Opinion ID: 2344370
Heading Depth: 5
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Violence and brutality of the murder.

Text: Defendant correctly acknowledges that this factor carries a great deal of weight, but claims that evidence of intentional torture is absent and that the State did not charge the depravity aggravating factor. For that reason, defendant contends that this factor has high, although not extreme, value in this case. On the other hand, the State details the extreme level of physical brutality defendant inflicted on Richard and Shirley Hazard. The State points out that the victims suffered stab wounds, broken bones, and serious cuts. In addition, the State notes that Mr. Hazard must have suffered immense mental anguish knowing that his wife would either find him dead or be killed herself; and Mrs. Hazard saw her husband murdered and knew that a similar fate awaited her. The State points out that, to the victim, it does not matter whether a defendant's motive is torture; it was a defendant's extreme violence that caused severe pain and suffering. It is unquestionable that the Hazards suffered a prolonged, brutal death characterized by intense physical and mental pain. Defendant's culpability in respect of this factor is very high.