State v. Jones

2000 Ohio 187, 739 N.E.2d 300, 90 Ohio St. 3d 403

Opinions

Alice Robie Resnick, J.

Appellant, Elwood Jones, has raised twenty-six propositions of law. We have reviewed each and have determined that none justifies reversal of appellant’s conviction for aggravated murder. Pursuant to R.C. 2929.05(A), we have also independently weighed the aggravating circumstances against the mitigation evidence, and reviewed the death penalty for appropriateness and proportionality. For the reasons that follow, we affirm appellant’s conviction and death sentence.

INEFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE

In his first four propositions of law, appellant contends that trial counsel provided ineffective representation, thereby depriving him of a fair trial in both phases. Reversal of a conviction for ineffective assistance requires that the defendant show, first, that counsel’s performance was deficient and, second, that the deficient performance prejudiced the defense so as to deprive the defendant of a fair trial. Strickland v. Washington (1984), 466 U.S. 668, 687, 104 S.Ct. 2052, 2064, 80 L.Ed.2d 674, 693. Accord State v. Bradley (1989), 42 Ohio St.3d 136, 538 N.E.2d 373.

Failure to Assert Physiciam-Patient Privilege

In his first proposition of law, appellant argues that trial counsel were ineffective in failing to object to or prevent testimony protected by the physician-patient privilege of R.C. 2317.02(B). Appellant contends that his trial counsel simply missed the issue of physician-patient privilege and that his trial counsel never deliberately made a tactical decision not to raise the issue.

During trial, the prosecution called Dr. John McDonough to testify concerning appellant’s hand injury. This testimony was incriminating to appellant, since other evidence elicited at trial revealed that Nathan was struck in the face with a “considerable amount of force” that broke her jaw. One of Nathan’s teeth was found in her stomach during the autopsy. Another tooth was found under Nathan’s head on the hotel room floor. Dr. McDonough concluded that appellant’s injury to his hand was a fist-to-mouth injury due to the presence of the eikenella corrodens organism found almost always in dental plaque. This evidence was a key component of the state’s circumstantial case against appellant and pointed to him as the killer. The other key component was the discovery of Nathan’s pendant in the toolbox in the trunk of appellant’s car.

Although defense counsel lodged several objections during Dr.' McDonough’s testimony, none of these objections attempted to assert the physician-patient privilege. Nor did defense counsel file a motion in limine to prevent Dr. McDonough’s testimony or to prevent use of appellant’s medical records. In addition, defense counsel did not file a motion to quash the subpoena requesting appellant’s medical records. If defense counsel had used one of these avenues to assert the physician-patient privilege, the issue would have been directly before the trial court, and the trial court would have ruled on the applicability of the privilege. Since no issue regarding the physician-patient privilege was raised at trial, we must consider the question in the context of ineffective assistance of counsel.

We find that trial counsel were not ineffective in failing to raise the issue of physician-patient privilege, because we determine that the privilege was inapplicable in the circumstances of this case. For the following reasons, even if counsel had objected to Dr. McDonough’s testimony, the trial court would have been required to overrule the objection and allow Dr. McDonough to testify.

R.C. 2921.22(B) requires that physicians and certain others giving aid to an injured person report to law enforcement personnel gunshot or stab wounds and further requires reporting “any serious physical harm to persons that the physician * * * knows or has reasonable cause to believe resulted from an offense of violence.”

The statute applies here even though Dr. McDonough did not report the injury. Dr. McDonough suspected that the injury was a fist-to-mouth injury when tests revealed the presence of the eikenella corrodens, and he questioned appellant’s version of how he received the injury. Dr. McDonough’s opinion of a fist-to-mouth injury was substantiated when the police contacted him with the information that appellant was a suspect in the murder investigation. At that point, Dr. McDonough’s suspicions about the injury and the police information conveyed to him coalesced to support his belief that the injury was caused by an offense of violence. If Dr. McDonough had learned that appellant was a suspect from a source other than the police (e.g., a news report), he would have been required to report the injury pursuant to R.C. 2921.22, given his personal suspicions about the nature of the injury. As it was, he was already in contact with the police, so the reporting was no longer required. The situation is no different than if Dr. McDonough had reported appellant’s injury on his own initiative.

Appellant urges that, even assuming that Dr. McDonough had a duty to report the injury under R.C. 2921.22(B), there is a further question of whether the statute leads to waiver of the physician-patient privilege. Appellant argues that the privilege remains intact even if the injury is reported to the police.

In State v. Antill (1964), 176 Ohio St. 61, 26 O.O.2d 366, 197 N.E.2d 548, paragraph four of the syllabus, this court, in considering the predecessor statute to R.C. 2921.22(B), held, “Where a physician is required by [the former statute] to report to a law-enforcement officer a gunshot wound or wound inflicted by a deadly weapon, the former may testify, without violating the physician-patient privilege, as to the description of the wounded person, as to his name and address, if known, and as to the description of the nature and location of such wound, obtained by examination, observation and treatment of the victim.”

We see no reason to distinguish between a report of a “gunshot wound or wound inflicted by a deadly weapon” as specified in Antill and a report of “serious physical harm” pursuant to R.C. 2921.22 at issue in the present case. The policies implicated in the statutory duties to report are identical in the two situations. If the details of the wound have already been reported, “[t]he only purpose that sustaining the privilege can now serve is to obstruct the course of justice.” Antill, 176 Ohio St. at 65, 26 O.O.2d at 368, 197 N.E.2d at 552. We find that the holding of Antill is applicable to the situation in the instant case.

