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

AT JACKSON

Mar ch 1, 2 01 1 S es si on

STATE OF TENNESS EE v . OSAYAMIE N OGBE IW I

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 6

- 0 1 4 7 5 L e e V

. C o f f e e , J u d g e

N o

. W 2 0 1 0

- 0 0 1 1 7

- C C A

- R 3

- C D

- F i l e d J u l y 2 9
, 2 0 1 1

T h e d ef en d an t, O say am ien O g b eiw i, 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 f irst d eg ree p rem ed itated m u rd er an d w as sen ten ced to lif e im p riso n m en t. O n ap p eal, h e

a r g u e s th at: (1 ) th e trial co u rt erred in d en y in g h is req u est f o r a co n tin u an ce so h e c o u l d

o b tain a m en tal ev alu atio n ; (2 ) th e trial co u rt erred in d en y in g h is m o tio n to su p p ress; (3 ) th e trial co u rt erred in d en y in g h is o b j ectio n s co n cern in g th e ad m issio n o f th e sto re su rv eillan ce

v id eo ; (4 ) th e trial co u rt erred in n o t req u irin g th e S tate to d ev elo p leg ally su f f icien t co rp u s

p ro o f ; (5 ) th e trial co u rt erred in o v erru lin g h is o b j ectio n s to th e S tate’s clo sin g arg u m en t; (6 ) th e ev id en ce w as in su f f icien t to su stain h is co n v ictio n ; (7 ) th e trial co u rt erred in
ch arg in g th e j u ry

th at it m u st f irst acq u it th e d ef

en d an t b ef

o re co n sid erin g lesser o f

f en ses;

an d (8 ) th e trial co u rt erred in ch arg in g th e j u ry w ith an in co n s i s ten t v erd ict f o rm

. 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 R O B E R T W

. W E D E M E Y E R

a n d C A M ILL E R

. M C M U LLE N

, J J

. , j o i n e d

.

M i c h a e l E

. S c h o l 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

, O s a y a m i e n O g b e i w i

.

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 ; D a v i d H

. F i n d l e y , 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 G l e n B a i t y a n d D o u g C a r r i k e r , 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 relates to th e d ef en d an t’s sh o o tin g o f a C itg o g as statio n co n v en ien ce sto reclerk

, A li A b d iaziz, f o r w h ich h e w as in d icted o n ch arg es o f f irst d eg ree f

elo n y m u rd er an d

f irst d eg ree p rem ed itated m u rd er.

S ta te’s P ro o f

O f f icer B en n ie Wash in g to n w ith th e M em p h is P o lice D ep artm en t testif ied t h at h e

w as d isp atch ed to a C itg o g as statio n co n v en ien ce sto re o n S o u th P erk in s R o ad in M em p h is
d u rin g th e earl y mo r n i n g h o u rs o f D ecem b er 2 0

, 2 0 0 5

, in resp o n se to an arm ed ro b b ery

w h ere th e clerk w as p o ssib ly in j u red

. O f f icer Wash in g to n w as th e f irst p erso n o n th e scen e

an d

, w h en h e en tered th e sto re, saw th e “clerk p o sitio n ed b eh in d th e co u n ter, a n d h e h ad
b ee n s h o t m

u ltip le tim es.” O f

f icer Wash in g to n called f o r an am b u lan ce, an d it arriv ed
sh o rtly th ereaf ter.

T in a Watk in s testif

ied th at sh e w as a reg u lar cu sto m er o f th e C itg o co n v en ien ce sto re in D ecem b er 2 0 0 5

, an d

, o n D ecem

b er 2 0

, sh e sto p p ed in at th e sto re aro u n d 2 :2 0 a.m

. Wh en sh e p u lled in

, sh e n o ted th at th e v ictim w as n o t v isib le f ro m th e w in d o w lik e u su al an d th at

sto re m erch an d ise ap p eared to h av e b e en k n o ck ed o v er. Watk in s w alk ed slo w ly in to th e

sto re an d saw th e f

lo o r littered w ith m erch an d ise an d th e v ictim o n th e f lo o r w ith h is b ack

ag ain st th e w all. U p o n seein g b lo o d co m in g f ro m th e v ictim ’s m o u th an d ear, Watk in s lef t

t h e s to re an d called 9 1 1

. Wh en sh o w n a p ictu re o f th e v ictim

, Watk in s id en tif ie d t h e d eceased as th e sto re clerk an d said th at sh e k n ew h im b y sig h t b u t n o t b y

n am e.

O n cro ss-ex am in atio n , Watk in s ack n o w led g ed th at th e sto re w as sm all an d th at u p o n

en terin g , a p erso n w as alm o st rig h t at th e f ro n t co u n ter. S h e said th at th e v ictim w as ab o u t
f iv e f eet aw ay f

ro m h er w h en sh e w en t in sid e. Watk in s n ev er saw w h eth er th e v ictim k ep t

a g u n in th e sto re, an d h e n ev er m en tio n ed a g u n in th eir co n v ersatio n s.

S erg ean t D av id S lo an w ith th e M em p h is P o lice D ep artm en t F elo n y R esp o n se U n it
testif ied th at h e arriv ed to th e scen e at th e C itg o sto re o n D ecem b er 2 0

, 2 0 0 5

, aro u n d 3 :0 0

a.m

. S erg ean t S lo an talk ed to Watk in s an d th e crim e scen e o f f icer. S erg ean t S lo an o b serv ed

w h at h e b eliev ed to b e b lo o d in sid e th e sto re n ear o n e o f th e w alls, n ear th e d o o rw ay in sid e th e sto re, an d o u tsid e th e sto re in th e p ark in g lo t. H e o b serv ed tw o d if f eren t calib ers o f sh ell
casin g s, f o rty an d f o rty -f iv e, in sid e th e sto re o n th e f lo o r n ear th e co u n ter. O u tsid e th e sto re, S erg ean t S lo an saw an item o f j ew elry an d a h o tel k ey

card

.

S erg ean t S lo an testifi e d t

ha t th e sto re m an ag er cam e to th e sto re an d allo w ed S erg ean t
S lo an to v iew t h e s u r v eillan ce v id eo

. T h e relev an t tim e o n th e v id eo sh o w ed th ree m ales
d ressed in d ark clo th in g w ith th eir h o o d s p u lled u p an d try in g to co v er th e lo w er p o rtio n o f
th eir f aces. A f ter v iew in g th e tap e, S erg ean t S lo an g av e it to O f f icer P ay m en t w h o tag g ed
it in to ev id en ce.

-2-O f

f icer C h ester S trip lin w ith th e M em p h is P o lice D ep artm en t testif ied t h a t h e

co n v erted th e sto re’s V H S su rv eillan ce reco rd in g to a D V D f o rm at. O f

f icer S trip lin created

tw o D V D s: o n e sh o w ed f o u r cam eras an d ran at reg u lar sp eed

, an d o n th e o th er h e “slo w ed

so m e o f th e sectio n s o f th e v id eo d o w n , an d

. . . b ro k e th e cam eras in to in d iv id u al cam eras.”

B o th v id eo s w ere p lay ed f o r th e j u ry

.

O n cro ss-ex am in atio n , O f f icer S trip lin ack n o w led g ed th at th e d ate stam p e d o n t h e

screen o f th e su rv eillan ce v id eo in d icated M arch 6

, 2 0 0 5

, as th e d ate it w as tak en

. T h e v id eo als o in d icated a d ate o f D ecem b er 1 9

, 1 9 7 2

. O f

f icer S trip lin h y

p o th esized th at th e d iscrep an cy co u ld b e d u e to th e sto re o w n er n o t resettin g th e clo ck f o r d ay lig h t sav in g s tim e

o r reco rd in g o v er a u sed tap e w h ich co u ld lead to “a little b leed o v er[ .] ” H e ad m itted th at
th e screen also sh o w ed a tim e o f 7 :1 3 p .m

. O n red irect ex am in atio n , O f f icer S trip lin stated
th at it w as n o t u n u su al f

o r a sto re’s tap es to sh o w a d ate th at d id n o t co in cid e w ith th e actu al
d ate o f an o ccu rren ce.

K im b erly D w a y

n e Jean s, an em

p lo y ee o f G u ard sm art S ecu rity assig n ed to T h e R eg io n al M ed ical C en ter (“T h e M ed ”) in M em p h is, testif

ied th at h e w as w o rk i n g in th e sh o ck trau m a u n it d u rin g th e early m o rn in g h o u rs o f D ecem b er 2 0

, 2 0 0 5

, w h en “a civ ilian

-

a m ale b lack

. . . cam e th ro u g h th e am b u lan ce area an d let u s k n o w th at h e h ad so m eo n e in

t h e c a r w h o h ad b een sh o t.” T h e p erso n seek in g m ed ical atten tio n w as in a g reen F o r d

C r o w n V icto ria th at w as p ark ed in th e am b u lan ce b ay , an d th ere w ere tw o o th er A f r i c a n

A m erican m en in sid e th e car. M ed ical p erso n n el rem o v ed th e in j u red m an f

ro m th e car an d

to o k h im in sid e f

o r treatm en t. Jean s ask ed th e m an w h o h ad in itially alerted to th e situ atio n if h e w o u ld co m e in sid e an d g iv e th em m o re in f o rm atio n , b u t th e m an , in stead

, g o t in to h is

car an d lef

t.

O f f icer A sh to n B ritto n w ith th e M em p h is P o lice D e p artm en t testif ied th at h e w as called to th e trau m a area o f T h e M ed d u rin g th e early m o rn in g h o u rs o f D ecem b er 2 0

, 2 0 0 5

,

w ith reg ard to a g u n sh o t v i c t i m. H e ex p lain ed th at an y tim e th e h o sp ital receiv ed p atien ts

w ith “g u n sh o t w o u n d s, stab b in g s, w o u n d ed p arties th at’s b een in f ig h ts

– if a crim e h as b een

co m m itted ,” th e h o sp ital w o u ld call th e p o lice to tak e a rep o rt o f th e situ atio n

. O f f icer

B ritto n said th at g u n sh o t w o u n d s w ere ty p ically rep o rted as ag g rav ated assau lts, so h e to o k

a rep o rt listin g th e in

j u red m an , id en tif

ied in co u rt as th e d ef

en d an t, as th e v ictim

. O f f icer

B ritto n said th at h is rep o rt in d icated th at th e d ef en d an t arriv ed at th e h o sp ital at 2 :3 5 a.m

. A t so m e p o in t, m ed ical p ers o n n e l a lerted O f f icer B ritto n th at th ey h ad co llected th e d ef en d an t’s clo th in g a n d p e r so n al item s in a clear p lastic b ag

. O f f icer B ritto n “j u st

w atch ed ” th e item s an d d id n o t “tag ” th em as ev id en ce.

O f f icer Da vi d Pa

y m e nt wi t h t he C rim e S cen e U n it o f th e M em p h is P o lice D ep artm en t
testif ied th at h e w as called to th e scen e at th e C itg o co n v en ien ce sto re d u rin g th e early

-3-m o rn in g h o u rs o f D ecem b er 2 0

, 2 0 0 5

. O f

f icer P ay m en t p h o to g rap h ed an d p rep ared a sk etch

o f th e en tire crim e scen e as w ell as g en erated a w ritten rep o rt. O n h is sk etch o f th e o u tsid e, O f f icer P ay m en t n o ted a g o ld rin g , an earrin g b ack in g , a b u llet h o le, a sp en t b u l l e t

, a

p o ssib le b u llet im

p act, an d areas o f p o ssib le b lo o d

. O n h is sk etch o f t h e in sid e, O f f icer

P ay m en t n o ted a b aseb all cap , f o u r sp en t f

o rty -calib er sh ell casin g s, a sp en t f o rty -f ive calib er sh ell casin g , tw o sp en t b u llets, an d areas o f p o ssib le b lo o d

. O f f icer P ay m en t also co llected
relev an t ev id en ce aro u n d th e scen e, b o th in sid e an d o u tsid e, in clu d in g sam p les o f th e areas

o f p o ssib le b lo o d

, an d p laced th em in th e p ro p ert y r o o m

. In ad d itio n , O f f icer P ay m en t
retriev ed a V H S secu rity

tap e f ro m th e C itg o sto re.

