Opinion ID: 1058603
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: First-degree Felony Murder and Especially Aggravated Robbery

Text: At the time this offense was committed, felony murder was defined as a killing of another committed in the perpetration of or attempt to perpetrate any first degree murder, arson, rape, robbery, burglary, theft, kidnapping, aggravated child abuse, or aircraft piracy. Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-202(a)(2) (1995). No culpable mental state was required for conviction of felony murder except the intent to commit the enumerated offenses. . . . Tenn.Code Ann. § 39-13-202(b) (1995). Robbery was defined as the intentional or knowing theft of property from the person of another by violence or putting the person in fear. Tenn.Code Ann. § 39-13-401(a) (1995). In order for a person to be convicted of especially aggravated robbery, the state was required to prove that the robbery was accomplished with a deadly weapon and the victim must have suffered serious bodily injury. Tenn.Code Ann. § 39-13-403(a) (1995). The evidence in this case showed that the defendant and his cohort openly discussed robbing and murdering the victims in the hours before acting on their intentions. The defendants were seen later in possession of the victims' car, jewelry, clothing, and weapons. Both victims were shot to death with firearms. Based on this evidence, the convictions for especially aggravated robbery and felony murder are amply supported by the evidence beyond a reasonable doubt.