### IN THE CO URT OF CR IMINAL APPEALS OF T ENN ESSEE

AT JACKSON May 4, 20 10 Ses si on

STATE OF TENNESS EE v . DAVID SMIT H

D i r e c t A p p e a l f

r o m t h e C r i m i n a l C o u r t f o r S h e l b y C o u n t y
N o

. 0 7

- 0 4 3 9 9 C h r i s B

. C r a f t , J u d g e

N o

. W 2 0 0 9

- 0 2 0 0 2

- C C A

- R 3

- C D

- F i l e d J u n e 1 7
, 2 0 1 0

T h e d ef en d an t, D av id S m ith

, w as co n v icted b y a S h elb y C o u n ty C r i mi n a l C o u r t j u ry o f

seco n d d eg ree m

u rd er , a C l a s s A f

elo n y , an d sen ten ced to tw en ty -f o u r y ears in th e D ep artm en t o f C o rrectio n

. O n a p p e a l

, h e arg u es th at: (1 ) th e trial co u rt erred in allo w in g h earsay testim o n y u n d er th e d y in g d e c l a ratio n ex cep tio n ; (2 ) th e trial co u rt erred in

co n d u ctin g its o w n v o ir d ire o f th e d ef en d an t reg ard in g h is d ecisio n to testif y ; (3 ) th e trial

co u rt erred in g iv in g a j u ry in stru ctio n o n f lig h t; (4 ) th e ev id en ce w as in su f f icien t to su stain

h is co n v ictio n ; an d (5 ) th e trial co u rt erred in en h an cin g h is sen ten ce b ased o n th e u se o f a f irearm . A f

ter rev iew , w e af

f irm th e j u d g m en t o f

th e trial co u rt.

T e n n

. R

. A p p

. P

. 3 A p p e a l a s o f R i g h t ; J u d g m e n t o f t h e C r i m i n a l C o u r t A f f i r m e d

A LA N E

. G LE N N

, J

. , d e l i v e r e d t h e o p i n i o n o f t h e C o u r t

, i n w h i c h J O H N E V E R E T T W ILL IA M S

a n d J

. C

. M C L IN

, J J

. , j o i n e d

.

R o b e r t W i l s o n J o n e s , D i s t r i c t P u b l i c D e f e n d e r ; B a r r y W

. K u h n , A s s i s t a n t P u b l i c D e f e n d e r ( o n a p p e a l ) ; a n d S a n

j e e v M e m u l a a n d G l e n d a A

. A d a m s , A s s i s t a n t P u b l i c D e f e n d e r s ( a t

t r i a l )

, f o r t h e a p p e l l a n t

, D a v i d S m i t h

.

R o b e r t E

. C o o p e r , J r

. , A t t o r n e y G e n e r a l a n d R e p o r t e r ; J

. R o s s D y e r , S e n i o r C o u n s e l ; W i l l i a m
L

. G i b b o n s , D i s t r i c t A t t o r n e y G e n e r a l ; a n d A l a n d a H o r n e D w y e r a n d D e a n D e C a n d i a , A s s i s t a n t D i s t r i c t A t t o r n e y s G e n e r a l

, f o r t h e a p p e l l e e , S t a t e o f T e n n e s s e e

.

O P I N I O N

F A C T S

T h is case arises o u t o f th e F eb ru ary 2 0 0 7 sh o o tin g o f th e v ictim

, H o race B rew er, f o r

w h ich th e d ef

en d an t w as in d icted o n o n e co u n t o f f irst d eg ree p rem ed itated m u rd er.S ta te’s P ro o f

A t trial, M arie B rew er, th e v ictim ’s m o th er, testif ied th at th e v ictim w as tw en ty -six

y ears o ld w h en h e w as k illed , an d sh e id en tif ied p h o to g rap h s o f

h im f o r th e reco rd

.

R eg in a P ay

n e testif ied th at sh e w o rk ed at a b eau ty salo n o n P ark A v en u e an d said th at
th ere is a lau n d ro m at n ex t d o o r to th e salo n in th e strip m all. P ay n e stated th at sh e arriv ed

to w o rk o n F eb ru ary 2 4

, 2 0 0 7

, aro u n d 8 :0 0 o r 8 :3 0 a.m

. an d th at n o th in g u n u su al h ap p en ed

u n til sh e “h eard p o w , p o w , p o w -p o w ” an d h er clien ts started ru n n in g

. P ay n e recalled th at
sh e h eard f

iv e g u n sh o ts, an d sh e w alk ed to w ard th e f ro n t o f th e sto re to see w h at w as g o in g

o n

. S h e saw tw o p eo p le w alk in g aw ay f ro m th e en d o f th e strip m all an d s a w a m an

stan d in g in f

ro n t o f th e lau n d ro m at w h o p o in ted an d said , “[ D ] u d e j u st g o t sh o t.”

P ay n e testif ied th at sh e w alk ed to w h ere th e m an w as p o in tin g an d saw a y o u n g m an ly in g o n th e g ro u n d

. S h e recalled th at “[ h ] e w as p u llin g o n th e u n d er carriag e o f th e v eh icle
try in g to g et u p ,” b u t h e w as n o t ab le to b ecau se “h e w asn ’t ab le to m o v e th e lo w er p art o f

h is b o d y .” P ay

n e said th at th e v ictim w as f ran tic an d w as b leed in g in th e area o f h is g en itals.

S h e also o b serv ed h o les in th e b ack o f th e v ictim ’s sh irt. P a y n e tried to calm th e v ictim
d o w n b y ask in g if h e h ad ch ild ren an d c a r r y i n g o n g en eral co n v ersatio n

. H o w ev er, th e

v ictim started to “f

ad [ e] in an d o u t.” S h e n o ted th at h is ey es h ad b eco m e g lassy an d th at h is

f ace w as co ld er th an th e tem p eratu re o u tsid e.

P ay n e testif ied th at sh e ask ed th e v ictim if h e h ad b een f ig h tin g to w h ich h e

resp o n d ed n eg ativ ely

, so sh e ask ed h im w h at h ap p en ed

. T h e v ictim to ld P ay n e th at a m an

n am ed D av id w h o “u sed to w o rk w ith [ h is] g al” sh o t h im

. P ay n e ask ed th e v ictim ag ain if

h e h ad b een f

ig h tin g , an d th e v ictim said

, “[ N ] o , w e g o t in to an arg u m en t f o u r y ears ag o .”

P ay n e estim ated th at sh e w aited f o rty -f iv e m in u tes f

o r th e am b u lan ce an d p o lice to arriv e, b u t th e v ictim w as in an d o u t o f co n scio u sn ess f o r th e last tw en ty m in u tes. P ay n e recalled
th at rig h t b ef

o re th e am

b u lan ce p u lled u p , th e v ictim m o u th ed

, “I can ’t b reath e, b u t th ere

.

. . w eren ’t w o rd s actu ally co m i n g o u t. A n d [ sh e] h ad a f eelin g h e w as

. . . p assin g aw ay th en .” S h e b eliev ed th at th e v ictim d ied as h e w as lo ad ed in to th e am b u lan ce.

O n cro ss-ex am in atio n , P ay n e testif ied th at sh e h eard th e g u n sh o ts b etw een 9 :3 0 an d

1 0 :0 0 a.m

. A sk ed if sh e rem em b ered testif

y in g at th e p relim in ary h earin g th at “[ th e v ictim ]

ap p eared to b e f

airly calm

. . . I d o n ’t b eliev e h e co u ld m o v e th e b o tto m p o rtio n o f h is b o d y ,”

P ay n e said

, “N o

. Wh en y o u ’re talk in g ab o u t calm

, . . . w h at I’m say in g is th at h e’s p u llin g

-- b u t th is isn ’t m o v in g . It isn ’t lik e h e’s, y o u k n o w , d o in g th at.”

C h ris F e i c h t er, an em

p lo y ee o f T ech n ico lo r T h o m p so n , testif

ied th at th e v ictim

, R ach el S w au n cy , an d th e d ef en d an t all w o rk ed f

o r T ech n ico lo r T h o m

p so n i n 2 0 0 3

. T h e

-2-v ictim an d S w au n cy “w ere b o y f rien d an d g irlf

rien d

, later o n to b e en g ag ed

. T h ey en d ed u p h av in g a ch ild to g eth er.” F eich ter recalled th at at so m e p o in t in m id -2 0 0 3

, th e d ef en d an t an d

S w au n cy g o t in to a v erb al altercatio n an d h ad to b e p h y sically sep arated to p rev en t it f ro m escalatin g

. H e said th at th e tw o h ad g o tten alo n g w ith each o th er p rio r to th e altercatio n , b u t
“b o th seem ed to h o ld a g ru d g e

. . . [ a n d ] d id n ’t really w an t to d eal w ith each o th er”
af terw ard s.

