State v. Julius Parker

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OF TENNESSEE
AT JACKSON
JANUARY SESSION, 1997 FILED
April 23, 1997
STATE OF TENNESSEE, ) Cecil Crowson, Jr.
Appellate C ourt Clerk
) No. 02C01-9606-CR-00188
Appellee )
) SHELBY COUNTY
vs. )
) Hon. Bernie W einman, Judge
JULIUS E. PARKER, )
) (First Degree Murder;
Appellant ) Agg. Robbery)
For the Appellant: For the Appellee:
Benjamin F. Head John Knox Walkup
Attorney at Law Attorney General and Reporter
147 Jefferson, Suite 408
Memphis, TN 38103 Deborah A. Tullis
Assistant Attorney General
Criminal Justice Division
450 James Robertson Parkway
Nashville, TN 37243-0493
John W. Pierotti
District Attorney General
Reginald Henderson
Asst. District Attorney General
Criminal Justice Complex
201 Poplar St., Suite 301
Memphis, TN 38103
OPINION FILED:
AFFIRMED
David G. Hayes
Judge
OPINION
The appellant, Julius E. Parker, appeals his jury convictions for the crimes
of aggravated robbery and felony murder. The Shelby County Criminal Court
sentenced the appellant to life imprisonment for the felony murder conviction and
eight years incarceration for the aggravated robbery conviction, with the
sentences to run concurrently. In this appeal as of right, the appellant raises the
following issues:
I. Whether the evidence is sufficient to sustain the appellant's
convictions and sentences.
II. Whether the trial court properly admitted into evidence a tape of
the 911 call made by the robbery victim.
III. Whether the trial court properly denied the appellant's motion to
suppress the appellant's statements to the police.
IV. Whether the trial court properly admitted photographs of the
victim into evidence.
V. Whether the trial court failed to instruct the jury on the lesser
offense of facilitation of felony murder.
After a review of the record, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.
I. Background
On October 4, 1994, a Shelby County Grand Jury returned a multi-count
indictment charging the appellant with one count of first degree murder, one
count of murder in the perpetration of a felony, and one count of aggravated
robbery. 1
1
Jerome D. Moss and Anthony J. Colbert were also named as co-defendants in the
indictment. The record indicates that, prior to the appellant's trial, Moss pled guilty to second
degree murder and was sentenced to forty-five years in the Department of Correction. No
disposition is shown as to Co lbert.
2
At the appellant’s trial, the State’s principal witness was the co-defendant,
Jerome Moss. Moss testified that, on March 17, 1994, he, the appellant,
Anthony Colbert, Amos Wilson, and Cecil Dotson, planned to "rob the dope
man." However, their criminal venture proved unsuccessful as they were unable
to find their intended victim. Moss stated that, as the group began the walk
"towards the house . . . [the appellant] said if we would go in the [Five Star
Grocery] with him he'd rob the store." The appellant, Moss, and Colbert entered
the store. The appellant and Colbert remained at the front of the store, while
Moss proceeded to the rear. Moss testified that, at this point, he was not armed
with a weapon, however, the appellant was in possession of "a chrome .380 with
a black handle," and Colbert had a ".32 automatic." The appellant and Colbert
"laid the [owner of the store] out on the floor." At the same time, William Bowles,
an employee, came toward Moss. Moss hit Bowles on the head with a bottle of
beer. The appellant took the pistol to the back of the store and handed it to
Moss. Bowles attempted to rise, but Moss ordered him remain on the floor.
Moss removed the safety from the pistol and one shot was fired fatally striking
Bowles in the head.2 The three men then ran out of the store.
Moss stated that he, Colbert and the appellant were joined by Wilson and
Dotson, who had been waiting outside the store. All five then ran down Fourth
Street.3 Once the group reached an empty apartment, the appellant divided the
money taken during the robbery and distributed the proceeds accordingly:
the appellant, Moss and Colbert receiving forty-seven dollars each, and Wilson
and Dotson receiving forty-one dollars each.
