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Ðconvictions.€€Her€convictions€result€from€a€jury€trial€in€the€Davidson€County€Criminal€CourtÐ d´ Ðpertaining€to€fatal€injuries€inflicted€upon€Nicholas€Boyd€Cotton,€who€was€sixteen€months€old€at€theÐ P  Ðtime€of€his€death.€€Ms.€Burchell€urges€us€to€find€error€in€the€lower€courtððs€acceptance€of€the€verdict,Ð <Œ Ðthe€admission€of€prior€bad€act€evidence,€and€the€limiting€of€defense€expert€testimony.€€Because€noÐ (x Ðharmful€error€occurred,€we€affirm.Ô#†XIXXNXIß#ÔÔ#†¼Ke»XXI³#ÔÔ‡XIX»¼KeÔÐ d ÐÓÓÓÌò òTenn.€R.€App.€P.€3;€Judgment€of€the€Criminal€Court€is€Affirmed.ó óÐ ì< ÐÌòòÓ  ÓÔ#†¼Ke»àXIÜ#ÔÔ‡XIX.¼KeÔJames€Ô_ÔCurwoodÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔWittÔ_Ô,€Jr.,€J.óó,€delivered€the€opinion€of€the€court,€in€which€òòThomas€T.€Ô_ÔWoodallÔ_ÔóóÐ Ä Ðand€òòAlan€E.€Glenn,€JJ.óó,€joined.Ð ° ÐÌEdward€S.€Ryan,€Nashville,€Tennessee,€for€the€Appellant,€Ô_ÔVenitaÔ_Ô€Michelle€Burchell.Ð ˆØ ÐÌPaul€G.€Summers,€Attorney€General€&€Reporter;€Elizabeth€T.€Ryan,€Assistant€Attorney€General;Ð `° ÐVictor€S.€Johnson,€III,€District€Attorney€General;€and€Ô_ÔKatrinÔ_Ô€Miller€and€Philip€Ô_ÔWehbyÔ_Ô,€AssistantÐ L œ ÐDistrict€Attorneys€General,€for€the€Appellee,€State€of€Tennessee.Ð 8!ˆ  ÐÓÓÌà@@OO&ìàò òOPINIONó óÔ#†¼Ke»XXI®#ÔÔ‡XIX»¼KeÔÐ #`" ÐòòóóÔ#†¼Ke»XXI8 #ÔÓ  ÓÔ€XIX»¼KeÔÔ‡NXIXXXIÔÌà  àà ` àDuring€the€last€few€months€of€his€brief€life,€sixteen„month„old€Nicholas€BoydÐ è$8 $ ÐCottonððs€care€was€entrusted€to€the€defendant€while€Nicholasðð€parents€were€at€work.€€Nicholasðð€father,Ð Ô%$!% ÐJonathan€Cotton,€worked€with€the€defendantððs€husband,€and€through€this€acquaintance€NicholasððÐ À&"& Ðparents€agreed€to€hire€the€defendant€to€babysit€Nicholas€during€working€hours.€€The€defendant€keptÐ ¬'ü"' ÐNicholas€in€her€apartment,€and€her€own€two€children€were€also€present€daily.Ð ˜(è#( ÐÌà  àà ` àOn€the€morning€of€November€17,€1999,€Jonathan€Cotton€took€his€wife,€RachelleÐ p*À%* ÐCotton,€to€work,€and€while€he€was€gone€from€their€apartment,€his€brother€and€sister„in„law,€DavidÐ \+¬&+ Ðand€Christy€Cotton,€cared€for€Nicholas.€€David€and€Christy€Cotton€were€temporarily€residing€withÐ H,˜', ÐJonathan€and€Rachelle€Cotton,€and€they€babysat€Nicholas€in€Jonathan€and€Rachelle€CottonððsÐ 4-„(-ý ÐÔ_Ôapartment.€€After€taking€his€wife€to€work,€Jonathan€Cotton€returned€to€the€apartment,€gatheredÐ ° ÐNicholas€and€his€belongings,€took€Nicholas€to€the€defendantððs€apartment,€and€departed€at€about€8:15Ð œì Ðfor€his€job€as€a€maintenance€technician€at€the€apartment€complex.€€According€to€all€four€of€the€adultÐ ˆØ ÐCottons,€Nicholas€did€not€display€any€out„of„the„ordinary€behavior€before€he€left€the€CottonÐ tÄ Ðapartment€that€morning.Ð `° ÐÌà  àà ` àSometime€between€9:00€and€9:45€a.m.,€the€defendant€summoned€her€husband,€DavidÐ 8 ˆ ÐBurchell,€to€return€to€their€apartment.€€Within€about€five€minutes,€Mr.€Burchell€summoned€JonathanÐ $ t ÐCotton€to€the€apartment.€€When€Mr.€Cotton€arrived,€Mr.€Burchell€was€holding€Nicholas,€who€wasÐ  ` Ðgasping€for€air€and€unconscious.€€Emergency€personnel€arrived€within€minutes€and€transportedÐ ü L  ÐNicholas€to€Vanderbilt€Hospital,€where€doctors€diagnosed€significant€closed€head€injuries.€€NicholasððÐ è 8  Ðsituation€worsened,€and€he€was€eventually€pronounced€brain€dead.€€Life€support€was€terminated€onÐ Ô$  ÐNovember€21,€1999,€and€Nicholas€died.Ð À  ÐÌà  àà ` àDetective€Ron€Carter€of€the€Metro€Police€Department€spoke€with€the€defendant€onÐ ˜è  Ðthe€day€of€Nicholasðð€injuries.€€The€defendant€told€Detective€Carter€that€immediately€prior€toÐ „Ô  ÐNicholasðð€injuries,€he€had€been€throwing€a€temper€tantrum,€and€she€made€him€stand€in€a€corner€inÐ pÀ Ðthe€living€room€while€she€went€into€the€kitchen.€€As€she€was€returning€to€the€living€room,€heÐ \¬ Ðð ð[t]hrew€himself€back€and€hit€his€headðð€on€the€carpeted€floor.€€She€went€to€check€on€him,€and€he€wasÐ H˜ Ðblinking€and€looking€at€the€ceiling.€€She€described€him€as€ð ðdazed.ðð€€She€claimed€that€she€picked€himÐ 4„ Ðup,€and€within€a€minute€he€started€vomiting.€€At€first€she€thought€he€was€having€a€seizure.€€TheÐ  p Ðdefendant€repeatedly€denied€that€she€hit€Nicholas.€€Upon€further€questioning€by€Detective€Carter,Ð  \ Ðthe€defendant€eventually€admitted€that€she€ð ðmade€him€sit€down€.€.€.€probably€a€little€roughly.ðð€€SheÐ øH Ðmaintained€at€first€that€she€did€not€know€how€Nicholas€had€been€bruised€in€and€behind€his€ear,€butÐ ä4 Ðshe€eventually€admitted€that€she€had€ð ðgrabbed€his€face€by€his€earsðð€when€she€was€ð ðtrying€to€talk€toÐ Ð  Ðhim,€trying€to€make€him€look€at€[her]€to€calm€down.ðð€€She€claimed€that€she€made€him€sit€down€ð ðbyÐ ¼  Ðhis€ears.ðð€She€eventually€conceded€that€she€might€have€brought€her€hand€up€too€hard.€€Also,€sheÐ ¨ø Ðadmitted€that€she€was€angry€at€the€time.€€Ð ”ä ÐÌà  àà ` àAt€trial,€the€state€presented€the€testimony€of€€Rachelle€and€Jonathan€Cotton,€NicholasððÐ l¼ Ðparents.€€They€testified€generally€to€their€sonððs€pleasant€disposition€and€the€absence€of€anything€outÐ X ¨ Ðof€the€ordinary€with€respect€to€his€health€and€disposition€on€the€date€in€question.€€Mrs.