R ach el S w au n cy , th e v ictim ’s f ian cée an d m o th er o f h is ch ild

, testif ied th at sh e an d
th e d ef en d an t w o rk ed to g eth er at T ech n ico lo r in 2 0 0 3 an d g o t in to a “lo u d arg u m en t” w ith
each o th er. S h e sa i d th at sh e d id n o t tell th e v ictim ab o u t th e altercatio n b ecau se “[ s] o m etim es h e w as a little p ro tectiv e,” b u t so m eh o w h e f o u n d o u t ab o u t it an d w as m ad

. H o w ev er, sh e n ev er p erso n ally w itn essed o r h eard o f an y d isp u te b etw een th e v ictim an d th e d ef en d an t. S w au n cy

an d th e d ef

en d an t d id n o t really sp eak to o n e an o th er ag ain af ter th e

arg u m en t.

S w au n cy testif

ied th at aro u n d 9: 30 t

he m o rn in g o f F eb ru ary 2 4

, 2 0 0 7

, th e v ictim w en t

to th e lau n d ro m at to w ash th e sh eets b ecau se h i s n iece h ad w et th e b ed

. S h e receiv ed a

p h o n e call aro u n d 9 :4 0 a.m

. f ro m “R ico ,” w h ich cau sed h er to g o to th e lau n d ro m at. A t th e

s cen e, sh e saw th e v ictim ly in g o n th e g ro u n d

, “strain in g , try in g to g et u p ,” an d p eo p l e

stan d in g aro u n d h im

. T h e v ictim w as try in g to b reath e, b u t sh e co u ld tell th at h e co u ld n o t
b reath e v ery

w ell.

S w au n cy tes t i f

ied th at sh e ask ed th e v ictim w h at h ap p en ed

, an d h e to ld h er th at
“D av id sh o t [ h im ]

. D av id th at w o rk s w ith [ h er] at T ech n ico lo r.” S w au n cy said th at sh e d id

n o t k n o w to w h o m th e v ictim w as ref errin g b ecau se it h ad b een th ree o r f o u r y ears sin ce sh e h ad w o rk ed w ith th e d ef

en d an t. T h e v ictim also to ld h er th at h e co u ld n o t b reath e, “th at h e lo v ed [ h er] an d tak e care o f th e b ab y , th en h e clo sed h is ey es.” S w au n cy sm ack ed th e v ictim

in th e f ace a co u p le o f tim es b ecau se sh e w as af raid h e w as d y in g , w h ich cau sed h im to o p en h is ey es b ack u p b u t th en h e clo sed th em f o r g o o d

. S w au n cy testif

ied th at sh e saw th e v ictim

g et lo ad ed in to th e am

b u lan ce an d w h en sh e arriv ed at th e h o sp ital, sh e w as to ld h e w as d ead

. A t so m e p o in t later, S w au n cy w en t t o t h e p o lice statio n to lo o k at a p h o to g rap h ic

array , o u t o f

w h ich sh e id en tif

ied th e D av id th at w o rk ed w ith h er at T ech n ico lo r.

O n cro ss-ex am in atio n , S w au n cy testif ied th at it to o k h er sev en o r eig h t m in u tes to g et

to th e lau n d ro m at af

ter sh e receiv ed th e call f

ro m R ico

. S w au n cy said th at sh e w as n o t su re

w h eth er th e v ictim said D av id w h o w o rks o r w o rked at T ech n ico lo r. S w au n cy estim ated th at
sh e talk ed to th e v ictim f

o r th irty m in u tes b ef

o re th e am

b u lan ce arriv ed

, an d h e w as h av in g

tro u b le b reath in g th e en tire tim e.

-3-D an iel M ay er, an em p lo y ee o f D irect T ech S o u th w est

– a co m p an y th at su b co n tracts
f o r D irect T V

, testif

ied th at h e w as d o in g serv ice calls in th e O ran g e M o u n d area o f

M em p h is o n th e m o rn in g o f F eb ru ary 2 4

, 2 0 0 7

. A little b ef o re 1 0 :0 0 a.m ., M ay er w as in h is

v eh icle at th e in tersectio n o f S e mm es S treet an d P ark A v en u e w h en h e h eard g u n sh o ts

co m in g f ro m th e p ark in g lo t in f

ro n t o f a lau n d ro m at in a sh o p p in g p laza. M ay er said th at
h e saw so m e o n e s tan d in g f aced to w ard th e b u ild in g , sh o o tin g d o w n at th e g ro u n d

. T h e

g u n m an w as w earin g “a d ark co lo red h o o d ie, b lack o r d ark n av y b lu e[ .] ” A f ter th e g u n m an f in ish ed sh o o tin g , h e w en t to w ard th e street an d g o t in to th e d riv er’s sid e o f a m aro o n an d

tan G ran d M arq u is car.

M ay er testif

ied th at h e saw th at th e G ran d M arq u is w as a b o u t t o p a s s h im

, so h e

p u lled o v er to tak e its d escrip tio n as it p assed

. H e called 9 1 1 im m ed iately

, b u t th e lin e w as b u sy

. L ater, h e called th e C rim esto p p ers n u m b er an d ex p lain ed w h at h e h ad seen to a d etectiv e. H e g av e a f

o rm al statem en t th e n ex t d ay

. M ay er id en tif ied a p h o to g rap h o f w h at

ap p eared to b e th e ma r o o n G ran d M arq u is h e saw th e g u n m an d riv e aw ay in af ter th e sh o o tin g

.

O n cro ss-ex am in atio n , M ay er testif ied th at it w as aro u n d 9 :4 5 a.m . w h en h e w as at
th e in tersectio n o f S em m es S treet an d P ark A v en u e. H e estim ated th at h e w as less th an 2 0 0
f eet aw ay f

ro m th e sh o o tin g

. T h e g u n m an h ad th e h o o d p u lled u p o v er h is h ead an d w as

w earin g d ark clo th es, an d M ay er co u ld n o t tell w h eth er th e g u n m an w as m ale o r f em ale.

M ay er said th at th e w in d o w s o n th e G ran d M arq u is w ere t i n t e d

, an d h e co u ld n o t see

w h eth er th ere w as so m eo n e o th er th an th e g u n m an in th e car.

O f f icer S ean B o y ette w ith th e M em p h is P o lice D ep artm en t testif ied th at h e w as o n

p atro l in th e area o f P ark A v en u e an d G etw ell R o ad a r o u n d 1 1 : 3 0 a.m

. o n F eb ru ary 2 4

, 2 0 0 7

, w h en h e receiv ed a rad io b ro ad cast w ith th e d escr i p t i o n o f a v eh icle in v o lv ed in a h o m icid e. S h o rtly af

ter receiv in g th e d isp atch

, a v eh icle m atch in g th e d escrip tio n p assed in

f ro n t o f h is lo catio n , an d h e co u ld see th at th ere w ere tw o in d iv id u als in th e car.

O f f icer B o y ette testif

ied th at h e p u lled o u t b eh in d th e v eh icle, an d it sh if ted f ro m th e

r i g h t -h an d lan e in to th e lef t-h an d lan e. T h e v eh icle m ad e an ab ru p t lef t tu rn o n to a resid en tial street, an d O f

f icer O rteg a p u lled h is car in b eh in d it. O f f icer B o y ette w en t to th e

n ex t street o v er in an attem p t to catch u p w ith th e v eh icle. H e saw th e v eh icle m ak e a rig h t

tu rn , an d h e p u lled in b e h i n d i t. T h e v eh icle to o k an o th er rig h t tu rn , an d th en O f f icer

B o y ette tu rn ed o n h is lig h ts an d in itiated a traf f ic sto p

. O f

f icer B o y ette co n f

irm ed w ith th e d isp atch er th at th e licen se p late n u m b er o n th e v eh icle m atch ed th at o f th e su sp ect v eh icle.

