Opinion ID: 1061011
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: (2) Burden of proof -generally;

Text: 2.(4) Life means life -death means death -sentence will be carried out 3.(5) Definition of life and death - sentencing; 4.(6) Jury has responsibility for final decision - sentencing; 5.(7) Decision to be made by individual jurors - sentencing; 6.(9) Aggravating circumstance - definition - sentencing; 7.(10) Weighing aggravation and mitigation - defining mitigation - sentencing; 8.(13) Aggravating circumstance - standards for consideration - sentencing; 9.(14) Presumption regarding aggravating circumstances - sentencing; 10.(15)Aggravating circumstances - unanimity - sentencing: 11.(16)Aggravating circumstance - individual consideration but requirement of unanimity - sentencing; 12.(18)Sentence - crime in society; 13.(19)Deterrence - cost sentencing; 14.(20)Definition - weight and unanimity - sentencing; 15.(21)Definition - mitigating circumstances - sentencing; 16.(22)Mitigating circumstance - definition -sentencing; 17.(23)Mitigating circumstance - definition -sentencing; 18.(24)Standard of proof - sentencing; 19.(26)Weighing aggravating and mitigating circumstances - sentencing; 20.(27)Doubt inures to the benefit of the defendant - sentencing; 21.(28)Mercy - sentencing; 22.(29)Consideration for sentence less than death - sentencing; 23.(30)Mitigation - reason for sentence less than death - sentencing; 24.(31)Sympathy - sentencing; 25.(32)Compassion - mercy - sentencing; 26.(33)Mitigation - reason for sentence less than death - sentencing; 27.(34)Mitigating circumstances - basis for sentence less than death - sentencing; 28.(35)Imposing a sentence less than death; 29.(36)May vote life - sentencing; 30.(37)Finding beyond a reasonable doubt that death is appropriate - sentencing; 31.(38)Lingering doubt -sentencing; 32.(39)Jury verdict - inability to agree - sentencing; 33.(40)No evidence except that introduced at trial - sentencing; 34.(42)Mitigating circumstance - age - sentencing; -75- 35.(44)Mitigating circumstance - mental illness - sentencing; 36.(46)Mitigating circumstance - capacity to appreciate criminality - sentencing; 37.(47)Mitigating circumstance - emotional development - sentencing; 38.(50)Mitigating circumstance - adolescent - sentencing; 39.(51)Mitigating circumstance - parental expectations - sentencing; 40.(53)Mitigating circumstance - health of another - sentencing; 41.(54)Mitigating circumstance - domination - sentencing; 42.(55)Mitigating circumstance - planning of crime - sentencing; 43.(56)Mitigating circumstance - death of victim - sentencing; 44.(57)Mitigating circumstance - lingering doubt - sentencing. When a trial court's instructions correctly charge the applicable law, the court does not err by refusing special requests. Tillet v. State, 565 S.W.2d 509, 511(Tenn. Crim. App. 1978). Nor is it error to refuse to give an inaccurate special request. State v. Moore, 751 S.W.2d 464, 467 (Tenn. Crim. App.), perm. to appeal denied, (Tenn. 1988). After reviewing the instructions given by the trial court, we conclude that the instructions adequately charge the applicable law. This issue is without merit. 17. WHETHER THE DEATH PENALTY UNCONSTITUTIONALLY INFRINGES UPON THE APPELLANT'S FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT TO LIFE. The appellant contends that the Tennessee death penalty statute is unconstitutional in that the right to life is fundamental and the punishment of death is not necessary to promote any compelling state interest. The appellant argues that less severe penalties are available to serve the state's interest in punishing the appellant. Moreover, the appellant asserts that compelling state interests are those which secure our democratic institutions and/or insure national security. While this argument is somewhat novel in its approach, we -76- note that one of the state's most basic functions is to enforce the penal laws as established by the legislature. We quote from the United States Supreme Court decision, Gregg v. Georgia, 428 U.S. 153, 183, 96 S.Ct. 2909, 2930 (1976): [C]apital punishment is an expression of society's moral outrage at particularly offensive conduct. This function may be unappealing to many, but it is essential in an ordered society that asks its citizens to rely on legal processes rather than self-help to vindicate their wrongs. The Tennessee Supreme Court has held that the state's death penalty statute, per se, meets due process requirements. See State v. Black, 815 S.W. 2d 166, 190 (Tenn. 1991); see also State v. Groseclose, 615 S.W.2d 142 (Tenn.), cert. denied, 454 U.S. 882, 102 S.Ct. 366 (1981). This issue is therefore without merit. 