2
In his statement to the police, Moss contended that "the gun was broke and if you cock
the gun w ithout it being o n safety, it will shoo t without pu lling the trigger."
3
Deangelo Small testified that, on March 17, 1994 around 9:45 p.m., he observed four
"guys" enter the Five Star Market. Shortly thereafter, he heard a "pop" and saw the four "guys"
come running out of the store. Anthony Flake also testified that, at 10:00 p.m. that same evening,
he saw four guys run past his security booth on Fourth Street heading toward the railroad tracks.
3
During the robbery, the owner of the store placed two emergency 911
calls to the police reporting the robbery. The State introduced these tapes into
evidence, however, the tapes were neither transcribed nor included in the record
on appeal. Officers Terry Landrum and Cham N. Payne, Memphis Police
Department, responded to the robbery call at the Five Star Grocery. Upon his
arrival, Officer Landrum located the owner of the store who reported the robbery
and advised him that "somebody's been shot."
Both officers described the interior of the store at the time of their arrival.
"On the floor in front of the counter, [there was] broken glass. On the counter
top, [there was] a brown paper bag." "There was a cash drawer laying on the
floor. There was change scattered behind the cash register." "There was also a
five dollar food coupon and an empty food coupon booklet." "There was a big
pool of beer in the hallway. There was a little aisle between the merchandise
with. . . glass from a beer bottle." "[There were] blood drippings [on the floor.]"
"And there was a male black subject in the back that had been shot in the head."
Testimony of the medical examiner established that the victim’s death was the
result of "a gun shot wound to the head, with a bullet passing inside the brain,
producing hemorrhage inside the skull and small cuts to the face."
Sergeant Richard Roleson, one of the officer's investigating the case, took
the appellant's statement after his arrest. The appellant signed a waiver of rights
before giving the statement. See infra Section IV, Motion to Suppress. In this
statement, the appellant stated that, "in a way [he] knew, and in a way [he]
didn't" know about the robbery, however, he admitted that he was supposed to
"snatch the money." The appellant's statement corroborated Moss's testimony
regarding the facts leading up to and following the crimes. This concluded the
State's proof.
4
The defense called the co-defendant, Anthony Colbert. Colbert testified
that only he and Moss entered the Five Star Grocery. He maintained that the
appellant remained outside the store. Moreover, he testified that there were no
plans to rob the store. In explanation of his prior statement which implicated the
appellant, Colbert explained that he lied "[b]ecause he had told it on me, so I was
going to take him with me." However, Colbert's prior statement, introduced
during cross-examination for impeachment purposes, supported Moss's
testimony.
Next, the appellant took the stand. He confirmed that he was in the store
with Moss and Colbert, however, he did not know about the robbery. Rather, he
maintained that he entered the store in order to purchase cigars. In this regard,
he testified that:
. . . There was two of us had some money. Me and Colbert. And
Moss come in, and for him not to have no money, he was
searching around the store like he had some, you know. He went
on to the back and picking up things, you know. . . . [S]omething's
fixin' to go down, you know. I looked at him and I looked at Colbert
beside me and Moss back there and I kind of figured, I said, "Man,
something's fixin' to happen or something. . . . I heard a bottle
burst. . . .Colbert looked at me real hard, and I knew what that sign
was. And I broke. As I ran I saw . . . Wayne Dotson and Amos.
And I said, "Man, those fools robbing this store."
The defense also called Cecil Dotson. Dotson testified that there was no
plan to rob the store and that the appellant was not in the store when the shot
was fired. Despite this testimony, Dotson confirmed, on cross-examination, that
he had previously told the police that the appellant was inside the store and that
he had received forty-one dollars from the proceeds. Finally, Pamela Wiggins
testified that Moss and the appellant did not get along. She also stated that the
day after the crimes, she observed the appellant buying clothes and shoes.
Moreover, she heard the appellant tell "Cecil's brother that . . . 'I got bud's
money, we robbed somebody,' or something of that effect.'"
