State of Tennessee v. Shelly Minor ( 2012 )

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OF TENNESSEE
AT JACKSON
November 1, 2011 Session
STATE OF TENNESSEE v. SHELLY MINOR
Appeal from the Criminal Court for Shelby County
No. 08-06446, 09-07086 Lee V. Coffee, Judge
No. W2010-01677-CCA-R3-CD - Filed July 26, 2012
Appellant, Shelly Minor, was indicted by the Shelby County Grand Jury for several offenses
after the death of his estranged girlfriend. At the conclusion of a lengthy jury trial, Appellant
was found guilty of second degree murder, leaving the scene of an accident involving injury
or death, driving while a habitual motor vehicle offender, driving under the influence
(“DUI”), reckless driving, vehicular homicide by intoxication, and vehicular homicide by
reckless conduct. At sentencing, the trial court merged the vehicular homicide convictions
with the second degree murder conviction and merged the reckless driving conviction with
the conviction for driving under the influence. As a result of the convictions, Appellant was
ordered to serve an effective sentence of twenty-eight years, eleven months, and twenty-eight
days. A motion for new trial was denied and this appeal followed. On appeal, Appellant
argues that: (1) the evidence was sufficient to support the convictions; (2) the trial court erred
in denying a continuance; (3) the trial court erred in allowing the State to introduce evidence
of prior bad acts of Appellant and hearsay statements made by the victim; (4) the State
committed discovery violations with regard to recorded telephone calls made by Appellant
while incarcerated; (5) cumulative errors necessitate a reversal of Appellant’s convictions;
and (6) the trial court erred in sentencing Appellant to an excessive sentence with
consecutive sentencing. After a review of the record and applicable authorities, we
determine: (1) the evidence was sufficient to support the convictions; (2) Appellant failed to
show what the testimony of the missing witness would have been at trial and, therefore,
cannot show prejudice from the trial court’s failure to grant a continuance to secure the
witness’s attendance at trial; (3) the trial court properly allowed the State to introduce
evidence of prior bad acts of Appellant under Tennessee Rule of Evidence 404(b) and
804(b)(6); (4) Appellant failed to show how he was prejudiced by the State’s alleged
discovery violations; (5) cumulative errors do not necessitate a reversal of Appellant’s
convictions; and (6) the trial court properly sentenced Appellant. Accordingly, the judgments
of the trial court are affirmed.
Tenn. R. App. P. 3 Appeal as of Right; Judgments of the Criminal Court are
Affirmed.
J ERRY L. S MITH, J., delivered the opinion of the court, in which JOSEPH M. T IPTON, P.J., and
A LAN E. G LENN, J., joined.
Joseph A. McClusky, Memphis, Tennessee, for the appellant, Shelly Minor.
Robert E. Cooper, Jr., Attorney General and Reporter; David H. Findley, Assistant Attorney
General; William L. Gibbons, District Attorney General; and Patience Branham, Assistant
District Attorney General, for the appellee, State of Tennessee.
OPINION
Factual Background
Appellant and Lavatrice Street, the victim, were in a tumultuous relationship. Mrs.
Street was married to Freddie Street, but the couple had been separated for ten to fifteen
years at the time of the victim’s death. Appellant and the victim lived together at the victim’s
home from 2000 to November of 2007. According to friends and family members, the victim
got tired of supporting Appellant and told him to leave. Appellant refused to leave the
residence. After he was told to leave, Appellant engaged in various abusive and violent
behaviors directed at the victim ultimately culminating with the victim’s death in January of
2008.
The police were called to the victim’s home on December 4, 2007, after Appellant
broke the victim’s cell phone and grabbed her by the neck. Appellant threatened to beat her
up or “do something” to her if she called the police. Appellant even intentionally inflicted
knife wounds on himself and tried to blame it on the victim. When the police arrived,
Appellant appeared to have been drinking. Police found a broken cell phone. The victim had
urinated in her clothing out of fear of Appellant. Police found the wet clothing in the house.
During the police investigation, Appellant admitted that he inflicted cuts on himself and tried
to blame it on the victim. Appellant was instructed by police to move his things out of the
house. From that point on, Appellant did not live with the victim.
After Appellant moved out, he engaged in a series of acts of vandalism directed
toward the victim. On December 5, 2007, there was a burglary call placed from the victim’s
home. The back window was broken, and there was blood on the door knob. The home was
ransacked. The tags from the victim’s vehicle were stolen. Appellant was responsible. That
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same day, he chased the victim with a drill, threatening to kill the victim. She was so
frightened that she again urinated in her clothing.
Appellant slashed tires and drilled holes in the tires of cars belonging to the victim and
two of her daughters. The victim had to buy and replace at least five sets of tires for her own
vehicle due to Appellant’s actions.
On December 9, 2007, Appellant came to the victim’s home and banged on the door.
When there was no answer, Appellant cut the tires on the victim’s car, cut the air
conditioning and cable lines to the house, and broke a window. The victim saw Appellant
cut the tires and drain fluid from her car before going to the back of the home. The victim
replaced the tires that day. A second vandalism call was placed after the victim’s tires were
slashed for the second time that same day. On December 10, 2007, the victim’s tires were
slashed again. The cuts were similar to the cuts in the tires made by Appellant on previous
occasions.
On December 11, 2007, the victim’s home burned to the ground. The victim’s
daughters claimed that the victim was afraid to rebuild the home because she did not want
Appellant to know where she lived.1
After her house burned to the ground, the victim moved in with her daughter,
Knoishia Cunningham, and took a leave of absence from work, effective December 10, 2007,
through January 3, 2008. The victim returned to work on January 2.
On December 16, 2007, the police were called when Appellant discovered two bullet
holes in his vehicle, a Volkswagen. Appellant claimed that the victim was responsible. At
that time, police ran the tags on Appellant’s car and learned that they were actually the
victim’s stolen tags.
The victim swore out a warrant against Appellant for the events on December 10. She
also referenced the events that took place on December 9 and 10 and filed for an order of
protection. The victim did not appear at the hearing on the order of protection, so it was
dismissed.
