Opinion ID: 2457072
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 8

Heading: Depravity of Mind Aggravator

Text: Two aggravating circumstances were submitted to the jury at the close of the penalty phase, including the depravity of mind aggravator, that is: Whether the murder of Karin Knese involved depravity of mind and whether, as a result thereof, the murder was outrageously and wantonly vile, horrible, and inhuman. You can make a determination of depravity of mind only if you find: That the defendant committed repeated and excessive acts of physical abuse upon Karin Knese and the killing was therefore unreasonably brutal. [71] Mr. Knese did not object to this instruction, but requests plain error review on the ground that the aggravating circumstance is unconstitutionally vague, and that there was no evidence to support its submission. As we have previously held, this instruction is not unconstitutionally vague. [72] It is also supported by the evidence. In particular, Mr. Knese's statements and the physical evidence presented at trial were sufficient for the jury to conclude that Mr. Knese repeatedly attempted to strangle Ms. Knese and that he caused her death by standing on her neck, killing her in an unreasonably brutal fashion. No error occurred in the submission of this instruction.