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

AT JACKSON

Ass ig ne d o n B rie fs May 7, 20 13

BOB BY JACK SON v . STATE O F TENNESSE E

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 8

- 0 0 1 2 7 J

. R o b e r t C a r t e r , J r

. , J u d g e

N o

. W 2 0 1 2

- 0 1 1 2 5

- C C A

- R 3

- P C

- F i l e d M a y 3 0
, 2 0 1 3

T h e p e t i t i o n e r , B o b b y J a c k s o n , a p p e a l s t h e d e n i a l o f h i s p e t i t i o n f o r p o s t

- c o n v i c t i o n r e l i e f

,

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

. F o l l o w i n g o u r r e v i e w ,

w e a f f i r m t h e p o s t

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

.

T e n n

. R

. A p p

. P

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

A LA N E

. G LE N N

, J

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

, i n w h i c h J E R R Y L

. S M IT H a n d N O R M A

M C G E E O G LE

, J J

. , j o i n e d

.

J a m e s A

. G r e e n e , 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

, B o b b y J a c k s o 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 ; S o p h i a S

. L e e , S e n i o r C o u n s e l ; A m y
P

. W e i r i c h

, 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 L e s s i e R a i n e y , 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

I n 2 0 0 9

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

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

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

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

c o n v i c t i o n s o n d i r e c t a p p e a l

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

a p p e a l

. S t a t e v

. B o b b y J a c k s o n , N o

. W 2 0 0 9

- 0 2 2 3 2

- C C A

- R 3

- C D

, 2 0 1 1 W L 1 8 4 9 0 9 6

, a t * 1 ( T e n n

. C r i m

. A p p

. M a y 1 1

, 2 0 1 1 )

, p e r m

. a p p

. d e n i e d ( T e n n

. S e p t

. 2 1

, 2 0 1 1 )

.

T h e u n d erly in g f

acts o f th e case w ere recited b y

th is co u rt o n d irect ap p eal:A u relia G u illen testif ied th at in Jan u ary 2 0 0 7

, sh e liv ed in M em p h is,

T en n essee, an d w as sep arated f ro m th e v ictim

, C arlo s G u illen

, w ith w h o m sh e h ad tw o ch ild ren

. S h e said th at th e last tim e sh e saw th e v ictim w as D ecem b er 3 1

, 2 0 0 6

, w h en h e p ick ed u p th eir ch ild ren f ro m h er h o u se. G u illen testif ied
th at th e v ictim

o w n ed a C h ev ro let T railb lazer.

J o se L eo n testif

ied th at th e S h elb y C o u n ty D istrict A tto rn ey ’s o f f ice

em p lo y ed h im as a v ictim

w itn ess co o rd in ato r f

o r th e H isp an ic co m m

u n ity

. H e said th at h e m et M artin S an ch ez, a w itn ess in th is case, at th e p relim in ary h earin g i n 2 0 0 7

. A t th at tim e, S an ch ez g av e L eo n h is lo cal co n tact
in f o r ma tio n an d in f

o rm ed L eo n th at h e p lan n ed to retu rn to M ex ico

. L eo n said th at S an ch ez g av e h im th e n u m b er to a p h o n e b o o th in h i s v i l l a g e in

M ex ico

. L eo n testif

ied th at h e attem

p ted to lo cate S an ch ez th ro u g h th e lo cal

co n tact in f

o rm atio n an d th ro u g h th e M ex ican p h o n e n u m b er b u t w as

u n su ccessf

u l in f in d in g h im

b ef o re trial.

D etectiv e R o n ald G o o d w in testif ied th at h e w as a crim in al in v estig ato r f o r th e S h elb y C o u n ty D istrict A tto rn ey ’s o f f ice. H e said th at h e attem

p ted to
lo cate S an ch ez u sin g th e in f o rm atio n f

ro m h is statem en t to p o l i c e , u tility

co m p an y reco rd s, m o to r v eh icle reco rd s, a n d h i s w if e’s reco rd s. D etectiv e G o o d w in said th at h e w en t to th e lo cal a d d r e s s h e f o u n d

, b u t n o o n e at th at
lo catio n k n ew w h ere S an ch ez h ad g o n e. D etectiv e G o o d w in stated th at h e

u sed a n atio n w id e d a tab ase to d eterm in e w h eth er an y ag en cy h ad arrested

S an ch ez o r h is w if

e, b u t th e search d id n o t rev eal an y arrests.

O n cro ss-ex am in atio n , D etectiv e G o o d w in testif ied th at h e w as

u n aw are o f w h eth er f

ed eral au th o rities h ad issu ed a v isa o r w o rk p erm it f o r S an ch ez.

