ÿWPC‘ ÍQH`ê@@ùFøPȲI§é¥¦yëÿà/ 09ÂX6Y\^dý  íLc¨t‚¼@gŒcàÅ&Nd C¢€ª?›fÿK'æÅmߺœ…ic<ƒ 0$áº[Á¡Ë%¹ú`²ao• ößÄÔS>¨m¾­ÏLŒE->Sëi ðXP¸âô//§ûù¸x»ŸéÙÒƒF÷SKpïì¹OáÉL3fóµþ®µ›8°j‰¸dU. µÆ&ÛñzÈ 9ýKº@}¼ Ü4Ó)n\ íiœ…)£@)™DgÊNj+&ãYÂ~¿„säÿ|›2q»ÒF[D—=Y„‰)d$ÞNRF‚ºô(mf)×)™õæ¦;–ÿöù@‘äl°s781K* P™ç#ò…S¶³Jß탉¸§@çç9ˆ'Aî»ñ°Ã¶q$µÏNÈਈ¸`áÜ ¶Úpy_Ad%ü Œ;õµöáì5VíVÚ¢W0¢^!l¾ :D‡H>Ca:cæ½%¤»€÷\qd¶\mQiœs­P[pI¦Yk³:ÖfÂîn; ÖsÚ§[ïÈ·PÉ\0¬ À‚3\±þ'*eÈ{‚à ¶—FÃð‰b %\U@b 0Ÿ¢UNA«^ : wF zJ ÒÄ 4–ª¹ m»ÆÒƘÆ^Æ$#ÁêN«UN­­Eûûûûûûûûûûûûûûûûûûûû 0DýýýýbAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA 0IIII BKK 0»h D3# D-V 0Kƒƒ ASÎÆ! 0»ç 0D¢ A«æ»(ƒð Z‹(Times New Roman (wØ $¡¡Ô  ÔÑ  ÑÑ€..ÑÑ8€Õ»»dXXdì8ÑÑ ýý ÑÓ  Ó(í€"  Z6Times New Roman Regular ¡Ý ƒR‹Ò$ÝÔ  ÔÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôç™ ò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔAt€trial,€the€State€agreed€with€the€trial€court€that€it€was€proper€to€merge€the€especially€aggravated€robberyÐ ° Ðconviction€with€the€felony€murder€conviction.€€On€appeal,€the€State€points€out€in€a€footnote€in€its€brief€that€it€is€settledÐ tÄýC Ðlaw€that€a€defendant€may€properly€be€convicted€of€both€felony€murder€and€the€underlying€felony.€€òòSeeóó€òòState€v.€Ralphóó,Ð ° Ð6€S.W.3d€251,€256€(Tenn.€1999);€òòState€v.€Dentonóó,€938€S.W.2d€373,€379€n.€14€(Tenn.€1996).€€However,€the€State€agreedÐ tÄ Ðto€the€erroneous€merger€in€the€trial€court,€an€action€that€bars€it€relief€in€this€appeal.€€òòSeeóó€Ô_ÔT.R.A.P.Ô_Ô€36(a).€€Accordingly,Ð 8ˆ Ðthe€issue€of€whether€the€trial€court€erred€by€merging€the€especially€aggravated€robbery€conviction€with€the€felony€murderÐ üL Ðconviction€is€not€before€us.€€Our€opinion€considers€only€whether€the€evidence€was€sufficient€to€support€the€felony€murderÐ À Ðconviction.Ò~•)â  ˜C:\PROGRA~1\COREL\WORDPE~1\TEMPLATE\CUSTOM~1\REVISE~1.WPTC:\Program Files\Corel\WordPerfect Office 2000\Template\Custom WP Templates\revised standard opinion.wptOo”)M%Z»Progra3|xÿU‹ÿÀÀÀLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5‚Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5„Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5…Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5˜HP LaserJet 8000 Series PSØÚØÚÚØØÚ0(ÆúI Z‹6Times New Roman Regular(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó- ù-(“G2‹Ò$¤¤Ý ƒØ !ÝÔ  ÔÑ  ÑÑ€.ÑÑ8€Œ»»d d 8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  ÚóóÔ€ô`@ò»»Ô d(“3™$££Ý ƒØ !ÝÔ  ÔÑ  ÑÑ€.ÑÑ8€Œ»»d d 8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝVVVV'ÿÿdxd)!ÈÈÈÈdxdx( ±þ$’’ò òFigure€Ú  Ú1Ú  Úó ó^_X`YEþÿ<<CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(“3™$¢¢Ý ƒØ !ÝÔ  ÔÑ  ÑÑ€.ÑÑ8€Œ»»d d 8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ý($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó óX[Z&OLE 2.0 Box <=8ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿCÿÿ HKKKKÝ ƒØ !ÝÔ  ÔÑ  ÑÑ€.