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Constitutional Law Keyed to Choper
Lockett v. Ohio
Citation:
438 U.S. 586 (1978)Facts
Sandra Lockett became acquainted with Al Parker and Nathan Earl Dew in New Jersey, and they accompanied her back to Akron, Ohio. When Parker and Dew needed money to return to New Jersey, a plan was formulated to rob a pawnshop. Lockett, who knew the pawnshop owner, helped plan the robbery but remained in the car as the getaway driver. During the robbery, Parker’s gun discharged when the pawnbroker grabbed it, killing the pawnbroker. Lockett was charged with aggravated murder with specifications that made her eligible for the death penalty under Ohio law. At trial, she was convicted based largely on Parker’s testimony. Parker had pleaded guilty to murder and agreed to testify in exchange for avoiding the death penalty. Under Ohio’s death penalty statute, once Lockett was found guilty, the trial judge was required to impose the death penalty unless one of three statutory mitigating factors was established: (1) victim inducement, (2) duress or coercion, or (3) primarily the product of psychosis or mental deficiency. The trial judge found none of these factors present and sentenced Lockett to death.
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