{ "id": 3691801, "name": "STATE of New Mexico, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. Kevin SUTPHIN, Defendant-Appellee", "name_abbreviation": "State v. Sutphin", "decision_date": "2007-06-29", "docket_number": "No. 29,387", "first_page": "191", "last_page": "199", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "142 N.M. 191" }, { "type": "parallel", "cite": "164 P.3d 72" }, { "type": "parallel", "cite": "2007-NMSC-045" } ], "court": { "name_abbreviation": "N.M.", "id": 8835, "name": "Supreme Court of New Mexico" }, "jurisdiction": { "id": 52, "name_long": "New Mexico", "name": "N.M." }, "cites_to": [ { "cite": "122 N.M. 148", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.M.", "case_ids": [ 322283 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1996, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/122/0148-01" ] }, { "cite": "120 N.M. 233", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.M.", "case_ids": [ 1559030 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1995, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "241", "parenthetical": "\"One requirement of self-defense is that the force used must be reasonable in relation to the threat. The use of excessive force in self-defense renders the entire action unlawful.\" (citation omitted)" }, { "page": "172", "parenthetical": "\"One requirement of self-defense is that the force used must be reasonable in relation to the threat. The use of excessive force in self-defense renders the entire action unlawful.\" (citation omitted)" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/120/0233-01" ] }, { "cite": "95 N.M. 421", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.M.", "case_ids": [ 1575442 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1981, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "423", "parenthetical": "finding insufficient evidence of self-defense where the defendant shot the victim, wrapped a cord around the victim's neck, and beat the victim with such force to crush his skull" }, { "page": "1043", "parenthetical": "finding insufficient evidence of self-defense where the defendant shot the victim, wrapped a cord around the victim's neck, and beat the victim with such force to crush his skull" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/95/0421-01" ] }, { "cite": "82 N.M. 242", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.M.", "case_ids": [ 5334148 ], "weight": 3, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "244" }, { "page": "572" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/82/0242-01" ] }, { "cite": "58 N.M. 446", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.M.", "case_ids": [ 1587670 ], "weight": 5, "year": 1954, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "456" }, { "page": "666" }, { "page": "457" }, { "page": "667", "parenthetical": "declining to hold that a self-defense instruction was appropriate when doing so \"would license any participant in a physical combat waged between two men with hands and fists, thinking himself about to be the loser, to slay his opponent with whatever weapon he could lay his hands on\"" }, { "page": "664" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/58/0446-01" ] }, { "cite": "2000-NMSC-003", "category": "reporters:neutral", "reporter": "NMSC", "case_ids": [ 106570 ], "weight": 6, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "\u00b6 23" }, { "page": "\u00b6 26" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/128/0410-01" ] }, { "cite": "2001-NMCA-021", "category": "reporters:neutral", "reporter": "NMCA", "case_ids": [ 352378 ], "weight": 3, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "\u00b6 14" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/130/0221-01" ] }, { "cite": "2005-NMSC-031", "category": "reporters:neutral", "reporter": "NMSC", "case_ids": [ 2550357 ], "weight": 3, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "\u00b6 57" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/138/0365-01" ] }, { "cite": "2004-NMSC-019", "category": "reporters:neutral", "reporter": "NMSC", "case_ids": [ 1428026 ], "weight": 3, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "\u00b6 1" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/135/0621-01" ] }, { "cite": "1996-NMSC-069", "category": "reporters:neutral", "reporter": "NMSC", "case_ids": [ 322248 ], "weight": 3, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "\u00b6 6" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/122/0609-01" ] }, { "cite": "2001-NMSC-033", "category": "reporters:neutral", "reporter": "NMSC", "case_ids": [ 183105 ], "weight": 6, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "\u00b6\u00b6 10-11" }, { "page": "\u00b6 24" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/131/0258-01" ] }, { "cite": "46 N.M. 302", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.M.", "case_ids": [ 1563084 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1942, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "309" }, { "page": "462" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/46/0302-01" ] }, { "cite": "2000-NMSC-009", "category": "reporters:neutral", "reporter": "NMSC", "case_ids": [ 106493 ], "weight": 3, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "\u00b6\u00b6 8-14" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/128/0711-01" ] }, { "cite": "113 N.M. 780", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.M.", "case_ids": [ 723308 ], "weight": 6, "year": 1992, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "784" }, { "page": "1150" }, { "page": "783-84" }, { "page": "1149-50" }, { "page": "784" }, { "page": "1150" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/113/0780-01" ] }, { "cite": "966 P.2d 249", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "P.2d", "case_ids": [ 11682314 ], "year": 1998, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "254", "parenthetical": "citations and quoted authority omitted" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/p2d/966/0249-01" ] }, { "cite": "88 A.2d 220", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "A.2d", "weight": 2, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "223-24" }, { "page": "223", "parenthetical": "\"The longer the unlawful imprisonment, the greater the wrong that the prisoner has suffered, and the stronger, not the weaker, are the reasons for judicial interference.