ÿWPC/  mv¤ 2>½Õk5¾HI=2}7îí¿ Å_¼IÐ6”( ½'?ü:M8U6ÕÈÆ”%ǺjeÖÈ“v`ù=>ï?_$_ú|YÖî.0UNI %— 0(U:Åbÿw@4G[jrU:vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv AQ°Æ 0DÇ 0D 0DO O D/“ B Bß D3ü ˜HP LaserJet 4000 Series PCL 6HPBXLBÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈ0nLhÎ(ÈhH  Z ‹6Times New Roman RegularX($¡¡,Ù¹6 AZ‹"Arial Regular- ù- $E%D&'(D)D*D+,Ó€6n~<$3|x6 úÝ ƒ!¯"ÝÝ  ÝÔ€ X¹XXXÔÔ€ ªX X¹ÔÓ  Óò òÔ Ad ÔFILEDÔ€ X¹X ªÔÐ  ÐÌAugust€19,€1999ÌÌCecil€Crowson,€Jr.ÌAppellate€Court€ClerkÔdAhÔó ó,–ûyAZ‹"Arial Regular !"#%Cþÿ<< CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(3¯$¢¢Ý ƒ!ÝÝ  Ý(3¯$££Ý ƒ!ÝÝ  Ý($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó ó'''÷ÿ dxd düÿP Pd&&&&'ÿÿdxdÝ ƒ!ÝÝ  ÝÑ` °ÑÒ°ÒÒX°ÒÔ€Š™ŠXXÔÔ€ŠzrŠŠŠ™ÔÑTR[¤ AØ'ÿ Legal3Ø' AØ'ÿ Legalÿ3Ø'TÑÑ€ÑÑ7€QñXXdædÈ7ÑÑ  ÑÑ  ÑÓ  Óò òñ6ññ,ñßr€ (<,(j 8` `€€@E f ` ttx0X` ð ærßñ,ññ6ññ6ññ6ñà0 @ àIN€THE€COURT€OF€CRIMINAL€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEÌÌñ6ñßt€ (>.*jxfÿ“` `€€@E†ã ` ttx0¾P ð s tßñ6ñAT€JACKSONÌÌJUNE€SESSION,€1999ÌÌÌÌÓ  ÓSTATE€OF€TENNESSEE,à À àà  à)€€€€€€€€C.C.A.€NO.€02C01„9902„CC„00063Ð  À Ðà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à)à p àó óÐ ¸  Ðà ` àà ¸ àAppellee,ò òà h àà À àà  à)à p àÐ °  Ðà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à)€€€€€€€€LAUDERDALE€COUNTYÌV.à ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à)€€€€€€€Ð    Ðà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à)à p àÐ ø˜  Ðà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à)€€€€€€€€HON.€JOSEPH€H.€WALKER,€JUDGE€ÌBARRY€DAVIS,à  àà h àà À àà  à)à p àó óÐ èˆ Ðà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àò òà  à)€€€€€€€ó óÐ à€ Ѐà ` àà ¸ àAppellant.à h àà À àò òà  à)€€€€€€€€(FIRST€DEGREE€MURDERñ$ññ!ñ;€ñ!ññ#ñASSAULTñ#ññ$ñ)€Ð Øx Ðó óÌÌÌòòFOR€THE€APPELLANTóó:à h àà À àà  àòòà p àFOR€THE€APPELLEEóó:Ð ¸X ÐÌò òGARY€F.€ANTRICANà h àà À àà  àà p àPAUL€G.€SUMMERS€Ð ¨H Ðó óDistrict€Public€Defenderà h à€à À àà  àà p àAttorney€General€&€ReporterÐ   @ ÐÌò òJULIE€K.€PILLOWó óà h àà À àà  àò òà p àR.€STEPHEN€JOBEÐ "0 Ðó óAssistant€Public€Defenderà À àà  àà p àAssistant€Attorney€GeneralÐ ˆ#( ÐP.O.€Box€700€à  àà h àà À àà  àà p à2nd€Floor,€Cordell€Hull€BuildingÐ €$  ÐSomerville,€TN€38068ò òà h àó óà À àà  àà p à425€Fifth€Avenue€North€Ð x% Ð(At€Trial)€à ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p àNashville,€TN€€37243Ð p& ÐÌò òCLIFFORD€K.€McGOWN,€JR.€ó óà À àà  àà p àò òELIZABETH€T.€RICEÐ `(  Ðó ó113€North€Court€Square€ò òà À àà  àà p àó óDistrict€Attorney€General€Ð X)ø! ÐWaverly,€TN€37185Ì(On€Appeal€Only)ò òà  àà h àó óà À àà  àà p àò òJAMES€WALTER€FREELAND,€JR.Ð H+è!# Ðó óà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p àAssistant€District€Attorney€GeneralÐ @,à"$ Ðà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p à302€Market€Street€Ìà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p àSomerville,€TN€38068ÌÌÌÌOPINION€FILED€________________________ÌÌAFFIRMED€ÌÌTHOMAS€T.€WOODALL,€JUDGEÐ  ð5,.9 ÐÓ  ÓÔ€°æ÷°ŠŠzrÔò òòòOPINIONóóó óÔ€Šzrа°æ÷ÔÐ `  ÐÌÌÓÓÓ  Óà ` àThe€Defendant,€Barry€Davis,€appeals€as€of€right€from€his€convictions€in€theÏCircuit€Court€of€Lauderdale€County.€€Following€a€jury€trial,€Defendant€was€convictedÏof€first€degree€murder€and€assault.