State v. Jack Norris & Ernest Ray Meadows ( 2010 )


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  •          IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OF TENNESSEE
    AT KNOXVILLE             FILED
    FEBRUARY SESS ION, 1998            April 9, 1999
    Cecil Crowson, Jr.
    Appellate C ourt Clerk
    STATE OF TENNESSEE,  )                 C.C.A. NO. 03C01-9704-CR-00137
    )
    Appellee,        )
    )
    )                 CUMBERLAND COUN TY
    VS.                  )
    )                 HON. LEON C. BURNS, JR.
    JACK THOMAS NORRIS,  )                 JUDGE
    & ERNEST RAY MEADOWS )
    Appe llant.      )                 (Direct Appe al - Attempted First
    )                 Degree M urder)
    FOR THE APPELLANT:                     FOR THE APPELLEE:
    LARRY M. WARNER                        JOHN KNOX WALKUP
    Attorn ey for Ja ck Th oma s Nor ris   Attorney General and Reporter
    P. O. Box 601
    Crossville, TN 38557                   MARVIN E. CLEMENTS, JR.
    Assistant Attorney General
    MARGARET JANE POWERS                   425 Fifth Avenu e North
    Attorney for Ernest Ray Meadows        Nashville, TN 37243-0493
    79 North Main Street
    Crossville, TN 38555-4576              BILL GIBSON
    District Attorney General
    ANTHONY J. CRAIGHEAD
    Assistant District Attorney
    145 South Jefferson Street
    Cookeville, TN 38501
    DAVID PATTERSON
    Assistant District Attorney
    206 East Second Street
    Crossville, TN 38555
    OPINION FILED ________________________
    AFFIRMED
    JERRY L. SMITH, JUDGE
    OPINION
    The appellants, Jack Thomas Norris and Earnest Ray Meadows, were
    convicted by a Cumberland County jury of attempted first deg ree m urder . Norris
    received a sente nce o f 24 yea rs for his conviction, and Meadows was sentenced
    to 22 years. On appeal, Norris and Meadows raise several joint issues for our
    consideration:
    1) whether the evidence presented by th e state wa s sufficient to
    suppo rt the jury’s verd ict;
    2) whethe r the trial court erred in denying a motion for a
    continuance;
    3) whether the prosecution improperly used the “missing witness”
    argument in its closing; and
    4) wheth er the tr ial cou rt erred in refus ing to g rant a n ew trial after
    a juror attem pted to im peach its own verd ict.
    Additionally, Mead ows c laims that the trial cou rt erred by den ying his motion in
    limine regarding expert testimony. After a thorough review of the record be fore
    this Court, we affirm the judgment of the trial court as to both Appellants.
    FACTS
    Appellant Norris owned and operated a salvage yard located at the
    entrance to the subd ivision w here J ame s Yate s, the vic tim, lived . Norris lived in
    a mobile home adjacent to the salvage yard.                Mr. Yates did not like the
    appearance of the junkyard an d made inquiries to state officials as to whether
    Norris was violating any governmental regulations.
    -2-
    On April 18, 1995, Mr. Ya tes an d his wife dro ve pas t Norris ’ hom e on th eir
    way to dinner. As their car passed, Danny Wiggins, an employee of Norris, made
    an offensive hand gesture towa rd the couple. M r. Yates stoppe d the car and
    attempted to speak with Wiggins. Wiggins returned to the trailer, but Norris came
    outside. Norris and Yates quickly got into an argument, and during the course
    of the arg umen t, Norris told Yates that he had “messed with the wrong . . . M
    F    .” Norris also threatened to blow Yates’ head off. As Norris came off the
    porch towa rd the Yates’ car, Ya tes drove awa y.
    Instead of going to the restaurant, the Yates attempted to find Sheriff Leon
    Tollett. When they located him at his residence, Yates told the Sheriff about the
    animo sity between Norris and him and that he was frightened. The couple then
    returned home .
