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

AT JACKSON

Ass ig ne d o n B rie fs May 6, 20 14

TYREE ROB INSO N v. STAT E OF TENNE SSEE

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### T h e p etitio n er w as co n v icte d o f f i r s t d eg ree p rem ed itated m u rd er, f elo n y m u rd er, an d

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to certain p arts o f th e S tate’s clo sin g arg u m en t; an d in f ailin g to co n d u ct a p ro p er

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R o b e r t E

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### T h is co u rt’s o p in io n o n th e p etitio n er’s seco n d d irect ap p eal p r o v i d e s t h e f o l l o w i n g

s u m m a r y o f t h e e v i d e n c e i n t r o d u c e d a t h i s t r i a l :T h i s c a s e a r i s e s o u t o f t h e A p r i l 2 0 0 1 m u r d e r o f t h e v i c t i m

, O ’ N e i l

C o r n i s h

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

p r e m e d i t a t e d m u r d e r

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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

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d i r e c t a p p e a l

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

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

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j u r y

, i n r e s p o n s e t o i t s q u e s t i o n

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o t h e r

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s e c o n d t r i a l w a s c o n d u c t e d f r o m J a n u a r y 2 8 t o F e b r u a r y 1

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S t a t e ’ s P r o o f

S e r g e a n t E r i c F r e e m a n w i t h t h e M e m p h i s P o l i c e D e p a r t m e n t t e s t i f i e d

t h a t h e w a s w o r k i n g a s a c r i m e s c e n e o f f i c e r o n A p r i l 1 0

, 2 0 0 1 a n d r e s p o n d e d

t o a “ D O A u n k n o w n ” c a l l n e a r S h e p h e r d s T r e e S t r e e t a n d K i l a r n e y A v e n u e

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T h e s c e n e w a s a d e a d

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

, b u t

w a s b e i n g u s e d a s a d u m p i n g g r o u n d

. A t t h e s c e n e

, h e f o u n d a y o u n g b l a c k

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

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

. H e a l s o f o u n d s e v e r a l

. 3 8 0 s h e l l c a s i n g s

, a b u l l e t f r a g m e n t

, l o o s e t o b a c c o

, a c i g a r t i p

, b l o o d

- s t a i n e d t i s s u e p a p e r

, a s a l e s r e c e i p t

, a

t r o w e l i n g o r c u t t i n g w h e e l

, a n d a W a f f l e H o u s e i d e n t i f

i c a t i o n c a r d w i t h t h e

n a m e J e n n i f

e r

. S e r g e a n t F r e e m a n n o t e d t h a t t h e v i c t i m h a d t w e n t y

- f i v e d o l l a r s

i n h i s s o c k

.

P e r c y A l e x a n d e r

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

D e p a r t m e n t

, t e s t i f

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

t h e m o r n i n g o f A p r i l 1 0

, 2 0 0 1

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

K i l a r n e y A v e n u e

. A s h e l o o k e d i n t o a c o v e

, A l e x a n d e r s a w t h e m o t i o n l e s s

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

, g o t o u t o f h i s c a r

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

. H e

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

w a s d e c e a s e d

. A l e x a n d e r r e t u r n e d t o h i s c a r

, c a l l e d 9 1 1

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

p o l i c e t o a r r i v e

.

S e k u T e a m e r

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

, t e s t i f i e d t h a t h e a n d t h e

v i c t i m w e r e a t W i n g C i t y

, a n i g h t c l u b

, i n t h e e a r l y m o r n i n g h o u r s o f A p r i l 1 0

,

2 0 0 1

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

. T h e v o i c e o n t h e p h o n e a p p e a r e d

t o b e t h a t o f a m a l e

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

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

. T h e v i c t i m d r o p p e d T e a m e r o f f a t t h e

h o m e t h e y s h a r e d

, s a y i n g h e w a s g o i n g t o t h e L o f t A p a r t m e n t s “ t o h a v e

i n t e r c o u r s e w i t h T a k i s h a B r o w n a n d h e w a s g o i n g t o j o i n i n w i t h [ t h e

p e t i t i o n e r ]

. ” T h e v i c t i m t h e n d r o v e a w a y i n h i s B l a z e r w i t h r e l a t i v e l y n e w

,

-2-f

l a s h y r i m s

.

I l y a s M o r r i s

, a l s o k n o w n a s “ B i g E

, ” t e s t i f i e d t h a t i n A p r i l 2 0 0 1 h e

l i v e d w i t h t h e [ p e t i t i o n e r ]

, C o r t n e y P e r r y

, T a k i s h a B r o w n

, T e r r a n c e S c o t t

, a n d 1

W i l l i e R o s s e r a t t h e L o f t A p a r t m e n t s

. O n A p r i l 1 0

, 2 0 0 1

, M o r r i s w a s t r y i n g

t o s l e e p d o w n s t a i r s i n t h e a p a r t m e n t w h e n h e h e a r d t h e [ p e t i t i o n e r ]

, B r o w n

,

a n d P e r r y t a l k i n g u p s t a i r s

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

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

. H e t h e n h e a r d t h e t h r e e l e a v e t h e a p a r t m e n t

.

M o r r i s s a i d t h a t h e s u b s e q u e n t l y w a s a w a k e n e d b y M i e k o S a u l s b e r r y

,

o n e o f t h e [ p e t i t i o n e r ] ’ s f r i e n d s

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

[ p e t i t i o n e r ] a t C l u b o n t h e G r e e n

, a n o t h e r a p a r t m e n t c o m p l e x

. T h e t w o d r o v e

M o r r i s ’ v a n t o C l u b o n t h e G r e e n

, b u t t h e [ p e t i t i o n e r ] w a s n o t t h e r e s o t h e y

w a i t e d

. A s t h e y w e r e g e t t i n g r e a d y t o l e a v e

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

p u l l e d i n f

l a s h i n g i t s l i g h t s

. M o r r i s s a w t h a t t h e [ p e t i t i o n e r ] w a s d r i v i n g t h e

t r u c k a n d t h a t B r o w n a n d P e r r y w e r e w i t h h i m

. M o r r i s h a d n e v e r s e e n t h e

t r u c k b e f o r e a n d k n e w i t d i d n o t b e l o n g t o t h e [ p e t i t i o n e r ]

. E v e r y o n e g o t o u t

o f t h e t r u c k

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

u n d e r w e a r

. M o r r i s l o o k e d i n s i d e t h e t r u c k a n d s a w “ [ a ] l o t ” o f b l o o d o n t h e

d r i v e r ’ s s e a t

. H e a l s o s a w a V C R o n t h e p a s s e n g e r ’ s s i d e

, w h i c h h e t o o k a n d

p u t i n h i s v a n

.

