ÿWPCÈ á„LÒg?œ·`¸¥O.ˆB‹’ˆ»ùæò(˜‘%Gë“4œ¬`cN똴 yîè&lƦÈF¥¦~,YZqöW‰©§ó–.׌“_ôk²ÍøqåŸé¿´ó½lªD³(fÂØ€E çÍô}ë®õퟶ»"ubüUü:Ñ)§ Ø ŸÑhmcø\åWà•Øoç·‹2³‡‹&šÓ”Š},”ða`ÀÍGÄ1PÚ7¢/1¸/h”bT)Aëc©<ÂÙÙ*ìy-á“F´kû(*Qœ.]^åˆé´‚\8ŸŲ,+c§™ ­l-]!ó2!³xŰ”Mé~ÐZÈÖ!Š“%È«T¶´yä®äÞ7:"–ß®£4ý’1:7^ñìÆàæ&¦þ¦ßñ´®âs19ò àÑP éœØD½O;ÕLn^t$ÆëT‚sÆ ù *úfúT™öUqtHëqùÇÛËiÇâICŽÙ”ŠxYÕËÖÑÊðW‡fQqÌüOï¾1¢šuÀOrF´³r,g]¾•tÍ °´€SIçy§@¯˜¨­É †ïöpÙ/¶Ä,}Ù eýa{6ΞáÙî£X«Y™|•ä òÝgùç×] ób %\^ b 0ˆnUNöwD4H\ zkÒå· m¹ #ÉÐ ™ ÆŸ ÆeÆ+ÆññN···E¹¹¹¹¹¹¹¹¹¹¹¹¹¹¹¹¹¹¹¹¹¹¹¹b»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»» 0ëÃÃÃà B®® 0¤Ë D5o D-¤ 0KÑÑ ASÆo 0¤5 0DÙ A«»™sL1Ï (`£ª$¡¡Ñ€.ÑÑ8€½­»»d»»d8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  Ó(í€"  Z6Times New Roman Regular ~‰/ê:i¢×+003|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.wptÿU‹ÿÀÀÀ˜\\IB01S02\CLERKJACÈÈ,,,,ÈÈ0 HODGEAntricanBledsoeRicky ArddOttingercellmaterebreathingElkinscellmatesDuboseRuanelimineLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5‚Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5„Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5…Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5- ù-(|G2}â$¤¤Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€Ô1»»dXXdé8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôæ`ò»»Ô d(|3x®$££Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€Ô1»»dXXdé8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝVVVV)ÿÿ!dxdx)!ÈÈÈÈdxdx( ±þ$’’ò òFigure€Ú  Ú1Ú  Úó ó^_X`YEþÿ<<CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(|3x®$¢¢Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€Ô1»»dXXdé8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ý($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó óX[Z&OLE 2.0 Box <=8ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿCÿÿ HKKKKÝ ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€Ô1»»ddÈ8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÑ  ÑÑ  ÑÔ€¼Ô1»»»ÔÑ8€Ž{XXdé»»d8Ñà@hhìàÔ‡î(úÔ1ÔIN€THE€COURT€OF€CRIMINAL€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEˆÐ ° Ðà@òò%ìàAT€JACKSONÔ#†¼Ô1»îî(ú #ԈРÓ# ÐÓ  Óà @ àà @` àAssigned€on€Briefs€July€13,€2004Ð öF ÐÔ‡XŽ{X»¼Ô1ÔÌò òÔ#†¼Ô1»XXŽ{#ÔSTATE€OF€TENNESSEEòòóó€v.€CHRISTOPHER€DAVID€HODGEòòóóÔ‡XŽ{X»¼Ô1Ôó óÐ ï? ÐÌà@@½½ìàò òDirect€Appeal€from€the€Circuit€Court€for€Lauderdale€CountyÐ é 9 Ðà@@øøìàNo.€7359€€€€€€Joseph€H.€Walker,€III,€Judge€Ð Ó # ÐÌÌà@@ìì*ìàßA€V) °°` d€÷E<` AßÐ ‘á  ÐÌà@@TTìàNo.€W2003„01513„CCA„R3„CD€€„€Filed€October€11,€Ô_Ô2004Ô_ÔÐ ŠÚ  ÐÌßA€V) °°` dE<]` AßÐ ^®  Ðó óÌÓ  ÓThe€defendant,€Christopher€David€Hodge,€appeals€his€conviction€of€second€degree€murder.€€TheÐ V¦  Ðdefendant€alleges€that€the€evidence€was€insufficient€to€support€the€conviction€and€that€the€trial€courtÐ ? Ðerred€in€disallowing€discovery€of€certain€information€relevant€to€preparation€of€a€defense.€€From€ourÐ (x Ðreview,€we€conclude€there€is€no€reversible€error€and€affirm€the€conviction.Ð a ÐÓÉÓÌò òTenn.€R.€App.€P.€3€Appeal€as€of€Right;€Judgment€of€the€Circuit€Court€Affirmedó óÐ ã3 ÐÌòòÓ  ÓÔ#†¼Ô1»àXŽ{›#ÔÔ‡XŽ{X.¼Ô1ÔJohn€Everett€Williams,€J.óó,€delivered€the€opinion€of€the€court,€in€which€òòNorma€McGee€Ogleóó€andÐ ¶ ÐòòAlan€E.