Opinion ID: 2509517
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Evidence of mental illness under factors (d) and (k) of section 190.3

Text: Defendant insists, however, that Dr. Hatcher's testimony falls under factors (d) and (k) of section 190.3, and that such evidence can only be mitigating. Factor (d) authorizes the penalty jury to consider evidence of extreme mental or emotional disturbance. We have held in previous cases that such evidence can only be mitigating. (E.g., People v. Montiel (1993) 5 Cal.4th 877, 944, 21 Cal.Rptr.2d 705, 855 P.2d 1277; People v. Whitt, supra, 51 Cal.3d 620, 654, 274 Cal.Rptr. 252, 798 P.2d 849; People v. Ghent (1987) 43 Cal.3d 739, 776, 239 Cal.Rptr. 82, 739 P.2d 1250.) In People v. Benson (1990) 52 Cal.3d 754, 276 Cal.Rptr. 827, 802 P.2d 330, we said that no reasonable juror could believe that extreme mental or emotional disturbance ... were circumstances in aggravation, and hence a jury instruction to that effect was unnecessary. ( Id. at p. 802, 276 Cal.Rptr. 827, 802 P.2d 330; see People v. Cox (1991) 53 Cal.3d 618, 675, 280 Cal. Rptr. 692, 809 P.2d 351.) Factor (k) of section 190.3 authorizes consideration of [a]ny other circumstance which extenuates the gravity of the crime even though it is not a legal excuse for the crime. Under factor (k), the jury must consider any `aspect of [the] defendant's character or record ... that the defendant proffers as a basis for a sentence less than death.' ( People v. Easley (1983) 34 Cal.3d 858, 878-879, fn. 10, 196 Cal.Rptr. 309, 671 P.2d 813, quoting Lockett v. Ohio (1978) 438 U.S. 586, 604, 98 S.Ct. 2954, 57 L.Ed.2d 973.) Consequently, even though factor (d) refers to extreme emotional or mental disturbance, evidence of mental disorder of less extreme character is admissible under factor (k). (See, e.g., People v. Whitt, supra, 51 Cal.3d at p. 655, 274 Cal.Rptr. 252, 798 P.2d 849.) Evidence admitted under factor (k), like that admitted under factor (d), is mitigating. (See People v. Lewis (2001) 25 Cal.4th 610, 672, 106 Cal.Rptr.2d 629, 22 P.3d 392; People v. Montiel, supra, 5 Cal.4th at p. 944, 21 Cal.Rptr.2d 705, 855 P.2d 1277; People v. Edelbacher (1989) 47 Cal.3d 983, 1033, 254 Cal.Rptr. 586, 766 P.2d 1.) The Attorney General argues that Dr. Hatcher's testimony does not implicate the principle that evidence of mental illness is mitigating because Dr. Hatcher testified only that a murder such as the one here is usually committed by a sadistic pedophile, not that defendant himself was a sadistic pedophile. The inference, however, is unmistakable: if the nature of the crime shows it was probably committed by a sadistic pedophile, and defendant admits committing the crime, then defendant is probably a sadistic pedophile. [6] Dr. Hatcher's testimony, moreover, acquires relevance only to the extent that it does describe defendant. As the trial judge observed: [I]t's irrelevant unless you want to argue to somebody that he is a sexual sadist. Otherwise it's meaningless.