M o r r i s t e s t i f

i e d t h a t t h e y a l l l e f

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

A p a r t m e n t s t o l o o k f

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

, b u t t h e y w e r e u n a b l e t o f i n d o n e

. T h e [ p e t i t i o n e r ] t h e n d i r e c t e d M o r r i s t o

w h e r e t h e v i c t i m ’ s b o d y w a s l o c a t e d t o m a k e s u r e t h e v i c t i m w a s d e a d

. W h e n

t h e y g o t t o t h e b o d y

, t h e [ p e t i t i o n e r ] t o l d P e r r y t o s h o o t t h e v i c t i m a g a i n

. P e r r y

g r a b b e d a g u n o f

f t h e f l o o r b o a r d o f M o r r i s ’ v a n

, g o t o u t

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

t w o t o f o u r t i m e s

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

a s a s m a l l s i l v e r

. 3 8 0

. T h e r e w a s a l s o a n o t h e r g u n o n t h e f l o o r b o a r d

– a l a r g e r

. 3 8 0 w i t h t h e s a f

e t y m i s s i n g

, w h i c h M o r r i s k n e w b e l o n g e d t o t h e [ p e t i t i o n e r ]

.

A f t e r P e r r y s h o t t h e v i c t i m

, t h e g r o u p r e t u r n e d t o t h e L o f t A p a r t m e n t s t o l o o k

a g a i n f o r a f l o o r j a c k

.

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

, a n d t h e y

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

. T h e y d r o v e b a c k t o t h e

v i c t i m ’ s t r u c k a t C l u b o n t h e G r e e n

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

Cort ney Per ry’s bro the r, Core y Per ry, was m ent ion ed duri ng tr ia l but did not te st if y. Her ei naf

te r, 1

“Pe rr y” will re fe r t o Cor tne y Perr y.

-3-t h e t r u c k a n d b u r n e d i t

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

p r o c e s s

. A f

t e r b u r n i n g t h e t r u c k

, e v e r y o n e g o t b a c k i n t o t h e v a n a n d r e t u r n e d

t o t h e L o f

t A p a r t m e n t s

. M o r r i s s a i d t h a t a p p r o x i m a t e l y a w e e k l a t e r

, t h e p o l i c e

q u e s t i o n e d h i m

, t h e [ p e t i t i o n e r ]

, a n d P e r r y a b o u t S a u l s b e r r y ’ s b u r n s

. M o r r i s

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

. M o r r i s s a i d h e

m e t t h e [ p e t i t i o n e r ] a n d P e r r y a f t e r w a r d s t o d i s p o s e o f t h e g u n s a n d d r o v e t h e m

t o t h e [ p e t i t i o n e r ] ’ s m o t h e r ’ s h o u s e w h e r e t h e [ p e t i t i o n e r ] r e t r i e v e d t h e g u n s

.

M o r r i s t h e n d r o v e t h e [ p e t i t i o n e r ] a n d P e r r y t o C o r o L a k e w h e r e t h e y t h r e w t h e

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

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

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

. M o r r i s s a i d h e p l e d g u i l t y

t o a c c e s s o r y a f

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

.

O n c r o s s

- e x a m i n a t i o n

, M o r r i s a c k n o w l e d g e d t h a t w h e n h e w a s a r r e s t e d

, h e w a s i n f

o r m e d t h a t h e c o u l d b e c h a r g e d w i t h m u r d e r

. H e a d m i t t e d t h a t i n h i s

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

, h e s a i d i t w a s

t h e [ p e t i t i o n e r ]

, n o t S a u l s b e r r y

, w h o a w a k e n e d h i m a n d t o l d h i m t o g o t o C l u b

o n t h e G r e e n

. H e t e s t i f

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

w o k e h i m t h a t n i g h t

. M o r r i s a c k n o w l e d g e d t h a t h e o v e r h e a r d t h e [ p e t i t i o n e r ]

,

B r o w n

, a n d P e r r y t a l k i n g a b o u t r o b b i n g t h e v i c t i m

, b u t s a i d h e d i d n o t t h i n k

t h e [ p e t i t i o n e r ] w a s s e r i o u s

. H e a d m i t t e d t h a t b y p i c k i n g t h e [ p e t i t i o n e r ] u p

a f t e r w a r d s

, h e w a s

, i n e f

f e c t

, a c t i n g a s t h e g e t a w a y d r i v e r

. O n r e d i r e c t

, M o r r i s

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

, a n d h e d r o v e

w h e r e t h e [ p e t i t i o n e r ] t o l d h i m

.

M i e k o S a u l s b e r r y t e s t i f i e d t h a t h e

, C o r t n e y P e r r y

, I l y a s M o r r i s

, a n d

o t h e r s l i v e d w i t h t h e [ p e t i t i o n e r ] a t t h e L o f t A p a r t m e n t s i n A p r i l 2 0 0 1

. A t t h e

t i m e

, t h e [ p e t i t i o n e r ] h a d a n e n t e r t a i n m e n t c o m p a n y c a l l e d “ I n T o w n

E n t e r t a i n m e n t

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

h i m

. D u r i n g t h e e a r l y m o r n i n g h o u r s o f A p r i l 1 0

, 2 0 0 1

, S a u l s b e r r y w a s a s l e e p

i n t h e [ p e t i t i o n e r ] ’ s r o o m w h e n t h e [ p e t i t i o n e r ] w o k e h i m a n d t o l d h i m t o g e t

i n M o r r i s ’ v a n

. M o r r i s

, P e r r y

, a n d B r o w n w e r e a l r e a d y i n t h e v a n

, a n d t h e y

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

.

S a u l s b e r r y s t a t e d t h a t h e a s k e d t h e [ p e t i t i o n e r ] w h a t w a s h a p p e n i n g

, a n d t h e

[ p e t i t i o n e r ] t o l d h i m t h e l e s s h e k n e w t h e b e t t e r

. T h e y t h e n d r o v e t o t h e

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

.

