Document: 438 U.S. 637 98 S.Ct. 2977 57 L.Ed.2d 1010 Willie Lee BELL, Petitioner,v.State of OHIO. No. 76-6513. Argued Jan. 17, 1978. Decided July 3, Syllabus Petitioner, whose conviction aggravated murder with a specification that it occurred during kidnaping and death sentence were affirmed by the Ohio Supreme Court, contends penalty statute (see Lockett v. Ohio, 586, 2954, 973) violated his rights under Eighth Fourteenth Amendments because prevented sentencing judge from considering particular circumstances crime aspects character record as mitigating factors. Held: The judgment is reversed insofar upholds penalty, case remanded. Pp. 642-643; 624-628; 643; 643-644. 48 St.2d 270, 358 N.E.2d 556, in part Mr. Chief Justice BURGER, joined STEWART, POWELL, STEVENS, concluded: 1 1. "The require sentencer, all but rarest kind capital case, not be precluded factor, any aspect defendant's c aracter or offense defendant proffers." U.S., at 604, S.Ct., 2965. P. 642. 2 2. does permit type individualized consideration factors" required Amendments. 606, 3 WHITE concluded petitioner's should vacated on ground permits convicted specifications to sentenced death, petitioner was this without finding he intended result. 624-628. 4 MARSHALL, being view is, circumstances, cruel unusual punishment prohibited Amendments, concurred judgment. 5 BLACKMUN deficient regards petitioner, who charged an aider abettor murder, failing allow degree involvement, mens rea, crime. 643. 6 H. Fred Hoefle, Cincinnati, for petitioner. 7 Leonard Kirschner, respondent. 8 BURGER delivered opinion Court respect facts proceedings below (Part I), together II) which STEVENS joined, constitutionality announced Court. 9 We granted certiorari consider whether imposition upon Bell pursuant Rev.Code Ann. §§ 2929.01-2929.04 (1975) 10 * course kidnaping. He death. 433 907, 97 2971, 53 1091 (1977). 11 On October 16, 1974, Bell, then 16 years old, met friend, Samuel Hall, 18, youth center Ohio. They left went Hall's home where Hall borrowed car proceeded drive around area. followed driven 64-year-old Julius Graber into parking garage, armed "sawed off" shotgun, forced surrender keys. placed, unharmed, trunk own car. drove Graber's latter's home. There, got and, following directions, nearby cemetery. 12 A resident apartment near cemetery saw parked service road its lights on. heard two doors close voice screaming, "Don't shoot me, don't me," shots. someone return slide passenger's seat driver's seat. After observing proceed away off—he called police. 13 police found lying face down massive wound back head another right cheek. died en route hospital. 14 Although did testify trial, gave version killing after arrest statement recorded introduced trial. denied intention participate killing. said had cemetery, asked what they going do next, replied: "We'll see. Give me keys." then, according released marched him forested area rear out Bell's sight. pleading life gunshot. According came car, reloaded gun, returned wooded second shot Dayton, spent night friends Hall. 15 next day, driving stopped station Dayton. used shotgun obtain keys attendant's attendant trunk. patrolman defective muffler discovered past officer Cincinnati abandoned indictment, waived trial jury requested three-judge panel. panel unanimously guilty That 2929.03, 2929.04 (1975), set forth Appendix our 609, 2967, 973, decided today. 17 Pursuant law, ordered presentence investigation psychiatric examination Bell. psychiatrists' report directed specifically three factors none them present. It also noted, however, claimed have been aware doing when Graber. 18 contained detailed information about background, intelligence, prior offenses, character, habits. noted accused actually firing In addition describing having "low average dull normal intellectual capability," cited juvenile court series offenses allegedly using mescaline offense. 19 permitted both sides opportunity introduce evidence make arguments regarding proper penalty. testified influence drugs virtually every day viewed "big brother" instructions "scared." Several teachers drug problem emotionally unstable immature age. 20 defense argued acted fear coercion due mental deficiency. support contention mentally deficient, counsel minority established deficiency matter law; compared other teenagers emotional instability contributed passive 21 Prior sentencing, moved declared unconstitutional contending statute, enacted Furman Georgia, 408 238, 92 2726, 33 346 (1972), severely limited would argument mercy. contended youth, fact cooperated police, lack proof participated actual strongly supported less than case. Ohio's post-Furman requesting lesser basis those 22 reports well oth r counsel, defined established. Accordingly, 23 unsuccessfully renewed contended, among things, insufficient sustain there no kill aided abetted intent killed. rejected these held sufficient because, could prosecuted punished if principal offender. Alternatively, might reasonably either committed actively assisted murder. II 24 judges For reasons stated Part III 597-609, 2961-2967, we "the considering, "[t]he factors," 2965, therefore agree contention.* 25 extent remanded further proceedings. 26 BRENNAN took decision 27 BLACKMUN, concurring 28 I join Court's concur accord my views separately U.S 613, 2969, reverse upheld Petitioner charged, inter alia, Graber, court's sustained 278, 563 (1976). find 29 30 continue believe 314-374, 2764-2796, (1972) (MARSHALL, J., concurring); Gregg 428 153, 231-241, 96 2909, 2973-2977, 49 859, 904 (1976) dissenting), thus disagree assumption contrary. See 619, 2972, 973 judgment). requires vacated. 31 REHNQUIST, dissenting. 32 dissenting 628, 2973, affirm dissent reversing it. conclusion cannot stand statute's limits address (a) disproportionate applied (b) contentions procedure violates alleged meaningful appellate review, must bear risk nonpersuasion existence Nor reach tried infringed Sixth Our grant Amendment issues.

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