T h e state p lay ed th e v id eo tap e o f S an ch ez’s testim o n y f ro m th e [ p etitio n er’s] p relim in ary h earin g

. O n d irect ex am in atio n , S an ch ez testif ied
th at o n Jan u ary 5

, 2 0 0 7

, h e w as in th e p ark in g lo t o f t h e Willo w O ak s A p artm en ts w h en th e v ictim ask ed w h eth er h e w an ted to p u rch ase an y C D s. S an ch ez said th at a f

t e r h e p u rch ased a C D an d receiv ed ch an g e f ro m th e

v ictim

, tw o b lack m en ap p ro ach ed th e v ictim ’s v eh icle. H e said th at o n e m an

w a s t a l l e r th an th e o th er, an d th e taller m an to ld th e v ictim to g et o u t o f th e

v eh icle. T h e taller m an p u lled th e v ictim o u t o f th e v eh icle an d p o in ted a g u n

at h im

. T h e sh o rter m an h it th e v i c tim

, an d th e v ictim f ell to th e g ro u n d

. Wh en th e v ictim tried to g et u p , th e taller m an sh o t h im

. T h e m en d ro v e aw ay in th e v ictim 's v eh icle. S an ch ez t e stif ied d u rin g cro ss-ex am in atio n th at h e w as

-2-tw en ty m eters aw a y f ro m th e v eh icle an d co u ld see an d h ear ev ery th in g clearly

. H e said th at p o lice sh o w ed h im p h o to g rap h s, b u t h e d id n o t id en tif y eith er o f th e tw o su sp ects f

ro m th e p h o to g rap h s.

M em p h is P o lice O f

f icer D av id R eed testif

ied th at o n Jan u ary 5

, 2 0 0 7

, h e resp o n d ed to a sh o o tin g at 2 7 4 9 K etch u m R o ad in th e Willo w O ak s

ap artm en t co m

p lex

. Wh en h e arriv ed

, h e f o u n d a m ale H isp an ic lay in g o n th e

g ro u n d

. O f

f icer R eed testif

ied th at h e to o k w itn ess rep o rts an d h eld th e scen e

u n til d etectiv es arriv ed

.

M em p h is P o lice S erg ean t A lisa M itch ell testif ied th at in Jan u ary 2 0 0 7

, sh e w as a crim e scen e in v estig ato r. S h e said th at o n Jan u ary 5

, 2 0 0 7

, sh e

m ad e th e scen e at 2 7 4 9 K etch u m R o ad an d o b serv ed th at th e v ictim w as ly in g

o n h is b ack w ith h is arm s ab o v e h is h ead

. S h e recalled th at h e h ad a g u n sh o t

w o u n d to th e ch est. S erg ean t M itch ell testif ied th at sh e p h o to g r a p h e d th e

scen e an d co llected th ree n in e m illim eter L u g er Win ch ester sh ell casin g s.

O n cro ss-ex am in atio n , S erg ean t M itch ell testif ied th at th e v ictim w as

carry in g a w allet w ith $ 4 4 in sid e. S h e said th at sh e co llected th e w allet as p art

o f th e v ictim ’s p erso n al b elo n g in g s.

O n re-d irect ex am in atio n , S erg ean t M itch ell testif ied th at sh e d id n o t

reco v er th e v ictim ’s k ey s at th e scen e.

T racy R iv ers testif

i e d t h a t sh e liv ed in th e Willo w O ak s ap artm en t

co m p lex

. S h e said th at o n Jan u ary 5

, 2 0 0 7

, sh e w as w alk in g th ro u g h th e

ap artm en t co m

p lex w ith h er f

o u rteen -y ear-o ld co u sin w h en tw o y o u n g b lack

m ales tried to sp eak to h er co u sin

. R iv ers s a i d t h at sh e h ad n ev er seen th e

m ales b e f o r e th at d ay

. S h e stated th at th e m ales w ere b etw een six teen an d

n in eteen y ears o ld an d th at o n e w as taller th an th e o th er. R iv ers testif ied th at
sh e h ad j u st w alk ed in to h er ap artm en t ap p ro x ima t e l y f iv e m in u tes af

ter

en co u n terin g th e m ales w h en sh e h eard th ree g u n sh o ts. R iv ers said th at sh e lo o k ed o u t o f th e d o o r an d saw a “b lu ish g reen ish tru ck sp eed o u t.” S h e also
d escrib ed th e v eh icle as a j eep

.

O n cro ss-ex am in atio n , R iv ers testif ied th at sh e w as u n ab le to id en tif y th e tw o m ales in a p h o to sp read sh o w n to h er b y p o lice o n Jan u ary

7 , 2 0 0 7

.

M em p h is P o lice O f

f icer R an d all D av is testif ied th at o n Ja n u ary 6

, 2 0 0 7

, h e w as p atro llin g h is p recin ct w h en h e o b serv ed a b lu e C h ev ro let S U V

-3-p ark ed in th e d riv ew ay o f an em p ty h o u se. H e ran th e v eh icle id en tif icatio n

n u m b er o n h is co m

p u ter, w h ich in d icated th at th e v eh icle w as sto len

. O f f icer

D av is recalled th at a w h ite cro ss w as h an g in g f ro m th e rearv iew m irro r. H e said th at th e p o lice d ep artm en t to w ed t h e v eh icle to th e in v estig ativ e h o ld

u n it. T h e p arties stip u lated th at th e 2 0 0 2 C h ev ro let T railb lazer w as reg istered

to th e v ictim

.