1
Prior to trial, the trial court determined that even though Appellant was a suspect there was no
concrete evidence to suggest that Appellant was involved in the fire at the victim’s residence. Therefore, no
evidence with regard to Appellant’s involvement with the fire at the victim’s home was admissible.
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On December 24, 2007, Ms. Cunningham’s tires were slashed while she was at work.
On January 16, 2008, the victim filed a theft report after the driver’s side window was
broken out of her Toyota 4Runner.2 The victim’s checkbook, a cell phone, and some credit
cards were stolen.
The next day, security cameras from the victim’s place of employment showed a
Volkswagen vehicle entering the parking lot at shift change. Appellant drove a dark-colored
Volkswagen. The Volkswagen followed a silver SUV out of the parking lot. A short time
later, around 7:00 a.m. on January 17, a 911 call was placed from the victim’s cell phone.
The operator heard a scream before hearing nothing but noise like a television or a radio.
Shortly thereafter, officers witnessed a black Volkswagen with front end damage
sitting on the side of Hacks Cross Road near Memphis. Appellant was standing next to the
car. The victim’s Toyota 4Runner was down the street about two tenths of a mile from
Appellant’s vehicle, on its side. It appeared that the 4Runner had traveled off the road into
a utility pole. The victim was pinned under the vehicle with her head and upper torso visible.
The victim was removed from the vehicle and transported to the hospital where she died of
blunt force trauma.
Appellant walked away from the scene, walking all the way to his mother’s house to
change out of “muddy” clothing. A beer can was found in Appellant’s vehicle. A Bible and
document entitled “Dismissal of Order of Protection” were found in the victim’s vehicle.
Appellant was arrested shortly thereafter. He was indicted in September of 2008 by
the Shelby County Grand Jury on charges of first degree murder, leaving the scene of an
accident resulting in death, driving while being declared a habitual motor vehicle offender,
driving under the influence, and reckless driving. In September of 2009, a separate
indictment was issued charging Appellant with vehicular homicide by intoxication and
vehicular homicide by reckless conduct.
While Appellant was incarcerated prior to trial, he called his mother from jail. During
that telephone call, Appellant told his mother that it was not his intent to kill the victim. He
told his mother that the victim saw him driving behind her and rammed her vehicle into his
vehicle. Appellant also wondered why there was no arrest warrant for him if he were
responsible for slashing the victim’s tires.
2
Prior to trial, the trial court determined that there was no evidence to suggest that the victim was
involved in the vehicle burglary that occurred on January 16.
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At trial, an expert for the State opined that both vehicles were traveling in the same
direction when Appellant’s vehicle hit the back of the victim’s vehicle. It appeared both
from the lack of mud on the right side of Appellant’s vehicle and the mud present on the left
side of Appellant’s vehicle, that Appellant’s vehicle was close to the right side of the victim’s
vehicle as the victim’s vehicle went off the road. In other words, the victim’s car left the
road after being struck by Appellant’s car.
Appellant hired his own accident reconstructionist, Ralph Cunningham, to testify at
trial. He agreed that Appellant’s vehicle struck the victim’s vehicle while both traveled in
the northbound lane. He guessed that Appellant’s vehicle was going approximately twenty-
two miles per hour faster than the victim’s vehicle at impact. Based on the markings on the
road and position of the vehicle, he opined that the crash was caused by inappropriate
steering input. Mr. Cunningham also opined that the victim hit the utility pole at a speed of
twenty-four to thirty miles per hour before traveling another fifty feet as it rotated and
flipped. Mr. Cunningham was of the opinion that the victim would have survived the crash
if she had been wearing a seatbelt. He based this opinion on his personal experience of
witnessing crash tests with crash test drivers.
At the conclusion of the evidence, the trial court instructed the jury to use the proof
of prior bad acts by Appellant for purposes of intent or motive, not propensity. The jury
found Appellant guilty of second degree murder, leaving the scene of an accident involving
injury or death, driving under the influence, driving while being declared a habitual motor
vehicle offender, reckless driving, vehicular homicide by intoxication, and vehicular
homicide by reckless conduct.
The trial court held a separate sentencing hearing. At that hearing, the trial court
noted Appellant’s lengthy criminal history, including one prior felony. Appellant was
sentenced to twenty-five years for second degree murder, eleven months and twenty-nine
days for leaving the scene of an accident, two years for driving while being a habitual motor
vehicle offender, eleven months and twenty-nine days for the DUI conviction, and six
months for reckless driving. The trial court merged the reckless driving conviction with the
DUI conviction. The trial court imposed a twelve-year sentence for the conviction for
vehicular homicide by intoxication and six years for vehicular homicide by reckless conduct
and merged both of those convictions into the second degree murder conviction. The trial
court further found that Appellant was a dangerous offender with no hesitation about
committing a crime in which the risk to human life was high. As a result, the trial court
ordered the sentences to run consecutively to each other for a total effective sentence of
twenty-eight years, eleven months, and twenty-eight days.
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Appellant filed a motion for new trial. The motion was denied. On appeal, Appellant
insists that: (1) the trial court erred by denying a continuance; (2) the trial court erred by
admitting evidence of Appellant’s prior bad acts; (3) the State violated discovery; (4) the
evidence was insufficient; (5) the cumulative errors deprived Appellant of a fair trial; and (6)
the trial court improperly sentenced Appellant.
Analysis
Denial of Continuance
On appeal, Appellant argues that the trial court erred in denying a continuance.
Specifically, Appellant argues that he was prejudiced at trial because Kelly Gilliam, the only
eyewitness to the accident, was in school out of state and was unable to attend the trial
because of exams. Appellant argues on appeal that the trial court’s denial of the continuance
“irreparably harmed” Appellant because Ms. Gilliam’s testimony would have corroborated
Appellant’s theory of the case. The State argues that the record shows Ms. Gilliam
discontinued contact with the State and Appellant prior to trial and did not indicate that she
was willing to testify. Additionally, the State points out that Appellant could have compelled
Ms. Gilliam to testify and chose not to pursue this option. Lastly, the State insists that there
is not an accurate proffer in the record to show the substance of the proposed testimony.
Therefore, Appellant did not show prejudice, and the trial court did not abuse its discretion.