€€The€trial€court€sentenced€Defendant€to€lifeÏimprisonment€for€first€degree€murder€and€to€a€concurrent€sentence€of€eleven€(11)Ïmonths€and€twenty€nine€(29)€days€for€assault.€€Defendant€presents€the€following€twoÏissues€for€review€in€this€appeal:ÌÓÓà8 ` àà8¸ ` (#` (#à1.ñ%ñ€€ñ%ññ&ñ€€ñ&ñWas€the€evidence€sufficient€to€support€DefendantððsÏconviction€for€first€degree€murder;€and€Ð ¸ Ð ¸ Ð  ÐÌà8 ` àà8¸ ` (#` (#à2.€€Did€the€trial€court€abuse€its€discretion€in€permittingÏcertain€rebuttal€argument€from€the€State.Ð ¸ Ð ¸ Ð  ÐÓÎÓÌAfter€a€careful€review€of€the€record,€we€affirm€the€judgment€of€the€trial€court.ÌÌà@$$%DàòòSummary€of€the€FactsóóˆÐ d# ÐÌà ` àOn€the€morning€of€December€6,€1997,€Defendant€went€to€the€home€of€theÏvictim,€Mary€Robinson,€and€stabbed€her€14€times.€€The€victim€died€as€a€result€of€€theÏmultiple€stab€wounds.€€The€victim€was€the€mother€of€two€of€Defendantððs€children.€ÏDuring€this€offense,€Defendant€also€wounded€their€eight€year€old€daughter,€Lashona.€ÏÌà ` àLashona›€testified€at€trial€that€on€the€morning€of€the€offense,€the€only€peopleÏhome€were€herself,€her€younger€brother,€and€the€victim€(her€mother),€who€was€stillÏin€bed.€€œLashona›ððs€fifteen€year€old€brother€had€already€left€the€home€and€gone€to€hisÏgrandmotherððs€house.€€Defendant€arrived€at€the€home€as€Lashona€and€her€brotherÏwere€watching€cartoons€on€television.€€Lashona€opened€the€door€and€let€theÐ ´8T/0 ÐDefendant€into€the€home.€€Once€inside,€Defendant€sat€down€and€asked€the€childrenÏhow€they€were€doing.€€He€€went€to€the€kitchen€to€get€a€drink€of€water€and€thenÏreturned€to€the€living€room€momentarily.€€Lashona€denied€that€Defendant€cooked€anyÏbreakfast,€as€contrasted€by€Defendantððs€later€testimony,€because€she€and€herÏbrother€had€just€finished€eating€soup€when€Defendant€arrived.€€Defendant€thenÏproceeded€to€the€bedroom€where€the€victim€was,€and€Lashona€heard€Defendant€askÏthe€victim€if€she€would€take€him€to€Memphis.€€The€victim€replied€that€she€did€not€feelÏwell.€€According€to€Lashona,€this€was€the€extent€of€the€conversation€betweenÏDefendant€and€the€victim.ÌÌà ` àAt€this€point,€Lashona€heard€banging€in€the€bedroom€and€walked€back€thereÏto€investigate.€€Once€inside€her€motherððs€bedroom,€she€saw€Defendant€stabbing€theÏvictim.€€Defendant€stabbed€the€victim€while€she€was€on€the€bed,€then€grabbed€herÏand€threw€her€on€the€floor,€where€he€stabbed€her€again.€€Lashona€attempted€to€stop€ÏDefendant€from€stabbing€her€mother€by€wrapping€her€arms€around€his€waist.€ÏDefendant€told€her€to€get€out€of€his€way€and€he€pushed€her€to€the€floor,€cutting€herÏwith€the€knife€in€the€process.ÌÌà ` àAfter€the€stabbing,€Defendant€looked€through€the€victimððs€purse€and€retrievedÏher€keys.€€As€he€walked€outside€to€leave,€Lashona€and€her€brother€followed€andÏcalled€for€him€not€to€leave,€but€he€told€them€to€go€back€in€the€house.€€Defendant€leftÏin€the€victimððs€car€and€Lashona€called€the€police.Ìâ âÐ 8¸.. Ðà ` àDeputy€Ted€Sutton€of€the€Lauderdale€County€Sheriffððs€Department€testifiedÏâ âthat€shortly€after€the€offense€he€received€a€phone€call€from€Defendant.€€DefendantÏstated€that€he€had€killed€the€victim€and€wanted€to€turn€himself€in€to€the€authorities.€ÏWhen€asked€what€he€had€done€with€the€knife,€Defendant€replied€that€he€had€thrownÏit€out€of€the€car€as€he€drove€away€from€the€victimððs€residence.