18. WHETHER THE STATE'S DEATH PENALTY STATUTE IS CONSTITUTIONAL. The appellant raises several constitutional objections to the Tennessee death penalty statute. Specifically, the appellant contends that the death penalty statute is unconstitutional in that: (a) it provides insufficient guidance to the jury concerning who has the burden of proving whether mitigation outweighs aggravation and what standard the jury should use in making that determination; (b) it fails to sufficiently narrow the class of death penalty eligible defendants; (c) it insufficiently limits the jury's discretion in that once it finds an aggravating circumstance beyond a reasonable doubt, it can impose death, regardless of what mitigation is shown; (d) it requires that if the jury finds that the aggravating circumstances outweigh the mitigating circumstances, it must impose death; -77- (e) it allows the jury to afford too little weight to non-statutory mitigating factors. The statute requires that the jury consider any mitigating circumstances; (f) it does not require the jury to make the ultimate determination that death is appropriate in that it is merely filling in the blanks in determining and comparing mitigating and aggravating circumstances.; (g) it does not inform the jury of its ability to impose mercy; (h) it provides no requirement that the jury make findings of fact as to the presence or absence of mitigating circumstances, thereby preventing effective appellate review; (i) it prohibits the jury from being informed of the consequences of its failure to reach a unanimous verdict in the penalty phase of the trial; (j) it allows the imposition of a cruel and unusual punishment and in that it allows death to be imposed by electrocution; (k) it has been imposed discriminately on the basis of race, sex, geographic region, and economic and political status of the defendant; (l) the proportionality of arbitrariness review conducted by the Tennessee Supreme Court pursuant to Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-205 is inadequate and deficient; (m) it permits the introduction of relatively unreliable evidence in the State's proof of aggravating circumstances and in its rebuttal of mitigating circumstances; (n) it allows the State to make final closing arguments to the jury in the penalty phase of the trial; All of the appellant's arguments except (g) have been rejected by the Tennessee Supreme Court. See State v. Cazes, 875 S.W.2d 253, 268-269 (Tenn. 1994);.State v. Smith, 857 S.W.2d 1, 16-17, 23 (Tenn. 1993); State v. Howell, 868 S.W.2d 238, 258 (Tenn. 1993); State v. Black, 815 S.W.2d 166, 185, 187 (Tenn. 1991); State v. Boyd, 797 S.W.2d 589, 596 (Tenn. 1990); State v. Melson, 638 S.W.2d 342, 366, 368 (Tenn. 1982); State v. Groseclose, 615 S.W.2d 142, 150 (Tenn. 1981). With respect to the argument in (g), in -78- consideration of the jury instructions given in a capital case, we find this issue to be without merit. 19. WHETHER THE CUMULATIVE EFFECT OF ALL ERRORS VIOLATE THE APPELLANT'S CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS. As his final argument, the appellant contends that the cumulative effect of all errors alleged both at trial and at sentencing violates his constitutional rights. As this court has not found any error with respect to the appellant's previous eighteen issues, we find this final issue to be without merit. -79- I N T H E S U P R E M E C O U R T O F T E N N E S S E E A T K N O X V I L L E FILED April 7, 1997 Cecil Crowson, Jr. Appellate C ourt Clerk S T A T E O F T E N N E S S E E , ( ( P l a i n t i f f - A p p e l l e e , ( ( ( C u m b e r l a n d C o u n t y v . ( ( H o n . L e o n B u r n s , J r . , J u d g e ( ( N o . 0 3 - S 0 1 - 9 6 0 4 - C C - 0 0 0 4 7 M I C H A E L D E A N B U S H , ( ( D e f e n d a n t - A p p e l l a n t . ( C O N C U R R I N G O P I N I O N I c o n c u r i n a f f i r m i n g t h e c o n v i c t i o n o f f i r s t d e g r e e m u r d e r a n d t h e s e n t e n c e o f d e a t h i n t h i s c a s e . I w r i t e s e p a r a t e l y t o s t a t e m y r e a s o n s f o r n o t f i n d i n g a s p r e j u d i c i a l e r r o r t h e t r i a l c o u r t ' s c h a r g i n g o f t h e 1 9 8 9 v e r s i o n o f a g g r a v a t i n g c i r c u m s t a n c e ( i ) ( 5 ) , t o e x p r e s s m y c o n t i n u i n g c o n c e r n r e g a r d i n g t h e C o u r t ’ s c o m p a r a t i v e p r o p o r t i o n a l i t y r e v i e w , a n d t o c o m m e n t o n a d i s t u r b i n g a s p e c t o f t h e c a s e w h i c h i s i n s u l a t e d f r o m r e v i e w . F i r s t , I r e p e a t a n o b s e r v a t i o n m a d e i n S t a t e v . H o w e l l , 8 6 8 S . W . 2 d 2 3 8 , 2 6 3 ( T e n n . 1 9 9 3 ) ( R e i d , C . J . , c o n c u r r i n g ) , w h i c h i s a p p l i c a b l e t o t h e p e r f o r m a n c e o f t h e t r i a l j u d g e i n t h i s c a s e :  T h e t r i a l j u d g e d e m o n s t r a t e d t h e q u a l i t i e s c r i t i c a l l y i m p o r t a n t i n c o n d u c t i n g a h i g h l y e m o t i o n a l a n d l e g a l l y e x a c t i n g t r i a l . T h e r e c o r d s h o w s t h a t t h e c a s e w a s d e c i d e d b y a c o m p e t e n t a n d i m p a r t i a l j u r y . T h e r e c o r d d e m o n s t r a t e s t h a t c a p i t a l c a s e s c a n b e t r i e d r e l a t i v e l y f r e e o f e r r o r .  