ÿWPC& >u5ZšXF"ý‘4åÚG>q#ÅA‹<¢Ë ¿Ûä³8g;C?ÙX»õÕЇ¢dÔ¯3=—•ÐAu|–wkjšüQöñ‘* Ç1 >¤*öß”MUyrŠ>y÷ª0¥³-ÏdüLì¶‚jëÅeÓ…¤ÈVõêNqç¯ zkTh£ É èÞƒ*^Ybv!«µÑÏÓ÷êÏ–ÊØ#wŠ–òzáQ…£÷`9#ÓB=Ìê_üÒÅ9š\…ñ>¹Éša€âŽIøð]­%G¹…ÁÚ¹þâkwUö|Y|{l!™S…«qBá ©:z]r˜ºQ¼h²Ÿæ»vãH)¸Œúx.Ç*^k.ïˆÈ¿N£êõÖ ìߪ¯ú£¾ñ“à÷£ É¤½Ö%5öñfA@fxà.ÖÉæõî̦V¬BPùФ¿QU‹èÛAQx¨*BÓ…•¯vzdKðG¿n´T²q¼k{7,¼ô ²ú48Vë ä™[ܳÊ{ïéòëþãqô_s¥Í€«gÏ›«—ÎaÒA-$Ó <ÁÃt «¸•ƒD3BFo«"AáT`ÿÂ\®¯?¸jÇG•SÁ–ôCaYC ª%LãB¾ÂG#Ö,®˜‹§2b#Á\ % N# 0ˆ% U<N­ Ôû 0DÏ zÒ z_ÒÙ^ «w·Æ»ÆÆGÆ 4ÓNçéø múEb 0ë#### B 0¤+ D3Ï D- 0K// ASzÆÍ 0¤“ 0D7 A«{˜HP LaserJet 4000 Series PCL 6ÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈ0»(`£ª$¡¡Ñ€.ÑÑ8€½­»»d»»d8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  Ó(í€"  Z6Times New Roman Regular ÊÝ ƒR™ð$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÔ€ô!ò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔOn€June€23,€1999,€appellant's€counsel€filed€a€Statement€of€the€Evidence€pursuant€to€Tenn.€R.€App.€P.€24(c).€Ð ° ÐOn€July€2,€1999,€the€State€in€turn€filed€an€objection€to€that€portion€of€the€Statement€of€the€Evidence€concerning€theÐ n¾ Ðsentencing€hearing.€€The€State€asserted€that€a€court€reporter€was€present€during€the€sentencing€hearing€and€that€aÐ ,| Ðverbatim€transcript€of€the€hearing€should€be€made€a€part€of€the€record.€€On€July€21,€1999,€the€appellant€included€aÐ ê: Ðverbatim€transcript€of€the€sentencing€hearing€in€the€record.€€The€State€did€not€otherwise€object€to€the€appellantððsÐ ¨ø ÐStatement€of€the€Evidence.Ð f¶ Ðà  àWe€note€that€the€trial€judge€approved€neither€the€Statement€of€the€Evidence€nor€the€transcript€of€the€sentencingÐ $ t Ðhearing.€€Nevertheless,€the€Statement€and€the€transcript€are€deemed€approved€when€the€trial€judge€takes€no€action€withinÐ â 2 Ð30€days€after€the€expiration€of€the€period€for€filing€objections.€€Tenn.€R.€App.€P.€24(f).(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó ˜C:\PROGRA~1\COREL\WORDPE~1\TEMPLATE\CUSTOM~1\REVISE~1.WPTC:\Program Files\Corel\WordPerfect Office 2000\Template\Custom WP Templates\revised standard opinion.wpt ˜C:\PROGRA~1\COREL\WORDPE~1\TEMPLATE\CUSTOM~1\REVISE~1.WPTC:\Program Files\Corel\WordPerfect Office 2000\Template\Custom WP Templates\revised standard opinion.wptý¦=) Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5‚Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5„Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5…Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5ÖJ~'‰¢pÉ¢3|xÿU‹ÿÀÀÀ - ù-(|G2™ð$¤¤Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€C°»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  ÚóóÔ€ô!ò»»Ô d(|3Ö†$££Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€C°»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝVVVV'ÿÿdxd)!