ÿWPCÎ Ή-“ëuPñ€ÞCÝ’w}ݾ3*ó’ÎéhuiÕYÿŠšq®I-ù=‰bƒOf$ÇšoAåu=ljZý¥ç®"ErÝ—˜(—{Õß?sµerèÂ…îóÈrß» bÝ„7<›ÿ˜UEˆ8Âïr>7FšQì—ÑPŠ­â,s«DZ£Õ/Zöag Ø|ϯu¡¸C)ó[€ïåNט‚vÙ¡Ût{¨ÕžXÒoÉÃç’Ñ‚ñ¦º}”GV\ÌÎ\æ—ƒÓÚqñwn})¿[ì¡ä2iÅô]î²QÞ3Ǻ*Õ^çIy FNÿŸRiCÖ8úÙåñF…+sßàÓQZªP//¤qîȪ²Ö €1ßðN-|¬˜ögéõ€…LnV줆JKW)£î$JÊé•èq)ª ™·¾Ì|?ÆJ)M8Îëš“`ˆÚwÖ6¢Tã…,Et>øÛmÁõ‡W¶MÊh>È­À{–j°,V¸SÕ¡u³ "¼6Ù7%%6,»Ëè/ŽÐл ¶r½†ÀLÊ©gm6,4ò_‚\ý~—pk¬I¢Â"YéGڻХ@µQŽÀÔ‰<šþ ýþøG˸âJ ›CZ¸ç83ò®jJ»mGs6*c¬Ë`… %F U:L 0(† UN® <ü 8 0= ýmÒj< m>˜U 0lí 0DYIäæw@Ê 4&U:5äoU:SSS B••• D3²²² 0Dåååååååååååååååååååååååååååååååååååååååååååååååååååååååååååååååååååååååååååååååååå AO)Æxx 0D> D/‚ B±X, øð AZ‹"Arial Regular($¡¡(ÈhH  Z ‹6Times New Roman Regular 2Ò°ÒÓ  ÓÝ ƒ úÝÿÝà ` àòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝTaylor€was€indicted€jointly€with€defendant€but€their€cases€were€severed.€€The€recordÐ ° Ðdoes€not€reveal€how€the€charges€against€Taylor€were€resolved.€€He€did€not€testify€atÏdefendantððs€trial.€€ ûÒ°ÒÓ  ÓÝ ƒ úÝÿÝà ` àòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝBecause€Goodwin€testified€that€he€saw€defendant€holding€an€automatic€weapon€andÐ ° ÐTaylor€holding€a€revolver,€Heflin's€findings€may€explain€why€the€jury€convicted€defendantÏof€Day's€murder€but€not€Huckaby's.€€Also,€as€noted€by€the€trial€court,€the€jury€could€haveÏbelieved€that€Huckaby€was€actually€murdered€in€Smith€County.€€This,€of€course,€would€beÏinconsistent€with€the€testimony€of€Goodwin.€€ &Ò°ÒÓ  ÓÝ ƒ úÝÿÝà ` àòòÚ  Ú3Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝDefendant€attempted€to€introduce€this€petition€as€a€part€of€the€defense€proof.€€TheÐ ° Ðtrial€court€disallowed€its€introduction€into€evidence€but€made€the€petition€a€part€of€the€record. óÒ°ÒÓ  ÓÝ ƒ úÝÿÝà ` àòòÚ  Ú4Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝòòSeeòòóóóó€òòNorth€Carolina€v.€¢Alford£óó,€400€U.S.€25€(1970).€€A€best€interest€plea€is€made€byÐ ° Ða€defendant€who€does€not€wish€to€acknowledge€his€or€her€guilt,€but€has€determined€that€aÏguilty€plea€is€preferable€to€standing€trial€and€is€in€his€or€her€ð ðbest€interest.ðð€€òòSee€óóòò¢VanArsdall£Ð ˆØ Ðv.€Stateóó,€919€S.W.2d€626,€629€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.€1995).€€ țҰÒÓ  ÓÝ ƒ úÝÿÝà ` àòòÚ  Ú5Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝIn€overruling€defendant's€motion€for€new€trial,€the€trial€judge€stated,€ð ð[¢t]here£€wasÐ ° Ðindication,€clearly€.€.€.€that€the€Defendant€lived€at€this€location€on€Illinois€Avenue.€€There€wasÏother€evidence€from€witnesses€at€the€trial€that€tend€to€connect€the€òòvictimóó€with€this€locationðð€Ð ˆØ Ð(emphasis€added).€€It€is€unclear€whether€the€trial€court€meant€ð ðvictimðð€or€ð ðdefendant.ðð€€OurÏsearch€of€the€record€reveals€no€other€evidence€connecting€the€defendant€with€this€location,Ïalthough€there€certainly€was€other€evidence€connecting€the€victim€with€this€location.€€ ÿU‹ÿÀÀÀ ŽÒ°ÒÓ  ÓÝ ƒ úÝÿÝà ` àòòÚ  Ú6Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝThe€state€asserts€in€its€brief€that€Detective€Roland€ð ðtied€the€defendant€to€the€houseÐ ° Ðon€Illinois€Avenue€at€the€time€of€the€crime,ðð€citing€page€309€of€the€transcript€of€evidence.€ÏDetective€Roland's€testimony€on€that€page€does€not€do€so,€nor€does€his€remaining€testimonyÏdo€so.€€((3úÝ$¤¤Ý ƒ!ÝÝ  Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó ?Ò°ÒÓ  ÓÝ ƒ úÝÿÝà ` àòòÚ  Ú7Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝWe€have€previously€alluded€to€an€alleged€ð ðfourth€statementðð€in€which€GoodwinÐ ° Ðsupposedly€said€he€was€in€the€kitchen€with€defendant€and€Taylor€òòbeforeóó€the€two€victimsÐ œì Ðarrived.€€ ÚÔ€XXXXÔÔ€-,XXÔÓ  Óò òÔ Ad ÔFILEDÔ€XX-,ÔÐ  ÐÌJuly€2,€1999ÌÌCecil€W.€CrowsonÌAppellate€Court€ClerkÔdAMÔó ó UD‘’“U”U•–E—Ó€¡ uM%ÔôH ÿÿÿÿ3|x£,c½¬AZ‹"Arial Regular ÚÔ€XXXXÔÔ€-,XXÔÓ  Óò òÔ Ad ÔFILEDÔ€XX-,ÔÐ  ÐÌJuly€1,€1999ÌÌCecil€W.