V arreo u s T h o m as testif

ied th at h e w as th e co -d ef en d an t’s b ro th er. H e

s a i d t h at o n Jan u ary 5

, 2 0 0 7

, h e w as w ith th e d ef en d an t at th e H illv iew

A p artm en ts, an d h e h eard th e d ef en d an t say th at h e h ad sh o t so m eo n e. T h o m as stated th at h e saw a b lu e C h ev ro let T railb lazer th at d ay o n A lcy R o ad
b eh in d an ab an d o n ed h o u se, w h ich w as a f iv e m in u te w alk f

ro m th e H illv iew

A p a r tm en ts. H e said th at h e h ad n o t seen th e d ef en d an t w ith th at v eh icle
b ef o re th at d a y

. T h o m as ag reed th at h e to ld p o lice th at th e d ef en d an t h ad

so m e k ey s th at T h o m as b eliev ed w ere f o r th e T railb lazer, b u t h e said th at h e

w as “u n d er p ressu re” w h en h e said th at.

O n cro ss-ex am in atio n , T h o m as testif ied th at th e d ef

en d an t n ev er to ld

h im an y th in g ab o u t a T railb lazer.

O f f icer V iv ian M assey testif ied th at sh e w as a co rrectio n s o f f icer a t
2 0 1 P o p lar A v en u e. S h e said th at o n Ju n e 9

, 2 0 0 9

, O f f icer T y ro n e M o u rn in g

g av e h er a l e t t e r , w h ich sh e in tu rn g av e to h er lieu ten an t. S h e reco g n ized

E x h ib it 2 2 as th e letter th at O f f icer M o u rn in g g av e h er.

O f f icer M o u rn i n g t e s tif

ied th at h e w as a co rrectio n s o f f icer at 2 0 1

P o p lar A v en u e. H e said th at o n Ju n e 9

, 2 0 0 9

, th e d ef en d an t g av e h im a letter,

w h ich h e id en tif

ied as E x h ib it 2 2

, to g iv e to D av id H a mi l t o n , th e

co -d e f e n d a n t. O f

f icer M o u rn in g stated th at h e g av e th e letter to O f f icer

M assey

.

T h e state read th e letter in to ev id en ce, p arap h rasin g at tim es. T h e f u ll
letter read as f

o llo w s:

Wh at’s u p lil b ro

. Y o u straig h t d o w n th eir [ sic]

. [ L ] o o k I b een h earin g y o u su p p o st [ sic] to b e testy f y in g [ sic] ag ain st m e. Wh y

y o u w an n a d o th at b ro

. S o y o u w an t m e to sp en d th e rest o f m y lif e [ in ] j ail f

ro m m y 3 k id s. Y o u k n o w I [ ex p letiv e] w ith y o u b ro lik e a lil b ro th er b u t w h y y o u w an t to g et b o th o f o u r lif e [ sic] [ ex p letiv e] o f

f

. C au se b o th o f u s g o n e d o so m e tim e

-4-reg ard less. We w ere to g eth er lil D av e b ro

. [ T ] h e reaso n th ey

w a n t y o u to testy f

ied [ sic] is b ecau se th ey d o n ’t h av e th e sh o o ter[ .] [ I] f th ey d o n ’ t g o t [ sic] th at[ ,] th ey d o n ’t h av e [ ex p letiv e] o n u s[ ,] m ean in g th ey d o n ’t g o t [ sic] n o case. Wh y

y o u th in k w e b een [ si c ] h e r e so lo n g b ro

. [ I] f y o u d o n ’t
testy f ied [ sic] w e g o h o m e. [ E x p letiv e] y o u said y o u read y [ sic]

to g o h o m e rig h t. Well let’s m ak e th is [ ex p letiv e] h ap p en

. Y o u

n eed to g et in th at law w o rk b ro [ an d ] sto p f ig h tin g [ ex p letiv e]

cau se th at ty

p e o f [ ex p letiv e] m ak e y o u lo o k b ad in co u rt. I g o

to trial Ju ly 6

. I d o n ’t w an t y o u to testy f ied [ sic] ag ain st m e b ro ,

cau se I w an t to g o h o m e to [ sic]

. We b o th n eed o u r f reed o m

. [ T ] h en lo o k if b o th o f u s g et ch arg e[ d ] it’s g o n e [ sic] g et b ro k e d o w n to [ i] n v o lu n tary m an slau g h ter. [ I] f y o u lo o k in y o u r law

w o rk y o u w ill see th at [ i] n v o lu n tary m an slau g h ter is a h o m icid e

co m m itted u n d er su ch circu m stan ces th at it p lain ly ap p ears th at

n eith er d eath n o r b o d ily h arm w as in ten d ed b y th e p arty d o in g th e k illin g , b u t th at d eath w as accid en tally cau sed b y so m e

u n law f u l act, o r b y so m e act n o t strictly u n law f u l i n itself

, b u t
d o n e in an u n law f

u l m an n er an d w ith o u t d u e cau tio n an d th at
d eath w as n atu r al an d p ro b ab le resu lt o f su ch act. S o [ r] em em b er I to ld th em th at w e g o t in to a f ig h t o f th e g u n [ an d ]
it w en t o f f [ ,] b u t at th e sam e tim e w e tried to ro b b [ sic] th at m an

to [ sic]

