State of Tennessee v. Darrin Bryant ( 2001 )

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OF TENNESSEE
AT JACKSON
Assigned on Briefs May 8, 2001
STATE OF TENNESSEE v. DARRIN BRYANT
Appeal from the Criminal Court for Shelby County
No. 98-03828 Carolyn Wade Blackett, Judge
No. W2000-01136-CCA-R3-CD - Filed July 11, 2001
After a jury trial, Defendant, Darrin Bryant, was convicted of attempted first degree murder.
Subsequently, he was sentenced to twenty-five (25) years, Range I, Standard Offender in the
Department of Corrections. In this appeal as of right, Defendant asserts that the trial court erred in
sentencing Defendant to the maximum sentence of twenty-five (25) years by inappropriately
applying an enhancement factor; and the State failed to present sufficient evidence to justify a
rational trier of fact in finding beyond a reasonable doubt, that the assault was an attempt to commit
premeditated murder. We conclude that the evidence was sufficient to support the conviction and
that the trial court did not err in sentencing Defendant to the maximum of twenty-five (25) years in
the Department of Corrections.
Tenn. R. App. P. 3; Judgment of the Criminal Court is Affirmed.
L. TERRY LAFFERTY, SR. J., delivered the opinion of the court, in which ALAN E. GLENN, J., joined.
DAVID H. WELLES, J., not participating.
A. C. Wharton and Tony N. Brayton, Memphis, Tennessee, for the appellant, Darrin Bryant.
Paul G. Summers, Attorney General and Reporter; J. Ross Dyer, Assistant Attorney General; and
Betsy Carnesale, Assistant District Attorney General, for the appellee, State of Tennessee.
OPINION
At trial, Ms. Carol McKinnon, age 35, mother of two sons, Deshun, age 14, and Javon, age
11, testified that she, her two sons and Defendant were living at 1973 Cloverdale, Memphis,
Tennessee, on November 25, 1997. She and Defendant had been living together since June of 1997.
She testified that on the Sunday before the 25th, Defendant began acting strangely:
“Just kind of saying, like, we were laying across the bed watching TV and he kind
of grabbed me real hard around my throat, but he said that he didn’t mean any harm,
that he was just playing with me. And he started saying that he didn’t want to live
without me. And just a lot of stuff about my ex-boyfriend and stuff like that. And
it kind of scared me so I called one of my girlfriends to come over to stay with me,
like the rest of the day, because it kind of made me nervous, because it was just me
and Darrin at home.”
Later, her girlfriend came over and stayed all day with her. On Monday, the following day,
Defendant called her at work a number of times stating he loved her. When she arrived home
between 4:40 and 4:45 p.m., Defendant was cooking and her sons were either in the living room
doing their homework or getting their clothes together for school. Defendant had drawn her bath
water and laid out her gown. After they had eaten, the boys were in the living room watching
television, she had her bath and got into bed. Defendant gave her a massage because she told him
her back was hurting. Ms. McKinnon stated she fell asleep about 10:00 p.m. and was awakened by
Defendant who was moving around in the bedroom. He advised her that the boys were asleep in the
living room and he was going to check the doors to make sure they were locked. Defendant stepped
out of the bedroom and when he returned he shut the bedroom door, which made Ms. McKinnon
curious. She asked him about the door and noticed he was standing on her side of the bed when he
answered. “And that’s when everything just started happening.”
Defendant jumped in the bed on her chest and she asked him, “What was going on?” He
stated that “he wasn’t going to live without me. All he wanted was a chance to make me happy.
And that he loved me.” Ms. McKinnon stated that she was trying to yell and he was covering her
mouth with his hand. Then he put his hand on her throat and started choking her, telling her to be
quiet. She stated that during the scuffle, her head was pulled back and she could see the knife in his
hand and thought he was going to cut her throat. She described the knife as one of her steak knives.
Ms. McKinnon asked Defendant not to kill her and he told her that “he was going to kill me and he
was going to kill himself. And I was crying and asking him not to.” The victim turned her head and
the knife went into her face (cheek). The victim stated she was stabbed about eight times and
required 80 stitches to repair the stab wounds. The victim was able to run into the living room where
her sons were sleeping. She fell on the couch and her sons laid on top of her as Defendant continued
to threaten to kill her. The knife Defendant was using broke off in the back of her arm, so Defendant
obtained two more knives from the kitchen. She stated her sons kept asking Defendant to leave, then
Defendant looked at her, realized what he had done and said he would have to go to jail, and he
started telling the kids he was sorry and to call an ambulance and the police. Finally, the kids were
able to call the police.
Ms. McKinnon testified that she had talked to Defendant on several occasions since the
incident. He would say he was sorry and apologize. During one of the conversations, he had told
her that on Sunday while they were laying across the bed and he was choking her, he could have
killed her then.