€CrowsonÌAppellate€Court€ClerkÔdAMÔó ó,c½¬AZ‹"Arial Regular d'''''ÿÿdxd(3¯$££Ý ƒ!ÝÝ  Ý€-‚ƒCþÿ<< CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó ó„„'÷ÿ dxdüÿP PdÝ ƒ!ÝÝ  ÝÒ°ÒÔ€XXXXÔÓ  ÓÑTR[  AØ'ÿ Legal3Ø' AØ'ÿ Legalÿ3Ø'TÑÑ7€CAXXdìdÈ7ÑÑ  Ññ¡ññ—ñßr€*<,(j 8` `€€@Eȱ` 8ttxP°ð  rßñ—ññ¡ññ¡ñßr€*<,(j 8` `€€@Eȱ` 8ttxP°ð  rßñ¡ñà@˜ ˜ àò òIN€THE€COURT€OF€CRIMINAL€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEˆÌÌà@FF'àAT€NASHVILLEˆÌÌà@ÒÒ$àMARCH€1999€SESSIONˆÌÌÌÌSTATE€OF€TENNESSEE,ó óà@÷÷-à)ˆÐ  ` Ðà@÷÷-à)ˆà p àò òNO.€¢01C01£„9712„CR„00593ó óÐ ü L  Ðà ` àAppellee,à@÷÷-à)ˆÐ è 8  Ðà@÷÷-à)ˆà p àò òDAVIDSON€COUNTYó óÐ Î  Ðò ò¢VS£.ó óà@÷÷-à)ˆÐ º  Ðà@÷÷-à)ˆà p àò òHON.€J.€RANDALL€WYATT,€JR.,Ð ¦ö  ÐRICHARD€ALLEN,ó óà@÷÷-à)ˆà p àò òJUDGEó óÐ ’â  Ðà@÷÷-à)ˆÌà ` àAppellant.à@÷÷-à)ˆà p à(Second€Degree€Murder)Ð d´ ÐÌÌÌÒ(ä „¸ @(#(#(Òò òòòFOR€THE€APPELLANTóó:Ð üL ÐÌMARK€J.€¢FISHBURN£ÌTOMMY€¢OVERTON£Ìó ó213€Third€Avenue€NÐ ¬ü ÐNashville,€TN€€37201„1603ÌÐ xÈ Ðò òòòFOR€THE€APPELLEEóó:Ð üL ÐÌPAUL€G.€SUMMERSó óÐ Ô$ ÐAttorney€General€and€ReporterÌÌò òTIMOTHY€¢BEHAN£Ð ŒÜ ÐELIZABETH€T.€RYANÌó óAssistant€Attorneys€GeneralÐ d´! ТCordell£€Hull€Building,€2nd€FloorÌ425€Fifth€Avenue€NorthÌNashville,€TN€€37243„0493ÌÌò òVICTOR€S.€JOHNSON€IIIó óÐ â!2& ÐDistrict€Attorney€GeneralÌÌò òROGER€D.€MOOREÐ š$ê) ÐPAUL€¢DEWITT£ó óÐ †%Ö * ÐÓ  ÓAsst.€District€Attorneys€GeneralÌÓ‹ÓWashington€Square,€Suite€500Ì222€Second€Avenue€SouthÌNashville,€TN€€€37201„1649Ð $)t$. ÐÒ(ä „¸ @ìì(ÒÌÌÌò òOPINION€FILED:€òò€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€óóÐ ¢-ò(1 ÐÌÌÌREVERSED€AND€DISMISSEDÌÌÌJOE€G.€RILEY,ÌJUDGEÐ  5R09ÿ Ðó óÓÓÌà@ÉÉ'àò òòòO€P€I€N€I€O€NóóˆÐ |Ì ÐÌó óà ` àDefendant,€Richard€Allen,€was€indicted€for€the€first€degree€murders€of€DavidÐ , | ÐLee€Day€and€James€Kevin€Huckaby.€€A€Davidson€County€jury€convicted€theÏdefendant€of€the€lesser€offense€of€second€degree€murder€of€David€Lee€Day€andÏacquitted€him€of€the€Huckaby€homicide.€€The€trial€court€sentenced€him€as€a€RangeÏI€standard€offender€to€twenty„five€years€incarceration.€€In€this€appeal€as€of€right,Ïdefendant€contends€that€his€conviction€must€be€reversed€because€of€insufficientÏevidence€to€corroborate€the€testimony€of€an€accomplice.€€The€state€prosecuted€thisÏaccomplice€for€first€degree€murder,€sought€the€death€penalty,€and€allowed€him€toÏplead€guilty€to€second€degree€murder€during€the€accomplice's€trial.€€The€state€hasÏnow€changed€its€position€and€argues€that€he€was€not€an€accomplice.€€This€is,Ïhowever,€impermissible.€€Since€this€felon„accomplice€provided€the€only€testimonyÏlinking€the€defendant€to€the€crime,€the€long„standing,€firmly€established€law€in€thisÏstate€requires€us€to€ò òREVERSEó ó€the€conviction.€€Ð ¼  ÐÌà@ÎÎ+àò òòòFACTSóóó óˆÐ `#°" ÐÌà ` àThe€bodies€of€David€Lee€Day€and€James€Kevin€Huckaby€were€discovered€inÏa€wooded€area€in€Smith€County,€Tennessee,€on€June€14,€1987.€€Day€had€been€shotÏtwice€in€the€head;€Huckaby€had€been€shot€once€in€the€head.€¢£€Two€.32€caliber€bulletsÏwere€recovered€from€Day's€body.€€A€single€.38/357€caliber€bullet,€dug€from€theÏground€with€a€shovel,€was€found€under€Huckaby's€head.€€A€lead€fragment€was€alsoÏrecovered€from€Huckaby's€scalp.ÌÌà ` àDay's€and€Huckaby's€widows€testified€that€their€husbands€were€friends,€andÏthat€they€suspected€their€husbands€of€dealing€drugs.€€The€last€day€they€saw€theirÏhusbands€alive€was€June€8,€1987,€a€week€before€law€enforcement€discovered€theirÏbodies.€€Day's€brother€testified€that€Day€and€Huckaby€came€to€his€farm€on€June€8,€Ð ü8L4: Ї1987,€and€he€loaned€Day€$4,000€to€finance€a€"drug€deal."€€When€Day's€car€wasÏfound€on€June€10,€1987,€it€contained€a€box€of€marijuana.€€ÌÌà ` àJohn€R.