Opinion ID: 1058506
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 31

Heading: jury instructions during sentencing

Text: The defendant asserts the written verdict form misstated the law and allowed the jury to impose the death penalty without requiring the state to prove the aggravating circumstances outweighed the mitigating circumstances beyond a reasonable doubt. At issue is that portion of the charge setting forth the requirements authorizing a sentence of death. The trial court quoted the pattern jury charge verbatim. See T.P.I.CRIM. 7.04(c) (4th ed.1995); see also id. (7th ed.2002) (containing identical language). We are unable to conclude this charge misled the jury. The defendant further contends the trial court erred by failing to define the knowing mens rea required for the felony murder aggravator. See Tenn.Code Ann. § 39-13-204(i)(7). If the court erred, the error was harmless.