WPC kDF<KtB"sOy!dYǎ8~ QDMms~%eHoRꨲN\c0oB.7چo\Gv  =c E h7FvK^Y0?4K2GvNNEypmEz+ 'Kw|exfuPE n*p hŽJ#m!Bmpv~ 8OJrCi_ύ6w:'gG ZB4 w[++ B>#$^rUv:ly&p :MGN#Ua| 1_\`3$i}}ȕAa-ZgG tFAEƪb %\^ b 0nUNwD4H\ zk m # 1    p 726Nh 1uj 72E 0 cU@vb 0 B 0 D3r D- 0K ASp 06 0D AcU-s (`$.8dd8    ("  Z6Times New Roman RegularPH,bk23|x 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.wptUHP LaserJet 4000 Series PCL 6,,,,0(CEMU]emu}AutoList1(1)(1)(1)(1)(1)(1)(1)(1)Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5 (1)3#37=CIQYag1.a.i.(1)(a)(i)1)a)i)(;3$2#  0  .3  0  (9 Z(Times New Roman  - -(|G2k2$ !.8dXXd8         0  - d(|3AI$ !.8dXXd8     VVVV'dxd)!dxdx( $ Figure  1  ^_X`YE<<CLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(|3AI$ !.8dXXd8     ($$   1  X[Z&OLE 2.0 Box <=8C HKKKK !.8dd8     _   8_XXdd8@ttlINTHECOURTOFCRIMINALAPPEALSOFTENNESSEE  @kk$ATNASHVILLE#l #Ԉ &    @  @` February12,2002Session L X_X #XX_#STATEOFTENNESSEEv.ALLENLEEDOTSON,SR.X_X  J @@ DirectAppealfromtheCircuitCourtforMarionCounty  J @@No.4897ThomasA.Greer,Judge  6 @@*AV) ` dE<` A   @@TTNo.M200101970CCAR3CDFiledOctober21,_2002_   AV) ` dE<|` A }     Thedefendantchallengesthesufficiencyofevidence,thetrialcourtsfailuretodeclareamistrial, x  andthe knowingjuryinstructionasitrelatestohisseconddegreemurderconviction.Wehold d noreversibleerroroccurredattrialandaffirmthejudgmentfromthetrialcourt. P  Tenn.R.App.P.3AppealasofRight;JudgmentoftheCircuitCourtAffirmed  (x   #X_#X_X.JohnEverettWilliams,J.,deliveredtheopinionofthecourt,inwhichJosephM.Tiptonand P AlanE.Glenn,JJ.,joined. < WilliamH.Ortwein,Chattanooga,Tennessee,fortheappellant,AllenLeeDotson,Sr.  PaulG.Summers,AttorneyGeneral&Reporter;MichaelE.Moore,SolicitorGeneral;MichaelW.  Catalano,AssociateSolicitorGeneral;JamesMichaelTaylor,DistrictAttorneyGeneral;andSteven  M.Blount,AssistantDistrictAttorneyGeneral,fortheappellee,StateofTennessee. t @@OO& OPINION #XX_#X_X 8!  #XX_ #  X_X XThedefendant,AllenLee_Dotson_,Sr.,andhisson,AllenLeeDotson,Jr.,wereindictedfor #`" thefirstdegreemurderofCecilBolton.Thefatherandsonweretriedtogether.Atthecloseofthe #L# proof,thetrialcourtgrantedthesonsmotionforjudgmentofacquittal,therebyremovingfromthe $8 $ jurysconsiderationtheguiltoftheson.Afterdeliberations,thejuryreturnedaguiltyverdictagainst %$!% thedefendantforseconddegreemurder,alesserincludedoffenseoffirstdegreemurder.Laterthe &"& trialcourtsentencedthedefendant,asaRangeIstandardoffender,totheDepartmentofCorrection '"' fortwentytwoyears.Inthisappeal,thedefendantcontends: (#(  (83"3"  X X X$,XX$32(  1  )3  0 4   therewasinsufficientevidencetosupporttheconvictionforseconddegree )$) murder;3݌p*%*4 4  Ќ  "3"  32(  2  )3  0 4   thetrialcourterredinfailingtodeclareamistrial;and3݌\+&+4 4  Ќ  "3"  32(  3  )3  0 4   the knowingjuryinstructionasitrelatestotheseconddegreemurderwas H,', erroneousandlessenedtheStatesburdenofproof.3݌#4-(-4 4  #Ќ  X X X     XFacts    X[OAllen_Dotson_,Jr.andMarkStevenswereattemptingtohaullumberandothermaterialson x atrailerwhenthevehicle_jackknifed_ԀonHighway156onSouth_Pittsburg_ԀMountain.Bothlanesof d trafficwereblockedforapproximatelythirtyminutes.Thevictim,CecilBolton,droveuptothe P  pointofblockage.Wordswereexchangedbetweenthevictimand_Dotson_,Sr.,whowasthen <  attemptingtorenderassistancetohisson.Ascuffleensuedbetweenthedefendantandthevictim ( x intheinteriorofthevictimstruck,andsomedamagewasdonetothevictimsvehicleasaresult.  