Appellant argues that in State v. Smorgala (1990), 50 Ohio St.3d 222, 553 N.E.2d 672, this court established that there is no public policy exception to the privilege statute regarding evidence sought by the state in criminal prosecutions. Appellant’s citation of Smorgala is inapposite. In that case, this court held at paragraph one of the syllabus that “[cjourts may not create a public policy limitation upon the physician-patient privilege in order to allow otherwise clearly inadmissible evidence to be received in drunk driving cases.” The situation in the case at bar, and in Antill, is different from that in Smorgala, where a judicially created policy limiting the physician-patient privilege was found inapplicable because it conflicted with the statute giving rise to the privilege, R.C. 2317.02(B). At issue instead in the instant case, as in Antill, is the interplay of two statutes, the physician-patient privilege statute, R.C. 2317.02(B), and the medical personnel reporting statute, now R.C. 2921.22(B). In this case we are dealing with a statute, R.C. 2921.22, not judicially created policy; hence, the rule of Smorgala is not implicated.

Our conclusion is bolstered by the Legislative Service Commission 1973 comment to Am.Sub.H.B. No. 511. The portion of R.C. 2921.22(B) at issue in this case — the requirement that medical personnel report “serious physical harm” when they know or have reasonable cause to believe the harm resulted from an offense of violence — is essentially unchanged from the 1972 enactment of R.C. 2921.22(B). See Am.Sub.H.B. No. 511, 134 Ohio Laws, Part II, 1951. The 1973 comment to H.B. No. 511 provides:

“This section also requires doctors * * *, and others who give aid to the sick or injured, to report gunshot and stab wounds, and other serious injuries which they know or have reasonable cause to believe resulted from a crime of violence, such as the ‘battered child syndrome.’ The reporting requirement under this part of the section is absolute, i.e., no privilege attaches in the cases covered.”

Even if appellant’s counsel had raised the physician-patient privilege, they would not have been successful. Appellant’s trial counsel, therefore, were not deficient in failing to raise the physician-patient privilege as an issue. The requirements of Strickland, are not met. Appellant’s first proposition is overruled.

Failure to Object

Under his second proposition of law, appellant asserts ineffective assistance where trial counsel failed to interpose a specific objection to the admission of statements made to police after appellant invoked his right to counsel. In particular, appellant complains that counsel failed to raise the issue of “constructive interrogation” concerning statements he made at District 1 headquarters after his arrest.

This proposition lacks merit. Appellant concedes that counsel filed a motion to suppress statements that he made to police on three different occasions. In fact, a suppression hearing was held, at the close of which the court ruled that all statements made by appellant, both before and after his arrest, were voluntary. Even assuming counsel could have raised the issue of constructive interrogation more specifically, there is no reasonable probability that the result of the trial would have been different but for counsel’s errors. Bradley, 42 Ohio St.3d 136, 538 N.E.2d 373, paragraph three of the syllabus. There was no interrogation, constructive or otherwise, after appellant was arrested and booked at District 1 headquarters. Moreover, the statements made by appellant were at worst only marginally incriminating. See Rhode Island v. Innis (1980), 446 U.S. 291, 298-302, 100 S.Ct. 1682, 1688-1690, 64 L.Ed.2d 297, 306-308, construing the meaning of “interrogation” for purposes of Miranda v. Arizona (1966), 384 U.S. 436, 86 S.Ct. 1602, 16 L.Ed.2d 694. Accordingly, we find appellant’s second proposition is not well taken.

Failure to Rehabilitate Jurors

In his third proposition of law, appellant contends that counsel failed to attempt rehabilitation of jurors who opposed the death penalty during voir dire. Appellant also asserts that counsel failed to challenge for cause a juror (Hamilton), who admitted that he might be unable to put aside his experience as a police officer and objectively consider the evidence presented. Appellant’s claims of ineffective assistance in this context are unfounded.

Appellant cites six jurors whom counsel should have rehabilitated: Chavez, Noe, Cripe, Baker, Brooks, and Cook. However, voir dire revealed that all were unalterably opposed to the death penalty and that their strong views “would prevent or substantially impair the performance” of their duties as jurors. See State v. Rogers (1985), 17 Ohio St.3d 174, 17 OBR 414, 478 N.E.2d 984, paragraph three of the syllabus. Moreover, the failure to probe views of jurors who were excused for cause under death qualification, does not constitute ineffective assistance, since trial counsel is in a better position to determine if jurors can be rehabilitated. Bradley, 42 Ohio St.3d at 143, 538 N.E.2d at 381.

With respect to the failure to challenge Juror Hamilton for cause, the transcript reveals no ground that counsel could have successfully asserted as a challenge. Hamilton indicated that he would follow the law: “I may not agree with it but it’s my job and I have to do it.” Therefore, we overrule appellant’s third proposition.

Failure to Present Mitigating Evidence

In his fourth proposition of law, appellant alleges ineffective assistance based on counsel’s failure to present available mitigation evidence. At the beginning of the mitigation hearing, defense counsel informed the court that appellant had always maintained he was innocent in the murder of Nathan and that the only mitigation he wanted counsel to present was residual doubt. The trial judge specifically asked appellant if that was accurate, and appellant replied, “Yes, it is, Your Honor.” On the second day of the mitigation hearing, the court informed the defense that it would not instruct the jury on residual doubt based on the decision in Gamer, 74 Ohio St.3d at 56-57, 656 N.E.2d at 632.