€Glenn,€JJ.óó,€joined.Ð Ÿï ÐÌDidi€Christie,€Brownsville,€Tennessee€(on€appeal);€Gary€F.€Antrican,€District€Public€Defender,€andÐ qÁ ÐJulie€D.€Pillow,€Assistant€Public€Defender€(at€trial),€for€the€appellant,€Christopher€David€Hodge.€Ð Zª ÐÌPaul€G.€Summers,€Attorney€General€and€Reporter;€Jennifer€L.€Bledsoe,€Assistant€Attorney€General;Ð ,| ÐElizabeth€T.€Rice,€District€Attorney€General;€and€Tracey€A.€Brewer,€Assistant€District€AttorneyÐ e ÐGeneral,€for€the€appellee,€State€of€Tennessee.Ð þN ÐÓÓÌÌà@@OO&ìàò òOPINIONó óÔ#†¼Ô1»XXŽ{H#ÔÔ‡XŽ{X»¼Ô1ÔÐ ¹" " ÐòòóóÔ#†¼Ô1»XXŽ{ˆ #ÔÓ  ÓÔ€XŽ{X»¼Ô1ÔÌÓ XÓThis€case€involves€a€homicide€at€West€Tennessee€State€Penitentiary€in€a€cell€occupied€onlyÐ Œ$Ü$ Ðby€the€victim,€Ricky€Ardd,€and€the€defendant,€Christopher€David€Hodge.€€The€defendant€wasÐ u%Å % Ðindicted€for€second€degree€murder€and€convicted€by€a€jury€of€the€indicted€charge.€€Subsequently,€theÐ ^&®!& Ðdefendant€was€sentenced€as€a€multiple€offender€to€thirty„five€years€incarceration€at€100%.€€TheÐ G'—"' Ðdefendant€now€appeals€the€conviction,€alleging€insufficiency€of€the€evidence€and€error€by€the€trialÐ 0(€#( Ðcourt€in€failing€to€compel€discovery€of€certain€Department€of€Correction€records.€€Having€found€noÐ )i$) Ðreversible€error,€we€affirm€the€conviction.Ð *R%* ÐÐ ë*;&+ ÐÐ Ô+$', ÐÐ ½, (- ÐÐ ¦-ö(.ý Ðò òÓ XÓÓ  ÓFactual€BackgroundÐ ° ÐÓÓÓ XsÓÐ šê Ðó óCorporal€Michael€Ottinger,€the€institutional€investigator€at€West€Tennessee€StateÐ „Ô ÐPenitentiary,€testified€as€to€the€internal€functions€of€Unit€2,€where€this€offense€occurred.€ò òó ó€HeÐ m½ Ðexplained€that€Unit€2€consists€of€four€pods€with€two€levels€of€cells€on€each€pod.€€In€the€center€is€anÐ V¦ Ðelevated€control€room€with€a€view€of€each€pod.€€The€central€room€is€manned€constantly€by€a€corporalÐ ?  Ðrank€correctional€officer.€€In€addition,€each€pod€has€a€correctional€officer€assigned€to€it.€€All€cellsÐ ( x Ðare€equipped€with€an€emergency€call€button€that,€when€pressed,€alerts€an€auditory€alarm€and€a€visualÐ  a Ðlight€in€the€control€room.€€The€control€room€corporal€then€dispatches€the€appropriate€pod€officer€toÐ ú J Ðthe€alerting€cell.€€Unit€2€houses€maximum€security€inmates€and€inmates€serving€a€punitive€sentenceÐ ã 3  Ðfor€internal€rules€violations.€€Ð Ì   ÐÐ µ  ÐOn€May€27,€2002,€a€fight€had€erupted€in€the€general€population€units€between€two€rivalÐ žî  Ðgangs.€€Eleven€inmates€were€then€transferred€to€Unit€2€for€segregation.€€In€order€to€accommodateÐ ‡×  Ðthe€transfers€and€insure€segregation€between€gang€members,€it€was€necessary€to€shuffle€a€numberÐ pÀ  Ðof€inmates€on€Unit€2€to€different€cells.€€The€victim,€Ricky€Ardd,€though€not€involved€in€the€fight,Ð Y©  Ðwas€transferred€from€cell€15,€in€Pod€A€of€Unit€2,€to€cell€24,€with€the€defendant€as€a€cellmate.€€EachÐ B’ Ðcell€houses€two€men€and€is€approximately€eight€by€twelve€feet€in€dimension.Ð +{ ÐÐ d ÐOn€cross„examination,€Corp.€Ottinger€admitted€that€he€did€not€personally€know€whether€theÐ ýM Ðcall€button€in€cell€24€was€operational€on€the€date€of€the€offense.Ð æ6 ÐÐ Ï ÐDr.€O.€C.€Smith,€the€Shelby€County€Medical€Examiner,€testified€as€a€forensic€pathologyÐ ¸ Ðexpert.