Opinion ID: 2072259
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Death as a Disproportionate Punishment

Text: Defendant contends that in light of the substantial mitigating evidence, the imposition of the death penalty was disproportionate punishment. Defendant called 27 witnesses in mitigation. These witnesses established that defendant came from a broken home, helped support his family while growing up, was generally helpful, was a good student and an excellent athlete, and was well-behaved in jail while awaiting his trial. While these mitigating factors are substantial, defendant's crime was exceptionally brutal and heinous. Because defendant could not stand to see his wife and child with another man, while he wanted to be with another woman, defendant set fire to an apartment building resulting in the deaths of his wife and son, and five innocent persons. This crime was not done in the heat of passion, but was premeditated and based on selfish motivation. It is the function of the jury to balance all the factors in aggravation and mitigation ( People v. Gacy (1984), 103 Ill.2d 1, 102, 82 Ill.Dec. 391, 468 N.E.2d 1171), and the decision of the jury will not be overturned where the record shows that its determination was reached on a logical basis ( People v. Walker (1985), 109 Ill.2d 484, 506, 94 Ill.Dec. 530, 488 N.E.2d 529). Only where there are highly unusual circumstances will a death sentence imposed following a proper hearing be disturbed on the basis that mitigating factors should have precluded its imposition. ( People v. Neal (1985), 111 Ill.2d 180, 200, 95 Ill.Dec. 283, 489 N.E.2d 845.) We do not believe that such unusual circumstances exist in the present case, and we decline to vacate defendant's sentence.