WPCVd kWG_LIȚ]iX~&{e XMdNΔ^LI]Bs'clr+hHF)3H<ܿl&wR8"K^LAq$SCxf2+Z7:fn y =E0l z6s=G `L~xmu^Orh+!C~JDjʪ.r !ګ&s'shds LU۸VIi5g`8oOjҟ՛ Dg87,ivs҃JznIy+yIl N~ ZiMwivNYy&)DSɫCsst.z,lssKzc9k#e8G"{0%eB*\UT^wQy-HSq?#" % N 0 UN{\ 0D% zi z/NU@C UN[N z%N 0U z( 0tEWNY 0[ 0  zYN+ 0- 0 z N 0 0! 0;" z"V#N($b*$ 02$ 0$ z%B&N' 0' 0' zv((N) 0) 0k* z ++NX, 0Z, 0, z-.N. 0. 0e/ z'00Ns1 0u1 0C2 z2m3N?4 0A4 04 z5 6N6 06 07 0f8 z8 Bx99 0g: D5 ; D-@; 0Km;N; AS; < 0< 0Dw= A= 0f> 0> z??N@ 0@ 0A z@BBNC 0C 0>LD zDENE 0E 0F zG,HNH 0I 0I zJ>KNL 0L 0L zMPNN"O 0$O 0O zP*QNQ 02Q 00R z,SS^ xTwT4TTT mT 0:T 0YT 0_WU 0 U 0V 0BX B*HZ D/rZ 0Z D/\ 0\ 06] 0] 0:^ 0^_ 0<z_ 1e_U6`U>Q`U*` 1u` 72.a `ab\\IB01S08\KNOXCLERK3,,,,0(`$.8dd8    ("  Z6Times New Roman Regular R R$      1  A  _AlexandroRiverawasalsoconvictedoffirstdegreemurderofAaronSmith.SeeStatev.AlejandroRivera,  No.E200200491CCAR3CD(Tenn.Crim.App.,atKnoxville,Dec.1,2003).(#$  0   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.wpt 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.wpt(I Z(Times New Roman Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(9 Z6Times New Roman RegularC:\PROGRA~1\COREL\WORDPE~1\TEMPLATE\CUSTOM~1\REVISE~1.WPTC:\Program Files\Corel\WordPerfect Office 2000\Template\Custom WP Templates\revised standard opinion.wpt R$      2  A  _SeeBrutonv.UnitedStates,391U.S.123(1968).  *+ (_2623  ..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.wpt*G+G (_25   /%` ` hp x /23  ../%` ` hp x /   *8+8 (_24  ," hp x ,23  ..," hp x ,  *5+5 (_23 ` ) hp x )23  ..) hp 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.wpt*2+2 (_22  &hhp x &23  ..&hhp x &  */+/ (_21  #p x #23  ..#p x # 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Cocke P.J.Curwood WittHickmanSeviervilleBledsoeSchmutzer I]tGatlinburgRamada CrimGiovihad had A]sHoneycuttClennyStricklandAdkinsAlexandroMcMinnAlejandroRenfroBruton !.8Sdd8     _   S8 XXdd8@ttZSINTHECOURTOFCRIMINALAPPEALSOFTENNESSEE  @WW$ATKNOXVILLE#SZ #Ԉ &    @  @` AssignedonBriefsDecember14,2004 L X XS #SXX ##DEBORAHGRAHAM X XSԀ #SXX z#v.STATEOFTENNESSEEX XS  J @@ AppealfromtheCircuitCourtforCockeCounty  J @@No.27,620IIIRexHenryOgle,Judge  6 @@*AV) ` dE<` A   @@TTNo.E200400370CCAR3PCFiledDecember30,_2004_   AV) ` dE<|` A }     Thepetitioner,DeborahGraham,appealsthetrialcourtsdenialofherpetitionforpostconviction x  relief.Thesingleissuepresentedforreviewiswhetherthepetitionerwasdeniedtheeffective d assistanceofcounselattrial.Thejudgmentisaffirmed. P  Tenn.R.App.P.3;JudgmentoftheTrialCourtAffirmed  (x   #SX #X X.SGaryR.Wade,P.J.,deliveredtheopinionofthecourt,inwhichJ.CurwoodWitt,Jr.,andAlan P E.Glenn,JJ.,joined. < JamesR.Hickman,Jr.,Sevierville,Tennessee,fortheappellant,DeborahGraham.  PaulG.Summers,AttorneyGeneral&Reporter;JohnH.Bledsoe,AssistantAttorneyGeneral;and  AlSchmutzer,Jr.,DistrictAttorneyGeneral,fortheappellee,StateofTennessee.  @@OO& OPINION #SXX #X XS ` #SXX G #X XS    ThepetitioneristhetwinsisterofDeniceSmith,whowasmarriedtothevictim,Aaron 8!  