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

AT JACKSON

Ass ig ne d o n B rie fs Marc h 1 , 20 11

STATE OF TENNESS EE v . JAW ASKI I W IL LI AMS

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 8

- 0 3 4 9 9 C h r i s C r a f t

, J u d g e

N o

. W 2 0 1 0

- 0 0 7 0 6

- C C A

- R 3

- C D

- F i l e d J u n e 2 1

, 2 0 1 1

T h e d ef en d an t, Ja w a s k ii William s, w as co n v icted o f seco n d d eg ree m u rd er, a C lass A

f elo n y

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

, b y a S h elb y C o u n ty C rim in al C o u rt j u ry

. H e w as sen ten ced to tw en ty -o n e y ears f o r th e m u rd er co n v ictio n an d f

iv e y ears f

o r t h e

ag g rav ated assau lt co n v ictio n

, to b e serv e d c o n cu rren tly in th e T en n essee D ep artm en t o f

C o rrectio n

. O n ap p eal, h e ch allen g es th e s u f f i c ien cy o f th e co n v ictin g ev id en ce an d th e

sen ten ces im

p o sed b y th e trial co u rt. A f t e r r ev iew

, w e af

f irm th e j u d g m en ts o f th e trial

co u rt.

T e n n

. R

. A p p

. P

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

A LA N E

. G LE N N

, J

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

, i n w h i c h 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

.

S t e p h e n B u s h

, D i s t r i c t P u b l i c D e f e n d e r ; P h y l l i s A l u k o

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

a p p e a l ) ; a n d D i a n n e T h a c k e r y

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

, f

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

, J a w a s k i i

W i l l i a m s

.

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 ; C l a r e n c e E

. L u t z

, A s s i s t a n t A t t o r n e y

G e n e r a 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 ; M a r i a n n e B e l l a n d C h r i s W e s t

,

A s s i s t a n t D i s t r i c t A t t o r n e y s G e n e r a l

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

, S t a t e o f T e n n e s s e e

.

O P I N I O N

F A C T S

T h is case arises o u t o f th e d ef en d an t’s sh o o tin g in to a v eh icle o ccu p ied b y R ay m o n d

C arru th ers an d A v ery D ig g s a f ter C arru th ers ref

u sed to leav e a p arty at th e d ef en d an t’s

h o m e. C arru th ers w as k illed as a resu lt o f th e sh o o tin g an d D ig g s w as g razed b y a b u llet.T h ereaf

ter, th e d ef

en d an t w as ch arg ed w ith th e seco n d d eg ree m u rd er o f C arru th ers an d th e

ag g rav ated assau lt o f

D ig g s. 1

M ary M o o re, th e v ictim ’s au n t, id en tif ied p h o to g rap h s o f th e v ictim an d stated th at

h e d ied o n Jan u ary

5 , 2 0 0 8 , w h en h e w as tw en ty -th ree y ears o ld

.

A v e r y D ig g s, th e v ictim o f th e ag g rav ated assau lt, testif ied th at h e an d th e v i c t i m

w o rk ed to g eth er at an IH O P restau ran t in M illin g to n in early 2 0 0 8

. T h e v ictim ’s g irlf rien d

at th e tim e w as o n e o f th eir co w o rk ers, K ierra B arn ett. O n Jan u ary 5

, 2 0 0 8

, D ig g s an d th e

v ictim lef t th e v ictim ’s ap artm en t to g o to an o th er co w o rk er, E lish a D o w ell’s, h o u se “f o r a

p arty th at [ th e v ictim ] said th at [ th ey ] w ere su p p o sed to g o to .” H o w ev er, th ey d id n o t k n o w

w h ere D o w ell liv ed

, so th ey d ro v e aro u n d th e g en eral area lo o k in g f o r h e r r e sid en ce. A s

th ey w ere d riv in g aro u n d , th ey saw T rish an n a T h o m as, th e v ictim ’s co u sin ’s g irlf rien d , at

a g as statio n an d sto p p ed to ask h er w h ere D o w ell liv ed

.

D ig g s recalled th at at th e g as statio n

, T h o m as w as w ith a “lig h t-sk in n ed d u d e,” K ierra

B arn ett, an d B arn ett’s sister. T h e v ictim w en t to th e silv er tru ck th at th ey w ere in an d called

f o r B arn ett “to g et o u t o f th e tru ck ” an d tried to o p en th e d o o r. A p p aren tly

, B arn ett h ad to ld

th e v ictim

earlier th at ev en in g th at sh e d id n o t w an t to g o o n a d ate w ith h im an d , in stead

,

w an ted “to g o w ith [ T h o m as] an d w h o ev er else sh e w as w ith .” T h e v ictim w as an g ry

, b u t

h e w as n o t scream in g at B arn ett o r th reaten in g h er. H o w ev er, B arn ett ref u sed to g et o u t o f

th e tru ck

.

D ig g s testif

ied th at th e v ictim g o t b ack in to h is car, an d th ey f o llo w ed th e tru ck to th e

lo catio n o f th e p arty

. T h e v ictim p ark ed h is car o n th e street in f ro n t o f t h e h o u s e

, im m ed iately b eh in d th e silv er tru ck

. D ig g s n o ted th at D o w ell liv ed at th e h o u se alo n g w ith

th e d ef en d an t, w h o m D o w ell ref erred to as h er h u sb an d

. O n ce p ark ed

, th e v ictim g o t o u t

o f h is car an d ap p ro ach ed th e tru ck

, u rg in g B arn ett to g et o u t. H o w ev er, th e v ictim “w asn ’t

p u llin g o n th e tru ck th is tim e,” an d h e n ev er p h y sically th reaten ed B arn ett.

D ig g s testif

ied th a t B a r n e t t d id n o t g et o u t o f th e tru ck

. O th ers, in clu d in g D ig g s,

B arn ett’s o ld est sister, D o w e l l

, a n d T h o m as, w ere stan d in g aro u n d th e tru ck d u rin g th e

ex ch an g e b etw een th e v i c t i m a n d B a r n ett. D o w ell to ld D ig g s an d th e v ictim th at th ey

n eed ed to leav e, an d th en D ig g s “h eard th e g u n sh o t in th e air lik e p o w ” co m in g f ro m n ear

t h e h o u se. T h e g u n m an ex claim ed

, “[ Y ] ’all n eed to g et th e f u ck u p o u t o f m y y ard ,” an d

D ig g s m ad e h is w ay to w ard th e v ictim to e n c o u r a g e h im to leav e. A t n o p o in t d u rin g th e

in cid en t d id D ig g s o r th e v ictim say an y th in g to th e g u n m an

.

Alt hough the re ar e two victi m s in thi s cas e, we wil l re fe r to Car rut her s as “t he victi m ” and to Digg s 1

by his la st name.

