Opinion ID: 1447881
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: Automatic Application for Modification of Penalty

Text: After the jury returned its verdict imposing the penalty of death, the trial court heard and denied defendant's automatic application for modification of the jury's death penalty verdict under section 190.4, subdivision (e). Defendant contends he must be given a new hearing on that motion, because the trial court, in ruling on the motion, improperly (1) relied on the probation report's recitation of prejudicial and unreliable information not presented to the jury, (2) relied on nonstatutory factors in aggravation, and (3) failed to consider mitigating evidence and the existence of lingering doubt on the question of intent to kill. We shall discuss each of these contentions. After oral argument on the motion for modification of the jury's verdict of death, the trial judge summarized the proceedings on the record, and continued: I have reviewed the probation report, and I have reviewed all the comments that have been made here today. The evidence in this trial that I've heard. If this were a first offense by Mr. Wader, this crime itself for which he is found guilty and for which the jury has recommended the death penalty, I might view this case differently than I'm disposed to do under the circumstances. I have reviewed a record which reflects not an accelerating crimes of violence [ sic ] because it appeared from the very earliest stages that Mr. Wader is involved in serious crimes and crimes of violence. [ถ] This has been a matter of his life since he was in his preteen years. This crime or the crimes that were involved in the case that was before us here, that is before us here involved crimes of violence. [ถ] The defendant was armed. And he used weapons at the times of the commissions of the various crimes that were referred to in this offense, and obviously in the case where we had this death verdict. [ถ] The crimes involved several victims. The planning and other facts indicated premeditation. Mr. Wader is engaged in a pattern of violent conduct. The defendant's prior convictions as an adult are numerous and serious and have been serious for a long time. [ถ] He served prior prison terms. He was on parole when he committed this crime. [ถ] The defendant's performance on parole was certainly unsatisfactory. There is nothing about his age which one would consider in considering some mitigating circumstance. Considering all of these factors, I'm imposing the following sentence. [ถ] It is hereby ordered and adjudged for the crime of murder in the first degree with special circumstances, the defendant, Michael Joseph Wader, shall suffer the death penalty in the manner and means prescribed by law.