Appellant filed a motion for a continuance prior to trial; the State opposed the motion
even though they had also subpoenaed Ms. Gilliam as a witness. The trial court denied the
motion. Appellant filed a motion to reconsider, even making an offer of proof as to Ms.
Gilliam’s expected testimony. The offer of proof came in the form of statements by counsel
for Appellant as to what Ms. Gilliam’s testimony would have been had she testified at trial.
The granting of a continuance rests within the sound discretion of the trial court. State
v. Odom, 137 S.W.3d 572, 589 (Tenn. 2004). We will reverse the denial of a continuance
only if the trial court abused its discretion and the defendant was prejudiced by the denial.
State v. Hines, 919 S.W.2d 573, 579 (Tenn. 1995). In order to show prejudice, the defendant
must demonstrate that a different result might reasonably have been reached if the trial court
had granted the continuance or that the denial of the continuance denied the defendant a fair
trial. Id. Moreover, a defendant who asserts that the denial of a continuance constitutes a
denial of due process or the right to counsel must establish actual prejudice. Odom, 137
S.W.3d at 589.
In the case herein, Appellant filed the motion for continuance ten days prior to trial
on April 15, 2010. The motion was accompanied by an affidavit, which stated that Ms.
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Gilliam was preparing for exams at an out-of-state school. It indicated that a subpoena had
been issued but not yet served. The affidavit indicated that Ms. Gilliam was served with a
subpoena for an earlier trial date prior to a different continuance. Ms. Gilliam contacted
Appellant’s investigator on April 12, 2010, and informed her of the conflict with exams.
During the hearing on the motion, the trial court noted that the case had been pending
for nearly three years, during which time Appellant had made multiple requests for speedy
trial. The trial court also noted that both Appellant and the State requested the most recent
continuance six months earlier to conduct more thorough scientific investigation into the
accident. When the continuance was granted, the trial court cautioned the parties that they
had to be ready for trial in April. At the conclusion of the hearing, the trial court denied the
motion but noted that Appellant could force service of subpoena on Ms. Gilliam.
On April 19, 2010, Appellant filed a motion to reconsider the denial of the motion and
a motion to accept a proffer. The trial court held a hearing on the motion on the morning of
jury selection. Appellant did not present an affidavit of Ms. Gilliam at this hearing but
merely related what Ms. Gilliam’s testimony would likely be if she were available at trial.
The trial court again denied the motion, finding that Ms. Gilliam’s testimony, as presented
by counsel for Appellant, would be that she saw two vehicles swerving and could not explain
why. The trial court also noted that the jury was sequestered and available on a Saturday,
allowing Ms. Gilliam the opportunity to testify on a day that she would not have an exam.
The trial court specifically noted that Appellant had six months to contact Ms. Gilliam and
had waited until shortly before the trial date.
At the close of proof, the State informed the trial court that Ms. Gilliam had not
returned any messages. Appellant likewise agreed that they had not been contacted by Ms.
Gilliam.
During the hearing on the motion for new trial, Appellant did not present Ms. Gilliam
as a witness or produce an affidavit of what her testimony would have been at trial. The trial
court denied relief on this issue.
Appellant is not entitled to relief. Appellant offered statements as to the potential
testimony by counsel at trial rather than an affidavit or live testimony from Ms. Gilliam.
Alley v. State, 882 S.W.2d 810, 815 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1994). It is well-settled that
statements of counsel are not evidence. See State v. Roberts, 755 S.W.2d 833, 836 (Tenn.
Crim. App. 1988) (holding that statements of counsel during the course of a hearing are not
evidence). No evidence of Ms. Gilliam's likely testimony was offered at the new trial
hearing. Appellant had ample opportunity after trial to secure an affidavit from Ms. Gilliam
about what she saw on the day of the accident or subpoena Ms. Gilliam to ensure her
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appearance. Appellant failed to do so. Appellant cannot now complain about his failure to
take action at the trial level. See Tenn. R. App. P. 36(a) (stating that relief need not be
granted “to a party . . . who failed to take whatever action was reasonably available to prevent
or nullify the harmful effect of an error”). Therefore, we cannot find that the trial court
abused its discretion in denying the continuance. Appellant is not entitled to relief on this
issue.
Evidentiary Rulings
Next, Appellant claims that the trial court improperly allowed “the State to present
testimony from several witnesses recounting numerous bad acts committed by [Appellant]
against [the victim].” Specifically, Appellant argues that the evidence was unfairly
prejudicial and should not have been admitted under Tennessee Rule of Evidence 404(b).
Appellant also argues that hearsay statements of the victim should not have been admitted
under the forfeiture by wrongdoing provision of Tennessee Rule of Evidence 804(b)(6). In
other words, Appellant insists that the trial court abused its discretion with regard to the
evidence that was admitted at trial. The State, on the other hand, argues that the trial court
did not abuse its discretion and, in any event, the jury’s verdict of the lesser included offense
of second degree murder “affirmatively shows that their verdict was the product of their
consideration of the evidence and precludes any finding that they were prejudicially swayed
by the evidence.”
A. 404(b) Evidence of Prior Bad Acts
Prior to trial, Appellant filed a motion in limine seeking to limit the State’s
introduction of evidence of prior bad acts committed by Appellant. The State properly filed
a notice of intent to use evidence of prior bad acts pursuant to Tennessee Rule of Evidence
404(b). The trial court held a lengthy hearing on the motion.
At the hearing on the motion in limine, the trial court heard testimony from several
witnesses, including Ms. Cunningham, one of the victim’s daughters. Ms. Cunningham
recounted several instances during which she was talking to the victim on the phone. During
these conversations, she could hear Appellant in the background questioning who the victim
was talking to on the phone. On several occasions, Ms. Cunningham heard Appellant
question the victim just prior to the line going dead. On one particular occasion she saw a
broken cell phone when she went to the victim’s house. The victim reported to Ms.
Cunningham that Appellant had broken at least five phones.
Ms. Cunningham testified that after the December 4 incident during which Appellant
inflicted cuts on himself, the victim was very scared because if Appellant “was crazy enough
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to cut himself up, she didn’t know what he would do to her.” The victim was “scared” and
“shaking.” Ms. Cunningham recalled several incidents during which Appellant cut the tires
on her car, the victim’s car, and her sister’s car. The victim had to buy new tires on at least
five occasions. Ms. Cunningham even witnessed Appellant cutting tires on one occasion.