Smith.ThepetitionerandDeniseSmithwerecodefendantsattrial.OnJuly23,1997,thevictim $"t! wasfatallywounded#SXX #X XSԀbyagunshottothebackofhishead.Anautopsyestablishedthatthevictim #`" hadalsobeenshotintheearandwaist.TheevidenceattrialestablishedthattheSmithswere #L# involvedindivorcelitigationwhichincludedacustodybattleovertheirtwochildren.Itwas $8 $ establishedthatduringthecourseofthelitigationandaboutoneyearpriortothemurder,the %$!% defendantSmithhadthreatenedtokillthevictimonthreeseparateoccasionsintheeventshelost &"& custodyofherchildren.Therewasalsoproofattrialthatthefingerprintsofthepetitionerwere '"' foundonthelabelofapackageaddressedandmailedtothevictiminGatlinburgfromMiami, (#( Florida.Beforedeliveryofthepackage,postalofficialswereinformedbyacaller,whoidentified )$) himselfasCarlSandersofBismark,NorthDakota,thatthepackagecontainedillegaldrugs.Upon p*%* openingthepackageinthepresenceofauthorities,thevictimremarked,"I'vebeensetup."After \+&+ afullinvestigationbythepolice,nochargeswereleviedagainstthevictim. H,',  4-(- _  OthercircumstancesestablishedthatthedefendantSmithhadtakenthetwochildrento  Floridawhereshemetthepetitioner,twomennamedGeorge,andathirdmanbythenameof  AlexandroRivera.OneofthetwoSmithchildren,whotestifiedasawitnessforthestateattrial,  observedRiverainthepossessionofapairofhandcuffsandoverheardthepetitioneradmitthat"they t [had]hurtsomebody,"towhichthedefendantSmithsaid,"[I]twaseasy."Thechildwitnessthen ` heardRiverareply,"No,we'vekilledsomebody." L    Itwasstipulatedattrialthattwodaysbeforethemurder,thedefendantSmithhadrenteda $ t carwhileinFloridaandhaddrivenapproximatelytwentyfivehundredmilesoverafivedayperiod.  ` AstatetrooperfromMcMinnCounty,Tennessee,hadrecordsestablishingthathehadissueda  L  speedingtickettoapersonidentifyinghimselfasDavidAntonioRiveraofMiamiwithinthattime  8  period.Theofficerrecalledthatoneorperhapstwowomenwereinthevehicleatthetime.An $  investigationrevealedthatAlexandroRiverahadafalsedriver'slicensewhichborethenameDavid   AntonioRivera.     Theopinionofthiscourtinthedirectappealsummarizedastatementthatthepetitionergave   toNewYorkpoliceatthetimeofherarrest: p 8  DefendantGrahamsaidthatsheandAlexborrowedthecar,rentedbyDefendant \ Smith,totraveltoMichigan.AlexandDefendantGrahamplannedtostopin H Tennesseetopayavisittothevictim.DefendantGrahamstatedthatAlexwanted 4 toteachAaronSmithalesson,becauseAlexhadheardthatAaronSmithwasabusive  p toDefendantSmithandtheirchildren.GrahamusedDefendantSmith'sCampAcres  \ cardtogainentrancetothecampgroundsandshowAlexwhereAaronSmithlived. H GrahamandAlexstayedatthecampgroundforabouttenminutes.Then,Alexdrove 4 GrahambacktoGatlinburgandletheroutinfrontoftheRamadaInn.Grahamsaid   thatshethoughtthatAlexwas"justgoingtotalktoAaronandaskhimifhewanted   tofightsomeonebesideswomenandchildren."Riverareturnedtwohourslater,pale  andupset.Astheydrovetowardtheinterstate,AlextoldGrahamthathehadgone  backtotheSmithhouseandenteredthroughthegarage.AsAlexwasgoingthrough  thehouse,hefoundseveralguns.AaronSmithreturnedhomeunexpectedlyand l surprisedAlex.AlextoldGrahamthat"he[AaronSmith]surprisedme.Ihadtocap X  him."AlexshotAaronthreetimesandthenAlexwentbackintothehousetomake D! itlooklikesomeonehadburglarizedthehome.Then,Alexthrewtwohandgunsin 0"  thewoodsandkeptonehandgunforhimself.