ÈÈÈÈdxdx( ±þ$’’ò òFigure€Ú  Ú1Ú  Úó ó^_X`YEþÿ<<CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(|3Ö†$¢¢Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€C°»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ý($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó óX[Z&OLE 2.0 Box <=8ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿCÿÿ HKKKKÝ ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€C°»»ddÈ8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÑ  ÑÑ  ÑÔ€¼C°»»»ÔÑ8€7|XXdæ»»d8Ñà@ttìàÔ‡îe#C°ÔIN€THE€COURT€OF€CRIMINAL€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEˆÐ ° Ðà@kk$ìàAT€NASHVILLEÔ#†¼C°»îîe# #ԈРР ÐÓ  Óà @ àà @` àFebruary€2000€SessionÐ ð@ ÐÔ‡X7|X»¼C°ÔÌò òÔ#†¼C°»XX7|#ÔSTATE€OF€TENNESSEEòòóó€v.€GEORGE€O.€Ô_ÔMEARSÔ_ÔòòóóÔ‡X7|X»¼C°Ôó óÐ ä4 ÐÌà@@½½ìàò ò€Appeal€from€the€Circuit€Court€for€Cannon€CountyÐ Ø ( Ðà@@øøìàNo.€M98„48€€€€€€Don€Ash,€JudgeÐ ¾  ÐÌÌà@@ìì*ìàßA€V) °°` d€÷E<o` AßÐ pÀ  ÐÌà@@TTìàNo.€M1999„01229„CCA„R3„CD€„€Filed€September€ßA€V) °°` dE<` Aß29,€Ô_Ô2000Ô_ÔÐ eµ  Ðó óÌÓ  ÓThe€appellant,€George€O.€Ô_ÔMearsÔ_Ô,€appeals€his€conviction€in€the€Cannon€County€Circuit€Court€ofÐ 1  Ðdriving€under€the€influence€of€an€intoxicant,€second€offense.€€Pursuant€to€the€appellantððs€conviction,Ð g  Ðthe€trial€court€imposed€a€sentence€of€eleven€months€and€twenty„nine€days€incarceration€in€theÐ ýM ÐCannon€County€Jail,€suspending€all€but€six€months€of€the€appellantððs€sentence€and€placing€him€onÐ ã3 Ðprobation.€€On€appeal,€the€appellant€presents€the€following€issues€for€our€review:€(1)€whether€the€trialÐ É Ðcourt€erred€in€permitting€the€prosecutor€to€comment€to€the€jury€about€the€appellantððs€failure€to€callÐ ¯ÿ Ða€witness€and€in€providing€a€ð ðmissing€witnessðð€instruction€to€the€jury;€(2)€whether€the€evidenceÐ •å Ðadduced€at€the€appellantððs€trial€is€sufficient€to€support€the€juryððs€verdict€of€guilt;€and€(3)€whether€theÐ {Ë Ðtrial€court€erred€in€sentencing€the€appellant.€€Following€a€review€of€the€record€and€the€partiesðð€briefs,Ð a± Ðwe€reverse€the€judgment€of€the€trial€court€and€remand€this€case€for€a€new€trial.Ð G— ÐÓ¬ÓÌò òTenn.€R.€App.€P.€3€Appeal€as€of€Right;€Judgment€of€the€Circuit€Court€is€Reversed€andÐ c ÐRemanded.ó óÐ ùI ÐÌòòÓ  ÓÔ#†¼C°»àX7|ª#ÔÔ‡X7|X.¼C°ÔNorma€McGee€Ogle,€J.óó,€delivered€the€opinion€of€the€court,€in€which€òòDavid€G.€Hayes€óóandòò€JerryÐ Å ÐL.€Smithóó,€Ô_ÔJ.J.Ô_Ô,€joined.Ð «û ÐÌLarry€B.€Stanley,€Jr.,€Ô_ÔMcMinnvilleÔ_Ô,€Tennessee,€for€the€appellant,€George€O.€Ô_ÔMearsÔ_Ô.Ð w Ç ÐÌPaul€G.€Summers,€Attorney€General€and€Reporter,€Todd€R.€Kelley,€Assistant€Attorney€General,€andÐ C"“! ÐDavid€L.€Ô_ÔPuckettÔ_Ô,€Assistant€Attorney€General,€for€the€appellee,€State€of€Tennessee.