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

AT JACKSON

Ass ig ne d o n B rie fs Decem be r 7, 2 01 0

STATE OF TENNESS EE v . MICHAE L MARTI N

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 6 8 1 0 P a u l a S k a h a n , J u d g e

N o

. W 2 0 1 0

- 0 0 4 6 6

- C C A

- R 3

- C D

- F i l e d M a r c h 3 0

, 2 0 1 1



### T h e d ef en d an t, M ich ael M artin

, w as co n v icted b y a S h elb y C o u n ty C rim in al C o u rt j u ry o f

attem p ted seco n d d eg ree m

u rd er, a C lass B f

elo n y ; ag g rav ated assau lt, a C lass C f elo n y ; an d

v io latio n o f an o rd er o f p ro tectio n

, a C lass A m isd em ean o r. T h e ag g rav ated assau lt

co n v ictio n m erg ed in to th e attem p ted seco n d d eg ree m

u rd er co n v ictio n

, an d th e d ef en d an t

w a s sen ten ced to eig h teen y ears as a R an g e II o f f en d er o n th e attem

p ted seco n d d e g r e e

m u rd er co n v ictio n an d elev en m o n th s, t w e n t y -n in e d ay s o n th e v io latio n o f an o rd er o f

p ro tectio n co n v ictio n

, to b e serv ed co n secu tiv ely

. O n ap p eal, th e d ef en d an t arg u es th at (1 )

th e trial co u rt erred in allo w in g p h o to g rap h s o f th e v ictim ’s w o u n d s in to ev id en ce; (2 ) th e

trial co u rt erred in allo w in g ev id en ce reg ard in g in j u ries th e v ictim ’s g ran d

p aren ts su stain ed

d u rin g th e co m m issio n o f th e o f f en se; (3 ) th e ev id en ce is in su f f icien t to su stain h is

co n v ictio n f

o r attem p ted seco n d d eg ree m

u rd er; (4 ) th e cu m

u lativ e ef f ect o f th e erro rs at trial

w as su f f icien t to j u stif

y a n ew trial; an d (5 ) th e trial co u rt erred in sen ten cin g h im as a R an g e

II o f f en d er. A f

ter rev iew , w e af

f irm th e j u d g m en ts 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 s 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 T H O M A S T

. W O O D A LL a n d

J O H N E V E R E T T W ILL IA M S

, J J

. , j o i n e d

.

J o s e p h A

. M c C l u s k y ( o n a p p e a l ) ; a n d J e f f e r y W o o d s ( a t t r i a l )

, M e m p h i s

, T e n n e s s e e

, f o r t h e

a p p e l l a n t

, M i c h a e l M a r t i n

.

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 ; R a c h e l E

. W i l l i s

, 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 B e t s y C a r n e s a l e

, 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 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 is th e resu lt o f th e d ef en d an t ’ s stab b in g h is estran g ed w if e, D ek im b ra

Watso n

, f

o r w h ich h e w as in d i cted o n ch arg es o f attem p ted f irst d eg ree p rem ed itated

m u rd er, ag g rav ated assau lt, an d v io latio n o f an o rd er o f

p ro tectio n

.

A t trial, th e v ictim testif

ied th at sh e w as th e d ef

en d an t’s w if

e an d h ad k n o w n h im

“ [ a ] l l [ h e r ] lif

e.” S h e b eg an d atin g th e d ef en d an t in 2 0 0 4

, an d th e tw o w ere m arried i n

N o v em b er 2 0 0 5

. A y ear an d a h alf later, th e v ictim m o v ed o u t b ecau se sh e w as tired o f th e

d ef en d an t’s “[ a] b u siv e, arg u in g an d co n tro llin g ” b e h a v io r an d w en t to liv e w ith h er

g ran d p aren ts, Jam es an d B a r b a r a W atso n

. A f

ter sh e m o v ed o u t, th e v ictim an d th e

d ef en d an t w ere “b ack an d f

o rth ” w ith reg ard to th e f

u tu re o f th eir relatio n sh ip

, an d sh e sp en t

th e n ig h t w ith h im f

ro m tim e to tim e. H o w ev er, in Jan u a r y 2 0 0 7

, t h e v ictim o b tain ed an

o rd er o f p ro tectio n ag ain st th e d ef en d an t b ecau se “[ h ] e w as alw ay s callin g

. . . an d f o llo w in g

[ h er] d if f eren t p laces.” E v en af

ter th e p ro tectio n o r d er, th e v ictim an d th e d ef en d an t

co n tin u ed to co n tact each o th er an d w ere o ccasio n ally ro m an tically in v o lv ed

, b u t ev en tu ally

th e v ictim d ecid ed th at “it w as g o in g to b e a rep eated cy cle o f d o in g th e sam e stu f f o v er an d

o v er ag ain [ an d ] w an ted to b e th ro u g h w ith it.”

