ÿWPC  52÷¥ŒhÅQpHíÖ\;Ãî¶C_¥dæAo;°L{÷¥>ÃD´CEÈŒ½Œ ÁÄYöPº·˜nªÀ½_T#óò§fMÈò<‹Z\*ùMšþqy‰Ãˆ|Ò€9ÖÀ/È.¡_ötqÉ p.t|D§ÔíLJužN¢ìliy]3+¥å™H`õ†è¢â•˜udd£ÀvÌç¯hjÉÑÏçÒ b,B-*i vëÙ’zS^ ïîaB¯¢O™ˆgnÚÙN·X.yä¶ &²¶ÉþáŽ9Ȫ«X1·¸åÎÅ°2ðöy5§@ÑÔÌã²ðoCÈœ€;"äáu1âì§kø©œ›'‘yP«Q0àiv¬&%öùÌN~š›6m;ˆ\6³Ö»," ñ%Ëw÷³˜Ã”Þ.S¶Øõ¨Gab\=CäS”¸r*H¥Z¨ùƒC­£ýlçÚ³~Àôñ_k«¡`÷3L5ã~›#’{Ž½cxÖˆóµ>óÆJˆ°2û‹ìÅÉl¥ÛW¹V•¼~0J#ÛU^žßpf“ÜÆ«ƒï«Ôgnkw|œz£Œ;„W"8EvoY‚;Ç F•º£O…O.˜þéÑ÷ªà]×c^G®šQQLꪽÿô £?ïñ~b#Á\ % N# 0ˆ% UN­ UJNû } I zÆÒ@ zÒŒ^ ^wjÆnÆ4ÆúÆÀ4†Nšœ«E­ m¯Æ 0DÎÎÎÎÎÎÎÎÎÎÎÎÎÎÎÎÎÎÎÎÎb 0ë B 0¤" D3Æ D-ù 0K&& ASqÆÄ 0¤Š 0D. A«r˜HP LaserJet 8000 Series PSØÚØÚÚØØÚ0»(`£ª$¡¡Ñ€.ÑÑ8€½­»»d»»d8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  Ó(í€"  Z6Times New Roman Regular(ÆúI Z‹6Times New Roman Regular s Ý ƒRÒQ$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôg ò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔSpecifically€addressing€the€requisite€nexus€in€the€proof€between€the€causation€of€death€and€the€perpetrationÐ ° Ðof€the€underlying€felony,€our€supreme€court€has€recently€remarked:Ð tÄ Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àThis€Court€has€previously€considered€how€the€statutory€phrase,€ð ðin€the€perpetrationÐ 8ˆ Ðof,ðð€should€be€defined€in€the€felony€murder€context.€€òòSee,€e.g.,óó€òòState€v.€Buggsóó,€995Ð üL ÐS.W.2d€102,€107€(Tenn.€1999);€òòFarmer€v.€Stateóó,€.€.€.€296€S.W.2d€879€([Tenn.]Ð À Ð1956).€€For€example,€in€òòFarmeróó,€this€Court€explained€that€for€a€killing€to€occur€ð ðinÐ „Ô Ðthe€perpetration€ofðð€a€felony€so€that€the€felony€murder€rule€applies,€the€killing€mustÐ H ˜ Ðbe€done€ð ðin€pursuance€of€the€[felony],€and€not€collateral€to€it.€€In€other€words,€theÐ  \ Ðkilling€must€have€had€an€intimate€relation€and€close€connection€with€the€felony€.€.Ð Ð  Ð.€and€not€be€separate,€distinct,€and€independent€from€it€.€.€.€.ðð€òòFarmeróó,€.€.€.€296Ð ” ä  ÐS.W.2d€at€883€.€.€.€.€€In€addition,€there€must€be€a€causal€connection€between€theÐ X ¨  Ðfelony€and€the€killing.€€òòFarmeróó,€.€.€.€296€S.W.2d€at€884.Ð l ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àMore€recently,€we€recognized€that€when€determining€whether€a€killing€is€ð ðin€theÐ ¤ô  Ðperpetration€ofðð€a€felony€courts€in€Tennessee€have€considered€such€factors€as€time,Ð h¸  Ðplace,€and€causal€connection.€€òòBuggsóó,€995€S.W.2d€at€106.€€We€stressed€in€òòBuggsóóÐ ,|  Ðthat€a€killing€ð ðmay€precede,€coincide€with,€or€follow€a€felony€and€still€be€consideredÐ ð@  Ðas€occurring€ððin€the€perpetration€ofðð€the€felony,€so€long€as€there€is€a€connection€inÐ ´  Ðtime,€place,€[causation,]€and€continuity€of€action.ððÐxÈ ` x` x ÐòòState€v.€Pierceóó,€23€S.W.3d€289,€294€(Tenn.€2000)(alteration€in€original);€òòsee€alsoóó€òòState€v.€Patrick€Wingateóó,€No.€M1999„Ð <Œ Ð00624„CCA„R3„CD,€2000€WL€680388,€at€*7€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.€at€Nashville,€May€25,€2000),€òòperm.€to€appeal€deniedóó,Ð P Ð(Tenn.€2000). ˜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.wptèa+â Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5‚Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5„Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5…Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5HEô*O~2.MARhæ¥3|xÿU‹ÿÀÀÀ (#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó- ù-(|G2ÒQ$¤¤Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€C4»»d d 8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  ÚóóÔ€ô5èò»»Ô d(|3M÷$££Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€C4»»d d 8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝVVVV'ÿÿdxd)!ÈÈÈÈdxdx( ±þ$’’ò òFigure€Ú  Ú1Ú  Úó ó^_X`YEþÿ<<CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(|3M÷$¢¢Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€C4»»d d 8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ý($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó óX[Z&OLE 2.0 Box <=8ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿCÿÿ HKKKKÝ ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€JÌ»»d dÈ8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÑ  ÑÑ  ÑÔ€¼Ê¥»»»ÔÑ8€$<XXdê»»d 8Ñà@ttìàÔ‡îÀdʥÔIN€THE€COURT€OF€CRIMINAL€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEˆÐ ° Ðà@õõ%ìàAT€JACKSONÔ#†¼Ê¥»îîÀd#ԈРÖ& ÐÓ  Óà @ àà @` àMarch€6,€2001€SessionÐ üL ÐÔ‡X‚)X»¼Ê¥ÔÌò òÔ#†¼Ê¥»XX‚)!#ÔSTATE€OF€TENNESSEEòòóó€v.€Ô_ÔLAQUENTONÔ_Ô€MONGERòòóóÔ‡X‚)X»¼Ê¥Ôó óÐ úJ ÐÌà@@½½ìàò òDirect€Appeal€from€the€Criminal€Court€for€Shelby€CountyÐ ú J Ðà@@øøìàNos.€98„01601,€98„01602€€€€€€John€P.€Ô_ÔColtonÔ_Ô,€Jr.,€JudgeÐ æ 6 ÐÌÌà@@ìì*ìàßA€V) °°` d€÷E<©` AßÐ ªú  ÐÌà@@TTìàNo.€W2000„00489„CCA„R3„CD€€Ô_Ô„Ô_Ô€Filed€August€27,€Ô_Ô2001Ô_ÔÐ ¥õ  ÐÌßA€V) °°` dE<|` AßÐ }Í  Ðó óÌÓ  ÓThe€appellant,€Ô_ÔLaQuentonÔ_Ô€Monger,€was€convicted€by€a€jury€in€the€Shelby€County€Criminal€CourtÐ xÈ  Ðof€one€count€of€first€degree€felony€murder€by€aggravated€child€abuseÔ#†¼Ê¥»XX‚)¹#ÔÔ‡X‚)X»¼Ê¥Ô€and€one€count€of€aggravatedÐ d´ Ðchild€abuse.€€The€trial€court€imposed€concurrent€sentences€of€life€imprisonment€in€the€TennesseeÐ P  ÐDepartment€of€Correction€for€the€felony€murder€conviction€and€twenty€years€imprisonment€in€theÐ <Œ ÐDepartment€for€the€aggravated€child€abuse€conviction.€€On€appeal,€the€appellant€challenges€theÐ (x Ðsufficiency€of€the€evidence€underlying€his€conviction€of€felony€murder€and€further€challenges€theÐ d Ðtrial€courtððs€failure€to€instruct€the€jury€on€lesser„included€offenses€of€felony€murder.€€Following€aÐ P Ðthorough€review€of€the€record€and€the€partiesðð€briefs,€we€reverse€the€appellantððs€convictions€of€felonyÐ ì< Ðmurder€and€aggravated€child€abuse€and€remand€the€cases€to€the€trial€court€for€a€new€trial.Ô#†¼Ê¥»XX‚)3#ÔÔ‡X‚)X»¼Ê¥ÔÐ Ø( ÐÓ/ÓÌò òTenn.€R.€App.€P.€3€Appeal€as€of€Right;€Judgments€of€the€Criminal€Court€are€Reversed€andÐ ° ÐRemanded.ó óÐ œì ÐÌòòÓ  ÓÔ#†¼Ê¥»àX‚)Ð #ÔÔ‡X‚)X.¼Ê¥ÔNorma€McGee€Ogle,€J.óó,€delivered€the€opinion€of€the€court,€in€which€òòGary€R.€Wade,€Ô_ÔP.J.Ô_Ô,óó€andÐ tÄ ÐòòDavid€H.€Welles,€J.óó,€joined.Ð `° ÐÌEdwin€C.€Ô_ÔLenowÔ_Ô,€Memphis,€Tennessee,€for€the€appellant,€Ô_ÔLaQuentonÔ_Ô€Monger.Ð 8!ˆ  ÐÌPaul€G.€Summers,€Attorney€General€and€Reporter;€Kim€R.€Helper,€Assistant€Attorney€General;Ð #`" ÐWilliam€L.€Gibbons,€District€Attorney€General;€and€Jennifer€Ô_ÔNicholsÔ_Ô,€Assistant€District€AttorneyÐ ü#L# ÐGeneral,€for€the€appellee,€State€of€Tennessee.Ð è$8 $ ÐÓ© ÓÌà@@OO&ìàò òOPINIONó óÔ#†¼Ê¥»XX‚)Ø #ÔÔ‡X‚)X»¼Ê¥ÔÐ À&"& ÐÌòòóóÔ#†¼Ê¥»XX‚)ÿ #ÔÔ‡X‚)X»¼Ê¥ÔÓ  Óà@ìàò òòòI.€€Factual€Backgroundó óóóˆÐ ˜(è#( ÐÔ#†¼Ê¥»XX‚)]#ÔÔ‡X‚)X»¼Ê¥Ôà  àà ` àOn€February€10,€1998,€a€Shelby€County€Grand€Jury€returned€indictments€chargingÐ „)Ô$) Ðthe€appellant€with€the€first€degree€felony€murder€by€aggravated€child€abuse€of€his€seven„month„oldÐ p*À%* Ðdaughter,€Ô_ÔQuennishaÔ_Ô€Monger,€between€the€dates€of€September€15,€1997,€and€September€17,€1997,Ð \+¬&+ Ðand€the€aggravated€child€abuse€of€Ô_ÔQuennishaÔ_Ô€during€the€same€time€frame.€€The€appellantððs€caseÐ H,˜', Ðproceeded€to€trial€on€November€2,€1999,€concluding€on€November€5.€€At€trial,€the€State€establishedÐ 4-„(-ý ÐÔ_Ôthat,€on€the€evening€of€September€16,€1997,€Quennisha€and€her€twin€brother€Quentavious€wereÐ ° Ðbriefly€in€the€sole€care€of€the€appellant.€€Specifically,€the€childrenððs€mother,€Kenisha€Simmons,€leftÐ œì Ðthe€Memphis€apartment€that€she€shared€with€the€appellant€at€approximately€9:15€p.m.€in€order€to€pickÐ ˆØ Ðup€her€cousin,€Utopia€Sims,€from€school€and€to€return€videos€to€a€Blockbuster€store.€€She€wasÐ tÄ Ðaccompanied€by€the€next„door€neighborððs€daughter,€Angela€Averitt€Hayes.€€Simmons€and€HayesÐ `° Ðreturned€home€with€Sims€at€approximately€10:00€p.m.€€Upon€their€return,€Simmons€learned€thatÐ L œ ÐQuennisha€had€stopped€breathing,€and€the€appellant€had€taken€the€baby€to€the€next„door€apartmentÐ 8 ˆ Ðin€search€of€assistance.€€Simmons€entered€the€next„door€apartment€along€with€Hayes€and€Sims€andÐ $ t Ðdiscovered€Quennisha€lying€on€the€floor€and€the€appellant€speaking€on€the€telephone€with€a€911Ð  ` Ðoperator.€€Neither€the€police€nor€an€ambulance€had€yet€arrived.Ð ü L  ÐÌà  àà ` àHayes€recalled€at€trial€that€the€scene€was€ð ðchaotic.