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

, t h e

[ p e t i t i o n e r ] t o l d P e r r y t o g e t o u t o f t h e v a n

. P e r r y g o t o u t a n d s h o t t h e v i c t i m

t w i c e

. T h e y t h e n d r o v e t o C l u b o n t h e G r e e n A p a r t m e n t s a n d p r o c e e d e d t o t h e

b a c k o f t h e c o m p l e x w h e r e a t r u c k w i t h “ h i g h p r o f i l e

. . . c h r o m e r i m s ” w a s

-4-p a r k e d

. T h e [ p e t i t i o n e r ]

, P e r r y

, a n d B r o w n “ w i p [ e d ] d o w n t h e t r u c k

, ” t r i e d t o

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

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

. B e c a u s e t h e y

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

, t h e [ p e t i t i o n e r ] a s k e d S a u l s b e r r y t o l i g h t

t h e f i r e

, w h i c h h e d i d

. T h e t r u c k e x p l o d e d

, a n d S a u l s b e r r y w a s s e v e r e l y

b u r n e d

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

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

. H o w e v e r

, h e

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

p r o p e r t y

.

T a k i s h a B r o w n t e s t i f

i e d t h a t s h e w a s d a t i n g C o r t n e y P e r r y ’ s b r o t h e r

,

C o r e y

, a t t h e t i m e o f t h e m u r d e r

. A t t h a t t i m e

, C o r t n e y

, C o r e y

, M i e k o

S a u l s b e r r y

, a n d t h e [ p e t i t i o n e r ] l i v e d t o g e t h e r a t t h e L o f t A p a r t m e n t s

, a n d I l y a s

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

. B r o w n s a i d t h a t s h e s o m e t i m e s s t a y e d t h e r e

w i t h C o r e y b u t a c t u a l l y l i v e d w i t h h e r m o t h e r

. O n t h e e v e n i n g o f A p r i l 9 o r

1 0

, B r o w n r e t u r n e d t o t h e L o f t A p a r t m e n t s a f

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

a n d r e c a l l e d t h a t t h e [ p e t i t i o n e r ]

, C o r t n e y

, C o r e y

, M o r r i s

, a n d p o s s i b l y

S a u l s b e r r y w e r e t h e r e w h e n s h e a r r i v e d

. T h e [ p e t i t i o n e r ] a n d C o r t n e y w e r e

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

, ” a n d t h e [ p e t i t i o n e r ] a s k e d

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

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

.

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

“ t h i n k i n g

. ”

B r o w n s a i d t h a t t h e [ p e t i t i o n e r ] c a l l e d t h e v i c t i m a n d t h a t s h e t o l d t h e

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

. W h e n t h e v i c t i m

a r r i v e d

, B r o w n

, C o r t n e y P e r r y

, a n d t h e [ p e t i t i o n e r ] w e n t o u t s i d e a n d g o t i n t o

t h e v i c t i m ’ s v e h i c l e

. T h e v i c t i m w a s d r i v i n g

, P e r r y w a s i n t h e p a s s e n g e r ’ s

s e a t

, B r o w n w a s s e a t e d b e h i n d P e r r y

, a n d t h e [ p e t i t i o n e r ] w a s s e a t e d b e h i n d

t h e v i c t i m

. T h e y w e n t t o a g a s s t a t i o n t o g e t a c i g a r t o f i l l w i t h m a r i

j u a n a

, t h e n

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

. W h i l e t h e y s m o k e d

, t h e

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

. 3 8 0 h a n d g u n a n d p u l l e d i t o u t o f t h e g l o v e b o x

t o s h o w t h e [ p e t i t i o n e r ]

.

B r o w n r e c a l l e d t h a t t h e [ p e t i t i o n e r ] a s k e d t o s e e t h e v i c t i m ’ s g u n a n d

,

a f t e r d e n y i n g t h a t h e o w n e d a g u n

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

. T h e

[ p e t i t i o n e r ] g o t o u t a n d o p e n e d t h e d r i v e r ’ s d o o r

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

o n t h e g r o u n d

. T h e [ p e t i t i o n e r ] t h e n g o t i n t h e d r i v e r ’ s s e a t a n d d r o v e t o t h e

C l u b o n t h e G r e e n A p a r t m e n t s w h e r e S a u l s b e r r y a n d M o r r i s w e r e w a i t i n g

.

B r o w n g o t i n t o M o r r i s ’ v a n

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

v i c t i m ’ s t r u c k

. B r o w n s a w t h e [ p e t i t i o n e r ] t a k e o f f h i s c l o t h e s t h a t w e r e

-5-c o v e r e d i n b l o o d

, a n d e v e r y o n e g o t i n t o M o r r i s ’ v a n

.

B r o w n t e s t i f

i e d t h a t t h e [ p e t i t i o n e r ] d i r e c t e d M o r r i s t o d r i v e b a c k t o t h e

v i c t i m ’ s b o d y

. T h e [ p e t i t i o n e r ] t r i e d t o s h o o t t h e v i c t i m

, b u t h i s g u n j a m m e d

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

. T h e y d r o v e b a c k t o t h e

L o f t A p a r t m e n t s

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

. T h e

[ p e t i t i o n e r ]

, P e r r y

, S a u l s b e r r y

, a n d M o r r i s l e f t a g a i n

, b u t r e t u r n e d l a t e r w i t h

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

. B r o w n a d m i t t e d t h a t s h e p l e d

g u i l t y t o f

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

.

C o r t n e y P e r r y t e s t i f

i e d t h a t a t t h e t i m e o f t h e m u r d e r

, h e w a s l i v i n g w i t h

t h e [ p e t i t i o n e r ] a t t h e L o f t A p a r t m e n t s a l o n g w i t h h i s b r o t h e r

, I l y a s M o r r i s

,

M i e k o S a u l s b e r r y

, a n d T e r r a n c e S c o t t

. O n A p r i l 9

, 2 0 0 1

, P e r r y w a s a s l e e p

w h e n t h e [ p e t i t i o n e r ] w o k e h i m s a y i n g t h a t t h e y n e e d e d r e n t m o n e y a n d t h a t

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

. A c c o r d i n g t o P e r r y

, t h e [ p e t i t i o n e r ]

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

s e x w i t h T a k i s h a B r o w n

, a n d t h e n t h e [ p e t i t i o n e r ] “ w a s g o i n g t o d o h i m i n

. ”

T h e [ p e t i t i o n e r ] r e c e i v e d a p h o n e c a l l f r o m t h e v i c t i m a n d t h e n t o l d P e r r y t h a t

h e w a s “ j u s t k i d d i n g ” a b o u t d o i n g a n y t h i n g t o t h e v i c t i m

. T h e [ p e t i t i o n e r ] t o l d

P e r r y t h a t h e a n d t h e v i c t i m w e r e g o i n g t o s m o k e m a r i j u a n a a n d h a v e s e x w i t h

B r o w n

. P e r r y d e c i d e d t o g o a l o n g t o s e e i f B r o w n w a s g o i n g t o c h e a t o n h i s

b r o t h e r

, C o r e y

.