Ms. Cunningham had seen Appellant push and shove the victim and talked to the
victim on the phone on the day that Appellant chased her with a drill. Ms. Cunningham was
with the victim when she sought the order of protection. She recalled the victim’s being
afraid that Appellant would kill her at some point. The trial court ruled that all of Ms.
Cunningham’s testimony was admissible under both 404(b) or 804(b)(6).
Lakisha Coleman, the victim’s daughter, corroborated the testimony of Ms.
Cunningham. Ms. Coleman also testified that she was present when Appellant inflicted cuts
on himself in an attempt to have the victim arrested. Ms. Coleman testified that she thought
Appellant was responsible for the fire that burned down the victim’s home. The trial court
determined that there was no evidence that Appellant had anything to do with the fire and
excluded that testimony but deemed the remainder of Ms. Coleman’s testimony admissible.
Freddie Street, the victim’s estranged husband, testified that the victim was “scared”
and “ticked off” that Appellant kept cutting her tires. He knew the victim was scared for her
life. Sometimes the victim even parked her car at Mr. Street’s house so that Appellant did
not know where it was parked. The trial court ruled that Mr. Street’s testimony was
admissible.
Mandy White, a friend of the victim, testified at the hearing that she had phone
conversations with the victim similar in nature to those described by Ms. Cunningham. Ms.
White could hear Appellant criticizing the victim in the background prior to the phone line
going dead. Ms. White testified that the victim had a swollen face and a bruise on her back
between late November and Christmas of 2007. The victim told her that she “got into it”
with Appellant. Ms. White thought that the victim was afraid of Appellant and feared for her
life. The trial court ruled that all of Ms. White’s testimony was admissible.
Deputy Ricky Pollard testified at the hearing. He responded to the 911 call on
December 4, 2007. He knew the victim because he had seen her before at the BP station near
her home. When Deputy Pollard met the victim that night she was “scared, frantic.” The
victim stated that Appellant threatened to “do something to her” if she called police. The
trial court found that this testimony supported the conclusion that Appellant had threatened
the victim with violence if she decided to prosecute.
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The trial court ruled that Deputy Ezra Miller’s testimony about the burglary call on
December 5, 2007, was admissible as well as testimony from Officer Sean Tucker about the
bullet holes found in the Appellant's car on December 16, 2007.
The trial court also determined that testimony from Deputy Richard Phillips and
Detective Brian Beck was admissible. They testified about the vandalism of the victim’s
home on two different occasions on December 9.
The trial court also heard the testimony of Deputy Robert Butterick about the fire at
the victim’s home on December 11, 2007. He testified that they were not able to determine
the source of the fire but believed it was deliberately set. Appellant was a suspect, but there
was no proof of his involvement. The trial court excluded this testimony.
At the conclusion of the hearing, the trial court ruled that the prior bad acts and threats
against the victim were admissible to show malice and intent to harm.
The Tennessee Rules of Evidence embody, and our courts traditionally have
acknowledged, “a policy of liberality in the admission of evidence in both civil and criminal
cases . . . .” State v. Banks, 564 S.W.2d 947, 949 (Tenn. 1978); see also State v. Robinson,
930 S.W.2d 78, 84 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1995). To be admissible, evidence must satisfy the
threshold determination of relevancy mandated by Rule 401 of the Tennessee Rules of
Evidence. See, e.g., Banks, 564 S.W.2d at 949. Rule 401 defines “relevant evidence” as
being “evidence having any tendency to make the existence of any fact that is of consequence
to the determination of the action more probable or less probable than it would be without
the evidence.” Tenn. R. Evid. 401. However, relevant “evidence may be excluded if its
probative value is substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice . . . .” Tenn.
R. Evid. 403; see also Banks, 564 S.W.2d at 951.
The general rule is that evidence of a defendant’s prior conduct is inadmissible,
especially when previous crimes or acts are of the same character as the charged offense,
because such evidence is irrelevant and “invites the finder of fact to infer guilt from
propensity.” State v. Hallock, 875 S.W.2d 285, 290 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1993). Tennessee
Rule of Evidence 404(b) permits the admission of evidence of prior conduct if the evidence
of other acts is relevant to a litigated issue such as identity, intent, or rebuttal of accident or
mistake, and the probative value outweighs the danger of unfair prejudice. Tenn. R. Evid.
404(b), Advisory Comm’n Cmts.; See State v. Parton, 694 S.W.2d 299, 303 (Tenn. 1985);
State v. Hooten, 735 S.W.2d 823, 824 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1987). However, “[e]vidence of
other crimes, wrongs, or acts is not admissible to prove the character of a person in order to
show action in conformity with the character trait.” Tenn. R. Evid. 404(b). Before admitting
evidence under Rule 404(b), the rule provides that (1) upon request, the court must hold a
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hearing outside the jury’s presence; (2) the court must determine that the evidence is
probative on a material issue and must, if requested, state on the record the material issue and
the reasons for admitting or excluding the evidence; (3) the court must find proof of the other
crime, wrong, or act to be clear and convincing; and (4) the court must exclude the evidence
if the danger of unfair prejudice outweighs its probative value. Tenn. R. Evid. 404(b).
Appellant argues on appeal that the evidence the State sought to introduce and did
ultimately introduce at trial only served as propensity evidence. We disagree. The State
sought to use the evidence of Appellant’s prior assaults and the nature of the relationship
between Appellant and the victim to prove premeditation, motive, and intent. In State v.
Gilley, 297 S.W.3d 739 (Tenn. Crim. App. 2008), this Court examined the admissibility of
prior threats of violence in a case with a similar set of facts. In Gilley, the victim and
defendant were in a relationship in which at least six witnesses offered testimony that the
defendant had, on prior occasions, been violent toward the victim. Id. at 745. Specifically,
this Court noted:
Tennessee courts have accepted the use of evidence of a homicide defendant’s
threats or prior violent acts directed toward the homicide victim as a means of
allowing the State the opportunity to establish intent. See State v. Smith, 868
S.W.2d 561, 574 (Tenn. 1993); see also State v. Turnbill, 640 S.W.2d 40,
46–47 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1982). The courts theorize that such evidence is
probative of the defendant’s mens rea at the time of the homicide because it
reveals a “settled purpose” to harm the victim. Smith, 868 S.W.2d at 574.
