Opinion ID: 1323198
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 8

Heading: failure of the court to mention mitigating factors in articulating its reasons for the sentence

Text: Williams asserts that the court's opinion clearly shows that it based its decision only on the criminal history reported in the post sentence report, not considering other mitigating circumstances. The trial judge's oral articulation of his reasons for sustaining the death sentence did not specifically mention the mitigating circumstance of Williams' being the first person to arouse suspicion that Stone's death was not from natural causes. However, the trial judge did say he considered the post sentence report that described that mitigating circumstance. Any doubt about the matter was laid to rest in the court's sentencing order, which expressly stated that the court had considered all of the evidence in this case, the report of the Probation Officer, the matters brought out on cross-examination of the Probation Officer and such additional facts as were presented by the defendant.... Accordingly we reject this assignment of error.