Opinion ID: 1494252
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 11

Heading: consideration of mitigating factors under the sentencing form and jury instructions:

Text: At appellant's request, the trial judge instructed the jury that, [a]ny factor which causes you to feel sympathy or mercy toward the defendant may be considered by you to be a mitigating factor, so long as such factors are supported by the evidence and are considered by you to be within the framework of the verdict sheet. Appellant specifically requested this instruction regarding mitigating factors and raised no objection to the trial judge's instructions or the sentencing form at trial, but now asserts that the instructions and language of the sentencing form may have improperly restricted the jury's consideration of mitigating factors to those facts received in evidence. Generally, appellant's specific request of this instruction combined with a failure to properly object to it during the sentencing proceedings would constitute a waiver of any objection to the instruction. Although this issue was not properly preserved for appeal, appellant briefed and argued this issue in his appeal to this Court, accordingly, we will exercise our discretion to consider the jury's findings pursuant to Article 27, § 414(e) of the Maryland Code, which provides: Considerations by Court of Appeals.  In addition to the consideration of any errors properly before the Court on appeal, the Court of Appeals shall consider the imposition of the death sentence. With regard to the sentence, the Court shall determine: (1) Whether the sentence of death was imposed under the influence of passion, prejudice, or any other arbitrary factor; (2) Whether the evidence supports the jury's or court's finding of a statutory aggravating circumstance under § 413(d); and (3) Whether the evidence supports the jury's or court's finding that the aggravating circumstances outweigh the mitigating circumstances. See Tichnell v. State, 287 Md. 695, 728, 415 A.2d 830, 847 (1980)(explaining that in capital cases, Section 414(e) directs the Court to consider the factors enumerated therein in addition to those otherwise properly raised before the Court on appeal). The sentencing authority, whether it is a judge or jury, must consider the existence of mitigating circumstances in rendering a sentencing verdict. See Tichnell, 287 Md. at 729, 415 A.2d at 848. In so considering, the sentencing authority may take into account any facts or circumstances concerning the defendant including but not limited to the evidence presented at the merits and sentencing phases of trial in deciding whether a death sentence would be appropriate. See Foster v. State, 304 Md. 439, 474-475, 499 A.2d 1236, 1254 (1985), cert. denied, 478 U.S. 1010, 106 S.Ct. 3310, 92 L.Ed.2d 723 (1986). The mitigating circumstances do not have to outweigh the aggravating circumstances in order to avoid imposition of the death penalty. See White v. State, 322 Md. 738, 746-47, 589 A.2d 969, 973 (1991). Rather, if the sentencing authority has found mitigating circumstances, the death sentence shall be imposed only if the sentencing authority finds that the aggravating circumstances outweigh the mitigating circumstances. See Code, Art. 27, § 413(h)(1) and (2). Prior to allocution, the trial judge informed the jury that, the evidentiary portion of this phase is now concluded. Under the law, the Defendant has a right to address you. Appellant then gave the following allocution pursuant to Md. Rule 4-343: I really don't know how I got myself in this position. Everyone I know would say that I'm a nice person. I try to help everyone and I never tried to hurt anyone on purpose. In the event that I did get angry, you heard that I would result to walking down the street or walking away from any problems I had. That was one thing I just had a hard time trying not to get angry towards people. I don't get enjoyment out of hurting anyone, and anyone can tell you that I try not to do that. I get enjoyment out of making people laugh, smile, and have a good time. If I ever saw a person in need and I could help them, I would definitely try to do that. This is one reason why people don't see me doing anything like this. People say and do things that they all regret. I'm sure everybody has. This one is at the top of my very long list. I wish that I could change the things that's happened but I can't do that. You can't imagine the guilt or sorrow I feel or the pain that the Atkinson must be going through, and I feel just terrible for it but I can't change anything that's happened. It's been said that I had a lot of problems as a child that continued on through my adult life. And at a very early age I resorted to constant drinking and illegal activities to support myself and my alcoholic habits. I would try to hide the truth by lying to policemen, by stealing, or just doing