Opinion ID: 1227585
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Sentencing Phase (Murder)

Text: Our holding that defendant is entitled to a new trial also entitles him to a new sentencing hearing if convicted of first-degree murder. State v. Jones, 296 N.C. 495, 251 S.E.2d 425 (1979). Even so, there are several issues raised by defendant relating to sentencing which we deem necessary to discuss. We first consider defendant's broadside assault on the constitutionality of G.S. 15A-2000 et seq., the North Carolina death penalty statute. We find these arguments to be meritless and discuss them only briefly. Defendant contends that the death penalty statute violates his constitutional right to privacy, a right recognized by the United States Supreme Court in Roe v. Wade, 410 U.S. 113, 93 S.Ct. 705, 35 L.Ed.2d 147, reh. denied, 410 U.S. 959, 93 S.Ct. 1409, 35 L.Ed.2d 694 (1973). Defendant has failed to cite a decision by any court holding or even suggesting that the imposition of a death sentence violates a defendant's right to privacy. We find defendant's argument to be without merit. Defendant also argues that the North Carolina death penalty scheme is unconstitutional because of our holding in State v. Harris, 290 N.C. 718, 228 S.E.2d 424 (1976). In Harris, we held that when a defendant is tried for first-degree murder on the theory of premeditation and deliberation, the trial judge must submit to the jury the offense of second-degree murder, even though the evidence does not support this offense. It is his position that the holding in Harris permits the jury to capriciously, arbitrarily, and subjectively decide which defendants charged with first-degree murder will live and which will die. The Harris rule, which was in effect when defendant was tried, was overruled by this Court in State v. Strickland, 307 N.C. 274, 298 S.E.2d 645 (1983). In instant case, defendant was convicted of felony murder and found not guilty of murder based upon premeditation and deliberation. A person convicted of felony murder is guilty of murder in the first-degree, irrespective of premeditation and deliberation or malice aforethought. State v. Hairston, 280 N.C. 220, 185 S.E.2d 633, cert. denied, sub nom, McIntyre v. North Carolina, 409 U.S. 888, 93 S.Ct. 194, 34 L.Ed.2d 145 (1972). In all probability, defendant will be tried on the theory of felony murder at the new trial. If so, Harris has no application. Even if the State should elect to try defendant on the theory of premeditation and deliberation, Harris would have no application in light of our ruling in State v. Strickland, supra . [6] We now consider defendant's contention that in the course of his closing argument, the prosecutor made improper disparaging characterizations of him which were not supported by the evidence and which were calculated to prejudice the jury. We do not consider it necessary to discuss defendant's contention at length since such an argument may not be made at the new trial. Suffice it to say that we find no evidence in this record to support the prosecutor's characterizations of defendant as a conman and a disciple of Satan. See State v. Johnson, 298 N.C. 355, 259 S.E.2d 752 (1979). Defendant contends that the judge erred in submitting the following aggravating circumstances to the jury: 1. Was the murder committed for pecuniary gain? G.S. 15A-2000(e)(6). 2. Was this murder part of a course of conduct in which the defendant engaged and did that course of conduct include the commission by the defendant of other crimes of violence against another person? G.S. 15A-2000(e)(11). These were the only aggravating circumstances submitted to the jury, and the jury found both to exist. Defendant argues that there was insufficient evidence to support either aggravating circumstance and therefore his death sentence should be vacated. We first consider whether the aggravating circumstance set forth in G.S. 15A-2000(e)(6) was properly submitted. It is now well established that when a defendant is convicted of felony murder in which the underlying felony was robbery, the court may submit the aggravating circumstance that the murder was committed for pecuniary gain if the circumstance is supported by the evidence. State v. Oliver, supra ; State v. Taylor, 304 N.C. 249, 283 S.E.2d 761 (1981); State v. Irwin, 304 N.C. 93, 282 S.E.2d 439 (1981). We therefore must determine whether there was sufficient evidence to support the submission of this aggravating circumstance. The evidence tends to show that defendant robbed Tom Parsons of three dollars, took cartridges from the dwelling, took money from the murder victim's pockets and then stole the Parsons' automobile. Thus, there was plenary evidence to support a finding that the murder was committed for pecuniary gain. We likewise find that there was ample evidence to support the submission of the aggravating circumstance that the murder of Dallas Parsons was part of a course of conduct in which defendant engaged, and the course of conduct included the commission by defendant of other crimes of violence against another person. G.S. 15A-2000(e)(11). Although defendant does not challenge the sufficiency of the evidence to support the charge that he kidnapped Mrs. Parsons, he argues that this was not a crime of violence. We disagree. The evidence clearly shows that after defendant shot Dallas Parsons he pointed the gun at Mrs. Parsons and forced her to come to him. He then dragged her about the house and then to the Parsons' automobile. During this time and during the drive to Sparta, he continued to threaten Mrs. Parsons verbally and by pointing the pistol at her. We therefore hold that the trial judge properly submitted the aggravating circumstances set forth in G.S. 15A-2000(e)(6) and G.S. 15A-2000(e)(11). We next consider defendant's contention that the trial court erred by instructing the jury that it must return a verdict of death if it found that the aggravating circumstances outweighed the mitigating circumstances, thereby lowering the State's burden of proof. The trial court instructed, in part, as follows: So I charge that for you to recommend that the defendant be sentenced to death, the State must prove three things beyond a reasonable doubt. A reasonable doubt is a doubt based on reason and common sense, arising out of some or all of the evidence that has been presented, or lack or insufficiency of the evidence, as the case may be. Proof beyond a reasonable doubt is proof that fully satisfies you or entirely convinces you of each of the following things: First, that one or more statutory aggravating circumstances existed; Second, that the aggravating circumstance or circumstances found by you are sufficiently substantial to call for the imposition of the death penalty; And third, that the aggravating circumstance or circumstances found by you outweigh any mitigating circumstance or circumstances found by you. [If you unanimously find all three of these things beyond a reasonable doubt, it would be your duty to recommend that defendant be sentenced to death. If you do not so find, or if you have a reasonable doubt to one or more of these things, it would be your duty to recommend that the defendant be sentenced to life imprisonment.] EXCEPTION NO. 37 Defendant argues that the trial court should have also instructed the jury that before they could recommend a death sentence, they would have to determine that the aggravating circumstances outweighed the mitigating circumstances so substantially as to justify the death penalty beyond a reasonable doubt. In State v. McDougall, 308 N.C. 1, 301 S.E.2d 308 (1983); State v. Williams, 308 N.C. 47, 301 S.E.2d 335 (1983), and State v. Kirkley, 308 N.C. 196, 302 S.E.2d 144 (1983), we held that instructions substantially similar to that given in instant case were free from prejudicial error, but were not model instructions. The instruction approved by this Court in McDougall is one which includes an instruction to the jury that they must find the aggravating circumstance or circumstances sufficiently substantial to call for the imposition of death when considered with the mitigating circumstance or circumstances before the death penalty may be imposed. If, on retrial, defendant is convicted of first-degree murder, the trial court should instruct the jury at the sentencing hearing in accordance with the instruction approved in State v. McDougall, supra .