ÑÑ8€ »»d dÈ8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÑ  ÑÔ€¼RQ»»»ÔÑ8€côXXdê»»d 8Ñà@ttìàÔ‡îDRQÔIN€THE€COURT€OF€CRIMINAL€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEˆÐ ° Ðà@õõ%ìàAT€JACKSONÔ#†¼RQ»îîD#ԈРÖ& ÐÓ  Óà @ àà @` àAssigned€on€Briefs€November€8,€2000Ð üL ÐÔ‡XMX»¼RQÔÌò òÔ#†¼RQ»XXM*#ÔSTATE€OF€TENNESSEE€v.€JAMES€L.€COLEÔ‡XMX»¼RQÔó óÐ úJ ÐÌà@@½½ìàò ò€Appeal€from€the€Criminal€Court€for€Shelby€CountyÐ ú J Ðà@@øøìàNo.€97„09527„28€€€€€€Chris€Craft,€JudgeÐ æ 6 ÐÌÌà@@ìì*ìàßA€V) °°` d€÷E<©` AßÐ ªú  ÐÌà@@TTìàNo.€W2000„00056„CCA„R3„CD€„€Filed€December€20,€2000Ð ¥õ  ÐÌßA€V) °°` dE<|` AßÐ }Í  Ðó óÌÓ  ÓThe€Defendant,€James€L.€Cole,€appeals€as€of€right€from€his€first€degree€felony€murder€conviction.€Ð xÈ  ÐOn€appeal,€he€asserts€that€the€evidence€was€insufficient€to€support€his€conviction.€€We€hold€that€theÐ d´ Ðevidence€was€sufficient€to€support€the€Defendantððs€conviction;€accordingly,€we€affirm€the€judgmentÐ P  Ðof€the€trial€court.Ð <Œ ÐÓ”ÓÌò òTenn.€R.€App.€P.€3€Appeal€as€of€Right;€Judgment€of€the€Criminal€Court€Affirmedó óÐ d ÐÌòòÓ  ÓÔ#†¼RQ»àXM“#ÔÔ‡XMX.¼RQÔDavid€H.€Welles,€J.óó,€delivered€the€opinion€of€the€court,€in€which€òòJoseph€M.€Ô_ÔTiptonÔ_Ôóó€and€òòJamesÐ ì< ÐÔ_ÔCurwoodÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔWittÔ_Ô,€Jr.,€JJ.óó,€joined.Ð Ø( ÐÌTony€N.€Ô_ÔBraytonÔ_Ô€and€Larry€Ô_ÔNanceÔ_Ô,€Assistant€Public€Defenders,€€Memphis,€Tennessee,€for€theÐ ° Ðappellant,€James€L.€Cole.Ð œì ÐÌPaul€G.€Summers,€Attorney€General€and€Reporter;€R.€Stephen€Ô_ÔJobeÔ_Ô,€Ô_ÔAssitantÔ_Ô€Attorney€General;Ð tÄ ÐWilliam€L.€Gibbons,€District€Attorney€General;€and€Jerry€Harris,€Assistant€District€Attorney€General,Ð `° Ðfor€the€appellee,€State€of€Tennessee.Ð L œ ÐÓ±ÓÌà@@OO&ìàò òOPINIONÐ $"t! ÐÌó óÔ#†¼RQ»XXMà#ÔòòóóÓ  ÓÔ€XMX»¼RQÔòòÔ‡XMXXXMÔóóà  àThe€Defendant€was€indicted€for€the€offenses€of€first€degree€premeditated€murder,€first€degreeÐ ü#L# Ðfelony€murder,€and€especially€aggravated€robbery,€all€arising€from€the€death€of€Mack€Henderson,Ð è$8 $ Ðalso€known€as€Mark€Henderson€and€ð ðElvis.ðð€€After€a€jury€trial,€the€Defendant€was€convicted€of€theÐ Ô%$!% Ðlesser„included€offense€of€second€degree€murder,€first€degree€felony€murder€as€charged,€andÐ À&"& Ðespecially€aggravated€robbery€as€charged.€€The€trial€court€merged€both€the€second€degree€murderÐ ¬'ü"' Ðconviction€and€the€especially€aggravated€robbery€conviction€with€the€first€degree€felony€murderÐ ˜(è#( Ðconviction,€and€it€imposed€a€life€sentence.Ô_Ô׃×Ý ƒ*#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×Ô_ԀР„)Ô$)ý Їà  àThe€proof€at€trial€established€that€the€victim,€commonly€known€as€ð ðElvis,ðð€lived€in€a€roomingÐ ° Ðhouse€in€Memphis.€€He€sporadically€did€some€cleaning€work€for€the€owner€of€a€mechanic€shop,€andÐ œì Ðhe€mostly€kept€to€himself.€€On€May€5,€1997,€the€victim€died€as€a€result€of€blunt€force€trauma€to€theÐ ˆØ Ðhead.€€The€medical€examiner€testified€that€the€victimððs€injuries€were€caused€by€a€minimum€of€threeÐ tÄ Ðseparate€blows€to€the€head.