Ð )#y" ÐÓ3 ÓÌà@@OO&ìàò òOPINIONó óÔ#†¼C°»XX7|b #ÔÔ‡X7|X»¼C°ÔÐ õ$E $ ÐòòóóÔ#†¼C°»XX7|D #ÔÔ‡X7|X»¼C°ÔÓ  Óà  àà ` àThe€appellant,€George€O.€Ô_ÔMearsÔ_Ô,€was€convicted€by€a€jury€in€the€Cannon€CountyÐ Û%+!% ÐCircuit€Court€on€February€11,€1999,€of€driving€under€the€influence€of€an€intoxicant€(Ô_ÔDUIÔ_Ô)€inÐ Á&"& Ðviolation€of€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€55„10„401(a)(1)€(1998).€€Immediately€thereafter,€in€a€separateÐ §'÷"' Ðproceeding,€the€trial€court€found€that€the€appellant€was€subject€to€an€enhanced€penalty€as€a€repeat,Ð (Ý#( Ðsecond„time€offender.€€The€trial€court€then€sentenced€the€appellant€to€eleven€months€and€twenty„nineÐ s)Ã$) Ðdays€incarceration€in€the€Cannon€County€Jail.€€The€court€ordered€the€appellant€to€serve€six€monthsÐ Y*©%* Ðof€his€sentence€in€confinement€and€suspended€the€remainder,€placing€the€appellant€on€probation.€€OnÐ ?+&+ Ðappeal,€the€appellant€asserts€the€following€grounds€for€relief:€(1)€Ô#†¼C°»XX7|¡ #ÔÔ‡X7|X»¼C°Ôthe€trial€court€erred€in€permittingÐ %,u', ÐÔ_Ôthe€prosecutor€to€comment€to€the€jury€about€the€appellantððs€failure€to€call€a€witness€and€in€providingÐ  -[(- Ða€missing€witness€instruction€to€the€jury;€(2)€the€evidence€adduced€by€the€State€is€insufficient€toÐ ñ-A).ý ÐÔ_Ôsupport€the€juryððs€verdict€of€guilt;€and€(3)€the€trial€court€erred€in€sentencing€the€appellant.€€FollowingÐ ° Ða€review€of€the€record€and€the€partiesðð€briefs,€we€agree€with€the€appellantððs€first€contention€and,Ð –æ Ðaccordingly,€reverse€the€judgment€of€the€trial€court.€€Because€we€remand€this€case€to€the€trial€courtÐ |Ì Ðfor€a€new€trial,€the€appellant's€issues€concerning€the€sufficiency€of€the€evidence€and€sentencing€areÐ b² Ðpretermitted.Ô#†¼C°»XX7|³#ÔÔ‡X7|X»¼C°Ô€€òòSee,€e.g.óó,€òòState€v.€Duttonóó,Ô#†¼C°»XX7|H#ÔÔ‡X7|X»¼C°Ô€896€S.W.2d€114,€119€(Tenn.€1995).€Ô#†¼C°»XX7|³#ÔÔ‡X7|X»¼C°ÔÐ H˜ ÐÌà@ìàò òòòI.€€Factual€Backgroundóóó óˆÐ  d Ðà  àà ` àThe€appellantððs€conviction€of€DUI,€second€offense,€arose€from€a€single€vehicleÐ ú J Ðaccident€that€occurred€during€the€night€of€December€24,€1997,€on€Highway€53€in€Cannon€County.׃×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ׀Рà 0 ÐAt€the€appellantððs€jury€trial,€the€State€established€that€John€R.€Bratton,€a€deputy€employed€by€theÐ Æ   ÐCannon€County€Sheriffððs€Department,€was€dispatched€to€the€scene€of€the€accident€at€approximatelyÐ ¬ ü  Ð10:00€p.m.€€When€the€deputy€arrived,€he€observed€the€appellantððs€truck€lying€in€a€ditch€on€the€sideÐ ’â  Ðof€the€road€and€further€observed€that€the€truck€had€sustained€significant€damage.€€No€one€was€presentÐ xÈ  Ðat€the€scene€of€the€accident,€but€an€examination€of€the€interior€of€the€truck€revealed€a€half„gallonÐ ^®  Ðbottle€of€vodka,€which€was€one„third€to€one„half€empty.