d ThevictimproceededbackdownthemountaintotheSouth_Pittsburg_ԀPoliceStation.Hemadea  P  complainttothedispatcheronduty,whonotifiedtheMarionCountySheriffsDepartment.A  <  sheriffsdeputywasdispatchedtothesceneoftheoriginalaltercation.Whileatthepolicestation, (  thevictimstatedhisintentwastogohome,gethisdeerrifle,and takecareofitmyself.      Thevictimtookadifferentroutetohisresidence,gothis3030deerrifleandammunition,   andthenleftaftertellinghiswifehewasgoingtoinitiateawarrantforthedamagehehadsuffered.    t Meanwhile,_Dotson_,Jr.andacompanionhadmovedthetrailercontainingthelumbertoan ` offroadlocationattheintersectionofHighway156and_Orme_ԀMountainRoad.Thedefendanthad L gonetohisresidence,gottenashotgunandammunition,andgonetothisintersection.Hispresence 8 inthewoodsonthesideoftheroadwasapparentlyunknownto_Dotson_,Jr.andhiscompanions. $t  ` Thevictimarrivedattheintersectionandslidhisvehicletoastop.Heexitedwiththerifle L tohisshoulder,pointingitinthedirectionofthedefendant,butalsotoward_Dotson_,Jr.andhis 8 companionswhoweregenerallybetweenthetwoarmedmen.Thedefendantfiredtheshotgun, $ strikingthevictimwhoturnedandstartedtoretreat.Thedefendantfiredasecondshot,andthe  victimdroppedtherifleandcontinuedretreatingtowardtheedgeoftheroad.Athird,andpossibly  afourth,shotwerefiredbythedefendant,andthevictimclutchedhislegandfellintoaditch.    _Dotson_,Jr.rantothevictim,rolledhimover,andbeganyellingandpummelingthevictims p chest.Thedefendantcametothevictimandpokedhimwiththeshotgun._Dotson_,Jr.roseand,as \  hewaswalkingaway,said, [_D]addy_,let[]sgo.Thedefendantfiredoncemoreatcloserange, H! dischargingafatalshottothevictimshead. 4"    #p!  X  Analysis   $\" o  Xa  X    X Thedefendantsfirstissueisthattheevidencewasinsufficienttosupportaconvictionfor %4!$ murderintheseconddegree.X_XXX_Whenanaccusedchallengesthesufficiencyoftheevidence,thisCourt & "% mustreviewtherecordtodetermineiftheevidenceadducedduringthetrialwassufficient to ' #& supportthefindingbythetrieroffactofguiltbeyondareasonabledoubt.Tenn.R.App.P.13(e). (#' Thisruleisapplicabletofindingsofguiltpredicatedupondirectevidence,circumstantialevidence, )$( oracombinationofdirectandcircumstantialevidence.Statev.Brewer,932S.W.2d1,18(Tenn. *%) Crim.App.1996). l+&* ЇIndeterminingthesufficiencyoftheevidence,thisCourtdoesnotreweighorreevaluatethe  evidence.Statev.Cabbage,571S.W.2d832,835(Tenn.1978).NormaythisCourtsubstituteits  inferencesforthosedrawnbythetrieroffactfromcircumstantialevidence.Liakasv.State,199  Tenn.298,305,286S.W.2d856,859(1956).Tothecontrary,thisCourtisrequiredtoaffordthe t Statethestrongestlegitimateviewoftheevidencecontainedintherecord,aswellasallreasonable ` andlegitimateinferenceswhichmaybedrawnfromtheevidence.Statev.Tuttle,914S.W.2d926, L  932(Tenn.Crim.App.1995). 8   $ t Thetrieroffact,notthisCourt,resolvesquestionsconcerningthecredibilityofthewitnesses,  ` theweightandvaluetobegiventheevidence,aswellasallfactualissuesraisedbytheevidence.  L  Id.InStatev.Grace,theTennesseeSupremeCourtstated, Aguiltyverdictbythejury,approved  8  bythetrialjudge,accreditsthetestimonyofthewitnessesfortheStateandresolvesallconflictsin $  favorofthetheoryoftheState.493S.W.2d474,476(Tenn.1973).      Becauseaverdictofguiltremovesthepresumptionofinnocenceandreplacesitwitha   presumptionofguilt,theaccusedhastheburdeninthisCourtofillustratingwhytheevidenceis   insufficienttosupporttheverdictreturnedbythetrieroffact.Statev.Tuggle,639S.W.2d913,914 p (Tenn.1982);Grace,493S.W.2dat476.