-2-D ig g s g o t in to th e v ictim ’s car an d “a m in u te, m in u te an d a h a l f ” l ater, th e v ictim

started to g et in to h is car, p au sed m id w ay f o r ab o u t ten seco n d s, th en f in ish ed g ettin g in to

t h e car, an d clo sed th e d o o r. O u t o f h is p erip h eral v isio n

, D ig g s saw a f ig u re h o l d i n g

so m eth in g co m e n ear th e car an d th en h eard a g u n sh o t. D ig g s recalled th e so u n d o f g lass

b reak in g an d co u ld tell th at so m eth in g h it h is lef t h an d

, so h e “p lay ed d ead .” H e n ex t h eard

“so m eb o d y

co m e u p to th e w in d o w an d w as lik e, d am n , th ey f u ck ed u p .”

A f ter p lay in g d ead f

o r th ree to f

iv e m in u tes, D ig g s p rep ared to d riv e aw ay

, b u t h e saw

th e p o lice arriv e an d g o t o u t o f th e car. D ig g s w al k e d t o th e b ack o f th e v ictim ’s car an d

p u n ch ed o u t th e b ack w in d o w b ecau se h e w as u p set. D ig g s stated th at at n o tim e p rio r to

th e sh o o tin g

, d id h e o r th e v ictim reach d o w n in to th e car f o r an y th in g

, an d n eith er o f th em

h ad a w eap o n th at n ig h t.

O n cro ss-ex am in atio n

, D ig g s testif ied th at D o w e l l h a d in v ited th em to h er p arty

“b ecau se sh e w as talk in g ab o u t it at w o rk to ev ery b o d y at w o rk

, tellin g u s th at sh e w as

h av in g a p arty at h er h o u se.” D ig g s recalled th at w h en th ey w ere at th e sto re, T h o m as to ld

th em to f o llo w th eir tru ck to th e p arty . D ig g s stated th at af ter th e sh o o tin g an d th e arriv al

o f th e p o lice, D o w ell w as th e o n ly p erso n rem ain in g at th e scen e w h o m h e reco g n ized

.

T rish an n a T h o m as testif

ied th at sh e w o rk ed at IH O P in Jan u ary 2 0 0 8

, alo n g w ith th e

v ictim

, D ig g s, D o w ell, an d B arn ett. S h e w as aw are th at B arn ett w as d atin g th e v ictim at th e

tim e. O n Jan u ary 5

, th ere w as g o in g to b e a b irth d ay p arty at th e h o u se D o w ell sh ared w ith

th e d ef en d an t. T h at ev en in g

, T h o m as d ro v e D o w ell an d B arn ett to D o w ell’s h o u se in h er

P T C ru iser. A t so m e p o in t d u rin g th e ev en in g

, T h o m as, B arn ett, B arn ett’s sister, Jessica, 2

an d a d ark -sk in n ed f

rien d o f th e d ef

en d an t lef t th e p arty in a b lack tru ck “to g et so m e m o re

d rin k s.” T h o m as recalled th at th e v ictim h ad called h er an d B arn ett th at ev en in g

.

T h o m as testif

ied th at th e th ree g irls w en t in to th e sto re an d th en retu rn ed to th e tru ck

to leav e. B y th at tim e, h o w ev er, th e v ictim an d D i g g s h a d a r riv ed

, an d th e v ictim

ap p ro ach ed th e tru ck an d to ld h er an d B arn ett to g et o u t, b u t th ey ref u sed

. T h e d ark -sk in n ed

f rien d o f th e d e f

e n d a n t to ld th e v ictim an d D ig g s to g et b ack in th eir car an d f o llo w th em

to th e p arty

. Wh en th ey arriv ed at th e h o u se, th ey p a r k e d th e tru ck o n th e street an d th e

v ictim p ark ed b eh in d th em

. T h e v ictim an d D ig g s g o t o u t o f th eir car, an d Jessica an d th e

d e f e n d a n t ’s f

rien d g o t o u t o f th e tru ck

. H o w ev er, B arn ett an d T h o m as rem ain ed in th e

tru ck

. T h e v ictim an d Jessica started arg u in g

, an d th e v ictim tried to u rg e B arn ett to g et o u t

o f th e tru ck . H o w ev er, th e v ictim n ev er ap p ro ach ed th e tru ck

.

Some peo ple wil l be re fe rr ed to by fi rs t nam e only bec aus e his or her la st name is not cl ear in the 2

re cor d. W e mean no di sr esp ect by thi s pr act ic e.

-3-T h o m as testif ied th at sh e an d B arn ett sat i n t h e t r u c k f o r f if teen to tw en ty m in u tes

b ef o re sh e g o t o u t o f t h e t r u c k a n d sto o d n earb y w atch in g th e v ictim an d Jessica arg u e.

T h o m as an d D o w ell tried to g et th e v ictim to l e a v e

, w h ile B arn ett rem ain ed in th e tru ck

. T h o m as said th at th e d ef en d an t lat e r c a me o u t o f th e h o u se w ith a lo n g g u n in h is h an d

,

w h ich h e u sed to sh o o t in th e air o n e tim e. T h e d ef en d an t d id n o t say an y

t h in g w h en h e

f ired th e g u n

. T h o m as d id n o t see th e v ictim o r D ig g s g rab an y o n e. T h o ma s t h e n w e n t

in sid e th e h o u se f

o r a m o m en t an d

, w h en sh e retu rn ed o u tsid e, saw “th e co n f ro n tatio n w ith

th e g u n .” T h o m as elab o rated

, “It w as [ th e d ef en d an t] an d h is f

rien d ram b lin g w ith th e g u n

so [ sh e w as] n o t su re ex actly w h ich o n e sh o t o r an y

th in g else b ecau se af

ter th at [ sh e] w as

i n th e h o u se ag ain .” O n ce sh e g o t in sid e th e h o u se, T h o m as h eard tw o g u n sh o t s a n d

scream in g an d th en D o w ell cam e in to th e h o u se w ith a g u n

.

O n cro ss-ex am in atio n

, T h o m as testif ied th at sh e, B arn ett, an d Jessica lef t th e h o u se

af ter th e sh o o tin g

. O n red ire c t e x a m in atio n

, T h o m as stated th at sh e h ad n o t seen B arn ett

sin ce th e in cid en t, an d sh e h ad h eard th at B arn ett m o v ed to C alif o rn ia.

H eath er G lissen

, a p o lice rad io d isp atch e r f o r th e M em

p h is P o lice D ep artm en t,

testif ied th at sh e receiv ed a 9 1 1 call o n Jan u ary 5

, 2 0 0 8

, a t 8 : 3 7 p .m

. f ro m an ad d ress o f

“1 8 5 1 T h e E lm s A v en u e.” T h e caller, w h o id en tif ied h im self as M r. William s, rep o rted th at

tw o m ales in a red car h ad b een sh o t in f ro n t o f th e h o u se. G lissen tran sf erred th e

in f o rm atio n to th e f

ire an d p o lice d ep artm en ts. T h ey receiv ed in f o rm atio n th at i t h ad

p o ssib ly b een a d riv e-b y sh o o tin g an d th at th e resp o n sib le p arty w as in a b lack F o rd F -1 5 0

tru ck th at “lef

t th e scen e g o in g so u th b o u n d o n O v erto n C ro ssin g f ro m th e ad d ress.”

