Opinion ID: 2600070
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 9

Heading: Challenge to the felony-murder special circumstances

Text: Defendant contends his death sentence violates the proportionality guarantee of the Eighth Amendment because he was rendered death eligible on the basis of his commission of three felonies, with no requirement that the prosecution prove any culpable mental state as to the killing. He argues that imposition of the death penalty for negligent or accidental killings is contrary to the laws of a majority of the states, recent professional opinion, and international norms, and is therefore inconsistent with the evolving standards of decency from which the Eighth Amendment derives its meaning. As defendant acknowledges, we have repeatedly held that, consistent with Eighth Amendment principles, neither intent to kill nor reckless indifference to life is a required element of the felony-murder special circumstance when the defendant is the actual killer. ( People v. Young, supra, 34 Cal.4th at p. 1204; People v. Hayes, supra, 52 Cal.3d at p. 632; see also People v. Brasure (2008) 42 Cal.4th 1037, 1071-1072 [71 Cal.Rptr.3d 675, 175 P.3d 632] [rejecting the argument that Western Europe's abolition of the death penalty demonstrates evolving standards of decency so as to bar capital punishment under the 8th Amend.].) Defendant offers nothing to warrant our reconsideration of the issue. For similar reasons, we reject defendant's contention that the high court's recent pronouncements on the Sixth Amendment jury trial right require the jury, not the courts, to make the requisite findings of intent to kill or reckless indifference to life. The Eighth Amendment does not require such a finding. Thus, there is no requirement the jury be instructed to do so. We likewise reject defendant's contention that imposing the death penalty absent a showing of intent to kill violates international law as set forth in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, December 16, 1966 (ICCPR), and in a resolution by the United Nations Economic and Social Council. We need not consider the applicability of international treaties and laws to defendant's appeal . . . because he has failed to establish his premise that he suffered violations of state or federal constitutional law. ( People v. Wallace, supra, 44 Cal.4th at p. 1098; see People v. Mungia (2008) 44 Cal.4th 1101, 1142 [81 Cal.Rptr.3d 614, 189 P.3d 880] [no violation of ICCPR when death sentence is imposed in accordance with law].)