State v. Cunningham

OPINION

BACA, Justice.

{1} Danny A. Cunningham was convicted of deliberate-intent first-degree murder contrary to NMSA 1978, § 30-2-l(A)(l) (1994), and sentenced to life in prison. Cunningham appeals his conviction alleging (1) that the trial court committed fundamental error by failing to instruct the jury on the essential element of unlawfulness once Cunningham had raised the issue of self-defense, and (2) that there was insufficient evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that he formed the mens rea required to sustain his deliberate-intent first-degree murder conviction. We conclude…