C o u n s e l p r e s s e d t o t h e l i n e t h e w i d e l a t i t u d e n e c e s s a r y f o r e f f e c t i v e a d v o c a c y b u t w e r e a p p r o p r i a t e l y r e s t r a i n e d b y t h e c o o l h a n d o f t h e j u d g e . T h e c a s e a l s o d e m o n s t r a t e s t h a t h a v i n g a r e v i e w b y t h e C o u r t o f C r i m i n a l A p p e a l s o f a l l a s s i g n m e n t s o f e r r o r i n c a p i t a l - 8 1 - c a s e s , w i t h a f i n a l r e v i e w b y t h i s C o u r t o f a l i m i t e d n u m b e r o f i s s u e s i n a d d i t i o n t o t h o s e i s s u e s m a n d a t e d b y s t a t u t e , i s a n e f f i c i e n t u t i l i z a t i o n o f j u d i c i a l r e s o u r c e s . T h e S t a t e r e l i e d u p o n , a n d t h e j u r y f o u n d , a g g r a v a t i n g c i r c u m s t a n c e ( i ) ( 5 ) . T h e o f f e n s e i n t h i s c a s e w a s c o m m i t t e d i n 1 9 8 8 ; t h e t r i a l w a s h e l d i n 1 9 9 3 . A t t h e t i m e t h e o f f e n s e w a s c o m m i t t e d , a g g r a v a t i n g c i r c u m s t a n c e s ( i ) ( 5 ) w a s d e f i n e d a s a m u r d e r t h a t  w a s e s p e c i a l l y h e i n o u s , a t r o c i o u s , o r c r u e l i n t h a t i t i n v o l v e d t o r t u r e o r d e p r a v i t y o f m i n d .  T e n n . C o d e A n n . § 3 9 - 2 - 2 0 3 ( i ) ( 5 ) ( 1 9 8 2 ) . I n 1 9 8 9 , t h a t d e f i n i t i o n w a s a m e n d e d b y d e l e t i n g  d e p r a v i t y o f m i n d  a n d s u b s t i t u t i n g  s e r i o u s p h y s i c a l a b u s e b e y o n d t h a t n e c e s s a r y t o p r o d u c e d e a t h .  T e n n . C o d e A n n . § 3 9 - 1 3 - 2 0 4 ( i ) ( 5 ) ( 1 9 9 1 ) . W i t h o u t o b j e c t i o n , t h e t r i a l c o u r t c h a r g e d t h e 1 9 8 9 v e r s i o n o f t h e s t a t u t e . T h e C o u r t h e l d i n S t a t e v . B r i m m e r , 8 7 6 S . W . 2 d 7 5 , 8 2 ( T e n n . 1 9 9 4 ) , t h a t i n c a p i t a l c a s e s t h e a p p l i c a b l e l a w i s t h e l a w t h a t w a s i n e f f e c t a t t h e t i m e t h e o f f e n s e w a s c o m m i t t e d . T h e d e f e n d a n t i n s i s t s t h a t c h a r g i n g t h e 1 9 8 9 d e f i n i t i o n w a s r e v e r s i b l e e r r o r . T h e r e c a n b e n o d e n y i n g t h a t u n d e r t h e a u t h o r i t y o f B r i m m e r , t h e i n s t r u c t i o n w a s - 8 2 - 2 2 e r r o n e o u s . H o w e v e r , i n m y o p i n i o n , t h e e f f e c t o f t h e e r r o r w a s a m e l i o r a t i v e r a t h e r t h a n p r e j u d i c i a l , a n d , t h e r e f o r e , d o e s n o t c o n s t i t u t e r e v e r s i b l e e r r o r . I h a v e d i s s e n t e d i n e v e r y c a s e d e c i d e d b y t h i s C o u r t s i n c e S e p t e m b e r 1 9 9 0 i n w h i c h t h e r e w a s r e l i a n c e f o r t h e s e n t e n c e o f d e a t h o n a f i n d i n g t h a t t h e m u r d e r i n v o l v e d d e p r a v i t y o f m i n d . T h e b a s i s o f t h o s e d i s s e n t s i s t h a t e v e r y f i r s t d e g r e e m u r d e r i s  e s p e c i a l l y h e i n o u s , a t r o c i o u s o r c r u e l i n t h a t i t i n v o l v e d d e p r a v i t y o f m i n d  ; c o n s e q u e n t l y , t h a t i n s t r u c t i o n h a s n o r e a s o n a b l y p r e c i s e m e a n i n g a n d d o e s n o t a i d t h e j u r o r s i n d e t e r m i n i n g i f d e a t h i s a n a p p r o p r i a t e p u n i s h m e n t . I n t h e f i r s t c a s e , S t a t e v . B l a c k , 8 1 5 S . W . 2 d 1 6 6 , 1 9 6 - 9 7 ( T e n n . 1 9 9 1 ) ( R e i d , C . J . , c o n c u r r i n g a n d d i s s e n t i n g ) , I s u g g e s t e d t h a t : a p r op e r l i m i t i n g c o n s t r u c t i o n o f  d e p ra v i t y o f m i n d  t o b e g i v e n i n t h o s e c a s e s w h e r e t o r t u r e i s a b s e n t w o u l d b e e s t a bl i s h e d b y a d o p t i n g t h e d e f i n i t i o n o f t ha t t e r m s e t f o r t h b y t h e N e w J e r s e y S u p r em e C o u r t i n S t a t e v . R a m s e u r , 1 0 6 N . J . 1 2 3 , 5 2 4 A . 2 d 1 8 8 , 2 3 0 - 2 3 1 ( 1 9 8 7 ) , w h e r e i t h e l d t h a t t h i s p h r a s e m a r k s s o c i e t y ' s c o n c e r n t o p u n i s h s e v e r e l y 22 A s n o t e d i n t h e m a i n o p i n i o n , B r i m m e r w a s d e c i d e d a f t e r t h i s c a s e h a d b e e n t r i e d . - 8 3 - t h o s e w h o m u r d e r w i t h o u t p u r p o s e o r m e a n i n g a s d i s t i n g u i s h e d f r o m t h o s e w h o m u r d e r f o r a p u r p o s e ( a l b e i t a c o m p l e t e l y u n j u s t i f i e d p u r p o s e ) . T h i s t e r m i s o l a t e s c o n d u c t t h a t c a u s e s t h e g r e a t e s t a b h o r r e n c e a n d t e r r o r w i t h i n a n o r d e r e d s o c i e t y , b e c a u s e c i t i z e n s c a n n o t e i t h e r i n f a c t o r i n p e r c e p t i o n p r o t e c t t h e m s e l v e s f r o m t h e s e r a n d o m a c t s o f v i o l e n c e . T h e k i l l e r w h o d e o s i t b e c a u s e h e l i k e s i t , p e r h a p s e v e n b e c a u s e i t m a k e s h i m f e e l b t e t e r , w h o k i l l s b y s t a n d e r s w i t h o u t r e s a o n , w h o k i l l s c h i l d r e n a n d o t h e r s w o h s e h e l p l e s s n e s s w o u l d i n d i c a t e t h a t t h e r e w a s n o r e a s o n t o m u r d e r , e v i n c e s w h a t w e d e f i n e a s d e p r a v i t y o f m i n d . . . . W h a t s o c i e t y i s c o n c e r n e d w i t h h e r e . . . i s t h e c o m p l e t e a b s e n c e - - f r o m s o c i e t y ' s p o i n t o f v i e w - - o f a n y o f t h e r e c o g n i z a b l e m o t i v a t i o n s o r e m o t i o n s t h a t o r d i n a r i l y e x p l a i n m u r d e r . I n S t a t e v . V a n T r a n , 8 6 4 S . W . 2 d 4 6 5 , 4 8 8 ( T e n n . 