\"" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "19 N.J.Super. 243", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.J. Super.", "case_ids": [ 449394 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nj-super/19/0243-01" ] }, { "cite": "254 Ga. 127", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ga.", "case_ids": [ 1203793 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1985, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "208" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ga/254/0127-01" ] }, { "cite": "88 Okla.Crim. 346", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Okla. Crim.", "case_ids": [ 8741301 ], "weight": 2, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "449" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/okla-crim/88/0346-01" ] }, { "cite": "27 Kan.App.2d 561", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Kan. App. 2d", "case_ids": [ 96496 ], "weight": 2, "year": 2000, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "323" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/kan-app-2d/27/0561-01" ] }, { "cite": "290 Wis.2d 352", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Wis. 2d", "case_ids": [ 8460865 ], "weight": 2, "year": 2006, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/wis-2d/290/0352-01" ] }, { "cite": "211 Wis.2d 795", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Wis. 2d", "case_ids": [ 11850230 ], "weight": 2, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "808" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/wis-2d/211/0795-01" ] }, { "cite": "895 A.2d 788", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "A.2d", "year": 2006, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "277 Conn. 913", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Conn.", "case_ids": [ 5749491, 5749917, 5750197 ], "year": 2006, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/conn/277/0913-02", "/conn/277/0913-01", "/conn/277/0913-03" ] }, { "cite": "887 A.2d 390", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "A.2d", "year": 2005, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "92 Conn.App. 689", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Conn. App.", "case_ids": [ 3408890 ], "year": 2005, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/conn-app/92/0689-01" ] }, { "cite": "914 So.2d 1281", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "So. 2d", "case_ids": [ 8912928 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/so2d/914/1281-01" ] }, { "cite": "503 U.S. 653", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "U.S.", "case_ids": [ 6237895 ], "weight": 3, "year": 1992, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/us/503/0653-01" ] }, { "cite": "833 A.2d 719", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "A.2d", "case_ids": [ 9084289, 588012 ], "year": 2003, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/a2d/833/0719-01", "/pa/574/0724-01" ] }, { "cite": "574 Pa. 724", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Pa.", "case_ids": [ 588012 ], "year": 2003, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/pa/574/0724-01" ] }, { "cite": "544 U.S. 408", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "U.S.", "case_ids": [ 5869462 ], "weight": 3, "year": 2005, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/us/544/0408-01" ] }, { "cite": "111 N.M. 581", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.M.", "case_ids": [ 715192 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1991, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "588" }, { "page": "38" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/111/0581-01" ] }, { "cite": "111 N.M. 654", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.M.", "case_ids": [ 715204 ], "weight": 3, "year": 1991, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "662", "parenthetical": "\"[T]he failure to instruct the jury on the essential elements of an offense constitutes fundamental error.\"" }, { "page": "632", "parenthetical": "\"[T]he failure to instruct the jury on the essential elements of an offense constitutes fundamental error.\"" }, { "page": "662" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/111/0654-01" ] }, { "cite": "397 U.S. 358", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "U.S.", "case_ids": [ 12054393 ], "weight": 5, "year": 1970, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "364", "parenthetical": "explicitly holding \"that the Due Process Clause protects the accused against conviction except upon proof beyond a reasonable doubt of every fact necessary to constitute the crime with which he is charged\"" }, { "parenthetical": "explicitly holding \"that the Due Process Clause protects the accused against conviction except upon proof beyond a reasonable doubt of every fact necessary to constitute the crime with which he is charged\"" }, { "parenthetical": "explicitly holding \"that the Due Process Clause protects the accused against conviction except upon proof beyond a reasonable doubt of every fact necessary to constitute the crime with which he is charged\"" }, { "page": "364" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/us/397/0358-01" ] }, { "cite": "2007-NMSC-021", "category": "reporters:neutral", "reporter": "NMSC", "case_ids": [ 3669832 ], "weight": 3, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/141/0801-01" ] }, { "cite": "118 N.M. 39", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.M.", "case_ids": [ 1563627 ], "weight": 14, "year": 1994, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "41" }, { "page": "990" }, { "page": "42-43" }, { "page": "991-92" }, { "page": "45-46" }, { "page": "994-95" }, { "page": "43-45" }, { "page": "992-94" }, { "page": "43" }, { "page": "992", "parenthetical": "\"It is the element of unlawfulness that is negated by self-defense.