€€He€had€supervised€an€autopsy€that€was€performed€on€the€victim.€€He€noted€that€the€victimÐ ¡ñ Ðwas€five€feet,€six€inches€tall€and€weighed€145€pounds.€€Dr.€Smith€concluded€that€the€victim€died€ofÐ ŠÚ Ðstrangulation.€€He€stated€that€the€victimððs€neck€was€scraped€and€bruised€by€a€ligature.€€The€victimÐ sà Ðhad€bled€into€the€muscles€of€his€neck,€as€well€as€into€the€eyeball€covering€of€both€eyes.€€Dr.€SmithÐ \¬ Ðalso€noted€contusions€and€abrasions€on€the€back€of€the€neck,€contusions€of€the€tongue,€and€fourÐ E• Ðsuperficial,€non„fatal€puncture€wounds€on€the€victimððs€back.€€He€stated€that€the€injuries€suffered€byÐ .~ Ðthe€victim,€specifically€the€bleeding€into€tissues,€indicated€that€the€victim€did€not€die€anÐ g Ðinstantaneous€death.€€He€stated€that€the€victim€did€not€die€of€manual€strangulation€but€by€theÐ  P Ðapplication€of€a€ligature€which€left€marks€on€the€victimððs€neck.€€Dr.€Smith€was€shown€a€long€stripÐ é 9 Ðof€torn€bed€sheeting€attached€to€a€plastic€fork€that€was€later€introduced€as€an€item€seized€from€cellÐ Ò!"  Ð24.€€Dr.€Smith€opined€that€the€victimððs€injuries€were€consistent€with€strangulation€by€means€of€suchÐ »" ! Ðan€instrument.€€He€said€that€he€could€not€determine€the€time€of€death€from€the€autopsy€results.€€HeÐ ¤#ô" Ðexplained€that€it€takes€approximately€ninety€seconds€of€oxygen€deprivation€to€cause€unconsciousnessÐ $Ý# Ðand€four€minutes€of€oxygen€deprivation€to€cause€death€to€the€brain.Ð v%Æ $ ÐÐ _&¯!% ÐOn€cross„examination,€Dr.€Smith€admitted€that€he€could€not€say€for€certain€that€the€ligatureÐ H'˜"& Ðpresented€caused€the€victimððs€death.€€He€also€agreed€that€a€sleeper€hold€can€induce€unconsciousnessÐ 1(#' Ðin€approximately€fifteen€seconds.€€On€redirect€examination,€Dr.€Smith€stated€that€the€victim€wouldÐ )j$( Ðbe€expected€to€again€start€breathing€if€only€made€unconscious€by€means€of€a€sleeper€hold€of€fifteenÐ *S%) Ðseconds€duration.Ð ì*<&* ÐÐ Õ+%'+ ÐRoger€Turner,€a€special€agent€for€the€Tennessee€Bureau€of€Investigation,€testified€as€to€hisÐ ° Ðrole€in€the€investigation€of€the€victimððs€death.€€Agent€Turner€first€went€to€the€hospital€and€tookÐ ™é Ðpictures€of€the€victim.€€He€then€assisted€in€a€search€of€cell€24€at€the€prison.€€The€torn€bed€sheet€stripÐ ‚Ò Ðformerly€presented€was€found€during€this€search.€€Ð k» ÐÐ T¤ ÐSherry€Cox€was€the€correctional€officer€on€duty€for€Unit€2A€from€2:00€p.m.€to€10:00€p.m.Ð =  Ðon€May€27,€2002.€€She€stated€that€part€of€her€duties€was€to€perform€irregular€thirty„minute€checksÐ & v Ðon€each€cell.€€She€had€last€checked€on€the€victimððs€cell€at€5:45€and€observed€no€problem.€€OfficerÐ  _ ÐCox€was€out€of€Pod€A€for€fifteen€to€twenty€minutes€and€when€she€returned€at€6:00€p.m.,€theÐ ø H Ðdefendant€called€out€to€her€that€the€victim€was€unconscious.€€She€saw€the€victim€stretched€out€on€theÐ á 1  Ðcell€floor€with€one€arm€extended€and€another€under€his€body.€€Officer€Cox€issued€an€emergency€call,Ð Ê   Ðand€medical€personnel€and€yard€officers€responded.€€She€stated€that€the€defendant€had€not€called€outÐ ³  Ðto€her€prior€to€the€6:00€p.m.€call€nor€had€she€been€ordered€to€check€the€cell€by€the€corporal€in€theÐ œì  Ðcontrol€room.