Dеfendant-Appellant Ricky Abeyta appeals from seven homicide convictions. Defendant was convicted of first-degree murder, see NMSA 1978, § 30-2-l(A)(l) (Repl. Pamp.1984), in the deaths of Cheryl Rendon, Mary Ellen Sandoval, Ignacita Sandoval, and State Police Officer Glen Huber. Defendant was also convicted of second-degree murder, see § 30-2-RB), in the deaths of Macario Gonzales and Rio Arriba County Deputy Sheriff Jerry Martinez, and involuntary manslaughter, see § 30-2-3(B), in the death of Justin Gonzales. The trial court sentenced Defendant to a total of 146 years imprisonment. On appeal, we address the following issues: (1) Whether the trial court erred in refusing Defendant’s requested jury instructions on involuntary manslaughter in the deaths of Ignacita Sandoval, Jerry Martinez, and Glen Huber based on imperfect self-defense, (2) whether the trial court erred in refusing Defendant’s requested jury instructions on voluntary manslaughter in the deaths of Macario Gonzales, Cheryl Rendon, and Mary Ellen Sandoval based on transferred-intent in self-defense and imperfect defense of habitation, (3) whether substantial evidence supported the first-degree murder conviction for the murder of Mary Ellen Sandoval, and (4) whether prosecutorial misconduct deprived Defendant of a fair trial. We find Defendant’s other arguments to be without merit. We review this case pursuant to SCRA 1986, 12-102(A)(2) (Repl. Pamp.1992). We affirm as to each issue; therefore, we need not address whether cumulative error deprived Defendant of a fair trial.
I
There are differing versions as to what occurred at Defendant’s home in Chimayo on January 26,1991. The following account is a necessarily incomplete recounting of the events surrounding the seven deaths that occurred that Saturday afternoon. Because of the large number of persons involved, we give a brief summary of their relationship to the Defendant or Ignacita Sandoval, his girlfriend, and their role in the events. We use first names to avoid confusion and give the approximate ages of the children when this event occurred. Defendant and Ignacita had lived together about two years. Ignacita’s fourteen-year old son, Eloy; her nineteen-year old daughter, Mary Ellen; Mary Ellen’s twenty-one year old boyfriend, Macario; their six-month old son, Justin; and Ignaeita’s sixteen-year old sister, Celina, had lived with Defendant and Ignacita at various times during this period. Ignacita decided to leave Defendant the previous Wednesday and these family members were helping her pack up her belongings. Ignacita’s twenty-five year old sister, Cheryl, along with her two young children, Roland and Nicky, also helped with the move. In addition, Ignacita hired Peter Martinez, a neighbor whom she met that morning in Chimayo, to assist with the loading.
Defendant’s mother, Mrs. Abeyta, lived next door with Defendant’s two sisters, Dora and Sandra. Mrs. Abeyta and Dora were at the scene at various times during the day. Sandra joined the group after she got home from work Saturday afternoon. Sandra’s boyfriend, Lawrence Taraddei, arrived about the same time.
Fearing Defendant would become violent, Ignacita had called for police protection while she moved. Rio Arriba County Deputy Sheriff Jerry Martinez supervised as Ignacita began packing, but he left shortly after-wards to investigate a tip on a stolen car. State Police Officer Glen Huber stopped by to assist Deputy Martinez as the packing began. After finding that everything was under control, Officer Huber left. Huber later returned when he heard about the shooting.
On Saturday morning, Defendant carefully locked his home and gate before leaving for work in Santa Fe. Deputy Martinez attempted to deliver Ignacita’s restraining order that morning but declined to leave it with Defendant’s mother, Mrs. Abeyta, stating that it was improperly prepared. Around noon, Ignaeita and her family arrived at Defendant’s house. Eloy cut the gate to the house with wirecutters. At that point Deputy Martinez arrived and gave the group permission to enter the house and retrieve Ignacita’s possessions. Mrs. Abeyta and Dora met Ignaeita at the gate to keep her from taking Defendant’s property. Deputy Martinez again presented the restraining order to Defendant’s family, assuring them that it was now valid. Ignaeita and her family proceeded to pack up her possessions while Mrs. Abeyta and Dora waited outside.