O n cro ss-ex am in atio n , O f f icer P ay m en t ack n o w led g ed th at th e n am e o f th e v ictim

h e reco rd ed o n th e en v elo p e co n tain in g th e b lo o d sam p les w as “D errick L aT o d d ,” th e n am e

o f th e v ictim listed o n th e trial j ack et w as “A b id rah am a Y u su f ,” an d th e n am e listed o n th e in d ictm en t w as “A b d iaziz A li.”

O f f icer G erald P aig e w ith th e C rim e S cen e U n it o f th 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 T h e M ed aro u n d 4 :0 0 a.m

. o n D ecem b er 2 0

, 2 0 0 5

, to “[ c] o llect clo th in g th at co u ld h av e b een f ro m th e v ictim o f a crim e.” O f f icer P aig e m et a d etectiv e at T h e M ed w h o ad v ised h im th at h e n eed ed to co llect so m e clo th in g

. H e th en saw

a m em b er o f m ed ical p erso n n el w h o g av e h im a p lastic b ag co n tain in g “so ck s, sh o es, [ an d ]

so m e g ray p an ts” th at b elo n g ed to th e d ef en d an t. Wh en O f

f icer P aig e to o k th e clo th in g to
th e p ro p erty ro o m , h e o b serv ed th at th e g ray p an ts h ad w h at ap p eared to b e b lo o d o n th em

. O f f icer P aig e n o ted th at th e p an ts h ad b een cu t b y m ed ical p erso n n el to f acilitate treatm en t.

O f f icer P aig e testif

ied th at, in ad d itio n to th e clo th in g , h e w as also g iv en o th er item s

o f th e d ef en d an t’s b y a m em

b er o f m ed ical p erso n n el. T h ese o th er item s in clu d ed

, am o n g

o th er th in g s, a g u n h o lster, a g reen N ew T estam en t B ib le w ith a b ap tism al certif icate in sid e

o f it m ad e o u t to th e d ef en d an t, a C ity o f M em

p h is C red it U n i o n t eller card b earin g th e d ef en d an t’s n am e, so m e k ey s , a n d asso rted p ap ers. A t T h e M ed

, O f f icer P aig e also

co llected item s b elo n g in g to th e v ictim

, in clu d in g h is w allet w h ich co n tain ed

, am o n g o th er th in g s, a T en n essee p h o to id en tif icatio n f o r A li A b d iaziz, a V irg in ia p h o to d riv er’s licen se f o r A li A b d iaziz, a B an k o f A m erica d eb it card f o r A li A b d iaziz, a p erm an en t resid en t card
b earin g th e n am e o f A li A b d iaziz, a so cial secu rity card f o r A li A zizh arra A li, a F am ily C are H ealth P lan card f

o r A l i A b d i a ziz, a Western U n io n g o ld card f o r A li A b d iaziz, a ch eck

f ro m N ig h t an d D ay F o o d M art m ad e o u t to A li A b d iaziz, a U .S

. T ran sp o rtatio n T ask F o rce card f o r a task f o rce o f f icer n am ed Jam es M aled o , a so cial secu rity card f o r H aso n S af

ia, an d

a so cial secu rity card f

o r H aso n M o h a me d

, a so cial secu rity card f o r A li F ara A li, a g o ld
ch eck card f

ro m B an k o f A m erica issu ed to Y u su f A b id rah am n , a T h e O n e C lu b card issu ed

to Y u su f A b id rah a mn , an d a Western U n io n g o ld card issu ed to H ilo ee Z u ch aria. T h e

v ictim also h ad n early

$ 1 0 0 0 in h is w allet.

-4-O n cro ss-ex am in atio n , O f f icer P aig e ad m itted th at th ere w a s n o m o n ey am o n g th e

p erso n al ef

f ects o f th e d e f

e n d a n t th at h e co llected at th e h o sp ital. O f f icer P aig e also
ack n o w led g ed th at th e v ictim h ad sev eral p ieces o f id en tif icatio n in h is w allet th at w ere n o t
in h is n am e. H e co u n ted six id en tif icatio n s in th e n am e o f A li A b d iaziz an d sev en id en tif icatio n s, in clu d in g f

o u r so cial secu rity card s, th at w ere in o th er v ario u s n am es. T h e T en n essee an d V irg in ia id en tif icatio n s th at w ere in th e n am e o f A li A b d iaziz listed h is d ate

o f b irth as M ay 1 5

, 1 9 6 7

. H o w ev er, O f f icer P aig e ack n o w led g ed th at th e d ate o f b irth listed

f o r th e v ictim o n v ario u s en v elo p es o f b o d y f lu id s co llected at t h e C itg o crim e scen e w as d if f eren t th an th e d ate listed o n th e id en tif icatio n s.

O n red irect ex am in atio n , O f f icer P aig e n o ted th at o n ly th ree o f th e id en tif icatio n s

co llected f

ro m th e v ictim

h ad p h o to g rap h s o n th em , an d each o f th o se w as in th e n am e o f

A li A b d iaziz an d ap p eared to h av e th e sam e p erso n in th e p h o to g rap h s.

D r. M artin C ro ce, th e m e d i c a l d irecto r f o r th e trau m a cen ter at T h e M ed

, testif ied
th at h e w as w o rk in g in th e trau m a u n it o n D e c e mb er 2 0

, 2 0 0 5

, an d treated a p atien t w h o arriv ed at th e h o sp ital b y p riv ate car aro u n d 2 :3 0 a.m ., su f f erin g f ro m tw o g u n sh o t w o u n d s. D r. C ro ce later learn ed th e p atien t to b e th e d ef en d an t. In o rd er to treat th e d ef en d an t, D r. C ro ce cu t o f

f th e d ef en d an t’s clo th in g

.

S erg ean t A n d rew K

j ellin w ith th e F elo n y R esp o n se U n it o f th e M em p h is P o lice

D e p a r tm en t testif

ied th at h e resp o n d ed to T h e M ed aro u n d 3 :2 0 a.m

. th e m o rn in g o f t h e in cid en t an d w as ad v ised th at th e v ictim h ad b een p ro n o u n ced d ead at 3 :1 0 a.m

. S erg ean t
K j ellin th en w e n t to ch eck o n an o th er p atien t, an A f rican -A m erican m ale in h is m id

tw en ties. T h e p atien t w o u l d n o t r esp o n d to S erg ean t K j ellin ’s attem

p t to ascertain h is
id en tity

, so S erg ean t K

j ellin to o k th e p atien t’s p h o to g rap h

, w h ich w as ad m itted in to

ev id en ce.

O f f icer Jam es L u ck ett, w h o w o rk ed in th e H o m icid e B u reau o f th e M em p h is P o lice

D ep artm en t at th e tim e o f th e in cid en t, testif ied th at h e w as th e lead in v estig ato r o n th is case. O f f icer L u ck ett w en t to th e scen e at th e C itg o th e f o llo w in g m o rn in g a n d l earn ed th at th e

sto re clerk h ad b een sh o t an d w as d eceased an d th at th e d ef en d an t w as p o ssib ly in v o lv ed

. O f f icer L u ck ett w en t to T h e M ed to o b tain a th u m b p rin t f ro m th e d ef

en d an t an d th en w en t

a seco n d tim e to talk to th e d ef e n d an t, w h o w as co n sid ered a su sp ect “[ d ] u e to th e circu m stan ces o f

h im arriv in g at T h e M ed .”

A t th is seco n d v isit, O f

f icer L u ck ett id en tif

ied h im self to th e d ef

en d an t an d ad v ised

h im o f h is rig h ts, b u t th e d ef en d an t d id n o t ag ree to talk to th e o f f icer. T h e d ef

en d an t also
d eclin ed to p ro v id e a D N A sw ab

. O f f icer L u ck ett o b tain ed a search w arran t an d retu rn ed

to th e h o sp ital w h ere h e p ro cu red a D N A sw ab o f th e d ef en d an t. O f

f icer L u ck ett d eliv ered

-5-th e sw ab k it to th e T en n essee B u reau o f In v estig atio n (“T B I”) lab f o r testin g

. H e al s o d eliv ered f

lu id sam p les an d “so m e g ray p an ts” th at h e retriev ed f ro m th e p ro p erty ro o m , an d

an F T A card f

ro m th e m o rg u e th at co n tain ed th e v ictim ’s b lo o d sam p les, to th e T B I lab f

o r testin g

.

O f f icer L u ck ett testif

ied th at h e w as at th e scen e at th e C i t g o t w o d a y s af ter th e in cid en t an d w as g iv en a b u llet slu g an d b u llet j ack et th at h ad b een f o u n d b y “tw o g en tlem en

. . . w h ile th e y w e r e c l e a n i n g u p ,” as w ell as a b o x o f f o rty -f iv e calib er ro u n d s. T h e b o x

co n tain ed f

o rty b u llets, alth o u g h it h eld f if ty b u ll e t s

. O f

f icer L u ck ett b eliev ed th at th e b u llets b elo n g ed to th e sto re o w n er. O f f icer L u ck ett ex p lain ed th at h e to o k all th ese item s

to th e T B I f

o r an aly sis b ecau se b lo o d h ad b een f o u n d o u tsid e th e d o o r o f th e sto re, an d th ey

w an ted to m ak e a D N A co m p ariso n

.

O n cro ss-ex am in atio n , O f f icer L u ck ett ad m itted th at h e h ad n ev er receiv ed train in g f o r tak in g a b u ccal sw ab sam p le an d th is w as h is f

irst tim e f o r d o in g so

. O f

f icer L u ck ett also
ack n o w led g ed th at h e later learn ed th at so m e p o rtio n o f th e b u ccal sw ab ev id en ce co llected

f ro m th e d ef en d an t w as m isp laced in th e p ro p erty ro o m

.

O n red irect ex am in atio n , in an sw erin g an o m itted q u estio n , O f f icer L u ck ett testif

ied
th at th e p an ts h e to o k to th e T B I lab f o r p ro cessin g w ere tag g ed as b elo n g in g to th e d ef en d an t. H e stated th at it w as sig n if ican t th at th e p an ts w ere g ray b ecau se th e su sp ect in
th e su rv eillan ce v id eo w as w earin g g ray p an ts.

S erg ean t Will iam M erritt w ith th e H o m icid e D iv isio n o f th e M em p h is P o lice

D ep artm en t testif

ied th at h e w as in th e p ro p erty ro o m o n A u g u st 2 7

, 2 0 0 7

, w h en h e sp o k e

to L ieu ten an t B arh am ab o u t a p iece o f p ro p erty th at h ad b een retu rn ed f ro m th e T B I lab af

ter
f o ren sic testin g b u t h ad n o t b een assig n ed a p ro p erty receip t n u m b er. S erg ean t M erritt stated
th at h e receiv ed an en v elo p e f ro m L ieu ten an t B arh am th at w as clo sed w ith an ev id en ce lab el

f ro m th e T B I lab

. In sid e th e en v elo p e w ere tw o saliv a sam p les th at h ad b een tak en f

ro m th e d ef en d an t f o r D N A testin g

. H o w ev er , S e rg ean t M erritt d id n o t o p en th e sealed in n er

en v elo p e th at co n tain ed th e actu al sw ab

. S erg ean t M erritt th en g av e th e ev id en ce a p ro p erty receip t n u m

b er.

O n cro ss-ex am in atio n , S erg ean t M erritt testif ied th at h e h ad n o id ea w h y it w as listed
th at th e ev id en ce w as reco v ered f ro m “4 5 6 6 C o tto n w o o d

, M em p h is, T e n n e s see” o n th e

ev id en ce p erm an en t as s i g n men t receip t u n less a clerk m istak en ly listed th e d ef en d an t’s
ad d ress as th e reco v ery

ad d ress.

