Opinion ID: 1149193
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: Withdrawal of Statutory Aggravating Circumstance

Text: After the close of evidence in the penalty phase, prior to closing arguments, and without objection, the district attorney withdrew from the jury's consideration the aggravating circumstance that the offense was committed in an especially heinous, atrocious or cruel manner. The defendant argues the district attorney acted in bad faith by initially stating an intention to rely on this aggravating circumstance, arguing extensively about Lawless's death during the guilt phase, and then withdrawing the aggravating circumstance in the penalty phase. However, when the district attorney withdrew this circumstance, the defendant did not object or move for a mistrial. In fact, defense counsel offered to stop the court if it stumbled and accidentally gave the charge when instructing the jury. Nevertheless, this court's scope of review in capital cases extends to alleged errors occurring during the sentencing phase, whether objected to or not. State v. Taylor, 93-2201, p. 7 (La.2/28/96), 669 So.2d 364, 369, cert. denied, ___ U.S. ___, 117 S.Ct. 162, 136 L.Ed.2d 106 (1996). Assuming, arguendo, that the State acted in bad faith, it does not appear that defendant suffered any prejudice. Evidence of the victim's suffering before death would have been admissible in any event. While it may not have constituted a statutory aggravating circumstance, the reality of how the victim died constituted a circumstance of the crime for the jury to consider in assessing the moral culpability of the defendant's act. La.C.Cr.P. art. 905.2(A) (The sentencing hearing shall focus on the circumstances of the offense and the character and propensities of the offender.) Consequently, whatever the prosecutor's motivation, the presentation of evidence regarding the immediate circumstances of the victim's death and any argument regarding that evidence at the close of the penalty phase did not prejudice the defendant. [6]