During cross-examination, Ms. McKinnon identified some letters and cards that she had sent
to Defendant while he was incarcerated. The victim acknowledged that she stated she still loved the
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Defendant and signed one of the letters with a lipstick kiss and another letter as Carol Bryant. Also,
the victim sent Defendant photos of her which had been taken at Defendant’s sister’s home.
Javon McKinnon, age 12, a 6th grade student, testified that he, his brother, Dashun, his
mother and Defendant lived at 1973 Cloverdale, Memphis, Tennessee, in November of 1997. Javon
was asleep on the living room floor on November 24th or 25th when he heard some “bumping and
jumping.” He heard his mother yell, “Darrin’s got a knife.” His mother ran into the living room and
jumped on the couch. Javon and his brother got on top of their mother. He saw she was bleeding
from the arm. Darrin had a knife in his hand and he said “he was going to kill her and kill himself.”
Javon continued to lay on top of his mother so Defendant would not stab her. Javon told Defendant
that “they would tell the police that somebody broke in.” At Javon’s request, Defendant got the
phone, which Javon plugged into the wall and called 911. Defendant left and Javon told the 911
operator that his mother's boyfriend had tried to kill her.
Dashun McKinnon, age 14, an 8th grade student, testified that he lived with his mother,
Defendant, and his brother, Javon, at 1973 Cloverdale, Memphis, Tennessee. Dashun stated he
heard his mother calling their names and she came running into the living room and jumped on the
couch. Dashun saw Defendant go into the kitchen and get two knives. Defendant told the boys to
get off their mother so he could kill her. They said “no” and continued to stay on top of their mother
to protect her. Dashun saw a knife blade sticking in his mother’s arm. Defendant gave Javon a
phone and Javon called 911. Defendant got his coat and the victim's car keys and drove off.
Alvin Moore of the Memphis Police Department, South Precinct, testified that he received
an “armed party” call on November 25, 1997, at 12:32 a.m., to 1973 Cloverdale. He was met by two
young hysterical boys who said their mother had been stabbed. Officer Moore observed quite a bit
of blood in the living room. The boys told him that their mother’s boyfriend had stabbed her. About
thirty-five (35) or forty-five (45) minutes after Officer Moore arrived at the residence, Defendant
called on the phone and spoke to the officer. Officer Moore identified himself and Defendant asked,
“Is she dead?” Officer Moore replied “no.” Officer Moore attempted to get Defendant to return to
the house, but Defendant refused to do so. Officer Moore then asked Defendant where he was and
Defendant replied, “I'm not going to tell you that either. I’m going to kill myself.” Officer Moore
then put out a broadcast of the victim’s car which had been driven away by Defendant.
Sheila Wright of the Memphis Police Department, testified that she was riding with Officer
Moore when they got a disturbance call to 1973 Cloverdale. She observed the victim inside the
house with several stab wounds and blood was everywhere. Officer Wright identified a photo of a
knife.
Defendant offered no proof on his behalf.
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LEGAL ANALYSIS
SUFFICIENCY OF EVIDENCE
In his second assignment of error, Defendant asserts that the evidence is insufficient to justify
a finding of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt of attempted murder first degree. The State counters
that the record supports that the element of premeditation was proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
Rule 13(e), Tennessee Rules of Appellate Procedure, prescribes that “findings of guilt in
criminal actions whether by the trial court or jury shall be set aside if the evidence is insufficient to
support the findings by the trier of fact of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.” Evidence is sufficient
if, after reviewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution, any rational trier of
fact could have found the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. Jackson v.
Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 318-19, 99 S. Ct. 2781, 2788-89, 61 L. Ed. 2d 560 (1979); State v. Smith, 24
S.W.3d 274, 278 (Tenn. 2000). Also, a conviction by a trier of fact destroys the presumption of
innocence and imposes a presumption of guilt, a convicted criminal bears the burden of showing that
the evidence was insufficient. McBee v. State, 213 Tenn. 15, 372 S.W.2d 173, 176 (Tenn. 1963);
State v. Buggs, 995 S.W.2d 102, 105-06 (Tenn. 1999).
In its review of the evidence, an appellate court must afford the State “the strongest legitimate
view of the evidence as well as all reasonable and legitimate inferences that may be drawn
therefrom.” State v. Tuggle, 639 S.W.2d 913, 914 (Tenn. 1982); State v. Smith, 24 S.W.3d at 279.
