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B®!˜HP LaserJet 4Si/4SiMX PS 600dpiPSCRIPTÀÌÀääÀÀÌ0 <èÀ( 9Z &Courier RegularX(á»&$¡¡Ò°ÒÒX°ÒÑ  ÑÑ7€?äXXdðXXdð7ÑÑ  ÑÓ  ÓÓiU°X` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ (#€%Ø'0*ˆ,à.813è5@8˜:ð<H? A°œXiÓ<þ6X9`(*Courier 12pt10cpià~| 3|xd«<þ6X9`(*Courier 12pt10cpiXXxþ6X@ÉJQX@ PUQDRSTUDVDWXYÓ€(ý(3r½$¤¤Ý ƒ»&!ÝÒ°ÒÒX°ÒÑ  ÑÑ7€®'XXdÈdÈ7ÑÑ  ÑÓ  ÓÓiU°X` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ (#€%Ø'0*ˆ,à.813è5@8˜:ð<H? A°œXiÓÝ  Ýà ¸ àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó2 ÿÿ0Indent1Ô2ÔÔ3  Ô2" ÿÿ0Indent2à0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2, ÿÿ0Indent3à0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô26 ÿÿ0Indent4à0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2@ ÿÿ0Indent5à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2J ÿÿ0Indent6à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2T ÿÿ0Indent7à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2^ ÿÿ0Indent8à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô ÿÿ?AGMSYaioIndent0I.A.1.a.(1)(a)i)a)< Œ 9p`(ModernP ÿÿ8Mac DefaultMac DefaultÓ ` °šXÓ d< Œ 9p`(Monaco< Œ 9p`(Courier New< Œ 9p`(Courier< Œ 9p`(Arial% Line 7 d""""'ÿÿdxd))))7Border 1dd€-+Cþÿ << Gÿÿ("ÿÿ$££Ò  ÒÒ  Ò ŽÝ ƒ!ÝÑ  ÑÑ#€d#ÑÔ€ÔÔ€&ÔÒ  ÒÒ X ÒÑ  ÑÑ#€d#ÑÑ  ÑÓ` °˜XÓÝ  ÝÔ€(ÔÔ€(ÔÓ  ÓÔ YYY ÔFILEDÔ€(XÔÌÌò òAprilÏ23,Ï1996ÌÌCecilÏCrowson,ÏJr.ÌÔ€(ôÔAppellateÏCourtÏClerkó ó \Ñ\R AØ'\Ñ ÄÝ ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€ÔÔ€&ÔÒ  ÒÒ X ÒÑ  ÑÑ#€d#ÑÑ  ÑÓ` °˜XÓÝ  ÝÝ ƒ$Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ€(Ô€Ô€(ôÔ€The€defendant€also€contends€that€the€trial€court€erred€in€not€allowing€him€to€make€anÏoffer€of€proof€regarding€this€evidence.€€The€state€does€not€address€this€argument.€€However,€the€recordÏreflects€that€the€trial€court,€for€the€sake€of€brevity€and€to€avoid€a€time„consuming€jury„out€hearing,€allowedÏthe€defendant€to€make€a€stipulation€as€to€what€the€witnesses€would€have€testified€to€for€the€purpose€ofÏpreserving€the€record.€€The€parties€agreed€to€the€stipulation€and€we€conclude€that€it€was€within€the€trialÏcourtððs€discretion€to€control€the€progression€of€the€trial€in€this€manner.€€òòSeeóó€Tenn.€R.€Evid.€611(a).€€Ô€&ÔÌPtPtHHÚ(ÿáÿâùFG(üHHÚ(d'@Styl{WP}01•ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃà Ãà Ãà Ãà Ãà ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÐ ÐÐHHÐÐ  ÐÐ2ÐÐÿÿ¸æ$ÿÐÐHHÐÐÐÐÐÐÐÐ  ÐÐ ÐÐ ÐÑÑÑGenevaÑÑ ÑÑ € ÑÑ<Px–ÈÑÒÒÒ443!#4ÒÒ$ *$ÒÒ$*$ÒÒ ÿKK ÒÒ  Geneva ÒÒ  Geneva ÒÓ.,ÓÓÓÓ6ÓÓ ÓßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßÑMonacoÑÑ ÑÒ  BA:Op Monaco ÒÒ  BA:Op Monaco Ò€-‚ƒCþÿ<< CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó ó„„'÷ÿ dxdüÿP PdÝ ƒ!ÝÔ . ÔÔ€ÔÓ&€%%X„d&ÓÑ#€%%Xd#ÑÔ€&ÔÒ  ÒÒ X ÒÑ  ÑÑ#€''Xd#ÑÑ#€''Xd#ÑÑ  ÑÓ` °˜XÓÝ  ÝÙ€€ÙÑ  ÑÑ Ü ÑÓÓÑ\R AØ'\ÑÔ€(Ô›œßL€,.+;+'h|` ´- `€€Lß›à8 àà@ àIN€THE€COURT€OF€CRIMINALÏAPPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEÌà@ àAT€KNOXVILLEà@ à€€€€€€€€€Ìà àà à€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€œ€MAY›€SESSION,€1995ÌÌÓÓSTATE€OF€TENNESSEE,à àà à)Ìà àà àà àà à)Ìà àAppellee,à àà à)à àNo.€03C01„9411„CR„00420Ìà àà àà àà à)Ìà àà àà àà à)à àJefferson€CountyÌv.à àà àà àà à)Ìà àà àà àà à)à àHon.