O f f icer M ark K lo ek

, u n if

o rm p atro l w ith th e M em

p h is P o lice D ep artm en t, testif ied

th at h e w as p atro llin g th e F ray ser area in a o n e-m an u n it o n Jan u ary 5

, 2 0 0 8

, an d h is p artn er,

O f f icer A lex C ab rera, w as in an o th er u n it. O f f icer K lo ek stated th at h e an d O f f icer C ab rera

w ere p ark ed in a p ark in g lo t at th e co rn er o f O v erto n C r o ssin g an d F ray ser B o u lev ard

d iscu ssin g th e d ay ’s ev en ts w h en th ey h eard “ap p ro x im ately th ree g u n sh o ts.” S h o rtly af ter

h earin g th e g u n sh o ts, th ey w ere d isp atch ed to 1 8 5 1 T h e E lm s A v en u e w ith in f o rm atio n th at

th ere h ad b een a sh o o tin g an d th at a red car w as try in g to leav e th e scen e o f th e in cid en t.

O f f icer K lo ek testif

ied th at w h en th ey tu rn ed o n to th e street, th ey o b serv ed a red car

“lu rch in g f

o rw ard an d n o t g o in g to o sm o o th ly .” Wh en th e red car sto p p ed

, th e o f f icers saw

a “ v ery m ad an d u p set an d irate” m an g et o u t o f th e p assen g er’s seat o f th e car an d “an

in d iv id u al w h o o b v io u sly w as d eceased ” in th e car. T h e an g ry m an slam m ed h is f

ist o n to

th e rear g lass o f th e red car an d sh attered it. T h e o f f icers d etain ed th e an g ry m an in th e rear

o f a p atro l car b ecau se th ey w ere n o t su re o f h is ro le in th e sh o o tin g

. T h e o f f icers called an

am b u lan ce an d th en m ain tain ed th e crim e scen e u n til in v estig ato rs arriv ed

. O f f icer K lo ek

n o ted th at th ere w as n o o n e stan d in g aro u n d o u tsid e w h en h e arriv ed o n th e scen e.

-4-O f

f icer A lex C ab rera w ith th e M em p h is P o lice D ep artm en t te s t i fi e d c ons isten tly w ith

O f f icer K lo ek

. H e elab o rated th at ab o u t th ree to f o u r m in u tes elap sed f

ro m th e tim e h e

h eard th e g u n sh o ts to th e tim e h e receiv ed th e d isp atch call, an d it to o k ab o u t tw o m in u tes

to arriv e o n th e scen e. O f

f icer C ab rera recalled th at w h en th e an g ry m an

, w h o m th ey learn ed

to b e A v ery D ig g s, g o t o u t o f th e red car, h e h ad o n a j ack et b u t to o k it o f f an d th rew it in to

th e street. O f

f icer C ab rera stated th at h e ch eck ed D i g g s f o r w eap o n s p rio r to p u ttin g h im

in th e b ack seat o f th e p atro l car. O f f icer C ab r e r a s a i d t h a t w h en th ey f irst arriv ed at th e

scen e, th ey

d id n o t see an y

v eh icle o th er th an th e red car.

Jef f H illiard

, a f

iref ig h ter p aram ed ic w ith th e C ity o f M em p h is F ire D iv isio n

, t e s tif

ied

th a t h e arriv ed to th e scen e at 1 8 5 1 T h e E lm s A v en u e at 8 :5 0 p .m

. H illiard said th at th e

p atien t in th e b ack seat o f th e p atro l car h ad a laceratio n to h is rig h t h a n d a n d a p o ssib le

g u n sh o t w o u n d to h is lef t h an d

. H illiard stated th at th e p atien t’s w o u n d s w ere b a n d a g ed

,

an d h e w as tran sp o rted to th e h o sp ital. T h e d riv er o f th e red c a r w as d ead o n arriv al.

H illiard d id n o t see a w eap o n o n th e d eceased o r in sid e th e v eh icle.

D etectiv e K im

b e r ly Wo o d ard -H o u sto n w ith th e O rg an ized C rim 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 sh e w as w o rk in g as a p atro l o f f icer at th e tim e o f

th e in cid en t an d resp o n d ed to th e sce n e

. Wh en sh e arriv ed

, D etectiv e Wo o d ard -H o u sto n

a ttem p ted to talk to p eo p le at th e h o u se co n cern in g w h at th ey h ad seen w ith o u t m u ch

su ccess. S h e recalled th at a m an w h o w as b arb ecu in g

, id en tif ied as th e d ef

en d an t, to ld h er

th at h e d id n o t rem em

b er seein g an y

th in g

, an d th e o th er p eo p le “j u st start[ ed ] o n e b y o n e

g o i n g in sid e th e h o u se.” D etectiv e Wo o d ard -H o u sto n ask ed th e d ef en d an t to acco m

p an y

h er to O f f icer K lo ek ’s v eh icle to g iv e a statem en t. S h e co n d u cted a p at-d o w n search o f th e

d ef en d an t f o r o f f icer saf ety

, d u rin g w h ich a sp en t tw elv e-g au g e sh o tg u n sh ell f ell f ro m th e

leg o f h is p an ts.

S erg ean t Wy ley T ay l or wi t h t he Me m phi s Pol i ce D ep artm en t’s F elo n y R esp o n se U n it

testif ied th at h e resp o n d ed to th e scen e an d w as b rief ed b y D etectiv e Wo o d ard -H o u sto n

. H e

w as in f o rm ed th at a sp en t sh o tg u n sh ell h ad b een f o u n d o n th e d ef

en d an t’s p erso n

. S erg ean t

T ay lo r tu rn ed th e sp en t sh ell o v er to a c r i me scen e o f f icer to b e tag g ed in to ev id en ce.

S erg ean t T ay lo r also sp o k e w ith E lish a D o w ell, w h o l i v ed at th e resid en ce, an d sh e g av e

co n sen t to search h er h o u se. S erg ean t T ay lo r d id n o t lo cate an y w eap o n s in h is search o f th e

h o u se. H o w ev er, h e d id d isco v er u n f ired sh o tg u n sh ells in sid e th e h o u se.