ððÔ#†¼Ê¥»XX‚)õ#ÔÔ‡X‚)X»¼Ê¥Ô€€Simmons€immediately€beganÐ Ô$  Ðð ðcrying€and€hollering,ðð€and€the€appellant€also€appeared€ð ðkind€of€frantic€and€hysterical.ðð€€HayesÐ À  Ðattempted€to€console€Simmons.€€Meanwhile,€Sims€approached€Quennisha€and€noted€that€the€babyÐ ¬ü  Ðð ðwas€pale,€her€mouth€like€turned€white.ðð€€She€then€went€to€Simmons€and€the€appellantððs€apartmentÐ ˜è  Ðand€retrieved€Quentavious€from€the€twinsðð€crib.€€Sims€testified€at€trial€that€the€baby€boy€appeared€toÐ „Ô  Ðbe€unharmed.Ô#†¼Ê¥»XX‚)š#ÔÔ‡X‚)X»¼Ê¥ÔÐ pÀ ÐÌà  àà ` àThe€State€further€established€that,€sometime€between€9:40€p.m.€and€10:00€p.m.€onÐ H˜ ÐSeptember€16,€1997,€the€appellantððs€next„door€neighbor,€Gloria€McKissack€Wilson,€was€awakenedÐ 4„ Ðby€someone€knocking€ð ðrather€hardðð€on€her€front€door.€€When€she€opened€her€front€door,€sheÐ  p Ðdiscovered€the€appellant€outside,€carrying€his€infant€daughter€in€his€arms.€€The€appellant€requestedÐ  \ Ðher€assistance,€stating€that€his€daughter€did€not€appear€to€be€breathing.€€Upon€confirming€thatÐ øH ÐQuennisha€was€not€breathing€and€attempting€unsuccessfully€to€locate€the€babyððs€pulse,€WilsonÐ ä4 Ðadvised€the€appellant€to€call€911.Ð Ð  ÐÌà  àà ` àThere€ensued€a€series€of€efforts€to€resuscitate€Quennisha.€€First,€the€911€operatorÐ ¨ø Ðguided€the€appellant€in€performing€mouth„to„mouth€resuscitation€upon€his€daughter.€€The€operatorÐ ”ä Ðwas€soon€informed€that€the€baby€was€responding€to€the€appellantððs€efforts€in€that€she€appeared€to€beÐ €Ð Ðbreathing€once€again€and€also€had€a€pulse.€€Almost€immediately€thereafter,€ð ða€little€bit€beforeðð€10:25Ð l¼ Ðp.m.,€officers€of€the€Memphis€Police€Department€arrived.€€Officer€James€Sewell€testified€at€theÐ X ¨ Ðappellantððs€trial€that,€at€this€time,€Quennisha€was€not€breathing,€nor€did€she€have€a€pulse.€€TheÐ D!” Ðofficers€unavailingly€administered€cardiopulmonary€resuscitation€(CPR)€to€Quennisha.€€Finally,€atÐ 0"€  Ðapproximately€10:31€p.m.,€paramedics€employed€by€the€Memphis€Fire€Department,€including€GaryÐ #l! ÐGarmon,€arrived€and€continued€the€administration€of€CPR€to€Quennisha.€€Garmon€confirmed€at€theÐ $X" Ðappellantððs€trial€that,€at€the€time€of€the€paramedicsðð€arrival,€Quennisha€was€not€breathing,€and€herÐ ô$D # Ðheart€was€not€beating.€€However,€he€noted€that€Quennishaððs€skin,€although€cool,€was€not€yet€cold;Ð à%0!$ Ðher€ð ðcolorðð€was€normal;€and€her€pupils€were€not€yet€dilated.€€Moreover,€upon€performing€anÐ Ì&"% Ðelectrocardiogram€(EKG)€on€the€baby,€the€paramedics€discovered€ð ðelectrical€activity€to€the€heart.ðð€Ð ¸'#& ÐNevertheless,€they€too€were€unable€to€revive€Quennisha,€and€she€was€ultimately€pronounced€deadÐ ¤(ô#' Ðat€a€local€hospital.Ð )à$( Ðâ âÐ |*Ì%) Ðà  àà ` àWilson€testified€at€the€appellantððs€trial€that€she€observed€the€appellantððs€efforts€toÐ ° Ðâ ârevive€Quennisha.€€According€to€Wilson,€the€appellant€appeared€to€follow€the€instructions€of€the€911Ð œì Ðoperator.€€Moreover,€she€asserted€that,€although€she€observed€the€appellant€compress€QuennishaððsÐ ˆØ Ðchest,€she€never€observed€the€appellant€use€more€than€two€fingers,€and€the€appellant€pushed€onÐ tÄ ÐQuennishaððs€chest€ð ðpretty€light[ly].ðð€€Wilson€further€observed,€and€it€was€undisputed€at€trial,€that€theÐ `° Ðpolice€officers€and€the€paramedics€likewise€used€two€fingers€when€compressing€Quennishaððs€chest.€Ð L œ ÐWilson€concluded€that€she€never€observed€anyone€push€on€Quennishaððs€chest€ð ðwith€two€hands€theÐ 8 ˆ Ðway€you€might€do€on€an€adultðð€or€otherwise€ð ðpoundðð€on€the€babyððs€chest.Ð $ t ÐÌà  àà ` àOn€the€night€of€Quennishaððs€death,€the€appellant€reported€to€Officer€Jason€RandolphÐ ü L  Ðof€the€Memphis€Police€Department€that€there€was€ð ða€gas€leak€in€[his]€apartment€and€he€thought€thatÐ è 8  Ðthat€was€the€reason€the€baby€stopped€breathing.ðð€€Moreover,€an€unidentified€woman€standing€outsideÐ Ô$  ÐWilsonððs€apartment€on€the€night€in€question€reported€to€Officer€Sewell€that€ð ðapparently€[there€wasÐ À  Ða]€gas€leak€in€the€apartment€[in€which]€the€baby€lived.ðð€€Finally,€an€unidentified€woman€standingÐ ¬ü  Ðoutside€Wilsonððs€apartment€informed€Richard€Waddell,€a€lieutenant€with€the€Memphis€FireÐ ˜è  ÐDepartment,€of€a€possible€gas€leak€in€the€adjacent€apartment.€€Waddell€followed€the€woman€nextÐ „Ô  Ðdoor€and€investigated.€€He€recounted€at€the€appellantððs€trial:Ð pÀ Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àI€went€around€like€the€appliances€in€the€kitchen€and€things€like€thatÐ \¬ Ðto€try€to€„€„€where€you€would€check€and€maybe€have€gas€leaks€or€anyÐ H˜ Ðkind€of€leaks€like€that€in€the€apartments€like€the€kitchen€area,€IÐ 4„ Ðchecked€that€out€and€I€couldnððt€detect€anything.Ð p` x` x ÐÌà  àà ` àSimmons€testified€at€trial€that€Quennisha€and€Quentavious€were€in€the€care€of€theirÐ øH Ðgrandmother€during€the€day€on€September€16,€1997.€€She€recalled€that,€when€she€collected€the€babiesÐ ä4 Ðthat€evening,€they€both€appeared€to€be€in€normal€health.€€Moreover,€she€related€that,€during€theÐ Ð  Ðensuing€evening,€only€the€appellant€had€sole€care€of€the€babies€for€any€length€of€time.€€She€concededÐ ¼  Ðthat€the€appellant€regularly€cared€for€the€children€at€night€and€on€weekends€while€she€was€at€schoolÐ ¨ø Ðor€working,€and€she€had€never€previously€noticed€any€injuries€on€either€baby.€€However,€she€notedÐ ”ä Ðthat€Quennisha€had€been€exhibiting€various€unexplained€physical€and€behavioral€symptoms.€€ForÐ €Ð Ðexample,€Simmons€recounted€that,€from€the€age€of€four€months€until€her€death,€QuennishaÐ l¼ Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àwouldnððt€stand€up€like€a€normal€little€seven€month€will€stand€on€theirÐ X ¨ Ðknee€„€„€on€their€feet€and€try€to€push€up.€€She€didnððt€do€none€of€that,Ð D!” Ðshe€always€bend€down€and€start€crying€like€something€was€hurtingÐ 0"€  Ðher.Ð#l!` x` x ÐSimmons€also€recalled€that€Quennisha€ð ðcouldnððt€keep€no€milk€down,€they€changed€her€milk€severalÐ $X" Ðtimes€and€she€still€couldnððt€keep€it€down.ðð€€Finally,€Simmons€remembered€one€occasion€prior€to€herÐ ô$D # Ðdaughterððs€death€when€Quennisha€ð ðgaggedðð€or€briefly€stopped€breathing€before€resuming€normalÐ à%0!$ Ðrespiration.€€Utopia€Sims€added€at€trial€that,€in€the€past,€Quennisha€had€occasionally€appeared€to€beÐ Ì&"% Ðgasping€for€breath.€€On€August€5,€1997,€approximately€one€month€prior€to€Quennishaððs€death,Ð ¸'#& ÐSimmons€took€her€daughter€to€a€Dr.€Pisit€for€an€examination€but€was€informed€that€the€baby€wasÐ ¤(ô#' Ðhealthy.Ð )à$( Ðâ âÐ |*Ì%) Ðà  àà ` àOn€the€day€following€Quennishaððs€death,€Wendy€Gunther,€a€forensic€pathologist€andÐ ° Ðâ âan€assistant€medical€examiner€for€Shelby€County,€performed€an€autopsy€on€Quennishaððs€body.€€InÐ œì Ðperforming€the€autopsy,€Dr.€Gunther€first€examined€the€exterior€of€Quennishaððs€body.€€While€sheÐ ˆØ Ðobserved€no€ð ðobvious€wounds€on€the€babyððs€body,ðð€she€did€observe€approximately€one€dozenÐ tÄ Ðbruises,€each€measuring€approximately€one€quarter€of€an€inch,€on€the€babyððs€chest€and€abdomen.€Ð `° ÐThe€bruises€extended€from€ð ða€little€above€the€nipple€line€towards€the€bottom€of€the€ribs.ðð€€At€trial,Ð L œ Ðshe€noted:Ð 8 ˆ Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àIf€I€held€the€child€with€my€hands,€thumbs€on€her€spine€and€my€handsÐ $ t Ðin€front€my€fingers€roughly€matched€up€to€these€bruises.€€Iððd€have€toÐ  ` Ðshift€my€hands€a€couple€of€times€to€match€all€of€them.Ðü L ` x` x ÐShe€opined€that€the€bruises€occurred€prior€to€Quennishaððs€ð ðdeath,ðð€i.e.,€prior€to€the€babyððs€loss€ofÐ è 8  Ðblood€pressure.Ð Ô$  ÐÌà  àà ` àDr.€Gunther€next€conducted€an€internal€examination€of€the€babyððs€body.€€UponÐ ¬ü  Ðincising€both€Quennishaððs€chest€and€her€abdomen,€the€doctor€was€ð ðmet€by€a€gush€of€blood.ðð€€In€all,Ð ˜è  Ðtwo€fifths€of€the€blood€in€Quennishaððs€body€had€pooled€in€her€chest€and€abdomen.€€With€respect€toÐ „Ô  Ðthe€babyððs€abdomen,€the€doctor€discovered€that,€in€essence,€ð ðthe€whole€liver€had€ruptured€throughÐ pÀ Ðits€center.ðð€€In€other€words,€ð ðthe€liver€had€broken€in€half.ðð€€Additionally,€she€observed€ð ðin€theÐ \¬ Ðabdomen€.