Opinion ID: 2534434
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: Pecuniary gain aggravating factor

Text: 1. ¶ 102 Anderson argues that the pecuniary gain aggravating factor, A.R.S. § 13-703(F)(5) (the (F)(5) aggravator), impermissibly duplicates an element of the crime of felony murder based on armed robbery. Thus, he asserts, the aggravator bootstrap[s]... all robbery murders into capital murders in violation of the Eighth Amendment to the United States Constitution. ¶ 103 This Court, however, has repeatedly held that a conviction for felony murder predicated on robbery or armed robbery does not automatically prove the (F)(5) aggravator. See, e.g., State v. Kemp, 185 Ariz. 52, 65, 912 P.2d 1281, 1294 (1996); State v. Greenway, 170 Ariz. 155, 163-64, 823 P.2d 22, 30-31 (1991). While armed robbery requires proof of a taking of property from the victim, the pecuniary gain aggravator requires proof that the defendant's motivation [for the murder] was the expectation of pecuniary gain. State v. Carriger, 143 Ariz. 142, 161, 692 P.2d 991, 1010 (1984). The trial court properly instructed the jury that it could not find the (F)(5) aggravator unless the State proved that the expectation of pecuniary gain was a motive, cause, or impetus for murder and not merely the result of it. The finding of this aggravator thus was not automatically compelled by the felony murder conviction. 2. ¶ 104 Anderson argues that because jewelry and a watch were left on the victims there was insufficient evidence to prove the murders were committed for pecuniary gain. He also claims it is irrational to find the (F)(5) aggravator as to the murders of Delahunt and Kagen because only Wear's property was stolen. We exercise independent review in determining whether any aggravating circumstance found by the jury was proved beyond a reasonable doubt. A.R.S. § 13-703.04 (Supp.2003). ¶ 105 We conclude that the evidence established beyond a reasonable doubt that a motive for killing all three victims was to steal Wear's truck. Unlike robbery, the pecuniary gain aggravator does not require that property be taken from each victim, but rather only that a murder be prompted by the desire for pecuniary gain. See State v. LaGrand, 153 Ariz. 21, 36-37, 734 P.2d 563, 577-78 (1987) (focusing on the cause or motivation of the murder).