O f f icers J o sep h G ian n in i an d Jam es K ev in S m ith

, crim e scen e o f f icers w ith th e

M em p h is P o lice D ep artm en t, d o cu m en ted th e scen e b y d raw in g sk etch es an d tak in g

p h o t o g rap h s. T h e o f

f icers o b serv ed a red F o rd C o n to u r w ith th e v ictim sittin g in th e

d riv er’s seat an d n o ted th at th ere “ap p ear[ ed ] to b e so m e sh o tg u n w ad d in g

. . . lay in g o n th e

v ictim ’s sh irt[ .] ” T h e v eh icle w as tak en to th e crim e scen e o f f ic e ’ s f acility f o r f u rth er

-5-p ro cessin g

. A m o n g th e item s co llected eith er at th e scen e o r f ro m th e v eh icle d u rin g

p ro cessin g w ere a sh o tg u n s l u g w i t h red f ib ers th at w as reco v ered f ro m th e d riv er’s sid e

d o o r m o ld in g ; a lig h t-w eig h t, d ark -co lo red j ack et f o u n d acro ss th e street f

ro m th e v ictim ’s

v eh icle; sev era l tw elv e-g au g e sh o tg u n sh ells f o u n d aro u n d th e scen e; an d th e

af o rem en tio n e d sh o tg u n w ad d in g f o u n d o n th e v ictim ’s sh irt. N o w eap o n s w ere f o u n d

in sid e th e v ictim ’s car.

Se r ge a nt Er i c Fr e e m a

n, a hom i c i de in v estig ato r w ith th e M em p h is P o l i c e De pa

r t m e nt

, testif ied th at h e w as th e lead in v estig ato r o n th e d ef en d an t’s case. S erg ean t F reem an stated

th at h e arriv ed at th e scen e sh o rtly af ter 1 0 :0 0 p .m

. an d o b serv ed a red F o rd C o n to u r in f ro n t

o f 1 8 6 9 T h e E lm s A v en u e w ith a y o u n g b lac k ma l e i n th e d riv er’s seat. T h e m an w as

slu m p e d o v e r w ith h is ey es an d m o u th o p en an d a “h u g e g u n sh o t w o u n d to th e h ead .”

S erg ean t F reem an saw b lo o d an d “b rain m atter” all o v er th e car. F ro m h is v isu al in sp ectio n

o f th e car, S erg ean t F reem an d id n o t see an y w eap o n s o n th e b o d y o f th e v ictim

. S erg ean t

F reem an also o b serv ed b ro k en g lass in f ro n t o f 1 8 5 1 T h e E lm s A v en u e an d th at all o f th e

w in d o w s w ere b ro k en o u t o f th e car.

S erg ean t F reem an testif

ied th at h e retu rn ed to th e p o lice statio n w h ere h e sp o k e w ith

v ario u s w itn esses, n o n e o f w h o m p ro v id ed u sef u l in f o rm atio n

. M ean w h ile, o th er

in v estig ato rs w ere q u estio n in g o th er w itn esses. S erg ean t F reem an w as u n ab le to in terv iew

th e d ef en d an t th at n ig h t b ecau se h e w as “p retty in to x icated at th at tim e.” N ev erth eless, th e

d ef en d an t w as tak en in to cu sto d y an d p l a c ed o n a f o rty -eig h t-h o u r h o ld “[ b ] ecau se [ th e

o f f icers] h ad alread y g o t[ ten ] a f ew statem en ts f

ro m w itn esses th at w ere say in g th at h e w as

th e sh o o ter.”

S erg ean t F reem an testif

i e d th at th e n ex t m o rn in g

, h e an d S erg ean t C o n n ie Ju stice

d ro v e to M illin g to n to lo cate T h o m as at th e IH O P w h ere sh e w o rk ed as w ell as a f ew o th er

lo catio n s. H o w ev er, th e o f f icers w ere u n a b l e to f

in d h er. S erg ean t F reem an d eleg ated to

S erg ean ts B ass an d C o llin s th e resp o n sib ility o f tak in g E lish a D o w ell to th e lo catio n w h ere

sh e said sh e th rew th e sh o tg u n o v er th e b rid g e, b u t th ey co u ld n o t f in d th e w eap o n

. A f terw ard s, aro u n d 1 2 :3 0 p .m

. o n Jan u ary 6

, S erg ean ts F reem an an d B ass in terv iew ed th e

d ef en d an t, w h o h ad “so b ered u p at th at tim e.”

S erg ean t F reem an testif

ied th at th e d ef

en d an t w as ad v ised o f h is M iran d a rig h ts p rio r

to th e in terv iew

, an d th e d ef en d an t w aiv ed h is rig h ts an d ag reed to sp eak w ith th e o f f icers.

A f ter th e in terv iew

, th e d ef en d an t g av e a statem en t th at w as tran scrib ed w ith th e aid o f a

ty p ist. T h e d ef

en d an t rev iew ed th e w ritten statem en t an d m ad e n o co rrectio n s. In h is

statem en t, th e d ef

e n d a n t ad m itted th at h e w as resp o n sib le f o r th e v ictim ’s d eath

. T h e

d ef en d a n t e x p l a i n ed th e ev en ts lead in g u p to th e sh o o tin g

, say in g th at h e w as in sid e th e

h o u se, d rin k in g

, w h en “S h au n ” called an d said th at so m eo n e w as f o llo w i n g h i m t o th e

-6-d ef

en d an t’s h o u se. Wh en th ey arriv ed

,

[ a] t th at p o in t th e g u y th at w as f o llo w in g [ S h au n ] ran to [ S h au n ’s] tru ck

. I

g u ess th e g i r l in sid e th e tru ck w as o n e o f th eir g irlf rien d s. T h at w as w h en

th ey started say in g th ey

w ere g o in g to k ill ev ery

b o d y . A t th at p o in t I let o u t

a sh o t in th e air an d to ld th em to g et aw ay f ro m m y h o u se. B o th g u y s w en t to

th e car. T h e p assen g er d u d e reach ed d o w n lik e h e h ad so m eth in g an d said it’s

o n n o w

. A t th at p o in t h e reach ed d o w n lik e h e w as p u llin g so m eth in g o u t an d

m y f irst reactio n w as an d I let o u t a sh o t at th e p assen g er sid e w in d o w

. T h en

I w alk ed b ack to th e p o rch an d called 9 1 1

. T h at’s w h en S h au n to ld m e to g iv e

h im th e g u n , h e w o u ld g et rid o f it. A f ter th at th e p o lice sh o w ed u p

.

S erg ean t F reem an testif

ied th at in h is statem en t, th e d ef en d an t stated th at S h au n an d

D o w ell to o k th e sh o tg u n an d d isp o sed o f it. T h e d ef en d an t said th at h e o n ly f

ired tw o sh o ts

w ith th e tw elv e-g au g e sh o tg u n : o n e in th e air an d o n e at th e car. H e ad m itted th at n o o n e

in th e red car f

ired sh o ts at h im

. H e said th at h e f ired th e g u n b ecau se h e “f elt th reaten ed ”

an d w an ted to “scare th em o f f .”