€.€.€blood€spots€all€over€the€small€bowel,€tiny€blood€spots€as€if€little€veins€had€given€way.ðð€Ð H˜ ÐFinally,€there€was€a€ð ðbig€spill€of€bloodðð€in€the€mesentery,€ð ðthe€part€of€the€body€that€connects€theÐ 4„ Ðblood€supply€to€the€guts.ðð€€Significantly,€some€of€the€blood€pooled€in€the€mesentery€was€ð ðold€blood,ððÐ  p Ðand€there€was€scar€tissue€surrounding€the€ð ðold€blood€crystal€stuffed€cells.ðð€€The€presence€of€the€ð ðoldÐ  \ Ðbloodðð€and€the€scar€tissue€indicated€that€blood€had€pooled€in€Quennishaððs€mesentery€on€severalÐ øH Ðprevious€occasions,€including€at€least€one€occasion€days€or€weeks€prior€to€her€death.Ð ä4 ÐÌà  àà ` àWith€respect€to€Quennishaððs€chest,€Dr.€Gunther€discovered€a€hole€in€the€babyððs€heartÐ ¼  Ðthat€was€larger€than€the€diameter€of€a€pencil.€€She€recounted,€ð ðThis€hole€had€blood€dissecting€[orÐ ¨ø Ðpushing]€into€the€heart€tissue€around€its€edges,€suggesting€that€the€heart€had€been€under€pressure,€theÐ ”ä Ðpressure€had€increased,€the€blood€had€dissected€into€the€wall€of€the€heart€and€the€wall€had€givenÐ €Ð Ðway.ðð€€The€doctor€also€discovered€another€hole€in€a€major€vein€leading€to€the€heart.€€The€vein€ð ðhadÐ l¼ Ðblown€open€something€like€the€way€an€inner€tube€on€a€bicycle€blows€open.ðð€€Finally,€Dr.€GuntherÐ X ¨ Ðdiscovered€multiple€rib€fractures.€€Ð D!” ÐÌà  àà ` àAt€trial,€Dr.€Gunther€described€to€the€jury€in€detail€her€findings€relating€toÐ #l! ÐQuennishaððs€rib€fractures:Ð $X" Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àThe€fractures€that€I€found€in€the€ribs€were€of€at€least€three€differentÐ ô$D # Ðages.€€The€ribs€that€were€primarily€injured€were€ribs€5€through€10.€Ð à%0!$ ÐYou€have€twelve€ribs€on€each€side,€and€incidentally€women€and€menÐ Ì&"% Ðhave€the€same€number€of€ribs.€€Ribs€1,€2,€3€and€4€which€are€up€top,Ð ¸'#& Ðwerenððt€injured€at€all.€€Rib€5,€which€starts€right€about€at€your€nippleÐ ¤(ô#' Ðor€a€little€above€it€in€the€center€which€is€where€the€top€most€bruiseÐ )à$( Ðwas,€is€the€first€rib€that€I€found€injury€in.€€Ð|*Ì%)` x` x ÐÐ h+¸&* Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àSix,€7,€8€and€9€were€the€worst€injuries.€€And€10,€which€is€comingÐ ° Ðclose€to€the€edge€of€the€ribs€in€front€was€slightly€injured.€€Ribs€5€and€Ð œì Ð10€were€hard€to€see€the€fracture€because€it€had€healed€almost€to€theÐ ˆØ Ðpoint€of€disappearing,€but€you€could€see€the€angle€where€the€rib€wasÐ tÄ Ðbent€abnormally.€€And€if€you€look€very€closely€you€could€see€the€littleÐ `° Ðwrinkle€in€the€rib€that€showed€the€healing€[site].€€So€ribs€5€and€10€hadÐ L œ Ðfractured€and€healed€weeks€ago.€€Ð8 ˆ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð à.€.€.€Ribs€6€and€8€on€the€right€and€other€ribs€on€the€left€had€fracturedÐ  ` Ðmuch€more€recently.€.€.€.Ðü L ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àThey€were€fractures€that€would€need€to€be€10€to€14€days€old,€andÐ Ô$  Ðcould€be€as€much€as€two€or€three€weeks€old.€€These€areas€had€begunÐ À  Ðto€heal.€€But€theyððre€weaker€than€normal€bone€and€they€will€breakÐ ¬ü  Ðmore€easily,€and€three€of€them€had€broken€again€freshly.Иè ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àSo€I€had€brand€new€rib€fractures€through€healing€re„fractures.€ÐpÀ` x` x ÐThe€doctor€concluded€that€Quennisha€had€suffered€a€total€number€of€ten€or€fifteen€rib€fracturesÐ \¬ Ðresulting€from€at€least€three€separate€acute€injuries€that€occurred€on€at€least€three€separate€occasions,Ð H˜ Ðincluding€ð ðjust€before€death[,]€at€some€period€between€10€days€and€three€weeks€before€death,€andÐ 4„ Ðat€some€period€four€to€six€weeks€before€death.ðð€€Ð  p ÐÌà  àà ` àWith€respect€to€the€ð ðfreshðð€rib€fractures,€Dr.€Gunther€further€explained:Ð øH Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àThe€reason€I€say€they€didnððt€occur€after€death€was€there€was€bloodÐ ä4 Ðaround€them.€€A€person€doesnððt€bleed€around€injuries€unless€theyððreÐ Ð  Ðalive,€because€when€youððre€dead€you€no€longer€have€a€blood€pressure,Ð ¼  Ðand€without€a€blood€pressure€you€donððt€bleed.Шø` x` x ÐShe€opined€that€the€fresh€rib€fractures€could€have€occurred€within€minutes€or€hours€of€QuennishaððsÐ ”ä Ðdeath.€€However,€she€asserted€that€ð ð[i]t€seem[ed]€most€reasonable€and€likelyðð€that€the€rib€fractures,Ð €Ð Ðthe€bruises,€and€the€other€recent€injuries€discovered€in€Quennishaððs€abdomen€and€chest€ð ðhappenedÐ l¼ Ðas€part€of€one€event,ðð€in€which€case€ð ðthey€would€have€been€sustained€about€the€same€time€as€deathÐ X ¨ Ðor€a€few€minutes€prior.ðð€€Ð D!” ÐÌà  àà ` àSpecifically,€Dr.€Gunther€concluded€that€ð ðthe€mechanism€of€death€which€suggest[s]Ð #l! Ðitself€is€increasing€pressure€by€the€hands,ðð€and€she€described€the€most€likely€sequence€of€events€thatÐ $X" Ðwould€result€from€the€application€of€this€ð ðmechanismðð:Ð ô$D # Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àAs€the€pressure€begins€probably€the€first€thing€that€happens€is€theÐ à%0!$ Ðmesentery€bleeds.€€And€the€second€thing€is€those€little€veins€pop€onÐ Ì&"% Ðthe€surface€of€the€small€bowel,€because€you€start€with€the€least€andÐ ¸'#& Ðyou€progress€to€the€worst.€€And€then€probably€the€third€thing€thatÐ ¤(ô#' Ðhappens€is€that€the€ribs€re„fracture€through€the€old€fractures.Ð)à$(` x` x Ðâ âÐ |*Ì%) Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àAnd€then€the€fourth€thing€that€happens€probably€is€that€the€liverÐ ° Ðâ âruptures.€€And€the€fifth€thing€is€that€the€heart€pops,€and€that€hole€isÐ œì Ðbigger€than€a€pencil,€opens€and€the€blood€pours€out€and€fills€theÐ ˆØ Ðpericardial€sack.€€And€this€does€this€until€thereððs€so€much€pressureÐ tÄ Ðthat€the€superior€vena€cava€has€to€rupture€to€release€the€pressure.Ð`°` x` x ÐThe€doctor€noted€that€the€above€five€stages€could€occur€fairly€quickly€ð ðwith€intense€sustain[ed]Ð L œ Ðincreasing€pressure,€but€it€would€not€be€instantaneous.€€It€has€to€be€time€for€each€of€those€to€ruptureÐ 8 ˆ Ðin€turn.ððÐ $ t ÐÌà  àà ` àFurther€addressing€the€timing€of€the€injuries€to€Quennishaððs€liver,€heart,€and€ð ðsuperiorÐ ü L  Ðvena€cava,ðð€Dr.€Gunther€testified€at€trial:Ð è 8  Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àIf€at€the€time€that€the€paramedic€arrived€to€perform€CPR€onÐ Ô$  ÐQuennisha€there€was€electrical€activity€in€her€heart€and€she€was€limpÐ À  Ðbut€not€stiff,€and€her€pupils€were€not€dilated€and€her€fingers€were€notÐ ¬ü  Ðblue€and€she€had€good€color€then€she€had€been€injured€only€minutesÐ ˜è  Ðbefore,€at€the€outside€something€like€ten€minutes€before€becauseÐ „Ô  Ðwithout€continuous€CPR€she€was€going€to€die.€€ÐpÀ` x` x ÐIndeed,€she€noted€that,€even€assuming€the€administration€of€CPR,€the€babyððs€injuries€ð ðcould€notÐ \¬ Ðpermit€life€to€be€sustained€.€.€.€for€more€than€minutes.ððÐ H˜ ÐÌà  àà ` àThat€having€been€said,€she€remarked€that€she€would€be€ð ðvery€surprisedðð€to€learn€thatÐ  p ÐQuennishaððs€ð ðcolorðð€was€normal€at€the€time€the€baby€was€examined€by€the€paramedics€because€twoÐ  \ Ðfifths€of€the€blood€in€her€body€were€pooled€in€her€chest€and€abdomen.€€Moreover,€Dr.€GuntherÐ øH Ðremarked€that,€in€contrast€to€Garmonððs€testimony€at€trial,€his€report€indicated€that,€at€the€time€of€theÐ ä4 Ðparamedicsðð€arrival,€the€ð ðEKG€showed€asystole.ðð€€She€explained€that€ð ðasystoleðð€ð ðmeans€the€heartÐ Ð  Ðis€not€attempting€to€beat€at€all,ðð€i.e.,€electrical€activity€of€the€heart€is€absent.€€She€conceded€that€theÐ ¼  Ðð ðEKG€stripðð€that€was€poorly€photocopied€onto€the€back€of€the€report€reflected€ð ðsome€sort€of€heartÐ ¨ø Ðactivity.ðð€€However,€she€noted€that€the€time€recorded€on€the€EKG€strip€was€inconsistent€with€the€timeÐ ”ä Ðduring€which€Quennisha€was€reportedly€in€the€care€of€the€paramedics.Ð €Ð ÐÌà  àà ` àDr.€Gunther€rejected€the€administration€of€CPR€as€a€possible€cause€of€QuennishaððsÐ X ¨ Ðinjuries.€€Specifically€addressing€Quennishaððs€rib€fractures,€she€noted€that€children€possessÐ D!” Ðð ðextremely€elastic€bones.ðð€€More€importantly,€she€observed€that€Quennishaððs€rib€fractures€were€notÐ 0"€  Ðin€locations€common€to€injuries€resulting€from€the€administration€of€CPR,€even€ð ðincorrectlyÐ #l! Ðperformed€CPR.