    Mrs. Yates left to pic k up d inner fro m a lo cal res tauran t. W hile he was
    waiting for his wife to return, Mr. Yates heard a loud car drive past, racing its
    engine.    He noticed tha t the car was an older model brown Toyota. The car
    frightened him, so Yates retrieved his unloaded .12 gauge shotgun and placed
    it by the front d oor.
    After Mrs. Yates returned, Mr. Yates heard the same car stop in front of h is
    home. Yates turned on his porch light, picked up the sh otgun, a nd step ped on to
    the front porch . He observed Norris standing on the passenger side of the brown
    Toyota he had seen earlier. He could not see and did not identify the driver of
    the vehicle. Yates saw a flash of light next to Norris’ head and realized that he
    had been shot. He dropped his gun and went inside the house. Mrs. Yates then
    drove him to the hospital where he was treated for shotgun wounds to his face,
    neck, an d torso.
    -3-
    Shor tly after the shooting, an investigator for the Cumberland County
    Sher iff’s Depa rtment observed a car matching the description given by Yates.
    He and a fellow officer stopped the car, which was driven by Appellant Meadows.
    The license plate on the car was registered to a Plymouth in Meadows’ name.
    After obtaining Meadows’ consent to search the car, the officers discovered a
    yellow .20 gauge shotgun shell in the back floorboard. The officers had the
    vehicle towed to the ju stice center and later recovered another .20 gauge shot
    shell from a coat which was found in the car. The shells were manufactured by
    Winchester and contained number 6 bird shot pellets.
    Special Agent Donald Carman with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation
    (TBI) analyzed the shot wad and shotgun pellets found at the scene of the crime.
    Carman concluded that the wadding was consistent with a .20 gauge filler shot
    wad manu factured by W incheste r. He furthe r determ ined that th e pellets were
    consistent with Num ber 6 bird shot. He also compared one of the shells taken
    from Meadows’ car with the physical evidence recovered from the victim’s home
    and found that all components of the shell were consiste nt with the wadding and
    pellets taken from the scene.
    Russ ell Davis, another special agent with the TBI, testified that he
    conducted gunshot residue tests on Meadows’ Toyota.              He found chemical
    compounds consistent with gu nshot residue on the roof, rear driver’s side
    window , passen ger doo r, and da shboa rd of the ve hicle.
    At trial, Danny Wiggins testified for the state and stated that he was
    present at Nor ris’ resid ence throug hout th e day o n Apr il 18.   W iggins testified
    that after Yates and Norris got into the argument that day, Norris became
    increa singly angry.   Norris stated that he “ought to kill the m      f   .” Around
    the time o f the crim e, W iggins saw N orris an d Mea dows leave N orris’ ho me in
    -4-
    Meadows’ brown older model Toyota. They stated that they were going to “take
    care of some b usiness.” Wigg ins testified that after Norris an d Meado ws left, he
    heard the car drive around the subdivision and stop. He then heard a loud bang,
    which sounded like a shotgun blast. When Norris returned home, he stated that
    Meadows had left to “get rid” of the gun. Meadows later returned with Johnny
    and N aomi B oles and told W iggins tha t the Bole s would give him an alibi.
    Norma Harris testified that she was dating Meadows in April of 1995. She
    stated that she and Meadows owned a shotgun together at the time of the
    shooting. On April 18, Meadows came to her home asking to borrow the gun,
    and she gave him the gun along with three (3) yellow shot shells. Meadows was
    driving a brown car that night. Meadows did not return the shotgun, and when
    Harris asked him to retu rn it, Meadows told her to “forget the gun” and “forget
    [she] ever saw it.”
