Opinion ID: 1399129
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Amendments to Section 190.2, Subdivision (a)

Text: (i) The opening paragraph of subdivision (a) was amended to delete the requirement that special circumstances be charged and specially found; the revised version provides that a defendant convicted of first degree murder shall face the penalty of death, or life in prison without the possibility of parole, if one or more of the following special circumstances has been charged and specially found under Section 190.4 to be true: ... (Ballot Pamp., Prop. 115, supra, p. 66.) (ii) Paragraph (10) (the witness killing special circumstance) was amended to apply to the intentional killing of a witness to prevent his or her testimony in any criminal or juvenile proceeding.... (Ballot Pamp., Prop. 115, supra, p. 66.) (iii) Paragraphs (11) and (12) (the prosecutor murder and judge murder special circumstances) were amended to apply only if the murder was  intentionally carried out in retaliation for or to prevent the performance of the victim's official duties. (Ballot Pamp., Prop. 115, supra , p. 66.) (iv) Paragraph (17) (the felony murder special circumstance) was amended to add two death-qualifying felonies: (x) Mayhem in violation of Section 203 and (xi) Rape by instrument in violation of Section 289. [2] (Ballot Pamp., Prop. 115, supra, p. 66.) (v) The last sentence of paragraph (18) (the torture murder special circumstance) was deleted. The revised section omits the requirement of proof of infliction of extreme physical pain, and reads as follows: The murder was intentional and involved the infliction of torture. For the purpose of this section torture requires proof of the infliction of extreme physical pain mo matter how long its duration. (Ballot Pamp., Prop. 115, supra, p. 66.)