Opinion ID: 1706565
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 28

Heading: should the pecuniary gain and robbery aggravating circumstances have been allowed to be considered as separate and distinct aggravators?

Text: The trial judge instructed the jury that it could consider four aggravating circumstances. The jury unanimously found two  that the capital murder was committed while Willie was engaged in the commission of the crime of robbery and the capital murder was committed for pecuniary gain. Willie asks that we revisit our prior decisions whereby we have held that these two aggravators may be given as separate and distinct aggravating circumstances. Our recent decision in Ladner v. State, 584 So.2d 743 (Miss. 1991), significantly affects this issue. Prior to Ladner, we allowed a jury to consider both aggravators in its deliberations on the grounds that [t]he evidence supports both as it reveals the robbery was committed for pecuniary gain during the course of which the homicide occurred, and proof of one aggravator was sufficient for the jury to impose a sentence of death. Tokman v. State, 435 So.2d 664, 669 (Miss. 1983), cert. denied, 467 U.S. 1256, 104 S.Ct. 3547, 82 L.Ed.2d 850 (1984). However, we recommended that trial judges use caution and close scrutiny. Jones v. State, 517 So.2d 1295, 1300 (Miss. 1987), reversed on other grounds, 487 U.S. 1230, 108 S.Ct. 2891, 101 L.Ed.2d 925 (1988). In Ladner, we observed that in a particular case the evidence may be such that the aggravating circumstances of robbery and pecuniary gain are both clearly supported by the evidence. In the absence of such a case, we held that the pecuniary gain aggravator should not be given. Ladner, 584 So.2d 743. Today, we go one step further. Not only should the two aggravators not be given as separate and independent aggravators when they essentially comprise one, they may not be given. When life is at stake, a jury cannot be allowed the opportunity to doubly weigh the commission of the underlying felony and the motive behind underlying felony as separate aggravators. Accord, People v. Bigelow, 37 Cal.3d 731, 209 Cal. Rptr. 328, 340, 691 P.2d 994, 1006 (1984), modified by 44 Cal3d 375, 243 Cal. Rptr. 842, 749 P.2d 279 (1988), cert. denied, 488 U.S. 871, 109 S.Ct. 188, 102 L.Ed.2d 157 (1988); Cook v. State, 369 So.2d 1251, 1256 (Ala. 1978); State v. Rust, 197 Neb. 528, 250 N.W.2d 867, 874 (1977), cert. denied, 434 U.S. 912, 98 S.Ct. 313, 54 L.Ed.2d 198 (1977); Provence v. State, 337 So.2d 783, 786 (Fla. 1976), cert. denied, 431 U.S. 969, 97 S.Ct. 2929, 53 L.Ed.2d 1065 (1977). To the extent that Wiley v. State, 484 So.2d 339 (Miss. 1986), cert. denied, 479 U.S. 906, 107 S.Ct. 304, 93 L.Ed.2d 278 (1986), our seminal case on this issue, and its progeny dictate otherwise, these cases are hereby overruled. See Wiley, 484 So.2d at 351 and progeny, including Minnick v. State, 551 So.2d 77, 96-97 (Miss. 1988), reversed on other grounds, ___ U.S. ___, 111 S.Ct. 486, 112 L.Ed.2d 489 (1990); Jones v. State, 517 So.2d 1295, 1300 (Miss. 1987), reversed on other grounds, 487 U.S. 1230, 108 S.Ct. 2891, 101 L.Ed.2d 925 (1988); see also, cases preceding Wiley, including Gray v. State, 472 So.2d 409, 419 (Miss. 1985), reversed on other grounds, 481 U.S. 648, 107 S.Ct. 2045, 95 L.Ed.2d 622 (1987); Jordan v. State, 464 So.2d 475, 478 (Miss. 1985), vacated on other grounds, 476 U.S. 1101, 106 S.Ct. 1942, 90 L.Ed.2d 352 (1986); Booker v. State, 449 So.2d 209, 221 (Miss. 1984), vacated on other grounds, 472 U.S. 1023, 105 S.Ct. 3493, 87 L.Ed.2d 626 (1985); Irving v. State, 441 So.2d 846, 849 (Miss. 1983); Tokman v. State, 435 So.2d 664, 668 (Miss. 1983), cert. denied, 467 U.S. 1256, 104 S.Ct. 3547, 82 L.Ed.2d 850 (1984); Gilliard v. State, 428 So.2d 576, 586 (Miss. 1983), cert. denied, 464 U.S. 867, 104 S.Ct. 40, 78 L.Ed.2d 179 (1983); and Smith v. State, 419 So.2d 563, 568 (Miss. 1982), cert. denied, 460 U.S. 1047, 103 S.Ct. 1449, 75 L.Ed.2d 803 (1983). This decision is to be prospective and will take effect from this date forward.