    Each Appellant testified in his own behalf at trial. Both denied shooting
    the victim and being with anyone who shot the victim. Norris insisted that he was
    at home during the shooting, and Meadows claimed that he was at Naomi and
    Johnny Boles’ residence at the time of the incident. Meadows further attempted
    to explain the presence of gunshot residue on his vehicle. He testified that
    Bobby Cumby cam e by the salvag e yard on Ap ril 18 an d ask ed to s hoot a t old
    cars in order to set the scope on a rifle. Meadows stated that Cumby placed the
    gun on the top of M eadow s’ car in ord er to stead y the rifle while s hooting .
    Naomi and Johnny Boles testified that Meadows was at the Boles’ home
    when the call came over the police scann er that a shoo ting ha d occ urred in
    Norris’ neighb orhood . Austin Le wis, a relative of Norris, testified that he was in
    Norris’ trailer with No rris on the n ight of the s hooting from ap proxima tely 8:00
    until 9:10 p .m.
    -5-
    In rebuttal, the state called Investigator Bradley Nealon with the
    Cumberland County Sheriff’s Department. Nealon testified that he spok e with
    Austin Lewis on the night of the incident, and Lewis stated that he had been at
    his reside nce all eve ning.
    The jury convicte d both Appellants of attempted first degree murder. From
    their co nviction s, Nor ris and Mead ows b ring this appe al.
    SUFFICIENCY OF THE EVIDENCE - NORRIS AND MEADOWS
    Both A ppellants argue that the evidence presented by the State at trial is
    insufficient to sustain the jury verdict of attem pted murd er in the first degree.
    They claim that du e to var ious in cons istenc ies in th e evide nce, n o ration al trier
    of fact cou ld have fo und the m guilty be yond a re asona ble dou bt.
    A.
    When an appellant challenges the sufficie ncy of th e evide nce, th is Court
    is obliged to review that challenge according to certain well-settled principles.
    Wh ere the sufficiency of the evidence is contested on appeal, the relevant
    question for the review ing court is whether an y rational trier of fact could have
    found the accused guilty of every element of the offense beyond a reasonable
    doubt. Tenn . R. App . P. 13(e); State v. Harris , 
    839 S.W.2d 54
    , 75 (Tenn. 1992).
    On appeal, the state is entitled to the strongest legitim ate view of the evidence
    as well as all rea sonab le and leg itimate inferences that may be drawn therefrom.
    State v. Cabbage, 
    571 S.W.2d 832
    , 835 (Tenn. 1978).                  In conducting our
    evaluation of the convicting evidence, this Court is precluded from reweighing or
    reconsidering the evide nce. State v. Morgan, 
    929 S.W.2d 380
    , 383 (Tenn. Crim.
    App. 1996); State v. Matthews, 805 S.W .2d 776, 779 (Tenn. Crim . App. 1990 ).
    -6-
    Moreover, this Court may not substitute its own inferences “for those drawn by
    the trier of fact from circum stantial evidence.” State v. Matthews, 805 S.W.2d at
    779.
    A verdict of guilty by the jury, approved by the trial judge, accredits the
    testimony of the state’s witnesses and resolves all c onflicts in the te stimo ny in
    favor of the state. State v. Cazes, 
    875 S.W.2d 253
    , 259 (Tenn . 1994); State v.
    Harris , 839 S.W.2 d at 75. Although an accused is originally cloaked with a
    presumption of innocence, a jury verdict removes this presumption and replaces
    it with one of guilt. State v. Tug gle, 639 S.W .2d 913, 914 (Tenn. 198 2). Hence,
    on appeal, the burden of proof rests with Appellant to demonstrate the
    insufficienc y of the con victing evide nce. Id.
    B.
    Both Appellants were convicted of attempted first deg ree m urder , which is
    described as acting with intent to “engage[] in action” or to “complete a course of
    action” which would constitute the offense of first degree murder. Tenn. Code
    Ann. § 39-12 -101( a)(1), (3 ) (1991 ). First de gree m urder is the “in tention al,
    premeditated and deliberate killing of another.” Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-
    202(a)(1) (199 1).
