ÿWPCŽ´ ,D"K¼™#ßñ89 ¹Àâ?•#ì2KòåßÔ¸_æ5Ci=aã´õõÑžY§mü˜ynׂ//îCoWþþÌ€ÚÒûä}}VÔ˜aî©y+6bvÃÊ„¼cû€6«ö¥‡LÉ›2Fðû[nâ„¥wØ íœ=ÈË ±·A3»ÓžyÔVÓö ŒäµÉ°·åþ\Ý g†Â€ùê‚°%‰§Æ•zxH¢qˆøß A1Ëóý"|,}Ùµl w¼ÓµÈ®äŠ€@¨ BT²CbEvE]„FÝáHy¾Jü7L3OêÐP²ºV 0¤l];^^K_Æ©bkoc”ÚfniÉ „iIMvî–z–z„|Hš~â€MrƒJ ¿ƒw Å€ŽüEA’A’A’A’`”`”Ôe˜e˜ 06ë9›™$œ4½£½£ Bñ¤²¥ 0¤À© D3dª D-—ª 0KĪĪ AS«Æb« 0¤(¬ 0D̬ A«­­­­Ó»­˜HP LaserJet 4050 Series PCL 5eÈÈ,,,,ÈÈ0»Å„‹) (`£ª$¡¡Ñ€.ÑÑ8€½­»»d»»d8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  Ó(í€"  Z6Times New Roman Regularõ}|)bk1°'  ˜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.wpt3|x:ÿU‹ÿÀÀÀ êÝ ƒR²2$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú3Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôç¥ò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ€ôç¥òòôç¥ÔNeither€Delois€Anderson€nor€Frederick€Tucker€were€involved€in€the€drug€trade.Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5‚Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5„Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5…Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(ÆúI Z‹(Times New Roman (Mˆ$òòÚ  Ú38Ú  Úóó ‹Ý ƒR²2$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôç¥ò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ€ôç¥òòôç¥ÔThey€were€also€each€convicted€of€three€counts€of€especially€aggravated€Ô_ÔkidnappingÔ_Ô€and€one€count€of€especiallyÐ ° Ðaggravated€robbery€of€Ô_ÔMarcellosÔ_Ô€Anderson.€€€ zÝ ƒR²2$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú6Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôç¥ò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ‡ôç¥òòôç¥ÔTwoÔ#†ôç¥òòôç¥~#Ô€of€these€aggravating€circumstances€have€been€slightly€amended€since€this€case€was€tried.€€òòSeeóó€Tenn.€CodeÐ ° ÐAnn.€ðð€39„13„204(i)(7)€and€(12)€(1999€Supp.).€€€ ŒÝ ƒR²2$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú7Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôç¥ò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ€ôç¥òòôç¥ÔEach€of€the€defendants€was€sentenced€as€a€multiple,€Range€II€offender€to€forty€(40)€years€on€each€of€the€threeÐ ° Ðconvictions€of€especially€aggravated€kidnapping€and€on€the€especially€aggravated€robbery€conviction.€€The€trial€judgeÐ tÄ Ðordered€that€two€of€the€sentences€for€especially€aggravated€Ô_ÔkidnappingÔ_Ô€€run€concurrent€to€the€death€penalty€with€all€otherÐ 8ˆ Ðsentences€running€consecutive€to€the€death€penalty. SÝ ƒR²2$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú8Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôç¥ò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_Ô"Ô€ôç¥òòôç¥ÔWhenever€the€death€penalty€is€imposed€for€first€degree€murder€and€when€the€judgment€has€become€final€inÐ ° Ðthe€trial€court,€the€defendant€shall€have€the€right€of€direct€appeal€from€the€trial€court€to€the€Court€of€Criminal€Appeals.€Ð tÄ ÐThe€affirmance€of€the€conviction€and€the€sentence€of€death€shall€be€automatically€reviewed€by€the€Tennessee€SupremeÐ 8ˆ ÐCourt.€€Upon€the€affirmance€by€the€Court€of€Criminal€Appeals,€the€clerk€shall€docket€the€case€in€the€Supreme€Court€andÐ üL Ðthe€case€shall€proceed€in€accordance€with€the€Tennessee€Rules€of€Appellate€Procedure.ðð€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€39„13„Ð À Ð206(a)(1). ìÝ ƒR²2$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú9Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôç¥ò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ€ôç¥òòôç¥ÔTennessee€Supreme€Court€Rule€12€provides€in€pertinent€part€as€follows:€ð ðPrior€to€the€setting€of€oral€argument,Ð ° Ðthe€Court€shall€review€the€record€and€briefs€and€consider€òòallóó€errors€assigned.€€The€Court€may€enter€an€order€designatingÐ tÄ Ðthose€issues€it€wishes€addressed€at€oral€argument.ðð šÝ ƒR²2$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú4Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôç¥ò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ€ôç¥òòôç¥ÔÔ_ÔNakeitaÔ_Ô€Shaw€had€also€told€the€police€before€trial€that€she€had€been€afraid€for€her€life€and€that€JamesÐ ° ÐMontgomery€had€threatened€her€after€the€investigation€of€this€case€began,€stating€that€if€he€had€to€die€for€something€heÐ tÄ Ðdid€not€do,€then€ð ðall€of€us€needed€to€die.ðð€€At€trial,€on€cross„examination,€she€denied€being€afraid€of€James€MontgomeryÐ 8ˆ Ðand€said€it€was€her€involvement€in€this€case€that€frightened€her. -Ý ƒR²2$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú49Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôç¥ò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ€ôç¥òòôç¥ÔContrary€to€Carruthersðð€assertions€on€appeal,€Warden€Bell€gave€sworn€testimony€about€his€conversations€withÐ ° ÐCarruthers.€ ¤Ý ƒR²2$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú46Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôç¥ò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ‡ôç¥òòôç¥ÔIn€òòZimmermann€v.€Board€of€Professional€Responsibilityóó,€764€S.W.2d€757€(Tenn.€1989)€we€upheldÐ ° ÐDisciplinary€Rule€7„107(B)€and€(E),€which€govern€extrajudicial€statements€made€by€attorneys€in€criminal€cases,€underÐ tÄ Ðthe€Tennessee€and€United€States€Constitutions.€€The€òòZimmermanóó€holding€was,€in€part,€based€on€a€decision€of€the€NewÐ 8ˆ ÐJersey€Supreme€Court€analyzing€the€balance€between€First€Amendment€rights€and€the€need€to€ensure€the€fairÐ üL Ðadministration€of€justice.€€òòZimmermannóó,€764€S.W.2d€at€761€(discussing€òòIn€Re€Ô_ÔRachmielÔ_Ôóó,€90€N.J.€646,€449€A.2d€505Ð À Ð(1982)).€€Both€òòZimmermanóó€and€òòIn€Re€Ô_ÔRachmielÔ_Ôóó,€however,€were€decided€before€òòGentileóó.€€In€light€of€òòGentileóó,€we€haveÐ „Ô Ðreconsidered€the€constitutional€issues€at€stake€under€both€the€Tennessee€and€United€States€Constitutions.€€Ô#†ôç¥òòôç¥#Ô(ÖÃ9 Z‹6Times New Roman Regular ÖÝ ƒR²2$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú47Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôç¥ò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ€ôç¥òòôç¥ÔAs€the€Court€of€Criminal€Appeals€recognized,€the€trial€judge€had€the€discretion€to€conduct€the€sentencingÐ ° Ðhearing€at€Riverbend€if€security€was€a€concern€pursuant€to€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€16„1„105€(1999€Supp.),€which€provides€Ð tÄ Ðas€follows:Ð 8ˆ Ðà8  à[i]f€for€òòany€causeóó,€in€the€opinion€of€the€court€deemed€sufficient,€it€is€impracticable€or€inconvenient€forÐ üL Ðany€court€to€hold€its€session€at€the€courthouse,€or€place€designated€by€law,€it€shall€be€lawful€for€theÐ À Ðcourt€to€hold€its€session,€or€any€part€of€its€session,€at€any€other€room€within€the€limits€of€the€countyÐ „Ô Ðseat,€òòor€at€any€other€room€open€to€the€public€within€an€institution€of€the€department€of€correctionóó€orÐ H ˜ Ðthe€department€of€childrenððs€services€if€the€court€deems€it€necessary,€and€all€its€proceedings€at€suchÐ  \ Ðplace,€whether€in€civil€or€criminal€cases,€are€as€valid€as€if€done€at€the€courthouse.€ÐÐ Ð Ð  Ð(Emphasis€added.) MÝ ƒR²2$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú41Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôç¥ò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ€ôç¥òòôç¥ÔÔ_ÔHinesÔ_Ô€explained€that€Jonathan€Montgomery€ð ðwas€saying€ð!ð€like€if€I€was€telling€you,€Man,€I€had€to€kill€themÐ ° Ðfolks.ðð€ öÝ ƒR²2$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú48Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôç¥ò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ€ôç¥òòôç¥ÔThe€record€reflects€that€the€public€was€not€excluded€from€the€hearing€room€at€Riverbend. ¦Ý ƒR²2$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú43Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôç¥ò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ€ôç¥òòôç¥ÔThe€statute€has€since€been€amended€and€no€longer€requires€proof€of€deliberation.€€òòSeeóó€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€39„Ð ° Ð13„202(a)(1)€(1999€Supp.)€(ð ð(a)€First€degree€murder€is:€(1)€[a]€premeditated€and€intentional€killing€of€another.€.€.€.ðð). bÝ ƒR²2$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú21Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôç¥ò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔThe€trial€judge€stated€that€Ô‡ôç¥òòôç¥Ôð ðsince€[Carruthers]€has€been€brought€in€the€courtroom,€he€has€in€fact€been€glaringÐ ° Ðat€Mr.€Massey€non„stop.ððÔ#†ôç¥òòô祛#Ô LÝ ƒR²2$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú29Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôç¥ò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ‡ôç¥òòôç¥ÔOur€holding€that€this€record€does€not€support€Carruthersðð€claim€that€he€was€forced€to€choose€betweenÐ ° Ðineffective€counsel€or€no€counsel€at€all€does€not€preclude€Carruthers€from€asserting€ineffective€assistance€of€counsel€inÐ tÄ Ða€petition€for€post€conviction€relief.€€We€have€considered€Carruthersðð€assertion€of€ineffective€counsel€in€this€appeal€asÐ 8ˆ Ða€forfeiture€argument,€and€we€emphasize€that€claims€of€ineffective€assistance€of€counsel€generally€are€more€appropriatelyÐ üL Ðraised€in€a€petition€for€post€conviction€relief.€€òòSeeóó€òòState€v.€Andersonóó,€835€S.W.2d€600,€606€(Tenn.€Ô_ÔCrimÔ_Ô.€App.€1992)Ð À Ð(ð ðRaising€issues€pertaining€to€the€ineffective€assistance€of€counsel€for€the€first€time€in€the€appellate€court€is€a€practiceÐ „Ô Ðfraught€with€peril.ðð);€òòcf.óó€òòState€v.€Wilsonóó,€__€S.W.3d€__€(Tenn.€2000)€(holding€that€a€constitutional€challenge€to€theÐ H ˜ Ðvalidity€of€a€guilty€plea€should€be€raised€and€litigated€in€a€petition€for€post„conviction€relief€rather€than€on€direct€appeal).Ô#†ôç¥òòôç¥#Ô Ý ƒR²2$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú13Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôç¥ò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔIÔ‡ôç¥òòôç¥Ôt€appears€from€the€record€that€Carruthers€was€provided€with€a€copy€of€the€transcription€of€Shawððs€testimonyÐ ° Ðbefore€the€grand€jury.€€Carruthers€had€left€one€copy€in€his€cell€on€the€day€Shaw€testified€and€was€given€another€copy€byÐ tÄ Ðthe€prosecutor€immediately€prior€to€Shawððs€testimony.€€In€addition,€the€trial€court€mentioned€ð ðthe€testimony€in€front€ofÐ 8ˆ Ðthe€grand€juryðð€when€he€was€discussing€the€ð ðthree€or€€four€different€statementsðð€Carruthers€was€using€during€his€directÐ üL Ðexamination€of€Alfredo€Shaw.Ô#†ôç¥òòô祀#Ô  ©Ý ƒR²2$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôç¥ò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ€ôç¥òòôç¥ÔJames€Montgomeryððs€younger€brother€Jonathan€Montgomery€was€also€charged€on€all€counts€involved€in€thisÐ ° Ðcase.€€However,€several€months€prior€to€trial,€Jonathan€Montgomery€was€found€hanged€in€his€cell€in€the€Shelby€CountyÐ tÄ Ðjail. *Ý ƒR²2$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú42Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôç¥ò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ€ôç¥òòôç¥ÔSince€Jonathan€placed€himself€at€the€scene€of€the€murders,€these€statements€might€have€been€admissible€asÐ ° Ðstatements€against€penal€interest.€€òòSeeóó€Tenn.€R.€Ô_ÔEvidÔ_Ô.€804(3).€€We€note,€however,€that€the€trial€court€was€not€asked€toÐ tÄ Ðadmit€these€statements€under€Rule€804(3)€and€therefore€never€considered€its€applicability.€€ BÝ ƒR²2$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú14Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôç¥ò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ‡ôç¥òòôç¥ÔAs€the€trial€court€predicted,€the€record€reflects€that€both€Nance€and€Morton€filed€numerous€pre„trial€motionsÐ ° Ðon€behalf€of€Carruthers,€including€motions€for€discovery,€for€investigative€services,€for€a€mental€examination,€to€excludeÐ tÄ Ðcertain€evidence,€for€individual€voir€dire,€for€impeachment€evidence,€for€a€competency€evaluation€of€prosecutionÐ 8ˆ Ðwitnesses,€for€another€mental€evaluation€of€Carruthers,€to€dismiss€the€indictments,€to€suppress€statements€of€co„defendantÐ üL ÐJonathan€Montgomery,€for€a€severance,€for€expert€services,€and€a€notice€of€an€alibi€defense.Ô#†ôç¥òòôç¥#Ô ;Ý ƒR²2$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú16Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôç¥ò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔWe€note,€as€did€the€Court€of€Criminal€Appeals,€that€in€addition€to€his€motion€for€substitution€of€counsel,Ð ° ÐCarruthers€filed€many€pro€se€motions€throughout€the€time€he€was€represented€by€Ô_ÔNanceÔ_Ô€and€Morton.€€Many€of€the€proÐ tÄ Ðse€filings€are€similar€or€identical€to€the€motions€filed€by€counsel€for€Carruthers€or€by€counsel€for€co„defendant€JamesÐ 8ˆ ÐMontgomery. €Ý ƒR²2$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú17Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôç¥ò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ‡ôç¥òòôç¥ÔÔ_ÔForÔ#†ôç¥òòôç¥o#Ô€example,€in€a€letter€dated€November€22,€1995,€Carruthers€said:€ð ðYou€have€violated€the€code€of€ethics€byÐ ° Ðlying€to€me€and€my€co„defendant€James€Montgomery€.€.€.€.ðð žÝ ƒR²2$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú18Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôç¥ò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ‡ôç¥òòôç¥ÔInÔ#†ôç¥òòôç¥#Ô€a€letter€dated€December€15,€1995,€Carruthers€said,€ð ðI€donððt€know€if€you€are€on€that€COCAINE€again€butÐ ° Ðdonððt€let€the€drug€alter€you€[sic]€ability€to€see€the€truth€and€no€[sic]€the€truth.ðð JÝ ƒR²2$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú19Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôç¥ò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ€ôç¥òòôç¥ÔÔ_ÔIn€a€letter€dated€December€7,€1995,€Carruthers€said,ð ðAll€I€tell€you€is€to€do€you€[sic]€want€to€do,€and€Iððll€doÐ ° Ðwhat€I€HAVE€TO€DO!