State of Tennessee v. Michael Dale Rimmer ( 2006 )

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OF TENNESSEE
AT JACKSON
August 2006 Session
STATE OF TENNESSEE v. MICHAEL DALE RIMMER
Direct Appeal from the Criminal Court for Shelby County
No. 98-01033-34 W. Fred Axley, Judge
No. W2004-02240-CCA-R3-DD - Filed December 15, 2006
Capital Appellant Michael Dale Rimmer appeals as of right his sentence of death resulting
from the 1997 murder of Ricci Ellsworth. In November 1998, Appellant Rimmer was convicted of
theft of property, aggravated robbery and premeditated first degree murder. He was sentenced to
death for the murder conviction. On direct appeal, a panel of this Court affirmed Appellant
Rimmer’s convictions but, concluding that the sentencing verdict was “enigmatic and uncertain,”
vacated the sentence of death and remanded for a new sentencing hearing. See State v. Michael D.
Rimmer, No. W1999-00637-CCA-R3-DD, 2001 WL 567960, at *1 (Tenn. Crim. App., at Jackson,
May 25, 2001). Accordingly, the case was remanded to the Criminal Court for Shelby County for
re-sentencing. At the conclusion of the re-sentencing hearing in January 2004, the jury found the
presence of one statutory aggravating circumstance, i.e., that the defendant was previously convicted
of one or more felonies whose statutory elements involved the use of violence to the person, T.C.A.
§ 39-13-204(i)(2) (1997). The jury further determined that the aggravating circumstance outweighed
the mitigating circumstances beyond a reasonable doubt and imposed a sentence of death. The trial
court approved the sentencing verdict. Appellant Rimmer timely appeals presenting for our review
the following issues: (1) whether the trial court erred in denying the motion for recusal; (2) whether
the trial court erred in denying the motion for a continuance; (3) whether the trial court erred in
excluding mitigation evidence; (4) whether the prosecutor engaged in misconduct; (5) whether the
jury instruction on reasonable doubt was error; (6) whether the Appellant knowingly and voluntarily
waived his right to testify; (7) whether it was error for the jury to be informed that the Appellant had
been on “death row;” (8) whether the jury verdict was complete; (9) whether cumulative error
requires reversal; and (10) whether the Tennessee death penalty statutes are constitutional. After
review, we find no error of law requiring reversal. Accordingly, we affirm the jury’s imposition of
the sentence of death in this case.
Tenn. R. App. P. 3 Appeal as of Right; Judgment of the Criminal Court Affirmed
DAVID G. HAYES , J., delivered the opinion of the court, in which, JOSEPH M. TIPTON , P.J., and
ROBERT W. WEDEMEYER , J., joined.
Brock Mehler, Nashville, Tennessee, and Joseph Ozment, Memphis, Tennessee, for the Appellant,
Michael D. Rimmer.
Paul G. Summers, Attorney General and Reporter; Mark Davidson, Assistant Attorney General;
William L. Gibbons, District Attorney General, and Thomas D. Henderson, Assistant District
Attorney General, for the Appellee, State of Tennessee.
OPINION
Proof at the Re-Sentencing Trial
In 1975, Donald Eugene Ellsworth married Ricci Ellsworth. Two children were born of this
marriage. The couple divorced in 1977, then resumed an “off and on” relationship which persisted
until 1984. Their separation was attributed to his drug problem and her drinking problem. During
their separation, Ricci Ellsworth lived for a time with the Appellant, Michael Dale Rimmer. In 1994,
Ricci and Donald Ellsworth remarried.
In February 1997, forty-four-year-old Ricci Ellsworth was employed as an auditor at the
Memphis Inn located on Macon Cove. She worked the night shift, 11:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. Her
husband, Donald Ellsworth, who was in the construction business, worked during the day. It was
customary for Ricci Ellsworth to be going to work when Donald Ellsworth was returning home.
This was the case on February 7th. Ricci Ellsworth kissed her husband goodnight and drove to work
in her 1989 white Dodge Dynasty.
On February 7, 1997, a railroad crew with CSX Transportation stayed at the Memphis Inn.
On February 8th, the crew management service attempted to contact the clerk at the Memphis Inn
to notify the crew that a train was ready. No one answered at the motel. In response, Raymond
Summers, an employee of CSX Transportation, went to the motel.
Upon his arrival at the Memphis Inn, Mr. Summers observed that the door going into the
office was open but that no person was visible. He heard water running and followed the sound to
the bathroom. He started to turn the water off and realized that there was blood on the sink, on the
wall, on the toilet bowl and on towels. Mr. Summers left the building and reported his finding to
Shelby County deputies who had just finished eating breakfast at a nearby restaurant. The officers
returned to the Memphis Inn with Mr. Summers and secured the scene.