1 9 9 3 ) ( D a u g h t r e y , J . , d i s s e n t i n g ) , I j o i n e d J u s t i c e D a u g h t r e y i n s t a t i n g :  B e c a u s e t h e  d e p r a v i t y o f m i n d  p r o n g o f a g g r a v a t e d c i r c u m s t a n c e ( i ) ( 5 ) i s s o v a g u e , t h e i n s t r u c t i o n g i v e n i n t h i s c a s e a l l o w e d t h e j u r y t o e x e r c i s e t h e s o r t o f u n g u i d e d d i s c r e t i o n c o n d e m n e d b y t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s S u p r e m e C o u r t i n G o d f r e y v . G e o r g i a , 4 4 6 U . S . 4 2 0 , 1 0 0 S . C t . 1 7 5 9 , - 8 4 - 6 4 L . E d . 2 d 3 9 8 ( 1 9 8 0 ) , a n d M a y n a r d v . C a r t w r i g h t , 4 8 6 U . S . 3 5 6 , 1 0 8 S . C t . 1 8 5 3 , 1 0 0 L . E d . 2 d 3 7 2 ( 1 9 8 8 ) .  H a v i n g o b v i o u s l y f a i l e d t o c o n v i n c e m y c o l l e a g u e s o f t h e c o r r e c t n e s s o f m y p o s i t i o n , I s t a t e d t h e m a t t e r a b i t m o r e f i r m l y i n S t a t e v . S h e p h e r d , 9 0 2 S . W . 2 d 8 9 5 , 9 0 9 ( T e n n . 1 9 9 5 ) ( R e i d , J . , d i s s e n t i n g ) : A s s t a t e d i n p r i o r d i s s e n t s , t h e w o r d s  h e i n o u s , a t r o c i o u s o r c r u e l  a r e s o b e r e f t o f p a r t i c u l a r m e a n i n g t h a t t h i s a g g r a v a t i n g c i r c u m s t a n c e d o e s n o t a c c o m p l i s h t h e c o n s t i t u t i o n a l m a n d a t e o f d i r e c t i n g a n d l i m i t i n g t h e j u r y ' s d i s c r e t i o n  s o a s t o m i n i m i z e t h e r i s k o f w h o l l y a r b i t r a r y a n d c a p r i c i o u s a c t i o n .  G r e g g v . G e o r g i a , 4 2 8 U . S . 1 5 3 , 1 8 9 , 9 6 S . C t . 2 9 0 9 , 2 9 3 2 , 4 9 L . E d . 2 d 8 5 9 ( 1 9 7 6 ) ; s e e S t a t e v . B l a c k , 8 1 5 S . W . 2 d 1 6 6 , 1 9 5 ( T e n n . 1 9 9 1 ) . T h e p r e c a r i o u s n e s s o f t h e C o u r t ' s p e r s i s t e n t r e l i a n c e u p o n t h i s p a t e n t l y i n v a l i d a g g r a v a t i n g c i r c u m s t a n c e i s i n d i c a t e d b y t h e o p i n i o n o f J u s t i c e S t e v e n s i n B a r b e r v . T e n n e s s e e , _ _ _ _ _ U . S . _ _ _ _ _ , 1 1 5 S . C t . 1 1 7 7 , 1 3 0 L . E d . 2 d 1 1 2 9 ( 1 9 9 5 ) . I n d e n y i n g t h e c a p i t a l d e f e n d a n t ' s p e t i t i o n f o r c e r t i o r a r i f r o m t h e j u d g m e n t o f t h i s C o u r t d e n y i n g p o s t - c o n v i c t i o n r e l i e f , J u s t i c e S t e v e n s s t a t e d : . . . I n t h i s c a s e , f o r e x a m p l e , t h e r e a r e v a l i d r e a s o n s f o r t h e C o u r t ' s d e c i s i o n t o d e n y r e v i e w . B u t t h i s d o e s n o t m e a n p e t i t i o n e r ' s c h a l l e n g e t o h i s d e a t h s e n t e n c e , b a s e d i n p a r t u p o n t h e t r i a l j u d g e ' s d e f i n i t i o n o f a n - 8 5 - a g g r a v a t i n g c i r c u m s t a n c e , l a c k s m e r i t . U n d e r t h e t r i a l c o u r t ' s i n s t r u c t i o n , a j u r y c o u l d f i n d a n a g g r a v a t i n g c i r c u m s t a n c e s u f f i c i e n t t o i m p o s e t h e d e a t h p e n a l t y m e r e l y b y c o n c l u d i n g t h a t a m u r d e r e r ' s s t a t e o f m i n d w a s  w i c k e d o r m o r a l l y c o r r u p t .  B e c a u s e s u c h a s t a t e o f m i n d i s a c h a r a c t e r i s t i c o f e v e r y m u r d e r , t h e i n s t r u c t i o n i s p l a i n l y i m p e r m i s s i b l e u n d e r t h i s C o u r t ' s h o l d i n g s i n G o d f r e y v . G e o r g i a , 4 4 6 U . S . 4 2 0 , 4 2 8 - 4 2 9 [ 1 0 0 S . C t . 1 7 5 9 , 1 7 6 4 - 6 5 , 6 4 L . E d . 2 d 3 9 8 ] ( 1 9 8 0 ) ( s t r i k i n g d o w n i n s t r u c t i o n a l l o w i n g j u r y t o f i n d a g g r a v a t i n g c i r c u m s t a n c e i f m u r d e r w a s  ' o u t r a g e o u s l y o r w a n t o n l y v i l e , h o r r i b l e a n d i n h u m a n '  ) , a n d M a y n a r d v . C a r t w r i g h t , 4 8 6 U . S . 3 5 6 , 3 6 3 - 3 6 4 [ 1 0 8 S . C t . 1 8 5 3 , 1 8 5 8 , 1 0 0 L . E d . 2 d 3 7 2 ] ( 1 9 8 8 ) (  ' e s p e c i a l l y h e i n o u s , a t r o c i o u s , o r c r u e l '  ) . ( F o o t n o t e s o m i t t e d . ) W h i l e  d e p r a v i t y o f m i n d ,  i n m y v i e w , i s f a t a l l y d e f i c i e n t i n m e a n i n g , t h e l a n g u a g e o f t h e 1 9 8 9 s t a t u t e ,  s e r i o u s p h y s i c a l a b u s e b e y o n d t h a t n e c e s s a r y t o p r o d u c e d e a t h ,  i s p l a i n a n d p r o v i d e s a m e a n i n g f u l s t a n d a r d f o r d e t e r m i n i n g t h e a p p r o p r i a t e n e s s o f d e a t h a s a p e n a l t y . A s a p r a c t i c a l m a t t e r , t h e n , t h e s u b s t a n t i v e e f f e c t o f t h e “ e r r o r ” i n t h i s c a s e w a s t o e l i d e , o r e v e n t o c o r r e c t , t h e u n c o n s t i t u t i o n a l p o r t i o n o f t h i s a g g r a v a t i n g c i r c u m s t a n c e . T h e e r r o r w a s e n t i r e l y t e c h n i c a l a n d c u r a t i v e o f t h o s e - 8 6 - c o n s t i t u t i o n a l d e f e c t s w h i c h I h a v e p r e v i o u s l y f o u n d i n t h i s a g g r a v a t i n g c i r c u m s t a n c e a n d , u n d e r t h e f a c t s o f t h i s c a s e , t h e i n s t r u c t i o n g a v e