O f f ic e r B o y ette testif

ied th at th e d ef

en d an t w as th e d riv er o f th e car, an d an in d iv id u al n am ed D em ario w as in th e f ro n t p assen g er seat. Wh en h e rem o v ed th e d ef en d an t

-4-f

ro m th e car, O f

f icer B o y ett e f

o u n d a liv e n in e-m illim eter ro u n d o f am m u n itio n in th e d riv er’s seat. In th e p assen g er co m p artm en t, O f

f icer B o y ette f

o u n d

, am o n g o th er th in g s, a j ack et o r sw eatsh irt o f so m e k in d an d a tee sh irt. O n cro ss-ex am in atio n , O f f icer B o y ette
testif ied th at th e d ef

en d an t im m ed iately p u lled o v er w h en h e in itiated th e traf f ic sto p

.

O f f icer C atrice D y e w ith th e M em p h is P o lice D ep artm en t testif ied th at sh e arriv ed

to a scen e in th e area o f P ark A v en u e an d S em m es S treet th e m o rn in g o f F eb ru ary 2 4

, 2 0 0 7

,

aro u n d 1 0 :0 0 a.m

. O f

f icer D y e secu red th e scen e a n d called f o r o th er o f

f icers to h elp

co n tro l th e cro w d so an y

ev id en ce w o u ld n o t g et d estro y ed

.

O f f icer L av ern Jo n es, a m em b er o f t h e M em

p h is P o lice D ep artm en t C rim e S cen e U n it, testif

ied th at h e d iag ram ed an d p h o to g rap h ed th e scen e. O f f icer Jo n es also co llected

ev id en ce, in clu d in g o n e liv e n in e-m illim eter b u llet as w ell as n in e sp en t n in e-millim eter
sh ell casin g s.

O f f icer M y ro n L aw ren ce w ith th e M em p h is P o lice D ep artm en t testif ied th at h e

o b tain ed a D N A sam

p le f ro m th e d ef

en d an t o n F eb ru ary 2 5

, 2 0 0 7

, af ter h e h ad b een ch arg ed

w ith f irst d eg ree m

u rd er.

O f f icer Jam es K

. S m ith

, a m em b er o f th e M em

p h is P o lice D ep artm en t C rim e S cen e U n it, testif

ied th at h e p ro cessed th e G ran d M arq u is in v o lv ed in th is case. F ro m th e car, h e

rem o v ed “a b lack h o o d ie sw eatsh irt an d an o th er b lack clo th sh irt.”

T h o m as H elld o rf

er, f o rm erly an o f

f icer w ith th e M em

p h is P o lice D ep artm en t
H o m icid e D iv isio n , testif ied th at h e w as in ch arg e o f th e in v estig atio n in t h i s c a se. H elld o rf er assig n ed v ario u s d u ties to d if f er e n t o f f i c e rs. H elld o rf

er stated th at af

ter th e

su sp ect v eh icle w as sto p p ed

, th e o f f icers d eterm in ed th at th e p assen g er w as D em ario S m ith

, t h e d e f en d an t’s b ro th er. H elld o rf er said th at a D N A sam

p le w as o b tain ed f

ro m D em ari o S m ith an d tran sp o rted to th e T en n essee B u reau o f In v estig atio n (“T B I”).

D r. F en g L i, an assistan t m ed ical ex am in e r f o r D av id so n C o u n ty

, testif ied th at h e

p erf o rm ed th e au to p sy o n th e v ictim in th is case. D r. L i stated th at th e v ictim su f f ered a to tal

o f sev en g u n sh o t w o u n d s to th e b o d y

– o n e to th e lef t f lan k

, o n e to th e lef

t g ro in

, tw o to th e lef t th ig h

, o n e to th e rig h t th ig h

, o n e to th e g en itals, an d o n e to th e lef t sid e o f h is b ack

. A

to x ico lo g y an aly sis o f th e v ictim rev ealed th at h e h ad m arij u an a m etab o lites o r “b reak d o w n

p ro d u cts” in h is b lo o d

. D r. L i d eterm in ed th at th e v ictim ’s ca u se o f d eath w as m u ltip le

g u n sh o t w o u n d s, an d th e m an n er o f d eath w as h o m icid e. D r. L i said th at an y o f th e g u n sh o t

w o u n d s w ere p o ten tially f atal, b u t th e sh o t to th e b ack w as th e m o st sev ere b ecau se it in j u red
th e lu n g an d im

p aired b reath in g

.

-5-A g en t Jam es R u ssell D av is, a f o ren sic scien t i s t w ith th e T B I, testif ied as an ex p ert
in g u n sh o t resid u e an aly sis th at h e ex am in ed a sh irt an d a sw eatsh irt reco v ered in th is case. A g en t D av is stated th at n o p articles o f g u n sh o t p rim er resid u e w ere f o u n d o n th e sh irt, b u t

p articles w ere f

o u n d o n th e sw eatsh irt, sp ecif ically o n b o th sleev es. A g en t D av is said th at

ev en if o n e f

ired a g u n , ru b b in g h an d s to g eth er o r d riv in g w o u ld red u ce th e g u n sh o t p rim er resid u e o n o n e’s h an d s.

A g en t P atrick Ih rie, w ith th e T B I C rim e La bor a t or y D N A an d S ero lo g y U n it, testif ied

as an ex p ert in D N A an aly sis th at h e ex a mi n ed th e sh irt an d sw eatsh irt reco v ered in th is

case. A g en t Ih rie w as o n ly ab le to g et a p artial D N A p ro f ile o f f th e sh irt an d sw eatsh irt, b u t
th e p artial p ro f

ile w as co n sisten t w ith th e d ef en d an t’s D N A

. D em ario S m ith w as ex clu d ed

as a p o ssib le c o n t r ib u to r o f th e D N A f o u n d o n b o th articles. A g en t Ih rie said th at th e

p ro b ab ility

o f so m eo n e else in th e A f

rican -A m erican p o p u latio n h av in g th e sam e D N A as th e p artial p ro f

ile f o u n d o n th e sw eatsh irt w as o n e in sev en ty -tw o m illio n

.

D ef en d a n t’s P ro o f

D em etria S m ith

, th e d ef

en d an t’s sister, testif

ied th at sh e w en t to th e d ef en d an t’s
h o u se aro u n d 9 :1 5 th e m o rn in g o f F eb ru a r y 2 4

, 2 0 0 7

, to p ick u p lau n d ry th at sh e h ad

w ash ed th e n ig h t b ef

o re. S h e lo o k ed in D em ario S m ith ’s b ed ro o m an d n o ted th at h e w as th ere p rio r to h ead in g to th e lau n d ry ro o m

. A f ter g ettin g h er clo th es to g eth er, D e me tria 1

“w en t to [ th e d ef

en d an t’s] ro o m an d [ saw ] th at h e w as th ere.” D em etria sta t e d t h a t t h ere

w ere tw o v eh icles o u tsid e th e h o u se w h en sh e arriv ed

, a b u rg u n d y G ran d M arq u is “w ith a

rag to p ” an d h er m o th er’s w h ite G ran d P rix

.

O n cro ss-ex am in atio n , D em etria ad m itted th at sh e n ev er w en t to th e p o lice to in f o rm th em th at sh e w as at th e d ef en d an t’s h o u se d u rin g th e tim e f ram e o f th e sh o o tin g

. S h e also
ad m itted th at th e d ef

en d an t’s h o u se at 3 2 2 5 C arrin g to n R o ad is n ear th e P ark A v en u e an d

S em m es S treet area. D em etria stated th at th e b u rg u n d y G ran d M arq u is w as D em ario ’s car,

an d th e d ef

en d an t d ro v e it “[ s] o m etim es.”

T h e d ef en d an t testif

ied th at h e w as at h is h o u se at 3 2 2 5 C arrin g to n R o ad th e m o rn in g

o f F eb ru ary 2 4

, 2 0 0 7

, u n til aro u n d 1 0 :5 0 a.m

. w h en h e an d D em ario l e f t t o a t t e n d th eir

n iece’s 1 1 :0 0 a.m . b irth d ay p arty . A sk ed if

h e tried to ev ad e th e p o lice as h e w as d riv in g , th e d ef en d an t ex p lain ed th at p o lice o f f icers g o t b eh in d h im as h e w as g ettin g read y to tu rn

a r o u n d a n d g o b ack to th e h o u se to p u t o n an o th er p air o f sh o es. T h e d ef en d an t said th a t

Sin ce the def

end ant and two of

th e ind ividu al s sha re the same la st name, we wil l r ef er to th e t wo 1

ind ividu al s by the ir fi rs t names. We int end no dis re spe ct by doi ng so but wis h to avoid having to re pea te dly

re fe r t o t hes e i ndi vidual s by th ei r f ull names.

