Opinion ID: 1700511
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 24

Heading: State Law Definition of (1)(d)

Text: Aggravating circumstance (1)(d) of § 29-2523 exists when [t]he murder was especially heinous, atrocious, cruel, or manifested exceptional depravity by ordinary standards of morality and intelligence. (Emphasis supplied.) We have repeatedly stated that this aggravating circumstance describes two separate disjunctive circumstances which may operate together or independently of one another. [Citations omitted.] The first circumstance is that the murder was especially heinous, atrocious, or cruel. We have said this circumstance includes a `pitiless crime which is unnecessarily torturous to the victim' and... cases where torture, sadism, or the imposition of extreme suffering exists. State v. Reeves, 239 Neb. 419, 431, 476 N.W.2d 829, 838 (1991), cert. denied ___ U.S. ___, 113 S.Ct. 114, 121 L.Ed.2d 71 (1992). See, also, State v. Joubert, 224 Neb. 411, 399 N.W.2d 237 (1986), cert. denied 484 U.S. 905, 108 S.Ct. 247, 98 L.Ed.2d 205 (1987); State v. Palmer, 224 Neb. 282, 399 N.W.2d 706 (1986), cert. denied 484 U.S. 872, 108 S.Ct. 206, 98 L.Ed.2d 157 (1987); State v. Moore, 210 Neb. 457, 316 N.W.2d 33 (1982), cert. denied 456 U.S. 984, 102 S.Ct. 2260, 72 L.Ed.2d 864; State v. Simants, 197 Neb. 549, 250 N.W.2d 881 (1977), cert. denied 434 U.S. 878, 98 S.Ct. 231, 54 L.Ed.2d 158; State v. Stewart, 197 Neb. 497, 250 N.W.2d 849 (1977). This first circumstance is typically referred to as the first prong of (1)(d). This court has narrowed the class of especially heinous, atrocious, or cruel murders to include those involving torture, sadism, or sexual abuse. See, State v. Palmer, supra ; State v. Reeves, 216 Neb. 206, 344 N.W.2d 433 (1984), cert. denied 469 U.S. 1028, 105 S.Ct. 447, 83 L.Ed.2d 372; State v. Peery, 199 Neb. 656, 261 N.W.2d 95 (1977), cert. denied 439 U.S. 882, 99 S.Ct. 220, 58 L.Ed.2d 194 (1978); State v. Rust, 197 Neb. 528, 250 N.W.2d 867 (1977), cert. denied 434 U.S. 912, 98 S.Ct. 313, 54 L.Ed.2d 198. Torture may be found where the victim is subjected to serious physical, sexual, or psychological abuse before death. State v. Palmer, supra . We have also held the first prong of (1)(d) to be applicable when the murder was preceded by acts performed for the satisfaction of inflicting either mental or physical pain or when such pain exists for any prolonged period of time. See, State v. Victor, 235 Neb. 770, 457 N.W.2d 431 (1990), cert. denied 498 U.S. 1127, 111 S.Ct. 1091, 112 L.Ed.2d 1195 (1991); State v. Hunt, 220 Neb. 707, 371 N.W.2d 708 (1985). In other words, this prong must be looked upon through the eyes of the victim. State v. Joubert, supra . The second circumstance, or prong, is that the murder manifested exceptional depravity. [E]xceptional depravity in a murder exists when it is shown, beyond a reasonable doubt, that the following circumstances, either separately or collectively, exist in reference to a first degree murder: (1) apparent relishing of the murder by the killer; (2) infliction of gratuitous violence on the victim; (3) needless mutilation of the victim; (4) senselessness of the crime; or (5) helplessness of the victim.... [W]here one or more of those five factors are present, there may be a finding of exceptional depravity concerning a first degree murder. State v. Palmer, 224 Neb. at 320, 399 N.W.2d at 731-32. The second prong of (1)(d), that the murder manifested exceptional depravity by ordinary standards of morality and intelligence, pertains to the state of mind of the actor. State v. Otey, 236 Neb. 915, 464 N.W.2d 352 (1991), cert. denied 501 U.S. 1201, 111 S.Ct. 2279, 115 L.Ed.2d 965; State v. Moore, supra . We have held that this prong refers to a murder so coldly calculated as to indicate a state of mind totally and senselessly bereft of regard for human life. State v. Moore, supra ; State v. Peery, supra ; State v. Rust, supra .