. S o w e still g o n e [ sic] h av e to d o so m e tim e b ro

. S o are

y o u sh u re [ sic] y o u w an t to testy f ied [ sic]

. [ I] f so y o u m

u st

g o n e [ sic] tak e th e E sp ecially [ sic] A g g rav ated ro b b ery

. [ N ] o w th at g o es b ack w h en I said w e w ere to g eth er[ .] I can ’t tak e b o th

o f th e ch arg es b ro real talk

. We n eed to f ig h t t h i s [ ex p letiv e]

to g e th er. O n ce ag ain [ ,] n o sh o o ter, n o case, d o n ’t n ev er [ sic]

f o rg et th a t b r o

. [ I] f y o u d o n ’t listen to [ n o b o d y ] else listen to

m e b ecau se I’m read in g o n th is [ ex p l e t i v e ]

. D o n ’t testy f ied [ sic] lil D av e. I lo v e y o u b ro

. [ R ] eal talk e v e n t h o u g h I talk
b ad ab o u t y o u [ ,] b u t I still [ ex p letiv e] w ith y o u b ecau se y o u m y

y o u n g [ ex p letiv e] [ an d ] y o u d o n 't u n d erstan d th i s [ ex p letiv e]

. [ B ] u t w e can b eat th ese p eo p le.

[ S ig n ed ] M u rd er M an A .K .A

. g et d o w n o r lay d o w n B .K .A

. lil

B o b b y T o lil D av e

O n cro ss-ex am in atio n , O f f icer M o u rn in g stated th at h e d id n o t recall
th e ex act d ate in Ju n e w h en th e d ef en d an t g av e h im th e letter n o r w h at tim e

-5-o f d ay it w as. H e said th at h e w as n o t f a mi l i a r w ith th e d ef

en d an t’s
h an d w ritin g an d d id n o t see th e d ef en d an t w rite th e letter. H e ag reed th at th e d ef en d an t h ad a cell m ate.

F ran cis D o n ald C arp en ter testif ied th at h e w as reti r e d f ro m th e M em p h is P o lice D ep artm en t, w h ere h e w as a crim e scen e an d f in g erp rin t
tech n ician

. H e testif

ied th at h e p ro cessed f

in g erp rin ts f

ro m a co f f ee cu p f o u n d

in sid e th e v ictim ’s v eh icle an d f ro m th e v eh icle itself

. T h e p arties stip u lated
th at th e f in g erp rin ts m atch ed th e v ictim ’s.

T en n essee B u reau o f In v estig atio n S p ecial A g en t C e r v i n ia B rasw ell
testif ied th at s h e w as a f

o ren sic scien tist in th e f

irearm s id en tif

icatio n u n it.

S h e said th at th e M em

p h is P o lice D ep artm en t p ro v id ed h er w ith a b u llet, th ree

n in e m illim eter cartrid g e cases, a b o x o f Win ch ester .3 8 0 calib er am m u n itio n ,

a C o b ra .3 8 0 au to m atic p isto l, an d s e v e n o th er Win ch ester .3 8 0 calib er cartrid g es. A g en t B rasw ell testif ied th at th e th ree n in e m illim eter cartrid g es

w e r e f ired f ro m th e sam e w eap o n

. S h e said th at th e .3 8 0 p isto l w o u ld n o t
h av e b e e n ab le to f

ire n in e m illim eter b u llets. A g en t B rasw ell said th at th e b u llet p ro v id ed to h er w as a n in e m illim eter.

Me m phi s Pol i c e Se r ge a

nt Ant hony Mul l i ns t e s t if

ied th at h e in terv iew e d

V arreo u s T h o m as in co n n ectio n w ith th is case. A cco rd in g to S erg ean t
M u llin s, th e ro b b e r y b u reau w as in terv iew in g T h o m as ab o u t sev eral cases

w h en h e in d icated th at h e h ad in f o rm atio n ab o u t a h o m icid e. T h o m as ag reed

to sp eak w ith h o m icid e d etectiv es an d g av e a w itn ess statem en t. S erg ean t
M u llin s said th at T h o m as to ld h im th at th e d ef en d an t h ad to ld h im th at h e sh o t
th e v ictim af

ter T h o m as saw a b lu e T r a i l b lazer o n A lcy R o ad

. T h o m as id en tif ied a p ictu re o f th e v ictim ’s T railb lazer as th e v eh icle h e saw

. T h o m as

to ld h im th at h e w en t to th e T railb lazer w ith Jef f rey T u rn er, w h o to o k so m e C D s o u t o f th e v eh icle. T h o m as said th at th e d ef en d an t h ad a set o f k ey s w ith

“a little th in g h an g in g o n th em ” th at h ad “ M ex ican w o rd s” w ritten o n it.

