Opinion ID: 867372
Heading Depth: 5
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Violent sex and fantasies

Text: ¶ 44 Pandeli argues that the trial court abused its discretion by admitting the testimony of two of his former girlfriends. Because he did not object below, we review for fundamental error. Henderson, 210 Ariz. at 567, ¶ 19, 115 P.3d at 607. Pandeli must show error going to the foundation of the case and resulting prejudice. Id. at ¶¶ 19-20, 115 P.3d 601. ¶ 45 Both women testified about Pandeli's aggressive sexual behavior and violent fantasies. The State offered the evidence to rebut testimony by Pandeli's mental health experts that he was impulsive as a result of mental impairment. Pandeli's former girlfriends' testimony rebutted his mental health mitigation because it tended to show that the murders were not committed impulsively, but were instead part of a pattern of escalating sexual violence. ¶ 46 Pandeli also introduced extensive testimony of his good behavior in prison and his lack of future dangerousness. The testimony of the girlfriends rebutted Pandeli's future dangerousness mitigation and tended to show that he should not be shown leniency. ¶ 47 We conclude that the evidence was relevant and that the prejudicial impact of the description of Pandeli's sexual behavior and violent fantasies did not outweigh the probative value of the evidence. There was no fundamental error.