\"" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/118/0039-01" ] }, { "cite": "107 N.M. 126", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.M.", "case_ids": [ 1597058 ], "weight": 9, "year": 1988, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "127" }, { "page": "1315" }, { "page": "131" }, { "page": "1319" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/107/0126-01" ] }, { "cite": "117 N.M. 141", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.M.", "case_ids": [ 1552727 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1994, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "144" }, { "page": "1006" } ], "opinion_index": 1, "case_paths": [ "/nm/117/0141-01" ] }, { "cite": "58 N.M. 446", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.M.", "case_ids": [ 1587670 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1954, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "455", "parenthetical": "emphasis added" }, { "page": "666", "parenthetical": "emphasis added" } ], "opinion_index": 1, "case_paths": [ "/nm/58/0446-01" ] }, { "cite": "2005-NMSC-031", "category": "reporters:neutral", "reporter": "NMSC", "case_ids": [ 2550357 ], "weight": 3, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "\u00b6 1" } ], "opinion_index": 1, "case_paths": [ "/nm/138/0365-01" ] }, { "cite": "2004-NMSC-019", "category": "reporters:neutral", "reporter": "NMSC", "case_ids": [ 1428026 ], "weight": 3, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "\u00b6 1" } ], "opinion_index": 1, "case_paths": [ "/nm/135/0621-01" ] }, { "cite": "2001-NMSC-033", "category": "reporters:neutral", "reporter": "NMSC", "case_ids": [ 183105 ], "weight": 3, "opinion_index": 1, "case_paths": [ "/nm/131/0258-01" ] }, { "cite": "111 N.M. 654", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.M.", "case_ids": [ 715204 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1991, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "662" }, { "page": "632" } ], "opinion_index": 1, "case_paths": [ "/nm/111/0654-01" ] }, { "cite": "107 N.M. 126", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.M.", "case_ids": [ 1597058 ], "weight": 6, "year": 1988, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "131" }, { "page": "1319" }, { "page": "131" }, { "page": "1319" } ], "opinion_index": 1, "case_paths": [ "/nm/107/0126-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 1237, "char_count": 30732, "ocr_confidence": 0.673, "pagerank": { "raw": 1.402057236249199e-07, "percentile": 0.6449030426098201 }, "sha256": "e0a89d63ff906c495e6d340f9aaab6eae7d680add2b3500709d9b09f43ecd9f7", "simhash": "1:f7d2253a1e9a8d30", "word_count": 5020 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T22:28:07.264738+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [ "WE CONCUR: PAMELA B. MINZNER, PETRA JIMENEZ MAES, RICHARD C. BOSSON, Justices, and PATRICIO M. SERNA, Justice (concurring in part and dissenting in part)." ], "parties": [ "STATE of New Mexico, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. Kevin SUTPHIN, Defendant-Appellee." ], "opinions": [ { "text": "OPINION\nCH\u00c1VEZ, Chief Justice.\n{1} We are again presented with the opportunity to clarify that a petitioner may raise issues in a petition for a writ of habeas corpus that could have been raised on appeal, but that such issues are reviewed for fundamental error. In this case, notwithstanding two errors in the jury instructions, we conclude that fundamental error did not occur at Petitioner Kevin Sutphin\u2019s trial. We thus reverse the district court and deny Petitioner a writ of habeas corpus.\nI. BACKGROUND\n{2} Our recitation of the facts is taken from our opinion upholding on direct appeal Petitioner\u2019s conviction for first degree murder and tampering with evidence. State v. Sutphin, 107 N.M. 126, 753 P.2d 1314 (1988). On October 18, 1985, Charles Franklin was found unconscious and covered with a bloody blanket in his cell located in the protective custody unit of the Penitentiary of New Mexico in Santa Fe. Id. at 127, 753 P.2d at 1315. At that time, Petitioner and his co-defendant were housed in the protective custody unit as well. Id.\nA ... corrections officer noticed blood on [Petitioner\u2019s] forearms and a pinkish-colored towel in his cell, and other items which he knew belonged to Franklin. [Petitioner\u2019s] bloody clothes were later found in a trash can. Franklin\u2019s autopsy revealed five large lacerations on the right side of his head which resulted in his death; but any one of the blows to his head would have rendered him unconscious.\nDefendant testified that on the night of October 18, he was in Franklin\u2019s cell when he noticed that Franklin was holding a small pipe in one hand. Fearful that Franklin would attack him, [Petitioner] jumped on him as Franklin started to fall, and straddled him on Franklin\u2019s bunk; [Petitioner] proceeded to grab the hand that held the pipe and hit Franklin on his head with it. [Petitioner] further testified that Franklin then pulled from under the pillow a larger pipe, but before Franklin had time to struggle, [Petitioner] grabbed a pipe and repeatedly hit Franklin with it in the head. Codefendant Hoffman observed the incident, pulled [Petitioner] off Franklin and urged [Petitioner] to leave Franklin\u2019s cell. At trial, [Petitioner] claimed that he hit Franklin in self-defense.