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holding that to construe the aggravator that the defendant committed the offense in an especially heinous, cruel, or depraved manner to encompass defendant's action that occurred a day after the acts that caused the death of another runs contrary to the statutory scheme "which calibrates punishment based on events or circumstances arising from the defendant's actions that cause the death of another person"
Summary of this case from U.S. v. SablanOpinion
No. 91SA248
Decided January 10, 1994. Rehearing Denied February 28, 1994.
Appeal from the District Court, Pueblo County Honorable Eugene T. Halaas, Judge
JUDGMENT AFFIRMED
Gale A. Norton, Attorney General, Raymond T. Slaughter, Chief Deputy Attorney General, Timothy M. Tymkovich, Solicitor General John Daniel Dailey, Deputy Attorney General, Robert Mark Russel, First Assistant Attorney General, Robert M. Petrusak, Assistant Attorney General, Criminal Enforcement Section, Denver, Colorado, Attorneys for Plaintiff-Appellee
David F. Vela, Colorado State Public Defender, Michael J. Heher, Deputy State Public Defender, Denver, Colorado, Attorneys for Defendant-Appellant
Appellant Ronald Lee White (White) automatically appeals the district court's sentence of death entered in People v. White, No. 90CR97 (May 16, 1991). The district court entered a judgment of conviction upon White's plea of guilty to the charge of first-degree murder after deliberation of Paul Vosika (Vosika). After holding both a providency hearing on the guilty plea and a sentencing hearing, the district court entered a sentence of death pursuant to section 16-11-103, 8A C.R.S. (1986). We affirm the district court's imposition of a sentence of death.
Our jurisdiction over this direct appeal is established by § 16-11-103(7)(a), 8A C.R.S. (1986), which provides that "[w]henever a sentence of death is imposed upon a person pursuant to the provisions of this section, the supreme court shall review the propriety of that sentence," and by C.A.R. 4(e).
I. [2] THE FACTUAL BACKGROUND
The district court imposed a sentence of death in the Vosika case based in part on guilty pleas which White entered in two first-degree homicide cases, involving the deaths of Victor Lee Woods and Raymond Garcia. Since some of the issues raised in the direct appeal involve the factual background underlying all three homicides, the facts of each are presented below.
A. THREE HOMICIDES Victor Lee Woods
On January 25, 1988, White met Victor Lee Woods (Woods) outside of a bar in Colorado Springs when Woods asked White for a ride home. Upon arrival at Woods' home, White stated that Woods invited him inside for a beer. White entered Woods' apartment and read magazines while Woods went to another part of the apartment. Woods returned a few minutes later and made a sexual advance towards White while threatening White with a knife. White took the knife away from Woods and proceeded to beat Woods who subsequently left the room. Woods returned and attacked White, and the two proceeded to have a second fight, during which White repeatedly stabbed Woods. White eventually left Woods in the bedroom and set fires in the bedroom in the immediate area of Woods' body, in the closet, and in the living room.
The Judgment of Conviction (sentence and mittimus) states that the offense occurred on or about January 26, 1988.
On April 12, 1988, White entered a plea of guilty to a charge of first-degree murder with respect to Woods' homicide. White received a sentence of life.
Raymond Garcia
White entered the night clerk's office at the Hampton Inn in Pueblo. While attempting to rob the Inn, White shot both Raymond Garcia (Garcia) in the back of his head, and Robert Martinez in his jaw. Garcia died as a result of the gunshot.
On April 8, 1988, White entered a plea of guilty to the charges of first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, and aggravated robbery. White received a sentence of life with respect to the first-degree murder charge.
Paul Vosika
On March 26, 1988, Corporal Roger Gomez (Officer Gomez) received a telephone call from a farmer who stated that he had discovered a decomposed animal or human body near the Cedarwood Lane and Abbey Road area in Colorado City in Pueblo County. Officer Gomez proceeded to the location described by the farmer and subsequently discovered a decomposed human torso. Officer Gomez noted that the torso did not have either a head or hands attached to it.
On May 7, 1988, Officer Gomez responded to a telephone call wherein Officer Gomez learned that a skull had been discovered in Rye Mountain Park, in Pueblo County. Officer Gomez went to the location and found the skull in a ravine. Officer Gomez also located some plastic bags, remnants of some black plastic, and a quarter-inch, knotted, white cord in an area where he found what appeared to be a shallow grave. In the same area, Officer Gomez found a pair of black leather gloves, and a miter saw that was partially covered by some pine needles.
On May 9, 1988, Dr. Glen Ferguson, Vosika's stepfather, filed a missing person report, informing Officer Gomez that Vosika had been missing for approximately eight or nine months, since late August or early September, 1987. Dr. Ferguson supplied Officer Gomez with a photograph of Vosika.
James Kramer (Kramer), the Pueblo County Coroner, was present with Officer Gomez when he located both the torso and the skull. After receiving the reports of a forensic pathologist and of a forensic anthropologist, Kramer determined that the torso belonged to Vosika. In May 1988, through both dental identification and cross-referencing dental records, Kramer determined that the skull belonged to Vosika. Kramer ascertained that a single gunshot wound to the head was the cause of Vosika's death. Kramer determined that a gunshot entered the back of Vosika's head and exited in the cheekbone region.
On May 12, 1989, while incarcerated at Centennial Correctional Facility, White entered a plea of guilty to a charge of second-degree assault on another inmate, committed on December 12, 1988.
B. STATEMENTS MADE BY WHITE [17] White's Statements to Officer Perko
On November 30, 1989, and on December 8, 1989, White gave statements to Correctional Officer Frank Perko (Officer Perko). Officer Perko prepared a report based on the statements and forwarded the report to the District Attorney's office. White told Officer Perko that he and Vosika were good friends, and had both consumed and sold narcotics together. White stated that their relationship had deteriorated because Vosika owed White a sum of money that he could not pay. White additionally suspected Vosika of stealing his wallet, which had contained $1,500. White confronted Vosika and informed him that if he did not pay White the money he owed White, then White would kill him. Vosika explained that he would rob a place in order to repay White. They agreed to go to Cheyenne, Wyoming, to execute the robbery.
When they arrived at a truck stop in Cheyenne, Vosika refused to execute the plan. White drove to a secluded area, made Vosika get out of the car and kneel, while begging for his life. White stated that he placed a book against Vosika's head and shot him. He subsequently returned to Colorado.
White informed Officer Perko that he buried the body but subsequently unearthed it and severed the head and hands. White stated that he disposed of the parts in different locations, and later gave Officer Perko a map showing where he buried the body parts and the saw. White also indicated to Officer Perko that he wanted to be transferred to Wyoming.
White's Statements to Officer Gomez
In December of 1989, Officer Gomez and Detective McCain went to Centennial to interview White. At that time, investigation of the Vosika murder had been on inactive status. On December 22, 1989, Officer Gomez had a conversation with White, wherein White informed Officer Gomez that Vosika was heavily involved in drugs and stole things from his friends and family in order to maintain his habit. White stated that Vosika stole two ounces of cocaine and approximately $1,500 from White's wallet. White informed Officer Gomez that he had planned on killing Vosika as a result of the thefts. White stated that he planned a robbery of a truck stop in Cheyenne, Wyoming. White intended to take Vosika to the truck stop and direct Vosika to complete the robbery, after which Vosika could repay White the money stolen. White informed Officer Gomez that he planned Vosika's last meal when purchasing a case of beer.
White told Officer Gomez that he proceeded to Wyoming with Vosika, but when the two arrived in Cheyenne, Vosika began to "chicken out" when he saw a security guard. As a consequence, White forced Vosika to go to the rear of the vehicle and kneel on the ground. Vosika, according to White, was crying, so White called him a "bitch" and directed him to "stop crying and die like a man." For the following half hour, Vosika cried and begged for his life. White eventually retrieved a paperback novel from the rear of his vehicle, placed it behind Vosika's head, and shot him through the back of the head. White stated that he used the book to "cause less blood."
White picked Vosika up and threw him in the trunk, covering him with a beige curtain. White returned to Pueblo and retired for the evening. The next day, he watched a television program before driving the body to Colorado City. He found a bushy area near the side of the road. He removed Vosika's body from the trunk and pushed or kicked it through a barbed wire fence. At some point, a man, woman and small child approached in a red truck. White moved the curtain in order to hide the body, but stated that he had a gun accessible in the waistband of his pants and would have shot the people if necessary. The truck eventually drove off. White became upset as a result of the truck's passing, so he struck Vosika's head twice with a shovel.
White placed the body approximately thirty feet from the south side of the road and returned to Pueblo.
While in Pueblo, White became concerned that the people in the red truck saw him place the body away from the road. White then decided to return and dismember the body in order to prevent identification of it by destroying evidence of fingerprints and dental charts. White procured a miter saw, a shovel, some plastic bags, and some cord. He returned to the body later that night. White first removed Vosika's hand by placing his foot on Vosika's forearm and holding his hand. White stated that it felt strange to hold Vosika's hand because it felt as if he were holding his own hand. White stated that he was surprised at how easily the hand was removed.
White told Officer Gomez that he wrapped Vosika's head in a plastic bag and secured the bag with a cord. White propped the head up and started cutting with a miter saw. White stated that this was more difficult than he anticipated because the saw blade got stuck on vertebrae in the neck. He was surprised at the amount of blood in the bag, so he removed the head from the first bag and placed it in a second bag. During the conversation, Officer Gomez asked White if he owned a pair of gloves similar to the pair found in Rye Mountain Park. White first responded in the negative, but later stated that he did in fact own a similar pair of gloves. White informed Officer Gomez that he used plastic trash bags to transport Vosika's body, and that he used the saw to remove Vosika's head and hands. White informed Officer Gomez that he took the remains up to the mountains so animals could discover them and drag them away, and that he dug a shallow grave for the remains.
White's Statements to Officer Spinuzzi
On February 23, 1990, White gave a different account of events to Sergeant Tony Spinuzzi (Officer Spinuzzi). White informed Officer Spinuzzi that Vosika had stolen his narcotics and money, and had forced him to flush narcotics in the toilet. White also stated that he and Vosika were in the kitchen at 119 Bonnymede in Pueblo when Vosika told White that he had "charged some dope" to White's name. White pulled a gun out of a drawer and forced Vosika to get on the kitchen floor. White was going to kill Vosika in the kitchen, but changed his mind and directed Vosika to crawl from the kitchen to the garage. Once inside the garage, White told Vosika that he would open the garage door and give Vosika a chance to run. White stated that he did this so Vosika would not get up and attempt to run. White approached Vosika who was lying on the garage floor, placed a couple of books on Vosika's head, and shot Vosika. White subsequently put a bag over Vosika's head, lined the trunk of his car with a shower curtain, wrapped Vosika's body in a mattress cover and put Vosika's body in the trunk of the car.
On January 26, 1990, White gave a statement to Undersheriff Avery (Officer Avery), informing Officer Avery that the homicide occurred in Pueblo. White subsequently wrote several letters to various officers wherein White alleged, among other things, that either Vosika's sister, Colombian gangsters, President Reagan, or a three-year-old gang member were responsible for the homicide.
White informed Officer Spinuzzi that, on the following day, he purchased a shovel and drove to the Cedarwood Lane area where White drove off the road and stopped his car. White unloaded Vosika's body and placed it behind some bushes. White saw a truck approach and stop, so he left the area and returned to Pueblo. Later that day, White went to a hardware store and purchased a saw. He returned to the Cedarwood area and used the saw to remove the head and hands from Vosika's body. White informed Officer Spinuzzi that he did so in order to prevent recognition of the body. White subsequently placed the head and hands in a bag, tied the bag, and buried the bag with the saw in the park. White stated that he wore tight-fitting black gloves at this time, and that he threw his clothing away in different trash cans.
During their conversation, White told Officer Spinuzzi that he had killed two people in Adams County, in Colorado Springs, and at the Hampton Inn. Subsequent to their conversation, White wrote several letters to Officer Spinuzzi, in which he stated that most of the information that he had provided to Officer Spinuzzi consisted of lies. In one letter, White wrote, "I told you Bill did it before he even told on me. . . . But I will still say I did it."
White was referring to William Young, a former associate, whom he had attempted to implicate in the homicide.
C. PRELIMINARY PROCEEDINGS
Based on his confessions, a direct information charging White with first-degree murder during "the last week of August, 1987 and [on] the 15th day of September, A.D. 1987," was filed on March 9, 1990. The district court held a hearing on April 17, 1990, wherein counsel for White questioned White's competency based on the "wildly contradictory" confessions given by White. Counsel for White requested that a competency examination be performed prior to a preliminary hearing. Counsel for White additionally requested that White be present at all proceedings in the case. White was present at that hearing. The district court, on April 19, entered an order directing the Colorado State Hospital to perform a competency evaluation of White pursuant to section 16-8-106, 8A C.R.S. (1986), at Centennial. On June 5, 1990, the district court entered an order finding White competent to proceed based on a report written by a state hospital staff psychiatrist, Dr. Seymour Sundell.
On June 15, White filed a motion requesting the district court to issue an order authorizing a second psychiatric evaluation of White to be conducted by a psychiatrist of White's own selection pursuant to section 16-8-108, 8A C.R.S. (1986). The People opposed this motion on the grounds that White did not have an absolute right to an appointment of a psychiatrist of his own choosing. The People also contended that White did not demonstrate "good cause" for the need of a second opinion.
The district court subsequently entered an order setting the People's motion in opposition for hearing on Monday, July 2. On July 23, the district court entered an order wherein it found that good cause was not a prerequisite to ordering a psychiatric evaluation pursuant to section 16-8-108. The district court ordered that Dr. William Ingram be given a reasonable opportunity to conduct a psychiatric examination of White, and that the expense of the examination be paid by the State of Colorado.