€CottonÐ D!” Ðtestified€that€she€and€her€husband€had€not€authorized€the€defendant€to€discipline€Nicholas€by€puttingÐ 0"€  Ðhim€in€ð ðtime€out,ðð€and€upon€learning€that€the€defendant€had€done€so€on€a€prior€occasion,€she€and€herÐ #l! Ðhusband€told€the€defendant€not€to€do€it€again.Ð $X" ÐÌà  àà ` àChristine€Kristufek,€a€pediatric€nurse€practitioner€employed€by€Gallatin€ChildrenððsÐ à%0!$ ÐClinic,€testified€that€Nicholas€had€been€seen€in€that€office€regularly€for€well„child€visits,€the€lastÐ Ì&"% Ðoccasion€being€in€October€1999.€€He€was€a€healthy,€normal€child.€€There€was€no€record€of€any€priorÐ ¸'#& Ðtrauma.Ð ¤(ô#' ÐÌà  àà ` àThe€state€also€presented€the€testimony€of€Christy€and€David€Cotton,€who€were€livingÐ |*Ì%) Ðwith€Rachelle€and€Jonathan€Cotton€and€had€babysat€Nicholas€briefly€before€Jonathan€Cotton€tookÐ h+¸&* ÐNicholas€to€the€defendantððs€house€that€morning.€€Their€testimony€was€that€Nicholas€appeared€normalÐ ° Ðand€healthy€at€that€time.€€Ð œì ÐÌà  àà ` àDoctor€Mark€Thomas€Jennings,€a€pediatric€neurologist€and€one€of€Nicholasðð€attendingÐ tÄ Ðphysicians€following€his€injuries,€testified€Nicholas€suffered€a€coup€injury€to€or€around€the€left€ear,Ð `° Ðand€then,€the€right€side€of€the€head€impacted€against€an€object,€causing€a€contracoup€injury.€€ThisÐ L œ Ðjarred€the€brain€within€the€head€and€caused€tissue€around€the€brain€to€bleed€and€produced€bleedingÐ 8 ˆ Ðin€the€retina.€€Nicholasðð€retinal€injuries€were€indicative€of€an€acceleration/deceleration€injury,Ð $ t Ðwherein€the€head€is€thrown€forward€and€suddenly€stopped€by€an€object.€€In€the€absence€of€a€historyÐ  ` Ðof€a€motor€vehicle€injury,€which€would€normally€be€associated€with€an€injury€of€this€nature,€this€typeÐ ü L  Ðof€injury€is€indicative€of€a€very€significant€non„accidental€trauma.€€The€history€that€Dr.€Jennings€hadÐ è 8  Ðof€Nicholas€falling€onto€a€carpeted€floor€from€a€high€chair€was€not€consistent€with€the€magnitude€ofÐ Ô$  Ðthe€injury.€€Ð À  ÐÌà  àà ` àDoctor€Joseph€Gigante,€a€pediatrician€who€treated€Nicholas€following€his€injuries,Ð ˜è  Ðtestified€that€Nicholas€had€injuries€consistent€with€blunt€force€trauma€to€the€head.€€He€had€a€subduralÐ „Ô  Ðhematoma,€a€common€injury€in€child€abuse€victims,€and€he€had€symptoms€consistent€with€shakenÐ pÀ Ðimpact€syndrome,€which€refers€to€the€shaking€of€a€child€in€combination€with€the€childððs€head€comingÐ \¬ Ðinto€contact€with€a€static€object.€€According€to€Dr.€Gigante,€Nicholasðð€injuries€were€not€consistentÐ H˜ Ðwith€a€history€of€falling€from€a€high€chair€or€onto€a€carpeted€floor.€€Doctor€Gigante,€along€withÐ 4„ ÐNicholasðð€other€treating€physicians,€concluded€that€the€child€probably€received€a€blow€to€the€left€sideÐ  p Ðof€his€head,€with€his€brain€bouncing€off€the€right€side€of€his€head,€thereby€causing€the€injuries.€Ð  \ ÐRetinal€hemorrhages€like€those€Nicholas€had,€in€the€absence€of€trauma€or€other€medical€problems,Ð øH Ðalmost€invariably€indicate€child€abuse.€€Doctor€Gigante€testified€that€he€could€not€imagine€thatÐ ä4 ÐNicholas€was€asymptomatic€for€a€couple€of€hours€following€his€injuries.€€Doctor€Gigante€opined€thatÐ Ð  ÐNicholas€had€been€a€victim€of€child€abuse.Ð ¼  ÐÌà  àà ` àDoctor€John€Gerber,€a€forensic€pathologist,€testified€that€he€performed€an€autopsy€onÐ ”ä ÐNicholas.€€Based€on€that€examination,€he€determined€that€the€cause€of€death€was€multiple€blunt€forceÐ €Ð Ðinjuries€to€the€head.€€He€testified€in€detail€about€the€various€injuries€Nicholas€sustained,€and€heÐ l¼ Ðopined€that€they€were€not€consistent€with€Nicholas€having€fallen€backwards€and€having€hit€his€headÐ X ¨ Ðon€a€carpeted€floor.€€Rather,€some€other€significant€force€would€have€been€required€to€create€injuriesÐ D!” Ðof€the€magnitude€exhibited.€€He€further€opined€that€injuries€of€this€magnitude€would€cause€immediateÐ 0"€  Ðsymptoms,€and€there€was€not€a€possibility€of€even€a€one€to€two€hour€delay€in€the€onset€of€symptoms.Ð #l! ÐÌà  àà ` àCatherine€Norris,€a€neighbor€of€the€defendant,€testified€over€defense€objection€thatÐ ô$D # Ðone€month€prior€to€the€date€on€which€Nicholas€was€injured,€she€had€witnessed€the€defendant€walkingÐ à%0!$ Ðup€the€sidewalk€to€her€apartment€with€the€victim€and€two€little€girls.€€Once€inside€the€open€doorwayÐ Ì&"% Ðof€her€apartment,€the€defendant€repeatedly€ð ðhitðð€Nicholas€very€hard€with€her€left€hand€while€he€wasÐ ¸'#& Ðon€the€floor.€€When€the€defendant€saw€Ms.€Norris€watching,€she€kicked€the€door€of€her€apartmentÐ ¤(ô#' Ðclosed.€€Ms.€Norris€was€disturbed€enough€about€this€incident€to€call€the€apartment€complex€manager.€Ð )à$( ÐShe€did€not,€however,€report€this€incident€to€the€police€until€after€Nicholasðð€death.Ð |*Ì%) ÐÐ h+¸&* Ðà  àà ` àIn€response€to€the€stateððs€proof,€the€defendant€offered€evidence€minimizing€herÐ ° Ðculpability€for€Nicholasðð€injuries€and€death.Ð œì ÐÌà  àà ` àDavid€Burchell€testified€that€Nicholas€was€usually€fussy€in€the€mornings,€and€he€wasÐ tÄ Ðcrying€on€the€morning€of€November€17€when€Mr.€Burchell€went€to€the€apartment€about€9:30€toÐ `° Ðretrieve€his€radio.