State v. Watson

R.C. 2929.05(A) requires us to undertake a three-part review in a capital case. First, we review the judgment and consider Watson’s twenty-one propositions of law, in which he asserts various errors by the trial and appellate courts. Second, we determine the appropriateness of the death sentence in this case by independently weighing the evidence and determining whether the aggravating circumstances outweigh the mitigating factors. Finally, we must determine whether the death sentence is excessive or disproportionate to the penalty imposed in similar cases. For the reasons which follow we…