Opinion ID: 1472552
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 15

Heading: rational sentencing

Text: Mills argues that he did not receive a rational sentence because the trial court: (1) considered a non-statutory aggravator, specifically the heinousness of the crime; (2) failed to consider mitigators; (3) failed to make findings as to mitigators; and (4) failed to articulate its role in the sentencing procedure. In response, we note the following: (1) Unlike the jury, the trial court is not limited to statutory aggravating circumstances. Matthews v. Commonwealth, Ky., 709 S.W.2d 414, 423 (1985), cert. denied, 479 U.S. 871, 107 S.Ct. 245, 93 L.Ed.2d 170 (1986). Further, we found no error in the trial court's consideration of the heinous nature of the murder as a nonstatutory aggravating circumstance. Tamme, 759 S.W.2d at 55; (2) Review of the record reveals that the trial court did consider mitigating circumstances; (3) The trial court is not required to make specific findings as to mitigating circumstances. Bowling, 942 S.W.2d at 306; (4) The trial court acted within its discretion in upholding the jury's recommended sentence of death. The contention that there is no properly articulated standard of review for the trial court in such a circumstance is without merit. Id.