€Point€blank!ðð- ù- lÝ ƒR²2$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú24Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôç¥ò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔOne€day€earlier,€when€the€State€mentioned€that€it€might€possibly€be€requesting€a€continuance,€Carruthers€hadÐ ° Ðadamantly€objected€toÔ€ôç¥òòôç¥Ô€any€continuance€and€stated€he€was€ready€to€go€to€trial. SÝ ƒR²2$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú45Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôç¥ò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔThough€they€are€persuasive€authority€when€interpreting€the€United€States€Constitution,€this€Court€is€not€boundÐ ° Ðby€decisions€of€the€federal€district€and€circuit€courts.€€We€are€bound€only€by€decisions€of€the€United€States€SupremeÐ tÄ ÐCourt.€€òòSeeóó€òòÔ_ÔStrouthÔ_Ô€v.€Stateóó,€999€S.W.2d€759,€769€n.9€(Tenn.€1999);€òòState€v.€Ô_ÔMcKayÔ_Ôóó,€680€S.W.2d€447,€450€(Tenn.€1984). ÓÝ ƒR²2$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú27Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôç¥ò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ‡ôç¥òòôç¥ÔòòSee,€e.g.óó€òòIllinois€v.€Allenóó,€397€U.€S.€337,€90€S.€Ct.€1057,€25€Ô_ÔL.EdÔ_Ô.2d€353€(1970)€(holding€that€by€persistingÐ ° Ðin€disruptive€conduct€the€accused€lost€his€constitutional€right€to€be€present€throughout€the€trial).Ô#†ôç¥òòôç¥#Ô oÝ ƒR²2$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú12Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôç¥ò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ€ôç¥òòôç¥ÔThe€record€reflects,€however,€that€Alfredo€Shawððs€testimony€at€trial€when€called€as€a€witness€by€defendantÐ ° ÐCarruthers€apparently€was€consistent€with€his€testimony€before€the€grand€jury.€ òÝ ƒR²2$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú10Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôç¥ò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ€ôç¥òòôç¥ÔRecently€in€òòState€v.€Culbreathóó,€__€S.W.3d€__(Tenn.€2000),€we€held€that€dismissal€of€an€indictment€isÐ ° Ðappropriate€where€a€prosecutorððs€use€of€a€private€attorney€who€received€substantial€compensation€from€a€private,€specialÐ tÄ Ðinterest€group€created€a€conflict€of€interest€and€an€appearance€of€impropriety€and€violated€the€defendantsðð€right€to€dueÐ 8ˆ Ðprocess€under€the€Tennessee€Constitution.€€Carruthers€does€not€allege€prosecutorial€misconduct,€and€the€record€in€thisÐ üL Ðcase€would€not€support€such€an€allegation. “Ý ƒR²2$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú25Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôç¥ò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔIn€an€earlierÔ€ôç¥òòôç¥Ô€aggravated€assault€case€Carruthers€had€been€appointed€four€attorneys€before€the€case€was€finallyÐ ° Ðtried.€€òòSeeóó€òòCarruthers€v.€Stateóó,€No.€02C01„9505„CR„00130€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.,€Jackson,€April€17,€1996).€ àÝ ƒR²2$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú40Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôç¥ò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ‡ôç¥òòôç¥ÔBecause€Montgomeryððs€convictions€are€being€reversed€and€his€case€remanded€for€a€new€trial,€we€need€notÐ ° Ðaddress€all€his€claims€relating€to€erroneous€admission€and€improper€use€of€evidence€because€it€is€not€likely€these€sameÐ tÄ  Ðalleged€errors€will€reoccur.€€However,€we€emphasize€that€prior€inconsistent€statements€of€Ô_ÔNakeitaÔ_Ô€Shaw,€or€any€otherÐ ° Ðwitness,€ordinarily€are€admissible€only€for€purposes€of€impeachment€and,€unless€the€statement€satisfies€another€hearsayÐ tÄ Ðexception,Ô#†ôç¥òòôç¥#ÔÔ‡ôç¥òòôç¥Ô€should€not€be€admitted€to€prove€the€truth€of€the€matter€asserted.€€An€instruction€to€the€jury€so€limiting€itsÐ 8ˆ Ðconsideration€of€any€€prior€inconsistent€statement€ordinarily€is€appropriate.€€If€the€defense€fails€to€object€to€admissionÐ üL Ðof€a€prior€inconsistent€statement€or€fails€to€request€a€limiting€instruction,€the€trial€court€should€consider€whether€a€òòÔ_ÔsuaÔ_ÔÐ À ÐÔ_ÔsponteÔ_Ôóó€instruction€is€warranted€to€foreclose€a€reversal€on€appeal€for€plain€error.€€òòSeeóó€òòState€v.€Smithóó,€24€S.W.3d€274,€280Ð „Ô Ð(Tenn.€2000).Ô#†ôç¥òòôç¥#Ô ¨Ý ƒR²2$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú51Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôç¥ò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ€ôç¥òòôç¥ÔInitially€we€note€that€Carruthers€has€not€challenged€the€proportionality€of€his€death€sentences€or€the€sufficiencyÐ ° Ðof€the€evidence€supporting€the€aggravating€circumstances.€€As€a€result,€Carruthers€has€not€briefed€these€issues.€The€CourtÐ tÄ Ðof€Criminal€Appeals€correctly€pointed€out€that:Ð 8ˆ Ðà8  àthe€State€and€the€defendant€in€each€case€must€fully€brief€the€issue€by€specifically€identifying€thoseÐ üL Ðsimilar€cases€relevant€to€the€comparative€proportionality€inquiry.€€When€addressing€proportionalityÐ À Ðreview,€the€briefs€of€the€parties€shall€contain€a€section€setting€forth€the€nature€and€circumstances€ofÐ „Ô Ðthe€crimes€that€are€claimed€to€be€similar€to€that€of€which€the€defendant€has€been€convicted,€includingÐ H ˜ Ðthe€statutory€aggravating€circumstances€found€by€the€jury€and€the€evidence€of€mitigatingÐ  \ Ðcircumstances.€€In€addition,€the€parties€shall€include€in€the€section€a€discussion€of€the€character€andÐ Ð  Ðrecord€of€the€defendants€involved€in€the€crimes,€to€the€extent€ascertainable€from€the€Rule€12€reports,Ð ” ä  Ðappellate€court€decisions,€or€records€of€the€trials€and€sentencing€hearings€in€those€cases.€€ÐX ¨ Ð Ð  Ð958€S.W.2d€at€667€(footnote€omitted).€€The€Tennessee€CD„Rom€death€penalty€database,€mentioned€in€òòBlandóó,€958€S.W.2dÐ  l  Ðat€667€n.18,€may€be€now€obtained€from€the€Administrative€Office€of€the€Courts.(|3Çv$©©Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€T »»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ý 1Ý ƒR²2$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú20Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôç¥ò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ€ôç¥òòôç¥ÔIn€a€letter€dated€December€5,€1995,€Carruthers€said,€ð ðYou€have€violated€several€ethic€codes€with€your€styleÐ ° Ðand€tactics.ðð TÝ ƒR²2$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú38Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôç¥ò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔCarruthers€generically€referred€to€others€when€describing€the€events€to€Alfredo€Shaw.€€For€example,€ShawÐ ° Ðtestified€that€ð ðTony€told€me€they€went€to€Ô_ÔMarcellosÔ_Ôðð€motherððs€house,€Ô_ÔDeloisÔ_Ô,€and€told€her€„€„€asked€her€where€the€moneyÐ tÄ Ðwas.ðð€€Again,€Shaw€testified€that€ð ðthey€burned€up€the€truck,€burned€Ô_ÔMarcellosÔ_Ôðð€truck€up,€to€cover€up€the€fingerprints€upÐ 8ˆ Ðthat€was€€inside€the€truck.€€Tony€Carruthers€then€stated€that€they€drove€the€bodies€back€to€Memphis.€€Ô_ÔMarcellosÔ_Ô€andÐ üL ÐTucker€were€Iððm€assuming€dead.ðð ¼Ý ƒR²2$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú22Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôç¥ò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔòòSeeóó€Tenn.€Ô€ôç¥òòôç¥ÔR.€App.€P.€10. aÝ ƒR²2$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú44Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôç¥ò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ€ôç¥òòôç¥ÔÔ‡ôç¥òòôç¥ÔThe€trial€court€also€issued€a€gag€order€preventing€the€media€from€publishing€the€names€of€certain€prosecutionÐ ° Ðwitnesses,€which€was€later€modified€to€prevent€the€publication€of€only€one€prosecution€witness.€€The€Court€of€CriminalÐ tÄ ÐAppeals€vacated€this€order,€holding€that€it€was€a€prior€restraint€in€violation€of€the€First€Amendment€to€the€United€StatesÐ 8ˆ ÐConstitution.€€òòState€v.€Montgomeryóó,€929€S.W.2d€409€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.€1996).€€The€gag€order€prohibiting€the€attorneysÐ üL Ðand€Carruthers€from€talking€to€the€media,€however,€remained€in€place€throughout€trial.Ô#†ôç¥òòô神#Ô ŠÝ ƒR²2$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú28Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôç¥ò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ€ôç¥òòôç¥ÔAs€the€Court€of€Criminal€Appeals€noted,€this€appears€to€be€the€only€capital€case€in€the€country€in€which€aÐ ° Ðdefendant€has€been€held€to€have€implicitly€waived€or€forfeited€the€right€to€counsel€and€has€been€required€to€representÐ tÄ Ðhimself€at€trial€and€sentencing.€€òòCf.óó€òòWaterhouse€v.€Stateóó,€596€So.2d€1008,€1011„15€(Fla.€1992)€(requiring€the€capitalÐ 8ˆ Ðdefendant€to€make€a€pro€se€argument€at€his€capital€re„sentencing€hearing).€€ Ñ h Ñ ¿ Ý ƒR²2$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú26Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôç¥ò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔòòÔ€ôç¥òòôç¥ÔSeeóó€òòUnited€States€v.€Ô_ÔFlewittÔ_Ôóó,€874€F.2d€669,€674€(9th€Cir.€1989)€(ð ðThe€right€to€self„representation€is€not€aÐ ° Ðlicense€to€abuse€the€dignity€of€the€courtroom.ðð);€òòBerry€v.€Ô_ÔLockhartÔ_Ôóó,€873€F.2d€1168,€1171€(8th€Cir.€1989)€(ð ðA€defendantÐ tÄ Ðhas€no€right€to€manipulate€his€right€to€counsel€in€order€to€delay€or€disrupt€the€trial.ðð);€òòGallopóó,€838€F.2d€at€108€(ð ð[Ô_ÔR]ightÔ_ÔÐ 8ˆ Ð[to€counsel]€must€not€obstruct€orderly€judicial€procedure€and€deprive€courts€of€the€exercise€of€their€inherent€power€toÐ üL Ðcontrol€the€administration€of€justice.ðð);òòóó€òòUnited€States€v.€Whiteóó,€529€F.2d€1390,€1393€(8th€Cir.€1976)€(ð ðOf€course,€theÐ À Ðright€to€counsel€is€a€shield,€not€a€sword.€€A€defendant€has€no€right€to€manipulate€his€right€for€the€purpose€of€delaying€andÐ „Ô Ðdisrupting€the€trial.ðð);€òòBrooks€v.€Stateóó,€819€S.W.2d€288,€290€(Ark.€Ct.€App.€1991)€(ð ð[Ô_ÔT]heÔ_Ô€constitutional€right€to€counselÐ H ˜ Ðis€a€shield,€not€a€sword,€and€.€.€.€a€defendant€may€not€manipulate€this€right€for€the€purpose€of€delaying€the€trial€or€playingÐ  \ Ðððcat„and„mouseðð€with€the€court.ðð);€òòJonesóó,€449€So.2d€at€258€(ð ðWe€consider€it€implicit€.€.€.€that€the€right€to€appointedÐ Ð  Ðcounsel,€like€the€obverse€right€to€self„representation,€is€not€a€license€to€abuse€the€dignity€of€the€court€or€to€frustrateÐ ” ä  Ðorderly€proceedings.€.€.€.ðð);€òòState€v.€Greenóó,€471€N.W.2d€402,€407€(Neb.€1991)€(ð ðA€defendant€may€not€utilize€his€or€herÐ X ¨  Ðright€to€counsel€to€manipulate€or€obstruct€the€orderly€procedure€in€the€court€or€to€interfere€with€the€fair€administrationÐ  l  Ðof€justice.ðð);€òòState€v.€Montgomeryóó,€530€S.E.2d€66,€69€(N.C.€Ct.€App.€2000)€(ð ð[Ô_ÔA]nÔ_Ô€accused€may€lose€his€constitutionalÐ à 0  Ðright€to€be€represented€by€counsel€of€his€choice€when€he€perverts€that€right€to€a€weapon€for€the€purpose€of€obstructingÐ ¤ô  Ðand€delaying€his€trial.ðð);€òòPainter€v.€Stateóó,€762€P.2d€990,€992€(Okla.€Ct.€Ô_ÔCrimÔ_Ô.€App.€€1992)€(ð ðThe€right€to€assistance€ofÐ h¸  Ðcounsel€may€not€be€put€to€service€as€a€means€of€delaying€or€trifling€with€the€court.ðð);€òòUnited€States€v.€Fowleróó,€605€F.2dÐ ,|  Ð181,€183€(5th€Cir.€1979)€(ð ðThe€right€to€assistance€of€counsel,€cherished€and€fundamental€though€it€be,€may€not€be€putÐ ð@  Ðto€service€as€a€means€of€delaying€or€trifling€with€the€court.ðð);òòóó€òòCf.óó€òòÔ_ÔFarettaÔ_Ô€v.€Californiaóó,€422€U.S.€806,€834€n.46,€95€S.€Ct.Ð ´  Ð2525,€2541€n.46,€45€Ô_ÔL.EdÔ_Ô.2d€562€(1975)€(ð ðThe€right€of€self„representation€is€not€a€license€to€abuse€the€dignity€of€theÐ xÈ  Ðcourtroom.ðð). ?Ý ƒR²2$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú33Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôç¥ò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ€ôç¥òòôç¥ÔSubsection€(c)(1)€provides€for€severance€where€a€co„defendantððs€out„of„court€statement€refers€to€the€defendantÐ ° Ðbut€is€not€admissible€against€the€defendant.€€Subsection€(c)(2)€provides€in€relevant€part€that:Ð tÄ Ðà8  à[Ô_Ôt]heÔ_Ô€court,€on€motion€of€the€state€or€on€motion€of€the€defendant€other€than€under€subdivision€(c)(1),Ð 8ˆ Ðshall€grant€a€severance€of€defendants€if:€(Ô_ÔiÔ_Ô)€[Ô_Ôb]eforeÔ_Ô€trial€.€.€.€it€is€deemed€appropriate€to€promote€a€fairÐ üL Ðdetermination€of€the€guilt€or€innocence€of€one€or€more€defendants;€or€(ii)€[Ô_Ôd]uringÔ_Ô€trial,€with€consentÐ À Ðof€the€defendant€to€be€severed,€it€is€deemed€necessary€to€achieve€a€fair€determination€of€the€guilt€orÐ „Ô Ðinnocence€of€one€or€more€defendants.€€€ äÝ ƒR²2$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú35Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôç¥ò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ€ôç¥òòôç¥ÔThe€jury€sent€notes€to€the€trial€judge€complaining€about€Carruthers€ð ðscratching€or€pulling€around€his€groinÐ ° Ðwhen€standing€facing€the€jury.€€We€find€this€very€offensive,ðð€and€later€asking€the€trial€judge€why€Carruthers€ð ðwasÐ tÄ Ðconstantly€asking€the€same€question€over€and€over.ðð Ý ƒR²2$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú50Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôç¥ò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ€ôç¥òòôç¥ÔBecause€of€the€reversal€and€remand,€we€forego€statutory€review€of€the€proportionality€of€the€death€sentencesÐ ° Ðimposed€against€Montgomery.€€òòSeeóó€òòState€v.€Ô_ÔBondurantÔ_Ôóó,€4€S.W.3d€662,€675€(Tenn.€1999);€òòState€v.€Ô_ÔBigbeeÔ_Ôóó,€885€S.W.2dÐ tÄ Ð797,€817€(Tenn.