Opinion ID: 2630185
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Death Sentence Grossly Disproportionate to Defendant's Individual Culpability

Text: Defendant contends the imposition of the death penalty on him, given the circumstances of this case, is grossly disproportionate to his individual culpability and violates the Eighth Amendment to the United States Constitution. In addressing this contention, which is essentially a request for intracase proportionality review, we examine the circumstances of the offense and the personal characteristics of the defendant, including prior criminality. (See People v. Steele, supra, 27 Cal.4th at pp. 1268-1269.) (22) As to the circumstances of the offense, we have previously rejected defendant's claims that the split verdict means the jury found he was not the shooter and that insufficient evidence supports his conviction as an aider and abettor. As discussed, the evidence supports the conclusion that defendant, even if not the shooter, was a major participant in the crime. He intentionally maneuvered Gitmed, a particularly vulnerable individual, to an isolated spot for the purpose of robbing and killing him, which was effectuated by defendant acting alone or together with Mercurio. As to defendant's personal characteristics, he had committed a previous murder in Texas. A prior murder is among the most compelling of aggravating circumstances. ( People v. Steele, supra, 27 Cal.4th at p. 1269.) We therefore conclude defendant's death sentence is disproportionate neither to his offense nor his personal culpability.