\nId. No defensive wounds were found on Franklin. Id. at 131, 753 P.2d at 1319. Additionally, Petitioner testified that after Franklin became unconscious, he covered Franklin\u2019s body with a blanket and continued to hit him with the pipe. Id.\n{3} The jury was instructed on first-degree murder and self-defense. The first-degree murder instruction read:\nFor you to find the defendant guilty of first-degree murder by a deliberate killing as charged in Count I, the State must prove to your satisfaction beyond a reasonable doubt each of the following elements of the crime:\n1. The defendant killed Charles Franklin;\n2. The killing was with the deliberate intention to take away the life of Charles Franklin;\n3. This happened in New Mexico on or about the 18th day of October, 1985.\nA deliberate intention refers to the state of mind of the defendant. A deliberate intention may be inferred from all of the facts and circumstances of the killing. The word deliberate means arrived at or determined upon as a result of careful thought and the weighing of the consideration for and against the proposed course of action. A calculated judgment and decision may be arrived at in a short period of time. A mere unconsidered and rash impulse, even though it includes an intent to kill, is not a deliberate intention to kill. To constitute a deliberate killing, the slayer must weigh and consider the question of killing and his reasons for and against such a choice.\nThe self-defense instruction read:\nEvidence has been presented that the defendant killed Charles Franklin while defending himself.\nThe killing is in self-defense if:\n1. There was an appearance of immediate danger of death or great bodily harm to the defendant as a result of Charles Franklin\u2019s assaulting him with an iron pipe; and\n2. The defendant was in fact put in fear by the apparent danger of immediate death or great bodily harm and killed Charles Franklin because of that fear; and\n3. A reasonable person in the same circumstances as the defendant would have acted as the defendant did.\nIn considering this defense, and after considering all the evidence in the case, if you have a reasonable doubt as to the defendant\u2019s guilt, you must find him not guilty.\nPetitioner did not raise an issue with the jury instructions on direct appeal.\n{4} Six years after we upheld Petitioner\u2019s conviction, we published State v. Parish, 118 N.M. 39, 878 P.2d 988 (1994). In Parish, the defendant challenged his conviction of voluntary manslaughter on the grounds that: (1) the voluntary manslaughter instruction omitted unlawfulness as an element, and (2) the self-defense instruction failed to explicitly place the burden on the State to disprove self-defense. See id. at 41, 878 P.2d at 990. Regarding the first issue, we stated that when a self-defense claim is properly before the jury in a manslaughter case, the unlawful nature of the killing is an element that must be proven by the State. See id. at 42-43, 878 P.2d at 991-92. Because the element of unlawfulness was omitted in the instructions and because self-defense was appropriate in that ease, reversible error occurred. Id. We also determined that the self-defense instruction was ambiguous since it did not explicitly inform the jury that, under New Mexico law, the State has the burden of disproving self-defense beyond a reasonable doubt. Id. at 45-46, 878 P.2d at 994-95. We held that reversible error occurred with this instruction since the ambiguity was not cured by another instruction. Id.\n{5} Relying on Parish, Petitioner filed a pro se petition for a writ of habeas corpus. Petitioner argued that his rights to due process were violated since, by omitting the element of unlawfulness, the State was not required to prove every element beyond a reasonable doubt, and because the self-defense instruction used at his trial could have been construed as placing the burden on Petitioner to prove self-defense. After being assigned counsel, Petitioner raised the same issue in an amended petition, arguing that such errors were fundamental.\n{6} The State\u2019s response to the petition implied that fundamental error had not occurred at Petitioner\u2019s trial since there was no plausible evidence of self-defense and because the deliberate-intent instruction \u201cwould have alerted the jury that it was the State\u2019s burden to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Petitioner intended to kill the victim for his own purposes and not just in defense of himself.\u201d Finally, the State argued that the equitable doctrine of laches precluded Petitioner from prevailing.\n{7} A hearing was not held in Petitioner\u2019s case until eight years after Petitioner had originally filed his pro se petition. After hearing purely legal arguments on the Parish claim, the district court granted Petitioner a writ of habeas corpus. In its written order, the district court stated: \u201cThe errors in the jury instructions on homicide and self-defense violated Mr. Sutphin\u2019s state and federal constitutional right to proof beyond a reasonable doubt of every essential element of the crime charged and to present an adequate defense.\u201d In conclusion, the order reads:\nThe errors in the jury instructions on homicide and self defense were so fundamental that post-conviction relief may be afforded. Where, as here, the fundamental error raised by the habeas petitioner is identical to the error the New Mexico Supreme Court discussed in Parish in so many respects, the need for finality must yield to the need for consistency.\nThe State appealed the district court\u2019s order to this Court. See Rule 5-802(H)(l) NMRA. We reverse the district court.\nII. DISCUSSION\n{8} The State\u2019s arguments fall into three basic categories. First, the State argues that Petitioner should be barred from raising his Parish claim because he failed to raise it on direct appeal. Second, the State asserts that even if Petitioner can raise the claim in a habeas petition, the equitable doctrine of laches should bar relief. Finally, reaching the merits of Petitioner\u2019s claim, the State argues that a writ of habeas corpus should not be granted since no fundamental error occurred at Petitioner\u2019s trial. We disagree with the State on the first two points, but agree that the errors at Petitioner\u2019s trial were not fundamental.