€€Defendant€was€notÏcrying€and€asked€if€the€victim€was€dead€ð ðfor€sure.ððÌÌà ` àOfficer€Chris€Bailey€of€the€Ripley€Police€Department€responded€to€LashonaððsÏemergency€call.€€Upon€arriving€at€the€residence,€Lashona€and€her€younger€brotherÏwere€screaming€ð ðBarry€stabbed€my€mama.ðð€€Officer€Bailey€located€the€victim€in€theÏbedroom€but€could€not€find€a€pulse.€€He€testified€that€there€were€not€typicalÏindications€of€a€struggle€in€the€bedroom.€€Specifically,€furniture€and€lamps€were€allÏin€their€normal€places.€€There€was€blood€on€the€bed,€the€floor,€and€splattered€on€theÏwalls€of€the€bedroom.€€Officer€Bailey€later€saw€Defendant€at€the€hospital€at€whichÏpoint€Defendant€kept€repeating€that€he€did€not€mean€to€kill€the€victim.€€DefendantÏwas€crying€at€this€time.ÌÌà ` àTerry€Jordan,€an€investigator€with€the€Ripley€Police€Department,€alsoÏresponded€to€the€scene.€€He€saw€Lashona€with€her€face€bandaged€and€tearsÏstreaming€down€her€face€saying,€ð ðDonððt€let€my€mama€die.ðð€€Investigator€Jordan€laterÏrecovered€a€blood„stained€steering€wheel€cover€from€the€victimððs€vehicle.€€JordanÏtook€a€statement€from€Defendant,€during€which€Defendant€said€he€had€thrown€theÏknife€out€of€the€victimððs€car€œinñ)ñ€ñ)ñto›€the€median€on€the€Highway€51€bypass.€€DefendantÏhelped€search€the€area€but€the€weapon€was€not€located.€€However,€InvestigatorÏJordan€retraced€Defendantððs€path€of€flight€from€the€scene€the€following€day€andÐ  :À00 Ðlocated€the€knife€in€a€ditch€on€the€side€of€the€road€only€half€a€mile€from€the€victimððsÏresidence.€€Jordan€also€recovered€a€fork.€€Ìà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àÌà ` àForensic€testing€revealed€the€presence€of€human€blood€on€both€the€knife€andÏthe€fork.€€Additionally,€an€autopsy€revealed€that€the€victim€died€as€a€result€of€multipleÏstab€wounds.€€There€were€fourteen€stab€wounds€in€all,€one€to€the€head,€three€to€theÏneck,€two€to€the€abdomen,€and€eight€to€the€back.€€Some€of€the€stab€wounds€wereÏmore€than€six€inches€in€depth.€€The€victim€also€had€contusions€on€the€left€upperÏchest.€€She€had€no€defensive€wounds.ÌÌà ` àJoseph€Lee,€a€longtime€acquaintance€of€Defendant,€testified€that€he€had€beenÏworking€with€Defendant€during€the€week€preceding€the€killing.€€During€that€week,ÏDefendant€repeatedly€talked€about€how€much€he€loved€the€victim€and€said€that€if€heÏcould€not€have€her€then€nobody€else€could€either.€€He€repeatedly€stated€that€he€wasÏgoing€to€kill€the€victim,€but€Lee€did€not€take€him€seriously.€€Lee€testified€that€he€sawÏDefendant€with€a€knife€on€the€morning€of€the€stabbing€saying€that€he€was€going€toÏsharpen€the€knife€because€he€had€to€ð ðtake€care€of€some€business.ððÌÌà ` àOn€cross„examination,€Lee€admitted€that€the€victim€was€his€second€cousin.€ÏHe€also€admitted€that€he€did€not€give€police€a€statement€until€January€28,€1998,Ïmore€than€one€month€after€the€killing.€€He€said€that€he€had€not€done€so€because€theÏpolice€had€not€asked€him€for€a€statement.€€Lee€also€admitted€that€he€did€not€mentionÏseeing€Defendant€with€a€knife€during€his€statement,€but€stated€that€he€simply€did€notÏhave€a€chance€to€write€everything€down€that€he€wanted€to.€€Lee€denied€havingÏapproached€Defendantððs€sister€and€asking€her€what€had€happened€during€the€killing.