Opinion ID: 1058506
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 20

Heading: Anthony Issue

Text: The defendant contends his convictions for both premeditated first degree murder and especially aggravated kidnapping violate due process because the kidnapping was incidental to the murder. We disagree. A separate conviction for kidnapping may violate due process when the kidnapping is essentially incidental to the accompanying felony conviction and is not significant enough, in and of itself, to warrant independent prosecution. State v. Anthony, 817 S.W.2d 299, 306 (Tenn. 1991). In examining this issue, we must first determine whether the movement or confinement employed was beyond that which was necessary to commit the accompanying felony. State v. Dixon, 957 S.W.2d 532, 535 (Tenn.1997). If so, we must next determine whether the additional movement or confinement: (1) prevented the victim from summoning help; (2) lessened the defendant's risk of detection; or (3) created a significant danger or increased the victim's risk of harm. Id. We conclude the defendant's dual convictions for especially aggravated kidnapping and premeditated first degree murder do not violate due process. The movement and confinement of Green was beyond that necessary to commit the murder. Furthermore, the additional confinement and movement prevented Green from summoning help and lessened the risk of detection. Therefore, the especially aggravated kidnapping was not essentially incidental to the premeditated murder.