€1994). >Ý ƒR²2$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú37Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôç¥ò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔFor€example,€in€its€closing€argument,€the€State€reminded€the€jury€that€Carruthers€had€put€on€a€seminar€aboutÐ ° Ðdrug€dealing€in€Shelby€County,€highlighted€Carruthersðð€cross„examination€that€elicited€incriminating€evidence,€andÐ tÄ Ðemphasized€that€Carruthers€had€put€on€proof€through€Alfredo€Shaw€to€show€ð ðwhat€happened€between€11:00€[p.m.]€andÐ 8ˆ Ð5:00€[a.m.]"€the€day€the€killings€occurred.€ †Ý ƒR²2$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú36Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôç¥ò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ€ôç¥òòôç¥ÔFor€example,€during€cross„examination€Carruthers€asked€Ô_ÔTerrellÔ_Ô€Adair€if€he€knew€who€had€shot€him€and€whyÐ ° Ðhe€had€been€shot.€€Adair€responded,€ð ðthey€say€you€did€it.ðð€€Again€during€cross„examination,€Carruthers€asked€AndreÐ tÄ ÐJohnson,€ð ðDid€you€tell€me€that€Reginald€Burkes€told€you€that€somebody€was€trying€to€get€you?ðð€€Johnson€responded,Ð 8ˆ Ðð ðYes€sir.€€And€I€told€you€it€was€you,€sir.ðð€ CÝ ƒ7Çv)ÝÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÓ  Ó @ Ý ƒR²2$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú53Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôç¥ò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ€ôç¥òòôç¥ÔAlthough€lesser€sentences€have€been€imposed€in€some€similar€first€degree€murder€cases,€many€of€theseÐ ° Ðsentences€resulted€from€plea€agreements€and€therefore€are€not€relevant€for€purposes€of€comparative€proportionalityÐ tÄ  Ðreview.€€òòSee,€e.g.óó€òòState€v.€Ô_ÔTerranceÔ_Ô€B.€Burnettóó,€Lauderdale€County€No.€6484€(in€an€attack€on€a€rival€gang€member,Ð ° Ðdefendant€and€co„defendants€killed€a€woman€and€child,€and€as€the€result€of€a€plea,€received€a€sentence€of€life€withoutÐ tÄ Ðparole);€òòState€v.€Michael€Brian€Cardenasóó,€Chester€County€No.€99„001€(defendant€and€co„defendant€persuaded€victimÐ 8ˆ Ðto€bring€them€narcotics,€then€Ô_ÔkidnappedÔ_Ô€victim,€shot€victim€in€the€face,€and€dumped€the€victimððs€car€and€body€in€the€river,Ð üL Ðbut€received€life€sentence€as€a€result€of€a€plea€agreement).€€In€other€similar€cases,€the€jury€imposed€a€sentence€less€thanÐ À Ðdeath.€€òòSee,€e.g.óó€€òòState€v.€Eric€Chambersóó,€Shelby€County€No.€97„03036„38(defendant€and€three€co„defendants€Ô_ÔkidnappedÔ_ÔÐ „Ô Ðand€murdered€three€victims€after€stealing€drugs€from€them;€state€sought€death€penalty,€but€the€jury€imposed€a€sentenceÐ H ˜ Ðof€life€without€the€possibility€of€parole.);€òòState€v.€Ô_ÔDewayneÔ_Ô€Jordanóó€co„defendant€of€Eric€Chambers,€òòsupra.óó€(the€StateÐ  \ Ðsought€the€death€penalty,€but€the€jury€imposed€a€sentence€of€life€without€the€possibility€of€parole);€òòState€v.€Kevin€Wilkinsóó,Ð Ð  ÐShelby€County€No.€97„13179€(€defendant€was€the€leader€in€a€gang€Ô_ÔkidnappingÔ_Ô,€torture,€and€execution€of€victim.€€StateÐ ” ä  Ðsought€death€penalty,€but€the€jury€imposed€a€sentence€of€life€without€the€possibility€of€parole.).€€However,€a€sentence€ofÐ X ¨  Ðdeath€is€not€disproportionate€merely€because€the€circumstances€of€the€offense€are€similar€to€those€of€another€offense€forÐ  l  Ðwhich€the€defendant€has€received€a€lesser€sentence€from€a€jury. mÝ ƒR²2$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú30Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôç¥ò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ€ôç¥òòôç¥ÔAs€previously€stated,€after€the€trial€court€ruled€that€Carruthers€had€forfeited€his€right€to€counsel,€Carruthers€Ð ° Ðoffered€to€testify€that€the€allegations€he€made€about€Massey€were€untrue. »Ý ƒR²2$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú32Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôç¥ò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ€ôç¥òòôç¥ÔòòMooreóó,€706€F.2d€at€540. òÝ ƒR²2$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú34Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôç¥ò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ€ôç¥òòôç¥ÔMontgomery€first€requested€a€severance€on€December€16,€1994,€again€on€February€16,€1996,€when€it€appearedÐ ° ÐCarruthers€might€be€required€to€proceed€pro€se,€on€April€19,€1996€during€the€course€of€trial€as€a€result€of€Carruthersðð€proÐ tÄ Ðse€representation,€and€again€on€April€24,€1996,€immediately€before€Carruthers€called€Alfredo€Shaw€to€testify€as€a€witness,Ð 8ˆ Ðwhen€it€became€clear€in€a€jury„out€hearing€that€Alfredo€Shaw€would€testify€consistently€with€his€grand€jury€testimonyÐ üL Ðand€implicate€Carruthers€in€the€killings.€ Ý ƒR²2$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú15Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôç¥ò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ‡ôç¥òòôç¥ÔAlthoughÔ#†ôç¥òòôç¥#Ô€the€witness€list€contained€the€names€of€one€hundred€people,€the€State€previously€had€indicated€thatÐ ° Ðit€had€no€intention€of€calling€one€hundred€witnesses€and€was€simply€providing€the€name€of€every€person€that€had€beenÐ tÄ Ðmentioned€in€the€investigation€as€a€means€of€giving€the€defense€discovery. ûÝ ƒR²2$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú31Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôç¥ò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ‡ôç¥òòôç¥ÔWe€note,€however,€that€a€defendant€retains€the€right€to€complain€of€ineffective€assistance€with€respect€to€anyÐ ° Ðstage€of€the€proceeding€wherein€he€or€she€was€represented€by€counsel.€€òòCf.óó€€òòÔ_ÔDaughtryÔ_Ô€v.€Stateóó,€482€S.E.2d€532,€533€(Ga.Ð tÄ ÐCt.€App.€1997)€(stating€that€a€criminal€defendant€will€not€be€heard€to€assert€a€claim€of€ineffective€assistance€of€counselÐ 8ˆ Ðwith€respect€to€any€of€the€stages€of€the€proceedings€wherein€he€was€counsel).€€Therefore,€as€previously€stated,€our€holdingÐ üL Ðin€this€appeal€does€not€preclude€Carruthers€from€alleging€in€a€post€conviction€petition€ineffective€assistance€of€counselÐ À Ðwith€respect€to€a€stage€of€the€proceeding€wherein€he€was€represented€by€counsel.€€Ô#†ôç¥òòôç¥#Ô ÊÝ ƒR²2$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú5Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôç¥ò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ€ôç¥òòôç¥ÔAlthough€the€jury€did€not€hear€proof€about€why€Jonathan€Montgomery€directed€Detective€Ruby€to€the€grave,Ð ° Ðthe€record€of€pre„trial€and€jury„out€hearings€reflects€that€the€investigation€had€focused€upon€the€Montgomery€brothersÐ tÄ Ðbecause€they€were€seen€with€two€of€the€victims€around€5:00€p.m.€on€the€day€of€the€murders.€€When€the€police€questionedÐ 8ˆ ÐJonathan€Montgomery,€he€gave€conflicting€statements,€but€eventually€directed€Detective€Ruby€to€the€grave€where€theÐ üL Ðbodies€were€buried.(|G2²2$¤¤Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€T »»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôç¥ò»»Ô Ý ƒR²2$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú11Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôç¥ò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ‡ôç¥òòôç¥ÔòòSeeóó€òòBurton€v.€Stateóó,€214€Tenn.€9,€15„18,€377€S.W.2d€900,€902„904€(1964)€(refusing€to€dismiss€an€indictmentÐ ° Ðthat€was€based€upon€inadmissible€hearsay);€€òòState€v.€Dixonóó.€880€S.W.2d€696,€700€(Tenn.€Ô_ÔCrimÔ_Ô.€App.€1992)€(refusingÐ tÄ Ðto€dismiss€an€indictment€that€was€based€on€evidence€that€had€been€suppressed€under€the€Fourth€Amendment);€€òòState€v.Ð 8ˆ ÐGonzalesóó,€638€S.W.2d€841,€844„45€(Tenn.€Ô_ÔCrimÔ_Ô.€App.€1982)€(refusing€to€dismiss€an€indictment€that€was€based€uponÐ üL Ðunsworn€testimony€to€the€grand€jury);€òòState€v.€Gradyóó,€619€S.W.2d€139,€140€(Tenn.€Ô_ÔCrimÔ_Ô.€App.€1979)€(refusing€to€dismissÐ À Ðan€indictment€that€was€based€€upon€inadmissible€hearsay€testimony);€òòState€v.€Ô_ÔNorthcuttÔ_Ôóó,€568€S.W.2d€636,€639€(Tenn.Ð „Ô ÐÔ_ÔCrimÔ_Ô.€App.€1978)€(refusing€to€dismiss€an€indictment€because€of€a€question€asked€of€a€witness€by€the€foreman€of€the€grandÐ H ˜ Ðjury);€òòGammon€v.€Stateóó,€506€S.W.2d€188,€190€(Tenn.€Ô_ÔCrimÔ_Ô.€App.€1973)€(refusing€to€dismiss€an€indictment€that€was€basedÐ  \ Ðupon€inadmissible€hearsay€testimony);€òòCasey€v.€Stateóó,€491€S.W.2d€90,€91€(Tenn.€Ô_ÔCrimÔ_Ô.€App.€1972)€(same);€òòState€v.Ð Ð  ÐMarksóó,€464€S.W.2d€326,€327€(Tenn.€Ô_ÔCrimÔ_Ô.€App.€1970)€(same);€òòÔ_ÔPartonÔ_Ô€v.€Stateóó,€455€S.W.2d€645,€648€(Tenn.€Ô_ÔCrimÔ_Ô.€App.Ð ” ä  Ð1970)€(same).Ô#†ôç¥òòôç¥#Ô *Ý ƒR²2$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú23Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôç¥ò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔThe€record€reflects€that€Carruthers€had€filed€a€complaint€against€Massey€with€the€Board€of€ProfessionalÐ ° ÐResponsibility.€Ô€ôç¥òòôç¥Ô d ¨Ý ƒR²2$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú39Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôç¥ò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔEven€though€we€have€concluded€that€a€severance€should€have€been€granted,€we€do€not€agree€withÐ ° ÐMontgomeryððs€assertions€that€much€of€the€evidence€admitted€in€the€joint€trial€will€be€inadmissible€in€a€separate€trial.€Ð tÄ ÐAs€more€fully€explained€in€the€next€section,€hearsay€statements€are€admissible€under€the€co„conspirator€exception€evenÐ 8ˆ Ðif€the€conspirators€are€separately€tried,€and€where€a€conspiracy€exists,€even€if€Montgomery€was€not€yet€a€member,€€heÐ üL Ðis€deemed€to€have€adopted€the€previous€acts€and€declarations€of€his€fellow€conspirators.€€òòSeeóó€òòOwens€v.€Stateóó,€84€Tenn.Ð À Ð1,€4€(1885)€(ð ðAnd€everyone€entering€into€a€conspiracy€is€a€party€to€every€act€which€has€before€been€done€by€the€others,Ð „Ô Ðand€to€every€act€by€the€others€afterward,€in€furtherance€of€the€common€design.ðð);€òòsee€alsoóó€òòUnited€States€v.€Brownóó,€943Ð H ˜ ÐF.2d€1246,€1255€(10th€Cir.€1991);€23€C.J.S.2d€òòCriminal€Lawóó€ðð€982€(1989).€(|3Çv$££Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€T »»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝVVVV'ÿÿdxd)!ÈÈÈÈdxdx( ±þ$’’ò òFigure€Ú  Ú1Ú  Úó ó^_X`YEþÿ<<CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(|3Çv$¢¢Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€T »»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ý($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó óX[Z&OLE 2.0 Box <=8ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿCÿÿ HKKKK ÉÝ ƒR²2$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú52Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôç¥ò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔThe€pool€from€which€similar€cases€are€drawn€has€increased€substantially€since€the€capital€punishment€statuteÐ ° Ðwas€enacted€in€1977.€€The€first€decision€to€comprehensively€discuss€comparative€proportionality€review€was€òòState€v.Ð tÄ ÐBarberóó,€753€S.W.2d€659€(Tenn.€1988).€However,€this€Court€had€conscientiously€performed€comparative€proportionalityÐ 8ˆ Ðin€the€fifty„seven€capital€cases€preceding€òòBarberóó.€€Not€only€had€we€considered€those€fifty„seven€capital€cases,€we€alsoÐ üL Ðhad€reviewed€innumerable€cases€in€which€a€sentence€of€life€imprisonment€had€been€imposed€for€first€degree€murder.€Ð À ÐThree€years€ago€in€òòBlandóó,€this€Court€once€again€thoroughly€explained€both€the€role€of€comparative€proportionality€reviewÐ „Ô Ðand€the€method€by€which€this€review€is€performed€in€Tennessee.€€With€the€decision€in€òòBlandóó,€this€Court€had€reviewedÐ H ˜ Ðone€hundred€and€ten€capital€cases,€again,€in€addition€to€the€innumerable€cases€involving€a€sentence€of€life€imprisonmentÐ  \ Ðor€life€imprisonment€without€the€possibility€of€parole.€€The€pool€of€capital€cases€had€almost€doubled€in€the€nine€yearsÐ Ð  Ðfrom€òòBarberóó€to€òòBlandóó.€€Since€òòBlandóó,€this€Court€has€reviewed€approximately€twenty€more€capital€cases.€€If€the€size€of€theÐ ” ä  Ðcomparison€pool€was€ever€a€concern,€it€is€a€concern€no€longer.€€The€pool€from€which€similar€cases€is€drawn€clearly€isÐ X ¨  Ðlarge€enough€to€enable€an€effective€comparative€review,€Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€T »»ddÈ8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÑ  ÑÑ  ÑÔ€¼T »»»ÔÑ8€aXXdì»»d8ÑÔ€¼T »»¼T ÔÓ=€T »Ð»dÐd=ÓÑ€=˜$Ñà@™ ™ ìàÔ‡îÅÁT ÔIN€THE€SUPREME€COURT€OF€TENNESSEEˆÐ ° Ðà@õõ%ìàAT€JACKSONÔ#†¼T »îîÅÁy#ԈРÖ& ÐÓ  ÓOctober€3,€2000€Session€at€NashvilleÐ üL ÐÔ‡XaX»¼T ÔÌò òÔ#†¼T »XXai#ÔSTATE€OF€TENNESSEE€v.€TONY€V.€CARRUTHERS€&€JAMESÐ úJ ÐMONTGOMERYó óÐ  ^ ÐÌÔ€XaX»¼T Ôà@@½½ìàò òAppeal€from€the€Court€of€Criminal€AppealsÐ 4 „ ÐCriminal€Court€for€Shelby€CountyÐ  p Ðà@@øøìàNos.€94„02797„99€and€95„1128„29,€€Joseph€B.€Dailey,€JudgeÐ  \  ÐÌÌà@@ìì*ìàßA€V) °°` d€÷E<Ï` AßÐ Ð  ÐÌà@@TTìàNo.€W1997„00097„SC„DDT„DD€„€Filed€December€11,€Ô_Ô2000Ô_ÔÐ Ë  ÐÌßA€V) °°` dE<¢` AßÐ £ó Ðó óÌÓ  ÓTony€Carruthers€and€James€Montgomery€were€each€convicted€of€three€counts€of€first€degreeÐ žî Ðpremeditated€murder€and€were€sentenced€to€death€on€each€conviction.€€The€Court€of€CriminalÐ ŠÚ ÐAppeals€affirmed€the€convictions€and€sentences€of€both€Carruthers€and€Montgomery.€€Thereafter,Ð vÆ Ðthe€cases€were€docketed€in€this€Court.€After€carefully€reviewing€the€record€and€the€relevant€legalÐ b² Ðauthorities,€we€conclude€that€none€of€the€errors€raised€by€Tony€Carruthers€require€reversal,€that€theÐ Nž Ðevidence€is€sufficient€to€support€the€juryððs€findings€of€the€aggravating€circumstances,€and€that€theÐ :Š Ðsentences€of€death€are€not€excessive€or€disproportionate€considering€the€circumstances€of€the€crimesÐ &v Ðand€the€defendant.€€With€respect€to€James€Montgomery,€we€conclude€that€the€trial€court€erred€inÐ b Ðdenying€him€a€severance€and€that€the€error€resulted€in€Montgomery€being€deprived€of€a€fair€trial.€Ð þN ÐAccordingly,€we€reverse€Montgomeryððs€convictions€and€sentences€and€remand€for€a€new€trial.