Ð  :À00 Їà ` àAlonzo€Pickett,€a€neighbor€of€Defendantððs€sister€and€an€acquaintance€ofÏDefendant,€testified€that€Defendant€was€living€with€his€(Defendantððs)€sister€and€herÏboyfriend€in€early€December€of€1997.€€Pickett€testified€that€on€the€day€before€theÏstabbing,€Defendant€visited€Pickett€and€asked€if€he€could€borrow€a€file€to€sharpen€aÏknife.€€Defendant€sharpened€the€knife€and€then€left.€€Pickett€testified€that€the€knifeÏidentified€as€the€murder€weapon€resembled€the€knife€Defendant€had€sharpened€atÏhis€home.€€On€cross„examination,€Pickett€admitted€that€he€could€not€positivelyÏidentify€the€knife.€€In€contrast€to€Defendantððs€later€testimony,€Pickett€also€stated€thatÏDefendant€had€never€borrowed€his€tools€before.ÌÌà ` àRicky€Henderson,€the€boyfriend€of€Defendantððs€sister,€testified€that€on€the€dayÏbefore€the€killing,€he€and€Defendant€had€a€conversation€about€guns.€€DefendantÏindicated€that€he€might€like€to€purchase€a€shotgun.€€Defendant€stated€thatÏHendersonððs€single€shot€shotgun€was€not€good€enough,€but€seemed€interested€inÏHendersonððs€fatherððs€three„shot€shotgun.€€However,€the€asking€price€was€too€highÏfor€Defendant.€€Henderson€also€saw€Defendant€leave€their€residence€with€a€knife€inÏhis€back€pocket€on€the€day€before€the€killing.€€The€knife€resembled€the€knifeÏidentified€as€the€murder€weapon.€€Henderson€said€that€Defendant€had€asked€him€notÏto€mention€anything€about€their€shotgun€conversation.€€On€cross„examination,ÏHenderson€stated€that€he€had€seen€Defendant€leave€on€the€morning€of€the€killingÏand€that€he€did€not€see€a€knife€in€his€back€pocket.ÌÌà ` àDefendant€offered€the€testimony€of€his€sister,€Denise€Estes.€€Estes€testifiedÏthat€she€asked€Defendant€to€sharpen€the€knife€at€Alonzo€Pickettððs€in€order€to€repairÏher€cable€television.€€Estes€also€testified€that€Joseph€Lee,€contrary€to€his€earlierÐ  :À00 Ðtestimony,€had€indeed€approached€her€and€asked€her€what€had€happened€during€theÏkilling.ÌÌà ` àDefendant€testified€on€his€own€behalf.€€He€stated€that€he€had€a€goodÏrelationship€with€the€victim€and€that€they€had€arranged€to€go€to€Memphis€together€onÏthe€morning€of€the€killing.€€Defendant€called€the€victim€to€confirm€their€trip€the€nightÏbefore.€€He€called€from€another€womenððs€house,€but€told€the€victim€that€he€was€at€aÏphone€booth.€€The€victim,€who€had€caller€identification€on€her€telephone,€hung€up€onÏDefendant.ÌÌà ` àDefendant€came€to€the€victimððs€residence€the€next€day.€€He€confirmedÏwatching€television€with€the€children€for€a€short€time.€€Contrary€to€LashonaððsÏtestimony,€however,€Defendant€stated€that€he€went€into€the€kitchen€and€fixed€himselfÏand€œñ*ñtñ*ñhis›€three„year„old€son€a€sandwich.€€Defendant€stated€that€he€knew€the€victimÏwas€still€mad,€and€when€he€went€to€her€bedroom€door,€she€rushed€him€with€a€knife.€ÏHe€said€that€they€scuffled€and€that€he€took€the€knife€from€her€and€laid€it€on€a€dresser.€ÏThey€continued€to€scuffle€and€the€victim€eventually€bit€Defendant.€€At€that€point,€sheÏretrieved€the€knife€from€the€dresser.€€Defendant€was€cut€on€his€hands€in€the€processÏof€defending€himself,€but€eventually€disarmed€the€victim.€€At€that€point,€DefendantÏstated€that€the€victim€slapped€him€and€rushed€at€him€with€a€fork.