\nA. A Habeas Petitioner May Assert Fundamental Error Even If the Claim Could Have Been Raised on Appeal\n{9} The State asserts that because all of the facts underlying his Parish claim were known or knowable to Petitioner at the time of trial, Petitioner should be precluded from raising the issue in a habeas petition. Just recently, we addressed this preclusion argument in Campos v. Bravo, 2007-NMSC-021, 141 N.M. 801, 161 P.3d 846. In that case, we reiterated that fundamental error may be corrected in a habeas proceeding even though the record was adequate to address the petitioner\u2019s claim on direct appeal. Id. \u00b6 7. We take this opportunity to do so again.\n{10} Similar to Campos, the facts underlying Petitioner\u2019s habeas claim were known or knowable to him at the time of his trial, and the record was adequate to address the issue on direct appeal. See id. \u00b68. Petitioner\u2019s claimed error lies in the jury instructions\u2014 obviously an error that was knowable at trial. Additionally, although Petitioner\u2019s trial occurred before Parish, that case simply reiterated existing law. See Parish, 118 N.M. at 43-45, 878 P.2d at 992-94. Thus, contrary to the State\u2019s assertion, Petitioner\u2019s habeas claim is entitled to review, but, because Petitioner should have raised this claim on direct appeal, review is only for fundamental error.\n{11} The State insists that making new rules of criminal procedure retroactive defeats the ends of justice, and, thus, principles of finality should trump Petitioner\u2019s habeas claim. Yet Parish did not announce a new rule of criminal procedure, so any discussion of retroactive application of that case is irrelevant. Petitioner is claiming that his conviction was fundamentally unjust because he was denied due process at his trial when he was convicted without the jury having found all elements beyond a reasonable doubt. See In re Winship, 397 U.S. 358, 364, 90 S.Ct. 1068, 25 L.Ed.2d 368 (1970) (explicitly holding \u201cthat the Due Process Clause protects the accused against conviction except upon proof beyond a reasonable doubt of every fact necessary to constitute the crime with which he is charged\u201d); State v. Osborne, 111 N.M. 654, 662, 808 P.2d 624, 632 (1991) (\u201c[T]he failure to instruct the jury on the essential elements of an offense constitutes fundamental error.\u201d). Petitioner\u2019s claim is cognizable in a petition for a writ of habeas corpus, even when it could have been raised on direct appeal.\nB. The Doctrine of Laches Does Not Apply in Habeas Corpus\n{12} The State asks us to apply the equitable doctrine of laches to this case. \u201cThe doctrine of laches prevents litigation of a stale claim where the claim should have been brought at an earlier time and the delay has worked to the prejudice of the party resisting the claim.\u201d Garcia v. Garcia, 111 N.M. 581, 588, 808 P.2d 31, 38 (1991). In support of its argument, the State directs us primarily to cases involving the failure of a habeas petitioner to meet a statute of limitations, see Pace v. DiGuglielmo, 544 U.S. 408, 125 S.Ct. 1807, 161 L.Ed.2d 669 (2005); Commonwealth v. Abu-Jamal, 574 Pa. 724, 833 A.2d 719 (2003), or cases involving successive habeas petitions, see Gomez v. U.S. Dist. Court for N. Dist. of Cal., 503 U.S. 653, 112 S.Ct. 1652, 118 L.Ed.2d 293 (1992); Austin v. State, 914 So.2d 1281 (Miss.Ct.App.2005). Since New Mexico does not impose a statute of limitations on habeas petitioners and since this is not a successive habeas petition, these cases are inapposite.\n{13} The State also directs us to Dickinson v. Mullaney, 92 Conn.App. 689, 887 A.2d 390 (2005), cert. granted, 277 Conn. 913, 895 A.2d 788 (2006), for the proposition that \u201claches is an equitable defense that can bar a habeas petitioner from relief.\u201d In Dickinson, the court noted that the application of the doctrine of laches in habeas proceedings was \u201can issue that has not been addressed in Connecticut appellate jurisprudence.\u201d Id. at 392. However, because the petitioner had failed to argue to the lower court that laches was not applicable in habeas cases, the court in Dickinson expressly declined to decide the question. Id. at 393. While we recognize that Dickinson suggested that laches could be imposed against habeas petitioners, the issue was simply not decided in that case. See id. at 393 n. 5.\n{14} The only case the State cites which actually stands for the proposition that laches is recognized in habeas proceedings is State ex rel. Smalley v. Morgan, 211 Wis.2d 795, 565 N.W.2d 805, 808 (Ct.App.1997) (\u201cAs an equitable doctrine, habeas corpus is subject to the doctrine of laches.\u201d), abrogated on other grounds by State ex rel. Coleman v. McCaughtry, 290 Wis.2d 352, 714 N.W.2d 900 (2006). While Morgan is on point, it appears there is a split in those jurisdictions that have decided this issue. Compare Roach v. State, 27 Kan.App.2d 561, 7 P.3d 319, 323 (2000), and Ex parte Owens, 88 Okla.Crim. 346, 203 P.2d 447, 449 (App.1949), with Jackson v. Jones, 254 Ga. 127, 327 S.E.2d 206, 208 (1985), and State v. Cynkowski, 19 N.J.Super. 243, 88 A.2d 220, 223-24 (App.Div.1952).