Opinion ID: 2587611
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 10

Heading: Whether the death sentence was imposed under any improper influence or was excessive

Text: We see no indication that Weber's death sentence was imposed under the influence of passion, prejudice, or any arbitrary factor. On the contrary, the record shows that Weber had a discerning jury that distinguished Kim's murder from A.'s, choosing to impose death only for the latter. A. was a young teenager, lured by Weber to his death with the promise of money from his mother. And the death A. suffered was particularly slow and agonizing. These are only two of the objective factors the jury could have considered in distinguishing between the murders. Additionally, solid circumstantial and direct evidence supported Weber's convictions and aggravating conduct, including pornographic photos of his own misconduct with M., DNA evidence proving his sexual abuse of M., finger and palm prints found on duct tape and plastic bags linking him to the murders of A. and Kim, and the testimony of many witnesses. While the facts of this case certainly involve emotions, the record does not show the jury acted under any improper influence. Finally, considering both Weber and his crime, we conclude that his sentence of death is not excessive. Without any reasonable provocation, Weber murdered A., a 15-year-old boy who trusted him. A. was a typical teenage boy who liked girls, skateboarding, and video games; his murder was untimely, senseless, and brutal. Weber also destroyed a family, murdering the mother of three children after sexually abusing the young daughter over a five-year period. Exacerbating these crimes was his attempt to murder 17-year-old C. and Froman on the day of A. and Kim's funeral. Given the appalling nature and circumstances of A.'s murder and Weber's character as revealed by all his crimes, death is not an excessive sentence for Weber.