O n M ay 1 7

, 2 0 0 7

, th e d e f e n d an t called th e v ictim sev eral tim es, q u estio n in g h er

ab o u t w h eth er sh e w as d atin g an y o n e an d th reaten in g

, “I can g et y o u if I w an t y o u [ .] ” Wh en

th e v ictim lef

t h er g ran d p aren ts’ h o u se w ith a g irlf rien d aro u n d 6 :0 0 p .m

. th at ev en in g

, sh e

n o ticed a su sp icio u s car f

o llo w in g th em th at sh e assu m ed w as d riv en b y th e d ef en d an t. S h e

h ad h er f rien d tak e h er h o m e an d

, o n c e sh e w as o u t o f th e d ef en d an t’s sig h t, w en t to a

n eig h b o r’s h o u se an d w aited u n t i l h er g ran d p aren ts cam e h o m e aro u n d 9 :0 0 p .m

. T h e

d ef en d an t b eg an rep eated ly callin g h er as so o n as sh e g o t h o m e, ask in g w h ere sh e h ad b een

an d w h y sh e w o u ld n o t retu rn h is calls. T h e v ictim ev en tu ally tu rn ed o f f th e rin g er o n th e

p h o n e.

A ro u n d m id n ig h t, th e d ef en d an t “c[ a] m e b eatin g o n th e d o o r ask in g co u ld h e co m e

in .” T h e v ictim ’s g ran d f

ath er let th e d ef

en d an t in an d started talk in g to h im

. T h e v ictim w as

n earb y b u t w as n o t p ay in g atten tio n to w h at th e d ef en d an t w as say in g b ecau se sh e “d id n ’t

w a n t t o h e a r i t .” A f

ter a f ew m in u tes, th e d ef

en d an t w en t to th e restro o m an d

, ab o u t f iv e

m in u tes af

ter h e retu rn ed

, h e “g rab b e d [ t h e v i c t i m ] an d j u st w en t to stick in g [ h er] .” T h e

v ictim d id n o t see th e d ef en d an t w ith a k n if

e o r a n y t h i n g sh arp

, b u t sh e k n ew th at h e

f req u en tly carried a p o ck etk n if e w ith a th ree- o r f

o u r-in ch b lad e. D u rin g th e altercatio n

, th e

v ictim ’s g ran d p aren ts en d ed u p o n th e f l o o r

. T h e d ef

en d an t th en ran o u tsid e, leav in g th e

f ro n t d o o r o p en

. Wh en th e v ictim realized th a t s h e h a d b een stab b ed

, sh e h ad h er

g ran d f ath er tak e h er to th e h o sp ital w h ere sh e w as treated an d released

. S h e h ad o n e stab

w o u n d to h er lef

t b reast, tw o to h er lef

t sid e, an d o n e to w ard th e to p o f h er h ead

. T h e n ex t

-2-

### d ay , th e d ef en d an t called th e v ictim

an d ap o lo g ized

.

T h e v ictim testif

ied th at sh e b eliev ed th e d ef en d an t cam e to h er g ran d p aren ts’ h o u se

th at n ig h t w ith th e in ten tio n o f h u rtin g h er b ecau se sh e “co u ld h ear it in h is v o ice [ th at] h e

w as u p to n o g o o d .” S h e n o ted th at th e d ef en d an t’s f

acial ex p ressio n w as “an g ry ,” w h ich

m ad e h er f

eel “scared .”

M ich ael T rip lett, reco rd s k eep er f o r th e S h e l b y C o u n ty G en eral S essio n s C rim in al

C o u rt, testif

ied th at th e v i c t i m p e t i tio n ed th e co u rt f o r an o rd er o f p ro tectio n ag ain st th e

d ef en d an t o n D ecem

b er 2 9

, 2 0 0 6

. A s th e f

actu al b asis f

o r th e p etitio n

, th e v ictim alleg ed

th at th e d ef

en d an t “accu sed h er o f ch eatin g ” an d “h it h er in th e f ace w ith a clo sed f

ist; h it

h er in th e n o se, w h ich cau sed h er n o se to sp read an d ey e to b lack en .” S h e also alleg ed th at

th e d ef en d an t th reaten ed th at th e p o lice co u ld n o t sto p h im f ro m g ettin g to h er an d th at “[ i] f

h e g e t s lo ck ed u p

, h e w ill b e p lo ttin g o n h o w h e is g o in g to g et h er.” T h e v ictim f u rt h e r

alleg ed th at th e d ef

en d an t h it h er in th e h ead w ith a g u n o n D ecem b er 1 3

, 2 0 0 6

. T h e co u rt

issu ed an ex p arte o rd er, an d th e d ef en d an t w as in f

o rm e d t h a t a h earin g w o u ld b e h eld in

tw o w eek s. T h e d ef

en d an t an d th e v ictim b o th ap p eared at th e h earin g o n Jan u ary 1 6

, 2 0 0 7

,

an d a f i n a l o r d e r o f p ro tectio n w as en tered d irectin g th e d ef en d an t to stay aw ay f

ro m th e

v ictim

.