t h e j u r y a c o n s t i t u t i o n a l e q u i v a l e n t t o t h e p r i o r u n c o n s t i t u t i o n a l v e r s i o n o f a g g r a v a t i n g c i r c u m s t a n c e ( i ) ( 5 ) f o u n d i n T e n n . C o d e A n n . § 3 9 - 2 - 2 0 3 ( i ) ( 5 ) . I h a v e n o t i n a n y p r i o r c a s e , a n d I d o n o t n o w , f i n d t h a t d e f i n i t i o n d e f i c i e n t a s a n a g g r a v a t i n g c i r c u m s t a n c e . C o n s e q u e n t l y , I a g r e e w i t h t h e m a i n o p i n i o n t h a t g i v i n g t h e e r r o n e o u s i n s t r u c t i o n t o t h e j u r y i s n o t g r o u n d s f o r r e v e r s a l o f t h e s e n t e n c e . A l s o , i n s o m e p r i o r c a s e s , I h a v e i n s i s t e d t h a t t h e e v i d e n c e d i d n o t s u p p o r t a f i n d i n g o f t o r t u r e a s a n a g g r a v a t i n g c i r c u m s t a n c e . S e e e . g . , S t a t e v . C a z e s , 8 7 5 S . W . 2 d 2 5 3 , 2 7 2 ( T e n n . 1 9 9 4 ) ( R e i d , J . , c o n c u r r i n g a n d d i s s e n t i n g ) ; S t a t e v . V a n T r a n , 8 6 4 S . W . 2 d 4 6 5 , 4 8 3 ( T e n n . 1 9 9 3 ) ( R e i d , C . J . , c o n c u r r i n g a n d d i s s e n t i n g ) ; S t a t e v . B l a c k , 8 1 5 S . W . 2 d a t 1 9 6 . T h e f a c t s o f t h i s c a s e , a s s t a t e d i n t h e m a i n o p i n i o n , c l e a r l y s u p p o r t a f i n d i n g o f t o r t u r e a s t h a t t e r m i s g e n e r a l l y u n d e r s t o o d . P e r h a p s i t i s n o t e w o r t h y t h a t t h e s u f f i c i e n c y o f t h e e v i d e n c e s u p p o r t i n g t h i s a g g r a v a t i n g c i r c u m s t a n c e , t h o u g h m a n d a t e d b y s t a t u t e f o r r e v i e w , T e n n . C o d e A n n . § 3 9 - 1 3 - 2 0 6 ( c ) ( 1 ) ( B ) ( S u p p . 1 9 9 6 ) , - 8 7 - w a s n o t r a i s e d b y t h e d e f e n d a n t . C o n s e q u e n t l y , I c o n c u r i n t h e h o l d i n g t h a t t h e e v i d e n c e i s s u f f i c i e n t t o s u p p o r t t h e j u r y ' s f i n d i n g o f t h e t o r t u r e c o m p o n e n t o f a g g r a v a t i n g c i r c u m s t a n c e ( i ) ( 5 ) . A n o t h e r i s s u e w h i c h , i n m y v i e w , r e q u i r e s f u r t h e r d i s c u s s i o n i s t h e c o m p a r a t i v e p r o p o r t i o n a l i t y r e v i e w m a n d a t e d b y T e n n . C o d e A n n . § 3 9 - 1 3 - 2 0 6 ( c ) ( l ) ( D ) ( S u p p . 1 9 9 6 ) ; t h i s i s s u e h a s b e e n t h e b a s i s f o r p r i o r d i s s e n t . T h e r e i s n o m e t h o d o l o g y t o t h e m a j o r i t y ' s a n a l y s i s . T h e r e v i e w c o n s i s t s e n t i r e l y o f c o n c l u s o r y , a n d d e f e n s i v e , s t a t e m e n t s f o l l o w e d b y a f u r t h e r r e c i t a t i o n o f t h e f a c t s . S e e S t a t e v . N i c h o l s , 8 7 7 S . W . 2 d 7 2 2 , 7 4 4 ( T e n n . 1 9 9 4 ) ( R e i d , C . J . , d i s s e n t i n g ) ; S t a t e v . H u r l e y , 8 7 6 S . W . 2 d 5 7 , 7 1 ( T e n n . 1 9 9 3 ) ( R e i d , C . J . , d i s s e n t i n g ) ; S t a t e v . H o w e l l , 8 6 8 S . W . 2 d a t 2 7 1 - 7 2 ( R e i d , C . J . , c o n c u r r i n g ) ; S t a t e v . V a n T r a n , 8 6 4 S . W . 2 d a t 4 8 4 - 8 5 ( R e i d , C . J . , c o n c u r r i n g a n d d i s s e n t i n g ) ; S t a t e v . H a r r i s , 8 3 9 S . W . 2 d 5 4 , 8 4 - 8 5 ( T e n n . 1 9 9 2 ) ( R e i d , C . J . , d i s s e n t i n g ) . N e v e r t h e l e s s , a s i n S t a t e v . H o w e l l a n d S t a t e v . S m i t h , 8 6 8 S . W . 2 d 5 6 1 , 5 8 5 ( T e n n . 1 9 9 3 ) ( R e i d , C . J . , c o n c u r r i n g ) , t h e r e c o r d e s t a b l i s h e s t h a t u p o n c o m p a r i s o n o f t h e c h a r a c t e r o f t h e d e f e n d a n t a n d t h e n a t u r e o f h i s c r i m e , - 8 8 - t o o t h e r d e f e n d a n t s a n d o t h e r f i r s t d e g r e e m u r d e r s , b y a n y r a t i o n a l s t a n d a r d , t h e d e f e n d a n t i s a m o n g t h e w o r s t o f t h e b a d . T h e c h a r a c t e r o f t h e d e f e n d a n t a n d t h e c i r c u m s t a n c e s o f t h e k i l l i n g i n t h i s c a s e w o u l d j u s t i f y t h e s e n t e n c e o f d e a t h j u d g e d b y t h e d e f i n i t i o n o f  d e p r a v i t y o f m i n d  u r g e d i n S t a t e v . B l a c k , s e e s u p r a , a t _ _ _ _ _ [ p . 4 ] . T h e d e f e n d a n t ' s c o n d u c t i n k i l l i n g a n a g e d a n d h e l p l e s s v i c t i m , w h o s u r r e n d e r e d h e r l a s t m e a n s o f p r o t e c t i o n b y o p e n i n g t h e d o o r o f h e r h o m e t o t h e g r a n d s o n o f h e r b e s t f r i e n d , i s c o n d u c t w h i c h c a u s e s t h e g r e a t e s t a b h o r r e n c e a n d t e r r o r w i t h i n a n o r d e r e d s o c i e t y . T h e r e i s n o p r o t e c t i o n a g a i n s t a r a n d o m k i l l i n g b y a t r u s t e d a c q u a i n t a n c e . T h e c h a r a c t e r o f t h e d e f e n d a n t s h o w s m o r e t h a n a c a l c u l a t e d r o b b e r y w h i c h g o t o u t o f h a n d . T h e e v i d e n c e s h o w s a p e r s o n o f i n t e l l i g e n c e w h o i s f a s c i n a t e d w i t h v a m p i r e s a n d d e m o n s , w h o d r e a m s o f k i l l i n g , a n d w h o s e l i f e i s i n h a b i t e d b y d e m o n s a n d m o n s t e r s . H i s e x p l a n a t i o n o f t h e h o m i c i d e i s d i s t u r b i n g ; h e w a s c o m p e l l e d b y a n u n d e r w o r l d g r o u p . B u t t h a t f a n c i f u l c o m p u l s i o n i s b e l i e d b y h i s m a n n e r o f p e r f o r m i n g t h e a c t s o t h a t h e l i t e r a l l y b e c a m e d r e n c h e d w i t h t h e v i c t i m ’ s b l o o d a n d b y t h e r e l i s h w i t h w h i c h h e r e c o u n t e d t h e c r i m e t o a c q u a i n t a n c e s . A s s t a t e d i n H o w e l l , 8 6 8 S . W . 