Court Opinion

ID: 9534583
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 04:41:10.612635+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:31:57.372908
License: Public Domain

FELDMAN, Chief Justice,
specially concurring.
I agree with the lead opinion’s analysis and result but write separately to set forth some additional views regarding the mitigating circumstances of duress.
I believe there is mitigating value in the fact that the jury did not find that Mickel had killed with premeditation. In my view, the lack of premeditation tends to support the conclusion that Mickel reacted to and obeyed his father’s command to kill. Cf. State v. Fierro, 166 Ariz. 539, 554, 804 P.2d 72, 87 (1991) (holding that the absence of premeditation supported conclusion that defendant killed in fear of his own life and therefore it should be weighed in mitigation).
In evaluating the issue of duress, we must also consider Mickel’s background. As noted in all of the psychological reports prepared for sentencing, Mickel had an abused childhood, living with a tyrannical, violent father who ruled the family through fear. Mickel is young, immature, uneducated, has a low intelligence, and was a substance abuser at the time of the murder. Although none of these factors excuses the killing, they explain why he was likely to follow his father’s commands. As stated by the Maricopa County Department of Health Services psychologist (December 22, 1988 letter to the trial judge), at the time of the killing, Mickel’s mental condition (described in the report as major depression, recurrent, and alcohol intoxication) contributed to the alleged offenses “in the form of impaired judgment and impulsive behavior.” Thus, Mickel’s ability to resist his father’s commands was significantly impaired.
Given the foregoing, I believe the evidence clearly establishes the mitigating circumstances of duress and, combined with the other factors described in the lead opinion, requires reduction of the sentence.