As we noted recently in State v. Ashworth (1999), 85 Ohio St.3d 56, 63, 706 N.E.2d 1231, 1238, even if the court attempted to require an attorney to present mitigating evidence, it cannot force an unwilling defendant to provide that evidence to his attorney. Moreover, where the defendant does not want to present mitigating evidence, no societal interest counterbalances the defendant’s right to control his own defense. State v. Tyler (1990), 50 Ohio St.3d 24, 28, 553 N.E.2d 576, 584.

Here, nothing suggests that appellant was not competent to forgo presenting any mitigating evidence. Nor did appellant ever indicate a change of heart after the court’s refusal to instruct on residual doubt. In fact, at his sentencing hearing appellant again maintained his innocence and indicated that he had twice refused to accept a plea bargain on manslaughter. In light of all the foregoing, counsel were not ineffective for failing to present available mitigating evidence. We overrule appellant’s fourth proposition.

VOIR DIRE/PRETRIAL ISSUES

Suppression Issues

In his eleventh proposition of law, appellant complains that the affidavit of Officer Stokes in support of the warrant to search appellant’s vehicle contained material misstatements of fact. Consequently, appellant submits that the warrant was invalid and that evidence seized pursuant to the warrant should have been suppressed. In particular, appellant contends that Stokes grossly misstated his experience in the affidavit, because the Nathan murder case was his first homicide investigation. In addition, appellant asserts that police “had no reason to believe they would find bloody clothes or traces of blood on Defendant’s clothing or possessions.”

In the affidavit supporting the request for a warrant, Officer Stokes stated:

“The affiant is a trained and experienced police officer who knows through his training and experience that when a victim is beaten as badly as Nathan was in this offense, there will be a transfer of blood from the victim to the assailant, and a transfer of that blood from the assailant to items in a vehicle or a residence that he would come in contact with.”

Contrary to appellant’s assertions, the above paragraph does not constitute a gross misstatement of fact for an officer with twenty years of police experience. Simply because this was Stokes’s first homicide investigation does not mean that he would be ignorant of the probability of trace evidence of blood on the clothing or possessions of a murder suspect who allegedly committed a violent assault. In fact, his years of experience would indicate otherwise.

In reviewing a similar claim, we noted that under Franks v. Delaware (1978), 438 U.S. 154, 171, 98 S.Ct. 2674, 2684, 57 L.Ed.2d 667, 682, an affidavit supporting a warrant enjoys a presumption of validity. State v. Roberts (1980), 62 Ohio St.2d 170, 178, 16 O.O.3d 201, 206, 405 N.E.2d 247, 253. In order to overcome the presumption, the defendant has “the task of supporting his allegations by more than conclusional accusations, or the mere desire to cross-examine.” Id. at 178, 16 O.O.3d at 206, 405 N.E.2d at 253. Although this was Stokes’s first homicide investigation, appellant has not shown that Stokes lacked experience in investigating assaults or other crimes where blood was transferred. In addition, appellant does not show that police suspected that trace blood would not appear on appellant’s clothing or personal possessions. Appellant’s eleventh proposition is not well taken.

In his twelfth proposition of law, appellant argues that statements he made on the day he was arrested, after he invoked his right to counsel, should have been suppressed.

During the suppression hearing, Officer Stokes testified that when appellant was being booked at the District 1 headquarters in Cincinnati after his arrest, appellant asked Sgt. Lilley: “What’s going on? What am I being charged with?” Lilley responded: “You’re charged with aggravated murder of Rhoda Nathan, the aggravated burglary of Rhoda Nathan’s room.” Appellant then asked Lilley: “What burglary, what theft are you talking about?” Lilley then placed a photo of the pendant on the desk in front of appellant. Appellant then asked: “What necklace?” Appellant looked at the photo and claimed that he had never seen it before in his life. Lilley then stated: “It was in the trunk of your car.” Appellant then denied it had been in his ear. The conversation between appellant and the police ceased. The trial court ruled that appellant’s statements were voluntarily given.

The police advised appellant of his Miranda rights during the voluntary questioning on September 12, 1994, at the close of which he declared he wanted an attorney, and on the day of his arrest on September 27, 1995. Sgt. Lilley acknowledged at the suppression hearing that the police knew they could not interrogate appellant on the day he was arrested, since he had previously invoked his rights to remain silent and to obtain counsel a year earlier.

At a suppression hearing, the evaluation of evidence and the credibility of witnesses are issues for the trier of fact. State v. Mills (1992), 62 Ohio St.3d 357, 366, 582 N.E.2d 972, 982, citing State v. Fanning (1982), 1 Ohio St.3d 19, 20, 1 OBR 57, 58, 437 N.E.2d 583, 584. See, also, State v. DeHass (1967), 10 Ohio St.2d 230, 39 O.O.2d 366, 227 N.E.2d 212, paragraph one of the syllabus; State v. DePew (1988), 38 Ohio St.3d 275, 277, 528 N.E.2d 542, 547. Here, appellant initiated the conversation by asking the police what he was being charged with. Appellant was not asked any questions. Therefore, the trial court could legitimately conclude that appellant’s statements to police after he was arrested were not the result of a police interrogation, but were voluntary and not elicited in violation of his constitutional rights. See Oregon v. Bradshaw (1983), 462 U.S. 1039, 1045-1046, 103 S.Ct. 2830, 2835, 77 L.Ed.2d 405, 412-413 (plurality opinion), construing Edwards v. Arizona (1981), 451 U.S. 477, 101 S.Ct. 1880, 68 L.Ed.2d 378. Even assuming error in the admission of appellant’s statements, we find that any error was harmless. See State v. Richey (1992), 64 Ohio St.3d 353, 361, 595 N.E.2d 915, 923. Appellant’s twelfth proposition is overruled.