€€The€defendant€had,€earlier€in€the€day€during€his€shower€time,€told€her€that€the€victimÐ …Õ  Ðwas€talking€to€himself.Ð n¾  ÐÐ W§  ÐJimmy€Moore,€a€prison€nurse,€stated€he€had€administered€a€tuberculosis€skin€test€to€theÐ @ Ðdefendant€at€4:00€p.m.€on€May€27th.€€He€observed€both€the€defendant€and€the€victim€and€stated€thatÐ )y Ðthe€victim€was€watching€and€talking€to€a€television.€€Moore€responded€to€the€emergency€call€atÐ b Ðapproximately€6:06€p.m.€€At€that€time,€he€detected€no€pulse€on€the€victim.Ð ûK ÐÐ ä4 ÐCorporal€Albert€Tracy€was€the€officer€in€charge€of€Unit€2€on€May€27th€on€the€2:00€p.m.€toÐ Í Ð10:00€p.m.€shift.€€He€responded€to€the€medical€alert€at€6:00€p.m.€and€went€to€cell€24.€€The€defendantÐ ¶ Ðtold€him€that€he€had€been€trying€to€use€the€call€button.€€Later,€Corporal€Tracy€performed€a€stripÐ Ÿï Ðsearch€of€the€defendant.€€He€observed€no€injuries€to€the€defendant.Ð ˆØ ÐÐ qÁ ÐTelly€Jones,€an€inmate,€stated€that€he€was€a€cellmate€with€the€victim€prior€to€the€victimððsÐ Zª Ðremoval€to€cell€24.€€He€said€that€the€victim€objected€to€being€transferred.€€Jones€said€he€overheardÐ C“ Ðthe€defendant,€during€his€shower€time,€ask€a€guard€to€check€on€the€victim€in€cell€24.Ð ,| ÐÐ e ÐSergeant€Vicki€Kirby€served€as€chairman€of€the€Disciplinary€Board€at€the€penitentiary.€€SheÐ þN Ðrecounted€the€defendantððs€statement€at€the€disciplinary€hearing€as€follows:€ð ðAnd€the€only€thing€heÐ ç 7 Ðsaid€to€us€was€that€his€cell€partner€was€standing€at€the€door,€holding€his€chest,€cussing,€and€that€heÐ Ð!   Ðhad€been€trying€to€kick€on€the€door€and€push€the€call€button€to€notify€somebody.ððÐ ¹" ! ÐÐ ¢#ò" ÐJoe€Vernon€served€as€Internal€Investigator€of€the€penitentiary.€€He€began€his€investigationÐ ‹$Û# Ðof€the€victimððs€death€on€May€27th.€€He€recounted€finding€the€ligature„type€cord€attached€to€the€forkÐ t%Ä $ Ðin€cell€24.€€He€said€inmates€sometimes€use€these€devices€to€retrieve€items€hidden€in€vents€or€to€passÐ ]&­!% Ðitems€from€one€cell€to€another.€€Mr.€Vernon€admitted€that€the€victimððs€clothing€was€not€collectedÐ F'–"& Ðas€evidence.€€He€said€the€victim€was€in€the€segregated€unit€for€refusing€to€accept€a€cell€assignment.€Ð /(#' ÐÌÐ *Q%) ÐThe€defendant€testified€that€he€was€twenty„one€years€old,€stood€six€feet,€six€inches€tall,€andÐ ê*:&* Ðwas€a€native€of€Knoxville.€€He€said€he€was€in€the€segregation€unit€for€refusal€to€accept€a€cellÐ Ó+#'+ Ðassignment.€€He€had€not€known€the€victim€prior€to€the€transfer€on€May€27th.€€He€said€the€beddingÐ ° Ðstrip,€or€fishing€line€in€prison€parlance,€was€in€his€cell€when€he€moved€there.€€He€said€it€was€usedÐ ™é Ðto€suspend€a€sheet€to€provide€restroom€privacy.Ð ‚Ò ÐÐ k» ÐHe€testified€the€victim€was€standing,€ranting,€and€using€obscenities€after€being€moved€to€cellÐ T¤ Ð24.€€During€his€shower€period,€the€defendant€told€Officers€Cox€and€Cahill€about€the€victimððsÐ =  Ðbehavior.€€Later,€when€the€defendant€asked€the€victim€to€be€quiet,€the€victim€spat€in€the€defendantððsÐ & v Ðface€and€tackled€the€defendant.€€The€defendant€then€placed€the€victim€in€a€sleeper€hold€and€put€himÐ  _ Ðon€the€floor.