€€At€this€point,€Deputy€Bratton€decided€toÐ D”  Ðsearch€for€the€driver€of€the€truck.Ð *z  ÐÌà  àà ` àThe€deputy€drove€approximately€one„half€of€a€mile€down€the€highway€in€search€ofÐ öF Ðthe€driver€and€finally€observed€the€appellant€walking€down€the€driveway€of€an€adjacent€house.€€TheÐ Ü, Ðdeputy€drove€his€patrol€car€into€the€driveway,€whereupon€the€appellant€turned€around€and€began€toÐ Â Ðwalk€in€the€opposite€direction.€€The€appellant€halted€at€the€deputyððs€command.Ð ¨ø ÐÌà  àà ` àAs€the€deputy€approached€the€appellant€on€foot,€he€noticed€that€the€appellant€wasÐ tÄ Ðarmed€and€that€he€was€ð ðweaving€.€.€.€back€and€forth.ðð€€Accordingly,€the€deputy€disarmed€theÐ Zª Ðappellant€and€began€to€lead€him€toward€the€patrol€car.€€The€appellant€expressed€some€physicalÐ @ Ðdiscomfort,€and€the€deputy€inquired,€ð ðDid€you€hurt€yourself€when€you€drove€off€the€road?ðð€€TheÐ &v Ðappellant€responded,€ð ðYes,€I€need€to€go€to€the€hospital.ðð€€Upon€further€inquiry,€the€appellant€clarifiedÐ  \ Ðthat€he€owned€the€wrecked€truck.Ð òB ÐÌà  àà ` àAs€the€deputy€questioned€the€appellant,€he€smelled€a€strong€odor€of€alcohol€emanatingÐ ¾ Ðfrom€the€appellant€and€further€observed€that€the€appellantððs€speech€was€slurred,€and€the€appellantÐ ¤ô Ðwas€unsteady€on€his€feet.€€Accordingly,€the€deputy€asked€if€the€appellant€would€consent€to€a€bloodÐ Š Ú Ðalcohol€test,€but€the€appellant€refused€consent.€€The€deputy€did€not€conduct€field€sobriety€tests€dueÐ p!À  Ðâ âto€the€appellantððs€injury.€€Instead,€the€deputy€transported€the€appellant€to€the€Columbia€Stones€RiverÐ V"¦! ÐHospital€in€Woodbury,€Tennessee.€€At€the€appellantððs€trial,€the€deputy€opined€that€the€appellant€was,Ð ° Ðindeed,€intoxicated€on€the€night€in€question.Ð –æ Ðâ âÌà  àà ` àAt€the€hospital,€Dr.€Leon€L.€Ruehland,€an€emergency€room€physician,€examined€theÐ b² Ðappellant.€€According€to€Dr.€Ruehland,€the€appellant€was€suffering€from€a€dislocated€shoulder.€Ð H˜ ÐMoreover,€the€doctor€noticed€that€a€strong€odor€of€alcohol€was€emanating€from€the€appellant€and€thatÐ . ~ Ðthe€appellantððs€speech€was€slurred.€€Dr.€Ruehland€administered€a€ð ðHorizontal€Gaze€Nystagmus€Test,ððÐ  d Ða€test€apparently€intended€to€detect€the€effects€of€alcohol€upon€the€eyes.€€According€to€Dr.€Reuhland,Ð ú J Ðhe€has€undergone€ð ðextensive€training€in€examining€people€for€the€presence€of€Nystagmus.ðð€€On€theÐ à 0 Ðbasis€of€this€test,€the€doctor€concluded€that€the€appellant€was€under€the€influence€of€alcohol.Ð Æ   ÐÌà  àà ` àDr.€Ruehland€also€requested€permission€to€perform€a€blood€alcohol€test€and€a€drugÐ ’â  Ðscreen€upon€the€appellant.€€The€appellant€again€refused€consent.€€Additionally,€while€still€at€theÐ xÈ  Ðhospital,€the€appellant€informed€Deputy€Bratton,€ð ðI€was€not€driving€and€you€cannot€prove€that€IÐ ^®  Ðwas.