€€He€testified€that€when€he€returned€to€the€apartment€a€second€time€later€thatÐ L œ Ðmorning,€Nicholas€was€limp,€unresponsive,€and€breathing€strangely;€however,€he€did€not€have€anyÐ 8 ˆ Ðsigns€of€injury,€nor€was€the€apartment€in€disarray.€€Mr.€Burchell€acknowledged€that€his€wife€had€notÐ $ t Ðcalled€911€prior€to€his€return€to€the€apartment.€€He€claimed€that€the€defendant€was€a€fantastic€mother,Ð  ` Ðand€he€had€no€complaints€about€the€way€in€which€she€cared€for€their€children.€€He€admitted,Ð ü L  Ðhowever,€that€his€wife€had€an€anger€problem,€although€he€had€never€seen€her€manifest€this€on€a€child.€Ð è 8  ÐHe€also€admitted€that€he€was€aware€of€an€incident€in€which€the€defendant€had€patted€Nicholas€on€hisÐ Ô$  Ðdiaper,€and€he€had€discussed€this€incident€with€Jonathan€Cotton.€€He€said€that€his€wife€had€beenÐ À  Ðcooperative€with€the€police€investigation€following€Nicholasðð€injuries.Ð ¬ü  ÐÌà  àà ` àLewis€Toth€testified€as€a€character€witness€for€the€defendant.€€He€claimed€that€she€hadÐ „Ô  Ðbabysat€for€his€grandchildren,€and€he€was€always€very€happy€with€her€services.€€He€would€not€haveÐ pÀ Ða€problem€letting€her€babysit€his€grandchildren€even€following€the€incident€with€Nicholas.Ð \¬ ÐÌà  àà ` àDoctor€Jan€Edward€Leestma,€an€anatomic€pathologist€and€neuropathologist,€testifiedÐ 4„ Ðas€a€defense€expert.€€He€contradicted€the€stateððs€witnesses€who€said€that€Nicholasðð€injuries€were€notÐ  p Ðconsistent€with€a€backwards€fall€from€a€standing€position€or€from€a€high€chair.€€Rather,€Dr.€LeestmaÐ  \ Ðopined€that€either€could€result€in€serious€injuries.€€He€testified€that€medical€literature€contains€reportsÐ øH Ðof€similar€incidents€resulting€in€serious€injuries,€including€one€report€of€a€child€of€similar€age€andÐ ä4 Ðsize€to€Nicholas€dying€as€a€result€of€a€two€and€one„half€foot€fall.€€Doctor€Leestma€further€opined€thatÐ Ð  Ðan€individual€might€suffer€injuries€yet€exhibit€no€symptoms€for€an€hour,€two€hours,€or€even€a€day.€Ð ¼  ÐThus,€he€opined€that€it€was€ð ðpossibleðð€that€Nicholas€had€sustained€a€head€injury€prior€to€his€arrivalÐ ¨ø Ðat€the€defendantððs€apartment€on€November€17.€€On€cross„examination,€Dr.€Leestma€admitted€that€heÐ ”ä Ðhad€not€talked€with€the€victimððs€treating€physicians€and€that€he€had€written€professionally€in€1985Ð €Ð Ðthat€child€abuse€would€be€suspected€in€cases€similar€to€the€victimððs.€€He€maintained€that€due€to€theÐ l¼ Ðadvance€of€medical€science€since€1985,€he€now€believed€it€possible€that€the€defendantððs€injuriesÐ X ¨ Ðresulted€from€accident.Ð D!” ÐÌà  àà ` àFinally,€the€defendant€took€the€stand€in€her€own€defense.€€She€said€that€Nicholas€wasÐ #l! Ðcranky€and€lethargic€on€the€morning€of€November€17.€€She€sat€with€him€for€a€time,€and€when€sheÐ $X" Ðeventually€got€up,€he€fussed.€€She€grabbed€the€sides€of€his€head€with€her€hands.€€She€conceded€thatÐ ô$D # Ðshe€might€have€done€this€with€too€much€force€and€caused€a€bruise€on€Nicholasðð€head,€but€that€sheÐ à%0!$ Ðhad€not€meant€to€use€that€amount€of€force.€€She€told€Nicholas€to€stop€crying,€and€he€responded€byÐ Ì&"% Ðscreaming.€€She€became€frustrated€and€told€Nicholas€to€go€to€the€corner.€€She€realized€she€neededÐ ¸'#& Ðto€get€away€from€him€before€she€became€too€frustrated,€so€she€walked€into€the€kitchen.€€She€wasÐ ¤(ô#' Ðwalking€back€into€the€living€room€when€she€saw€him€stiffen€up€and€throw€himself€backwards,€hittingÐ )à$( Ðâ âhis€head€on€the€floor.€€Nicholas€stopped€crying.€€He€blinked€as€if€he€was€dazed.€€She€lifted€him,€andÐ |*Ì%) Ðhe€vomited€on€her€shoulder.€€His€breathing€became€difficult,€and€he€went€limp.€€She€summoned€herÐ ° Ðhusband,€then€911,€and€then€Jonathan€Cotton.Ð œì Ðâ âÌà  àà ` àThe€defendant€testified€that€she€was€confused€during€questioning€by€Detective€Carter,Ð tÄ Ðand€when€she€told€him€that€she€felt€responsible,€she€meant€that€she€felt€responsible€for€NicholasÐ `° Ðbecause€he€was€in€her€care,€not€because€she€had€injured€him.€€She€claimed€to€have€had€no€intent€toÐ L œ Ðhurt€Nicholas.€€She€also€claimed€that€she€had€been€babysitting€children€since€she€was€thirteen€yearsÐ 8 ˆ Ðold€and€had€never€previously€been€accused€of€any€inappropriate€behavior€toward€her€charges,€norÐ $ t Ðhad€other€children€been€injured€while€in€her€care.Ð  ` ÐÌà  àà ` àThe€defendant€testified€that€she€did€not€know€why€some€of€the€medical€personnelÐ è 8  Ðobtained€a€history€of€Nicholas€having€falling€from€a€high€chair,€as€she€did€not€own€one.Ð Ô$  ÐÌà  àà ` àWith€respect€to€the€October€incident€about€which€Catherine€Norris€had€testified,€theÐ ¬ü  Ðdefendant€explained€that€her€two€children€and€Nicholas€had€gone€outside€and€headed€toward€theÐ ˜è  Ðstreet€after€her€older€child€was€able€to€open€the€apartment€door.€€After€the€defendant€returned€theÐ „Ô  Ðthree€children€to€her€apartment,€she€spanked€them.€€She€spanked€Nicholas€with€her€hand€on€hisÐ pÀ Ðdiaper.€€She€claimed€that€she€reported€the€incident€and€spanking€to€Jonathan€Cotton,€and€the€CottonsÐ \¬ Ðchose€to€continue€placing€Nicholas€in€her€care.Ð H˜ ÐÌà  àà ` àOn€this€proof,€the€jury€found€the€defendant€guilty€of€aggravated€child€abuse€andÐ  p Ðcriminally€negligent€homicide.