€€The€blows€caused€multiple€fractures€to€the€victimððs€skull,€resulting€inÐ `° Ðthe€complete€splitting€of€the€skull.€€A€thirty„inch€iron€pipe€was€found€next€to€the€victimððs€body,€andÐ L œ Ðthe€medical€examiner€testified€that€the€pipe€could€have€caused€the€victimððs€injuries.€€However,€theÐ 8 ˆ Ðmedical€examiner€also€testified€that€numerous€other€objects€could€have€caused€the€victimððs€injuries.€Ð $ t ÐThe€pipe€was€tested€for€fingerprints,€but€none€were€detected.€€Officers€with€the€Memphis€PoliceÐ  ` ÐDepartment€established€that€it€was€not€surprising€to€find€no€fingerprints€given€the€rusted€surface€ofÐ ü L  Ðthe€pipe.€€The€pipe€was€not€tested€for€the€presence€of€any€type€of€human€tissue.Ð è 8  ÐÌà  àAt€the€time€of€the€victimððs€death,€Willie€Roosevelt€Perkins€and€Timothy€Young€both€livedÐ À  Ðat€the€same€rooming€house€as€the€victim.€€They€both€knew€the€victim€and€the€Defendant,€whom€theyÐ ¬ü  Ðidentified€in€court.€€Mr.€Perkins€testified€that€on€the€evening€of€May€5,€1997,€he€saw€the€victimÐ ˜è  Ðsitting€on€a€concrete€block€in€the€backyard€of€the€residence.€€Mr.€Perkins€was€standing€at€the€top€ofÐ „Ô  Ðthe€back€steps€of€the€rooming€house.€€He€said€that€he€heard€ð ðthe€first€two€licks,ðð€and€then€he€saw€theÐ pÀ ÐDefendant€strike€the€victim€in€the€head€with€an€iron€pipe.€€He€said€that€the€Defendant€hit€the€victimÐ \¬ Ðin€the€head€two€times€and€once€on€the€left€side€of€the€face.€€The€Defendant€then€took€the€victimððsÐ H˜ Ðbillfold€from€his€pocket.€€As€the€Defendant€started€to€leave€through€an€alley,€Mr.€Perkins€saw€theÐ 4„ ÐDefendant€hold€up€the€victimððs€money€and€say,€ð ðI€hit€the€jackpot.ððÐ  p ÐÌà  àMr.€Perkins€did€not€call€the€police€because€he€ð ðdidnððt€want€to€be€involved.ðð€€Instead,€he€leftÐ øH Ðthe€area,€after€telling€Timothy€Young,€who€was€also€in€the€backyard,€ð ðI€didnððt€see€nothing.ðð€€Mr.Ð ä4 ÐPerkins€did€not€say€anything€else€to€Mr.€Young.€€Mr.€Perkins€did€not€tell€the€police€what€he€saw€untilÐ Ð  Ðthe€police€came€to€talk€to€him.Ð ¼  ÐÌà  àMr.€Young€testified€that€he€was€sitting€on€a€television€set€in€the€backyard,€when€he€heard€theÐ ”ä ÐDefendant€ask€the€victim€for€his€ð ðpouch,ðð€which€was€around€the€victimððs€waist.€€The€Defendant€thenÐ €Ð Ðstruck€the€victim€with€a€pipe€or€a€stick.€€Mr.€Young€saw€the€Defendant€hit€the€victim€in€the€head€andÐ l¼ Ðin€the€left€arm.€€After€hitting€the€victim,€the€Defendant€took€the€victimððs€ð ðpouch.ðð€€Mr.€YoungÐ X ¨ Ðtestified€that€it€was€common€knowledge€that€the€victim€received€a€check€on€the€first€of€the€month.€Ð D!” ÐMr.€Young€remembered€that€Mr.€Perkins€said€something€to€him€after€the€incident,€but€could€notÐ 0"€  Ðremember€what€Mr.€Perkins€said€to€him.Ð #l! Ðâ âÐ $X" Ðà  àOn€cross„examination,€Mr.€Young€admitted€that€when€he€first€gave€a€statement€to€the€police,Ð ° Ðâ âhe€did€not€tell€the€police€that€he€saw€the€Defendant€hit€the€victim.