Ð ê: ÐÓ^ÓÌò òTenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€39„13„206(a)(1)€Automatic€Appeal;€Judgment€of€the€Court€of€CriminalÐ Â ÐAppeals€Affirmed€with€respect€to€Tony€V.€Carruthers;€Judgment€of€the€Court€of€CriminalÐ ®þ ÐAppeals€Reversed€with€respect€to€James€Montgomery€and€Case€Remanded€for€a€New€Trial€ó óÐ š ê ÐÌÓ  ÓòòFrank€F.€Ô_ÔDrowotaÔ_Ô,€III,€Jóó.,€delivered€the€opinion€of€the€court,€in€which€òòE.€Riley€Anderson,€C.J.,€Ð r"Â! ÐJanice€M.€Holderóó,€and€òòWilliam€M.€Barkeróó,€JJ.,€joined.€€Ô_ÔAòòdolphoÔ_Ôóó€A.€Bòòirchóó,€Jòòróó.,€J.,€filed€aÐ ^#®" Ðconcurring/dissenting€opinion.Ð J$š# ÐÌStephen€R.€Ô_ÔLefflerÔ_Ô€and€Lee€A.€Ô_ÔFildermanÔ_Ô,€Memphis,€Tennessee,€for€the€appellant,€Tony€V.Ð "&r!% ÐCarruthers.Ð '^"& ÐÌRobert€C.€Brooks€and€Edward€W.€Chandler,€Memphis,€Tennessee,€for€the€appellant,€JamesÐ æ(6$( ÐMontgomery.Ð Ò)"%) ÐÌMichael€E.€Moore,€Solicitor€General;€Amy€Ô_ÔTarkingtonÔ_Ô,€Senior€Counsel;€€Phillip€Gerald€Harris;Ð ª+ú&+ ÐAssistant€District€Attorney€General;€and€J.€Robert€Carter,€Jr.,€€Assistant€District€Attorney€General,€Ð –,æ', Ðfor€the€appellee,€State€of€Tennessee.Ð ‚-Ò(-ý ÐÓU Óò òOPINIONó óÐ ° ÐÓ  ÓÔ_ÔÔ_Ôà@ìì*ìàˆÌà  àThe€defendants,€Tony€V.€Carruthers€and€James€Montgomery,€were€each€convicted€of€firstÐ ˆØ Ðdegree€murder€for€killing€Ô_ÔMarcellosÔ_Ô€ð ðCelloðð€Anderson,€his€mother€Ô_ÔDeloisÔ_Ô€Anderson,€and€FrederickÐ tÄ ÐTucker€in€Memphis€in€February€of€1994.Ô_Ô׃×Ý ƒMˆÝòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×Ô_Ô€All€of€the€victims€disappeared€on€the€night€of€FebruaryÐ `° Ð24,€1994.€€On€March€3,€1994,€their€bodies€were€found€buried€together€in€a€pit€that€had€been€dugÐ L œ Ðbeneath€a€casket€in€a€grave€in€a€Memphis€cemetery.׃'×Ý ƒMˆÝòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ׀Р8 ˆ ÐÌà@<<#ìàòòò òThe€Guilt€Phaseóóó óˆÐ  ` Ðà  àThe€proof€introduced€at€the€guilt€phase€of€the€trial€showed€that€one€of€the€victims,€Ô_ÔMarcellosÔ_ÔÐ ü L  ÐAnderson,€was€heavily€involved€in€the€drug€trade,€along€with€two€other€men,€Andre€ð ðBaby€BrotherððÐ è 8  ÐJohnson€and€Ô_ÔTerrellÔ_Ô€Adair.׃ ,×Ý ƒMˆÝòòÚ  Ú3Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€Anderson€wore€expensive€jewelry,€including€a€large€diamond€ring,Ð Ô$  Ðcarried€large€sums€of€money€on€his€person,€and€kept€a€considerable€amount€of€cash€in€the€attic€of€theÐ À  Ðhome€of€his€mother,€victim€Ô_ÔDeloisÔ_Ô€Anderson.€€When€his€body€was€discovered,€Anderson€was€notÐ ¬ü  Ðwearing€any€jewelry€and€did€not€have€any€cash€on€his€person.€€Anderson€was€acquainted€with€bothÐ ˜è  Ðdefendants,€and€he€considered€Carruthers€to€be€a€trustworthy€friend.€€The€proof€showed€thatÐ „Ô  ÐAndersonððs€trust€was€misplaced.Ð pÀ ÐÌà  àIn€the€summer€of€1993€Jimmy€Lee€Maze,€Jr.,€a€convicted€felon,€received€two€letters€fromÐ H˜ ÐCarruthers,€who€was€then€in€prison€on€an€unrelated€conviction.€€In€the€letters,€Carruthers€referred€toÐ 4„ Ðð ða€master€planðð€that€was€ð ða€winner.ðð€€Carruthers€wrote€of€his€intention€to€ð ðmake€those€streets€payÐ  p Ðmeðð€and€announced,€ð ðeverything€I€do€from€now€on€will€be€well€organized€and€extremely€violent.ðð€Ð  \ ÐLater,€in€the€fall€of€1993,€while€incarcerated€at€the€Mark€Ô_ÔLuttrellÔ_Ô€Reception€Center€in€MemphisÐ øH Ðawaiting€his€release,€Carruthers€was€assigned€to€a€work€detail€at€a€local€cemetery,€the€WestÐ ä4 ÐTennessee€Veteransðð€Cemetery.€€At€one€point,€as€he€helped€bury€a€body,€Carruthers€remarked€toÐ Ð  Ðfellow€inmate€Charles€Ray€Smith€ð ðthat€would€be€a€good€way,€you€know,€to€bury€somebody,€if€youððreÐ ¼  Ðgoing€to€kill€them.€.€.€.€[Ô_ÔI]fÔ_Ô€you€ainððt€got€no€body,€you€donððt€have€a€case.ðð€€Ð ¨ø ÐÌà  àSmith€also€testified€that€he€overheard€Carruthers€and€Montgomery,€who€also€was€incarceratedÐ €Ð Ðat€the€Reception€Center,€talking€about€Ô_ÔMarcellosÔ_Ô€Anderson€after€Anderson€had€driven€CarruthersÐ l¼ Ðback€to€the€Reception€Center€from€a€furlough.€According€to€Smith,€when€Montgomery€askedÐ X ¨ ÐCarruthers€about€Anderson,€Carruthers€told€him€that€both€Anderson€and€ð ðBaby€Brotherðð€JohnsonÐ D!” Ðdealt€drugs€and€had€a€lot€of€money.€€Carruthers€said€he€and€Montgomery€could€ð ðrobðð€and€ð ðgetððÐ 0"€  ÐAnderson€and€Johnson€once€they€were€released€from€prison.€€€Ð #l! ÐÐ $X" Ðà  àWhen€Carruthers€was€released€from€the€Department€of€Correction€on€November€15,€1993,Ð ° Ðhe€left€the€Reception€Center€with€Anderson.€€Carruthers€accompanied€Anderson€to€Andre€JohnsonððsÐ œì Ðhouse,€and€received€a€gift€of€$200€cash€from€Anderson,€Johnson,€and€Ô_ÔTerrellÔ_Ô€Adair,€who€was€presentÐ ˆØ Ðat€Johnsonððs€house.Ð tÄ ÐÌà  àOne€month€later,€on€December€15,€1993,€Smith€was€released€from€the€Department€ofÐ L œ ÐCorrection.€€Upon€his€release,€Smith€warned€Anderson€and€Johnson€of€Carruthersðð€andÐ 8 ˆ ÐMontgomeryððs€plans€to€ð ðget€them.ðð€€According€to€Smith€and€Johnson,€Anderson€did€not€take€theÐ $ t Ðwarning€or€the€defendantsðð€threats€seriously.€€Ð  ` ÐÌà  àIn€mid„December€1993,€Maze,€his€brother€€and€Carruthers€were€riding€around€MemphisÐ è 8  Ðtogether.€€They€came€upon€Ô_ÔTerrellÔ_Ô€Adairððs€red€Jeep€on€the€street€in€front€of€Ô_ÔDeloisÔ_Ô€Andersonððs€homeÐ Ô$  Ðwhere€a€drive„by€shooting€had€just€occurred.€€Adair€had€been€injured€in€the€shooting€and€was€in€theÐ À  Ðhospital.€€Jonathan€ð ðLuluðð€Montgomery,€James€Montgomeryððs€brother,€was€at€the€scene€of€theÐ ¬ü  Ðshooting,€and€he€joined€Carruthers€in€the€back€seat€of€Mazeððs€car.€€According€to€Maze,€CarruthersÐ ˜è  Ðremarked€to€Jonathan€that,€ð ðit€would€be€the€best€time€to€kidnap€Ô_ÔMarcellosÔ_Ô,ðð€and€Jonathan€asked,Ð „Ô  Ðð ðwhich€one€Baby€Brother€or€Ô_ÔMarcellosÔ_Ô?ðð€€Carruthers€then€nudged€Montgomery€with€his€elbow€andÐ pÀ Ðsaid€ð ðitðð€was€going€to€take€place€after€James€Montgomery€was€released€from€prison.€€About€twoÐ \¬ Ðweeks€later,€on€December€31,€Maze€saw€Carruthers€loading€three€antifreeze€containers€into€a€car,Ð H˜ Ðand€€Carruthers€indicated€to€Maze€that€the€containers€were€filled€with€gasoline.Ð 4„ ÐÌà  àOn€January€11,€1994,€James€Montgomery€was€released€from€prison.€€€After€his€release,Ð  \ ÐMontgomery€told€ð ðBaby€Brotherðð€Johnson€that€he,€not€Johnson,€was€in€charge€of€the€neighborhood.€Ð øH ÐMontgomery€said,€ð ðIt€was€my€neighborhood€before€I€left,€and€now€Iððm€back€and€its€my€neighborhoodÐ ä4 Ðagain.ðð€€Montgomery€asked€Johnson€if€he€wanted€to€ð ðgo€to€war€about€this€neighborhood.ðð€€WhenÐ Ð  ÐJohnson€said,€ð ðno,ðð€Montgomery€replied€ð ðYou€feeling€now€like€Iððm€about€to€blow€your€Ô_ÔmotherfÔ_Ô„„„„„gÐ ¼  Ðbrains€outðð€and€ð ðyou€all€need€to€get€in€line€around€here€or€weððre€going€to€war€about€this.ðð€€Near€theÐ ¨ø Ðend€of€January€or€the€first€of€February€1994,€Johnson€and€Adair€saw€the€defendants€sitting€togetherÐ ”ä Ðin€an€older€model€grey€car€down€the€street€from€Johnsonððs€motherððs€home.€€It€was€late€at€night,Ð €Ð Ðbetween€11€p.m.€and€1€a.m.€€When€the€defendants€approached€Johnson€and€Adair,€MontgomeryÐ l¼ Ðasked€why€they€thought€he€was€trying€to€harm€them.€€Montgomery€told€them,€ð ðLook,€I€told€you,€weÐ X ¨ Ðainððt€got€no€problem€with€nobody€in€this€neighborhood.€€We€already€got€our€man€staked€out.€€If€weÐ D!” Ðwanted€some€trouble€or€something,€we€got€you€right€now.€€Weððd€kill€your€whole€family.ðð€Ð 0"€  ÐConfirming€Montgomeryððs€statement,€Carruthers€told€them,€ð ðWe€already€got€our€man€staked€out.€Ð #l! ÐYou€all€right.€€If€itððs€any€problem,€weððll€deal€with€it€later.ðð€€Montgomery€explained€that€he€intendedÐ $X" Ðto€take€the€ð ðmanððsðð€money€and€drugs,€and€said,€ð ðif€the€police€didnððt€have€no€body,€they€wouldnððtÐ ô$D # Ðhave€no€case.ððÐ à%0!$ ÐÌà  àOn€February€23,€1994,€Ô_ÔMarcellosÔ_Ô€Anderson€borrowed€a€white€Jeep€Cherokee€from€his€cousin,Ð ¸'#& ÐMichael€Harris.€€Around€4:30€on€the€afternoon€of€February€24,€1994,€witnesses€saw€Ô_ÔMarcellosÔ_ÔÐ ¤(ô#' ÐAnderson€and€Frederick€Tucker€riding€in€the€Jeep€Cherokee€along€with€James€and€JonathanÐ )à$( ÐMontgomery.€€About€5€p.m.€that€day,€James€and€Jonathan€Montgomery€and€Anderson€and€TuckerÐ |*Ì%) Ðarrived€in€the€Jeep€Cherokee€at€the€house€of€Ô_ÔNakeitaÔ_Ô€Shaw,€the€Montgomery€brothersðð€cousin.€Ð h+¸&* ÐÔ_ÔNakeitaÔ_Ô€Shaw,€her€four€children,€and€Benton€West,€also€her€cousin,€were€present€at€the€house€whenÐ ° Ðthey€arrived.Ð œì ÐÌà  àThe€four€men€entered€the€house€and€went€downstairs€to€the€basement.€€A€short€time€later,Ð tÄ ÐJames€Montgomery€came€back€upstairs€and€asked€Ô_ÔNakeitaÔ_Ô€Shaw€if€she€could€leave€for€a€while€so€heÐ `° Ðcould€ð ðtake€care€of€some€business.ðð€€Ô_ÔNakeitaÔ_Ô€Shaw€told€West€that€she€thought€ð ðtheyðð€were€beingÐ L œ ÐÔ_ÔkidnappedÔ_Ô,€and€then€she€left€the€house€with€West€and€her€children.€€West€agreed€to€care€for€Ô_ÔNakeitaÔ_ÔÐ 8 ˆ ÐShawððs€children€while€she€attended€a€meeting.Ð $ t ÐÌà  àWhen€Ô_ÔNakeitaÔ_Ô€Shaw€returned€home€after€the€meeting,€she€saw€only€Carruthers€and€JamesÐ ü L  ÐMontgomery.€€Montgomery€asked€her€to€go€pick€up€her€children€and€to€ð ðstay€gone€a€little€longer.ðð€Ð è 8  ÐÔ_ÔNakeitaÔ_Ô€Shaw€returned€home€with€her€children€before€10€p.m.€€The€Jeep€Cherokee€was€gone,€butÐ Ô$  ÐJames€Montgomery€and€Carruthers€were€still€present€at€her€home.€€Montgomery€told€Ô_ÔNakeitaÔ_Ô€ShawÐ À  Ðto€put€her€children€to€bed€upstairs€and€remain€there€until€he€told€her€he€was€leaving.€€Sometime€later,Ð ¬ü  ÐMontgomery€called€out€to€Ô_ÔNakeitaÔ_Ô€Shaw€that€he€was€leaving.€€She€returned€downstairs€and€sawÐ ˜è  ÐJames€Montgomery,€Carruthers,€and€the€two€victims,€Anderson€and€Tucker,€leave€in€the€JeepÐ „Ô  ÐCherokee.€€Prior€to€trial,€Ô_ÔNakeitaÔ_Ô€Shaw€told€the€police€that€Andersonððs€and€Tuckerððs€hands€were€tiedÐ pÀ Ðbehind€their€backs€when€they€left€her€house.€While€she€admitted€making€this€statement,€she€testifiedÐ \¬ Ðat€trial€that€the€statement€was€false€and€that€she€had€not€seen€Andersonððs€and€Tuckerððs€hands€tiedÐ H˜ Ðwhen€they€left€her€home.Ô_Ô׃×Ý ƒMˆÝòòÚ  Ú4Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×Ô_ÔÐ 4„ ÐÌà  àIn€the€meantime,€around€8€p.m.€on€February€24,€Ô_ÔLaventhiaÔ_Ô€Briggs€telephoned€her€aunt,€victimÐ  \ ÐÔ_ÔDeloisÔ_Ô€Anderson.€€When€someone€picked€up€the€telephone€but€said€nothing,€Briggs€hung€up.€€BriggsÐ øH Ðcalled€ð ða€couple€of€more€timesðð€but€received€no€answer.€€Briggs€was€living€with€Ô_ÔDeloisÔ_Ô€AndersonÐ ä4 Ðat€the€time€and€arrived€€at€her€auntððs€home€around€9:00€p.m.€€Although€Ô_ÔDeloisÔ_Ô€Anderson€was€notÐ Ð  Ðhome,€her€purse,€car,€and€keys€were€there.€€Food€left€in€Andersonððs€bedroom€indicated€that€she€hadÐ ¼  Ðbeen€interrupted€while€eating.€€Briggs€went€to€bed,€assuming€her€aunt€would€return€home€soon.€€AÐ ¨ø Ðco„worker,€whom€Ô_ÔDeloisÔ_Ô€Anderson€had€driven€home€around€7:15€p.m.,€was€the€last€person€to€haveÐ ”ä Ðseen€her€alive.€€Ð €Ð ÐÌà  àChris€Ô_ÔHinesÔ_Ô,€who€had€known€the€defendants€since€junior€high€school,€testified€that€aroundÐ X ¨ Ð8:45€p.m.€on€February€24,€1994,€Jonathan€Montgomery€ð ðbeepedðð€him.€€Jonathan€said,€ð ðMan,€a€n„„„„rÐ D!” Ðgot€them€folks.ðð€€When€Ô_ÔHinesÔ_Ô€asked,€ð ðWhat€folks?ðð€Jonathan€replied,€ð ðCello€and€themðð€and€saidÐ 0"€  Ðsomething€about€stealing€$200,000.€Jonathan€then€indicated€that€he€could€not€talk€more€on€theÐ #l! Ðtelephone€and€arranged€to€meet€Ô_ÔHinesÔ_Ô€in€person.€€Jonathan€arrived€at€Ô_ÔHinesÔ_Ôðð€home€at€about€9:00€p.m.Ð $X" Ðand€told€him,€ð ðMan,€we€got€them€folks€out€at€the€cemetery€on€Elvis€Presley,€and€we€got€$200,000.€Ð ô$D # ÐMan,€a€n„„„„r€had€to€kill€them€folks.ðð€€At€that€point,€James€Montgomery€ð ðbeeped€inðð€and€talked€withÐ à%0!$ ÐJonathan.€€When€the€telephone€call€ended,€Jonathan€asked€Ô_ÔHinesÔ_Ô€to€drive€him€to€the€cemetery.€€Ô_ÔHinesÔ_ÔÐ Ì&"% ÐÔ_Ôrefused,€but€he€allowed€Jonathan€to€borrow€his€car,€which€Jonathan€promised€to€return€in€an€hour.€Ð ° ÐWhen€the€car€was€not€returned,€Hines€called€James€Montgomeryððs€cellular€telephone€at€around€11Ð œì Ðp.m.€€James€told€Hines€that€he€did€not€know€where€Jonathan€was,€that€Jonathan€did€not€have€aÐ ˆØ Ðdriverððs€license,€and€that€the€car€should€be€returned€by€4€a.m.€because€Jonathan€was€supposed€toÐ tÄ Ðdrive€James€to€his€girlfriendððs€house.Ð `° ÐÌà  àThe€Jeep€Cherokee€that€Anderson€had€borrowed€was€found€in€Mississippi€on€February€25Ð 8 ˆ Ðaround€2:40€a.m.€€It€had€been€destroyed€by€fire.€€About€3:30€a.m.,€after€he€was€informed€of€theÐ $ t Ðvehicle€fire€by€law€enforcement€officials,€Harris€telephoned€Delois€Andersonððs€home,€and€LaventhiaÐ  ` ÐBriggs€then€discovered€that€neither€her€aunt€Delois€nor€her€cousin€Marcellos€had€returned€home.€Ð ü L  ÐBriggs€filed€a€missing€person€report€with€the€police€later€that€day.Ð è 8  ÐÌà  àThe€Montgomery€brothers€and€Carruthers€did€not€return€Hinesðð€car€until€approximately€8:30Ð À  Ða.m.€on€February€25.€€The€car€was€very€muddy.€€Hines€drove€James€Montgomery€and€Carruthers€toÐ ¬ü  ÐMontgomeryððs€motherððs€home€and€then€drove€away€with€Jonathan€Montgomery.€€That€morningÐ ˜è  ÐJonathan,€whom€Hines€described€as€acting€ð ðparanoidðð€and€ð ðnervous,ðð€repeatedly€told€Hines€thatÐ „Ô  Ðð ðthey€had€to€kill€some€people.ðð€€About€two€hours€later,€James€Montgomery€and€Carruthers€came€toÐ pÀ ÐHinesðð€home€looking€for€Jonathan.€€Hines€advised€Carruthers€and€James€Montgomery€that€he€wasÐ \¬ Ðcelebrating€his€birthday,€and€he€asked€James€Montgomery€to€give€him€a€birthday€present.€€JamesÐ H˜ Ðagreed€to€give€Hines€twenty€dollars€after€he€picked€up€his€paycheck,€and€James€also€agreed€to€haveÐ 4„ ÐHinesðð€car€washed€immediately€as€a€birthday€present.Ð  p ÐÌà  àHines,€the€Montgomery€brothers,€and€Carruthers€drove€to€a€carwash,€and€James€MontgomeryÐ øH Ðpaid€an€unidentified€elderly€man€to€clean€the€car.€€The€man€cleaned€the€interior€of€the€car€and€theÐ ä4 Ðtrunk€of€the€car.