MODEL PENAL CODE ANNOTATED
 

MODEL PENAL CODE

 
[Section 210.6. Sentence of Death for Murder;  Further Proceedings to Determine Sentence].

 (1) Death Sentence Excluded.  When a defendant is found guilty of murder, the Court shall impose sentence for a felony of the first degree if it is satisfied that:

  (a) none of the aggravating circumstances enumerated in Subsection (3) of  this Section was established by the evidence at the trial or will be established if further proceedings are initiated under Subsection (2) of  this Section;  or

  (b) substantial mitigating circumstances, established by the evidence at the trial, call for leniency;  or

  (c) the defendant, with the consent of the prosecuting attorney and the approval of the Court, pleaded guilty to murder as a felony of the first degree;  or

  (d) the defendant was under 18 years of age at the time of the commission of the crime;  or

  (e) the defendant's physical or mental condition calls for leniency;  or

  (f) although the evidence suffices to sustain the verdict, it does not foreclose all doubt respecting the defendant's guilt.

 (2) Determination by Court or by Court and Jury.  Unless the Court imposes sentence under Subsection (1) of this Section, it shall conduct a separate proceeding to determine whether the defendant should be sentenced for a felony of the first degree or sentenced to death.  The proceeding shall be conducted before the Court alone if the defendant was convicted by a Court sitting without a jury or upon his plea of guilty or if the prosecuting attorney and the defendant waive a jury with respect to sentence.  In other cases it shall be conducted before the Court sitting with the jury which determined the defendant's guilt or, if the Court for good cause shown discharges that jury, with a new jury empanelled for the purpose.

 In the proceeding, evidence may be presented as to any matter that the Court deems relevant to sentence, including but not limited to the nature and circumstances of the crime, the defendant's character, background, history, mental and physical condition and any of the aggravating or mitigating circumstances enumerated in Subsections (3) and (4) of this Section.  Any such evidence, not legally privileged, which the Court deems to have probative force, may be received, regardless of its admissibility under the exclusionary rules of evidence, provided that the defendant's counsel is accorded a fair opportunity to rebut such evidence.  The prosecuting attorney and the defendant or his counsel shall be permitted to present argument for or against sentence of death.

 The determination whether sentence of death shall be imposed shall be in the discretion of the Court, except that when the proceeding is conducted before the Court sitting with a jury, the Court shall not impose sentence of death unless it submits to the jury the issue whether the defendant should be sentenced to death or to imprisonment and the jury returns a verdict that the sentence should be death.  If the jury is unable to reach a unanimous verdict, the Court shall dismiss the jury and impose sentence for a felony of the first degree.

 The Court, in exercising its discretion as to sentence, and the jury, in determining upon its verdict, shall take into account the aggravating and mitigating circumstances enumerated in Subsections (3) and (4) and any other facts that it deems relevant, but it shall not impose or recommend sentence of death unless it finds one of the aggravating circumstances enumerated in Subsection (3) and further finds that there are no mitigating circumstances sufficiently substantial to call for leniency.  When the issue is submitted to the jury, the Court shall so instruct and also shall inform the jury of the nature of the sentence of imprisonment that may be imposed, including its implication with respect to possible release upon parole, if the jury verdict is against sentence of death.

 Alternative formulation of Subsection (2):

 (2) Determination by Court.  Unless the Court imposes sentence under Subsection (1) of this Section, it shall conduct a separate proceeding to determine whether the defendant should be sentenced for a felony of the first degree or sentenced to death.  In the proceeding, the Court, in accordance with Section 7.07, shall consider the report of the pre-sentence investigation and, if a psychiatric examination has been ordered, the report of such examination. In addition, evidence may be presented as to any matter that the Court deems relevant to sentence, including but not limited to the nature and circumstances of the crime, the defendant's character, background, history, mental and physical condition and any of the aggravating or mitigating circumstances enumerated in Subsections (3) and (4) of this Section.  Any such evidence, not legally privileged, which the Court deems to have probative force, may be received, regardless of its admissibility under the exclusionary rules of evidence, provided that the defendant's counsel is accorded a fair opportunity to rebut such evidence.  The prosecuting attorney and the defendant or his counsel shall be permitted to present argument for or against sentence of death.

 The determination whether sentence of death shall be imposed shall be in the discretion of the Court.  In exercising such discretion, the Court shall take into account the aggravating and mitigating circumstances enumerated in Subsections (3) and (4) and any other facts that it deems relevant but shall not impose sentence of death unless it finds one of the aggravating circumstances enumerated in Subsection (3) and further finds that there are no mitigating circumstances sufficiently substantial to call for leniency.

 (3) Aggravating Circumstances.

  (a) The murder was committed by a convict under sentence of imprisonment.

  (b) The defendant was previously convicted of another murder or of a felony involving the use or threat of violence to the person.

  (c) At the time the murder was committed the defendant also committed another murder.

  (d) The defendant knowingly created a great risk of death to many persons.

  (e) The murder was committed while the defendant was engaged or was an accomplice in the commission of, or an attempt to commit, or flight after committing or attempting to commit robbery, rape or deviate sexual intercourse by force or threat of force, arson, burglary, or kidnapping.

  (f) The murder was committed for the purpose of avoiding or preventing a lawful arrest or effecting an escape from lawful custody.

  (g) The murder was committed for pecuniary gain.

  (h) The murder was especially heinous, atrocious or cruel, manifesting exceptional depravity.

 (4) Mitigating Circumstances.

  (a) The defendant has no significant history of prior criminal activity.

  (b) The murder was committed while the defendant was under the influence of extreme mental or emotional disturbance.

  (c) The victim was a participant in the defendant's homicidal conduct or consented to the homicidal act.

  (d) The murder was committed under circumstances which the defendant believed to provide a moral justification or extenuation for his conduct.

  (e) The defendant was an accomplice in a murder committed by another person and his participation in the homicidal act was relatively minor.

  (f) The defendant acted under duress or under the domination of another person.

  (g) At the time of the murder, the capacity of the defendant to appreciate the criminality [wrongfulness] of his conduct or to conform his conduct to the requirements of law was impaired as a result of mental disease or defect or intoxication.

  (h) The youth of the defendant at the time of the crime.]