P e r r y t e s t i f

i e d t h a t h e

, t h e [ p e t i t i o n e r ]

, t h e v i c t i m

, a n d B r o w n d r o v e

a r o u n d l o o k i n g f

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

t o s m o k e m a r i

j u a n a

. T h e [ p e t i t i o n e r ] d i r e c t e d t h e v i c t i m t o d r i v e t o a c o v e

n e a r S h e p h e r d s T r e e a n d K i l a r n e y

, a n d t h e [ p e t i t i o n e r ] a n d t h e v i c t i m s t a r t e d

t a l k i n g a b o u t g u n s

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

t o s h o w t h e [ p e t i t i o n e r ]

, a n d t h e [ p e t i t i o n e r ] a s k e d t o s e e i t

. T h e v i c t i m

o b l i g e d

, a n d t h e [ p e t i t i o n e r ] b e g a n u n l o a d i n g a n d l o a d i n g t h e b u l l e t s

. P e r r y

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

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

. H e h e a r d a s e c o n d s h o t a s h e d u c k e d d o w n

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

. A t t h a t p o i n t

, t h e [ p e t i t i o n e r ] g o t o u t o f t h e

v e h i c l e

, p u l l e d t h e v i c t i m o u t

, a n d g o t i n t h e d r i v e r ’ s s e a t

. B r o w n m o v e d i n t o

t h e p a s s e n g e r ’ s s e a t

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

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

.

P e r r y r e c a l l e d t h a t t h e [ p e t i t i o n e r ] d r o v e t h e m t o C l u b o n t h e G r e e n

A p a r t m e n t s w h e r e t h e y m e t M o r r i s a n d S a u l s b e r r y

. T h e [ p e t i t i o n e r ] t o l d h i m

a n d B r o w n t o g e t i n t o M o r r i s ’ v a n

, a n d t h e [ p e t i t i o n e r ] p r o c e e d e d t o t a k e o f f

-6-h i s c l o t h e s

. M o r r i s g o t o u t o f h i s v a n

, t o o k s o m e t h i n g o u t o f t h e v i c t i m ’ s

t r u c k

, g o t b a c k i n t h e v a n

, a n d t h e y s t a r t e d t o d r i v e t o w a r d t h e L o f t

A p a r t m e n t s

. O n t h e w a y

, t h e [ p e t i t i o n e r ] d i r e c t e d M o r r i s b a c k t o t h e v i c t i m ’ s

l o c a t i o n a n d

, w h i l e w a v i n g h i s “ b i g c h r o m e g u n

, ” t o l d P e r r y t h a t P e r r y w a s

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

. A f t e r t e l l i n g t h e

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

, P e r r y g o t o u t o f t h e v a n a n d s h o t t h e

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

. T h e n

, t h e y

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

, r e t u r n e d t o

t h e t r u c k

, a n d s e t i t o n f i r e

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

.

P e r r y t e s t i f

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

a f e w d a y s a f

t e r t h e m u r d e r

, b u t t h e y w e r e n o t a r r e s t e d

. S o m e t i m e a f t e r t a l k i n g

t o t h e p o l i c e

, P e r r y

, t h e [ p e t i t i o n e r ]

, a n d M o r r i s w e n t t o t h e [ p e t i t i o n e r ] ’ s

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

t h e b a c k o f t h e h o u s e

. P e r r y s t a t e d t h a t t h e [ p e t i t i o n e r ] “ i m p l i e d ” t h a t h e

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

, s o t h e y w e n t t o t h e l a k e a n d t h r e w

t h e m i n

. P e r r y t e s t i f

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

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

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

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

. P e r r y r e c a l l e d t h a t t h e

[ p e t i t i o n e r ] ’ s g u n w a s a L o r c i n a n d t h a t t h e [ p e t i t i o n e r ] a n d B r o w n h a d b e e n

i n a r e l a t i o n s h i p b u t t h a t w a s b e f o r e h e k n e w t h e [ p e t i t i o n e r ]

.

D r

. O

. C

. S m i t h

, S h e l b y C o u n t y M e d i c a l E x a m i n e r a t t h e t i m e o f t h e

i n c i d e n t

, t e s t i f

i e d t h a t h e p e r f

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

. D r

. S m i t h

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

, w h i c h

d a m a g e d t h e b r a i n

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

. I t w a s D r

. S m i t h ’ s

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

- m o r t e m

. W i t h

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

, D r

. S m i t h s t a t e d t h a t b o t h w o u n d s

“ w e n t f r o m u p t o d o w n

, w e n t f r o m r i g h t t o l e f

t a n d w e n t f

r o m b a c k t o f

r o n t

s l i g h t l y

. ” H e r e c o v e r e d p r o j e c t i l e s f r o m b o t h h e a d w o u n d s

.

O f f i c e r V e n n e s O w e n s w i t h t h e M e m p h i s P o l i c e D e p a r t m e n t t e s t i f i e d

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

. O f f i c e r O w e n s

r e c a l l e d t h a t I l y a s M o r r i s l e d t h e o f f i c e r s t o C o r o L a k e w h e r e t w o p i s t o l s w e r e

r e c o v e r e d

. M o r r i s a l s o l e d t h e o f f i c e r s t o t h e L o f

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

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

.