ÌÌà ` àDefendant€testified€that€he€ð ðjust€clickedðð€and€attacked€the€victim.€€He€did€notÏrecall€exactly€what€happened€or€how€badly€the€victim€was€injured.€€Afterwards,€heÏfled€in€panic€because€Lashona€had€already€called€an€ambulance,€and€according€toÏDefendant,€the€police€were€already€hunting€for€him€on€an€unrelated€matter.Ð  :À00 Їà ` àDefendant€denied€any€intention€to€kill€the€victim.€€He€also€denied€having€toldÏJoseph€Lee€that€he€was€going€to€kill€the€victim.€€He€admitted€having€gone€to€AlonzoÏPickettððs€to€use€his€file,€œñ'ñbñ'ññ(ñBñ(ñut›€in€contrast€to€Pickettððs€testimony,€stated€that€he€borrowedÏPickettððs€tools€all€he€time.ÌÌà ` àOn€cross„examination,€Defendant€stated€that€during€his€ten„to„twelve€yearÏrelationship€with€the€victim,€that€he€had€pursued€relationships€with€other€women€andÏhad€even€fathered€children€with€other€women.€€He€denied€being€concerned€about€theÏvictim€seeing€other€men.€€Defendant€admitted€that€in€his€statement€to€police,€he€didÏnot€indicate€that€the€victim€had€rushed€him€with€the€knife€and€bitten€him.€€In€contrastÏto€Lashonaððs€testimony,€he€also€denied€having€retrieved€keys€from€the€victimððsÏpurse,€instead€indicating€that€he€retrieved€the€keys€from€the€top€of€a€speaker.€€He€didÏadmit€to€having€picked€up€the€fork€from€the€bedroom€floor€before€fleeing€the€house.ÏHe€also€admitted€to€prior€convictions€for€selling€cocaine.ÌÌÓ  ÓòòI.€€Sufficiency€of€the€EvidenceóóÐ Ø'x ÐÓ˜<ÓÌà ` àIn€this€issue,€Defendant€challenges€the€sufficiency€of€the€evidence€supportingÏthe€juryððs€verdict€in€regard€to€first€degree€premeditated€murder.€€Defendant€contendsÏthat€the€evidence€presented€at€trial€supported,€at€most,€a€conviction€for€a€lesserÏoffense€rather€than€first€degree€premeditated€murder.ÌÌà ` àWhen€an€accused€challenges€the€sufficiency€of€the€convicting€evidence,€theÏstandard€is€whether,€after€reviewing€the€evidence€in€the€light€most€favorable€to€theÏprosecution,€any€rational€trier€of€fact€could€have€found€the€essential€elements€of€theÐ  :À00 Ðcrime€beyond€a€reasonable€doubt.€€òòJackson€v.€Virginiaóó,€443€U.S.€307,€319€(1979).€Ð `  ÐThis€standard€is€applicable€to€findings€of€guilt€predicated€upon€direct€evidence,Ïcircumstantial€evidence€or€a€combination€of€direct€and€circumstantial€evidence.€ÏòòState€v.€Matthewsóó,€805€S.W.2d€776,€779€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.€1990).€€On€appeal,€theÐ x ÐState€is€entitled€to€the€strongest€legitimate€view€of€the€evidence€and€all€inferencesÏtherefrom.€€òòState€v.óó€òòCabbageóó,€571€S.W.2d€€832,€835€(Tenn.€1978).€€Because€aÐ ˆ(  Ðverdict€of€guilt€removes€the€presumption€of€innocence€and€replaces€it€with€aÏpresumption€of€guilt,€the€accused€has€the€burden€in€this€court€of€illustrating€why€theÏevidence€is€insufficient€to€support€the€verdict€returned€by€the€trier€of€fact.€€òòState€v.Ð  @ ÐTuggleóó,€639€S.W.2d€913,€914€(Tenn.€1982);€òòState€v.€Graceóó,€493€S.W.2d€474,€476Ð ¨H Ð(Tenn.€1973).ÌÌà ` àQuestions€concerning€the€credibility€of€the€witnesses,€the€weight€and€value€toÏbe€given€the€evidence,€as€well€as€all€factual€issues€raised€by€the€evidence,€areÏresolved€by€the€trier€of€fact,€not€this€court.€€òòState€v.€Pappasóó,€754€S.W.2d€620,€623Ð Ð%p Ð(Tenn.€Crim.€App.),€òòperm.€to€appeal€deniedóó,€òòidóó.