€€Instead,€he€told€the€police€that€heÐ œì Ðheard€the€fence€shaking,€that€he€heard€a€ð ðpopping€sound,ðð€and€that€he€then€saw€the€DefendantÐ ˆØ Ðcoming€from€the€area€of€the€noise.€€The€Defendant€ð ðpointed€his€finger€at€me€and€shook€his€finger€atÐ tÄ Ðme.€€Then€he€got€further€up€through€the€alley,€and€he€held€up€something,€and€then€he€hollered€out,Ð `° ÐððI€told€that€boy€to€move.€€I€.€.€.€told€that€boy€to€move€when€I€was€staying€here.ðððð€€However,€Mr.Ð L œ ÐYoung€maintained€at€trial€that€in€addition€to€what€he€told€the€police,€he€saw€the€Defendant€hit€theÐ 8 ˆ Ðvictim.Ð $ t ÐÌà  àAnthony€Ellis€testified€for€the€defense.€€He€testified€that€he€was€at€the€rooming€house€on€theÐ ü L  Ðevening€of€May€5,€1997€and€that€he€saw€the€victim€murdered.€€He€said€that€the€person€who€struckÐ è 8  Ðthe€victim€was€not€the€Defendant;€he€claimed€that€he€had€not€seen€the€Defendant€before.€€He€alsoÐ Ô$  Ðtestified€that€he€saw€someone€whom€he€did€not€know€give€$200€to€Mr.€Perkins.€€However,€Mr.€EllisÐ À  Ðadmitted€giving€three€false€statements€to€the€police.€€In€the€first€statement,€Mr.€Ellis€falsely€told€theÐ ¬ü  Ðpolice€that€his€name€was€Timothy€Morris.€€In€the€second€statement,€Mr.€Ellis€falsely€told€the€policeÐ ˜è  Ðthat€the€murderer€was€Steve€Bland.€€He€explained€at€trial€that€he€told€the€police€Steve€Bland€wasÐ „Ô  Ðguilty€of€the€murder€because€Mr.€Bland€had€ð ðcutðð€a€friend€of€his.€€He€testified€that€Steve€Bland€didÐ pÀ Ðnot€kill€the€victim;€he€just€lied€to€the€police.€€Mr.€Ellis€admitted€that€he€had€been€previouslyÐ \¬ Ðconvicted€of€automobile€burglary€and€burglary€of€a€building.€€€Ð H˜ ÐÔ#†XMXXXMò #ÔÌà  àThe€Defendant€argues€that€the€evidence€was€insufficient€to€support€his€conviction.€€Ô‡XMXXXMÔTennesseeÐ  p ÐRule€of€Appellate€Procedure€13(e)€prescribes€that€ð ð[f]indings€of€guilt€in€criminal€actions€whether€byÐ  \ Ðthe€trial€court€or€jury€shall€be€set€aside€if€the€evidence€is€insufficient€to€support€the€findings€by€theÐ øH Ðtrier€of€fact€of€guilt€beyond€a€reasonable€doubt.ðð€€Evidence€is€sufficient€if,€after€reviewing€theÐ ä4 Ðevidence€in€the€light€most€favorable€to€the€prosecution,€any€rational€trier€of€fact€could€have€foundÐ Ð  Ðthe€essential€elements€of€the€crime€beyond€a€reasonable€doubt.€€òòJackson€v.€Virginiaóó,€443€U.S.€307,Ð ¼  Ð319€(1979).€€In€addition,€because€conviction€by€a€trier€of€fact€destroys€the€presumption€of€innocenceÐ ¨ø Ðand€imposes€a€presumption€of€guilt,€a€convicted€criminal€defendant€bears€the€burden€of€showing€thatÐ ”ä Ðthe€evidence€was€insufficient.€€òòMcBee€v.€Stateóó,€372€S.W.2d€173,€176€(Tenn.€1963);€òòsee€alsoóó€òòStateÐ €Ð Ðv.€Evansóó,€838€S.W.2d€185,€191€(Tenn.€1992)€(citing€òòState€v.€Graceóó,€493€S.W.2d€474,€476€(Tenn.Ð l¼ Ð1976),€and€òòState€v.€Brownóó,€551€S.W.2d€329,€331€(Tenn.€1977));€òòState€v.€Tuggleóó,€639€S.W.2d€913,Ð X ¨ Ð914€(Tenn.€1982);€òòHolt€v.€Stateóó,€357€S.W.2d€57,€61€(Tenn.