O f f i c e r R e g i n a l d M o r g a n w i t h t h e M e m p h i s P o l i c e D e p a r t m e n t t e s t i f i e d

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

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

. A s p a r t

o f h i s i n v e s t i g a t i o n

, O f f i c e r M o r g a n w e n t t o C l u b o n t h e G r e e n A p a r t m e n t s

-7-w h e r e t h e v i c t i m ’ s b u r n e d v e h i c l e w a s f o u n d

, a n d h e a l s o w e n t t o t h e m o r g u e

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

a u t o p s y

. H e t r a n s p o r t e d t h o s e b u l l e t s a s w e l l a s t h e g u n s r e c o v e r e d f r o m C o r o

L a k e t o t h e T e n n e s s e e B u r e a u o f I n v e s t i g a t i o n ( T B I ) C r i m e L a b i n N a s h v i l l e

f o r c o m p a r i s o n

.

C e r v i n i a B r a s w e l l

, f

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

i r e a r m s e x a m i n e r w i t h t h e

T B I

, t e s t i f

i e d t h a t t h e g u n s s e n t t o t h e T B I f o r t e s t i n g i n t h i s c a s e w e r e a

. 3 8 0

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

– a

. 3 8 0 D a v i s

. B o t h

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

.

T h e T B I a l s o r e c e i v e d f i v e b u l l e t s r e c o v e r e d f

r o m t h e v i c t i m ’ s b o d y d u r i n g

a u t o p s y

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

i t e n t e r e d t h e b o d y

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

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

, b u t n o t e n o u g h t o s a y

w i t h 1 0 0 % c e r t a i n t y t h a t t h e b u l l e t s w e r e f i r e d f r o m t h a t p a r t i c u l a r L o r c i n g u n

.

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

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

, a g a i n

, b u t n o t e n o u g h t o s a y w i t h

1 0 0 % c e r t a i n t y t h a t t h e b u l l e t s w e r e f i r e d f r o m t h a t p a r t i c u l a r D a v i s g u n

.

D e f e n s e P r o o f

L o l i t a K e n t s t a t e d t h a t i n A p r i l 2 0 0 1 s h e w a s t h e m a n a g e r o f a g a s

s t a t i o n n e a r A i r w a y s B o u l e v a r d a n d H o l m e s R o a d a n d w a s w o r k i n g t h e

o v e r n i g h t s h i f

t o n A p r i l 9

, 2 0 0 1

. S h e r e c a l l e d t h a t a m a n p u r c h a s e d g a s a n d

p u t i t i n a j u g o f s o m e t y p e a r o u n d 2 : 0 0 a

. m

. S h e d e s c r i b e d t h e m a n w h o

b o u g h t t h e g a s a s h e a v y s e t

, w e i g h i n g a p p r o x i m a t e l y 2 0 7 p o u n d s

, a n d h a v i n g

d r e a d l o c k s i n h i s h a i r

. S h e d i d n o t r e c o g n i z e t h e m a n w h o b o u g h t t h e g a s a s

a n y o n e i n t h e c o u r t r o o m

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

t i n t e d w i n d o w s a n d r i m s

. K e n t e x p l a i n e d t h a t s h e p a i d a t t e n t i o n t o t h e t r u c k

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

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

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

.

S h a l a n d o M a d k i n s s t a t e d t h a t t h e [ p e t i t i o n e r ] a n d T a k i s h a B r o w n

“ f o o l e d a r o u n d w i t h e a c h o t h e r ” f o r a b o u t a m o n t h i n 2 0 0 0 o r 2 0 0 1

. S h e

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

“ p r o b a b l y [ i n ] t h e s u m m e r o f 2 0 0 0

, ” B r o w n a t t a c k e d t h e [ p e t i t i o n e r ] w i t h a

k n i f e

.

M a r k W i l l i a m s

, l o n g

- t i m e f r i e n d o f t h e [ p e t i t i o n e r ]

, t e s t i f i e d t h a t t h e

[ p e t i t i o n e r ] i s l e f

t

- h a n d e d

. W i l l i a m s s t a t e d t h a t h e a l s o k n e w M i e k o

-8-S a u l s b e r r y a n d d i d n o t c o n s i d e r h i m t o h a v e a g o o d r e p u t a t i o n f o r t r u t h f u l n e s s

i n t h e c o m m u n i t y

.

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

, t h e j u r y f

o u n d t h e [ p e t i t i o n e r ] g u i l t y

o f f e l o n y m u r d e r

, p r e m e d i t a t e d 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

.

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

c o n v i c t i o n

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

. T h e [ p e t i t i o n e r ]

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

c o n v i c t i o n

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

. T h e [ p e t i t i o n e r ]

a p p e a l e d

.

S t a t e v

. T yr e e R o b i n s o n

, N o

. W 2 0 0 8

- 0 1 0 0 1

- C C A

- R 3

- C D

, 2 0 0 9 W L 1 7 4 1 4 0 1

, a t * 1

- 6 ( T e n n

.

C r i m

. A p p

. J u n e 1 6

, 2 0 0 9 )

, p e r m

. a p p

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

. N o v

. 2 3

, 2 0 0 9 )

.



### T estif y in g at th e ev id en tiary h earin g in th is m atter w ere th e p etitio n er’s f o rm er trial

an d ap p ellate law y ers, as w ell as th e p etitio n er h im self . We w ill rev iew th eir testim o n y

.

T rial co u n sel ex p lain ed h o w h e h ad p ro ceed ed in p rep arin g th e p etitio n er’s d ef en se:

T h e sam e w ay I p rep are f o r all m y trials. I h ire an in v estig ato r. I

rev iew th e d isco v ery

. I rev iew th e m em o s an d I co n su lt w ith m y clien t. A n d

I p ro ceed f

o rw ard w ith th e b est th eo ry I f eel lik e is in th e b est in terest o f m y

clien t, b o th o n th e f

acts p resen ted in th e in v estig atio n an d as p resen ted to m e.

H e said th at b ecau se h e w as called in to th e ev id en tiary h earin g at “th e last m in u te,”

h e h ad n o t rev iew ed h is f ile in th e m att e r a n d w a s “g o in g o f f w h atev er [ h e] h a[ d ] in [ h is]

h ead .” H e recalled th at th ere w as “so m e issu e ab o u t a j ailh o u se letter” b u t t h at th e n am e

“S ek u T eam er” d id n o t “rin g a b ell.” H e said h e d id n o t o b j ect to th e p o rtio n s o f th e S tate’s

clo sin g arg u m en t q u o ted in th e p o st-co n v ictio n p etitio n o r raise it as an issu e in th e m o tio n

f o r n ew trial, as b est h e recalled

.