ðð€€When€Deputy€Bratton€inquired€who€was€driving,€the€appellant€responded€that€he€did€notÐ D”  Ðknow.€€No€one€other€than€the€appellant€was€treated€that€night€in€the€Columbia€Stones€RiverÔ#†¼C°»XX7|#ÔÔ‡X7|X»¼C°ÔÐ *z  Ðemergency€room€in€connection€with€the€accident.Ð ` ÐÌà  àà ` à€€€The€appellant€testified€on€his€own€behalf€at€trial.€€He€again€conceded€ownership€ofÐ Ü, Ðthe€wrecked€truck€and€also€conceded€that€he€had€bought€the€half„gallon€bottle€of€vodka€earlier€onÐ Â Ðthe€day€of€the€accident.€€However,€he€asserted€that€he€was€not€the€driver€of€the€truck€on€the€night€ofÐ ¨ø Ðthe€accident€and,€in€any€event,€was€not€intoxicated.Ð ŽÞ ÐÌà  àà ` àThe€appellant€recounted€that,€in€the€early€afternoon€of€December€24,€1997,€he€boughtÐ Zª Ðthe€bottle€of€vodka€and€drove€to€his€home€near€McMinnville,€arriving€home€at€approximately€1:00Ð @ Ðp.m.€or€2:00€p.m.€€The€appellant€then€drank€for€approximately€one€hour.€€Subsequently,€Bill€Jones,Ð &v Ða€brick€mason€who€had€been€employed€by€the€appellant€for€several€days,€arrived€at€the€appellantððsÐ  \ Ðhome.€€The€appellant€asked€Mr.€Jones€to€drive€him€in€his€truck€to€the€home€of€his€brother„in„law,Ð òB ÐLandon€Davis.€€Mr.€Jones€agreed,€leaving€his€own€vehicle€parked€in€the€appellantððs€driveway.€€Ð Ø( ÐÌà  àà ` àThe€appellant€and€Mr.€Jones€arrived€at€Mr.€Davisðð€home€at€approximately€4:30€p.m.€Ð ¤ô ÐWhile€the€appellant€visited€his€brother„in„law,€Mr.€Jones€remained€in€the€truck€and€slept.€€TheÐ Š Ú Ðappellant€and€Mr.€Jones€finally€departed€Mr.€Davisðð€home€at€approximately€9:00€p.m.€or€10:00€p.m.€Ð p!À  ÐMr.€Jones€was€again€driving€the€appellantððs€truck.€€En€route€to€the€appellantððs€home,€Mr.€Jones€lostÐ V"¦! Ðcontrol€of€the€vehicle€and€drove€off€the€road€into€a€ditch.€€The€appellant€hit€his€head€against€theÐ <#Œ" Ðdashboard€and€momentarily€lost€consciousness.€€When€the€appellant€regained€consciousness,€Mr.Ð "$r# ÐJones€had€disappeared.€€The€appellant€noticed€that€his€shoulder€was€injured€and€left€the€truck€in€orderÐ %X $ Ðto€obtain€assistance.Ð î%>!% ÐÌà  àà ` àSeveral€days€following€the€accident,€the€appellant€visited€Mr.€Jonesðð€residence€butÐ º' #' Ðdiscovered€that€Mr.€Jones€had€moved.€€The€appellant€was€unable€to€discover€Mr.€Jonesðð€currentÐ  (ð#( Ðlocation.€€The€appellant€explained€that,€although€he€had€employed€Mr.€Jones€for€a€short€period€ofÐ †)Ö$) Ðtime,€he€did€not€have€Mr.€Jonesðð€social€security€number€or€date€of€birth.€€The€appellant€conceded€thatÐ l*¼%* Ðâ âhe€never€informed€either€the€police€or€the€district€attorney€general€about€Mr.€Jones€and€hisÐ R+¢&+ Ðinvolvement€in€the€accident€or€requested€assistance€from€law€enforcement€authorities€in€locating€Mr.Ð ° ÐJones.€€The€appellant€also€admitted€that€he€never€attempted€to€subpoena€Mr.