2 d a t 2 7 2 ,  c o m p a r i s o n o f t h e c h a r a c t e r o f t h e d e f e n d a n t i n t h i s c a s e a n d t h e n a t u r e o f h i s c r i m e , b y a n y s t a n d a r d o f a n a l y s i s , w o u l d s h o w t h a t h e i s a m o n g t h e w o r s t o f t h e b a d .  - 8 9 - I t i s , i n f a c t , t h e a b u n d a n t e v i d e n c e o f t h e d e f e n d a n t ' s m a l e f i c e n c e t h a t i s d i s t u r b i n g . T h e r e c o r d c o n t a i n s s i g n i f i c a n t e v i d e n c e b e y o n d t h e c i r c u m s t a n c e s r e l a t i n g d i r e c t l y t o t h e c r i m e . T h e d e f e n d a n t h a s b e e n e x h i b i t i n g s y m p t o m s o f s c h i z o p h r e n i a s i n c e h e w a s i n h i g h s c h o o l a n d w a s d i a g n o s e d a s a s c h i z o p h r e n i c w h i l e a w a i t i n g t r i a l . T h e r e c o r d d i s c l o s e s t h a t , b a s e d u p o n t h e a s s e s s m e n t o f c o u r t - a p p o i n t e d m e n t a l h e a l t h e x p e r t s , t h e t r i a l c o u r t f o u n d t h a t t h e d e f e n d a n t w a s i n c o m p e t e n t t o s t a n d t r i a l . T h o s e s a m e m e n t a l h e a l t h p r o f e s s i o n a l s a l s o f o u n d t h a t a n i n s a n i t y d e f e n s e c o u l d b e s u p p o r t e d . H o w e v e r , t h e d e f e n d a n t h a s n o t c h a l l e n g e d t h e c o u r t ' s s u b s e q u e n t d e t e r m i n a t i o n o f c o m p e t e n c y , a n d t h e r e c o r d d i s c l o s e s n o f a c t s u p o n w h i c h p l a i n e r r o r c a n b e f o u n d i n t h i s r e g a r d . A p p a r e n t l y , c o u n s e l w a s c o n t e n t t o p r e s e n t e v i d e n c e o f t h e d e f e n d a n t ' s m e n t a l c o n d i t i o n a t t h e s e n t e n c i n g h e a r i n g . S i n c e t h e r e c o r d d o e s n o t f a c i a l l y e s t a b l i s h t h a t t h e m e n t a l c o n d i t i o n o f t h e d e f e n d a n t i s d i s p r o p o r t i o n a t e t o t h a t o f o t h e r d e f e n d a n t s s e n t e n c e d t o d e a t h , t h i s a s p e c t o f t h e c a s e c a n n o t e f f e c t i v e l y b e r e v i e w e d o n t h e r e c o r d b e f o r e t h e C o u r t . I n c o n c l u s i o n , t h e r e c o r d d o e s n o t d i s c l o s e r e v e r s i b l e e r r o r , b u t r a t h e r , s u p p o r t s t h e j u d g m e n t r e n d e r e d i n t h e t r i a l c o u r t a n d a f f i r m e d b y t h e C o u r t o f C r i m i n a l A p p e a l s a n d t h i s C o u r t . _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ R e i d , J . - 9 0 - IN THE SUPREME COURT OF TENNESSEE AT KNOXVILLE FILED April 7, 1997 STATE OF TENNESSEE, ) FOR PUBLICATION ) Cecil Crowson, Jr. Appellee, ) FILED: APRIL 7,C 1997 Appellate ourt Clerk ) v. ) CUMBERLAND COUNTY ) MICHAEL DEAN BUSH, ) HON. LEON BURNS, JR., JUDGE ) Appellant. ) NO. 03-S-01-9604-CC-00047 DISSENTING OPINION T h e m a j o r i t y c o n c l u d e s t h a t a g g r a v a t i n g f a c t o r 2 3 ( i ) ( 6 ) h a s b e e n s u f f i c i e n t l y d e m o n s t r a t e d i n t h e i n s t a n t c a s e . 23 (i) N o d e a t h p e n a l t y s h a l l b e i m p o s e d b u t u p o n a u n a n i m o u s f i n d i n g t h a t t h e s t a t e h a s p r o v e n b e y o n d a r e a s o n a b l e d o u b t t h e e x i s t e n c e o f o n e ( 1 ) o r m o r e o f t h e s t a t u t o r y a g g r a v a t i n g c i r c u m s t a n c e s , w h i c h a r e l i m i t e d t o t h e f o l l o w i n g : I n m y v i e w , t h e e v i d e n c e i s n o t s u f f i c i e n t t o w a r r a n t i t s a p p l i c a t i o n . B e c a u s e I f i n d t h a t t h i s e r r o r m o r e p r o b a b l y t h a n n o t a f f e c t e d t h e j u r y ’ s d e c i s i o n t o i m p o s e t h e d e a t h s e n t e n c e , I w o u l d v a c a t e t h e s e n t e n c e o f d e a t h a n d r e m a n d t h i s c a u s e f o r a n e w s e n t e n c i n g h e a r i n g . A l t h o u g h t h i s i s a c l o s e c a s e , I d o n o t f i n d t h a t t h e S t a t e p r e s e n t e d s u f f i c i e n t e v i d e n c e f o r t h e j u r y t o c o n c l u d e t h a t B u s h k i l l e d t h e v i c t i m i n o r d e r t o a v o i d a r r e s t o r p r o s e c u t i o n f o r t h e r o b b e r y . W h e n t h e e v i d e n c e i s e n t i r e l y c i r c u m s t a n t i a l , a s i n t h i s c a s e , t h e n t h a t e v i d e n c e m u s t p r e c l u d e e v e r y o t h e r r e a s o n a b l e t h e o r y o r h y p o t h e s i s e x c e p t t h a t w h i c h i t t e n d s t o s u p p o r t , i . e . , t h a t t h e k i l l i n g w a s , i n f a c t , m o t i v a t e d b y a d e s i r e t o e r a d i c a t e a w i t n e s s . S t a t e v . Z i r k l e , 9 1 0 S . W . 