Indeed, the victim in this instance being a police officer would probably be considered an aggravating circumstance and increase the penalty for the crime.

Murder with specified aggravating circumstances is often punished more harshly.

Could judges continue to make the factual findings on such aggravating circumstances?

The judge applied the same aggravating circumstances for all.

Under certain aggravating circumstances, the crime becomes a Class A felony.

Under the Pennsylvania law, it is an aggravating circumstance for a murder to occur in the commission of another felony.

But under Pennsylvania law, a prior killing is an aggravating circumstance that can support a death sentence.

Where are the aggravating circumstances that would make it a death-penalty case?

The following aggravating circumstances constitute capital murder in the state of Arizona:

Well, in this case the violation was serious but so were the aggravating circumstances.