Opinion ID: 1755019
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Suffering After the Assault

Text: Another factor to be considered in determining whether the aggravating circumstance that the murder was especially heinous, atrocious or cruel has been proven beyond a reasonable doubt is whether the victim experienced appreciable suffering after a swift assault that ultimately resulted in the victim's death. In order to prove this factor, the evidence must also show that the victim was conscious after the initial assault and suffered for an appreciable length for time. We addressed this factor in Ex parte Clark, 728 So.2d 1126 (Ala.1998). In Clark, although the victim sustained five shots to the head and back, and a final sixth shot to the ear, the record did not indicate that the victim was conscious and aware after the initial shots were fired. This Court held that it could not expand the aggravating circumstance set out in § 13A-5-49(8) to include murders such as the one in Clark, where the record did not reflect that the victim had suffered after the initial assault. In the present case, the evidence indicates that Key showed no remorse for his actions; even after the frightening car chase and repeated shooting of the victim, he left the victim to die, without seeking medical attention for her. Although the victim later received medical treatment, the medical expert in the case testified that the victim suffered exquisite pain and was forced to endure this pain along with a profound sensation of drowning the entire time she remained conscious. According to the medical expert, the victim suffered a slow death. There was also testimony indicating that when the victim arrived at the hospital she was having trouble breathing and was in a great deal of pain. Furthermore, one of the paramedics who transported the victim from the scene testified that she was conscious until she was anesthetized for surgery. This Court has stated that such execution-type slayings, evidencing a cold, calculated design to kill, fall into the category of murders that are especially heinous, atrocious or cruel. See Wright v. State, 494 So.2d 726, 744 (Ala.Crim.App.1985), aff'd, 494 So.2d 745 (Ala.1986) (trial court found that the two victims were murdered `in order that they would not be witnesses' and that they `were each shot in the head, [and] slowly died in a pool of blood'). Thus, the evidence supports the trial court's finding that the victim experienced appreciable suffering after a swift assault that resulted in her death.