S p ecial A g en t D o n n a N elso n , a f o ren sic scien tist w ith th e T B I C rim e L ab in th e f ield

o f sero lo g y an d D N A

, testif ied th at sh e a

na ly zed eig h t sam

p les o f p o ssib le b lo o d stain s f o u n d

-6-at th e C itg o an d co m p ared th em to k n o w n sam p les f ro m th e d ef

en d an t an d v ictim

. O n e o f
th e sam p les w as b lo o d an d m atch ed th e d ef en d an t’s D N A at sev en o f th irt e e n a r e a s, b u t
A g en t N elso n w as n o t ab le to g et a p ro f ile o n th e rem ain in g areas. T h ree sam p les w ere b lo o d an d co m

p letely m atch ed th e d ef

en d an t’s D N A

. T w o o f th e sam p les w ere b lo o d an d

m atch ed th e v ictim ’s D N A

. O n e sam p le d id n o t in d icate th e p resen ce o f b lo o d

, an d o n o n e

sam p le A g en t N elso n w as n o t ab le to g et a D N A p ro f ile b ecau se th ere eith er w as n o t en o u g h

D N A in th e sam

p le o r th e sam

p le w as d eg rad ed

. S h e an aly zed a stain o n th e p an ts co llected

f ro m th e d ef

en d an t an d d eterm in ed th at th e stain w as th e d ef en d an t’s b lo o d

. O n ce h er testi n g o f th e ev id en ce w as co m p leted

, A g en t N elso n said th at S erg ean t H arris w ith th e M em p h is P o lice D ep artm en t p ick ed th e ev id en ce u p o n M arch 2 1

, 2 0 0 6

. S h e said th at sh e d id n o t co n sid er an y o f th e sam p les sh e receiv ed to b e co n tam in ated b ecau se co n tam in atio n

w o u ld h av e b een ev id en t in h er testin g

.

D r. L isa F u n te, an assistan t m ed ical ex am in er f o r S h elb y C o u n ty

, testif

ied th at th e

v ictim ’s b o d y w as receiv e d f r o m T h e M ed an d assig n ed an id en tif icatio n n u m

b er. T h e

au to p sy rev ealed th at t h e v ictim su f f ered m u ltip le g u n sh o t w o u n d s, w h ich w as th e ascertain ed cau se o f d eath

. O n e b u llet en tered th e v ictim ’s rig h t sh o u ld er an d ex ited straig h t

o u t h is b ack ; o n e b u llet en tered th e lef t sid e o f h is ch est an d ex ited f ro m th e lo w er rig h t sid e

o f h is b ack ; an d a t h i r d b u l let en tered th e v ictim ’s rig h t ch eek an d ex ited u n d er h is ch in

. T h e v ictim ’s f

acial w o u n d ex h ib ited stip p lin g

. O n cro ss-ex am in atio n , D r. F u n te
ack n o w led g ed th at th e in f o rm atio n th ey receiv ed id en tif y in g th e v ictim

as “A b d iaziz A li”

cam e f ro m th e h o sp ital o r th e p o lice, n o t f ro m a f am ily -m em

b er id en tif

icatio n

.

D ef en d a n t’s P ro o f

T h e m o th er o f th e d ef

en d an t’s ch ild ren , D em etria L o v e, testif ied th at b o th s h e an d
th e d ef en d an t w o rk ed in 2 0 0 5 . T h e d ef en d an t h ad tw o j o b s at th e tim e, an d th ey w ere n o t
h av in g an y f

in an cial p ro b lem s. L o v e stated th at th e d ef en d an t carried a g u n as a co n d itio n

o f h is j o b as a secu rity o f f icer an d w as licen sed to carry it. N o t lo n g b ef o re th e in cid en t in
th is case, th e d ef

en d an t b o u g h t t h e i r s o n a p u p p y f o r $ 1 2 0 0

, w h ich in itially u p set L o v e. H o w ev er, th e d o g w as sto len b y o n e o f th e d ef en d an t’s “so -c a lled f

rien d s,” an d th e d ef en d an t an d h is f

rien d w ere in an o n g o in g altercatio n o v er th e d o g . A f ew d ay s p rio r to
th e in cid en t at th e C itg o , th e d ef en d an t’s f rien d “sh o t u p ” L o v e’s car w ith th e d ef en d an t an d
th eir so n in sid e. N ev erth eless, th ey d id n o t f ile a p o lice rep o rt ab o u t th e sh o o tin g

.

L o v e testif

ied th at th e d ef

en d an t to ld h er h e w as g o in g to g et th e d o g b ack

. T h e n ig h t

o f th e sh o o tin g , sh e h eard th e d ef en d an t arg u in g o n th e p h o n e w ith so m eo n e an d th en h e lef t
th e ap artm en t, w h ich w as u n u su al f o r h im to d o late at n ig h t. H o w ev er, th e d ef en d an t d id

n o t tell h er th at th e reaso n h e w as leav in g w as to g et th e d o g b ack

. L o v e said th at th e n ex t
tim e sh e saw th e d ef

en d an t w as in th e h o sp ital af ter h e h ad b een s h o t

. S h o r t ly af ter th e

-7-sh o o tin g , th e d ef en d an t w en t to stay w ith s o me f r i e n d s in Jam aica to h eal. Wh en sh e in f o r me d th e d ef

en d an t th at th ere w as a w arran t f o r h is arrest, h e f

lew h o m e an d w as arrested co m in g th ro u g h cu sto m s.

O n cro ss-ex am in atio n , L o v e ad m itted th at th ey d id n o t f ile a p o lice rep o rt ab o u t th e

sto len d o g

. S h e said th at sh e o n ly k n ew th e d ef en d an t’s f rien d w h o sto le th e d o g as “B lu e,”

an d sh e d id n o t h av e in d ep en d en t k n o w led g e, asid e f ro m w h at th e d ef

en d an t to ld h er, th at
B lu e h ad sto len th e d o g

. H o w ev er, sh e h eard th e d ef en d an t arg u in g o n th e p h o n e ab o u t th e d o g

. L o v e also ack n o w led g ed th at th ey d id n o t f ile a p o lice rep o rt ab o u t th e sh o o tin g o f h er

car ev en th o u g h th e sh o o tin g ev id en ced an in ten t to k ill. S h e h ad tak en p h o to g rap h s o f th e d am ag ed car b u t h ad m isp laced th em

. O n red irect ex am in atio n , L o v e ex p lain ed th at sh e d id

n o t f ile p o lice rep o rts b ecau se th ey liv ed in a “p retty ro u g h ” area o f to w n , an d sh e f elt th at
th e p o lice d id n o t tak e co m p lain ts f ro m th eir area serio u sly

.

T h e d ef en d an t elected to testif

y

. H e ad m itted th at h e w as th e m an seen o n th e v id eo

en terin g th e sto re an d sh o o tin g th e v ictim

. H e said th at, sin ce th e in ci d e n t

, h e h ad b een

u n d er th e care o f a p sy ch iatrist an d w as tak in g n u m ero u s an ti-p sy ch o tic m ed icatio n s. H e f elt
b ad th at th e v ictim h ad d ied

, n o tin g th at th ere w as n o reaso n f o r h im to h av e lo st h is lif e. A t th e tim e, th e d ef

en d an t w o rk ed as a secu rity g u ard f o r tw o d if f eren t co m p an ies an d w as licen sed to carry

th e g u n u sed in th is o f

f en se.

T h e d ef en d an t ex p lain ed th e seq u en ce o f e v en ts g iv in g rise to th e sh o o tin g

. S o m etim e b ef

o re th e sh o o tin g , th e d ef

en d an t b o u g h t an ex p en siv e p u p p y f o r h is s o n , a n d

i t w a s s t o len b y “B lu e,” w h o m h e b eliev ed to b e a f rien d

. T h e d ef

en d an t h ad sev e r a l

co n v ersatio n s w ith “B lu e” co n cern in g th e d o g an d

, tw o da y s b ef o re th e C itg o sh o o tin g , w en t

to m eet “B lu e” to

, h e p resu m ed

, p ick u p th e d o g

. Wh en h e arriv ed at th eir m eetin g lo catio n , “B lu e” sh o t at th e d ef

en d an t’s car w ith t h e d ef en d an t an d h is so n in sid e, so th e d ef en d an t
d ro v e o f f

.

T h e d e f en d an t testif

ied th at th e n ig h t o f th e C itg o sh o o tin g , h e h ad an o th e r

co n v ersatio n w ith “B lu e” an d , as a resu lt o f th at co n v ersatio n , w en t to g et th e d o g b ack o r h av e “B lu e” p ay f

o r th e d o g . T h e d ef

en d an t an d tw o o f

h is f rien d s w en t to T h e M em

p h is

In n , w h ich w as ap p ro x im ately o n e b lo ck aw ay f ro m th e C itg o , to m eet “B lu e.” T h ey p ark ed

at an o th er n earb y h o tel an d w alk ed to w ard T h e M emp h i s I n n

. A s th ey w ere p assin g an ab an d o n ed b u sin ess o n th e w alk to T h e M em p h is In n , a p erso n , w h o ap p eared to b e “B lu e,”

g o t o u t o f a car p ark ed at th e b u sin ess an d starte d s h o o t i n g a t th em

. In an ef f o rt to tak e

co v er f ro m th e g u n f

ire, th e d ef

en d an t ran to “th e clo sest p lace th at [ h e] co u ld g et in to

, an d
th at w as th e [ C itg o ] sto re.” O n ce in sid e th e sto re, th e d ef en d an t retriev ed h is w eap o n , b u t
th e sto re clerk

, th e v ictim

, seein g th e d ef en d an t’s w eap o n , p u lled o u t a g u n o f h is o w n

. T h e d ef en d an t to ld th e v ictim

, “Wh o a, w h o a, w h o a,” b u t th e v ictim sh o t th e d ef en d an t in th e

-8-f

o o t an d th en th e ch est, an d th e d ef en d an t “j u st retu rn ed f

ire.”

T h e d ef en d a n t testif

ied th at h e lef

t th e sto re b u t th en realized th at th e v ictim ’s g u n

w as n ear h is h an d

, an d h e d id n o t w an t th e v ictim to g et th e g u n in h is h an d

. T h eref o re, th e d ef en d an t “ran b ack to g et th e g u n

. B u t [ th e v ictim ] h ad th e g u n in h is h a n d

, a n d [ th e d ef en d an t] g rab b ed th e g u n w h en it w en t o f f

, b o o m

. W h e n i t w en t o f f

, th at’s w h en [ th e d ef en d an t] sn atch ed it o u t o f h is h an d

, an d [ th e d ef en d an t] ran o u t o f t h e s t o r e

. ” T h e d ef en d an t said th at th e ro u n d d id n o t h it th e v ictim ; th e v ictim h ad alread y b een sh o t th ree tim es b y th at p o in t. A f

ter th e sh o o tin g , th e d ef

en d a n t r a n o u t o f th e sto re b ecau se h e w as scared an d w o u n d ed , an d th e tw o f rien d s th at h ad b een w ith h im retu rn ed an d to o k h im to
th e h o sp ital.

T h e d ef en d an t testif

ied th at af

ter h e w a s r e l e a s e d f

ro m th e h o sp ital, h e w en t to
Jam aica to stay w ith f

rien d s o f th e f

am ily b ecau se h e k n ew th at h e “ w a s g o in g to h av e to
d eal w ith th is situ atio n ev en tu ally

, b u t [ h e] d id n ’t w an t to h av e to co m e to j ail w ith th e b u llet

h o les in [ h is] leg

, in [ h is] f o o t, in [ h is] ch est[ .] ” H e said th ere w as n o w arran t f o r h is arrest

w h en h e lef

t f o r Jam aica, an d

, u p o n learn in g th at th ere w as a w arran t f o r h is arrest, h e m ad e

arran g em en ts to retu rn to M em p h is an d tu rn h im self in

. H e said th at h e d id n o t ch o o se to stay in Jam aica b ecau se “f irst o f all, [ h e] f

elt lik e [ h e] h ad to ex p lain [ h im ] self

. S eco n d o f all, y o u k n o w , w h at h ap p en ed to th e m an

. A n d t h i rd ,” h e d id n o t w an t to ab an d o n h is

f a mi ly

. T h e d ef

en d an t d en ied th at h e w en t to th e sto re to co m m it ro b b ery o r to k i l l t h e

v ictim

.