-6-w h en h e w as a rrested

, h e w as w earin g a w h ite sh irt an d b lack an d g reen p an ts. H e said

D em ario w as w earin g “a d ark co lo red h o o d ie w ith so m e d ark co lo red j ean s.” H e stated th at
th e h o o d ie f

o u n d in th e car b elo n g ed to D em ario alth o u g h h e h ad w o rn it a co u p le o f tim es. T h e d ef en d an t said th at h e d id n o t recall seein g a b u llet in th e car.

With reg ard to h is altercatio n w ith R ach el S w au n cy w h en h e w o rk ed at T ech n ico lo r, th e d ef en d an t said

, “[ W] e h ad w o rd s, b u t it w as n o th in g serio u s.” H e s a i d th at w h en h e

w alk ed o u t o f w o rk th e d ay o f th e altercatio n to w h ere D em ario w as w aitin g to p ick h im u p , h e saw D em ario arg u in g w ith th e v ictim an d h e “b ro k e it u p .”

O n cro ss-ex am in atio n , th e d ef en d an t testi f

i e d t h at h e o n ly d ro v e h is b ro th er’s car

w h en h is b ro th er w as w ith h im

. T h e d ef en d an t stated th at w h en h e w as w in d in g th ro u g h th e resid en tial area af

ter tu rn in g o f

f P ark A v en u e, h e d id n o t n o tice th at a p o lice car w as b eh in d

h im u n t i l i t t u r n e d o n its lig h ts. T h e d ef en d an t said th at “[ i] t w as p ro b ab ly a

m isu n d erstan d in g ” if th e p o lice th o u g h t th at h e to ld th em th at h e d id n o t leav e h is h o u se

u n til 1 :0 0 p .m . to g o to h is n iece’s b irth d ay p arty th e d ay o f th e sh o o tin g

.

A t th e co n clu sio n o f trial, th e j u ry co n v icted th e d ef en d an t o f th e lesser-i n c l u d e d

o f f en se o f seco n d d eg ree m

u rd er.

A N A L Y S IS

I. H ea rsa y

T h e d ef en d an t arg u es th at th e trial co u rt erred in allo w in g h earsay testim o n y u n d er th e d y in g d eclaratio n ex cep tio n

. H e asserts t h a t “ t h e r e w as n o m ed ical p ro o f to assist th e trial co u rt in d eterm in in g w h eth er th e [ v ictim ] th o u g h t th at d eath w as im m in en t.”

T h e f ir s t s t a t e men t at issu e w as allo w ed d u rin g R eg in a P ay n e’s testim o n y

. P ay

n e testif ied th at th e v ictim w as “f

ran tic” w h en sh e f

irst arriv ed to h im

, an d sh e tried to calm h im
d o w n b y carry in g o n a g en eral co n v ersatio n

. D u rin g th eir co n v ersatio n , th e v ictim started

“f ad in g in an d o u t,” an d h is ey es b ecam e “g lassy .” P ay n e testif ied th at th e v ictim to ld h er, in resp o n se to h er ask in g h im w h at h ad h ap p en ed

, th at “th is g u y sh o t m e

. . . h is n am e w as D av id . H e u sed to w o rk w ith m y g al.”

T h e seco n d s tatem en t at issu e w as allo w ed d u rin g R ach el S w au n cy ’s testim o n y

. S w au n cy testif

ied th at w h en sh e arriv ed at th e scen e, th e v ictim w as “strain in g ” an d try in g

to b reath e, b u t sh e co u ld tell th at h e co u ld n o t b reath e v ery w ell. S h e ask ed th e v ictim w h at
h ap p en ed

, an d h e said

, “D av id sh o t m e. D av id th at w o rk s w ith y o u a t T e c h n ico lo r.” H e

a lso to ld h er th at h e co u ld n o t b reath e an d said th at “h e lo v ed [ h er] an d tak e care o f t h e

-7-b ab y ,” th en clo sed h is ey es. S w au n cy stated th at sh e g o t h im to o p en h is ey es o n e last tim e

b y sm ack in g h im

in th e f ace, b u t th en h e clo sed h is ey es f o r g o o d

.

In d ecid in g to allo w th e v ictim ’s statem en t to R eg in a P ay n e, th e trial co u rt f

o u n d th at
“u n d er th ese circu m stan ces, p articu l a r l y h er d escrip tio n o f h im as h is ch an g ed m o o d

, th at
h e m ad e th ese statem en ts u n d er th e b elief th at d eath w as im m in en t, an d esp ecially in lig h t

o f h is co n d itio n , an d th e b lo o d

. . . .” T h e c o u r t c o n c l u d ed th at th e v ictim ’s statem en t to
R ach el S w au n cy sh o w ed th at h e b eliev ed d eath w as im m in en t b ecau se h e to ld h er to tak e

care o f h is ch ild

.

H earsay is a “statem en t, o th er th an o n e m ad e b y th e d eclaran t w h ile testif y in g at th e trial o r h earin g , o f

f ered in ev id en ce to p ro v e th e tru th o f th e m atter asserted .” T en n

. R

. E v id

. 8 0 1 (c). G en erally

, h earsay statem en ts are in ad m issib le u n less th ey f all u n d er o n e o f t h e

reco g n ize d e x cep tio n s to th e h earsay ru le. Id

. 8 0 2

. T h e d y in g d eclaratio n is o n e su ch

ex cep tio n to th e h earsay ru le. R u le 8 0 4 (b )(2 ) o f th e T en n essee R u les o f E v id en ce p ro v id es th at “a statem en t m ad e b y a d ec l a r a n t w h ile b eliev in g th at th e d eclaran t’s d eath w as im m in en t an d co n cern in g th e cau se o r circu m st a n c e s o f w h at th e d eclaran t b eliev ed to b e im p en d in g d eath ” is an ex cep tio n to th e ru le ag ain st h earsay

.

T h is co u rt h as n o ted th at a statem en t m u st satisf y th e f o llo w in g f

iv e elem en ts to

q u alif y as a d y in g d eclaratio n : (1 ) th e d eclaran t m u st b e d ead at th e tim e o f th e trial; (2 ) th e

statem en t is ad m issib le o n ly in th e p ro secu tio n o f a crim in al h o m icid e; (3 ) th e d eclaran t m u st
b e th e v ictim o f th e h o m icid e; (4 ) th e statem en t m u st co n cern th e cau se o r th e circu m stan ces

o f th e d eath ; an d (5 ) th e d eclaran t m u st h av e m ad e th e statem en t u n d er th e b elief th at d eath

w as im m in en t. S tate v . H am p to n , 2 4 S .W.3 d 8 2 3 , 8 2 8 -2 9 (T en n

. C rim

. A p p

. 2 0 0 0 ). T h e l ast req u irem en t p ro v id es th e in d icia o f reliab ility an d tru th th at j u stif ies ad m issi o n o f t h e

statem en t. S ee N eil P

. C o h en et al., T en n essee L aw o f E v id en ce, § 8 .3 5 [ 2 ] [ f ] (5 th ed

. 2 0 0 5 ). “[ I] t is n o t n ecessary th at th e d eclaran t state u n eq u iv o cally a b elief th at d eath is im m in en t.
A w aren ess o f im

p en d in g d eath h as b een in f e r r e d f r o m th e lan g u ag e an d co n d itio n o f th e d eclaran t, th e f

acts an d circu m stan ces su rro u n d in g th e s t a t e me n t

, an d m ed ical testim o n y

c o n cern in g th e serio u sn ess o f th e v ictim ’s co n d itio n .” S tate v

. M aru j a P aq u ita C o l e m a

n, No.

0 1 C 0 1 -9 4 0 1 -C R -0 0 0 2 9

, 1 9 9 7 WL 4 3 8 1 6 9

, at * 5 (T en n

. C rim

. A p p

. Ju ly 3 1

, 1 9 9 7 ) (f o o tn o tes o m itted ), p erm . to ap p eal d en ied (T en n . A p r. 1 3 , 1 9 9 8 ).

