§ 4.12.1 Review of Factual Findings On Appeal. In noncapital cases, the appellate court views the facts and any reasonable inferences therefrom in the light most favorable to sustaining a conviction or sentence. State v. Cropper, 205 Ariz. 181, 182, ¶ 2, 68 P.3d 407, 408 (2003); State v. Nevarez, 235 Ariz. 129, 133, ¶ 2, 329 P.3d 233, 237 (App. 2014); State v. Lizardi, 234 P.3d 501, 502, ¶ 2, 323 P.3d 1152, 1153 (App. 2014); State v. Almaguer, 232 Ariz. 190, 192, ¶ 2, 303 P.3d 84, 86 (App. 2013) . In capital cases, the supreme court views the facts and any reasonable inferences therefrom in the light most favorable to sustaining the conviction, but conducts “independent review” of the death sentence, reviewing the jury’s findings of aggravating circumstances under the abuse of discretion standard. A.R.S. § 13-756(A); State v. Naranjo, 234 P.3d 233, 249, ¶ 81, 321 P.3d 398, 414 (2014); State v. Forde, 233 Ariz. 543, 552 n.2, ¶ 1, 143, 315 P.3d 1200, 1209 n.2 (2014); State v. Gunches, 225 Ariz. 22, 25, ¶ 14, 234 P.3d 590, 593 (2010); State v. Womble, 225 Ariz. 91, 95 n.1, ¶ 1, 235 P.3d 244, 248 n.1 (2010).
Arizona appellate courts apply the clear error standard of review to a trial court’s fact findings, such as those made in the context of a suppression motion, in a motion concerning prosecutorial...