T rial co u n sel ex p lain ed h o w h e d eterm in ed w h at issu es sh o u ld b e in th at m o tio n :

I raised th o se issu es o r d id n o t raise th em af ter co n su l t i n g w i t h m

y

ap p ellate co u n sel,

. . ., b ecau se I d o n ’t d o ap p ellate w o rk

. I d o m y trial w o rk

an d th en I g o to m

y ap p ellate law y er b ef

o re I co n stru ct m y m o t i o n f o r n ew

trial. I sh o w h im w h at m y issu es I th in k th ey are, an d th ey tell m e w h eth er o r

n o t th ey h av e v iab le g ro u n d s at th e co u rt o f ap p eals [ sic]

. If m y a p p ellate

co u n sel tells m e th ey d o n o t h av e v iab le g ro u n d s at th e co u rt o f ap p eals [ sic]

, I d o n o t w aste th e tim e in a m o tio n f o r n ew trial. T h at m ay b e so m eth in g y o u

-9-

### can ad d ress w ith [ ap p ellate co u n sel]

.

In h is p retrial p rep aratio n

, trial co u n sel said th at h e “saw n o altern ativ e th eo ries.” H e

ex p lain ed h is in v estig atio n reg ard in g th e p etitio n er’s claim th at h e w as n o t at th e scen e w h en

th e crim es w ere co m m itted :

Y e s

, [ t h e p etitio n er] to ld m e th at h e w as n o t th ere. Y es, h e led m y

in v estig ato rs d o w n n u m ero u s p ath s to try to p ro v e th at h e w asn ’t th ere o r at

least b rin g m e a w itn ess to say th at h e w asn ’t th ere. With o u t ev id en ce, I d o n ’t

p resen t a d ef

en se. I h ad n o ev id en ce o th er th an w h at [ th e p etitio n er] to ld m e.

I n h is testim o n y

, th e p etitio n er ex p lain ed h is reaso n s f o r f ilin g th e p etit i o n : 2



### “In ef f ectiv e assistan ce o f co u n sel o n m an y reaso n s. I m ean

, I d o n ’t b eliev e th at I h ad a f air

h earin g b ecau se . . . th ere w as j u st n o ad v ersarial test to th e S tate’s p ro o f , p erio d

. I m ean

, it w as lik e h e j u st lef

t m e . . . w ith n o d ef

en se w h atso ev er.”

T h e p etitio n er ex p lain ed th at h e w as at h o m e w h en h e h eard “all th e n o i s e

, ” a n d

M iek o S au lsb erry cam e in to h is ro o m an d said

, “I g o t b u rn ed

, I g o t b u rn ed .” S au lsb erry said

h e h ad b een “p lay in g w ith

– m essin g w ith so m e f ire w ith a b arb ecu e g rill.” T h e p etitio n er

said th at th e p ro secu tio n th eo ry w as th at h e w as “th e o n e w h o w as h id in g all th e ev id en ce,”

w h ile, in f

act, h e w as th e o n e w h o co n sen ted to a search o f th e h o u se an d g av e a statem en t

to th e p o lice, n o n e o f w h ich w as to ld to th e j u ry

. H e to ld co u n sel th at h e w as n o t in v o lv ed

in th e crim es. H e ch aracterized th e S tate’s clo sin g arg u m en t as:

It b asically w a s lik e

. . . th at w h at [ th e p ro secu to r] w an ted [ th e j u ro rs] to d o

w as ab o u t th eir co n scien ce an d th is th at, th is th at, an d n o t ab o u t th e ev id en ce.

Y o u k n o w

, [ t h e p ro secu to r] w asn ’t talk in g ab o u t th e ev id en ce. [ T h e

p ro secu to r] w as b asically lik e I said

, try in g to in f lam e th e p assio n o f th e j u ry

. T ry in g to m ak e th em f

eel sad

. Y o u k n o w

, try in g to m ak e th em f eel a certain

w ay in stead o f

f o cu sin g o n th e ev id en ce o f th e trial.

T h e p etitio n er claim ed th at ap p ellate co u n sel “[ n ] ev er” co n tacted h im

, alth o u g h th e

p etitio n er “sen t h im letters.” H e said th at h e receiv ed th e ap p ell a t e b rief w ritten b y h is

co u n sel o n ly af

ter it h ad b een f

iled an d th at n o n e o f th e issu es raised w ere in h is m o tio n f o r

n ew trial. F u rth er, h e said th at th e testim o n y o f S ek u T eam er w as “h earsay an d th e ap p eal

co u rts h ad alread y ru led th at S ek u T eam er b ein g w ith th e v ictim w h en th e v ictim su p p o sed ly

Alt hough, dur ing his te st imony at the eviden ti ar y hea ri ng, the pet it ion er ra is ed a number of cl ai m s 2

of ine ff ect ive tr ia l and app el la te cou nse l, we wil l con si der onl y tho se whic h have bee n con ti nue d on app eal

.

-10-

### receiv ed th e call.” A t th e seco n d trial, S ek u T eam e r ag ain w as “allo w ed

. . . to g et o n th e

stan d an d say th at th e v ictim w as g o in g to m eet w ith [ th e p etitio n er] .” In clo sin g arg u m en t,

“th e p ro secu tio n u sed th is ev id en ce

. . . th ree o r f o u r tim es.” F u rth er, th e p etitio n er said th at

Ily as M o rris “ad m itted th at h e k n ew ab o u t th e crim e b ef o re it h ap p en ed ” an d “th at m ad e h im

a co -d ef en d an t,” n o t an accesso ry af ter th e f act, as h e w as ch arg ed

.

A p p ellate co u n sel testif

ied th at h e d id n o t d iscu ss th e ap p eal w ith th e p etitio n er b u t

b ased it u p o n th e trial re c o rd

. H e ex p lain ed th e p ro cess h e f o llo w ed w h en w ritin g an

ap p ellate b rief

:

T y p ical l y

. . . w h en I w rite a b rief

, I g o th ro u g h th o se issu es an d

d eterm in e if an y o f th em are v iab le. Y o u k n o w y o u can p reserv e issu es all d ay

lo n g . If it’s n o t an issu e th at’s a[ n ] issu e th at y o u co u ld p o ssib ly p rev ail o n

,

y o u ’v e w asted y o u r tim e w ritin g

. . . .