#X_XXX_!#Ԁ \  H Thedefendantarguedthatthekillingwasintheheatofpassionandthus,voluntary 4 manslaughter.Thetrialjudgegavethejuryinstructionsrangingfromfirstdegreemurderto  p criminallynegligenthomicide.Thejuryheardandrejectedthedefendantstheoryofvoluntary  \ manslaughter.Wewillnotgainsaytheirfindings.Theevidencesufficientlysupportstheverdict. H Thisissueiswithoutmerit. 4    Thedefendantnextcontendsthatamistrialshouldhavebeengrantedduetoanoutburstby   thecodefendantandresponsiveparticipationfromtheaudience.Thedefendantfurthercontends  thattheerrorwasaggravatedbythetrialjudgesactionsandstatementsfollowingthedisturbance.    DuringcrossexaminationofthedefendantbytheState,thecodefendant,_Dotson_,Jr., l proclaimed, HereletmeleavethecourtroomsoIdonthavetolistentothisshit.Thiswas X  answeredbyaspectatorintheaudience, Werehavingtolistentoit,too,Allen.Welostsomeone, D! youdidnt.Thedefendantimmediatelymovedforamistrial,whichwasoverruled. 0"   #l! Attheconclusionof_Dotson_,Sr.stestimony,thejudgecalledforalunchbreakandaddressed $X" thejurorsasfollows: $D #  X X XTHECOURT:0 Allright,itsthelunchhour.WhatIwant_yall_Ԁtodo,Iwantthe %0!$ _Dotsons_Ԁtogointhejuryroomamomentwhileweclearthe &"% courtroom,andthejury,theylltake_yall_Ԁstraightonouttolunch. '#& Weregoingtobereassemblinghereat10minutesafter1:00,so (#' both_Dotsons_Ԁjuststayhereamoment.Idontthink_yall_Ԁneedto )$( becommingledwithvariousandsundrypeople.|*%)   X XDefendantthenrenewedhismotionformistrialduetothejudgesstatements. h+&* Ї XThedecisionofwhethertograntamistrialiswithinthesounddiscretionofthetrialcourt.  SeeStatev._McKinney_,929S.W.2d404,405(Tenn.Crim.App.1996).ThisCourtwillnotdisturb  thatdecisionabsentafindingofanabuseofdiscretion.Statev._Adkins_,786S.W.2d642,644  (Tenn.1990). Generallyamistrialwillbedeclaredinacriminalcaseonlywhenthereisamanifest t necessityrequiringsuchactionbythetrialjudge.Statev._Millbrooks_,819S.W.2d441,443(Tenn. ` Crim.App.1991). Thepurposefordeclaringamistrialistocorrectdamagedonetothejudicial L  processwhensomeeventhasoccurredwhichprecludesanimpartialverdict.Statev.Williams,929 8  S.W.2d385,388(Tenn.Crim.App.1996).Indeterminingwhetherthereisa manifestnecessity $ t foramistrial, noabstractformulashouldbemechanicallyappliedandallcircumstancesshould  ` betakenintoaccount.Statev._Mounce_,859S.W.2d319,322(Tenn.1993)(quotingStatev.  L  Jones,218Tenn.378,384;403S.W.2d750,753(1966).citationomitted).  8   $  Wedeclinetoholdthattheunsolicitedoutburstsorthetrialjudgesremarks,eitherseparately   orincombination,rosetothelevelofprejudiceresultingina manifestnecessityforamistrial.      Thedefendantsfinalissueisthatthetrialjudgeerroneouslychargedthejuryastosecond   degreemurderandlessenedtheStatesburdenofproof.Adefendanthastheconstitutionalrightto p completeandaccuratejuryinstructionsonthelaw;thefailuretodosodeprivesadefendantofthe \ constitutionalrighttoajurytrial.Statev._Teel_,793S.W.2d236,249(Tenn.1990).Theomission H injuryinstructionsofanelementoftheoffenseissubjecttoconstitutionalharmlesserroranalysis, 4 namely,whethertheStatecanproveharmlesserrorbeyondareasonabledoubt.Statev.Walker,29  p S.W.3d885,893(Tenn.Crim.App.1999).  \  H Thepertinentjurychargegiveninthiscaseisasfollows: 4  X X XApersonactsknowinglyifthatpersonactswithanawarenesseitherthathisorher   conductisofaparticularnature,orthataparticularcircumstanceexists.    