B arb ara Watso n

, th e v ictim ’s g ran d m o the r

, t e s t i fi e d t he de fe nda

nt c a m e to th eir h o u se

th e n ig h t o f th e in cid en t aro u n d m id n ig h t w an tin g to talk to h er an d M r. Watso n ab o u t th e

d ef en d an t’s relatio n sh ip w ith th e v ictim

. M r. Watso n let th e d ef en d an t in th e h o u se, an d th e

th ree o f th em sat d o w n in th e k itch en an d b eg an to talk

. A t so m e p o in t, th e d ef en d an t w en t

to th e b ath ro o m an d

, w h en h e r e t u rn ed

, sto o d in th e d o o rw ay in to th e k itch en

. T h e

d ef en d an t said a f

ew m o re w o rd s an d th en said

, “‘A n d y o u ’” an d lu n g ed at th e v ictim

. M rs.

Watso n sto o d u p to sto p th e d ef en d an t f ro m h ittin g th e v ictim

, b u t h er ch air tip p ed o v er an d

sh e f ell to th e f

lo o r b ru isin g h er arm

. M r. Watso n tried to k e e p h er f ro m f allin g

, b u t

so m eh o w f

ell h im self

. M rs. Watso n saw th e d ef en d an t an d th e v ictim “tu sslin g to g eth er,”

th en th e d ef

en d an t lef t th e h o u se.

O n cro ss-ex am in atio n

, M rs. Watso n ack n o w led g ed th at th e d ef en d an t d id n o t sh o u t

o r b eh av e u n ru ly d u rin g th eir co n v ersatio n w h ile seated at th e k itch en tab le. M rs. Watso n

o b serv ed th at th e v ictim d id n o t say an y th in g to th e d ef

en d an t p rio r to h im lu n g in g at h er.

Jam es Watso n

, th e v ictim ’s g ran d f ath er, testif

ied th at o n th e n ig h t o f th e in cid en t th e

d ef en d an t arriv ed at th eir h o u se aro u n d m id n ig h t, say in g th at h e n eed ed to talk to h im an d

M rs. Watso n

. M r. Watso n let th e d ef en d an t in th e h o u se, an d th e th ree o f th e m s a t at th e

k itch en tab le an d d iscu ssed th e relatio n sh ip b etw een th e v ictim an d th e d ef en d an t. A t so m e

p o in t, th e v ictim en tered th e k itch en b u t w o u ld n o t sit d o w n at th e tab le w h en req u ested to

-3-

### b y th e d e f e n d a n t. M r. Watso n o b serv ed th at th e d ef en d an t lo o k ed “u p set” an d lik e

“[ s] o m eth in g w as o n h is m in d .” T h e d ef e n d a n t lef

t th e k itch en to u se th e restro o m an d

,

w h en h e retu rn ed

, d id n o t sit d o w n

. T h e d ef en d an t said a f

ew w o rd s, th en said to th e v ictim

, “‘A n d y o u

, ’ a n d h e g rab b ed h er.” It ap p eared to M r. Watso n th at th e d ef en d an t b eg an

h ittin g th e v ictim

, an d w h en M r. Watso n saw th is, h e started to g et u p f ro m th e tab le, b u t th e

d ef en d an t’s b o o t p u sh ed M r. Watso n ’s leg an d h e f ell to th e f

lo o r. T h e d ef

en d an t ran o u t

o f th e h o u se, an d M r. Watso n saw th at th e v ictim h ad b een stab b ed in th e h ead an d sid e. A

f ew d ay s af

ter th e in cid en t, w h ile M r. Watso n w as at th e p o lice statio n m ak in g a rep o rt, th e

d ef en d an t called h im

an d ap o lo g ized

.

O n cro ss-ex am in atio n

, M r. Watso n ack n o w led g ed th at th e d ef en d an t n ev er y elled at

th em d u rin g th eir co n v ersatio n b u t d id so m ew h at raise h is v o ice w h en h e said

, “‘A n d y o u ’”

to th e v ictim

b ef o re th e attack

.

O f f icer M arcu s L ee w i t h t h e M em p h is P o lice D ep artm en t testif ied th at h e w as

d isp atch ed to M eth o d ist S o u th H o sp ital to in v estig ate th e stab b in g o f th e v ictim

. T h e v ictim

ad v ised O f

f icer L ee th at th e d ef

en d an t h ad stab b ed h er. H e recalled th at th e v ictim to ld h im

th at th e d ef

en d an t h ad b een callin g h er to m eet an d th at sh e f in ally ag reed t o t a l k t o h im

. S h e said th at th ey w ere talk in g in th e k itch en

, t h e n t h e d ef en d an t w en t to th e restro o m

. U p o n h is retu rn

, th e d ef

en d an t g rab b ed an o b

j ect an d started stab b in g h er. O f f icer L ee saw

th e v ictim ’s h ead w o u n d b u t d id n o t see h er b o d y w o u n d s.

A f ter th e co n clu sio n o f th e p ro o f

, th e j u ry co n v icted th e d ef en d an t o f th e lesseri n c l u d ed o f

f en se o f attem

p ted seco n d d eg ree m

u rd er, as w ell as ag g rav ated assau lt a n d

v io latio n o f

an o rd er o f

p ro tectio n as ch arg ed in th e in d ictm en t.