T h o m as assu m ed th e k ey s b e lo n g ed to th e T railb lazer b ecau se th e v eh icle’s
steerin g co lu m n w as n o t b ro k e n an d b ecau se th e d ef en d an t d id n o t o w n a

v eh icle.

S erg ean t M u llin s f

u rth er testif

ied th at h e in terv iew ed th e d ef en d an t o n F eb ru ary 1 2

, 2 0 0 7

, b ecau se T h o m as’[ ] statem en t a n d a n o th er w itn ess’s

statem en t im

p licated th e d ef

en d an t. In th e d ef

en d an t’s w ritten statem en t, th e d ef en d an t ad m itte d t h a t h e w as resp o n sib le f o r th e v ictim ’s d eath

. H e said
th at h e f ired o n e o r tw o sh o ts f

ro m a n in e m illim eter. T h e d ef en d an t said th at

-6-“D av e” w as w ith h im an d w as arm ed w ith a

. 2 2 c alib er w eap o n b u t d id n o t

f ire an y sh o ts. T h e d ef

en d an t stated th at h e sh o t th e v ictim b ecau se th e v ictim
tried to tak e h is g u n

. T h e d ef en d an t said th at h e g o t th e n in e m illim eter f ro m

a p erso n n am ed O c t a v io u s, an d h e retu rn ed th e g u n to O ctav io u s af ter
sh o o tin g th e v ictim

. H e said th at D av e d ro v e th e T railb lazer aw ay f ro m th e

scen e, an d th e d ef

en d an t later d ro v e it to a lo catio n n ear h is h o u se o n S u g ar C reek R o ad

. S erg ean t M u llin s testif ied th at, at th e tim e th at th e p o lice b o o k ed
th e d ef en d an t an d h is co -d ef

en d an t in to th e j ail, th e d ef en d an t w as tw o in ch es taller an d f

if ty p o u n d s h eav ier th an h is co -d ef en d an t.

O n cro ss-ex am in atio n , S erg ean t M u llin s testif ied th at T h o m as in itially

to ld h im th at th e d ef

en d an t d id n o t tell h im an y th in g ab o u t h is in v o lv em en t.
H e f u rth er testif

ied th at h e k n ew th at th e d ef en d an t w as a j u v en ile at th e tim e

o f h is in terv iew an d th at h is m o th er w as in M em p h is. H e ag reed th at h e d id

n o t co n tact th e d ef

en d an t's m o th er. S erg ean t M u llin s said th at th e d ef en d an t
in d icated th at h e h ad co m p leted th e ten th g r a d e a n d h ad b een in sp ecial
ed u catio n classes. S erg ean t M u llin s stated th at th e d ef en d an t in itially d id n o t

u n d erstan d h is rig h ts, so S erg ean t M u llin s an d h is p artn er “w en t o v er each o f

h is rig h ts w ith h im .”

O n re-d irect ex am in atio n , S erg ean t M u llin s testif ied th at th e d ef

en d an t

w as in cu sto d y in th e S h elb y C o u n ty J a i l r a th er th an in th e j u v en ile sy stem ; th eref o re, h e treated th e d e f

e n d a n t as an ad u lt. S erg ean t M u llin s said

, “[ A ] p p aren tly h e h ad b een in v o lv ed in so m an y en co u n ters w ith th e law th at
th e j u v en ile sy stem f

elt th ere w as n o th in g th ey co u ld d o to reh ab ilitate h im o r

an y th in g else.”

D r. L isa F u n te, an assistan t m ed ical ex am in er, testif ied th at th e v ictim
d ied f ro m a g u n sh o t w o u n d to h i s c h e s t

. S h e f u rth er testif

ied th at stip p lin g

aro u n d th e en tran ce w o u n d in d icated th at th e m u zzle o f th e g u n w as “w ith in
a f ew in ch es to a f

ew f eet.”

Id . at * 1 -5

.

In D ecem b er 2 0 1 1

, th e p etitio n er f

iled a p ro se p etitio n f

o r p o st-co n v ictio n relief

, in
whi ch h e raised

, am o n g o th er th in g s, v ario u s alleg atio n s o f in ef f ectiv e assistan ce of c ouns e l

. C o u n sel w as ap p o in ted

, an d an am en d ed p etitio n w a s f i l e d o n M arch 2

, 2 0 1 2

. T h e p o stco n v ictio n co u rt co n d u cted an ev id en tiary h earin g o n A p ril 5 , 2 0 1 2

.