X @ X? X?TheStateconcedesthatthechargewasinerrorbutcontendsitwasharmlesserror.Our  supremecourtinStatev._Ducker_,27S.W.3d889,896(Tenn.2000),proclaimedseconddegree  murdertobestrictlya resultofconductoffense.However,_Ducker_wasnotaseconddegree l murdercase.Inalatermurdercase,reversibleerrorwasfoundforfailuretochargeseconddegree X  murderasa resultofconductonlyoffense.Statev.KeithT._Dupree_,No.W199901019CCAR3 D! CD,2001Tenn.Crim.App.LEXIS65,at*11(Tenn.Crim.App.,Jan.30,2001,atJackson),no 0"  _applic_.forperm.toapp.filed.Thetrialcourtin_Dupree_omittedentirelytheresultoftheconduct #l! element. $X"  $D # ThedefendantplaceshisrelianceonStatev.Page,81S.W.3d781(Tenn.Crim.App.2002). %0!$ Pagewasconvictedforseconddegreemurderafterstrikingthevictimoncewithabaseballbat. &"% Pagescounselarguedthatthedefendantwasintoxicatedtosuchanextentthathedidnotappreciate '#& hisconductanddidnotthinktheblowwasthatsevere.Counselsuggestedtheoffensewas (#' criminallynegligenthomicide.TheStaterespondedbyemphasizingspecificallythenatureofthe )$( conductandcircumstancessurroundingtheconductelementsintheinstruction.Thechargelater |*%) givenbythetrialjudgegavecredenceandconfirmationtotheStateserroneouscontentionthatthe h+&* jurycouldfindthedefendantguiltybasedupon thenatureoftheconductor thecircumstances  surroundingtheconduct.ItisimportanttonotethatthecourtinPagesaid, Werecognizethatin  many,ifnotmost,homicidetrials,themens_rea_juryinstructionsutilizedinthiscasewouldbe  harmlesserror.Id.at789. t  ` Followingtheguidancesetforthin_Dupree_andlaterinPage,itisclear,astheStateconcedes, L  theonlyelementoftheknowinginstructionapplicabletoseconddegreemurderisthe resultof 8  conductelement.Thedefendantscorrectcontentionthattheinstructionasgivenwaserrorandthe $ t Statesconcessiondonot,however,concludeourinquiryastoreversibleerror.  `   L  TheStatecontendsthattheerrorwasharmless.Therefore,wemustexaminewhetherthe  8  Statehasprovenharmlesserrorbeyondareasonabledoubt. $     Thedefendantscounselintheinstantcasedidmakereferencestothedefendantsstateof   mindandofferedalternativedefenses,defenseofothersandselfdefense.Counselargued   specificallythatthefactswereappropriateforeithervoluntarymanslaughterorselfdefense.The   State,initsrebuttalargument,unlikeinPage,madenoreferencetothenatureofthedefendants p conductorthecircumstancessurroundinghisconduct.Thedefendantsvoluntarymanslaughter \ defensedoesnotdenythatheintentionallykilledthevictim.Instead,itisanattemptedjustification H foranintentionalkilling.VoluntarymanslaughterisdefinedinTennesseeCodeAnnotatedsection 4 3913211as theintentionalorknowingkillingofanotherinastateofpassionproducedby  p adequateprovocationsufficienttoleadareasonablepersontoactinanirrationalmanner.  \  H WeconcludetheinstantfactsaredistinguishablefromPage,inthatthedefendantdidnot 4 denytheintentionalkillingofthevictimandtheStatefocused,anditsproofshowed,thatthe   defendantfiredashotgunatcloserangeintotheheadofanunarmedvictimwhowaslyingonthe   ground.Thedefendantsconductanddefensesdidnotcallintoquestionwhetherthedefendants  conductwaslikelytoproducedeath.TheStateisthereforecorrect,andtheyhaveproventheerror  washarmlessbeyondareasonabledoubt.Accordingly,weaffirmthejudgmentofthetrialcourt.   l  X   D!  0"   #l!  $X"    @4  @`  @  @  @  @  @< ___________________________________ $D #  @4  @`  @  @  @  @  @< JOHNEVERETTWILLIAMS,JUDGE