Opinion ID: 1528698
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 12

Heading: Proportionality review of death cases

Text: We have recently undertaken a proportionality review of capital cases involving the death penalty. See Sheridan v. State, supra . Particularly, we have recently agree[d] that the killing of more than one person automatically convert[s] [the case] into a death case. Cox v. State, 313 Ark. 184, 853 S.W.2d 266 (1993). In Cox , we reasoned that this automatic death qualification is because appellant committed the capital offenses under a circumstance that the legislature had enumerated as an aggravating factor. Id. The jury found Dansby guilty of the murders of Brenda Dansby and Ronnie Kimble, and as such, its consideration of the death penalty was not error. We find no prejudicial errors warranting reversal and accordingly, affirm the decision of the trial court. ROAF, J., not participating.