Opinion ID: 1207978
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 9

Heading: Good Character of Defendant

Text: To impeach this alleged mitigating circumstance, the state called two former wives of defendant. Both testified that defendant had physically abused them, threatened them with death, and threatened that their bodies would be thrown down a mine shaft. Defendant failed to prove good character by a preponderance of the evidence. 10. Good Behavior while Incarcerated Although long-term good behavior during post-sentence incarceration has been recognized as a possible mitigating factor, Watson, 129 Ariz. at 63-64, 628 P.2d at 946-47, we, like the trial court, reject it here for pretrial and presentence incarceration. See State v. Lopez, 175 Ariz. 407, 416, 857 P.2d 1261, 1270 (1993) ([D]efendant would be expected to behave himself in county jail while awaiting [sentencing].), cert. denied, ___ U.S. ___, 114 S.Ct. 1578, 128 L.Ed.2d 221 (1994). 11. Lack of Future Dangerousness if Confined to Prison Although defendant presented some evidence that he would no longer be dangerous if confined to prison for life, we find that he fails to prove this by a preponderance of the evidence, particularly in view of his history of violence and threats of violence and his actions in this case. 12. Felony Murder Instruction Defendant claims that a felony murder instruction was given and that this should be considered in mitigation. See supra part V(B) (statutory mitigation). However, there was no felony murder instruction. 13. Remorse Although remorse may be considered in mitigation, Brewer, 170 Ariz. at 507, 826 P.2d at 804; State v. Tittle, 147 Ariz. 339, 344, 710 P.2d 449, 454 (1985), defendant failed to prove by a preponderance of the evidence that he was remorseful. A criminal justice consultant testified that defendant had feelings of remorse. In addition, during defendant's statement to the court prior to sentencing, defendant stated, I think it's very clever the way I have been made a scapegoat in this case. I do not deny culpability, but there was no premeditation on my part. What I am guilty of is being an irresponsible person for most of my life, running from responsibility, living in a fantasy world and it was my irresponsibility on the night that this incident occurred that involved me in the incident. There is no words that can express the grief and the sorrow and the torment I have experienced over this, but I am just going to leave everything in the hands of God because that's where it is anyway. Defendant's statement and the testimony of the consultant were inadequate to prove the mitigating circumstance by a preponderance of the evidence.