Opinion ID: 2463945
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Death Sentence Proportionality Review (Clayton's point 7)

Text: As his seventh point, Clayton contends that the trial court erred in overruling his motion for a directed verdict for life without parole and that the death sentence is disproportionate under section 565.035.3. Section 565.035 requires us to independently review the sentence of death to determine (1) whether it was imposed under the influence of passion or prejudice, or any other arbitrary factor; (2) whether there was sufficient evidence to support the finding of statutory aggravating circumstances and any other circumstance found; and (3) whether the sentence was excessive or disproportionate to the penalty imposed in similar cases. There is no evidence that the sentence of death was imposed under the influence of passion, prejudice, or any other arbitrary factor. We next review the trial court's findings to determine if the evidence supports  beyond a reasonable doubt  the existence of an aggravating circumstance and any other circumstance found. Section 565.035.3(2); Brown, 902 S.W.2d at 294. The jury unanimously found three statutory aggravators in the murder of Officer Castetter. The evidence supports, beyond a reasonable doubt, a finding that Clayton had been convicted of an assault in 1992, that the murder was committed against a peace officer while engaged in the performance of his official duty, and that the killing was random and without regard to Deputy Castetter's individual identity. Clayton does not contest that the evidence supports a finding of the first two of these statutory aggravating circumstances. Lastly, we must determine whether the sentence of death is excessive or disproportionate. Section 565.035.3(3). In making this determination, we consider similar cases where the death penalty was imposed. Section 565.035.3(3); Nicklasson, 967 S.W.2d at 622. The death sentence in this case is neither excessive nor disproportionate to the penalty imposed in similar cases. This Court has upheld sentences of death where the defendant commits an execution-style shooting of a defenseless victim. See Nicklasson, 967 S.W.2d at 622; State v. Whitfield, 939 S.W.2d 361, 372 (Mo. banc 1997), cert. denied, ___ U.S. ___, 118 S.Ct. 97, 139 L.Ed.2d 52 (1997). This Court has also upheld sentences of death in numerous cases involving killings of peace officers, law enforcement, or correction officers. See State v. Johnson, 968 S.W.2d 123, 135 (Mo. banc 1998), cert. denied, ___ U.S. ___, 119 S.Ct. 348, 142 L.Ed.2d 287 (1998); State v. Sweet, 796 S.W.2d 607, 617 (Mo. banc 1990), cert. denied, 499 U.S. 932, 111 S.Ct. 1339, 113 L.Ed.2d 270 (1991); Mallett, 732 S.W.2d at 542-43; Driscoll, 711 S.W.2d at 517-18. In light of the crime and the strength of the evidence against him, Clayton's sentence of death is not excessive or disproportionate. Clayton particularly asks that we overturn his sentence of death because evidence of deliberation was supplied only by two jail-house snitches. Evidence of deliberation was also supplied, however, by the circumstances of the case, that Deputy Castetter was shot in the forehead at point blank range, with his own pistol still in his holster. Clayton also particularly asks that we consider his mental disabilities in determining whether the sentence of death is appropriate. We find that the record as a whole supports the sentence of death as recommended by the jury and imposed by the judge. Clayton's point 7 is denied.