    C.
    Yates testified that he observed Norris standing by an older model brown
    Toyota, saw a flash next to Norris’ head and then rea lized that h e had b een sh ot.
    Yates positively identified Norris as the shoote r. The testim ony of a victim
    identifying the defendant as the perpetrator of the crim e is sufficient, in and of
    itself, to support a conviction. State v. Strickland, 
    885 S.W.2d 85
    , 87 (Tenn. Crim.
    App. 1993 ).
    -7-
    Furthermore, several witnesses, including Norris himself, testified that
    Norris threatened to blow Yates’ head off within hours of the shooting. Wiggins
    testified that Norris and Meadows left Norris’ home in Meadows’ car shortly
    before the crime , both claim ing that the y were go ing to “take care of some
    busine ss.” Althou gh Ya tes co uld no t positive ly identify Meadows as the driver of
    the car, he was able to identify Meadows’ vehicle. Harris testified that Meadows
    borrowed her sh otgun and s ome amm unition on the evening of April 18. Law
    enforcement authorities recovered a mmu nition from Me adows’ vehicle which was
    consistent with the physical evidence found at the crime scen e. Moreover,
    gunshot residue was discovered on Meadows’ vehicle.
    The evidence against the Appellants was overwhelming. Although bo th
    Appe llants presented evidence of an alibi at the time of the shooting, the jury, as
    trier of fact, was free to disre gard tha t testimon y. Additio nally, any c onflicts in
    proof were resolved by the jury.          The weight and credibility of witnesses’
    testimony are matters entrusted sole ly to the jury as the triers of fac t. State v.
    Sheff ield, 676 S.W .2d 542 (Tenn . 1984); Byrge v. S tate, 
    575 S.W.2d 292
     (Tenn.
    Crim. App . 1978).
    D.
    Meadows also claims that there was insufficient evidence to establish that
    Appe llants intended to kill the victim, due to the lack of evidence that Yates could
    have died from a sin gle shot of bird sho t. To the contrary, Dr. Rob erto Baylosis,
    an eme rgency room physician at Cu mberland Medical Ce nter, testified that the
    gunshot wounds inflicted upon the victim could have ca used h im to blee d to
    death had th e pelle ts pun ctured his arterial vess els.       In an y even t, there is
    substantial evidenc e of the Appe llants’ int ent to k ill, in light of N orris’ m ultiple
    threats to kill Yates within hours of the shooting.
    -8-
    E.
    This Court concludes that a rational trier of fact could have determined that
    Appe llants intended to “engage[] in action” or to “complete a course of action”
    which w ould con stitute the offe nse o f first deg ree m urder . This is sue is without
    merit.
    MOTION FOR CONTINUANCE - NORRIS AND MEADOWS
    In the second allegation of error, Appellants claim that the trial court erred
    in denying their respective motions for a continuance in order to secure Bobby
    Cum by’s presence at trial. They contend that Cumb y’s testimony wo uld have
    corroborated Meadows’ testimony by explaining the presence of gunshot residue
    on Mead ows’ car.
    On the first day of trial, Appellants filed a motion for continuance, on the
    basis that Bobby Cumby could not be located. Meadows wished to call Cumby
    as a witne ss to te stify that, o n the d ay of the incide nt, Cu mby h ad pro pped a rifle
    on the hood of Meadows’ vehicle while sho oting at old cars in the junkyard.
    According to Meadows, this testimony would explain the presence of gunshot
    residue on his vehicle.      The Sheriff’s Department had attempted to serve a
    subpoena on Cumby to secure his presence at trial, but was unsuccessful
    because Cum by was on vac ation in Florida . Appa rently, th e trial ha d prev iously
    been rescheduled from a prior date due to inclement weather. However, the
    Sher iff’s Depa rtment w as una ble to loca te Cumby for service of the prior
    subp oena as we ll.