The State’s evidence tended to show that Eloy and Macario were outside the home loading the U-Haul truck. Mrs. Abeyta and Dora watched the loading and at one point Dora retrieved Defendant’s quilt that had been dropped on the ground by the porch. Shortly afterwards Defendant rapidly approached the home carrying a rifle and a revolver and engaged in an altercation with Eloy. Following that encounter, Defendant shot Eloy, wounding him in the shoulder. Defendant then shot Macario in the back with his rifle as Macario stood inside the rear compartment of the U-Haul. Upon hearing the shots, Mary Ellen grabbed her six-month-old son, Justin, and ran outside. Both mother and child were shot in the head and killed as they fled. The State’s evidence is unclear whether mother and child were killed by the same or different bullets.
According to the State’s evidence, Defendant then entered his home where Ignaeita, Cheryl, and Celina were packing. He yelled that they would pay and then shot Cheryl in the back of the head as she knelt on the kitchen floor. Defendant shot Ignaeita twice, first hitting her finger, then fatally shooting her in the face. Defendant may also have hit Ignaeita twice on the back of the head, possibly with the gun.
The State’s evidence indicates that as Defеndant left the house, he shot Eloy a second time, wounding him in the groin. Defendant encountered Deputy Martinez who had just returned and shot him in the head twice at close range while Martinez stood next to his police ear. A short time later Officer Huber arrived at the scene. Defendant had already reached his mother’s house up the hill. He shot Huber in the head as the officer stood with one foot in the patrol car and the radio still in his hand. Defendant then fled to the hills behind his mother’s house. He turned himself in late the next day in Albuquerque.
Defendant’s testimony as to the events surrounding the killings differs significantly from the State’s evidence. The Defendant testified that he returned in the late afternoon from working in Santa Fe. He came home on the back road and parked at his mother’s house so he did not notice the vehicles parked at his house. He then took the paint he hаd purchased earlier that day down the hill to his garage. Upon seeing the moving operation, Defendant testified that he decided to take his rifle and revolver out of the garage and take them up to his mother’s house out of concern that Ignaeita would also pack up everything from his garage.
1
He placed the revolver in the back of his waistband and picked up the rifle by the sling. As he started back up to his mother’s, he noticed that some of his clothes were being taken to the U-Haul. He went over to the house to ask them to leave his stuff. Defendant testified that as he reached the bottom of the steps, Eloy accosted him with a knife and
According to Defendant, he then went inside the house to find out who had hit him. He encountered Cheryl in the kitchen and, sensing trouble, grabbed her and spun her around in front of him. She screamed, “No, Rick, no Rick, stop.” Ignacita had his revolver. Cheryl screamed, “No, Ignacita,” covered her face, and started to bend over. Defendant went down with Cheryl. Defendant testified that Ignacita fired the revolver at him but hit Cheryl instead. Defendant and Ignacita struggled over the gun. Defendant testified that Ignacita again fired the revolver but her hand was in the way and the shot nearly severed the tip of her left little finger. He next saw Ignacita heading for the front door with the gun in her hand. Defendant testified that as he caught her, Ignacita bent down, trying to escape. She pointed the gun at Defendant who hit the barrel forcing it back towards her. The gun discharged, shooting Ignacita in the face. Defendant appeals his convictions based on the trial court’s refusal to give his requested jury instructions, the lack of substantial evidence in Mary Ellen’s death, and prosecutorial misconduct.
II
We first address Defendant’s argument that the trial court erred in failing to instruct the jury on involuntary manslaughter based on imperfect self-defense in the deaths of Ignacita, Deputy Martinez, and Officer Huber. The jury received instructions on first- and second-degree murder, voluntary manslaughter, provocation, and self-defense as to each death.
