Opinion ID: 528874
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 8

Heading: nevada's torture, depravity, mutilation aggravating circumstance

Text: 78 Deutscher argues that the aggravating circumstance of torture, depravity of mind, or mutilation of the victim was unconstitutionally vague as applied to him. Nevada must not allow arbitrary and capricious imposition of the death penalty. See Godfrey v. Georgia, 446 U.S. 420, 427, 100 S.Ct. 1759, 1764, 64 L.Ed.2d 398 (1980). The Supreme Court has insisted that the channeling and limiting of the sentencer's discretion in imposing the death penalty is a fundamental constitutional requirement for sufficiently minimizing the risk of wholly arbitrary and capricious action. Maynard v. Cartwright, 486 U.S. 356, 108 S.Ct. 1853, 1858, 100 L.Ed.2d 372 (1988). Because the jury was instructed that it could find this aggravating circumstance if torture, depravity of mind, or mutilation occurred, each of the three elements must be evaluated. 1 The torture and mutilation aspects of this circumstance are sufficiently clear and objective to satisfy the requirements of Godfrey. The cutting off or destruction of a portion of the body (mutilation) is an objective difference between a murder by mutilation and any other murder. See Godfrey, 446 U.S. at 428, 100 S.Ct. at 1764. Intent to cause cruel pain and suffering for sadistic purposes is a similarly objective and reviewable distinction. 79 The depravity of mind instruction, however, fails to meet Godfrey requirements. There is nothing in the definition of depravity of mind that restrains arbitrary imposition of the death penalty. See Godfrey, 446 U.S. at 428, 100 S.Ct. at 1764. The depravity instruction in this case, although it contains more words, is no more capable of channeling discretion than the especially heinous, atrocious, or cruel instruction rejected in Maynard or the outrageously or wantonly vile, horrible or inhuman instruction in Godfrey. See also Adamson v. Ricketts, 865 F.2d 1011, 1029 (9th Cir.1988) (en banc) (holding Arizona especially cruel, heinous, and depraved aggravating circumstance unconstitutional as applied). 80 Because the jury found two aggravating circumstances besides the torture, depravity of mind, or mutilation circumstance, however, Neuschafer v. Whitley, 816 F.2d 1390, 1393 (9th Cir.1987) (citing Zant v. Stephens, 462 U.S. 862, 103 S.Ct. 2733, 77 L.Ed.2d 235 (1983)), would require affirmance as to this issue had we not decided to reverse on the basis of Deutscher's ineffective assistance claim.