€1962).Ð D!” ÐÌà  àIn€its€review€of€the€evidence,€an€appellate€court€must€afford€the€State€ð ðthe€strongest€legitimateÐ #l! Ðview€of€the€evidence€as€well€as€all€reasonable€and€legitimate€inferences€that€may€be€drawnÐ $X" Ðtherefrom.ðð€€òòTuggleóó,€639€S.W.2d€at€914€(citing€òòState€v.€Cabbageóó,€571€S.W.2d€832,€835€(Tenn.Ð ô$D # Ð1978)).€€The€court€may€not€ð ðre„weigh€or€re„evaluate€the€evidenceðð€in€the€record€below.€€òòEvansóó,€838Ð à%0!$ ÐS.W.2d€at€191€(citing€òòCabbageóó,€571€S.W.2d€at€836).€€Likewise,€should€the€reviewing€court€findÐ Ì&"% Ðparticular€conflicts€in€the€trial€testimony,€the€court€must€resolve€them€in€favor€of€the€jury€verdict€orÐ ¸'#& Ðtrial€court€judgment.€€òòTuggleóó,€639€S.W.2d€at€914.òòóóÐ ¤(ô#' ÐÌà  àTo€convict€the€Defendant€of€first€degree€felony€murder,€the€State€was€required€to€prove€thatÐ |*Ì%) Ðthe€Defendant€killed€the€victim€in€the€perpetration€of€a€particular€enumerated€felony,€which€in€thisÐ h+¸&* Ðcase€was€robbery.€€òòSeeóó€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€39„13„202(a)(2).€€Before€a€defendant€can€be€convictedÐ ° Ðof€felony€murder,€the€intent€to€commit€the€underlying€felony€must€exist€prior€to€or€concurrent€withÐ œì Ðthe€killing.€€òòSeeóó€òòState€v.€Buggsóó,€995€S.W.2d€102,€107€(Tenn.€1999).€€Ô#†XMXXXMz%#ÔÔ‡XMXXXMÔThe€Defendant€asserts€that€thereÐ ˆØ Ðwas€insufficient€evidence€to€establish€the€identity€of€the€Defendant€as€the€person€who€killed€theÐ tÄ Ðvictim€and€that€there€was€insufficient€evidence€that€the€Defendant€had€a€prior€intent€to€rob€the€victim.€Ð `° ÐWe€disagree.€€Both€Mr.€Perkins€and€Mr.€Young€identified€the€Defendant€as€the€person€who€struckÐ L œ Ðthe€victim€with€a€pipe.€€Mr.€Young€heard€the€Defendant€demand€the€victimððs€ð ðpouchðð€prior€to€hittingÐ 8 ˆ Ðhim€with€the€pipe,€and€Mr.€Young€testified€that€it€was€common€knowledge€that€the€victim€receivedÐ $ t Ða€check€on€the€first€of€the€month.€€The€killing€took€place€on€the€5th€day€of€the€month.€€Mr.€PerkinsÐ  ` Ðtestified€that€he€saw€the€Defendant€take€the€victimððs€billfold,€and€he€saw€the€Defendant€hold€up€theÐ ü L  Ðvictimððs€money€and€say,€ð ðI€hit€the€jackpot.ðð€€While€there€may€have€been€some€inconsistencies€in€theÐ è 8  Ðtestimony€of€Mr.€Perkins€and€Mr.€Young,€and€while€Mr.€Ellis€testified€that€the€Defendant€did€not€killÐ Ô$  Ðthe€victim,€these€conflicts€were€matters€for€the€resolution€of€the€jury.€€From€the€evidence€presented,Ð À  Ðwe€believe€that€any€rational€juror€could€have€found€beyond€a€reasonable€doubt€that€the€DefendantÐ ¬ü  Ðkilled€the€victim€during€the€perpetration€of€a€robbery.€€Thus,€the€evidence€was€sufficient€to€supportÐ ˜è  Ðthe€conviction.Ð „Ô  ÐÌà  àThe€judgment€of€the€trial€court€is€affirmed.€€Ð \¬ ÐÌÔ#†XMXXXMŠ0#Ô€€€Ð 4„ Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à___________________________________€Ð  p Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àDAVID€H.€WELLES,€JUDGE