Specifically, our supreme court has ruled that “[v]iolent acts indicating the
relationship between the victim of a violent crime and the defendant prior to
the commission of the offense are relevant to show defendant’s hostility
toward the victim, malice, intent, and a settled purpose to harm the victim.”
Id.
The defendant argues that the only purpose for introducing evidence of
his assaults against the victim was to show a propensity for harming the victim.
We agree with the defendant that evidence is admissible pursuant to Rule
404(b) only when it is probative of a material issue at trial. See generally
Bunch v. State, 605 S.W.2d 227, 229-32 (Tenn. 1980). Here, the defendant
was indicted for first degree premeditated murder, and the State’s theory was
that the murder was accomplished by driving the victim to a remote location,
assaulting her with a blunt object, and then later moving her body to another
location. The State was obliged to prove that the killing of the victim was
“premeditated and intentional.” See T.C.A. § 39-13-202(a)(1) (1982). In our
view, evidence of the defendant’s prior assaults of the victim fits squarely
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within the Smith rule. The evidence established the violent nature of their
relationship and the defendant’s hostility toward the victim.
297 S.W.2d at 758.
In the case herein, we conclude that evidence of Appellant’s prior violent behavior
toward the victim was probative of Appellant’s intent. Appellant was seen and heard on
multiple occasions both by the victim’s friends and relatives and by the police as displaying
violent, abusive behavior toward the victim. Although the evidence was no doubt damaging
to Appellant, based on our review of the facts presented in this case, we hold that the probity
of the evidence outweighs any prejudice. Moreover, the trial court gave the jury a limiting
instruction so as to facilitate their understanding and application of the Rule 404(b) evidence.
See State v. Jordan, 116 S.W.3d 8, 18 (Tenn. Crim. App. 2003) (stating that jurors are
presumed to follow the instructions given them absent evidence to the contrary). We
conclude that the probative value of the evidence was not outweighed by the danger of unfair
prejudice. Accordingly, the evidence was properly admitted, and Appellant is not entitled to
relief.
B. Statements of the Victim under 804(b)(6)
Along with the motion filed to admit prior bad acts of Appellant under Tennessee
Rule of Evidence 404, the State filed a motion to admit statements of the victim pursuant to
Tennessee Rule of Evidence 804(b)(6). This rule of evidence allows the admission of
hearsay statements “against a party that has engaged in wrongdoing that was intended to and
did procure the unavailability of the declarant as a witness.” Id. Appellant opposed this
motion.
In State v. Ivy, 188 S.W.3d 132 (Tenn. 2006), the court determined that the following
principles apply to the application of the so-called forfeiture by wrongdoing exception: (1)
the rule does not limit the subject matter of the statements; (2) the rule is not limited to
statements made when a formal charge or judicial proceeding is pending against the
defendant; (3) the trial court must conduct a jury-out hearing to determine whether statements
are admissible; (4) the trial court must find that a preponderance of the evidence establishes
“that the defendant was involved in or responsible for procuring the unavailability of the
declarant”; and (5) the trial court must find that a preponderance of the evidence establishes
“that a defendant’s actions were intended, at least in part, to procure the absence of the
declarant.” 188 S.W.3d at 147. This exception does not contradict with a defendant’s rights
under the Confrontation Clause. Id.; see also Giles v. California, 554 U.S. 353 (2008). In
Giles, the Supreme Court of the United States explained:
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The domestic-violence context is, however, relevant for a separate reason.
Acts of domestic violence often are intended to dissuade a victim from
resorting to outside help, and include conduct designed to prevent testimony
to police officers or cooperation in criminal prosecutions. Where such an
abusive relationship culminates in murder, the evidence may support a finding
that the crime expressed the intent to isolate the victim and to stop her from
reporting abuse to the authorities or cooperating with a criminal
prosecution-rendering her prior statements admissible under the forfeiture
doctrine. Earlier abuse, or threats of abuse, intended to dissuade the victim
from resorting to outside help would be highly relevant to this inquiry, as
would evidence of ongoing criminal proceedings at which the victim would
have been expected to testify.
Id. at 377.
In the case herein, at the conclusion of the lengthy hearing, the trial court determined
that the victim’s statements relating to Appellant’s prior bad acts were admissible under
804(b)(6). The trial court further determined that Appellant was motivated to kill the victim
in an attempt to keep her from being able to testify in court about Appellant’s acts of
vandalism, domestic abuse, and harassment. Specifically, the trial court noted:
All of these statements are statements which, obviously, [Appellant]
cannot cross-examine, but they do go to show that this [Appellant] was
committing these acts, breaking cell phones, imprisoning this victim in her
own home to separate her not only from family members and any outside help,
but to separate her and isolate her from the Police Department and threatening
that he would, in fact, hurt her, he would kill her, if any of these acts were, in
fact, reported to the Police Department or to appropriate authorities.
....
[T]he court does find [these statements made by the victim] are an exception
to hearsay and that those statements were, obviously, directly designed to
prevent this victim from showing up in Court, from reporting his conduct,
because, obviously, if he was threatening to beat her up, kill her, if she called
police, that would apply, is trying to prevent her not only from reporting this
conduct, but from testifying against him . . . .
The record supports the conclusion of the trial court. The victim’s death came on the
heels of a long series of events of domestic violence and vandalism. The victim tried
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repeatedly to get help from the police, by reporting Appellant’s actions. Statements made
by the victim to others indicated that Appellant threatened the victim for talking to other
people on the phone, threatened to “do something to her” if she contacted police, and even
cut himself in an attempt to make it look like the victim had committed assault.