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

, c o n d u cted th e

au to p sy o f th e v ictim

. D r. F u n te sta ted th at th e v ictim ’s clo th in g co n tain ed m u ltip le

“d ef ects” th at co rresp o n d ed to h is w o u n d s. A n ex am in atio n o f th e co n ten ts o f th e v ictim ’s

p o ck ets rev ealed p erso n al item s, in clu d in g a s ma l l clo sed p o ck etk n if e. U p o n in itial

ex am in atio n o f th e v ictim ’s b o d y

, D r. F u n te n o ted m u ltip le sh o tg u n w o u n d s: an in j u ry to th e

h ead

, in j u ry to th e rig h t arm

, in

j u ry to th e ch est, an d in

j u ry to th e lef

t sh o u ld er. T h e v ictim ’s

clo th in g co n tain ed b lo o d an d b rain tissu e. A f ter co m p letin g t h e au to p sy

, D r. F u n te

d eterm in ed th at th ere w ere tw o sh o tg u n w o u n d s. T h e h ead w o u n d trav ersed rig h t to lef t at

th e b ack o f

th e v ictim ’s h ead , in

j u rin g th e v ictim ’s o p tic an d tem p o ral lo b es an d th e b rain

stem

, cau sin g in stan tan eo u s d eath

. T h e seco n d w o u n d track in v o lv ed th e v ictim ’s rig h t arm

, ch est, an d lef

t sh o u ld er. B ased o n th e v ictim ’s in j u ries, D r. F u n te su rm ised th at th e v ictim

w as sh o t f

r o m a d i s t an ce o f o n e an d a h alf f eet to ten f

eet. D r. F u n te d eterm in ed th at th e

cau se o f d eath w as m

u ltip le sh o tg u n w o u n d s. It w as D r. F u n te’s o p in io n th at th e v ictim ’s

w o u n d s co u ld n o t h av e b een cau sed b y o n e b u llet.

S p ecial A g en t C erv in ia B rasw ell, a f irearm s ex am in er w ith th e T en n essee B u reau o f

In v estig atio n (“T B I”), testif ied th at sh e ex am in ed th e sh o t sh ells, w ad d in g co m p o n en ts, an d

lead p ro j ectile reco v ered in th is case. A g en t B rasw ell d eterm in ed th at th e sh o t sh ells w ere

R em in g to n tw elv e-g au g e slu g lo ad am m u n itio n f ired f ro m th e sam e tw elv e-g au g e sh o tg u n

. S h e d eterm in ed th at th e lead p ro j ectile w as w ith in th e w eig h t sp ecif icatio n s o f

th e ty p e o f

slu g lo ad ed in to th e R em in g to n sh o t sh ell, as w ere th e w ad d in g co m p o n en ts o f th e sam e ty

p e

n o rm ally lo ad ed in to R em in g to n slu g sh o t sh ells.

-7-E lish a D o w ell testif ied o n b eh alf o f th e d ef

en se. D o w ell said th at o n Jan u ary 5

, 2 0 0 8

, th e d ef en d an t w as h er f

ian cée an d th ey w ere liv in g to g eth er at 1 8 5 1 T h e E lm s A v en u e. O n

th at n ig h t, th ey w ere h o stin g a b irth d ay p arty f o r o n e o f th e d ef

en d an t’s f rien d s, “C h eetah ,”

an d sh e h ad in v ited T h o m as an d B arn ett b u t n o t th e v ictim o r D ig g s. L ater th at ev en in g

, th e

v ictim an d D ig g s sh o w ed u p at h er h o u se, arriv in g so o n af ter th e d ef en d an t’s f rien d

, S h au n

,

w h o w as d riv in g a silv er tru c k

, h ad arriv ed

. T h e v ictim g o t in to a co n f ro n tatio n “w ith

ev ery b o d y try in g to g et [ B arn ett] to g et o u t [ o f ] th e tru ck an d leav e to g o w ith h im .” D ig g s

j u st sto o d aro u n d

, w h ile th e v ictim w en t “b ack an d f o rth w ith [ B arn ett] ” an d ev en tu ally g o t

in to an arg u m en t w ith B arn ett’s sister, Jessica.

D o w ell recalled th at th e v ictim k ep t try i n g t o o p e n th e d o o r to S h au n ’s tru ck

, b u t

B arn ett w o u ld n o t g et o u t. D o w ell said th at sh e to ld th e v ictim an d D ig g s to leav e; h o w ev er,

th e v ictim “said th at h e w asn ’t g o in g an y w h ere w ith o u t [ B arn ett] .” D o w ell recalled th at th e

d ef en d an t cam e o u tsid e o f h is h o u se an d f ired a g u n u p in to th e air o n e tim e a n d t o l d

ev ery o n e to leav e. D ig g s g o t b ack in to th e v ictim ’s car, w h ile th e v ictim rem ain ed o u tsid e

“arg u in g w ith ev ery

b o d y an d stu f

f .” T h e v ictim co n tin u ed to ref u se to leav e w ith o u t

B arn ett, statin g “th at so m eb o d y w ill h av e to k ill h im f irst.” E v en tu ally

, t h e v ictim said

, “[ Y ] ’all g o t to d o w h at y ’all g o t to d o ” an d w en t to h is car. T h e v ictim clo sed th e d o o r to

h is car, reach ed d o w n

, an d th en w as s h o t

. D o w ell lo o k ed u p an d saw th e d ef en d an t an d

S h au n stan d in g clo se to g eth er, an d sh e n o ted th e sh o t cam e f ro m th eir d irectio n

.

D o w ell testif

ied th at ev ery o n e scattered af ter th e sh o t w as f

ired

, in clu d in g T h o m as,

Jessica, an d B arn ett. T h o se w h o rem ain ed w ere try in g to d ecid e w h at to d o w ith th e g u n

,

so D o w ell w en t w ith S h au n to d isp o se o f it. T h ey d ro v e to a b rid g e o f f Watk in s S treet an d

th rew th e g u n in to th e riv er. L ater, D o w ell g av e co n sen t f o r a p o lice o f

f icer to search h er

h o u se an d sh o w ed an o f

f icer w h ere sh e an d S h au n h ad d isp o sed o f th e g u n

.

O n cro ss-ex am in atio n

, D o w ell ad m itted th at sh e w as still d atin g t h e d ef en d an t

ex clu siv ely an d h ad v isited h im o f ten sin ce h is in carceratio n

. D o w ell ack n o w led g ed th at

th e v ictim d id n o t to u ch h er, J e s sica, o r S h au n w h en h e w as stan d in g o u tsid e o f th e tru ck

try in g to tal k t o B a rn ett. S h e d id n o t h ear th e v ictim m ak e an y th reaten in g statem en ts to

B arn ett. D o w ell testif

ied th at th e d ef

en d an t w as ma d a n d d ru n k w h en h e cam e o u t o f th e

h o u se an d f

ired th e w arn in g sh o t. D o w ell ad m itted th at sh e i d e n t i f ied th e d ef

en d an t in a

p h o to g rap h ic array

as th e p erso n w h o sh o t th e v ictim

.

O n red irect ex am in atio n

, D o w ell stated th at w h en sh e said in h er statem en t th at th e

v ictim said h e w as “f

ix in g to g et in [ h i s ] c a r a n d g o to [ h is] tru n k ,” h e w as th reaten in g

ev ery o n e. S h e an ticip ated th at h e w as g o in g to g et a g u n o r so m e ty p e o f w eap o n to h arm

an y o n e n earb y “d u e to th e f act th at [ B arn ett] w o u ld n o t g et o u t o f th e tru ck .” H o w ev er,

D o w ell ack n o w led g ed o n re-cro ss ex am in atio n th at th e v icti m n e v e r g o t an y k in d o f

-8-w eap o n

.