€€Neither€Carruthers€nor€James€Montgomery€supervised€the€cleaning€of€the€car.€€AfterÐ Ð  ÐJonathan€Montgomery€abruptly€left€the€carwash,€Carruthers€and€James€Montgomery€asked€HinesÐ ¼  Ðwhat€Jonathan€had€told€him,€but€Hines€did€not€tell€them.€€Several€days€later€James€MontgomeryÐ ¨ø Ðcame€to€Hinesðð€home€and€offered€Hines€an€AK„47€assault€rifle€because€Montgomery€said€he€hadÐ ”ä Ðð ðheard€that€Hines€was€into€it€with€some€people€on€the€street.ðð€€James€Montgomery€told€Hines€theÐ €Ð Ðrifle€had€ð ðblood€on€it.ðð€€Hines€testified€that€he€interpreted€this€statement€to€mean€that€someone€hadÐ l¼ Ðbeen€shot€with€the€weapon.Ð X ¨ ÐÌà  àOn€March€3,€1994,€about€one€week€after€a€missing€person€report€was€filed€on€Delois€andÐ 0"€  ÐMarcellos€Anderson,€Jonathan€Montgomery€directed€Detective€Jack€Ruby€of€the€Memphis€PoliceÐ #l! ÐDepartment€to€the€grave€of€Dorothy€Daniels€at€the€Rose€Hill€Cemetery€on€Elvis€Presley€Boulevard.׃P×Ý ƒMˆÝòòÚ  Ú5Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ׀Р$X" ÐDanielsðð€grave€was€located€six€plots€away€from€the€grave€site€of€the€Montgomery€brothersðð€cousin.€Ð ô$D # Ðâ âDaniels€had€been€buried€on€February€25,€1994.€€Pursuant€to€a€court€order,€Danielsðð€casket€wasÐ à%0!$ Ðdisinterred,€and€the€authorities€discovered€the€bodies€of€the€three€victims€buried€beneath€the€casketÐ ° Ðunder€several€inches€of€dirt€and€a€single€piece€of€plywood.Ð œì Ðâ âÌà  àAn€employee€of€the€cemetery€testified€that€a€pressed€wood€box€or€vault€had€been€placed€inÐ tÄ ÐDanielsðð€grave€during€working€hours€on€February€24€and€that€it€would€have€taken€at€least€two€peopleÐ `° Ðto€remove€the€box.€€€Danielsðð€casket€had€been€placed€in€the€grave€inside€the€box€on€February€25,€and,Ð L œ Ðaccording€to€Dr.€Hugh€Edward€Berryman,€one€of€the€forensic€anthropologists€who€assisted€in€theÐ 8 ˆ Ðremoval€of€the€bodies€from€the€crime€scene,€there€was€no€evidence€to€suggest€that€Danielsðð€casketÐ $ t Ðhad€been€disturbed€after€she€was€buried.€€Thus,€it€can€be€inferred€that€the€bodies€of€the€three€victimsÐ  ` Ðwere€placed€in€the€grave€and€covered€with€dirt€and€a€piece€of€plywood€prior€to€the€casket€beingÐ ü L  Ðplaced€in€the€grave.Ð è 8  ÐÌà  àDr.€O.€C.€Smith,€who€helped€remove€the€bodies€from€the€grave€and€who€performed€autopsiesÐ À  Ðon€the€victims,€testified€that,€when€found,€the€body€of€Delois€Anderson€was€lying€at€the€bottom€ofÐ ¬ü  Ðthe€grave€and€the€bodies€of€the€two€male€victims€were€lying€on€top€of€her.€€The€hands€of€all€threeÐ ˜è  Ðvictims€were€bound€behind€their€backs.€€Frederick€Tuckerððs€feet€were€also€bound€and€his€neckÐ „Ô  Ðshowed€signs€of€bruising€caused€by€a€ligature.€€A€red€sock€was€found€around€Delois€AndersonððsÐ pÀ Ðneck.€€Marcellos€Anderson€was€not€wearing€any€jewelry.€€Dr.€Smith€testified€that€Delois€AndersonÐ \¬ Ðdied€from€asphyxia€caused€by€several€factors:€€the€position€of€her€head€against€her€body,€dirt€in€herÐ H˜ Ðmouth€and€nose,€and€trauma€from€weight€on€her€body.€€Frederick€Tucker€had€received€a€gunshotÐ 4„ Ðwound€to€his€chest,€which€would€not€have€been€fatal€had€he€received€medical€care.€€He€had€alsoÐ  p Ðsuffered€injuries€from€blunt€trauma€to€his€abdomen€and€head€resulting€in€broken€ribs,€a€fracturedÐ  \ Ðskull,€and€a€ruptured€liver.€€Dr.€Smith€opined€that€Tucker€was€shot€and€placed€in€the€grave,€whereÐ øH Ðthe€force€of€compression€from€being€buried€produced€the€other€injuries€and,€along€with€the€gunshotÐ ä4 Ðwound,€caused€his€death.€€According€to€Dr.€Smith,€Marcellos€Anderson€had€been€shot€three€times:€Ð Ð  Ða€contact€wound€to€his€forehead€that€was€not€severe€and€two€shots€to€his€neck,€one€of€which€was€alsoÐ ¼  Ðnot€serious.€€However,€the€gunshot€causing€the€other€neck€wound€had€entered€Andersonððs€windpipeÐ ¨ø Ðand€severed€his€spinal€cord,€paralyzing€him€from€the€neck€down.€€This€wound€was€notÐ ”ä Ðinstantaneously€fatal.€€Anderson€had€also€suffered€blunt€trauma€to€his€abdomen€from€compressionÐ €Ð Ðforces.€€Dr.€Smith€opined€that€each€victim€was€alive€when€buried.Ð l¼ ÐÌà  àDefendant€James€Montgomery€presented€no€proof.€€Carruthers,€acting€pro€se,€called€severalÐ D!” Ðwitnesses€to€rebut€the€testimony€offered€by€the€State,€primarily€by€attacking€the€credibility€of€theÐ 0"€  ÐStateððs€witnesses.€€Ð #l! ÐÌà  àA€health€administrator€at€the€Mark€Luttrell€Reception€Center€testified€that,€because€of€anÐ ô$D # Ðinjury€to€his€arm,€Carruthers€had€been€given€a€job€change€on€October€6,€1993,€and€had€not€workedÐ à%0!$ Ðat€the€cemetery€after€that€date.€€Another€official€at€the€Reception€Center€testified€that€Carruthers€wasÐ Ì&"% Ðnot€released€on€furlough€after€Montgomery€arrived€at€the€Reception€Center€on€November€4,€1994.€Ð ¸'#& ÐThis€proof€was€offered€to€impeach€Smithððs€testimony€that€Montgomery€and€Carruthers€discussedÐ ¤(ô#' Ðrobbing€and€getting€Marcellos€Anderson€after€Anderson€drove€Carruthers€back€to€the€ReceptionÐ )à$( ÐCenter€following€a€furlough.€€An€investigator€appointed€to€assist€Carruthers€with€his€defense€testifiedÐ |*Ì%) Ðthat€he€had€interviewed€Maze,€who€admitted€he€did€not€know€anything€about€the€ð ðmaster€planðð€toÐ h+¸&* Ðwhich€Carruthers€referred€in€the€letters€until€Carruthers€was€released€from€prison.€€On€cross„Ð ° Ðexamination,€the€investigator€admitted€that€Maze€said€that€when€he€was€released€€from€prison,Ð œì ÐCarruthers€had€explained€that€the€master€plan€involved€kidnapping€Marcellos€Anderson.€€CarruthersððÐ ˆØ Ðbrother€and€another€witness€testified€that€Jonathan€Montgomery€was€not€at€the€scene€of€the€drive„byÐ tÄ Ðshooting€involving€Terrell€Adair.€€This€proof€was€offered€to€impeach€Mazeððs€testimony€thatÐ `° ÐCarruthers€and€Jonathan€Montgomery€discussed€kidnapping€Marcellos€on€the€day€that€Terrell€AdairÐ L œ Ðwas€shot.€€Another€witness,€Aldolpho€Antonio€James€testified€that€he€and€Carruthers€had€beenÐ 8 ˆ Ðvisiting€a€friend€between€the€hours€of€1:00€a.m.€and€2:00€a.m.€the€day€before€these€homicides€wereÐ $ t Ðfirst€reported€on€the€news.€€This€testimony€was€offered€to€provide€at€least€a€partial€alibi€forÐ  ` ÐCarruthers€for€the€early€morning€hours€of€February€25,€1994.€€However,€on€cross„examination,€JamesÐ ü L  Ðadmitted€that€he€did€not€know€the€exact€date€he€and€Carruthers€had€been€together.Ð è 8  ÐÔ_ÔÌà  àCarruthers€also€called€Alfredo€Shaw€as€a€witness.€€After€seeing€a€television€news€report€aboutÐ À  Ðthese€killings€in€March€of€1994,€Alfredo€Shaw€had€telephoned€Ô_ÔCrimeStoppersÔ_Ô€and€given€a€statementÐ ¬ü  Ðto€the€police€implicating€Carruthers.€€Alfredo€Shaw€later€testified€before€the€grand€jury€whichÐ ˜è  Ðeventually€returned€the€indictments€against€Carruthers€and€Montgomery.€€Prior€to€trial,€however,Ð „Ô  Ðseveral€press€reports€indicated€that€Alfredo€Shaw€had€recanted€his€grand€jury€testimony,€professedÐ pÀ Ðthat€the€statement€had€been€fabricated,€and€intended€to€formally€recant€his€grand€jury€testimony€whenÐ \¬ Ðcalled€as€a€witness€for€the€defense.€€Therefore,€when€Carruthers€called€Alfredo€Shaw€to€testify,€theÐ H˜ Ðprosecution€announced€that€if€he€took€the€stand€and€recanted€his€prior€sworn€testimony,€he€wouldÐ 4„ Ðbe€charged€with€and€prosecuted€for€two€counts€of€aggravated€perjury.€€In€light€of€the€prosecutionððsÐ  p Ðannouncement,€the€trial€court€summoned€Alfredo€Shawððs€attorney€and€allowed€Alfredo€Shaw€toÐ  \ Ðconfer€privately€with€him.€€Following€that€private€conference,€Alfredo€Shawððs€attorney€advised€theÐ øH Ðtrial€court,€defense€counsel,€including€Carruthers,€and€the€prosecution,€that€Alfredo€Shaw€intendedÐ ä4 Ðto€testify€consistently€with€his€prior€statements€and€grand€jury€testimony€and€that€any€inconsistentÐ Ð  Ðstatements€Alfredo€Shaw€had€made€to€the€press€were€motivated€by€his€fear€of€Carruthers€and€byÐ ¼  Ðthreats€he€had€received€from€him.Ð ¨ø ÐÌà  àDespite€this€information,€Carruthers€called€Alfredo€Shaw€as€a€witness€and€as€his€attorneyÐ €Ð Ðadvised,€Shaw€provided€testimony€consistent€with€his€initial€statement€to€the€police€and€his€grandÐ l¼ Ðjury€testimony.€€Specifically,€Alfredo€Shaw€testified€that€he€had€been€on€a€three„way€call€withÐ X ¨ ÐCarruthers€and€either€Terry€or€Jerry€Durham,€and€during€this€call,€Carruthers€had€€asked€him€toÐ D!” Ðparticipate€in€these€murders,€saying€he€had€a€ð ðsweet€planðð€and€that€they€would€each€earn€$100,000Ð 0"€  Ðand€a€kilogram€of€cocaine.€€Following€his€arrest€for€these€murders,€Carruthers€was€incarcerated€inÐ #l! Ðthe€Shelby€County€Jail€along€with€Alfredo€Shaw,€who€was€incarcerated€on€unrelated€charges.€Ð $X" ÐCarruthers€and€Alfredo€Shaw€were€in€the€law€library€when€Carruthers€told€Alfredo€Shaw€that€he€andÐ ô$D # Ðsome€other€unidentified€individuals€went€to€Ô_ÔDeloisÔ_Ô€Andersonððs€house€looking€for€Ô_ÔMarcellosÔ_ÔÐ à%0!$ ÐAnderson€and€his€money.€€Ô_ÔMarcellosÔ_Ô€was€not€there€when€they€arrived,€but€Carruthers€told€Ô_ÔDeloisÔ_ÔÐ Ì&"% ÐAnderson€to€call€her€son€and€tell€him€to€come€home,€ð ðitððs€something€important.ðð€€When€AndersonÐ ¸'#& Ðarrived,€the€defendants€forced€Anderson,€Tucker,€who€was€with€Anderson,€and€Ô_ÔDeloisÔ_Ô€Anderson€intoÐ ¤(ô#' Ðthe€jeep€at€gunpoint€and€drove€them€to€Mississippi,€where€the€defendants€shot€Ô_ÔMarcellosÔ_Ô€AndersonÐ )à$( Ðand€Tucker€and€burned€the€jeep.€€According€to€Alfredo€Shaw,€the€defendants€then€drove€all€threeÐ |*Ì%) Ðvictims€back€to€Memphis€in€a€stolen€vehicle.€€Alfredo€Shaw€testified€that,€after€they€put€Ô_ÔMarcellosÔ_ÔÐ h+¸&* ÐAnderson€and€Tucker€into€the€grave,€Ô_ÔDeloisÔ_Ô€Anderson€started€screaming€and€one€of€the€defendantsÐ ° Ðtold€her€to€ð ðshut€upðð€or€she€would€die€like€her€son€and€€pushed€her€into€the€grave.€€Carruthers€alsoÐ œì Ðtold€Alfredo€Shaw€that€the€bodies€would€never€have€been€discovered€if€ð ðthe€boy€wouldnððt€have€wentÐ ˆØ Ðand€told€them€folks.ðð€Carruthers€told€Alfredo€Shaw€that€he€was€not€going€to€hire€an€attorney€or€post€Ð tÄ Ðbond€because€the€prosecution€would€then€learn€that€the€murders€had€been€a€ð ðhit.ðð€€Carruthers€toldÐ `° ÐAlfredo€Shaw€that€Johnson€also€was€supposed€to€have€been€ð ðhitðð€and€that€Terry€and€Jerry€DurhamÐ L œ Ðwere€the€ð ðmain€people€behind€having€these€individuals€killed.ðð€€Carruthers€said€that€the€Ô_ÔDurhamsÔ_ÔÐ 8 ˆ Ðwanted€revenge€because€Anderson€and€Johnson€had€previously€stolen€from€them.Ð $ t ÐÌà  àIn€response€to€questioning€by€Carruthers,€Alfredo€Shaw€acknowledged€that€he€had€told€theÐ ü L  Ðpress€that€his€statement€to€police€and€his€grand€jury€testimony€had€been€fabricated,€but€said€he€hadÐ è 8  Ðdone€so€because€Carruthers€had€threatened€him€and€his€family.€€According€to€Alfredo€Shaw,€one€ofÐ Ô$  ÐCarruthersðð€investigators€had€arranged€for€a€news€reporter€to€speak€with€him€about€recanting€hisÐ À  Ðgrand€jury€testimony.€Ð ¬ü  ÐÌà  àAs€impeachment€of€his€own€witness,€Carruthers€called€both€Jerry€and€Terry€Durham,€twinÐ „Ô  Ðbrothers,€as€witnesses.€€The€Ô_ÔDurhamsÔ_Ô€denied€knowing€Alfredo€Shaw€and€said€they€had€never€beenÐ pÀ Ðparty€to€a€three„way€telephone€call€involving€Alfredo€Shaw€and€Carruthers.€€Carruthers€also€calledÐ \¬ Ðattorney€AC€Wharton€who€testified€that€he€was€initially€retained€by€Carruthersðð€mother€to€representÐ H˜ Ðher€son€on€these€murder€charges,€but€was€required€to€withdraw€because€of€a€conflict€of€interest.€€ThisÐ 4„ Ðtestimony€was€offered€to€impeach€Alfredo€Shawððs€statement€that€Carruthers€had€said€he€was€notÐ  p Ðgoing€to€hire€an€attorney€or€post€bond.€€Finally,€Carruthers€called€an€administrative€assistant€fromÐ  \ Ðthe€Shelby€County€jail€who€testified€that€jail€records,€indicated€that€Alfredo€Shaw€was€not€in€the€lawÐ øH Ðlibrary€at€the€same€time€as€Carruthers€in€either€February€or€March€of€1994.€€According€to€jail€records,Ð ä4 ÐAlfredo€Shaw€was€in€protective€custody€for€much€of€that€time€and,€as€a€result,€would€have€beenÐ Ð  Ðescorted€at€all€times€by€a€guard.€€However,€on€cross„examination,€this€witness€admitted€that€the€jailÐ ¼  Ðrecords€regarding€the€law€library€were€not€always€complete€or€accurate€and€that€Alfredo€Shaw€hadÐ ¨ø Ðbeen€housed€outside€of€protective€custody€from€mid„March€to€early€April€1994€which€would€haveÐ ”ä Ðafforded€him€the€opportunity€to€interact€with€Carruthers.€€The€record€reflects€that€Alfredo€Shaw€cameÐ €Ð Ðforward€and€provided€a€statement€to€police€on€March€27,€1994€and€that€the€indictments€wereÐ l¼ Ðreturned€on€March€29,€1994.Ð X ¨ ÐÌà  àBased€upon€this€proof,€the€jury€found€each€defendant€guilty€beyond€a€reasonable€doubt€ofÐ 0"€  Ðthree€counts€of€first€degree€murder,€three€counts€of€especially€aggravated€Ô_ÔkidnappingÔ_Ô,€and€one€countÐ #l! Ðof€especially€aggravated€robbery.Ð $X" ÐÌà@GG ìàòòò òThe€Sentencing€Phaseó óóóˆÐ à%0!$ Ðà  àThe€trial€proceeded€to€the€sentencing€€phase.€€The€State€relied€upon€the€proof€presentedÐ Ì&"% Ðduring€the€guilt€phase€of€the€trial€and€also€introduced€evidence€to€show€that€Carruthers€had€beenÐ ¸'#& Ðpreviously€convicted€of€aggravated€assault€and€that€James€Montgomery€had€two€previousÐ ¤(ô#' Ðconvictions€for€robbery€with€a€deadly€weapon€and€one€conviction€for€assault€with€intent€to€commitÐ )à$( Ðâ ârobbery€with€a€deadly€weapon.€€The€proof€showed€that€Montgomery€was€only€seventeen€years€oldÐ |*Ì%) Ðat€the€time€he€committed€these€previous€offenses€and€that€all€of€these€previous€convictions€aroseÐ ° Ðfrom€a€single€criminal€episode.€Ð œì Ðâ âÌà  àThe€State€also€recalled€Dr.€Smith€who€testified€that€none€of€the€victims€died€instantaneouslyÐ tÄ Ðand€that€all€suffered€as€a€result€of€their€separate€injuries€and€being€buried€alive.€€Although€AndersonÐ `° Ðwas€paralyzed€below€his€chest,€Dr.€Smith€testified€that€he€would€have€felt€some€of€the€effects€of€theÐ L œ Ðtrauma€to€his€airway€and€particularly€his€windpipe,€which€is€according€to€Dr.