€€The€defendant€said€he€did€this€four€times€and€each€time€he€would€release€the€victim,Ð ø H Ðthe€victim€would€then€get€up€and€attack€the€defendant€again.€€At€one€point,€the€victim€attempted€toÐ á 1  Ðstab€the€defendant€with€an€ink€pen.€€During€this€time,€the€defendant€said€he€repeatedly€tried€to€callÐ Ê   Ðout€verbally€to€guards€but€the€noise€level€from€other€inmates€was€too€high€for€him€to€be€heard.€Ð ³  ÐWhen€the€defendant€saw€Officer€Cox,€he€told€her€that€medical€attention€was€needed.€€The€defendantÐ œì  Ðsaid€he€had€no€idea€that€the€sleeper€hold€would€kill€the€victim€and€he€merely€intended€to€render€theÐ …Õ  Ðvictim€unconscious.€€On€cross„examination,€the€defendant€said€he€received€no€injury€from€theÐ n¾  Ðvictimððs€attacks.Ð W§  ÐÐ @ ÐCorporal€Donald€East€testified€in€rebuttal€for€the€State.€€He€was€the€control€room€officer€forÐ )y ÐUnit€2€on€May€27th.€€He€stated€the€noise€level€at€6:00€p.m.€that€day€was€ð ðpretty€quiet.ðð€€He€also€saidÐ b Ðthere€were€no€activations€of€the€call€button€for€cell€24€during€his€shift€that€day.€€The€call€button€forÐ ûK Ðcell€24€was€checked€the€following€day€and€found€to€be€in€working€order.Ð ä4 ÐÐ Í ÐOn€cross„examination,€Corporal€East€said€that€the€pod€officer€on€the€floor,€Officer€Cox,€wasÐ ¶ Ðabsent€from€the€pod€for€fifteen€to€twenty€minutes€just€prior€to€the€call€for€medical€attention€at€6:00Ð Ÿï Ðp.m.Ð ˆØ ÐÐ qÁ Ðò òÓ  ÓÓ XÓSufficiencyÐ Zª ÐÓ X¤9ÓÓ˜9ÓÐ D” Ðó óThe€defendant€contends€that€the€evidence€herein€was€insufficient€to€prove€that€the€victim€wasÐ .~ Ðð ðknowinglyðð€killed.€Ð g ÐÐ  P ÐWhen€a€defendant€challenges€the€sufficiency€of€the€evidence€on€appeal,€our€standard€ofÐ é 9 Ðreview€is€ð ðwhether,€after€viewing€the€evidence€in€the€light€most€favorable€to€the€prosecution,€anyÐ Ò!"  Ðrational€trier€of€fact€could€have€found€the€essential€elements€of€the€crime€beyond€a€reasonableÐ »" ! Ðdoubt.ðð€€òòJackson€v.€Virginiaóó,€443€U.S.€307,€319,€99€S.€Ct.€2781,€2789€(1979).€€This€applies€toÐ ¤#ô" Ðfindings€of€guilt€predicated€upon€direct€evidence,€circumstantial€evidence,€or€a€combination€of€theÐ $Ý# Ðtwo.€€òòState€v.€Breweróó,€932€S.W.2d€1,€18€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.€1996).Ð v%Æ $ ÐÐ _&¯!% ÐThis€Court€does€not€reweigh€the€evidence€but€we€presume€that€the€jury€has€resolved€allÐ H'˜"& Ðconflicts€in€the€testimony€and€drawn€all€reasonable€inferences€from€the€evidence€in€favor€of€theÐ 1(#' ÐState.€€òòSeeóó€òòState€v.€Sheffieldóó,€676€S.W.2d€542,€547€(Tenn.€1984);€òòState€v.€Cabbageóó,€571€S.W.2d€832,Ð )j$( Ð835€(Tenn.€1978).€€Questions€about€witness€credibility€were€resolved€by€the€jury.€€òòState€v.€Elkinsóó,Ð *S%) Ð102€€S.W.3d€578,€581€(Tenn.€2003).Ð ì*<&* ÐÐ Õ+%'+ ÐA€conviction€for€second€degree€murder€requires€proof€that€the€defendant€unlawfully€andÐ ° Ðknowingly€killed€another.€€òòSeeóó€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€39„13„201,€„210(a)(1).€€A€person€acts€knowinglyÐ ™é Ðwith€respect€to€a€result€of€the€personððs€conduct€when€the€person€is€aware€that€the€conduct€isÐ ‚Ò Ðreasonably€certain€to€cause€the€result.€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€39„11„302(b).