€Jones.Ô#†¼C°»XX7|D(#ÔÔ‡X7|X»¼C°ÔÐ –æ Ðâ âÌà  àà ` àIn€defense,€the€appellant€also€presented€the€testimony€of€his€brother„in„law.€€Mr.Ð b² ÐDavis€testified€that,€on€December€24,€1997,€the€appellant€visited€his€home€at€approximately€4:00Ð H˜ Ðp.m.,€departing€at€approximately€7:00€p.m.€or€8:00€p.m.€€According€to€Mr.€Davis,€the€appellant€wasÐ . ~ Ðnot€intoxicated€at€the€time€of€his€departure.€€Moreover,€Mr.€Davis€asserted€that,€as€the€appellantÐ  d Ðdeparted€his€residence,€he€observed€someone€other€than€the€appellant€driving€the€appellantððs€truck.€Ð ú J ÐThe€appellantððs€wife,€Amy€Mears,€also€testified€that,€on€the€night€in€question,€she€returned€home€atÐ à 0 Ðapproximately€9:30€p.m.€or€9:45€p.m.€and€noticed€a€strange€car€in€the€driveway.€€Later€that€evening,Ð Æ   Ðat€approximately€10:15€p.m.€or€10:30€p.m.,€she€heard€the€carððs€engine€start€in€the€driveway.€€TheÐ ¬ ü  Ðfollowing€morning,€the€car€was€gone.Ð ’â  ÐÌà@éé$ìàò òòòII.€€Analysisóóó óˆÐ ^®  Ðà  àà ` àThe€appellant€contends€that€the€trial€court€erred€in€permitting€the€prosecutor€toÐ D”  Ðcomment€to€the€jury€concerning€the€failure€of€the€appellant€to€call€Mr.€Jones€as€a€witness€and€inÐ *z  Ðproviding€a€missing€witness€instruction€to€the€jury.€€According€to€the€Statement€of€the€Evidence,Ð ` Ðfiled€by€the€appellant€pursuant€to€Tenn.€R.€App.€P.€24(c),€Ð öF Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð à[a]t€the€conclusion€of€the€evidence,€the€Court€presented€the€proposedÐ Ü, Ðjury€instructions.€€The€Court,€sua€sponte,€included€in€the€juryÐ Â Ðinstructions€the€Missing€Witness€Rule€and€indicated€to€the€jury€thatÐ ¨ø Ð(1)€the€missing€witness,€Bill€Jones,€had€knowledge€of€material€facts,Ð ŽÞ Ð(2)€a€relationship€existed€between€the€witness€and€the€party€thatÐ tÄ Ðwould€naturally€incline€the€witness€to€favor€the€party,€and€(3)€theÐ Zª Ðmissing€witness€was€available€to€the€process€of€the€Court.€€The€CourtÐ @ Ðthen€instructed€the€jury€that€it€could€presume€from€the€DefendantððsÐ &v Ðfailure€to€call€Mr.€Jones€as€a€witness€that€he€would€not€have€testifiedÐ  \ Ðfavorably€to€Mr.€Mears.€€The€defendant€objected€to€this€charge,€butÐ òB Ðthe€court€overruled€the€objection€and€so€instructed€the€jury.€€TheÐ Ø( Ðprosecution€also€commented€in€closing€regarding€the€missing€witness,Ð ¾ Ðindicating€that€the€jury€could€infer€that€he€would€have€testified€againstÐ ¤ô Ðthe€Defendant€if€he€had€been€called€as€a€witness.Њ Ú` x` x ÐÌà  àà ` àUnder€well„established€Tennessee€law,€if€a€defendant€has€it€ð ðpeculiarly€within€hisÐ V"¦! Ðpowerðð€to€produce€a€material€witness€and€fails€to€call€the€witness€at€trial,Ô#†¼C°»XX7|"4#ÔÔ‡X7|X»¼C°Ô€the€State€is€entitled€to€argueÐ <#Œ" Ðand€is€entitled€to€a€jury€instruction€concerning€a€permissive€inference€that€the€witnessðð€testimony,Ð "$r# Ðif€produced,€wouldÔ#†¼C°»XX7|M@#ÔÔ‡X7|X»¼C°Ô€not€favor€the€defendantððs€contentions.