Voir Dire Issues

In his nineteenth proposition of law, appellant contends that the systematic exclusion of jurors opposed to the death penalty violated his right to a fair and impartial jury. In his twentieth proposition of law, appellant argues that the exclusion of jurors opposed to the death penalty resulted in a jury biased in favor of guilt and of death.

Appellant’s arguments are not well taken. The voir dire transcript reveals that the trial court used the correct standard for death qualification of jurors established in Wainwright v. Witt (1985), 469 U.S. 412, 105 S.Ct. 844, 83 L.Ed.2d 841. See, e.g., State v. Wilson (1996), 74 Ohio St.3d 381, 388, 659 N.E.2d 292, 302. Moreover, the trial judge properly determined that the death-penalty views of those excused “would prevent or substantially impair” their performance of their duties as jurors. Rogers, 17 Ohio St.3d 174, 17 OBR 414, 478 N.E.2d 984, paragraph three of the syllabus. We overrule appellant’s nineteenth and twentieth propositions of law.

TRIAL ISSUES

Admissibility Issues

In his ninth proposition of law, appellant asserts that he was prejudiced when the trial court failed to exclude from evidence the portion of the police officer’s notes where appellant invoked his right to counsel. Appellant submits that even though the trial court issued a curative instruction, the danger remained that the challenged portion attracted the jury’s attention to an improper inference that could be drawn from its admission.

Clearly, it is improper for evidence to be admitted that a defendant invoked his or her right to counsel. See Doyle v. Ohio (1976), 426 U.S. 610, 618-619, 96 S.Ct. 2240, 2245, 49 L.Ed.2d 91, 98; State v. Chinn (1999), 85 Ohio St.3d 548, 560-561, 709 N.E.2d 1166, 1178. However, after the officer testified that appellant wanted to talk to an attorney, the trial court immediately reminded the jury that anyone has the right to invoke the right to counsel. In addition, the court charged the jury that “[appellant] also has a constitutional right to stop talking to the police and request counsel at any time. * * * The fact that he stopped talking to the police and invoked his right to counsel must not be considered for any purpose.”

Juries are presumed to follow the court’s instructions, including instructions to disregard testimony. See State v. Zuern (1987), 32 Ohio St.3d 56, 61, 512 N.E.2d 585, 590; State v. Henderson (1988), 39 Ohio St.3d 24, 33, 528 N.E.2d 1237, 1246; State v. Loza (1994), 71 Ohio St.3d 61, 75, 641 N.E.2d 1082, 1100. Any error was rendered harmless by the trial court’s curative instructions. We reject appellant’s ninth proposition.

In his tenth proposition of law, appellant raises two arguments concerning the testimony of Dr. McDonough. In the first instance, appellant claims that it was error for the trial court to allow Dr. McDonough to testify as an expert for the state and to offer an expert opinion that appellant’s injury was caused by a fist-to-mouth injury due to the presence of eikenella corrodens. However, the determination of an expert’s qualifications to testify on a particular subject is within the sound discretion of the trial court. State v. Awkal (1996), 76 Ohio St.3d 324, 331, 667 N.E.2d 960, 968. Accordingly, any question concerning the admission or exclusion of expert testimony is measured by the abuse-of-discretion standard. See State v. Bidinost (1994), 71 Ohio St.3d 449, 453, 644 N.E.2d 318, 322.

The trial court did not abuse its discretion by permitting Dr. McDonough to testify as an expert on appellant’s injury. Dr. McDonough teaches a course at the University of Cincinnati dealing with human bites and infections of the hand caused by bite or fist-to-mouth injuries. While Dr. McDonough does not specialize in infectious diseases, his expertise in the area of elenched-fist or bite injuries to hands made him well qualified to testify on this subject. His lack of expertise in infectious diseases would relate only to the weight of the evidence, not its admissibility. State v. Jells (1990), 53 Ohio St.3d 22, 29, 559 N.E.2d 464, 471. Moreover, we believe that such testimony is properly admitted where the expert merely observed the medical procedure and testified as to its results. See State v. Eley (1996), 77 Ohio St.3d 174, 181, 672 N.E.2d 640, 648-649.

In the second instance, appellant claims that the trial court erred in overruling defense counsel’s objection to Dr. McDonough’s testimony derived from appellant’s medical records. Under this argument, appellant asserts that since Dr. Cherney prepared the medical records in issue, Dr. McDonough should not have been allowed to testify as to their contents, since the records themselves were never admitted into evidence and Dr. McDonough had no personal knowledge of the matters discussed by Dr. Cherney with appellant. State v. Chapin (1981), 67 Ohio St.2d 437, 442, 21 O.O.3d 273, 277, 424 N.E.2d 317, 321. Although Dr. Cherney prepared the medical reports, Dr. McDonough supervised the surgery of appellant’s hand and signed the reports prepared by Dr. Cherney. Moreover, Dr. McDonough was personally involved in the treatment and diagnosis of appellant’s hand injury. The trial court did not err in permitting Dr. McDonough to testify as to the contents of appellant’s medical reports, since the reports reflected matters within his personal knowledge. Appellant’s tenth proposition is overruled.

