Opinion ID: 1762972
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 24

Heading: Cr.P. 905.4(d)

Text: The jury found that the defendant knowingly created a risk of death or great bodily harm to more than one person. C.Cr.P. 905.4(d). This aggravating circumstance was proved beyond a reasonable doubt. Theodise Collins, the decedent's daughter, testified that she was stabbed in the back by the defendant who told her he was going to kill her. In State v. Culberth, 390 So.2d 847, 850 (La.1980), we noted that this aggravating circumstance is established when the defendant by a single and consecutive course of conduct contemplates and causes a great risk to more than one person. This circumstance was found not to exist in Culberth because the defendant, although telling an intended victim, you're next, did not pursue the man when he ran behind a car. In the instant case, however, Theodise was actually pursued and stabbed by the defendant, and was hospitalized for almost two weeks for a collapsed lung. Thus, we conclude that the jury properly found C.Cr.P. 905.4(d) proved beyond a reasonable doubt.