Opinion ID: 2614001
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Alleged failure to channel the jury's discretion in penalty determination

Text: In his supplemental brief, defendant also contends the penalty phase instructions failed to channel the jury's sentencing discretion as required by the Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments. ( Stringer v. Black (1992) 503 U.S. 222 [117 L.Ed.2d 367, 112 S.Ct. 1130].) Specifically, he complains that of the section 190.3 factors in aggravation, factor (a), the circumstances of the crime, and factor (i), the defendant's age, are unconstitutionally vague. In Tuilaepa v. California, supra, 512 U.S. ___, ___ [129 L.Ed.2d 750, 762-763, 114 S.Ct. 2630], the United States Supreme Court affirmed the validity of the factors comprising the circumstances of the crime and the defendant's age. (See People v. Noguera, supra, 4 Cal.4th 599, 648-649; People v. Tuilaepa (1992) 4 Cal.4th 569, 594-595 [15 Cal. Rptr.2d 382, 842 P.2d 1142]; People v. Proctor, supra, 4 Cal.4th 499, 550-551; see also People v. Berryman, supra, 6 Cal.4th 1048, 1096-1097; People v. Bacigalupo, supra, 6 Cal.4th 457, 478-479.) Defendant also contends it was error for the trial court, in ruling upon the automatic motion for modification of the death verdict, to rely upon the assertedly vague factor (a). Because this factor is not unconstitutionally vague, we reject defendant's claim.