A N A L Y S IS

I. P h o to g ra p h s

T h e d ef en d an t arg u es th at th e trial co u rt sh o u ld n o t h av e ad m itted p h o to g rap h s o f th e

v ictim ’s in

j u ries b ecau se th e v ictim testif ied th at sh e w as stab b ed f o u r tim es, m ean in g th e

p h o to g rap h s w ere o f little, if a n y

, p ro b ativ e v alu e an d th eref o re co u ld n o t o u tw eig h th e

p rej u d icial ef

f ect.

A t trial, th e S tate so u g h t to in tro d u ce p h o to g rap h s tak en o f th e v ictim ’s in j u ries th ree

d a y s a f ter th e in cid en t. T h e d ef en d an t o b j ected o n th e b asis th at th e p h o to g rap h s w e r e

cu m u lativ e an d th at th e v ictim w as n o t a co m p eten t w itn e s s t o in tro d u ce th em

. T h e S tate

resp o n d ed th at th e p h o to g rap h s w ere relev an t to sh o w th e n atu re, ex ten t, an d n u m b er o f th e

v ictim ’s w o u n d s in o rd er to estab lish th e d ef en d an t’s in ten t to k ill th e v ictim

. T h e S tate also

-4-

### asserted th at th e p h o to g rap h s w ere n o t “p articu larly g ru eso m e o r g o ry ,” an d th at th e v ictim

w as co m p eten t to testif

y g iv en it w as h er b o d y . T h e S tate ag reed to in tro d u ce o n ly o n e o f

tw o p h o to g rap h s o f th e v ictim ’s h ead w o u n d s in resp o n se to th e d ef en d an t’s assertio n th at

th e p h o to g rap h s w ere cu m u lativ e.

A f ter h earin g th e arg u me n t o f co u n sel, th e trial co u rt o v erru led th e d ef en d an t’s

o b j ectio n

, f in d in g th at th e p h o to g rap h s w ere n o t g o ry o r g ru eso m e b ecau se “th ere’s h ard ly

an y b lo o d .” T h e trial co u rt also f o u n d th at th e p h o to g rap h s w ere relev an t to sh o w th e

lo cat i o n o f th e v ictim ’s w o u n d s an d th at th e v ictim w as co m p eten t to testif

y ab o u t th e

p h o to g rap h s.

T h e ad m issib ility o f p h o to g rap h s g en erally lies w ith in th e so u n d d iscre t i on o f th e trial

co u rt an d w ill n o t b e o v ertu rn ed o n ap p eal ab sen t a clear sh o w in g th at th e trial co u rt ab u sed

its d iscr e t i o n

. S t ate v

. F au lk n er, 1 5 4 S .W.3 d 4 8

, 6 7 (T en n

. 2 0 0 5 ); S tate v

. B an k s, 5 6 4

S .W.2 d 9 4 7

, 9 4 9 (T en n

. 1 9 7 8 ). “T en n e ssee co u rts f o llo w a p o licy o f lib erality in th e

ad m issio n o f p h o to g rap h s in b o th civ il an d crim in al cases.” S tate v

. M o rris, 2 4 S .W.3 d 7 8 8

, 8 1 0 (T en n

. 2 0 0 0 ). In d eterm in in g w h eth er a p h o to g rap h is ad m issib le, th e trial co u rt m u st

f irst d eterm in e w h eth er it is relev an t to a m atter at issu e in th e case. S ee T en n

. R

. E v id

. 4 0 1 ;

S tate v

. V an n

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

, 1 0 2 (T en n

. 1 9 9 8 ); B an k s, 5 6 4 S .W.2 d at 9 4 9

. T h e co u rt

m u st n ex t co n sid er w h eth er th e p ro b ativ e v alu e o f th e p h o to g rap h is “su b stan tially

o u tw eig h ed b y th e d an g er o f u n f air p rej u d ice, co n f

u sio n o f th e issu es, o r m isle a d i n g t h e

j u ry .” T en n . R . E v id . 4 0 3

.

T h e d ef en d an t w as in d icted f

o r attem p ted f irst d eg ree p rem ed itated m u rd er, m ean in g

th e S tate h ad to p ro v e th e d ef en d an t’s attem

p t to k ill th e v ictim w as in ten tio n al. In p ro v in g

th is elem en t, th e S tate relied h eav ily o n th e n u m b er an d ex ten t o f th e in

j u ries in f licted u p o n

th e v ictim

. A lth o u g h th e v ictim an d h er g ran d p aren ts testif ied th at th e v ictim su f

f ered f o u r

stab w o u n d s, th e p h o to g rap h s g i v e a b e tter d escrip tio n o f th e n atu re an d ex ten t o f th e

w o u n d s f o r th e p u rp o se o f estab lish in g p rem ed itatio n

. We n o te th at th e p h o to g rap h s w ere

n o t esp ecially g o ry o r g ru eso m e an d sh o w ed little b lo o d

. T h e r ef o re, w e can n o t co n clu d e

th at th e p ro b ativ e v alu e o f th e p h o to g rap h s w as su b stan tially o u tw eig h ed b y th e d an g er o f

u n f air p rej u d ice o r th at th e trial co u rt ab u sed its d iscretio n in ad m ittin g th e p h o to g rap h s.