€Smith,€a€very€painfulÐ 8 ˆ Ðinjury.€€According€to€Dr.€Smith,€the€bullet€wound€to€Andersonððs€head€would€not€have€been€fatal€hadÐ $ t Ðhe€received€proper€medical€attention€and€would€not€necessarily€have€caused€unconsciousness.€€InÐ  ` Ðaddition,€Anderson€would€have€been€able€to€breathe€after€the€spinal€cord€wound,€but€the€woundÐ ü L  Ðwould€have€bled€into€his€airway€and€his€lungs,€making€breathing€very€difficult.€€Dr.€Smith€said€thatÐ è 8  ÐAnderson€literally€would€have€been€ð ðdrowning€on€his€own€blood.ðð€Ð Ô$  ÐÌà  àWith€respect€to€Frederick€Tucker,€Dr.€Smith€testified€that€the€gunshot€wound€to€his€chestÐ ¬ü  Ðfractured€two€ribs€and€pierced€his€lung,€but€would€not€have€been€fatal€had€he€obtained€medicalÐ ˜è  Ðtreatment.€€Because€the€wound€bled€into€Tuckerððs€lungs€and€abdominal€cavity,€Dr.€Smith€testifiedÐ „Ô  Ðthat€Tucker€also€was€ð ðbreathing€bloodðð€and€ð ðstarving€for€oxygen.ðð€€Tucker€also€had€multiple€internalÐ pÀ Ðinjuries,€according€to€Dr.€Smith,€that€resulted€from€some€weight€being€placed€on€his€body.€€However,Ð \¬ ÐDr.€Smith€opined€that€neither€the€weight€of€Andersonððs€body€alone,€nor€the€weight€of€AndersonððsÐ H˜ Ðbody€combined€with€the€plywood€and€dirt€would€have€produced€the€extensive€internal€injuriesÐ 4„ Ðsustained€by€Tucker€and€that€some€additional€weight€or€force€had€been€applied€to€his€body.Ð  p ÐÌà  àDr.€Smith€testified€that€Ô_ÔDeloisÔ_Ô€Anderson€also€had€sustained€several€injuries,€including€a€scalpÐ øH Ðtear€on€the€back€of€her€head€inflicted€two€to€six€hours€before€her€death,€an€injury€to€her€foreheadÐ ä4 Ðconsistent€with€her€position€in€the€grave,€and€injuries€to€her€neck€consistent€with€manualÐ Ð  Ðstrangulation.€€None€of€these€injuries€would€have€caused€death€had€she€been€afforded€medicalÐ ¼  Ðtreatment.€€Dr.€Smith€testified€that€Ô_ÔDeloisÔ_Ô€Anderson€died€from€asphyxia€caused€by€the€position€ofÐ ¨ø Ðher€head€against€her€body,€dirt€in€her€mouth€and€nose,€and€trauma€from€weight€on€her€body.€€Ð ”ä Ðà  àÌà  àAs€mitigating€evidence€Montgomery€presented€the€testimony€of€his€cousin,€Ô_ÔNakeitaÔ_Ô€Shaw,Ð l¼ Ðthat€she€and€Montgomery€had€a€close€relationship€during€their€childhood€and€teenage€years,€that€theyÐ X ¨ Ðhad€attended€elementary€school€together,€that€Montgomery€had€been€her€ð ðbrotherðð€and€ð ðprotector,ððÐ D!” Ðand€that€they€had€continued€their€close€relationship€as€adults.€€Ô_ÔNakeitaÔ_Ô€Shaw€said€that€MontgomeryÐ 0"€  Ðhas€other€siblings,€including€a€thirty„year„old€sister,€a€twenty„six„year„old€brother,€and€a€fourteen„Ð #l! Ðyear„old€brother.€€Ô_ÔNakeitaÔ_Ô€Shaw€said€that€she€still€loves€Montgomery€very€much,€and€she€asked€theÐ $X" Ðjury€to€spare€his€life.€€Montgomeryððs€aunt,€Mattie€Calhoun,€also€testified€on€his€behalf.€€Calhoun€saidÐ ô$D # Ðthat€Montgomery€was€an€average€student,€that€he€had€a€very€poor€relationship€with€his€father,€thatÐ à%0!$ Ðanother€man€had€helped€to€rear€Montgomery€when€his€father€abandoned€him€at€age€five€or€six,€andÐ Ì&"% Ðthat€this€individual€had€died€in€1986.€Calhoun€told€the€jury€that€the€prosecution€had€the€ð ðwrongÐ ¸'#& Ðpeopleðð€and€begged€the€jury€to€spare€Montgomeryððs€life.€€Lastly,€Montgomery€testified€on€his€ownÐ ¤(ô#' Ðbehalf€about€how€he€and€his€brothers€and€sisters€were€raised€by€his€mother€in€Memphis€and€aboutÐ )à$( Ðhow€he€last€saw€his€father,€who€was€still€alive,€when€he€was€five€years€old.€€He€testified€that€he€hadÐ |*Ì%) Ðspent€slightly€over€nine€years€in€the€penitentiary€for€previous€convictions,€that€he€had€a€job€when€heÐ h+¸&* Ðwas€released€in€January€1994,€€and€that€at€the€time€of€these€crimes€his€ten„year„old€son€was€livingÐ ° Ðwith€him.€€Montgomery€proclaimed€his€innocence€and€asked€the€jury€to€spare€his€life.Ð œì ÐÌà  àCarruthers€presented€the€testimony€of€Bishop€Richard€L.€Fiddler,€who€had€been€involved€inÐ tÄ Ðprison€ministry€for€twenty€years€and€had€visited€Carruthers€while€he€was€incarcerated€awaiting€trial.€Ð `° ÐFiddler€believed€that€Carruthers€was€honest€and€straightforward,€was€ð ða€person€of€quality€andÐ L œ Ðworth,ðð€and€was€very€upset€about€the€victimsðð€deaths.€€According€to€Fiddler,€Carruthers€viewed€theÐ 8 ˆ Ðtrial€as€his€opportunity€to€be€vindicated.€€Fiddler€asked€the€jury€to€spare€Carruthersðð€life.€€CarruthersððÐ $ t Ðsister,€Ô_ÔTonyaÔ_Ô€Yvette€Miller,€a€counselor€at€the€Shelby€County€adult€offender€center,€testified€thatÐ  ` Ðtheir€mother€raised€four€children€on€her€own€in€one€of€the€worst€housing€projects€in€Memphis€andÐ ü L  Ðthat,€as€the€oldest€son,€Carruthers€was€the€ð ðman€of€the€household.ðð€€Miller€admitted€that€her€brotherÐ è 8  Ðhad€fallen€into€bad€company€and€had€a€hot€temper€but€testified€that€he€never€planned€to€do€anythingÐ Ô$  Ðwrong€but€acted€out€of€ð ðanguish€and€anger.ðð€€She€also€stated€that€her€brother€had€been€raised€to€tellÐ À  Ðthe€truth.€€Miller€told€the€jury€that€if€she€believed€her€brother€had€committed€these€crimes€she€wouldÐ ¬ü  Ðbe€the€first€person€to€say€that€he€deserved€the€death€penalty,€but€Miller€said€that€Carruthers€wasÐ ˜è  Ðinnocent€and€that,€therefore,€he€ð ðdoes€not€deserve€the€death€sentence.ðð€€Testifying€€on€his€own€behalf,Ð „Ô  ÐCarruthers€asserted€that€he€was€innocent€of€the€crimes€and€did€not€deserve€to€die.€€He€said€he€wouldÐ pÀ Ðnot€have€killed€his€friend€because€he€ð ðwasnððt€raised€like€that.ðð€Ð \¬ ÐÌà@––$ìàòòò òJury€Findingsóóó óˆÐ 4„ Ðà  àBased€on€this€proof,€the€jury€found€the€following€aggravating€circumstances€as€to€eachÐ  p Ðdefendant€on€each€of€the€three€murder€convictions:€(1)€ð ð[Ô_Ôt]heÔ_Ô€defendant€was€previously€convictedÐ  \ Ðof€one€(1)€or€more€felonies,€other€than€the€present€charge,€whose€statutory€elements€involve€the€useÐ øH Ðof€violence€to€the€person;ðð€(2)€ð ð[Ô_Ôt]heÔ_Ô€murder€was€especially€heinous,€atrocious€or€cruel€in€that€itÐ ä4 Ðinvolved€torture€or€serious€physical€abuse€beyond€that€necessary€to€produce€death;ðð€(3)€ð ð[Ô_Ôt]heÔ_Ô€murderÐ Ð  Ðwas€committed€while€the€defendant€was€engaged€in€committing,€or€was€an€accomplice€in€theÐ ¼  Ðcommission€of,€or€was€attempting€to€commit,€or€was€fleeing€after€committing€or€attempting€toÐ ¨ø Ðcommit,€any€first€degree€murder,€arson,€rape,€robbery,€burglary,€theft,€Ô_ÔkidnappingÔ_Ô,€aircraft€piracy;Ð ”ä Ðor€unlawful€throwing,€placing€or€discharging€of€a€destructive€device€or€bomb;ðð€(4)€ð ð[Ô_Ôt]heÔ_Ô€defendantÐ €Ð Ðcommitted€mass€murder,€which€is€defined€as€the€murder€of€three€(3)€or€more€persons€within€the€stateÐ l¼ Ðof€Tennessee€within€a€period€of€forty„eight€(48)€months,€and€perpetrated€in€a€similar€fashion€in€aÐ X ¨ Ðcommon€scheme€or€plan.ðð€€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€39„13„204(2),€(5),€(7),€and€(12)€(Supp.€1994).׃×Ý ƒMˆÝòòÚ  Ú6Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ׀РD!” ÐFinding€that€these€aggravating€circumstances€outweighed€mitigating€circumstances€beyond€aÐ 0"€  Ðreasonable€doubt,€the€jury€imposed€the€death€sentence€as€to€each€defendant€for€each€of€the€threeÐ #l! Ðmurder€convictions.Ô_Ô׃×Ý ƒMˆÝòòÚ  Ú7Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×Ô_ÔÐ $X" ÐÐ ô$D # Ðà@"ìàòòò òAppellate€Reviewó óóóˆÐ ° Ðà  àOn€direct€appeal€to€the€Court€of€Criminal€Appeals,€the€defendants€challenged€both€theirÐ œì Ðconvictions€of€first€degree€murder€and€their€death€sentences,€raising€numerous€claims€of€error.€€AfterÐ ˆØ Ðfully€considering€the€defendantsðð€claims,€the€Court€of€Criminal€Appeals€affirmed€the€convictions€andÐ tÄ Ðsentences.€€Pursuant€to€statute,Ô_Ô׃×Ý ƒMˆÝòòÚ  Ú8Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×Ô_Ô€the€case€was€thereafter€docketed€in€this€Court.€Ð `° ÐÌÓ'€ÐŽXê$ø%X°œX'Óà  àThe€defendants€raised€numerous€issues€in€this€Court,€and€after€carefully€examining€the€entireÐ 8 ˆ Ðrecord€and€the€law,€including€the€thorough€opinion€of€the€Court€of€Criminal€Appeals€and€the€briefsÐ $ t Ðof€the€defendants€and€the€State,€this€Court€entered€an€order€setting€the€cause€for€oral€argument€andÐ  ` Ðdesignating€ten€issues€for€oral€argument.€òòSeeóó€Tenn.€S.€Ct.€R.€12.׃(×Ý ƒMˆÝòòÚ  Ú9Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€Ð ü L  ÐÌà  àAfter€carefully€and€fully€reviewing€the€record,€the€briefs€of€counsel,€and€the€relevant€legalÐ Ô$  Ðauthority,€we€conclude€that€none€of€the€assigned€errors€require€reversal€of€defendant€CarruthersððÐ À  Ðconvictions€or€sentences.€€Moreover,€with€respect€to€defendant€Carruthers,€we€have€determined€thatÐ ¬ü  Ðthe€evidence€supports€the€juryððs€findings€as€to€aggravating€and€mitigating€circumstances,€that€theÐ ˜è  Ðsentences€of€death€were€not€imposed€in€an€arbitrary€fashion,€and€that€the€sentences€of€death€are€notÐ „Ô  Ðexcessive€or€disproportionate€to€the€penalty€imposed€in€similar€cases,€considering€both€the€natureÐ pÀ Ðof€the€crimes€and€the€defendant.€€Accordingly,€defendant€Carruthersðð€convictions€for€first€degreeÐ \¬ Ðmurder€and€sentences€of€death€are€affirmed.€€Ð H˜ ÐÌà  àHowever,€we€also€have€determined€that€defendant€Montgomery€should€have€been€grantedÐ  p Ða€severance€and€that€the€failure€to€grant€a€severance€in€this€case€resulted€in€prejudicial€error€requiringÐ  \ Ða€new€trial.€€Accordingly,€we€reverse€Montgomeryððs€convictions€and€sentences€and€remand€his€caseÐ øH Ðfor€a€new€trial.Ð ä4 ÐÌà@‚‚&ìàòòò òAnalysisóóó óˆÐ ¼  Ðà@Ê Ê ìàòòò òDismissal€of€the€Murder€Indictmentsó óóóˆÐ ¨ø Ðà  àDefendant€Carruthers€first€contends€that€the€indictments€should€have€been€dismissed€becauseÐ ”ä Ðthey€were€based€upon€what€he€terms€ð ðthe€admittedly€questionableðð€testimony€of€Alfredo€Shaw€beforeÐ €Ð Ðthe€grand€jury.€€Carruthers€also€argues€that€he€was€entitled€to€a€transcript€of€the€grand€juryÐ l¼ Ðproceedings.€€We€disagree.Ð X ¨ Ðâ âÐ D!” Ðà  àIt€has€long€been€the€rule€in€this€State€that€the€sufficiency€and€legality€of€the€evidenceÐ ° Ðâ âconsidered€by€the€grand€jury€is€not€subject€to€judicial€review.׃3×Ý ƒMˆÝòòÚ  Ú10Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€Where€an€indictment€is€valid€on€itsÐ œì Ðface,€it€is€sufficient€to€require€a€trial€of€the€charge€on€the€merits€to€determine€the€guilt€or€innocenceÐ ˆØ Ðof€the€accused,€regardless€of€the€sufficiency€or€legality€of€the€evidence€considered€by€the€grand€jury.Ô_Ô׃Sd×Ý ƒMˆÝòòÚ  Ú11Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×Ô_ÔÐ tÄ ÐÌà  àAs€the€United€States€Supreme€Court€recognized€in€òòCostello€v.€United€Statesóó,€350€U.S.€359,Ð L œ Ð361,€76€S.€Ct.€406,€408€100€Ô_ÔL.EdÔ_Ô.€397€(1956):€Ð 8 ˆ ÐÔ_ÔÔ_Ôà8  àIf€indictments€were€to€be€held€open€to€challenge€on€the€ground€that€there€wasÐ $ t Ðinadequate€or€incompetent€evidence€before€the€grand€jury,€the€resulting€delay€wouldÐ  ` Ðbe€great€indeed.€€The€results€of€such€a€rule€would€be€that€before€trial€on€the€merits€aÐ ü L  Ðdefendant€could€always€insist€on€a€kind€of€preliminary€trial€to€determine€theÐ è 8  Ðcompetency€and€adequacy€of€the€evidence€before€the€grand€jury.€ÐÔ$ Ð Ð  ÐÌÔ_ÔòòSeeóóÔ_Ô€òòalsoóó€òòBurtonóó,€214€Tenn.€at€16,€377€S.W.2d€at€903€(quoting€òòCostelloóó€with€approval).€€We€declineÐ ¬ü  Ðto€adopt€such€a€rule.€€Carruthersðð€claim€that€the€indictments€must€be€dismissed€because€AlfredoÐ ˜è  ÐShawððs€testimony€before€the€grand€jury€was€not€trustworthy€is€without€merit.׃2˜×Ý ƒMˆÝòòÚ  Ú12Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€This€matter€is€notÐ „Ô  Ðsubject€to€judicial€review.Ð pÀ ÐÌà  àAlso€without€merit€is€Carruthersðð€claim€that€he€was€entitled€to€a€transcript€of€the€grand€juryÐ H˜ Ðproceedings.€€With€certain€limited€exceptions€that€do€not€apply€in€this€case€general€law€mandates€thatÐ 4„ Ðgrand€jury€proceedings€remain€secret.€€òòSeeóó€Tenn.€R.€Ô_ÔCrimÔ_Ô.€P.€6(k)(1)€(stating€that€such€proceedingsÐ  p Ðare€secret);€Tenn.€R.€Ô_ÔCrimÔ_Ô.€P.€6(k)(2)€(allowing€disclosure€of€grand€jury€proceedings€to€ascertain€ifÐ  \ Ðthe€testimony€of€a€witness€before€the€grand€jury€is€consistent€with€the€testimony€of€the€witness€at€trialÐ øH Ðand€allowing€disclosure€of€grand€jury€testimony€of€any€witness€charged€with€perjury);€Tenn.€R.€Ô_ÔCrimÔ_Ô.Ð ä4 ÐP.€16(a)(3)€(requiring€the€state€to€provide€as€discovery€to€the€defendant€any€ð ðrecorded€testimony€ofÐ Ð  Ðthe€defendant€before€a€grand€jury€which€relates€to€the€offense€chargedðð);€òòcf.óó€òòTiller€v.€Stateóó,€600Ð ° ÐS.W.2d€709,€712€(Tenn.€1980)€(discussing€the€secrecy€requirement€that€applies€to€grand€juryÐ œì Ðproceedings).׃%×Ý ƒMˆÝòòÚ  Ú13Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×Ð ˆØ ÐÌà@XX ìàòòò òForfeiture€of€Counselóóó óˆÐ `° Ðà  àWe€begin€our€analysis€of€this€issue€by€summarizing€the€events€that€culminated€in€CarruthersÐ L œ Ðbeing€required€to€represent€himself€at€trial.€€As€previously€stated,€these€crimes€occurred€on€FebruaryÐ 8 ˆ Ð24€or€25,€1994.€€Carruthersðð€family€initially€retained€AC€Wharton,€Jr.,€to€represent€him.€€WhartonÐ $ t Ðwas€allowed€to€withdraw€on€March€19,€1994,€because€of€a€conflict€of€interest.€€On€May€31,€1994,Ð  ` Ðthe€trial€court€appointed€Larry€Ô_ÔNanceÔ_Ô€to€represent€Carruthers.€€The€State€filed€a€notice€of€intent€toÐ ü L  Ðseek€the€death€penalty€on€July€8,€1994.€€At€a€hearing€held€on€July€15,€1994,€the€trial€court€scheduledÐ è 8  Ða€pre„trial€motions€hearing€for€September€30,€1994€and€set€the€case€for€trial€on€February€20,€1995.€Ð Ô$  ÐCarruthers€was€present€at€this€hearing€and€asked€the€trial€court,€ð ðIððd€like€to€know€why€this€is€beingÐ À  Ðdragged€out€like€this.€€€I€asked€Mr.€Ô_ÔNanceÔ_Ô€if€we€can€go€forward€with€a€motion€of€discovery€and€heððsÐ ¬ü  Ðasking€for€a€reset.€€And€Iððd€like€to€know€why.ðð€€Ô_ÔNanceÔ_Ô€informed€the€court€that€he€was€planning€toÐ ˜è  Ðvisit€the€prosecutorððs€office€later€in€the€week€to€review€the€discoverable€materials€and€evidence.