State of Arizona, Appellee v. Gary Wayne Snelling, Appellant

Summary

The court affirmed Snelling's first-degree murder conviction but vacated his death sentence and imposed natural life imprisonment. On independent review, it held that the evidence did not prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the victim consciously experienced mental anguish or physical pain sufficient to support the sole cruelty aggravator. The court also rejected challenges concerning the grand jury proceeding, defense counsel qualifications, crime-scene and autopsy photographs, and the medical examiner's testimony.