S o

, y es, I w en t th ro u g h th e m o tio n f o r n ew trial. I elim in ated w h at

issu es w eren ’t g o o d issu es an d I d id th e b rief w ith w h at w e h ad lef t w h ich I

b eliev e in th is case w as su f f icien cy o f th e ev id en ce.

C o u n sel f elt th at an y claim s th at th e p ro secu tio n ’s f in al arg u m en ts en titled th e p etitio n er to

relief w ere “n o t v iab le.”

A N A L Y S IS

I. In ef f ectiv e A ssista n ce o f

C o u n sel

We w il l rev iew th e claim s w h ich th e p o st-co n v ictio n co u rt g lean ed f ro m th e

p etitio n er’s testim o n y at th e ev id en tiary h earin g

, f o r it is so m ew h at d if

f icu lt t o d iv in e

w h eth er h e h as p ro ceed ed w ith all o f th ese claim s o n ap p eal.

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

. S e e T e n n

. C o d e A n n

. § 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 c o u r t a r e c o n c l u s i v 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 e m

. S e e 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 n v o l v e s 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 t r i a l 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

-11-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 v

. S t a t e

, 4 0 S

. W

. 3 d 4 5 0

, 4 5 8

( T e n n

. 2 0 0 1 ) ; 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 o e s t a b l i s h a c l a i m 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

, 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

. 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 ) )

. M o r e o v e r

,

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 p r e

j u d i 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 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

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

a p p e l l a t e c o u n s e l

. C a m p b e l l v

. S t a t e

, 9 0 4 S

. W

. 2 d 5 9 4

, 5 9 6 ( T e n n

. 1 9 9 5 )

.

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 ” )

.



### A . N o t O b jectin g to T estim o n y o f S eku T ea m er

-12-

### T h e p etitio n er arg u es th at trial co u n sel w as in ef f ectiv e in n o t o b

j ectin g to th e

testim o n y o f th is w itn e s s a s h earsay an d n o t im p each in g T eam er w ith a p rio r in co n sisten t

statem en t.

In b rief

, at th e f irst trial, T eam er testif

ied th at, earlier t

h at ev en in g

, h e h ad b een w ith

th e v ictim

, w h o to ld h im th at h e w as sp eak in g o n th e telep h o n e w ith th e p etitio n er, w h o h ad

arran g ed f

o r h im to h av e sex w ith B ro w n

. O n ap p eal, th is co u rt ex p la i n e d th at T eam er’s

statem en ts sh o u ld n o t h av e b een allo w ed b ecau se th ey w ere h earsay b u t “th at in lig h t o f th e

o th er ev id en ce ad d u ced at trial, th e erro r in ad m ittin g th e id en tif icatio n w as h arm less.” S tate

v

. R o b in so n

, 2 3 9 S .W.3 d 2 1 1

, 2 2 4 (T en n

. C rim

. A p p

. 2 0 0 6 ). T h e co u rt th en ex p lain ed th at

T eam er w as p ro p erly allo w ed to “testif y th at th e v ictim receiv ed a telep h o n e call, th e v o ice

o n th e o th er en d o f

th e lin e w as m ale, an d th e v ictim m ad e arran g em en ts to m eet th at m ale

at th e L o f t A p artm en ts f

o r a ren d ezv o u s w ith a g irl.” Id

.

A t th e retrial o f th is m atter, th e S tate p ro ceed ed w ith T eam er as th is co u rt earlier h ad

co n clu d ed w as allo w ab le:

S e k u T e a m e r

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

, t e s t i f i e d t h a t h e a n d t h e

v i c t i m w e r e a t W i n g C i t y

, a n i g h t c l u b

, i n t h e e a r l y m o r n i n g h o u r s o f A p r i l 1 0

,

2 0 0 1

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

. T h e v o i c e o n t h e p h o n e a p p e a r e d

t o b e t h a t o f

a m a l e

. T h e t w o l e f

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

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

. T h e v i c t i m d r o p p e d T e a m e r o f f a t t h e

h o m e t h e y s h a r e d

, s a y i n g h e w a s g o i n g t o t h e L o f t A p a r t m e n t s “ t o h a v e

i n t e r c o u r s e w i t h T a k i s h a B r o w n a n d h e w a s g o i n g t o j o i n i n w i t h [ t h e

p e t i t i o n e r ]

. ” T h e v i c t i m t h e n d r o v e a w a y i n h i s B l a z e r w i t h r e l a t i v e l y n e w

, f l a s h y r i m s

.

T y r e e R o b i n s o n

, 2 0 0 9 W L 1 7 4 1 4 0 1

, a t * 2

.



### A s to th is claim

, th e p o st-co n v ictio n co u rt f o u n d th at th is co u rt earlier h ad h eld th at

erro r in ad m ittin g testim o n y as to id en tity w as h arm less an d th at, a s a resu lt, th e p etitio n er

f ailed to p ro v e eith er th at trial co u n sel w as d e f i c i en t o r th at th e p etitio n er w as p rej u d iced

. T h e reco rd su p p o rts th is d eterm in atio n

.

T h e p etitio n er also co m

p lain s th at trial co u n sel sh o u ld h av e im p each ed T eam er w ith

a p rio r statem en t th at th e caller w as m ale. A s th e p o s t -co n v ictio n co u rt p o in ted o u t, trial

co u n sel d id q u estio n T eam er as to w h eth er th e v o ice h e h eard w as m ale o r f em ale. T h u s, as

th e co u rt n o ted

, th e p etitio n er sim p ly d isag rees w ith tria l c o u n sel’s d ecisio n as to h o w th e

cro ss-ex am in atio n o f th e w itn ess sh o u ld h av e p r o c e e d e d

. T h e co u rt co n clu d ed th at th e

p e t i t i o n er f

ailed to sh o w h e w as p rej u d iced b y th is d ecisio n

, an d th e reco rd su p p o rt s t h i s

-13-

### d eterm in atio n

.