2 d 8 7 4 , 8 8 2 ( T e n n . C r i m . A p p . 1 9 9 5 ) ( c i t i n g M a r a b l e v . 2 4 S t a t e , 2 0 3 T e n n . 4 4 0 , 3 1 3 S . W . 2 d 4 5 1 , 4 5 6 ( 1 9 5 8 ) ) . T h e m a j o r i t y r e l i e s i n p a r t o n t h e f a c t t h a t t h e d e f e n d a n t a n d t h e v i c t i m k n e w o n e a n o t h e r . S u c h i s n o t . . . . ( 6 ) T h e m u r d e r w a s c o m m i t t e d f o r t h e p u r p o s e o f a v o i d i n g , i n t e r f e r i n g w i t h , o r p r e v e n t i n g a l a w f u l a r r e s t o r p r o s e c u t i o n o f t h e d e f e n d a n t o r a n o t h e r . T e n n . C o d e A n n . § 3 9 - 1 3 - 2 0 4 ( i ) ( 6 ) ( 1 9 9 1 ) . 24 A l t h o u g h Z i r k l e r e f e r s t o t h e s t a n d a r d o f p r o o f r e q u i r e d t o e s t a b l i s h g u i l t w h e n t h e e v i d e n c e a g a i n s t t h e d e f e n d a n t i s e n t i r e l y c i r c u m s t a n t i a l , I t h i n k i t i s e q u a l l y a p p l i c a b l e h e r e . 92 s u f f i c i e n t , w i t h o u t m o r e , t o e s t a b l i s h t h e ( i ) ( 6 ) a g g r a v a t i n g f a c t o r . I n m a n y c a s e s , t h e v i c t i m e i t h e r k n o w s t h e d e f e n d a n t o r h a s o b s e r v e d t h e d e f e n d a n t s u f f i c i e n t l y t o b e a b l e t o l a t e r i d e n t i f y t h a t p e r s o n . T h i s c i r c u m s t a n c e i s s o p r e v a l e n t t h a t t o a l l o w i t t o e s t a b l i s h t h e ( i ) ( 6 ) a g g r a v a t i n g f a c t o r w o u l d u n d u l y a n d u n c o n s t i t u t i o n a l l y e n l a r g e t h e c l a s s o f d e f e n d a n t s s u b j e c t t o t h e d e a t h p e n a l t y . M o r e o v e r , o u r p r i o r a p p l i c a t i o n o f t h e ( i ) ( 6 ) a g g r a v a t o r i n s i m i l a r c a s e s h a s n o t b e e n c o n s i s t e n t . S e e S t a t e v . E v a n s , 8 3 8 S . W . 2 d 1 8 5 ( T e n n . 1 9 9 2 ) ( a g g r a v a t i n g f a c t o r ( i ) ( 6 ) a p p l i e d w h e r e d e f e n d a n t , a f o r m e r e m p l o y e e , r e t u r n e d , r o b b e d m a r k e t , a n d k i l l e d a c l e r k w h o m h e k n e w ) . B u t s e e S t a t e v . V a n T r a n , 8 6 4 S . W . 2 d 4 6 5 ( T e n n . 1 9 9 3 ) ( a g g r a v a t i n g f a c t o r ( i ) ( 6 ) n o t a p p l i e d w h e r e d e f e n d a n t , f o r m e r e m p l o y e e , r e t u r n e d , r o b b e d r e s t a u r a n t , a n d k i l l e d o w n e r w h o m h e k n e w ) . S t a t e v . W e s t , 7 6 7 S . W . 2 d 3 8 7 ( T e n n . 1 9 8 9 ) ( a g g r a v a t i n g f a c t o r ( i ) ( 6 ) a p p l i e d w h e r e d e f e n d a n t a n d c o - d e f e n d a n t w e r e c o n v i c t e d o f t h e m u r d e r o f a g i r l w h o k n e w c o - d e f e n d a n t a n d c o u l d i d e n t i f y d e f e n d a n t ) . B u t s e e S t a t e v . B r a n a m , 8 5 5 S . W . 2 d 5 6 3 ( T e n n . 1 9 9 3 ) ( a g g r a v a t i n g f a c t o r ( i ) ( 6 ) n o t a p p l i e d w h e r e d e f e n d a n t a n d c o - d e f e n d a n t w e r e c o n v i c t e d f o r t h e m u r d e r o f a w o m a n w h o k n e w d e f e n d a n t a n d c o u l d i d e n t i f y c o - d e f e n d a n t ) . 93 B e c a u s e o f t h e i n c o n s i s t e n t a p p l i c a t i o n o f t h e ( i ) ( 6 ) a g g r a v a t i n g f a c t o r a n d t h e d a n g e r o f u n c o n s t i t u t i o n a l l y e n l a r g i n g t h e c l a s s o f d e f e n d a n t s s u b j e c t t o t h e d e a t h p e n a l t y , I w o u l d h o l d t h a t t h e f a c t t h a t t h e v i c t i m k n e w t h e a s s a i l a n t , w i t h o u t m o r e , i s n o t s u f f i c i e n t t o p r o v e t h a t t h e k i l l i n g w a s i n f a c t m o t i v a t e d b y a d e s i r e t o e v a d e a r r e s t o r a v o i d p r o s e c u t i o n . B y r e q u i r i n g a d d i t i o n a l e v i d e n c e , w e w o u l d s c r e e n o u t t h o s e c a s e s i n w h i c h a d e f e n d a n t i n i t i a l l y i n t e n t e d t o c o m m i t a n o n - c a p i t a l o f f e n s e b u t f o r a r e a s o n o t h e r t h a n w i t n e s s e l i m i n a t i o n , e s c a l a t e d t h e c o n d u c t t o i n c l u d e a n u n l a w f u l k i l l i n g . I n t h i s c a s e , t h e S t a t e ’ s t h e o r y w a s t h a t B u s h k i l l e d L e f e v e r s o t h a t s h e c o u l d n o t i d e n t i f y h i m a s t h e i n d i v i d u a l w h o b r o k e i n t o h e r h o u s e a n d r o b b e d h e r . F r o m m y r e v i e w , h o w e v e r , t h e r e i s s u b s t a n t i a l e v i d e n c e t h a t B u s h d i d n o t k i l l L e f e v e r i n o r d e r t o e l i m i n a t e h e r a s a w i t n e s s t o t h e b u r g l a r y / r o b b e r y . F i r s t , B u s h m a d e n o a t t e m p t t o c o n c e a l t h e i n t e n d e d c r i m e f r o m h i s w i f e ; r a t h e r , h e t o l d h e r t h a t h e w a s g o i n g t o h i t t h e o l d w o m a n o v e r t h e h e a d a n d t a k e h e r m o n e y . T h e m a j o r i t y f i n d s i t s i g n i f i c a n t t h a t t h e d e f e n d a n t w i t h h e l d f r o m h i s w i f e t h e n a m e o r a d d r e s s o f t h e i n t e n d e d v i c t i m c o n c l u d i n g t h a t B u s h w i s h e d t o p r e v e n t h e r f r o m  w i t n e s s i n g t h e b u r g l a r y .  