€€At€a€later€date,€the€trial€court€imposed€a€one„year,€Range€I€sentenceÐ  \ Ðfor€criminally€negligent€homicide€and€a€22„year€sentence€as€a€Violent€Offender€for€aggravated€childÐ øH Ðabuse.€€The€court€ordered€that€the€sentences€be€served€concurrently.Ð ä4 ÐÌà  àà ` àFollowing€an€unsuccessful€motion€for€new€trial,€the€defendant€filed€this€appeal.€€SheÐ ¼  Ðclaims€that€the€trial€court€failed€to€discharge€its€function€as€thirteenth€juror€given€the€evidenceÐ ¨ø Ðpresented,€that€the€court€erred€in€admitting€Catherine€Norrisððs€testimony,€and€that€the€courtÐ ”ä Ðimproperly€limited€the€testimony€of€Dr.€Leestma.€Ð €Ð ÐÌà@ÅÅ*ìàò òIˆÐ X ¨ Ðó óÌà  àà ` àFirst,€we€consider€the€defendantððs€claim€that€the€trial€court€did€not€discharge€its€dutyÐ 0"€  Ðas€thirteenth€juror€because€had€it€done€so,€it€would€not€have€accepted€the€verdict.€€Given€the€mannerÐ #l! Ðin€which€the€defendant€has€presented€the€issue,€we€view€our€duty€of€appellate€review€as€being€two„Ð $X" Ðfold.€€We€will€first€determine€whether€the€trial€court€discharged€its€function€as€thirteenth€juror.€€IfÐ ô$D # Ðit€did,€we€will€then€consider€whether€the€evidence€sufficiently€supports€the€verdict.Ð à%0!$ ÐÌà  àà ` àRule€33(f)€of€the€Rules€of€Criminal€Procedure€imposes€a€mandatory€duty€on€the€trialÐ ¸'#& Ðjudge€to€serve€as€the€thirteenth€juror€in€every€criminal€case.€€òòState€v.€Carteróó,€896€S.W.2d€119,€122Ð ¤(ô#' Ð(Tenn.€1995).€€Under€the€Rule,€the€judge€is€empowered€to€grant€a€new€trial€if€he€disagrees€with€theÐ )à$( Ðjury€about€the€weight€of€the€evidence.€€Tenn.€R.€Crim.€P.€33(f).€€"Rule€33(f)€does€not€require€the€trialÐ |*Ì%) Ðjudge€to€make€an€explicit€statement€on€the€record.€Instead,€when€the€trial€judge€simply€overrules€aÐ h+¸&* Ðmotion€for€new€trial,€an€appellate€court€may€presume€that€the€trial€judge€has€served€as€the€thirteenthÐ ° Ðjuror€and€approved€the€jury's€verdict."€€òòCarteróó,€896€S.W.2d€at€122.€€Only€if€the€record€containsÐ œì Ðstatements€by€the€trial€judge€indicating€disagreement€with€the€jury's€verdict€or€evidencing€the€trialÐ ˆØ Ðjudge's€refusal€to€act€as€the€ÓÓthirteenth€juror€may€an€appellate€court€reverse€the€trial€court's€judgment.€ÓÓÐ tÄ ÐòòIdóó.ÓÓ€€Otherwise,€appellate€review€is€limited€to€sufficiency€of€the€evidence€pursuant€to€Rule€13(e)€ofÐ `° Ðthe€Rules€of€Appellate€Procedure.€€òòState€v.€Burlisonóó,ÓÓ€868€S.W.2d€713,ÓÓ€718„ÓÓ19€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.Ð L œ Ð1993).€€If€the€reviewing€court€finds€that€the€trial€judge€has€failed€to€fulfill€his€or€her€role€as€ÓÓthirteenthÐ 8 ˆ Ðjuror,€the€reviewing€court€must€grant€a€new€trial.€€òòState€v.€Moatsóó,ÓÓ€906€S.W.2d€431ÓÓ€(Tenn.€1995).€Ð $ t ÐÌà  àà ` àIn€the€present€case,€the€court€explicitly€stated€its€satisfaction€with€the€verdict€on€theÐ ü L  Ðrecord.€€The€trial€judge€said,€ð ðIððm€satisfied€with€the€verdict€in€this€matter€.€.€.€.ðð€€Nothing€could€beÐ è 8  Ðplainer.€€The€court€discharged€its€duty€as€thirteenth€juror,€just€as€it€was€required€to€do.Ð Ô$  ÐÓÓÌà  àà ` àHaving€determined€that€the€court€properly€exercised€its€duty€as€thirteenth€juror,€weÐ ¬ü  Ðmove€on€to€the€second€component€of€the€defendantððs€issue,€which€pertains€to€the€sufficiency€of€theÐ ˜è  Ðconvicting€evidence.€€When€an€accused€challenges€the€sufficiency€of€the€evidence,€an€appellateÐ „Ô  Ðcourt's€standard€of€review€is€whether,€after€considering€the€evidence€in€the€light€most€favorable€toÐ pÀ Ðthe€prosecution,€any€rational€trier€of€fact€could€have€found€the€essential€elements€of€the€crime€beyondÐ \¬ Ða€reasonable€doubt.€€Tenn.€R.€App.€P.€13(e);€òòJackson€v.€Virginiaóó,€443€U.S.€307,€324,€99€S.€Ct.€2781,Ð H˜ Ð2791-92€(1979);€òòState€v.€Duncanóó,€698€S.W.2d€63,€67€(Tenn.€1985).€€This€rule€applies€to€findings€ofÐ 4„ Ðguilt€based€upon€direct€evidence,€circumstantial€evidence,€or€a€combination€of€direct€andÐ  p Ðcircumstantial€evidence.€€òòState€v.€Dykesóó,€803€S.W.2d€250,€253€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.€1990),€òòoverruledóóÐ  \ Ðòòon€other€grounds€by€State€v.€Hooperóó,€29€S.W.3d€1,€8€(Tenn.€2000).Ð øH ÐÌÔ#†XIXXNXIÀ #ÔÔ‡OXDh XXXIÔà  àà ` àÔ#†XIX XOXDh³^#ÔÔ€NXIXXXIÔA€crime€may€be€established€by€direct€evidence,€circumstantial€evidence,€or€aÐ Ð  Ðcombination€of€the€two.€€òòState€v.€Tharpeóó,€726€S.W.2d€896,€899„900€(Tenn.€1987).€€Before€an€accusedÐ ¼  Ðmay€be€convicted€of€a€criminal€offense€based€upon€circumstantial€evidence,€the€facts€and€theÐ ¨ø Ðcircumstances€ð ðmust€be€so€strong€and€cogent€as€to€exclude€every€other€reasonable€hypothesis€saveÐ ”ä Ðthe€guilt€of€the€defendant,€and€that€beyond€a€reasonable€doubt.ðð€€òòState€v.€Crawfordóó,€225€Tenn.€478,Ð €Ð Ð482,€470€S.W.2d€610,€612€(1971).€€ð ðA€web€of€guilt€must€be€woven€around€the€defendant€from€whichÐ l¼ Ðhe€cannot€escape€and€from€which€facts€and€circumstances€the€jury€could€draw€no€other€reasonableÐ X ¨ Ðinference€save€the€guilt€of€the€defendant€beyond€a€reasonable€doubt.ðð€€òòIdóó.€at€484,€470€S.W.2d€at€613.Ð D!” ÐÌà  àà ` àIn€determining€the€sufficiency€of€the€evidence,€this€court€should€not€reweigh€orÐ #l! Ðreevaluate€the€evidence.€€òòState€v.€Matthewsóó,€805€S.W.2d€776,€779€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.€1990).