€(Tenn.€1987).€€Nor€may€this€courtÐ Ø'x Ðreweigh€or€reevaluate€the€evidence.€€òòCabbageóó,€571€S.W.2d€at€835.€€A€jury€verdictÐ à)€  Ðapproved€by€the€trial€judge€accredits€the€Stateððs€witnesses€and€resolves€all€conflictsÏin€favor€of€the€State.€€òòGraceóó,€493€S.W.2d€at€476.€€œÐ ð-$$ ЛÌà ` àFirst€degree€murder€is€a€"premeditated€and€intentional€killing€of€another."ÏTenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€39-13-202(a)(1).€Premeditation€"is€an€act€done€after€the€exerciseÏof€reflection€and€judgment,"€and€it€means€that€"the€intent€to€kill€must€have€beenÏformed€prior€to€the€act€itself."€œTenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð›€39-13-202(d).€Furthermore,€it€is€notÏnecessary€that€the€purpose€to€kill€pre-exist€in€the€mind€of€the€accused€for€any€definiteÐ  :À00 Ðperiod€of€time.€The€mental€state€of€the€accused€at€the€time€the€accused€allegedlyÏdecided€to€kill€must€be€carefully€considered€in€order€to€determine€whether€theÏaccused€was€sufficiently€free€from€excitement€and€passion€as€to€be€capable€ofÏpremeditation.€€œTenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€39„13„202(d).›ÌÌà ` àThe€element€of€premeditation€is€a€question€for€the€jury€and€"may€beÏestablished€by€proof€of€the€circumstances€surrounding€the€killing."€òòState€v.€Blandóó,Ð 0  Ð958€S.W.2d€651,€660€(Tenn.€1997)€(òòcitingóó€òòState€v.€Brownóó,€836€S.W.2d€530,€539Ð ˜8 Ð(Tenn.€1992)),€òòcert.óó€òòdeniedóó,€118€S.€Ct.€1536€(1998);€òòseeóó€òòalsoóó€òòState€v.€Pikeóó,€978Ð  @ ÐS.W.2d€904,€914€(Tenn.€1998).€Our€supreme€court€has€identified€several€factorsÏtending€to€demonstrate€existence€of€premeditation,€including:€the€use€of€a€deadlyÏweapon€upon€an€unarmed€victim;€the€particular€cruelty€of€the€killing;€declarations€byÏthe€defendant€of€an€intent€to€kill;€evidence€of€procurement€of€a€weapon;€preparationsÏbefore€the€killing€for€concealment€of€the€crime;€and€calmness€immediately€after€theÏkilling.€òòBlandóó,€958€S.W.2d€at€660€(òòcitingóó€òòBrownóó,€836€S.W.2d€at€541-42,€and€òòState€v.Ð Ð%p ÐWestóó,€844€S.W.2d€144,€148€(Tenn.€1992));€òòPikeóó,€978€S.W.2d€at€914-15.€€Ð Ø'x ÐÌà ` àApplying€the€above€principles€to€the€instant€case,€we€find€that€the€evidenceÏpresented€was€sufficient€to€sustain€a€conviction€for€first€degree€premeditated€murder.€ÏDefendant€spoke€of€killing€the€victim€during€the€week€before€the€killing,€stating€thatÏif€he€could€not€have€her,€nobody€else€would€either.€€He€considered€procuring€aÏshotgun€on€the€day€before€the€killing,€but€could€not€afford€to€do€so.€€Instead,ÏDefendant€took€a€knife,€identified€by€witnesses€as€resembling€the€murder€weapon,Ïand€sharpened€it,€stating€that€he€had€ð ðto€take€care€of€some€business.ðð€€DefendantÏwent€to€the€victimððs€residence€early€on€a€Saturday€morning,€when€only€the€victim€andÐ  :À00 Ðtheir€two€young€children€were€there.€€Upon€entering€the€home,€he€watched€televisionÏwith€the€children€for€a€short€time,€drank€a€glass€of€water,€and€then€proceeded€to€theÏvictimððs€bedroom€where€the€victim€was€still€in€the€bed.€€Defendant€asked€the€victimÏto€take€him€to€Memphis€and€the€victim€told€Defendant€that€she€did€not€feel€well.€ÏDefendant€then€began€stabbing€the€victim.€€He€stabbed€her€on€the€bed,€threw€her€toÏthe€floor,€and€then€continued€stabbing€her€on€the€floor.