    -9-
    Initially, we note that Norris failed to include this issue in his motion for new
    trial. 1 There fore, as to h im, the iss ue is waive d. Tenn . R. App . P. 3(e); State v.
    Maddox, 957 S.W .2d 547, 553 (Tenn. Crim . App. 1997 ).
    Nevertheless, beca use th e issue was p roper ly raised by Mead ows, w e will
    address it on its merits. The pr ocedu re for requ esting a c ontinua nce in ord er to
    secure the presence of a witness is well-settled:
    When requesting a continuance to accommodate a missing
    witness, the gro unds mus t be se t out in a n affida vit which alleges (a)
    the substance of the facts the defendant expects to prove through
    the unavailable witness; (b) sufficient facts to establish the
    relevance and materiality of the testimony; (c) the admissibility of
    the testim ony, if the witness was available; (d) the non-cum ulative
    nature of the testimony; (e) the witness’ availability at a later date;
    and (f) due diligence in attempting to obtain the presence of the
    witness. State v. Dykes, 
    803 S.W.2d 250
    , 256-57 (Tenn. Crim. App.
    1990); Tenn. Code Ann. § 19-1-1 10(a). Fa ilure to file the m otion in
    proper form may be a groun d for den ial. State v. Dykes, 803
    S.W.2d at 257.
    State v. Zirkle, 910 S.W .2d 874, 884 (Tenn. Crim . App. 1995 ).
    A motion for a continuance is addressed to the sound discretion of the trial
    judge and his ruling on the m otion will not be disturbed in the absence of an
    abuse of discretion to the preju dice of the defend ant. State v. Hines, 
    919 S.W.2d 573
    , 579 (Tenn. 1995). An abuse of discretion is demonstrated by showing that
    the failure to grant a continuance denied defendant a fair trial or that it could be
    reaso nably concluded that a different result would have followed had the
    continua nce be en gran ted. Id. at 579.
    Under the record before this Court, there is no indication that Cumby
    would be available at a later date. The Sheriff’s Department attempted on two
    occasions to serve Cum by with a su bpoen a to appea r in court. T hose a ttempts
    1
    In his motion for new trial, Norris alleges “[o]ther grounds which will be supplied by the
    Defendant.” Such an allegation is insufficient to preserve the issue on appeal. “[N]o issue presented for
    review shall be predicated upon error . . . unless the same was spe cifica lly stated in a motion for new
    trial.” Tenn. R. App. P. 3(e) (emphasis added ). No written amendm ent to the motion is in the record
    before this Court, nor did Norris attempt to orally amend the motion.
    -10-
    were unsu cces sful du e to the inability to locate Cum by. Alth ough Appe llants
    attribute this to Cumby’s being on vacation in Florida during the second attempt
    at service , no exp lanatio n is offered as to why Cumby could not be located on the
    first attempt. Because Appellants have not established that Cumb y would have
    been availab le at a later date, we conclude there was no abus e of dis cretion in
    denying a continu ance. See State v. Zirkle , 910 S.W.2d at 884.
    This issu e has n o merit.
    EXPERT TESTIMONY - MEADOWS
    Meadows additionally insists that the trial court erred in allowing TBI
    Special Agen t Russ ell Davis to testify. Davis’ testimony concerned the presence
    of gunshot residue on the top of Meadows’ car. Meadows claims that Davis’
    testimony was prejudicial. Further, he argues that this testimony, coupled with
    the denial of a continuance, had the effect of compelling Meadows to testify at
    trial.
    Because Meadows failed to include this issue in his m otion fo r new tr ial,
    the issue is waived.2 Tenn. R. App. P. 3(e ); State v. Spadafina, 
    952 S.W.2d 444
    ,
    451 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1996). In any event, the evidence of gunshot residue on
    Meadows’ car was certainly relevant at trial. Tenn. R. Evid. 401. Furthermore,
    Meadows has cited no grounds for excluding the evidence, other than that it had
    a prejudicia l effect. Mead ows’ rig ht to refr ain from testifying does not include the
    right to be free of any prejudicial testimony against him.
