, 92 Nev. 486, 553 P.2d 951 (1976). The standard this court has applied when determining whether or not to exclude incriminating statements is that “unless it is shown that the defendant was so intoxicated that he was unable to understand the meaning of his statements,” the statements are voluntary. Stewart v. State, 92 Nev. 168, 171, 547 P.2d 320, 321 (1976). Therefore, to state that appellant made a number of voluntary incriminating statements to officers simply begs the question at issue.
The majority relies on Grimaldi v. State, 90 Nev. 83, 518 P.2d 615 (1974) and Brimmage v. State, 93 Nev. 434, 567 P.2d 54 (1977) to support its holding that the errors committed by the trial court are subject to harmless error analysis, and would not have changed the outcome of the trial. I simply cannot agree with this position in the context of that case. This court has heretofore in Carlson v. State, supra, outlined a specific procedure to be followed in cases of this nature. To adopt the position announced by the majority simply substitutes the subjective judgment of this court on a question of fact which should be left to the subjective judgment of the jury as the triers of fact.
First degree murder can be proven if the state is able to demonstrate that the homicidal act itself was committed with premeditation and deliberation. Whenever a criminal defendant is voluntarily intoxicated during the commission of a crime requiring premeditation and deliberation, the fact that he was intoxicated can be considered by the jury to determine whether he acted with premeditation and deliberation. NRS 193.220. Vincent v. State, 97 Nev. 169, 625 P.2d 1172 (1981). In the context of this case, where defense counsel admitted guilt as to second degree murder, and where the primary issue contested at trial was the existence of premeditation and deliberation, the error cannot be deemed harmless.
The trial court also erred by refusing to allow appellant’s *573wife to testify to exculpatory evidence regarding what appellant had told her when he left for Davis' trailer. An objection was made and sustained on the basis of the hearsay rule. A declarant’s “then state of mind” is admissible hearsay under NRS 51.105(1).
But for the errors committed by the trial court, the jury may not have found premeditation and deliberation beyond a reasonable doubt.
Therefore, appellant’s conviction should be reversed and the case remanded for a new trial.

The Governor designated the Honorable Michael E. Fondi, Judge of the First Judicial District Court, to sit in place of Justice Gordon Thompson. Nev. Const, art. 6, § 4.