While Appellant argues that only the December 4 and 5 events3 were intended to
dissuade the victim from testifying and are the only statements of the victim that are eligible
for admissibility under the forfeiture by wrongdoing exception to the hearsay rule, we
disagree. As noted in Giles, all prior acts of domestic violence leading up to the death of the
victim are relevant. Id. The trial court followed the procedure set forth in Ivy and concluded
that Appellant killed the victim at least in part to prevent her from testifying about his other
crimes against her. 188 S.W.3d at 147. As noted above, the subject matter of the statements
is not limited by the rule, and the statements do not have to relate to formal charges or
judicial proceedings pending against the defendant. Id. In this case, the trial court properly
conducted a hearing to determine whether statements were admissible and found that a
preponderance of the evidence established “that the defendant was involved in or responsible
for procuring the unavailability of the declarant”; and “that a defendant’s actions were
intended, at least in part, to procure the absence of the declarant.” Id. The trial court
specifically noted that the acts by Appellant were “done at least in part to make sure that [the
victim] would not appear in Court as a witness.” The evidence does not preponderate against
the findings of the trial court; Appellant is not entitled to relief.
Discovery Violation
Appellant asserts on appeal that the State committed a discovery violation by failing
to provide the defense with a recorded telephone call made by Appellant to his mother from
the jail until the Friday before trial began. Appellant insists that the State violated Tennessee
Rule of Evidence 16(a)(1)(B) and, as a result, his ability to prepare for trial was affected.
The State, on the other hand, insists that once they were given the recordings they
“immediately complied with [ ] discovery . . . and provided copies to [Appellant].”
As noted previously, the tapes at issue included a telephone call made by Appellant
to his mother from the jail. During the conversation, Appellant says that he did not intend
to kill the victim because he would not have done it on Hacks Cross Road. Appellant states
that the victim saw him behind her on the road and that the victim rammed her vehicle into
3
The December 4 event was where Appellant cut himself and threatened to “do something” to the
victim if she went to the police. The December 5 event involved Appellant chasing the victim with a drill
while threatening to kill the victim.
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his vehicle. Appellant also asks his mother why there was no warrant issued for his arrest
if he were responsible for slashing the victim’s tires.
Tennessee Rule of Evidence 16(a)(1)(B) provides that the State is to disclose the
following evidence:
Upon a defendant’s request, the state shall disclose and made available for
inspection, copying, or photographing, all of the following:
(i) the defendant's relevant written or recorded statement, or copies thereof, of:
(I) the statement is within the state’s possession, custody, or control; and
(II) the district attorney general knows-or through due diligence
could know-that the item exists; and
If a party fails to comply with a discovery request, “the court may order such party to permit
the discovery or inspection, grant a continuance, or prohibit the party from introducing
evidence not disclosed, or it may enter such other order as it deems just under the
circumstances.” Tenn. R. Crim. P. 16(d)(2)(A)-(D). Whether a defendant has been
prejudiced by the State’s failure to disclose information is a significant factor in determining
an appropriate remedy. State v. Smith, 926 S.W.2d 267, 270 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1995).
When arguing that the State violated Rule 16, the defendant bears the burden of showing “the
degree to which the impediments to discovery hindered trial preparation and defense at trial.”
State v. Brown, 836 S.W.2d 530, 548 (Tenn. 1992). However, evidence should only be
excluded when it is shown that the party is actually prejudiced by the failure to comply with
discovery and the prejudice cannot otherwise be eliminated. State v. Caughron, 855 S.W.2d
526, 539 (Tenn. 1993); State v. James, 688 S.W.2d 463, 466 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1984).
At the outset, we note that Appellant risks waiver of this issue because he did not
request a continuance when the recordings were discovered. See Tenn. R. App. P. 36(a);
State v. Robert Frost, No W2001-00818-CCA-R3, 2003 WL 21339225, at *5 (Tenn. Crim.
App., at Jackson, May 16, 2003). Further, the tapes at issue were not included in the record
on appeal. It is well-settled that it is the duty of the appellant to prepare a record that conveys
a fair, accurate, and complete account of what transpired in the trial court with respect to the
issues that form the basis for the appeal. Tenn. R. App. P. 24(b); State v. Thompson, 36
S.W.3d 102, 108 (Tenn. Crim. App. 2000); State v. Miller, 737 S.W.2d 556, 558 (Tenn.
Crim. App. 1987). In the absence of an adequate record, this Court must presume the
correctness of the trial court’s ruling. State v. Bibbs, 806 S.W.2d 786, 790 (Tenn. Crim. App.
1991). Finally, even if this Court determined that the State violated discovery rules,
Appellant has failed to show prejudice as a result of the State’s actions. He merely makes
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a conclusory allegation that the alleged violation “affected his ability to prepare for trial.”
Appellant is not entitled to relief on this issue.
Sufficiency of the Evidence
Appellant argues that the evidence is insufficient. He challenges his convictions for
second degree murder, DUI, and vehicular homicide by intoxication. Specifically, Appellant
argues that the testimony at trial did not support the conclusion that Appellant was
“reasonably certain that the accident would have been reasonably certain to cause [the
victim’s] death” and that the evidence did not support the fact that he was intoxicated at the
time of the accident. The State disagrees.
When a defendant challenges the sufficiency of the evidence, this Court is obliged to
review that claim according to certain well-settled principles. A verdict of guilty, rendered
by a jury and “approved by the trial judge, accredits the testimony of the” State’s witnesses
and resolves all conflicts in the testimony in favor of the State. State v. Cazes, 875 S.W.2d
253, 259 (Tenn. 1994); State v. Harris, 839 S.W.2d 54, 75 (Tenn. 1992). Thus, although the
accused is originally cloaked with a presumption of innocence, the jury verdict of guilty
removes this presumption “and replaces it with one of guilt.” State v. Tuggle, 639 S.W.2d
913, 914 (Tenn. 1982). Hence, on appeal, the burden of proof rests with the defendant to
demonstrate the insufficiency of the convicting evidence. Id. The relevant question the
reviewing court must answer is whether any rational trier of fact could have found the
accused guilty of every element of the offense beyond a reasonable doubt. See Tenn. R. App.
