Opinion ID: 2184962
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Sentence of Other Defendants to Lesser Terms

Text: McGehee alleges that there was equal culpability on the part of McFarland, Epps, Campbell, and Diemert. He notes that while McFarland and Epps received a sentence of life without parole for the murder, Campbell received a sentence of twenty years, and Diemert received a sentence of ten years, he received the death sentence. The argument is flawed in that neither Campbell nor Diemert were charged, tried, or sentenced for murder. In any event, such an argument has been rejected by this court. The issue is whether the imposition of the death penalty is arbitrary. Heard & Ferguson v. State, 272 Ark. 140, 612 S.W.2d 312 (1981). In Echols v. State, 326 Ark. 917, 936 S.W.2d 509 (1996), we noted that we no longer required proportionality reviews of death sentences, citing Willett v. State, 322 Ark. 613, 911 S.W.2d 937 (1995), and noting our discussion in Williams v. State, 321 Ark. 344, 902 S.W.2d 767 (1995), where we stated that a comparative-proportionality review is not constitutionally mandated in every case where the death sentence is imposed, citing Pulley v. Harris, 465 U.S. 37, 104 S.Ct. 871, 79 L.Ed.2d 29 (1984). We went on to note that our legislature, by enacting recent sentencing procedures, has provided a statutory check on arbitrariness by requiring a bifurcated proceeding where the jury is provided with information on aggravating and mitigating circumstances, and with standards in the use of that information. See Ark.Code Ann. §§ 5-4-103, 5-4-603605 (Repl.1997 and Supp.2001).