Citations Affected: IC 35-50-2-9.
Synopsis: Sentencing for murder. Specifies that decapitation of a
victim is an aggravating circumstance for purposes of seeking the death
penalty or life imprisonment without parole for a person convicted of
murder.
Effective: July 1, 2007.
January 16, 2007, read first time and referred to Committee on Courts and Criminal Code.
A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning
criminal law and procedure.
IC 35-42-2-1.
(B) Kidnapping (IC 35-42-3-2).
(C) Criminal confinement (IC 35-42-3-3).
(D) A sex crime under IC 35-42-4.
(14) The victim of the murder was listed by the state or known by
the defendant to be a witness against the defendant and the
defendant committed the murder with the intent to prevent the
person from testifying.
(15) The defendant committed the murder by intentionally
discharging a firearm (as defined in IC 35-47-1-5):
(A) into an inhabited dwelling; or
(B) from a vehicle.
(16) The victim of the murder was pregnant and the murder
resulted in the intentional killing of a fetus that has attained
viability (as defined in IC 16-18-2-365).
(c) The mitigating circumstances that may be considered under this
section are as follows:
(1) The defendant has no significant history of prior criminal
conduct.
(2) The defendant was under the influence of extreme mental or
emotional disturbance when the murder was committed.
(3) The victim was a participant in or consented to the defendant's
conduct.
(4) The defendant was an accomplice in a murder committed by
another person, and the defendant's participation was relatively
minor.
(5) The defendant acted under the substantial domination of
another person.
(6) The defendant's capacity to appreciate the criminality of the
defendant's conduct or to conform that conduct to the
requirements of law was substantially impaired as a result of
mental disease or defect or of intoxication.
(7) The defendant was less than eighteen (18) years of age at the
time the murder was committed.
(8) Any other circumstances appropriate for consideration.
(d) If the defendant was convicted of murder in a jury trial, the jury
shall reconvene for the sentencing hearing. If the trial was to the court,
or the judgment was entered on a guilty plea, the court alone shall
conduct the sentencing hearing. The jury or the court may consider all
the evidence introduced at the trial stage of the proceedings, together
with new evidence presented at the sentencing hearing. The court shall
instruct the jury concerning the statutory penalties for murder and any
other offenses for which the defendant was convicted, the potential for
consecutive or concurrent sentencing, and the availability of good time
credit and clemency. The court shall instruct the jury that, in order for
the jury to recommend to the court that the death penalty or life
imprisonment without parole should be imposed, the jury must find at
least one (1) aggravating circumstance beyond a reasonable doubt as
described in subsection (l) and shall provide a special verdict form for
each aggravating circumstance alleged. The defendant may present any
additional evidence relevant to:
(1) the aggravating circumstances alleged; or
(2) any of the mitigating circumstances listed in subsection (c).
(e) For a defendant sentenced after June 30, 2002, except as
provided by IC 35-36-9, if the hearing is by jury, the jury shall
recommend to the court whether the death penalty or life imprisonment
without parole, or neither, should be imposed. The jury may
recommend:
(1) the death penalty; or
(2) life imprisonment without parole;
only if it makes the findings described in subsection (l). If the jury
reaches a sentencing recommendation, the court shall sentence the
defendant accordingly. After a court pronounces sentence, a
representative of the victim's family and friends may present a
statement regarding the impact of the crime on family and friends. The
impact statement may be submitted in writing or given orally by the
representative. The statement shall be given in the presence of the
defendant.
(f) If a jury is unable to agree on a sentence recommendation after
reasonable deliberations, the court shall discharge the jury and proceed
as if the hearing had been to the court alone.
(g) If the hearing is to the court alone, except as provided by
IC 35-36-9, the court shall:
(1) sentence the defendant to death; or
(2) impose a term of life imprisonment without parole;
only if it makes the findings described in subsection (l).
(h) If a court sentences a defendant to death, the court shall order
the defendant's execution to be carried out not later than one (1) year
and one (1) day after the date the defendant was convicted. The
supreme court has exclusive jurisdiction to stay the execution of a
death sentence. If the supreme court stays the execution of a death
sentence, the supreme court shall order a new date for the defendant's
execution.
(i) If a person sentenced to death by a court files a petition for
post-conviction relief, the court, not later than ninety (90) days after the
date the petition is filed, shall set a date to hold a hearing to consider
the petition. If a court does not, within the ninety (90) day period, set
the date to hold the hearing to consider the petition, the court's failure
to set the hearing date is not a basis for additional post-conviction
relief. The attorney general shall answer the petition for post-conviction
relief on behalf of the state. At the request of the attorney general, a
prosecuting attorney shall assist the attorney general. The court shall
enter written findings of fact and conclusions of law concerning the
petition not later than ninety (90) days after the date the hearing
concludes. However, if the court determines that the petition is without
merit, the court may dismiss the petition within ninety (90) days
without conducting a hearing under this subsection.
(j) A death sentence is subject to automatic review by the supreme
court. The review, which shall be heard under rules adopted by the
supreme court, shall be given priority over all other cases. The supreme
court's review must take into consideration all claims that the:
(1) conviction or sentence was in violation of the:
(A) Constitution of the State of Indiana; or
(B) Constitution of the United States;
(2) sentencing court was without jurisdiction to impose a
sentence; and
(3) sentence:
(A) exceeds the maximum sentence authorized by law; or
(B) is otherwise erroneous.
If the supreme court cannot complete its review by the date set by the
sentencing court for the defendant's execution under subsection (h), the
supreme court shall stay the execution of the death sentence and set a
new date to carry out the defendant's execution.
(k) A person who has been sentenced to death and who has
completed state post-conviction review proceedings may file a written
petition with the supreme court seeking to present new evidence
challenging the person's guilt or the appropriateness of the death
sentence if the person serves notice on the attorney general. The
supreme court shall determine, with or without a hearing, whether the
person has presented previously undiscovered evidence that
undermines confidence in the conviction or the death sentence. If
necessary, the supreme court may remand the case to the trial court for
an evidentiary hearing to consider the new evidence and its effect on
the person's conviction and death sentence. The supreme court may not
make a determination in the person's favor nor make a decision to
remand the case to the trial court for an evidentiary hearing without
first providing the attorney general with an opportunity to be heard on
the matter.
(l) Before a sentence may be imposed under this section, the jury,
in a proceeding under subsection (e), or the court, in a proceeding
under subsection (g), must find that:
(1) the state has proved beyond a reasonable doubt that at least
one (1) of the aggravating circumstances listed in subsection (b)
exists; and
(2) any mitigating circumstances that exist are outweighed by the
aggravating circumstance or circumstances.