H o w e v e r , t h e r e i s n o d i s p u t e t h a t B u s h t o l d h i s w i f e o f h i s i n t e n t t o c o m m i t t h e b u r g l a r y a n d a s k e d h e r t o d r i v e h i m t o t h e s c e n e . I n m y v i e w , 94 t h i s e v i d e n c e i n d i c a t e s t h a t B u s h w a s n o t c o n c e r n e d a b o u t c o n c e a l i n g t h e b u r g l a r y . I f i n d t h a t t h i s t e s t i m o n y i n d i c a t e s t h a t B u s h s i m p l y d i d n o t w a n t t o i m p l i c a t e h i s w i f e i n t h e c r i m e . H e n c e , I f i n d t h i s e v i d e n c e i n s u f f i c i e n t t o s u p p o r t t h e m a j o r i t y ’ s c o n c l u s i o n t h a t t h e d e f e n d a n t k i l l e d t h e v i c t i m t o e l i m i n a t e h e r a s a w i t n e s s . M o r e t o t h e p o i n t , B u s h r e l a t e d v e r s i o n s o f w h a t h a p p e n e d t o t w o f e l l o w i n m a t e s w h o t e s t i f i e d a s w i t n e s s e s f o r t h e S t a t e . T h e f i r s t t e s t i f i e d t h a t B u s h t o l d h i m t h a t h e h a d k i l l e d t h e v i c t i m w h e n h e c o u l d n o t f i n d a n y m o n e y . T h e s e c o n d t e s t i f i e d t h a t B u s h t o l d h i m t h a t h e k i l l e d t h e v i c t i m w h e n h e l o s t h i s t e m p e r a f t e r a n a r g u m e n t e r u p t e d . I n t h e s e t w o v e r s i o n s , B u s h c l e a r l y i d e n t i f i e s h i m s e l f a s t h e k i l l e r . G i v e n t h i s d i s c l o s u r e , t h e r e w a s n o r e a s o n f o r h i m t o l i e a b o u t h i s m o t i v a t i o n f o r t h e k i l l i n g . I n b o t h v e r s i o n s , B u s h k i l l e d L e f e v e r b e c a u s e h e w a s a n g r y a n d f r u s t r a t e d . I n m y v i e w , t h i s e v i d e n c e c l e a r l y i n d i c a t e s t h a t B u s h w a s n o t c o n c e r n e d a b o u t L e f e v e r ’ s a b i l i t y t o i d e n t i f y h i m a s t h e b u r g l a r / r o b b e r w h e n h e k i l l e d h e r . T h i s e v i d e n c e r a i s e s , i n t h e v e r y l e a s t , a r e a s o n a b l e d o u b t a s t o w h e t h e r t h e d e f e n d a n t w a s m o t i v a t e d b y a d e s i r e t o a v o i d a r r e s t o r p r o s e c u t i o n . 95 W e h a v e p r e v i o u s l y h e l d t h a t t h e S t a t e d o e s n o t h a v e t o p r o v e t h a t a v o i d a n c e o f a r r e s t o r p r o s e c u t i o n w a s t h e d e f e n d a n t ’ s s o l e o r p r e d o m i n a n t m o t i v a t i o n t o e s t a b l i s h t h e a p p l i c a b i l i t y o f t h e ( i ) ( 6 ) a g g r a v a t i n g f a c t o r . S t a t e v . C a r t e r , 7 1 4 S . W . 2 d 2 4 1 , 2 5 0 ( T e n n . 1 9 8 6 ) . H o w e v e r , w e s h o u l d r e q u i r e t h a t t h e S t a t e p r o v e t h a t a d e s i r e t o a v o i d a r r e s t o r p r o s e c u t i o n w a s a t l e a s t a m o t i v a t i o n f o r t h e c r i m e . I n m y v i e w , t h e S t a t e f a i l e d t o c a r r y t h a t b u r d e n i n t h i s c a s e . T o r e i t e r a t e , I w o u l d r e s t r i c t t h e a p p l i c a t i o n o f t h e ( i ) ( 6 ) a g g r a v a t i n g c i r c u m s t a n c e t o c a s e s w h e r e t h e e v i d e n c e c l e a r l y e s t a b l i s h e s t h a t t h e d e f e n d a n t w a s m o t i v a t e d b y a d e s i r e t o a v o i d a r r e s t o r p r o s e c u t i o n b y e l i m i n a t i n g t h e w i t n e s s . T o i l l u s t r a t e , t h e ( i ) ( 6 ) a g g r a v a t o r w a s a p p r o p r i a t e l y a p p l i e d i n S t a t e v . S m i t h , 8 6 8 S . W . 2 d 5 6 1 ( T e n n . 1 9 9 3 ) ( v i c t i m k i l l e d w h i l e d i a l i n g 9 1 1 ) ; S t a t e v . M c C o r m i c k , 7 7 8 S . W . 2 d 4 8 ( T e n n . 1 9 8 9 ) ( u n d e r c o v e r a g e n t t e s t i f i e d t h a t d e f e n d a n t c o n f e s s e d t h a t h e k i l l e d v i c t i m t o p r e v e n t h e r f r o m  s p i l l i n g h e r g u t s  a b o u t p r o p e r t y d e f e n d a n t h a d s t o l e n ) ; S t a t e v . A d k i n s , 7 2 5 S . W . 2 d 6 6 0 ( T e n n . 1 9 8 7 ) ( e v i d e n c e t h a t d e f e n d a n t e l i m i n a t e d t h e v i c t i m w h o w a s t o t e s t i f y a g a i n s t d e f e n d a n t f o r t h e s h o o t i n g o f d e f e n d a n t ’ s g i r l f r i e n d ) ; a n d S t a t e v . J o h n s o n , 6 3 2 S . W . 2 d 5 4 2 ( T e n n . 1 9 8 2 ) ( d e f e n d a n t t o l d f r i e n d t h a t h e w a s g o i n g t o r o b a m a r k e t a n d t h a t h e i n t e n d e d t o l e a v e n o w i t n e s s e s ) . 96 I n c o n c l u s i o n , I f i n d t h a t u n d e r t h e f a c t s o f t h i s c a s e , t h e e v i d e n c e i s n o t s u f f i c i e n t t o e s t a b l i s h t h e ( i ) ( 6 ) a g g r a v a t i n g f a c t o r . I f i n d a l s o t h a t t h e e r r o n e o u s u s e o f t h i s a g g r a v a t i n g f a c t o r m o r e p r o b a b l y t h a n n o t a f f e c t e d t h e j u r y ’ s d e c i s i o n t o i m p o s e t h e d e a t h s e n t e n c e . A c c o r d i n g l y , I w o u l d v a c a t e t h e s e n t e n c e o f d e a t h a n d r e m a n d t h e c a u s e f o r a n e w s e n t e n c i n g h e a r i n g . _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ A D O L P H O A . B I R C H , J R . , C h i e f J u s t i c e 97