{ "id": 1588641, "name": "STATE of New Mexico, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. John SOUTHERLAND, a/k/a John Sutherland, Defendant-Appellant", "name_abbreviation": "State v. Southerland", "decision_date": "1983-11-03", "docket_number": "No. 7016", "first_page": "591", "last_page": "596", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "100 N.M. 591" }, { "type": "parallel", "cite": "673 P.2d 1324" } ], "court": { "name_abbreviation": "N.M. Ct. App.", "id": 9025, "name": "Court of Appeals of New Mexico" }, "jurisdiction": { "id": 52, "name_long": "New Mexico", "name": "N.M." }, "cites_to": [ { "cite": "86 N.M. 155", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.M.", "case_ids": [ 2827977 ], "weight": 2, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/86/0155-01" ] }, { "cite": "87 N.M. 155", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.M.", "case_ids": [ 2835733 ], "weight": 2, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/87/0155-01" ] }, { "cite": "94 N.M. 193", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.M.", "case_ids": [ 1573159 ], "weight": 2, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/94/0193-01" ] }, { "cite": "100 N.M. 297", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.M.", "case_ids": [ 1588558 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1983, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/100/0297-01" ] }, { "cite": "90 N.M. 524", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.M.", "case_ids": [ 2871426 ], "weight": 2, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/90/0524-01" ] }, { "cite": "94 N.M. 22", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.M.", "case_ids": [ 1573167 ], "weight": 2, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/94/0022-01" ] }, { "cite": "98 N.M. 27", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.M.", "case_ids": [ 1582505 ], "weight": 2, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/98/0027-01" ] }, { "cite": "99 N.M. 177", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.M.", "case_ids": [ 1584652 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1982, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/99/0177-01" ] }, { "cite": "94 N.M. 706", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.M.", "case_ids": [ 1573175 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1980, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/94/0706-01" ] }, { "cite": "98 N.M. 527", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.M.", "case_ids": [ 1582520 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1982, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/98/0527-01" ] }, { "cite": "90 N.M. 256", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.M.", "case_ids": [ 2872048 ], "weight": 2, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/90/0256-01" ] }, { "cite": "90 N.M. 377", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.M.", "case_ids": [ 2867947 ], "weight": 2, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/90/0377-01" ] }, { "cite": "89 N.M. 746", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.M.", "case_ids": [ 2866368 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1976, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/89/0746-01" ] }, { "cite": "98 N.M. 576", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.M.", "case_ids": [ 1582542 ], "weight": 2, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/98/0576-01" ] }, { "cite": "98 N.M. 734", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.M.", "case_ids": [ 1582557 ], "weight": 2, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/98/0734-01" ] }, { "cite": "85 N.M. 204", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.M.", "case_ids": [ 2777405 ], "weight": 2, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/85/0204-01" ] }, { "cite": "86 N.M. 373", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.M.", "case_ids": [ 2821314 ], "weight": 2, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/86/0373-01" ] }, { "cite": "91 N.M. 670", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.M.", "case_ids": [ 1571091 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1978, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/91/0670-01" ] }, { "cite": "81 N.M. 65", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.M.", "case_ids": [ 5363579 ], "weight": 2, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/81/0065-01" ] }, { "cite": "102 A.L.R. 995", "category": "reporters:specialty", "reporter": "A.L.R.", "year": 1934, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "39 N.M. 44", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.M.", "case_ids": [ 1573398 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1934, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/39/0044-01" ] }, { "cite": "39 N.M. 191", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.M.", "case_ids": [ 1573448 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1935, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/39/0191-01" ] }, { "cite": "85 N.M. 295", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.M.", "case_ids": [ 2770810 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1973, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/85/0295-01" ] }, { "cite": "99 N.M. 478", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.M.", "case_ids": [ 1584614 ], "weight": 2, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/99/0478-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 675, "char_count": 14730, "ocr_confidence": 0.775, "pagerank": { "raw": 1.2612488896394606e-07, "percentile": 0.6125040494638877 }, "sha256": "6d9d4cbe7c7b16d30150ff7ceff8c8dd9e45b888c69566030435c4215bc8b196", "simhash": "1:f17c684cf6e60f50", "word_count": 2420 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T21:45:38.267108+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [ "LOPEZ and DONNELLY, JJ., concur." ], "parties": [ "STATE of New Mexico, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. John SOUTHERLAND, a/k/a John Sutherland, Defendant-Appellant." ], "opinions": [ { "text": "OPINION\nHENDLEY, Judge.