It is well established that where the evidence supports a party’s theory of the case, that party is entitled to submit proper instructions regarding that theory to the jury. See State v. Chamberlain,
Self-defense is a justification to all homicides and results in acquittal rather than mitigation. The requirements of self-defense are (1) an appearance of immediate danger of death or great bodily harm to the defendant, (2) the defendant was in fact put in fear by the apparent danger, and (3) a reasonable person in the same circumstances would have reacted similarly. See SCRA 1986, 14-5171; State v. Martinez,
The State argues that New Mexico does not recognize the theory of imperfect self-defense. Although New Mexico appellate courts have only recently used that phrase in State v. Arias,
In State v. Kidd,
Where a defendant presents sufficient evidence to support a theory of self-defense, it raises a question of fact for the jury to resolve. If the jury believes the argument, the defendant is acquitted. See Leo M. Romero, Sufficiency of Provocation for Voluntary Manslaughter in New Mexico: Problems in Theory and Practice, 12 N.M.L.Rev. 747, 766-67 (1982). If the jury rejects the theory of self-defense, it may still find the defendant acted under provocation of fear and may mitigate the charge of murder to the lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter. Id. We agree that “[voluntary manslaughter does not require that the defendant’s act of killing be reasonable.” Id. at 767. We also agree that the “critical difference between self-defense and voluntary manslaughter lies not in provocation or the emotion of fear, but rather in the reasonableness of the defendant’s conduct in killing.” Id. at 770. This is supported by our decision in State v. Melendez,
Self-defense is a belief by a reasonable man in the necessity to save himself from death or great bodily harm. Provocation supporting a conviction for voluntary manslaughter, on the other hand, is an act “committed under the influence of an uncontrollable fear of death or great bodily harm, caused by the circumstances, but without the presence of all the ingredients necessary to excuse the act on the ground of self-defense.”
It is not unreasonable that the accused should bе found guilty of voluntary manslaughter where the plea of self-defense fails. State v. Lopez,
The State argues that in some circumstances we have held that giving instructions on both self-defense and manslaughter is inappropriate and that “there is no rule in New Mexico that voluntary manslaughter is a lesser included defense of self-defense.” However, the State relies on cases that either found insufficient evidence to sustain the initial claim of self-defense or did not address self-defense. Thus, we follow our prior rulings in Melendez, Lоpez, and Kidd.
We agree with Defendant that whenever the evidence is sufficient to raise a question of self-defense, an instruction on voluntary manslaughter should also be submitted to the jury where the evidence supports sufficient provocation of fear for one’s own safety. We take exception, however, with Defendant’s argument that such a situation also requires an instruction on involuntary manslaughter. Under our statutory construction of voluntary manslaughter, sufficient provocation arising from fear for one’s own safety only mitigates murder to voluntary manslaughter, not involuntary manslaughter. See § 30-2-3.
Defendant argues that the statutory definition of involuntary manslaughter also includes the concept of imperfect self-defense and points to State v. Arias,
However, the holding in Arias ignored established New Mexico precedent regarding involuntary manslaughter and imperfect self-defense. We previously addressed this issue in State v. Pruett,
The act of killing the deceased by intentionally shooting him with a rifle could not be said to be a killing “in the commission of an unlawful act not amounting to a felony,” under the first clause of the [involuntary manslaughter] statute, [because], if the act was not justified by the law of self-defense, it would constitute at least an assault with a deadly weapon and would be a felony under [the relevant statute]. Under the same conditions the same act would not fall within the terms of the second clause of the [involuntary manslaughter] statute, because the act of appellant, unless justified by the circumstances, would not be lawful.
Id. at 578,
Self-defense is only a justificatiоn for a killing, and thus a lawful act, if all the elements necessary for self-defense are met. One requirement of self-defense is that the force used must be reasonable in relation to the threat. State v. McLam,
Finally, to the extent that Arias adopted the rationale of the California cases, which distinguished between voluntary and involuntary manslaughter based on the existence of an intent to kill, it is contrary to clear precedent defining the necessary mens rea for voluntary manslaughter. In finding that a defendant must intend not just the harm that caused the death but must also intend the victim’s death in order to find voluntary manslaughter, Arias defined voluntary manslaughter as a specific-intent crime. However, in State v. Beach,
Thus, where a defendant shoots someone in imperfect self-defense, the charge of murder can only be mitigated to voluntary manslaughter and an instruction on involuntary manslaughter is inappropriate. See State v. Martin,
In the present case, we may quickly dispose of Dеfendant’s argument for involuntary manslaughter instructions in the deaths of Deputy Martinez and Officer Huber. Defendant does not argue that the shootings were accidental. The evidence presented indicates that Defendant aimed at and shot both men. Defendant’s only argument is that he was acting in imperfect self-defense. Accordingly, in light of our discussion above, the court did not err in denying Defendant’s requested instructions.