#l!   Statev.DeborahGraham&DeniceSmith,No.E199902248CCAR3CD,slipop.at7(Tenn. $D # Crim.App.,atKnoxville,March29,2001). %0!$   Later,thepetitionerwasfoundinpossessionofelevenpiecesofjewelrywhichhadbeen '#& takenfromtheresidenceofthevictim'smotheronthesamedayofthemurder.Anotherstate (#' witness,MartinGiovi,testifiedthathehadlivedwiththepetitionerforaperiodoftimeandthatshe )$( hadaskedhimonthreeorfourseparateoccasionstokillthevictim.Hespecificallyrecalleda |*%) conversationinAugustof1997,whenthepetitionersaid,"Itisfinallydone....Aaronisdead," h+&* explainingthatsheandherfatherhadpaidsomeonetokillthevictim.Giovirecalledthatthe  petitioneradmittedthatshehadgonetothevictim'sresidenceandparticipatedintheshootingofthe  victiminthedriveway.      AfemaleinmateintheCockeCountyJailtestifiedthatpriortotrialshehadoverheardthe ` defendantSmithsaythatshehadhiredhertwinsister'sboyfriendtokillthevictim.Theinmatesaid L  thatshelatertalkedwiththepetitionerwhoexplainedthatherboyfriend,Alex,had"accidentally" 8  shotthevictim. $ t   ThepetitionerandthedefendantSmithwereconvictedoffirstdegreemurderofAaron  L  Smith.Eachreceivedalifesentencewiththepossibilityofparole.Thiscourtaffirmedthe  8  convictionsandsentencesondirectappeal.Seeid.OnSeptember17,2001,applicationfor $  permissiontoappealtooursupremecourtwasdenied. #  1      ׀     OnApril15,2002,thepetitionerfiledapetitionforpostconvictionreliefalleging,among   otherthings,thatshewasdeniedtheeffectiveassistanceofcounsel,thatthestatewasguiltyof   prosecutorialmisconduct,thatherrighttodueprocesshadbeendenied,andthatshewasdeniedher p righttoafairandimpartialjuryandherrighttoaspeedytrial.Attheevidentiaryhearing,Attorney \ DeniseStapleton,whorepresentedthedefendantSmithattrial,testified,asdidRenfroB.Baird,III, H whorepresentedthepetitionerattrial.Ms.Stapleton,whohadfiledamotionforseverance, 4 expressedconcernthatshewasnotadequatelypreparedtorepresentthedefendantSmithandhad  p beenineffectivebecauseshedidnotknowuntiljustbeforetrialwhetherherclientandthepetitioner  \ wouldbejointlytried.Sherecalledthattherewereoveronehundredpotentialwitnesseswhichwere H ultimatelypareddownto"amorereasonablenumber"andassertedthatwhileshedidthebestshe 4 couldunderdifficultcircumstances,shedidnot"feellikethatwasgoodenough."Whenexamined   bythepostconvictionjudge,whohadalsoconductedthetrial,AttorneyStapleton,whileconceding   thatthedefendantSmithhadbeengrantedacontinuanceofseveraldaysjustpriortotrialinorder  topursueanegotiatedpleaagreement,complainedthattherulingrequiringjoinderonedaypriorto  thetrialwasinadequate,therebylimitinghereffectiveness.Oncrossexamination,Ms.Stapleton  concededthatshehadanticipatedthatthedefendantSmithandthepetitionerwouldbetriedtogether, l especiallybecauseeachhadreceivednoticeofthesametrialdate.Sheneverthelessexpressedthe X  firmbeliefthatitwouldhavebeenbetterforthedefendantSmithtoeithergototrialbyherselfor D! betriedjointlywithboththepetitionerandRivera.Ms.Stapletonwasunabletoarticulate,however, 0"  anychangeinstrategy,otherthanpossiblyhavingthedefendantSmithtestify,thatwouldhave #l! occurredhadthetrialsbeensevered.Shealsoacknowledgedthatshehadtalkedtoalmostallofthe $X" potentialwitnesses,hadhadtimetoadequatelyconferwiththedefendantSmithinpreparationfor $D # trial,andhadhadtheopportunitytoconsiderthepossibledefenses.Shedescribedherselfas %0!