Linda Spencer, the general manager of the Memphis Inn, lived on the motel premises. She
was awakened by the deputies who informed her that she needed to go to the front office. Arriving
at the office, she noticed that the door was open, a cup of coffee was sitting on the desk, and
everything was in order. However, as she walked back towards her office, she noticed that the area
“looked like somebody had been in a fight.” She then went into the bathroom. “There was blood
everywhere. On the walls, on the floor . . . puddles of blood. We’re not talking just spots, there were
puddles of blood.” She noticed that the sink was cracked. Ms. Spencer reported that $600.00 in
cash was missing from the office. She added that some “towels, bath mats and [three sets of]
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sheets” were missing from the storage room. Ms. Spencer observed that Ricci Ellsworth’s car, a
white Dodge Dynasty, was still at the hotel; however, Ricci Ellsworth was not found on the
premises.
Ms. Spencer explained that Ricci Ellsworth’s job duties as night auditor also required her to
register guests while on duty. Ms. Spencer explained that Ricci Ellsworth should have been behind
a locked, secured door while she was working.
At 2:30 a.m., Donald Ellsworth was awakened by police officers looking for Ricci Ellsworth.
The police officers took Donald Ellsworth to the Memphis Inn and informed him that “it was an on-
going crime scene.” At this point, Mr. Ellsworth learned that “there had been a robbery and that
there was blood at the scene . . . and that they hadn’t been able to locate [Ricci Ellsworth.]” Mr.
Ellsworth informed the officers that, “if this wasn’t a random robbery . . . they needed to be looking
for Michael Dale Rimmer.”
Memphis Police Officer Robert G. Moore was called to the scene at the Memphis Inn. He
observed that some of the blood on the bathroom floor “looked like people tried to wipe the blood
up.” Officer Moore added that there appeared to be “drag marks coming out of the bath room out
into the office area.” Officer Moore also located a green cigarette lighter beneath a bloody towel.
Officer Moore identified a “gold colored ring with the black setting” as being found in the area
between the bathroom and the office. A cigarette butt was found going out of the equipment room
into the office area.
Sergeant Robert Shemwell, assigned to the homicide department, was called to the Memphis
Inn. He later placed the names of Ricci Ellsworth and the suspect, Appellant Rimmer, in the
National Crime Information Center.
Sergeant Shemwell also received information that a vehicle was observed that night backed
up to the night entrance of the Memphis Inn with the door slightly opened. The vehicle was
described as a Toyota or other small model car.
On the morning of March 5, 1997, Michael Dewey Adams, a Johnson County, Indiana,
Sheriff’s Deputy, was on traffic patrol. During his shift, Deputy Adams stopped the driver of a 1988
maroon Honda Accord with light color interior, traveling 72 miles per hour in a 55 mile per hour
zone. Two people were in the vehicle. Deputy Adams observed the driver of the vehicle exit the
vehicle and began walking towards him. Deputy Adams, using his vehicle’s P.A. unit, advised the
driver to return to the vehicle. The driver returned to his vehicle and placed both hands on the trunk
of the car. The driver produced a Mississippi driver’s license, which identified him as the Appellant,
Michael Dale Rimmer.
Deputy Adams advised Appellant Rimmer to return to the safety of his vehicle, while he
returned to his patrol car and ran a check on the Appellant’s driver’s license and vehicle tag number.
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The check of the license plate revealed that the Honda Accord was stolen.1 A check of the Appellant
revealed that he was wanted for questioning in a homicide in Memphis, Tennessee. The information
that Deputy Adams had stopped Appellant Rimmer was relayed to Memphis law enforcement and
another officer was sent to the scene to assist Deputy Adams. After a test revealed that the Appellant
had a blood alcohol content of .06, the officer placed the Appellant under arrest for possession of a
stolen vehicle and public intoxication.
A search of the Honda Accord revealed numerous hotel receipts and pawn tickets reflecting
the route traveled by the Appellant after the February 7, homicide. Specifically, the following
receipts were found. A receipt dated February 8, 1997, from Myrtle, Mississippi. A receipt dated
February 13, 1997, from Micanopy, Florida. A receipt from Greenvalley, Missouri, dated February
15, 1997. A receipt from Casper, Wyoming, dated February 17, 1997. Receipts dated February 17
and 18, 1997, from Missoula, Montana. The Appellant then traveled to Vacaville, California, as
evidenced by a receipt dated February 25, 1997. A receipt from San Francisco, California, was dated
February 26, 1997. The Appellant then traveled along the Mexican border to Blythe, California, on
February 28, 1997. He then headed east, stopping in Casa Grande, Arizona, on March 1, 1997, and
Bernado, Texas, on March 3, 1997. On March 5, 1997, he was stopped in Franklin, Indiana.
Memphis Police Sergeants Ashton, Shemwell, and Wilkinson traveled to Franklin, Indiana,
to interview Appellant Rimmer. Sergeant Ashton testified that the Appellant agreed to talk with
them. He added that the Appellant appeared relieved when he was informed that the officers wanted
to talk to him about the stolen Honda Accord. The officers noticed a change in the Appellant’s
demeanor, however, when they advised him that they also wanted to discuss Ricci Ellsworth.
Sergeant Ashton related that “you could see this anxiety come over him . . . he got real excited and
agitated.”
The officers informed Appellant Rimmer that Ricci Ellsworth was missing. Appellant
Rimmer responded “[o]h that can be cleared up, she’s probably gone home to her mother in
Alabama, she does it all the time.” The officers then informed Appellant that it appeared that Ricci
Ellsworth was dead. To this, the Appellant responded, “[s]he’s not dead, you don’t have the body.”
