Opinion ID: 1624316
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 16

Heading: Indictment/Aggravating Circumstance

Text: The indictment was valid on its face and conformed to statutory requirements and the indictment in regard to aggravating circumstances was not defective. The indictment against Wheeler satisfied the requirements of RCr 6.10 because it informed him that he was charged with a violation of KRS 507.020, murder, and sets out the date, place and name of the victims he is charged with intentionally murdering. In Wylie v. Commonwealth, Ky., 556 S.W.2d 1 (1977), this Court held that an indictment is sufficient if it informs the accused of the specific offense with which he is charged and does not mislead him. The citation by Wheeler to Jones v. United States, 526 U.S. 227, 119 S.Ct. 1215, 143 L.Ed.2d 311 (1999), which relates to federal prosecutions, is not contradictory to our RCr 6.10. Jones, supra , holds that the indictment should furnish the accused with a description of the charge which will enable him to make his defense. To the extent that Jones applies in any regard, due process has been fully satisfied here. Under any test, the indictment was sufficient. KRS 532.025(1)(a) only requires the Commonwealth to notify the defendant of aggravating circumstances prior to trial. See Stopher, supra, at 793. There is no authority supporting Wheeler's claim that an aggravating circumstance must be described in the indictment. The aggravating circumstance here was multiple deaths and he was indicted for killing two persons.