We co n clu d e th at th e trial c o u r t d i d n o t err in ad m ittin g th e v ictim ’s statem en ts to
R eg in a P ay

n e an d R ach el S w au n cy u n d er th e d y in g d eclaratio n ex cep tio n to th e ru le ag ain st
h earsay

. T h e e v i d e n c e s h o w ed th at th e v ictim h ad b een sh o t sev en tim es, h e w as f ran tic,

h av in g tro u b le b reath in g , b leed in g , an d f ad in g in an d o u t o f co n scio u sn ess. H e d ied b ef o re h e a r r i v e d a t th e h o sp ital. F ro m th ese f acts an d circu m stan ces, it can b e in f erred th at th e

v ictim b eliev ed h is d eath w as im m in en t w h en h e m ad e th e statem en t to P ay n e. M o reo v er,

-8-in ad d itio n to th e ab o v e f acts an d circu m stan ces, h is ex p ressio n o f lo v e to S w au n cy an d
ask in g h er to tak e care o f h is ch ild clearly in d icate th at h e b eliev ed h e f aced im p en d in g d eath

w h en h e m ad e th e statem en t to S w au n cy

.

II. Vo ir D ire

T h e d ef en d an t arg u es t h at th e trial co u rt erred in co n d u ctin g ad d itio n al v o ir d ire

r e g a r d in g h is d ecisio n w h eth er o r n o t to testif y

. H e asserts th at h is “ch an g e o f mi n d

. . .

w o u ld in d icate th at th e statem en t to h im b y th e co u rt ab o u t n o t g ettin g h is case to th e j u ry h ad an in f

lu en ce o n [ h is] w aiv er.”

A f ter D em etria S m ith testif ied f o r th e d ef

en se, d ef en se co u n sel v o ir d ired th e d ef en d an t reg ard in g w h eth er h e w o u ld testif y

. T h e d ef

en d an t ack n o w led g ed th at h e h ad th e rig h t to testif

y o r n o t testif

y , th at th e j u ry co u ld n o t h o ld it ag ain st h im if h e d id n o t testif y ,

a n d t h a t h e h ad co n su lted w ith h is atto rn ey s ab o u t th e ad v an tag es an d d isad v an tag es o f
testif y in g

. T h e d ef

en d an t said th at h e w as aw are o f h is atto rn ey s’ reco m m en d atio n s, an d h e

w aiv ed h is rig h t to testif

y

. T h ereaf

ter, w ith o u t an y o b

j ectio n , th e co u rt co n d u cted ad d itio n al

v o ir d ire, m o re th o ro u g h ly p o in tin g o u t th at th e ad v an tag e o f testif y in g w as th at h e w o u ld

g et to tell h is sto ry , b u t th e d isad v an tag e w as th at h e w o u ld b e su b j ect to cro ss-ex am in atio n

. Wh en th e co u rt ask ed th e d ef en d an t if h e w as f

reely an d v o lu n tarily m ak in g th e d ecisio n to

w aiv e h is rig h t to testif

y , th e d ef en d an t stated th at h e n eed ed to talk to h is atto rn ey s ag ain

. T h e d ef en d an t th en to ld th e co u rt th at h e w an ted to testif y

.

In M o m o n v

. S tate, 1 8 S .W.3 d 1 5 2 (T e n n

. 1 9 9 9 ), o u r su p rem e co u rt h eld th at th e rig h t o f a d ef

en d an t to testif

y in h is o r h er o w n b eh alf is a f u n d am en tal co n stitu tio n al rig h t
th at m u st b e p erso n ally w aiv ed b y th e d ef en d an t. Id

. at 1 6 1

. T o en su re th at th e d ef en d an t
h as p erso n ally w aiv ed th at rig h t, “d ef en se co u n sel sh all req u est a h earin g , o u t o f th e

p resen ce o f th e j u ry , to in q u ire o f th e d ef en d an t w h eth er th e d ef

en d an t h as m ad e a k n o w in g ,

v o lu n tary

, an d in tellig en t w aiv er o f th e rig h t to testif y .” Id

. at 1 6 2

. N o p articu lar litan y n eed
b e u sed ; h o w ev er, d ef

en se co u n sel m

u st at a m in im

u m sh o w “th at th e d ef

en d an t k n o w s an d

u n d erstan d s th at”:

(1 ) th e d ef

en d an t h as th e rig h t n o t to testif y , an d if th e d ef

en d an t d o es n o t
testif y , th en th e j u ry (o r co u rt) m ay n o t d raw an y in f eren ces f ro m th e d ef en d an t’s f

ailu re to testif

y ;

(2 ) th e d ef

en d an t h as th e rig h t to testif y an d th at if th e d e f

e n d an t w ish es to

ex ercise th at rig h t, n o o n e can p rev en t th e d ef en d an t f ro m testif y in g ;

-9-(3 ) th e d ef en d an t h as co n su lted w ith h is o r h er co u n sel in m ak in g th e d ecisio n

w h eth e r o r n o t to testif y ; th at th e d ef

en d an t h as b een ad v ised o f th e ad v an tag es an d d isad v an tag es o f testif y in g ; an d th at th e d ef

en d an t h as

v o lu n tarily

an d p erso n ally

w aiv ed th e rig h t to testif y

.

Id

.

In itially

, it is o u r v iew th at th e trial co u rt d id n o t err in f u rth er q u es t i o n i n g th e d ef en d an t reg a r d in g h is d ecisio n n o t to testif y b ecau se th e co u rt w as n o t satisf ied af ter

q u estio n in g b y d ef

en se co u n sel th at th e d ef

en d an t w as m ak in g a v alid w aiv er o f h is rig h t.
A f ter th e d ef en d an t sp o k e w ith h is atto rn ey s an d in f o rm ed th e co u rt th at h e w an ted to testif y , th e trial co u rt stated

, “I d iscu ssed w ith y o u , j u st to m ak e su re w e u n d erstan d

, b ecau se w h en

. . . y o u r atto rn ey ask ed y o u f irst, an d th e reaso n I ask ed y o u so m e q u estio n s is h e ask ed y o u f irst an d y o u seem ed a little reticen t o r a little h esitan t.” Wh ile u n d er n o rm al circu m stan ces th e trial co u rt sh o u ld n o t b e in v o lv ed in th e v o ir d ire o f th e d ef en d an t, o u r su p rem e co u rt h as said th at th e trial co u rt “is o b lig ed to q u estio n th e d ef en d an t d irectly to th e ex ten t n ecessary

to en su re a v alid w aiv er” w h en th ere is ev id en ce th at th e d e f e n d a n t i s n o t m ak in g a v alid

w a i v e r

. I d

. T h e q u estio n in g b y th e trial co u rt w as co n cise an d w ith in th e ap p ro p riat e b o u n d s f o r d eterm in in g th e v alid ity o f th e d ef en d an t’s w aiv er.

In an y ev en t, ev en if th e co u rt erred

, su ch erro r w as h arm less. T h e S tate’s case

ag ain st th e d ef

en d an t w as relativ el y s t r o n g

. B y testif y in g , th e d ef

en d an t w as ab le to

co rro b o rate h is sister’s testim o n y th at h e w as asleep at h o m e at th e tim e o f th e m u rd er an d

o f f er an ex p lan atio n f

o r w h y h e m ad e tu rn s in th e resid en tial area p rio r to b ein g p u lled o v er b y O f f icer B o y ette. M o reo v er, h e w as n o t im p each ed b y cro ss-ex am in atio n reg ard in g an y

p rio r co n v ictio n s.

III. F lig h t

T h e d ef en d an t arg u es th at th e trial co u rt erred in g iv in g a j u ry in stru ctio n o n f lig h t.
H e asserts th at “n o th in g in th e reco rd

. . . in d icates th at [ h e] w as attem p tin g to e v a d e th e

o f f icer o r f lee.”

D ef en d an ts h av e a “co n stitu tio n al rig h t to a co rrect an d co m p lete ch arg e o f th e law .”