Appellant Rimmer denied any knowledge of anything about the homicide. He added that it was “his
nature just to get up and leave [Memphis] like that.”
The officers interviewed Rimmer the following day and observed that Rimmer was again
“very agitated and hostile towards [the officers]. . . .” Sergeant Ashton explained that Appellant
Rimmer would “just have an out-burst and start cussing us and screaming and hollering. . . .” During
the interview, the Appellant informed the officers that his sister was being committed to Lakeside
Hospital as a result of the investigation. Appellant Rimmer also “took issue” with the investigators
talking to his brother, Richard.
1
The Honda was reported stolen from a residence in Memphis in early January 1997.
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Sergeant Ashton explained that Appellant Rimmer had been released from prison only a few
months prior to his hasty departure from Memphis. He further testified that the Appellant’s
employer informed him that Appellant Rimmer left in such a hurry that he left all of his tools. The
Appellant had only been employed at his present job for a short time, and he left without picking up
his paycheck. Sergeant Ashton added that Appellant Rimmer had also left his clothing and “stuff”
in a neat folded pile beside the bed in the room he occupied at his sister’s house.
Appellant Rimmer was returned from Indiana back to Shelby County, Tennessee, in an
extradition van. En route to Tennessee, Appellant Rimmer “stole the van and kidnapped three other
inmates and took the troopers and county deputies there on . . . a four hour run, before he was
apprehended.” Prior to this attempt, Appellant Rimmer had attempted to escape from the Johnson
County, Indiana jail. Inside his cell in Johnson County, two “shanks” were discovered by Sergeant
Shemwell. Moreover, during his original trial in Shelby County, the Appellant had a Bible in his
possession which contained the outline of a handcuff key. The Appellant also attempted to escape
from the Shelby County Jail by knocking out several windows.
Frank Samuel Baetchel, a forensic examiner employed by the Federal Bureau of
Investigation, received a sealed envelope containing “a cutting from a towel that came from the
hotel, . . .[a] carpet sample from the [Appellant’s] vehicle. . ., fabric from the back seat of the
vehicle, [and] some swabs from the seat belt in the back seat of the car.” Mr. Baetchel performed
DNA profiling on the samples according to F.B.I. protocol. He determined that “the DNA types at
the various locations were the same in all of those samples, consistent with each of those having
come from the same individual.” Mr. Baetchel also received a sample of blood from the victim’s
mother, Mrs. Floyd, and a pap smear previously obtained from the victim. The DNA profiles of the
samples taken from the Appellant’s vehicle were consistent with being a biological offspring of Mrs.
Floyd. The DNA profile taken from the pap smear was the same type as in the blood stains in the
Appellant’s automobile and was consistent with the DNA cutting from the towel.
Jennifer Eakin, a special agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, assisted the
Memphis Police Department with processing and organizing the evidence. Agent Eakin collected
the evidence gathered by the Memphis Police Department, i.e., personal belongings of the victim;
evidence gathered by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, i.e., evidence from the defendant’s
vehicle and evidence collected at the crime scene; and the victim’s pap smear obtained from a
laboratory in Southhaven, Mississippi. She then packaged the collected items and forwarded the
evidence to the F.B.I. laboratory in Washington, D.C.
In 1989, Appellant Rimmer was convicted of first degree burglary, aggravated assault and
rape of Ricci Ellsworth. In 1990, Donald Ellsworth and Ricci Ellsworth resumed their relationship,
and they remarried in 1994, having both overcome their individual problems. While incarcerated
for the crimes committed against Ricci Ellsworth, Appellant Rimmer discussed Ricci Ellsworth with
two fellow inmates, Roger LeScure and William Conaley. LeScure and Appellant Rimmer worked
together in the maintenance department of the prison. Appellant Rimmer informed LeScure that
Ricci Ellsworth had stopped sending him money. Appellant Rimmer also indicated that “when he
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got out he was going to kill the . . . ‘[f]ucking bitch.’” LeScure “understood that she was the reason
[Appellant Rimmer] was in there for, anyway, at the time.” The Appellant also “talked quite a bit
of ways to get rid of bodies. . . .” William Conaley knew Rhonda Pannell, a relative of Ricci
Ellsworth. Appellant Rimmer had commented on some photographs of Conaley’s which pictured
Rhonda Parnell. The two men realized that they had mutual acquaintances. Appellant Rimmer
informed Conaley about a lawsuit involving Ricci Ellsworth’s son and how the two of them were
going to be coming into some money. Appellant Rimmer planned on getting some of the money.
He informed Conaley that “if he didn’t get that money he would kill her.” On one occasion when
Conaley was granted a furlough, Appellant Rimmer asked that a message be relayed to Ricci
Ellsworth about the money he was due and the death threat. The thirty-year-old Appellant was
released from Department of Correction custody in October 1996.
Information was available through prison records that Ricci Ellsworth had visited Appellant
Rimmer at the Northwest Correctional Center during the first several years of his sentence.
However, Sergeant Shemwell related that Ricci Ellsworth stopped visiting the Appellant when she
remarried Donald Ellsworth.