    This issu e is withou t merit.
    2
    Meadows’ motion for new trial also contains an allegation of “[o]ther grounds which will be
    supplied by the Def endan t.”
    -11-
    MISSING WITNESS ARGUMENT - NORRIS AND MEADOWS
    Norris and Me adows further ass ert that the prosecution made improper use
    of the “missing witness” a rgume nt during its closing argument. They argue that
    the state was precluded from mentioning Bobby Cumby in its closing, because
    Cumby could no t be locate d to testify at trial. Th ey con tend th at the p rosec ution’s
    argument overly e mph asize d the a bsen ce of C umb y’s testimony and, therefore,
    caused the jury to discredit Mead ows’ testimon y.
    In its closing argument, the prosecution made the following remarks:
    Now, Mr. Meadows came here today and told you that by
    some sheer coincidence, on the same day this happened, his good
    friend Mr. Cumby , his real good friend Mr. Cum by, was out there
    taking target p ractice. And not only was he taking target practice,
    but by sheer coincidenc e, he w as us ing his Toyo ta to sig ht this
    barrel over. What are the odds? Then they take -- and that’s all you
    have to go by, by the way, ladies and gentlemen, is Mr. Meadows’
    word. . . . What are the odds?
    “[A] party is entitled to argue, and have the jury instructed, that if the other
    party has it pe culiarly w ithin his power to produce a witness whose testimony
    would naturally be favorable to him, the failure to call that witness creates an
    adverse inference that the testimon y would not favor h is contentions.” State v.
    Middlebrooks, 
    840 S.W.2d 317
    , 33 4 (Ten n. 1992 ) (citations o mitted). Howeve r,
    in order to invoke the “missing witness” rule, the evidence must show that “the
    witness had knowledge of material facts, that a relationship exists between the
    witness and the party that w ould na turally incline th e witness to favor the party
    and that the missing witness was available to the process of the Co urt for trial.”
    Delk v. S tate, 590 S.W .2d 435, 440 (Tenn. 197 9).
    In reviewing a claim of prosecutorial misconduct during closing a rgume nt,
    we are guided by such factors as:
    -12-
    1. The conduct complained of viewed in conte xt and in light of the
    facts and circumstances of the case.
    2. The curative m easure s unde rtaken b y the cou rt and the prosec ution.
    3. The intent of the prosec ution in m aking the improp er statem ent.
    4. The cumulative effect of the improper conduct and any oth er erro rs in
    the reco rd.
    5. The relative strength or weakness of the case.
    Judge v. State, 539 S.W .2d 340, 344 (Tenn. Crim . App. 1976 ).
    W e mus t initially no te that n either Appella nt obje cted to the alle gedly
    improper argume nt. Therefore, bo th have waived th is issue. State v. Green, 
    947 S.W.2d 186
    , 18 8 (Ten n. Crim. A pp. 199 7); State v. Seay, 
    945 S.W.2d 755
    , 762
    (Tenn. Crim. A pp. 199 6); State v. Little, 
    854 S.W.2d 643
    , 651 (Tenn. Crim. App.
    1992); Tenn. R. App. P. 36(a). Additionally, this issue was not included in Norris’
    motion for new trial and is waived, as to him, for this reason as well. Tenn. R.
    App. P . 3(e); State v. Maddox, 957 S.W.2d at 553.
    Regardless, from a reading of the state’s entire closing argum ent, it does
    not appear that the prosecution was asking the jury to draw an adverse inference
    from Cum by’s abse nce. The prosecution was merely exploring the credibility of
    Meadows’ explanation for the presence of gunshot residue on his vehicle . In light
    of the overwhelming evidence of guilt, we do not be lieve that an y referenc e to
    Cumby during clos ing argu ment a ffected the verdict. See Judge v. State, 539
    S.W.2d at 346.
