Procedimiento especial de sentencia en casos de asesinato agravado

Explicación Simple

Si alguien es declarado culpable de un asesinato muy grave, hay una segunda etapa para decidir la pena. Esto lo hace un jurado, a menos que se decida no tenerlo.

Es como si después de un partido de fútbol, el árbitro tuviera que decidir si un jugador merece una tarjeta roja, y para eso convoca a un grupo de expertos para que den su opinión.

Ejemplo Práctico

Imagina que Juan fue encontrado culpable de un asesinato agravado. Después del juicio, se programa una nueva audiencia donde un jurado decidirá si Juan debe recibir cadena perpetua o la pena de muerte, siempre y cuando se haya notificado correctamente este proceso.

Penalidades

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Texto Original del Estatuto (Inglés)

RCW 10.95.050 - Special sentencing proceeding -- When held -- Jury to decide matters presented -- Waiver -- Reconvening same jury -- Impanelling new jury -- Peremptory challenges (1) If a defendant is adjudicated guilty of aggravated first degree murder, whether by acceptance of a plea of guilty, by verdict of a jury, or by decision of the trial court sitting without a jury, a special sentencing proceeding shall be held if a notice of special sentencing proceeding was filed and served as provided by RCW 10.95.040. No sort of plea, admission, or agreement may abrogate the requirement that a special sentencing proceeding be held.(2) A jury shall decide the matters presented in the special sentencing proceeding unless a jury is waived in the discretion of the court and with the consent of the defendant and the prosecuting attorney.(3) If the defendant's guilt was determined by a jury verdict, the trial court shall reconvene the same jury to hear the special sentencing proceeding. The proceeding shall commence as soon as practicable after completion of the trial at which the defendant's guilt was determined. If, however, unforeseen circumstances make it impracticable to reconvene the same jury to hear the special sentencing proceeding, the trial court may dismiss that jury and convene a jury pursuant to subsection (4) of this section.(4) If the defendant's guilt was determined by plea of guilty or by decision of the trial court sitting without a jury, or if a retrial of the special sentencing proceeding is necessary for any reason including but not limited to a mistrial in a previous special sentencing proceeding or as a consequence of a remand from an appellate court, the trial court shall impanel a jury of twelve persons plus whatever alternate jurors the trial court