Opinion ID: 1268700
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Whether the sentence of death is excessive or disproportionate to the penalty imposed in similar cases in this state, considering both the crime and the defendant.

Text: Cole admits that after he and the victim went to a motel room they engaged in sexual intercourse and he then strangled her with his hands and a piece of cord he had in his pants pocket. He has no remorse for this murder or any of the many others he has committed. Except for an eight or nine-year-old childhood companion, all of Cole's victims have been women. Cole has freely admitted that he would kill again if given the opportunity. In refusing to allow the trial court's amicus counsel to put on mitigating evidence, Cole stated: There's nothing good about me. Counsel appointed for this appeal states: I am now in my 27th year of the practice of law before the Nevada Bar, including wide experience in numerous homicide cases. Never before have I seen or known a man who so justly deserves to die or who so completely wants and desires to have the penalty of death executed upon him, as punishment for his crimes generally and more specifically for the murder he committed in this state. We conclude that the sentence of death in this case is neither excessive nor disproportionate to the crime or defendant. See Deutscher v. State, 95 Nev. 669, 601 P.2d 407 (1979); Bishop v. State, 95 Nev. 511, 597 P.2d 273 (1979). Based on the foregoing we hereby affirm Cole's conviction of first degree murder and sentence of death.