5
II. Sufficiency of Evidence
The appellant contends that the evidence at trial was insufficient to convict
him of felony murder and aggravated robbery. Specifically, he argues that the
only evidence of his knowledge and participation in the robbery of the Five Star
Grocery was the testimony of Jerome Moss. He asserts that Moss' testimony is
incredible because Moss received a deal from the State, he and the appellant
did not get along, and the appellant had implicated Moss in the crimes.
A conviction by the trier of fact removes the presumption of innocence
and replaces it with one of guilt, so that on appeal a convicted defendant has the
burden of proving that the evidence is insufficient. State v. Tuggle, 639 S.W.2d
913, 914 (Tenn. 1982). On appeal, the State is entitled to the strongest
legitimate view of the evidence and all legitimate or reasonable inferences which
may be drawn therefrom. State v. Harris, 839 S.W.2d 54, 75 (Tenn. 1992), cert.
denied, 507 U.S. 954, 113 S.Ct. 1368 (1993). It is the appellate court's duty to
affirm the conviction if the evidence viewed under these standards was sufficient
for any rational trier of fact to have found the essential elements of the offense
beyond a reasonable doubt. Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 317, 99 S.Ct.
2781, 2789 (1979); State v. Cazes, 875 S.W.2d 253, 259 (Tenn. 1994), cert.
denied, -- U.S. --, 115 S.Ct. 743 (1995); Tenn. R. App. P. 13(e). This rule is
applicable to findings of guilt predicated upon direct evidence, circumstantial
evidence, or a combination of both direct and circumstantial evidence. State v.
Matthews, 805 S.W.2d 776, 779 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1990).
The appellant contends that, although Moss' testimony implicated the
appellant in both the preparation and execution of the robbery, at trial, the
testimony of Colbert, Dotson, and the appellant provided evidence to the
contrary. The record does not support this allegation. Indeed, the prior
6
statement by the appellant introduced by the State at trial not only placed the
appellant at the scene of the crime, but also confirmed his knowledge,
preparation, and participation in the robbery. Moreover, matters concerning the
credibility of witnesses are determined by the trier of fact and not this court.
State v. Cabbage, 571 S.W.2d 832, 835 (Tenn. 1978). A guilty verdict, approved
by the trial court, accredits the testimony of the State's witnesses and resolves all
conflicts in favor of the theory of the State. State v. Grace, 493 S.W.2d 474, 476
(Tenn. 1973).
Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-402(1991) defines aggravated robbery as "the
intentional or knowing theft of property from the person of another by violence or
putting the person in fear," Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-401(a) (1991), and the
robbery is "accomplished with a deadly weapon. . ." or "where the victim suffers
serious bodily injury." The evidence presented at trial clearly demonstrates that
the appellant actively participated in, if not initiated, the aggravated robbery of
the Five Star Grocery, that the appellant was in possession of a .380 automatic
weapon, that the appellant took the money from the store, and that the appellant
divided the proceeds between all participants.
Felony murder is "[a] reckless killing of another committed in the
perpetration of, or attempt to perpetrate any . . . robbery . . . ." Tenn. Code Ann.
§ 39-13-202(a)(2) (1994 Supp.). In the present case, Moss admitted that he was
holding the weapon when Bowles was killed. Nonetheless, "[w]hen one enters
into a scheme with another to commit one of the felonies enumerated in Tenn.
Code Ann. § 39-13-202, in this case [robbery], and death ensues, both
defendants are responsible for the death, regardless of who actually committed
the murder and whether the killing was specifically contemplated by the other."
State v. Brown, 756 S.W.2d 700, 704 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1988). The evidence
7
clearly establishes that the appellant actively participated in the robbery, and, as
such, he became accountable for all consequences flowing from the robbery.
See Brown, 756 S.W.2d at 703. Accordingly, we conclude that his convictions
for felony murder and aggravated robbery are amply supported by the evidence
and that a rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of both
offenses beyond a reasonable doubt. This issue is without merit.
