Opinion ID: 2321960
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: The aggravating factors are overwhelming

Text: We begin by reassessing the aggravating factors identified by the trial judge. The trial judge found one statutory aggravating circumstancethat Norcross murdered Warren while committing a robbery. [32] The trial judge also found five non-statutory aggravating circumstances: (1) Norcross' deadly intrusion into Kenneth Warren's home and family was an aggravating factor of the first magnitude; [33] (2) the impact of Kenneth Warren's death on those around him, particularly because Norcross knew that he and Swan were destroying a family when they murdered him; (3) Kenneth Warren's high regard in the community; (4) Norcross' admitted and unapologetic criminality; and (5) Norcross threatening to harm those he spoke to about his involvement in the Warren homicide if they told the police. On direct appeal, we emphasized the disturbing nature of the aggravating circumstances in our automatic review of any death penalty case: What happened on November 4, 1996, is every family's worst nightmare. Warren and his wife were in their home, relaxing together after a long day of work, enjoying time with their happy, active young son. They did nothing to place themselves in jeopardy, like opening the door to a stranger. They had every reason to believe that they were safe. The fact that Warren was slaughtered in his own home in front of his wife and son is an aggravator of enormous importance. The ruthlessness of this crime is compounded by the fact that Norcross saw the Warren family through the patio doors before he broke in. So Norcross knew he would be confronting Warren. Norcross had a gun, and could have demanded valuables if that was what he wanted. But Warren was given no chance to comply with any demands. He was attacked immediately and brutally murdered. Norcross may have told people that he did not mean to hurt anyone, but his actions belie such self-serving comments. Norcross told the police that he gets a rush from breaking and entering, and with friends he joked and bragged about the killing. This was not a robbery gone bad. It was a vicious, unprovoked, random act of violence of the highest order. [34] Having reassessed the complete record, we agree with the trial judge that the aggravating circumstances are of overwhelming weight. [35]