€Rex€HenryÏOgle,€JudgeÌà àà àà àà à)ÌKATHY€MARTIN€and€€€€€€€à àà à)à à(Appellant€Martin:ÏChild€Abuse)à àÌMARCUS€CARLOS€WEST,à à)à à(Appellant€West:ÏAggravated€Child€Abuse)Ìà àà àà àà à)Ìà àAppellants.à àà à)Ìà àà àà àà àÌÌÌÌÌòòFor€Appellant€Martinóó:à àà àà àòòFor€the€Appelleeóó:ÌÌœKindall›€T.€œLawson›à àà à€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€à àCharles€W.€BursonÌ205€Highway€66€South€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€à àAttorney€General€ofÏTennesseeÌRogersville,€TN€37857€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€à àà àà àandÌ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€à àà àà àà àHunt€S.€Brown€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Ìà àà àà àà àà àAssistant€AttorneyÏGeneral€of€TennesseeÌòòFor€Appellant€Westóó:à àà àà à450€James€RobertsonÏParkwayÌà àà àà àà àà àNashville,€TN€37243„0493ÌœHeiskell›€H.€œWinstead›Ì205€Highway€66€Southà àà àà àAlfred€C.€œSchmutzer›,€Jr.ÌRogersville,€TN€37857à àà àà àDistrict€Attorney€Generalà àÌà àà àà àà àà àà àandÌà àà àà àà àà àJames€œGass›€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Ìà àà àà àà àà àAssistant€District€Attorney€General€€€€€€€€€€€€Ìà àà àà àà àà àMain€Street€à àà àà àà àÌà àà àà àà àà àœDandridge›,€TN€37725ÌÌÌÌÌÌOPINION€FILED:_______________________ÌÌÌÌREVERSED€AND€DISMISSED€AS€TO€MARTIN;€AFFIRMED€AS€TO€WESTÌ€€€€€€ÌJoseph€M.€TiptonÌJudgeÌÌÓÓòòò òà àà àà àà àO€P€I€N€I€O€Nóóó óà àÌÌà àThe€defendants,€Kathy€Martin€and€Marcus€Carlos€West,€appeal€from€theirÏjury€convictions€in€the€Jefferson€County€œCircuit›€Court.€€Martin€was€convicted€of€childÏœabuse,€a€Class€A€misdemeanor,€and›€sentenced€to€eleven€months€and€twenty„nineÏdays€to€be€served€in€the€custody€of€the€Jefferson€County€Jail,€suspended€after€theÏservice€of€five€months.€€West€was€convicted€of€aggravated€child€œabuse,€a€Class€BÏfelony,€and›€sentenced€to€twelve€years€as€a€Range€I,€standard€offender€to€be€served€inÍthe€custody€of€the€Department€of€Correction.€€In€this€appeal€as€of€right,€the€defendantsÏcontend€that:ÌÓ  ÓÓÓà8 à1.€œthe›€evidence€is€insufficient€to€support€their€convictions,€ÌÌà8 à2.€€œthe›€trial€court€erred€in€admitting€evidence€of€the€victimððsÏpast€injuries,ÌÌà8 à3.€€œthe›€trial€court€erred€in€denying€the€defendantsðð€motion€forÏa€mistrial€when€an€expert€testified€that€the€victimððs€injuriesÏwere€a€result€of€an€intentional€act,€and€ÌÌà8 à4.€€œthe›€trial€court€erred€in€not€allowing€the€defendants€toÏpresent€witnesses€who€would€testify€regarding€particularÏrelevant€character€traits.ÌÌÓ  ÓÓÓWe€conclude€that€the€evidence€is€insufficient€to€support€Martinððs€conviction€for€childÏabuse€and,€accordingly,€we€reverse€and€dismiss€her€conviction.€€However,€weÏconclude€that€no€reversible€error€exists€relative€to€Westððs€allegations€of€error€and€affirmÏhis€conviction€for€aggravated€child€abuse.ÌÌà àThe€facts€of€this€case€involve€the€February€21,€1993,€burning€of€the€victim,Ïthirteen„month„old€œKassidy›€Martin,€while€West€was€babysitting€the€victim€for€Martin,Ïwho€was€running€errands.€€Dr.€Gerald€Blossom,€a€pediatric€emergency€doctor€withÏEast€Tennessee€Childrenððs€Hospital,€testified€that,€on€March€1,€1993,€the€victim€wasÏbrought€to€Childrenððs€Hospital€by€the€Department€of€Human€Services€(œDHS›)€for€anÏexamination€as€a€suspected€child€abuse€victim.