Opinion ID: 2148855
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 14

Heading: Existence of Statutory Mitigating Factor

Text: The defendant also contends that reversal of his death sentence is warranted because the trial court effectively ignored the existence of a statutory mitigating factor. The defendant claims the evidence showed that, at the time of the murder, he was acting under the influence of extreme mental or emotional disturbance within the meaning of section 9-1(c)(2) of the death penalty statute. 720 ILCS 5/9-1(c)(2) (West 1992). This contention is not supported by the record. The only expert witness to give an opinion at sentencing with regard to the existence of this mitigating factor at the time of the murder was Dr. Markos. Dr. Markos testified that, in his opinion, the defendant was not operating under the influence of extreme mental or emotional disturbance at the time of the murder. The defendant also claims that brief questioning of Dr. Markos by the trial court, designed to ascertain if the doctor considered the defendant to be mentally ill, demonstrates that the trial court applied an erroneous interpretation of the statutory factor. This conclusion is not supported. The trial court expressly stated that it had considered the mitigating factors set forth in the death penalty statute. We find no indication in the record that the trial court failed to properly evaluate these factors. The questioning referred to by the defendant constituted nothing more than the trial court's effort to clarify a portion of Dr. Markos' testimony, which he found confusing. We find no abuse of discretion in the trial court's determination that this statutory mitigating factor was not present.