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

, th e j u ry co n v icted th e d ef en d an t o f seco n d d eg ree

m u rd er an d ag g rav ated assau lt.

A N A L Y S IS

I. 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 i n s u f

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

s e l f

- d e f e n s e

. ” 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

-9-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 )

.

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

. ” T e n n

. C o d e

A n n

. § 3 9

- 1 3

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

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

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

r e s u l t

. ” I d

. § 3 9

- 1 1

- 3 0 2 ( b )

. W h e t h e r t h e d e f e n d a n t “ k n o w i n g l y ” k i l l e d t h e v i c t i m 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

. S e e S t a t e v

. I n l o w

, 5 2 S

. W

. 3 d 1 0 1

, 1 0 4

- 0 5 ( T e n n

. C r i m

. A p p

.

2 0 0 0 )

. F o r t h e p u r p o s e s o f t h i s c a s e

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

i n t e n t i o n a l l y o r k n o w i n g l y c o m m i t s a n a s s a u l t a s d e f i n e d i n s e c t i o n 3 9

- 1 3

- 1 0 1 a n d u s e s o r

d i s p l a y s a d e a d l y w e a p o n

. T e n n

. C o d e A n n

. § 3 9

- 1 3

- 1 0 2 ( a ) ( 1 ) ( B )

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

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

i n j u r y

. I d

. § § 3 9

- 1 3

- 1 0 1 ( a ) ( 2 ) ;

- 1 0 2 ( a ) ( 1 ) ( B )

. 3

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

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

. S e e T e n n

. C o d e A n n

. § 3 9

- 1 1

- 5 0 3 ( a )

. H e

a s s e r t s t h a t “ [ i ] t i s n o t d i f f i c u l t t o u n d e r s t a n d h o w a n i n t o x i c a t e d p e r s o n m i g h t b e l i e v e t h a t

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

t h a n a k n o w i n g a t t e m p t t o k i l l t h e [ v i c t i m ]

. ” T h e r e w a s e v i d e n c e a t t r i a l t h a t t h e d e f e n d a n t

h a d b e e n d r i n k i n g f

o r s e v e r a l h o u r s b e f

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

, a t l e a s t i n t h e o p i n i o n o f

t h e d e f e n d a n t ’ s f

i a n c é e

, i n t o x i c a t e d

. I n a d d i t i o n

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

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

. H o w e v e r

, t h e r e w a s

n o p r o o f o f

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

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

. T h e j u r y r e c e i v e d a c h a r g e r e g a r d i n g i n t o x i c a t i o n

, a n d a l l o f

t h i s e v i d e n c e w a s b e f

o r e t h e j u r y

. I t w a s c l e a r l y 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 c l a i m t h a t h e w a s t o o i n t o x i c a t e d t o k n o w i n g l y k i l l t h e v i c t i m o r i n t e n t i o n a l l y o r

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

.

I n t h e a l t e r n a t i v e

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

- d e f e n s e o r i n t h e d e f

e n s e

o f o t h e r s

. A t t h e t i m e o f t h e o f f e n s e

, t h e s e l f

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

( b ) ( 1 ) N o t w i t h s t a n d i n g § 3 9

- 1 7

- 1 3 2 2

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

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

r e t r e a t b e f

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

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

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

.

Alt hough t he d ef

end ant was con victe d of

bot h se con d degree m

urd er and agg ra vated ass aul t, h is 3

ar gum ent s f

ocu s pr imari ly on t he s eco nd d egree m urd er con victi on.

-10-( 2 ) N o t w i t h s t a n d i n g § 3 9

- 1 7

- 1 3 2 2

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

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

r e t r e a t b e f

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

s e r i o u s b o d i l y i n

j u r y

, i f :

( A ) T h e p e r s o n h a s a r e a s o n a b l e b e l i e f t h a t t h e r e i s a n i m m i n e n t

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

( B ) T h e d a n g e r c r e a t i n g t h e b e l i e f o f i m m i n e n t d e a t h o r s e r i o u s

b o d i l y i n j u r y i s r e a l

, o r h o n e s t l y b e l i e v e d t o b e r e a l a t t h e t i m e ;

a n d

( C ) T h e b e l i e f o f d a n g e r i s f o u n d e d u p o n r e a s o n a b l e g r o u n d s

.

T e n n

. C o d e A n n

. § 3 9

- 1 1

- 6 1 1 ( b ) ( S u p p

. 2 0 0 8 )

.

W h e n t h e d e f

e n s e o f s e l f

- d e f e n s e i s f a i r l y r a i s e d b y t h e e v i d e n c e

, t h e S t a t e c a r r i e s t h e

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

. S e e i d

. § 3 9

- 1 1

- 2 0 1 ( a ) ( 3 ) ;

S t a t e v

. B e l s e r

, 9 4 5 S

. W

. 2 d 7 7 6

, 7 8 2 ( T e n n

. C r i m

. A p p

. 1 9 9 6 )

. H o w e v e r

, w h e t h e r a

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

- d e f e n 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

. S e e S t a t e v

.

G o o d e

, 9 5 6 S

. W

. 2 d 5 2 1

, 5 2 7 ( T e n n

. C r i m

. A p p

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

. I v y

, 8 6 8 S

. W

. 2 d 7 2 4

, 7 2 7

( T e n n

. C r i m

. A p p

. 1 9 9 3 )

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

s e l f

- d e f e n s e

. G o o d e

, 9 5 6 S

. W

. 2 d a t 5 2 7

.

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

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

. D o w e l l

, t h e

d e f e n d a n t ’ s f

i a n c é e

, t e s t i f

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

w e a p o n t o h a r m e v e r y o n e

. H o w e v e r

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

o r D i g g s ’ p e r s o n

. I n a d d i t i o n

, D i g g s a n d T h o m a s b o t h t e s t i f i e d t h a t t h e v i c t i m n e v e r

t h r e a t e n e d a n y o n e

. M o r e o v e r

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

, J e s s i c a

, o r

S h a u n

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

. I n l i g h t o f t h e c o n t r a r y e v i d e n c e

, 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 d i s b e l i e v e t h e d e f e n d a n t ’ s c l a i m t h a t t h e s h o o t i n g w a s

i n s e l f

- d e f e n s e o r t h e d e f

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

.

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

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

a d e q u a t e p r o v o c a t i o n

. H o w e v e r

, i t w a s a q u e s t i o n f o r t h e j u r y

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

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

, w h e t h e r t h e d e f e n d a n t

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

p r o v o c a t i o n

. S e e S t a t e v

. J o h n s o n

, 9 0 9 S

. W

. 2 d 4 6 1

, 4 6 4 ( T e n n

. C r i m

. A p p

. 1 9 9 5 )

. T h e j u r y

-11-d e t e r m i n e d

, a s w a s i t s p r o v i n c e

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

. I n t h e

l i g h t m o s t f

a v o r a b l e t o t h e S t a t e

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

a c t t o

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

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

.