€Goodwin,€pursuant€to€a€best€interest€plea€agreement,€pled€guilty€toÏthe€second€degree€murders€of€Day€and€Huckaby€during€his€capital€murder€trial.€ÏSentencing€was€deferred€until€after€defendant's€trial;€however,€the€state€agreed€to:€Ï(1)€recommend€the€minimum€ten„year€sentences€to€run€concurrently;€(2)€Ïrecommend€these€sentences€run€concurrently€with€a€Kentucky€sentence;€and€(3)€Ïnot€oppose€Goodwin's€parole.€€The€agreement€was€conditioned€upon€Goodwin'sÏgiving€"truthful€testimony"€at€defendant's€trial.€€ÌÌà ` àGoodwin€testified€at€defendant's€trial.€€Goodwin,€six€feet€and€seven€inchesÏtall€weighing€240€pounds,€had€prior€convictions€for€first€degree€murder,€armedÏrobbery€and€grand€larceny,€in€addition€to€his€second€degree€murder€conviction€inÏthis€case.€€Goodwin€also€acknowledged€that€he€used€the€false€name€of€"Jack€E.ÏAdams"€for€two€years€while€"on€escape."€€ÌÌà ` àGoodwin€testified€that€in€1987€he€was€a€co„worker€of€the€defendant.€€In€JuneÏof€that€year,€he€went€to€defendant's€home€on€Illinois€Avenue€in€Nashville€at€aboutÏ2:30€p.m.€€According€to€Goodwin,€the€house€was€owned€by€defendant'sÏgrandmother,€who€also€lived€there.€€When€he€pulled€across€the€driveway,€he€sawÏdefendant's€car,€defendant's€half„brother€Darrell€Taylor's€car,€and€a€third€vehicle€heÏdid€not€recognize.€€ÌÌà ` àGoodwin€entered€the€residence€and€walked€into€the€kitchen€where€TaylorÏwas€sitting€at€a€table€with€two€men€whom€Goodwin€did€not€recognize.€€GoodwinÏtestified€that,€as€he€reached€into€a€cabinet€for€a€water€glass€to€take€his€medication,Ïhe€heard€two€or€three€shots.€€He€turned€around€and€saw€one€of€the€men€laying€onÏthe€table€and€the€other€man€on€the€floor.€€He€stated€that€defendant€and€Taylor€were€ÌÐ Ì84: Ðstanding€two€to€three€feet€from€the€men,€and€that€defendant€had€an€automaticÏweapon€and€Taylor€had€a€revolver.׃×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×Ð |Ì ÐÌà ` àGoodwin€testified€that€defendant€told€Goodwin€to€help€move€the€bodies.€ÏGoodwin€helped€defendant€undress€the€victims,€and€they€moved€the€bodies€to€theÏbathtub.€€He€said€that€Taylor€took€the€victims'€rings,€watches€and€wallets,€and€putÏthem€in€a€box.€€He€claimed€that€defendant€told€him€that,€"if€[he]€ever€said€anythingÏthat€he€would€kill€[him]."€€Goodwin€then€left€and€went€to€work.ÌÌà ` àAt€eleven€o'clock€that€night,€Goodwin€ended€his€shift€and€went€to€his€car.€€HeÏtestified€that€defendant€was€standing€there€and€told€Goodwin€they€needed€to€useÏhis€car€because€defendant's€car€was€not€big€enough.€€Goodwin€followed€defendantÏto€the€Illinois€Avenue€house€where€the€two€men€loaded€the€bodies€into€the€trunk€ofÏGoodwin's€car.€€They€eventually€drove€onto€a€dirt€road,€stopped,€and€unloaded€theÏbodies€into€a€ditch.€€ÌÌà ` àAlthough€the€record€is€unclear€as€to€the€circumstances,€Detective€MikeÏRoland€received€information€from€Taylor€in€1992€that€the€1987€killings€had€occurredÏat€the€house€on€Illinois€Avenue.€€The€occupant€who€lived€there€at€the€timeÏconsented€to€a€search.€€Roland€and€Officer€Brad€Corcoran€found€a€bullet€in€theÏkitchen€wall.€€When€they€peeled€back€the€baseboard,€they€discovered€dried€blood.€ÏThey€found€more€blood€beneath€the€floor€and€took€scrapings€for€identification.€€ÌÌà ` àMichael€¢DeGuglielmo£€testified€as€an€expert€in€the€field€of€forensic€DNAÏanalysis.€€He€was€provided€with€the€blood€scrapings€taken€from€the€house€and€bloodÏdrawn€from€Day's€biological€parents.€€He€testified€that€the€comparisons€of€theseÏthree€samples€indicated€a€child/parent€relationship.ÌÐ 45„06 Ðà ` àTommy€M.€Heflin€of€the€Tennessee€Bureau€of€Investigation€testified€as€anÏexpert€in€the€field€of€firearms€examination.