S tate v

. T eel, 7 9 3 S .W.2 d 2 3 6

, 2 4 9 (T en n

. 1 9 9 0 ). A cco rd in g ly

, trial co u rts h av e th e d u ty

to g i v e “ a co m

p lete ch arg e o f th e law ap p licab le to th e f acts o f th e case.” S tate v

. D av en p o rt, 9 7 3 S .W.2 d 2 8 3

, 2 8 7 (T en n

. C rim

. A p p

. 1 9 9 8 ) (citin g S tate v

. H arb iso n , 7 0 4

S .W.2 d 3 1 4

, 3 1 9 (T en n

. 1 9 8 6 )). Wh en rev iew in g ch allen g ed j u ry in stru ctio n s, we m us t lo o k

at “th e ch arg e as a w h o le in d eterm in in g w h eth er p rej u d icial erro r h as b een co m m itted .” In

re E state o f E lam

, 7 3 8 S .W.2 d 1 6 9

, 1 7 4 (T en n

. 1 9 8 7 ); see also S tate v

. P h ip p s, 8 8 3 S .W.2 d

-10-1 3 8

, 1 4 2 (T en n

. C rim

. A p p

. 1 9 9 4 ). A ch arg e is p rej u d icially erro n eo u s “if it f ails to f airly

su b m it th e leg al issu es o r if it m islead s th e j u ry as to th e ap p licab le law .” S tate v

. H o d g es, 9 4 4 S .W.2 d 3 4 6

, 3 5 2 (T en n

. 1 9 9 7 ). E rro n eo u s j u ry in stru ctio n s req u ire rev ersal u n less th e

e r r o r i s h a rm less b ey o n d a reaso n ab le d o u b t. S ee Welch v

. S tate, 8 3 6 S .W.2 d 5 8 6

, 5 9 1 (T en n . C rim . A p p . 1 9 9 2 ).

A f lig h t in stru ctio n is w arran ted w h en “p ro o f o f ‘b o t h a l eav in g th e scen e o f th e d if f icu lty an d a su b seq u en t h id in g o u t, ev asio n , o r co n cealme n t in th e co m m u n ity

, o r a leav in g o f th e co m m

u n ity f o r p arts u n k n o w n ’ ” h as b een p resen ted at trial. S tate v

. B u rn s, 9 7 9 S .W.2 d 2 7 6

, 2 8 9 -9 0 (T en n

. 1 9 9 8 ) (q u o tin g S tate v

. P ay to n , 7 8 2 S .W.2 d 4 9 0

, 4 9 8 (T en n

. C rim

. A p p

. 1 9 8 9 )). T h e S tate can satisf y th e su b seq u en t h id in g o u t, ev asio n , o r co n cealm en t

r e q u i rem en t b y in tro d u cin g ev id en ce f ro m w h ich a j u ry m ig h t in f er su ch actio n

. S tat e v

. T erran ce Wilk s, N o . W1 9 9 9 -0 0 2 7 9 -C C A -R 3 -C D

, 1 9 9 9 WL 1 0 9 7 8 3 2 , at * 4 (T en n . C rim

. A p p

. N o v

. 2 2

, 1 9 9 9 ) (citin g P ay to n , 7 8 2 S .W.2 d at 4 9 0 ; R o g ers v

. S tate, 4 5 5 S .W.2 d 1 8 2

, 1 8 6 -8 7 (T e n n

. C rim

. A p p

. 1 9 7 0 )). “A n y co n trad icto ry ev id en ce th at serv es to reb u t th e [ S ] tate’s p ro o f m erely raises a q u estio n f o r th e j u ry to reso lv e.” Id

. (citin g H all v

. S tate, 5 8 4

S .W.2 d 8 1 9 , 8 2 1 (T en n . C rim . A p p . 1 9 7 9 )).

It is o u r v iew th at, w h ile f ar f ro m d isp o sitiv e , th ere w as arg u ab ly en o u g h ev id en ce

o f f lig h t to f airly raise th e issu e f

o r th e j u ry ’s d eterm in atio n . O f f icer B o y ette testif

ied th at
th e d ef en d an t ch an g ed lan es rig h t af ter h e p u lled in b eh in d h im

. T h e d ef en d an t th en m ad e

an ab ru p t lef

t tu rn o n to a resid en tial street, b u t O f f icer O rteg a w as also ab le to m ak e th e tu rn b eh in d h im

. O f

f icer B o y ette w en t to th e n ex t street o v er in an attem p t to catch u p w ith th e d ef en d a n t

. H e s a w t h e d ef

en d an t m ak e a rig h t tu rn , an d h e p u lled in b eh in d h im

. T h e d ef en d an t to o k an o th er rig h t tu rn , an d th en O f f icer B o y ette tu rn ed o n h is lig h ts an d in itiated
a traf f ic sto p . A s n o ted b y

th e trial co u rt in d ecid in g to g iv e th e in stru ctio n ,

th ere is p ro o f in th e reco rd th at [ th e d ef en d an t] lef

t th e scen e o f th e d if

f icu lty

an d th en h e su b seq u en tly

, tak in g th e S tate’s case in its b est lig h t, ev ad ed w h en th e p o lice car p u lled in b eh in d h im

, h e m ad e sev eral q u ick tu rn s i n a resid en tial n eig h b o rh o o d

, w h ich th e j u ry co u ld easily tak e to sh o w th at h e h ad

g u ilty k n o w led g e th at th ey w ere lo o k in g f o r h im o r h is car, an d h e w an ted to

tu rn aw ay f

ro m th e p o lice car to ev ad e b ein g arrested o r p u lled o v er. T h e f act
th at h e ev en tu ally d id p u ll o v er is f in e, an d th e j u ry can co n si d e r t h a t

, b u t I
th in k u n d er th e circu m stan ces, t h e r e ’s en o u g h p ro o f in th e reco rd to ch arg e f lig h t.

In an y ev en t, ev en if it w as erro r f o r th e trial co u rt to g iv e th e f lig h t in stru ctio n , su ch

erro r w as h arm less b ey o n d a reaso n ab le d o u b t. A s n o ted b y o u r su p rem e co u rt in S tate v

. S m ith , 8 9 3 S .W.2 d 9 0 8 (T en n . 1 9 9 4 ):

-11-E v en if an in stru ctio n o n f lig h t sh o u ld n o t h av e b een g iv en , an y erro r is n o t rev ersib le. T h e C o u rt in stru cted th e j u ry th at w h eth e r t h e D ef en d an t
f led w as a q u estio n so lely f o r th eir d ecisio n , t h at th ey n eed n o t in f er f lig h t,

an d th at f lig h t alo n e w as in su f

f icien t t o p r o v e g u ilt. T h is, co u p led w ith th e

o v erw h elm in g p r o o f o f D e f en d an t’s g u ilt, ren d ers an y erro r as to th e f lig h t
in stru ctio n h arm less.

Id . at 9 1 8

.

Ju st as in S m ith

, th e trial co u rt in stru cted th e j u ry th at w h eth er th e d ef en d an t f led w as

a q u estio n f

o r its d eterm in atio n an d th at f lig h t alo n e w as n o t su f

f icien t to f in d th e d ef

en d an t

g u il t y

. T h e in stru ctio n , read as a w h o le, an d in lig h t o f th e f acts o f th is case, ren d ers an y

erro r in g iv in g th e f

lig h t in stru ctio n h arm less.

IV. S u f f icien cy o f

th e E v id en ce

T h e d e f e n d a n t c h a l l e n g e s t h e s u f f i c i e n c y o f t h e c o n v i c t i n g e v i d e n c e

. T h e d e f e n d a n t
d o e s n o t d i s p u t e t h a t a s e c o n d d e g r e e m u r d e r o c c u r r e d ; h e d i s p u t e s t h a t h e w a s t h e

p e r p e t r a t o r o f t h e o f

f e n s e

. I n c o n s i d e r i n g t h i s i s s u e , w e a p p l y t h e r u l e t h a t w h e r e s u f f i c i e n c y

o f t h e c o n v i c t i n g e v i d e n c e i s c h a l l e n g e d

, t h e r e l e v a n t q u e s t i o n o f t h e r e v i e w i n g c o u r t i s

“ w h e t h e r , a f

t e r v i e w i n g t h e e v i d e n c e i n t h e l i g h t m o s t f a v o r a b l e t o t h e p r o s e c u t i o n , a n y

r a t i o n a l t r i e r o f f

a c t c o u l d h a v e f

o u n d t h e e s s e n t i a l e l e m e n t s o f t h e c r i m e b e y o n d a r e a s o n a b l e d o u b t