€€He€stated€that€the€child€had€burns€toÏher€face€and€hands.€€He€said€that€the€burns€were€caused€by€contact€with€a€very€hotÍobject€and€that€the€burns€would€be€extremely€painful.€€Dr.€Blossom€testified€that€aÏthirteen„month„old€child€could€not€operate€a€BIC€lighter€and€that,€even€assuming€theÏchild€could€light€the€lighter,€she€would€not€have€the€dexterity€to€hold€the€lighter€for€aÏcontinuous€length€of€time.€€He€said€that€the€burns€could€not€have€been€self„inflicted.€ÏHe€also€testified€regarding€the€childððs€prior€injuries€consisting€of€a€spiral€fracture€to€herÏright€leg€in€February€1993,€a€skull€fracture€in€December€1992€and€an€immersion€burnÏto€her€left€foot.€€ÌÌà àOn€cross„examination,€Dr.€Blossom€testified€that€he€never€treated€theÏvictim€but,€rather,€that€she€was€brought€to€him€by€œDHS›€for€an€evaluation€to€detect€childÏabuse.€€He€admitted€that€the€x„rays€of€the€child€did€not€reveal€any€subtle€signs€of€childÏabuse.€€He€also€admitted€that€it€was€possible€that€the€childððs€leg€fracture€had€occurred,Ïas€reported€by€the€mother,€from€the€child€twisting€her€leg€in€her€crib.€€He€admitted€thatÏnot€every€child€with€second€degree€burns€requires€medical€attention€and€thatÏointments€often€make€burns€appear€worse.€€However,€he€added€that€it€was€veryÏunlikely€that€the€victimððs€burns€could€have€been€caused€by€her€falling€œonto›€a€hotÏlighter.ÌÌà àDeanna€Barbee€of€the€Jefferson€County€DHS€testified€that€she€went€toÏthe€West€residence€on€February€27,€1993,€to€œinvestigate›€a€complaint€received€by€ChildÏProtective€Services€regarding€the€victim.€€She€said€that€West€answered€the€door€andÍtold€her€that€Martin€was€not€home.€€She€asked€West€to€have€Martin€call€her€when€sheÏreturned€but€Martin€never€called.€€Ms.€Barbee€stated€that€she€returned€to€the€WestÏresidence€after€two€or€three€hours€and€served€the€protective€order€on€Martin.€€She€andÏMartin€then€took€the€victim€to€the€hospital€where€she€was€treated€by€Dr.€Bill€Ramsey.€ÏOn€cross„examination,€Ms.€Barbee€testified€that€the€victim€was€placed€in€foster€care€onÏFebruary€27th.€€She€also€said€that€Martin€cooperated€with€authorities.ÌÌà àDetective€G.W.€McCoig€testified€that€he€accompanied€Ms.€Barbee€to€theÏWest€residence€on€February€27th.€€He€recalled€asking€West€questions€about€theÏchildððs€leg€injury€to€which€West€responded€that€the€child€must€have€fallen€in€her€crib.€ÏWhen€asked€about€the€burns,€West€explained€that€Martin€was€at€the€grocery€storeÏwhen€the€power€went€out.€€West€told€Detective€McCoig€that€he€lit€the€BIC€lighter€forÏlight€and,€when€he€saw€that€his€œparentsðð›€lights€were€on,€he€dropped€the€lighter€on€theÏcouch€and€went€to€check€his€breaker€box.€€Detective€McCoig€testified€that€West€thoughtÏthe€child€had€picked€up€the€hot€lighter.€€He€also€said€that€he€talked€to€Martin€who€saidÏthat€she€was€at€a€friendððs€house€when€the€victim€was€burned€and€also€said€that€sheÏhad€been€treating€the€victimððs€burns€with€ointment.€€On€cross„examination,€DetectiveÏMcCoig€testified€that€West€said€that€the€lighter€must€have€been€lit€fifteen€minutes€beforeÏhe€went€to€check€the€breaker€box.€€He€also€said€that€both€West€and€Martin€wereÏcooperative€throughout€the€investigation€and€spoke€with€him€freely.