Opinion ID: 2599941
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: George C.

Text: George C. initially stated that he was pretty much noncommittal concerning the appropriate penalty and would not favor the defense or the prosecution. He also stated, however, that he would not give much weight to a defendant's background, psychiatric evidence, age, childhood abuse, drug use, or testimony from family members, as long as the person knew right from wrong. Although he would not afford such evidence much weight, he would consider it. And, he stated, he would follow the court's instructions and, if persuaded by the evidence, could return a verdict of life imprisonment without possibility of parole. The trial court properly disallowed the challenge. The court noted that although the prospective juror was somewhat unwilling to give weight to particular mitigating factors, he was not asked about other mitigating and aggravating factors, and the juror's decision is based on the final evaluation of all the circumstances. The prospective juror never stated he would vote for the death penalty without regard to mitigating evidence, but merely expressed his view that certain types of evidence were not entitled to much weight in the penalty decision.