Opinion ID: 1057985
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Killing Committed During Theft

Text: Our criminal code provides that an aggravating circumstance is established where [t]he murder was knowingly committed, solicited, directed, or aided by the defendant, while the defendant had a substantial role in committing or attempting to commit, or was fleeing after having a substantial role in committing or attempting to commit, any first degree murder, arson, rape, robbery, burglary, theft, kidnapping, aircraft piracy, or unlawful throwing, placing or discharging of a destructive device or bomb[.] Tenn.Code Ann. § 39-13-204(i)(7). The proof in this case is uncontroverted that Defendant stabbed the victim to death with a single blow to her back following his theft of her car. The stab wound was so powerful that the knife blade was left embedded in the victim's body, the knife handle gone. The victim was unarmed at the time Defendant killed her. After killing the victim and concealing her body, Defendant drove away in the victim's car. This proof is more than sufficient to establish that Defendant knowingly murdered the victim in conjunction with his theft of her car.