€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ÌÌà àDr.€Bill€Ramsey,€a€pediatrician€in€Jefferson€City,€testified€that€he€wasÏworking€at€the€emergency€room€on€February€27th€when€Martin€and€Ms.€BarbeeÏbrought€the€victim€in€for€treatment.€€He€said€that€the€victim€had€fairly€large€secondÏdegree€burns€on€her€face€and€small€burns€to€her€chin,€hands€and€fingers.€€He€statedÏthat€the€victim€would€not€have€had€the€manual€dexterity€to€light€the€lighter€and€that€itÏwas€impossible€that€the€child€would€transfer€the€hot€lighter€from€hand€to€hand,€causingÏthe€burns€she€suffered.€€He€said€that€the€burns€would€cause€extreme€physical€pain.€€OnÏcross„examination,€Dr.€Ramsey€testified€that€he€believed€that€the€victim€wasÏintentionally€burned€because€the€burns€were€too€extensive€to€indicate€an€accidentalÏtouching.€€However,€he€admitted€that,€given€the€childððs€difficulty€with€the€cast€on€herÏleg,€she€could€have€fallen€on€the€lighter.€€He€said€that€Martin€had€been€treating€theÏburns€with€Neosporin€and€that€this€treatment€was€sufficient.€€He€also€said€œthat›€MartinÏwas€cooperative.€€On€redirect€examination,€Dr.€Ramsey€stated€that,€had€DHS€notÏbrought€the€child€to€him,€he€would€have€reported€the€injuries€to€DHS€because€the€storyÏof€how€the€injuries€occurred€did€not€correlate€to€the€severity€of€the€injuries.ÌÌà àDr.€William€J.€Gutch€testified€for€the€defendants€that€he€treated€the€victimÏfor€a€fractured€leg€on€February€17,€1993.€€He€said€that€Martin€brought€the€victim€to€himÏas€a€follow„up€visit€from€the€Morristown„Hamblen€County€Hospital.€€He€said€that€theÏvictim€suffered€a€spiral€fracture€consistent€with€the€report€of€her€leg€being€caught€in€herÍcrib.€€On€cross„examination,€he€admitted€that€a€spiral€fracture€could€also€occur€byÏgrabbing€and€twisting€the€leg.ÌÌà àKim€West,€the€defendantððs€ex„wife,€testified€that€she€had€known€theÏdefendant€since€she€was€œsixteen€years€old›€and€that€they€were€married€for€ten€yearsÏand€had€two€children.€€The€trial€court€sustained€the€stateððs€objection€to€the€admissionÏof€testimony€regarding€Westððs€interaction€with€any€children€other€than€the€victim.€€TheÏdefendants€then€made€a€stipulated€offer€of€proof€regarding€the€testimony€of€Kim€West,ÏPansy€Hannah€and€Dena€Lemming€that€West€had€never€mistreated€their€childrenÏwhile€left€in€his€care.ÌÌà àAudrey€West,€the€defendantððs€mother,€testified€that€œWest›€came€to€herÏhouse€on€February€21,€1993,€and€borrowed€first€aid€ointment€to€treat€the€victimððs€burns.€ÏShe€said€that€she€checked€on€the€victim€later€that€night€and€that€the€victim€appearedÏhappy.€€She€said€that€Martin€and€her€son€were€treating€the€burns€and€that€they€did€notÏneed€medical€attention.€€She€confirmed€that€the€power€had€been€out€because€sheÏremembered€having€to€reset€her€microwave€oven.€€Carlos€West,€the€defendantððs€father,Ïconfirmed€that€the€power€was€out€on€the€21st€and€recalled€the€storm€causing€a€tree€toÏfall€on€one€of€his€outbuildings.ÌÌà àWest€testified€that€he€and€the€victim€had€been€watching€television€while€ÏMartin€ran€errands€on€the€night€of€the€21st.€€He€said€that€the€power€went€out€and€he€litÏthe€lighter€so€he€and€the€victim€could€play.