O n cro ss-ex am in atio n , th e d ef en d an t ex p lain ed th at h e d ecid e d t o m eet “B lu e” to

n eg o tiate ab o u t th e d o g alth o u g h h e k n ew “B lu e” to b e d an g ero u s b ecau se h e d id n o t w an t

to lo o k lik e a “ c o w a rd ,” w h ich co u ld lead to f u rth er v ictim izatio n o f h is f am ily

. A sk ed

w h eth er h e actu ally ex p ected “B lu e” to retu rn th e d o g , th e d ef en d an t said

, “I h ad w h at I h ad

o n m e, a n d I k n e w t h at if h e sh o t at m e th at I w as g o in g to b e ab le to sh o o t b ack .” T h e d ef en d an t m ain tain ed th at h e d id n o t sh o o t th e v ictim w h en h e w alk ed b ack in th e sto re af ter
startin g to leav e. H e said th at th e v ictim w as stan d in g w h en h e sh o t th e v ictim in th e ch est

ev en th o u g h th e m ed ical ex am in er h ad testif ied th at th e v ictim ’s g u n sh o t w o u n d to th e ch est

w as at a d o w n w ard an g le. T h e d ef en d an t ack n o w led g ed th at h is h an d g u n carry p erm it h ad
b een a co n d itio n al p erm it an d th at it h ad b een rescin d ed at th e tim e o f th e sh o o tin g

.

In resp o n se to q u estio n s f ro m th e j u ry an d o n red irect ex am in atio n , th e d ef en d an t
ad m itted th at h is an d h is tw o f rien d s’ f a c e s w ere co v ered an d h o o d s p u lled u p w h en th ey

en tered th e sto re. A sk ed w h y , h e ex p lain ed th at “[ t] h ey w ere alread y p u lled o v er w h en w e

w ere g o in g to g et u p w ith B lu e.” H e elab o rated th at h e b eliev ed th at “B lu e” w as g o in g to
sh o o t at h im

, an d h e “h ad o n a h o o d ie b ecau se if [ “B lu e”] h ad sh o t at [ h im ]

, [ h e] w as g o in g

to sh o o t b ack at [ “B lu e”] .” H o w ev er, h e d id n o t an ticip ate “B lu e” sh o o tin g at h im th e w ay

-9-h e d id

, an d th e d ef en d an t p an ick ed “b ecau se [ h e] h ad n ev er b een sh o t at b ef o re[ .] ” T h e d ef en d an t m ain tain ed th at w h en h e f irst started to ex it th e C itg o sto re af ter th e sh o o tin g , th e

v ictim w as still m o v in g an d h ad h is g u n in h is h an d

. O n recro ss-ex am in atio n , th e d ef en d an t
in d icated th at h e alread y

h ad h is g u n d raw n w h en “B lu e” b eg an to sh o o t at h im

.

R eb u tta l P ro o f

L ieu ten an t Jam es L u ck ett w ith th e M em p h i s P o lice D ep artm en t testif ied th at af

ter
learn in g ab o u t th e sh o o tin g at th e C itg o , h e an d o th er o f f icers w en t to th e area to see if an y

su rro u n d in g b u sin esses h ad su rv eillan ce v id eo tap es w ith o u t an y su ccess. H e said th at th ere

w ere n o rep o rts o f

o th er sh o o tin g s in th e area th at n ig h t.

O n cro ss-ex am in atio n , L ieu ten an t L u ck ett ack n o w led g ed th at th ere w ere n o t m an y b u sin esses in b etw een th e area o f T h e M em p h is In n an d th e C itg o , an d m o st b u sin esses w ere clo sed at 2 :0 0 a.m

.

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

, t h e j u ry d elib erated an d w as u n ab le to reach a

v erd ict o n co u n t o n e o f th e in d ictm en t, th e ch arg e o f f elo n y m u rd er, an d th e co u rt d eclared

a m istrial o n th at co u n t. H o w ev er, th e j u ry co n v icted th e d ef en d an t as ch arg ed in th e seco n d

co u n t o f th e in d ictm en t o f p rem ed itated f

irst d eg ree m

u rd er. U p o n th e v erd ict o f th e j u ry , th e trial co u rt sen ten ced th e d ef en d an t to lif

e im p riso n m en t.

A N A L Y S IS

I. M o tio n f

o r C o n tin u a n ce

T h e d ef en d an t arg u es th at th e trial co u rt erred in d en y in g h is req u est f o r a

co n tin u an ce f

o r h im to o b tain a m en tal ev alu atio n

. H e asserts th at h is “m en tal cap acity at
th e tim e o f th e co m m issio n o f th e crim e seem s to b e q u estio n ab le esp ecially co n cern in g h is
ab ility to f o rm th e p ro p er m en s rea to co m m it th e crim e.”

T h e reco rd in d icates th at o n Ju n e 1 2

, 2 0 0 9

, d ef en se co u n sel in f

o rm ed th e trial co u rt
th at h e h ad learn ed th at th e d e f e n d a n t w as tak in g an ti-p sy ch o tic m ed icatio n s an d th at h e

w ish ed to h av e a m en tal ev alu atio n co n d u cted in o rd er to ascertain w h eth er th e d ef en d an t
h ad a m en tal d iso rd er. D ef en se co u n sel receiv ed ap p ro v al to h ire D r. Jo sep h A n g elillo

, to

co n d u ct th e ev alu atio n ; h o w ev er, D r. A n g elillo w as u n ab le to co n d u ct th e ev alu atio n b ef o re trial d u e to h is b ein g o u t-o f -to w n

. O n Ju ly 1 0

, 2 0 0 9

, th e d ef en d an t ask ed f

o r a co n tin u an ce in o rd er to h av e th e d o cto r co n d u ct th e ev alu atio n

.

-10-In d en y in g th e d ef en d an t’s req u est f

o r a co n tin u an ce, th e trial co u rt rev i e w ed th e h isto ry o f th e d ef

en d an t’s case f

ro m h is arrest o n Ju n e 1 3

, 2 0 0 6

, t o t h e p r e s e n t tim e. T h e

co u rt n o ted th at th e d ef

en d an t w as ev alu ated a f

t e r h is arrest to d eterm in e h is san ity an d

co m p eten cy to stan d trial an d w as f o u n d co m

p eten t to p ro ceed ev en th o u g h h e i n i tially
ref u sed to co o p erate w ith th e d o cto r. T h e co u rt f o u n d th at th ere w as n o th in g in th e o rig in al

ev alu atio n th at in d icated a d im in ish ed cap acity d ef en se w o u ld ap p ly in th e d ef en d an t’s case

an d th at o n e o f th e co u n ts o f w h ich th e d ef en d an t w as ch arg ed

, f

elo n y m u rd er, req u ired n o

m en tal state. T h e co u rt o b serv ed th at th e case h ad b een co n tin u ed m an y tim es an d th at th e d ef en d an t h ims e l f h ad ex p ressed f ru stratio n th at h is case h ad y et to b e tried

. T h e co u rt

co n clu d ed th at it w o u ld n o t b e in th e b est in te r est o f j u stice an d f airn ess to g ran t a

co n tin u an ce, b u t th at th e d ef en d an t co u ld still h av e th e ev a l u a t i o n a n d th e co u rt w o u ld

rev iew it d u rin g th e m o tio n f o r n ew trial if

th e d ef en d an t w as in f

act co n v icted

.

D r. A n g elillo ’s rep o rt w as in tro d u ced at th e mo t i o n f o r n ew trial h earin g

. T h e

ev alu atio n n o ted th at th e d ef en d an t h ad n o p sy ch iatric h isto ry p rio r to th is in carceratio n

. In
th e ev alu atio n , D r. A n g elillo f o u n d th at th e d ef

en d an t su f

f ered f ro m v a rio u s m en tal

p ro b lem s. H o w ev er, D r. A n g elillo m ad e n o f in d in g th at th e d ef

en d an t su f

f ered f ro m d im in ish ed cap acity th at w o u ld n eg ate th e d ef en d an t’s sp ecif

ic in ten t to co m

m it th e crim e.

T h e g ran tin g o f a co n tin u an ce lies w ith in th e so u n d d iscretio n o f th e trial co u rt, an d

w e w ill n o t rev erse th at d ecisio n a b s e n t a s h o w i n g o f an ab u se o f d iscretio n

. S tate v

. S ch m eid erer, 3 1 9 S .W.3 d 6 0 7

, 6 1 7 (T en n

. 2 0 1 0 ) (citin g S tate v

. O d o m , 1 3 7 S .W.3 d 5 7 2

, 5 8 9 (T en n

. 2 0 0 4 )). “‘A n ab u se o f d iscretio n is d em o n strated b y sh o w in g th at th e f ailu re to

g ran t a co n tin u an ce d en ied d ef en d an t a f air trial o r th at it co u ld b e reaso n ab ly co n clu d ed th at

a d if f eren t resu lt w o u ld h av e f o llo w ed h ad th e co n tin u an ce b een g r a n t e d

. ’ ” Id

. (q u o tin g S tate v . H in es, 9 1 9 S .W.2 d 5 7 3 , 5 7 9 (T en n . 1 9 9 5 )).

U p o n rev iew

, w e can n o t co n clu d e th at th e trial co u rt ab u sed its d iscretio n in d en y in g th e d ef en d an t’s req u est f

o r a co n tin u an ce. A s n o ted b y th e trial co u rt at th e m o tio n f o r n ew trial, th e d ef

en d an t h ad th ree y ears to d ev elo p an y so rt o f d im in ish ed cap acity d ef en se an d

h ad in f act b een ev alu ated b y a p sy ch iatrist w h o d eterm in ed th at su ch d ef en se co u ld n o t b e

su stain ed

. In an y ev en t, th e resu lts o f th e seco n d ev alu atio n d o n o t in d icate th at th e d en ial

o f a co n tin u an ce d en ied th e d ef en d an t a f air trial o r th at th ere w as a reaso n ab le p ro b ab ility

o f a d if f eren t resu lt h ad a co n tin u an ce b een g ran ted

. T h eref o re, th e d ef

en d an t can n o t sh o w th at th e trial co u rt ab u sed its d iscretio n o n th is issu e.

II. M o tio n to S u p p ress

O n Ju n e 1 6

, 2 0 0 9

, th e d ef en d an t f iled a m o tio n to su p p ress, arg u in g th at h is p erso n al
clo th in g item s w ere seized f ro m th e h o sp ital an d later u sed f o r D N A testin g in v io latio n o f

-11-h is F o u rth A m en d m en t rig h ts.

T h e trial co u rt co n d u cted a h earin g o n th e m o tio n , at w h ich L ieu ten an t K ed ra L o ck h art w ith th e M em

p h is P o lice D ep artm en t testif ied th at d u rin g h er in v o lv em en t in th is

case, sh e learn ed th at an in j u red p erso n “sh o w [ ed ] u p ” at T h e M ed b u t, b ecau se th ey d id n o t
h av e an y in f

o rm atio n co n n ectin g h im to th is case, h e w as in itially treated as a v ictim in stead

o f a su sp ect. L ieu ten an t L o ck h art stated th at it w as n o t u n u su al, an d w as in f act p art o f

w ritten p o lice p o licy

, t o c o llect th e clo th in g o r p erso n al ef f ects o f serio u sly w o u n d ed

in d iv id u als at th e h o sp ital p articu larly w h en t he pe r s o n w as in

j u red b y a g u n sh o t o r stab b in g

. O f f icers co llected th e in

j u red m an ’s clo th in g b u t “n o t in relatio n to

. . . th e sh o o tin g w h ere th e m an w as k illed . It w as u n d er th is R &I w h ere w e treated th is p erso n as a v ictim .”

O n c ro ss-ex am in atio n , L ieu ten an t L o ck h art ref eren ced th e M em

p h is P o lic e D ep artm en t’s crim e scen e in v estig atio n p o licy an d p ro ced u re m an u al, w h ich stated : “In

cases o f ag g rav ated assau lt w h ere th e v ictim s h av e b een tran sp o rted to a m ed ical f acility

, th e [ c] rim e [ s] cen e in v estig ato r sh o u ld f o llo w u p h is o r h er in v estig atio n w ith p h o to g rap h s o f

in j u ries o r to co llect . . . item s o f clo th in g .”