ðð€€Lastly,€addressing€all€of€Quennishaððs€injuries,€she€remarked:Ð $X" Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àCPR€must€be€performed€for€a€reason.€€If€these€injuries€were€to€followÐ ô$D # ÐCPR€as€a€result€of€CPR,€which€I€do€not€believe€they€did,€then€theÐ à%0!$ Ðchild€had€to€be€almost€dying€for€some€other€reason.€€There€was€noÐ Ì&"% Ðother€reason.€€There€was€no€other€injury.€.€.€.€Ð¸'#&` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àBut€in€addition€if€CPR€had€been€the€cause€of€these€injuries,€which€IÐ )à$( Ðdo€not€believe€that€it€was,€it€would€not€explain€why€there€were€oldÐ |*Ì%) Ðinjuries.Ðh+¸&*` x` x Їà  àà ` àDr.€Gunther€acknowledged€that,€ð ð[s]ince€the€new€fractures€fractured€through€the€oldÐ ° Ðfractures,€they€would€not€have€required€as€much€pressure.ðð€€Accordingly,€she€conceded€that,Ð œì Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð à[i]f€the€person€grabbing€the€child€in€a€panic€state€and€rushing€to€seeÐ ˆØ Ðmaybe€a€neighbor€had€squeezed€the€child€so€hard€that€they€burst€herÐ tÄ Ðribs€and€liver€and€heart,€then€this€could€have€happened€that€way.€€ThatÐ `° Ðwould€[have]€had€to€have€been€an€extremely€hard€squeeze,€but€itÐ L œ Ðcould€have€happened€that€way€„€„€I€was€not€there.Ð8 ˆ` x` x ÐShe€reiterated,€however,€that€a€sufficient€ð ðsqueezeðð€would€not€only€have€to€be€ð ðextremely€hardðð€butÐ $ t Ðwould€also€entail€ð ða€sustained€pressure.ðð€€She€opined€that€Quennishaððs€injuries€were€ð ðnon„Ð  ` Ðaccidental.ððÐ ü L  ÐÌà  àà ` àAs€to€reports€of€a€gas€leak€possibly€associated€with€Quennishaððs€death,€Dr.€GuntherÐ Ô$  Ðrelated€that€testing€performed€on€the€babyððs€blood€failed€to€detect€the€presence€of€poisonous€gases,Ð À  Ðincluding€carbon€monoxide.€€However,€she€conceded€her€uncertainty€that€the€testing€performed€onÐ ¬ü  ÐQuennishaððs€blood€was€designed€to€detect€Methane,€the€most€common€gas€associated€with€leaks.€Ð ˜è  ÐNevertheless,€she€asserted€that€it€was€unlikely€that€a€baby€would€die€from€Methane€poisoning.€€TheÐ „Ô  Ðdoctor€also€conceded€that,€although€she€requested€testing€of€the€babyððs€lungs€for€the€presence€ofÐ pÀ Ðnatural€gas,€she€never€received€a€report€setting€forth€the€results€of€any€such€testing.€€She€confirmedÐ \¬ Ðthat€natural€gas€could€cause€a€baby€to€stop€breathing€ð ðif€thereððs€so€much€of€it€in€the€room€that€itÐ H˜ Ðpushes€out€the€oxygen.ððÐ 4„ ÐÌà  àà ` àFinally,€the€doctor€opined€at€trial€that€the€old€fractures€in€Quennishaððs€ribs€hadÐ  \ Ðoccurred€ð ðby€the€same€mechanism€[that€caused€the€new€fractures,]€which€involves€squeezing.ðð€Ð øH ÐIndeed,€she€noted€her€discovery€of€ð ðcells€holding€crystals€of€old€blood€in€the€lungsðð€as€well€as€theÐ ä4 Ðmesentery€and€posited€that€the€baby€had€previously€been€ð ðsqueezed€until€the€ribs€broke€and€bloodÐ Ð  Ðpoured€into€the€mesentery€and€some€blood€was€spilled€into€the€lungs.ðð€€She€noted€that€squeezing€aÐ ¼  Ðcrying€child€with€sufficient€pressure€to€break€the€childððs€ribs€could€cause€the€child€to€ð ðfaint[]€orÐ ¨ø Ðpass[]€out€and,€therefore,€stop[]€crying.ððÐ ”ä ÐÌà  àà ` àThe€doctor€acknowledged€that€other€explanations€for€the€old€rib€fractures€wereÐ l¼ Ðpossible.€€For€example,€she€testified€that€some€of€the€older€fractures€could€have€occurred€as€a€resultÐ X ¨ Ðof€the€baby€falling€from€a€car€seat€onto€the€floorboard€of€a€car.€€Nevertheless,€she€noted€that€such€aÐ D!” Ðscenario€was€unlikely€as€ð ð[m]ost€children€in€the€literature€sustaining€falls€from€much€higher€than€aÐ 0"€  Ðcar€seat€to€a€floor€do€not€sustain€rib€fractures,€leg€fractures€or€arm€fractures.€€A€rare€collar€boneÐ #l! Ðfracture€is€almost€the€only€fracture€sustained€by€a€child€in€a€fall€from€less€than€six€feet.ððÐ $X" ÐÌà  àà ` àDr.€Gunther€confirmed€that€the€older€fractures€in€Quennishaððs€ribs€might€have€beenÐ à%0!$ Ðthe€cause€of€her€refusal€or€inability€to€stand€prior€to€her€deathÔ#†¼Ê¥»XX‚)#ÔÔ‡X‚)X»¼Ê¥Ô,€even€when€held€up€by€familyÐ Ì&"% Ðmembers.€€The€doctor€explained€that€movement€would€be€painful€to€a€baby€with€rib€fractures.€Ð ¸'#& ÐAdditionally,€if€someone€attempted€to€lift€a€baby€with€rib€fractures,€the€pain€would€cause€her€toÐ ¤(ô#' Ðrespond€by€crying.€€Once€the€baby€began€crying,€her€pain€would€increase,€and€her€legs€might€appearÐ )à$( Ðto€be€ð ðgiving€out.ðð€€The€doctor€added€that€the€older€rib€fractures€might€have€caused€Quennisha€toÐ |*Ì%) Ðhave€ð ðsome€trouble€breathing.ððÔ#†¼Ê¥»XX‚)Ñq#ÔÔ‡X‚)X»¼Ê¥Ô€€Moreover,€she€confirmed€thatÐ h+¸&* Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àthe€bleeding€in€the€mesentery€probably€would€have€made€[Quennisha]Ð ° Ðhave€a€hard€time€taking€food€until€it€began€to€heal.€€She€might€haveÐ œì Ðbeen€vomiting,€she€likely€would€have€been€fussy,€she€might€haveÐ ˆØ Ðbeen€both€hungry€and€then€vomiting,€which€would€have€made€herÐ tÄ Ðmore€difficult€to€care€for€and€would€have€made€it€more€likely€toÐ `° Ðprovoke€punishment€of€her.ÐL œ` x` x ÐÌà  àà ` àThe€appellant€testified€on€his€own€behalf€at€trial.€€Preliminarily,€he€noted€that,Ð $ t Ðapproximately€one€month€prior€to€his€daughterððs€death,€she€was€thrown€from€her€car€seat€onto€theÐ  ` Ðfloorboard€of€his€car.€€In€essence,€the€appellant€asserted€that€he€was€unaware€of€any€other€possibleÐ ü L  Ðcause€of€his€daughterððs€older€injuries.€€In€particular,€he€denied€ever€striking€his€children€or€otherwiseÐ è 8  Ðabusing€the€children.€€Moreover,€he€stated€that€he€had€never€seen€Simmons€mistreat€either€baby.Ð Ô$  ÐÌà  àà ` àAs€to€the€instant€offenses,€the€appellant€confirmed€that€on€September€16,€1997,€hisÐ ¬ü  Ðwife€left€the€apartment€at€approximately€9:15€p.m.€or€9:20€p.m.€€His€son€began€crying€soonÐ ˜è  Ðthereafter.€€Accordingly,€the€appellant€changed€Quentaviousðð€diaper€and€gave€him€a€bottle€ofÐ „Ô  Ðformula.€€Afterwards,€the€appellant€checked€on€his€daughter,€who€was€sharing€a€crib€with€her€twin.€Ð pÀ ÐThe€appellant€recalled:Ð \¬ Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àShe€had€a€blanket€partially€over€her€face,€because€she€has€a€habit€ofÐ H˜ Ðpulling€the€blanket€over€her€face,€you€know,€because€I€get€up€late€atÐ 4„ Ðnight€2:00,€3:00€oððclock€in€the€morning€and€she€just€had€a€habit€ofÐ  p Ðpulling€that€blanket€over€her€face,€so€I€keep€constantly€pulling€itÐ  \ Ðdown.€€But€anyway€she€„€„€I€called€her€name€a€couple€of€times€and€sheÐ øH Ðdidnððt€answer€me.Ðä4` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àAnd€then€when€I,€you€know,€moved€the€blanket€and€picked€her€up€sheÐ ¼  Ðwas€limp,€you€know,€like€lifeless.€€And€I€called€her€name€and€keptÐ ¨ø Ðcalling€her€name,€yet€and€still€she€wouldnððt€respond.€€So€I€startedÐ ”ä Ðhitting€her€in€her€chest€[with€my€hand]€.€.€.€.ЀÐ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð à.€.€.€.€ÐX ¨` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àI€hel[d]€her€nose€and€I€blew€into€her€mouth€real€hard,€and€I€keptÐ 0"€  Ðhitting€her€in€her€chest,€and€I€know€I€turned€her€over€and€I€hit€her€inÐ #l! Ðher€back€just€in€case€she€probably€swallowed€something€orÐ $X" Ðsomething.€€But€yet€and€still€she€still€didnððt€respond.€€So€when€„€„€IÐ ô$D # Ðgrabbed€and€ran€with€her€next€door.Ðà%0!$` x` x ÐÌà  àà ` àAccording€to€the€appellant,€he€held€his€daughter€ð ð[w]ith€his€arms€outðð€as€he€ran€nextÐ ¸'#& Ðdoor.€€When€he€arrived€at€Wilsonððs€front€door€and€while€he€was€beating€on€the€door,€he€placedÐ ¤(ô#' ÐQuennisha€in€one€arm.€€When€Wilson€responded€to€his€knocks,€the€appellant€informed€her€thatÐ )à$( ÐQuennisha€had€stopped€breathing.€€Wilson€indicated€in€turn€that€she€was€undressed€and€instructedÐ |*Ì%) Ðthe€appellant€to€hold€his€baby€upside€down€and€hit€her€on€her€back€while€Wilson€obtained€clothing.€Ð h+¸&* ÐAfter€dressing,€Wilson€examined€Quennisha,€attempting€to€discern€whether€the€child€was€breathingÐ ° Ðand€to€locate€a€pulse.€€When€her€efforts€proved€unsuccessful,€Wilson€instructed€the€appellant€to€callÐ œì Ð911.€€The€appellant€confirmed€at€trial€that€the€911€operator€guided€him€in€performing€mouth„to„Ð ˆØ Ðmouth€resuscitation€upon€his€daughter.