€€He€examined€the€two€.32€caliber€bulletsÏrecovered€from€Day's€body;€the€.38/357€caliber€bullet€found€under€Huckaby's€headÏin€Smith€County;€another€.38/357€bullet€recovered€from€the€Illinois€Avenue€house;Ïand€the€lead€fragment€recovered€from€Huckaby's€scalp.€€Heflin€testified€that€eachÏof€the€.32€caliber€bullets€had€been€fired€from€a€semi„automatic€pistol.€€He€alsoÏtestified€that€€both€of€the€.38/357€bullets€had€the€same€class€of€rifling€characteristics,Ïand€were€fired€from€a€revolver.׃×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€He€further€testified€that€the€lead€fragment€may€haveÐ D”  Ðoriginally€been€a€piece€of€the€bullet€recovered€from€Smith€County.ÌÌà ` àGoodwin€was€apprehended€in€Florida€in€1995.€€He€denied€any€knowledge€ofÏthe€murders€in€his€first€statement€to€police.€€His€story€changed€when€the€authoritiesÏtold€him€they€would€"protect"€him€from€defendant.€€Goodwin€testified€that€the€officersÏtold€him€that€if€he€made€a€statement€and€told€the€truth,€he€would€not€have€to€returnÏto€Tennessee€to€testify€and€would€be€released€from€jail€that€day.€€Goodwin€then€toldÏthem€in€a€second€statement€that€he€heard€the€shots€as€he€walked€up€to€the€door.€ÏIn€a€third€statement,€he€related€that€he€was€in€the€kitchen€when€the€shots€were€fired.€ÏOn€cross„examination,€he€was€questioned€about€an€alleged€fourth€statement€inÏwhich€he€said€he€was€in€the€kichen€with€defendant€and€Taylor€òòbeforeóó€the€two€victimsÐ %X $ Ðarrived.€€After€being€shown€this€alleged€statement,€he€denied€making€the€statement.€ÏOn€further€cross„examination,€Goodwin€admitted€that€the€state€had€sought€theÏdeath€penalty€against€him€for€these€two€murders,€and€he€pled€guilty€during€hisÏcapital€murder€trial.€€ÌÌÌÌÐ h3¸.4 Ðà@  àò òGOODWIN'S€STATUS€AS€ACCOMPLICEó óˆÐ ° Ðà@î î àò òA.€€òòAccomplice€Determination€„€Tennessee€Casesó óóóˆÐ ˆØ Ðà ` àThe€trial€court€in€this€case€instructed€the€jury€that€Goodwin€was€anÏaccomplice€as€a€matter€of€law,€whose€testimony€required€corroboration.€€AnÏaccomplice€is€one€who€"knowingly,€voluntarily,€and€with€common€intent€participatesÏwith€the€principal€offender€in€the€commission€of€the€crime€alleged€in€the€chargingÏinstrument."€€òòState€v.€Griffisóó,€964€S.W.2d€577,€588€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.€1997).€Ð à  ÐGoodwin's€status€as€such€is€significant€because,€in€Tennessee,€a€defendant€cannotÏbe€convicted€of€a€felony€on€the€uncorroborated€testimony€of€an€accomplice.€òò€Id.óó€at€Ð (x Ð587„88.€€Defendant€contends€that€the€trial€court's€instruction€was€correct,€but€thereÏis€insufficient€corroborative€evidence€to€sustain€the€verdict.€€ÌÌà ` àThe€state€argues€that€there€was€"a€modicum€of€evidence€sufficient€toÏcorroborate"€Goodwin's€testimony.€€Alternatively,€the€state€contends€that€GoodwinÏwas€not€an€accomplice€as€a€matter€of€law;€the€trial€court€erred€in€so€charging€theÏjury;€and€this€case€must,€therefore,€be€remanded€for€a€new€trial.€òò€See€óó€òòState€v.Ð À ÐGreenóó,€915€S.W.2d€827€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.€1995).€€The€basis€for€the€state'sÐ !à  Ðargument€is€that€Goodwin's€trial€testimony€establishes€he€was€an€accessory€afterÏthe€fact,€which€does€not€make€him€an€accomplice€to€the€murder.€€òòSeeóó€òòMonts€v.Ð (%x $ ÐStateóó,€214€Tenn.€171,€379€S.W.2d€34,€43€(1964);€òòState€v.€Allenóó,€976€S.W.2d€661,Ð ø&H"& Ð666€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.€1997).€€ÌÌà ` àWe€must€initially€determine,€therefore,€whether€Goodwin€was€an€accompliceÏas€a€matter€of€law.€€Goodwin€pled€guilty€to€Day's€murder,€the€same€crime€with€whichÏdefendant€was€charged€and€now€stands€convicted.€€Numerous€Tennessee€casesÏindicate€that€this€is€sufficient€to€brand€Goodwin€an€accomplice€as€a€matter€of€law.€ÏòòSee,€e.g.óó,€òòState€v.€Lawsonóó,€794€S.W.2d€363,€369€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.