$  "generallyprepared."Ms.StapletonwasunabletorecallwhetherRiverawastriedseparately &"% becausehehadgivenastatementtothepolicethatimplicatedthedefendantSmith. #  2      ׀Sheexplained   herbeliefthatshehadbeenineffectiveinherrepresentationofthedefendantSmithasfollows:  8  IfeellikeIhadtotakeageneralizedapproachwiththeproofandbereadyfor t differentcontingencies,whichIdiddothebestthatIcould.But...whenI'mtrying ` acase,...Iknowexactlywhomywitnessesaregoingtobe,...Ihavemyquestions L  writtenout....IhaveatheorythatImtryingtoprove....AndI'mjustgenerally 8  alotmorepreparedbecauseIknowwhowillbethewitnesses,whowillnot;what $ t statementsarecomingin,whatstatementsarenot;whatevidenceiscomingin,what  ` evidenceisnot. L    AttorneyStapletonexpressedparticularconcernthatthepetitioner,whowasoutofstate,hadeven   moredifficultywithherpreparationfortrial.Itwasherbeliefthatthepetitioner" lookedmore   guilty"thanthedefendantSmith. \   AttorneyBaird,whohadtriedhundredsofcriminalcasesandbetweentenandtwenty  \ homicides,testifiedthathehadbeeninvolvedintherepresentationofthepetitionerforayearand 4 ahalfpriortotrialandrecalledthatthetrialdatehadbeencontinuedtwoorthreetimes,atleastonce   attherequestofthestate.Hedescribedhimselfashaving"workedreallyhard,"having"interviewed  alotofwitnesses,"andbeing"reallywellprepared"beforethestaterequestedacontinuance.Itwas l hisopinionthatthepetitionerwould"havehadabetterchanceattrialthefirsttimearound"thanthe D! lastsetting.AttorneyBairdrecalledfilingseveralpretrialmotionsincludingamotiontodismiss #l! baseduponthelackofaspeedytrial,amotiontosuppressthepetitioner'spretrialstatement,a $D # motiontosever,andmotionstolimittheintroductionofotherpotentialevidence.Itwashisopinion &"% thatthepetitionerwouldhavehadastrongerdefenseiftriedseparatelyfromthedefendantSmith. (#' AttorneyBaird,whileconcedingthathecouldhavebeenmoreeffective,testifiedthathewas  adequatelyprepared,anticipating"everytypeofscenario."LikeAttorneyStapleton,hebelievedthat  hisrepresentationcouldhavebeenbetterhadheknownearlierthatthepetitionerwouldhavebeen ` triedjointlywiththedefendantSmith.Hesummarizedhislevelofpreparednessfortheultimatetrial 8  dateasfollows:  ` 8  [A]sfarasputtingthetimeinandtalkingtothewitnessesandtryingtobeprepared  8  asattorneys...,Ithink...that'scorrect[thatIwasaspreparedasjustbeforethelast $  continuance].IdaresaythattheresbeenacaseinmycareerthatIspentasmuch   timeonandworkedashardonasthiscase,andIguessshedmoretearsthanthis   case....    8   ` Butasfarastimeandpreparation,...Ican'tthinkofanycaseI'veeverhad   thatIspentasmuchtimeasIdidinthisone.p   AttorneyBairdacknowledgedthatitwasunderstoodfromtheverybeginningthatthecaseswereto 4 betriedtogetherunlesshewassuccessfulinhismotionforseverance.Heconcededthatafterthe  p motionsforseveranceweredeniedthedaybeforetrial,neitherhenorAttorneyStapletonaskedfor  \ acontinuance.ItwashisassessmentthatthedefendantSmithchosenottotestifywhenitwas H discoveredthatshesentletterstoafellowinmateatthejailwhichwere"sodamaging,...Iwould 4 havebeenveryreluctanttoputheronthewitnessstand."ItwashisopinionthatAttorneyStapleton   effectivelyrepresentedthedefendantSmith.     