Opinion ID: 1449368
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: were the murders committed with the expectation of receiving anything of pecuniary value?

Text: On resentencing, the trial judge found the aggravating circumstance set out by former A.R.S. § 13-454(E)(5), presently § 13-703(F)(5): 5. The defendant committed the offense as consideration for the receipt, or in expectation of the receipt, of anything of pecuniary value. In State v. Madsen, 125 Ariz. 346, 353, 609 P.2d 1046, 1053 (1980), cert. denied 449 U.S. 873, 101 S.Ct. 213, 66 L.Ed.2d 93 (1980), we stated, A.R.S. § 13-454(E)(5) requires that the murder must have been committed for the consideration of financial gain. To comply with the statute, the receipt of the [property] must be a cause of the murder   . In State v. Clark, supra, also decided in 1980, we specifically elaborated that this aggravating circumstance was not limited to the hired gun or contract type killing. Rather, it involves any murder committed for a financial motivation. 126 Ariz. at 436, 616 P.2d at 896. Accord State v. Poland, supra, 132 Ariz. at 285-86, 645 P.2d at 800-01; State v. Blazak, 131 Ariz. 598, 605, 643 P.2d 694, 701 (1981). In State v. Clark , we found that this circumstance was met, observing, After killing the Thumms the appellant took their credit cards, some money, two valuable diamond rings, and their 1976 Chevrolet station wagon. The circumstances surrounding the total episode reflect that the expectation of financial gain was a cause of the murders. 126 Ariz. at 436, 616 P.2d at 896. Similarly, in the present case, after killing the Sandbergs, the defendant took their credit cards, blank checks, an expensive camera, and their automobile. These circumstances likewise reflect a financial motivation. More specifically, in State v. (Raymond) Tison, 129 Ariz. 546, 555, 633 P.2d 355, 364 (1981), we held that A.R.S. § 13-454(E)(5) was established where we concluded that the homicides were committed to secure a vehicle with which to continue their flight. Gretzler and Steelman likewise murdered the Sandbergs to obtain a substitute car in which they could continue their flight. The automobile of Vincent Armstrong which they had been driving was known to the police to be stolen. In the words of Gretzler's own confession, [W]e needed their car. So we tied them up and did them in. We find no error.