Court Opinion

ID: 9599530
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 01:19:25.645532+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:03:40.005597
License: Public Domain

Fletcher, Presiding Justice,
dissenting.
For the reasons stated in my dissent in Jenkins v. State3 believe that it is unconstitutional to require a capital defendant to establish mental retardation beyond a reasonable doubt during the guilt/innocence phase. The difficulties inherent in the procedure are apparent in this case. The state’s argument that King was using mental retardation as a way to escape responsibility and avoid the death penalty was subject to two interpretations, both improper. The state’s suggestion that a finding of mental retardation required a not guilty verdict was wrong legally and the trial court properly sustained the argument. The other interpretation is also impermissible - that a finding of mental retardation would bar the imposition of the death penalty.4 Therefore, I conclude that the state’s argument was improper.
I also conclude that the trial court erred in charging the jury on both the statutory aggravating circumstances of armed robbery and murder for the purpose of receiving money because the two circumstances refer to identical aspects of the crime.5
*280Decided November 30, 2000
Reconsideration denied December 15, 2000.
Jackson & Schiavone, George T Jackson, Steven L. Sparger, George B. Hagood, for appellant.
Stephen D. Kelley, District Attorney, John B. Johnson III, Assistant District Attorney, Thurbert E. Baker, Attorney General, Susan V. Boleyn, Senior Assistant Attorney General, Allison B. Vrolijk, Assistant Attorney General, for appellee.
Appendix.
Lee v. State, 270 Ga. 798 (514 SE2d 1) (1999); Whatley v. State, 270 Ga. 296 (509 SE2d 45) (1998); Carr v. State, 267 Ga. 547 (480 SE2d 583) (1997); Thomason v. State, 268 Ga. 298 (486 SE2d 861) (1997); Bishop v. State, 268 Ga. 286 (486 SE2d 887) (1997); McClain v. State, 267 Ga. 378 (477 SE2d 814) (1996); Greene v. State, 266 Ga. 439 (469 SE2d 129) (1996); Mobley v. State, 265 Ga. 292 (455 SE2d 61) (1995); Christenson v. State, 262 Ga. 638 (423 SE2d 252) (1992); Meders v. State, 261 Ga. 806 (411 SE2d 491) (1992); Stripling v. State, 261 Ga. 1 (401 SE2d 500) (1991); Cargill v. State, 255 Ga. 616 (340 SE2d 891) (1986); Davis v. State, 255 Ga. 588 (340 SE2d 862) (1986); Ingram v. State, 253 Ga. 622 (323 SE2d 801) (1984); Horton v. State, 249 Ga. 871 (295 SE2d 281) (1982).

 269 Ga. 282, 298 (498 SE2d 502) (1998).

 See State v. Patillo, 262 Ga. 259 (417 SE2d 139) (1992).

 Simpkins v. State, 268 Ga. 219, 223 (486 SE2d 833) (1997) (Fletcher, P. J., concurring specially).