€€After€about€fifteen€minutes,€he€tossed€theÏlighter€on€to€the€couch€where€the€victim€was€seated€and€went€to€check€the€breaker€boxÏwhich€was€about€twenty„five€feet€away.€€He€said€that€the€victim€began€to€cry€but€that€heÏthought€she€was€scared€because€he€had€walked€to€the€breaker€box.€€He€stated€œthatÏMartin›€returned€home€after€the€power€came€back€on€and€asked€why€the€victim€had€redÏmarks€on€her€face.€€At€this€point,€both€Martin€and€West€realized€that€the€child€must€haveÏburned€herself€on€the€lighter.€€Martin€œtestified›€that€West€borrowed€medicine€from€hisÏmother€and€that€Martin€treated€the€burns.ÌÌà àLori€Pollard,€a€friend€of€Martinððs,€testified€that€she€visited€Martin€on€theÏmorning€of€the€childððs€leg€injury.€€She€said€that€she€and€Martin€thought€the€child€had€aÏcramp€and€she€was€very€surprised€to€learn€that€her€leg€was€fractured.€€She€stated€thatÏshe€had€seen€the€burns€and€that€Martin€was€treating€them€herself€and€they€wereÏhealing.€€Another€of€Martinððs€friends,€Connie€Ray€Hurst,€testified€that€Martin€visited€herÏfor€about€forty„five€minutes€at€around€dusk€on€February€21st.€€ÌÌà àMartin€testified€that€she€discovered€the€childððs€leg€injury€on€a€FridayÏmorning€and€treated€it€over€the€weekend.€€She€said€that€when€it€did€not€improve,€she€Ïmade€œa›€doctorððs€appointment€on€Monday€morning.€€Regarding€the€childððs€burns,€sheÍsaid€that€she€treated€them€with€ointment€and€that€she€did€not€feel€it€was€necessary€toÏtake€the€child€to€the€doctor€because€the€burns€were€healing.€€She€stated€that€the€childÏwas€with€Mary€Eller€when€she€received€the€head€injury€in€December€1992.€€She€alsoÏreported€that€the€child€had€been€in€Ms.€Ellerððs€care€for€the€past€six€months€and€hadÏsuffered€a€dislocated€elbow€recently.€€She€stated€that€Ms.€Eller€is€the€childððs€great„grandmother.€€In€rebuttal,€the€state€presented€the€testimony€of€Ms.€Eller€who€reportedÑ€/ÑÇthat€she€urged€Martin€to€take€the€victim€to€the€doctor€for€her€burns€but€that€Martin€toldÏher€that€she€did€not€want€to€because€DHS€would€get€involved.ÌÌà àThe€parties€stipulated€that€Dr.€R.B.€Baird,€œJr.,›€would€testify€that€secondÏdegree€burns€do€not€need€medical€attention.€€He€also€would€have€stated€that€a€secondÏdegree€burn€could€be€caused€by€a€two€to€three€second€exposure€to€heat€or€a€cigaretteÏlighter.€€He€would€have€said€that€the€burns€in€this€case€could€have€occurred€by€theÏchild€falling€on€the€lighter.ÌÌà@ àò òIó óÌà àThe€defendants€contend€that€the€evidence€is€insufficient€to€support€theirÏconvictions.€€Martin€argues€that€there€is€no€proof€that€she€knowingly€inflicted€injury€toÏthe€victim.€€West€argues€that€there€is€insufficient€proof€that€he€knowingly€inflicted€injuryÏto€the€victim€and€that€there€is€insufficient€proof€of€serious€bodily€injury.€€The€stateÏconcedes€that€the€evidence€is€insufficient€to€support€Martinððs€conviction€for€childÏabuse.€€However,€the€state€argues€that€the€evidence€sufficiently€shows€serious€bodilyÏinjury€that€was€knowingly€inflicted€by€West€to€support€his€conviction€for€aggravatedÏchild€abuse.ÌÌà àOur€standard€of€review€when€the€sufficiency€of€the€evidence€isÏquestioned€on€appeal€is€"whether,€after€viewing€the€evidence€in€the€light€mostÍfavorable€to€the€prosecution,€òòanyóó€rational€trier€of€fact€could€have€found€the€essentialÏelements€of€the€crime€beyond€a€reasonable€doubt."