Ross Herrin, an employee of the Shelby County Criminal Court Clerk’s Office, testified that,
on June 10, 1985, Appellant Rimmer was convicted under indictment number 85-00448 of assault
with intent to commit robbery with a deadly weapon. Mr. Herrin further related that, under
indictment 85-00449, Appellant Rimmer entered a guilty plea to aggravated assault. For these two
offenses, Appellant Rimmer received concurrent sentences of five years confinement. Mr. Herrin
further related that, on June 6, 1989, Appellant Rimmer entered guilty pleas to one count of
aggravated assault, one count of first degree burglary and one count of rape under indictments, 89-
02746, 89-02737 and 89-02738. The indictments in these offenses related that Ricci Ellsworth was
the victim. Appellant Rimmer received an effective sentence of ten years for these crimes.
T. J. Helldorfer, a Memphis Police Officer, testified that in the course of investigating the
disappearance of Ricci Ellsworth, he contacted the Appellant’s brother, Richard Rimmer. During
a conversation, Richard Rimmer admitted that the Appellant had been to his house at approximately
9:00 a.m. on February 8, 1997. Furthermore, Richard Rimmer acknowledged that the Appellant had
been to his house in the Honda Accord and that there was a shovel in the back seat. Appellant
Rimmer placed the shovel against the house and then inquired as to how to get blood out of the back
seat of a car. Appellant Rimmer went inside the house and cleaned up because he had “mud and
stuff” on his shoes.” Appellant Rimmer then left. At some point after the disappearance of Ricci
Ellsworth was broadcast on television, Richard Rimmer and a friend got rid of the shovel by placing
it in a dumpster at an apartment complex. Officer Helldorfer searched Richard Rimmer’s property
located in Nesbitt, Mississippi, fifteen miles from Memphis. A search of this property with cadaver
dogs and a helicopter with the Flora system (an infra-red heat detection system) failed to reveal the
body of Ricci Ellsworth.
Darlene Sills, the Appellant’s girlfriend until the night prior to the murder, informed officers
that Appellant Rimmer had taken her to Plantation Point on Arkabutla Lake. She stated that this
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“was a place that [the Appellant] liked to go to get right with the world and smoke his dope.”
Officer Helldorfer stated that they searched this area on Arkabutla Lake, but this search also failed
to reveal the victim’s body.
Samera Zavaro, a forensic scientist in the serology DNA department of the Tennessee Bureau
of Investigation, examined the maroon Honda Accord automobile. Ms. Zavaro determined that the
blood stains found in the Appellant’s Honda Accord were human blood.
Donald Ellsworth described Ricci Ellsworth as a “very good person.” She had changed her
ways. She had found a church that she had attended for seven or eight years. She was involved in
prison ministry and was a good, kind and caring person. Mr. Ellsworth explained that he lost his
wife and their children had lost their mother. He stated that Ricci’s murder was especially hard on
their daughter Tracy, who was fourteen at the time.
Recalling his wife’s relationship with Appellant Rimmer, Mr. Ellsworth stated that he was
not happy with the relationship and he was “worried about it.” He explained that “there had been
fights and there had been trouble and the police had been involved and Ricci had been hurt in the
past by Michael.” Mr. Ellsworth acknowledged that during this time Ricci was drinking.
On cross-examination, Mr. Ellsworth admitted that he had found some photographs of
Appellant Rimmer located in a box in his home. He maintained that the photographs did not make
him jealous as the photographs were taken before he and Ricci had gotten back together. Mr.
Ellsworth additionally stated that Ricci had visited Appellant Rimmer while he was in prison in the
early 1990’s. Mr. Ellsworth admitted that he was familiar with his wife’s work area, but maintained
that he seldom visited her at her place of employment.
While Mr. Ellsworth stated that the last time he saw Appellant Rimmer was before he had
gotten back together with his wife, he could not state the last time that Ricci had seen the Appellant.
He also stated that, during the time that Ricci was living with Appellant Rimmer, Mr. Ellsworth was
given “emergency, temporary custody of the children.” Mr. Ellsworth denied any allegation that he
was involved in the murder of Ricci Ellsworth.
The victim’s mother, Marjorie Floyd, a resident of Florence, Alabama, testified that Ricci
was one of four sisters. Mrs. Floyd last saw Ricci on January 28, 1997 at an anniversary dinner held
in Corinth, Mississippi. Mrs. Floyd recalled having long telephone conversations with Ricci on a
regular basis.
Mrs. Floyd stated that Ricci will never be replaced and that she will never stop grieving for
her. She explained that there could be no closure because Ricci’s body was never found and the
family could not bury her. Mrs. Floyd stated that her daughter had become a Christian and was
active in the prison ministry. She described her daughter as a trusting person. She added that the
murder had a significant impact on Ricci’s children.
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On cross-examination, Mrs. Floyd stated that she could not particularly recall Appellant
Rimmer. She also stated that her daughter had been married to three different men, Donald
Ellsworth, Paul Vickey and Tommy West. Mrs. Floyd also related that she was aware that Ricci had
visited Appellant Rimmer when he was in prison.
Linda Spencer, the general manager of the Memphis Inn, described Ricci as being an
“excellent” employee, “[h]onest,” and “[d]ependable.”
