Opinion ID: 1057594
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 29

Heading: sufficiency of the evidence

Text: The Defendant argues that the evidence presented was insufficient to support his conviction for premeditated first degree murder because the evidence against him was circumstantial and did not prove that he acted with premeditation. The State counters that the circumstantial evidence, including the evidence of the Defendant's motive, sufficiently supports the jury's finding of premeditation. When an accused challenges the sufficiency of the evidence, this Court's standard of review is whether, after considering the evidence in the light most favorable to the State,  any rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 319, 99 S.Ct. 2781, 61 L.Ed.2d 560 (1979) (emphasis in original); see Tenn. R.App. P. 13(e); State v. Goodwin, 143 S.W.3d 771, 775 (Tenn.2004) (citing State v. Reid, 91 S.W.3d 247, 276 (Tenn.2002)). This rule applies to findings of guilt based upon direct evidence, circumstantial evidence, or a combination of both direct and circumstantial evidence. State v. Pendergrass, 13 S.W.3d 389, 392-93 (Tenn.Crim.App.1999). In determining the sufficiency of the evidence, this Court should not re-weigh or re-evaluate the evidence. State v. Matthews, 805 S.W.2d 776, 779 (Tenn. Crim.App.1990). Nor may this Court substitute its inferences for those drawn by the trier of fact from the evidence. State v. Buggs, 995 S.W.2d 102, 105 (Tenn.1999); Liakas v. State, 199 Tenn. 298, 286 S.W.2d 856, 859 (1956). Questions concerning the credibility of witnesses, the weight and value to be given the evidence, as well as all factual issues raised by the evidence are resolved by the trier of fact. State v. Bland, 958 S.W.2d 651, 659 (Tenn.1997); Liakas, 286 S.W.2d at 859. `A guilty verdict by the jury, approved by the trial judge, accredits the testimony of the witnesses for the State and resolves all conflicts in favor of the theory of the State.' State v. Cabbage, 571 S.W.2d 832, 835 (Tenn.1978) ( State v. Grace, 493 S.W.2d 474, 476 (Tenn.1973)). The Tennessee Supreme Court stated the rationale for this rule: This well-settled rule rests on a sound foundation. The trial judge and the jury see the witnesses face to face, hear their testimony and observe their demeanor on the stand. Thus the trial judge and jury are the primary instrumentality of justice to determine the weight and credibility to be given to the testimony of witnesses. In the trial forum alone is there human atmosphere and the totality of the evidence cannot be reproduced with a written record in this Court. Bolin v. State, 219 Tenn. 4, 405 S.W.2d 768, 771 (1966) (citing Carroll v. State, 212 Tenn. 464, 370 S.W.2d 523 (1963)). This Court must afford the State of Tennessee the strongest legitimate view of the evidence contained in the record, as well as all reasonable inferences which may be drawn from the evidence. Goodwin, 143 S.W.3d at 775 (citing State v. Smith, 24 S.W.3d 274, 279 (Tenn.2000)). Because a verdict of guilt against a defendant removes the presumption of innocence and raises a presumption of guilt, the convicted criminal defendant bears the burden of showing that the evidence was legally insufficient to sustain a guilty verdict. State v. Carruthers, 35 S.W.3d 516, 557-58 (Tenn.2000). The Defendant was convicted of premeditated first degree murder. First degree murder is defined as a premeditated and intentional killing of another. T.C.A. § 39-13-202(a)(1) (2001). Premeditation refers to an act done after the exercise of reflection and judgment. T.C.A. § 39-13-202(d) (2001). Whether the defendant premeditated is for the jury to decide, and the jury may look at the circumstances of the killing to decide that issue. Bland, 958 S.W.2d at 660. The Tennessee Code states that, while the intent to kill must have been formed prior to the act itself, that purpose need not pre-exist in the mind of the accused for any definite period of time for a defendant to have premeditated the killing. T.C.A. § 39-13-202(d). The following factors have been accepted as actions that demonstrate the existence of premeditation: the use of a deadly weapon upon an unarmed victim, the particular cruelty of the killing, declarations by the defendant of an intent to kill, evidence of procurement of a weapon, preparations before the killing for concealment of the crime, and calmness immediately after the killing. Bland, 958 S.W.2d at 660. In addition, a jury may consider destruction or secretion of evidence of the murder, State v. Nichols, 24 S.W.3d 297, 302 (Tenn.2000), and the planning activities by the appellant prior to the killing, the appellant's prior relationship with the victim, and the nature of the killing. State v. Halake, 102 S.W.3d 661, 668 (Tenn.Crim.App.2001) (citing State v. Gentry, 881 S.W.2d 1, 4-5 (Tenn.Crim.App.1993)). Also, [e]stablishment of a motive for the killing is a factor from which the jury may infer premeditation. State v. Leach, 148 S.W.3d 42, 54 (Tenn.2004). After considering the evidence in the light most favorable to the State, we conclude that the evidence is sufficient to support the jury's finding that the Defendant acted with premeditation when he killed the victim. The evidence proved that the Defendant and Sanderson were quietly talking in the Defendant's cell before this crime and that they stopped their conversation each time the Defendant's cellmate entered the cell. The two admittedly agreed to go teach the victim some respect. They entered the victim's cell while he was quietly reading at a time that the guard would not be able to see the victim's cell. The Defendant took a sock and strangled the victim, telling his cellmate that he was surprised at how much the victim struggled. The Defendant then tore off a bloody section of his shirt, flushed the section down the toilet, and hid the rest of his bloody clothes under his bed. Shortly after the killing, the Defendant fell asleep in his cell. The Defendant told his cellmate, and later confirmed to investigators, that he killed the victim because the victim's sentence was not long enough for the crime the victim committed and because being charged with the victim's death would give him an opportunity to escape while being transported to and from court. This evidence is sufficient to support the jury's finding that the Defendant acted with premeditation when he killed the victim. He is not entitled to relief on this issue.