€€òòJackson€v.€Virginiaóó,€443€U.S.€307,Ï319,€99€S.€Ct.€2781,€2789€(1979).€€This€means€that€we€may€not€reweigh€the€evidence,Ïbut€must€presume€that€the€jury€has€resolved€all€conflicts€in€the€testimony€and€drawn€allÏreasonable€inferences€from€the€evidence€in€favor€of€the€state.€€òòSeeóó€òòState€v.€Sheffieldóó,Ï676€S.W.2d€542,€547€(Tenn.€1984);€òòState€v.€Cabbageóó,€571€S.W.2d€832,€835€(Tenn.Ï1978).€€€ÌÌà àAggravated€child€abuse€requires€proof€that€the€defendant€ð ðknowingly,Ïother€than€by€accidental€means,€treats€a€child€under€eighteen€(18)€years€of€age€in€suchÏa€manner€as€to€inflict€serious€bodily€injury.ðð€€T.C.A.€ðððð€39„15„401(a)€and€„402(a)(1).€ÏSerious€bodily€injury€is€œdefined,›€in€pertinent€part,€as€ð ðbodily€injury€which€involvesÏextreme€physical€pain.ðð€€T.C.A.€ðð€39„11„106(33)(C).€€In€the€light€most€favorable€to€theÏstate,€the€record€shows€that€the€victim€suffered€second€degree€burns€inflicted€from€aÏlighter€while€in€the€care€of€the€defendant.€€Experts€testified€that€the€thirteen„month„oldÏvictim€would€have€been€unable€to€inflict€the€burns€herself.€€Furthermore,€experts€alsoÏtestified€that€the€second€degree€burns€would€cause€extreme€physical€pain.€€Thus,€thereÏis€sufficient€evidence€of€aggravated€child€abuse.€€ÌÌà àTherefore,€we€conclude€that€the€evidence€supports€Westððs€conviction€forÏaggravated€child€abuse.€€However,€the€evidence€is€insufficient€to€support€MartinððsÍconviction€for€child€abuse,€and€we€reverse€and€dismiss€her€conviction.€€Because€weÏhave€reversed€and€dismissed€Martinððs€conviction,€the€remaining€issues€will€beÏaddressed€with€respect€to€Westððs€contentions€on€appeal.Ìà@ àÌà@ àò òIIó óÌà àWest€contends€that€trial€court€erred€in€admitting€evidence€of€the€victimððsÏpast€injuries.€€He€argues€that€the€evidence€of€prior€injuries€was€irrelevant€andÏprejudicial€because€there€was€no€evidence€linking€him€to€the€injuries.€€The€stateÏresponds€that€this€issue€is€waived€by€the€defendantððs€failure€to€raise€it€prior€to€or€duringÏtrial.€€In€the€alternative,€the€state€argues€that€the€evidence€of€the€childððs€prior€injuriesÏwas€relevant€to€a€determination€of€whether€the€burns€were€accidental€and€that€anyÏprejudice€that€the€defendant€might€have€suffered€was€minimal€in€light€of€the€evidenceÏof€the€defendantððs€guilt.€ÌÌà àRelative€to€the€stateððs€claim€that€the€defendant€has€waived€this€issue,€theÏrecord€reflects€that€the€defendant€filed€a€pretrial€motion€to€suppress€evidence€of€theÏvictimððs€previous€injuries€because€he€could€not€be€linked€to€the€injuries€and,€therefore,€Ïproof€of€the€injuries€would€be€prejudicial.€€At€the€motion€hearing,€the€trial€court€ruledÏthat€evidence€of€the€previous€injuries€was€admissible€to€show€that€the€burns€were€notÏaccidental.€€Although€the€defendant€did€not€contemporaneously€object€to€theÏadmission€of€the€evidence€at€trial,€the€trial€court€was€apprised€pretrial€of€his€objectionÍand€made€a€definitive€ruling€based€upon€the€objection.€€The€trial€court€was€once€againÏapprised€of€the€objection€at€the€motion€for€a€new€trial€hearing.€€Under€theseÏcircumstances,€it€would€be€œmanifestly›€œunjust›€for€this€court€to€apply€the€waiver€rule€forÏdefendantððs€failure€to€object€at€trial.€€òòState€v.€Goinesóó,€572€S.W.2d€644,€648€(Tenn.