Opinion ID: 1344609
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: independent review concerning aggravating and mitigating circumstances

Text: Under A.R.S. § 13-703, this court is required to conduct an independent review of the trial court's decision concerning the balancing of aggravating and mitigating circumstances. State v. Gretzler, supra, 135 Ariz. at 57, 659 P.2d at 16. We have done so and conclude that the trial court correctly found two aggravating circumstances and no mitigating circumstances sufficient to call for leniency. The two aggravating circumstances were that the defendant had previously been convicted of a felony in the United States involving the use or threat of violence on another person, A.R.S. § 13-703(F)(2), and that the defendant committed the offense in an especially heinous, cruel, or depraved manner. A.R.S. § 13-703(F)(6). As concerning this second circumstance we have stated that, cruelty involves the pain and distress visited upon the victims, and that heinous and depraved go to the mental state and attitude of the perpetrator as reflected in his words and actions. State v. Gretzler, supra, at 51, 659 P.2d at 10. Evidence of the victim's bruised hand indicates that she attempted to ward off blows. This evidence and the evidence of rape are indications of physical and mental pain. These acts constitute cruelty. As for defendant's state of mind, we must consider such things as defendant's apparent relishing of the murder, inflicting of gratuitous violence on the victim, needless mutilation of the victim, and senselessness of the crime, and helplessness of the victim. State v. Gretzler, supra, at 52, 659 P.2d at 11. We find that all of the above-listed circumstances were present. The coroner who conducted the autopsy on the victim's body stated at trial that the several blows to the victim's head were far more in number than those needed to kill her. It is obvious from the battered condition of the victim's body that she was incapable of defending herself. We find that two aggravating and no mitigating circumstances were present in this case, and that the death penalty is appropriate under A.R.S. § 13-703. PROPORTIONALITY REVIEW We must also consider whether imposition of the death sentence in this case is proportionate to imposition of the death sentence in similar cases. State v. Gretzler, supra, at 58, 659 P.2d at 17, and cases cited therein. One similar case is State v. Jeffers, 135 Ariz. 404, 661 P.2d 1105 (1983), where defendant lured an ex-girlfriend to his motel room by offering her heroin. The victim was given an overdose of heroin and passed out. She was then strangled and given another heroin injection. Defendant then beat the victim's dead body. Id. at 412, 661 P.2d at 1113. This court found that although the crime was not cruelly committed, it was committed in a heinous and depraved manner, and that the death penalty was properly imposed. Id. at 428-30, 661 P.2d at 1129-31. Another similar case is State v. Zaragoza, 135 Ariz. 63, 659 P.2d 22 (1983). There, defendant attempted to or did sexually assault the victim, and then murdered her by hitting her several times in the head with a blunt object. Id. at 65, 659 P.2d at 24. Two aggravating circumstances were found: two prior convictions of felonies involving the use or threat of violence, and a heinous or depraved mental state on defendant's part during the murder. Again, we upheld imposition of the death penalty. Id. at 69-71, 659 P.2d at 28-30. Additionally, we have considered cases where the death penalty was reduced to life imprisonment, and find that the facts were significantly different from the facts in this case. See State v. Lujan, 124 Ariz. 365, 604 P.2d 629 (1979) (victim's death not committed in heinous, cruel or depraved manner, so no aggravating circumstance found); State v. Brookover, 124 Ariz. 38, 601 P.2d 1322 (1979) (death penalty reduced to life imprisonment due to mitigating circumstance). We have examined the entire record for fundamental error pursuant to A.R.S. § 13-4035 and find none. Defendant's convictions and sentences for sexual assault and first degree murder are affirmed. HOLOHAN, C.J., GORDON, V.C.J., and HAYS and FELDMAN, JJ., concur.