. ” J a c k s o n v

. V i r g i n i a , 4 4 3 U

. S

. 3 0 7

, 3 1 9 ( 1 9 7 9 ) ; s e e a l s o T e n n

. R

. A p p

. P

. 1 3 ( e ) ( “ F i n d i n g s o f g u i l t i n c r i m i n a l a c t i o n s w h e t h e r b y t h e t r i a l c o u r t o r j u r y s h a l l b e s e t a s i d e i f

t h e e v i d e n c e i s i n s u f

f i c i e n t t o s u p p o r t t h e f

i n d i n g s b y t h e t r i e r o f f a c t o f g u i l t b e y o n d a

r e a s o n a b l e d o u b t

. ” ) ; S t a t e v

. E v a n s , 8 3 8 S

. W

. 2 d 1 8 5

, 1 9 0

- 9 2 ( T e n n

. 1 9 9 2 ) ; S t a t e v

. A n d e r s o n , 8 3 5 S

. W

. 2 d 6 0 0

, 6 0 4 ( T e n n

. C r i m

. A p p

. 1 9 9 2 )

. T h e s a m e s t a n d a r d a p p l i e s

w h e t h e r t h e f

i n d i n g o f g u i l t i s p r e d i c a t e d u p o n d i r e c t e v i d e n c e , c i r c u m s t a n t i a l e v i d e n c e , o r

a c o m b i n a t i o n o f d i r e c t a n d c i r c u m s t a n t i a l e v i d e n c e

. S t a t e v

. M a t t h e w s , 8 0 5 S

. W

. 2 d 7 7 6

, 7 7 9 ( T e n n

. C r i m

. A p p

. 1 9 9 0 )

.

A l l q u e s t i o n s i n v o l v i n g t h e c r e d i b i l i t y o f w i t n e s s e s , t h e w e i g h t a n d v a l u e t o b e g i v e n

t h e e v i d e n c e , a n d a l l f

a c t u a l i s s u e s a r e r e s o l v e d b y t h e t r i e r o f f a c t

. S e e S t a t e v

. P a p p a s , 7 5 4

S

. W

. 2 d 6 2 0

, 6 2 3 ( T e n n

. C r i m

. A p p

. 1 9 8 7 )

. “ A g u i l t y v e r d i c t b y t h e j u r y , a p p r o v e d b y t h e

t r i a l j u d g e , a c c r e d i t s t h e t e s t i m o n y o f t h e w i t n e s s e s f o r t h e S t a t e a n d r e s o l v e s a l l c o n f l i c t s i n f a v o r o f t h e t h e o r y o f t h e S t a t e

. ” S t a t e v

. G r a c e , 4 9 3 S

. W

. 2 d 4 7 4

, 4 7 6 ( T e n n

. 1 9 7 3 )

. O u r

s u p r e m e c o u r t s t a t e d t h e r a t i o n a l e f o r t h i s r u l e :

T h i s w e l l

- s e t t l e d r u l e r e s t s o n a s o u n d f o u n d a t i o n

. T h e t r i a l j u d g e a n d

t h e j u r y s e e t h e w i t n e s s e s f a c e t o f a c e , h e a r t h e i r t e s t i m o n y a n d o b s e r v e t h e i r d e m e a n o r o n t h e s t a n d

. T h u s t h e t r i a l j u d g e a n d j u r y a r e t h e p r i m a r y

-12-i n s t r u m e n t a l i t y o f j u s t i c e t o d e t e r m i n e t h e w e i g h t a n d c r e d i b i l i t y t o b e g i v e n

t o t h e t e s t i m o n y o f w i t n e s s e s

. I n t h e t r i a l f o r u m a l o n e i s t h e r e h u m a n

a t m o s p h e r e a n d t h e t o t a l i t y o f t h e e v i d e n c e c a n n o t b e r e p r o d u c e d w i t h a

w r i t t e n r e c o r d i n t h i s C o u r t

.

B o l i n v

. S t a t e , 2 1 9 T e n n

. 4

, 1 1

, 4 0 5 S

. W

. 2 d 7 6 8

, 7 7 1 ( 1 9 6 6 ) ( c i t i n g C a r r o l l v

. S t a t e , 2 1 2

T e n n

. 4 6 4

, 3 7 0 S

. W

. 2 d 5 2 3 ( 1 9 6 3 ) )

. “ A j u r y c o n v i c t i o n r e m o v e s t h e p r e s u m p t i o n o f

i n n o c e n c e w i t h w h i c h a d e f e n d a n t i s i n i t i a l l y c l o a k e d a n d r e p l a c e s i t w i t h o n e o f g u i l t

, s o t h a t

o n a p p e a l a c o n v i c t e d d e f e n d a n t h a s t h e b u r d e n o f d e m o n s t r a t i n g t h a t t h e e v i d e n c e i s i n s u f f i c i e n t

. ” S t a t e v

. T u g g l e , 6 3 9 S

. W

. 2 d 9 1 3

, 9 1 4 ( T e n n

. 1 9 8 2 )

.

I n t h e l i g h t m o s t f

a v o r a b l e t o t h e S t a t e , t h e e v i d e n c e s h o w s t h a t t h e v i c t i m i d e n t i f i e d

h i s k i l l e r i n a d y i n g d e c l a r a t i o n a s D a v i d w h o u s e d t o w o r k w i t h h i s f i a n c é e , R a c h e l

S w a u n c y , a t T e c h n i c o l o r

. T h e p r o o f e s t a b l i s h e d t h a t t h e d e f e n d a n t

, D a v i d S m i t h

, u s e d t o

w o r k w i t h R a c h e l S w a u n c y a t T e c h n i c o l o r

. D a n i e l M a y e r , a w i t n e s s t o t h e s h o o t i n g , t e s t i f i e d

t h a t t h e g u n m a n w as w earin g “a d ark co lo r e d h o o d ie, b lack o r d ark n av y b lu e” an d w as d riv in g a m aro o n an d tan G ran d M arq u is car. L ater, th e d ef en d an t w as sto p p ed in th e

n eig h b o rh o o d o f th e sh o o tin g , d riv in g a m aro o n an d tan G ran d M arq u is w ith a licen se p late

n u m b er m atch in g th e n u m

b er o n th e su sp ect v eh icle.

Wh en p o lice o f

f icers rem o v ed th e d ef

en d an t f ro m th e v eh icle af

ter b ein g p u lled o v er, th ey f o u n d o n e liv e n in e-m illim eter b u llet in th e d riv er’s seat an d a b lack h o o d ie sw eatsh irt

in th e p assen g er co m

p artm en t. T h e crim e scen e o f f icers d isco v ered n in e sp en t n in em illim eter sh ell casin g s an d o n e liv e n in e-m illim eter ro u n d at th e crim e scen e

. A n aly sis

co n d u cted b y

th e T B I crim e lab o rato ry d eterm in ed th at th e b lack h o o d ie sw eatsh irt f o u n d

in th e d ef en d an t’s v eh icle w as p o sitiv e f o r g u n sh o t resid u e. T B I p erso n n el also co n d u cted

D N A a n aly sis o n th e sw eatsh irt. A lth o u g h o n ly a p artial D N A p ro f ile co u ld b e o b tain e d

f ro m th e sw eatsh irt, th e p artial p ro f ile w as co n sisten t w ith th e d ef en d an t’s D N A an d

D em ario S m ith w as ex clu d ed as a p o ssib le co n trib u to r

. T h e lik elih o o d o f so m eo n e else

h av in g th e s am e D N A as th e p artial p ro f ile f o u n d o n th e sw eatsh irt is o n e in sev en ty -tw o

m illio n . T h is ev id en ce w as m o re th an su f f icien t to su stain th e j u ry ’s v erd ict.

V. S en ten ce E n h a n cem en t

In sen ten cin g th e d ef

en d an t, th e trial co u rt n o ted th at th e d ef en d an t f aced a ran g e o n e

sen ten ce o f f

if teen to tw en ty -f

iv e y ears as a v io len t o f f e n d er. T h e co u rt en h an ced h is

sen ten ce b ased o n its f

in d in g th at h e h ad a p rev io u s h isto ry o f crim in al co n v ictio n s, T en n

. C o d e A n n

. § 4 0 -3 5 -1 1 4 (1 ); th at h e p o ssessed o r em p lo y ed a f

irearm in th e co m m issio n o f
th e o f f en se, id

. § 4 0 -3 5 -1 1 4 (9 ); an d th at h e co m m itted a d elin q u e n t a c t a s a j u v en ile th at

w o u l d co n stitu te a f

elo n y if co m

m itted b y an ad u lt. Id

. § 4 0 -3 5 -1 1 4 (1 6 ). T h e co u rt

sen ten ced th e d ef

en d an t to tw en ty -f

o u r y ears in th e D ep artm en t o f C o rrectio n

.

