State v. Sena, 736 P.2d 491 (N.M. 1987). · Go Syfert
State v. Sena, 736 P.2d 491 (N.M. 1987). Cases Citing This Book View Copy Cite
59 citation events (47 in the last 25 years) across 4 distinct courts.
Strongest positive: Kilgore v. FUJI HEAVY INDUSTRIES LTD. (nm, 2010-08-03)
Treatment trajectory · 1988 → 2026 · click a year to view as-of
1988 2007 2026
Top citers, strongest first. 16 distinct citers.
examined Cited as authority (rule) Kilgore v. FUJI HEAVY INDUSTRIES LTD. (3×) also: Cited "see"
N.M. · 2010 · confidence medium
First, the presumption of prejudice is not automatic in nature; rather, the party moving for a new trial bears the burden to “‘make a preliminary showing that movant has competent evidence that material extraneous to the trial actually reached the jury.’ ” State v. Sena, 105 N.M. 686, 688 , 736 P.2d 491, 493 (1987) (quoting State v. Doe, 101 N.M. 363, 366 , 683 P.2d 45, 48 (Ct.App.1984)); see also Mann, 2002-NMSC-001, ¶ 19 , 131 N.M. 459 , 39 P.3d 124 (holding that the party seeking a new trial “must make an affirmative showing that some extraneous influence came to bear on the jury…
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Kilgore v. FUJI HEAVY INDUSTRIES LTD. (2×)
N.M. Ct. App. · 2009 · confidence medium
Criminal cases: see, e.g., State v. Sanchez, 2000-NMSC-021 , ¶¶ 23-24, 129 N.M. 284 , 6 P.3d 486 (involving the post-submission substitution of a juror); State v. Sena, 105 N.M. 686, 687-88 , 736 P.2d 491, 492-93 (1987) (involving a juror’s statement during deliberations about guilt of the defendant and that this view was not based on anything the juror heard in the courtroom); State v. McCarter, 93 N.M. 708, 711 , 604 P.2d 1242, 1245 (1980) (involving the court’s communication with the jury in the absence of the defendant); State v. Melton, 102 N.M. 120, 123 , 692 P.2d 45, 48 (Ct.App.19…
discussed Cited as authority (rule) State v. R Whiting
N.M. Ct. App. · 2009 · confidence medium
Mann, 2002-NMSC-001, ¶ 27 (“Although some forms of 14 misconduct, such as a juror making an unauthorized visit to the scene of a crime, may 15 infringe on a defendant’s right to a fair jury, we are cautious and reluctant to apply 16 this reasoning to actions approaching juror deliberations.”); State v. Sena, 105 N.M. 17 686, 687-88 , 736 P.2d 491, 492-93 (1987) (affirming the district court’s refusal to 18 hear post-trial evidence of jury misconduct based on juror’s statement that he knew 19 the defendant was guilty but could not base the conviction on evidence from trial); 20 Duran…
discussed Cited as authority (rule) State v. A Moreno
N.M. Ct. App. · 2009 · confidence medium
Defendant concedes 8 that no evidence was introduced during the motion for new trial regarding the content 9 of the juror’s phone conversation or whether other jurors were exposed to extraneous 10 information. [MIO 6] Nevertheless, Defendant asserts pursuant to State v. Franklin, 11 78 N.M. 127, 129 , 428 P.2d 982, 984 (1967), and State v. Boyer, 103 N.M. 655 , 658- 12 60, 712 P.2d 1, 4-6 (Ct. App. 1985), that she demonstrated by competent evidence that 13 extraneous information relevant to her case could have potentially reached the jury, 14 and therefore she is entitled to a new trial or r…
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Case v. Hatch (2×)
N.M. · 2008 · confidence medium
State v. Sena, 105 N.M. 686, 687 , 736 P.2d 491, 492 (1987). *912 II.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Montoya v. Ulibarri (2×)
N.M. · 2007 · confidence medium
Additionally, in the case of recantation testimony, four additional factors support a decision granting a new trial: “(1) the original verdict was based upon uncorroborated testimony; (2) the recantation occurred under circumstances free from suspicion of undue influence or pressure from any source; (3) the record fails to disclose any possibility of collusion between the defendant and the witness between the time of the trial and the retraction; and (4) the witness admitted [the] perjury on the witness stand and thereby subjected [himself or] herself to prosecution.” See State v. Sena, 10…
