For the Defense - Volume 2, Issue 2 - 2017 - 43
capital juries, as to what could legally be
considered to support a death sentence in
a jurisdiction, like Pennsylvania, where only
statutorily listed aggravating factors may
be considered. The results of that survey
were that 47% of the jurors responded that
they could consider "any factor that made
the crime worse" and 29% responded that
they did not know the standard. Only 24%
knew that they were only to apply specifically listed aggravators.8
From these findings, two points must be considered. If the jury hears theories of mitigation for
the first time in the penalty phase, it is likely to
be too late and therefore ineffectual so, whenever
possible, mitigation evidence and theories should
be "front loaded" into the merits phase.
With these principles in mind we move to a
consideration of trial strategy.
The components of mitigation should be made
part of the merits phase, including the defense
opening statement. It is suggested that counsel
employ the Commonwealth's facts as to how the
killing occurred and contrast them with the defendant's conduct after the killing had occurred.
The distinction will introduce a foundation for
mitigation. In this way, as the merits evidence is
presented the jury should also recognize and note
the elements of the mitigation case.
Practically speaking, the defense case in the
merits phase would not only involve highlighting those behaviors consistent with a Borderline
Personality Disorder: obsessive planning, demonizing the victim as a betrayer, etc., but also developing the absence of those behaviors that would be
expected of a "cold blooded killer," escape, concealment, evasiveness, etc. Because these facts are
part of the Commonwealth's case, Commonwealth
witnesses will have to acknowledge the existence
of behaviors that we would expect to see in an
individual with Borderline Personality Disorder
both leading up to the homicide and once the
pressure is relieved by the completion of the killing. Depending on the facts of the specific case,
Counsel may establish that the defendant did not
hide his intent, was himself contemplating suicide,
did not take any steps to remove or manipulate
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and the 2017 White Collar Practice Seminar
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Vol. 2, Issue 2 | For The Defense
43
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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of For the Defense - Volume 2, Issue 2 - 2017
For the Defense - Volume 2, Issue 2 - 2017 - 1
For the Defense - Volume 2, Issue 2 - 2017 - 2
For the Defense - Volume 2, Issue 2 - 2017 - 3
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For the Defense - Volume 2, Issue 2 - 2017 - 52
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