    This issu e has n o merit.
    JUROR TESTIMONY AS BASIS FOR NEW TRIAL - NORRIS AND
    MEADOWS
    -13-
    In their final issue, Appellants argue that the trial court erred in denying
    their respective motions for a new trial on the basis of a juror’s testimony that she
    was un comfo rtable with th e verdict.
    At the beginning of the sentencing hearing, defense counsel called Kathy
    Jan Burns to testify concerning her dissa tisfaction with the jury’s verdict. She
    stated that she w as a m emb er of the jury wh ich fou nd No rris and Me adows guilty
    of attempted first degree murder. She testified that she felt that the verdict was
    “rushed ,” and the jury did not fu lly deliberate on the evidence presented at trial.
    She further stated that sh e “had seriou s dou bts within five minutes” after the
    verdict.
    At the hearing on the motion for new trial, the defense presente d an
    affidav it signed by James Morgan indicating that he heard W ayne Fin dley, a
    juror, state that three jurors were going to “hang Jack’s a ss.” How ever, the s tate
    called Findley to te stify at the hearing, and Findley denied making such a
    statem ent.
    Norris failed to includ e this iss ue in h is mo tion for n ew trial. Therefore, as
    to him, the issue is waived. Tenn. R. App. P. 3(e); State v. Maddox, 957 S.W.2d
    at 553. Nevertheless, we will address the issue with regard to Meadows.
    Tenn. R. Evid. 606(b) provides:
    Upon an inquiry into the validity of a verdict or indictme nt, a
    juror may no t testify as to any matter or statement occurring during
    the cours e of the jury’s deliberations or to the effect of anything
    upon any juror’s mind or emotion as influencing that juror to assent
    to or dissent from the verdict or indictment or concerning the juro r’s
    mental processes, except that a juror may testify on the question of
    whether extraneous prejudicial information was improperly brought
    to the jury’s attention, whether any outside influence was impro perly
    brought to bear upon any juro r, or wh ether th e jurors agree d in
    advance to be bound by a quotient or gambling verdict without
    further discussion; nor may a juror’s affidavit or evidence of any
    statement by the juror concerning a matter about which the juror
    would be precluded from testifying be received for these purposes.
    -14-
    A juror may testify or submit an affidavit in connection with a motio n for ne w trial,
    in the limited circums tances of:
    (1) “extraneo us prejud icial informa tion” finding its way into the jury
    room,
    (2) improper outside pressure on a juror, or
    (3) a quo tient or gam bling verd ict.
    Tenn. R. Evid. 606(b), Advisory Commission Comm ents.
    Juror Burns’ testimony concerning her personal dissatisfaction with the
    jury’s verdict was inadmissible e vidence in sup port of the Appellants’ motion for
    new trial. Clearly, her testimony did not indicate that she was subjected to
    improper outside press ure or that “extran eous p rejudicial info rmation ” came into
    the jury room.     Nor did she testify that the jury’s verdict was a quotient or
    gamb ling verdict.
    This same is true for the information contained in Morgan’s affidavit.
    Although Findley testified that he ne ver made the stateme nt that three jurors
    were going to “hang Jack’s ass,” such a state men t would not be adm issible
    evidence un der Tenn . R. Evid. 606(b).
    Because the trial court was presented with no competent evidence
    concerning the validity of the jury’s verdict, there was no error in failing to grant
    a new tria l on this ba sis. This iss ue is witho ut merit.
    -15-
    CONCLUSION
    After a thorough review of the record before this Court, we find no
    reversible error. Accordingly, the judgment of the trial court is affirmed.
    ____________________________________
    JERRY L. SMITH, JUDGE
    CONCUR:
    ___________________________________
    THOMAS T. WOODALL, JUDGE
    ___________________________________
    WILLIAM B. ACREE, JUDGE
    -16-