Opinion ID: 1444179
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 14

Heading: Fairness of penalty hearing

Text: Appellant contends that his penalty hearing was not fair because it is impossible to determine on what basis he was sentenced to death. Appellant also contends that the prosecutor's introduction of his prior bad acts violated the prohibition against double jeopardy and his due process rights under the state and federal constitutions. See U.S. Const. amend. V; Nev. Const. art. 1, § 8, cl. 1, 5. Finally, relying on Payne v. Tennessee, 501 U.S. 808, 111 S.Ct. 2597, 115 L.Ed.2d 720 (1991), appellant contends that the state should not have been permitted to present victim impact testimony with respect to crimes that did not constitute the underlying crime supporting the death penalty. First, the reason why the jury returned a verdict of death is not impossible to determine: the state presented evidence of and the jury found six aggravating circumstances. We conclude that all of the aggravating circumstances are supported by the record. Second, NRS 175.552(3) provides that in the penalty hearing evidence may be presented on aggravating and mitigating circumstances concerning the offense, defendant, or victim, and on any other matter which the court determines is relevant to the sentence. Pursuant to NRS 175.552(3), evidence of appellant's prior bad acts was admissible. We conclude that admission of this evidence did not violate the prohibition against double jeopardy or appellant's due process rights, nor did it constitute victim impact testimony of a previous crime. This testimony was presented by the prosecutor in support of the aggravating circumstances. Accordingly, we conclude that appellant has failed to show that his penalty hearing was unfair.