State of Arizona, Appellee v. Vincent Joseph Guarino, Appellant

Summary

The court affirmed Guarino’s convictions and death sentence. It held that the penalty-phase admission of his codefendant’s statements was relevant, sufficiently reliable, consistent with due process, and not barred by the Confrontation Clause; it also upheld gang-expert testimony and the constitutionality of the especially-cruel aggravator. The court further concluded that the jury did not abuse its discretion in declining to grant leniency despite the mitigation evidence. No separate opinions were filed.