Opinion ID: 1763781
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 16

Heading: the penalty phase instructions were proper.

Text: Hunt alleges six errors in connection with the penalty phase instructions: (1) that there was a failure to instruct on nonstatutory mitigation factors, (2) that the jury was not instructed that they could consider any mitigating factor they individually believed to be true even if all the other jurors did not find the factor to be true, (3) that the reasonable doubt instruction was flawed, (4) that the instructions did not require the jury to make any findings with respect to non-statutory aggravators, (5) that the instructions did not require the jury to make written mitigation findings, and (6) that a flawed verdict form forced the jury to impose the death penalty if it found an aggravating factor. Hunt concedes that only the first issue is preserved.
The jury was instructed on four statutory mitigating circumstances: (1) that Hunt had no significant criminal history; (2) that the crime was committed while Hunt was under the influence of extreme emotional disturbance; (3) that at the time of the crime, Hunt lacked the capacity to appreciate the criminality of his conduct or to conform his conduct to the requirements of the law as a result of intoxication; and (4) the age of the appellant. In addition, the standard mitigating catch all instruction was given. In addition to the foregoing, Hunt requested that the jury be instructed on two additional mitigating factors, (1) that he did not go to Bettina's residence to kill her, but to force her to talk with him and (2) that Hunt and Bettina were in an unstable relationship. Hunt contends that trial court erred by failing to give the requested instructions. The instruction on mitigating circumstances included the catch-all provisions, any other circumstance or circumstances arising from the evidence which you, the jury, deem to have mitigating value, and those aspects of the defendants' character, and these facts and circumstances of the particular offense ... about which he has offered evidence in mitigation.... Due to the catch-all provisions, there was no need to instruct on any specific nonstatutory mitigators. Haight v. Commonwealth, 938 S.W.2d 243 (Ky.1996); Perdue v. Commonwealth, 916 S.W.2d 148 (Ky. 1995); Mills v. Commonwealth, 996 S.W.2d 473, 492 (Ky.1999).
Hunt contends that the trial court's instructions required the jury's verdict to be unanimous, but did not instruct them that they could individually consider mitigating circumstances. He alleges that a reasonable juror could have believed the whole jury had to agree unanimously upon a mitigating factor before it could be weighed against the alleged aggravator in arriving at a sentence. A similar argument was made in Mills, supra . The instructions did not imply that unanimity was required on mitigators and there is no requirement that a jury be instructed that their findings on mitigation need not be unanimous. 996 S.W.2d at 492 (citing Bowling , 873 S.W.2d at 180). We accordingly find no error in the instructions as phrased.
The reasonable doubt instruction stated as follows: If upon the whole case you have a reasonable doubt whether the Defendant should be sentenced to death, you shall instead fix his punishment at a sentence of imprisonment. Hunt contends that this instruction told the jury that Hunt could be sentenced to a lesser punishment than death only if there were a reasonable doubt that death was proper penalty. We addressed this same issue in Parrish v. Commonwealth, 121 S.W.3d 198 (Ky. 2003). Therein we stated: These instructions do not violate the statutory system, nor do they invade the province of the jury. Instruction No. 7 followed the one in 1 COOPER, KENTUCKY INSTRUCTIONS TO JURIES (CRIMINAL) § 12.08 (4th ed. 1999). We find this to be a proper statement of the law. The instructions allowed the jury to consider options other than death, even when a finding is made as to aggravating circumstances. Wilson v. Commonwealth, Ky., 836 S.W.2d 872 (1992). There was no error and no violation of either the federal or state constitutions. Instruction No. 7 did not, as Parrish asserts, instruct the jurors that they should impose the death penalty unless they had a reasonable doubt that death was the appropriate penalty. Id. at 207. Similarly, no error occurred in the present case.
Hunt contends that it was error for the instructions to fail to include an instruction requiring the jury to make findings concerning non-statutory aggravators. Citing Jacobs v. Commonwealth, 870 S.W.2d 412 (Ky.1994), he contends that because a nonstatutory aggravating circumstance can support the imposition of the death penalty, the jury has to be instructed that it must find any such aggravator beyond a reasonable doubt. Hunt's argument is based upon a faulty premise. The death penalty may not be imposed without a finding of a statutory aggravating factor beyond a reasonable doubt. As we stated in Young v. Commonwealth, 50 S.W.3d 148 (Ky.2001), [a]bsent a statutory aggravating circumstance specifically applicable to the defendant or the defendant's own conduct, he/ she cannot be subjected to the death penalty. Id. at 162. This argument is accordingly without merit.
Hunt contends that the penalty phase instructions were erroneous because they failed to require the jury to prepare written mitigation findings. In Smith v. Commonwealth, 599 S.W.2d 900 (Ky.1980) defense counsel tendered an instruction along these lines. We held it was not error for the trial court to reject the instruction. Id. at 912. Recognizing this, Hunt argues that Smith should be overruled. However, we find no compelling need to reconsider this settled issue.
Hunt asserts that he was denied due process because the penalty phase verdict form directed the jury to fix an aggravated sentence if it found aggravating circumstances. He maintains that the penalty verdict forms presented to the jury made it impossible for the jury to find aggravating circumstances without fixing an aggravated penalty. The verdict forms used by the trial judge with respect to the offense of murder left a blank space for the jury to write in which aggravating circumstance, if any, it found existed beyond a reasonable doubt and listed instructions to circle one of the following: (1) life without the possibility of parole; (2) life without the possibility of parole for twenty-five years; or (3) death. The court provided verdict forms without aggravating circumstances to impose a sentence for a term of years or a sentence of life in prison. The trial judge used a verdict form found in Section 12.10A of 1 COOPER, KENTUCKY INSTRUCTIONS TO JURIES (CRIMINAL), (4th ed. 1993). This form had been previously approved by this Court in Hodge v. Commonwealth, 17 S.W.3d 824, 854 (Ky.2000). The verdict form wherein aggravating circumstances could be and were found did not require the jury to impose any particular sentence. The instructions when considered as a whole, make it clear that the jury was not required to impose a death sentence merely upon a finding of aggravating circumstances. Pursuant to the standards set out by the United States Supreme Court in Boyde v. California, 494 U.S. 370, 110 S.Ct. 1190, 108 L.Ed.2d 316 (1990), the verdict forms did not result in an unconstitutional death sentence.