Opinion ID: 1821869
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 17

Heading: Analysis of Aggravating Circumstances

Text: This Court has held on numerous occasions that the failure of one or more statutory aggravating circumstances does not invalidate others, properly found, unless introduction of evidence in support of the invalid circumstance interjects an arbitrary factor into the proceedings. State v. Wessinger, 98-1234, p. 16 (La.5/28/99), 736 So.2d 162, 192, cert. denied, 528 U.S. 1050, 120 S.Ct. 589, 145 L.Ed.2d 489 (1999); State v. Letulier, 97-1360, (La.7/8/98), 750 So.2d 784, 799. Evidence of the invalid aggravating circumstances in this case did not interject an arbitrary factor into the proceedings because evidence of the defendant's conduct, the behavior of the eyewitnesses, the victim's injuries and the circumstances leading up to and following the murder were relevant and properly admitted at trial. Further, the remaining aggravating circumstance, i.e., that the offender was engaged in the perpetration of an armed robbery, and attempted armed robbery were amply supported. Hence, no arbitrary factors were interjected into the proceedings. See State v. Roy, 95-0638 (La.10/4/96), 681 So.2d 1230, 1242.