Ð k» ÐÐ T¤ ÐThe€undisputed€medical€evidence€in€this€case€attributed€the€death€of€the€victim€toÐ =  Ðstrangulation€by€means€of€a€ligature.€€An€instrument€suitable€for€a€ligature€was€found€in€the€cellÐ & v Ðwhere€the€victim€died.€€Dr.€Smith€stated€that€the€victimððs€injuries€were€consistent€with€the€use€ofÐ  _ Ðsuch€an€instrument,€though€he€could€not€say€to€a€medical€certainty€that€this€was€the€ligature€used€inÐ ø H Ðthe€victimððs€homicide.€€Only€the€defendant€could€have€been€responsible€for€the€victimððs€death.€€TheÐ á 1  Ðjury€could,€and€did,€reject€the€defendantððs€version€of€self„defense€and€embraced€the€prosecutionððsÐ Ê   Ðtheory€that€the€defendant€knowingly€killed€the€victim.€€We€hold€that€the€evidence€is€sufficient€toÐ ³  Ðjustify€a€rational€jury€to€find€beyond€a€reasonable€doubt€that€the€defendant€knowingly€killed€theÐ œì  Ðvictim.Ð …Õ  ÐÐ n¾  Ðò òÓ  ÓÓ XÓDiscoveryó óÐ W§  ÐÓ XEÓÓuEÓÐ A‘ ÐThe€defendant€contends€that€the€trial€court€erred€in€denying€certain€records€requested€by€theÐ *z Ðdefendant€in€a€motion€to€compel€discovery.€€The€specific€requests€denied€were€for€all€of€theÐ c Ðindividual€inmates€housed€in€segregation€unit€2A€on€May€27,€2002,€and€the€defendantððs€institutionalÐ üL Ðfile.€€The€information€which€would€satisfy€these€requests€was,€at€the€time€of€the€pre„trial€motionÐ å5 Ðhearing,€archived€in€Nashville€and€not€available€at€the€West€Tennessee€State€Penitentiary.€€TheÐ Î Ðtestimony€adduced€revealed€that€inmatesðð€cell€locations€were€not€kept€on€a€master€list€but€were€onlyÐ · Ðin€each€individual€inmateððs€file.€€Researching€this€information€would€be€daunting€in€its€scope,€bothÐ  ð Ðin€time€and€expense.€€It€was€estimated€that€the€Stateððs€expense€would€be€$4000.€€The€basis€for€theÐ ‰Ù Ðdefendantððs€request€was€that€the€victimððs€former€cellmates€might€corroborate€that€the€victim€was€anÐ r Ðaggressive€person.Ð [« ÐÐ D” ÐIn€denying€the€defendantððs€request€for€discovery€of€these€items,€the€trial€court€made€theÐ -} Ðfollowing€comments:Ð f ÐÐ ÿO ÐÓ XÓÓ XÓTHE€COURT:€With€regard€to€the€other€requests,€the€list€of€inmates,€the€CourtÐ è 8 Ðis€not€going€to€require€the€State€to€go€back€and€try€to€reconstruct€that.Ð Ñ!!  ÐThe€deceased€inmateððs€records,€the€Court€doesnððt€really€feel€like€thatððsÐ º" ! Ðsomething€that€should€be€required€to€be€turned€over€to€the€defendant,€since€theyððreÐ £#ó" Ðnot€housed€here€but€somewhere€else.€€The€Court€is€going€to€deny€that€request€withÐ Œ$Ü# Ðthis€thought.€€The€issue€that€the€defendant€has€made€available€„„€or€says€that€he€needsÐ u%Å $ Ðto€see€the€records€of€the€deceased€for,€concerns€self„defense.€€The€factors€to€beÐ ^&®!% Ðdecided€in€determining€whether€there€are€reasonable€grounds€for€the€defendant€to€actÐ G'—"& Ðin€self„defense€arise€from€what€was€known€to€the€defendant.€€That€would€include€butÐ 0(€#' Ðnot€be€limited€to:Ð )i$( ÐÓ X KÓÓ °ÓÓ XKÓÓ °ÓAny€previous€threats€by€the€deceased€made€known€to€theÐ *R%) Ðdefendant,€the€character€of€the€deceased€for€violence€when€known€toÐ ë*;&* Ðthe€defendant,€the€animosity€of€the€deceased€for€the€defendant€asÐ Ô+$'+ Ðrevealed€to€the€defendant€by€previous€action€or€words€of€theÐ ° Ðdeceased,€and€the€manner€in€which€the€parties€were€armed€and€theirÐ ™é Ðrelative€strengths€and€Ô_Ôsizes.