\nConvicted of attempted first degree murder contrary to NMSA 1978, \u00a7 30-28-1, and NMSA 1978, \u00a7 30-2-1 (Cum.Supp.1983), and armed robbery contrary to NMSA 1978, \u00a7 30-16-2, defendant appeals. The issues raised concern only the attempted murder conviction. Defendant claims 1) jurisdictional error in the instructions given on the crime of attempted second degree murder, and 2) error in the trial court\u2019s failure to give .defendant\u2019s requested instruction on the lesser offense of aggravated battery. The armed robbery conviction is, therefore, affirmed. Issues raised in the docketing statement but not briefed are deemed abandoned.\nThe charges concern the robbery of a convenience store. The store clerk testified that he was sweeping outside the store when a car drove up. A young man got out of the car and walked into the store. The clerk followed the young man inside to help him. The clerk had locked the cash register while he was outside the building. When he went back inside, he walked behind the counter and put the key back in the register. The young man pulled out a revolver and pulled the trigger. The gun was twelve inches from the clerk\u2019s face. The bullet hit the clerk in the nose. As the clerk fell backward, he saw the young man reach into the cash register. Approximately $90.00 was taken. The clerk identified the defendant as the man who did this.\nThe defendant testified that he went to the convenience store to get some burritos. While the clerk was checking him out, a man came up behind defendant. This man reached a gun around defendant and shot the clerk point-blank in the face. Defendant, who had been in the penitentiary in February, 1980, just got \u201cthe hell out of there, man.\u201d\nThe clerk did not remember the burritos. Circumstantial evidence supports defendant\u2019s version that the clerk had gotten the burritos and rung them up on the register. Other circumstantial evidence indicates that it was defendant who fired the shot. When defendant was first approached by the police he denied any knowledge of the incident. Defendant\u2019s father owns a Taurus .38 Special. When the police seized the gun the next day, it smelled like it had been fired. The police also seized a live .38 caliber round and a spent .38 shell from defendant\u2019s room at his father\u2019s house. A firearms expert testified that the bullet removed from the store clerk and the shell from defendant\u2019s room were fired from defendant\u2019s father\u2019s gun.\nSecond Degree Murder Instruction\nThe trial court instructed the jury in accordance with NMSA 1978, UJI Crim. 28.10 (Repl.Pamp.1982), on attempt as it relates to first degree murder and second degree murder. Following these instructions, instructions were given on first degree murder and second degree murder. Although being convicted of attempted first degree murder, defendant claims jurisdictional error in the trial court\u2019s second degree murder instruction.\nThe difference between the trial court\u2019s instruction and a correct instruction is the same as that found in State v. Jackson, 99 N.M. 478, 660 P.2d 120 (Ct.App.1983). The court\u2019s instruction included as its second element the outdated language, \u201cThe defendant had an intent to kill or do great bodily harm to Russell Freed.\u201d See NMSA 1978, UJI Crim. 2.10 (Repl.Pamp.1982). The second element should have read, \u201cThe defendant knew that his acts created a strong probability of death or great bodily harm to Russell Freed.\u201d See NMSA 1978, UJI Crim. 2.11 (Repl.Pamp.1982). The majority in Jackson held that the outdated language rendered a tendered instruction sufficiently incorrect so that no error occurred in the failure to give it. Jackson also held that the language was not sufficiently incorrect as to amount to jurisdictional error when that language appeared in the court\u2019s instruction. Because Jackson is pending on certiorari, another reason why there is no jurisdictional error in this case will be given.\nDefendant raises the issue of the error in the trial court\u2019s instruction as jurisdictional error. See NMSA 1978, Crim., ChilcLCt, Dom.Rel. & W/C App.R. 308 (Repl.Pamp.1983). He raises it as jurisdictional error because he did not object to the incorrect instruction. Jurisdictional error may be raised for the first time on appeal. State v. Gunzelman, 85 N.M. 295, 512 P.2d 55 (1973).