Opinion ID: 1152979
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 15

Heading: Whether the trial court committed prejudicial error when it allowed the State to present to the jury evidence concerning an unadjudicated murder case during the penalty hearing.

Text: Lisle argues that the district court erred by allowing the State to present evidence concerning an unadjudicated murder case before the jury advised the court that it had found an aggravating circumstance beyond a reasonable doubt. Lisle contends that because this evidence was presented in conjunction with aggravating and mitigating circumstances, the district court had no way of determining whether the aggravator was found. Moreover, Lisle contends that the evidence is prejudicial and unreliable. He argues that introduction of the evidence prior to establishing that the jury found the aggravating circumstance beyond a reasonable doubt violated his right against cruel and unusual punishment and his right to due process. The district court has broad discretion to admit evidence at a penalty hearing for first-degree murder under NRS 175.552. In Riker v. State, 111 Nev. 1316, 905 P.2d 706 (1995), cert. denied, ___ U.S. ___, 116 S.Ct. 1687, 134 L.Ed.2d 788 (1996), this court stated, evidence of uncharged crimes may be admitted during a penalty hearing only after any aggravating circumstances have been established beyond a reasonable doubt. Id. at 1326, 905 P.2d at 712, citing Guy v. State, 108 Nev. 770, 782, 839 P.2d 578, 586 (1992). This court then explained that it does not necessarily follow that the trier of fact cannot hear the evidence of uncharged crimes before it considers the aggravating circumstances, only that the uncharged crimes cannot be used to prove the aggravating circumstances. Id. at 1327, 905 P.2d at 713. In the present case, evidence of the uncharged homicide was presented before the jury submitted its decision regarding the aggravating circumstance. The jury was instructed not to consider other crimes or pending charges as aggravating circumstances. There is a presumption that jurors follow jury instructions. Tennessee v. Street, 471 U.S. 409, 415, 105 S.Ct. 2078, 2082, 85 L.Ed.2d 425 (1985). Accordingly, we conclude that the district court did not err in allowing the State to present evidence of the unadjudicated murder before the jury advised the court that it had found an aggravating circumstance beyond a reasonable doubt.