€€When€their€young€daughterÏattempted€to€stop€Defendant,€he€told€her€to€get€out€of€his€way€and€injured€her€in€theÏprocess.€€Defendant€stabbed€the€victim€a€total€of€fourteen€times,€with€some€woundsÏpenetrating€more€than€six€inches€deep.€€After€stabbing€the€victim,€DefendantÏretrieved€keys€from€her€purse€and€drove€away€in€her€car.€€He€then€discarded€theÏmurder€weapon€out€the€window€of€the€car.ÌÌà ` àAfter€viewing€the€evidence€in€a€light€most€favorable€to€the€prosecution,€thereÏwas€more€than€sufficient€evidence€for€the€jury€to€have€found€that€DefendantÏintentionally€and€with€premeditation€killed€the€victim.€€Defendant€claimed€at€trial€thatÏhe€ð ðjust€clickedðð€when€the€victim€allegedly€attacked€him.€€However,€it€was€for€the€juryÏto€determine€if€the€Defendantððs€testimony€was€persuasive,€and€by€their€verdict€theyÏobviously€did€not€find€it€to€be.€€òòSeeóó€òòPappasóó,€754€S.W.2d€at€623.€€We€find€that€aÐ è+ˆ"" Ðrational€jury€could€have€indeed€reasonably€rejected€Defendantððs€version.€ÏAccordingly,€the€evidence€was€legally€sufficient€to€support€Defendantððs€conviction€forÏfirst€degree€premeditated€murder€beyond€a€reasonable€doubt.€€This€issue€is€withoutÏmerit.ÌœÌñ&ñ›ñ&ñ̛Р :À00 ÐÓ  ÓòòII.€€Rebuttal€Argumentóóà @¸ àÐ `  ÐÓBVÓÌà ` àDefendant€argues€in€this€issue€that€the€Stateððs€rebuttal€argument€exceededÏthe€proper€scope.€€He€contends€that€the€Stateððs€rebuttal€argument€constitutedÏprosecutorial€misconduct€which€requires€reversal€of€his€conviction€and€a€remand€forÏa€new€trial.€€ÌÌà ` à€In€Tennessee,€it€is€well-settled€that€in€reviewing€allegations€of€prosecutorialÏmisconduct,€the€test€to€be€applied€by€the€appellate€court€is€to€ascertain€"whetherÏsuch€conduct€could€have€affected€the€verdict€to€the€prejudice€of€the€defendant."ÏòòState€v.€Smithóó,€803€S.W.2d€709,€710€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.€1990)€(òòcitingóó€òòJudge€v.óó€òòStateóó,Ð °P Ð539€S.W.2d€340,€344€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.€1976)).€In€œòòJudgeóó,›€539€S.W.2d€at€344,€thisÐ ¸X ÐCourt€articulated€five€factors€to€be€utilized€by€appellate€courts€when€evaluatingÏclaims€of€prosecutorial€misconduct€during€closing€argument.€The€TennesseeÏSupreme€Court€approved€of€and€adopted€this€five-factor€analysis€in€òòState€v.€Buckóó,Ð Ð%p Ð670€S.W.2d€600,€609€(Tenn.€1984).€These€five€factors€include:€"'(1)€the€conductÏcomplained€of€viewed€in€context€and€in€light€of€the€facts€and€circumstances€of€theÏcase;€(2)€the€curative€measures€undertaken€by€the€court€and€the€prosecution;€(3)€theÏintent€of€the€prosecutor€in€making€the€improper€statement;€(4)€the€cumulative€effectÏof€the€improper€conduct€and€any€other€errors€in€the€record;€and€(5)€the€relativeÏstrength€or€weakness€of€the€case.'"òò€Idóó.€(òòquotingóó€œòòJudgeóó,›€539€S.W.2d€at€344).€€€Ð 2 (( ÐÌà ` àIn€òòCoker€v.€Stateóó,€this€Court€explained€that€"[œt]rial›€courts€have€substantialÐ 6°,, Ðdiscretionary€authority€in€determining€the€propriety€of€final€argument.€AlthoughÏcounsel€is€generally€given€wide€latitude,€courts€must€restrict€any€improperÐ  :À00 Ðcommentary."€911€S.W.2d€357,€368€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.€1995)€òò(citingóó€òòSparks€v.óó€òòStateóó,Ð `  Ð563€S.W.2d€564€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.