Ô_ÔÐ ‚Ò ÐÓ °OÓÓ °øNÓÓ XnNÓÓ XVNÓThe€defendant,€if€he€chooses€to€testify,€can€testify€to€any€of€those€issues,€andÐ k» Ðit€would€not€be€relevant€for€what€the€defendant€might€glean€from€the€records€of€theÐ T¤ Ðdeceased€at€this€point€in€time.€€So€therefore,€thereððs€no€real€reason€for€the€defendantÐ =  Ðto€look€at€the€records€of€the€deceased.€€The€only€thing€thatððs€germane€is€whatever€theÐ & v Ðdefendant€knew€at€the€time€of€the€alleged€event.€€So€from€that€reason,€that€requestÐ  _ Ðwill€be€denied.Ð ø H ÐI€guess€the€Stateððs€motion€in€limine€with€regard€to€those€records€will€beÐ á 1  Ðgranted.Ð Ê   ÐÓ X=QÓÓ XOQÓ€ÌThe€State€had€previously€filed€a€Motion€in€Limine€objecting€to€the€introduction€of€theÐ œì  Ðvictimððs€reason€for€conviction€and€the€victimððs€institutional€record.€€The€trial€court,€despite€the€lackÐ …Õ  Ðof€a€written€order,€apparently€orally€granted€the€Stateððs€request.€€The€effect€was€not€only€to€deny€theÐ n¾  Ðdefendant€the€requested€discovery€but€also€to€foreclose€use€of€the€requested€information€if€gainedÐ W§  Ðthrough€the€defendantððs€own€investigative€methods.Ð @ ÐÐ )y ÐTennessee€Rule€of€Criminal€Procedure€16€provides€in€pertinent€part:Ð b ÐÓ XÓÓ XÓÓ XÓÓ$”,È’X°œX$Ó(a)à0 4 àDisclosure€of€Evidence€by€the€State.ÐûK4Ð 4Ð  Ðà 4 à(1)à0 ` àInformation€Subject€to€Disclosure.Ðä4` Ð ` Ð  Ðà0 4 àà0` 4Ð 4Ð àà0Œ ` Ð ` Ð àà ` à(C)€€Documents€and€Tangible€Objects€„€Upon€request€of€the€defendant,€the€Ð Í ЀState€shall€permit€the€defendant€to€inspect€and€copy€or€photograph€€Ð ¶ Ðbooks,€papers,€documents,€photographs,€tangible€objects,€buildings€or€€Ð Ÿï Ðplaces,€or€copies€or€portions€thereof,€which€are€within€the€possession,€€Ð ˆØ Ðcustody€or€control€of€the€State,€and€òòwhich€are€material€to€the€preparation€Ð qÁ Ðóó€òòof€the€defendantððs€defenseóó€or€are€intended€for€use€by€the€State€as€€Ð Zª Ðevidence€in€chief€at€the€trial,€or€were€obtained€from€or€belong€to€the€€Ð C“ Ðdefendant.Ð,|Œ Ð Œ Ð  ÐÓ XäVÓÓ XÖVÓÓ XòVÓÓ( °œX”,È’XW(ÓÓ XÓ(emphasis€added).Ð e ÐÌÓ X1[ÓThe€trial€court€refused€the€discovery€and€granted€the€Stateððs€motion€in€limine€apparently€onÐ ç 7 Ðthe€grounds€that€only€what€the€defendant€knew€at€the€time€of€the€event€was€relevant.Ð Ð!   ÐÐ ¹" ! ÐThe€defendant€testified€in€his€own€behalf€and€raised€the€issue€of€self„defense€through€hisÐ ¢#ò" Ðtestimony.€€This€Court€in€òòState€v.€Ruaneóó,€912€S.W.2d€766,€779„82€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.€1995),Ð ‹$Û# Ðconducted€a€lengthy€analysis€of€the€admissibility€of€prior€violent€acts€by€the€victim.€€Therein€it€wasÐ t%Ä $ Ðspecifically€held€that:Ð ]&­!% ÐÓ XÓÓ XÓThere€is€a€distinction€between€evidence€of€prior€acts€of€violence€by€the€victimÐ F'–"& Ðused€to€corroborate€the€defense€theory€that€the€victim€was€the€first€aggressor€and€thatÐ /(#' Ðused€to€establish€the€defendantððs€fear€of€the€victim.€€If€the€defendant€was€unaware€ofÐ )h$( Ðthe€prior€acts€of€violence€by€the€victim,€the€evidence€is€admissible€for€corroborativeÐ *Q%) Ðpurposes€only.