Opinion ID: 1887725
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 10

Heading: Torture Aggravator and Review of Death Sentence

Text: We next consider Appellant's claim that both the weight and sufficiency of the evidence did not permit a finding of torture [a death penalty aggravator found by the jury] because Ascensio's ... suffering [and] pain was [sic] speculative since it could not be determined when she lost consciousness or died. [16] Appellant's Brief at 16. Relying upon Dr. Funke, who testified that it was possible Ascensio lost consciousness early in the attack, Appellant asserts that the Commonwealth failed to demonstrate that Appellant intentionally inflicted pain and suffering during Ascensio's murder. This Court recently discussed the standard for the torture aggravator, Section 9711(d)(8) of the Sentencing Code, in Commonwealth v. Powell : To establish that a murder was committed by means of torture, the Commonwealth must show that the defendant intentionally inflicted ... a considerable amount of pain and suffering that was unnecessarily heinous, atrocious, or cruel, manifesting exceptional depravity. Commonwealth v. Karenbauer, 552 Pa. 420, 715 A.2d 1086, 1099 (1998), cert. denied, 526 U.S. 1021, 119 S.Ct. 1258, 143 L.Ed.2d 354 (1999)[. S ] ee also Commonwealth v. [Russell] Cox, 546 Pa. 515, 686 A.2d 1279, 1289 (1996), cert. denied, 522 U.S. 999, 118 S.Ct. 567, 139 L.Ed.2d 407 (1997); Commonwealth v. Thomas, 522 Pa. 256, 561 A.2d 699, 709 (1989). Implicit in subsection 8 is the requirement of an intent to cause pain and suffering in addition to the intent to kill. Karenbauer, 715 A.2d at 1099 (internal quotation marks omitted). The intent to torture may be proven from the circumstances surrounding the killing. [Russell] Cox, 686 A.2d at 1289. This Court has listed the factors to be considered in determining whether the torture aggravator applies as including, but not limited to: (1) the manner in which the murder was accomplished, including the number and type of wounds inflicted; (2) whether the wounds were inflicted on a vital or non-vital area of the body; (3) whether the victim was conscious when the wounds were received; and (4) the duration of the episode. Commonwealth v. Ockenhouse, 562 Pa. 481, 756 A.2d 1130, 1137 (2000). In reviewing a jury's finding of torture, this Court examines the evidence in the light most favorable to the Commonwealth, and draws all reasonable inferences in its favor. Commonwealth v. Roger Peter Buehl, 510 Pa. 363, 508 A.2d 1167, 1181 (1986). 598 Pa. 224, 956 A.2d 406, 425 (2008) (parallel citations omitted). Dr. Funke testified that Ascensio suffered a minimum of four blows to the head with a blunt object, which caused deep wounds to her head and multiple fractures of her skull. Additionally, Ascensio had defensive wounds on her hands and arms that were consistent with a force from a blunt object. Dr. Funke testified further that, before she perished, Ascensio suffered a puncture wound to her eye. The doctor found a minimum of three superficial wounds on Ascensio's neck which, in her expert opinion, were caused by a knifepoint or other sharp object merely to produce bleeding. Ascensio ultimately perished from a minimum of five deep incised wounds on the sides of her neck. These cuts completely severed both of Ascensio's jugular veins and her carotid artery on the left side. Dr. Funke discovered that the cuts on the left side of Ascensio's neck went so deep as to incise and fracture Ascensio's spine. These neck wounds caused severe blood loss and death within minutes. Dr. Funke was able to conclude that all of Ascensio's injuries occurred while she was alive and testified that all of these injuries would have been painful for Ascensio. Although Dr. Funke stated that the blows to Ascensio's head may have caused unconsciousness, the doctor testified that it was possible Ascensio was conscious during the attack, and therefore experienced the pain of all of her injuries. In light of this testimony, we conclude that the jury's finding of torture was supported by both sufficient evidence and the weight of the evidence. Finally, we turn to our statutory duty to review a sentence of death. Pursuant to 42 Pa.C.S. § 9711(h)(3), this Court must affirm a death sentence unless we determine that 1) the evidence fails to support the finding of at least one aggravating circumstance, or 2) the sentence was the product of passion, prejudice or any other arbitrary factor. As discussed above, the evidence adduced at trial supports the jury's finding of torture in the Ascensio killing. Moreover, the record also straightforwardly supports an aggravating circumstance in Appellant's murder of Lugo: that Appellant had been convicted of another murder committed in any jurisdiction and committed either before or at the time of the offense at issue, 42 Pa.C.S. § 9711(d)(11). The record here also amply supports the jury's finding that both Ascensio and Lugo were killed in perpetration of a burglary. Id. § 9711(d)(6). Further, our review of the record does not indicate that the jury's verdict resulted from an improper factor.