46th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2003

RELATING TO CAPITAL FELONY SENTENCING; PROVIDING ADDITIONAL AGGRAVATING CIRCUMSTANCES FOR CONSIDERATION IN CAPITAL FELONY CASES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

Section 1. Section 31-20A-5 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1979, Chapter 150, Section 6, as amended) is amended to read:

"31-20A-5. AGGRAVATING CIRCUMSTANCES.--

A. The aggravating circumstances to be considered by the sentencing court or jury pursuant to the provisions of Section 31-20A-2 NMSA 1978 are limited to the following:

[A.] (1) the victim was a peace officer who was acting in the lawful discharge of an official duty when he was murdered;

[B.] (2) the murder was committed with intent to kill in the commission of or attempt to commit [kidnaping] kidnapping, criminal sexual contact of a minor or criminal sexual penetration;

[C.] (3) the murder was committed with the intent to kill by the defendant while attempting to escape from a penal institution of New Mexico;

[D.] (4) while incarcerated in a penal institution in New Mexico, the defendant, with the intent to kill, murdered a person who was at the time incarcerated in or lawfully on the premises of a penal institution in New Mexico. As used in this subsection, "penal institution" includes facilities under the jurisdiction of the corrections [and criminal rehabilitation] department and county and municipal jails;

[E.] (5) while incarcerated in a penal institution in New Mexico, the defendant, with the intent to kill, murdered an employee of the corrections [and criminal rehabilitation] department;

[F.] (6) the capital felony was committed for hire; [and

G.] (7) the capital felony was murder of a witness to a crime or any person likely to become a witness to a crime, for the purpose of preventing report of the crime or testimony in any criminal proceeding or for retaliation for the victim having testified in any criminal proceeding;

(8) the defendant, with the intent to kill, murdered two or more people in a single incident; or

(9) the murder was committed with the intent to kill in the commission of an act of terror or an attempt to commit an act of terror.

B. As used in this section, "act of terror" means an act that is intended to:

(1) intimidate or coerce a civilian population;

(2) influence the policy of a unit of government by intimidation or coercion;

(3) intimidate or coerce a unit of government into granting illegal economic demands; or

(4) affect the conduct of a unit of government by an assassination."

Section 2. EFFECTIVE DATE.--The effective date of the provisions of this act is July 1, 2003.