William Conaley stated that he testified against Appellant Rimmer at his original trial. Both
Conaley and Appellant Rimmer were being held in the Shelby County Jail. While Conaley was in
the shower area, Appellant Rimmer attacked him.
In mitigation, the Appellant presented the testimony of Dr. Ann Marie Charvat, a mitigation
specialist. Dr. Charvat testified that she interviewed Appellant Rimmer, during which she was able
to obtain a chronology of his life. She also interviewed the Appellant’s mother and father. As a
result of her investigation, Dr. Charvat made numerous findings and provided the following
synopsis:
Mr. and Mrs. Rimmer, they met each other when she was fifteen and he was
eighteen. And her father opened restaurants and had gone to Milan, Tennessee and
opened up a restaurant where she met Mr. Rimmer. And her father tried to keep
them apart and moved her back to Memphis, but he followed. And the[y] married.
She was quite young and she had three children, in quick succession. [Appellant]
Rimmer was the middle child. He has an older sister and a younger brother.
And he worked in the field of paint and body. . . . He fixed the outside of cars. And
early on, though, he traveled with his family from Memphis to Houston for work.
And while they were there, there was difficulty.
He ended up being arrested. It was relatively minor.
....
It resulted in probation, which he successfully completed. And then the family
moved to Indianapolis. That’s where Mrs. Rimmer’s mother was. And they ended
up getting a divorce there.
In fact, I think that they were there two to three years. Michael and his sister started
school in Indianapolis. And then the family reconnected, they remarried and they all
move back to Horn Lake, actually the first place that they lived is the Southaven area,
next door to it. They moved back to Mississippi and Mr. Rimmer got a job working
with the City of Memphis and kept that job for twenty-six years.
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Mrs. Rimmer was a home-maker, up until, I believe Michael Rimmer was probably
about eleven years old. She stayed home with her children prior to that.
Dr. Charvat testified that the Appellant began having difficulties in school around the fifth
grade. This is the same time that Mrs. Rimmer went back to work. Most of the problems were
behavioral; he became difficult to manage in the classroom and excluded himself from class
activities. Dr. Charvat described the Appellant as a “C” student; however, she opined that he would
have benefitted from special education classes. The Appellant dropped out of school in the ninth
grade. Prior to this, however, the Appellant was hospitalized during a time when his father was
being treated for a mental illness. The Appellant was hospitalized at least three times as an
adolescent. One of these hospitalizations was the direct result of the Appellant’s involvement with
an older woman, possibly a teacher. Once he left school, the Appellant began working at a gas
station and worked at his father’s shop.
At age eighteen, the Appellant was arrested for aggravated assault. This arrest arose when
he and his friends attempted to purchase some marijuana and became involved in a fight. The
Appellant was the only one involved in the incident to be sent to prison. The others were given time
in the county jail or received probation. The Appellant reported that, while he was in prison, he met
an older man, Jimmy Watson. Watson introduced the Appellant to Ricci Ellsworth. Apparently,
Ricci Ellsworth was seeing Jimmy Watson at the time, but decided that she would prefer a
relationship with the Appellant. The Appellant and his family members reported that the Appellant’s
time with Ricci Ellsworth was the happiest time in his life. The Appellant lived with Ricci and her
children.
While Dr. Charvat stated that the Appellant had entered a guilty plea to raping Ricci
Ellsworth, she understood that the relationship between the two continued even after this incident.
The relationship resumed even while the Appellant was serving his sentence for the crime. Ricci
Ellsworth visited the Appellant while he was in prison and was even identified on the approved
visitor list as the Appellant’s common law wife. Christopher and Tracy Ellsworth, Ricci Ellsworth’s
children, were also named on the list.
Barbara Dycus ministered to the Appellant at West Tennessee State Penitentiary. Ms. Dycus
also knew Ricci Ellsworth through her relationship at Bolton Full Gospel Church. Ricci Ellsworth
had informed Ms. Dycus that she was engaged to Appellant Rimmer while he was confined at West
Tennessee State Penitentiary in 1993. Ms. Dycus further related that the Appellant attended every
service that she administered on Saturday evenings. Appellant Rimmer played music, wrote gospel
songs and sang during the services.
Thomas Mach visited the Appellant while he was on death row at Riverbend Maximum
Security Institution through his involvement in the prison ministry. Mach stated that the Appellant
has done amazing things once he was removed from death row. The Appellant got eighteen other
men interested in the Bible. Mach stated that he believed that the Appellant had changed.
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Nathaniel Hatcher met the Appellant while he was serving as the prison minister in 1998.
Hatcher described the Appellant as “a fantastic guy.” He added that the Appellant had a good
positive attitude and he and the Appellant became friends. Hatcher also described how the Appellant
had impacted the other men in his unit. Hatcher maintained his assertion that he admired the
Appellant even considering the Appellant’s convictions for aggravated assault, rape, burglary and
murder.