€1978)).€The€broad€discretion€accorded€to€trialÏcourts€in€controlling€the€argument€of€counsel€"will€not€be€reviewed€absent€abuse€ofÏthat€discretion."€òòSmith€v.€Stateóó,€527€S.W.2d€737,€739€(Tenn.€1975).€òòSeeóó€òòalsoóó€òòStateÐ x Ðv.€Paytonóó,€782€S.W.2d€490,€496€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.€1989).€€€Nevertheless,€ð ðclosingÐ €  Ðargument€ððmust€be€temperate,€must€be€predicated€on€evidence€introduced€during€theÏtrial€of€the€case€and€must€be€pertinent€to€œñ+ñtñ+ñhe›€issues€being€tried.ðððð€òòState€v.€Suttonóó,€562Ð 0  ÐS.W.2d€820,€823€(Tenn.€1978)€(citation€omitted).€€Tennessee€law€does€provide€thatÏthe€Stateððs€rebuttal€closing€argument,€which€is€at€issue€here,€is€limited€to€the€subjectÏmatter€covered€in€the€Stateððs€initial€closing€argument€and€the€defendantððs€closingÏargument.€Tenn.€R.€Crim.€P.€29.1(b);€òòseeóó€òòalsoóó€òòState€v.€Houstonóó,€688€S.W.2d€838,Ð °P Ð841€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.€1984).€€ÌÌà ` àIn€the€case€òòsubóó€òòjudiceóó,€the€Stateððs€initial€closing€argument€focused€generallyÐ È#h Ðon€the€elements€of€the€homicide€offense€and€urged€the€jury€that€the€only€valid€issueÏin€the€case€was€the€degree€of€that€homicide.€€Defendant€then€responded€that€theÏState€had€not€carried€its€burden€of€demonstrating€premeditation€beyond€aÏreasonable€doubt.€€He€then€attacked€the€Stateððs€reliance€of€testimony€fromÏwitnesses,€such€as€Alonzo€Pickett€and€Ricky€Henderson.€€Finally,€he€pointed€to€hisÏown€testimony€in€support€of€his€claim€that€the€evidence€showed€his€behavior€wasÏirrational€and€not€premeditated.€€€In€rebuttal,€that€State€focused€on€showing€that€theÏtestimony€of€Defendant€was€simply€not€credible€and€pointed€out€severalÏcircumstances€which€assailed€Defendantððs€credibility.€€For€example,€the€StateÏpointed€out€that€Defendant€had€prior€convictions.€€However,€the€State€seemed€toÏprimarily€focus€in€rebuttal€on€the€testimony€of€other€credible€witnesses,€specificallyÐ  :À00 ÐLashona€Davis,€whose€testimony€differed€substantially€from€Defendantððs.€€DefendantÏobjected€stating€that€he€had€not€brought€out€any€specific€details€about€her€testimonyÏduring€his€closing€argument.€€Defendant€incorrectly€argued€that€the€State€was€limitedÏto€the€scope€of€only€his€closing€argument€for€its€rebuttal€argument.€€òòSeeóó€Tenn.€R.Ð x ÐCrim.€P.€29.1(b).€€Regardless,€the€trial€court€overruled€the€objection.€€The€State€thenÏcontinued€to€question€the€credibility€of€Defendant,€concluding€by€pointing€out€thatÏDefendant€had€neglected€to€tell€the€police€much€of€what€he€testified€to€at€trial.ÌÌà ` àWe€find€that€the€prosectorððs€argument€was€fair€rebuttal€to€defense€counselððsÏremarks.€€òòSeeóó€òòSuttonóó,€562€S.W.2d€at€823„24.€€Accordingly,€under€the€circumstancesÐ ¨H Ðof€this€case,€we€find€no€reversible€error.ÌÌà ` àBased€on€all€the€foregoing,€we€affirm€the€judgment€of€the€trial€court.ÌÓÓœÌÌà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À à____________________________________Ìà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àTHOMAS€T.€WOODALL,€JudgeÌÌÌÌCONCUR:ÌÌÌÌ___________________________________ÌDAVID€H.€WELLES,€Judgeà À àÐ ø/˜&& ÐÌÌÌ___________________________________ÌNORMA€McGEE€OGLE,€Judge