Opinion ID: 1730477
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 31

Heading: the trial court erred in allowing the jury to consider the aggravating circumstance pecuniary gain in each of the four causes.

Text: In each of the cases, the jury was instructed that it could consider as an aggravating factor whether the murder was committed for pecuniary gain. Carr contends that this aggravating circumstance is vague and overbroad, and that in the murder of Carl Parker, it is duplicative of the underlying felony charge of robbery. Review of this claim is procedurally barred for Carr's failure to make a contemporaneous objection. Cole v. State, 525 So.2d 365, 369 (Miss. 1987), cert. denied, 488 U.S. 934, 109 S.Ct. 330, 102 L.Ed.2d 348 (1988). Even if there was no procedural bar, this issue lacks merit. Carr argues that because the pecuniary gain aggravating factor was presented to the jury without a limiting instruction, this case should be reversed and remanded for a new sentencing proceeding. The basis of Carr's argument is that without a limiting instruction, pecuniary gain could have unlimited applications. This Court has recently taken steps to limit the use of the pecuniary gain as an aggravator when it is used in association with the underlying felony aggravator of robbery. In Willie v. State, 585 So.2d 660, 681 (Miss. 1991), this Court found that because the robbery and pecuniary gain aggravators were essentially the same, they could not be given together. The Court explained its reasoning as follows: In Ladner, we observed that in a particular case the evidence may be such that the aggravating circumstances of robbery and pecuniary gain are both clearly supported by the evidence. In the absence of such a case, we held that the pecuniary gain aggravator should not be given. Ladner, 584 So.2d 743. Today, we go one step further. Not only should the two aggravators not be given as separate and independent aggravators when they essentially comprise one, they may not be given. When life is at stake, a jury cannot be allowed the opportunity to doubly weigh the commission of the underlying felony and the motive behind the underlying felony as separate aggravators. Willie, 585 So.2d at 680-681 (citations omitted). See also Jenkins v. State, 607 So.2d 1171, 1182 (Miss. 1992). However, Willie is prospective from the date of the decision, July 24, 1991. Id. at 681. The underlying felonies in the murders of Gregory, Bobbie Jo and Charlotte Parker were, respectively, kidnapping, arson, and sexual battery. The use of the pecuniary gain aggravator in those cases was proper. Both robbery and pecuniary gain were submitted to the jury as aggravating factors in the murder of Carl Parker. The evidence in this case clearly supported both aggravators. Evidence supporting a finding of robbery included the fact that Carl Parker's ring finger on his left hand was amputated in addition to the fact that a man's wedding ring was found in Robert Simon's apartment along with the engagement and wedding rings positively identified as belonging to Bobbie Jo Parker. The pecuniary gain aggravator was supported by evidence that objects of value were taken from the Parker home and many of the Parker's belongings were found in Carl Parker's pick-up truck which was removed from his home. This issue is procedurally barred; in the alternative, it is without merit.