A t th e h earin g , th e p etitio n er testif ied th at h e w as s e v e n t e e n y ears o ld an d o n

-7-p ro b atio n at th e tim e o f th e in stan t o f f en s e s

. H e said th at h e w as in carcerated f o r a n ew

ag g rav ated ro b b ery ch arg e w h en h e w as in terv iew ed b y h o m icid e d etectiv es o n F eb ru ary 1 2

o r 1 3

, 2 0 0 7

, f

o r th e in stan t case. H e ad m itted th at h e d en ied “ab o u t th ree o r f o u r tim es” an y k n o w led g e o f th e v ictim ’s m u rd er. A sk ed if h e req u ested an atto rn ey d u rin g th e in terv iew

, th e p etitio n er said

, “I d id n ’t k n o w w h at I n eed ed at th at tim e b ecau se m y m in d w asn ’t rig h t

at th at m o m en t.” H e ad m itted th at h e to ld th e d etectiv es h e h ad tried to ro b th e v ictim o f h is

car an d t h at th e v ictim w as accid en tally sh o t d u rin g th e en su in g stru g g le. H e f u rth er ad m itted th at th e statem en t w as in h is h an d w ritin g , b u t h e co u ld n o t rem em b er if h e sig n ed
it.

T h e p etitio n er said th at h e w as p laced in sp ecial reso u rce classes as a ch ild an d th at
h e h ad b een d iag n o sed w ith m ild retard atio n

. H e co u ld n o t recall if h e g av e th is in f o rm atio n

to th e d etectiv es d u rin g h is in terv iew

. H e said h e w as p laced o n su icid e p rev en tio n w h ile

aw aitin g trial b ecau se h e atte mp t ed to h an g h im self an d h ad cu t h is arm an d w rists w ith a

razo r. H e recalled g o in g to a m en tal h ealth in stitu tio n af ter b ein g released f

ro m th e h o sp ital.

H e h ad b een p rescrib ed tw o m ed icatio n s b u t w as n o t cu rren tly tak in g th em

.

T h e p etitio n er said h e ask ed trial co u n sel ab o u t try in g to su p p ress h is statem en t, b u t

co u n sel said it w o u ld b e d en ied o r w o u ld n o t h elp

. H e said th at trial co u n sel m et w ith h im

at th e j ail o n e tim e an d sen t co -co u n sel m o st o f th e tim e. H e said th at th e “m an th at th ey said
th at w as o n v id eo tap e” sh o u ld h av e b een called as a w itn ess at trial. T h e p etitio n er said th at
h e f elt “lik e

. . . [ h e] co u ld o f g o t a d eal in th ere. I f eel lik e

– b ecau se m y ch arg e p artn er, I’m
try in g to see h o w I en d u p g ettin g all th is tim e an d m y ch arg e p artn er g o t th irty -f iv e y ears b u t I g o t lif

e p lu s tw en ty .” H e said trial co u n sel to ld h im h e h ad “a n o d eal case.”

D u rin g ex am in atio n b y th e p o st-co n v ictio n co u rt, th e p etitio n er said h e to l d t r ial

co u n sel ev ery

th in g h e k n ew ab o u t th e case. H e ack n o w led g ed th at h is lif e sen ten ce an d

tw en ty -y ear sen ten ce w ere co n cu rren t. H e said h e w as sen ten ced to th ree y ears f o r th e

ag g rav ated ro b b ery

ch arg e. H e m ain tain ed th at h e w as “j u st try in g to carj ack ” th e v ictim

, b u t th e v ictim

f o u g h t b ack an d g o t sh o t.

T rial co u n sel, w h o h ad tried ap p ro x im ately th irty cases an d rep resen ted o th er clien ts
ch arg ed w ith f

irst d eg ree m

u rd er, testif

ied th at h e w as ap p o in ted to rep resen t th e p etitio n er in A u g u st 2 0 0 7 an d also rep resen ted th e p etitio n er o n an ag g rav ated ro b b ery case. A n o th er

atto rn ey , w h o h ad ten y ears ex p erien ce, w as also ap p o in ted f o r th e p etitio n er. T rial co u n sel

rep resen ted th e p etitio n er u n til A u g u st o r S e p tem b er 2 0 0 9 b u t co u ld n o t recall h o w m an y tim es h e m et w ith th e p etitio n er. H o w ev er, h is in v estig ato r m et w ith th e p etitio n er reg u larly

. C o u n sel d id n o t th in k co -co u n sel m et w ith th e p etitio n er b u t sa i d s h e r e s em b led th e in v estig ato r, w h ich m ay

h av e cau sed th e p etitio n er’s co n f u sio n ab o u t w h o m et w ith h im

.

-8-T rial co u n sel said h e d id n o t f ile a m o tio n to su p p ress th e p etitio n er’s statem en t
b ecau se h e litig ated th e p etitio n er’s s t a t e m en t as to th e ag g rav ated ro b b ery ch arg e an d
realized h o w f

u tile su p p ressin g h is statem en t w o u ld b e b ecau se th e p etitio n er h ad a len g th y crim in al h isto ry an d h is statem en t w as larg ely “self -serv in g .” C o u n sel said th at a f ew d ay s b ef o re trial, th e p etitio n er sen t a letter, w h ich h e sig n ed as “m u rd er m an , ” t o h is co

d ef en d an t in th e j ail. C o u n sel f iled a m o tio n to su p p r e s s t h e l e tter, b u t it w as d en ied

. C o u n sel said th e p etitio n er w as ev alu ated at M id to w n M en tal H ealth In stitu te an d f o u n d to
b e co m p eten t to stan d trial.

