State v. Ceja

HAYS, Justice.

The tortuous path of this case reflects a state of confusion and sometimes inexplicable results reached in the courts, both state and federal, in Arizona and in the nation. The case is before us for the third time after two trials, three sentencings, three aggravation/mitigation hearings, and a sojourn or two in the federal arena. At the last sentencing, as at the previous two sen-tencings, the death penalty was imposed. This appeal does not concern itself with the judgment of conviction, but attacks the validity of the sentence alone.

Previously, on May 16, 1977, in State v.…