€€However,€he€recalled€that€the€operator€failed€to€explain€howÐ tÄ Ðto€perform€chest€compressions,€and,€accordingly,€he€pressed€on€his€daughterððs€chest€with€his€entireÐ `° Ðhand.€€The€appellant€conceded€that€he€did€not€press€on€Quennishaððs€chest€hard€enough€ð ðto€blow€aÐ L œ Ðhole€in€her€heart.ððÐ 8 ˆ ÐÌà  àà ` àAt€the€conclusion€of€the€trial,€the€jury€found€the€appellant€guilty€of€first€degree€felonyÐ  ` Ðmurder€by€aggravated€child€abuse€and€aggravated€child€abuse.€€Because€the€State€sought€neither€theÐ ü L  Ðdeath€penalty€nor€a€sentence€of€life€imprisonment€without€parole€for€the€offense€of€felony€murder,Ð è 8  Ðthe€trial€court€sentenced€the€appellant€to€life€imprisonment€in€the€Tennessee€Department€ofÐ Ô$  ÐCorrection€for€that€offense.€€The€trial€court€imposed€a€concurrent€sentence€of€twenty€yearsÐ À  Ðimprisonment€in€the€Department€for€the€offense€of€aggravated€child€abuse.Ð ¬ü  ÐÌà@éé$ìàò òòòII.€€Analysisó óóóˆÐ „Ô  Ðò òA.à0  àPlain€Erroró óÐpÀ(#(# Ðà  àà ` àBefore€resolving€the€issues€raised€by€the€appellant€in€this€appeal,€we€are€compelledÐ \¬ Ðto€address€an€error€that€plainly€appears€in€the€record€before€the€court€and€has€affected€the€substantialÐ H˜ Ðrights€of€the€appellant.€€òòóóTenn.€R.€Crim.€P.€52(b);òòóó€òòState€v.€Smithóó,€24€S.W.3d€274,€282„283€(Tenn.Ð 4„ Ð2000);€òòsee€alsoóóÔ#†¼Ê¥»XX‚)Ct#ÔÔ‡X‚)X»¼Ê¥Ô€òòState€v.€Kennedyóó,€7€S.W.3d€58,€70€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.€1999);€òòState€v.€Eppsóó,€989Ð  p ÐS.W.2d€742,€745„746€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.€1998)Ô#†¼Ê¥»XX‚)äŠ#ÔÔ‡X‚)X»¼Ê¥Ô.€€Namely,€the€appellantððs€dual€convictions€of€firstÐ  \ Ðdegree€felony€murder€by€aggravated€child€abuse€and€aggravated€child€abuse€effect€multipleÐ øH Ðpunishments€for€the€same€offenseÔ#†¼Ê¥»XX‚)À‹#ÔÔ‡X‚)X»¼Ê¥Ô€thereby€violating€constitutional€prohibitions€against€doubleÐ ä4 Ðjeopardy.Ð Ð  ÐÌà  àà ` àThe€Fifth€Amendment€to€the€United€States€Constitution€guarantees€that€no€personÐ ¨ø Ðshall€ð ðbe€subject€for€the€same€offense€to€be€twice€put€in€jeopardy€of€life€or€limb.ðð€€This€prohibitionÐ ”ä Ðagainst€double€jeopardy€is€applicable€to€the€states€through€the€Fourteenth€Amendment.€€òòBenton€v.Ð €Ð ÐMarylandóó,€395€U.S.€784,€794,€89€S.€Ct.€2056,€2062€(1969);€òòState€v.€Howardóó,€30€S.W.3d€271,€277Ð l¼ Ðn.7€(Tenn.€2000).€€Additionally,€Article€1,€Section€10€of€the€Tennessee€Constitution€provides€inÐ X ¨ Ðalmost€identical€language€that€ð ðno€person€shall,€for€the€same€offense,€be€twice€put€in€jeopardy€of€lifeÐ D!” Ðor€limb.ððÔ#†¼Ê¥»XX‚)ÜŒ#ÔÔ‡X‚)X»¼Ê¥Ô€€In€òòState€v.€Dentonóó,€938€S.W.2d€373,€378€(Tenn.€1996),€our€supreme€court€reiterated€theÐ 0"€  Ðthree€fundamental€principles€underlying€federal€and€state€constitutional€guarantees€against€doubleÐ #l! Ðjeopardy:€(1)€€protection€against€a€second€prosecution€after€acquittal;€(2)€protection€against€a€secondÐ $X" Ðprosecution€after€conviction;€and€(3)€protection€against€multiple€punishments€for€the€ð ðsameðð€offense.€Ð ô$D # ÐAgain,€this€case€implicates€the€protection€against€multiple€punishments€for€the€ð ðsameðð€offense.Ð à%0!$ ÐÌà  àà ` àThe€court€in€òòDentonóó€set€forth€clear€guidelines€governing€the€ð ðresolution€of€a€doubleÐ ¸'#& Ðjeopardy€punishment€issue€under€the€Tennessee€Constitution.ðð€€òòId.óó€at€379„381.€€In€so€doing,€the€courtÐ ¤(ô#' ÐrequiredÔ#†¼Ê¥»XX‚)#ÔÔ‡X‚)X»¼Ê¥Ô€an€inquiry€more€extensive€than€that€required€by€the€federal€constitution.€€òòId.óó€at€381€n.€15;Ð )à$( Ðâ âòòState€v.€Winninghamóó,Ô#†¼Ê¥»XX‚)8”#ÔÔ‡X‚)X»¼Ê¥Ô€958€S.W.2d€740,€743€(Tenn.€1997)Ô#†¼Ê¥»XX‚)•#ÔÔ‡X‚)X»¼Ê¥Ô.€€In€summary,€in€order€to€determine€underÐ |*Ì%) Ðthe€Tennessee€Constitution€whether€two€offenses€are€the€ð ðsameðð€for€double€jeopardy€purposes€andÐ ° Ðtherefore€preclude€multiple€punishments,€a€court€must€conduct:Ð œì Ðâ âà8  àà8` Ð Ð à1.€€an€analysis€of€the€statutory€offenses€under€òòBlockburger€v.€UnitedÐ ˆØ ÐStatesóó[,€284€U.S.€299,€52€S.€Ct.€180€(1932),]€to€determine€ð ðwhetherÐ tÄ Ðeach€provision€requires€proof€of€an€additional€fact€which€the€otherÐ `° Ðdoes€notðð;ÐL œ` x` x Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð à2.€€an€analysis,€guided€by€the€principals€of€òòDuchac€v.€Stateóó[,€505Ð 8 ˆ ÐS.W.2d€237€(Tenn.€1973),]€of€whether€the€same€evidence€is€requiredÐ $ t Ðto€prove€each€offense;€Ð `` x` x Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð à3.€€a€consideration€of€whether€there€were€multiple€victims€or€discreteÐ ü L  Ðacts;€andÐè 8 ` x` x Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð à4.€€a€comparison€of€the€purposes€of€the€respective€statutes.ÐÔ$ ` x` x ÐòòState€v.€Barneyóó,€986€S.W.2d€545,€549€(Tenn.€1999)€(footnotes€omitted);€òòsee€alsoóó€òòDentonóó,€938Ð À  ÐS.W.2d€at€379„381.€€Ð ¬ü  ÐÌà  àà ` àNone€of€the€above€factors€is€necessarily€determinative,€òòDentonóó,€938€S.W.2d€at€381,Ð „Ô  ÐÔ#†¼Ê¥»XX‚)y•#ÔÔ‡X‚)X»¼Ê¥Ôbut€our€supreme€court€has€emphasized€that€ð ð[t]he€key€issue€in€multiple€punishment€cases€isÐ pÀ Ðlegislative€intent.ðð€€òòDentonóó,€938€S.W.2d€at€379;€òòsee€alsoóó€òòBarneyóó,€986€S.W.2d€at€549.€€Indeed,Ð \¬ Ðalthough€passing€òòBlockburgeróó€scrutiny€is€generally€required€under€the€federal€Double€JeopardyÐ H˜ ÐClause,€òòWinninghamóó,Ô#†¼Ê¥»XX‚)‰›#ÔÔ‡X‚)X»¼Ê¥Ô€958€S.W.2d€at€743;€òòState€v.€Hayesóó,€7€S.W.3d€52,€55€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.€1999),Ð 4„ Ðthe€United€States€Supreme€Court€has€stated:Ð  p Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àWhere€.€.€.€a€legislature€specifically€authorizes€cumulative€punishmentÐ  \ Ðunder€two€statutes,€regardless€of€whether€those€two€statutes€proscribeÐ øH Ðthe€ð ðsameðð€conduct€under€òòBlockburgeróó,€a€courtððs€task€of€statutoryÐ ä4 Ðconstruction€is€at€an€end€and€the€prosecution€may€seek€and€the€trialÐ Ð  Ðcourt€or€jury€may€impose€cumulative€punishment€under€such€statutesÐ ¼  Ðin€a€single€trial.Шø` x` x ÐÔ#†¼Ê¥»XX‚)U#ÔÔ‡X‚)X»¼Ê¥ÔòòMissouri€v.€Hunteróó,€459€U.S.€359,€368„369,€103€S.€Ct.€673,€679€(1983).€Ô#†¼Ê¥»XX‚)[ #ÔÔ‡X‚)X»¼Ê¥Ô€Correspondingly,€TennesseeÐ ”ä Ðcourts€have€consistently€held€that,€ð ðwhen€legislative€intent€is€clear,€a€defendant€may€be€separatelyÐ €Ð Ðconvicted€of€two€offenses€which€arise€from€one€criminal€transaction.ðð€€òòState€v.€Ralphóó,€6€S.W.3d€251,Ð l¼ Ð256€(Tenn.€1999).€€Ð X ¨ ÐÌà  àà ` àAn€example€pertinent€to€the€instant€case€is€our€supreme€courtððs€holding€in€òòState€v.Ð 0"€  ÐBlackburnóó,€694€S.W.2d€934,€937€(Tenn.€1985),€that€a€defendant€may€be€convicted€of€both€felonyÐ #l! Ðmurder€and€the€underlying€felony€because€ð ððð[n]othing€in€the€statutory€definitions€of€murder€in€theÐ $X" Ðfirst€degree€and€of€the€[underlying]€felonies€.€.€.€indicates€a€legislative€intent€that€conviction€andÐ ô$D # Ðpunishment€for€both€offenses€should€not€be€permitted.ðððð€òòSee€alsoóó€òòState€v.€Hallóó,€976€S.W.2d€121,€171Ð à%0!$ Ð(Tenn.€1998)(appendix).€€Of€course,€at€the€time€of€the€supreme€courtððs€holding€in€òòBlackburnóó,€theÐ Ì&"% Ðkilling€of€a€child€by€aggravated€child€abuse€was€not€included€in€the€first€degree€murder€statute.€€InÐ ¸'#& Ðcontrast€to€its€holding€in€òòBlackburnóó,€our€supreme€court€in€òòState€v.€Duckeróó,€27€S.W.3d€889,€893Ð ¤(ô#' Ð(Tenn.€2000),€òòcert.€deniedóó,€__€U.S.€__,€121€S.€Ct.€1202€(2001),€explained€the€intent€underlying€theÐ )à$( Ðlegislatureððs€later€codification€of€the€reckless€killing€of€a€child€by€aggravated€child€abuse€as€firstÐ |*Ì%) Ðdegree€murder:Ð h+¸&* Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð à[A]€legislative€intent€to€permit€dual€convictions€and€sentences€forÐ ° Ðboth€felony€murder€and€the€predicate€felony€does€not€appear€to€beÐ œì Ðpresent€under€the€reckless€killing€of€a€child€provision€in€Tenn.€CodeÐ ˆØ ÐAnn.€ðð€39„13„202(a)(4)€(1994).€€The€legislature€originally€codifiedÐ tÄ Ðthe€reckless€killing€of€a€child€by€aggravated€child€abuse€in€responseÐ `° Ðto€[the€public€outcry€following€the€conviction€of€Kerry€Phillip€BowersÐ L œ Ðof€the€lesser€offense€of€second€degree€murder€of€Scotty€Trexler.€€òòSeeóóÐ 8 ˆ ÐòòState€v.€Kerry€Phillip€Bowersóó,€No.€115,€1989€WL€86576€(Tenn.