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82 N.M. 482

State v. Garcia

New Mexico Court of Appeals

Decided April 2, 1971

New Mexico Court of Appeals · decided 1971-04-02

Cited by 4 later decisions — most recently February 1979

4 state decisions

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Decided 1971-04-02

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¶1OPINION

SUTIN, Judge.

¶2Garcia was convicted of burglary. He appealed. The only claim of error on appeal is that the trial court erred in not granting appellant’s motion for a continuance.

¶3We affirm.

¶4Was Garcia Entitled to a Continuance T

¶5The date of trial was January 27, 1970. Notice of trial was given Garcia on December 5, 1969. On the morning of the trial, Garcia’s trial attorney stated that Garcia was not ready for trial because the day before he was in a hospital and began taking codeine; that this was due to a reinjury of an old chest injury; that Garcia had a sort of drug intoxication and he was not in condition to stand trial. The request to postpone the trial was denied. Garcia did not testify about his health, his lack of preparation for trial, nor file a motion for a continuance supported by oath, § 21-8-7, N.M.S.A. (Repl.Vol. 4), nor present any medical testimony on his ability to be ready for trial.

¶6The attorney on this appeal, appointed by the trial court, was not his trial attorney. However, he presented a good brief and argument. But no reasons could be given that the denial of the postponement was prejudicial, or that substantial justice could be more clearly obtained. See § 21-8-9, N.M.S.A.1953 (Repl.Vol. 4) on continuance.

¶7The granting or denial of a motion for continuance is within the discretion of the trial court. There was no abuse of discretion.

¶8We have read and considered the authorities cited by Garcia, and these do not compel a different conclusion.

¶9The judgment and sentence are affirmed.

¶10It is so ordered.

SPIESS, C. J., and HENDLEY, J., concur.
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