€€TheÐ „Ô  Ðtrial€judge€then€advised€Carruthers€in€pertinent€part€as€follows:Ð pÀ ÐÌà8  àà ` à[Ô_ÔG]ivenÔ_Ô€the€fact€that€the€trial€isnððt€until€February,€weððre€setting€the€next€CourtÐ H˜ Ðdate€in€September€for€the€arguing€of€motions.€€Between€now€and€September,€yourÐ 4„ Ðattorney€and€the€attorneys€representing€your€two€co„defendants€can€get€with€theÐ  p Ðprosecutors€and€can€obtain€their€discovery.€€Theyððre€all€excellent€attorneys.€€AndÐ  \ Ðtheyððll€all€do€that.€€And€once€theyððve€obtained€the€discovery,€theyððll€meet€with€theirÐ øH Ðclients€and€theyððll€file€appropriate€motions,€which€will€be€heard€on€September€30th,Ð ä4 Ðwhich€will€still€be€well€in€advance€of€the€trial€date,€which€will€give€everyone€ampleÐ Ð  Ðtime€to€then€evaluate€the€case,€after€the€motions€have€been€heard€and€ruled€on.€€SoÐ ¼  Ðgiven€the€fact€that€we€canððt€get€a€three„defendant€capital€case€thatððs€still€in€theÐ ¨ø Ðarraignment€stage€to€trial€any€earlier€than€February,€thereððs€plenty€of€time€for€yourÐ ”ä Ðattorneys€to€meet€with€the€prosecutors,€get€the€discovery,€meet€with€the€clients,€fileÐ €Ð Ðmotions,€argue€motions.€€Just€because€he€hadnððt€done€it€yesterday,€because€you€wantÐ l¼ Ðhim€to€have€it€done€yesterday,€doesnððt€mean€that€heððs€not€working€on€your€caseÐ X ¨ Ðdiligently€and€properly.€€Heððll€have€everything€done€well€in€advance€of€the€next€CourtÐ D!” Ðdate.€€And€so,€you€know,€he€may€not€do€it€the€very€moment€you€want€it€done,€butÐ 0"€  Ðyouððre€going€to€have€to€work€with€him€on€that€because€thereððs€ample€time€for€him€toÐ #l! Ðget€it€done.€Ð$X"Ð Ð  Ðâ âÐ ô$D # ÐÓ' °X€ÐŽXê$ø%X'Óà  àOn€August€12,€1994,€the€trial€court€appointed€Craig€Morton€to€assist€Ô_ÔNanceÔ_Ô.׃)×Ý ƒMˆÝòòÚ  Ú14Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€When€the€pre„Ð ° Ðâ âtrial€motions€hearing€convened€on€September€30,€1994,€all€defense€attorneys€involved€€in€the€caseÐ œì Ðrequested€a€continuance€until€November€14,€1994€so€that€additional€pre„trial€motions€could€be€filed.€Ð ˆØ ЀThe€trial€judge€agreed€to€continue€the€hearing€and€also€indicated€that,€where€appropriate,€a€pre„trialÐ tÄ Ðmotion€filed€on€behalf€of€one€defendant€would€be€applied€to€all€defendants€without€a€specificÐ `° Ðrequest.Ð L œ ÐÌà  àBecause€the€trial€judge€had€received€ð ðan€abundance€of€correspondence€from€both€Mr.Ð $ t ÐMontgomery€and€Mr.€Carruthers€expressing€concern€about€the€pretrial€investigation€that€has€beenÐ  ` Ðconducted€by€their€attorneys,ðð€the€defendants€were€brought€into€open€court€and€advised€of€theÐ ü L  Ðcontinuance.€€The€trial€judge€then€asked€the€attorneys€to€ð ðstate,€for€the€record,€the€work€that€theyððveÐ è 8  Ðdone€and€the€work€they€intend€to€continue€doing€on€behalf€of€their€client.ðð€€Each€team€of€defenseÐ Ô$  Ðlawyers€reported€to€the€trial€judge€on€the€work€that€had€been€completed€and€on€the€work€theyÐ À  Ðintended€to€complete€in€the€following€days.Ð ¬ü  ÐÌà  àIn€particular,€Ô_ÔNanceÔ_Ô€indicated€that€he€had€inspected€a€majority€of€the€physical€evidence,€filedÐ „Ô  Ðsix€or€seven€motions,€issued€subpoenas€for€approximately€eight€witnesses,€interviewed€several€ofÐ pÀ Ðthe€one„hundred€witnesses€listed€by€the€State,׃Jd×Ý ƒMˆÝòòÚ  Ú15Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€met€with€Carruthers€in€lock„up€at€the€courtroom€onÐ \¬ Ðtwo€separate€occasions,€met€with€Carruthersðð€family,€and€spent€approximately€twenty„five€hours€onÐ H˜ Ðthe€case.€€Ô_ÔNanceÔ_Ô€admitted€that€ð ðsome€enmityðð€had€developed€between€him€and€Carruthers,€butÐ 4„ Ðindicated€that€he€believed€the€problem€could€be€resolved.€Ð  p ÐÌà  àCarruthers€also€was€allowed€to€voice€his€complaints€about€his€attorneys€on€the€record,€andÐ øH Ðhis€primary€complaint€was€that€his€attorneys€had€not€met€with€him€as€often€as€he€had€expected.€€AfterÐ ä4 Ðhearing€the€comments€of€both€Ô_ÔNanceÔ_Ô€and€Carruthers,€the€trial€judge€concluded€as€follows:Ð Ð  ÐÌà8  àin€my€opinion,€what€has€been€done€thus€far€in€this€case,€given€the€fact€that€there€areÐ ¨ø Ðstill€six€more€weeks€before€the€next€motion€date,€and€then€a€full€three€months€beyondÐ ”ä Ðthat€before€the€trial€date,€is€appropriate€and€well€within€the€standards€of€properÐ €Ð Ðrepresentation.Ðl¼Ð Ð  ÐÌà  àOn€October€21,€1994,€the€trial€court€approved€payment€for€investigative€services€forÐ D!” Ðâ âCarruthers€and€authorized€competency€evaluations€for€both€defendants.€€Morton€informed€the€trialÐ 0"€  Ðcourt€that€the€investigator,€Arthur€Anderson,€had€attempted€twice€to€meet€with€Carruthers€at€theÐ ° ÐShelby€County€jail€and€that€Carruthers€had€refused€to€meet€with€him€on€both€occasions.Ð œì Ðâ âÌà  àOn€November€14,€1994,€Carruthers€filed€his€first€motion€for€substitution€of€counsel.€€FourÐ tÄ Ðdays€later,€on€November€18,€Morton€asked€the€trial€court€to€appoint€a€different€investigator€whoÐ `° Ðwould€take€a€more€aggressive€approach.€€The€trial€court€agreed€to€appoint€a€new€investigator€andÐ L œ Ðcontinued€the€hearing€date€on€the€pre„trial€motions€until€December€16,€1994.€€On€November€23,Ð 8 ˆ Ð1994,€Morton€advised€the€trial€court€that€he€had€retained€the€services€of€Premier€Investigation.Ð $ t ÐÌà  àAlthough€the€record€does€not€reflect€that€a€hearing€was€held,€the€trial€court€allowed€Ô_ÔNanceÔ_ÔÐ ü L  Ðto€withdraw€from€representing€Carruthers€on€December€9,€1994.׃*×Ý ƒMˆÝòòÚ  Ú16Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€According€to€statements€made€byÐ è 8  Ðthe€trial€court€at€a€later€hearing,€Ô_ÔNanceÔ_Ô€was€allowed€to€withdraw€because€of€ð ðpersonal€physicalÐ Ô$  Ðthreatsðð€made€by€Carruthers€that€escalated€to€the€point€that€Ô_ÔNanceÔ_Ô€did€not€ð ðfeel€comfortable€or€safe,Ð À  Ðpersonally€safe,€in€continuing€to€represent€Mr.€Tony€Carruthers.ððÐ ¬ü  ÐÌà  àColeman€Ô_ÔGarrettÔ_Ô€was€appointed€to€replace€Ô_ÔNanceÔ_Ô€and€represent€Carruthers€along€withÐ „Ô  ÐMorton.€€The€trial€judge€also€authorized€James€Turner,€a€third€attorney,€to€assist€the€defense€as€anÐ pÀ Ðinvestigator.€€Both€counsel€and€Carruthers€continued€to€file€pre„trial€motions.€€Some€of€these€motionsÐ \¬ Ðwere€heard€on€December€16,€1994,€and€another€hearing€was€scheduled€for€January€30,€1995.€€On€thatÐ H˜ Ðdate,€Ô_ÔGarrettÔ_Ô€and€Morton€appeared€and€presented€argument€on€over€seventeen€motions.€€At€thisÐ 4„ Ðhearing,€the€trial€judge€agreed€to€reschedule€the€trial€from€February€of€1995€to€September€5,€1995.€Ð  p ÐAt€a€hearing€on€May€1,€1995,€Ô_ÔGarrettÔ_Ô€and€Morton€presented€argument€on€several€more€pre„trialÐ  \ Ðmotions€including€a€motion€to€dismiss€the€indictments,€a€motion€to€sever,€and€a€request€for€expertÐ øH Ðservices€to€analyze€an€audio„tape€of€Ô_ÔNakeitaÔ_Ô€Shawððs€statement.€€On€May€5,€investigator/attorneyÐ ä4 ÐJames€Turner€was€allowed€to€withdraw€because€he€was€a€solo€practitioner€and€could€not€maintainÐ Ð  Ðhis€practice€and€effectively€perform€the€investigation€needed€on€the€case.€€However,€the€trial€courtÐ ¼  Ðappointed€another€attorney,€Glenn€Wright,€to€act€as€investigator.€€On€June€2,€1995,€Ô_ÔGarrettÔ_Ô€againÐ ¨ø Ðargued€that€the€indictments€should€be€dismissed€€due€to€Shawððs€allegedly€false€testimony€before€theÐ ”ä Ðgrand€jury.Ð €Ð ÐÌà  àOn€June€23,€1995,€Ô_ÔGarrettÔ_Ô,€Morton,€and€Wright€sought€and€were€granted€permission€toÐ X ¨ Ðwithdraw€by€the€trial€court.€€The€record€reflects€that€Carruthers€also€filed€a€motion€for€substitutionÐ D!” Ðof€counsel.€€At€a€hearing€on€July€27,€1995,€the€trial€court€appointed€William€Massey€and€Harry€Ô_ÔSayleÔ_ÔÐ 0"€  Ðto€represent€Carruthers.€€During€this€hearing,€the€trial€judge€commented€as€follows:Ð #l! ÐÌà8  àà ` àAll€right.€€I€understand€that€these€three€defendants€are€on€trial€for€their€livesÐ ô$D # Ðand€that€these€are€the€most€serious€of€charges€and€that€they€are€all€concerned€that€theyÐ à%0!$ Ðare€well€represented€and€properly€represented,€and€itððs€everyoneððs€desire€to€see€to€itÐ Ì&"% Ðthat€they€are€well€represented€and€properly€represented.€€And€toward€that€end,€effortsÐ ° Ðare€being€made€that€they€are€represented€by€attorneys€that€have€enough€experienceÐ œì Ðto€handle€this€type€of€case€and€by€attorneys€that€can€establish€a€rapport€with€theirÐ ˆØ Ðclients€that€would€allow€them€to€represent€their€clients€well.€€ÐtÄÐ Ð  ÐÌà8  àà ` àWe€have€gone€through€several€attorneys€now€in€an€effort€to€accommodate€theÐ L œ Ðdefendantsðð€requests€in€that€regard,€but€at€some€pointð!ðand€in€my€opinion,€each€of€theÐ 8 ˆ Ðattorneys€and€each€of€the€investigators€that€has€represented€these€defendants€that€hasÐ $ t Ðbeen€relieved€have€been€eminently€qualified€to€do€the€job,€but€I€have€allowed€themÐ  ` Ðto€be€relieved€for€one€reason€or€another.€€Ðü L Ð Ð  ÐÌà8  àà ` àI€want€the€record€to€be€perfectly€clear€at€this€point€because€of€someÐ Ô$  Ðsuggestions€that€have€already€been€raised€by€some€of€the€correspondence€that€I€haveÐ À  Ðreceived€from€Mr.€Carruthers,€and€all€of€it,€by€the€way,€will€be€made€a€part€of€theÐ ¬ü  Ðrecord.€€òòBut€Mr.€Carruthers€has€suggested,€in€his€correspondence,€that€some€of€theÐ ˜è  Ðprevious€attorneys€have€been€relieved€because€they€werenððt€capable€or€competent€toÐ „Ô  Ðdo€the€job.€€And€that€is,€in€my€opinion,€at€leastð!ðmy€humble€opinion€as€the€judge€inÐ pÀ Ðthis€caseð!ðabsolutely€and€totally€an€inaccurate€statement.€€The€attorneys€that€have€beenÐ \¬ Ðrelieved€thus€far€have€been€fully€capable€and€fully€competent€and€had€been€doing€anÐ H˜ Ðoutstanding€job,€but€for€a€variety€of€reasons,€Iððve€allowed€them€to€withdraw€from€theÐ 4„ Ðcase.óó€€€€€€€Ð pÐ Ð  ÐÌà@ÙÙ'ìà*€*€*€*ˆÐ øH ÐÌà8  àà ` àMr.€Carruthers€has€raised,€through€his€correspondence,€and€apparently€Ð Ð  Ðthrough€direct€communication€with€his€previous€attorneys,€certain€matters€that€areÐ ¼  Ðpretty€outrageous€suggestions,€but€because€of€the€nature€of€the€matters€that€heððsÐ ¨ø Ðraised,€the€attorneys€that€represented€him€previously€felt€that€an€irreparable€breachÐ ”ä Ðhad€occurred€between€their€abilityð!ðbetween€Mr.€Carruthers€and€themselvesð!ðeffectingÐ €Ð Ðtheir€ability€to€continue€to€represent€them.€€òòAnd€at€some€pointð!ðand€that€could€wellÐ l¼ Ðhave€been€the€point,€but€it€wasnððt.€€But€at€some€point€these€matters€that€are€raised€byÐ X ¨ Ðthe€defendants€cannot€continue€to€be€used€to€get€new€counsel€because€it€gets€to€be€aÐ D!” Ðpoint€where€theyððreð!ðitððs€already€well€beyond€that€point,€but,€obviously,€at€some€point,Ð 0"€  Ðgets€to€the€point€where€theyððre€manipulating€the€system€and€getting€what€theyÐ #l! Ðwantð!ðMr.€Carruthers,€sit€still,€please,€or€you€can€sit€back€there€ð!ðgets€to€the€pointÐ $X" Ðwhere€theyððre€manipulating€the€system€and€getting€trial€dates€and€representation€thatÐ ô$D # Ðthey€want€and€are€calling€the€shots.óó€€Thatððs€another€matter€thatððs€been€raised€by€Mr.Ð à%0!$ ÐCarruthers€in€some€of€his€correspondence,€that€he€wants€his€attorneys€to€know€thatÐ Ì&"% Ðheððs€the€man€calling€the€shots€in€this€case,€and€heððs€the€man€to€look€to.и'#&Ð Ð  ÐÌà8  àà ` àWell,€of€course,€again,€itððs€a€free€country,€and€he€can€say€whatever€he€wants,Ð )à$( Ðand€he€can€think€whatever€he€wants,€but€as€far€as€Iððm€concernedð!ðand€this€applies€toÐ |*Ì%) Ðall€three€defendants€and€any€defendants€that€come€through€this€court€that€areÐ h+¸&* Ðrepresented€by€counselð!ðand€this€gets€back€to€what€Mr.€Ô_ÔMcLinÔ_Ô€alluded€to€earlierð!ðtheÐ ° Ðattorneys€are€calling€the€shots€in€this€case.€€They€are€trying€the€case€except€for€certainÐ œì Ðareas€where€the€defendant€has€the€exclusive€and€final€say,€such€as€areas€of€whetherÐ ˆØ Ðhe€wants€to€testify€or€not€and€that€sort€of€thing.€€The€attorneys€are€in€here€representingÐ tÄ Ðthese€clients€and€will€do€so€to€the€best€of€their€ability.€€They€are€the€ones€who€haveÐ `° Ðbeen€to€law€school.€€They€are€the€ones€that€have€been€through€trial€many€timesÐ L œ Ðbefore,€and€theyððre€the€ones€that€are€here€for€a€reason,€and€that€reason€is€to€representÐ 8 ˆ Ðthese€individuals.€€And,€so€you€know,€if€thereððs€a€conflict€between€the€attorney€andÐ $ t Ðclient€with€regard€to€how€to€proceed€in€the€case,€you€all€resolve€it€as€best€you€can,€butÐ  ` Ðultimately€the€attorney€is€trying€the€case.€€And,€you€know,€we€donððt€pull€people€in€offÐ ü L  Ðthe€sidewalk€to€try€these€cases,€and€the€reason€we€donððt€is€because€of€certain€thingsÐ è 8  Ðthat€they€need€to€learn€and€certain€experiences€they€need€to€have€professionallyÐ Ô$  Ðbefore€theyððre€prepared€to€try€these€cases.€€So€theyððre€here€for€that€reason€and€for€thatÐ À  Ðpurpose.€€€Ð¬ü Ð Ð  ÐÌà@ÙÙ'ìà*€*€*€*ˆÐ „Ô  ÐÌà8  àà ` àSo€that€gets€me€to€the€reason€for€our€being€here.€€òòBecause€of€the€mattersÐ \¬ Ðraised€by€Mr.€Carruthers,€I€have€granted€the€request€of€his€previous€two€attorneys€andÐ H˜ Ðinvestigator€reluctantly€because,€in€my€opinion,€they€were€doing€an€outstanding€jobÐ 4„ Ðof€representing€Mr.€Carruthers€and€his€interests.óó€€Ð pÐ Ð  ÐÌà@ÙÙ'ìà*€*€*€*ˆÐ øH ÐÌà8  àà ` àBecause€of€the€most€recent€rash€of€allegations€raised€by€Mr.€Carruthers€in€hisÐ Ð  Ðmany€letters€that€heððs€sent€með!ðI€assume€heððs€sent€copies€of€the€letters€to€his€counselÐ ¼  Ðand€to€others,€but€Iððve€certainly€got€them,€and€they€will€be€made€a€part€of€the€record.€Ð ¨ø ÐAnd€because€of€the€types€of€things€he€alleged€in€those€letters€and€the€position€that€itÐ ”ä Ðput€his€previous€attorneys€in,€and€their€very,€very€strong€feelings€about€not€continuingÐ €Ð Ðto€represent€Mr.€Carruthers€under€those€circumstances,€I€have€reluctantly€agreed€toÐ l¼ Ðlet€them€withdraw.ÐX ¨Ð Ð  ÐÌà8  àà ` àAnd€in€an€effort€again€to€get€attorneys€who€Iððm€satisfied€have€the€experienceÐ 0"€  Ðand€the€willingness€to€handle€a€case€of€this€seriousness,€I€have€approached€and€amÐ #l! Ðinclined€to€appoint€Mr.