€Ð $X" ÐQuestions€concerning€the€credibility€of€the€witnesses,€the€weight€and€value€of€the€evidence,€as€wellÐ ô$D # Ðas€all€factual€issues€raised€by€the€evidence€are€resolved€by€the€trier€of€fact.€€òòState€v.€Cabbageóó,€571Ð à%0!$ ÐS.W.2d€832,€835€(Tenn.€1978).€€Nor€may€this€court€substitute€its€inferences€for€those€drawn€by€theÐ Ì&"% Ðtrier€of€fact€from€the€evidence.€€òòLiakas€v.€Stateóó,€199€Tenn.€298,€305,€286€S.W.2d€856,€859€(1956);Ð ¸'#& ÐòòFarmer€v.€Stateóó,€574€S.W.2d€49,€51€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.€1978).€€On€the€contrary,€this€court€mustÐ ¤(ô#' Ðafford€the€State€of€Tennessee€the€strongest€legitimate€view€of€the€evidence€contained€in€the€recordÐ )à$( Ðas€well€as€all€reasonable€and€legitimate€inferences€which€may€be€drawn€from€the€evidence.€Ð |*Ì%) ÐòòCabbageóó,€571€S.W.2d€at€835.€€€Ð h+¸&* Їà  àà ` àThe€defendant€in€this€case€was€convicted€of€aggravated€child€abuse€and€criminallyÐ ° Ðnegligent€homicide.€€A€person€commits€aggravated€child€abuse€who€ð ðknowingly,€other€than€byÐ œì Ðaccidental€means,€treats€a€child€.€.€.€in€such€a€manner€as€to€inflict€injury€.€.€.€so€as€to€adversely€affectÐ ˆØ Ðthe€childððs€health€and€welfareðð€and€ð ð[t]he€act€of€abuse€or€neglect€results€in€serious€bodily€injury€toÐ tÄ Ðthe€child.ðð€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðððð€39„13„401€(Supp.€2001)€(child€abuse€and€neglect);€39„13„402(a)(1)Ð `° Ð(Supp.€2001)€(aggravated€child€abuse€and€neglect).€€This€crime€is€a€Class€A€felony€if€the€child€is€noÐ L œ Ðmore€than€six€years€old.€€òòId.óó€ðð€39„13„402(b).Ð 8 ˆ ÐÌà  àà ` àIn€the€light€most€favorable€to€the€state,€the€trial€evidence€demonstrated€that€theÐ  ` Ðdefendant€became€frustrated€with€the€victim€and€handled€him€roughly.€€She€was€the€only€adult€withÐ ü L  Ðthe€victim€at€the€time.€€Multiple€physicians€opined€that€the€victimððs€injuries€could€not€have€occurredÐ è 8  Ðas€the€defendant€described.€€Shortly€after€the€incident,€the€defendant€admitted€that€she€had€an€angerÐ Ô$  Ðproblem.€€Circumstantially,€the€proof€points€unerringly€to€the€defendant€as€the€individual€who€non„Ð À  Ðaccidentally€injured€the€victim.Ð ¬ü  ÐÌà  àà ` àThe€defendant€was€also€convicted€of€criminally€negligent€homicide,€defined€asÐ „Ô  Ðð ð[c]riminally€negligent€conduct€which€results€in€death.ðð€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€39„13„212(a)€(1997).€Ð pÀ ÐCircumstantially,€the€evidence€in€the€light€most€favorable€to€the€state€demonstrates€that€the€defendantÐ \¬ Ðacted€with€a€òòmens€rea€óóof€at€least€criminal€negligence€when€she€injured€the€victim,€and€those€injuriesÐ H˜ Ðultimately€led€to€his€death.€€Thus,€the€evidence€is€sufficient€to€sustain€the€homicide€conviction,€asÐ 4„ Ðwell.Ð  p ÐÌà  àà ` àIn€her€brief,€the€defendant€expresses€concern€that€the€jury€was€uncertain€of€theÐ øH Ðevidence,€claiming€that€if€the€jury€found€her€guilty€of€aggravated€child€abuse,€a€companion€findingÐ ä4 Ðof€felony€murder€necessarily€would€follow.€€However,€this€court€is€untroubled€by€the€apparentÐ Ð  Ðinconsistency€in€the€verdicts€given€the€sufficiency€of€the€evidence€on€both€counts.€€òòSee,€e.g.,€WigginsÐ ¼  Ðv.€Stateóó,€498€S.W.2d€92€(Tenn.€1973);€òòState€v.€Hayesóó,€7€S.W.3d€52,€57€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.€1999).€Ð ¨ø ÐIndeed,€the€defendant€was€the€beneficiary€of€the€juryððs€finding€of€guilt€of€the€lesser€offense€ofÐ ”ä Ðcriminally€negligent€homicide,€as€opposed€to€the€greater€offense€of€felony€murder,€given€that€theÐ €Ð Ðevidence€supported€a€finding€of€either.Ð l¼ ÐÌà@žž)ìàò òIIˆÐ D!” Ðó óÌà  àà ` àWe€next€consider€the€defendantððs€argument€that€the€lower€court€erroneously€admittedÐ #l! Ðthe€testimony€of€Catherine€Norris€that€she€witnessed€the€defendant€repeatedly€strike€the€victim€oneÐ $X" Ðmonth€prior€to€the€event€on€trial.€€When€the€state€proffered€this€evidence,€its€premise€for€admissionÐ ô$D # Ðwas€that€the€event€about€which€Ms.€Norris€would€testify€demonstrated€the€defendantððs€intent€andÐ à%0!$ Ðabsence€of€accident€regarding€the€incident€on€trial.€€The€defense€objected,€arguing€that€the€evidenceÐ Ì&"% Ðâ âwas€more€prejudicial€than€probative€because€a€single,€isolated€incident€a€month€prior€to€the€incidentÐ ¸'#& Ðon€trial€failed€to€demonstrate€a€pattern€of€abuse€or€neglect,€and€at€that€point€in€the€trial,׃P×Ý ƒM#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€there€hadÐ ° Ðâ âbeen€no€defense€theory€advanced€that€the€incident€was€the€result€of€mistake€or€accident.€€FollowingÐ œì Ða€jury„out€hearing,€the€court€allowed€admission€of€the€evidence,€finding€that€its€probative€value€onÐ ˆØ Ðthe€issues€of€intent,€absence€of€mistake,€opportunity,€or€common€scheme€or€plan€outweighed€theÐ tÄ Ðevidenceððs€prejudicial€effect.€€The€court€relied€upon€Tennessee€Rule€of€Evidence€404(b)€as€the€basisÐ `° Ðfor€admission.Ð L œ ÐÌà  àà ` àAs€a€general€proposition,€evidence€of€a€defendant's€prior€crimes,€wrongs€or€acts€is€notÐ $ t Ðadmissible€as€character€evidence€of€the€defendant€to€prove€that€she€committed€the€crime€in€question.Ð  ` ÐTenn.€R.€Evid.€404.