€Crim.Ð $ t ÐApp.€at€Knoxville,€August€2,€1989).]€€This€codification€was€knownÐ  ` Ðas€the€ð ðScotty€Trexler€Law.ðð€€The€intent€of€the€Scotty€Trexler€LawÐ ü L  Ðwas€not€to€permit€dual€convictions€but€to€punish€the€reckless€killingÐ è 8  Ðof€a€child€as€first€degree€murder.ÐÔ$ ` x` x ÐÌà  àà ` àIn€a€footnote,€the€court€limited€its€dual€conviction€analysis€to€the€first€degree€murderÐ ¬ü  Ðstatute€in€effect€in€1994,€òòid.óó€at€893€n.2,€noting€that€the€reckless€killing€of€a€child€by€aggravated€childÐ ˜è  Ðabuse€was€contained€in€a€subsection€separate€from€the€general€felony€murder€subsection.€€MoreÐ „Ô  Ðrecently,€however,€in€òòState€v.€Bobby€G.€Godseyóó,€No.€E1997„00207„CCA„R3„DD,€2000€WLÐ pÀ Ð1337655,€at€*29€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.€at€Knoxville,€September€18,€2000),€òòperm.€to€appeal€grantedóó,Ð \¬ Ð(Tenn.€2001),€this€court€specifically€addressed€the€1995€amendment€to€the€first€degree€murder€statuteÐ H˜ Ðthat€simply€added€aggravated€child€abuse€to€the€general€felony€murder€subsection:€ð ðThe€legislativeÐ 4„ Ðhistory€of€the€1995€amendment€to€the€first€degree€murder€statute€suggests€that€the€objective€was€toÐ  p Ðincrease€the€degree€of€the€penalty€[for€aggravated€child€abuse€resulting€in€the€death€of€the€child],€notÐ  \ Ðto€implement€an€additional€penalty.ðð€€In€other€words,€the€legislative€objective€of€the€1995Ð øH ÐAmendment€was€ð ðto€deter€the€commission€of€[aggravated€child€abuse]€by€holding€the€perpetratorÐ ä4 Ðaccountable€for€any€death€that€might€result.ðð€€òòId.óó€at€*11.€€We€also€notedòòóó€that,€in€contrast€to€the€otherÐ Ð  Ðfelonies€enumerated€in€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€39„13„202(a)(2)€(1997),€aggravated€child€abuse€may€beÐ ¼  Ða€lesser„included€offense€of€homicide.€€òòGodseyóó,€No.€E1997„00207„CCA„R3„DD,€2000€WL€1337655,Ð ¨ø Ðat€**28„30€(citing€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€39„15„401(d)€(1997)).€€òòBut€seeóó€òòDuckeróó,€27€S.W.3d€at€893€n.1;Ð ”ä ÐòòState€v.€Cornelius€Michael€Hydeóó,€No.€E2000„00042„CCA„R3„CD,€2000€WL€1877490,€at€*8€n.1Ð €Ð Ð(Tenn.€Crim.€App.€at€Knoxville,€December€28,€2000).€€Accordingly,€we€concluded€in€òòGodseyóó,€No.Ð l¼ ÐE1997„00207„CCA„R3„DD,€2000€WL€1337655,€at€*30,òòóó€that,€ð ð[b]ecause€the€legislature€did€notÐ X ¨ Ðclearly€intend€a€cumulative€punishment€for€aggravated€child€abuse€where€there€is€a€conviction€andÐ D!” Ðpunishment€for€first€degree€felony€murder€arising€out€of€the€same€aggravated€child€abuse,€theÐ 0"€  Ðdefendantððs€conviction€for€the€former€must€be€set€aside.ðð€€òòSee€alsoóó€òòState€v.€Benjamin€Brownóó,€No.Ð #l! ÐW1999„00327„CCA„R3„CD,€2000€WL€1664226,€at€**7„8€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.€at€Jackson,€OctoberÐ $X" Ð24,€2000)(defendantððs€convictions€of€both€first€degree€felony€murder€by€aggravated€child€abuse€andÐ ô$D # Ðaggravated€child€abuse€violated€principles€of€double€jeopardy€relating€to€multiple€punishments€forÐ à%0!$ Ðthe€same€offense).Ð Ì&"% ÐÌà  àà ` àKeeping€in€mind€both€our€supreme€courtððs€opinion€in€òòDuckeróó€and€our€holding€inÐ ¤(ô#' ÐòòGodseyóó,€we€turn€to€the€application€of€the€guidelines€set€forth€by€our€supreme€court€in€òòDentonóó,€938Ð )à$( ÐS.W.2d€at€379„381,€to€the€instant€case.€€Initially,€as€charged€in€the€indictment€in€this€case,€the€offenseÐ |*Ì%) Ðof€first€degree€felony€murder€by€aggravated€child€abuse€comprised€the€following€essential€elements:Ð h+¸&* Ð(1)€the€appellant€killed€Quennisha;€(2)€the€killing€was€committed€in€the€perpetration€of€aggravatedÐ ° Ðchild€abuse;€and€(3)€the€appellant€intended€to€commit€aggravated€child€abuse.€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ððÐ œì Ð39„13„202(a)(2)€&€(b);€T.P.I.€Crim.€No.€7.03(b)€(4òòthóó€ed.€1995).€€Thus,€in€order€to€obtain€a€convictionÐ ˆØ Ðof€first€degree€felony€murder€by€aggravated€child€abuse,€the€State€had€to€prove€the€appellantððs€guiltÐ tÄ Ðof€aggravated€child€abuse.€€In€relevant€part,€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€39„15„402(a)€(1997)€provides€thatÐ `° Ða€person€commits€the€offense€of€aggravated€child€abuse€who€knowingly,€other€than€by€accidentalÐ L œ Ðmeans,€treats€a€child€under€eighteen€years€of€age€in€such€a€manner€as€to€inflict€serious€bodily€injury.€Ð 8 ˆ ÐòòSee€alsoóó€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€39„15„401(a)€(1997).Ô#†¼Ê¥»XX‚)ê #ÔÔ‡X‚)X»¼Ê¥Ô€€Ô#†¼Ê¥»XX‚)ç¼#ÔÔ‡X‚)X»¼Ê¥ÔThat€having€been€said,€in€the€separate€indictmentÐ $ t Ðcharging€the€appellant€with€aggravated€child€abuse,€the€State€sought€to€enhance€the€offense€to€a€classÐ  ` ÐA€felony.€€Accordingly,€in€order€to€obtain€a€conviction€of€aggravated€child€abuse,€Ô#†¼Ê¥»XX‚)+½#ÔÔ‡X‚)X»¼Ê¥Ôthe€State€was€alsoÐ ü L  Ðrequired€to€prove€beyond€a€reasonable€doubt€that€Quennisha€was€six€years€of€age€or€younger.€€Tenn.Ð è 8  ÐCode€Ann.€ðð€39„15„402(b).€€In€short,€as€required€by€òòBlockburgeróó,€284€U.S.€at€304,€52€S.€Ct.€at€182,Ð Ô$  Ðeach€offense€does€require€proof€of€an€additional€fact€which€the€other€does€notÔ#†¼Ê¥»XX‚)¾#ÔÔ‡X‚)X»¼Ê¥Ô.Ð À  ÐÌà  àà ` àNevertheless,€while€the€offenses€of€first€degree€felony€murder€by€aggravated€childÐ ˜è  Ðabuse€and€aggravated€child€abuse€pass€òòBlockburgeróó€scrutiny,€the€remaining€three€prongs€of€theÐ „Ô  ÐòòDentonóó€analysis€point€to€a€double€jeopardy€violation.€€It€is€apparent€from€the€Stateððs€closingÐ pÀ Ðargument€that€it€relied€upon€the€same€evidence€to€prove€both€offenses.€€Moreover,€the€record€reflectsÐ \¬ Ðthat€there€was€only€one€victim,€and€the€pathologist€testified€at€trial€that€ð ð[i]t€seem[ed]€mostÐ H˜ Ðreasonable€and€likelyðð€that€the€babyððs€recent€injuries€and€consequent€death€ð ðhappened€as€part€of€oneÐ 4„ Ðevent,ðð€i.e.,€ð ðincreasing€pressure€by€the€hands.ðð€€Finally€and€most€importantly,€the€legislature€wasÐ  p Ðaddressing€the€same€evil,€i.e.,€the€aggravated€abuse€of€a€child,€in€codifying€both€first€degree€felonyÐ  \ Ðmurder€by€aggravated€child€abuse€and€aggravated€child€abuse.€€òòGodseyóó,€No.€E1997„00207„CCA„R3„Ð øH ÐDD,€2000€WL€1337655,€at€*30.€€Ð ä4 ÐÌà  àà ` àIn€sum,€we€conclude€that,€under€the€òòDentonóó€analysis,€ð ðonly€one€offense€wasÐ ¼  Ðcommitted€and€only€one€conviction€may€stand.ðð€€òòBrownóó,€No.€W1999„00327„CCA„R3„CD,€2000€WLÐ ¨ø Ð1664226,€at€*8.€€ð ðUpon€a€finding€that€two€convictions€cannot€both€stand,€the€conviction€for€theÐ ”ä Ðgreater€offense€must€stand€and€that€for€the€lower€offense€must€be€vacated.ðð€€òòState€v.€Beardóó,Ô#†¼Ê¥»XX‚)0À#ÔÔ‡X‚)X»¼Ê¥Ô€818Ð €Ð ÐS.W.2d€376,€379€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.€1991);€òòsee€alsoóó€òòState€v.€Jeffery€Eugene€Wrightóó,€No.€M1999„Ð l¼ Ð00647„CCA„R3„CD,€2000€WL€264224,€at€*4€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.€at€Nashville,€March€10,€2000).€Ô#†¼Ê¥»XX‚)êÆ#ÔÔ‡X‚)X»¼Ê¥ÔÐ X ¨ ÐAccordingly,€we€reverse€the€appellantððs€conviction€of€aggravated€child€abuse.Ð D!” ÐÌò òB.à0  àSufficiency€of€the€Evidenceó óÐ#l!(#(# Ðà  àà ` àAs€to€the€issues€raised€by€the€appellant€in€this€appeal,€the€appellant€first€challengesÐ $X" Ðthe€sufficiency€of€the€evidence€underlying€his€conviction€of€first€degree€felony€murder€by€aggravatedÐ ô$D # Ðchild€abuse.€€In€order€to€prevail,€the€appellant€must€demonstrate€to€this€court€that€no€ð ðrational€trierÐ à%0!$ Ðof€factðð€could€have€found€the€essential€elements€of€the€offense€beyond€a€reasonable€doubt.€€òòJacksonÐ Ì&"% Ðv.€Virginiaóó,€443€U.S.€307,€319,€99€S.€Ct.€2781,€2789€(1979);€òòState€v.€Tuggleóó,€639€S.W.2d€913,€914Ð ¸'#& Ð(Tenn.€1982);€Tenn.€R.€App.€P.€13(e).€€In€other€words,€on€appeal,€the€State€is€entitled€to€the€strongestÐ ¤(ô#' Ðlegitimate€view€of€the€evidence€and€all€reasonable€inferences€which€may€be€drawn€therefrom.€€òòStateÐ )à$( Ðv.€Williamsóó,€657€S.W.2d€405,€410€(Tenn.€1983).€€All€factual€issues€raised€by€the€evidence,€includingÐ |*Ì%) Ðquestions€concerning€the€credibility€of€witnesses€and€the€weight€and€value€to€be€given€the€evidence,Ð h+¸&* Ðare€resolved€by€the€trier€of€fact€and€not€the€appellate€courts.€€òòState€v.€Pruettóó,€788€S.W.2d€559,€561Ð ° Ð(Tenn.€1990).