Defendant’s argument for ari involuntary manslaughter instruction with respect to the death of Ignacita, however, is on a slightly different footing. While a claim of imperfect self-defense does not give rise to the need for an involuntary manslaughter instruction, a claim of accidental shooting might. Lopez,
However, the facts in this case do not present any evidence to support instructions on involuntary manslaughter. Defendant testified that Ignacita was pointing the
Ill
We next consider whether the trial court erred in refusing Defendant’s requested jury instructions on voluntary manslaughter in the deaths of Macario Gonzales, Cheryl Rendon, and Mary Ellen Sandoval. Defendant argues Macario was a bystander killed while he defended himself against Eloy. Defendant also argues that Cheryl and Mary Ellen were killed while he was defending his property. Jury instructions were submitted for first- and second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter as to all three deaths. The jury returned a second-degree verdict in Macario’s death and first-degree verdicts in Cheryl’s and Mary Ellen’s deaths.
The court gave self-defense instructions and Defendant was acquitted of two counts of attempted murder against Eloy. Defendant first argues that the need for self-defense against Eloy transferred to Macariо because they were both working together. Alternatively, Defendant urges this Court to accept Macario’s verbal threat as constituting adequate provocation. We decline to hold that Macario’s' threat alone was sufficient provocation and find the doctrine of transferred-intent based on self-defense is not sufficiently supported by the evidence to justify instructions on self-defense and voluntary manslaughter in Macario’s death.
We have long recognized the doctrine of transferred-intent concerning an intentional killing in which the wrong victim is killed. State v. Carpio,
In the case at bar, Defendant argues that Macario was killed as a bystander while he was defending himself against Eloy. Defendant testified that he fired twice at Eloy. He fired the first shot when he saw Eloy pointing a gun at him from the cab of the U-Haul. He fired the second shot upon leaving the house after Ignacita had killed herself and long after Macario had been killed. Eloy testified that Defendant shot him twice before Defendant entered the house. It is uncontroverted that Eloy was hit twice by Defendant. There is no evidence to support the theory that a bullet intended for Eloy
As to Defendant’s second argument, we have long held that words alone are insufficient to arouse ungovernable passion in a killer. Sells v. State,
Finally, Defendant argues that he shot Mary Ellen and Cheryl in an “imperfect defense of habitation” and he should have been permitted to tender voluntary manslaughter in these deaths. We have long recognized the defense of defense of habitation. See State v. Couch,
In the present case Ignaeita was lawfully removing her possessions with her family’s help. We recognize that Defendant did not know Ignaeita had obtained a restraining order or had gained access to the property under the authority of the Deputy Sheriff. However, Defendant did know that Ignaeita had the right to remove her own property. Defendant alleges sufficient provocation based on his testimony that Ignaeita shot at him and this provocation should transfer to all who were helping her. However, the alleged shooting would have only given rise to a claim of self-defense, not defense of habitation. It is undisputed that Ignaeita was not a trespasser and that she did not enter the house in order to commit a felony involving violence. Ignaeita was in fact unarmed when she entered the house. Furthermore, the shots Ignaeita allegedly fired were not intended to damage Defendant’s property but instead to injure Defendant’s person. Ignacita’s actions clearly would not implicate the doctrine of defense of habitation and were properly analyzed under the doctrine of self-defense.
As we noted earlier, although Ignaeita’s actions may have amounted to sufficient provocation to warrant an instruction of manslaughter in her death, this provocation cannot be transferred to a related bystander.
IV
We next consider whether substantial evidence supports Defendant’s conviction in the murder of Mary Ellen. Defendant argues that he didn’t even know Mary Ellen was in the house and that the “jury would have engaged in sheer speculation had it concluded without additional evidence that Mr. Abeyta had decided to harm Mary Ellen in particular simply bеcause she was Ignacita’s daughter.”
We require that evidence point logically to a defendant to assure that the basis of a conviction is not mere speculation. State v. Malouff,
The jury received first-degree murder instructions under both Sections 30-2-l(A)(l), deliberate intent, and 30-2-l(A)(3),' depraved-mind murder. Due process ' requires that each element of the crime charged must be supported by evidence beyond a reasonable doubt. See In re Winship,
No one witnessed Mary Ellen’s death. Circumstantial evidence indicates that Defendant and Eloy were the only people outside the house who could have had a weapon when Mary Ellеn was killed. Defendant alleges Eloy fired at him, but the gun was never presented into evidence nor were any casings from the shots Eloy allegedly fired at Defendant ever found. All the casings
Eloy testified that as he and Macario started to get out of the truck, they saw Defendant walking quickly towards the house carrying a revolver and a rifle. Eloy testified that Defendant then opened fire on them. Celina testified that she heard Mary Ellen scream, saw her grab her infant son, Justin, and run out of the house. Both Mary Ellen and Justin were shot in the head as they fled. Although the evidence is not conclusive as to what weapon killed Justin, he probably died from the same weapon that, killed his mother.