O n M ay 3

, 2 0 1 2

, th e p o st-co n v ictio n co u rt en tered an o rd er d en y in g p o st-co n v ictio n relief , an d th is ap p eal f

o llo w ed

.

A N A L Y S IS

T h e p etitio n er arg u es th at h e receiv ed th e in ef f ectiv e assist a n ce o f trial co u n sel
b ecau se co u n sel f

ailed to su p p ress h is statem en t o r o b j ect to th e ad m issio n o f th e letter h e sig n ed as “m

u rd er m an ” an d sen t to h is co -d ef en d an t. T h e S t a t e r e s p o n d s t h a t t h e p e t i t i o n e r h a s f a i l e d t o m e e t h i s b u r d e n o f p r o o f a s t o h i s c l a i m s

. W e a g r e e w i t h t h e S t a t e

.

P o s t

- c o n v i c t i o n r e l i e f i s a v a i l a b l e t o a p e t i t i o n e r w h o e s t a b l i s h e s t h a t h i s o r h e r

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

r i g h t

. T e n n

. C o d e A n n

. § 4 0

- 3 0

- 1 0 3

. T h e p o s t

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

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

. I d

. § 4 0

- 3 0

- 1 1 0 ( f )

. W h e n a n

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

- c o n v i c t i o n s e t t i n g , t h e f i n d i n g s o f f

a c t m a d e b y t h e

p o s t

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

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

. ” F i e l d s v

. S t a t e , 4 0 S

. W

. 3 d 4 5 0

, 4 5 6 ( T e n n

. 2 0 0 1 ) ; s e e

a l s o T i d w e l l v

. S t a t e , 9 2 2 S

. W

. 2 d 4 9 7

, 5 0 0 ( T e n n

. 1 9 9 6 )

. W h e r e a p p e l l a t e r e v i e w i s o f

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

. S e e
H e n l e y v

. S t a t e , 9 6 0 S

. W

. 2 d 5 7 2

, 5 7 8 ( T e n n

. 1 9 9 7 )

. H o w e v e r , r e v i e w o f a p o s t

- c o n v i c t i o n

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

c o r r e c t n e s s

. S e e R u f

f v

. S t a t e , 9 7 8 S

. W

. 2 d 9 5

, 9 6 ( T e n n

. 1 9 9 8 )

. T h e i s s u e o f i n e f f e c t i v e

a s s i s t a n c e o f c o u n s e l

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

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

- c o n v i c t i o n c o u r t ’ s f i n d i n g s o f f

a c t

. S e e F i e l d s , 4 0 S

. W

. 3 d a t 4 5 8 ; B u r n s v

. S t a t e , 6 S

. W

. 3 d 4 5 3

, 4 6 1 ( T e n n

. 1 9 9 9 )

.

T h e r i g h t t o e f

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

t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s a n d t h e S t a t e o f T e n n e s s e e

. S e e U

. S

. C o n s t

. a m e n d

. V I ; T e n n

. C o n s t

. a r t

. I

, § 9

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

, t h e

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

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

c o u n s e l ’ s d e f

i c i e n t p e r f

o r m a n c e p r e

j u d i c e d t h e o u t c o m e o f t h e p r o c e e d i n g

. S t r i c k l a n d v

.

-9-W a s h i n g t o n , 4 6 6 U

. S

. 6 6 8

, 6 8 7 ( 1 9 8 4 ) ; s e e S t a t e v

. T a y l o r , 9 6 8 S

. W

. 2 d 9 0 0

, 9 0 5 ( T e n n

.

C r i m

. A p p

. 1 9 9 7 ) ( n o t i n g t h a t s a m e s t a n d a r d f o r d e t e r m i n i n g i n e f

f e c t i v e a s s i s t a n c e o f

c o u n s e l t h a t i s a p p l i e d i n f e d e r a l c a s e s a l s o a p p l i e s i n T e n n e s s e e )

. T h e S t r i c k l a n d s t a n d a r d

i s a t w o

- p r o n g t e s t :

F i r s t

, t h e d e f

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

i c i e n t

. T h i s

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

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

A m e n d m e n t

. S e c o n d

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

o r m a n c e

p r e j u d i c e d t h e d e f

e n s e

. T h i s r e q u i r e s s h o w i n g t h a t c o u n s e l ’ s e r r o r s w e r e s o

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

a i r t r i a l

, a t r i a l w h o s e r e s u l t i s r e l i a b l e

.

4 6 6 U

. S

. a t 6 8 7

.