Under his thirteenth proposition of law, appellant complains that the trial court erred in admitting expert opinion testimony concerning the correlation between wound patterns on the victim’s body and the shape of objects allegedly used in the murder of Nathan. Appellant asserts that the expert opinion testimony of FBI specialist William J. Stokes and Dr. William Oliver of the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology was not based upon widely accepted knowledge, facts, and principles, in violation of Evid.R. 702(C)(1).

In his video deposition, FBI specialist Stokes testified that he used a “rectifying enlarger,” the only one he knew of being used for forensic photography, to correct the plane of the reference scale on autopsy photos of Rhoda Nathan. Stokes explained that the scale on the autopsy photos was not on the same level as the wounds on the victim’s body. The rectifying enlarger compensates for perspective by making the wounds on the different plane properly match the scale that is on the autopsy photos. Stokes used State Exhibit 6, a walkie-talkie available to appellant while he was working at the hotel, to help establish the scale of the wounds on the autopsy photo. Stokes then opined that the characteristics of the radio matched up with certain wounds on Nathan’s body depicted on State Exhibit 5.

Lieutenant Colonel William Oliver, a medical doctor and forensic pathologist with the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, also testified in a video deposition. Dr. Oliver was provided autopsy photos of Nathan to evaluate pattern injuries on her body. He converted the photos to digital images to compare certain wounds with physical evidence linked to the homicide, i.e., metal door chains found in appellant’s toolbox and the walkie-talkie. Dr. Oliver opined that there was “a correspondence in shape and scale” between the door chains and marks on the victim’s body and that he could not rule out “a correspondence” with markings on the victim and the walkie-talkie.

Because neither expert offered an opinion with any reasonable degree of scientific certainty, appellant claims that the testimony should not have been admitted as expert testimony.

Both Stokes and Dr. Oliver were presented as experts in their fields. The standard for determining the admissibility of expert testimony is set forth in Evid.R. 702: whether expert testimony is admissible depends on whether it will assist the trier of fact to understand matters “beyond the knowledge or experience possessed by lay persons.” See, generally, State v. Buell (1986), 22 Ohio St.3d 124, 129, 22 OBR 203, 207, 489 N.E.2d 795, 801. The state claims that in any event, the opinions were nevertheless admissible, at least as lay witness testimony under Evid.R. 701. See Jells, 53 Ohio St.3d at 28-29, 559 N.E.2d at 470-472. In addition, the state cites State v. D’Ambrosio (1993), 67 Ohio St.3d 185, 191, 616 N.E.2d 909, 915, where we held that experts could testify as to possibility rather than only probability, and that such testimony becomes an issue of sufficiency and not admissibility.

Agent Stokes’s testimony was admissible under Evid.R. 702(C). The comparisons he made between the walkie-talkie and wounds on Nathan’s body were similar to techniques used to compare shoeprints and fingerprints in other cases. The reliability of the comparison in this case was in fact called into question by defense counsel during cross-examination. The reliability of Dr. Oliver’s conclusions was also effectively challenged on cross-examination when he conceded that he could not say for certain that a walkie-talkie or hotel door chains made the wound markings on Nathan’s body.

Since counsel was permitted to fully cross-examine the expert witnesses, and since the trial court properly instructed the jury that they were to decide what weight to give such testimony, no abuse of discretion by the trial court occurred. Buell, 22 Ohio St.3d at 132-133, 22 OBR at 203, 489 N.E.2d at 803-804. Accordingly, we overrule appellant’s thirteenth proposition.

Sufficiency of the Evidence

In his twenty-first proposition of law, appellant argues that the trial court should have granted his motions for acquittal, pursuant to Crim.R. 29(A), because the evidence presented was insufficient to support his convictions.

When reviewing a claim of insufficient evidence, the relevant inquiry is whether any rational factfinder, viewing the evidence in a light most favorable to the state, could have found the essential elements of the crime proven beyond a reasonable doubt. Jackson v. Virginia (1979), 448 U.S. 307, 319, 99 S.Ct. 2781, 2789, 61 L.Ed.2d 560, 573; State v. Jenks (1991), 61 Ohio St.3d 259, 574 N.E.2d 492, paragraph two of the syllabus. The verdict will not be disturbed unless the reviewing court finds that reasonable minds could not reach the conclusion reached by the trier of fact. Id. at 273, 574 N.E.2d at 503.

In its brief before this court, the state sets forth nine facts that collectively provide substantial evidence of appellant’s guilt. Four of the nine facts cited by the state derive from Dr. McDonough’s testimony and medical records, which revealed that appellant’s hand wound was infected by the eikenella corrodens organism that is usually found in dental plaque. At the crime scene, a tooth of Nathan’s was discovered lying under her head. Another tooth was recovered from her stomach during the autopsy.

Looking at the remaining facts set forth by the state, appellant was working at the hotel at the time of the murder. Appellant also had possession of a master key that could open the hotel room where Nathan was murdered.

