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Criminal Law Keyed to Dressler
State v. Boyett
Citation:
144 N.M. 184 (2008)Facts
Cecil Boyett and Deborah Rhodes had a hostile relationship stemming from their mutual interest in Renate Wilder, who had been Rhodes’ romantic partner before becoming involved with Boyett. Wilder had eventually chosen Boyett over Rhodes, firing Rhodes from her bar and giving the job to Boyett, and obtaining a restraining order to remove Rhodes from her home. The day before Boyett and Wilder were to be married, Rhodes arrived at their home. Boyett shot Rhodes in the head with a .357 revolver from approximately four feet away. The prosecution argued that Boyett killed Rhodes out of hatred and to end her interference in his relationship with Wilder. Boyett claimed Rhodes came to the house intending to kill him, and that when he opened the door, he saw her drawing a gun and shot her in self-defense. Boyett also claimed he suffered from organic brain damage that prevented him from forming the specific intent required for first-degree murder.
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