Court reduces murder conviction

SANTA FE — The New Mexico Supreme Court has reduced a Hobbs man’s first-degree murder conviction to second-degree murder in a 2014 shooting, saying there was evidence that the killing was intentional but not that it was done with deliberate intent.

Thursday’s ruling says Enrique Carmona’s killing of 28-year-old Jose Meza after an argument and fistfight involving several men appeared to be impulsive, occurred in a very short period of time and wasn’t planned.

The prosecution contended the killing was deliberate because Carmona removed a gun from his pocket, switched it to another hand, cocked the gun, put it near Meza’s head and pulled the trigger.

Carmona had been sentenced to life in prison — or 30 years before being eligible for parole — on the firstdegree murder charge. Prosecutors say the lesser charge of seconddegree murder carries a 15-year sentence.