€€Ð ê*:&* ÐÓ X^ÓÓ Xô]ÓòòÓ XÓId.óó€at€779.Ð Ó+#'+ Ð‡Ó X`ÓThe€trial€court€made€reference€to€the€requested€information€being€ð ðhousedðð€elsewhere,€andÐ ° Ðthe€State€argues€justification€for€the€denial€due€to€the€records€no€longer€being€present€at€WestÐ ™é ÐTennessee€State€Penitentiary.€€We€find€this€unpersuasive€as€the€information€was€in€State€archivesÐ ‚Ò Ðunder€State€control.Ð k» ÐÐ T¤ ÐOrdinarily,€the€defendant€could€have€obtained€at€least€the€individual€institutional€record€ofÐ =  Ðthe€victim€by€subpoena.€€However,€the€grant€of€the€Stateððs€motion€in€limine€would€have€renderedÐ & v Ðthe€exercise€moot.Ð  _ ÐÐ ø H ÐWe€conclude€that€the€denial€of€the€defendantððs€request€was€error€in€that€it,€in€conjunctionÐ á 1  Ðwith€the€motion€in€limine,€denied€access€to€the€defendant€to€information€possibly€material€to€theÐ Ê   Ðpreparation€of€a€defense.Ð ³  ÐÐ œì  ÐHowever,€we€also€conclude€that€the€error€was€harmless.€€Tenn.€R.€App.€P.€36(b).€€Had€thisÐ …Õ  Ðspeculative€and€unproven€evidence€of€prior€acts€of€aggression€by€the€victim€been€proven,€it€wouldÐ n¾  Ðhave€been€corroborative€in€one€respect€only,€that€the€defendant€initially€acted€in€self„defense.€€Ð W§  ÐÓ XÓÓ XÓÓ XÓSelf„defense.€„„€(a)€€A€person€is€justified€in€threatening€or€using€force€against€anotherÐ @ Ðperson€when€and€to€the€degree€the€person€reasonably€believes€the€force€isÐ )y Ðimmediately€necessary€to€protect€against€the€otherððs€use€or€attempted€use€of€unlawfulÐ b Ðforce.€€The€person€must€have€a€reasonable€belief€that€there€is€an€imminent€danger€ofÐ ûK Ðdeath€or€serious€bodily€injury.€€The€danger€creating€the€belief€of€imminent€death€orÐ ä4 Ðserious€bodily€injury€must€be€real,€or€honestly€believed€to€be€real€at€the€time,€andÐ Í Ðmust€be€founded€upon€reasonable€grounds.€€There€is€no€duty€to€retreat€before€aÐ ¶ Ðperson€threatens€or€uses€force.Ð Ÿï ÐÓ X eÓÓ X’eÓÓ X®eÓÓ XÓTenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€39„11„611(a)€(1990).€€Such€€corroboration€could€not€explain€the€medical€proofÐ ˆØ Ðthat€the€victim€died€from€at€least€four€minutes€of€forceful€ligature€restriction€of€the€victimððs€oxygenÐ qÁ Ðsupply.€€The€defendantððs€version€that€the€victim€collapsed€from€a€sleeper€hold€is€completely€inÐ Zª Ðconflict€with€autopsy€findings€and€was€rejected€by€the€jury.€€We€do€not€believe€such€slightÐ C“ Ðcorroborative€evidence€of€self„defense,€if€produced,€would€have€affected€the€verdict.Ð ,| ÐÌÓ XýhÓò òÓ XÓÓ  ÓConclusionÐ þN ÐÓvkÓÓ XhkÓÐ è 8 Ðó óFor€the€foregoing€reasons,€we€conclude€that€the€evidence€was€sufficient€beyond€a€reasonableÐ Ò!"  Ðdoubt€to€sustain€the€defendantððs€conviction.€€Furthermore,€though€we€believe€the€limitation€imposedÐ »" ! Ðon€the€defendantððs€discovery€was€error,€we€conclude€it€was€harmless€error€beyond€a€reasonableÐ ¤#ô" Ðdoubt.€€The€defendantððs€conviction€is€affirmed.à  àÐ $Ý# Ðà0 ` àà0¸ ` (#` (#àà0¸ (#¸ (#àà0h(#(#àà0Àh(#h(#àà h à€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Ð v%Æ $ Ѐ€__________________________________€Ð_&¯!%À(#À(# Ðà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à€€€€€JOHN€EVERETT€WILLIAMS,€JUDGE