On August 16, White filed a request to enter a plea of guilty to the charge of first-degree murder on the condition that he be sentenced to death rather than life imprisonment. White contended that he would "rather receive the death penalty and be executed than to continue having to contend with the corruption, hypocrisy, hostility and cruelty" he confronted at Centennial Correctional Facility. On September 20, the district court held a hearing and concluded that it could not accept White's plea because it could not accept a predetermined sentence of death.
A preliminary hearing was held on October 15, 1990. The People called as witnesses Officer Gomez, Officer Perko, and Officer Spinuzzi. Each officer testified regarding the statements given to them by White. White contended, among other things, that venue was not proper in Colorado since the crime occurred in Wyoming. The district court entered an order on October 29, 1990, finding probable cause existed to proceed with prosecution of the charge contained in the information based on evidence adduced at the preliminary hearing.
On November 14, White filed a motion for payment of a psychiatrist, on the ground that White was an indigent and could not afford to retain a psychiatrist prior to any determination by counsel regarding whether pleas of not guilty by reason of insanity or not guilty by reason of impaired mental condition existed.
On January 15, 1991, White requested that one of three psychiatrists, including Dr. William Ingram (Dr. Ingram) and Dr. Kathy Morall (Dr. Morall), be "appointed to assist him in connection with any death penalty hearing which may be held." On February 12, 1991, the district court entered a second order appointing Dr. Ingram to examine White pursuant to section 16-8-108. The order referenced a stipulation submitted to the district court by the People on January 8, wherein the People agreed that the findings and conclusions of such a psychiatrist would be confidential and disclosed only to White's counsel. The order also provided that
Dr. Ingram shall prepare a written report of his examination which addresses the issues of insanity, impaired mental condition, and competency, but that report shall not be filed with this Court. Said report shall be furnished to the Defendant's attorneys of record and shall be a confidential communication between Dr. Ingram and said attorneys. . . .
On the same date, the district court entered an order appointing Dr. Morall to conduct an evaluation of White and submit to the district court a report stating whether White was competent to proceed to a providency hearing.
On February 26, White filed a motion seeking approval of an hourly fee of $80.00 for Dr. Ingram. On March 19, the district court entered an order recognizing that White planned on entering a plea of guilty to the charge of first-degree murder and preferred imposition of the penalty of death. Thus, the district ruled:
Under the unusual circumstances of this particular case, this Court believes that it is appropriate and proper to deviate from Supreme Court Directive 87-01 concerning Court compensation of experts, and to authorize payment of the defense psychiatrist at 100% of his hourly rate.
On March 22, the district court entered an order setting a providency hearing for White's plea on April 23, to be followed by a sentencing hearing should the district court accept White's plea.
On April 16, the district court entered an order staying the previous district court order directing Dr. Morall to conduct a competency examination. The district court based its order on the grounds that White opposed a continuance and waived any further competency examination, and the district court had previously found that White was competent on June 5, 1990 (based on Dr. Sundell's report). On April 17, 1991, White filed a withdrawal of his request for a competency hearing on the grounds that "he does not intend to pursue his claim that he is mentally incompetent to proceed. [White] admits that he is not able to sustain the burden of proof of showing that he is incompetent."
D. HEARINGS [47] Providency Hearing
At the providency hearing on April 24, 1991, White informed the district court that he was prepared to enter a plea over his attorney's objections. The district court asked White if he had discussed all possible defenses with his attorney, to which White replied that he had. White's attorney stated that he did not have any reason to believe that White was not competent. The district court subsequently established on the record that White understood that he was relinquishing his right to remain silent by entering a plea. The district court also established that White understood that his plea had to be free and voluntary. White testified that he was not under the influence of any drug, alcohol, or medication, and that no one was exercising any influence over him regarding his decision to enter a plea.
The district court established that White understood the charge of murder after deliberation, and, by entering a guilty plea, that he was relinquishing certain constitutional rights. White also indicated that he understood the maximum and minimum penalties corresponding to the charge. The prosecution subsequently called Officer Gomez as a witness, in order to establish a factual basis for the plea. The prosecution also offered testimony given at the preliminary hearing as part of the factual basis for the plea. The district court then asked White whether he still wished to enter a plea of guilty, to which White responded affirmatively. The district court entered a finding of guilty to the charge, and then took a recess before commencing the sentencing phase of the bifurcated proceeding.
Sentencing Hearing
The district court reconvened in the afternoon on April 24, and commenced the sentencing hearing. Officer Spinuzzi testified that a .38 caliber revolver was used to kill Vosika, but that a .38 caliber revolver had not been recovered. He also testified that a .38 caliber revolver had been used to kill the clerk in the Hampton Inn case, a crime to which White pleaded guilty. The slugs retrieved in both cases, however, did not appear to have been fired from the same weapon. Officer Spinuzzi testified that White purported to have disposed of the weapons in the Arkansas River, near Baxter Road. The Sheriff's Department, however, did not discover any weapons there. Officer Spinuzzi testified that neither a shower curtain nor a mattress cover was recovered. According to Officer Spinuzzi, no sheriffs either went to Wyoming or contacted law enforcement officers in Wyoming to investigate White's claims that the murder occurred in Wyoming. Officers only investigated the garage at 119 Bonnymede to confirm that a homicide occurred there. The investigation did not yield a copy of the book used in the murder. Officer Spinuzzi characterized White's demeanor during the interview as sober at times, but smirking or grinning at other times. Officer Spinuzzi corroborated the fact that White purchased two .38 caliber revolvers and a shotgun in Denver, in accord with White's statements. White's drawing of the saw matched the saw later discovered.
Officer Avery testified that White did not express remorse, but maintained a solemn facial expression and cooperated in answering the questions. He also testified that the letters he received from White after the confession did not include expressions of remorse with respect to the homicide. Officer Avery testified that he did not believe that the homicide occurred in Wyoming, and that he felt as though White was attempting to manipulate him during the interview and through the letters. Officer Avery testified that he could not independently verify that the homicide did not occur in Pueblo, nor was there any physical evidence specifically connecting White to the homicide. Officer Avery testified that he approached William Young while Young was incarcerated but Young refused to discuss the Vosika homicide.
Sergeant Kenneth Fiorillo (Officer Fiorillo) testified that he investigated the Woods homicide, and took White's statement in that investigation. Officer Daniel Snell (Officer Snell) testified that he investigated the murder of Raymond Garcia (Garcia), who died as a result of a single gunshot to the back of his head while working at the Hampton Inn. Officer Snell also testified that Robert Martinez (Martinez) was shot during this incident, but did not die. White informed Officer Snell that he shot both Garcia and Martinez. Officer Snell testified that White neither expressed remorse with respect to Garcia nor concern with respect to Martinez.
Assistant District Attorney Kathleen Eberling (Eberling) testified that White was convicted of second-degree assault on May 12, 1989. White informed Eberling that he had killed three people and would do it again. He said that, to increase awareness of his perceived mistreatment at Centennial Correctional Facility and to get the attention of the Department of Corrections, he would continue to attempt to murder others at the facility. Eberling testified that she previously worked at the Pueblo District Attorney's office, where Sheriff Templeton of the Pueblo Sheriff's department contacted Eberling with respect to the Vosika case. Initially, White wanted to implicate Young in the Vosika homicide, but Eberling indicated that White's testimony would not be sufficient to file a murder case without corroborating evidence.
Officer Gomez testified that he knew that White had made several different statements over the course of the investigation regarding the manner in which the Vosika homicide occurred. Officer Gomez additionally stated that White's demeanor throughout the confession was businesslike, and that White did not show remorse. According to Officer Gomez, White told him he struck the face of the corpse twice with a shovel after seeing the red pickup truck.
White informed Officer Gomez that he killed Woods in Colorado Springs. White stated that Woods approached him and asked him for a ride home while White was with a woman in a bar. After arriving home, Woods made a sexual advance to White while holding a knife. Woods grabbed White by his hair, threw White on the ground, and placed his foot on White's back. By acting scared, White was able to take the knife away from Woods. White stabbed Woods in his rib area and beat Woods after toying with him for half an hour.
Officer Gomez testified that White's statement regarding the Woods homicide reflected pleasure and not remorse. He also testified that White confessed to killing two men many years prior to 1988, whose bodies were never discovered. White refused to inform Officer Gomez where the bodies were located. White did inform Officer Gomez that he robbed the Holiday Inn, the Raintree, and the Hampton Inn, where he committed a homicide.
Officer Gomez first approached White with Officer Templeton in reference to Young, before White confessed to Officer Perko. White then indicated that Young was responsible for Vosika's death. Officer Gomez discovered trash bags, a cord, and human hair in the "shallow grave." Officer Gomez inspected the fence through which White allegedly put the body, and did not discover any fabric or flesh on the wire. During their second interview, White told Officer Gomez that Young did not murder Vosika, but rather that White did. Officer Gomez testified that White stated, in a sarcastic voice, that he had been rehabilitated since their first interview. White additionally informed Officer Gomez that he had committed an assault while in prison.
Counsel for White subsequently commenced presentation of mitigating evidence. In his opening statement, counsel for White contended that White entered a plea of guilty not because of the overwhelming evidence of his guilt, but because he wanted to make the point that he would rather die than continue living subject to the treatment he was receiving in the Department of Corrections. Counsel for White indicated that White had served three years of two previous life sentences he had received. Counsel for White also contended that the death penalty was not necessary in White's case, because White does not present a threat to society as White would never be likely to be out of prison for the rest of his life.
Father Gabriel Weber (Father Weber) testified that he had known White for twelve to fourteen years in his capacity as a parish priest. Father Weber testified that he regularly met with White once every two or three months. Father Weber also testified that White "changed so much for the better" as a result of his belief in God.
Steven Kantrud (Kantrud) testified that he was presently incarcerated at the Centennial Corrections Facility, and has been there for approximately three and one-half years, serving a sentence for burglary and escape. Kantrud stated that he and White were housed in the same pod when Kantrud witnessed six officers enter White's cell and remain there for approximately two to three minutes. The officers subsequently brought White out of his cell and slammed White on the floor in front of Kantrud's cell. Each officer held one of White's hands or feet, and one officer held White by his hair, according to Kantrud, when they shackled White and slammed him into the wall a couple of times. Kantrud stated that White was not resisting the officers during this episode. Kantrud testified that he witnessed an event wherein officers broke the arm of a different prisoner.
Joseph Gonzales (Gonzales) testified that he was presently incarcerated at the Centennial Corrections Facility, and has been there for approximately three years, serving a sentence for aggravated robbery. Gonzales testified that he witnessed ten officers beat White. Gonzales testified that he could hear the officers bouncing White off the walls of White's cell, and could see the officers "stomping on him, cuffing him out, and carrying him out of there by the hands cuffed in back of him and his legs shackled." Gonzales also testified to other acts of violence inflicted by officers on prisoners other than White.
Cordell Johnson (Johnson) testified that he was presently incarcerated at the Centennial Corrections Facility, and has been there for approximately four years, serving a sentence for first-degree assault and robbery. Johnson testified to various acts of violence inflicted upon him by officers and to the general living conditions at the facility.
Christopher Rodriguez (Rodriguez) testified that he was presently incarcerated at the Centennial Corrections Facility, and has been there for approximately five years, serving a sentence for first-degree murder. Rodriguez testified that he had been stabbed in the neck by another inmate at the facility who had been "put up to it" by an officer. Rodriguez testified that the officers at the facility did not like him because of the nature of the crime he committed, and, as a result, the officers regularly try to get inmates to harm him. Rodriguez said he had witnessed six officers run into White's cell during a shakedown, and beat White with their fists. Rodriguez also stated that the officers handcuffed White, threw him on the floor outside of his cell, and hit White on the side of the head. Rodriguez classified this as one of the worst beatings he had witnessed during his five years at the facility.
Gerald Moreland (Moreland) testified that he was presently incarcerated at the Centennial Corrections Facility, and has been there for approximately six years, serving a sentence for burglary and as a habitual criminal. On one occasion, Moreland testified that six or seven guards attacked him and repeatedly shocked him with a hand-held box called a "Tazer SR." Moreland testified that the beating rendered him unconscious, so other inmates began to yell for medical attention; however, Moreland did not receive medical attention for approximately one and one-half weeks.
Dr. Ingram testified that, in his capacity as a psychiatrist, he evaluated White twice, on September 10 and on September 14, 1989. The district court appointed Dr. Ingram to evaluate White in order to determine whether White's drug use history affected White's ability to knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily enter a guilty plea. Dr. Ingram testified that, in 1987 and in 1988, White used a lot of cocaine, Dilaudid, and alcohol. As a result of his cocaine use, White became very paranoid, reacting to people who were not present and tearing apart his clothing because he believed that evidence had been planted on him. Dr. Ingram testified that White was once flown to a hospital in Denver in a helicopter as a result of his drug use. White additionally heard voices and experienced convulsive seizures. Dr. Ingram diagnosed White as having cocaine delusional disorder (or cocaine psychosis), a mental state which occurs during and after cocaine use wherein an individual becomes irrationally suspicious of others in the environment and may experience delusionary ideas of persecution. Dr. Ingram testified that, in the report he previously prepared for defense counsel, he concluded that White's drug use affected White's ability to knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily enter a plea of guilty.
Dr. Ingram testified that he examined White again on March 16, 1991, in order to assist the defense in determining whether White was competent or legally insane. Dr. Ingram concluded that White was competent and legally sane at that time. Dr. Ingram testified that White first told him that Young killed Vosika in Cheyenne, Wyoming. White subsequently told Dr. Ingram that he shot Vosika in a garage at an apartment they shared in Pueblo on Bonnymede, using a handgun and putting a book between the gun and Vosika's head. White was more interested in discussing prison conditions than the events surrounding the Vosika homicide. Dr. Ingram noted that White's file at Centennial Correctional Facility included a psychiatric summary, diagnosing White as having a delusional paranoid disorder grandiose type (an affixed belief which is not congruent with reality and usually involves only one situation, one personality, or one group). Dr. Ingram did not necessarily agree with the diagnosis, in part on the ground that no other professional had diagnosed White as having that disorder. White indicated to Dr. Ingram that he wanted to plead guilty to first-degree murder in order to change the conditions under which he was being forced to live, because he thought that they were intolerable. White hoped to be transferred as a result of presenting this information to the court by way of confession, or to be given the death penalty, which White viewed as being preferable to being beaten repeatedly. Dr. Ingram testified that White did not want to die, and that death was not White's primary purpose.