\n{15} We expressly join those jurisdictions that have declined to apply laches to habeas proceedings. We too believe that it would be fundamentally unjust to deny a valid habeas petition merely because of the passage of time. As the Supreme Court of Utah emphasized,\nwhen a court grants relief pursuant to a habeas corpus petition, it does so on the ground that the petitioner has been wrongfully incarcerated. That is to say, a court should grant relief if the petitioner establishes that he or she has been deprived of due process of law or that it would be unconscionable not to re-examine the conviction. Therefore, if the proper showing is made, the mere passage of time can never justify continued imprisonment of one who has been deprived of fundamental rights, regardless of how difficult it may be for the State to reprosecute that individual.\nJulian v. State, 966 P.2d 249, 254 (Utah 1998) (citations and quoted authority omitted); see also Cynkowski, 88 A.2d at 223 (\u201cThe longer the unlawful imprisonment, the greater the wrong that the prisoner has suffered, and the stronger, not the weaker, are the reasons for judicial interference.\u201d).\nC. Fundamental Error Did Not Occur at Petitioner\u2019s Trial\n{16} We now reach the merits of Petitioner\u2019s habeas petition. This ease lies at the intersection of our jurisprudence involving erroneous jury instructions and fundamental error. \u201cThe rule of fundamental error applies only if there has been a miscarriage of justice, if the question of guilt is so doubtful that it would shock the conscience to permit the conviction to stand, or if substantial justice has not been done.\u201d State v. Orosco, 113 N.M. 780, 784, 833 P.2d 1146, 1150 (1992). The general rule is that fundamental error occurs when the trial court fails to instruct the jury on an essential element. Osborne, 111 N.M. at 662, 808 P.2d at 632; see In re Winship, 397 U.S. at 364, 90 S.Ct. 1068. However, fundamental error does not occur if the jury was not instructed on an element not at issue in the case. See Orosco, 113 N.M. at 783-84, 833 P.2d at 1149-50. Likewise, when there can be no dispute that the omitted element was established, fundamental error has not occurred and reversal of the conviction is not required. Id. at 784, 833 P.2d at 1150.\n{17} Based on Parish, we held in State v. Cunningham, 2000-NMSC-009, \u00b6\u00b6 8-14, 128 N.M. 711, 998 P.2d 176, that fundamental error did not occur when, in a deliberate-intent murder case, the defendant raised a valid self-defense claim and where: (1) unlawfulness was omitted as an element in the first-degree murder instruction, but (2) unlike Parish, the self-defense instruction correctly stated that the State had the burden of disproving self-defense beyond a reasonable doubt. In Cunningham, \u201cself-defense was at the \u2018foundation of the case\u2019 but, because the jury was properly instructed on and decided the issue of self-defense, we [did] not believe that the omission from the elements section \u2018[took] from the defendant a right which was essential to his defense.\u2019 \u201d Id. \u00b6 14 (quoting State v. Garcia, 46 N.M. 302, 309, 128 P.2d 459, 462 (1942)) (second alteration in original).\n{18} Soon thereafter in State v. Benally, 2001-NMSC-033, \u00b6\u00b6 10-11, 131 N.M. 258, 34 P.3d 1134, the defendant claimed self-defense, the second-degree murder instruction did not include unlawfulness as an element, and one of the two self-defense instructions failed to instruct that the State had the burden of disproving self-defense beyond a reasonable doubt. A majority of this Court held in Benally that fundamental error occurred because the flawed self-defense instruction was presented closer in time to the second-degree murder instruction than the correct self-defense instruction. See id. \u00b6\u00b6 18-20. Yet, Benally was criticized for applying a \u201ctechnical and formalistic approach\u201d to analyzing the jury instructions. Id. \u00b6 28, (Baca, J., dissenting). The dissent argued that \u201cby limiting its analysis to an isolated review of the jury instructions, the majority in effect reviewefd] th[e] case for reversible error rather than for fundamental error.\u201d Id.; cf. State v. Kirby, 1996-NMSC-069, \u00b6 6, 122 N.M. 609, 930 P.2d 144 (holding, without considering the facts and circumstances of the case, that fundamental error occurred when an element was omitted from the instructions). The dissent believed that \u201c[t]o properly resolve this issue, the Court is obliged to review the entire record, placing the jury instructions in the context of the individual facts and circumstances of the case, to determine whether the Defendant\u2019s conviction was the result of a plain miscarriage of justice.\u201d Id. \u00b6 24. Ultimately, the dissent concluded that fundamental error did not occur because the \u201cfacts in evidence did not warrant submitting the issue of self-defense.\u201d Id. \u00b646 (quoted authority omitted).\n{19} Later, in State v. Barber, 2004-NMSC-019, \u00b6 1, 135 N.M. 621, 92 P.3d 633, the issue was \u201cwhether the absence of a jury instruction defining possession constitute^] fundamental error.\u201d In answering this question, we adopted the formulation in Benally\u2019s dissent of what constitutes fundamental error in regard to jury instructions:\nOur analysis of whether the failure to define possession rose to the level of fundamental error in Defendant\u2019s case begins at the same place as our analysis for reversible error. We must determine whether a reasonable juror would have been confused or misdirected by the jury instruction. Fundamental-error analysis then requires a higher level of scrutiny. If we find error, our obligation is \u201cto review the entire record, placing the jury instructions in the context of the individual facts and circumstances of the case, to determine whether the Defendant\u2019s conviction was the result of a plain miscarriage of justice.\u201d\nId. \u00b6 19 (quoting Benally, 2001-NMSC-033, \u00b6 24, 131 N.M. 258, 34 P.3d 1134 (Baca, J., dissenting)) (citations omitted) (emphasis added).\n{20} In Barber we looked at the facts adduced at trial and concluded that there was \u201cno distinct possibility ... that the jury convicted Defendant without finding all the elements beyond a reasonable doubt.