State v. Hessler

Francis E. Sweeney, Sr., J.

The appeal from the court of appeals is dismissed. State v. Smith (1997), 80 Ohio St.3d 89, 684 N.E.2d 668.

Appellant presents nine propositions of law for our consideration. See Appendix. We have carefully considered each proposition, independently weighed the aggravating circumstances against the evidence presented in mitigation, and reviewed the death penalties for appropriateness and proportionality. For the following reasons, we affirm the convictions and uphold the death penalties.

Reasonable-Doubt Instruction

In his first proposition of law, appellant finds…