The Appellant’s mother, Sandra Rimmer, stated that the Appellant was thirty-seven years old
at the time of the re-sentencing hearing. Mrs. Rimmer explained that the Appellant and Ricci
Ellsworth began a romantic relationship in 1986 or 1987. The Appellant then began living with
Ricci Ellsworth and her children. Mrs. Rimmer explained that, at one point, the Appellant moved
out of Ricci’s home and Jimmy Watson, Ricci’s former boyfriend, moved back in with Ricci. Then,
after a while, Jimmy would move out and the Appellant would move back in with Ricci. Sandra
Rimmer related that, during this time, both the Appellant and Ricci were drinking, smoking
marijuana and “I don’t know what else.”
Sandra Rimmer reported that in 1989 or 1990, the Appellant was arrested for assaulting and
raping Ricci Ellsworth. Mrs. Rimmer explained that, when the Appellant was in jail for these
offenses, Ricci Ellsworth married Tommy Voyles.2 She also stated that, although accused of
breaking into Ricci Ellsworth’s home, the Appellant had a key to the house and his belongings were
inside.
Mrs. Rimmer also stated that she took Ricci Ellsworth to visit the Appellant in prison.
During the drive to the prison, Ricci Ellsworth confided to Sandra Rimmer that the Appellant really
did not rape her. Ricci Ellsworth explained that she, Tommy Voyles and the Appellant had gotten
into a fight. Mrs. Rimmer related that Ricci Ellsworth stated that Tommy Voyles had “pushed her”
into filing the charges against the Appellant. Mrs. Rimmer further described the relationship
between the Appellant and Ricci Ellsworth as boyfriend and girlfriend, even after he was convicted
of raping her. Mrs. Rimmer testified that the Appellant was released from prison in October 1996.
The trial court instructed the jury regarding the statutory aggravating and mitigating factors:
Tennessee law provides that no sentence of death or sentence of imprisonment for
life without the possibility of parole shall be imposed by a jury, but upon unanimous
finding that the state has proven beyond a reasonable doubt the existence of one or
more of the statutory aggravating circumstances which shall be limited to the
following:
(1) The defendant was previously convicted of one, or more felonies
other than the present charge. The statutory elements of which
involve the use of violence to the person.
2
The record suggests that Tommy W est and Tommy Voyles are the same person.
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The state is relying upon crimes of assault to rob . . . aggravated assault . . .,
aggravated assault . . ., and rape . . ., which is, or are, a felony involving the use of
violence to the person.
(2) The murder was knowingly committed, solicited, directed, or
aided by the defendant, while the defendant had a substantial role in
committing, or attempting to commit, or was fleeing after having a
substantial role in committing, or attempting to commit any robbery.
Members of the jury, the Court has read to you the aggravated circumstances which
the law requires you to consider if you find proof beyond a reasonable doubt.
You shall not consider any other facts or circumstances as an aggravated
circumstance in deciding whether the death penalty, or imprisonment for life without
possibility of parole, would be appropriate punishment in this case.
Mitigating circumstances. Tennessee law provides that in arriving at the punishment
the jury shall consider as previously indicated, any mitigating circumstances raised
by the evidence, which shall include, but are not limited to the following:
(1) Any attempts by the defendant to participate in efforts at rehabilitation
while incarcerated.
(2) Any evidence which tends to cast doubt on the defendant’s guilt.
(3) Any other mitigating factor which is raised by the evidence produced
by either the prosecution or defense at either the guilt, or sentencing hearing.
That is, you shall consider any aspect of the defendant’s character, or record or
any aspect of he circumstances of the offense favorable to the defendant, which
is supported by the evidence.
The trial court further instructed the jury that should they find that at least one statutory aggravating
circumstance had been proven beyond a reasonable doubt and that circumstance had been proven
by the State to outweigh any mitigating circumstances beyond a reasonable doubt the sentence shall
be death. The trial court provided instructions as to how the jury was to reduce their verdict to
writing.
The jury retired to deliberate at 1:10 p.m. Deliberations adjourned at 6:05 p.m. that evening,
and resumed the next day at 8:48 a.m. At 11:40 a.m, the jury returned with its verdict, finding that
the State had proven beyond a reasonable doubt the presence of the (i)(2) aggravating circumstance.
The jury further determined that this factor outweighed any mitigating circumstances and,
accordingly, imposed a sentence of death.
I. Recusal of Trial Court
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Appellant Rimmer contends that the trial judge “exhibited actual bias against the defendant.”
Additionally, he asserts that “the judge’s impartiality might reasonably be questioned.” In support
of these claims, Rimmer contends that the “re-sentencing hearing was necessitated by a combination
of errors committed by [the trial judge] in the first trial.” He further alleges that, during a hearing
on the motion to recuse, the trial judge denied revising the jury verdict as found by the appellate
court, stating that “[t]hey said that the second stage proceeding jury instructions were confusing to
the jury.” Appellant Rimmer raised numerous other factors in support of the trial judge’s bias
including: (1) the trial judge’s refusal to reappoint the lawyers who had secured the reversal from
the Court of Criminal Appeals, (2) the trial judge adopted extraordinary security measures, (3) the
trial judge failed to conduct hearings at Riverbend Maximum Security Institution as required by
section 16-1-105, Tennessee Code Annotated, (4) the trial judge made misstatements of fact in the
Rule 12 report, (5) the trial judge exhibited an adversarial position toward the Appellant after the
guilt phase of the trial, (6) the trial judge excluded proffered evidence in mitigation, and (7) the trial
judge’s numerous decisions which effectively denied the Appellant time to properly prepare the case.