T h e d e f i c i e n t p e r f

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

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

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

u n d e r p r e v a i l i n g p r o f

e s s i o n a l n o r m s

. ” G o a d v

. S t a t e , 9 3 8 S

. W

. 2 d 3 6 3

, 3 6 9 ( T e n n

. 1 9 9 6 ) ( c i t i n g S t r i c k l a n d

, 4 6 6 U

. S

. a t 6 8 8 ; B a x t e r v

. R o s e , 5 2 3 S

. W

. 2 d 9 3 0

, 9 3 6 ( T e n n

. 1 9 7 5 ) )

. T h e

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

t h e r a n g e o f r e a s o n a b l e p r o f e s s i o n a l a s s i s t a n c e , s e e S t r i c k l a n d

, 4 6 6 U

. S

. a t 6 9 0

, a n d m a y n o t

s e c o n d

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

w e r e u n i n f

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

. S e e H e l l a r d v

. S t a t e , 6 2 9 S

. W

. 2 d 4

, 9 ( T e n n

. 1 9 8 2 )

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

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

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

. ” S t r i c k l a n d

, 4 6 6 U

. S

. a t 6 8 6

.

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

p r o b a b i l i t y , i

. e

. , a “ p r o b a b i l i t y s u f f i c i e n t t o u n d e r m i n e c o n f i d e n c e i n t h e o u t c o m e , ” t h a t “ b u t

f o r c o u n s e l ’ s u n p r o f

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

. ”

S t r i c k l a n d

, 4 6 6 U

. S

. a t 6 9 4

.

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

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

f i c i e n t s h o w i n g o n o n e

. ” 4 6 6 U

. S

.

a t 6 9 7 ; s e e a l s o G o a d

, 9 3 8 S

. W

. 2 d a t 3 7 0 ( s t a t i n g t h a t “ f a i l u r e t o p r o v e e i t h e r d e f i c i e n c y o r

p r e j u d i c e p r o v i d e s a s u f

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

.

In its o rd er d en y in g th e p etitio n f o r p o st-co n v ictio n relief

, th e co u rt f

o u n d th at trial

co u n sel’s d ecisio n to n o t seek su p p ressio n o f th e p etitio n er’s statem en t w as a “v alid tactical
d ecisio n ” in v iew o f th e p etitio n er’s reco rd an d th e f act th at th e statem en t w as larg ely self

serv in g , as testif

ied to b y trial co u n sel. T h e co u rt n o ted th at t r i a l co u n sel u n su ccessf u lly

-10-litig ated th e letter th e p etitio n er sen t to h is co -d ef en d an t. T h e co u rt also n o ted th at, at th e

ev id en tiary h earin g , p o st-co n v ictio n co u n sel an d trial co u n sel ag reed th at trial co u n sel “h ad

v ery little to w o rk w ith .” T h e co u rt co n clu d ed :

P etitio n er h as f

ailed to p ro v e th at h is trial atto rn ey w as d ef icien t

. T rial

co u n sel w as f

u lly p rep ared an d arg u ed [ th e] [ p ] etitio n er’s case as w ell as h e

co u ld

. P etitio n er still d o es n o t see h o w th e sh o o tin g d eath o f an in d iv id u al
d u rin g th e co u rse o f

stealin g th e in d iv id u al’s v eh icle can b e a m u rd er.

C o u n sel w as ab le to p er s u a d e t h e trial j u d g e to o rd er co n cu rren t

sen t e n c es. P etitio n er sim p ly h as n o t p u t f

o rth an y ev id en ce o f w h at h is

atto rn ey sh o u ld h av e d o n e b ey o n d th at w h ich w as d o n e.”

T h e r e c o r d f

u l l y s u p p o r t s t h e p o s t

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

r e c e i v e d e f

f e c t i v e a s s i s t a n c e o f c o u n s e l

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

i l e a m o t i o n

t o s u p p r e s s t h e p e t i t i o n e r ’ s s t a t e m e n t b ecau se th e p etitio n er h ad a len g th y crim in al h isto ry , in clu d in g an o th er ag g rav ated ro b b ery c o n v ictio n , an d th e statem en t w as larg ely “self

serv in g ,” w h ich w o u ld allo w th e p etitio n er to g et h is v ersio n o f th e f acts to th e j u ry w ith o u t

ex p o sin g h im to cro ss-ex am in atio n

. C o u n sel’s d ecisio n to n o t seek su p p ressio n o f th e

p etitio n er’s statem en t w as a tactical d e cisio n w e w ill n o t seco n d -g u ess o n ap p eal. We

can n o t co n clu d e th at co u n sel p erf o rm ed d ef

icien tly

. With reg ard to th e letter th e p etitio n er

sen t to h is co -d ef

en d an t, co u n sel testif

ied t h a t h e f

iled a m o tio n to su p p ress th e letter, b u t
it w as d en ied

. T h e p etitio n er n o w in sin u ates th at co u n sel sh o u ld h av e so u g h t red actio n o f

p o rtio n s o f th e l e t t e r

. H o w ev er, w e can n o t co n clu d e th at co u n sel’s acts o r o m issio n s f ell
b elo w an o b

j ectiv e stan d ard o f reaso n ab len ess, g iv en th at co u n sel so u g h t su p p ressio n o f th e letter b u t w as u n su ccessf

u l.

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 r e a s oni ng, w e af f irm th e d en ial o f th e p etitio n

.

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

. G L E N N

, J U D G E

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