€1990)€(findingÐ Œ3Ü.4 Ðthat€the€alleged€accomplice€was€an€accomplice€as€a€matter€of€law€because€he€was€Ïñ–ññ•ñ0ñ•ññ–ñconvicted€of€the€identical€offense€prior€to€the€defendant's€trial);€òòGriffisóó,€964€S.W.2dÐ (7x28 Ðat€589€(witness€who€pled€guilty€to€attempted€first€degree€murder€was€an€accompliceÐ ô8D4: Ðas€a€matter€of€law);€and€òòState€v.€Andersonóó,€985€S.W.2d€9,€16€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.Ð ° Ð1997)€(finding€witness€an€accomplice€as€a€matter€of€law€where€he€was€jointlyÏindicted€for€the€offense,€pled€guilty€to€the€crime,€and€admitted€his€involvement€at€theÏdefendant's€trial).€€However,€in€the€instant€case,€the€state€now€€argues€that€becauseÏGoodwin's€testimony€at€defendant's€trial€was€inconsistent€with€his€guilty€plea,€hisÏstatus€became€a€question€of€fact€for€the€jury€to€decide.€ÌÌà ` àThe€state€relies€upon€òòState€v.€Allenóó,€976€S.W.2d€661,€666„67€(Tenn.€Crim.Ð D”  ÐApp.€1997).€€In€that€case,€two€witnesses€were€alleged€to€have€participated€in€aÏrobbery€with€the€defendants.€€One€witness€pled€guilty€in€juvenile€court,€and€the€otherÏwas€found€guilty€in€juvenile€court.€€The€defendants€were€tried€for€the€same€robberyÏin€criminal€court.€€At€defendants'€trial€the€witnesses€testified€they€were€unaware€theÏrobbery€was€to€occur.€€None€of€the€briefs€addressed€whether€or€not€the€witnessesÏwere€accomplices.€€The€trial€court's€charge€to€the€jury€was€not€included€in€theÏrecord,€but€this€Court€found€that€the€"jury€upon€proper€instruction€could€have€foundÏthat€[the€witnesses]€did€not€knowingly,€voluntarily,€and€with€common€intent€unite€withÏthe€appellants€in€[the€robbery]."€€òòId.óó€at€667.€€In€so€ruling,€this€Court€concluded€thatÐ p!À  Ðthe€witnesses'€accomplice€status€was€a€question€of€fact€for€the€jury.€€òòId.óó€€We€note,Ð @#" Ðhowever,€that€this€Court€did€not€discuss€whether€the€prior€juvenile€adjudicationsÏrequired€that€the€witnesses€be€considered€accomplices€as€a€matter€of€law.€€ThereÏwas€no€application€for€permission€to€appeal€to€the€Tennessee€Supreme€Court.€€WeÏconclude€that€òòAllenóó€is€not€controlling.€€Ð t*Ä%* ÐÌà@Ÿ Ÿ àò òB.€€òòAccomplice€Determination€„€Other€Jurisdictionsó óóóˆÐ  .\). Ðà ` àWe€note€that€our€sister€state€of€Alabama€has€held€that€"a€witness€for€theÏState€[who]€has€been€convicted€for€the€same€crime€as€the€one€for€which€aÏdefendant€is€being€tried€does€not€require€the€conclusion€that€he€is€an€accompliceÏto€the€crime."€€òò¢Tinsley£€v.€Stateóó,€395€So.2d€1069,€1078€(Ala.€Crim.€App.€1980),€òòcert.Ð H5˜06 Ðdeniedóó€395€So.2d€1080€(Ala.€1981);€òòsee€alsoóó€òò¢Siler£€v.€Stateóó,€705€So.2d€552,€555Ð 7h28 Ð(Ala.€Crim.€App.€1997),€òòcert.€deniedóó€(Ala.€1997)€("€'[e]ven€where€a€witness€has€beenÐ è884: Ðjointly€indicted€with€the€defendant€and€convicted€before€the€defendant's€trial,€if€theÏwitness€denies€his€participation€at€the€defendant's€trial,€the€issue€of€whether€he€wasÏan€accomplice€is€a€question€of€fact€for€the€jury.'€")€(citation€omitted).€€Arizona€hasÏheld€likewise,€noting€that€"[¢p]leas£€of€guilty€may€be€entered€for€a€number€of€reasons[,]Ïsome€unrelated€to€the€issue€of€true€guilt."€€òòState€v.€Andersonóó,€512€P.2d€613,€615Ð à 0 Ð(Ariz.€App.€1973),€¢òòaff'd£€as€modifiedóó€517€P.2d€508€(Ariz.€1973).Ð ¬ ü  ÐÌà ` àMontana,€however,€has€taken€a€different€approach.€€In€òòState€v.€Johnsonóó,€918Ð H˜  ÐP.2d€293€(Mont.€1996),€the€state€charged€¢a€co„defendant€£with€criminal€mischief€andÏobstruction€of€justice.€€The€defendant€was€also€charged€with€criminal€mischief€andÏcriminal€endangerment€arising€from€the€same€incident.€€The€co„defendant€enteredÏinto€a€deferred€prosecution€agreement€that€provided€for€dismissal€of€the€chargesÏafter€she€testified€against€the€defendant.