Opinion ID: 3045004
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Third Death Sentence (1991-1992)

Text: During the sentencing phase of Arthur’s third trial, Arthur asked the trial court to allow him to personally argue for a capital sentence. Arthur gave multiple reasons for why he wanted to request a capital sentence. Arthur believed that, with a capital sentence, he would receive better prison accommodations, more access to the law library, more time to devote to his appeal, a more extensive appeals process, and—based on his prior experience with the capital appellate process—an 7 Case: 12-13952 Date Filed: 01/06/2014 Page: 8 of 53 increased chance for a third reversal. Arthur also believed that, if he received a capital sentence, the sentence would not actually be carried out. The state trial court cautioned Arthur against this course of action but, ultimately, allowed Arthur to proceed. However, the trial court refused to exclude mitigating evidence from the sentencing phase of Arthur’s trial. To that end, the trial court allowed Arthur’s court-appointed counsel to argue against a capital sentence. Arthur’s counsel argued for mitigation based on (1) Arthur’s good conduct while in prison, (2) Arthur’s participation in a program to deter crimes by speaking at high schools, and (3) the disproportionate punishment Arthur faced as compared to the other persons involved in Wicker’s murder. After his counsel argued against a capital sentence, Arthur personally addressed the jury and asked that he be sentenced to death. Arthur clarified that he did not have a “death wish” and did not believe that he would be executed. In support of his request for a death sentence, Arthur explained that his two prior murder convictions and death sentences for Wicker’s murder were reversed on appeal. Arthur claimed that a death sentence would give him more time to spend with his children during their prison visits, provide him with a more private cell, and afford him more control over his appeal. 8 Case: 12-13952 Date Filed: 01/06/2014 Page: 9 of 53 The jury returned an advisory verdict of death. The trial court found that the aggravating factor (i.e., Arthur’s 1977 conviction for West’s murder) outweighed the mitigating factor (i.e., the culpability of Arthur’s un-prosecuted accomplices in Wicker’s murder). On January 24, 1992, the trial court sentenced Arthur to death. Arthur’s trial counsel orally noticed Arthur’s appeal.