examined Cited as authority (rule) State v. Mann (3×) also: Cited "see"
N.M. · 2002 · confidence medium
Otherwise, the rule prohibits a juror from testifying as to any matter or statement made during the course of deliberations or to the juror’s mental processes. {19} The party requesting a new trial on the basis that the jury was exposed to extraneous information “must make a preliminary showing that [he or she] has competent evidence that material extraneous to the trial actually reached the jury.” State v. Sena, 105 N.M. 686, 688 , 736 P.2d 491, 493 (1987) (quoting State v. Doe, 101 N.M. 363, 366 , 683 P.2d 45, 48 (Ct.App.1983)).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) State v. Landon
Wash. Ct. App. · 1993 · signal: cf. · confidence medium
Sims v. State, 195 Ga. App. 631, 632 , 394 S.E.2d 422, 424 (1990) (unsworn letter insufficient to constitute recantation); People v. Bova, 122 A.D.2d 798, 800 , 505 N.Y.S.2d 885 (1986) (unsworn letter insufficient to constitute recantation); United States v. Baxter, 733 F.2d 1443, 1445 (11th Cir. 1984) ("new evidence" given "orally and while not under oath"); cf. State v. Sena, 105 N.M. 686, 687 , 736 P.2d 491, 492 (1987) (one factor related to recantation is whether witness "admitted her perjury on the witness stand").
cited Cited "see" State v. Lucero
N.M. · 2016 · signal: see · confidence high
See 1987-NMSC-038 , ¶¶ 7, 9, 105 N.M. 686 , 736 30 1 P.2d 491 .
discussed Cited "see" State v. Lucero (2×)
N.M. · 2016 · signal: see · confidence high
See 1987-NMSC-038 , ¶¶ 7, 9, 105 N.M. 686 , 736 P.2d 491 .
discussed Cited "see" State v. McClintock III (2×)
N.M. Ct. App. · 2014 · signal: see · confidence high
See State v. Sena, 1987-NMSC- 16 038, ¶¶ 8-9, 105 N.M. 686 , 736 P.2d 491 (noting that juror misconduct includes 17 activity by jurors that is inconsistent with the instructions by the court and rejecting 18 the defendant’s argument that the defendant’s sister saw a juror sleeping during the 19 trial as vague and uncorroborated). 10 1 {17} In this case, Defendant concedes that there was no mention during or 2 immediately after the trial of a juror or jurors sleeping and that no evidence of 3 sleeping jurors was submitted to or reviewed by the district court.
examined Cited "see" State v. Sandoval (9×) also: Cited "see, e.g."
N.M. Ct. App. · 2011 · signal: see · confidence high
See 11 State v. Sena, 105 N.M. 686, 688 , 736 P.2d 491, 493 (1987) (stating that to support 12 an evidentiary hearing based on jury tampering and bias, a defendant “must make a 13 preliminary showing [with] competent evidence” (internal quotation marks and 14 citation omitted)).
examined Cited "see" State v. Mann (4×)
N.M. Ct. App. · 2000 · signal: see · confidence high
See State v. Sena, 105 N.M. 686, 688 , 736 P.2d 491, 493 (1987) (ending inquiry upon defendant's failure to adduce sufficient evidence of juror misconduct).
discussed Cited "see" State v. Kenny (2×)
N.M. Ct. App. · 1991 · signal: see · confidence high
See State v. Sena, 105 N.M. 686 , 736 P.2d 491 (1987) (motions for new trial based on newly discovered evidence rest in the sound discretion of the trial court).
discussed Cited "see, e.g." Hurst v. Citadel, Ltd. (2×)
N.M. Ct. App. · 1991 · signal: see also · confidence low
See also State v. Sena, 105 N.M. 686 , 736 P.2d 491 (1987); Bachicha v. Lewis, 105 N.M. 726 , 737 P.2d 85 (Ct.App.1987); State v. Doe.
discussed Cited "see, e.g." State v. Perry (2×)
Mont. · 1988 · signal: see, e.g. · confidence low
See e.g., State v. Sena (1987), 105 N.M. 686 , 736 P.2d 491 (defendant’s family intimidated recanting witness with threats and acts of physical violence).
STATE of New Mexico, Plaintiff-Appellee,
v.
Herman Jerry SENA, Defendant-Appellant
16072.
New Mexico Supreme Court.
Apr 23, 1987.
736 P.2d 491
Jacquelyn Robins, Chief Public Defender, Susan Gibbs, Asst. Appellate Defender, Santa Fe, for defendant-appellant., Winston Roberts-Hohl, Santa Fe, trial counsel., Hal Stratton, Atty. Gen., Charles H. Rennick, Asst. Atty. Gen., Santa Fe, for plaintiff-appellee.
Scarborough, Stowers, Ransom.
Cited by 20 opinions  |  Published

