Opinion ID: 2594969
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 12

Heading: Whether the Death Penalty is Excessive

Text: Finally, Bridges argues that the death penalty is excessive given the crime and the defendant. We disagree. Bridges' wife, Laurie, left him several months before he tracked her down, confronted her, and eventually killed her lover. The evidence reflects that Bridges behaved in a calculated fashion, both in his extensive preparation for the killing and in the commission of the killing itself. The killing was not immediately preceded by a dispute or altercation. After shooting Blatchford, Bridges treated the dying man with extreme callousness. Indeed, he beat both Blatchford and Laurie with his gun after the shooting. He had a prior criminal history, although it apparently did not involve violent offenses. He placed blame on other individuals, including Laurie.