II. G ra n d p a ren ts’ In ju ries

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 irrelev an t ev id en ce th at th e

v ictim ’s g ran d p aren ts w ere in j u red d u rin g h is en co u n ter w ith th e v i c t i m. H o w ev er, th e

d ef en d an t h as w aiv ed an y issu e co n cern in g in j u ries su stain ed b y th e v ictim ’s g ran d p aren ts

b ecau se h e f

ailed to m ak e a co n tem

p o ran eo u s o b

j ectio n at trial. S ee T en n

. R

. A p p

. P

. 3 6 (a).

-5-

### D u rin g a j u ry -o u t h earin g reg ard in g th e ad missib ility o f th e o rd er o f p ro tectio n th e

v ictim o b tain ed ag ain st th e d ef en d an t, th e d ef

en d an t also o b

j ected to th e ad m issi b ility o f

p h o to g rap h s o f th e v ictim ’s g ran d p aren ts d ep ictin g in

j u ries alleg ed ly

su stain ed d u rin g th e

altercatio n

. T h e d ef

en d an t arg u ed th at th e p h o to g rap h s w ere n o t relev an t b e c a u s e th e

in d ictm en ts w er e all reg ard in g in j u ries to th e v ictim an d

, ev en if relev an t, th e p ro b ativ e

v alu e w as o u tw eig h ed b y th e p rej u d icial ef f ect. T h e trial co u rt reserv ed ru lin g o n th e issu e

u n til th e g ran d p aren ts testif ied

.

L ater, B arb ara Watso n testif ied th at sh e f

ell o v er a ch air w h en sh e j u m p ed u p to h elp

th e v ictim an d su stain ed a b ru ise o n h er arm

. Jam es Watso n testif ied th at h e g o t u p to h elp

M rs. Watso n , b u t th e d ef en d an t’s “b o o t o r so m eth in g ” p ressed ag ain st h is leg an d h e f ell.

T h e S tate d id n o t attem

p t to in tro d u ce th e p h o to g rap h s o f M r. an d M rs. Watso n ’s in j u ries,

a n d t h e o n ly o b

j ectio n b y th e d ef

en se cam e w h en th e p ro secu to r ask ed M r. Watso n if th e

d ef en d an t p ressed h is b o o t ag ain st M r. Watso n ’s leg o n p u rp o se. B ef o re th e trial co u rt ru led

o n th e o b j ectio n , M r. Watso n stated , “[ I] t w as n o t o n p u rp o se.”

A s recited ab o v e, th e d ef

en d an t f ailed to sp ecif

ically an d co n tem

p o ran eo u sly o b

j ect

to th e relev an cy an d p rej u d icial ef f ect o f M r. an d M rs. Watso n ’s testim o n y co n cern in g th e

in j u ries th ey su stain ed

. H is earlier o b j ectio n w as clearly w ith reg ard to th e ad m issio n o f th e

p h o to g rap h s. H e d id in clu d e th is issu e in h is am en d ed m o tio n f o r a n ew trial; h o w ev er, h e

f ailed to in clu d e th e tran scrip t f ro m th e h earin g in th e reco rd o n ap p eal f o r u s to rev iew th e

trial co u rt’s an aly sis o f th e issu e. T h eref o re, th e d ef

en d an t h as w aiv ed ap p ellate rev iew o f

th is issu e. M o reo v er, ev en if n o t w aiv ed

, w e d o n o t see h o w th e d ef en d an t w as p rej u d iced

b y th e g ran d p aren ts’ testim o n y b ecau se it w as n o t alleg ed th at th e d ef en d an t p u rp o sef

u lly

cau sed th eir in

j u ries.

III. 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 a r g u e s t h a t t h e e v i d e n c e w a s i n s u f f i c i e n t t h a t h e p o s s e s s e d t h e r e q u i s i t e

i n t e n t r e q u i r e d f

o r a t t e m p t e d s e c o n d d e g r e e m u r d e r w h e n h e a t t a c k e d t h e v i c t i m

. H e a s s e r t s

t h a t “ t h e e v e n t s l e a d i n g u p t o t h e a s s a u l t c r e a t e d a d e q u a t e p r o v o c a t i o n t o l e a d h i m t o a t t a c k ”

t h e v i c t i m

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

. 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 )

. A l l

-6-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

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 )

.

A p e r s o n c o m m i t s c r i m i n a l a t t e m p t w h o

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

r e q u i r e d f

o r t h e o f f e n s e :

( 1 ) I n t e n t i o n a l l y e n g a g e s i n a c t i o n o r c a u s e s a r e s u l t t h a t w o u l d c o n s t i t u t e a n

o f f e n s e

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

b e l i e v e s t h e m t o b e ;

( 2 ) A c t s w i t h i n t e n t t o c a u s e a r e s u l t t h a t i s a n e l e m e n t o f t h e o f f e n s e

, a n d

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

p e r s o n ’ s p a r t ; o r

( 3 ) A c t s w i t h i n t e n t t o c o m p l e t e a c o u r s e o f a c t i o n o r c a u s e a r e s u l t t h a t w o u l d

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

f e n s e

, u n d e r t h e c i r c u m s t a n c e s s u r r o u n d i n g t h e c o n d u c t a s t h e

p e r s o n b e l i e v e s t h e m t o b e

, a n d t h e c o n d u c t c o n s t i t u t e s a s u b s t a n t i a l s t e p

t o w a r d t h e c o m m i s s i o n o f t h e o f f e n s e

.