OPINION

SCARBOROUGH, Chief Justice.

Defendant was convicted of first degree murder, aggravated burglary, and tampering with evidence. He moved for a new trial based on newly discovered evidence — a key prosecution witness recanted subsequent to trial. The trial court denied the motion; defendant appealed. We affirm.

The State relied on the testimony of Elva Martinez (Martinez) and Chris Sena to link defendant to the murder of Ignacita Escudero. Other circumstantial evidence linked defendant to the murder, but there was no direct evidence implicating defendant. Martinez and Chris Sena testified that defendant confessed to them that he murdered Escudero. The State theorized that details of the crime given by Martinez and Chris Sena could only have been known to the killer. The descriptions of the crime given by Martinez and Chris Sena were very similar. After trial, Martinez recanted and testified that she committed perjury in her trial testimony and that defendant never confessed to her. Martinez said she fabricated the confession story in order to get revenge against defendant.

Defendant contends that the trial court erred in denying the motion for new trial. Defendant also contends that the trial court erred in failing to inquire into alleged juror misconduct. A third contention, concerning prosecutorial misconduct, was not preserved for review.

This case presents two issues:

(1) Did the trial court err in denying defendant’s motion for new trial based on newly discovered evidence?
(2) Did the trial court err in refusing to inquire into alleged juror misconduct?

ISSUE (1):

In order to warrant a new trial, newly discovered evidence must satisfy the following conditions: (1) it will probably change the result if a new trial is granted; (2) it must have been discovered since trial; (3) it could not have been discovered before trial by exercise of due diligence; (4) it must be material; (5) it must not be merely cumulative; and (6) it must not be merely impeaching or contradictory. State v. Volpato, 102 N.M. 383, 384-85, 696 P.2d 471, 472-473 (1985). In this case, only the existence of the first condition is at issue.

Motions for new trial based on newly discovered evidence rest in the sound discretion of the trial court. Id. at 385, 696 P.2d at 473. When newly discovered evidence concerns the recantation of a prosecution witness, the following factors indicate that a new trial should be granted: (1) the original verdict was based upon uncorroborated testimony; (2) the recantation occurred under circumstances free from suspicion of undue influence or pressure from any source; (3) the record fails to disclose any possibility of collusion between the defendant and the witness between the time of the trial and the retraction; and (4) the witness admitted her perjury on the witness stand and thereby subjected herself to prosecution. State v. Fuentes, 67 N.M. 31, 33, 351 P.2d 209, 210 (1960).

In this case, not only was Martinez’s testimony corroborated by Chris Sena’s testimony and circumstantial evidence, but Martinez’s recantation did not occur under circumstances free from suspicion of undue influence. There was considerable evidence that defendant’s family intimidated Martinez with threats and acts of physical violence and thereby coerced her recantation. Under these circumstances, we hold that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in denying the motion for a new trial.

ISSUE (2):

Defendant complained of two instances of alleged juror misconduct and introduced affidavits in support of his complaints. According to the affidavit of another juror, juror Stone stated during deliberations that “he knew the defendant was guilty, but that he could not base his conviction on anything he heard in the courtroom.” According to the affidavit of defendant’s sister, she observed a female juror sleeping during trial. Relying upon SCRA 1986, 11-606(B), the trial judge refused to hear evidence of juror misconduct.

Rule 606(B) states in part:

Upon an inquiry into the validity of a verdict or indictment, a juror may not testify as to any matter or statement occurring during the course of the jury’s deliberations or to the effect of anything upon his or any other juror’s mind or emotions as influencing him to assent to or dissent from the verdict or indictment or concerning his mental processes in connection therewith, except that a juror may testify on the question whether extraneous prejudicial information was improperly brought to the jury’s attention or whether any outside influence was improperly brought to bear upon any juror.

In State v. Doe, 101 N.M. 363, 366, 683 P.2d 45, 48 (Ct.App.1983), cert. denied, 101 N.M. 276, 681 P.2d 61 (1984), the Court of Appeals stated:

The party seeking a new trial on the basis that extraneous evidence reached the jury must make a preliminary showing that movant has competent evidence that material extraneous to the trial actually reached the jury. If the party makes such a showing, and if there is a reasonable possibility the material prejudiced the defendant, the trial court should grant a new trial. The trial court has a duty to inquire into the possibility of prejudice. In an appropriate case, the trial court should conduct an evidentiary hearing.

(Citations omitted.) Defendant failed to show that he had competent evidence that extraneous material reached the jury. Defendant produced nothing more than the statement of juror Stone quoted above. That statement alone does not indicate that extraneous material reached the jury. Therefore, the trial court did not err in refusing to inquire further into juror Stone’s remark. Likewise, the trial court did not err in refusing to inquire further into the alleged inattentiveness of a juror. The allegation of inattentiveness is vague and uncorroborated.

We affirm defendant’s conviction.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

STOWERS and RANSOM, JJ., concur.