At the time of the shooting, there were at least five people outside the house besides Defendant: Eloy, Macariо, Mary Ellen, Justin, and Dora, Defendant’s sister. Defendant ■ admitted that he was aware that Ignacita was inside the house, and he had noted that there were several cars and trucks parked in front of his home, indicating that other family members were also inside.
Defendant contends that his revolver had been taken from him when he was struck from behind. He testified that if he killed Mary Ellen, it could only have been when his rifle accidentally discharged. Defendant also stated that after receiving the medical reports he was relieved to learn that Mary Ellen and Justin were killed with the .357 rather than the rifle and they “didn’t die in my hands.” Defendant claims that Ignacita shot Mary Ellen and Cheryl while trying to kill him. However, the jury heard the testimony of all the witnesses and determined what credibility to give it. Lankford,
V
Finally, we address whether prosecutorial misconduct deprived Defendant of a fair trial. Defendant objects to twо statements in particular made by the prosecutor during closing argument. Defendant urges this Court to find that the prosecutor improperly attacked the integrity of Defendant’s counsel. Defendant further urges that we find the prosecutor’s statement that Defendant “forced Cheryl to get down on her knees and beg for her life before he shot her” constituted reversible error because it exceeded the bounds of proper argument. We decline to do so in either case.
We review Defendant’s claim of prosecutorial misconduct under the standard of abuse of discretion. State v. Jett,
Defendant further argues that the statement that he forced Cheryl to beg for her life exceeded the bounds of proper argument. The prosecutor specifically stated that Cheryl either “falls to her knees begging for her and her babies’ lives — or [Defendant] orders her to her knees.” This statement, although approaching the point of appealing to the jury’s passions, is not inconsistent with the evidence. Aguilar,
VI
In conclusion, where sufficient evidence is presented to support a finding that a defendant acted in self-defense, a defendant is entitled to have the jury receive an instruction on voluntary manslaughter based on imperfect self-defense. An involuntary manslaughter instruction, however, is inappropriate where one intentionally, rather than unintentionally, harms another while in the act of self-defense. The use of excessive force in self-defense makes the act of killing unjustified, and it therefore cannot be considered a lawful act done in an unlawful manner under the involuntary manslaughter statutе, Section 30-2-3(B). Accordingly, we find that Defendant was not entitled to involuntary manslaughter instructions in the deaths of Deputy Martinez, Officer Huber, or Ignacita.
As for Defendant’s claim regarding proper jury instruction for Macario’s death, we find no evidence to support Defendant’s contention that Macario was killed as a bystander while Defendant was acting in self-defense against Eloy. Accordingly, the trial court properly refused to instruct the jury on voluntary manslaughter. In addition, we find the evidence insufficient to support instructions on defense of habitation in the deaths of Cheryl and Mary Ellen where Defendant used deadly force although he was in no personal danger from the victims.
We also find substantial evidence was presented to sustain the verdict of first-degree murder in the death of Mary Ellen. Finally, we find that the prosecutor’s conduct did not rise to the level of rеversible error. Therefore, we affirm.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
Notes
. Defendant had taken his weapons out to the garage for safe-keeping after Ignaeita left following the quarrel on Wednesday night.
. Defendant claimed he was unaware anyone had been killed but he acknowledged that this "accidental” discharge may have resulted in Macario's death.
. Again, Defendant claimed he was unaware anyone was killed when his rifle discharged, but he initially thought that this discharge killed Mary Ellen and Justin. Defendant also speculated that Ignacita may have killed Mary Ellen and, Justin while attempting to shoot him.
. Since 1917 this "imperfect” self-defense has been adequately covered under our jury instructions on manslaughter. We see no reason to change our jury instructions to accommodate a new phrase covering a legal concept that has long been a part of New Mexico law.
. We note that Beach incorrectly classifies second-degree murder as a general-intent crime. However, that is not relevant to the issues before us.