A fair trial in a fair tribunal is a basic requirement of due process. The “principles of
impartiality, disinterestedness and fairness” are fundamental concepts in our jurisprudence. See State
v. Bondurant, 4 S.W.3d 662, 668 (Tenn. 1999) (quoting State v. Lynn, 924 S.W.2d 892, 898 (Tenn.
1996)). Article I, Section 17 of the Tennessee Constitution and the Fourteenth Amendment to the
United States Constitution guarantee all litigants a hearing before an impartial decision-maker. In
re Cameron, 126 Tenn. 614, 658, 151 S.W.64, 76 (1912); see also Tumey v. Ohio, 273 U.S. 510,
532, 47 S. Ct. 437 (1927) (“every procedure which would offer a possible temptation to the average
man as a judge [to forget the burden of proof required to convict the defendant, or which might lead
him] not to hold the balance nice, clear and true between the State and the accused, denies the latter
due process of law”). Article VI, Section 11 of the Tennessee Constitution states that judges cannot
participate in cases in which they might have even the slightest interest. Neely v. State, 63 Tenn.
174, 182 (1874). A similar restriction appears in Tennessee Code Annotated section 17-2-101(1).
The purpose of these provisions is to guard against the prejudgment of a litigant’s rights and to avoid
situations in which the litigants might believe that the court reached a prejudiced conclusion because
of interest, partiality or favor. Chumbley v. Peoples Bank & Trust Co., 165 Tenn. 655, 659, 57
S.W.2d 787, 788 (1922).
Society demands a judge who is “independent of governmental, political, social, economic,
or other predisposing influences.” State v. Alley, 882 S.W.2d 810, 819 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1994).
A judge possessing these qualities can “approach the decision of any question in a case guided solely
by legal knowledge and judicial experience and temperament.” Id. (citing Charles W. Wolfram,
Modern Legal Ethics 980 (1986)). Although this ideal is one that is difficult to achieve, it is a
fundamental principle of due process that a judge presiding at trial “must be sufficiently neutral and
free of preconceptions about the factual issues to be able to render a fair decision.” Alley, 882
S.W.2d at 820 (citation omitted). A trial before a biased or prejudiced judge is a denial of due
process. Wilson v. Wilson, 987 S.W.2d 555, 562 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1998). Many years ago, the
Tennessee Supreme Court observed: “[I]t is of immense importance, not only that justice shall be
administered . . ., but that [the public] shall have no sound reason for supposing that it is not
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administered.” In re Cameron, 126 Tenn. at 614, 151 S.W. at 76. “If the public is to maintain
confidence in the judiciary, it is required that cases be tried by unprejudiced and unbiased judges.”
Alley, 882 S.W.2d at 820 (citations omitted).
The words “bias” and “prejudice” are central to the determination of whether a recusal should
be granted. See Alley, 882 S.W.2d at 820. Generally, the terms refer to a state of mind or attitude
that works to predispose a judge for or against a party. Id. (citing 46 Am.Jur.2d “Judges” § 167
(1969)). Not every bias, partiality, or prejudice merits recusal. Alley, 882 S.W.2d at 820. To
disqualify, prejudice must be of a personal character, directed at the litigant, “must stem from an
extrajudicial source and result in an opinion on the merits on some basis other than what the judge
learned from . . . participation in the case.” Id. (citations omitted). Personal bias involves an
antagonism toward the moving party, but does not refer to any views that a judge may have regarding
the subject matter at issue. Id. (citations omitted). If the bias is based upon actual observance of
witnesses and evidence given during the trial, the judge’s prejudice does not disqualify the judge.
Id. (citation omitted). However, if the bias is so pervasive that it is sufficient to deny the litigant
a fair trial, it need not be extrajudicial. Id. (citations omitted).
A trial judge should recuse himself or herself whenever the judge has any doubt as to his or
her ability to preside impartially or whenever his or her impartiality can reasonably be questioned.
State v. Pannell, 71 S.W.3d 720, 725 (Tenn. Crim. App. 2001). This is an objective standard. Alley,
882 S.W.2d at 820. The appearance of impropriety is conceptually distinct from the subjective
approach of a judge facing a possible disqualification challenge and does not depend on the judge’s
belief that he or she is acting properly. See Liteky v. United States, 510 U.S. 540, 553, n.2, 114 S.
Ct. 1147 (1994) (“The judge does not have to be subjectively biased or prejudiced, so long as he
appears to be so.”). “Thus, while a trial judge should grant a recusal whenever the judge has any
doubts about his or her ability to preside impartially, recusal is also warranted when a person of
ordinary prudence in the judge’s position, knowing all of the facts known to the judge, would find
a reasonable basis for questioning the judge’s impartiality.” Id. The trial judge retains discretion
over his or her recusal. State v. Smith, 906 S.W.2d 6, 11 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1995). Unless the
evidence in the record indicates that the failure to recuse was an abuse of discretion, this Court will
not interfere with that decision. State v. Hines, 919 S.W.2d 573, 578 (Tenn.1995).