The court may not “re-weigh or re-evaluate the evidence” in the record below. State v. Buggs, 995
S.W.2d at 105. Likewise, should the reviewing court find particular conflicts in the trial testimony,
the court must resolve them in favor of the jury verdict or trial court judgment. State v. Tuggle, 639
S.W.2d at 914. All questions involving the credibility of witnesses, the weight and value to be given
the evidence, and all factual issues are resolved by the trier of fact, not the appellate courts. State
v. Morris, 24 S.W.3d 788, 795 (Tenn. 2000); State v. Pappas, 754 S.W.2d 620, 623 (Tenn. Crim.
App. 1987).
First degree murder is: “(1) A premeditated and intentional killing of another.” Tenn. Code
Ann. § 39-13-202. Tennessee Code Annotated § 39-12-101, Criminal attempt is defined:
(a) A person commits criminal attempt who, acting with the kind of culpability otherwise
required for the offense:
(1) Intentionally engages in action or causes a result that would constitute an offense if the
circumstances surrounding the conduct were as the person believes them to be;
(2) Acts with intent to cause a result that is an element of the offense, and believes the
conduct will cause the result without further conduct on the person’s part; or
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(3) Acts with intent to complete a course of action or cause a result that would constitute the
offense, under the circumstances surrounding the conduct as the person believes them to be, and the
conduct constitutes a substantial step toward the commission of the offense.
(b) Conduct does not constitute a substantial step under subdivision (a)(3) unless the person’s
entire course of action is corroborative of the intent to commit the offense.
Defendant argues that the State failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the attempted
homicide was premeditated in that the intent to kill must be established after a period of reflection
and judgment. Tennessee Code Annotated § 39-13-202(d) defines premeditation as:
As used in subdivision (a)(1) “premeditation” is an act done after the exercise of
reflection and judgment. “Premeditation” means that the intent to kill must have
been formed prior to the act itself. It is not necessary that the purpose to kill pre-exist
in the mind of the accused for any definite period of time. The mental state of the
accused at the time the accused allegedly decided to kill must be carefully considered
in order to determine whether the accused was sufficiently free from excitement and
passion as to be capable of premeditation.
The element of premeditation is a question for the jury which may be established by proof
of circumstances surrounding the killing. State v. Suttles, 30 S.W.3d 252, 261 (Tenn. 2000), citing
State v. Bland, 958 S.W.2d 651, 660 (Tenn. 1997). There are several factors which tend to support
the existence of this element which include: the use of a deadly weapon upon an unarmed victim;
the particular cruelty of the killing; declarations by the defendant of an intent to kill; evidence of
procurement of a weapon; preparations before the killing for concealment of the crime; and calmness
immediately after the killing. Id. Looking at the evidence in the light most favorable to the State,
on Sunday before the actual attack, Defendant seemed concerned about the victim’s former
boyfriend. He attempted to choke her while she was lying across the bed and later admitted that he
had the opportunity to kill her that Sunday. The victim was in enough fear that she felt it necessary
to call a friend to spend the day with her. On the following Monday, Defendant constantly called
the victim assuring her of his love and their need to talk. Then, there was the graphic description by
the victim of the actual stabbing of her by Defendant to the extent that a knife blade was broken off
and left in her arm. As testified by the victim’s son, Dashun, Defendant went into the kitchen and
obtained two more knives, and then made repeated statements that he would kill her and then kill
himself. We conclude that there was ample evidence for the jury to find premeditation based upon
reflection and judgment to constitute a charge of attempted murder first degree. There is no merit
to this issue.
SENTENCING
Defendant complains that the trial court erred in sentencing him to the maximum of twenty-
five (25) years by inappropriately applying an enhancement factor. The State asserts that the trial
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court’s application of enhancement factor (10) was appropriate under the facts of this case. Also,
if any error was made by the trial court, it was its failure to apply enhancement factors (4) and (5).
At the conclusion of a sentencing hearing, the trial court imposed the maximum Range I
sentence of twenty-five (25) years for attempted murder first degree, a Class A felony. The
sentencing range for attempted murder first degree is from fifteen (15) to twenty-five (25) years. The
presumptive sentence for a Class A felony shall be the midpoint of the range if there are no
enhancement or mitigating factors. Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-210(c). Should there be enhancement
but no mitigating factors for a Class A felony, then the court shall set the sentence at or above the
midpoint range. Should there be mitigating but no enhancement factors for a Class A felony, then
the court shall set the sentence at or below the midpoint range. Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-210(d)
(Supp. 2000).
When an accused challenges the length, range or manner of service of a sentence, this court
has a duty to conduct a de novo review of the sentence with the presumption that the determinations
made by the trial court are correct. Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-401(d). This presumption 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). In determining a proper sentence, the trial court must consider: (1) the evidence, if any,
received at the trial and sentencing hearing; (2) the pre-sentence report; (3) the principles of
sentencing and arguments as to sentencing alternatives; (4) the nature and characteristics of the
criminal conduct; (5) any statutory mitigating or enhancement factors; (6) any statement that the
defendant made on his own behalf; and (7) the potential or lack of potential for rehabilitation or
treatment. Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 40-35-102, -103, and -210; State v. Adams, 973 S.W.2d 224, 229
(Tenn. Crim. App. 1997).