€The€rationale€underlying€the€general€rule€is€that€admission€of€such€evidenceÐ ü L  Ðcarries€with€it€the€inherent€risk€of€the€jury€convicting€the€defendant€of€a€crime€based€upon€her€badÐ è 8  Ðcharacter€or€propensity€to€commit€a€crime,€rather€than€the€conviction€resting€upon€the€strength€of€theÐ Ô$  Ðevidence.€€òòState€v.€Rickmanóó,€876€S.W.2d€824,€828€(Tenn.€1994).€€The€risk€is€greater€when€theÐ À  Ðdefendant's€prior€bad€acts€are€similar€to€the€crime€for€which€the€defendant€is€on€trial.€€òòIdóó.;€òòsee€alsoÐ ¬ü  ÐState€v.€McCaryóó,€922€S.W.2d€511,€514€(Tenn.€1996).€€Nevertheless,€evidence€of€a€defendant's€priorÐ ˜è  Ðcrimes,€wrongs€or€acts€may€be€admissible€where€it€is€probative€of€material€issues€other€than€conductÐ „Ô  Ðconforming€with€a€character€trait.€€Tenn.€R.€Evid.€404(b).Ð pÀ ÐÌà  àà ` àIn€Tennessee,€evidence€of€a€criminal€defendant's€character€may€become€admissibleÐ H˜ Ðwhen€it€logically€tends€to€prove€material€issues€which€have€been€divided€into€three€categories:€(1)Ð 4„ Ðthe€use€of€"motive€and€common€scheme€or€plan"€to€establish€identity,€(2)€to€establish€the€defendant'sÐ  p Ðintent€in€committing€the€offense€on€trial,€and€(3)€to€"rebut€a€claim€of€mistake€or€accident€if€assertedÐ  \ Ðas€a€defense."€€òòMcCaryóó,€922€S.W.2d€at€514.€In€order€for€such€evidence€to€be€admitted,€the€ruleÐ øH Ðspecifies€three€prerequisites:€Ð ä4 ÐÐ Ðà8  à(1)€The€court€upon€request€must€hold€a€hearing€outside€the€jury's€presence;€Ð ¼  ÐÐ Ð(2)€The€court€must€determine€that€a€material€issue€exists€other€than€conductÐ ”ä Ðconforming€with€a€character€trait€and€must€upon€request€state€on€the€record€theÐ €Ð Ðmaterial€issue,€the€ruling,€and€the€reasons€for€admitting€the€evidence;€and,€Ð l¼ ÐÐ Ð(3)€The€court€must€exclude€the€evidence€if€its€probative€value€is€outweighed€by€theÐ D!” Ðdanger€of€unfair€prejudice.€à h àà À àÐ0"€ Ð Ð  ÐÌTenn.€R.€Evid.€404(b).€€A€fourth€prerequisite€to€admission€is€that€the€court€find€by€clear€andÐ $X" Ðconvincing€evidence€that€the€defendant€committed€the€other€act.€€Tenn.€R.€Evid.€404,€AdvisoryÐ ô$D # ÐComm'n€Comment;€òòState€v.€DuBoseóó,€953€S.W.2d€649,€654€(Tenn.€1997);€òòState€v.€Partonóó,€694Ð à%0!$ ÐS.W.2d€299,€303€(Tenn.€1985).€Ð Ì&"% Ðâ âÐ ¸'#& Ðà  àà ` àOn€appellate€review€of€a€trial€court's€decision€to€admit€or€exclude€evidence,€anÐ ° Ðâ âappellate€court€may€disturb€the€lower€court's€ruling€only€if€there€has€been€an€abuse€of€discretion.€Ð œì ÐòòDuBoseóó,€953€S.W.2d€at€652;€òòState€v.€Bakeróó,€785€S.W.2d€132,€134€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.€1989).€€WhereÐ ˆØ Ðthe€trial€court€has€been€called€to€pass€upon€the€admissibility€of€evidence€of€other€crimes,€wrongs€orÐ tÄ Ðacts€under€Rule€404(b),€its€determination€is€entitled€to€deference€when,€as€in€the€case€at€bar,€it€hasÐ `° Ðsubstantially€complied€with€the€procedural€requisites€of€Rule€404(b).€€òòSee€DuBoseóó,€953€S.W.2d€atÐ L œ Ð652.€Ð 8 ˆ ÐÌà  àà ` àThe€defendant€claimed€in€a€pretrial€statement€to€Detective€Carter€first€that€the€victimÐ  ` Ðinjured€himself.€€She€admitted€later€in€the€same€statement€that€she€had€been€rough€with€victim€andÐ ü L  Ðforced€him€to€sit€down,€but€she€maintained€that€she€had€no€intent€to€injure€him.€€She€steadfastlyÐ è 8  Ðmaintained€that€she€did€not€willfully€strike€the€victim€with€great€force,€although€she€inadvertentlyÐ Ô$  Ðmight€have€used€more€force€than€she€should€have.€€The€code€proscribes€as€child€abuse€knowinglyÐ À  Ðtreating€a€child€ð ðòòother€than€by€accidental€means,óóðð€in€a€manner€that€results€in€serious€bodily€injuryÐ ¬ü  Ðto€the€victim.€€òòóóTenn.€Code€Ann.€ðððð€39„15„401€(Supp.€2001);€39„15„€402€(Supp.€2001)€(emphasisÐ ˜è  Ðadded).Ð „Ô  ÐÌà  àà ` àIn€child€abuse€and€child€abuse€homicide€cases,€Tennessee€appellate€courts€haveÐ \¬ Ðapplied€principles€of€Evidence€Rule€404(b)€to€approve€the€use€of€evidence€of€the€defendantððs€priorÐ H˜ Ðabuse€of€the€victim.€€òòSee,€e.g.,óó€òòDuBoseóó,€953€S.W.2d€at€654€(evidence€that€the€defendant€hadÐ 4„ Ðpreviously€injured€the€victimððs€hand€and€head€ð ðwas€relevant€to€two€closely€related€material€issues:Ð  p Ðintent€and€absence€of€accidentðð);€òòState€v.€Evangeline€Combsóó,€No.€E2000„0281„CCA„R3„CD,€slip€op.Ð  \ Ðat€53€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.,€Knoxville,€Sept.€25,€2002)€(despite€the€defendants€making€no€claim€ofÐ øH Ðaccident€in€injuring€child€victim,€€evidence€was€admissible€to€show€that€the€defendants€injured€theÐ ä4 Ðvictim€ð ðknowingly,€which€clearly€infers€òònon„accidentalóó€conduct,ðð€as€a€means€of€proving€the€offenseÐ Ð  Ðof€aggravated€child€abuseðð)€(emphasis€in€original);€òòState€v€Lacyóó,€983€S.W.2d€686,€693€(Tenn.€Crim.Ð ¼  ÐApp.€1997)òòóó€(ð ð[A]s€in€òòDuBoseóó,€the€evidence€[of€the€defendantððs€prior€assaults€against€the€victim]€wasÐ ¨ø Ðrelevant€to€the€[material]€issues€of€intent€and€absence€of€accident.ðð).òòóóÐ ”ä ÐÌà  àà ` àWe€believe,€however,€that€these€cases€are€factually€distinguishable€from€the€presentÐ l¼ Ðcase;€in€the€child€abuse€cases€we€have€reviewed,€the€use€of€evidence€that€the€defendant€abused€theÐ X ¨ Ðchild€before€he€or€she€committed€the€assault€under€review€was€accompanied€by€contextual€facts.