In addition, appellant’s statement as to his whereabouts at the time of the murder could not be substantiated. Moreover, the wound markings on the victim were consistent with objects issued to appellant by the hotel. Testimony at trial noted a similarity between wound markings on Nathan’s body and the shape of objects (walkie-talkie and hotel door chains) that appellant possessed or had access to.

Most damaging was the fact that the victim’s unique pendant was found in the trunk of appellant’s car. This crucial piece of evidence plainly linked appellant to the murder. Given all of the foregoing, sufficient evidence exists to support appellant’s conviction under the test set forth in Jenks. Therefore, we overrule appellant’s twenty-first proposition.

Jury Instructions

In his twenty-third proposition of law, appellant asserts that the court’s instruction on reasonable doubt based on the definition in R.C. 2901.05(D) constitutes reversible error. However, beginning with State v. Jenkins (1984), 15 Ohio St.3d 164, 15 OBR 311, 473 N.E.2d 264, paragraph eight of the syllabus, we have uniformly upheld use of the statutory definition of reasonable doubt in capital case jury instructions. See, e.g., State v. Moore (1998), 81 Ohio St.3d 22, 37, 689 N.E.2d 1, 15. We overrule appellant’s twenty-third proposition.

SENTENCING ISSUES

Jury Instructions

In his fourteenth proposition of law, appellant asserts error in the trial court’s failure to instruct on residual doubt, which led the state to argue that appellant had forfeited any right to a weighing of aggravating circumstances against mitigating factors, since no mitigating evidence was presented. Appellant further contends that the trial court erred in repeatedly instructing the jury that their verdict was a “recommendation.”

Both of these arguments lack merit. Residual doubt is not an acceptable mitigating factor. State v. McGuire (1997), 80 Ohio St.3d 390, 686 N.E.2d 1112, syllabus. In addition, use of the term “recommendation” does not diminish the jury’s sense of responsibility, accurately reflects Ohio law, and does not constitute error. State v. Woodard (1993), 68 Ohio St.3d 70, 77, 623 N.E.2d 75, 80-81. We overrule appellant’s fourteenth proposition.

In his twenty-fourth proposition of law, appellant argues that the court erred in using the statutory definition of reasonable doubt during penalty-phase instructions. Admittedly, the trial court’s reference to the “truth of the charge” is not the preferred language for a penalty-phase reasonable-doubt instruction. Moore, 81 Ohio St.3d at 37, 689 N.E.2d at 15. However, any such error is harmless where the trial court clearly instructs the jury that, before recommending death, it must be convinced beyond a reasonable doubt that the aggravating circumstances outweigh the mitigating factors, and that the prosecution has the burden of proof on the issue. State v. Taylor (1997), 78 Ohio St.3d 15, 29-30, 676 N.E.2d 82, 96. Since the trial court clearly instructed the jury in this manner, appellant’s twenty-fourth proposition is not well taken.

Proportionality Review

In his sixteenth proposition of law, appellant claims that his sentence is disproportionately severe in relation to the crime committed, and to sentences imposed in similar cases, and thus violates the Eighth Amendment to the United States Constitution. In his seventeenth proposition of law, appellant asserts that his sentence is disproportionately severe when compared to other death penalty cases in Ohio and Hamilton County. In his twenty-fifth proposition of law, appellant contends that proportionality review as currently employed does not comport with either federal or state constitutional law, nor does it follow the plain language of R.C. 2929.05.

None of appellant’s propositions warrants a reversal. We have consistently rejected these same arguments because (1) there is no federal constitutional requirement for proportionality review in capital cases, see, e.g., Moore, 81 Ohio St.3d at 41-42, 689 N.E.2d at 18; and (2) the statutorily required proportionality review entails comparing only those cases where death is imposed. State v. Steffen (1987), 31 Ohio St.3d 111, 31 OBR 273, 509 N.E.2d 383, paragraph one of the syllabus. Proportionality review of appellant’s sentence will be accomplished as part of our independent sentence review. We overrule appellant’s sixteenth, seventeenth, and twenty-fifth propositions.

Failure to Merge Murder Counts

In his eighteenth proposition of law, appellant contends that the submission to the jury of two counts of aggravated murder, where only one conviction could lawfully be entered, tainted the jury’s consideration of its sentencing recommendation. Appellant submits that his death sentence must be set aside, since it cannot be determined whether the inclusion of a second count of aggravated murder affected the jury’s decision to recommend the death penalty.

Clearly, since both counts of aggravated murder involved the same victim, the trial court should have merged these counts, State v. Huertas (1990), 51 Ohio St.3d 22, 28, 553 N.E.2d 1058, 1066, instead of merely imposing “concurrent” death sentences. We confronted this same argument in Moore, 81 Ohio St.3d at 39, 689 N.E.2d at 17, where we held that although imposing death sentences on both counts constitutes error, the error is procedural and harmless beyond a reasonable doubt. See State v. Brown (1988), 38 Ohio St.3d 305, 317-318, 528 N.E.2d 523, 538-539. Moreover, merger of the death sentences as part of our independent assessment can readily cure any error that taints the jury’s sentencing verdict. See State v. Cook (1992), 65 Ohio St.3d 516, 527, 605 N.E.2d 70, 82. Accordingly, we reject appellant’s eighteenth proposition.