€€The€state€conceded€that€the€co„¼defendant's€and€another€accomplice's€testimony€were€all€that€connected€defendantÏto€the€crime.€€However,€it€argued€that€co„defendant€was€not€an€accomplice€becauseÏ"€'she€did€not€share€a€common€intent€with€[defendant]€to€[commit€the€crime]€nor€didÏshe€unite€in€the€planning,€preparation€or€commission€of€the€offense.'€"€€òòId.óó€at€295.Ð t!Ä  ÐÌà ` àThe€Supreme€Court€of€Montana€considered€that€the€co„defendant€€"was€notÏonly€chargeable€with€criminal€mischief,€but€was€also€charged€and€arrested€for€theÏcrime[,]€.€.€.€[and]€the€State€did€not€dismiss€those€charges€prior€to€trial."€€òòId.óó€€at€296.€Ð ¨(ø#( ÐFinding€these€facts€"critical,"€it€held€that:€€ÌÓÓà ` àà8 ¸ àthe€threat€of€continued€prosecution€of€[co„defendant]€for€theÏsame€crime€Johnson€was€charged€with€and€tried€for€was€anÏadmission€by€the€State€that€she€was€an€accomplice€to€theÏcrime.€€To€procure€her€testimony€by€such€a€threat€and€thenÏargue€to€the€Johnson€jury€that€there€is€no€basis€for€finding€thatÏshe€was€accountable€for€the€crime€was€the€kind€of€duplicitousÏconduct€by€an€officer€of€the€court€that€cannot€be€sanctioned€byÏthe€law.Ð ¸ Ð ¸ Ð  ÐÌÓÓòòId.€€€See€alsoóó,€òòState€v.€Roseóó,€972€P.2d€321,€323€(Mont.€1998)€(holding€"the€State'sÐ Z4ª/5 Ðprosecution€of€one€person€for€the€same€crime€for€which€the€defendant€is€triedÏconstitutes€an€acknowledgment€that€the€person€is€an€accomplice€to€the€crime.")ÌÐ Â95; Їà@ù ù àò òC.€€òòDetermination€of€Goodwin's€Statusó óóóˆÐ ° Ðà ` àWe€recognize,€of€course,€that€Goodwin€was€not€under€the€threat€of€continuedÏprosecution€in€this€case€as€was€the€co„defendant€in€the€òòJohnsonóó€case.€€GoodwinÐ T¤ Ðentered€his€guilty€plea€during€his€first€degree€murder€trial€in€which€the€state€wasÏseeking€the€death€penalty.€€Goodwin's€"Petition€to€Enter€Best€Interest€Plea€ofÏGuilty,"€made€a€part€of€the€record,׃×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú3Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€includes€the€following:Ð ¸   ÐÓÓà ` àà8 ¸ à[Goodwin's]€sentencing€hearing€will€be€delayed€until€after€theÏtrials€of€Richard€Allen€and€Darrell€Taylor.€.€.€.€[Goodwin]€agreesÏthat€if€called€to€testify€as€a€witness€at€the€trial€of€Richard€AllenÏand/or€Darrell€Taylor€he€will€give€truthful€testimony€which€willÏbe€consistent€with€his€statement€at€the€time€of€his€arrest€in€Ft.ÏLauderdale,€Florida.€€[Goodwin]€further€agrees€to€give€aÏstatement€under€oath€at€the€time€of€his€plea€setting€forth€to€theÏbest€of€his€recollection€the€facts€and€circumstancesÏsurrounding€the€events€of€June€8,€1987.€€Upon€[Goodwin's]Ïagreement€to€do€those€acts€as€stated€herein,€the€State€agreesÏthat€at€the€defendant's€sentencing€hearing€it€will€recommend€aÏminimum€sentence€of€ten€years€on€each€count€of€murder€in€theÏsecond€degree€to€be€served€concurrently€with€each€other€andÏconcurrent€with€any€sentence€remaining€undischarged€from€hisÏconviction€in€Simpson€County,€Kentucky€in€1988.€€It€is€theÏfurther€agreement€that€upon€the€defendant€becoming€eligibleÏfor€parole€consideration,€the€State€will€not€oppose€parole.Ð ¸ Ð ¸ Ð  ÐÌÓÓThus,€Goodwin€was€under€the€threat€of€a€harsher€sentence€if€he€did€not€testifyÏagainst€defendant.€€ÌÌà ` àMontana€utilizes€a€type€of€estoppel€policy€to€prevent€the€state€from€"playingÏboth€ends€against€the€middle."€€We€are€likewise€concerned€with€the€state€takingÏinconsistent€positions€where€it€prosecutes€and€convicts€a€witness€for€murder€andÏthen€portrays€that€same€witness€as€something€less€than€an€accomplice€in€aÏsubsequent€prosecution€of€another€individual€òòfor€the€same€crimeóó.€€This€is€particularlyÐ D,”', Ðtroublesome€where,€as€here,€the€witness€is€convicted€on€the€basis€of€a€"bestÏinterest"€plea.