Dr. Ingram also testified on cross-examination that White's primary disorder is anti-social personality disorder. Based on this diagnosis, Dr. Ingram testified that White may be a danger to others in his location. Dr. Ingram also testified on cross-examination that White would "attempt to kill people in order to bring to light those things that he is unhappy with."
Counsel for White informed the court that counsel advised White not to testify in the present case. White, however, elected to testify. White presented extensive testimony on the subjects of the abject living conditions at Centennial and of physical abuse by officers directed at inmates. His testimony was consistent with his position that he only wanted the death penalty as an alternative to remaining at Centennial for the duration of his life, subject to both the physical abuse and to the abject living conditions.
White presented approximately sixty-four pages of testimony.
White specifically testified:
[Y]ou just don't kill cops in prison, but [the officers at Centennial] proved to me — and they know that that's why I'm in [administrative lock-up] that you got nothing to lose by killing a cop in the Colorado penitentiary, and they make their own jobs dangerous, because they're the ones that give you that attitude, because I would never considered [sic] killing a cop, and now I know I will, `cause we're in a corner, and it's more justified for us to kill the cops in Colorado — well, especially at Centennial.
. . . .
. . . I know that the only way to change is to go to death row so I'm isolated so they don't have to write lies and discriminate against me and keep me down there, and you know and I know that I couldn't fight the temptation of killing one of the guards. I'll definitely kill one of those guards. Like I say, it's more justified — if war is justified, this is justified.
White stated that he viewed the act of killing a cop as an act of self-defense.
In his testimony, White did not express remorse for committing any of the homicides which he claimed that he committed. With respect to the Vosika homicide, White only testified that his father was upset that he gave a statement to Officer Perko because Officer Perko was running against his father in an election. White stated that he did not give a statement that he committed the crime in Wyoming in order to be transferred to a Wyoming prison. White testified on cross-examination that he would have shot the man in the red truck that had stopped near him, but not the woman and the child. At the conclusion of White's testimony, counsel for White rested, and final statements were given.
Sentencing
On May 16, 1991, the district court held a hearing to deliver the sentence. The district court stated that a class 1 sentencing hearing was mandated by statute, and that the district court must conduct the sentencing hearing when an accused enters a plea of guilty which the court accepts. The district court explained that it would read its written order to explain "the reasons for [the] sentence, what the standards are, and how they were applied." The district court thus stated:
Section 16-11-103(1)(a), 8A C.R.S. (1986), provides that, "if the defendant pleaded guilty, the hearing shall be conducted before the trial judge."
The purpose of the standards that have to be applied by either a jury or the judge is to ensure that whatever decision is reached is a reliable decision. Reliable in the sense that the decision was not arrived at in the heat of passion or prejudice against an accused. These standards further provide that the decision will be the result of the application of objective standards and not arbitrary and capricious.
. . . .
A Class 1 felony sentencing hearing mandates the sentencer, either the judge or jury, to make certain findings and conclusions based upon four separate steps. The first step is a determination beyond a reasonable doubt that certain statutory aggravating factors exist. In this case two statutory aggravating factors have been considered.
In the determination of these aggravating — statutory aggravating factors, I've applied the rules that apply to a jury in determining credibility and reasonable doubt, and I've discussed in my order the instructions that I would have read to a jury.
The first aggravating factor, which evidence was presented as to [section] 16-11-103(6)(b), [8A C.R.S. (] 1986[)], and that factor states that, "The defendant was previously convicted in this state of a Class 1 or 2 felony involving violations as specified in Section 16-11-309."
. . . [T]here were two convictions. The first one concerns the El Paso County First-Degree Murder conviction. I've determined that that was established beyond a reasonable doubt. . . .
The El Paso County conviction for First-Degree Murder, a Class 1 felony, was accomplished by the use of a knife, and therefore I determined that it was a crime of violence pursuant to 16-11-309(2)(a)(1).
The second conviction is a conviction dated April 20. . . . It too established a conviction for First-Degree Murder After Deliberation. It also included a Judgment of Conviction for Attempted Murder in the First-Degree. These offenses were accomplished by the use of a firearm, and therefore, pursuant to statute, are crimes of violence.
I therefore concluded . . . that — beyond a reasonable doubt that the statutory aggravator was established.
The second statutory aggravating factor is, "Whether or not the defendant committed the offense in an especially heinous, cruel, or depraved manner." The legal standard that has been approved by the U.S. Supreme Court and the Colorado Supreme Court has limited that language to the standard of a "[conscienceless] or pitiless manner unnecessarily torturous to the victim" is the standard that has been approved.
The standard "heinous, cruel or depraved" itself has been determined to be too broad and therefore, any finding pursuant to that standard would be arbitrary and capricious, and I have, in accordance with Colorado Supreme Court and their decision in People v. Davis[, 794 P.2d 159 (Colo. 1990), cert. denied, 498 U.S. 1018 (1991)], employed the limitations of "pitiless". . . . I considered all testimony presented during the Class 1 sentencing hearing. I considered — which, of course, includes your statements. . . .
The district court subsequently read that portion of its order describing the manner in which White killed Vosika and disposed of the body, conforming to the statements given to Officer Gomez. The district court subsequently stated that, "based upon its findings and evaluations of pertinent evidence[, it] is convinced beyond a reasonable doubt that the murder of Paul Vosika was committed in a [conscienceless] and pitiless manner, unnecessarily torturous to Paul Vosika." The district court subsequently stated that,
[s]ince the statutory aggravating factors I've just detailed have been established beyond a reasonable doubt, I'm required then to go to step II. There are four steps in this process.
Step II requires consideration of mitigation — mitigating evidence. There is no burden of proof on any part[y] as to the existence or nonexistence of mitigation. I consider mitigation as follows: "Any evidence as to mitigation, regardless of its probative value, requires consideration pursuant to Step III." Thus, in this case "any" relevant evidence having been received, mitigating evidence exists.
Step III requires a sentencer to, "weigh any existing mitigating factors of record against statutory aggravating factors."
The legal standard that the Court was required to employ in this case is, "The obligation of being convinced beyond a reasonable doubt that, upon evidence received pursuant to [section] 16-11-103(a), sufficient mitigating factors do not outweigh proven statutory aggravating factors."
The district court subsequently found the following mitigating factors: (1) White was thirty-two years of age in August of 1987; (2) his capacity to appreciate wrongfulness was significantly impaired; (3) White's statement that he was enraged and did not know beforehand that he would kill Vosika that night; (4) the extent of White's cooperation with police officers in making several confessions; (5) White was both a drug and alcohol addict at the time of Vosika's murder; (6) White believed that his acts were morally justified; (7) sworn testimony exposed the brutal conditions at the DOC; (8) White does not want the death penalty imposed any more than any other individual; (9) White twice stated that he feels bad about killing Vosika; (10) White has reestablished ties with the Christian church; and (11) White has a good relationship with his parents.
The district court subsequently weighed all the mitigating factors against only the proven statutory aggravating factors. The district court then stated:
I'm convinced beyond a reasonable doubt that all mitigating factors of record do not beyond a reasonable doubt outweigh proven aggravating factors.
This requires that I proceed to Step IV, which is the last step. . . . The legal standard concerning this step is that, "There is no burden of proof on any party concerning Step IV; however, the sentencer must be convinced beyond a reasonable doubt that a sentence of death is the appropriate sentence before such a sentence may be imposed."
The district court subsequently considered both the mitigating evidence and the aggravating evidence and found that
the measure of all evidence of record bearing on mitigation as determined by reasonable doubt does not, beyond a reasonable doubt, exceed or offset the measure of knowing, gratuitous violence Defendant has inflicted upon innocent victims. . . . The Court concludes beyond a reasonable doubt that the sentence of death is appropriate.
The district court concluded the sentencing hearing by advising White that his sentence would be automatically reviewed by the supreme court. The instant appeal followed.
II. [101] LEGAL STANDARDS
White contends that the legal standard applied by the district court at the third step in the sentencing process, set forth in section 16-11-103(2)(a)(II), 8A C.R.S. (1986), violates his rights under the Due Process, Cruel and Unusual Punishment, and Ex Post Facto Clauses of both the Colorado and United States Constitutions. Specifically, White contends that the district court introduced an improper standard into the sentencing process by inserting the phrase "beyond a reasonable doubt" into the phrase "all mitigating factors of record do not outweigh proven statutory aggravating factors." We disagree. The standard articulated and applied by the district court in this case is consistent with the statutory standard as construed by this court in People v. Tenneson, 788 P.2d 786 (Colo. 1990), and thus possesses the heightened certainty and reliability that is constitutionally required in capital sentences.
White articulated the following issues addressing this argument: II. The trial court's imposition of the death penalty because mitigation did not, "beyond a reasonable doubt," outweigh aggravation, violated the death statute and the Due Process, Ex Post Facto and Cruel and Unusual Punishment Clauses of the federal and Colorado Constitutions. III. The trial court's requirement that mitigation outweigh statutory aggravating factors "beyond a reasonable doubt" at the third step of the statutory process, or the court would proceed to the fourth step, violated the death statute and denied Mr. White his rights under the Due Process and Cruel and Unusual Punishment Clauses. IV. The trial court's application of the "beyond a reasonable doubt standard" of proof to mitigating factors violated the Due Process and Cruel and Unusual Punishment Clauses of the federal and Colorado Constitutions, and the death statute. V. The trial court merely repeated the third step at the fourth step of the statutory process, violating the death statute and the Due Process and Cruel and Unusual Punishment Clauses of the federal and Colorado Constitutions.
See court's findings quoted supra p. 29.
A. THE "BEYOND A REASONABLE DOUBT" STANDARD
Section 16-11-103, 8A C.R.S. (1986 1987 Supp.), provides the process by which sentences are imposed in capital cases where a defendant has been found guilty of a class 1 felony and a sentencing hearing has been conducted. See People v. Tenneson, 788 P.2d 786, 789 (Colo. 1990). The process is defined as follows:
Since White entered a plea stating that he killed Vosika in late August or early September of 1987, the 1986 version of § 16-11-103 applies in this case.
(2)(a) After hearing all the evidence and arguments of the prosecuting attorney and the defendant, the jury shall deliberate and render a verdict based upon the following considerations:
(I) Whether at least one aggravating factor has been proved as enumerated in subsection (6) of this section;
(II) Whether sufficient mitigating factors exist which outweigh any aggravating factors found to exist; and
(III) Based on the considerations in subparagraphs (I) and (II) of this paragraph (a), whether the defendant should be sentenced to death or life imprisonment.
§ 16-11-103(2)(a), 8A C.R.S. (1986). We have construed this section to require capital sentencers to follow a four-step process. Tenneson, 788 P.2d at 789; see People v. District Court, 834 P.2d 181, 185 (Colo. 1992); People v. Young, 814 P.2d 834, 839-41 (Colo. 1991).
In Tenneson, we identified each of the four steps, noting that the statute first requires a jury to determine whether the prosecution has proven that at least one statutory aggravating factor exists beyond a reasonable doubt. Tenneson, 788 P.2d at 789. Second, if the jury determines that the prosecution has proven that at least one statutory aggravating factor exists, "the jury must then consider whether any mitigating factors exist." Id. (citing § 16-11-103(2)(a)(II), -103(5)). "Third, the jury must determine whether `sufficient mitigating factors exist which outweigh any aggravating factor or factors found to exist.'" Id. (quoting § 16-11-103(2)(a)(II)). Fourth, in the event that "the jury finds that any mitigating factors do not outweigh the proven statutory aggravating factors, it must decide whether the defendant should be sentenced to death or to life imprisonment." Id. (quoting § 16-11-103(2)(a)(III)).
In Tenneson, we were called upon to evaluate whether certain jury instructions given in regard to the third step of the sentencing process comported with the Eight Amendment's proscription against cruel and unusual punishment. The jury in that case was instructed "that in order to sentence the defendant to death they must be convinced beyond a reasonable doubt that the proven statutory aggravating factors outweigh any mitigating factors." Id. at 795. We noted that the statute providing the four-step process did not supply a standard with which to determine whether sufficient mitigating factors existed to outweigh any aggravating factor or factors. Id. at 789-90.
At the outset, we noted that federal constitutional standards are highly relevant in determining the meaning of our statute. Id. at 790. Additionally, we noted that the United States Supreme Court has never found that the United States Constitution requires a specific method for balancing mitigating factors against aggravating factors. Id. at 792 n. 9. In order to comply with the Eighth Amendment's proscription against cruel and unusual punishments, we recognized that a statute must both limit the class of persons eligible for the penalty, and permit capital sentencers to consider any relevant mitigating evidence. Id. at 790 (relying on Lowenfield v. Phelps, 484 U.S. 231 (1988); Blystone v. Pennsylvania, 494 U.S. 299 (1990)). These requirements provide reliability and certainty in capital sentencing. See Tenneson, 788 P.2d at 790-91. Thus, in Tenneson, we observed:
The United States Supreme Court has consistently declined to impose on states a prescribed method of weighing aggravating versus mitigating circumstances. Boyde v. California, 494 U.S. 370, 377 (1990) (relying on Franklin v. Lynaugh, 487 U.S. 164, 181 (1988) (plurality opinion)); Zant v. Stephens, 462 U.S. 862, 890 (1983).
