Opinion ID: 867207
Heading Depth: 5
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Use of (F)(6) aggravator terms

Text: ¶ 40 Five factors are used to determine whether a defendant's conduct is heinous or depraved: (1) defendant relished the murder; (2) needless mutilation of the victim; (3) gratuitous violence beyond that necessary to kill; (4) helpless victim; and (5) senseless crime. State v. Greenway, 170 Ariz. 155, 166, 823 P.2d 22, 33 (1991) (citing State v. Gretzler, 135 Ariz. 42, 52-53, 659 P.2d 1, 11-12 (1983)). In her penalty phase closing argument, the prosecutor described Amber as a helpless victim; asked why did he have to kill her?; and noted the brutality of the murder. Although it is improper to argue a non-alleged aggravating circumstance, see State v. Combs, 62 Ohio St.3d 278, 581 N.E.2d 1071, 1077 (1991), that is not what occurred here. ¶ 41 The words the prosecutor used fairly described the facts of the case. See State v. Garza, 216 Ariz. 56, 68 ¶ 57, 163 P.3d 1006, 1018 (2007) (noting that jury may consider the circumstances of the crime in its evaluation of mitigation in the penalty phase). The term helpless described both Amber's age and the circumstances of the crime. Asking why did he kill her? also related to the fact that Amber had done nothing to provoke Nelson's attack. Describing the brutality of Amber's murder also bore on the facts of the case. Although helpless and senseless are terms used to describe the (F)(6) aggravator, the prosecutor did not suggest its existence by using these words, nor did she argue that such an aggravator be considered. Moreover, the jury was unaware of the legal significance of these words because the State did not allege and the court did not instruct on the (F)(6) aggravator.