Court Opinion

ID: 9837065
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-09-02 03:16:12.043335+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:45:20.149660
License: Public Domain

GIERKE, Judge
(concurring):
I agree completely with the majority opinion. I write separately to express my views on Issue I, in order to avoid another reversible error at any sentence rehearing that may be ordered.
In my view the military judge erred by excluding evidence that the actual killer would not face the death penalty. Dennis Simoy, the triggerman, was facing trial by the same sovereign for his participation in appellant’s crime. While 18 USC § 3592(a)(4) and 21 USC § 848(m)(8) are not directed at courts-martial, they are persuasive authority that Congress considers the sentence of a co-actor relevant in federal capital cases.