Opinion ID: 1667377
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Failure to find or consider mitigation on the basis of mental illness

Text: Arkansas Code Ann. § 5-4-603 (Repl.1993) permits the imposition of a death sentence by a jury if it unanimously returns written findings of certain aggravating circumstances including the conclusion that they outweigh any mitigating circumstances it may find. Statutory aggravating circumstances are listed in Ark.Code Ann. § 5-4-604 (Repl.1993), and mitigating circumstances are listed in Ark.Code Ann. § 5-4-605 (Repl.1993). Forms to be used in considering and returning its verdict were given to the jury. On Form 1, listing the statutory aggravating circumstances, the jury reported unanimously finding that: The Capital Murder was committed for the purpose of avoiding or preventing an arrest or effecting an escape from custody. The Capital Murder was committed in an especially cruel or depraved manner. On Form 2-A, listing the statutory mitigating circumstances, the jury reported unanimously finding that: The Capital Murder was committed while William Francis Bowen was acting under unusual pressures or influences or under the domination of another person. William Francis Bowen has no significant history of prior criminal activity. On Form 3, the jury concluded the aggravating circumstances justified beyond a reasonable doubt a sentence of death, and the verdict of the jury was that Mr. Bowen be sentenced to death by lethal injection. See Ark.Code Ann. § 5-4-603 (Repl.1993). The argument on this point has to do with the jury's failure to find, or even to consider these statutory mitigating circumstances which appeared on Form 2-A, and which are prescribed in § 5-4-605, but which were not checked by the jury as ones which existed in this case: The Capital Murder was committed while the defendant was under extreme mental or emotional disturbance. The Capital Murder was committed while the capacity of the defendant to appreciate the wrongfulness of his conduct or to conform his conduct to the requirements of the law was impaired as a result of mental disease or defect, intoxication, or drug abuse.