\nThe State argues that the evidence showed nothing other than attempted first degree murder and that, therefore, instructions on attempted second degree murder should not have even been given. We disagree. The cases relied upon by the State concern the sufficiency of evidence for a first degree murder conviction. Just because the evidence would support a first degree murder conviction does not mean that all lower degrees of murder are excluded. If there is evidence of a lesser degree, then defendant is entitled to an instruction on the lesser degree. In a case of deliberate murder, as opposed to other types of first degree murder, the evidence will always sustain a verdict of second degree murder because it is for the jury to determine the nature of defendant\u2019s intent (deliberate or plain) and the character of the slayer\u2019s malice (express or implied). Compare Torres v. State, 39 N.M. 191, 43 P.2d 929 (1935), with State v. Reed, 39 N.M. 44, 39 P.2d 1005, 102 A.L.R. 995 (1934). Thus, cases with evidence showing a deliberate intent to kill will always necessarily show \u201can intent to kill or do great bodily harm\u201d or a \u201cknowledge that one\u2019s acts create a strong probability of death or great bodily harm.\u201d\nThe answer to defendant\u2019s contention lies in an understanding of the concept of jurisdictional error set forth in Gunzelman. Although later cases phrase the rule in terms of correct elements instructions on \u201coffense,\u201d the \u201ccrimes charged,\u201d or the \u201ccrimes submitted to the jury,\u201d a look at the genesis of the rule shows that it is only applicable to the crime upon which conviction was had. The rule concerning jurisdictional error in this situation appears to have had its genesis in State v. Walsh, 81 N.M. 65, 463 P.2d 41 (Ct.App.1969). Walsh referred to the \u201ccrime charged.\u201d However, the rationale behind Walsh was that a court would lack jurisdiction to . adjudicate guilt and sentence a defendant when it does not \u201c \u2018submit to the jury the essential ingredients of the only offense on which the conviction could rest * * *.\u2019 \u201d (Our emphasis.) Gunzelman, Foster, and Montoya all had one offense charged and one offense submitted to the jury. Thus, a failure to instruct on an essential element of that offense would deprive the court of jurisdiction to proceed further in the case. In other words, a sentence is only imposed upon conviction of a crime. If the jury is not instructed on essential ingredients of the crime, then defendant has not been convicted of the crime.\nHere, however, defendant\u2019s conviction was based on proper instructions for the offens\u00e9 on which the conviction could rest \u2014 attempted first degree murder. Unless the jurisdictional error rule is applied blindly, it is difficult to see how the court lacked authority to proceed by making a mistake in an instruction on an offense for which he was not convicted.\nNMSA 1978, Crim.P.R. 41(a) (Repl. Pamp.1980), does not alter the above reasoning. Rule 41(a) imposes a mandatory duty to instruct on \u201call questions of law essential for a conviction of the crime or crimes submitted to the jury.\u201d The Committee commentary to Rule 41(a), and State v. Bender, 91 N.M. 670, 579 P.2d 796 (1978), indicate that the amended rule is simply a codification of prior case law. Amended Rule 41(a) is applicable to this case. See Najar. However, because the rule is simply a codification of prior law and because, under prior law, jurisdictional error was limited to the \u201conly offense on which conviction could rest,\u201d a decision that jurisdictional error occurred in this case would be contrary to the decisional history concerning the court\u2019s mandatory duty to instruct. Najar.\nTwo additional considerations are addressed. First, the jurisdictional error rule in the past was applicable only to those situations where there was a complete failure to instruct on essential elements. State v. Cardona, 86 N.M. 373, 524 P.2d 989 (Ct.App.1974); State v. Puga, 85 N.M. 204, 510 P.2d 1075 (Ct.App.1973). Here, there was not a complete failure to instruct on the requisite intent for second degree murder. The court defined the intent as an \u201cintent to kill or do great bodily harm\u201d instead of a \u201cknowledge that one\u2019s acts create a strong probability of death or great bodily harm.\u201d The old language is more favorable to defendant in that it is at once harder for the State to prove and more similar to the element of intent in first degree murder. Nonetheless, there are recent cases which apply the jurisdictional error rule to a failure to give correct uniform jury instructions on elements, even if the elements are covered by other instructions. State v. Doe, Ct.App. No. 5774 (Filed October 21, 1982); State v. Otto, 98 N.M. 734, 652 P.2d 756 (Ct.App.1982); State v. Curlee, 98 N.M. 576, 651 P.2d 111 (Ct.App.1982). Thus, the fact that we are here dealing with an erroneous instruction and not a complete failure to instruct is not, in itself, reason to affirm.\nSecond, there is a doctrine which holds that error in an instruction on a lesser offense is harmless and non-prejudicial where defendant is convicted of the greater offense. State v. Hamilton, 89 N.M. 746, 557 P.2d 1095 (1976); State v. King, 90 N.M. 377, 563 P.2d 1170 (Ct.App.1977); State v. Scott, 90 N.M. 256, 561 P.2d 1349 (Ct.App.1977). However, State v. Reynolds, 98 N.M. 527, 650 P.2d 811 (1982), expressly overruled King and Scott to the extent they were inconsistent with Reynolds. King and Scott were based on Hamilton.