The trial court found as enhancement factors the following as set forth in Tennessee Code
Annotated § 40-35-114:
(1) The defendant has a previous history of criminal convictions or criminal behavior
in addition to those necessary to establish the appropriate range. This factor is clearly
established in the record. The defendant was convicted of aggravated robbery and
received a 9 year sentence in 1994. The defendant has two misdemeanor convictions
for assault, two convictions for weapons offenses and numerous traffic convictions.
Likewise, the pre-sentence report reveals the defendant had a probation violation in
1993.
(13) The felony was committed while the defendant was on release status: to wit,
parole, for the conviction of aggravated robbery. This factor clearly applies. The
defendant admitted in his testimony that at the time of this offense he was on parole.
(10) The defendant had no hesitation about committing a crime when the risk to
human life was high. The trial court explained that this factor applied because two
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young children that were there as well as the fact that even though the victim lived,
I think that this could have been a much more tragic situation as to the three people
that were involved that night.
The trial court rejected the State’s contention that it should apply the enhancement factors,
whether or not Defendant was a leader, whether the victim of the offense was particularly
vulnerable, and whether or not Defendant treated or allowed the victim to be treated with exceptional
cruelty. Further, as to mitigating factors, the trial court found none applied. Specifically, the trial
court rejected Defendant’s testimony about seeing his mother killed before his eyes as a young child,
as well as Defendant’s depression and his giving the phone to the son to seek assistance.
Determining whether an enhancement factor should be applied is a task that must be
undertaken on a case by case basis. A trial court may not apply an enhancement factor if it is an
essential element of the offense charged in the indictment. Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-114. The test
for determining whether an enhancement factor is an essential element of an offense is whether the
same proof necessary to establish a particular element would also establish the enhancement factor.
State v. Jones, 883 S.W.2d 597, 601 (Tenn. 1994). In Jones, our Supreme Court held that the focus
in determining the applicability of enhancement factors should be on whether the “risk to human life
was high.” Id. at 602. Little, if any, emphasis is to be placed on whether Defendant “hesitated
before committing the crime.” Id. Therefore, following the Jones rationale, if the proof necessary
to establish an element of the offense would establish that the “risk to human life was high” the
enhancement factor is an essential element of the offense and, thus, not applicable. In the case of
attempted murder first degree, a high risk to human life will obviously exist. Thus, we conclude that
enhancement factor (10) constitutes an essential element of the instant offense and would be
improperly applied by a trial court. However, in this case the State argues that the facts support the
application of enhancement factor (10). The State asserts that Defendant’s following the victim into
the living room, after the repeated stabbing, obtaining two knives and continued threatening of the
mother by asking the boys to move so he could kill the victim constituted a “high risk to human life.”
We must respectfully disagree with the State’s theory. These actions more than support the element
of premeditation, the essential element of murder first degree. The only distinction between
attempted murder first degree and murder first degree is the victim died. We find the application of
enhancement factor (10) was an error, but at most, a harmless error.
We are, however, in agreement with the State that enhancement factor (5), the Defendant
treated the victim with exceptional cruelty during the commission of this offense, is applicable.
Defendant, while the victim is asleep, obtains a steak knife. He comes in the bedroom, shuts the
door, grabs the victim by the head as if to cut her throat and repeatedly stabs her up to eight times.
One of the blows is sufficient to break off the blade of the knife in the victim’s arm. The victim is
hospitalized for up to 18 hours and 80 stitches are required to repair the stab wounds. Defendant’s
actions are compounded by the fact that the victim runs into the living room, jumps on the couch and
it is necessary for her two minor sons to lie on top of her to protect her from additional stabs. The
sons see Defendant obtain two knives from the kitchen and threaten to kill their mother before their
eyes. Fortunately, Defendant regains his senses and leaves before any further damage is done. See
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State v. Alexander, 957 S.W.2d 1, 6 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1997) (in sentencing for attempted murder
first degree, Defendant stabbed victim in face and body several times and beat victim with hammer
to justify application of enhancement factor (5)).
In conclusion, we agree that enhancement factors (1), (5) and (13) are applicable to increase
Defendant’s sentence from the midpoint of twenty (20) years to twenty-five (25) years, Range I. As
the trial court found, we agree that there are no mitigating factors.
The trial court’s judgment is affirmed.
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L. TERRY LAFFERTY, SENIOR JUDGE
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