€Ð D!” ÐThese€facts€helped€to€guide€an€inquiry€into€the€defendantððs€intent€or€lack€of€accident€or€mistake€inÐ 0"€  Ðthe€case€on€trial.€€For€instance,€in€òòDuBoseóó,€the€trial€court€admitted€evidence€that,€at€different€timesÐ #l! Ðprior€to€the€day€of€the€fatal€assault€upon€the€sixteenth„month„old€victim,€the€defendant,€who€was€theÐ $X" Ðlive„in€boyfriend€of€the€victimððs€mother,€had€injured€the€victimððs€hand€and€his€head,€the€latterÐ ô$D # Ðresulting€in€ð ðthe€development€of€scar€tissue€between€the€scalp€and€the€skull,ðð€òòóóand€that€the€defendantÐ à%0!$ Ðwas€hostile€toward€the€victim€because€he€reminded€the€defendant€of€the€victimððs€father,€whom€theÐ Ì&"% Ðdefendant€disliked.òò€€DuBoseóó,€953€S.W.2dòò€óóat€651.òòóó€€In€light€of€the€relationship€of€the€defendant€to€theÐ ¸'#& Ðvictim€and€to€his€mother€and€that€the€prior€assaults€resulted€in€injuries€to€the€victim,€proof€of€theÐ ¤(ô#' Ðð ðinjuries€was€highly€probative€of€both€his€intent€to€harm€the€child€and€also€that€the€fatal€injury€wasÐ )à$( Ðnot€accidental.ðð€òòId.óó€at€654.€€Ð |*Ì%) ÐÐ h+¸&* Ðà  àà ` àIn€òòEvangeline€Combsóó,€€this€court€approved€the€stateððs€use€of€extensive€ð ðbackgroundððÐ ° Ðevidence€that€included€evidence€of€long„term€abuse€inflicted€upon€a€then€minor€victim.€€The€courtÐ œì Ðfound€that€ð ðevidence€of€the€Defendantsðð€hostility€and€abusive€behavior€toward€[the€victim]€isÐ ˆØ Ðrelevant€to€demonstrate€their€intent€to€confine€or€imprison€her€[and€their]€guilty€knowledge€that€theirÐ tÄ Ðactions€caused€serious€bodily€injury,€and€rebuts€any€notion€that€the€systematic,€long„term€abuse€ofÐ `° Ðthe€victim€was€an€accident€or€mistake.ðð€€òòEvangeline€Combsóó,€slip€op.€at€53.€Ð L œ ÐÌà  àà ` àIn€òòLacyóó,€the€eòòóóvidence€showed€that€the€five„year„old€victim€bled€to€death€as€a€resultÐ $ t Ðof€€ð ðmultiple€blows€to€the€buttock€area.ðð€€òòLacyóó,€983€S.W.2d€at€690.€€The€trial€court€admitted€evidenceÐ  ` Ðthat€two€years€before€the€fatal€injuries€were€administered,€the€defendant,€who€was€the€boyfriend€ofÐ ü L  Ðthe€victimððs€mother,€had€inflicted€numerous€injuries€upon€the€victim,€including€ð ðbruising€to€his€rightÐ è 8  Ðtemple,€right€eyelid,€and€right€ear€lobe€.€.€.€[and€b]ruises€on€his€abdomen€and€on€his€left€elbow[,€b]urnÐ Ô$  Ðmarks€.€.€.€on€[the€victimððs]€left€buttock€and€lower€left€leg[,]€blistering€burn€marks€on€his€shoulder,Ð À  Ðright€buttock,€and€right€heel.ðð€€òòId.óó€at€689.€The€medical€expert€who€described€these€injuries€opinedÐ ¬ü  Ðthat€they€were€ð ðconsistent€with€òòa€pattern€of€physical€abuseóó.ðð€€òòId.óó€at€693€(emphasis€added).€€€€Ð ˜è  ÐÌà  àà ` àWe€are€struck€by€salient€distinctions€between€these€cases€and€the€present€case.€òòóó€In€theÐ pÀ Ðpresent€case,€the€state€offered,€without€contextual€information,€evidence€of€a€solitary€incident€thatÐ \¬ Ðoccurred€a€month€before€the€victim€received€his€fatal€injuries.€€This€proof€showed€that€the€defendantÐ H˜ Ðhit€the€victim€with€her€hand,€but€there€was€no€proof€that€the€incident€resulted€in€injuries€to€the€victimÐ 4„ Ðor€that€the€striking€resembled€the€later€fatal€assault.€Although€Ms.€Norris€described€the€blows€asÐ  p Ðrepeated€and€forceful€and€testified€that€she€was€angered€enough€to€discuss€the€event€with€her€husbandÐ  \ Ðand€to€call€the€apartment€manager,€she€did€not€òòper€seóó€articulateòòóó€the€striking€as€brutal€or€excessive.€Ð øH ÐThe€state€illustrated€no€other€instances€of€the€defendant€striking€the€victim,€and€no€pattern€of€suchÐ ä4 Ðconduct€was€implicated.€€Moreover,€the€defendant€had€no€familial€or€other€close€relationship€withÐ Ð  Ðthe€victim€from€which€emanated€chronic€hostility€toward€the€victim.€Ð ¼  ÐÌà  àà ` àUnder€the€circumstances,€we€hold€that€the€isolated€incident€narrated€by€Ms.€NorrisÐ ”ä Ðshould€not€have€been€admitted;€it€was€not€relevant€to€establish€that€the€defendant€acted€knowinglyÐ €Ð Ðwhen€she€fatally€injured€the€victim€or€to€rebut€the€defendantððs€claim€of€accidental€injury.€€We€believeÐ l¼ Ðthat€the€findings€of€the€òòDuboseóó,€òòLacyóó,€and€òòEvangeline€Combsóó€courts€are€buttressed€by€the€presenceÐ X ¨ Ðof€multiple€assaults€or€an€abusive€pattern€that€resulted€in€visible€injuries€or€scars,€belying€a€claim€thatÐ D!” Ða€later€injury€was€the€result€of€accident€by€showing€a€history€of€ill€will€toward€the€victim.€€We€doubtÐ 0"€  Ðthat€an€out„of„context,€isolated€incident€fails€to€illustrate€much€of€anything€except€that€the€defendantÐ #l! Ðis€the€kind€of€person€who€bears€ill€will€toward€small€children€ð!ð€in€other€words,€that€she€had€theÐ $X" Ðpropensity€to€injure€the€victim€and€cause€his€death.€òòóóÐ ô$D # ÐÌà  àà ` àCourts€should€be€wary€of€Rule€404(b)€evidence€that€is€offered€for€other€purposes€thanÐ Ì&"% Ðpropensity€but€which,€in€reality,€involves€no€other€logical€progression€between€the€prior€bad€act€andÐ ¸'#& Ðthe€crime€under€review€and€merely€masks€propensity€as€the€connection€between€the€two.€€òòSeeStateÐ ¤(ô#' Ðv.€Leslie€Brian€Willisóó,€No.€01C01„9802„CC„00068,€slip€op.