B . S ta te’s C lo sin g A rg u m en t

T h e p etitio n er arg u es th at trial an d ap p ellate co u n sel w ere in ef f ectiv e in n o t o b

j ectin g

to th e S tate’s clo sin g arg u m en t at trial, in p resen tin g th is a s an issu e in th e m o tio n f o r n ew

trial o r o n ap p eal as p lain erro r. A s w e u n d er s t a n d h i s c o mp lain t, it is d irected to th e

f o llo w in g statem en ts d u rin g th e S tate’s in itial clo sin g arg u m en t:

T h e so u n d o f th e lau g h ter at th e L o f t A p artm en ts w h en th ey g o t K eish a to

ag ree to it. G o t p o o r O ’N eil C o rn ish to ag ree h o o k

, lin e an d sin k er t o me et

[ th e p etitio n er]

. Y o u h eard S ek u T eam er. T h ey w ere at th e Win g s to g eth er.

O ’ N eil g o t a p h o n e call. T h ey leav e th e b ar an d th e n ex t th in g h e k n o w s h e

say s I’m g o in g [ to ] g o m eet [ th e p etitio n er] , h e’s g o in g to h o o k m e u p w ith a

g irl. S ek u n ev er saw h is . . . b est f rien d ag ain

.

A s to th e p etitio n er’s co m p lain ts reg ard in g trial co u n sel’s n o t o b j ectin g to th e S tate’s

clo sin g arg u m en t ref

eren cin g T eam er’s t e s t i m o n y

, th e p o st-co n v ictio n co u rt f o u n d th at,

b ecau se th is co u rt su b seq u en tly d eterm in ed th at ad m issio n o f th is testim o n y w as h arm less

erro r, th e S tate’s u se o f it in clo sin g arg u m en t d id “n o t rise to th e lev el co n stitu tin g

p rej u d ice.”

A d d itio n ally

, reg ard in g th e clo sin g arg u m en t, th e p etitio n er arg u es th at trial co u n sel

w as in ef f ectiv e b y f

ailin g to o b

j ect to th e S tate’s “in f

lam m ato ry an d i m

p ro p er” clo sin g

arg u m en t an d th at ap p ellate co u n sel w as in ef f ectiv e as w ell in n o t p resen tin g th is claim o n

ap p eal. T h e p etitio n er’s sp ec i f i c c o m p lain t reg ard in g th e arg u m en t w as th at th e S tate

“call[ ed ] o n th e j u ry to sen d a m essag e rath er th an to co n v ict o n th e ev id en ce.” Wh ile it is

tru e, as th e d ef

en d an t asserts, th at th e p o st-co n v ictio n co u rt d id n o t clearly ru le o n th is claim

, it is n o t clear to th is co u rt th at, in h is len g th y an d ram b lin g testim o n y at th e ev id en tiary

h earin g

, th e p etitio n er m ad e th is sp ecif ic claim

. H o w ev er, b ased u p o n o u r rev iew o f t h e

S tate’s clo sin g arg u m en ts, w e easily co n clu d e th at ev en if th is arg u m en t w ere im p ro p er, it d id

n o t ri s e to th e lev el o f rev ersib le erro r, n o r w as co u n sel in ef f ectiv e b y n o t raisin g it as an

issu e in th e m o tio n f

o r n ew trial o r o n ap p eal.

C . F a ilu re to C o n d u ct P ro p er In v estig a tio n

F in ally

, th e p eti tio n er co m p lain s th at trial co u n sel w as in ef f ectiv e f o r f ailin g to

“p ro p erly in v estig ate p etitio n er ’ s c a s e

. ” In th is reg ard

, w e n o te th at, at th e ev id en tiary

h earin g

, th e p etitio n er p resen ted n eith er d o cu m en ts n o r ev id en ce to su p p o rt h is claim

. A ssu m in g th at t h e p e t i t io n er is ref errin g to th e f

act th at trial co u n sel d id n o t o b tain th e

-14-

### p resen ce o f “G erald ” to testif y at th e tri a l

, t h e p o st-co n v ictio n co u rt ex p lain ed th at th e

p etiti o n e r h ad f

ailed to p resen t an y ev id en ce th at th e p resen tatio n o f th is w itn ess as an

altern ativ e s u s p e c t w o u ld h av e af f ected th e o u tco m e o f th e case. T h is f in d in g is b o lstered

b y th e f acts th at, b ecau se th e w itn ess d id n o t testif y at th e ev id en tiary h earin g

, w e are lef t to

sp ecu late as to w h eth er h e ex ists, m u ch less w h at h is testim o n y m ig h t h av e b een

. T h u s, th e

reco rd su p p o rts th e p o st-co n v ictio n co u rt’s f in d in g th at, as to th is issu e as w ell, th e p etitio n er

h as f ailed to sh o w eith er th at co u n sel w as in ef f ectiv e o r th at h e w as p rej u d iced th ereb y

.

A lso

, as to th is issu e, th e p etitio n er m ak es th e co n clu so ry arg u m en t o n ap p eal th at trial

co u n sel w as in ef

f ectiv e b ecau se h e “co u ld n o t recall

. . . an y sp ecif ic in v estig atio n th at h e

u n d erto o k o th er th an h irin g an in v estig ato r”; th at co u n sel’s “lack o f m em o ry [ at th e h earin g ]

as w ell as

. . . h is lack [ o f ] p rep ared n ess at trial” w ere ev id en ce o f “an i n ad eq u ate

in v estig atio n ”; th at h e “d id n o t caref u lly rev iew th e p rev io u s o p in io n in th e p etitio n er’s f irst

ap p eal, n o r d id h e ad eq u at e l y r e v i e w th e d isco v ery ”; an d “[ m ] o reo v er, [ h e] f ailed to

ad eq u ately in v estig ate th e co n ten ts o f a letter alleg ed ly w ritten b y p etitio n er’s co -d ef en d an t.”

In m ak in g th ese g en eral co m p lain ts, th e p etitio n er h as f ailed to sh o w w h at th e resu lts w o u ld

h av e b een h ad co u n sel tak en th ese a c t i o n s

. A cco rd in g ly

, h e h as f ailed to estab lish ed

p rej u d ice as th e resu lt o f

co u n sel’s alleg ed sh o rtco m in g s.

C O N C L U S IO N

B ased u p o n th e f

o reg o i n g au th o rities an d reaso n in g

, w e af f irm th e p o st-co n v ictio n

co u rt’s d eterm in atio n th at th e p etitio n er is n o t en titled to p o st-co n v ictio n relief

.

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

. G L E N N

, J U D G E

-15-