\nReynolds is not applicable to this case for two reasons. First, Reynolds was concerned with a failure to instruct on voluntary manslaughter. The contention there was that the failure to so instruct was harmless because the jury found defendant guilty of first degree murder, thus not even reaching second degree murder, much less voluntary manslaughter. Reynolds was based on the rationale from State v. Benavidez, 94 N.M. 706, 616 P.2d 419 (1980), which held that where the jury was not even given the choice to find provocation, it begs the question to say that having found deliberate intent, provocation would not have been found. This rationale is not applicable. The jury here was given the choice, albeit on somewhat erroneous instructions, of finding attempted second degree murder.\nSecond, Reynolds involved a proper request for a voluntary manslaughter instruction. We read Reynolds to say that when there is a proper objection to instructions, it is no answer to say that the error is harmless based on how the jury is instructed to deliberate. However, when there is no proper objection, the Hamilton-Scott-King line of cases do preclude a finding of jurisdictional error.\nIn summary, there was error in the trial court\u2019s instruction on second degree murder. Jackson. Defendant having been convicted of attempted first degree murder, the court was not deprived of jurisdiction on account of the erroneous second degree murder instruction. Najar; Urban; Walsh. The combination of the jurisdictional error rule in these cases and the harmless error rule of Hamilton, Scott, and King, precludes consideration of defendant\u2019s issue. Reynolds only overruled Hamilton, Scott, and King to the extent the issue was raised in the trial court.\nAggravated Battery Instruction\nDefendant tendered requested instructions on the lesser offense of aggravated battery. Under the circumstances of this case, aggravated battery is a lesser included offense of the offense charged, attempted murder. State v. DeMary, 99 N.M. 177, 655 P.2d 1021 (1982). The State does not contend otherwise. The tender of correct instructions adequately preserved the issue. Crim.P.R. 41(d).\nInstructions on lesser included offenses should only be given when there is evidence that the lesser offense is the highest degree of the crime committed. State v. Martinez, 98 N.M. 27, 644 P.2d 541 (Ct.App.1982); State v. Romero, 94 N.M. 22, 606 P.2d 1116 (Ct.App.1980). The difference between the offenses upon which instruction was given and aggravated battery is in the intent element. First degree murder includes a deliberate intent to kill. Second degree murder includes either an intent to kill or do great bodily harm or a knowledge that one\u2019s acts create a strong probability of death or great bodily harm. Aggravated battery includes an intent to injure.\nThus, the issue is whether the evidence shows anything less than either an intent to kill or do great bodily harm, or knowledge that one\u2019s acts create a strong probability of death or great bodily harm. Because great bodily harm is less than killing, we only discuss great bodily harm. Further, because the instruction on second degree murder was not objected to, it became the law of the case. State v. Martin, 90 N.M. 524, 565 P.2d 1041 (Ct.App.1977).\nGreat bodily harm includes injury which creates a high probability of death. NMSA 1978, UJI Crim. 1.21 (Repl.Pamp. 1982). The question, therefore, is whether the evidence showed anything less than intent to inflict an injury which created a high probability of death. See State v. Simonson, 100 N.M. 297, 669 P.2d 1092 (1983). On the basis of the evidence presented, the answer is no. Defendant used a large caliber gun to shoot the store clerk point-blank in the face. The gun was twelve inches from the clerk\u2019s face and left powder burns. From defendant\u2019s perspective, it looked like the clerk\u2019s face was blown off. The doctor testified that the clerk was very fortunate to be alive and that in most instances the type of injury received would be fatal. It is only a matter of common sense that in most instances a person would not survive a shot in the face by a .38 caliber gun twelve inches away.\nAffirmed.\nIT IS SO ORDERED.\nLOPEZ and DONNELLY, JJ., concur.\n. State v. Gunzelman (crime charged); State v. Najar, 94 N.M. 193, 608 P.2d 169 (Ct.App.1980) (crimes submitted to the jury); State v. Foster, 87 N.M. 155, 530 P.2d 949 (Ct.App.1974) (offense); State v. Montoya, 86 N.M. 155, 520 P.2d 1100 (Ct.App.1974) (crime).", "type": "majority", "author": "HENDLEY, Judge." } ], "attorneys": [ "Paul G. Bardacke, Atty. Gen., William McEuen, Asst. Atty. Gen., Santa Fe, for plaintiff-appellee.", "Janet Clow, Chief Public Defender, William P. Slattery, Asst. Appellate Defender, Santa Fe, for defendant-appellant." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "673 P.2d 1324\nSTATE of New Mexico, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. John SOUTHERLAND, a/k/a John Sutherland, Defendant-Appellant.\nNo. 7016.\nCourt of Appeals of New Mexico.\nNov. 3, 1983.\nCertiorari Denied Dec. 22, 1983.\nPaul G. Bardacke, Atty. Gen., William McEuen, Asst. Atty. Gen., Santa Fe, for plaintiff-appellee.\nJanet Clow, Chief Public Defender, William P. Slattery, Asst. Appellate Defender, Santa Fe, for defendant-appellant." }, "file_name": "0591-01", "first_page_order": 623, "last_page_order": 628 }