Opinion ID: 1768472
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Pinegar Murder

Text: Defendant argues that counsel ineffectively handled the Pinegar murder during penalty phase. The State submitted the Pinegar murder as an aggravating circumstance under section 565.032.2(1). Defendant argues that the Pinegar murder was not a proper aggravator because it occurred after these murders. See Harris, 870 S.W.2d at 813. The jury found two other aggravators. Therefore, the death sentence is valid, with or without the Pinegar aggravator. Middleton, 998 S.W.2d at 530 & n. 3; State v. Jones, 979 S.W.2d 171, 186 (Mo. banc 1998), cert. denied, 525 U.S. 1112, 119 S.Ct. 886, 142 L.Ed.2d 785 (1999). Further, the Pinegar evidence was admissible, whether or not it was an aggravator. In considering capital punishment, the jury is entitled to any helpful information. State v. Morrow, 968 S.W.2d 100, 114-15 (Mo. banc), cert. denied, 525 U.S. 896, 119 S.Ct. 222, 142 L.Ed.2d 182 (1998); see also State v. Gilyard, 979 S.W.2d 138, 143 (Mo. banc 1998). The decision to impose the death penalty, whether by a jury or a judge, is the most serious decision society makes about an individual, and the decision-maker is entitled to any evidence that assists in that determination. State v. Debler, 856 S.W.2d 641, 656 (Mo. banc 1993). A capital defendant's character is relevant in penalty phase, and may be proved with prior convictions. E.g., Middleton, 995 S.W.2d at 465; Simmons, 955 S.W.2d at 740. Defendant's conviction for a crime warranting the death penalty is relevant to his character. Also, the details of the Pinegar murder show that the Hamilton and Hodge murders were not isolated, but steps in a common plan. Defendant listed snitches he intended to kill before they turned him in to the police. Pinegar and Hamilton were named. Both the plan (systematic murder) and its purpose (eliminating snitches) were relevant to the punishment decision. Middleton, 995 S.W.2d at 465 (Hamilton and Hodge murders were relevant to the appropriate punishment for the Pinegar murder); see also Middleton, 998 S.W.2d at 531. Defendant also claims counsel should not have introduced evidence of or discussed the Pinegar murder. However, because the State could introduce the murder, counsel reasonably sought to preempt this evidence. Counsel was not ineffective.