O f f icer G erald P aig e w ith th e C rim e R esp o n se U n it o f th e M e mp h is P o lice

D ep artm en t testif

ied th at h e w as in v o lv ed in th e co llectio n o f ev id en ce reg ard in g a sh o o tin g b etw een a sto re clerk an d a su sp ect at 2 7 2 6 P erk in s R o ad in M em p h is w h ere th e su sp ect o r

v ictim w a s tak en to T h e M ed

. A t T h e M ed

, O f f icer P aig e retriev ed sev eral p ieces o f
clo th in g an d p erso n al item s b elo n g in g to th e d ef en d an t, w h o w as k n o w n as a v ictim at th e tim e, as w ell as p erso n al item s b elo n g in g to an o th er p erso n

. O f f icer P aig e said th at it w as

n o t u n u su al f

o r h im to co llect clo th in g f ro m T h e M ed th at b elo n g ed to an in j u red v ictim o r

su sp ect.

O n cro ss-ex am in atio n , O f f icer P aig e elab o rated th at an em p lo y e e of T h e M ed h an d ed

h im th e p ro p erty

, an d h e d id n o t k n o w f ro m w h ere h e o r sh e retriev ed it. H e ad m itted th at
h e d id n o t ask

th e d ef en d an t w h eth er h e co u ld tak e th e d ef en d an t’s p ro p erty

.

T h e d ef en d an t testif

ied th at h is clo th in g an d o th er p ro p erty w ere tak en f

ro m h im at
T h e M ed w ith o u t h is p erm issio n t h e n i g h t h e w as in j u red

. H e ask ed th at h is p ro p erty n o t
b e tak en f ro m h im an d

, af

ter h e w as released

, req u ested th at h is p ro p erty b e retu rn ed to h im

. H e d id n o t k n o w w h o to o k h is p ro p erty

. O n cro ss-ex am in atio n , th e d ef en d an t ad m itted th at
h e h ad su rg ery at th e h o sp ital, b u t th en h e elab o rated th at “[ t] h ey d id n ’t o p en [ h im ] u p

. . .

. [ H e] w as co n scio u s all th e tim e.” In an y ev en t, th e h o sp ital staf f rem o v ed h is clo th in g , an d

h e d id n o t k n o w w h at h ap p en ed to it th ereaf ter.

O f f icer A sh to n B ritto n w ith th e M em p h is P o lice D ep artmen t testif ied th at in th e

-12-co u rse o f h is d u ties, h e h ad b een to th e em erg en cy ro o m at T h e M ed an d co llected p erso n al

item s f ro m a v ictim o r so m eo n e receiv in g treatm en t. O f f icer B ritto n ex p lain ed th at, o n su ch

o ccasio n s, h e u su ally receiv ed th e item s f ro m h o sp ital staf

f

, an d th ey w o u ld b e p ack ag ed in

a clear p lastic b ag

. H e h ad n ev er p erso n ally tak en item s o f f a v ictim an d h ad n ev er receiv ed
item s f ro m an y o n e o th er th an m ed ical staf f

.

D r. L o u is M ag n o tti testif

ied th at h e w as o n e o f th e atten d in g trau m a su rg eo n s at T h e M ed b u t said h e d id n o t h av e an y th in g to d o w ith th e d ef

en d an t’s case. D r. M ag n o tti lo o k ed

at th e d ef en d an t’s m ed ical reco rd s f ro m T h e M e d an d n o ted th at h is clo th in g w as cu t o f f

,

w h ich w as th e ty

p ical p ractice to f

acilitate th e care o f a sh o o tin g v ictim

. H e ex p lain ed th at
if so m eo n e w ere ad m itted w ith tw o g u n sh o ts, all o f th e p erso n ’s clo th in g w o u ld b e cu t o f f

an d co llected b y a h ealth care p ro v id er, th en reco rd ed an d b ag g ed in a clear p lastic b ag

. D r. M ag n o tti ad d ed th at h o sp ital p o licy d ictated th at o n ly h ealth care p ro v id ers w ere allo w ed in
th e trau m a ro o m u n til th e in itial resu scitatio n o f th e p atien t w as o v er o r th e p atien t h ad d ied

.

O n cro ss-ex am in atio n , D r. M ag n o tti stated th at all o f a p atien t’s b elo n g in g s are

reco rd ed

, lo g g ed

, an d p laced in a sealed co n t a i n e r

. H e ag reed th at th e b elo n g in g s w ere treated t h i s w a y b ecau se th e item s w ere th e in d iv id u al’s p erso n al p ro p erty an d w ere to b e k ep t p riv ate f

ro m o th ers.

In ru lin g o n th e m o tio n to su p p ress, th e trial co u rt o b serv ed th at th e d ef en d an t w as

n o t a su sp ect at th e tim e h e p resen ted at th e h o sp ital an d th at th e h o sp ital staf f

, p er its p o licy

,

m ad e th e d ecisio n to tu rn th e item s o f c l o th in g an d o th er b elo n g in g s rem o v ed f ro m th e d ef en d an t o v er to th e p o lice b ecau se th e d ef en d an t ap p eared to b e th e v ictim o f a sh o o tin g

. T h e co u rt said th at th ere w as n o g o v ern m en tal actio n in v o lv ed in seizin g th e d ef en d an t’s
b elo n g in g s, an d th e F o u rth A m en d m en t o n ly lim ited in t r us i ons by l a

w e nfor c e m en t. R ely in g

o n S tate v

. C o w an , 4 6 S .W.3 d 2 2 7 (T en n

. C rim

. A p p

. 2 0 0 0 ), th e co u rt also o b s e r v ed th at
th ere can b e n o reaso n ab le ex p ectatio n o f p riv acy “w h en a p erso n is p resen ted to a trau m a

u n it to h av e b u llets tak en f ro m h is p erso n .”

Wh en th is co u rt rev iew s a trial co u rt’s ru lin g o n a m o tio n to su p p ress ev id en ce, “[ q ] u estio n s o f cred ib ility o f th e w itn esses, th e w e i g h t a n d v alu e o f th e ev id en ce, an d

reso lu tio n o f co n f

licts in th e ev id en ce are m atters en tru sted to th e trial j u d g e as th e trier o f

f act.” S tate v

. O d o m , 9 2 8 S .W.2 d 1 8

, 2 3 (T en n

. 1 9 9 6 )

. T h e p arty p rev ailin g at th e

su p p ressio n h earin g is af f o rd ed th e “stro n g est leg itim ate v iew o f t h e ev id en ce an d all

reaso n ab le an d leg itim ate in f eren ces th at m ay b e d raw n f ro m th at ev id en ce.” S tate v

. K eith

, 9 7 8 S .W.2 d 8 6 1 , 8 6 4 (T en n . 1 9 9 8 ). T h e f in d in g s o f a trial co u rt in a su p p ressio n h earin g

are u p h eld u n less th e ev id en ce p rep o n d erates ag ain st th o se f in d in g s. S ee id

. H o w ev er, th e

ap p lica t i o n o f t h e law to th e f acts f o u n d b y th e trial co u rt is a q u estio n o f law an d is

rev iew ed d

e n o vo

. S tate v

. Walto n , 4 1 S .W.3 d 7 5

, 8 1 (T en n

. 2 0 0 1 ); S tate v

. C ru tch er, 9 8 9

-13-S .W.2 d 2 9 5 , 2 9 9 (T en n . 1 9 9 9 ); S tate v . Y earg an , 9 5 8 S .W.2 d 6 2 6 , 6 2 9 (T en n . 1 9 9 7 ).

B o th th e F o u rth A m en d m en t to th e U n ited S tates C o n stitu tio n an d article I, sectio n 7 o f th e T en n essee C o n stitu tio n p ro tect in d iv id u als ag ain st u n reaso n ab le search es an d
seizu res. S e e U

. S

. C o n st. am en d

. IV ; T en n

. C o n st. art. I, § 7

. “T h ese co n stitu tio n al

p ro v isio n s are d esig n ed to ‘saf eg u ard th e p riv acy an d secu rity o f in d iv id u als ag ain st
arb itrary in v asio n s o f

g o v ern m en t o f

f icials.’” K eith

, 9 7 8 S .W.2 d at 8 6 5 (q u o tin g C am ara

v

. M u n icip al C o u rt, 3 8 7 U

. S

. 5 2 3

, 5 2 8 (1 9 6 7 )). A search o r seizu re co n d u cted w ith o u t a

w arra n t is p resu m ed u n reaso n ab le, an d ev id en ce o b tain ed as a resu lt w ill b e su p p ressed

“u n less th e p ro secu tio n d em o n strates b y a p rep o n d eran ce o f th e ev id en ce th at th e search o r seizu re w as co n d u cted p u rsu an t to an ex cep tio n to th e w arran t req u irem en t.” Id

. (citatio n s

o m itted ).

U p o n r e v iew o f th is issu e, w e co n clu d e th at th e d ef en d an t’s arg u m en t reg ard in g

su p p ressio n o f h is clo th in g an d th e resu lts o b tain ed f ro m th e testin g o f h is clo th in g is m o o t.
T h e r e c o r d s h o w s th at th e S tate o b tain ed a search w arran t, w h ich is u n ch allen g ed b y th e d ef en d an t, an d th ereb y o b tain ed th e d ef en d an t’s D N A

. T h e d ef en d an t’s D N A t i e d t h e d ef en d an t to th e scen e. A t o ral arg u m en t, d ef en se co u n sel su g g ested th at th e d ef en d an t’s

u n law f u lly o b tain ed clo th in g w as essen tially th e b asis f o r th e search w arran t o b tain ed b y th e S tate. H o w ev er, it d o es n o t ap p ear th at th e search w arran t is in th e reco rd , an d th ere is n o

p ro o f in th e reco rd as to th e b asis f o r th e search w arran t. It f u rth er d o es n o t ap p ear th at th e d ef en d an t ev er co n tested th e leg ali t y o f th e search w arran t, w h ich w e p resu m e th at th e

w arran t w o u ld h av e b een co n tested h ad th ere b een a b asis f o r co n testin g it. T h eref

o re, th e d ef en d an t is n o t en titled to relief o n th is issu e b ecau se th e d ef en d an t w as tied to th e scen e b y law f u lly o b tain ed ev id en ce.

III. S u rv eilla n ce Vid eo

T h e d ef e n d a n t raises sev eral erro rs reg ard in g th e trial co u rt’s ad m issio n o f th e

su rv eillan ce v id eo tap e in to ev id en ce. H e asserts th at th e v id eo lack ed a p ro p er f o u n d atio n

an d w as n ev er au th en ticated

. H e claim s th a t t h e au th en ticatio n b y S erg ean t S lo an w as in su f f icien t b ecau se S erg ean t S lo an w as n o t p resen t d u rin g th e sh o o tin g n o r w as h e aw are

o f “th e k eep in g o f th e tap es b y th e sto re o w n er in th e o rd i n a r y c o u rse o f b u sin ess.” T h e d ef en d an t f u rth er asserts th at af

ter th e tap e w as ad m itted , th e co u rt allo w ed irrelev an t an d

p rej u d icial so u n d p o rtio n s o f th e v id eo to b e p lay ed

. H e m ain tain s th at th e o n l y r elev an t

p o rtio n o f th e v id eo tap e w as th e actu al sh o o tin g o f th e v ictim

, b u t, in stead

, th e v id eo w as allo w ed to co n tin u e p lay in g , d isp lay in g “a series of irrelev an t an d p rej u d icial scream s an d

m o an s.”

