Cite as: 512 U. S. 967 (1994)
Blackmun, J., dissenting
edly aggravating motive, such as money,2 or because the defendant killed the victim for no motive at all; 3 because the defendant killed in cold blood,4 or in hot blood; 5 because the defendant attempted to conceal his crime,6 or made no attempt to conceal it; 7 because the defendant made the victim endure the terror of anticipating a violent death,8 or because the defendant killed without any warning; 9 and because the defendant had a prior relationship with the victim,10 or
because the victim was a complete stranger.11 Similarly, prosecutors have argued, and juries are free to find, that the age of the victim was an aggravating circumstance because the victim was a child, an adolescent, a young adult, in the prime of life, or elderly; 12 or that the method of killing was aggravating, because the victim was strangled, bludgeoned, shot, stabbed, or consumed by fire; 13 or that the location of
2 People v. Howard, Cal. Sup. Ct. No. S004452, Brief for California Appellate Project as Amicus Curiae 14, n. 9, 17, n. 29 (hereinafter Amicus Brief).
3 People v. Edwards, Cal. Sup. Ct. No. S004755, id., at 15, n. 13, 17, n. 29.
4 People v. Visciotti, Cal. Sup. Ct. No. S004597, id., at 15, n. 15.
5 People v. Jennings, Cal. Sup. Ct. No. S004754, id., at 15, n. 16.
6 People v. Benson, Cal. Sup. Ct. No. S004763, id., at 15, n. 17.
7 People v. Morales, Cal. Sup. Ct. No. S004552, id., at 15, n. 18.
8 People v. Webb, Cal. Sup. Ct. No. S006938, id., at 16, n. 19.
9 People v. Freeman, Cal. Sup. Ct. No. S004787, id., at 18, n. 31.
10 People v. Padilla, Cal. Sup. Ct. No. S0144964, id., at 16, n. 25.
11 People v. Anderson, Cal. Sup. Ct. No. S004385, id., at 16, n. 26.
12 People v. Deere, Cal. Sup. Ct. No. S004722, id., at 17, n. 27 (victims were two and six); People v. Bonin, Cal. Sup. Ct. No. S004565, ibid. (victims were adolescents); People v. Carpenter, Cal. Sup. Ct. No. S004654, ibid. (victim was 20); People v. Phillips, 41 Cal. 3d 29, 63, 711 P. 2d 423, 444 (1985) (26-year-old victim was "in the prime of his life"); People v. Melton, Cal. Sup. Ct. No. S004518, Amicus Brief 17, n. 27 (victim was 77).
13 People v. Clair, Cal. Sup. Ct. No. S004789, id., at 17, n. 28 (strangulation); People v. Kipp, Cal. Sup. Ct. No. S004784, ibid. (same); People v. Fauber, Cal. Sup. Ct. No. S005868, ibid. (use of an axe); People v. Benson, Cal. Sup. Ct. No. S004763, ibid. (use of a hammer); People v. Cain, Cal. Sup. Ct. No. S006544, ibid. (use of a club); People v. Jackson, Cal. Sup. Ct. No. S010723, ibid. (use of a gun); People v. Reilly, Cal. Sup. Ct.
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