III. Tape of the 911 Emergency Call
Next, the appellant argues that the trial court erred in permitting the
introduction of the audio tape of the 911 emergency call made by the robbery
victim. Specifically, he contends that the tape was not properly authenticated
and that "the statements by the dispatcher are inaccurate and prejudicial."
The audio tape recording of the 911 emergency call was introduced into
evidence as a public record. Tenn. R. Evid. 803(8). The tape was introduced
through the testimony of the supervisor and custodian of the records. The
custodian testified that he was an employee of the Communications Bureau of
the Memphis Police Department. He explained the procedure by which records
of incoming calls are retained. Thus, the introduction of the tape recording to
support the fact that a 911 emergency call was recorded on the time and date
specified, the address the call was placed from, and other relevant “data” was
admissible. However, the content of the tape recording, in order to be
admissible, must also satisfy an exception to the hearsay rule, because the
citizens who place 911 emergency calls are not under a “duty to report.”
Under certain circumstances, such a statement may qualify as an "excited
utterance." See Tenn. R. Evid. 803(2). To qualify as an "excited utterance," the
8
statement must be "relating to a startling event or condition . . . while the
declarant was under the stress of excitement caused by the event or condition."
Tenn. R. Evid. 803(2). Yet, even if the statement satisfies this hearsay
exception, as in the present case, the statement must still be authenticated prior
to its admission.4 For the purpose of authentication, the voices on a 911 tape
recording must be identified "by opinion based upon hearing the voice at any
time under circumstances connecting it with the alleged speaker." Tenn. R. Evid.
901(b)(5). At trial, the appellant objected to the admissibility of the tape
because the alleged caller on the tape was never identified as being the robbery
victim in this case. In this case, the custodian of the record was unable to
identify the voice on the tape as being the speaker, i.e., the robbery victim.
Accordingly, the statements on the tape of the 911 call were not properly
authenticated, and, therefore, were improperly admitted. Cf. State v. Smith, 868
S.W.2d 561, 577 (Tenn. 1993) (statements on tape of emergency 911 call
properly admitted as "excited utterance" after voice identification of the caller by
911 operator who received the call).
As previously indicated, neither the tape nor a transcription of the tape
recording was included in the record.5 Thus, we are precluded from reviewing
the appellant’s allegations of the prejudicial impact of the tape. It is incumbent
upon the complaining party to prepare a full and adequate account of the record
for our review. State v. Ballard, 855 S.W.2d 557, 560-61 (Tenn. 1993); Tenn. R.
App. P.24. Absent the necessary relevant material in the record an appellate
court cannot consider the merits of an issue. See Tenn. R. App. P. 24(b).
Moreover, even in the absence of the tape recording of the emergency 911 call,
we conclude that any error in its admittance is harmless. Tenn. R. Crim. P.
4
The trial co urt prope rly found the tape rec ording to b e adm issible hea rsay purs uant to
Tenn. R. Evid. 803(2), excited utterance.
5
Although the record reflects the tape was played for the jury, the court reporter
appare ntly did not trans cribe the s tatem ents be ing played fo r inclusion in th e record .
9
52(a). The evidence overwhelmingly supports the jury's finding that the appellant
participated in the robbery of the Five Star Grocery. This issue is without merit.
IV. Motion to Suppress
The appellant contends that the trial court erred in failing to suppress his
statements given to the police. Specifically, the appellant contends that,
because his rights were not "explained" and because he was "coerced, brow
beatened [sic], threatened of not ever getting out of jail, the death penalty and
with promises that he would be able to go home," his statements were not
voluntary.
At the suppression hearing, Sergeant Roleson testified that the appellant
gave two statements to the police, one on April 15, 1994 at 9:40 a.m., and the
second on April 18, 1994 at 1:27 p.m.6 Both statements were taken at the police
station. He added that, on April 15, the appellant was advised of his rights in the
presence of his mother and waived those rights prior to making any statement.