Because of the unique severity and finality of a sentence to death, the United States Supreme Court has emphasized the heightened need for sentencing reliability in capital cases. See, e.g., Mills[ v. Maryland, 486 U.S. 367, 376], 108 S. Ct. [1860,] 1870[ (1988)]; Lowenfield, 484 U.S. at 238-39, 108 S. Ct. at 550-51; California v. Ramos, 463 U.S. 992, 998-99, 103 S. Ct. 3446, 3451-52, 77 L.Ed.2d 1171 (1983); Lockett[ v. Ohio], 438 U.S. [586,] 604, 98 S. Ct. [2954,] 2964[ (1978)]; Woodson[ v. North Carolina], 428 U.S. [280,] 305, 96 S. Ct. [2978,] 2991[ (1976)]; see also The Supreme Court, 1988 Term — Leading Cases, 103 Harv. L. Rev. 137, 153 (1989) ("The Court has consistently invalidated sentencing provisions and procedures [in death penalty cases] that it has found unreliable."). . . . This concern for the reliability of a jury verdict of death finds expression in United States Supreme Court decisions requiring that a jury's determination to impose the penalty of death reflect the conviction of each juror, guided by constitutionally sufficient statutory standards. Gregg[ v. Georgia], 428 U.S. [153,] 195, 96 S. Ct. [2909,] 2935[ (1976)]. Our own decisions also have recognized that "the unique severity and irrevocability" of the death sentence creates an "enhanced need for certainty and reliability" in its application. People v. Drake, 748 P.2d 1237, 1254 (Colo. 1988); accord People v. Durre, 690 P.2d 165, 173 (Colo. 1984).
Colorado's death sentencing statute must be construed in light of the strong concern for reliability of any sentence of death.
Id. at 791-92 (footnotes omitted); see People v. Drake, 748 P.2d 1237, 1254 (Colo. 1988) (recognizing the need to ensure certainty and reliability in a criminal verdict); People v. Durre, 690 P.2d 165, 173 (Colo. 1984) (stating that the need for reliability in a capital sentencing hearing is enhanced by the severity and finality of the punishment of death); see also Zant v. Stephens, 462 U.S. 862, 884-85 (1983). The third step of the process, we held, requires "each juror to make a judgment based on an assessment and comparison of the weightiness of each of the aggravating factors proven beyond a reasonable doubt and any mitigating factors that may exist." Tenneson, 788 P.2d at 791. We concluded:
In People v. Durre, 690 P.2d 165 (Colo. 1984), for example, we stated that, [i]nasmuch as death as a punishment is unique in its severity and irrevocability, the need for reliability in a capital sentencing hearing conducted under section 16-11-103 takes on added significance. By virtue of the qualitative difference between death and any other permissible form of punishment, "there is a corresponding difference in the need for reliability in the determination that death is the appropriate punishment in a specific case." . . . A verdict in a capital case must be certain and its meaning and construction cannot be left to doubt or speculation. Id. at 173 (quoting Zant, 462 U.S. at 884-85). We concluded in Durre that a jury must be clearly instructed as to the effect of its verdict since the jury's determination regarding the existence of mitigating and aggravating circumstances "necessarily involves a determination of whether life imprisonment as opposed to a death sentence is justified." Id. We reaffirmed our holding in Durre in People v. Drake, 748 P.2d 1237 (Colo. 1988). We described our holding in Durre as "grounded firmly upon the need to ensure certainty and reliability in a criminal verdict . . . and upon the enhanced need for certainty and reliability in imposing the appropriate punishment in a capital case." Drake, 748 P.2d at 1254. We reiterated the observation we made in Durre, that the General Assembly as well has recognized the need for certainty and reliability in capital sentencing verdicts. Id. (relying on Durre, 690 P.2d at 173).
An instruction to the jury that they must be convinced beyond a reasonable doubt that any mitigating factors do not outweigh the proven statutory aggravating factors before a sentence of death can be imposed adequately and appropriately communicates the degree of reliability that must inhere in the balancing process.
Id. at 792. We cautioned, however, that the reasonable doubt standard should be referred to as a "burden of convincing the jury rather than a burden of proof" in order to avoid confusion. Id. at 795 n. 12. The present case differs, however, from Tenneson insofar as a judge, and not a jury, served as the capital sentencer.
The United States Supreme Court recently reviewed a sentence of death imposed by a trial judge in Walton v. Arizona, 497 U.S. 639 (1990). The defendant therein was convicted of first-degree murder by a jury and sentenced to death by the trial court under a statutory scheme requiring sentencing hearings to be conducted before the court alone. Id. at 642-43. The defendant contended to the Supreme Court that the state courts improperly applied an aggravator under the decisions of Maynard v. Cartwright, 486 U.S. 356 (1988), and Godfrey v. Georgia, 446 U.S. 420 (1980). The Supreme Court disagreed and stated:
We have cited Walton v. Arizona, 497 U.S. 639 (1990), as a plurality opinion. See People v. Young, 814 P.2d 834, 845 (Colo. 1991). However, in the section of the opinion addressing the presumption that trial judges accurately apply the law, a majority of the court concurred.
When a jury is the final sentencer, it is essential that the jurors be properly instructed regarding all facets of the sentencing process. It is not enough to instruct the jury in the bare terms of an aggravating circumstance that is unconstitutionally vague on its face. That is the import of our holdings in Maynard and Godfrey. But the logic of those cases has no place in the context of sentencing by a trial judge. Trial judges are presumed to know the law and to apply it in making their decisions.
Walton, 497 U.S. at 653 (emphasis added). The Supreme Court thus declined to apply the rationales of its decisions regarding jury instructions in capital cases where the trial court had performed the sentencing function. The Walton Court additionally concluded that, "even if a trial judge fails to apply the narrowing construction [of an aggravator] or applies an improper construction," the state appellate court need not vacate the sentence based on that error, as the state appellate court may reweigh the aggravating and mitigating evidence. Id.
See infra part IV.B.
The United States Supreme Court previously recognized that judicial sentencing should create greater consistency in sentencing in capital cases because trial judges are more experienced in sentencing than juries. Proffitt v. Florida, 428 U.S. 242, 252 (1976) (plurality opinion).
A review of the district court ruling, in light of the analysis of Tenneson, Walton, and Proffitt, reveals that the sentence given by the district court, and not a jury, in the present case possesses the requisite degree of certainty and reliability to satisfy constitutional concerns.
B. THE SENTENCING STANDARD IN THE PRESENT CASE
On May 16, 1991, the district court issued a written order setting forth both the legal standard applicable to each step of the sentencing process, and its analysis of the legal standards as applied to the facts of the present case. In a section titled "Step III ( 16-11-103[a][II])," the district court stated:
Since mitigating factors are in the record and therefore exist, 16-11-103(2)(a)(II) (1986) applies (Step III), requiring the Court as sentencer to weigh any existing mitigating factors of record against statutory aggravating factors.
The district court continued by detailing the legal standard to be applied in the third step in subsection (1):
Legal Standard
Step III places no burden of proof on any party, but imposes upon the sentencer, before moving on to Step IV, the obligation of being convinced beyond a reasonable doubt that, upon evidence received pursuant to 16-11-103(a), sufficient mitigating factors do not outweigh proven statutory aggravating factors.
(Emphasis added.) The district court next identified and evaluated statutory mitigating factors, and other mitigating evidence. The district court specifically considered the following factors: (1) White's age; (2) his capacity to appreciate the wrongfulness of his conduct; (3) White's emotional state; (4) the absence of any significant prior criminal record; (5) the extent of White's cooperation with law enforcement officers; (6) the influence of drugs or alcohol on White; (7) any belief by White of the moral justification of his acts; (8) whether White "is not a continuing threat to society"; and (9) any other evidence on the question of mitigation pursuant to section 16-11-103(1).
The list of mitigating factors employed by the district court corresponds to § 16-11-103(5)(a)-(l), which defines the mitigating factors relevant to sentencing in capital cases. See infra part V.A.
With respect to any other evidence of mitigation, the district court considered: (1) the testimony offered by White and other inmates regarding prison conditions at Centennial; (2) "White's wish to not be executed"; (3) White's remorse and reestablished religious ties; and (4) White's personal background. The district court subsequently provided its conclusion in subsection 5:
CONCLUSION
The Court has considered not only the mitigating factors listed above but all mitigation of record and has weighed these factors against only the proven statutory aggravating factors and no others.
The Court, having considered the matter as required by law, is convinced beyond a reasonable doubt that all mitigating factors of record do not, beyond a reasonable doubt, outweigh proven statutory aggravating factors.
The district court articulated the appropriate legal standard at the outset of its analysis. The district court subsequently identified applicable statutory mitigating factors, including all mitigating evidence of record pursuant to section 16-11-103(5)(l). The district court then stated that it conducted its evaluation as required by law, and concluded that the mitigating evidence did not outweigh the proven statutory aggravating factors.
At the hearing on May 16, 1991, the district court, when reading its written order, stated Step III requires a sentencer to, "weigh any existing mitigating factors of record against statutory aggravating factors." The legal standard that the court was required to employ in this case is, "The obligation of being convinced beyond a reasonable doubt that, upon evidence received pursuant to [section] 16-11-103(a), sufficient mitigating factors do not outweigh proven statutory aggravating factors." The district court articulated the correct legal standard under our holding in People v. Tenneson, 788 P.2d 786 (Colo. 1990), when beginning the discussion of the third step. The district court followed the form of its order, by reviewing the statutory mitigating factors as supported by the evidence, and all mitigation of record. The district court subsequently articulated its conclusion that it was "convinced beyond a reasonable doubt that all mitigating factors of record do not beyond a reasonable doubt outweigh proven aggravating factors." The district court, in its discussion of the sentence at the May 16 hearing, presented the same legal standards with respect to the third step as it did in its written order.
The fact that the district court did not incorporate the Tenneson language verbatim in its conclusion does not indicate that the district court failed to apply the correct legal standard when conducting its analysis. We presume that the district court applied the correct legal standard at the third step of the sentencing process in this case because the district court articulated the correct standard at the outset of its analysis, and applied and evaluated the pertinent statutory mitigating factors, including all mitigating factors of record. See Arave v. Creech, ___ U.S. ___, 113 S. Ct. 1534 (1993) (holding that, when the sentencer is a judge rather than a jury, federal courts must presume that the judge knew and applied the law); Walton, 497 U.S. at 653 (stating that trial judges are presumed to know the law and apply it in a capital case); Segura v. People, 159 Colo. 371, 376, 412 P.2d 227, 230 (1966) (stating a presumption exists that a trial court discharged its duties as required by law in a capital case). The record does not indicate that the sentence given by the district court lacks the certainty and reliability prerequisite to affirming a sentence of death under the Colorado and United States Constitutions. See Proffitt, 428 U.S. at 252. We thus find White's contentions unpersuasive.
III. [136] THE "PREVIOUS CONVICTION" STATUTORY AGGRAVATOR
White contends that the district court improperly characterized his convictions for first-degree murder in the cases of Victor Woods and Raymond Garcia as "previous convictions" under the statutory aggravator set forth in section 16-11-103(6)(b). White contends that the language of subsection (6)(b) dictates that an accused must both commit an offense and be convicted of that offense prior to the commission of a capital offense in order for the conviction to be characterized as "previous" for the purposes of the statutory aggravator. We disagree.
White specifically argues:
VII. The trial court's consideration of aggravation which the death statute prohibits violated the death statute and Mr. White's other fundamental rights.
XII. The court's use of the `previous conviction' statutory aggravating factor was improper because neither alleged conviction occurred "previous" to the alleged murder in this case.
XIII. The trial court's use of the paragraph (6)(b) factor was unfounded since neither alleged conviction was a "crime of violence" as required by the statute.
Section 16-11-103(6)(b) neither specifies when an offense must be committed nor when a conviction must be obtained in order for such conviction to be characterized as "previous." Section 16-11-103(6)(b) states:
(6) For the purposes of this section, aggravating factors shall be the following factors:
. . . .
(b) The defendant was previously convicted in this state of a class 1 or 2 felony involving violence as specified in section 16-11-309, or was previously convicted by another state or the United States of an offense which would constitute a class 1 or 2 felony involving violence as defined by Colorado law. . . .
We must determine, therefore, whether "previously convicted" refers to both offenses committed and convictions obtained prior to the date on which the defendant committed a capital offense. We are persuaded, based on the jurisprudence of other state courts and on a line of reasoning in United States Supreme Court cases, that "previous convictions" incorporates convictions existing at the time a sentencing hearing is conducted pursuant to section 16-11-103, regardless of the date on which the offense underlying the "previous conviction" occurred.
A. THE LAW OF OTHER JURISDICTIONS
Several state supreme courts have defined a "previous" or "prior" conviction in the context of sentencing in capital cases. While the factual scenarios underlying their opinions differ, the state courts that have addressed the issue generally agree that "previous convictions" are convictions that exist at the time of sentencing.
The California Supreme Court has repeatedly rejected the argument that both the commission of and conviction for a murder must antedate a present capital offense in order to serve as a special-circumstance finding. People v. McLain, 757 P.2d 569 (Cal. 1988), cert. denied, 489 U.S. 1072 (1989); People v. Grant, 755 P.2d 894 (Cal. 1988), cert. denied, 488 U.S. 1050 (1989); People v. Hendricks, 737 P.2d 1350 (1987), cert. denied, 488 U.S. 900 (1988).
Under California Penal Code §§ 190.2 and 190.4, special circumstances serve the same function as aggravating factors under the Colorado statutory scheme.
In Grant, the defendant killed Edward Halbert in May of 1980, and subsequently killed Bobby Floyd in October of 1980. The defendant was arrested for killing Floyd in May of 1982; detectives subsequently discovered the remains of Halbert. The defendant was later charged with the murder of Halbert. The defendant was found guilty of the murder of Floyd prior to the commencement of his trial for the murder of Halbert. Grant, 755 P.2d at 905. At his trial for the murder of Halbert, the defendant argued that his conviction for the murder of Floyd was not a "previous conviction" within the meaning of the California statute because Floyd was killed after the murder of Halbert. Id. The California Supreme Court rejected the defendant's construction of the statute based on its previous decision in Hendricks. Id.