\u201d Id. \u00b6 26. We clarified that \u201c[ejrror is not fundamental when the jury could not have reached its verdict without also finding the element omitted from the instructions.\u201d Id. \u00b6 29. Finally, in State v. Reed, 2005-NMSC-031, \u00b6 57, 138 N.M. 365, 120 P.3d 447, we recently held that fundamental error did not occur when, assuming a correct instruction was given, no rational juror could have found other than they did with the incorrect instruction.\n{21} In this case, after looking at the individual facts and circumstances, we cannot conclude that Petitioner\u2019s trial was infected with fundamental error. Simply put, self-defense was not \u201cat issue\u201d in this case. While we applaud the trial court giving Petitioner the benefit of doubt at his trial, had the court declined to give a self-defense instruction, we would not have found error. Self-defense not being appropriately before the jury in the first place, unlawfulness was not an essential element needing to be proven by the State. See Parish, 118 N.M. at 43, 878 P.2d at 992 (\u201cIt is the element of unlawfulness that is negated by self-defense.\u201d).\n{22} \u201cHomicide is justifiable if the killer acted reasonably in self-defense.\u201d State v. Gallegos, 2001-NMCA-021, \u00b6 14, 130 N.M. 221, 22 P.3d 689. Whenever there is evidence, however slight, that the defendant acted in self-defense, the instruction should be given. State v. Lopez, 2000-NMSC-003, \u00b6 23, 128 N.M. 410, 993 P.2d 727. Nevertheless, a defendant is not entitled to the instruction when the evidence is \u201cso slight as to be incapable of raising a reasonable doubt in the jury\u2019s mind on whether a defendant ... did act in self-defense.\u201d State v. Heisler, 58 N.M. 446, 456, 272 P.2d 660, 666 (1954). Moreover, even when the defendant is faced with an imminent threat, the defendant\u2019s reaction must be considered. State v. McLam, 82 N.M. 242, 244, 478 P.2d 570, 572 (Ct.App.1970). That is, if the defendant\u2019s reaction is unreasonable, a self-defense instruction is not appropriate, although one on voluntary manslaughter may be. See id.\n{23} Petitioner and his co-defendant testified that Franklin threatened Petitioner with a pipe and then lost balance. Petitioner then: (1) pinned Franklin to the bed, (2) repeatedly struck Franklin in the head with a pipe when any one blow would have rendered him unconscious, (3) placed a blanket over Franklin\u2019s body after he became unconscious and continued to hit him with a pipe, and (4) had to get pulled off of Franklin\u2019s lifeless body by his co-defendant. There was insufficient evidence to warrant a self-defense instruction. See Lopez, 2000-NMSC-003, \u00b6 26, 128 N.M. 410, 993 P.2d 727 (holding that the trial court did not err in refusing a self-defense instruction where the defendant\u2019s \u201crepetitive, violent actions suggested] conduct fueled by hatred or by rage or other strong emotion, but not by fear\u201d); State v. Martinez, 95 N.M. 421, 423, 622 P.2d 1041, 1043 (1981) (finding insufficient evidence of self-defense where the defendant shot the victim, wrapped a cord around the victim\u2019s neck, and beat the victim with such force to crush his skull).\n{24} To say that Petitioner was entitled to a self-defense instruction would be to say that it is lawful to beat an initial attacker to death after rendering him or her unconscious. This we are unwilling to do. Cf. Heisler, 58 N.M. at 457, 272 P.2d at 667 (declining to hold that a self-defense instruction was appropriate when doing so \u201cwould license any participant in a physical combat waged between two men with hands and fists, thinking himself about to be the loser, to slay his opponent with whatever weapon he could lay his hands on\u201d). Defendant\u2019s actions were not reasonable and did not support a self-defense instruction.\n{25} While, as the dissent points out, we do not have the luxury of reviewing the complete trial transcript, the key fact is undisputed. What matters is that Petitioner continued to beat Franklin in the head with a metal pipe well after Franklin may have posed any danger to Petitioner. In his brief-in-chief on direct appeal, Petitioner acknowledges that he\ntestified that when he saw Franklin poised as if to strike, and temporarily off-balance, he took the advantage and immediately straddled Franklin on his bunk, grabbed the hand that held the pipe and slammed that hand into Franklin\u2019s head. Franklin twisted around and reached for another larger pipe that was located under his pillow. [Petitioner] testified that he grabbed a pipe and remembered repeatedly hitting Franklin in the head with significant force.\nMoreover, in his pro se habeas petition, Petitioner acknowledged that he straddled Franklin and repeatedly hit him with the pipe. Finally, in his amended petition, Petitioner stated he \u201ctestified that he immobilized Mr. Franklin, grabbed a pipe, and hit him repeatedly.\u201d .\n{26} Petitioner did not dispute in his briefing on appeal that any one of the many head wounds he inflicted on Franklin would have rendered Franklin unconscious. The only apparent testimony somewhat helpful to Petitioner was testimony that some people \u201coverkill\u201d an initial assailant because of adrenaline caused by fright. Assuming such testimony to be true, this did not entitle Petitioner to a self-defense instruction. \u201cOverkilling\u201d an assailant after rendering him or her unconscious is not reasonable and does not entitle one to a self-defense instruction. See State v. Abeyta, 120 N.M. 233, 241, 901 P.2d 164, 172 (1995) (\u201cOne requirement of self-defense is that the force used must be reasonable in relation to the threat. The use of excessive force in self-defense renders the entire action unlawful.\u201d (citation omitted)), abrogated on other grounds by State v. Campos, 122 N.M. 148, 158 n. 4, 921 P.2d 1266, 1276 n. 4 (1996).