Opinion ID: 1058506
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 8

Heading: Apprendi & Ring Challenge

Text: Having concluded that the defendant's conviction of first degree murder and sentence of death should be reinstated, we next consider the defendant's contention that his sentence should be vacated as unconstitutional because the aggravating circumstances were not charged in the indictment. As support for this claim the defendant relies upon Apprendi v. New Jersey, 530 U.S. 466, 120 S.Ct. 2348, 147 L.Ed.2d 435 (2000) and Ring v. Arizona, 536 U.S. 584, 122 S.Ct. 2428, 153 L.Ed.2d 556 (2002). This issue is without merit. See State v. Berry, 141 S.W.3d 549 (Tenn. 2004). [14]