Opinion ID: 2075877
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: Penalty Hearing

Text: At the penalty hearing, the State presented the testimony of Cathy Guessford, a records custodian from the Delaware Correctional Center. Ms. Guessford related the details of Dawson's criminal history to the jury. This included Dawson's commitment to a juvenile correctional facility at age thirteen, five commitments or recommitments to the Division of Juvenile Corrections dating from October 1968, the determination that he was not amenable to the Family Court processes, fourteen prior felony convictions, three escapes from maximum security juvenile institutions and three adult escapes, and twenty-four conduct violations resulting in sanctions against him as an inmate. At the penalty hearing Dennis elaborated upon her encounter with Dawson on the evening of December 1st. She testified that Dawson identified himself to her as Abaddon and told her that the name meant one of Satan's disciples. Detective Joseph Huttie (Huttie) testified that Webster's dictionary defines Abaddon as angel of the bottomless pit. Huttie testified that when Dawson was arrested, a photograph was taken showing the name Abaddon tattooed across Dawson's stomach. Huttie also testified that Dawson's right hand bore a tattoo with the words Aryan Brotherhood above and below a diamond shaped symbol. The State introduced a stipulation describing the nature of the Aryan Brotherhood. The defense presented two family members as witnesses at the penalty hearing. The jury returned a verdict unanimously recommending the imposition of the death penalty on each of the four counts of Murder in the First Degree.