\n{27} Since Petitioner was not entitled to a self-defense instruction at his trial, fundamental error did not occur when the element of unlawfulness was not included in the deliberate-intent murder instruction and when the jury was not explicitly told that the State had to disprove self-defense beyond a reasonable doubt. Petitioner received substantial justice. As in Heisler, \u201cin so far as the jury was instructed at all on that subject, [Petitioner] got more than he was entitled to ... and the error, if any, in the instructions so given may not be made the basis of a reversal.\u201d Id. at 452, 272 P.2d at 664.\nIII. CONCLUSION\n{28} For the foregoing reasons, we reverse the district court and deny Petitioner a writ of habeas corpus.\n{29} IT IS SO ORDERED.\nWE CONCUR: PAMELA B. MINZNER, PETRA JIMENEZ MAES, RICHARD C. BOSSON, Justices, and PATRICIO M. SERNA, Justice (concurring in part and dissenting in part).", "type": "majority", "author": "CH\u00c1VEZ, Chief Justice." }, { "text": "SERNA, Justice\n(concurring in part and dissenting in part).\n{30} I respectfully dissent. Although I concur with the majority that \u201cfundamental error may be corrected in a habeas proceeding even though the record was adequate to address the petitioner\u2019s claim on direct appeal,\u201d Maj. Op. \u00b6 9, and that laches do not apply to habeas proceedings, Maj. Op. \u00b6 15,1 cannot agree that Petitioner was not entitled to the self-defense instruction when that determination is based primarily on the recitation of facts contained in State v. Sutphin, 107 N.M. 126, 753 P.2d 1314 (1988). See Maj. Op. \u00b6\u00b6 21-23. Consequently, I would affirm the district court\u2019s grant of Petitioner\u2019s writ of habeas corpus.\n{31} The majority acknowledges that Petitioner\u2019s jury instructions contained the same jury instruction errors that this Court recognized as fundamental error in State v. Benally, 2001-NMSC-033, 131 N.M. 258, 34 P.3d 1134. See Maj. Op. \u00b6\u00b6 5, 18. However, the majority denies Petitioner relief because \u201cafter looking at the individual facts and circumstances, [they] cannot conclude that Petitioner\u2019s trial was infected with fundamental error.\u201d Id. \u00b6 21. However, for the purposes of this habeas corpus proceeding, this Court did not receive a complete record of the evidence presented at Petitioner\u2019s trial. Instead the majority opinion, \u00b6 2, relies on the facts as presented in Sutphin, a case in which we expressly \u201cviewfed] the evidence in the light most favorable to the state, resolving all conflicts therein and indulging all permissible inferences therefrom in favor of the verdict.\u201d 107 N.M. at 131, 753 P.2d at 1319.\n{32} Indeed, we often defer to the trial court\u2019s findings because it hears the evidence presented by both parties in its fact-finding role. See State v. Attaway, 117 N.M. 141, 144, 870 P.2d 103, 1006 (1994). At trial\nwhere self-defense is involved in a criminal case and there is any evidence, although slight, to establish the same, it is not only proper for the court, but its duty as well, to instruct the jury fully and clearly on all phases of the law on the issue that are warranted by the evidence.\nState v. Heisler, 58 N.M. 446, 455, 272 P.2d 660, 666 (1954) (emphasis added). In the instant case, the trial court determined the self-defense instruction was appropriate, and without a complete record, I would not question this determination. The cases relied upon by the majority opinion, \u00b6\u00b6 19-20, are both distinguishable because those cases were on direct review and not on collateral review, giving the Court the benefit of a complete trial record. See State v. Barber, 2004-NMSC-019, \u00b6 1, 135 N.M. 621, 92 P.3d 633; State v. Reed, 2005-NMSC-031, \u00b6 1, 138 N.M. 365, 120 P.3d 447.\n{33} The majority also relies on statements contained in Petitioner\u2019s brief-in-chief on direct appeal, pro se habeas petition, and amended petition to conclude that he does not deny hitting Mr. Franklin repeatedly. Maj. Op. \u00b6 25. However, to scour these documents for only that evidence which supports the majority\u2019s conclusion is akin to a review for sufficiency of the evidence, except that, in this case, the majority is substituting the fact-finder\u2019s judgment for its own. See Sutphin, 107 N.M. at 131, 753 P.2d at 1319. Without a complete record, this Court should rely on the district court\u2019s determination that a self-defense instruction was appropriate.\n{34} In conclusion, I would not only \u201capplaud\u201d the district court for instructing the jury on self-defense; I would affirm its determination. Having found enough evidence to provide a self-defense instruction, the district court was obligated to properly instruct the jury on all the elements of self-defense and first-degree murder. See State v. Osborne, 111 N.M. 654, 662, 808 P.2d 624, 632 (1991). This Court has determined these errors constitute fundamental error, and this entitles Petitioner to habeas relief. Therefore, I respectfully dissent.", "type": "concurring-in-part-and-dissenting-in-part", "author": "SERNA, Justice" } ], "attorneys": [ "Gary K. King, Attorney General, Martha Anne Kelly, Assistant Attorney General, Santa Fe, NM for Appellant.", "Inocente, P.C., Brian A. Pori, Albuquerque, NM for Appellee." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "2007-NMSC-045\n164 P.3d 72\nSTATE of New Mexico, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. Kevin SUTPHIN, Defendant-Appellee.\nNo. 29,387.\nSupreme Court of New Mexico.\nJune 29, 2007.\nRehearing Denied July 27, 2007.\nGary K. King, Attorney General, Martha Anne Kelly, Assistant Attorney General, Santa Fe, NM for Appellant.\nInocente, P.C., Brian A. Pori, Albuquerque, NM for Appellee." }, "file_name": "0191-01", "first_page_order": 223, "last_page_order": 231 }