Opinion ID: 2416788
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 18

Heading: Aggravating Circumstance Instruction to the Jury

Text: Jones argues that the trial court erred by denying his motion to strike the statutory aggravating circumstance that the murder involved depravity of mind and was outrageously and wantonly vile, horrible and inhuman, in that this aggravator, even as limited by the Preston factors, is so vague that the circumstance does not narrow the class of individuals eligible for the death penalty. The jury found this aggravating circumstance. In addition, the jury found another aggravating circumstance that the homicide was committed during the perpetration of or attempt to perpetrate robbery. The Court finds that the record supports both aggravating circumstances found by the jury. Jones' constitutional challenge of one of the aggravating circumstances is without merit. Where there is a finding of one valid aggravating circumstance beyond a reasonable doubt, this Court will affirm the death sentence. State v. Smith, 944 S.W.2d 901, 921 (Mo. banc 1997), cert. denied ___ U.S. ___, 118 S.Ct. 377, 139 L.Ed.2d 294 (1997). In this case, the jury found two aggravating circumstances. Even without considering the constitutional attack on one of the aggravating circumstances, this Court will affirm the sentence. Nonetheless, the constitutional attack has been rejected by this Court in the recent past. See State v. Harris, 870 S.W.2d 798, 813 (Mo. banc 1994), cert. denied 513 U.S. 953, 115 S.Ct. 371, 130 L.Ed.2d 323 (1994).