€Harry€Ô_ÔSayleÔ_Ô,€who€is€out€of€town€this€week€and€couldnððt€beÐ $X" Ðhere€today€but€who€indicated€he€would€be€willing€to€take€the€case€on,€and€Mr.€BillÐ ô$D # ÐMassey,€to€represent€Mr.€Carruthers.Ðà%0!$Ð Ð  ÐÌà@ÀÀ&ìà*€€*€*€*ˆÐ ¸'#& ÐÌà8  àà ` àòòAnd€as€I€have€stated,€Iððm€running€out€of€patience€with€regard€to€theseÐ )à$( Ðdifferent€issuesð!ðand€I€use€that€word€advisedlyð!ðbeing€raised€by€the€clients€with€regardÐ |*Ì%) Ðto€any€objections€they€have€with€regard€to€their€attorneys.€€And€as€far€as€IððmÐ h+¸&* Ðconcerned,€these€are€the€attorneys€that€will€represent€these€men€at€trial.€€Itððs€going€toÐ ° Ðhave€to€be€one€gigantic€conflictð!ðone€gigantic€and€real€proven,€demonstrated€conflictÐ œì Ðbefore€any€of€these€men€will€be€relieved€from€representation€in€this€case.€€There€willÐ ˆØ Ðbe€no€more€perceived€conflicts,€no€more€unfounded,€wild€allegations€raised€throughÐ tÄ Ðcorrespondence,€no€more€dissatisfaction€with€how€my€attorney€is€handling€my€caseÐ `° Ðfor€anybody€to€be€relieved€in€this€case.ÐL œÐ Ð  ÐÌà8  àà ` àThese€are€the€attorneys,€gentlemen.€€You€either€work€with€them€or€donððt.€€ItððsÐ $ t Ðup€to€you.€€But€theyððre€the€men€that€are€going€to€be€representing€you€at€trial.óóÐ `Ð Ð  ÐÌ(Emphasis€added.)€€Consistent€with€prior€practice,€the€trial€court€approved€an€initial€$1000Ð è 8  Ðexpenditure€for€investigative€services€for€Carruthersðð€newly€appointed€defense€team€and€conditionedÐ Ô$  Ðfurther€funding€upon€a€specific€showing€of€necessity€by€the€investigator.€€Massey€indicated€that€heÐ À  Ðpreferred€to€use€his€own€investigator€rather€than€an€attorney;€therefore,€Arthur€Anderson,€whoÐ ¬ü  Ðpreviously€had€been€employed€on€the€case,€was€retained.Ð ˜è  ÐÌà  àThe€trial€court€approved€additional€funding€for€investigative€services€on€August€11,€AugustÐ pÀ Ð31,€and€again€on€September€27,€1995.€€Also,€due€to€his€recent€appointment€to€the€case,€MasseyÐ \¬ Ðrequested€and€was€afforded€a€trial€continuance€until€January€8,€1996.€€Like€previous€counsel,€MasseyÐ H˜ Ðand€Ô_ÔSayleÔ_Ô€filed€many€pre„trial€motions€on€behalf€of€Carruthers.€€By€November€17,€1995,€MasseyÐ 4„ Ðinformed€the€trial€court€that€all€necessary€and€appropriate€pre„trial€motions€had€been€filed.Ð  p ÐÌà  àHowever,€about€a€month€later,€on€December€19,€1995,€Massey€filed€a€motion€requestingÐ øH Ðpermission€to€withdraw€as€counsel.€€As€grounds€for€the€motion,€Massey€stated€that€his€relationshipÐ ä4 Ðwith€Carruthers€had€ð ðdeteriorated€to€such€a€serious€degree€that€[counsel]€can€not€provide€effectiveÐ Ð  Ðassistance€as€required€by€state€and€federal€law.€.€.€.€€Counselððs€professional€judgment€cannot€beÐ ¼  Ðexercised€solely€for€the€benefit€of€Defendant,€as€counsel€fears€for€his€safety€and€those€around€him.ðð€Ð ¨ø ÐAttached€to€the€motion€were€several€letters€Carruthers€had€€sent€to€Massey,€both€at€his€home€and€atÐ ”ä Ðhis€office€in€late€November€and€early€December€of€1995.€€In€the€letters,€Carruthers€accused€MasseyÐ €Ð Ðof€lying,׃+×Ý ƒMˆÝòòÚ  Ú17Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€and€of€being€on€drugs,׃,×Ý ƒMˆÝòòÚ  Ú18Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€threatened€counsel,׃-h×Ý ƒMˆÝòòÚ  Ú19Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€and€expressed€overall€dissatisfaction€withÐ l¼ Ðcounselððs€handling€of€the€case.׃8¸×Ý ƒMˆÝòòÚ  Ú20Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€Massey€made€the€following€statements€to€the€trial€court€at€theÐ X ¨ Ðâ âhearing€on€his€motion€to€withdraw:Ð D!” Ðà8  àI€would€just€say€that€in€15€years€of€practicing€law,€I€have€never€ever€made€a€motionÐ ° Ðâ âof€this€nature.€€I€have€neverð!ðIððve€never€found€it€difficult€to€advocate€on€behalf€of€aÐ œì Ðcase.€€I€wouldnððt€find€it€difficult€to€advocate€on€behalf€of€this€case.€€òòI€do€at€this€point,Ð ˆØ Ðhowever,€find€it€very€difficult€to€advocate€on€behalf€of€Mr.€Carruthers.€€And€that€isÐ tÄ Ðsimply€because€heððs€made€it€that€way.óó€€If€I€were€receiving€letters€that€merely€statedÐ `° ÐI€was€incompetent€and€that€I€wasnððt€handling€his€case€right,€and€those€type€ofÐ L œ Ðlettersð!ðwe€all€get€those€time€to€timeð!ðI€donððt€mind€those.€€Those€donððt€bother€me.€Ð 8 ˆ ÐòòWhen€I€have€letters€that€come€to€me€that€are€threatening,€when€I€have€telephone€callsÐ $ t Ðthat€come€to€my€office€that€are€threatening€the€safety€of€me€and€my€staff€and€thoseÐ  ` Ðaround€me,€I€have€real€problems€with€that.€€Itððs€gotten€so€bad,€your€Honor,€that€myÐ ü L  Ðsecretary€is€having€nightmares.€€The€last€call€Mr.€Carruthers€made€is€Exhibit€E€to€thisÐ è 8  Ðverified€motion.€€She€called€me€in€absolute€tears€crying€uncontrollably,€hystericallyÐ Ô$  Ðcrying€over€his€antics.óó€€Thatððs€the€same€way€heððs€been€doing€me.€€I€just€havenððtÐ À  Ðbroken€down€and€started€crying€about€it.€€But€I€do€have€very,€very€strong,€such€strongÐ ¬ü  Ðpersonal€reservations€as€I€have€never€experienced€before€as€an€advocate.€€Your€honor,Ð ˜è  Ðin€advocating€cases,€particularly€capital€cases,€I€find€the€first€thing€I€have€to€do€to€beÐ „Ô  Ðpersuasive€is€to€believe.€€€I€have€to€believe€and€I€have€to€feel.€€Because€if€I€donððtÐ pÀ Ðbelieve€and€I€donððt€feel€and€Iððm€not€sincere,€I€cannot€impart€that€to€a€jury.€€They€seeÐ \¬ Ðmy€insincerity.€€They€see€just€words,€a€Ô_ÔparrottÔ_Ô„like€proficiency€as€opposed€to€feeling.€Ð H˜ ÐThey€donððt€act€on€that.€€They€shut€that€out.€€Thatððs€been€my€experience.€€And€I€donððtÐ 4„ Ðbelieve€that€Ô_ÔthatÔ_Ô€feeling,€I€know€that€I€canððt€advocate.€€Iððve€lost€my€will€to€advocateÐ  p Ðon€this€case.€€I€donððt€have€any€doubt€about€that€at€this€point.€€I€donððt€have€any€doubt.€Ð  \ ÐIððll€tell€you€as€an€officer€of€this€court.€€I€donððt€have€any€doubt€that€would€be€a€majorÐ øH Ðproblem.€€òòAnd€despite€Mr.€Carruthers€threats€and€antics,€I€care€for€the€integrity€of€theÐ ä4 Ðsystem.€€I€care€that€his€€rights€are€protected€even€when€he€tries€to€destroy€themÐ Ð  Ðhimself€and€impair€them.€€€And€I€donððt€know€what€the€Courtððs€answer€is.€€I€know€thatÐ ¼  Ðthe€Court€is€in€a€very€difficult€position€here.€€Obviously,€itððs€very€clear€what€the€ployÐ ¨ø Ðis.€€Itððs€very€clear€that€weððre€never€going€to€get€to€trial€like€this.óó€€And€if€we€do,€thenÐ ”ä Ðthereððs€going€to€be€a€record€made€for€ineffective€assistance€of€counsel.€€And€theyÐ €Ð Ðbelieve,€Mr.€Carruthers€believes,€that€doing€all€of€these€things€is€going€to€make€himÐ l¼ Ða€record€as€opposed€to€doing€things€from€a€legal€standpoint€in€the€courtroom.€€ThereÐ X ¨ Ðare€motions,€objections€at€trial€and€through€the€proper€avenues€that€the€courts€ofÐ D!” Ðappeals€will€recognize€as€a€legal€basis€for€a€reversal.€€òòBut€weððve€gotten€outside€theÐ 0"€  Ðlegal€area€in€this€case€and€weððve€gone€into€the€area€of€intimidation,€threats.óóÐ#l!Ð Ð  ÐÌ(Emphasis€added.)€€Despite€Masseyððs€argument,€the€trial€judge€denied€Masseyððs€motion,€stating€asÐ ô$D # Ðfollows:Ð à%0!$ Ðà8  àà ` àWith€regard€to€Mr.€Masseyððs€concerns,€I€certainly€believe€that€everything€Mr.Ð Ì&"% ÐMassey€has€stated€in€his€motion€is€factually€accurate€and€correct.€€I€donððt€have€anyÐ ¸'#& Ðreason€to€doubt€that€his€secretary€received€the€phone€call€that€she€says€she€receivedÐ ¤(ô#' Ðin€the€memo€she€prepared,€or€that€any€of€these€other€things€transpired.€€òòBut€I€do€thinkÐ )à$( Ðâ âand€I€do€agree€with€Mr.€Masseyððs€characterization€that€these€efforts€by€Mr.Ð |*Ì%) ÐCarruthers€are€a€part€of€an€overall€ploy€on€his€part€to€delay€the€case€forever€untilÐ ° Ðsomething€happens€that€prevents€it€from€being€tried.óó€€ÐœìÐ Ð  Ðâ âÌà@ÙÙ'ìà*€*€*€*ˆÐ tÄ Ðà8  àà ` àIn€my€opinion,€to€try€to€make€the€record€reflect€as€clearly€and€accurately€asÐ `° Ðpossible€the€fact€that€the€system€is€doing€everything€it€can€to€make€sure€that€Mr.Ð L œ ÐCarruthers€is€properly€and€thoroughly€represented€in€this€case.€€And€Mr.€CarruthersÐ 8 ˆ Ðmay€step€out€to€the€back.€€òòHe€just€was€pointing€to€Mr.€Massey€with€some€sort€ofÐ $ t Ðthreatening€gesture.óó€€And€heððs€going€to€sit€in€the€back€for€the€remainder€of€thisÐ  ` Ðhearing.€€Put€him€in€the€back€room€and€keep€him€back€there.€€Lock€the€door.€€Mr.Ð ü L  ÐMontgomery,€you€will€join€him€in€a€minute€if€you€choose€to€conduct€yourself€in€thatÐ è 8  Ðmanner€as€well.€€òòThe€system€has€done€all€it€can,€in€my€opinion,€to€make€sure€that€Mr.Ð Ô$  ÐTony€Carruthers€is€well€represented.óó€€And€Iððve€tried€to€be€as€patient€as€I€can€be€inÐ À  Ðlistening€to€the€concerns€of€defense€counsel€and€investigators€in€making€sure€that€noÐ ¬ü  Ðconflict€existed€in€the€representation€of€either€of€these€men.€€The€specific€reasons,€theÐ ˜è  Ðnarrow€specific€reasons€for€the€Ô_ÔexcusalÔ_Ô€of€the€previous€attorneys€and€investigatorsÐ „Ô  Ðdiffer€a€little€bit€from€those€complaints€that€Mr.€Massey€has€raised€today.€€And€soÐ pÀ Ðwhen€Mr.€Massey€says€ðð[Ô_Ôt]hatÔ_Ô€just€because€Iððm€the€4th€or€5th€attorney€in€line€doesnððtÐ \¬ Ðmean€that€I€now€have€to€be€stuck,€in€effect,€in€representing€him€just€because€othersÐ H˜ Ðhave€been€relieved€and€the€Court€is€anxious€to€get€the€case€tried.€€My€complaints€areÐ 4„ Ðas€valid€as€theirs€were.€€And€if€they€were€relieved,€then€I€should€be€relieved€as€well.ðð€Ð  p ÐAnd€I€understand€that€position.€€But€first€of€all€Iððll€respond€to€that€by€saying€theirÐ  \ Ðcomplaints€were€a€little€bit€different,€and€Iððm€not€going€to€go€through€them€on€theÐ øH Ðrecord€now.€€The€record€is€clear€in€those€instances.€€One€envelope€is€sealed€withÐ ä4 Ðseveral€letters€that€will€reveal€what€those€complaints€were€and€the€complaints€fromÐ Ð  Ðattorneys€prior€to€that€were€a€little€bit€different€in€nature.€€Not€to€minimize€theÐ ¼  Ðseriousness€of€Mr.€Masseyððs€complaints,€but€those€complaints€were€a€little€bitÐ ¨ø Ðdifferent.€€And€so€its€not€that€he€just€happens€to€be€the€5th€attorney€in€line,€and€heððsÐ ”ä Ðthe€one€that€is€going€to€quote,€get€stuck,€representing€Mr.€Carruthers.€€TheirÐ €Ð Ðcomplaints€were€a€little€bit€different.€€And€factually€there€are€some€distinctions€thatÐ l¼ Ðcan€be€drawn€between€the€complaints€that€they€had€and€the€complaints€that€youððveÐ X ¨ Ðvoiced.€€€€ÐD!”Ð Ð  Ѐ€€€Ð 0"€  Ð(Emphasis€added.)€€The€trial€court€also€emphasized€that€Carruthersðð€ploy€had€become€more€apparentÐ #l! Ðover€the€course€of€the€proceedings.Ð $X" ÐÌà8  àWith€the€very€first€set€of€attorneys€I€tried€to€give€Mr.€Carruthers€the€benefit€of€theÐ à%0!$ Ðdoubt€and€excused€them€for€reasons€similar€to€yours,€but€a€little€bit€different.€€WithÐ Ì&"% Ðthe€second€set€of€attorneys€I€tried€to€give€Mr.€Carruthers€the€benefit€of€the€doubt€andÐ ¸'#& Ðexcuse€them€for€reasons€similar€to€yours,€but€a€little€bit€different.€€Now€that€weððre€inÐ ¤(ô#' Ðthe€third€set€of€attorneys€,€the€ploy€is€much€more€apparent€than€it€was€with€the€firstÐ )à$( Ðset€€of€attorneys.€€Although,€it€was€somewhat€apparent€to€any€of€us€who€have€beenÐ |*Ì%) Ðin€these€courts€for€many,€many€years€as€we€all€have€been.€€Not€wanting€to€jump€toÐ h+¸&* Ðany€conclusions€or€not€give€him€the€benefit€of€the€doubt,€the€first€and€second€sets€ofÐ ° Ðattorneys€were€excused.€€òòBut€now€that€weððre€into€the€third€set€of€attorneys€the€ployÐ œì Ðis€much€more€apparent€and,€therefore,€Iððm€much€less€receptive€to€these€sorts€ofÐ ˆØ Ðarguments€than€I€was€a€year€ago€when€the€first€set€of€attorneys€came€in€wanting€to€beÐ tÄ Ðrelieved.€óóÐ`°Ð Ð  ÐÌ(Emphasis€added.)Ð 8 ˆ ÐÌà  àFinally,€in€response€to€counselððs€comment€that€Carruthers€should€just€go€ð ðpro€se,ðð€the€trialÐ  ` Ðcourt€concluded€that€it€should€refuse€ð ðto€force€a€man€to€go€pro€se€in€a€capital€case€if€he€doesnððt€wantððÐ ü L  Ðand€observed€that€Carruthers€had€never€asserted€his€right€of€self„representation.€€Although€MasseyððsÐ è 8  Ðmotion€to€withdraw€was€denied,€the€trial€judge€granted€his€request€for€additional€funds€for€furtherÐ Ô$  Ðinvestigation€and€for€hiring€a€mitigation€specialist.Ð À  ÐÌà  àOn€January€2,€1996,€six€days€before€the€trial€was€scheduled€to€begin,€Massey€renewed€hisÐ ˜è  Ðmotion€to€withdraw.€€Massey€informed€the€trial€court€that€he€had€continued€to€receive€threateningÐ „Ô  Ðletters€at€his€home€and€was€concerned€for€his€daughterððs€safety€because€Carruthers€had€described€theÐ pÀ Ðcar€she€drove.€€Massey€indicated€that€he€cared€more€about€Carruthersðð€right€to€a€fair€trial€than€€did€Ð \¬ ÐCarruthers€himself,€but€given€the€recent€and€ongoing€threats,€Massey€declared,€ð ðI€donððt€want€toÐ H˜ Ðrepresent€this€man.€€I€canððt€represent€him.€€I€wonððt€represent€him.ððÐ 4„ ÐÌà  àAt€this€hearing,€the€prosecution€took€the€position€that€Massey€should€not€be€allowed€toÐ  \ Ðwithdraw€because€the€defendant€was€simply€manipulating€the€system€in€an€attempt€to€delay€his€trial.€Ð øH ÐThe€State€pointed€out€that€the€case€had€been€pending€for€almost€two€years€and€each€time€a€trial€dateÐ ä4 Ðdrew€near€Carruthers€would€increase€his€letters€and€efforts€to€alienate€his€attorneys€either€throughÐ Ð  Ðwritten€or€verbal€personal€attacks€or€threats.€€The€State€urged€the€trial€court€to€deny€the€motion€toÐ ¼  Ðwithdraw€and€proceed€to€trial:Ð ¨ø ÐÌà8  à[Ô_ÔI]fÔ_Ô€a€defendant,€Your€Honor,€can€threaten€the€system,€if€he€can€manipulate€theÐ €Ð Ðsystem€by€threats,€by€letters,€Iððm€not€sure€if€thatððs€what€the€makers€of€the€constitutionÐ l¼ Ðmeant€when€they€sat€in€Philadelphia€and€they€said,€look,€letððs€let€every€defendantÐ X ¨ Ðhave€a€fair€trial.€€Letððs€let€him€have€a€lawyer.€€Letððs€let€a€jury€be€over€here.€€Letððs€letÐ D!” Ðhim€have€a€judge;€thatððs€fair.€€Letððs€let€no€man€be€accused€of€a€crime,€will€not€go€toÐ 0"€  Ðtrial,€unless€he€receives€a€fair€trial.€€Let€no€man€be€convictedð!ðbut€the€framers€of€theÐ #l! Ðconstitution,€Your€Hono