Ï1978).€ÌÌœà àIn€this€respect,›€while€we€acknowledge€that€the€previous€injuries€wereÏarguably€relevant€to€show€that€the€burns€were€not€accidental€with€respect€to€MartinððsÏculpability,€there€is€no€evidence€in€the€record€that€attributes€the€cause€of€the€previousÏinjuries€to€West.€€In€fact,€the€testimony€shows€that€the€victim€injured€her€head€while€inÏthe€care€of€Ms.€Eller€and€that€she€suffered€the€leg€injury€during€the€night€while€WestÏwas€at€work.€€Therefore,€the€victimððs€prior€injuries€were€not€relevant€to€the€defendantððsÏprosecution.€€However,€because€the€proof€eliminates€West€from€any€blame€for€the€priorÏinjuries€and€because€the€evidence€regarding€the€burns€implicates€only€West,€we€deemÏany€error€in€the€admission€of€the€victimððs€previous€injuries€to€be€harmless.€€Tenn.€R.ÏCrim.€P.€52(a).€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€œÌ›Ìà@ àò òIIIó óÌà àWest€contends€that€the€trial€court€erred€in€denying€his€motion€for€a€mistrialÏwhen€Dr.€Ramsey€testified€that€the€victimððs€injuries€were€the€result€of€an€intentionalÏburning.€€He€also€argues€that€the€state€committed€prosecutorial€misconduct€by€failingÍto€instruct€Dr.€Ramsey€not€to€give€an€opinion€that€the€child€had€been€burnedÏintentionally.€€The€state€concedes€that€Dr.€Ramseyððs€statement€was€improper€butÏargues€that€it€was€elicited€during€an€aggressive€cross„examination€by€the€defendant.€ÏThe€state€argues€that€although€the€defendant€failed€to€request€a€curative€instruction,Ïthe€trial€court€admonished€the€doctor€to€answer€the€questions€asked,€rendering€anyÏerror€harmless.€Further,€the€state€argues€that€the€trial€court€did€not€abuse€its€discretionÏin€denying€the€motion€for€a€mistrial.€€€€ÌÌà àAt€the€pretrial€motion€hearing,€the€trial€court€ruled€that€the€stateððs€expertsÏshould€not€testify€to€any€conclusions€that€the€victimððs€injuries€were€intentionallyÏinflicted.€€Nevertheless,€Dr.€Ramsey€testified€that€he€believed€that€the€injuries€wereÏintentional.€€However,€this€testimony€occurred€during€cross„examination€by€theÏdefendant,€and€while€the€answer€is€unresponsive,€the€trial€court€immediately€instructedÏDr.€Ramsey€to€answer€the€question€as€asked.€€The€defendant€requested€a€mistrial€andÏthe€trial€court€denied€it.€€The€defendant€did€not€make€a€request€for€a€curativeÏinstruction.Ì€€€€€€€€Ìà àThe€decision€to€grant€a€mistrial€is€within€the€discretion€of€the€trial€courtÏand€will€not€be€disturbed€on€appeal€absent€finding€an€abuse€of€that€discretion.€€òòState€v.ÏAdkinsóó,€786€S.W.2d€642,€644€(Tenn.€1990);€òòState€v.€Freemanóó,€669€S.W.2d€688,€692Ï(Tenn.€Crim.€App.€1983).€€Normally,€a€mistrial€should€be€declared€only€if€there€is€aÍmanifest€necessity€for€such€action.€€òòArnold€v.€Stateóó,€563€S.W.2d€792,€794€(Tenn.€Crim.ÏApp.€1977),€òòcertóó.€òòdeniedóó€(Tenn.€1978).€€The€trial€court€immediately€instructed€theÏwitness€to€respond€to€the€questions€as€asked.€€Given€the€circumstances€reflected€in€theÏrecord,€the€trial€court€did€not€abuse€its€discretion€in€deciding€that€a€mistrial€was€notÏwarranted.ÌÌà àRelative€to€the€defendantððs€claim€of€prosecutorial€misconduct,€during€theÏdirect€examination€of€Dr.€Ramsey,€the€state€inquired€into€Dr.€Ramseyððs€generalÏexperience€in€treating€children€who€had€been€intentionally€abused.