Opinion ID: 2590272
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 8

Heading: Special instruction regarding role of mitigating factors

Text: Finally, defendant asserts the trial court erred in refusing to give an instruction informing the jury that, with regard to the statutory aggravating factors, the factors which I have just listed are the only factors that can be considered by you as aggravating factors, but that [a]ny one of the mitigating factors, standing alone, may support a decision that death is not the appropriate punishment in this case. No modified instruction was warranted. The jury was instructed pursuant to CALJIC No. 8.88 regarding the weighing of aggravating and mitigating circumstances. We note, too, that in argument to the jury, the prosecution acknowledged, if you find one factor that is mitigating, that alone can be the basis for your returning a verdict other than death. It thus was clear to the jury that a single mitigating factor, standing alone, could justify a verdict of life imprisonment rather than a verdict of death.