-13-W h e n a n a c c u s e d c h a l l e n g e s t h e l e n g t h a n d m a n n e r o f s e r v i c e o f a s e n t e n c e , i t i s t h e d u t y o f t h i s c o u r t t o c o n d u c t a d e n o v o r e v i e w o n t h e r e c o r d w i t h a p r e s u m p t i o n t h a t “ t h e d e t e r m i n a t i o n s m a d e b y t h e c o u r t f r o m w h i c h t h e a p p e a l i s t a k e n a r e c o r r e c t

. ” T e n n

. C o d e
A n n

. § 4 0

- 3 5

- 4 0 1 ( d )

. T h i s p r e s u m p t i o n i s “ c o n d i t i o n e d u p o n t h e a f f i r m a t i v e s h o w i n g i n t h e

r e c o r d t h a t t h e t r i a l c o u r t c o n s i d e r e d t h e s e n t e n c i n g p r i n c i p l e s a n d a l l r e l e v a n t f a c t s a n d

c i r c u m s t a n c e s

. ” S t a t e v

. A s h b y , 8 2 3 S

. W

. 2 d 1 6 6

, 1 6 9 ( T e n n

. 1 9 9 1 )

. T h e p r e s u m p t i o n d o e s

n o t a p p l y t o t h e l e g a l c o n c l u s i o n s r e a c h e d b y t h e t r i a l c o u r t i n s e n t e n c i n g t h e a c c u s e d o r t o

t h e d e t e r m i n a t i o n s m a d e b y t h e t r i a l c o u r t w h i c h a r e p r e d i c a t e d u p o n u n c o n t r o v e r t e d f a c t s

. S t a t e v

. B u t l e r , 9 0 0 S

. W

. 2 d 3 0 5

, 3 1 1 ( T e n n

. C r i m

. A p p

. 1 9 9 4 ) ; S t a t e v

. S m i t h

, 8 9 1 S

. W

. 2 d

9 2 2

, 9 2 9 ( T e n n

. C r i m

. A p p

. 1 9 9 4 ) ; S t a t e v

. B o n e s t e l

, 8 7 1 S

. W

. 2 d 1 6 3

, 1 6 6 ( T e n n

. C r i m

. A p p

. 1 9 9 3 )

, o v e r r u l e d o n o t h e r g r o u n d s b y S t a t e v

. H o o p e r , 2 9 S

. W

. 3 d 1

, 9 ( T e n n

. 2 0 0 0 )

. H o w e v e r , t h i s c o u r t i s r e q u i r e d t o g i v e g r e a t w e i g h t t o t h e t r i a l c o u r t ’ s d e t e r m i n a t i o n o f

c o n t r o v e r t e d f

a c t s a s t h e t r i a l c o u r t ’ s d e t e r m i n a t i o n o f t h e s e f a c t s i s p r e d i c a t e d u p o n t h e

w i t n e s s e s ’ d e m e a n o r a n d a p p e a r a n c e w h e n t e s t i f y i n g

.

I n c o n d u c t i n g a d e n o v o r e v i e w o f a s e n t e n c e , t h i s c o u r t m u s t c o n s i d e r ( a ) a n y

e v i d e n c e r e c e i v e d a t t h e t r i a l a n d / o r s e n t e n c i n g h e a r i n g , ( b ) t h e p r e s e n t e n c e r e p o r t

, ( c ) t h e

p r i n c i p l e s o f s e n t e n c i n g , ( d ) t h e a r g u m e n t s o f c o u n s e l r e l a t i v e t o s e n t e n c i n g a l t e r n a t i v e s , ( e )

t h e n a t u r e a n d c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f t h e o f f e n s e , ( f ) a n y m i t i g a t i n g o r e n h a n c e m e n t f a c t o r s , ( g )

a n y s t a t i s t i c a l i n f

o r m a t i o n p r o v i d e d b y t h e a d m i n i s t r a t i v e o f f i c e o f t h e c o u r t s a s t o T e n n e s s e e

s e n t e n c i n g p r a c t i c e s f

o r s i m i l a r o f

f e n s e s , ( h ) a n y s t a t e m e n t s m a d e b y t h e a c c u s e d i n h i s o w n b e h a l f

, a n d ( i ) t h e a c c u s e d ’ s p o t e n t i a l o r l a c k o f p o t e n t i a l f o r r e h a b i l i t a t i o n o r t r e a t m e n t

. T e n n

. C o d e A n n

. § § 4 0

- 3 5

- 1 0 3

, - 2 1 0 ; S t a t e v

. T a y l o r , 6 3 S

. W

. 3 d 4 0 0

, 4 1 1 ( T e n n

. C r i m

. A p p

. 2 0 0 1 )

.

T h e p a r t y c h a l l e n g i n g t h e s e n t e n c e i m p o s e d b y t h e t r i a l c o u r t h a s t h e b u r d e n o f

e s t a b l i s h i n g t h a t t h e s e n t e n c e i s e r r o n e o u s

. T e n n

. C o d e A n n

. § 4 0

- 3 5

- 4 0 1

, S e n t e n c i n g
C o m m i s s i o n C m t s

. ; A s h b y , 8 2 3 S

. W

. 2 d a t 1 6 9

.

T h e d ef en d an t co n ced es th at th e p o ssessio n o r e mp lo y m en t o f a f

irearm is n o t an

essen tial elem en t o f seco n d d eg ree m u rd er b u t arg u es th at th e trial co u rt erred in en h an cin g h is sen ten ce b ased o n su ch f acto r b ecau se d o in g so “[ w ] as n o t ap p ro p riate f o r th e o f f en se.”

H e asserts th at “th e u se o f a d ead ly w eap o n sh o u ld n o t b e co n sid ered an en h an cem en t f acto r

p er se in an y case o f m

u rd er seco n d d eg ree. T h e sen ten cin g co u rt sh o u ld b e req u ired to g o f u rth er an d sh o w h o w th e u se o f th e w e a p o n i n c r e a ses th e cu lp ab ility o f th e o f f en se in a

p articu lar case.”

T h e d ef en d an t’s arg u m en t, w h il e un iq u e, is w ith o u t su p p o rt in th is co u rt’s p reced en t.
T h is co u rt h as rep eated ly u p h eld t h e e n h an cem en t o f a d ef en d an t’s sen ten ce w ith th e

“ f irearm

, ex p lo siv e d ev ice, o r o th er d ead ly w eap o n ” f acto r w h en a d ef

en d an t co mmi t s

seco n d d eg ree m

u rd er b y sh o o tin g a v ictim w ith a f irearm . S ee S tate v

. M o ss, 1 3 S .W.3 d

-14-3 7 4 , 3 8 8 (T en n . C rim . A p p . 1 9 9 9 ); S tate v . B u tler, 9 0 0 S .W.2 d 3 0 5

, 3 1 2 -1 3 (T en n . C rim

.

A p p

. 1 9 9 4 ); S tate v

. R ain es, 8 8 2 S .W.2 d 3 7 6

, 3 8 5 (T en n

. C rim

. A p p

. 1 9 9 4 ); S tate v

. D erek

T

. P ay n e, N o

. W2 0 0 1 -0 0 5 3 2 -C C A -R 3 -C D

, 2 0 0 2 WL 3 1 6 2 4 8 1 3

, at * 1 6 (T en n

. C rim

. A p p

. N o v

. 2 0

, 2 0 0 2 ), p erm

. to ap p eal d en ied (T en n

. M ay 1 9

, 2 0 0 3 ); S tate v

. T im o th y K en S ex to n , N o

. E 2 0 0 0 -0 1 7 7 9 -C C A -R 3 -C D

, 2 0 0 2 WL 1 7 8 7 9 4 6

, at * 1 8 (T en n

. C rim

. A p p

. A u g

. 2

, 2 0 0 2 ). T h e d ef

en d an t is n o t en titled to relief

.

C O N C L U S IO N

B ased o n th e f

o reg o in g au th o rities an d reaso n in g , w e af f irm th e j u d g m en t o f th e trial

co u rt.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ A L A N E

. G L E N N

, J U D G E

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