In Hendricks, the defendant first murdered victims 1 and 2; the defendant subsequently murdered victims 3 and 4. The defendant argued that the murders of victims 3 and 4 could not serve as special circumstances because he neither committed nor was convicted of those offenses before he committed the present capital offense with respect to victims 1 and 2. Hendricks, 737 P.2d at 1356-57. The Hendricks court disagreed.
The California Penal Code then "define[d] the relevant special circumstance as, `The defendant was previously convicted of murder in the first or second degree.'" Id. at 1357. The Hendricks court found that the function of the statutory section is to "circumscribe, as the Eighth Amendment requires (Zant v. Stephens (1983) 462 U.S. 862, 878, 103 S. Ct. 2733, 2743, 77 L.Ed.2d 235), the classes of persons who may properly be subject to the death penalty." Id. The Hendricks court stated:
Defendant misconstrues the purpose of the provision, which he inaptly analogizes to statutes aimed at the habitual criminal. Unlike recidivism statutes, however, section 190.2(a)(2) is directed neither to deterring misconduct nor to fostering rehabilitation.
The unambiguous language and purpose of section 190.2(a)(2) thus require that a person such as defendant, already convicted of murder in a prior proceeding, must be considered eligible for the death penalty if convicted of first degree murder in a subsequent trial. The order of the commission of the homicides is immaterial.
Id. at 1357 (emphasis added) (citations omitted).
The Florida Supreme Court, in Ruffin v. State, 397 So.2d 277 (Fla.), cert. denied, 454 U.S. 882 (1981), determined the meaning of "prior" when applying the statutory mitigating circumstance of "no significant history of prior criminal activity." Id. at 283. The state argued that the trial court properly considered criminal conduct of the defendant that occurred after the murder for which the defendant was being tried. Id. The Ruffin court held that
"prior" means prior to the sentencing of the defendant and does not mean prior to the commission of the murder for which he is being sentenced. The interpretation of "prior" advanced by [the defendant] is unreasonable particularly in view of the fact that a defendant may have committed a murder for which he is not apprehended until many years later and during the course of these years he may have a long history of significant criminal activity.
Id. (emphasis added).
In Correll v. State, 523 So.2d 562 (Fla.), cert. denied, 488 U.S. 871 (1988), the Florida Supreme Court rejected a defendant's argument that he had not been previously convicted of another felony. In Correll, the defendant killed four people in one criminal episode. The Correll court reasoned that, "[a]s to each crime, Correll had already been convicted of three capital felonies even though all four murders were committed in one episode." Id. at 568. The court concluded that the "previously convicted" aggravator properly applied to all of the murders.
In Stephens v. Hopper, 247 S.E.2d 92 (Ga.), cert. denied, 439 U.S. 991 (1978), the defendant committed murder and armed robbery in May of 1973, prior to committing a second murder in August of 1974. The defendant was not, however, convicted of the first 1973 murder and armed robbery until after he committed the second 1974 murder. The defendant argued that he did "not have a `prior record of conviction for a capital felony'" at the time he committed the second 1974 murder. Id. at 97. The Georgia Supreme Court identified the issue before them as "whether, in deciding if the appellant has `a prior record of conviction for a capital felony' the jury should consider his record as of the moment of the crime or as of the time of sentencing." Id. In concluding that the jury should consider the record at the time of sentencing, the Stephens court reasoned that
[t]o conclude otherwise would produce the intolerable result that an offender with no prior record could commit numerous separate murders one after the other before being apprehended, and then, at the trials for those murders, could never receive death under this aggravating circumstance even though convicted of each and every one of the murders.
Id.
The Supreme Court of Kentucky considered what constitutes a prior conviction in Templeman v. Commonwealth, 785 S.W.2d 259 (Ky. 1990), a capital case. In 1980, the defendant robbed a store and killed one of the store's patrons. In 1984, the defendant was convicted of aggravated robbery, among other things. In 1988, the defendant went to trial for the 1980 murder, and the prosecution introduced the 1984 conviction for aggravated robbery as a prior conviction at the sentencing phase. Id. at 259-60. The Templeman court found that the jury, in deciding whether death was the appropriate penalty, properly considered any of the defendant's convictions "which were final at the time of sentencing." Id. at 260 (emphasis added). The Templeman court reasoned that
a defendant may have committed a murder for which he is not apprehended until many years later and during the course of those years may have a significant criminal history. Consequently, the trial judge was correct in allowing the prosecution to introduce evidence of prior criminal convictions which occurred subsequent to the commission of the crime. The term ["]prior["] is the status of the defendant at the time of sentencing, not at the time of the commission of the charged crime.
The purpose of K.R.S. 532.025 is to allow evidence of all relevant and pertinent information so that the jury can make an informed decision concerning the appropriate sentence in a particular case. The jury should not sentence in a vacuum without knowledge of the past criminal record or other pertinent matters necessary to assess an appropriate penalty.
Id.
Relying on its prior decision in State v. Brooks, 541 So.2d 801 (La. 1989), the Supreme Court of Louisiana rejected a defendant's argument that the jury could not have found that he had a prior murder conviction for a murder that he committed after he committed the murder for which he was then on trial. State v. Wille, 559 So.2d 1321 (La. 1990), cert. denied, ___ U.S. ___, 113 S. Ct. 231 (1992). The Louisiana Supreme Court reiterated its rule that, if a conviction is obtained before the sentencing phase of a capital trial, then it may serve as an aggravator in a capital case. Id. at 1341.
The New Jersey Supreme Court similarly held in State v. Biegenwald, 542 A.2d 442 (N.J. 1988), that the statutory language "has previously been convicted" does not require "previous convictions" to occur before the commission of the present offense in order to be used as valid statutory aggravators in capital cases. Id. at 446. Among other cases, the Biegenwald court relied on its prior decision in State v. Bey, 477 A.2d 315 (N.J. 1984), wherein a defendant argued that the language "previously been convicted" meant prior to commission of the offense for which the defendant was currently charged. The Biegenwald court stated:
We find no legislative history, decisional law, or policy considerations to recommend defendant's interpretation. We are satisfied that the status of the prior conviction at the time of its intended use — the penalty phase of the subsequent murder prosecution — is determinative. The relevance of such a conviction . . . inheres in the fact that the conviction has occurred prior to the jury's consideration of the appropriate penalty to be imposed.
Biegenwald, 542 A.2d at 446 (quoting Bey, 477 A.2d at 317). The Biegenwald court found its decision supported by other jurisdictions, including Arizona and Mississippi. Id. at 447 (relying on State v. Gretzler, 659 P.2d 1 (Ariz.), cert. denied, 461 U.S. 971 (1983); Jones v. State, 381 So.2d 983 (Miss.), cert. denied, 449 U.S. 1003 (1980)). The Arizona Supreme Court stated that "`[c]onvictions entered prior to a sentencing hearing may . . . be considered regardless of the order in which the underlying crimes occurred . . . or the order in which the convictions were entered.'" Id. (quoting Gretzler, 659 P.2d at 16 n. 2). Both the Arizona and Mississippi Supreme Courts based their holdings on the purpose — of adequately informing the sentencer of the defendant's behavioral propensities — that underlies capital sentencing statutes.
The Tennessee Supreme Court reasoned in State v. Teague, 680 S.W.2d 785 (Tenn. 1984), cert. denied, 473 U.S. 911 (1985), that the statutory language "previously convicted" in the Tennessee death penalty statute "clearly indicates that the date of the conviction, not of the commission of the crime, is the important factor. The order in which the crimes were actually committed is irrelevant, as long as the convictions have been entered before the sentencing hearing at which they are introduced into evidence." Id. at 789-90 (quoting State v. Caldwell, 671 S.W.2d 459, 465 (Tenn.), cert. denied, 469 U.S. 873 (1984)).
These decisions provide an instructive framework against which we construe the phrase "previously convicted" in the context of the Colorado capital sentencing statute.
B. THE COLORADO STATUTE
Our primary task in construing a statute is to discern and effectuate the intent of the General Assembly. People v. Davis, 794 P.2d 159, 180 (Colo. 1990), cert. denied, 498 U.S. 1018 (1991); People v. Terry, 791 P.2d 374, 376 (Colo. 1990). We look first to the plain language of the statute for guidance, Davis, 794 P.2d at 180; Terry, 791 P.2d at 376; however, when statutory language is ambiguous, we must consider the underlying purpose of the statute in order to ascertain the intent of the General Assembly. Seaward Constr. Co. v. Bradley, 817 P.2d 971, 973 (Colo. 1991). Where statutory language is ambiguous, we will analyze the statute with full regard for the policy and purpose manifested in the statutory scheme, and will construe the statute to accomplish the purposes for which it was enacted. B.B. v. People, 785 P.2d 132, 138 (Colo. 1990).
The purpose of a statutory aggravator generally is to provide rational criteria in order to narrow the class of persons eligible for the death penalty. People v. Young, 814 P.2d 834, 840 n. 5 (Colo. 1991); Davis, 794 P.2d at 186; People v. Tenneson, 788 P.2d 786, 790 (Colo. 1990); see Blystone v. Pennsylvania, 494 U.S. 299, 306-07 (1990); Lowenfield v. Phelps, 484 U.S. 231, 244 (1988); Zant v. Stephens, 462 U.S. 862, 878 (1983). The United States Supreme Court has held that
To pass constitutional muster, a capital sentencing scheme must "genuinely narrow the class of persons eligible for the death penalty and must reasonably justify the imposition of a more severe sentence on the defendant compared to others found guilty of murder."
Lowenfield, 484 U.S. at 244 (quoting Zant, 462 U.S. at 877). The Lowenfield Court stated that "[t]he use of `aggravating circumstances' is not an end in itself, but a means of genuinely narrowing the class of death-eligible persons and thereby channeling the jury's discretion." Id. The Lowenfield Court relied on the United States Supreme Court opinion in Jurek v. Texas, 428 U.S. 262 (1976), wherein the Supreme Court upheld the Texas death penalty statute on the ground that the scheme narrowed the categories of murders for which the death penalty may be imposed. Jurek, 428 U.S. at 270-71. The Jurek Court concluded that "[a] jury must be allowed to consider on the basis of all relevant evidence . . . why a death sentence should be imposed." Id. at 271.
The Jurek Court relied in part on the Supreme Court's previous opinion in Gregg v. Georgia, 428 U.S. 153, 200-04 (1976), wherein the Supreme Court rejected several challenges to the statutory aggravators in Georgia's sentencing scheme. The Gregg Court reasoned: "We think it desirable for the jury to have as much information before it as possible when it makes the sentencing decision." Id. at 204.
We have recognized that, through the aggravators set forth in section 16-11-103(6), the Colorado death penalty statute limits the class of persons eligible for the death penalty in order to ensure that any sentence to death imposed pursuant to that section does not contravene the Eighth Amendment's proscription against cruel and unusual punishments. Young, 814 P.2d at 840 n. 5; Tenneson, 788 P.2d at 790.
We are persuaded that, in order to arrive at a constitutional sentence, the phrase "previously convicted," in section 16-11-103(6)(b), must be construed to refer to any conviction or convictions obtained prior to the date on which a sentencing hearing is commenced in a capital case. Such a construction ensures that the capital sentencer has before it all relevant information with which to arrive at an appropriate sentence based on the character and background of the defendant. See Childs v. State, 357 S.E.2d 48, 61 (Ga.), cert. denied, 484 U.S. 970 (1987); Stephens, 247 S.E.2d at 97; Templeman, 785 S.W.2d at 260; Biegenwald, 542 A.2d at 446-47.
This construction is consistent with the language of section 16-11-103(1)(b), wherein the General Assembly provided:
All admissible evidence presented by either the prosecuting attorney or the defendant that the court deems relevant to the nature of the crime, and the character, background, and history of the defendant, including any evidence presented in the guilt phase of the trial, and any matters relating to any of the aggravating or mitigating factors enumerated in subsections (5) and (6) of this section may be presented. Any such evidence which the court deems to have probative value may be received, as long as each party is given an opportunity to rebut such evidence.
Under this section, the district court has broad discretion to admit relevant evidence. People v. Borrego, 774 P.2d 854, 855 (Colo. 1989). We also find that this construction serves the purpose of providing a rational criterion by which to narrow the class of persons eligible for the death penalty because prior convictions will not be arbitrarily included or excluded from consideration based on the chronological order in which the convictions may have been obtained.
In People v. Saathoff, 790 P.2d 804 (Colo. 1990), we concluded that a district court erred by ruling that section 16-11-103(1)(b) barred the admission of a defendant's prior criminal record. Id. at 807.
We therefore conclude that the district court did not err by finding that White's two prior convictions for first-degree murder — entered on April 8, 1988, and on April 12, 1988, before the commencement of the sentencing hearing in the Vosika case on April 24, 1991 — were admissible pursuant to the statutory aggravator set forth in section 16-11-103(6)(b).
White additionally contends that the two first-degree murder convictions are not admissible pursuant to § 16-11-103(6)(b) because the prior convictions were not crimes of violence pursuant to § 16-11-309, 8A C.R.S. (1986). Section 16-11-103(6)(b) does not by its terms require that previous convictions actually be convictions for crimes of violence. Rather, the subsection states: The defendant was previously convicted in this state of a class 1 or 2 felony involving violence as specified in section 16-11-309, or was previously convicted by another state or the United States of an offense which would constitute a class 1 or 2 felony involving violence as defined by Colorado law in section 16-11-309. . . . (Emphasis added.) White's construction of this subsection is not supported by its plain language. The district court expressly found that both first-degree murder convictions involved violence as specified in § 16-11-309(2)(a)(I) (defining crimes of violence as those involving the use of a deadly weapon) insofar as one conviction involved the use of a knife and the other involved the use of a .38 caliber revolver.
IV. [181] THE "ESPECIALLY HEINOUS" STATUTORY AGGRAVATOR
White contends that the district court's interpretation of the "especially heinous, cruel, or depraved" statutory aggravator violated section 16-11-103 and denied him his rights under the Cruel and Unusual Punishment, the Due Process, and the Ex Post Facto Clauses of the Colorado and United States Constitutions. We conclude that the manner in which the district court applied the "especially heinous" statutory aggravator in this case was improper. We do not, however, find it necessary to vacate White's sentence based on this conclusion.
