Opinion ID: 900573
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 13

Heading: Deschamp

Text: [¶ 35.] A similar questioning process occurred with Deschamp. Defense counsel's explanation of the sentencing phase was thus: Q. For our discussion purposes let's say that you found Mr. Moeller guilty of the rape and murder of this nine year old girl. And then the government at a separate hearing, that would be after the determination of guilt, would then come forward and say this is a special kind of case under South Dakota law that makes the punishment of death a possibility. You'd have two choices. Life with no parole or death by lethal injection. Given the strength of your feelings about the crime of rape, obviously very strong feelings and no doubt shared by many people, and this is a murder case, if you got to that point and there was two options available to you and you already found Mr. Moeller guilty, would you be strongly inclined or leaning heavily toward a penalty of death at that point? .... Q. If you got to the point where you had to determine what the appropriate punishment was, and of course Judge Rusch can't say vote that way or vote that way, the attorneys can come before you and argue to you or try to persuade you. And what I'm trying to determine, and if I'm misreading you please correct me, but I know how strongly you feel about rape because we've talked about it here. And that given the type of allegations here would you be strongly leaning toward a punishment of death if you were to find my client guilty? A. Yes. If the evidence say so, yes. Yes. [¶ 36.] The defense also challenged Deschamp for cause, and State presented an explanation similar to that given to Raftery. After a thorough description of the process, Deschamp stated that he would be able to take all evidence into account and would listen to the judge's instructions before making a decision as to life or death.