Opinion ID: 3065796
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Murder Committed for Pecuniary Gain

Text: The mere showing that a murder occurred during the commission of a robbery is not sufficient to establish that the murder was committed with the expectation of pecuniary gain. Woratzeck v. Stewart, 97 F.3d 329, 334 (9th Cir. 1996). “To establish the pecuniary gain aggravating circumstance, the state must prove that the expectation of pecuniary gain was a motive, cause, or impetus for the murder and not merely a result of the murder.” State v. Prasertphong, 76 P.3d 438, 440 (Ariz. 2003) (internal quotation and alteration omitted). West contends that the murder was committed due to an exaggerated startle response attributable to his PTSD, and was nothing more than a killing during a “robbery gone bad.” The circumstances surrounding Bortle’s murder do not support the argument. WEST v. RYAN 9719 West intended to steal Bortle’s property. West had been to Bortle’s house shortly before the murder and carefully examined the extensive amount of electronics equipment Bortle had for sale. Moreover, West ran out of cocaine on the day of the murder and did not have enough money to buy more. When Bortle interrupted him, West savagely beat Bortle, hogtied him stuck him in a closet, and left him to die. And then West continued to do what he came for — he stole Bortle’s electronic equipment and then stole his car to carry it away. West’s alleged PTSD may help explain why West was motivated to steal Bortle’s property, but it does nothing to undermine the finding the murder was committed for pecuniary gain. West offers no other explanation for the savageness of the beating he inflicted upon Bortle or hogtying him and leaving him in the closet other than to allow him to complete the robbery.