White specifically contends that
VIII. The trial court's obvious misinterpretation of the "especially heinous, cruel or depraved" statutory aggravating factor violated the death statute and denied Mr. White his rights under the Cruel and Unusual Punishment and Due Process Clauses of the federal and Colorado Constitutions.
XV. The trial court's use of the "especially heinous" aggravating factor was improper since that factor violates the Cruel and Unusual Punishment and Due Process Clauses, and the application of a new definition to Mr. White violates the Due Process and Ex Post Facto Clauses.
XVI. The trial court's interpretation and application of its "especially heinous" aggravating factor was manifestly erroneous and violated the death statute and the Due Process, Cruel and Unusual Punishment and Ex Post Facto Clauses of the federal and Colorado constitutions.
XVII. The "conscienceless or pitiless" aggravating factor announced in People v. Davis, and the different factor used by the trial court, are unconstitutionally vague, and to whatever extent they were used against Mr. White he was denied his rights under the Due Process and Cruel and Unusual Punishment Clauses of the federal and Colorado Constitutions.
A. IMPROPER APPLICATION OF STATUTORY AGGRAVATOR
Section 16-11-103(6) specifies as one aggravator that "[t]he defendant committed the offense in an especially heinous, cruel, or depraved manner." § 16-11-103(6)(j). We considered whether a jury properly applied these statutory terms in People v. Davis, 794 P.2d 159 (Colo. 1990), cert. denied, 498 U.S. 1018 (1991), and in People v. Rodriguez, 794 P.2d 965 (Colo. 1990), cert. denied, 498 U.S. 1055 (1991). In both of those cases, we considered whether the statutory terms provided sufficient guidance to capital sentencers, or whether the terms were unconstitutionally vague. Davis, 794 P.2d at 176-77; Rodriguez, 794 P.2d at 982-83. We concluded that, in the context of the United States Supreme Court decisions in Maynard v. Cartwright, 486 U.S. 356 (1988), and Godfrey v. Georgia, 446 U.S. 420 (1980), a capital sentencer could not properly apply that aggravator without the benefit of a limiting instruction. Davis, 794 P.2d at 177; Rodriguez, 794 P.2d at 982-83.
In the present case, the district court relied on this court's holding in Davis when it set forth the legal standard regarding the "especially heinous" aggravator. In its analysis, the district court found that the prosecution had proven this statutory aggravator beyond a reasonable doubt based on three factors: (1) the nature of the relationship between White and Vosika; (2) the manner in which Vosika was killed; and (3) the way White disposed of the body. In reviewing the last factor, the district court discussed the actions White took after he shot and killed Vosika. We find that these actions, which occurred primarily on the day after the homicide, were not properly considered under the statutory language of section 16-11-103(6)(j).
Our primary task in construing a statute is to give effect to the intent of the legislature. People v. Schuett, 833 P.2d 44, 47 (Colo. 1992); Davis, 794 P.2d at 180; People v. Guenther, 740 P.2d 971, 975 (Colo. 1987). A statute should be interpreted to give consistent, harmonious, and sensible effect to all its parts. Jenks v. Sullivan, 826 P.2d 825, 827 (Colo. 1992) (citing People v. District Court, 713 P.2d 918, 921 (Colo. 1986)). "When interpreting a statute each provision must be construed in harmony with the overall statutory scheme, so as to accomplish the purpose for which [the statute] was enacted." People v. Johnson, 797 P.2d 1296, 1297 (Colo. 1990). Constructions leading to absurd results will not be followed. City of Ouray v. Olin, 761 P.2d 784, 788 (Colo. 1988).
Subsection (6) of section 16-11-103 provides the list of aggravators that capital sentencers may consider in determining whether death or life imprisonment is the appropriate penalty in a class 1 felony case. The plain language of many statutory aggravators set forth in subsection (6) expressly focuses on the circumstances arising from the defendant's actions which result in the death of another person. For example, aggravator (6)(c) states that "[t]he defendant intentionally killed any of the following persons while such person was engaged in the course of the performance of his official duties." § 16-11-103(6)(c). Aggravator (6)(d) states that "[t]he defendant intentionally killed a person kidnapped or being held as a hostage." § 16-11-103(6)(d). Aggravator (6)(f) states that "[t]he defendant committed the offense while lying in wait, from ambush, or by use of an explosive or incendiary device." § 16-11-103(6)(f). Aggravator (6)(g) states that "[t]he defendant committed a class 1, 2, or 3 felony and, in the course of or in furtherance of such or immediate flight therefrom, he intentionally caused the death of a person other than one of the participants." § 16-11-103(6)(g). Aggravator (6)(i) states that, "[i]n the commission of the offense, the defendant knowingly created a grave risk of death to another person." § 16-11-103(6)(i).
The statutory aggravators evince a scheme which calibrates punishment based on events or circumstances arising from the defendant's actions that cause the death of another person. To construe aggravator (6)(j) as encompassing the defendant's acts occurring a day after the acts that caused the death of another runs contrary to the statutory scheme. We conclude that the district court erred by relying on White's actions with regard to disposal of the body occurring a day after White killed Vosika. However, based on our decisions in Davis and Rodriguez, and on the Supreme Court's opinion in Clemons v. Mississippi, 494 U.S. 738 (1990), we decline to reverse the district court ruling, and do not vacate the sentence of death.
B. SENTENCING ANALYSIS
In Davis, we stated that "[t]he invalidation on appeal of a statutory aggravator does not necessarily require the reversal of a death sentence." Davis, 794 P.2d at 177. We discussed the United States Supreme Court's analysis in Clemons, finding it dispositive of the defendant's contention, raised under the federal constitution, that his sentence to death must be vacated if a single aggravator was improperly submitted to the jury. Id. at 179. Clemons, we found, created three avenues for state appellate courts to pursue upon determining that a capital sentencer improperly considered a single statutory aggravator. Id.; see Clemons, 494 U.S. at 744-50. Accordingly, an appellate court
may "reweigh" the aggravators and mitigators and determine whether death is appropriate. Second, it may apply "harmless error" analysis by considering whether, if the jury had not considered the invalid aggravator, it nonetheless would have sentenced the defendant to death. Finally, where the aggravator considered by the jury was improper because it was not given a constitutionally narrow construction, the reviewing court may apply another form of "harmless error" analysis and uphold the sentence if it finds, beyond a reasonable doubt, that had the aggravator properly been narrowed the jury would have returned a verdict of death.
Davis, 794 P.2d at 179. In Davis, we followed the third avenue and concluded that, based on the facts of that case as evaluated against a proper construction of the "especially heinous, cruel or depraved manner" statutory aggravator, the jury would have returned a verdict of death. Id. at 179-80.
In Rodriguez, we reiterated our interpretation of Clemons, that state appellate courts are not constitutionally compelled to vacate death sentences after finding one statutory aggravator invalid. Rodriguez, 794 P.2d at 983. The jury therein was not given a limiting or narrowing construction of the statutory terms "especially heinous, cruel, or depraved." We applied harmless error analysis in Rodriguez, and concluded that inclusion of an invalid aggravator was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt based in part on the fact that there was overwhelming evidence supporting five valid aggravators. Id. at 984.
In the present case, we first consider "whether, if the [district court] had not considered the invalid aggravator, it nonetheless would have sentenced the defendant to death." Davis, 794 P.2d at 179. In following the second avenue of appellate review condoned in Davis and in Clemons, we are mindful of the fact that in the present case, unlike both Davis and Clemons, a district court performed the sentencing function. We believe that the evidence presented at the providency proceeding and at the sentencing hearing shows that the district court would have imposed a sentence of death based on White's two prior convictions for first-degree murder.
At the providency proceeding on April 24, 1991, Officer Gomez gave testimony that served as the factual basis for White's guilty plea. Officer Gomez testified that, according to White, Vosika had stolen things from his family and friends, and from White in order to sustain his drug habit. White believed that Vosika had stolen approximately $1,500 and two ounces of cocaine from White. Gomez testified that White had provided the details of the last minutes of Vosika's life, and how he had killed Vosika.
At the sentencing hearing, Officer Spinuzzi testified about White's statements describing how and why he killed Vosika. According to Officer Spinuzzi, White informed him that Vosika had forced White to flush narcotics down the toilet at 119 Bonnymede. White also stated that he and Vosika were in the kitchen at 119 Bonnymede when Vosika told White that he had "charged some dope" to White's name. White pulled a gun out of a drawer and forced Vosika to get on the kitchen floor. White was going to kill Vosika in the kitchen, but changed his mind and directed Vosika to crawl from the kitchen to the garage. Once inside the garage, White told Vosika that he would open the garage door and give Vosika a chance to run. White stated that he did this so Vosika would not get up and attempt to run. White approached Vosika who was laying on the garage floor, placed a couple of books on Vosika's head, and shot Vosika. White subsequently put a bag over Vosika's head, lined the trunk of his car with a shower curtain, wrapped Vosika's body in a mattress cover and put Vosika's body in the trunk of the car. During their conversation, White informed Officer Spinuzzi of the manner in which he disposed of Vosika's body. White also told Officer Spinuzzi that he had killed two people in Adams County, in Colorado Springs, and at the Hampton Inn.
At the sentencing hearing, Officers Gomez and Avery also testified regarding White's statements about the manner in which he killed Vosika. The statements indicated in part that White decided to murder Vosika based on the facts that Vosika had stolen money and drugs from White, had charged drugs to White's account, and had stolen from family and friends in order to procure drugs. All three officers testified that White did not express remorse when giving statements regarding the Vosika homicide.
Officer Snell testified that he investigated the murder of Raymond Garcia, who died as a result of a single gunshot to the back of his head while working at the Hampton Inn. Officer Snell also testified that Robert Martinez was shot in the head during this incident, but did not die. White informed Officer Snell that he shot both Garcia and Martinez. Officer Snell testified that White neither expressed remorse with respect to Garcia nor concern with respect to Martinez.
Assistant District Attorney Eberling testified at the sentencing hearing that White was convicted of second-degree assault while incarcerated, on May 12, 1989. White informed Eberling that he had killed three people and would do it again.
Officer Gomez testified at the sentencing hearing that White informed him that White killed Victor Lee Woods in Colorado Springs. White stated that Woods approached him and asked him for a ride home while White was with a woman in a bar. After arriving home, Woods made a sexual advance to White while holding a knife. Woods grabbed White by his hair, threw White on the ground, and placed his foot on White's back. By acting scared, White was able to take the knife away from Woods. White stabbed Woods in his rib area and beat Woods after toying with him for half an hour.
Officer Gomez testified that White's statement regarding the Woods homicide reflected pleasure and not remorse. Officer Gomez testified that White confessed to killing two men many years prior to 1988, whose bodies were never discovered. White refused to inform Officer Gomez where the bodies were located. Officer Gomez testified that White stated, in a sarcastic voice, that he had been rehabilitated. White additionally informed Officer Gomez that he had committed an assault while in prison.
Counsel for White presented mitigating evidence. In his opening statement, counsel for White contended that White entered a plea of guilty not because of the overwhelming evidence of his guilt, but because he wanted to make the point that he would rather die than continue living subject to the treatment he was receiving in the Department of Corrections. Counsel for White indicated that White had served three years of two previous life sentences he received. Counsel for White also contended that the death penalty was not necessary in White's case because White does not present a threat to society as White would never be likely to be out of prison for the rest of his life.
Father Weber testified that he had known White for twelve to fourteen years in his capacity as a parish priest. Father Weber testified that he regularly met with White once every two or three months, and that White had changed as a result of his belief in God. Inmates Kantrud, Gonzales, Johnson, Rodriguez, and Moreland testified regarding the living conditions at the Centennial Corrections Facility.
Dr. William Ingram (Dr. Ingram) testified that, in his capacity as a psychiatrist, he evaluated White twice, on September 10 and on September 14, 1989. Dr. Ingram testified that, in 1987 and in 1988, White used a lot of cocaine, Dilaudid, and alcohol, and that White became very paranoid as a result. White additionally heard voices and experienced convulsive seizures. Dr. Ingram diagnosed White as having cocaine delusional disorder. Dr. Ingram concluded that White's drug use did affect his ability to knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily enter a plea of guilty. Dr. Ingram testified that he examined White again on March 16, 1991, in order to assist the defense in determining whether White was competent or legally insane. Dr. Ingram concluded that White was competent and legally sane at that time. Dr. Ingram testified on cross-examination that White would "attempt to kill people in order to bring to light those things that he is unhappy with."
Counsel for White informed the court that counsel advised White not to testify in the present case. White, however, elected to testify. White presented extensive testimony on the subjects of the abject living conditions at Centennial and of physical abuse by officers directed at inmates. His testimony was consistent with his position that he only wanted the death penalty as an alternative to remaining at Centennial for the duration of his life, subject to both the physical abuse and to the abject living conditions. In his testimony, White did not express remorse for having committed any of the homicides that he stated that he committed.
As the record reveals, White's prior commission of two first-degree murders convinces us that, had the district court properly disregarded the manner in which White disposed of Vosika's body, it nonetheless would have determined that death was the appropriate sentence in the present case. See Davis, 794 P.2d at 179-80; see also People v. Young, 814 P.2d 834, 844 (Colo. 1991) (quoting People v. Tenneson, 788 P.2d 786, 791 (Colo. 1990) (quoting Satterwhite v. Texas, 486 U.S. 249, 261 (1988)) ("[T]he question [of] whether death is the appropriate sentence requires a profoundly moral evaluation of the defendant's character and crime."). Thus, the district court's discussion of the manner in which White disposed of Vosika's body was harmless error. Our conclusion is supported by a review of the district court's sentencing analysis in the present case, wherein the district court concluded that death was the appropriate sentence based upon its assertion that "mitigation as determined by a reasonable doubt does not, beyond a reasonable doubt, exceed or offset the measure of knowing, gratuitous violence [White] has inflicted upon innocent victims."