Consecutive Sentencing

In his twenty-second proposition of law, appellant claims that a trial court cannot legally impose a term of imprisonment to be served consecutively to a death sentence. However, the issue is rendered moot either by the execution of the death sentence or by the failure to execute the death sentence. See, e.g., State v. Davie (1997), 80 Ohio St.3d 311, 328, 686 N.E.2d 245, 262; Moore, 81 Ohio St.3d at 38, 689 N.E.2d at 16. Appellant’s twenty-second proposition is overruled.

Cumulative Error

Under his twenty-sixth proposition of law, appellant contends that individual and collective errors, whether raised by counsel or not, necessitate reversal of his conviction and death sentence. Nevertheless, appellant received a fair trial, and any error is found to be nonprejudicial. “Such errors cannot become prejudicial by sheer weight of numbers.” State v. Hill (1996), 75 Ohio St.3d 195, 212, 661 . Accordingly, we overrule appellant’s twenty-sixth proposition.

PROSECUTORIAL MISCONDUCT

In his fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth propositions of law, appellant asserts a number of instances of prosecutorial misconduct throughout trial. Appellant argues that when the alleged misconduct is considered individually and collectively, the result must be a reversal of his convictions and death sentence. Appellant’s fifth proposition of law is essentially a summary introductory argument of the other three propositions submitted by appellant.

The test for prosecutorial misconduct is whether remarks were improper and, if so, whether they prejudicially affected substantial rights of the accused. State v. Smith (1984), 14 Ohio St.3d 13, 14, 14 OBR 317, 318, 470 N.E.2d 883, 885. The touchstone of analysis “is the fairness of the trial, not the culpability of the prosecutor.” Smith v. Phillips (1982), 455 U.S. 209, 219, 102 S.Ct. 940, 947, 71 L.Ed.2d 78, 87.

In the first group of comments cited by appellant under his sixth proposition, he claims that the prosecutor improperly appealed to the jurors’ passions when he criticized defense counsel for attempting to shift culpability for the murder to other hotel employees: “It’s very unfortunate. Their names have been dragged through the mud in front of the cameras, in front of the press, as being accused of murder. A murder that Elwood Jones did.” Defense counsel objected, but the court simply instructed the jury: “[Y]ou heard the evidence as well as I did. I’ll let you decide what was said about McCall and Henry.” The prosecutor’s comment appears to be a fair rebuttal to the defense strategy of shifting suspicion of the murder to others who worked at the hotel, and can hardly be characterized as an improper appeal to the jurors’ passions.

Appellant also complains that the prosecutor misstated the evidence in asserting that only the banquet department had the kind of walkie-talkie used for comparison to the victim’s wounds. Defense counsel’s objection was not ruled upon, but one prosecution witness did in fact testify that State Exhibit 6, a walkie-talkie of that kind, was one used by the banquet department, in which appellant worked. Although one defense witness asserted that different departments at the hotel had walkie-talkies of that kind, the prosecutor’s statement was harmless.

Appellant next cites comments where the prosecutor argued that the defense “conceded that a radio made that mark” on the victim’s body, and where the prosecutor asserted and further intimated that appellant’s girlfriend, Earlene Metcalfe, lied for him. Both comments were objected to, and the trial court sustained both objections. However, the prosecutor continued to claim that Metcalfe lied, even though she never testified at trial. In addition, the prosecutor argued that shoes found during the search of her residence belonged to appellant, even though no evidence at trial supported that assertion. We agree with the court of appeals that the comments concerning Metcalfe and the shoes were improper because they alluded to facts not in evidence. However, these isolated comments were not outcome-determinative and did not deprive appellant of a fair trial.

Appellant next argues under his seventh proposition of law that the prosecutor denigrated the role and trial tactics of defense counsel, and suggested that defense counsel were attempting to hide the truth. Here, appellant is referring to the prosecutor’s remarks on defense counsel’s attempt to cast suspicion for the murder on other hotel employees. During trial, defense counsel elicited testimony from hotel employee Lisa Dietz that another hotel employee, Bill McCall, who left the hotel on the day of the murder, had access to master keys and radios at the hotel. After the defense rested, the state called Bill McCall as a rebuttal witness, and he refuted the implication that he had been involved in the murder. During closing argument, the prosecutor commented on defense counsel’s “search for doubt, not a search for the truth.” This remark, not objected to, was not outcome-determinative and did not deprive appellant of a fair trial.

In addition, appellant points to comments made during the prosecutor’s closing argument concerning defense expert Dr. Solomkin’s testimony regarding the nature of appellant’s hand injury. Defense counsel’s objection to the comments was overruled. Appellant argues that the prosecutor’s comments improperly implied that the defense expert would say whatever defense counsel wanted him to say. However, these comments were made during argument. Given the substantial evidence submitted in this case, we find that these isolated comments made during argument were nonprejudicial.

Appellant also claims that the prosecutor misrepresented defense counsel’s closing argument during the mitigation phase, and that the defense had “forfeited at this stage of the trial. * * * They are asking you to fill in these blanks that are their mitigation. There is none. They have presented none and now they want you to basically fill in some things for them, to create evidence as it were.” However, these comments constituted fair comment by the prosecutor and were neither improper nor prejudicial. Appellant chose not to present any mitigation except for residual doubt.