T e n n

. C o d e A n n

. § 3 9

- 1 2

- 1 0 1 ( a ) ( 2 0 0 6 )

.

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

. I d

. § 3 9

- 1 3

- 2 1 0 ( a ) ( 1 )

. A

-7-p e r s o n a c t s k n o w i n g l y w i t h r e s p e c t t o t h e r e s u l t o f h i s c o n d u c t w h e n h e i s a w a r e t h a t h i s

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

. I d

. § 3 9

- 1 1

- 1 0 6 ( a ) ( 2 0 )

.

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 e d t h a t t h e d e f e n d a n t

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

, s t a b b i n g h e r t h r e e t i m e s o n h e r l e f t

s i d e a n d o n c e i n t h e t o p o f h e r h e a d

. E a r l i e r t h a t d a y

, t h e d e f e n d a n t h a d m a d e s e v e r a l p h o n e

c a l l s t o t h e v i c t i m

, q u e s t i o n i n g w h e t h e r s h e w a s d a t i n g a n y o n e a n d t h r e a t e n i n g

, 

### “I can g et

y o u if I w an t y o u [ .] ” T h a t e v en in g

, w h en th e v ictim lef t h er g ran d p aren ts’ h o u se w ith a

g irlf rien d

, sh e n o ticed a su sp icio u s car f o llo w in g th em th at sh e assu m ed w as d riv en b y th e

d ef en d an t. S h e to o k ref

u g e at a n eig h b o r’s h o u se u n t i l h e r g r a n d p a r e n t s g o t h o m e

, b u t a s

s o o n a s s h e r e t u r n e d h o m e

, t h e d e f e n d a n t s t a r t e d c a l l i n g r e p e a t e d l y

. W h e n t h e d e f e n d a n t

a r r i v e d a t h e r h o u s e

, t h e v i c t i m 

### “co u ld h ear it in h is v o ice [ th at] h e w as u p to n o g o o d ,” an d

h e h ad an “an g ry ” f

acial ex p ressio n

. A cco rd in g to M r. Watso n

, th e d ef en d an t lo o k ed

“u p set” an d lik e “[ s] o m eth in g w as o n h is m in d ” w h en h e w as at th eir h o u se. M r. Watso n

said th at th e d ef

en d an t’s attack w as u n p ro v o k ed an d th at th e v ictim w as n o t arm ed

. B y all

a c c o u n ts, th e d ef

en d an t ran o u t o f th e h o u se im m ed iately af

ter stab b in g v ictim. T h i s

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

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

, p r e v i o u s l y t h r e a t e n e d t o

k i l l t h e v i c t i m

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

, a n d t h e n f

l e d f r o m t h e s c e n e w a s s u f

f i c i e n t f o r

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

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

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

.



### IV. C u m u la tiv e A f

f ect o f A lleg ed E rro rs

T h e d ef en d an t arg u es th at th e cu m u lativ e ef f ect o f th e erro rs at trial w as su f f icien t to

j u stif y a n ew trial. H av in g f

o u n d n o erro rs, w e co n clu d e th at th e d ef en d an t is n o t en titled

to relief o n th e b asis o f

cu m u lativ e erro r.

V. S en ten cin g

T h e d ef en d an t arg u es th at th e trial co u rt erred in sen ten cin g h im as a R an g e II

o f f en d er b e c a u s e t h e co u rt in co rrectly an aly zed th e elem en ts o f o n e o f h is o u t-o f -state

co n v ictio n s in d eterm in in g h is o f f en d er statu s.

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

, r a n g e

, o r 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 ) ( 2 0 0 6 )

. 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

-8-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

.

P r i o r t o t r i a l

, t h e S t a t e f i l e d a n o t i c e o f i n t e n t t o s e e k e n h a n c e d p u n i s h m e n t

, n o t i n g

t h a t t h e d e f

e n d a n t h a d p r i o r c o n v i c t i o n s i n A r k a n s a s f o r a g g r a v a t e d a s s a u l t o n A u g u s t 2 3

,

1 9 9 5 a n d u n l a w f

u l d i s c h a r g e o f a f

i r e a r m f r o m a v e h i c l e o n J u l y 2 3

, 1 9 9 6

. A t t h e s e n t e n c i n g

h e a r i n g

, t h e S t a t e s u b m i t t e d a r e p o r t f r o m t h e A r k a n s a s D e p a r t m e n t o f C o m m u n i t y

P u n i s h m e n t

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

. T h e

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

i r e a r m f r o m a

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

a u t o m a t i c f

i r e a r m i n t o a c r o w d e d p a r k a r e a

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

f o u r t e e n y e a r s o l d

. T h e S t a t e a s k e d t h e c o u r t t o s e n t e n c e t h e d e f e n d a n t a s a R a n g e I I

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

a g g r a v a t e d a s s a u l t c o n v i c t i o n i n T e n n e s s e e

, a C l a s s C f e l o n y

, a n d o n t h e A r k a n s a s u n l a w f u l

d i s c h a r g e o f a f

i r e a r m f r o m a v e h i c l e

, a C l a s s Y f e l o n y

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

d e g r e e m u r d e r c o n v i c t i o n i n T e n n e s s e e

, a C l a s s A f e l o n y

. T h e d e f

e n d a n t d i d n o t c o n t e s t t h a t

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

e q u i v a l e n t t o a n a g g r a v a t e d a s s a u l t c o n v i c t i o n i n T e n n e s s e e

. H e o n l y a s s e r t e d t h a t t h e

u n l a w f u l d i s c h a r g e o f a f

i r e a r m f r o m a v e h i c l e c o n v i c t i o n w a s m o r e a k i n t o t h e T e n n e s s e e

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

.