II. S en ten cin g

T h e d ef en d an t also ch allen g es th e sen ten ce im p o sed b y th e trial co u rt, arg u in g th at

th e trial co u rt erro n eo u sly ap p lied “th e d ead ly w eap o n en h an cem en t f acto r t o b o t h th e

ag g rav ated assau lt an d m

u rd er seco n d d eg ree co n v ictio n s” an d d id n o t ap p ly an y m itig atin g

f acto rs.

T h e trial co u rt co n d u cted a sen ten cin g h earin g at w h ich th e S tate p resen ted p ro o f th at

th e d ef en d an t receiv ed a f

iv e-y ear sen ten ce f

o r a p rio r M ississip p i co n v ictio n f o r attem p ted

au to th ef t f o r w h ich h e w as o n p ro b atio n at th e tim e th e p resen t o f f en ses w ere co m

m itted

. T h e S tate also p resen ted p ro o f th at t h e d e f e n d an t h ad tw o p rio r f

elo n y co n v ictio n s in

T en n essee f

o r th ef t o f p ro p erty o v er $ 5 0 0 , an d th e p resen ten ce rep o rt sh o w ed th at h e also

h ad a h o st o f m isd em ean o r co n v ictio n s, in clu d in g co n v ictio n s f o r th ef t o f p ro p erty less th an

$ 5 0 0 , d o m estic v io len ce, an d d riv in g related o f f en ses. T h e d ef

en d an t g av e a statem en t o f

a l l o cu tio n in w h ich h e stated

, “[ W] e sh o u ld [ h av e] h an d led th in g s a certain w ay b u t w e

d id n ’t” an d said th at h e w as so rry th e v ictim ’s f am ily “lo st th is in d iv id u al[

, b u t h is] k id s also

lo st a f ath er.”

In sen ten cin g th e d ef

en d an t, th e co u rt rev iew ed th e n atu re an d ch aracteristics o f th e

o f f en se an d o b serv ed th at th e k illin g in th is case w as “ab so lu tely u n n ecessary .” T h e co u rt

d isag reed w ith th e d ef

en d an t’s assertio n t h a t th e o f f en se w as co m m itted u n d er u n u su al

circu m stan ces a n d th at h e w as p ro v o k ed

, f in d in g th at th e d ef

en d an t “w as n o t in th e least

p ro v o k ed

. . . [ an d ] th er e ’ s n o p ro o f th at h e w as in to x icated to th e ex ten t th at it [ a] f f ected

h is j u d g m en t.” T h e co u rt al s o r e v i e w e d th e statistical in f o rm atio n p ro v id ed b y th e

ad m in istrativ e o f

f ice o f th e co u rts an d n o ted th at t he d ef en d an t co m m itted th e o f

f en ses w h ile

o n p ro b atio n f

ro m a M ississip p i co n v ictio n

. T h e co u rt a d d r e ssed th at th e d ef en d an t h ad

g iv en a statem en t o f allo cu tio n b u t f o u n d it to b e “less th an m itig at i n g

, h e sh o w ed n o

rem o rse in h is statem en t.” T h e co u rt also q u e s t i o n ed th e d ef en d an t’s p o ten tial f

o r

reh ab ilitatio n

, n o tin g th at h is rep eated d riv in g ch arg es, alth o u g h n o t serio u s, “sh o w [ ed ] h e

j u st w ill d o w h at h e w an ts to d o .” A f ter rev iew in g th e o th er en h an cem e n t an d m itig atin g

f acto rs arg u ed b y th e p arties, th e co u rt sen ten ced th e d ef en d an t to tw en ty -o n e y ears o n th e

seco n d d eg ree m

u rd er co n v ictio n an d f

iv e y ears o n th e ag g rav ated assau lt co n v ictio n

. T h e

co u rt d eclin ed th e S tate’s req u est f o r co n secu tiv e sen ten cin g

.

Wh en an accu sed ch allen g es th e len g th an d m an n er o f serv ice o f a sen ten ce, it is th e

d u ty o f th is co u rt to co n d u ct a d e n o vo rev iew o n th e reco rd “w it h a p resu m p tio n th at th e

-12-d eterm in atio n s m ad e b y th e co u rt f ro m w h ich th e ap p eal is tak en are co rrect.” T en n

. C o d e

A n n

. § 4 0 -3 5 -4 0 1 (d ) (2 0 0 6 ). T h is p resu m p tio n is “co n d itio n ed u p o n th e af f irm ativ e

sh o w in g in th e reco rd th at th e trial co u rt co n sid ered th e sen ten cin g p rin cip les an d all

relev an t f acts an d circu m stan ces.” S tate v

. A sh b y

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

, 1 6 9 (T en n

. 1 9 9 1 ). T h e

p resu m p tio n d o es n o t ap p ly to th e leg al co n clu sio n s reach ed b y th e trial co u rt in sen ten cin g

th e accu sed o r to th e d eterm in atio n s m ad e b y th e tr i a l c o u rt w h ich are p red icated u p o n

u n co n tro v erted f

acts. S tate v

. B u tler, 9 0 0 S .W.2 d 3 0 5

, 3 1 1 (T en n

. C rim

. A p p

. 1 9 9 4 ); S tate

v

. S m ith

, 8 9 1 S .W.2 d 9 2 2

, 9 2 9 (T en n

. C rim

. A p p

. 1 9 9 4 ); S tate v

. B o n estel, 8 7 1 S .W.2 d 1 6 3

, 1 6 6 (T en n

. C rim

. A p p

. 1 9 9 3 ), o v e r r u l ed o n o th er g ro u n d s b y S tate v

. H o o p er, 2 9 S .W.3 d

1 , 9 (T en n . 2 0 0 0 ).

In co n d u ctin g a d

e n o vo rev iew o f a sen ten ce, th is co u rt m u st co n sid er (a) an y

ev id en ce receiv ed at th e trial an d /o r sen ten cin g h earin g , (b ) th e p resen ten ce rep o rt, (c) th e

p rin cip les o f sen ten cin g

, (d ) th e arg u m en ts o f co u n sel relativ e to sen ten cin g altern ativ es, (e)

th e n atu re an d ch aracteristics o f th e o f f en se, (f ) an y m itig atin g o r en h an cem en t f acto rs, (g )

an y statistical in f

o rm atio n p ro v id ed b y th e ad m in istrativ e o f f ice o f th e co u rts as to T e nne s s ee

sen ten cin g p ractices f

o r sim ilar o f

f en ses, (h ) an y statem en ts m ad e b y th e accu sed in h is o w n

b e h a l f

, an d (i) th e accu sed ’s p o ten tial o r lack o f p o ten tial f o r reh ab ilitatio n o r treatm en t.