€€òòSeeóó€òòState€v.€Middlebrooksóó,€840€S.W.2dÐ %X $ Ð317,€334€(Tenn.€1992).€€òòSee€alsoóó€òòState€v.€Francisóó,€669€S.W.2d€85,€88€(Tenn.€1984);€òòState€v.€Philpottóó,Ð î%>!% Ð882€S.W.2d€394,€407€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.€1994).€€However,€before€the€State€can€invoke€the€missingÐ Ô&$"& Ðwitness€rule,€the€record€must€demonstrate€that€(1)€the€witness€had€knowledge€of€material€facts;€(2)Ð º' #' Ða€relationship€existed€between€the€witness€and€the€defendant€that€would€naturally€incline€the€witnessÐ  (ð#( Ðto€favor€the€defendant;€and€(3)€the€missing€witness€was€available€to€the€process€of€the€court€for€trial.€Ð †)Ö$) ÐòòDelk€v.€Stateóó,€590€S.W.2d€435,€440€(Tenn.€1979)Ô#†¼C°»XX7|QA#ÔÔ‡X7|X»¼C°Ô.€€òòSee€alsoóó€òòState€v.€Bigbeeóó,€885€S.W.2d€797,€804Ð l*¼%* Ð(Tenn.€1994).€€Indeed,€when€the€State€intends€to€argue€the€missing€witness€inference,€the€StateÐ R+¢&+ Ðshould€inform€the€court€at€the€earliest€opportunity€so€that€an€evidentiary€hearing,€if€necessary,€canÐ 8,ˆ', Ðbe€held€to€establish€whether€the€prerequisites€set€forth€in€òòDelkóó€have€been€met.€€òòFrancisóó,€669€S.W.2dÐ ° Ðat€90;€òòPhilpottóó,€882€S.W.2d€at€407€n.€27.Ô#†¼C°»XX7|©D#ÔÔ‡X7|X»¼C°Ô€€In€any€event,€the€burden€is€upon€the€proponent€of€theÐ –æ Ðmissing€witness€rule€to€establish€the€òòDelkóó€prerequisites.€€òòState€v.€Thompsonóó,€768€S.W.2d€239,€250Ð |Ì Ð(Tenn.€1989).€€Moreover,€ð ð[d]ue€to€the€potentially€critical€effect€of€the€missing€witness€rule,€the€òòDelkóóÐ b² Ðrequirements€are€to€be€strictly€construed,€particularly€when€the€rights€of€a€criminal€defendant€mayÐ H˜ Ðbe€affected.ðð€€òòFrancisóó,€669€S.W.2d€at€89.Ô#†¼C°»XX7|ÞF#ÔÔ‡X7|X»¼C°ÔÐ . ~ ÐÌà  àà ` àIn€this€case,€the€trial€court€apparently€anticipated€the€Stateððs€invocation€of€the€rule€inÐ ú J Ðsubmitting€proposed€jury€instructions€to€the€parties.€€The€record,€however,€does€not€support€the€trialÐ à 0 Ðcourtððs€determination€that€the€òòDelkóó€prerequisites€were€satisfied.€Ô#†¼C°»XX7|I#ÔÔ‡X7|X»¼C°Ô€Ô#†¼C°»XX7|ÆJ#ÔÔ‡X7|X»¼C°ÔWhile€Mr.€Jones€certainly€hadÐ Æ   Ðknowledge€of€material€facts,€the€record€before€us€does€not€reflect€a€relationship€between€Mr.€JonesÐ ¬ ü  Ðand€the€appellant€that€would€naturally€incline€Mr.€Jones€to€favor€the€appellant.€€We€acknowledgeÐ ’â  Ðthat,€under€certain€circumstances,€an€employment€relationship€may€warrant€invocation€of€the€missingÐ xÈ  Ðwitness€ruleòòóó.€òòóó€òòCf.óó€òòThomas€v.€United€Statesóó,€447€A.2d€52€(D.C.€App.€1982)(ð ð[a]€finding€of€peculiarÐ ^®  Ðavailability€may€be€justified€where€circumstances€suggest€a€potential€bias€in€favor€of€one€party,€e.g.,Ð D”  Ðwhere€he€is€employed€by€that€partyðð).