I n d e t e r m i n i n g t h e d e f

e n d a n t ’ s o f

f e n d e r c l a s s i f

i c a t i o n

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

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

, i n l o o k i n g a t t h e e l e m e n t s o f t h e o f f e n s e

-9-a n d t h e p e n a l t y t h e d e f e n d a n t r e c e i v e d

, d e t e r m i n e d t h a t a n A r k a n s a s c o n v i c t i o n f o r u n l a w f

u l

d i s c h a r g e o f a f

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

T e n n e s s e e

. T h e c o u r t o b s e r v e d t h a t t h e d e f e n d a n t ’ s a c t i o n s i n v o l v e d t h e k n o w i n g d i s c h a r g e

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

, s o t h e o f f e n s e w a s n o t “ i n a n y w a y

, s h a p e o r

f o r m

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

. ” T h e c o u r t s u r m i s e d t h a t s h o o t i n g a

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

.



### T h e trial co u r t m ay sen ten ce a d ef en d an t as a R an g e II, m

u ltip le o f f en d er w h en it

f in d s b ey o n d a reaso n ab le d o u b t th at th e d ef en d an t h as receiv ed “[ a] m in im u m o f tw o (2 )

b u t n o t m o re th an f

o u r (4 ) p rio r f

elo n y co n v ictio n s w i t h i n t h e co n v ictio n class, a h ig h er

class, o r w ith in th e n ex t tw o (2 ) lo w er f elo n y classes”; o r altern ativ ely , “[ o ] n e (1 ) C lass A

p rio r f elo n y c o n v i c t i o n if th e d ef en d an t’s co n v ictio n o f

f en se is a C lass A o r B f

elo n y .”

T en n . C o d e A n n . § 4 0 -3 5 -1 0 6 (a)(1 ), (2 ) (2 0 0 6 ).

P rio r co n v ictio n s in clu d e co n v ictio n s u n d er th e law s o f an y o th er state,

g o v ern m en t, o r co u n try w h ich

, if co m m itted in th is stat e

, w o u ld h av e

co n stitu ted an o f

f en se co g n izab le b y th e law s o f th is state. In th e ev en t th at

a f elo n y f ro m a j u risd ictio n o th er th an T en n essee is n o t a n am ed f elo n y in th is

state, th e elem en ts o f th e o f f en se sh all b e u sed b y th e T en n e s s e e co u rt to

d eterm in e w h at classif

icatio n th e o f

f en se is g iv en

.

Id

. § 4 0 -3 5 -1 0 6 (b )(5 ). “T h e ap p ro p riate an aly sis o f p rio r co n v ictio n s is u n d er T en n essee

law as it ex isted at th e t i me o f th e o u t-o f -state co n v ictio n .” S tate v

. B ro o k s, 9 6 8 S .W.2 d

3 1 2 , 3 1 3 -1 4 (T en n . C rim . A p p . 1 9 9 7 ).

T h e A r k a n s a s s t a t u t e u n d e r w h i c h t h e d e f e n d a n t w a s c o n v i c t e d p r o v i d e s :

( a ) ( 1 ) A p e r s o n c o m m i t s u n l a w f u l d i s c h a r g e o f a f

i r e a r m f r o m a v e h i c l e i n t h e

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

t h e d i s c h a r g e o f t h e f

i r e a r m c a u s e s d e a t h o r s e r i o u s p h y s i c a l i n j u r y t o a n o t h e r

p e r s o n

.

A r k

. C o d e A n n

. § 5

- 7 4

- 1 0 7 ( a ) ( 1 )

. T h e o f f e n s e o f u n l a w f

u l d i s c h a r g e o f a f

i r e a r m f r o m a

v e h i c l e i n t h e f

i r s t d e g r e e i s a C l a s s Y f e l o n y

. I d

. § 5

- 7 4

- 1 0 7 ( a ) ( 2 )

. S e e i d

. § 5

- 1

- 1 0 6 ( b )

( s t a t i n g t h e h i e r a r c h y f

o r f e l o n i e s i n A r k a n s a s )

.

I n 1 9 9 6

, t h e t i m e o f t h e d e f e n d a n t ’ s c o n v i c t i o n i n A r k a n s a s

, T e n n e s s e e d e f i n e d s e c o n d

d e g r e e m u r d e r

, a C l a s s A f e l o n y

, a s a “ k n o w i n g k i l l i n g o f a n o t h e r

. ” T e n n

. C o d e

. A n n

. § 3 9

-

1 3

- 2 1 0 ( a ) ( 1 )

, ( b )

.