T en n

. C o d e A n n

. § § 4 0 -3 5 -1 0 3

, -2 1 0 (2 0 0 6 ); S tate v

. T ay lo r, 6 3 S .W.3 d 4 0 0

, 4 1 1 (T en n

. C rim

. A p p

. 2 0 0 1 ). T h e p arty ch allen g in g t h e s e n t e n ce im p o sed b y th e trial co u rt h as th e

b u rd en o f estab lish in g th at th e sen ten ce is erro n eo u s. T en n

. C o d e A n n

. § 4 0 -3 5 -4 0 1 (2 0 0 6 ),

S en ten cin g C o m

m issio n C m ts.; A sh b y , 8 2 3 S .W.2 d at 1 6 9

.

I n i m p o s i n g a s p e c i f

i c s e n t e n c e w i t h i n a r a n g e

, a t r i a l c o u r t “ s h a l l c o n s i d e r

, b u t i s n o t

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

, i n c l u d i n g t h a t t h e “ m i n i m u m s e n t e n c e

w i t h i n t h e r a n g e o f p u n i s h m e n t i s t h e s e n t e n c e t h a t s h o u l d b e i m p o s e d ” a n d t h a t “ [ t ] h e

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

, a s a p p r o p r i a t e

, b y t h e p r e s e n c e o r

a b s e n c e o f m i t i g a t i n g a n d e n h a n c e m e n t f a c t o r s [

. ] ” T e n n

. C o d e A n n

. § 4 0

- 3 5

- 2 1 0 ( c ) ( 1 )

, ( 2 )

.

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

t t o t h e t r i a l c o u r t ’ s

s o u n d d i s c r e t i o n

. ” S t a t e v

. C a r t e r

, 2 5 4 S

. W

. 3 d 3 3 5

, 3 4 5 ( T e n n

. 2 0 0 8 )

.

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

c r i m i n a l c o n v i c t i o n s

, T e n n

. C o d e A n n

. § 4 0

- 3 5

- 1 1 4 ( 1 )

, w h i c h i n c l u d e d t w o f e l o n y t h e f

t o f

p r o p e r t y c o n v i c t i o n s

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

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

c o n v i c t i o n

, a n d d r i v i n g

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

, a s w e l l a s a n a t t e m p t e d a u t o

t h e f t f e l o n y c o n v i c t i o n i n M i s s i s s i p p i

. T h e c o u r t a l s o e n h a n c e d t h e d e f e n d a n t ’ s s e n t e n c e s

b a s e d o n h i s f

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

c o m m u n i t y

, i d

. § 4 0

- 3 5

- 1 1 4 ( 8 ) ; u s e o f a f i r e a r m d u r i n g t h e c o m m i s s i o n o f t h e o f f e n s e

, i d

. § 4 0

- 3 5

- 1 1 4 ( 9 ) ; a n d b e c a u s e t h e o f f e n s e w a s c o m m i t t e d w h e n t h e d e f e n d a n t w a s r e l e a s e d

o n p r o b a t i o n

, i d

. § 4 0

- 3 5

- 1 1 4 ( 1 3 ) ( C )

.

-13-With reg ard to th e m itig atin g f acto rs, th e co u rt d eclin ed to f in d th at th e in v o lv em en t

o f alco h o l p ro v id ed an y m itig atio n o r th at “th e r e w as an y p ro v o catio n f o r h im to g et

in v o lv ed w ith a d ead ly w eap o n .” T h e co u rt also d ecli n e d to g iv e an y m itig atio n to th e

d ef en d an t’s b ein g a h ig h sch o o l g rad u ate an d “sp o rad ic em p lo y m en t as a w eld er

. . . b ecau se

p eo p le are ex p ected to g et an ed u catio n an d h av e a j o b .”

T h e d ef en d an t arg u es th at th e trial co u rt erro n eo u sly en h an ced b o th h is se c ond de gr ee

m u rd er an d ag g rav ated assau lt sen ten ces b ased o n h is u se o f a d ead ly w eap o n

, see id

. § 4 0

-

3 5 -1 1 4 (9 ), ev en th o u g h th e u se o f a w eap o n w as in h eren t in th e ag g rav ated assau lt. U p o n

rev iew

, w e co n clu d e th at th e reco rd in d icates th e co u rt o n ly ap p lied th e en h an cem en t f acto r

to th e d ef en d an t’s seco n d d eg ree m u rd er co n v ictio n

. D ef

en se co u n sel p rev io u sly arg u ed to

th e co u rt th at th e u se o f a d e a d ly w eap o n co u ld n o t b e ap p lied to th e ag g rav ated assau lt

co n v ictio n

, th en in ad d ressin g th e d ead ly w eap o n en h an cem en t f acto r, th e co u rt stated : “I

g iv e [ th is f

acto r] f airly g o o d w eig h t b ecau se [ th e d e f e n d a n t ] w as in h is h o m e, h e co u ld

h a[ v e] stay ed in h is h o m e an d called th e p o lice b u t in stead h e arm ed h im self a n d w e n t

o u tsid e w ith a lo ad ed w eap o n to kill th is p erso n .” (em p h asis ad d ed ). In an y ev en t, ev en if

th e trial co u rt m isap p lied th e d ead ly w eap o n en h an cem en t f acto r to th e ag g rav ated assau lt

c o n v ictio n

, th e th ree rem ain in g en h an cem en t f acto rs w o u ld h av e j u stif ied a f iv e

- y e a r

sen ten ce.

T h e d ef en d an t also arg u es th at th e trial co u rt sh o u ld h av e ap p lied sev eral m itig atin g

f acto rs, in p articu lar: th at h e acted u n d er th e stro n g p ro v o catio n o f b ein g th reaten ed d u rin g

a p arty at h is o w n h o m e b y a m an h e d id n o t k n o w

, self -d ef en se g r o u n d s ex cu sed h is

co n d u ct, h e ex h ib ited rem o rse, h e h as acq u ired a v o catio n al sk ill, an d h e h a s p ro v id ed

m ean in g f u l su p p o rt f

o r h is g irlf

rien d an d ch ild ren

. We n o te th at t h e j u r y rej ected th e

d ef en d an t’s co n ten tio n s th at h e w as p ro v o k ed an d acted in self -d ef en se. M o r eo v er, th e

reco rd sh o w s th at th e trial co u rt co n sid ered th e d ef en d an t’s claim s an d f

o u n d th at th ey d id

n o t w arran t an y co n sid erati o n

. S p e cif ically

, th e co u rt o b serv ed th at “p eo p le are ex p ected

to g et an ed u catio n an d h av e a j o b

, ” a n d t h e c o u r t f o u n d th at th e d ef

en d an t w as n o t

rem o rsef u l in h is statem en t o f allo cu tio n

. T h e reco rd ref lects th at th e trial co u rt g av e d u e

co n sid eratio n to th e s e n ten cin g p rin cip les an d f acto rs; th eref

o re, w e u p h o ld th e sen ten ce

im p o sed b y th e trial co u rt.

C O N C L U S IO N

B ased o n th e f

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

th e

trial co u rt.

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

. G L E N N

, J U D G E

-14-