Opinion ID: 2382114
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: sufficiency of the evidence

Text: Butler also claims that the evidence was insufficient to support the jury's finding that the two aggravating circumstances were present in this case. Where a defendant challenges the sufficiency of evidence to support an aggravating circumstance, the test is whether a reasonable juror could reasonably find from the evidence that the proposition advanced is true beyond a reasonable doubt. State v. Brown, 902 S.W.2d 278, 294 (Mo. banc 1995), cert. denied, ___ U.S. ___, 116 S.Ct. 679, 133 L.Ed.2d 527 (1995). Here, both are supported by the evidence. As we have already noted, the jury reasonably could have determined from the evidence that the victim's murder was committed by Butler for the purpose of obtaining the proceeds from Diana's life insurance policies and Diana's ring. This was sufficient for the jury to find the aggravating circumstance of murder for pecuniary gain. Additionally, the evidence was sufficient to support the jury's finding that the murder demonstrated depravity of mind. The jury was instructed that they could find this aggravator if they determined that the defendant committed repeated and excessive acts of physical abuse upon Diana Butler and that the killing was therefore unreasonably brutal. Dr. Vescovo testified that the victim suffered two gunshot wounds to the head. A gunshot wound to the head is an excessive act of physical abuse. The victim was shot twice in the head. Thus, the defendant committed repeated and excessive acts of physical abuse upon the victim. Point 13 is denied.