Opinion ID: 1621755
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: sufficiency of the evidence

Text: Relying upon State v. Brown, 836 S.W.2d 530 (Tenn. 1992), defendant next contends that the trial court and Court of Criminal Appeals erred in finding the evidence sufficient to establish premeditation and deliberation. In considering this claim, we apply the familiar rule that where the sufficiency of the convicting evidence is challenged, the relevant question for an appellate court is whether, after reviewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the State, any rational trier of fact could have found the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Tenn. R.App. P. 13(e); Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 99 S.Ct. 2781, 61 L.Ed.2d 560 (1979); State v. Cazes, 875 S.W.2d 253 (Tenn. 1994). At the time the offense was committed, premeditated first degree murder was defined as the willful, deliberate, malicious and premeditated killing of another. Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-2-202(a)(1) (Supp. 1988). [6] In Brown, supra , we stated that premeditation and deliberation are not synonymous terms. While the existence of both elements may be established by circumstantial evidence alone, premeditation requires proof of a previous intent to kill, while deliberation requires proof of a cool purpose that includes some period of reflection during which the mind is free from passion and excitement. Id. at 539. With respect to deliberation, the proof shows that the defendant announced to his wife that he knew a woman he could knock in the head and get some money. Since Bush was acquainted with Lefever, he necessarily knew she was a frail, elderly lady. Despite that knowledge he took a board with him to her house to accomplish his stated intention. Evidence of procurement of a weapon is probative to prove premeditation. Brown, 836 S.W.2d at 541. After Bush broke the board by striking the victim with it, he did not end the assault but procured a second weapon, the butcher knife, from the kitchen and proceeded to stab Lefever forty-three times down the side of her head and on her back. With respect to deliberation, the evidence shows that before opening the drawer to obtain the butcher knife, Bush removed his shirt and wrapped his hand in what reasonably can be inferred to be an attempt to avoid leaving fingerprints. After stabbing Lefever forty-three times, Bush maintained the presence of mind and took the time to collect the broken board. He walked back to the designated place and met his wife, and from there he immediately directed his wife to drive him to Center Hill Lake where he disposed of the evidence. These facts are sufficient to establish that the killing was committed with deliberation and in the absence of passion. State v. West, 844 S.W.2d 144, 148 (Tenn. 1992). Considering the proof in this record in the light most favorable to the State, as we are required to do, we agree with the Court of Criminal Appeals that the evidence is sufficient to establish premeditation and deliberation.