¢×ƒh×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú4Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×£€€While€Tennessee€recognizes€the€validity€of€such€a€plea,€òòsee,€e.g.óó,Ð Ü/,+0 ÐòòState€v.€Turneróó,€919€S.W.2d€346,€353€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.€1995),€it€is,€nevertheless,Ð ¬1ü,2 Ða€plea€of€guilty€and€carries€the€same€consequences€as€any€other€guilty€plea.€€òòId.óó€atÐ ° Ð354.€€Yet,€the€state's€position€in€this€case€would€permit€the€use€of€best€interest€pleasÏto€possibly€avoid€the€necessity€of€putting€on€sufficient€corroborative€proof€at€the€trialÏof€a€co„perpetrator.€€We€are€not€persuaded€that€the€state's€inconsistent€positionsÏare€warranted€under€existing€Tennessee€law.ÌÌà ` àWhen€the€state€prosecuted€Goodwin€for€Day's€murder€and€accepted€hisÏguilty€plea€to€second€degree€murder,€it€effectively€declared€that€Goodwin€hadÏ"knowingly,€voluntarily€and€with€common€intent"€participated€in€Day's€murder.€€WeÏhold€that€declaration€to€be€binding€on€the€state.€€To€hold€otherwise€would€permit€theÏstate€to€obtain€a€conviction€against€an€accused€solely€on€the€basis€of€a€convictedÏco„perpetrator's€uncorroborated€testimony,€provided€the€state€could€convince€theÏjury€it€wrongfully€convicted€the€co„perpetrator.€€This€makes€no€sense.€€While€we€doÏnot€fear€that€such€an€occurrence€would€happen€frequently,€we€are€concerned€thatÏit€could€happen€at€all.€€à h àÐ Ü, ÐÌà ` àWe€think€the€better€rule€is€that€once€a€witness€pleads€guilty€to€the€sameÏoffense€with€which€the€defendant€is€charged€(or€which€is€incorporated€in€thatÏoffense),€then€the€witness€must€be€deemed€an€accomplice€as€a€matter€of€law,Ïirrespective€of€his€or€her€testimony€at€the€defendant's€trial.€€ÌÌà ` àThe€trial€court€correctly€declared€Goodwin€an€accomplice€as€a€matter€of€law,Ïand€properly€instructed€the€jury€that€his€testimony€must€be€corroborated.€€We€mustÏnow€determine€whether€there€was€sufficient€corroboration€of€Goodwin's€testimony.€ÏThe€trial€court€noted€that€this€was€a€"close€call."€€Unfortunately,€there€was€absolutelyÏno€corroboration€linking€the€defendant€to€this€horrible€crime.€€ÌÌò òÌÌÐ è884: Ðà@) ) àSUFFICIENCY€OF€CORROBORATIVE€EVIDENCEó óˆà0 x àà0Ð x(#x(#àаР(#Ð (# ÐÌà ` àWith€respect€to€the€nature,€quality€and€sufficiency€of€the€evidence€necessaryÏto€corroborate€an€accomplice's€testimony,€our€Supreme€Court€has€stated:ÌÓÓñŠññ‰ñÓ  Óñ‰ññŠññŠññŠñà ` àà8 ¸ àThe€rule€of€corroboration€as€applied€and€used€in€this€State€isÏthat€there€must€be€some€evidence€independent€of€theÏtestimony€of€the€accomplice.€€The€corroborating€evidence€mustÏconnect,€or€tend€to€connect€the€defendant€with€the€commissionÏof€the€crime€charged;€and,€furthermore,€the€tendency€of€theÏcorroborative€evidence€to€connect€the€defendant€must€beÏindependent€of€any€testimony€of€the€accomplice.€€TheÏcorroborative€evidence€must€of€its€own€force,€independently€ofÏthe€accomplice's€testimony,€tend€to€connect€the€defendant€withÏthe€commission€of€the€crime.Ð ¸ Ð ¸ Ð  ÐñŠññ‰ñÓXÓñ‰ññŠññŠññŠñÌñŒñà ` àà8 ` àñ‹ñÌñ‹ññŒññ‹ñThis€corroborative€evidence€need€not€be€direct€evidence,€butÏthe€rule€of€corroboration€is€satisfied€even€though€the€evidenceÏis€entirely€circumstantial.€€The€corroboration€need€not€of€itselfÏbe€adequate€to€support€a€conviction,€but€it€must€be€sufficientÏto€meet€the€requirements€of€the€rule€and€it€is€sufficient€to€meetÏthe€requirements€of€the€rule€if€it€fairly€and€legitimately€tends€toÏconnect€the€defendant€with€the€commission€of€the€crimeÏcharged.Ð ¸ Ð ¸ Ð  Ðñ‹ñññÌññÓÓòò¢Sherrill£€v.€Stateóó,€321€S.W.2d€811,€815€(Tenn.€1959).€€"In€short,€the€evidence€must€Ð Î Ðconfirm€in€some€manner€that€(a)€a€crime€has€been€committed€and€(b)€the€accusedÏcommitted€the€crime."€€òòGriffisóó,€964€S.W.2d€at€589.