€€These€standards€apply€to€convictions€based€upon€direct€evidence,€circumstantialÐ œì Ðevidence,€or€both.€€òòState€v.€Carruthersóó,€35€S.W.3d€516,€557€(Tenn.€2000);€òòState€v.€Vannóó,€976€S.W.2dÐ ˆØ Ð93,€111„112€(Tenn.€1998)(appendix).€€Thus,€as€in€the€case€of€direct€evidence,€the€weight€to€be€givenÐ tÄ Ðcircumstantial€evidence€and€ð ððð[t]he€inferences€to€be€drawn€from€such€evidence,€and€the€extent€toÐ `° Ðwhich€the€circumstances€are€consistent€with€guilt€and€inconsistent€with€innocence,€are€questionsÐ L œ Ðprimarily€for€the€jury.ðððð€òòMarable€v.€Stateóó,€313€S.W.2d€451,€457€(Tenn.€1958).òòóóÐ 8 ˆ ÐÌà  àà ` àThe€Stateððs€evidence€in€this€case€was€wholly€circumstantial.€€Accordingly,€at€trial,€theÐ  ` ÐState€was€required€ð ðððto€exclude€every€other€reasonable€hypothesis€save€the€guilt€of€the€defendant,Ð ü L  Ðand€that€beyond€a€reasonable€doubt.ðððð€€òòHallóó,€976€S.W.2d€at€140€(appendix).€€Once€again,€the€guiltÐ è 8  Ðof€the€appellant€of€first€degree€felony€murder€by€aggravated€child€abuse€required€findings€by€the€juryÐ Ô$  Ðthat€the€appellant€killed€Quennisha€in€the€perpetration€ofÔ#†¼Ê¥»XX‚)È#ÔÔ‡X‚)X»¼Ê¥Ô€aggravated€child€abuse,Ô#†¼Ê¥»XX‚)Ó#ÔÔ‡X‚)X»¼Ê¥Ô€i.e.,€whileÐ À  Ðknowingly,€other€than€by€accidental€means,€treating€her€in€such€a€manner€as€to€inflict€serious€bodilyÐ ¬ü  Ðinjury,׃×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×Ô#†¼Ê¥»XX‚)vÓ#ÔÔ‡X‚)X»¼Ê¥Ô€and€that€the€appellant€intended€to€commit€aggravated€child€abuse.€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€39„13„Ð ˜è  Ð202(a)(2)€&€(b);€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€39„15„402(a);€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€39„15„401(a).Ð „Ô  ÐÌà  àà ` àThe€appellant€argues€that€the€State€failed€to€meet€its€burden€of€proof€at€trial€becauseÐ \¬ ÐDr.€Guntherððs€testimony€demonstrated€that€Quennisha€was€not€in€the€care€of€the€appellant€at€the€timeÐ H˜ Ðshe€received€the€injuries€in€her€chest€and€abdomen.€€Specifically,€the€appellant€cites€Dr.€GuntherððsÐ 4„ Ðtestimony€that,€if€paramedics€examining€Quennisha€at€10:30€p.m.€observed€normal€skin€color€andÐ  p Ðpupils€that€were€not€yet€dilated€and€further€discovered€electrical€activity€in€the€babyððs€heart,Ð  \ ÐQuennisha€must€have€received€her€injuries€ð ðat€the€outside€something€like€10€minutes€before.ðð€€AsÐ øH Ðnoted€earlier,€the€police€were€administering€CPR€to€Quennisha€during€the€larger€part€of€the€tenÐ ° Ðminutes€preceding€the€paramedicsðð€arrival.€€Arguably,€Dr.€Gunther€suggested€that€the€administrationÐ œì Ðof€CPR€to€Quennisha€prior€to€the€paramedicsðð€arrival€might€expand€her€estimation€by€minutes.€Ð ˆØ ÐHowever,€for€at€least€twenty„five€or€thirty€minutes€prior€to€the€arrival€of€police,€the€appellant€wasÐ tÄ Ðattempting€to€provide€care€to€his€daughter€in€the€presence€of€his€neighbor.€€Moreover,€the€911Ð `° Ðoperator€was€informed€during€this€time€period€that€Quennisha€appeared€to€be€breathing€and€had€aÐ L œ Ðpulse.Ô#†¼Ê¥»XX‚)­Ô#ÔÔ‡X‚)X»¼Ê¥ÔÐ 8 ˆ ÐÌà  àà ` àNevertheless,€Dr.€Guntherððs€estimation€of€the€time€at€which€Quennishaððs€injuries€wereÐ  ` Ðinflicted€assumed€the€accuracy€of€paramedic€Gary€Garmonððs€testimony€concerning€QuennishaððsÐ ü L  Ðappearance€and€the€presence€of€electrical€activity€in€her€heart€at€the€time€of€Garmonððs€arrival€atÐ è 8  ÐWilsonððs€apartment.€€The€jury€was€entitled€to€disbelieve€Garmonððs€testimony,€particularly€in€lightÐ Ô$  Ðof€Dr.€Guntherððs€remark€concerning€her€surprise€that€the€color€of€Quennishaððs€skin€was€normal€atÐ À  Ðthe€time€of€Garmonððs€arrival,€Utopia€Simsðð€testimony€that€the€baby€ð ðwas€pale,€her€mouth€like€turnedÐ ¬ü  Ðwhiteðð€one„half€hour€prior€to€Garmonððs€arrival,€and€the€notation€in€Garmonððs€report€that€the€ð ðEKGÐ ˜è  Ðshowed€asystole.ðð€€Similarly,€in€light€of€Simsðð€testimony€and€the€chaotic€atmosphere€in€WilsonððsÐ „Ô  Ðapartment€immediately€prior€to€the€arrival€of€the€police,€Ô#†¼Ê¥»XX‚)|Û#ÔÔ‡X‚)X»¼Ê¥Ôthe€jury€was€entitled€to€discount€the€reportÐ pÀ Ðto€the€911€operator€that€Quennisha€briefly€revived€in€response€to€the€appellantððs€efforts€atÐ \¬ Ðresuscitation.€€According€deference€to€the€juryððs€resolution€of€questions€concerning€the€credibilityÐ H˜ Ðof€witnesses€and€the€weight€and€value€to€be€given€the€evidence,€the€remaining€facts€andÐ 4„ Ðcircumstances€of€this€case€are€ð ðso€closely€interwoven€and€connected€that€the€finger€of€guilt€is€pointedÐ  p Ðunerringly€at€the€defendant.ðð€€òòState€v.€Crawfordóó,€470€S.W.2d€610,€613€(Tenn.€1971);€€òòState€v.Ð  \ ÐAdamsóó,€916€S.W.2d€471,€476€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.€1995).Ð øH ÐÌà  àà ` àIn€summary,€we€reiterate€that,€earlier€on€the€evening€of€her€death,€Quennisha€appearedÐ Ð  Ðto€be€in€normal€health.€€Thereafter,€only€the€appellant€had€sole€care€of€Quennisha€and€her€brother€forÐ ¼  Ðany€length€of€time.€€Indeed,€the€appellant€had€sole€care€of€Quennisha€when€he€sought€WilsonððsÐ ¨ø Ðassistance€because€the€baby€had€stopped€breathing.€€Dr.€Gunther€testified€that€Quennishaððs€deathÐ ”ä Ðwould€have€occurred€within€minutes€of€the€infliction€of€the€injuries€in€the€babyððs€chest€and€abdomen.€Ð €Ð ÐThe€doctor€rejected€CPR€as€the€cause€of€the€injuries.€€Also,€while€she€acknowledged€thatÐ l¼ ÐQuennishaððs€injuries€could€have€been€caused€by€the€appellant€grabbing€the€baby€in€panic€andÐ X ¨ Ðcarrying€her€to€the€next„door€apartment,€the€doctor€noted€that€the€appellant€would€have€had€to€exertÐ D!” Ða€sustained€pressure€sufficient€to€ð ðburst€[Quennishaððs]€ribs€and€liver€and€heart.ðð€€Moreover,€sheÐ 0"€  Ðemphasized€that€she€was€unable€to€detect€any€reason€other€than€Quennishaððs€injuries€for€the€babyððsÐ #l! Ðrespiratory€arrest€and€noted€the€presence€of€older€injuries.€€òòState€v.€DuBoseóó,€953€S.W.2d€649,€654Ð $X" Ð(Tenn.€1997).€€Accordingly,€she€opined€that€the€injuries€in€Quennishaððs€chest€and€abdomen€wereÐ ô$D # Ðnon„accidental.€€Indeed,€the€only€alternate€explanations€extractable€from€the€evidence€forÐ à%0!$ ÐQuennishaððs€respiratory€arrest€were€the€claims€of€the€appellant€and€an€unidentified€womanÐ Ì&"% Ðconcerning€a€phantom€gas€leak€in€the€appellantððs€apartment€and€the€claim€of€the€appellant€that,€onÐ ¸'#& Ðthe€night€in€question,€Quennisha€had€pulled€her€blanket€over€her€face.€€Assuming,€as€we€must,€thatÐ ¤(ô#' Ðthe€jury€declined€to€accredit€these€claims,€the€circumstantial€evidence€was€more€than€sufficient€toÐ )à$( Ðsupport€the€juryððs€finding€that€the€appellant€killed€Quennisha€while€intentionally€committingÐ |*Ì%) Ðaggravated€child€abuse.€€This€issue€is€without€merit.Ô#†¼Ê¥»XX‚)þß#ÔÔ€X‚)X»¼Ê¥ÔÐ h+¸&* Їò òC.à0  àLesser„Included€Offensesó óа(#(# Ðà  àà ` àFinally,€the€appellant€challenges€the€trial€courtððs€refusal€to€charge€lesser„includedÐ œì Ðoffenses€of€felony€murder.€€We€initially€note€the€absence€in€the€record€of€any€request€by€the€appellantÐ ˆØ Ðthat€the€trial€court€charge€lesser„included€offenses€of€felony€murder.€€Moreover,€the€record€reflectsÐ tÄ Ðthat,€at€the€conclusion€of€the€partiesðð€presentation€of€proof,€the€trial€court€discussed€with€counsel€forÐ `° Ðboth€the€State€and€the€appellant€ð ðwhether€or€not€[t]he€[trial€c]ourt€was€going€to€charge€down€belowÐ L œ Ðmurder€in€the€perpetration€of€aggravated€child€abuse.€€And€[the€court]€indicated€that€[it]€w[as]€not,Ð 8 ˆ Ðand€that€was€accepted€by€both.ðð€€Nevertheless,€a€trial€courtððs€duty€to€charge€a€jury€as€to€the€law€ofÐ $ t Ðeach€offense€included€in€an€indictment€exists€regardless€of€any€request€or€objection€by€the€appellant.€Ð  ` ÐòòSee,€e.g.óó,€òòState€v.€Burnsóó,€6€S.W.3d€453,€464€(Tenn.€1999);€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€40„18„110(a)€(1997).€Ð ü L  ÐIndeed,€the€trial€courtððs€duty€exists€regardless€of€any€express€agreement€by€the€appellant€to€theÐ è 8  Ðomission€from€the€jury€charge€of€instructions€on€lesser„included€offenses.€òòóó€In€this€regard,€ourÐ Ô$  Ðsupreme€court€has€quoted€with€approval€the€following€observation€by€the€California€Supreme€Court:Ð À  Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àð ðA€trial€courtððs€failure€to€inform€the€jury€of€its€option€to€find€theÐ ¬ü  Ðdefendant€guilty€of€[a]€lesser€offense€would€impair€the€juryððs€truth„Ð ˜è  Ðascertainment€function.