-14-P ro f f ered ev id en ce m

u st b e au th en ticated o r id en tif ied as a co n d itio n p re c e d e n t t o ad m issib ility

. T en n

. R

. E v id

. 9 0 1 (a). T h is req u irem en t is satisf ied “b y ev id en ce su f

f icien t

to th e co u rt to su p p o rt a f in d in g b y th e trier o f f

act t h a t th e m atter in q u estio n is w h at its

p ro p o n en t claims

. ” Id

. A u th en ticatio n m ay b e estab lish ed b y th e testim o n y o f a w itn ess

w ith k n o w led g e th at a m atter is w h at it is claime d to b e. Id

. R

. 9 0 1 (b )(1 ). T h e trial co u rt
is th e “arb iter o f au th en ticatio n issu es,” an d th e co u rt’s d iscretio n w ill n o t b e d istu rb ed
ab sen t clear m istak e. T en n

. R

. E v id

. 9 0 1

, A d v iso ry C o m m issio n C m ts.; S tate v

. M ick en s, 1 2 3 S .W.3 d 3 5 5 , 3 7 6 (T en n . C rim . A p p . 2 0 0 3 ).

A s to th e au th en ticatio n o f th e v id eo tap e, th e trial co u rt f o u n d th at S erg ean t S lo an ’s
testim o n y serv ed to au th en ticate th at th e v id eo in q u estio n w as th e v id eo reco v ered f ro m th e crim e scen e o n D ecem

b er 2 0

, 2 0 0 5

. T h e co u rt n o ted S erg ean t S lo an ’s testim o n y th at, u p o n arriv in g at th e scen e, h e ch eck ed to see w h eth er a su rv eillan ce v id eo w as av ailab le an d th at

a p erso n p u rp o rtin g to b e th e sto re o w n er’s w if e telep h o n ed an d h e to ld h er to h av e th e sto re

o w n er co m e to th e sto re so h e co u ld v iew th e v id eo tap e. S erg ean t S lo an testif ied th at th e

p u rp o rted o w n er arriv ed , th ey rev iew ed th e v id eo tap e, an d h e id en tif ied th e v id eo tap e “as
th e tap e th at h e p ick ed u p f ro m C itg o o n D ecem

b er 2 0 th

, 2 0 0 5 [ .] ” T h e trial co u rt o b serv ed
th at th e in f

o rm atio n o n th e tap e w as co n sisten t w i t h a n d su p p lem en ted th e testim o n ies o f

T in a Watk in s an d O f

f icer B en n ie Wash in g to n

. In ad d itio n , th e d ef en d an t later testif

ied th at
h e w as th e g u n m an seen o n th e v id eo sh o o tin g th e v ictim

. In lig h t o f th is ev id en c e , w e

can n o t co n clu d e th at th e trial co u rt m ad e a clear m istak e in d eterm in in g th at th e v id eo “in

q u estio n [ w a] s w h at its p ro p o n en t claim [ ed ] .”

T en n essee R u le o f E v id en ce 4 0 1

, w h i c h g o v e rn s th e in itial issu e o f ad m issib ility

, req u ire s t h e trial co u rt to d eterm in e w h eth er th e p ro f f ered ev id en ce is relev an t. E v id en ce is relev an t if it h as “an y

ten d en cy to m ak e th e ex isten ce o f an y f act th at is o f co n seq u en ce

to th e d eterm in atio n o f th e actio n m o re p ro b ab le o r less p ro b ab le th an it w o u ld b e w ith o u t
th e ev id en ce.” T en n

. R

. E v id

. 4 0 1

. T en n essee R u le o f E v id en ce 4 0 3 p ro v id es th at, ev en if
relev an t, ev id en ce m ay b e ex clu d ed if its p ro b ativ e v alu e 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. Wh ile it can b e said th at p h o t o g rap h s o f crim e v ictim s w h o

su f f er serio u s b o d ily in

j u ry are p rej u d icial b y th eir v ery n atu re, a p rej u d icial p h o to g rap h is

n o t p er se ex clu d ab le. Wh at is ex clu d ed is ev id en ce w h ich is u n f airly p rej u d icial, in o th er

w o rd s, ev id en ce w h ich h as an u n d u e ten d en cy to su g g est a d ecisio n o n an im p ro p er b asis,

f req u en tly

, th o u g h n o t n ecessarily

, an em o tio n al o n e. S tate v

. B an k s, 5 6 4 S .W.2 d 9 4 7

, 9 5 1 (T en n . 1 9 7 8 ).

A s to th e relev an cy an d p rej u d icial ef f ect o f th e p o st-sh o o ti n g p o r t i o n o f th e

v id eo tap e, th e trial co u rt f o u n d th at w h atev er tran sp ired af ter th e sh o o tin g w o u ld b e relev an t

to th e S tate’s alleg atio n o f p rem ed itated m u rd er in co u n t tw o

. In p articu lar, th e co u rt n o ted
th at th e v id eo sh o w ed

, as in d icativ e o f p rem ed itatio n , th at th e d ef en d an t f ailed to ren d er aid

-15-o r call 9 1 1 to rep o rt th e crim e. T h e co u rt o b serv ed th at th e v id eo w as n o t p a r t i c u larly

g ru eso m e o r h o rrif

y in g

. T h e co u rt co n clu d ed th at th e p rej u d icial ef f ect o f th e v id eo d id n o t

su b stan tially

o u tw eig h its p ro b ativ e v alu e.

We can n o t co n clu d e th at th e trial co u rt ab u sed its d iscretio n in reach in g th is d ecisio n

. A s n o ted b y t h e trial co u rt, w h at tran sp ired af ter th e sh o o tin g w as relev an t to th e issu e o f

p rem ed itatio n , sp ecif

ically th at th e d ef

en d an t r e n d e red n o aid to th e v ictim

. T h e p o stsh o o tin g p o rtio n o f th e v id eo also estab lish ed th a t th e crim e scen e w as n o t altered o r ch an g ed in an y w ay u n til th e d isco v ery o f th e v ictim

. T h is co u rt h as p rev io u sly f o u n d th at
b ecau se th e S tate h ad th e b u rd en o f p ro o f

, th e trial co u rt d id n o t ab u se its d iscretio n in
allo w in g tw en ty m in u tes o f a tro o p er in -car cam era to b e p lay ed to th e j u ry in w h ich th e

tro o p er w as sh o w n ly in g d ead in th e ro ad

. S ee S tate v

. O rlan d o D an iel G arcia, N o

. W2 0 0 9

- 0 0 1 6 4 -C C A -R 3 -C D

, 2 0 1 0 WL 3 7 6 6 9 4 2

, at * 8 (T en n

. C rim

. A p p

. S ep t. 2 8

, 2 0 1 0 ), p erm

. to

ap p eal d en ied (T en n

. M ar. 9

, 2 0 1 1 ). M o reo v er, th at th e j u ry w as u n ab le to reach a v erd ict

o n co u n t o n e o f th e in d ictm en t in d icates th at th e j u ry w as n o t u n d u ly sw ay ed b y em o tio n

cau sed f ro m w atch in g th e v id eo

. T h u s, ev en if it w ere erro r f o r th e p o st-sh o o tin g p o rtio n

o f th e v id eo tap e to b e sh o w n to th e j u ry , su ch erro r h ad n o im p act o n th e v erd ict. S ee T en n

. R . A p p . P . 3 6 (b ).

IV. Id en tity o f Victim

T h e d ef en d an t arg u es th at th e S tate f ailed to estab lish th e id en tity o f th e d ead p erso n

. H e asserts th at n o o n e actu ally testif ied th at th e d eceased w as “A b d i a z i z A l i ,” th e v ictim

n am ed in th e in d ictm en t, an d th e th irteen v ario u s f o rm s o f id en tif

icatio n reco v ered f

ro m th e d eceased ’s b elo n g in g s w ere in six d if f eren t n am es. H e also p o in ts o u t th at tw o ex h ib its o f
b o d y f lu id sam p les reco v ered f

r o m th e scen e n o ted tw o d if f eren t d ates o f b irth f

o r th e

v ictim

, an d th o se d ates w ere d if f eren t th an th e d ate o f b irth listed o n tw o o f th e f o r ms o f
id en tif icatio n reco v ered f

ro m th e d eceased

.

“‘C o rp u s d elicti’ literally m ean s th e b o d y o f th e crim e.” S t a t e v

. E llis, 8 9 S .W.3 d

5 8 4

, 6 0 0 (T en n

. C rim

. A p p

. 2 0 0 0 ). T w o elem en ts, w h ich m u st b e p ro v en b y th e S tate
b ey o n d a reaso n ab le d o u b t, m ak e u p th e co rp u s d elicti: “(1 ) T h at a certain resu lt h as b een

p ro d u ced

, an d (2 ) T h at th e resu lt w as created th ro u g h crim in al ag en cy .” S tate v

. E rv in

, 7 3 1

S .W.2 d 7 0

, 7 1 -7 2 (T en n

. C rim

. A p p

. 1 9 8 6 ); see E llis, 8 9 S .W.3 d at 6 0 0

. “T h e ev id en ce to
estab lish th e co rp u s d elicti in cases o f h o m icid e m u st sh o w th at th e lif

e o f a h u m an b ein g h as b een tak en , w h ich q u estio n in v o lv es th e su b o rd in ate in q u iry as to th e id en tity o f t h e

p erso n ch arg ed to h av e b een k illed [ .] ” B o ld en v

. S tate, 2 0 3 S .W. 7 5 5

, 7 5 5 (T en n

. 1 9 1 8 ).

In ad d itio n to an y co n f

essio n b y th e d ef

en d an t, so m e co rro b o ratin g ev id en ce is req u ired to
estab li s h th e co rp u s d elicti o f th e o f f en se ch arg ed

. S tate v

. S m ith

, 2 4 S .W.3 d 2 7 4

, 2 8 1 (T en n

. 2 0 0 0 ). H o w ev er, w h en th e d ef en d an t h as m ad e a co n f

essio n , th e c o r ro b o rativ e

-16-ev id en ce “n eed n o t b e as co n v in cin g as th e ev id en ce n ecessary to estab lish a co rp u s d elicti

in th e ab sen ce o f an y co n f essio n .” R ick etts v

. S tate, 2 4 1 S .W.2 d 6 0 4

, 6 0 6 (T en n

. 1 9 5 1 ).
Wh eth er th e S tate h as su f f icien tly estab lish ed th e co rp u s d elicti is p rim arily a j u ry q u estio n

. S tate v . Jo n es, 1 5 S .W.3 d 8 8 0 , 8 9 1 (T en n . C rim . A p p . 1 9 9 9 ).

A t th e m o tio n f

o r n ew trial, th e t r ial co u rt n o ted th at ev en th o u g h th e v ictim “m ay h av e h ad d if

f eren t id en tif

icatio n s o n h im

. . . u n d er o th er n am es o th er th an A li, b u t th ere is

n o d o u b t th at th e p erso n f o r w h o m [ th e d ef

en d an t] w as co n v icted o f k illin g is, in f act,
d ead [ .] ” T h e c o u rt o b serv ed th at T in a Watk in s k n ew th e v ictim as a resu lt o f h er reg u lar

v isits to th e sto re an d t h at th ere w as su f f icien t p ro o f th at th e d eceased w as A b d iaziz A li
d esp ite th e f

act h e h ad o th er id en tif

icatio n s o n h im

.

T in a Watk in s testif

ied th at sh e w as a reg u lar cu sto me r o f th e C itg o sto re. O n th e

n ig h t o f th e sh o o tin g , Watk in s en tered th e sto re an d d isco v ered th e sto re clerk w o u n d ed

, b u t
aliv e. S h e called 9 1 1 an d rem ain ed u n til th e p o lice o f f icers arriv ed

. Watk in s id en tif ied a

p h o to g rap h tak en f

ro m th e V irg in ia d riv er’s licen se o f A li A b d iaziz as th e C itg o sto re clerk

w h o m sh e d isco v ered th at n ig h t. O f f icer B en n ie Wash in g to n testif ied th at h e resp o n d ed to

t h e s c e n e w h e r e h e f

o u n d th e sto re clerk ly in g o n th e f lo o r, h av in g b een sh o t. O f f ice r Wash in g to n called f

o r an am b u lan ce, w h ich arriv ed to tran sp o rt th e v ictim to th e h o sp ital.

