Opinion ID: 2569354
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 45

Heading: Whether the jury was properly instructed on the legal and factual elements of the subsection (5)(g) aggravating factor.

Text: Harlan also argues that the jury was not properly instructed as to the legal and factual elements of subsection (5)(g). Harlan alleges that this error lowered the prosecution's burden of proof in violation of the Due Process and Cruel and Unusual Punishment Clauses of the federal and state constitutions and section 16-11-103(1)(d). He also claims that the trial court's refusal to require the prosecution to provide formal notice of the felonies underlying subsection (5)(g) deprived him of the opportunity to present a defense. We disagree with both contentions. The trial court properly instructed the jury as to the legal elements of subsection (5)(g). See Sentencing Phase Instruction No. 6. The prosecution thus was kept to its burden to prove all elements of subsection (5)(g) beyond a reasonable doubt. We assume, absent evidence to the contrary, that the jury followed this instruction when it found the aggravating factor. See Dunlap, 975 P.2d at 743. Moreover, the defendant was provided with sufficient notice of the factual elements alleged by the prosecution to underlie subsection (5)(g). All of the evidence offered in support of the predicate felonies for subsection (5)(g) was presented at the guilt phase of the trial. The verdict form for step one of the sentencing process set forth the predicate felonies the prosecution relied upon for the aggravator. We conclude that the defendant had a fair opportunity to rebut the prosecution's sentencing phase arguments. We will not require a trial court to instruct the jury as to the factual elements underlying an aggravating factor unless there is a reasonable likelihood that the jury may construe the predicate factual elements in a manner that renders the aggravating factor unconstitutional in some sense. We find no such possibility regarding subsection (5)(g).