Opinion ID: 1160486
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 16

Heading: Torture, depravity of mind, or mutilation

Text: Evans also challenges the torture, depravity of mind, or mutilation statutory aggravator, NRS 200.033(8), [24] as applied to Samantha, because the evidence does not show that Evans fired the shots which mutilated her hand or otherwise tortured her; therefore, the jury would have been unable to make the necessary culpability determination as to this aggravating factor. Evans cites Enmund v. Florida, 458 U.S. 782, 797, 102 S.Ct. 3368, 3376-77, 73 L.Ed.2d 1140 (1982), where the Supreme Court held that the Eighth Amendment prohibits the imposition of the death penalty on a defendant who aids and abets a felony (in Enmund, a robbery) in the course of which a murder is committed by others, but who does not himself kill, attempt to kill, or intend that a killing take place or that lethal force be used. Evans also cites Tison v. Arizona, 481 U.S. 137, 158, 107 S.Ct. 1676, 1688, 95 L.Ed.2d 127 (1987), where the Court held that major participation in a felony that resulted in murder, combined with the defendant's reckless indifference to human life is sufficient to satisfy the Enmund culpability test even if the defendant is not the killer. The Enmund/Tison determination can be made by a jury, trial judge, or an appellate court. Cabana v. Bullock, 474 U.S. 376, 386-87, 106 S.Ct. 689, 696-97, 88 L.Ed.2d 704 (1986). Based upon Enmund and Tison, this court has held that: To receive the death sentence, appellant must have, himself, killed, attempted to kill, intended that a killing take place, intended that lethal force be employed or participated in a felony while exhibiting a reckless indifference to human life. Doleman v. State, 107 Nev. 409, 418, 812 P.2d 1287, 1292-93 (1991). Although it is preferable that the sentencing body make this determination, this court will do so on appeal. Id. at 417, 812 P.2d at 1292. The record in this case reflects ample evidence that Evans, himself, killed, attempted to kill, or intended that a killing take place when he participated in the killings on May 1, 1992. The evidence adduced at trial indicated that Evans was not only present at the murder scene, but helped plan and carry out the murders. The evidence also supports the conclusion that Evans intended to make Samantha suffer. Shirannah Rice testified that Evans told her that they shot Samantha in the hands and that they wanted to torture her. Therefore, we conclude that Evans was an integral part of the murders committed on May 1, 1992, and directly culpable in the torture and mutilation of Samantha Scotti. We further conclude that the number and location of the gunshot wounds suffered by Samantha Scotti warranted an instruction on torture, depravity of mind, or mutilation as an aggravating circumstance. See Rogers v. State, 101 Nev. 457, 468, 705 P.2d 664, 671-72 (1985), cert. denied, 476 U.S. 1130, 106 S.Ct. 1999, 90 L.Ed.2d 679 (1986).