O f f icer G erald P aig e testif

ied th at h e resp o n d ed to th e h o sp ital w h ere h e co llected

,

a mo n g o th er th in g s, th e v ictim ’s w allet co n tain in g m u ltip le f o rm s o f id en tif

icati o n

. A lth o u g h sev eral p ieces o f id en tif icatio n b o re d if

f eren t n am es, six o f th e id en tif icatio n s b o re th e n am e A li A b d iaziz. O n ly th ree o f th e id en tif icatio n s co llected f

ro m t h e v ictim h ad

p h o to g rap h s o n th em , an d each o f th o se w as in th e n am e o f A li A b d iaziz an d ap p eared to
h av e th e sam e p erso n in th e p h o to g rap h s. O n e o f th e p h o to g rap h id e n t i f i c a t i o n s w as th e V irg in ia d riv er’s licen se, w h ich co n tain ed th e p h o to g rap h th at Wat k i n s w a s sh o w n to
id en tif y th e v ictim

. In ad d itio n , a ch eck f ro m N ig h t an d D ay F o o d M a rt m ad e o u t to A li

A b d iaziz w as in th e v ictim ’s w allet. D r. F u n te testif ied th at an au to p sy w as p erf o rm ed o n

a su b j ect id en tif

ied as A b d iaziz A li o n D ecem b er 2 0

, 2 0 0 5

. V ario u s p h o to g rap h s w ere tak en

o f th e d eceased

, an d th o se w ere en tered in to ev id en ce at th e trial. D r. F u n te testif ied th at th e

v ictim d ied o f m

u ltip le g u n sh o t w o u n d s. M o reo v er, th e d ef en d an t ad m itted th at h e w as th e

ma n s h o w n o n th e su rv eillan ce v id eo sh o o tin g th e sto re clerk

. In lig h t o f th e su m o f th i s

ev id en ce, w e co n clu d e th at th e S tate m et its b u rd en o f p ro o f reg ard in g co rp u s d elicti.

H o we ve r , a s c onc ed ed b y th e S tate, th e d ef en d an t’s arg u m en t p o ssib ly raises th e issu e

o f a v arian ce b etw een th e in d ictm en t an d th e p ro o f at trial b ecau se th e n am e in clu d ed in th e in d ictm en t w as A b d iaziz A li, b u t th e b u lk o f th e p ro o f id en tif ied th e v ictim as A li A b d iaziz.

A v arian ce arises w h en th e p ro o f p resen ted at trial d ep arts f ro m th e alleg atio n s in th e

-17-in d ictm en t. S tate v

. K eel, 8 8 2 S .W.2 d 4 1 0

, 4 1 6 (T en n

. C rim

. A p p

. 1 9 9 4 ). B ef o re a v arian ce

w i l l b e d eem ed f

atal to a p ro secu tio n , it m u st b e b o th m aterial an d p rej u d icial. S t a t e v

. M o ss, 6 6 2 S .W.2 d 5 9 0

, 5 9 2 (T en n

. 1 9 8 4 ). In g en eral, a v arian ce b etw een an in d ictm en t an d
th e p ro o f at trial

is n o t f atal if (1 ) th e d ef

en d an t is su f

f icien tly in f o rm ed o f th e ch arg es lev ied

ag ain st h im so th at h e can ad eq u ately p rep are f o r trial an d

, (2 ) th e d ef

en d an t
is p ro tected ag ain st a s u b seq u en t p ro secu tio n f o r th e sam e o f

f en se b ased o n d o u b le j eo p ard y g ro u n d s. T h e v arian ce is n o t to b e reg ard ed as m aterial w h en th e in d ictm en t an d p ro o f su b stan tially co rresp o n d

. A m aterial v arian ce o ccu rs

o n ly if th e p ro secu to r h as attem p ted to rely at th e trial u p o n th eo ries an d

ev id en ce th at w ere n o t f airly em b raced in th e alleg atio n s m ad e in th e in d ictm en t.

S tate v

. M ay es, 8 5 4 S .W.2 d 6 3 8

, 6 4 0 ( T en n

. 1 9 9 3 ) (citatio n s o m itted ). A s lo n g as th e d ef en d an t is n o t m isled at trial, an y v arian ce is n o t co n sid e r e d t o b e a b asis f o r rev ersal.

Jo h n so n v . S tate, 5 9 6 S .W.2 d 9 7 , 1 0 3 (T en n . C rim . A p p . 1 9 7 9 ).

In th is case, th e in d ictm en t listed th e v ictim ’s n am e as A b d iaziz A li an d ch arg ed th at
th e d ef en d an t k illed A b d iaziz A li o n D ecem b er 2 0

, 2 0 0 5

. T h e p ro o f at trial sh o w ed th at th e

v ictim h ad six f

o rm s o f id en tif

icatio n b earin g th e n am e A li A b d iaziz. T h e p ro o f at trial also
sh o w ed th at th e v ictim

an d th e d ef

en d an t en g ag ed in a g u n b attle o n D ecem b er 2 0 , 2 0 0 5

. G iv en th ese f

acts, w e ca n n o t c o n c l u d e th at th e tran sp o sitio n o f th e v ictim ’s f irst an d last

n am es o n th e in d ictm en t m isled th e d ef en d an t o f th e ch arg es h e h ad to d ef en d ag ain st o r f ailed to p ro tect h im ag ain st su b seq u en t p ro secu tio n f o r th e sam e o f

f en se b ased o n d o u b le j eo p ard y g ro u n d s.

V. C lo sin g A rg u m en t

The de fen d an t arg u es th at th e S tate’s reb u ttal arg u m en t im p ro p erly sh if

ted th e b u rd en

o f p ro o f f ro m th e S tate to th e d ef

en d an t.

D u rin g th e d ef

en d an t’s clo sin g arg u m en t, d ef en se co u n s e l a rg u ed th at th e in cid en t

at th e C itg o w as n o t an attem p ted ro b b ery

. H e em

p h asized th at n o m o n ey w as tak en an d th at
th e d ef en d an t h ad a reg u lar j o b an d w as n o t in n eed o f m o n ey

. In reb u ttal, th e p ro secu to r

p o in ted o u t th at th ere w as n o o b j ectiv e p r o o f o f t h e d ef

en d an t’s em

p lo y m en t b y statin g , “H e’s g ain f

u lly em p lo y ed ; h e’s m ak in g all th is m o n ey - o f co u rse, th at’s w h at h e say s. N o

em p l o y e r o r p a s t em

p lo y er h as co m e in an d said h e w o rk ed a certain am o u n t o f tim e[ .] ”

D ef en se co u n sel o b

j ected

, an d th e co u rt ru led th at th e S tate w as resp o n d in g to th e d ef en se

arg u m en ts.

-18-T en n essee co u rts “h av e trad itio n ally p ro v id ed co u n sel w ith a w id e latit u d e o f

d iscretio n in th e co n ten t o f th eir f in al arg u m en t” a n d trial j u d g es w ith “w id e d iscretio n in

co n tro l o f th e arg u m en t.” S tate v

. Z irk le, 9 1 0 S .W.2 d 8 7 4

, 8 8 8 (T en n

. C rim

. A p p

. 1 9 9 5 ).

A p arty ’s clo sin g arg u m en t “m u st b e tem

p erate, p red icated o n ev id en ce in tro d u ced d u rin g th e trial, relev an t to th e issu es b ein g tried

, an d n o t o th erw ise imp r o p e r u n d er th e f acts o r law .” S tate v

. M id d leb ro o k s, 9 9 5 S

. W

. 2 d 5 5 0

, 5 5 7 (T en n

. 1 9 9 9 ). T h e f iv e g en erally

r e c ogni z e d a

r e a s of pr o secu to rial m isco n d u ct in clo sin g arg u m en t o ccu r w h en th e p ro secu to r in ten tio n ally m isstates th e ev id en ce o r m islead s th e j u ry o n th e in f eren ces it m ay d raw f

ro m th e ev id en ce; ex p resses h is o r h er p erso n al o p in io n o n th e ev id en ce o r th e d ef en d an t’s g u ilt;

u ses arg u m en ts calcu lated to in f lam e th e p assio n s o r p rej u d ices o f th e j u ry ; d iv erts th e j u ry f ro m its d u ty to d ecid e th e case o n th e ev id en ce b y in j ectin g issu es b ro ad er th an th e g u ilt o r in n o c e n c e o f t h e accu sed u n d er th e co n tro llin g law o r b y m ak in g p red ictio n s o n th e

co n seq u en ces o f th e j u r y ’ s v e rd ict; an d in ten tio n ally ref ers to o r arg u es f

acts o u tsid e th e

reco rd

, o th er th an th o se w h ich are m atters o f co m m o n p u b lic k n o w led g e. S tate v

. G o ltz, 1 1 1

S .W.3 d 1 , 6 (T en n . C rim . A p p . 2 0 0 3 ).

F o r a d ef en d an t to b e en titled to a n ew trial o n th e b asis o f alleg ed ly i mp r o p er

rem ark s d u rin g th e clo sin g arg u m en t, th ey m u st b e sh o w n to h av e p rej u d iced th e case b y af f ectin g th e j u ry ’s v erd ict. M id d leb ro o k s, 9 9 5 S .W.2 d at 5 5 9

. In d eterm in in g w h eth er th is

o c c u rred

, w e co n sid er th e f o llo w in g f

acto rs: (1 ) th e co n d u ct v iew ed in lig h t o f th e circu m stan ces an d f

acts in th e case; (2 ) a n y c u rativ e m easu res tak en b y th e trial co u rt an d
th e p ro secu tio n ; (3 ) th e p ro secu to r’s in ten t in m ak in g th e im p ro p er statem en t s; (4 ) th e

cu m u lativ e ef f ect o f th e p ro secu to r’s statem en ts an d o th er erro rs in th e reco rd ; an d (5 ) th e relativ e stren g th an d w eak n ess o f th e case. Id . at 5 6 0

.

U p o n rev iew

, w e d iscern n o erro r in th e trial co u rt’s o v erru lin g th e d ef en d an t’s

o b j ectio n to th e S tate’s reb u ttal arg u m en t. T h e S tate’s arg u m en t w as clearly in resp o n se to
th e d ef en d an t’s rep eated em

p h a s i s in clo sin g th at h e h ad n o m o tiv e to co m m it a ro b b ery b ecau se h e w as g ain f

u lly em p lo y ed an d earn ed d ecen t co m p en satio n

. “Wh ere th e crim in al
d ef en d an t raises an issu e in h is d ef en se, h e can n o t co m

p lain o f ref

eren ces to th e issu e b y th e

p ro secu tio n , o r a r g u m en t o n th at issu e, so lo n g as th e arg u m en t is f airly w arran ted b y th e f acts an d circu m stan ces o f th e case.” S tate v

. S u tto n , 5 6 2 S .W.2 d 8 2 0

, 8 2 3 -2 4 (T en n

. 1 9 7 8 ).

In an y ev en t, th e d ef

en d an t can n o t sh o w th at h e w as p rej u d iced b y t h e r e b u ttal

arg u m en t o f

th e S tate b ecau se th e j u ry w as u n ab le to reach a v erd ict o n th e f elo n y m u rd er

co u n t an d a m istrial w as d eclared

, an d ev id en ce co n cern in g th e d ef en d an t ’ s f

i n a n cial
situ ati o n w as clearly m o re ap p licab le to th e ch arg e o f m u rd er d u rin g th e attem

p ted

p erp etratio n o f

a ro b b ery

an d n o t th e ch arg e o f

p rem ed itated m

u rd er.

-19-VI. 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 , a r g u i n g t h a t

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

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

. W h e n 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 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 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 )

.

F i r s t d e g r e e m u r d e r i s “ [ a ] p r e m e d i t a t e d a n d i n t e n t i o n a l 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 0 2 ( a ) ( 1 ) ( 2 0 0 6 )

. “ P r e m e d i t a t i o n ” i s d e f i n e d i n o u r c r i m i n a l c o d e a s

-20-a n a c t d o n e a f t e r t h e e x e r c i s e o f r e f

l e c t i o n a n d j u d g m e n t

. “ P r e m e d i t a t i o n ”

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

. I t i s

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

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

a n y d e f i n i t e p e r i o d o f t i m e

. T h e m e n t a l s t a t e o f t h e a c c u s e d a t t h e t i m e t h e

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

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

.