€at€11€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.,€Nashville,€JulyÐ )à$( Ð15,€1999)€(finding€no€cause„and„effect€relationship€between€a€prior€rape€against€a€different€victimÐ |*Ì%) Ðand€the€felony€murder€by€rape€on€trial,€ð ðonly€the€extrapolation€that,€if€the€defendant€intended€rapeÐ h+¸&* Ðof€a€female€in€1985,€he€must€be€the€sort€of€person€who€intended€to€rape€[the€victim€in€the€currentÐ ° Ðcase]ðð,€òòperm.€app.€deniedóó€(Tenn.€2000).€€If€the€conclusion€is€connected€to€the€premise€only€by€theÐ œì Ðvehicle€of€propensity,€Rule€404(b)€is€generally€breached.€€ð ðPropensity€evidence€by€any€other€nameÐ ˆØ Ðis€still€propensity€evidence,€and€evidence€that€is€propensity€evidence€only€is€inadmissible.ðð€€òòLeslieÐ tÄ ÐBrian€Willis,€óóslip€op.€at€11.òò€€óóThus,€the€trial€court€erred€in€allowing€Ms.€Norrisðð€testimony.€Ð `° ÐÌà  àà ` àNow,€we€must€determine€whether€the€error€requires€reversal€of€the€defendantððsÐ 8 ˆ Ðconvictions.€€òòSee€óóTenn.€R.€Crim.€P.€52(a)€(precluding€reversal€on€appeal€unless€the€errorÐ $ t Ðð ðaffirmatively€appear[s]€to€have€affected€the€result€of€the€trial€on€the€meritsðð);€Tenn.€R.€App.€P.€36(b)Ð  ` Ð(precluding€reversal€on€appeal€unless,€ð ðconsidering€the€whole€record,€error€involving€a€substantialÐ ü L  Ðright€more€probably€than€not€affected€the€judgment€or€would€result€in€prejudice€to€the€judicialÐ è 8  Ðprocessðð).€€We€observe€that€the€state€presented€a€strong€case,€which€included€the€defendantððs€pretrialÐ Ô$  Ðstatement€wherein€she€made€inculpatory€admissions.€€The€stateððs€medical€evidence€was€influential,Ð À  Ðas€contrasted€with€the€defendantððs€medical€proof,€which€appears€to€have€been€substantiallyÐ ¬ü  Ðimpeached.€€Despite€the€considerable€weight€of€the€stateððs€case,€the€jury€acquitted€the€defendant€ofÐ ˜è  Ðfelony€murder€predicated€upon€child€abuse€and€of€lesser„included€offenses€„„€convicting€her€of€theÐ „Ô  Ðleast€culpable€lesser„included€homicide€offense€of€criminally€negligent€homicide,€an€offense€that€isÐ pÀ Ðessentially€bottomed€on€accident€as€a€theory€of€homicide.€€Even€though€the€jury€convicted€theÐ \¬ Ðdefendant€of€the€aggravated€child€abuse€charge,€we€are€strongly€influenced€by€its€verdict€on€theÐ H˜ Ðhomicide€charge€that€it€was€not€unduly€or€unfairly€affected€by€Ms.€Norrisðð€testimony.€€Accordingly,Ð 4„ Ðwe€conclude€that€the€error€was€harmless.€€Ð  p ÐÌà  àà ` àFor€these€reasons,€we€decline€to€find€reversible€error€in€the€admission€of€Ms.€NorrisððsÐ øH Ðtestimony.Ð ä4 ÐÌà@ww)ìàò òIIIˆÐ ¼  Ðó óÌà  àà ` àFinally,€the€defendant€claims€that€the€trial€court€erred€in€ruling€that€Dr.€Leestma,€theÐ ”ä Ðdefense€expert,€could€not€testify€to€his€opinion€regarding€the€cause€of€the€victimððs€death.€€UnderÐ €Ð ÐTennessee€law,€expert€testimony€may€be€admitted€if€it€will€ð ðsubstantially€assist€the€trier€of€fact€toÐ l¼ Ðunderstand€the€evidence€or€to€determine€a€fact€in€issue.ðð€€Tenn.€R.€Evid.€702.€€An€expert€witness€isÐ X ¨ Ðone€who€is€qualified€ð ðby€knowledge,€skill,€experience,€training€or€education.ðð€€òòId.óó€€Admission€ofÐ D!” Ðexpert€testimony€is€a€matter€within€the€discretion€of€the€trial€court,€and€that€discretion€will€not€beÐ 0"€  Ðdisturbed€on€appeal€unless€it€has€been€abused.€€òòCoe€v.€Stateóó,€17€S.W.3d€193,€226„27€(Tenn.€2000);Ð #l! ÐòòState€v.€Begleyóó,€956€S.W.2d€471,€475€(Tenn.€1997).Ð $X" ÐÌà  àà ` àIn€this€case,€however,€we€are€unable€to€review€the€lower€courtððs€exercise€of€discretionÐ à%0!$ Ðin€excluding€Dr.€Leestmaððs€testimony.€€The€record€before€us€contains€no€defense€proffer€of€what€Dr.Ð Ì&"% ÐLeestmaððs€testimony€would€have€been€with€respect€to€the€matters€about€which€he€was€not€allowedÐ ¸'#& Ðto€testify.€€As€our€supreme€court€has€observed,Ð ¤(ô#' ÐÌà8  àIn€order€for€an€appellate€court€to€review€a€record€of€excluded€evidence,€it€isÐ |*Ì%) Ðfundamental€that€such€evidence€be€placed€in€the€record€in€some€manner.€€When€it€isÐ h+¸&* Ða€document€or€exhibit,€this€is€done€simply€by€having€the€exhibit€marked€forÐ ° Ðidentification€only€and€not€otherwise€introduced.€òòWhen,€however,€it€consists€of€oralÐ œì Ðtestimony,€it€is€essential€that€a€proper€offer€of€proof€be€made€in€order€that€theÐ ˆØ Ðappellate€court€can€determine€whether€or€not€exclusion€was€reversible.óóÐtÄÐ Ð  ÐÌòòState€v.€Goadóó,€707€S.W.2d€846,€853€(Tenn.€1986)€(emphasis€added).€€We€hold€that€the€defendantÐ L œ Ðwaived€appellate€review€of€this€issue€by€failing€to€preserve€Dr.€Leestmaððs€proposed€opinionÐ 8 ˆ Ðtestimony€on€the€record.Ð $ t ÐÓÓÌà  àà ` àWe€note€additionally€that€the€record€contains€no€indication€that€the€defense€contestedÐ ü L  Ðthe€medical€examinerððs€testimony€regarding€the€cause€of€death,€that€being€multiple€blunt€forceÐ è 8  Ðinjuries€to€the€head.€€Rather,€the€true€issue€in€this€case€focused€on€the€mechanism€by€which€theÐ Ô$  Ðvictim€received€those€injuries.€€Thus,€in€the€absence€of€an€offer€of€proof€of€Dr.€Leestmaððs€proposedÐ À  Ðtestimony,€we€are€at€a€loss€to€conjecture€how€his€testimony€might€have€changed€the€course€of€theÐ ¬ü  Ðtrial.Ð ˜è  ÐÌà  àà ` àFinding€no€harmful€error,€we€affirm.Ð pÀ ÐÌÌÌÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à___________________________________€Ð  \ Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àJAMES€CURWOOD€WITT,€JR.,€JUDGE