Opinion ID: 1386655
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: capital sentencing proceedings

Text: At the capital sentencing proceeding, the State presented victim impact evidence from Shirley's sister, Maizie Quick, and her mother, Esther McLeod. Defendant presented evidence from Jeffrey McKee, Ph.D., a forensic psychologist, that defendant was under the influence of emotional disturbance at the time of the murder, specifically due to alcohol and cocaine dependence. Dr. McKee's opinion was, at the time defendant murdered his wife, his capacity to conform his conduct to the requirements of the law was impaired. Defendant's aunts, Mary McNeill, Thelma Williams, and Janice Patricia Waddell, and his uncle by marriage, Artie Bethea, testified as character witnesses for defendant. They all testified to defendant's close relationship with his extended family. His aunts testified the deaths of defendant's close family members within such a short period of time affected him deeply. His uncle testified defendant's military service during Operation Desert Storm in the Middle East affected defendant negatively as well. Additionally, four stipulations were read to the jury concerning defendant's military service, high school graduation, and his public service. The jury unanimously found beyond a reasonable doubt as an aggravating circumstance that the murder was especially heinous, atrocious, or cruel. One or more of the jurors found nine mitigating circumstances. The jury unanimously found beyond a reasonable doubt that the mitigating circumstances were insufficient to outweigh the aggravating circumstance. The jury also found unanimously and beyond a reasonable doubt the aggravating circumstance was sufficiently substantial to call for the imposition of the death penalty when considered with the mitigating circumstances. The jury thereby returned a binding recommendation of a sentence of death.