Ð f¶ ÐÌà ` àIn€this€case,€there€is€more€than€enough€evidence€to€corroborate€Goodwin'sÏtestimony€that€Day€was€murdered€at€the€Illinois€Avenue€house.€€However,€there€isÏabsolutely€òònoóó€independent€or€corroborative€evidence€linking€defendant€to€the€crime.€Ð – æ ÐThe€only€proof€that€defendant€even€lived€at€that€address€came€from€Goodwin.¢×ƒ ×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú5Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×£€€NoÐ b"²! Ðother€evidence€put€defendant€in€the€vicinity€of€the€crime,€linked€him€to€the€weapon,€ÌñŽñÌÌÌñŽñor€linked€him€to€Day.€€In€short,€the€state€is€unable€to€point€to€any€corroborative€proof€Ìlinking€defendant€to€Day's€murder.׃ ×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú6Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×Ð Æ'#' ÐññÌñññ”ñÌÐ *-z(- Ðñ”ñà ` àThe€rule€in€Tennessee€requiring€that€an€accomplice's€testimony€beÏsufficiently€corroborated€is€a€long„standing€one.€€òòSee,€e.g.óó,€òò¢Clapp£€v.€Stateóó,€30€¢S.W.£Ð |Ì Ð214€(Tenn€1895).€€This€"very€salutary€rule"€is€designed€to€prevent€the€"obviousÏdangers"€of€allowing€a€defendant€to€be€convicted€solely€on€the€basis€of€an€Ïaccomplice's€testimony.€€òò¢Sherrill£óó,€321€S.W.2d€at€814.€€Indeed,€Metro€PoliceÐ ä 4 ÐLieutenant€Russell€Hackett€admitted€in€this€case€that€it€is€common€for€suspects€toÏ"put€the€blame€off€on€other€people."€€Accordingly,€where€there€is€not€òòanyóó€evidenceÐ |Ì  Ðwhatsoever€to€corroborate€Goodwin's€testimony€that€defendant€killed€Day,€we€areÏforced€to€make€a€finding€of€insufficient€evidence€to€support€the€verdict.€€Such€aÏfinding€requires€us€to€reverse€defendant's€conviction€and€dismiss€the€charge.€òò€Seeóó,€ñŽñòòóóñŽñÐ à0 ÐòòState€v.€¢Williford£óó,€824€S.W.2d€553,€554€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.€1991)€(holding€"a€reversalÐ ° Ðbecause€of€insufficient€evidence€corroborating€an€accomplice's€testimony€is€not€aÏtrial€error€but€relates€to€the€sufficiency€of€the€evidence€and€is€a€defect€involving€theÏguilt€or€innocence€of€a€defendant.")ÌÌà@xx(àò òòòCONCLUSIONó óóóˆÐ ¬ü ÐÌà ` àMany€aspects€of€this€case€remain€a€mystery.€€We€do€not€know€what€evidenceÏthe€state€intended€to€introduce€at€Goodwin's€first€degree€murder€trial€in€which€itÏsought€the€death€penalty.€€We€assume€the€state€had€evidence€to€indicate€thatÏGoodwin€was€more€involved€than€his€testimony€revealed;׃×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú7Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€otherwise,€Goodwin€couldÐ ´($( Ðnot€be€convicted€of€any€grade€of€homicide.€€ÌÌà ` àWhat€we€know€is€the€state€went€to€trial€seeking€a€first€degree€murderÏconviction€against€Goodwin€and€acquiesced€in€a€conviction€for€second€degreeÏmurder.€€That€ññdecisionñññ‘ñconvictionñ‘ñ€bars€the€state€from€subsequently€contending€that€GoodwinÏwas€not€really€guilty€of€murderñ’ñ€after€allñ’ñ.€€ÌÐ H5˜06 Ðñ“ñ‡Ìñ“ñà ` àThis€Court€concludes€that€the€law€in€Tennessee€requires€corroboration€of€anÏaccomplice's€testimony.€€Further,€Tennessee€precedent€requires€a€person€whoÏpleads€guilty€to€the€same€offense€for€which€a€defendant€is€being€tried€be€consideredÏan€accomplice€as€a€matter€of€law.€€Any€departure€from€these€establishedÏprecedents€should€not€come€from€this€intermediate€appellate€court.€€ÌÌà ` àAccordingly,€the€judgment€below€is€reversed€and€the€indictment€againstÏdefendant€is€dismissed.ÌÓÓÌÌà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p à____________________________Ìà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p àò òJOE€G.€RILEY,€JUDGEó óÐ ŽÞ ÐÌÌÌÌÌò òCONCUR:Ð øH ÐÌÌó ó____________________________ò òÐ ¼  ÐDAVID€H.€WELLES,€JUDGEÌÌÌó ó____________________________ò òÐ f#¶" ÐTHOMAS€T.€¢WOODALL£,€JUDGEó óÐ L$œ# ÐÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