Court Opinion

ID: 9669068
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 02:38:40.703519+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:15:51.948182
License: Public Domain

DWYER, Judge,
dissenting.
I am in respectful disagreement with the majority remanding this record for a new trial. A reading of the voir dire proceedings leads the writer to conclude that this appellant was fairly tried and found guilty by an unbiased and impartial jury. It must be remembered that the appellant is constitutionally guaranteed a trial by a fair and impartial jury. He is not constitutionally guaranteed a perfect jury or trial.
*573The record reveals, as the State argues, that the trial court conducted its voir dire proceedings using groups of venire to make its determination of whether they were qualified to be jurors. The trial court then allowed the jurors to be called and examined individually by the appellant’s counsel with the Attorney General generally accepting all that were called. Every juror who expressed a fixed opinion concerning the guilt or innocence of the appellant was excused.
While it is true, as stated by the majority, that a goodly portion of the jurors had seen the television depiction of the events prior to trial, each, upon oath, assured the appellant and the court that he or she would be impartial.1 Indeed, the trial court, in an abundance of caution, individually interrogated all jurors selected to ensure appellant a fair trial. No more or no less is required. The prior knowledge of jurors was neutralized by their unequivocal assurance to the trial court that they would be impartial. Sommerville v. State, 521 S.W.2d 792, 797 (Tenn.1975); State v. Delk, 692 S.W.2d 431, 437 (Tenn.Crim.App.1985); State v. Sammons, 656 S.W.2d 862, 869 (Tenn.Crim.App.1982). Rule 24(b)(2), Tenn.R.Crim.P.
It is well settled in Tennessee that the trial judge has wide discretion in the examination of prospective jurors, and his action will not be disturbed unless there is an abuse of discretion. State v. Jefferson, 529 S.W.2d 674 (Tenn.1975); State v. King, 718 S.W.2d 241 (Tenn.1986). Here, the trial court observed firsthand the jurors and their responses to the questions of appellant’s counsel. Much deference should be given to the court’s determination of the credibility of each juror. My review of the voir dire proceedings reflects a conscientious, patient trial court ensuring the appellant a trial by an unbiased and impartial jury.
I cannot agree with the majority’s conclusion that the prior knowledge of appellant’s other crime caused the jury to impose the high sentence. A fair reading of this record reveals an adult appellant plied a sixteen-year-old, learning disabled child with alcohol and drugs. The psychiatrist testified that mixing the drug Doxepin with alcohol and other drugs would be a “disaster.” The burial of the child, the removal of her clothes, and the admissions of the appellant that he killed the child would fully support the imposition of the ninety-nine-year sentence. Moreover, I cannot agree with the majority’s conclusion that the trial court abused its discretion; therefore, I would affirm the judgment of the trial court.

. Indeed in rural counties it would be wishful thinking to find a juror who had not seen, read or talked about an infamous event of this magnitude.