Attheconclusionoftheevidentiaryhearing,thepostconvictioncourtruledthatboththe  petitionerandthedefendantSmithhadbeeneffectivelyrepresentedattrial.Thecourtobservedthat  theissuesofseveranceandconsolidationhadbeenpresentedinthedirectappeal,thatneitherthe l petitionernorthedefendantSmithhadbeenabletoestablishprejudiceasaresultofthejointtrial, X  andthatthejuryinstructionsrequiredseparatedeliberationsastothepetitionerandthedefendant D! Smith,safeguardingagainstany"spillovereffect." 0"    Inthisappeal,thepetitionerarguesthatthetrialcourterredbydenyingreliefbecausecounsel $X" forthedefendantSmithadmittedthatundersimilarcircumstancesshehadbeenineffectiveand $D # becauseherowncounselhadlearnedthatshewouldbetriedjointlywiththedefendantSmithonly %0!$ twodaysbeforethetrial.Thepetitionerarguesthateventhoughjoinderofthetwodefendantswas &"% proper,asdeterminedondirectappeal,hertrialcounselwasrenderedineffectivebythelackoftime '#& toprepareafterbeinginformedoftheruling. X XXX  (#'   )$(   Inapost-convictionproceeding,ofcourse,thepetitionerbearstheburdenofprovinghis  allegationsbyclearandconvincingevidence.Tenn.CodeAnn.40-30-210(f)(1997). #  3      ׀Claimsof   ineffectiveassistanceofcounselareregardedasmixedquestionsoflawandfact.Statev.Honeycutt,  54S.W.3d762,766-67(Tenn.2001);Statev.Burns,6S.W.3d453,461(Tenn.1999).Onappeal, t thefindingsoffactmadebythetrialcourtareconclusiveandwillnotbedisturbedunlessthe ` evidencecontainedintherecordpreponderatesagainstthem.Brooksv.State,756S.W.2d288,289 L  (Tenn.Crim.App.1988).Theburdenisonthepetitionertoshowthattheevidencepreponderated 8  againstthosefindings.Clennyv.State,576S.W.2d12,14(Tenn.Crim.App.1978).#X XX X G#X XXX ԀThecredibility $ t ofthewitnessesandtheweightandvaluetobeaffordedtheirtestimonyarequestionstoberesolved  ` bythetrialcourt.Batesv.State,973S.W.2d615(Tenn.Crim.App.1997).Whenreviewingthe  L  applicationoflawtothosefactualfindings,however,ourreviewisdenovo,andthetrialcourt's  8  conclusionsoflawaregivennopresumptionofcorrectness.Fieldsv.State,40S.W.3d450,457-58 $  (Tenn.2001);seealsoStatev.England,19S.W.3d762,766(Tenn.2000).   #X XXX L# X XXX   Whenapetitionerseekspost-convictionreliefonthebasisofineffectiveassistanceof   counsel,hemustfirstestablishthattheservicesrenderedortheadvicegivenwerebelow therange   ofcompetencedemandedofattorneysincriminalcases.Baxterv.Rose,523S.W.2d930,936 p (Tenn.1975).Second,hemustshowthatthedeficiencies actuallyhadanadverseeffectonthe \ defense.Stricklandv.Washington,466U.S.668,693(1984).Shouldthepetitionerfailto H establisheitherfactor,heisnotentitledtorelief.Oursupremecourtdescribedthestandardofreview 4 asfollows:  p 8   ` Becauseapetitionermustestablishbothprongsofthetest,afailuretoprove H eitherdeficiencyorprejudiceprovidesasufficientbasistodenyreliefonthe 4 ineffectiveassistanceclaim.Indeed,acourtneednotaddressthecomponentsinany   particularorderorevenaddressbothifthedefendantmakesaninsufficientshowing   ofonecomponent.   