From the first article, the mit. specialist, Unklesbay, makes a lot of sense, IMO:
"..."It should not be surprising that people who commit criminal acts didn't have a good childhood," Unklesbay said. "There comes a point, though, when they have to take responsibility for their actions. There are a lot of people who have gone through some difficult times in life and didn't become killers..."
-except there is nothing in missy's :jail: childhood, that was proven- by anyone, that she had a bad childhood. Where are the family supporters and why aren't they talking? JM would crucify them, that's why, IMO. I would just love to see someone from her family just try to defend the lie of a terrible childhood. Getting hit by a wooden spoon is just ridiculous, IMO (my mother use to use a broom on my brother and a spoon on the girls- we didn't consider it abuse at the time and I still don't!). Unbelievable that a "bad" childhood would be a mitigation in missy's :jail: case and that those 4 jurors believed it!
This mitigation stuff has me very upset in this case.
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The jury in missy's case could not reach a unanimous decision on sentencing because some jurors could not get past certain mitigating factors.
Some jurors (4) looked at some of the mitigating factors - that missy had been abused - they felt that she had been abused by Travis and as a child- that they didn't feel she had the best family life. Where is the proof, again I say. It's only missy who claims she didn't have a "best" family life.She's a liar! How can they believe anything she says?
Those jurors felt that those mitigating factors outweighed the aggravating factors. That was the biggest concern for them and I feel they were duped by missy, Nurmi, and Wilmott, IMO.
WEIGHING AGGRAVATING AND MITIGATING CIRCUMSTANCES
"...Five state statutes (Maryland, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, and Wyoming) and both federal death penalty statutes specify that mitigating circumstances must be proven by a preponderance of the evidence. In Alabama, when the factual existence of a mitigating circumstance is in dispute, the defendant must present competent evidence on the mitigating circumstance but the state must disprove it by a preponderance of the evidence. In New Jersey, the defendant must produce evidence of the mitigating circumstance but he does not have the burden of establishing it. In Ohio, the defendant has the burden of going forward. In some states (like New Hampshire and New York) and both federal death penalty laws, an individual juror can determine whether a mitigating circumstance exists and can consider it regardless of how many other jurors believe it is established. Colorado's statute specifies that there is no burden to prove or disprove a mitigating circumstance....
Sufficiency of Aggravating or Mitigating Circumstances
..Seven other states require the jury to consider whether mitigating circumstances call for a sentence other than the death penalty.
1. In Arizona, the jury can impose a death sentence if it finds at least one aggravating circumstance and no mitigating circumstances 'sufficiently substantial to call for leniency'..."
http://www.cga.ct.gov/2001/rpt/2001-R-0488.htm
Capital Punishment in Arizona
"....The decision to present evidence to the court in aggravation is the sole responsibility of the prosecutor. The admissibility of evidence in support of the aggravating circumstances is governed by the rules of evidence. Evidence in mitigation may be offered by the defense or the State regardless of its admissibility under the rules of evidence. Once the prosecution has presented evidence supporting aggravating circumstances and either side has presented mitigating circumstances, the court decides whether to impose the death penalty, regardless of the views of the prosecutors...
If the court determines that the State has proven at least one of the ten aggravating circumstancesbeyond a reasonable doubt it next turns to deciding the existence of mitigating circumstances.
This determination includes any aspect of the defendant’s character, propensities or record and any circumstances of the offense, including but not limited to, the following factors listed in A.R.S. §
13-703(G):
1. The defendant’s capacity to appreciate the wrongfulness of his conduct or to conform
his conduct to the requirement of law was significantly impaired, but not so impaired as
to constitute a defense to prosecution;
2. The defendant was under unusual and substantial duress, although not such as to
constitute a defense to prosecution;
3. The defendant was legally accountable for the conduct of another under the provisions
of § 13-303, but his participation was relatively minor, although not so minor as to
constitute a defense to prosecution;
4. The defendant could not reasonably have foreseen that his conduct in the course of the
commission of the offense for which the defendant was convicted would cause, or
would create a grave risk of causing death to another person; and
5. The defendant’s age...
...If the trial court decides that the State has proven beyond a reasonable doubt at least one of the statutory aggravating circumstances, and that there are no mitigating circumstances sufficiently substantial to call for leniency, the court shall impose the sentence of death...
https://www.azag.gov/sites/default/files/sites/all/docs/Criminal/ccc/section2.PDF
MITIGATING CIRCUMSTANCES (Arizona):
"Pursuant to A.R.S. § 13-751, each death sentence must rest on two findings: proof beyond a reasonable doubt of at least one aggravating circumstance set forth in A.R.S. § 13-751(F), and a finding “that there are no mitigating circumstances sufficiently substantial to call for leniency.” A.R.S. § 13-751(E). Mitigation is defined by our statute as evidence relevant to “any aspect of the defendant’s character, propensities or record and any of the circumstances of the offense.”...
