Opinion ID: 2587611
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 9

Heading: Whether the evidence supported the aggravating circumstances

Text: We conclude that the evidence supported the finding of the 13 aggravating circumstances in this case. Aggravators one through eight were based on NRS 200.033(2), which provides in part that first-degree murder is aggravated when it was committed by a person who has been convicted of a felony involving the use or threat of violence. Weber argues that only a single aggravating circumstance can be based upon this subsection, but we have previously rejected this argument. [46] The eight aggravators here were founded on felonies found by the jury after the guilt phase of Weber's trial: (1) the sexual assault of M. between January 1, 1997, and December 1, 1998; (2) and (3) the sexual assaults of M. between January 1, 2000, and April 3, 2002; (4) the first-degree kidnapping of M. on April 4, 2002; (5) the sexual assault on M. on April 4; (6) the first-degree kidnapping of A. on April 4; (7) the attempted murder of C. on April 14; and (8) the attempted murder of Froman on April 14. We conclude that the record shows that Weber used or threatened violence during the commission of these felonies, but the evidence relating to aggravators two and three warrants some discussion. Although the use or threat of violence often occurs in sexual assault, neither is a necessary element of the offense. [47] The record here reflects no evidence of overt violence or overt threats of violence by Weber against M. during the two sexual assault convictions that occurred between January 1, 2000, and April 3, 2002. However, the record does show that M. experienced trauma and violence during Weber's first sexual assault on her in 1997 or 1998. At that time, M. was in elementary school and prepubescent, and she bled and screamed. Weber told M. to keep it secret. Further, Weber's sexual assaults occurred against M.'s will. Weber was much superior to M. in physical strength, as well as older. He was also convicted of destroying property for kicking in the front door of Kim's home in May 2000. For years M. did not tell anyone  initially not even investigators  about Weber's sexual abuse of her because she was scared. Finally, deadly violence by Weber against M.'s family materialized on April 4, 2002. We conclude that the totality of this evidence was sufficient for a reasonable jury to infer that the two sexual assaults in question included at least implicit threats of violence, allowing their use as valid aggravators in this case. [48] Aggravators nine through eleven were based on NRS 200.033(4), which provides in relevant part that first-degree murder is aggravated when it was committed while the person was engaged in burglary, invasion of the home or kidnapping in the first degree, and the person charged ... [k]illed or attempted to kill the person murdered. Weber contends that this aggravator is invalid because it makes every felony murder situation eligible for the death penalty. In our recent decision in McConnell , we held that a felony may not be used both to establish first-degree murder and to aggravate the murder to capital status. [49] Because Weber was convicted of deliberate, premeditated murder and/or murder by torture, not felony murder, our holding in McConnell is not implicated. We conclude that the evidence supported finding that Weber killed A. and committed the murder during his burglary of his and Kim's home, during his kidnapping of M., and during his kidnapping of A. Aggravator twelve was based on NRS 200.033(8), which provides that first-degree murder is aggravated when it involved torture of the victim. Torture requires that the murderer must have intended to inflict pain beyond the killing itself. [50] Torture involves a calculated intent to inflict pain for revenge, extortion, persuasion or for any sadistic purpose. [51] Here, evidence showed that Weber not only killed A. by suffocation, but that he bound his hands and legs together with layers of duct tape, placed weights on him, duct-taped his eyes and mouth shut, but left his nostrils open while a black plastic bag was placed over his head. The autopsy of A.'s body revealed that he bled and vomited through his nostrils, struggled to free himself, and suffered a slow death. This evidence shows that Weber acted in a calculated and sadistic manner that caused A. great pain beyond the killing itself. Aggravator thirteen was based on NRS 200.033(12): The defendant has, in the immediate proceeding, been convicted of more than one offense of murder.... The evidence supported this aggravator because Weber was convicted of the murders of both Kim and A.