Opinion ID: 2967883
Heading Depth: 5
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Other Crime Aggravator

Text: The indictment is not defective as to the first-degree murder charges because it sufficiently alleged the death during commission UNITED STATES v. HIGGS 21 of another crime aggravator. The indictment specifically alleges that Higgs killed the three women in the perpetration of, and attempted perpetration of a felony, to wit, kidnapping, J.A. 136, 141, 146, and charges further that Higgs did knowingly, willfully and unlawfully seize, confine, inveigle, decoy, kidnap, abduct, carry away and hold [the women] for a reason which was of benefit to [him]. J.A. 138, 143, 148. Because the indictment charges facts supporting at least one aggravating factor, it is not defective as to the six capital murder counts charged under § 1111(a). This aggravator cannot, however, suffice to render the indictment sufficient for purposes of the three capital counts for kidnapping resulting in death charged under § 1201(a). Even if we assume that the statutory aggravator could have been submitted in support of the kidnapping counts, it was only submitted to the jury in connection with the § 1111(a) first-degree murder counts.