Statutory & Non-Statutory Factors
Relevant Mitigation:
...While not specifically defined, the Court has indicated that matters bearing on a defendant’s “character” or “record,” or concerning the “circumstances of the offense” are relevant and cannot be taken out the realm of sentencing consideration...
Instructions: There is no federal constitutional obligation to instruct the jury on how to consider mitigating evidence in light of aggravating evidence, or whether the jury should consider particular mitigating factors. Thus, for example, it is permissible to tell the jury to make its sentencing decision based upon “all the evidence,” without further instruction...
Argument & Causal Nexus: It is not improper to allow the State to argue that there is no causal relationship between the mitigation and the crime....
(“We do not require that a [causal] nexus between the mitigating factors and the crime be established before we consider the mitigation evidence. But the failure to establish such a causal connection may be considered in assessing the quality and strength of the mitigation.”
http://www.supreme.state.az.us/courtserv/crtproj/capsentguid/mitintro.htm
(continuing Ariz. Law):
Character/Personality Disorders: A character or personality disorder usually does not qualify as an impairment under the meaning of the statute. Richmond I; State v. Kayer, 194 Ariz. 423, 984 P.2d 31 (1999). However, evidence of a character or personality disorder should be evaluated to determine if it is mitigating in some other way and should be given some independent mitigating weight. State v. McMurtrey (McMurtrey I), 136 Ariz. 93, 664 P.2d 637 (1983). At times, the Court has found the distinction between personality disorders and mental impairments important, noting that mental impairments have a far greater mitigating effect because they may evidence an inability of the defendant to control his conduct. Brewer, supra
http://www.supreme.state.az.us/courtserv/CrtProj/capsentguid/G1Intro.htm
MENTAL IMPAIRMENT
Some other trials and rulings on mental impairment:
"State v. McMurtrey (McMurtrey I), 136 Ariz. 93, 664 P.2d 637 (1983)
...It found that the defendant had an antisocial personality. The trial court concluded that because such kinds of character defects are not mitigating under Arizona law, no further evaluation of that evidence took place...
State v. Nash, 143 Ariz. 392, 694 P.2d 222 (1985)
The defendant offered credible evidence that he was mentally impaired at the time of the murder. In contrast, the prosecution offered equally credible rebuttal evidence that although the defendant suffered some mental impairment, it was not significant enough to be a mitigating circumstance. The defendant's evidence did not outweigh the prosecution's evidence. The Court stated that it did not find this to be a mitigating factor."
http://www.supreme.state.az.us/courtserv/CrtProj/capsentguid/G1Mental1.htm
"State v. Gerlaugh (Gerlaugh II), 144 Ariz. 449, 698 P.2d 694 (1985)
... The existence of a mere character or personality disorder like sociopathy is not alone sufficient to constitute a mitigating circumstance. This kind of evidence should be considered by the trial judge because it may suggest some reason other than the nature of the disorder why the defendant should receive some leniency, such as a difficult family history. The trial judge may refuse to find a mitigating circumstance so long as he considers this evidence.
