Opinion ID: 1057579
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 24

Heading: the failure to charge aggravating circumstances in the indictment

Text: Mr. Hester argues that failure to charge the aggravating circumstances in a capital case in the indictment violates the Tennessee and Federal Constitutions. This Court has consistently rejected this argument by holding that aggravating circumstances need not be pled in the indictment. See, e.g., State v. Reid, 164 S.W.3d 286, 312 (Tenn.2005); State v. Leach, 148 S.W.3d 42, 59 (Tenn.2004); State v. Berry, 141 S.W.3d 549, 562 (Tenn.2004); State v. Holton, 126 S.W.3d 845, 862-63 (Tenn. 2004); State v. Dellinger, 79 S.W.3d at 467. Mr. Hester has not offered a persuasive argument showing that these prior decisions have been in error.