€€òòCf.€alsoóó€òòState€v.€Greenóó,€No.€02C01„9711„CC„00429,€1999Ð *z  ÐWL€632235,€at€*3€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.€at€Jackson,€August€20,€1999)(the€trial€court€did€not€err€inÐ ` Ðdeclining€the€defendantððs€request€for€a€missing€witness€instruction€when€the€missing€witness€did€notÐ öF Ðhave€an€employment€relationship€with€the€State).Ô#†¼C°»XX7| K#ÔÔ‡X7|X»¼C°Ô€€However,€the€record€in€this€case€reflects€that€Mr.Ð Ü, ÐJonesððs€employment€by€the€appellant€was€of€extremely€short€duration.€€Aside€from€the€employmentÐ Â Ðrelationship,€the€record€at€most€suggests€a€casual€acquaintance€between€the€two€men.€€Moreover,€weÐ ¨ø Ðagree€with€the€appellant€that,€under€the€circumstances€of€this€case,€it€is€likely€that€Mr.€JonesððÐ ŽÞ Ðinterests€were€directly€adverse€to€the€appellantððs€and€would€have€deterred€any€testimony€by€Mr.Ð tÄ ÐJones€that€he€was€the€driver€of€the€appellantððs€truck€on€the€night€in€question.€€òòState€v.€Havneróó,€No.Ð Zª Ð01C01„9806„CC„00275,€1999€WL€436834,€at€*3€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.€at€Nashville,€June€30,€1999),Ð @ Ðòòperm.€to€appeal€deniedóó,€(Tenn.€1999).Ô#†¼C°»XX7|O#ÔÔ‡X7|X»¼C°Ô€€Finally,€the€record€before€us€does€not€contain€any€informationÐ &v Ðconcerning€the€missing€witnessðð€location.€Ô#†¼C°»XX7|S#ÔÔ‡X7|X»¼C°Ô€ð ðWe€cannot€assume€that€the€witness€would€have€beenÐ  \ Ðavailable€to€the€process€of€the€trial€court.ðð€€òòId.óóÔ#†¼C°»XX7|ÙS#ÔÔ‡X7|X»¼C°ÔÐ òB ÐÌà  àà ` àHaving€concluded€that€the€trial€court€erred,€the€State€is€entitled€to€harmless€errorÐ ¾ Ðanalysis.€€Tenn.€R.€Crim.€P.€52(a);€Tenn.€R.€App.€P.€36(b).€€In€this€case,€the€result€of€the€appellantððsÐ ¤ô Ðtrial€turned€upon€the€juryððs€assessment€of€the€appellantððs€credibility€on€the€very€subject€of€Mr.€JonesððÐ Š Ú Ðhypothetical€testimony.Ô#†¼C°»XX7|¡T#ÔÔ‡X7|X»¼C°Ôòòóó€€ð ðWhere€the€non„calling€partyððs€credibility€is€a€crucial€issue€in€a€case€andÐ p!À  Ðthe€ððmissing€witness€inference€directly€affects€that€credibility,€an€improper€argument€or€instructionÐ V"¦! Ðwill€ordinarily€require€reversal.ðððð€òòFrancisóó,€669€S.W.2d€at€91€(citation€omitted).€€Thus,€we€concludeÐ <#Œ" Ðthat€the€trial€courtððs€error€requires€reversal€of€the€appellantððs€conviction.Ð "$r# ÐÔ#†¼C°»XX7|—V#ÔÔ‡X7|X»¼C°ÔÌà@MM"ìàò òòòIII.€€Conclusionó óóóˆÐ î%>!% Ðà  àà ` àFor€the€foregoing€reasons,€we€reverse€the€judgment€of€the€trial€court€and€remand€thisÐ Ô&$"& Ðcase€for€a€new€trial.Ð º' #' ÐÔ#†¼C°»XX7|±X#Ôò òó óÌà0  àà0` (#(#àà0¸ ` (#` (#àà0¸ (#¸ (#àà0h(#(#àà0Àh(#h(#àà0À(#À(#à______________________________€Ð®)þ$)(#(# Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àNORMA€McGEE€OGLE,€JUDGE