At step I of its sentencing analysis, the district court noted that, as sentencer, it must be convinced that the prosecution has proven the existence of at least one statutory aggravating factor beyond a reasonable doubt. See § 16-11-103; Tenneson, 788 P.2d at 789. The district court first considered whether the prosecution proved, beyond a reasonable doubt, that White "was previously convicted in this state of a class 1 or 2 felony involving violence as specified in section 16-11-309," pursuant to section 16-11-103(6)(b). The district court found that exhibit 20, which the prosecution produced, contained two judgments of convictions, accompanied by a certificate of the Custodian of Records at the Colorado Department of Corrections. The district court found that one judgment of conviction involved first-degree murder accomplished by the use of a knife. The district court noted that this was a crime of violence pursuant to section 16-11-309 for which White received a sentence of life imprisonment. The district court found that the second judgment of conviction established convictions for first-degree murder after deliberation, aggravated robbery, and attempted first-degree murder. The district court noted that the murder and attempted first-degree murder involved the use of a .38 caliber revolver and were therefore crimes of violence under section 16-11-309. The district court concluded that section 16-11-103(6)(b) had been proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
The district court proceeded to step II, to determine the existence of mitigating factors. See § 16-11-103; Tenneson, 788 P.2d at 789. The district court found that mitigating evidence existed, and thus proceeded to step III.
Under step III, the district court noted that it must be "convinced beyond a reasonable doubt that . . . sufficient mitigating factors do not outweigh proven statutory aggravating factors." The district court extensively reviewed the statutory mitigating factors and the mitigating evidence in the record, and considered that, among other things: (1) White was thirty-two years of age in August/September of 1987; (2) according to defense expert Dr. Ingram, White was competent when making his confessions and did not suffer from a mental disorder at the time of the murder; (3) White suffered from an anti-social personality disorder which caused him to act out; (4) White was enraged that Vosika charged cocaine purchases to his account; (5) White voluntarily contacted the police and made separate confessions regarding the murder of Vosika; (6) White was both a drug and alcohol addict at the time of the murder; (7) White believes that Vosika caused White to become addicted to drugs, and purposely exploited friends and relatives to obtain drugs; and (8) White is not a continuing threat to society because he will remain in protective custody for many years.
In weighing this mitigating factor, however, the trial court also noted that White had been convicted of an assault with a sledgehammer upon a fellow inmate while in protective custody in the presence of armed prison guards. The court stated that it considered this conviction only as it related to this mitigating factor.
Under section 16-11-103(5)(1), the statutory mitigating factor permitting "any other evidence which in the court's opinion bears on the question of mitigation," the district court considered, among other things: (1) extensive evidence offered by White regarding prison conditions and White's admission of guilt in part as a means to request death and escape the prison conditions; (2) that, despite his repeated requests, White did not actually want the death penalty; (3) that White has reestablished ties with the Catholic church and twice has expressed remorse for having killed Vosika; and (4) White's personal background.
The district court was aware of White's two prior convictions of first-degree murder of Victor Lee Woods and Raymond Garcia, occurring in January and April of 1988, respectively, approximately five months after the murder of Vosika. We find that, based on the record in this case, the district court would have been convinced beyond a reasonable doubt that the twelve mitigating factors it considered do not outweigh the proven statutory aggravating factor. We find that the district court would have been required to proceed to the fourth step.
As the fourth step requires, the district court considered whether the defendant should be sentenced to death or life imprisonment. The district court stated:
Undoubtedly defendant is emotionally tormented by guilt for his past crimes and has made sincere efforts to change and for absolution through religion and multiple confessions. These efforts have been considered in the Court's measure of mitigation. Also considered is defendant's recovery from a drug addiction in spite of his prior heavy drug use. Also the Court is aware of defendant's present and probably future living conditions. The Court's consideration of mitigation has also included the fact that neither Mr. White, his parents, nor a Catholic priest want the sentence of death to be imposed. Moreover, it is evident that Mr. White is compassionate for the living conditions imposed upon mentally ill and other disadvantaged inmates at the Department of Corrections. But, the measure of all evidence of record bearing on mitigation as determined by reasonable doubt does not, beyond a reasonable doubt, exceed or offset the measure of knowing, gratuitous violence defendant has inflicted upon innocent victims. The intensity of defendant's violence has resulted in two prior first-degree murder convictions for the murder of two persons. In the present case, defendant's violence was inflicted in a pitiless and torturous manner upon a helpless friend. The Court concludes beyond a reasonable doubt that the sentence of death is appropriate. Accordingly, the sentence of death shall be and the same is hereby imposed.
In its discussion of the fourth step, the district court made only one reference to the manner in which White killed Vosika and disposed of the body. Cf. Clemons, 494 U.S. at 753. Based on the record, we conclude that the district court would nonetheless have concluded beyond a reasonable doubt that death was the appropriate sentence if it had not considered the especially heinous statutory aggravator. See People v. O'Neill, 803 P.2d 164, 178 (Colo. 1990) (holding that a capital sentencer must conclude beyond a reasonable doubt that death is the appropriate punishment at the fourth step).
We reach our conclusion in the present case beyond a reasonable doubt. See People v. Rodriguez, 794 P.2d 965, 983 (Colo. 1990), cert. denied, 498 U.S. 1055 ((1991).
V. [215] INDEPENDENT REVIEW
We find it appropriate at this juncture to conduct an independent review of the propriety of the sentence pursuant to section 16-11-103(7)(a) and (b), and C.A.R. 4(e). See Davis, 794 P.2d at 212.
Based on our extensive review of the record in parts I. and IV.B., we are convinced that the district court properly determined that death was the appropriate penalty. See id. at 213. The prosecution proved that White had twice been convicted of first-degree murder, and thus proved a statutory aggravating factor beyond a reasonable doubt. The mitigating factors previously discussed were properly found insufficient to outweigh the proven statutory aggravator. Based on our presumption that the district court knew the law and applied it correctly, we do not find that the sentence of death was imposed pursuant to an arbitrary factor.
VI. [218] MITIGATING EVIDENCE
White contends that the district court employed an exceedingly narrow definition of mitigating evidence, and suppressed critical mitigating evidence. We disagree.
White specifically contends that
VI. The suppression of mitigation evidence by the trial court, and its refusal to consider critical mitigation evidence, violated the death statute and denied Mr. White his rights under the Cruel and Unusual Punishment and Due Process Clauses of the federal and Colorado Constitutions.
IX. The trial court employed an exceedingly narrow definition of mitigation, thus denying Mr. White his rights under the death statute and the Cruel and Unusual Punishment and Due Process Clauses of the federal and Colorado Constitutions.
XIV. The court's findings that Mr. White's statements to police were exaggerated, and that the possibility existed that Mr. White did not commit the crime, and the court's odd decision to consciously ignore those prominent facts of this case, demonstrate the unreliability and unfairness of the death sentence.
A. THE DEFINITION OF MITIGATING EVIDENCE
White contends that the district court "defined `mitigation' as . . . including only matters which reduced the degree of moral culpability for the offense with which the accused was convicted." White contends that, as a result of its narrow definition, the district court failed to consider the possibility that White's confessions were motivated by the treatment White received from officers at Centennial.
Section 16-11-103(5) defines mitigating factors as
(5) For purposes of this section, mitigating factors shall be the following factors:
(a) The age of the defendant at the time of the crime; or
(b) His capacity to appreciate [the] wrongfulness of his conduct or to conform his conduct to the requirements of law was significantly impaired, but not so impaired as to constitute a defense to prosecution; or
(c) He was under unusual and substantial duress, although not such duress as to constitute a defense to prosecution; or
(d) He was a principal in the offense which was committed by another, but his participation was relatively minor, although not so minor as to constitute a defense to prosecution; or
(e) He could not reasonably have foreseen that his conduct in the course of the commission of the offense for which he was convicted would cause, or would create a grave risk of causing, death to another person; or
(f) The emotional state of the defendant at the time the crime was committed; or
(g) The absence of any significant prior conviction; or
(h) The extent of the defendant's cooperation with law enforcement officers or agencies and with the office of the prosecuting district attorney; or
(i) The influence of drugs or alcohol; or
(j) The good faith, although mistaken, belief by the defendant that circumstances existed which constituted a moral justification for the defendant's conduct; or
(k) The defendant is not a continuing threat to society; or
(l) Any other evidence which in the court's opinion bears on the question of mitigation.
§ 16-11-103(5)(a)-(l). We have stated that, "in order to achieve constitutional validity, a capital sentencing scheme must allow the sentencing body to consider any relevant mitigating evidence regarding the defendant's character and background and the circumstances of the offense." People v. Tenneson, 788 P.2d 786, 790 (Colo. 1990) (relying on Boyde v. California, 494 U.S. 370, 377 (1990)); see Blystone v. Pennsylvania, 494 U.S. 299, 304-05 (1990); Mills v. Maryland, 486 U.S. 367, 374-75 (1988) (citing Eddings v. Oklahoma, 455 U.S. 104, 114 (1982); Skipper v. South Carolina, 476 U.S. 1, 4 (1986)). Thus, we have recognized that this list is only a guide and, by the plain language of subsection (1), is not exclusive. Tenneson, 788 P.2d at 791 n. 6.
In its written order, the district court stated
The Court has now resolved its findings beyond a reasonable doubt as to Step I and must now move on to Step II to determine the existence of mitigating factors. As to the existence or non-existence of such factors, there is no burden of proof or burden of persuasion, and thus "any" evidence as to mitigation, regardless of its probative value, requires consideration pursuant to Step III. Thus, in this case "any" relevant evidence having been received, mitigating evidence exists.
The district court subsequently defined mitigating circumstances as "circumstances which do [not] constitute a justification or excuse for the offense in question, but which in fairness or mercy may be considered as extenuating or reducing the degree of moral culpability." The district court cited People v. Rodriguez, "794 P.2d 961 [sic]," as the source for the definition. The definition in fact appears on page 987 of that case, which begins on page 965. In Rodriguez, this definition of mitigating circumstances appeared in a jury instruction which we determined was "more explicit and favorable to the defendant than the instructions found constitutionally adequate in Boyde v. California, 110 S. Ct. at 1199-1201." Rodriguez, 794 P.2d at 987. We concluded that the trial court in Rodriguez did not err by giving that instruction to the jury. Based on our observation in Rodriguez, we similarly conclude here that the district court's use of this definition is not error.
B. SUPPRESSION OF MITIGATING EVIDENCE
White contends that the district court erroneously suppressed mitigating evidence concerning: (1) the "sadistic, brutal and torturous treatment of prisoners"; (2) the facts surrounding the death of Mr. Vosika; and (3) evidence that the "confessions" of Mr. White were "bogus and unreliable."
At the beginning of the sentencing hearing on April 24, 1991, the district court conducted a providency hearing wherein the district court asked White whether he understood that he was admitting the truth of the charge by entering a plea of guilty. White indicated that he did understand. During the providency hearing, the prosecution called Officer Gomez as a witness, who testified as to the facts White recounted in his statement to Gomez. Counsel for White subsequently conceded that "[a] jury in a court that had proper jurisdiction could convict [White] based on the statements that Mr. White made." White, through his counsel, waived further formal proof as to the factual basis of his plea.
At the sentencing hearing, counsel for White sought to introduce the testimony of: (1) Officer Lipich, who purportedly gave White a polygraph test and specifically asked White whether he killed Vosika; (2) Jim Crane, the landlord at 119 Bonnymede; (3) Mike and Francis Steele, who would testify that they saw White with Vosika in October or November of 1987, after the date upon which White allegedly killed Vosika; and (4) Officers Snell and Spinuzzi. The district court excluded the potential testimony of Officer Lipich, Jim Crane, and the Steeles on the ground that it addressed the issue of guilt or innocence, which the district court had already determined.
The district court subsequently heard the testimony of Steven Kantrud, Joseph Gonzales, Cordell Johnson, Christopher Rodriguez, Gerald Moreland, and White, all prisoners at Centennial, who testified to the brutal treatment received by inmates at Centennial. In its written order, the district court stated that
Defendant has stated on many occasions, and offered sworn testimony, that a reason for pleading guilty is the opportunity afforded by these proceedings to expose brutal conditions at the Department of Corrections. Since there is evidence [that] Defendant has in part admitted guilt in order to request death as a means to escape these conditions, the issue of involuntariness is raised; that is, prison conditions may have forced the defendant to either confess to a crime he did not commit or state fictional aggravating circumstances. While this issue may also be relevant to the providency hearing, the possibility of circumstances having been inflated by defendant to create an aggravator, if true, constitutes the ultimate mitigator[:] no statutory aggravated factors.
The district court detailed the evidence presented by White concerning conditions at Centennial.
We have stated that "[t]he plain language of section 16-11-103(1)(b) grants the trial judge wide discretion to determine what evidence is relevant and admissible." People v. Borrego, 774 P.2d 854, 855 (Colo. 1989) (upholding the trial court's ruling prohibiting the prosecution from introducing evidence of the circumstances surrounding an aggravated robbery). "Consistent with the broad grant of discretion in section 16-11-103(1)(b), . . . the trial court's decision to exclude evidence in a sentencing hearing will not be reversed absent an abuse of that discretion." Id. at 855-56. "[A] trial court's actions amount to an abuse of discretion when the actions are `manifestly arbitrary, unreasonable or unfair.'" Colorado Nat'l Bank v. Friedman, 846 P.2d 159, 167 (Colo. 1993) (quoting Nagy v. District Court, 762 P.2d 158, 161 (Colo. 1988)). Based on White's plea of guilty as accepted by the district court at the close of the providency hearing, and the lengthy testimony presented regarding conditions at Centennial at the sentencing hearing, White's contentions do not persuade us that the district court's actions in excluding the proffered testimony were manifestly unreasonable or arbitrary. We reject White's contentions.