P. 13(e); Harris, 839 S .W.2d at 75. In making this decision, we are to accord the State “the
strongest legitimate view of the evidence as well as all reasonable and legitimate inferences
that may be drawn therefrom.” See Tuggle, 639 S.W.2d at 914. As such, this Court is
precluded from re-weighing or reconsidering the evidence when evaluating the convicting
proof. 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). Moreover, we may not substitute our own
“inferences for those drawn by the trier of fact from circumstantial evidence.” Matthews,
805 S.W.2d at 779. Further, questions concerning the credibility of the witnesses and the
weight and value to be given to evidence, as well as all factual issues raised by such
evidence, are resolved by the trier of fact and not the appellate courts. State v. Pruett, 788
S.W.2d 559, 561 (Tenn. 1990). “The standard of review ‘is the same whether the conviction
is based upon direct or circumstantial evidence.’” State v. Dorantes, 331 S.W.3d 370, 379
(Tenn. 2011) (quoting State v. Hanson, 279 S.W.3d 265, 275 (Tenn. 2009)).
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A. Second Degree Murder
A conviction for second degree murder requires proof that the defendant unlawfully
and knowingly killed another. T.C.A. §§ 39-13-201,-210(a). A person acts knowingly with
respect to a result of the person’s conduct when the person is aware that the conduct is
reasonably certain to cause the result. T.C.A. § 39-11-302(b). Intent, which can seldom be
proven by direct evidence, may be deduced or inferred by the trier of fact from the character
of the assault, the nature of the act and from all the circumstances of the case in evidence.
State v. Inlow, 52 S.W.3d 101, 104-05 (Tenn. Crim. App. 2000); State v. Holland, 860
S.W.2d 53, 59 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1993). Because second degree murder is a
“result-of-conduct” offense, a defendant is guilty if he “acts intentionally, meaning that he
acted with a conscious objective or desire to cause the death of the alleged victim.” State v.
Page, 81 S.W.3d 781, 787-88 (Tenn. Crim. App. 2002). The determination of whether a
defendant acted “knowingly” is a question of fact for the jury. Inlow, 52 S.W.3d at 104-05.
Intent can be determined from the circumstances of the case. Id. at 105.
Viewing the evidence in a light most favorable to the State, the jury could have
concluded that Appellant knew his actions were reasonably certain to cause the victim’s
death. The State’s expert opined that Appellant rammed his vehicle into the back of the
victim’s vehicle from behind and that Appellant’s vehicle was going much faster than the
victim’s vehicle at the time of the collision. The expert concluded that the “velocity” with
which Appellant’s vehicle struck the victim’s vehicle caused the victim’s vehicle to shift and
ultimately caused it to spin around after hitting and breaking the utility pole. Given the
nature of the victim’s death and the testimony given at trial, a reasonable jury could conclude
Appellant was guilty of a knowing killing. Moreover, given Appellant's prior statements that
he would kill the victim if she went to police and his acts of violence and vandalism against
her, a jury could have reasonably concluded Appellant "intended" to kill the victim. The
mental state of "intent" on part of a criminal defendant suffices to establish a mental state of
knowing. T.C.A. § 39-11-301 (a)(2).
In a related argument, Appellant claims that the verdict was inconsistent where the
jury convicted him of second degree murder and leaving the scene of an accident involving
injury or death. Appellant opines that when the jury found him guilty of the lesser included
offense of leaving the scene of an accident involving injury or death rather than leaving the
scene of an accident resulting in death, the jury “flatly rejected this notion that [Appellant]
knew or reasonably should have known that [the victim’s] death resulted from the accident.”
We disagree. Each count of an indictment is regarded as a separate offense. See Wiggins v.
State, 498 S.W.2d 92 (Tenn. 1973). Moreover, “[c]ourts have always resisted inquiring into
a jury’s thought processes.” United States v. Powell, 469 U.S. 57, 67 (1984). This resistance
is perhaps best illustrated in the cases, like the one herein, involving a defendant’s challenge
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to the consistency of a jury’s verdicts in a multi-count indictment. After Wiggins, this Court
has consistently declined to disturb one conviction on the basis that the jury’s acquittal on
another offense is inconsistent, even when the elements and evidence of the two offenses
intertwine or are the same. See State v. Derek T. Payne, No. W2001-00532-CCA-R3-CD,
2002 WL 31624813 (Tenn. Crim. App., Jackson, Nov. 20, 2002) (upholding conviction of
second degree murder as a lesser included offense of felony murder even when convicted of
underlying felony). Appellant is not entitled to relief on this issue.
B. Vehicular Homicide by Intoxication/DUI
Vehicular homicide by intoxication is the reckless killing of another by the operation
of an automobile as the proximate result of the driver’s intoxication as set forth in Tennessee
Code Annotated section 55-10-401. See T.C.A. § 39-13-213(a)(2). Tennessee Code
Annotated section 55-10-401(a)(1) makes it illegal for any person to drive or be in physical
control of any automobile while “[u]nder the influence of any intoxicant, marijuana,
controlled substance, drug substance affecting the central nervous system or combination
thereof that impairs the driver’s clearness of mind and control of himself which he would
otherwise possess.”4 The statute setting out DUI is found at Tennessee Code Annotated
section 55-10-401 which provides:
(a) It is unlawful for any person to drive or to be in physical control of any
automobile or other motor driven vehicle on any of the public roads and
highways of the state, or on any streets or alleys, or while on the premises of
any shopping center, trailer park or any apartment house complex, or any other
premises which is generally frequented by the public at large, while:
(1) Under the influence of any intoxicant, marijuana, narcotic drug, or drug
producing stimulating effects on the central nervous system; or
(2) The alcohol concentration in such person’s blood or breath is
eight-hundredths of one percent (.08%) or more.
Viewing the evidence in a light most favorable to the State, Appellant’s blood alcohol
level was .13 percent when taken at 3:00 p.m. on the day of the accident. The accident
resulting in the victim’s death involved Appellant’s car and occurred around 7:30 a.m. and
Appellant was arrested around 10:00 a.m. There was at least one beer can recovered from
Appellant’s vehicle. The testimony at trial showed that Appellant left the scene of the
4
This statute was amended effective January 1, 2011. The amendments do not apply in the case
herein.
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accident and walked to his mother’s home through a muddy field, arriving around 9:30 a.m.