Goadv.State,938S.W.2d363,370(Tenn.1996).    Onmattersofstrategy,thepetitionerisnotentitledtothebenefitofhindsight.SeeAdkins X  v.State,911S.W.2d334,347(Tenn.1994).Appellatecourtsmaynotsecondguessareasonably D! basedtrialstrategyandcannotgrantreliefbaseduponsound,butunsuccessful,tacticaldecisions 0"  madeduringthecourseoftheproceedings.Id.Thisdeferencetocounselapplies,however,only #l! whentrialcounselhasmadethedecisionsafteradequatepreparations.SeeCooperv.State,847 $X" S.W.2d521,528(Tenn.Crim.App.1992). $D #   Inthisinstance,neithercounselforthedefendantSmithnorcounselforthepetitionersought &"% acontinuanceafterthedenialoftheirmotionsforseverance.Attheevidentiaryhearing,the '#& complaintsofAttorneysBairdandStapletonweredirectedatthetrialjudge'sfailuretoruleonthe (#' motionforseveranceuntiloneortwodaysbeforetrialandhowthataffectedtheirperformance.  Whilethecomplaintsofthepetitionerinthisproceedingsuggestthatthiscourtshouldinferageneral  ineffectivenessonthepartofcounselcausedbytherulingonjoinder,theonlyfaultthatcanbe  directedtowardtrialcounselishisfailuretoseekacontinuanceofthetrialbaseduponthetiming t ofthedenialofthemotionforseverance.Otherwise,theevidenceintherecorddemonstrates ` overwhelminglythatthepetitionerhadseasonedcounselwhohadpreparedextensivelyfortrialand L  who,despiteanycomplaintsaboutthetimelinessofthejoinderrulingbythetrialcourt,hadprovided 8  representationwellwithinthestandardsoftheprofession. $ t   Mostimportantly,thereisnoindicationofanyprejudice.Eventhoughtrialcounselforthe  L  petitionermayhavebeendisappointedbythecontentoftheorderdenyingaseverance,allofthe  8  evidenceintherecordestablishesthatAttorneyBairdwaspreparedforeverypossiblealternative. $  Therulingofthiscourtondirectappealconfirmedthatthetrialcourthadproperlydeniedthemotion   forseveranceandthatthepetitionerandthedefendantSmithwerenotentitledtoseparatetrials.   Moreover,hadamotiontocontinuebeenfiledbythepetitionerorthedefendantSmith,itisourview   thatthemotionwouldnothavebeengranted.Fortheverdicttohavebeenoverturnedonthat   ground,thepetitionermusthaveestablishedthatthetrialcourthadabuseditsdiscretionaryauthority p byinsistingthatthetrialgoforward.Finally,therecordestablishesthatAttorneyBairdcouldnot \ havebeenanybetterpreparedforthetrial.Asarguedbythestate,thereisnoindicationinthis H recordthatafewdaysorafewweeksmorewouldhaveenhancedtheperformanceofthedefense 4 attorneys.Inshort,thepetitionerhasfailedtoestablishthatAttorneyBairdwasdeficientinhis  p performanceorthattheresultsofthetrialmighthavebeendifferenthadtherebeenarequestfora  \ continuancemadeaftertheorderofjoinder. H   Accordingly,thejudgmentisaffirmed.   #X XX X N#   `     h     ___________________________________     `     h     GARYR.WADE,PRESIDINGJUDGE