VII. [248] BURDEN OF PROOF
White contends that the district court failed to place the burden of proof on the prosecution with respect to the third and fourth steps of the sentencing process. We disagree. White confuses a burden of proof placed on a party to the case with a standard we have imposed on juries, requiring juries to make decisions pursuant to the third and fourth steps of the sentencing process with a high degree of certainty in order to ensure the reliability and certainty of those decisions.
White expressly contends that X. The trial court's failure to place the burden of proof on the state to show that Mr. White should be killed violated the controlling statute and the Due Process and Cruel and Unusual Punishment Clauses of the federal and Colorado Constitutions. XI. The trial court's failure to place the burden of proof on the state to show that mitigation did not outweigh aggravation violated the controlling statute and the Due Process and Cruel and Unusual Punishment Clauses of the federal and Colorado Constitutions.
Section 16-11-103 does not expressly state that a burden of proof exists with respect to either the third or fourth steps of the sentencing process. § 16-11-103(2)(a)(II), (III). We discussed at length the obligation imposed by, and the purposes served by, the third and fourth steps of the sentencing process in People v. Tenneson, 788 P.2d 786 (Colo. 1990). We repeat the third and fourth steps as articulated in Tenneson:
Third, the jury must determine whether "sufficient mitigating factors exist which outweigh any aggravating factor or factors found to exist." § 16-11-103(2)(a)(II). Fourth, and finally, if the jury finds that any mitigating factors do not outweigh the proven statutory aggravating factors, it must decide whether the defendant should be sentenced to death or to life imprisonment. § 16-11-103(2)(a)(III).
Id. at 789. In Tenneson, we observed that the statute "describes the decision process as one of weighing." Id. at 791. We noted that "the question [of] whether death is the appropriate sentence requires a profoundly moral evaluation of the defendant's character and crime." Id. at 791 (quoting Satterwhite v. Texas, 486 U.S. 249, 261 (1988) (Marshall, J., concurring in part and concurring in the judgment)). Thus, we concluded that the third step "requires each juror to make a judgment based on an assessment and comparison of the weightiness of each of the aggravating factors proven." Tenneson, 788 P.2d at 791. We noted in Tenneson that the United States Supreme Court has not declared "`that a specific method for balancing mitigating and aggravating factors in a capital sentencing proceeding is constitutionally required.'" Id. at 792 n. 9 (quoting Franklin v. Lynaugh, 487 U.S. 164, 179 (1988)).
We were persuaded in Tenneson that the unique severity and finality of the death penalty demands that a death sentence be both certain and reliable. Id. at 791-92 (relying on Lowenfield v. Phelps, 484 U.S. 231, 238-39 (1988)). We concluded that a capital sentencer, in order to deliver a certain and reliable sentence, must be convinced beyond a reasonable doubt that any mitigating factors do not outweigh proven statutory aggravating factors. Id. at 790-96. In so concluding, we did not place on either party a burden of proof. In fact, we compared by analogy the high degree of certainty with which a capital sentencer must determine the appropriate penalty with the burden of proof of facts in criminal proceedings. Id. at 794-95. We endeavored to distinguish fact-finding from the process of weighing mitigating and aggravating factors. Id. at 793-94.
With respect to the fourth step, in Tenneson, we emphasized that, after completion of the third step, a capital sentencer must still "be convinced beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant should be sentenced to death." Id. at 797. We did not assign any burdens of proof to either party; we reiterated that the purpose of the "beyond a reasonable doubt" standard at the fourth step "is not to fulfill the traditional function of providing guidance in fact-finding but is to communicate to the jurors the degree of confidence they must have in the correctness of their ultimate conclusion before they can return a verdict of death." Id. at 796.
We followed Tenneson in People v. O'Neill, 803 P.2d 164 (Colo. 1990), wherein we held that "[t]he purpose of requiring a high burden of persuasion in the fourth step is not simply to guard against unreliability in the event of equipoise, but rather to ensure the reliability of any jury decision sentencing a defendant to death." O'Neill, 803 P.2d at 179. Like Tenneson, the defendant in O'Neill challenged the propriety of instructions given to the jury. We reiterated our statement in Tenneson wherein "[w]e stated, `The purpose of these instructions is not to fulfill the traditional function of providing guidance in fact-finding but is to communicate to the jurors the degree of confidence they must have in the correctness of their ultimate conclusion before they can return a verdict of death.'" Id. at 178.
Recognition of a burden of proof on the prosecution at the fourth step would contravene the constitution insofar as it would require a capital sentencer to impose a sentence of death if it found that the prosecution had proven that mitigation was outweighed by proven statutory aggravating factors at the conclusion of the third step. The purpose of the fourth step is precisely contrary to that; it requires a capital sentencer to continue deliberating and to consider whether a "defendant's character and crime result in a conclusion beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant should be sentenced to death." People v. Young, 814 P.2d 834, 844 n. 8 (Colo. 1991). Imposition of a burden of proof at the fourth step would lead to the impermissible result of mandatory sentencing. See Roberts v. Louisiana, 428 U.S. 325 (1976); Woodson v. North Carolina, 428 U.S. 280 (1976). We thus decline to impose a burden of proof.
VIII. [257] COMPETENCY
White argues that the district court deprived him of several constitutional rights, including the rights to counsel and to due process, by refusing to appoint a mental health examiner to evaluate White's competency and prepare possible mental health defenses. White also contends that "[t]he [district] court's ruling that [White] waived his right to proceed while competent by objecting to a delay in the proceedings is . . . constitutionally indefensible" because "[n]o person can waive the right to be competent." We find no error.
White specifically contends that
XVIII. The trial court's ruling that Mr. White could and did waive his right to be competent during his plea and sentencing, after the court had previously ruled that a determination of his competency was required, violated the death statute, the competency statute, the Due Process and Cruel and Unusual Punishment Clauses.
XXI. The court's refusal to provide a psychiatrist for Mr. White pursuant to C.R.S. § 16-8-106, -108, -110 and -111, to assist him in the competency proceeding, and to allow defense counsel to investigate the sanity and impaired mental condition issues, violated the statute and denied Mr. White his rights under the Due Process, Equal Protection, Right to Counsel and Cruel and Unusual Punishment Clauses of the Colorado and federal Constitutions.
The district court held a hearing on April 17, 1990, wherein counsel for White questioned White's competency based on his "wildly contradictory" confessions; counsel correspondingly requested that a competency examination be performed prior to a preliminary hearing. Two days later, the district court entered an order directing the Colorado State Hospital to perform a competency evaluation of White pursuant to section 16-8-106, 8A C.R.S. (1986). On June 5, 1990, the district court entered an order finding White competent to proceed based on a report written by a state hospital staff psychiatrist, Dr. Seymour Sundell.
On June 15, 1990, White filed a motion requesting the district court to issue an order authorizing a second psychiatric evaluation of White to be conducted by a psychiatrist of White's own selection pursuant to section 16-8-108, 8A C.R.S. (1986). The People opposed this on the grounds that White did not have an absolute right to an appointment of a psychiatrist of his own choosing. The People also contended that White did not demonstrate "good cause" for the need of a second opinion. On July 23, 1990, the district court entered an order wherein it found that good cause was not a prerequisite to ordering a psychiatric evaluation pursuant to section 16-8-108. The district court ordered that Dr. William Ingram be given a reasonable opportunity to conduct a psychiatric examination of White, and that the expense of the examination be paid by the State of Colorado. On November 14, 1990, White filed a motion for payment of a psychiatrist, on the ground that White was an indigent and could not afford to retain a psychiatrist prior to any determination by counsel regarding whether pleas of not guilty by reason of insanity or not guilty by reason of impaired mental condition existed.
On January 15, 1991, White requested that one of three psychiatrists, including Dr. Ingram and Dr. Kathy Morall, be "appointed to assist him in connection with any death penalty hearing which may be held." On February 12, 1991, the district court entered an order appointing Dr. Ingram to examine White pursuant to section 16-8-108. The order referenced a stipulation submitted to the district court by the People on January 8, wherein the People agreed that the findings and conclusions of such a psychiatrist would be confidential and disclosed only to White's counsel. The district court order also provided that
Dr. Ingram shall prepare a written report of his examination which addresses the issues of insanity, impaired mental condition, and competency, but that report shall not be filed with this Court. Said report shall be furnished to the Defendant's attorneys of record and shall be a confidential communication between Dr. Ingram and said attorneys. . . .
The district court simultaneously entered an order appointing Dr. Morall to conduct an evaluation of White and submit to the district court a report stating whether White was competent to proceed to a providency hearing.
On February 26, 1991, White filed a motion seeking approval of an hourly fee of $80.00 for Dr. Ingram. The district court entered an order authorizing payment of the defense psychiatrist's hourly rate, which was in excess of standard court compensation of experts. On March 22, 1991, the district court entered an order setting a providency hearing for White's plea on April 23, to be followed by a sentencing hearing should the district court accept White's plea.
On April 16, 1991, the district court entered an order staying its previous order directing Dr. Morall to conduct a competency examination. The district court based its ruling on the grounds that: (1) White opposed a continuance and waived any further competency examinations; and (2) the district court had previously found that White was competent on June 5, 1990, based on Dr. Sundell's report. On April 17, 1991, White filed a withdrawal of his request for a competency hearing on the grounds that "he does not intend to pursue his claim that he is mentally incompetent to proceed. [White] admits that he is not able to sustain the burden of proof of showing that he is incompetent."
A review of the record reveals that the district court did appoint Dr. Ingram pursuant to section 16-8-108, to assist White in the preparation of possible mental health defenses. White's second contention — that no person can waive the right to be competent — does not take into consideration the fact that White had already been found competent by Dr. Sundell, and had been examined by Dr. Ingram for the express purpose of evaluating competency, when he waived the right to have a third competency evaluation performed by Dr. Morall. Based on these facts, we find no error and reject White's contentions. See People v. Mack, 638 P.2d 257, 263 (Colo. 1981) ("[D]ue process or the defendant's right to effective assistance of counsel [do not] require the court to grant a request for a second competency determination after the accused already has been granted an adequate hearing on his claimed incompetency.").
IX. [267] RIGHT TO BE PRESENT
White contends that his fundamental right to be present at trial was violated when the district court held many hearings in his absence. White specifically contends that he was not present at hearings held on April 4, 1990, February 6, 1991, April 16, 1991, and July 2, 1991. White alleges that the "review cannot be done in this case because there is no record of much of what went on." We find no error.
White specifically contends that
XIX. The many off-the-record hearings in this case denied Mr. White his rights under the Due Process and Cruel and Unusual Punishment Clauses.
XX. Mr. White's fundamental rights were violated when the court held many hearings in this case in Mr. White's absence, all without any waiver of Mr. White's right to be present.
Article II, section 16, of the Colorado Constitution, and the Due Process Clause, as well as the Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution, guarantee the right of a criminal defendant to be present at all critical stages of the prosecution. Larson v. Tansy, 911 F.2d 392 (10th Cir. 1990); Luu v. People, 841 P.2d 271 (Colo. 1992) (stating that both the Sixth Amendment and the Due Process Clause of the federal Constitution give an accused a right to be present at trial); People ex rel. Farina v. District Court, 185 Colo. 118, 121, 522 P.2d 589, 590 (1974) (holding that a defendant has a right to be present at every critical stage in a criminal prosecution under both the United States and Colorado Constitutions). The right to be present is not absolute; thus due process "does not require the defendant's presence when his presence would be useless, or the benefit nebulous." Larson, 911 F.2d at 394; see Luu, 841 P.2d at 273-75.
With respect to the hearing held on April 16, 1991, White does not contend that this hearing amounted to a "critical stage" of the proceeding. A review of the transcript of the hearing reveals that: (1) one of White's attorneys sought to file a motion to withdraw as counsel in the event that White would enter a plea of guilty; (2) counsel for White informed the court that Dr. Morall — whom the district court had appointed on February 12, 1991, to conduct an evaluation of White and to submit to the district court a report stating whether White was competent to proceed to a providency hearing — was busy and needed an extension of time to prepare an evaluation; (3) White did not want a continuance and would not enter a plea if a continuance was granted; and (4) counsel for White wanted to wait until Dr. Morall's report was completed; and (5) White wanted to proceed, even though he knew it would be without Dr. Morall's report. The district court stated that one report (by Dr. Sundell) had previously been submitted to the district court finding White to be competent and that White understood that, by proceeding, he would not get the benefit of the second competency evaluation. The district ruled that the hearing would proceed as scheduled.
With respect to this hearing, the record does not reveal that the April 16, 1991, hearing was a critical stage of the prosecution, as the only action taken by the district court was to accede to White's request to proceed with a providency hearing with one and not two competency evaluations. Additionally, the benefit of White's presence at this hearing would have been nebulous, as his attorneys adequately informed the court of White's opinion that he did not want the providency hearing continued. We find no deprivation of White's constitutional right to be present on these facts.
With respect to any hearings held on April 4, 1990, February 6, 1991, and July 2, 1991, no transcript of hearings held on those dates appears in the record on appeal.
It is the defendant's responsibility to designate the record on appeal, including such parts of the trial proceedings as are necessary for purposes of the appeal. . . . Any facts not appearing of record cannot be reviewed. The presumption is that material portions omitted from the record would support the judgment.
People v. Wells, 776 P.2d 386, 390 (Colo. 1989) (citations omitted); see People v. Velarde, 200 Colo. 374, 616 P.2d 104 (1980). White does not contend, and we have no means by which to determine, whether hearings held on those dates amount to critical stages of the prosecution. In the absence of a record on appeal, we presume that White's right to be present was not denied. We reject White's contentions.
X.
Based on the foregoing, we conclude that the district court's ruling is constitutionally reliable and affirm the sentence of death. This case is remanded to the district court to set a date for the execution of the sentence.
JUSTICE MULLARKEY concurs in part and dissents in part, and JUSTICE KIRSHBAUM joins in the concurrence and dissent.