Under his eighth proposition of law, appellant asserts prosecutorial misconduct in the prosecutor’s use of the nature and circumstances of the offense as an aggravating circumstance. During the rebuttal closing argument at the mitigation phase, the prosecutor said:

“What is worth more to him at that point, the life of this lady who has absolutely done nothing to him or a trinket? He could have left her alive. What’s his choice? Right here. (Indicating)

“And thankfully it was that greed that tripped him up in this case. Had he left [sic ] that go, maybe he would have never been caught but he decided at that point and that’s the weighing process that he went through. That’s the value he put on that lady’s life.

“I trust when you weigh that aggravating circumstance you will give Miss Nathan’s life more worth than he did.”

Defense counsel’s objection that the prosecutor was arguing the nature and circumstances of the offense as an aggravating circumstance was overruled. The court of appeals found this statement to be improper and erroneous, but found the comment to be nonprejudicial. This type of prosecutorial argument was directly proscribed in State v. Wogenstahl (1996), 75 Ohio St.3d 344, 662 N.E.2d 311, paragraph two of the syllabus:

“It is improper for prosecutors in the penalty phase of a capital trial to make any comment before a jury that the nature and circumstances of the offense are ‘aggravating circumstances.’ ”

Unlike Wogenstahl, the defense attorney did object immediately after the comment was made. The comment violated the law enunciated in Wogenstahl. But in view of the entire penalty-phase proceedings, we find the error was harmless. See State v. Williams (1983), 6 Ohio St.3d 281, 6 OBR 345, 452 N.E.2d 1323.

In the foregoing consideration, we have found several instances of error that were not outcome-determinative. A similar situation arose in State v. Lott (1990), 51 Ohio St.3d 160, 555 N.E.2d 293. In Lott, 51 Ohio St.3d at 166, 555 N.E.2d at 301, this court, quoting United States v. Hasting (1983), 461 U.S. 499, 508-509, 103 S.Ct. 1974, 1980, 76 L.Ed.2d 96, 106, observed that “ ‘given the myriad safeguards provided to assure a fair trial, and taking into account the reality of the human fallibility of the participants, there can be no such thing as an error-free, perfect trial, and that the Constitution does not guarantee such a trial. * * * [Citations omitted.] * * *

“ ‘ * * * [I]t is the duty of a reviewing court to consider the trial record as a whole and to ignore errors that are harmless including most constitutional violations.’” In sum, we overrule appellant’s fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth propositions.

CONSTITUTIONALITY

In his fifteenth proposition of law, appellant challenges Ohio’s death penalty scheme on numerous constitutional grounds. However, we have previously found these arguments to lack merit. See, e.g., State v. Zuern (1987), 32 Ohio St.3d 56, 512 N.E.2d 585; Jenkins, 15 Ohio St.3d 164, 15 OBR 311, 473 N.E.2d 264; State v. Watson (1991), 61 Ohio St.3d 1, 572 N.E.2d 97; State v. Coleman (1988), 37 Ohio St.3d 286, 525 N.E.2d 792; and Buell, 22 Ohio St.3d 124, 22 OBR 203, 489 N.E.2d 795. Therefore, these claims may be summarily rejected. State v. Poindexter (1988), 36 Ohio St.3d 1, 520 N.E.2d 568, syllabus. We summarily overrule appellant’s fifteenth proposition.

INDEPENDENT REVIEW AND PROPORTIONALITY

Appellant was charged with and convicted of being the principal offender in the aggravated murder of Rhoda Nathan during the course of an aggravated burglary and aggravated robbery. R.C. 2929.04(A)(7). These counts are now merged for sentencing purposes. See Moore, 81 Ohio St.3d at 39, 689 N.E.2d at 17.

Nothing in the nature and circumstances appears mitigating. On the morning of September 3,1994, appellant was working at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Blue Ash, when he used his master key to open the hotel room where Rhoda Nathan was staying. Upon encountering Nathan, appellant beat her to death with his hands, a walkie-talkie radio, and other items. Before leaving the scene of the crime, he stole money out of Elaine Schub’s purse and stole the diamond pendant necklace that Nathan always wore around her neck.

Since appellant chose not to present any mitigating evidence, there is little evidence for us to review. Nothing about appellant’s history, character, or background, as reflected in the record, suggests mitigating factors other than that he was employed, and was married. Appellant maintained his innocence throughout his trial, and claimed to have twice turned down offers to plead guilty to a lesser offense. The only mitigating factor appellant has presented is residual doubt, which is not an acceptable mitigating factor under R.C. 2929.04(B). See McGuire, 80 Ohio St.3d 390, 686 N.E.2d 1112, syllabus. Accordingly, we hold that the merged aggravating circumstances outweigh any mitigating factors beyond a reasonable doubt.

We find the death penalty in this case to be both appropriate and proportionate when compared with similar capital cases combining murder with aggravated burglary, see, e.g., Wogenstahl, 75 Ohio St.3d 344, 662 N.E.2d 311; State v. Campbell (1994), 69 Ohio St.3d 38, 630 N.E.2d 339; and murder with aggravated robbery, see, e.g., State v. Green (1993), 66 Ohio St.3d 141, 609 N.E.2d 1253; Davie, 80 Ohio St.3d 311, 686 N.E.2d 245.

Based on all the foregoing, we affirm appellant’s convictions and sentences, including the death sentence.

Judgment affirmed.

Douglas, F.E. Sweeney and Lundberg Stratton, JJ., concur. Moyer, C.J., Pfeifer and Cook, JJ., concur separately.