The distance between the crash scene and Appellant’s mother’s home was not clear from the
record. Once at his mother’s home, Appellant went straight to his bedroom to change his
clothing. There was no proof that Appellant was consuming alcohol or in possession of
alcohol once he arrived at his mother’s house. An officer showed up at Appellant’s mother’s
home around 10:00 a.m. and took Appellant into custody. The officer testified that he did
not smell alcohol on Appellant’s person when he was taken into custody. However,
Appellant’s blood alcohol level was still .13 percent at 3:00 p.m. Appellant argues that it is
possible that he became intoxicated after the accident but before he was taken into custody.
Given the timeline, the jury would have had to conclude that Appellant left the scene of the
accident around 7:30 a.m., trudged through a muddy field, stopped to buy alcohol, and
consumed the alcohol prior to arriving at his mother’s home around 9:30 a.m. The jury
clearly discredited this theory. The evidence was sufficient for a reasonable jury to conclude
that Appellant consumed alcohol, was driving, and was intoxicated prior to the victim’s
death. Appellant is not entitled to relief.
Sentencing
“When reviewing sentencing issues . . . , the appellate court shall conduct a de novo
review on the record of the issues. The review shall be conducted with a presumption that
the determinations made by the court from which the appeal is taken are correct.” T.C.A. §
40-35-401(d). “However, the presumption of correctness which accompanies the trial court’s
action is conditioned upon the affirmative showing in the record that the trial court
considered the sentencing principles and all relevant facts and circumstances.” State v.
Ashby, 823 S.W.2d 166, 169 (Tenn. 1991). We are to also recognize that the defendant bears
“the burden of demonstrating that the sentence is improper.” Ashby, 823 S.W.2d at 169.
In making its sentencing determination, a trial court, at the conclusion of the
sentencing hearing, first determines the range of sentence and then determines the specific
sentence and the appropriate combination of sentencing alternatives by considering: (1) the
evidence, if any, received at the trial and the sentencing hearing; (2) the presentence report;
(3) the principles of sentencing and arguments as to sentencing alternatives; (4) the nature
and characteristics of the criminal conduct involved; (5) evidence and information offered
by the parties on the enhancement and mitigating factors; (6) any statistical information
provided by the administrative office of the courts regarding sentences for similar offenses,
(7) any statements the defendant wishes to make in the defendant’s behalf about sentencing;
and (8) the potential for rehabilitation or treatment. T.C.A. §§ 40-35-210(a), (b), -103(5);
State v. Williams, 920 S.W.2d 247, 258 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1995). When imposing the
sentence within the appropriate sentencing range for the defendant:
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[T]he court shall consider, but is not bound by, the following advisory
sentencing guidelines:
(1) The minimum sentence within the range of punishment is the sentence that
should be imposed, because the general assembly set the minimum length of
sentence for each felony class to reflect the relative seriousness of each
criminal offense in the felony classifications; and
(2) The sentence length within the range should be adjusted, as appropriate, by
the presence or absence of mitigating and enhancement factors set out in §§
40-35-113 and 40-35-114.
T.C.A. § 40-35-210(c) (2006).
At the outset we note that Appellant committed the criminal offenses at issue in
January of 2008; therefore, the 2005 amendments to the Sentencing Act apply to our review
of his sentencing. The 2005 amendments to the Sentencing Act made the application of the
enhancement factors advisory in nature. See T.C.A. § 40-35-114; State v. Jackie Lynn Gray,
No. M2007-02360-CCA-R3-CD, 2008 WL 2579175, at *5 (Tenn. Crim. App., at Nashville,
June 28, 2008), perm. app. denied, (Tenn. Dec. 29, 2008); State v. Troy Sollis, No. W2007-
00688-CCA-R3-CD, 2008 WL 1931688, at *3 (Tenn. Crim. App., at Jackson, May, 2, 2008).
In fact, “[T]he 2005 amendments [to the Sentencing Act] deleted as ground for appeal a
claim that the trial court did not weigh properly the enhancement and mitigating factors.”
State v. Carter, 254 S.W.3d 335, 344 (Tenn. 2008).
In the case herein, Appellant was charged with multiple offenses in two separate
indictments. After the jury trial, he was convicted of second degree murder, leaving the
scene of an accident involving injury or death, DUI, violation of a habitual motor vehicle
offender order, vehicular homicide by intoxication, and reckless driving.
After a review of the transcript from the sentencing hearing, it is clear that the trial
court considered the nature and characteristics of the criminal conduct involved, Appellant’s
history and background, the mitigating and enhancement factors, and the principles of
sentencing. See id. at 345-46. The presentence report indicated that Appellant had a long
history of criminal convictions including aggravated criminal trespass, vandalism, assault,
receiving stolen property, a weapons offense, and numerous convictions for driving on a
revoked license. The trial court applied two enhancement factors: (1) that Appellant had a
long history of criminal convictions and criminal behavior, beginning in 1988; and (2) the
risk to human life was high. The record supports the existence of each applied enhancement
factor. With regard to consecutive sentencing, the trial court found that Appellant was a
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dangerous offender with no hesitation about committing a crime in which the risk to human
life was high. In other words, the trial court made the required findings, on the record, to
support consecutive sentencing as required by State v. Wilkerson, 905 S.W.2d 933 (Tenn.
1995). As a result of the findings, the trial court sentenced Appellant to twenty-five years
for second degree murder, eleven months and twenty-nine days for leaving the scene of an
accident, two years for driving while being an habitual motor vehicle offender, eleven
months and twenty-nine days for the DUI conviction, and six months for reckless driving.
The trial court merged the reckless driving conviction with the DUI conviction. The trial
court imposed a twelve-year sentence for the conviction for vehicular homicide by
intoxication and six years for vehicular homicide by reckless conduct and merged both of
those convictions into the second degree murder conviction. The sentences imposed by the
trial court are affirmed. This issue is without merit.
Cumulative Error
Lastly, Appellant insists that cumulative errors by the trial court justify a reversal of
his convictions. Because we have found no reversible error in the issues raised by Appellant,
we decline to determine that cumulative errors by the trial court require a reversal of
Appellant’s convictions. This issue is without merit.
Conclusion
For the foregoing reasons, the judgments of the trial court are affirmed.
___________________________________
JERRY L. SMITH, JUDGE
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