Opinion ID: 1057999
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 17

Heading: Admission of Rifle

Text: The Defendant argues that because neither the cause nor the manner of the victim's death was disputed at sentencing, the admission of the rifle owned by Ralph Thompson served only to inflame the jury and prejudice it against the Defendant. He contends that the trial court erred in failing to balance the probative value against the prejudicial effect of introducing the rifle into evidence. Tennessee Code Annotated section 39-13-204(c) provides for the admission of evidence in a capital sentencing proceeding as follows: [E]vidence may be presented as to any matter that the court deems relevant to the punishment and may include, but not be limited to, the nature and circumstances of the crime; the defendant's character, background history, and physical condition; any evidence tending to establish or rebut the aggravating circumstances enumerated in subsection (i); and any evidence tending to establish or rebut any mitigating factors. Any such evidence which the court deems to have probative value on the issue of punishment may be received regardless of its admissibility under the rules of evidence.... The issue of a Defendant's guilt or innocence is not relevant at a resentencing proceeding. See State v. Hartman, 703 S.W.2d 106 (Tenn.1985). At a resentencing hearing, both the State and Defendant are entitled to offer evidence relating to the circumstances of the crime so that the sentencing jury will have essential background information `to ensure that the jury acts from a base of knowledge in sentencing the Defendant.' State v. Adkins, 725 S.W.2d 660, 663 (Tenn.1987) (quoting State v. Teague, 680 S.W.2d 785, 788 (Tenn.1984)). In the instant case, the sentencing jury was not the same jury which convicted the Defendant and was familiar with the nature and circumstances of the Defendant's crime only through the proof presented at the resentencing hearing. The rifle supported the testimony given by Dr. Blake as to the cause of death and the nature of the murder. As to the circumstances surrounding the murder, Agent Caldwell testified that the rifle was recovered from the home of Ralph Thompson and smelled as though it had been recently cleaned. The rifle thus served to connect the Defendant, who admitted in his statement to having hired Ralph Thompson to kill his wife, with Thompson. For his part, although Thompson denied killing the victim, he admitted owning the rifle and shooting it on the night of the murder. The rifle was admissible to show the nature and circumstances of the crime. This issue is without merit.