Stabbing in eyes of victims and stomping on bodies could not have been thought to cause death and, therefore, constituted gratuitous violence. Numerous gunshot wounds with different weapons. Cutting or pulling out victim's hair constituted gratuitous violence. Three fatal stab wounds left thirty-seven unnecessary and excessive stab wounds. Gratuitous violence alone was sufficient to support a finding of heinous or depraved.
Gratuitous violence is violence beyond that necessary to kill.
The medical examiner testified that the victim died of multiple blunt force trauma. In addition, she was sodomized with a metal pipe and a broom handle such that her rectal and vaginal cavities were ruptured. Her nose was fractured and face beaten so severely that family members could not identify her. One laceration was so deep it exposed the skull. The victim also suffered numerous knife slashes, bruises and injuries beyond that necessary to kill.