€€The€trial€courtÏsustained€the€defendantððs€objection,€warning€the€state€only€to€discuss€a€thirteen„month„old€childððs€ability€to€self„inflict€the€injuries€in€this€case€and€not€whether€theÏinjuries€were€intentionally€inflicted€by€someone€else.€€The€state€complied€and€limitedÏthe€direct€examination€accordingly.€€Then,€during€cross„examination,€the€defendantÏasked€if€the€witness€was€assuming€that€the€child€had€the€lighter€in€her€hand.€€Dr.ÏRamsey€responded,€ð ðNo.€I€think€this€child€was€intentionally€burned.€€Iððm€not€assumingÏanything.ðð€€This€improper€answer€cannot€be€attributed€to€the€state.€€Therefore,€weÏconclude€that€the€record€does€not€support€the€defendantððs€claim€of€prosecutorialÏmisconduct.€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Ìà àà@ àò òIVó óÌà àWest€contends€that€the€trial€court€erred€in€denying€him€the€opportunity€toÏpresent€witnesses€who€would€testify€as€to€his€interactions€with€children€other€than€theÍvictim.€€He€argues€that€the€evidence€was€admissible€under€Tenn.€œR.€Evid.›€404(a)€asÏevidence€of€a€pertinent€character€œtrait.× ƒ0 ××  ×€€The›€state€responds€that€evidence€of€aÏcharacter€trait€is€limited€to€reputation€or€opinion€testimony€and€that€the€defendantððsÏevidence€is€of€specific€instances€of€conduct,€which€is€generally€prohibited.€€Tenn.€œR.ÏEvid.›€œ405.€ÌÌà àCharacter€evidence€is€generally€inadmissible€due€to€the€risk€of€confusionÏand€prejudice€associated€with€such€evidence.€€One€exception€to€this€rule€allows€aÏdefendant€to€present€evidence€of€pertinent€character€traits€to€show€that€he€or€she€is€notÏthe€type€of€person€who€would€commit€the€alleged€crime.€€Tenn.€R.€Evid.€404(a).€ÏHowever,€character€evidence€is€limited€to€testimony€as€to€the€defendantððs€reputation€orÏto€testimony€in€the€form€of€an€opinion.€€Tenn.€R.€Evid.€405(a).€€Character€can€be€provenÏthrough€testimony€of€specific€instances€of€conduct€only€when€the€character€ð ðis€anÏessential€element€of€the€charge,€claim,€or€defense.ðð€€Tenn.€R.€Evid.€405(b).€€In€thisÏcase,€the€defendant€sought€the€admission€of€testimony€regarding€specific€instances€ofÏconduct€in€which€he€had€babysat€and€cared€for€other€children€who€had€not€beenÏharmed.€€Through€this€evidence,€he€sought€to€prove€that€he€was€not€the€type€of€personÍwho€would€have€intentionally€abused€the€victim.€€The€character€of€the€defendant€is€notÏan€essential€element€of€the€aggravated€child€abuse€charge€nor€is€it€an€essentialÏelement€to€any€defense€presented€at€trial.€€Under€these€circumstances,€the€testimonyÏinto€specific€instances€of€conduct€was€inadmissible€and€the€trial€court€properlyÏexcluded€it.€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ÌÌà àIn›€consideration€of€the€foregoing€and€the€record€as€a€whole,€MartinððsÏjudgment€of€conviction€for€child€abuse€is€reversed€and€dismissed€and€Westððs€judgmentÏof€conviction€for€aggravated€child€abuse€is€affirmed€in€all€respects.€Ìœ›ÌÓÓà àà àà àà àà àòò€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€óóÌà àà àà àà àà àJoseph€M.€Tipton,€JudgeÌœÌÌÌCONCUR:›ÌÌÌÌòò€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€óóÌGary€R.€Wade,€Judge€ÌÌÌÌòò€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€óóÌCornelia€A.€Clark,€Special€Judge