anything illegal to get what I need to support my alcohol habit. Now, I sit and think with the exception of a very few I try to think of my socalled friends. I never really had socalled friends. I had a lot of drinking buddies or maybe bar-room acquaintances but never friends. Alcohol has ruined my life, my kid's lives, and my relationship with others, and now a large amount of people associated with Mr. Atkinson. I still can't believe I'm standing here convicted of murder when I would never hurt anyone intentionally. I regret all the mistakes I've made, and I know I can't makeup for them now. I regret the Atkinsons have loss a son, a brother, and a friend. I know from what I heard Mr. Atkinsons he had a lot of friends, his mother. People could have learned a lot from what he had to offer in the theater and just his friends. I did not know Mr. Atkinson and I'm sure that it is not only my loss but others as well. I have a terrible feeling of guilt about Mr. Atkinson's death. I was able to see some of the pictures you have viewed as evidence as far as the autopsy and as far as the crime scene went. I get chills every time I see his picture on TV, in the paper, or just in my mind. I wake up in the middle of the night seeing those same pictures, just with all the regrets I have over everything. I can't believe that I got myself into any kind of situation like this. I care about people and I care about life itself, and I can't say how sorry I am for the death of Mr. Atkinson or how sorry I am for his family and for his friends. I also have regrets with what this has done to my kids and people close to me. People close to me have made comments and they said if they had done things differently in the past with any situation as far as I went that maybe things wouldn't be this way today. Maybe if my upbringing was a little bit differently then I wouldn't be in this situation today. I don't blame anybody entirely. I blame myself. I take full responsibility for my actions. I can't sit hereyou did hear things about my mother. I couldn't sit here and blame my mother for anything. I mean, true, she did things that maybe everybody else thinks is wrong, but there's other people like yesterday you had my sister testified; she turned out fine. I can't blame anyone but I can only myself and my responsibility that I took in this, my drinking problems that I took whenever I constantly did anything I could to drink. I want to make it clear also that I have no anger towards any of you jury members. You did exactly what you were asked to do. You sat there and listened and weighed the evidence like you were told and then you come up with a fair decision. I also wanted it to be known that I have no anger towards Davis Ruark or Sam Vincent, who are only doing the job that they support to uphold. In the decision I know that the Atkinsons are going to seek closure, and in a way I don't know that they can ever get closure in any decision that's made. Bill Cosby I have a article that he wrote that saidand the loss of his son, any time you bringlose somebody you bring into this world there will never be any closure. I have never really got gotten over the loss of my twins. And regrettably no matter what you decide I'm sure that none of the Atkinsons will ever have complete closure either. For this I am truly sorry. Thank you for your time. In Harris v. State, 306 Md. 344, 509 A.2d 120 (1986) we noted that the allocutory process provides a unique opportunity for the defendant himself to face the sentencing body, without subjecting himself to cross-examination, and to explain in his own words the circumstances of the crime and his feelings regarding his conduct, culpability, and sentencing. Harris, at 358, 509 A.2d at 127. The sentencing authority may consider the content of the defendant's allocution in determining the existence of mitigating factors. See Harris v. State, 312 Md. 225, 254, 539 A.2d 637, 651 (1988)(finding that the trial court improperly instructed the jury that it was to decide the case only on...evidence). In the instant case, the trial judge instructed the jury with regard to mitigating circumstances as follows: In Section IV each of you must determine for yourself whether any mitigating circumstances exist in this case. For the purpose of this sentencing proceeding a mitigating circumstance is anything about the Defendant or about the facts of the case that in fairness or in mercy may make the death sentence an inappropriate penalty for this Defendant... This procedure that I have just outlined in broad form is to make certain that each of you gives individual consideration to any mitigating circumstance you personally find. Let me say that again because that's important that each of you gives individual consideration to any mitigating circumstances you personally find as well as to any mitigating circumstance that all of you unanimously find.