Opinion ID: 867340
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: Previously rejected arguments

Text: ¶ 61 Armstrong raises three other arguments that we have rejected in prior cases. ¶ 62 One: The trial court refused to instruct the jury or to allow defense counsel to argue that mercy in and of itself can be a mitigating circumstance. We previously held that mercy is not a mitigating circumstance. State v. Andriano, 215 Ariz. 497, 507 ¶¶ 47-49, 161 P.3d 540, 550 (2007). Consistent with Andriano, the trial court allowed Armstrong to argue, and defense counsel did argue, that mercy is appropriate based on the mitigation evidence presented. ¶ 63 Two: The trial court caused fundamental error by not providing the jury with a specific mitigation verdict form. We rejected this argument in State v. Roseberry, 210 Ariz. 360, 373 ¶ 74 & n. 12, 111 P.3d 402, 415 & n. 12 (2005). ¶ 64 Three: The Arizona death penalty statutes are unconstitutional because they fail to provide adequate standards or guidance to jurors to determine whether a death sentence is appropriate and they require the accused to prove he should not be executed. We rejected the first contention in State v. Pandeli ( Pandeli I ), 200 Ariz. 365, 382 ¶ 90, 26 P.3d 1136, 1153 (2001), vacated on other grounds by Pandeli v. Arizona ( Pandeli II ), 536 U.S. 953, 122 S.Ct. 2654, 153 L.Ed.2d 830 (2002); we rejected the second in State v. Ring ( Ring I ), 200 Ariz. 267, 284 ¶ 64, 25 P.3d 1139, 1156 (2001), rev'd on other grounds by Ring II, 536 U.S. at 584, 122 S.Ct. 2428.