Opinion ID: 1636806
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Improper Cross-Examination of Janet Kirkpatrick

Text: Prior to trial, the defense team interviewed the defendant's sisters. A summary of the joint interview was provided to the defense experts, the State's experts, and the prosecuting attorneys. During the penalty phase of the trial, one of the defendant's sisters, Janet Kirkpatrick, testified on his behalf. On direct, Kirkpatrick discussed much of the information contained in the summary of the joint interview, and she acknowledged that the defendant had been previously incarcerated. Before cross-examining Kirkpatrick, the prosecuting attorneys approached the bench and stated their intent to impeach Kirkpatrick's testimony by questioning her about information in the interview summary detrimental to the defense that was not brought out during direct. Defense counsel did not object to this line of inquiry at the bench conference even though, as the trial court found, they were fully aware of the contents of that interview, including the underlying facts of the previous robbery. Against this backdrop, the assistant district attorney during cross-examination asked Kirkpatrick whether she was aware that during an attempt to rob a restaurant, [the defendant] was putting one of the victims in the freezer when the victim. [6] Defense counsel objected, and the trial court held a jury-out hearing at which Kirkpatrick denied making this statement during the interview. Rather, Kirkpatrick indicated that her sister had made the statement based upon a newspaper article her sister had read. Although she agreed that the interview summary suggested that both sisters had knowledge of the incident, Kirkpatrick maintained that she had no personal knowledge of the facts of the crime and had merely agreed with her sister. Following this testimony, defense counsel moved for a mistrial. The trial court sustained defense counsel's objection to the question but denied the defendant's request for a mistrial. In addition, when the jury returned to the courtroom, the trial court provided the following curative instruction: Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, before you went upstairs for your afternoon break, General Thurman had asked a question of this witness. I sustained an objection, and that information is now stricken from the record. You may not consider that for any reason, and you must treat it as if you had never known it. Again, I remind you that you may not consider allegations of criminal behavior or prior crimes with regard, that you've been hearing this afternoon, except as to how it relates to the mental health of the defendant. The State is relying upon the prior conviction for its aggravating circumstance involving the robbery charge that was committed on the dates on the certified copy, and you may not consider other crimes or other criminal behavior for any reason, other than the mental condition of the defendant. Despite this instruction, the defendant submits that the trial court erred in refusing to grant a mistrial. He argues that the prosecutor's question informed the jury that the defendant had previously attempted to commit a crime under circumstances almost identical to these crimes, and therefore, was so prejudicial that the trial court's curative instruction could not remove its effect. The State responds that the trial court properly denied the defendant's request for a mistrial. The law is well-settled that the decision of whether or not to enter a mistrial rests within the sound discretion of the trial court. This Court will not interfere with the trial court's decision absent a clear abuse of discretion on the record. See State v. Adkins, 786 S.W.2d 642, 644 (Tenn.1990); State v. Inlow, 52 S.W.3d 101, 105 (Tenn.Crim.App.2000). The record in this case shows no abuse of discretion. The question about which the defendant complains was posed during the sentencing hearing. The jury had already found the defendant guilty of committing these murders; therefore, any prejudice associated with the question was minimized by its timing. The defense team did not object to this line of questioning at the bench conference. Once an objection was made, the trial court immediately considered the issue at a jury-out hearing. Moreover, before the prosecution posed this question, the defense team, attempting to illustrate the defendant's mental problems, had presented extensive evidence regarding the defendant's involvement in other crimes. In addition, the State had presented proof of the defendant's previous violent felony conviction to support the (i)(2) aggravating circumstance. The jury therefore had been informed prior to this question by both prosecution and defense proof that the defendant had a prior criminal record. The question provided little new information to the jury, and the trial court immediately sustained the objection and instructed the jury not to consider the question for any reason and to treat it as if you had never known it. In addition, the trial court advised the jury not to consider other crimes or other criminal behavior for any reason, other than the mental condition of the defendant. Jurors are presumed to follow the instructions of the trial court. State v. Stout, 46 S.W.3d 689, 715 (Tenn.2001); State v. Williams, 977 S.W.2d 101, 106 (Tenn.1998). Under these circumstances, the trial court did not abuse its discretion by denying the defendant's request for a mistrial. This issue is without merit.