Opinion ID: 1058311
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 58

Heading: Trial Court Comments on State's Proof During Penalty Phase

Text: At the conclusion of the court's explanation to the jury of the sentencing process, the court stated: But I say this only because I want you to develop your mind now with a view to looking to the State to offer evidence regarding the aggravating circumstances they contend apply, remembering that you must be convinced beyond a reasonable doubt and also applying the guidelines as I give you in my instructions that tell you how to go about considering those aggravating circumstances and whether or not they outweigh beyond a reasonable doubt the mitigation evidence, if you find such exists, that has been raised during the course of the trial. Appellant argues that this statement by the court encouraged, at least implicitly, the jury to concentrate on the State's proof as opposed to that raised by appellant. Appellant has failed to allege how this statement prejudiced him. This issue is without merit.