http://www.supreme.state.az.us/courtserv/CrtProj/capsentguid/G1Mental2.htm
MITIGATING CIRCUMSTANCES
A.R.S.§13-751(G)(1) -IMPAIRMENT
MENTAL
DRUGS / ALCOHOL
A.R.S.§13-751(G)(2) -DURESS
A.R.S.§13-751(G)(3) -MINOR PARTICIPATION
A.R.S.§13-751(G)(4) -VICTIM'S DEATH NOT REASONABLY FORESEEABLE
A.R.S.§13-751(G)(5) -AGE
NON-STATUTORY
-COOPERATION
-LACK OF CRIMINAL HISTORY
-DIFFICULT CHILDHOOD/FAMILY HISTORY (Relevance/“Causal Link”: A difficult family background may be a mitigating circumstance in determining whether a death sentence is appropriate. But a difficult family background, including child abuse, is not necessarily relevant without a showing that it affected the defendant’s conduct in committing the crime. State v. Sansing, 206 Ariz. 232, 77 P.3d 70 (2003) (where there was no “causal link” between troubled childhood and crime, this circumstance given “minimal weight”
http://www.azcourts.gov/ccsguide/MitigatingCircumstances/CHILDHOODFAMILY.aspx
-EMPLOYMENT HISTORY/MILITARY SERVICE
-FAMILY TIES ([This category contains cases where the defendant argues that his current love of family and his family members' love for him is mitigating. It also contains arguments regarding the adverse effect the defendant's execution would have on a family member. One case argues the concern of friends, see State v. Michael Apelt, and in another case the defendant argued that the domestic nature of the murder ought to be mitigating. See State v. Kiles. For discussions of the impact of the defendant's family background and childhood on the defendant, see difficult childhood/family history section.]
http://www.azcourts.gov/ccsguide/MitigatingCircumstances/FAMILYTIES.aspx
-FELONY MURDER/LACK OF INTENT
-FOLLOWER
-GOOD CHARACTER
-INTELLIGENCE/EDUCATION
-LIFE SENTENCE AVAILABLE
-MEDICAL PROBLEMS
-MODEL PRISONER
-RECOMMENDATIONS FOR LENIENCY
-REHABILITATION
-REMORSE / GRIEF
-RESIDUAL DOUBT/INNOCENCE
-SENTENCING DISPARITY
-STRESS
-VICTIM'S ACTIONS
-MISCELLANEOUS (This is a catch-all category for cases that do not fit within the other categories. It appears that the arguments presented here were only presented in that particular case and have not been repeated in other cases. Some of these arguments are specific to the particular case. Others argue more generally about the cost or efficacy of the death penalty.]--
http://www.azcourts.gov/ccsguide/MitigatingCircumstances/MISCELLANEOUS.aspx
IMPAIRMENT
NOT A FUTURE DANGER
http://www.azcourts.gov/ccsguide/TableofContents.aspx
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“Capital Sentencing in Arizona A “Weighing State” in Name Only
"When does juror “weighing” of factors mean less than meets the eye?
In the sphere of Arizona capital sentencing, a sphere where state courts must
instruct jurors that they must “assess” if death is the appropriate penalty, but not
instruct that jurors should “find” that mitigation “outweighs” aggravation. So they
must assess without finding any facts.
Confused? Imagine how the jurors feel....
...But if Arizona is such a firmly entrenched weighing state, why then has the Arizona
Supreme Court ruled that juries should be not be misled into believing that their function is
to “weigh” mitigating and aggravating factors when deciding whether to impose life or
death?...
...“a state death penalty statute may [constitutionally] place the burden on the defendant to
prove that mitigating circumstances outweigh aggravating circumcumstances."
http://www.myazbar.org/AZAttorney/PDF_Articles/0706Capital.pdf
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No previous criminal record: although she was convicted of a violent crime, nothing in her criminal record reveals a tendency toward the kind of violent crime for which she has been convicted-
so maybe one factor?
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Remorse: may be a mitigating factor if found to exist-
none for missy here.
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Family Ties: negative impact that the defendant’s execution would have on her family was a mitigating factor, but I thought she said that she had an abusive childhood (remember the "spoon") and/ or a dysfunctional family background and no one in her family cares about her-so she says?
Again-to what degree did missy suffer as a child and what is the strength of a connection between this mitigating factor and the crime in assessing the quality and strength of this mitigation evidence? Pftt, again- I say to this because where's the proof? Unless someone in her family or some friends come forth, there is nothing here to mitigate , IMO.
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Mental Illness or Impairment: she's supposed to be an Einstein, so she's not impaired and
she did not have a serious (or any recognizable) personality disorder at the time of the
murder of Travis.
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Age-
she was neither very young nor very old, IMO.
New mitigations? Still can't think of any for her.
She needs to put in a cell with pictures of what she did to Travis, so that she has to look at her "handi-work" each and everyday of her miserable life- or what's left of it, IMO.
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