€€Consequently,€neither€the€prosecution€nor€theÐ „Ô  Ðdefense€should€be€allowed,€based€on€their€trial€strategy,€to€precludeÐ pÀ Ðthe€jury€from€considering€guilt€of€a€lesser€offense€included€in€theÐ \¬ Ðcrime€charged.€€To€permit€this€would€force€the€jury€to€make€an€ððall€orÐ H˜ Ðnothingðð€choice€between€conviction€of€the€crime€charged€or€completeÐ 4„ Ðacquittal,€thereby€denying€the€jury€the€opportunity€to€decide€whetherÐ  p Ðthe€defendant€is€guilty€of€a€lesser€included€offense€established€by€theÐ  \ Ðevidence.ððÐøH` x` x ÐòòState€v.€Boldenóó,€979€S.W.2d€587,€593€(Tenn.€1998)(quoting€òòPeople€v.€Bartonóó,€906€P.2d€531,€536Ð ä4 Ð(Cal.€1995)).Ð Ð  ÐÌà  àà ` àTurning€to€the€merits€of€the€appellantððs€claim,€our€supreme€court€recently€held€inÐ ¨ø ÐòòState€v.€Curtis€Jason€Elyóó,€Nos.€E1998„00099„SC„R11„CD€&€E1999„00170„SC„R11„CD,€2001€WLÐ ”ä Ð605097€(Tenn.€at€Knoxville,€June€5,€2001)(publication€pending),€that€the€offenses€of€second€degreeÐ €Ð Ðmurder,€reckless€homicide,€and€criminally€negligent€homicide€are€lesser„included€offenses€of€felonyÐ l¼ Ðmurder.€€òòId.óó€at€*9.€€However,€we€must€still€determine€whether€the€evidence€in€the€appellantððs€caseÐ X ¨ Ðwarranted€a€jury€instruction€on€these€lesser„included€offenses.€€In€making€this€determination,€a€courtÐ D!” Ðð ðmust€view€the€evidence€liberally€in€the€light€most€favorable€to€the€existence€of€the€lesser„includedÐ 0"€  Ðoffense[s]€without€making€any€judgments€on€the€credibility€of€such€evidence.ðð€€òòBurnsóó,€6€S.W.3d€atÐ #l! Ð469.€€If,€when€viewed€in€this€light,€ð ðevidence€exists€that€reasonable€minds€could€accept€as€to€theÐ $X" Ðlesser„included€offense[s]ðð€and€this€evidence€is€legally€sufficient€to€support€convictions€of€the€lesser„Ð ô$D # Ðincluded€offenses,€the€evidence€will€warrant€instructions€thereon.€€òòId.óó€Ð à%0!$ ÐÌà  àà ` àApplying€the€above€test€to€the€instant€case,€we€preliminarily€note€that€the€distinctionÐ ¸'#& Ðbetween€first€degree€felony€murder€and€its€lesser„included€offenses€lies€in€the€requisite€culpableÐ ¤(ô#' Ðmental€states.€€òòElyóó,€Nos.€E1998„00099„SC„R11„CD€&€E1999„00170„SC„R11„CD,€2001€WL€605097,Ð )à$( Ðat€*9.€€Whereas€the€offense€of€first€degree€felony€murder€by€aggravated€child€abuse€requires€an€intentÐ |*Ì%) Ðto€commit€aggravated€child€abuse,€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€39„13„202(b),€the€offense€of€second€degreeÐ h+¸&* Ðmurder€requires€a€knowing€killing€of€another,€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€39„13„210€(1997).€€ð ðA€person€actsÐ ° Ðknowingly€with€respect€to€a€result€of€the€personððs€conduct€when€the€person€is€aware€that€the€conductÐ œì Ðis€reasonably€certain€to€cause€the€result.ðð€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€39„11„302(b)€(1997).€€Alternatively,Ð ˆØ Ðreckless€homicide€requires€a€reckless€killing€of€another.€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€39„13„215€(1997).€Ð tÄ Ðð ðððRecklessðð€refers€to€a€person€who€acts€recklessly€with€respect€to€.€.€.€the€result€of€[his]€conduct€whenÐ `° Ðthe€person€is€aware€of€but€consciously€disregards€a€substantial€and€unjustifiable€risk€that€.€.€.€theÐ L œ Ðresult€will€occur.ðð€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€39„11„302(c).€€Finally,€criminally€negligent€homicide€entailsÐ 8 ˆ Ðcriminally€negligent€conduct€that€results€in€death.€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€39„13„212€(1997).€€ð ðððCriminalÐ $ t Ðnegligenceðð€refers€to€a€person€who€acts€with€criminal€negligence€with€respect€to€the€.€.€.€result€of€[his]Ð  ` Ðconduct€when€the€person€ought€to€be€aware€of€a€substantial€and€unjustifiable€risk€that€the€.€.€.€resultÐ ü L  Ðwill€occur.ðð€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€39„11„302(d).€€In€cases€of€reckless€homicide€and€criminallyÐ è 8  Ðnegligent€homicide,€the€risk€ð ðmust€be€of€such€a€nature€and€degreeðð€that€its€disregard€or€the€failureÐ Ô$  Ðto€perceive€it,€respectively,€ð ðconstitutes€a€gross€deviation€from€the€standard€of€care€that€an€ordinaryÐ À  Ðperson€would€exercise€under€all€the€circumstances€as€viewed€from€the€accused€personððs€standpoint.ðð€Ð ¬ü  ÐòòId.óó€at€(c)€&€(d).Ð ˜è  ÐÌà  àà ` àReviewing€once€again€the€evidence€adduced€at€the€appellantððs€trial,€we€reiterate€thatÐ pÀ Ðthe€weight€to€be€given€circumstantial€evidence€and€ð ððð[t]he€inferences€to€be€drawn€from€suchÐ \¬ Ðevidence,€and€the€extent€to€which€the€circumstances€are€consistent€with€guilt€and€inconsistent€withÐ H˜ Ðinnocence,€are€questions€primarily€for€the€jury.ðððð€òòMarableóó,€313€S.W.2d€at€457.€€We€have€alreadyÐ 4„ Ðdetermined€that€a€rational€jury€could€have€found€that€the€circumstantial€evidence€adduced€at€trialÐ  p Ðexcluded€every€reasonable€hypothesis€save€the€appellantððs€intentional€commission€of€aggravatedÐ  \ Ðchild€abuse€thereby€causing€Quennishaððs€death.€€However,€a€rational€jury€could€also€have€found€that,Ð øH Ðregardless€of€whether€the€appellant€intended€to€engage€in€abusive€conduct,€ð ðòòat€leastóóðð€he€was€awareÐ ä4 Ðthat€his€conduct€was€reasonably€certain€to€cause€Quennishaððs€death,€or€he€was€aware€of€butÐ Ð  Ðconsciously€disregarded€a€substantial€and€unjustifiable€risk€that€death€would€occur,€or€he€ought€toÐ ¼  Ðhave€been€aware€of€a€substantial€and€unjustifiable€risk€that€death€would€occur.òòóó€€òòElyóó,€Nos.€E1998„Ð ¨ø Ð00099„SC„R11„CD€&€E1999„00170„SC„R11„CD,€2001€WL€605097,€at€*12.€€In€short,òòóó€the€absenceÐ ”ä Ðof€any€intent€to€commit€aggravated€child€abuse€is€not€an€essential€element€of€second€degree€murder,Ð €Ð Ðreckless€homicide,€or€criminally€negligent€homicide.€€Therefore,€whether€the€evidence€at€trialÐ l¼ Ðestablished€the€appellantððs€intent€to€commit€aggravated€child€abuse€is€immaterial€when€determiningÐ X ¨ Ðwhether€sufficient€evidence€exists€supporting€the€appellantððs€guilt€of€the€lesser„included€offenses€ofÐ D!” Ðfirst€degree€felony€murder.€€òòState€v.€Swindleóó,€30€S.W.3d€289,€293€(Tenn.€2000);€òòsee€also,€e.g.óó,€òòBurnsóó,Ð 0"€  Ð6€S.W.3d€at€471„472€(observing€that€ð ð[w]hether€sufficient€evidence€supports€a€conviction€of€theÐ #l! Ðcharged€offense€does€not€affect€the€trial€courtððs€duty€to€instruct€on€the€lesser€offense€if€evidence€alsoÐ $X" Ðsupports€a€finding€of€guilt€on€the€lesser€offenseðð).€€òòóóAccordingly,€the€trial€courtððs€failure€in€this€caseÐ ô$D # Ðto€instruct€the€jury€on€the€lesser„included€offenses€of€first€degree€felony€murder€was€error.€€òòCf.óó€òòStateÐ à%0!$ Ðv.€Mitchell€Shephardóó,€No.€E2000„00628„CCA„R3„CD,€2001€WL€767010,€at€*9€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.Ð Ì&"% Ðat€Knoxville,€July€3,€2001).Ð ¸'#& ÐÌà  àà ` àFinally,€as€in€òòElyóó,€Nos.€E1998„00099„SC„R11„CD€&€E1999„00170„SC„R11„CD,Ð )à$( Ðâ â2001€WL€605097,€at€*14òòóó,€Ð |*Ì%) Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àthe€jury€in€this€case€was€given€no€option€to€convict€of€a€lesser€offenseÐ ° Ðâ âthan€felony€murder.€€Although€the€evidence€clearly€was€sufficient€toÐ œì Ðsupport€a€conviction€for€second€degree€murder,€reckless€homicide,€orÐ ˆØ Ðcriminally€negligent€homicide,€the€jury€was€not€given€an€opportunityÐ tÄ Ðto€reach€a€decision€on€these€offenses.€€Under€these€circumstances,€weÐ `° Ðcannot€say€the€failure€to€instruct€on€the€lesser„included€offenses€wasÐ L œ Ðharmless€beyond€a€reasonable€doubt.Ð8 ˆ` x` x ÐÌà@MM"ìàò òòòIII.€€Conclusionó óóóˆÐ  ` Ðà  àà ` àFor€the€foregoing€reasons,€we€reverse€the€appellantððs€convictions€of€first€degreeÐ ü L  Ðfelony€murder€by€aggravated€child€abuse€and€aggravated€child€abuse€and€remand€the€cases€to€the€trialÐ è 8  Ðcourt€for€a€new€trial€with€the€further€caution€that€the€trial€court€keep€in€mind€the€double€jeopardyÐ Ô$  Ðconcerns€addressed€in€this€opinion.Ð À  ÐÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à___________________________________€Ð ˜è  Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àNORMA€McGEE€OGLE,€JUDGE