In this statement, the appellant denied any participation in the crimes. Roleson
further testified that, on April 18, 1994, the appellant contacted him from the jail
and informed him that he wished to make another statement. Again, the
appellant was advised of his rights and signed another waiver. In this second
statement, the appellant admitted knowledge of the robbery, his presence in the
store, and his role in "snatch[ing] the money."
The appellant, however, testified that his statements were not voluntary
and were the result of coercion and threats by the interviewing officers.
6
At the time of his initial st atem ent, th e app ellant was not u nde r arre st. Ho weve r, on A pril
16, a fter h is two co-d efen dan ts im plicat ed him in the c rim es, th e app ellant was arres ted a nd in
cus tody.
10
Specifically, the appellant contends that the officers did not explain his rights to
him, that the officers accused him of lying, that the officers threatened that the
appellant would never see his children again, that the officers threatened to kill
his two co-defendants, and that the officers threatened to "send him to a
penitentiary." To explain his attested untruthfulness in his statements, the
appellant stated "they lied to me so I lied to them."
At the suppression hearing, the trial court found that "from the totality of all
the proof that the defendant did freely and voluntarily give these statements and
[was] advised of [his] rights and understood [his] rights and that [he] gave these
statements without any coercion, and [that] they would be admissible in proof in
the case."
The appellant is correct in his assertion that, to be admissible, a
defendant's statement must have been made voluntarily. Jackson v. Denno, 378
U.S. 368, 376, 84 S.Ct. 1774, 1780 (1964); see also Oregon v. Elstad, 470 U.S.
298, 304-305, 105 S.Ct. 1285, 1290-91 (1985). A trial court's determination, with
regard to the voluntariness of statements made by the defendant during
custodial interrogation and the compliance by the police with the Miranda
mandate, is presumptively correct on appeal, unless the reviewing court finds
that the evidence touching those matters preponderates against the trial court's
findings. State v. Stephenson, 878 S.W.2d 530, 544 (Tenn. 1994); State v.
Nakdimen, 735 S.W.2d 799, 802 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1987) (citations omitted).
Nothing in the record preponderates against the trial court's determination that
the appellant's statements were voluntary and not the result of coercion, threats,
or lack of knowledge of his constitutional rights. This issue is without merit.
11
V. Photographs of Victim
The appellant argues that it was reversible error for the trial court to admit
into evidence a color photograph of the victim as he appeared at the crime
scene. He asserts that "[t]he fact that the victim was deceased was shown by a
[previously introduced photograph]," depicting the victim at the morgue.
Continuing, he maintains that "[the photograph] was not necessary because
identification and death was established by the medical examiner." Accordingly,
the appellant concludes that the photograph is "unnecessary and inflammatory,"
and, therefore, "should not have been admitted because its prejudicial value
outweighed its probative value and its relevance."
"The admissibility of photographs lies within the discretion of the trial
court." State v. Banks, 564 S.W.2d 947, 949 (Tenn. 1978). The court's "ruling,
in this respect, will not be overturned on appeal except upon a clear showing of
an abuse of discretion." Id. (citations omitted); see also Stephenson, 878
S.W.2d at 542; State v. Bordis, 905 S.W.2d 214, 226 (Tenn. Crim. App.), perm.
to appeal denied. (Tenn. 1995). However, before a photograph may be admitted
into evidence, it must be relevant to an issue that the jury must decide and the
probative value of the photograph must outweigh any prejudicial effect that it
may have upon the trier of fact. State v. Braden, 867 S.W.2d 750, 758 (Tenn.
Crim. App.), perm. to appeal denied, (Tenn. 1993) (citation omitted); see also
Tenn.R.Evid. 401 and 403.
