Opinion ID: 6218017
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Interrogatory Penalty Phase Verdict

Text: Before trial, defense counsel filed a motion for an interrogatory penalty phase verdict that would have required the jury to identify the facts on which it relied to find any aggravating factors. In particular, the motion stated: A separate provision requiring the jury to state the facts upon which the factor is found allows the trial court and the appellate court to determine whether the jury’s recommendation conforms with applicable law. Thus, the verdict form should contain an inquiry asking, for each aggravating circumstance found, the factual basis - 10 - for that finding, so that the inquiry would read substantially as follows: “Our finding that the homicide was committed in an especially heinous, atrocious or cruel manner” is based on the following facts: (specify)— The trial court denied the motion and instructed the jury using the standard jury instructions. McKenzie’s argument that the jury was required to specify the facts supporting its findings of aggravating factors is without merit. The required jury finding for death eligibility is the unanimous finding of the existence of one or more aggravating factors proven beyond a reasonable doubt, not the individual facts on which the jury relied to find each aggravating factor. See Poole, 297 So. 3d at 502. As detailed in the verdict forms, McKenzie’s jury unanimously found that each of five aggravating factors was proven beyond a reasonable doubt.