Opinion ID: 2417351
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 8

Heading: Death Sentence Proportionality Review

Text: This Court is required to review, pursuant to Section 565.035.3, RSMo 1994, the sentence of death imposed in this case. We find no evidence that the sentence was imposed under the influence of passion, prejudice, or any other arbitrary factor, § 565.035.3(1), and we find that the evidence supports the jury's finding of the two statutory aggravating circumstances under Section 565.032.2(7) and (11). § 565.035.3(2). We further find that the sentence of death is not excessive or disproportionate to the penalty imposed in similar cases, considering both the crime, the strength of the evidence, and the defendant. § 565.035.3(3). Only when the case, taken as a whole, is plainly lacking circumstances consistent with those in similar cases in which the death penalty has been imposed, will resentencing be ordered. State v. Ramsey, 864 S.W.2d 320, 328 (Mo. banc 1993), cert. denied, ___ U.S. ___, 114 S.Ct. 1664, 128 L.Ed.2d 380 (1994). Our proportionality review serves the purpose of assuring that a death sentence is not a freakish or wanton punishment under the facts of the case. Id. The facts of this case demonstrate that at least one, if not both, of Johnny Douglass' children witnessed his murder. The murder was also committed during the burglary of the victim's home. The forensic evidence shows that the first gunshot rendered Johnny Douglass helpless, and the second shot killed him. There was also testimony that Johnny Douglass was shot while in a kneeling or crouched position in the garage. These facts are consistent with death sentences affirmed in cases when victims were murdered during the course of a robbery. Ramsey, 864 S.W.2d at 327; State v. Murray, 744 S.W.2d 762 (Mo. banc 1988), cert. denied, 488 U.S. 871, 109 S.Ct. 181, 102 L.Ed.2d 150 (1988); State v. Pollard, 735 S.W.2d 345 (Mo. banc 1987), cert. denied, 484 U.S. 1020, 108 S.Ct. 733, 98 L.Ed.2d 682 (1988); State v. Young, 701 S.W.2d 429 (Mo. banc 1985), cert. denied, 476 U.S. 1109, 106 S.Ct. 1959, 90 L.Ed.2d 367 (1986). The death penalty has also been imposed where the victim was killed to eliminate a witness and to avoid arrest. State v. Six, 805 S.W.2d 159, 169 (Mo. banc 1991), cert. denied, 502 U.S. 871, 112 S.Ct. 206, 116 L.Ed.2d 165 (1991); State v. Grubbs, 724 S.W.2d 494, 501 (Mo. banc 1987), cert. denied, 482 U.S. 931, 107 S.Ct. 3220, 96 L.Ed.2d 707 (1987).