The contested photograph establishes the location of the victim's body
when discovered at the crime scene. Photographs of a victim's body taken at
the scene of the incident are admissible. State v. Van Tran, 864 S.W.2d 465,
477 (Tenn. 1993), cert. denied, -- U.S.--, 114 S.Ct. 1577 (1994). Moreover, a
12
photograph used to supplement and clarify oral testimony describing the crime
scene is likewise admissible. State v. Duncan, 698 S.W.2d 63, 69 (Tenn.), cert.
denied, 475 U.S. 1031, 106 S.Ct. 1240 (1985). The photograph at issue is
neither gruesome nor bloody. Nothing in the record demonstrates that the trial
court abused its discretion in admitting this photograph. Accordingly, we find this
issue to be without merit.
VI. Jury Instructions
In his final issue, the appellant argues that the trial court should have
charged the jury on the lesser offense of facilitation of felony murder. We
disagree.
The appellant relies upon State v. Lewis, 919 S.W.2d 62 (Tenn. Crim.
App. 1995), as authority. In Lewis, 919 S.W.2d at 67, a panel of this court held
that "virtually every time one is charged with a felony by way of criminal
responsibility for the conduct of another, facilitation of the felony would be a
lesser included offense." 7 (Emphasis in original). "[O]ne can be guilty of felony
murder based on that person's criminal responsibility for the conduct of another
person." Id. Thus, if a person can be guilty of felony murder because that
person is responsible for the conduct of another, then that person could be guilty
of facilitation of felony murder because the two statutes deal with criminal
responsibility. Id.7
Tenn. Code Ann. §39-11-402 (1991) provides:
A person is criminally responsible for an offense com mitted by another if:
(2) Acting with intent to pr omo te or ass ist the com miss ion of the o ffense , or to
benefit in the proceeds or results of the offense, the person solicits, directs, aids,
or attempts to aid another person to commit the offense.
Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-11-403 (1991), provides:
(a) A person is criminally responsible for the facilitation of a felony if, knowing that
another intends to commit a specific felony, but without the intent required for
criminal responsibility under § 39-11-402[(2)], the person knowingly furnishes
sub stan tial as sista nce in the c om mis sion of the felon y.
13
However, the holding in Lewis "is not a blanket rule to be applied in every
felony murder case where the defendant is not the party who commits the
murder during the felony." State v. Utley, 928 S.W.2d 448, 452 (Tenn. Crim.
App. 1995), perm. to appeal denied, (Tenn. 1996). Rather, a trial court should
instruct the jury as to facilitation of felony murder only where the facts could
cause reasonable minds to conclude that the defendant lacked the intent to
promote or assist in, or benefit from, the underlying felony's commission. Id.(citation omitted) (emphasis added).
In the case before us, the State’s proof established that it was the
appellant who initiated the robbery, who furnished the murder weapon, who
benefited in the proceeds, and who was present when the murder occurred. The
appellant’s proof at trial denied any participation or planning in the robbery. In
fact, the appellant testified that his sole purpose for entering the store was to
purchase cigars. Thus, the appellant denied that he “knowingly furnish[ed]
substantial assistance in the commission of the felony” of first degree murder.
We conclude that these facts clearly distinguish this case from the facts in Lewis,
919 S.W.2d at 62.
While it is generally error in a homicide case for the trial court not to
instruct the jury on all lesser included offenses, see Johnson v. State, 531
S.W.2d 558, 559 (Tenn.1975), where the record clearly shows that the
defendant was guilty of the greater offense and is devoid of any evidence
permitting an inference of guilt of the lesser offense, it is not error to fail to
charge on a lesser offense. State v. Boyd, 797 S.W.2d 589, 593 (Tenn. 1990)
(citing State v. King, 718 S.W.2d 241, 245 (Tenn.1986)). We conclude that the
trial court was correct in not instructing the jury on the lesser included offense of
facilitation of felony murder. This issue is without merit.
14
VII. Conclusion
After a review of the record and the applicable law, we find no reversible
error in the judgment of the trial court. Accordingly, the judgments of conviction
and sentences imposed are affirmed.
____________________________________
DAVID G. HAYES, Judge
CONCUR:
_________________________________
PAUL G. SUMMERS, Judge
_________________________________
THOMAS T. W OODALL, Judge
15