Opinion ID: 2995535
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: The defendant, Rouster is a nineteen

Text: (19) year-old male, well-informed of stature, physically strong and mentally alert. His lack of family support and traditional human relationships, though a factor in his antisocial behavior, cannot excuse that conduct as resulting from a social disorder or mental disease. The court also notes that Rouster was eighteen (18) years of age at the time of the murders. A young age is always a mitigating factor, though not enumerated by statute. A person of tender age makes impulsive choices, often unwise, that someone of greater experience and years would not make. Had this been the first or second bad decision, his age would have been a substantial mitigating factor. But Rouster has consistently made bad decisions. He has been subjected to corrective treatment. He has been given more time to reflect. He has had his environment changed. He has had the benefit of supervision at all levels of his development. It has had no deterrent effect. The judge then sentenced Rouster and Williams to death.