I d

. § 3 9

- 1 3

- 2 0 2 ( d )

.

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

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

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

. S e e S t a t e v

. S u t t l e s , 3 0 S

. W

. 3 d 2 5 2

, 2 6 1 ( T e n n

. 2 0 0 0 ) ;
S t a t e v

. B l a n d

, 9 5 8 S

. W

. 2 d 6 5 1

, 6 6 0 ( T e n n

. 1 9 9 7 ) ; S t a t e v

. P i k e , 9 7 8 S

. W

. 2 d 9 0 4

, 9 1 4 ( T e n n

. 1 9 9 8 )

. F a c t s f

r o m w h i c h t h e j u r y m a y i n f e r p r e m e d i t a t i o n i n c l u d e t h e d e f e n d a n t ’ s d e c l a r a t i o n o f a n i n t e n t t o k i l l t h e v i c t i m ; t h e u s e o f a d e a d l y w e a p o n u p o n a n u n a r m e d

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

c o n c e a l t h e c r i m e , a n d d e s t r u c t i o n o r s e c r e t i o n o f e v i d e n c e o f t h e k i l l i n g ; a n d t h e d e f e n d a n t ’ s

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

. S t a t e v

. J a c k s o n , 1 7 3 S

. W

. 3 d 4 0 1

, 4 0 9 ( T e n n

. 2 0 0 5 ) ;
S t a t e v

. T h a c k e r , 1 6 4 S

. W

. 3 d 2 0 8

, 2 2 2 ( T e n n

. 2 0 0 5 ) ; S t a t e v

. L e a c h

, 1 4 8 S

. W

. 3 d 4 2

, 5 4 ( T e n n

. 2 0 0 4 ) ; S t a t e v

. N i c h o l s , 2 4 S

. W

. 3 d 2 9 7

, 3 0 2 ( T e n n

. 2 0 0 0 ) ; B l a n d

, 9 5 8 S

. W

. 2 d a t 6 6 0

.

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

. F u n t e ’ s

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

l e c t i o n a n d j u d g m e n t

. ” T h e v i d e o

s h o w e d t h a t t h e d e f

e n d a n t a n d t w o c o n f

e d e r a t e s w a l k e d i n t o t h e C i t g o s t o r e w e a r i n g h o o d s

a n d m a s k s

. T h e d e f

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

t

t h e s t o r e

. T h e d e f

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

s t a n d i n g p o s i t i o n

. T h e v i c t i m f e l l d o w n a n d t h e d e f

e n d a n t s t a r t e d t o l e a v e t h e s t o r e

. H o w e v e r , t h e d e f

e n d a n t r e m o v e d h i s h o o d

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

a s t h e v i c t i m t r i e d t o m o v e a w a y

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

.

D r

. F u n t e t e s t i f

i e d t h a t t h e g u n s h o t w o u n d t o t h e c h e s t c a u s e d “ p r e t t y m a j o r i n j u r i e s , ”

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

t h a t t h e t r a

j e c t o r y w a s f

r o m u p t o d o w n

. G i v e n t h e a n g l e o f t h e c h e s t w o u n d a n d t h e v i d e o

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

, a r a t i o n a l t r i e r o f f a c t c o u l d

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

e n d a n t

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

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

. M o r e o v e r , t h e d e f e n d a n t f a i l e d t o r e n d e r a i d t o t h e v i c t i m , w h i c h

-21-p e r m i t s t h e j u r y t o i n f e r t h a t t h e d e f

e n d a n t ’ s a c t i o n s w e r e p r e m e d i t a t e d

. S e e S t a t e v

. L e w i s , 3 6 S

. W

. 3 d 8 8

, 9 6 ( T e n n

. C r i m

. A p p

. 2 0 0 0 )

. I t w a s w i t h i n t h e p r o v i n c e o f t h e j u r y t o r e j e c t

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

r e m o v e t h e g u n f

r o m h i s h a n d

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

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

. ”

VII. J u ry C h a rg e

T h e d ef e n d an t arg u es th at th e “acq u ittal-f irst” in stru ctio n ch arg ed b y th e co u rt

p reclu d ed th e j u ry f

r o m co n sid erin g lesser-in clu d ed o f f en ses, sp ecif

ically v o lu n tary

m an slau g h t e r

. H e asserts th at b ecau se v o lu n tary m an slau g h ter req u ires th at o n e act
in ten tio n ally o r k n o w in g ly p lu s th e ad d itio n al elem en t o f in “a state o f p assio n p ro d u ced b y ad eq u ate p ro v o catio n [ ,]

. . . it is th eo retically im p o ssib le” f

o r th e j u ry to co n sid er th e o f f en se

o f v o lu n tary m an slau g h ter u n less it h as alread y f o u n d h im g u ilty o f a g reater o f f en se t h a t

o n ly req u ires th at th e k illin g b e in ten tio n al o r k n o w in g b u t n o t in “a state o f p assio n .”

In th is case, th e trial co u rt in stru cted th e j u ry o n th e in d icted o f f en se o f f irst d eg ree

m u rd er an d th e lesser-in clu d ed o f f en ses o f seco n d d eg ree m

u rd er, f acilitatio n o f f

irst d eg ree

m u rd er, f acilitatio n o f seco n d d eg ree mu r d er, v o lu n tary m an slau g h ter, f acilitatio n o f

v o lu n tary m an slau g h ter, reck less h o m ici d e , an d crim in ally n eg lig en t h o m icid e. T h e trial

co u rt also in stru cted th e j u ry n o t to co n s i d er th e lesser-in clu d ed o f f en ses u n less it f

irst

acq u itted th e d ef

en d an t o f th e g reater o f

f en se.

T h e d ef en d an t ack n o w led g es th at seq u en tial o f f en se in stru ctio n s are ap p ro v ed b y th e T en n essee S u p rem e C o u rt, see S tate v

. D av is, 2 6 6 S .W.3 d 8 9 6 (T en n

. 2 0 0 8 ), b u t h e u rg es th at “in p racticality [ su ch in stru ctio n s are ] f l a w ed w h en it co m es to th e th eo ry b eh in d th e in stru ctio n .” In D av is, o u r su p rem e co u rt h eld th at

w h ere a crim in al d ef

en d an t is en titled to j u ry in stru ctio n s o n lesser-in clu d ed

o f f en ses, th e trial co u rt sh all in stru ct th e j u ry to co n sid er th e o f f en ses in o rd er f ro m g reatest to least w ith in each co u n t o f th e in d ictm en t an d th at it sh all n o t

p ro ceed to co n sid er an y l e s s e r

- i n clu d ed o f f en se u n til it h as f

irst m ad e a

u n an im o u s d eterm in atio n th at t h e d ef en d an t is n o t g u ilty o f th e im m ed iately -p reced in g g reater o f f en se.

D av is, 2 6 6 S .W.3 d at 9 1 0

. T h e co u rt ad d itio n ally en d o rs e d t h e g iv in g o f seq u en tial

in stru ctio n s as a m atter o f p o licy

. Id

. at 9 0 5 -0 8

. We are b o u n d to f o llo w th e d ictates o f o u r

su p rem e co u rt, w h ich h as d eterm in ed th at seq u en tial j u ry in stru ctio n s are ap p r o p riate an d

co n stitu tio n al. It is n o t th e p ro v in ce o f th is co u rt to seco n d -g u ess th at d ecisio n

. M o reo v er,

as in d icated b y th e co u rt in D av is, th e j u ry , alth o u g h n o t d o in g so ex p licitly

, sim u ltan eo u sly

-22-c o n s i d e r s lesser-in clu d ed o f f en ses su p p o rted b y th e p ro o f w h en it co n sid ers th e g reat e r

o f f en se, at least w ith resp ect to lesser-in clu d ed o f f en ses w h o se statu to ry elem en ts are in clu d ed in th e statu to ry elem en ts o f th e g reater o f f en se w h ich is th e case h ere. Id

. at 9 0 4

. T h u s, th e j u ry k n ew th at it co u ld acq u it o n a m o re serio u s ch arg e in f av o r o f co n v ictin g o n th e lesser o f

f en se o f v o lu n tary m an slau g h ter b u t ch o se n o t to d o so

. T h e d ef en d an t is n o t

en titled to relief

o n th is issu e.

VIII. Verd ict F o rm

T h e d ef en d an t lastly arg u es th at th e v erd ict f o rm u sed b y th e trial c o u r t w as in co n sisten t in th at it em

p h asized th e n ecessity f

o r a u n an im o u s v erd ict o f n o t g u ilty b u t d id

n o t em p h asize th e n ecessity f

o r a u n an im o u s v erd ict o f g u i l t y

. H e asserts th at th e in stru ctio n s m isled th e j u ry in to th in k in g it co u ld retu rn a less th an u n an im o u s g u ilty v erd ict.

We in itially n o te th at alth o u g h th e d ef en d an t o b j ected to th e v erd ict f

o rm o n th e b asis

o f its p ro v id in g f

o r “acq u ittal-f

irst,” it d o es n o t ap p ear th at th e d ef en d an t ev er o b

j ected o n th e b asis o f in co n sisten cy reg ard in g a u n an im o u s v erd ict an d h as th eref o re w aiv ed rev iew

o f th is issu e. S ee T en n . R . A p p . P . 3 6 (a).

Waiv er n o tw ith stan d in g , t h e d e f e n d an t is n o t en titled to relief o n th is issu e. 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 iv 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, w e m u st 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 a s 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 ); s e e a l s o S tate v

. V an n , 9 7 6 S .W.2 d 9 3

, 1 0 1 (T en n

. 1 9 9 8 ). 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 l a w

. ” V a n n , 9 7 6 S .W.2 d at 1 0 1 ; 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 ).

In its o p en in g in stru ctio n s to th e j u ry , th e trial co u rt in f o rm ed th e j u ry th at i t c o u ld

n o t f in d th e d ef

en d an t g u ilty u n less it d eterm in ed

, u n an im o u sly

, th at th e S tate h ad p ro v en th e essen tial elem en ts o f th e crim e b ey o n d a reaso n ab le d o u b t. In i ts f in al w ritten

in stru ctio n s to th e j u ry , th e co u rt stressed th at “[ a] n y v erd ict

. . . reach [ ed ] in th e j u ry ro o m ,

w h eth er g u ilty o r n o t g u ilty

, m u st b e u n an im o u s.” A p ag e an d a h alf later, th e in stru ctio n s

p ro v id ed th at if th e j u ry f o u n d th e d ef

en d an t g u ilty

, it sh o u ld retu rn a v erd ict o f g u ilty

, b u t
if it u n an im o u sly f

o u n d h im n o t g u ilty

, it sh o u ld th en co n sid er lesser-in clu d ed o f f en ses. T h e in stru ctio n s f

u rth er p ro v id ed th at if th e j u ry u n an im o u sly f o u n d th e d ef

en d an t n o t g u ilty o f

an y lesser-in clu d ed o f

f en ses, th en it sh o u ld retu rn su ch v erd ict, b u t if it u n an im o u sly f o u n d

-23-h i m g u i l t y o f an y lesser-in clu d ed o f f en se, th en th at w o u ld b e its v erd ict. In its f in al o ral

in stru ctio n s to th e j u ry , am o n g o th er th in g s, th e co u rt stressed

, “A n d af ter y o u ’v e d elib erated

o n th is case

. . . w h eth er it’s g u ilty

, n o t g u ilty

, o r g u ilty o f lesser-in clu d ed o f f en ses, y o u r

v erd ict h as to b e u n an im o u s.” U p o n o u r rev iew

, it is clear th at th e to tality o f th e trial co u rt’s
in stru ctio n s to t h e j u ry an d th e atten d an t v erd ict f o rm p ro v id ed th at th e j u ry ’s d ecisio n ,

w h eth er g u ilty o r n o t g u ilty

, m u st b e u n an im o u s. T h u s, th e d ef en d an t is n o t en titled to relief

o n th is issu e.

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

-24-