-10-“ K n o w i n g ” r e f e r s t o a p e r s o n w h o a c t s k n o w i n g l y w i t h r e s p e c t t o t h e

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

o f t h e n a t u r e o f t h e c o n d u c t o r t h a t t h e c i r c u m s t a n c e s e x i s t

. A p e r s o n a c t s

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

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

.

I d

. § 3 9

- 1 1

- 3 0 2 ( b )

. R e c k l e s s h o m i c i d e

, a C l a s s D f e l o n y

, w a s d e f

i n e d a s “ a r e c k l e s s k i l l i n g

o f a n o t h e r

. ” I d

. § 3 9

- 1 3

- 2 1 5

.

“ R e c k l e s s ” r e f

e r s t o a p e r s o n w h o a c t s r e c k l e s s l y w i t h r e s p e c t t o

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

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

r i s k t h a t t h e c i r c u m s t a n c e s e x i s t o r t h e r e s u l t w i l l o c c u r

. T h e r i s k m u s t b e o f

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

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

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

.

I d

. § 3 9

- 1 1

- 3 0 2 ( c )

. C r i m i n a l l y n e g l i g e n t h o m i c i d e

, a C l a s s E f e l o n y

, w a s d e f

i n e d a s

“ [ c ] r i m i n a l l y n e g l i g e n t c o n d u c t w h i c h r e s u l t s i n d e a t h [

. ] ” I d

. § 3 9

- 1 3

- 2 1 2

.



### “C rim in al n eg lig en ce ” r e f ers to a p erso n w h o acts w ith crim in al

n eg lig en ce w ith resp e c t to th e circu m stan ces su rro u n d in g th at p erso n ’s

co n d u ct o r th e resu lt o f th at co n d u ct w h en th e p erso n o u g h t to b e aw are o f a

su b stan tial an d u n

j u stif iab le risk th at th e circu m stan ces ex ist o r th e resu lt w ill

o ccu r. T h e risk m

u st b e o f su ch a n atu re an d d eg ree th at th e f ailu re to

p er c e i v e it co n stitu tes a g ro ss d ev iatio n f ro m th e stan d ard o f care th at an

o rd in ary p erso n w o u ld ex ercise u n d er all t h e circu m stan ces as v iew ed f ro m

th e accu sed p erso n ’s stan d p o in t.

Id

. § 3 9

- 1 1

- 3 0 2 ( d )

.



### We h av e co m

p ared th e elem en ts o f th e o f f en ses an d ag ree w ith th e d ef en d an t th at th e

trial co u rt in co rrectly d eterm in ed th at th e k n o w in g d isch arg e o f a f irearm f ro m a v eh icle th at

resu lts in d eath o r serio u s p h y sical in j u ry w as th e eq u iv alen t o f a k n o w in g k illin g o f an o th er.

T h e “k n o w in g ” m en s rea f o r th e A rk an sas o f

f en se clearly ref

ers to th e d isch arg e o f th e

f irearm

, n o t th at th e d ef

en d an t b e aw are th at h is actio n s w o u ld b e reaso n ab ly certain to cau se

d eath to an o th er. H o w ev er, co n trary to th e d e f e n d a n t’s u rg in g

, w e d o n o t see h o w th e

k n o w in g d isch arg e o f a f

irearm f ro m a v eh icle in to a cro w d ed p ark area th at resu lted in th e

d eath o f an o th er co u ld b e eq u ated to a crim in ally n eg lig en t h o m icid e w h en th e f irin g f ro m

th e v eh icle w as n o t th e p ro d u ct o f o b liv io u sn ess to a su b stan tial an d u n j u stif iab le risk

.

-11-

### In stead

, it is o u r v iew th at th e A rk an sas o f f en se o f u n law f

u l d isch arg e o f

a f irearm

f ro m a v eh icle in th e f

irst d eg ree is m o re ak in to th e T en n essee o f f en se o f reck less h o m icid e.

It can certain ly b e said th at o n e w h o d isch arg es a f irearm f ro m a v eh icle in to a cro w d ed p ark

area w o u l d h a v e to b e aw are o f

, an d co n s c i o u s l y d i s r e g a r d e d

, t h e s u b s t a n t i a l a n d

u n j u s t i f i a b l e r i s k a s s o c i a t e d w i t h t h a t a c t i o n

. 

### A s su ch

, th e d ef en d an t h as th e eq u iv alen t o f

a p rio r C lass C f

elo n y co n v ictio n f

o r th e ag g rav ate d a s s a u l t co n v ictio n th at is n o t in

q u estio n

, an d a C lass D f elo n y co n v ictio n f

o r th e “reck less h o m icid e” co n v ictio n

. T h eref o re, th e d ef

en d an t w as still p ro p erly sen ten ced as a m u ltip le o f f en d er b ecau se h e w as

p resen tly co n v icted o f a C lass B f elo n y an d h e h ad tw o p rio r f elo n y co n v ictio n s w ith in th e

n ex t tw o lo w er f

elo n y classes.

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 ts o f th e trial

co u rt.

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

. G L E N N

, J U D G E

-12-