Appellant Rimmer alleges that the trial court abused its discretion when it denied his recusal
motion specifically because this same judge committed error in the initial trial regarding the jury
verdict, made alleged misstatements in the Rule 12 report, made critical decisions denying a
continuance to the defense team and excluding evidence in mitigation, and failed to conduct hearings
at Riverbend Maximum Security Institution as required by Tennessee Code Annotated section 16-1-
105. Adverse rulings by a trial court are not usually sufficient grounds to establish bias. Alley, 882
S.W.2d at 820 (citations omitted). Moreover, rulings of a trial judge, even if erroneous, numerous
and continuous, do not, without more, justify disqualification. Id. (citations omitted).
Appellant Rimmer alleges that the trial court adopted extraordinary security measures. The
record reveals that Appellant Rimmer made numerous escape attempts after being taken into custody
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and that two weapons were removed from the Appellant’s person in the courtroom prior to the
original trial. Appellant Rimmer has not established that the security measures employed by the trial
court were not warranted under the circumstances. Accordingly, the trial court’s implementation of
security measures cannot support a motion for recusal. The Appellant also contends that the trial
court demonstrated bias when it refused to re-appoint counsel who were successful in obtaining relief
on direct appeal. Nothing in the record demonstrates that the trial court erred in this respect nor does
the Appellant establish how appointment of different counsel established bias by the trial judge or
raised a question of impartiality.
The Appellant focuses the majority of his recusal argument toward accusations that the trial
judge made numerous misstatements of facts, made numerous questionable statements during the
first trial and refused to apply an objective standard regarding his impartiality. While comments
made by a judge may be demonstrative of bias or prejudice, the Appellant has failed to direct this
Court’s attention to any such comments. Moreover, misstatements of fact are insufficient to support
a showing of bias. Likewise, comments made by a judge in a separate and unrelated case cannot be
imputed to the case now before us. However, in so far as the remarks indicate a judge’s personal
moral conviction or which “reflect prevailing societal attitudes,” such remarks are insufficient alone
to mandate disqualification. Alley, 882 S.W.2d at 820 (citing United States v. Norton, 700 F.2d
1072, 1076 (6th Cir.1983); State v. Hawk, 688 S.W.2d 467, 472 (Tenn. Crim. App.1985); State v.
Bobby Andrew Higdon, No. 89-41-III, 1990 WL 26772 (Tenn. Crim. App., Nashville, Mar. 15,
1990)). There is no indication in the record before us that the trial judge prejudged any factual issues
that arose related to the re-sentencing hearing.
After review of the record before this Court and the allegations raised by the Appellant, we
are unable to conclude that the trial court abused its discretion in denying the motion for recusal.
II. Denial of Continuance
On December 19, 2003, Appellant Rimmer filed a motion requesting a continuance of the
re-sentencing trial scheduled for January 5, 2004. Trial counsel was appointed to represent the
Appellant in February 2003, after the Appellant’s initial attorneys were granted permission to
withdraw. As grounds for the continuance, the Appellant asserted that counsel were not prepared
to proceed due to lead counsel’s position as lead counsel in another capital murder trial scheduled
for January 26, 2004. The Appellant further maintained that additional time was required as (1) it
was necessary to secure and review “boxes and boxes of records,” (2) he was housed 200 miles from
his attorneys, (3) there had been problems in obtaining funding for experts and (4) the mitigation
specialist had not completed her investigation and preparation. The trial court denied the motion for
a continuance. In its order denying the motion for a new sentencing trial, the trial court noted that
no prejudice had resulted from the denial of the continuance. In rendering this decision, the trial
court considered the mitigating evidence presented at trial.
Appellant Rimmer challenges the trial court’s denial of the continuance, asserting that “[i]t
is unreasonable to demand a showing of actual prejudice from the denial of a continuance to allow
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time for completing a mitigation investigation; one cannot know what might have been discovered
had more time been allotted; the basic task remains unfinished, and there is no way to measure what
impact the unpresented mitigation might have had on a capital sentencing jury.” Appellant Rimmer
adds that his trial attorneys had “just a little over 10 months to do a complete investigation of not
only the defendant’s social, educational, vocational, medical, institutional, and psychological history,
but also of the crime, his past crimes, and the litigation that he had been engaged in by 3 prior sets
of attorneys.” Appellant Rimmer further suggests that the “trial judge was more concerned with
expediency than fairness.” The State responds that the Appellant cannot show that the lower court’s
decision was an abuse of discretion.
The granting of a continuance rests within the sound discretion of the trial court. See State
v. Odom, 137 S.W.3d 572, 589 (Tenn. 2004); State v. Russell, 10 S.W.3d 270, 275 (Tenn. Crim.
App. 1999). This Court will reverse the denial of a continuance only if the trial court abused its
discretion and the defendant was prejudiced by the denial. Odom, 137 S.W.3d at 589. “An abuse
of discretion is demonstrated by showing that the failure to grant a continuance denied defendant a
fair trial or that it could be reasonably concluded that a different result would have followed had the
continuance been granted.” Hines, 919 S.W.2d at 579. The defendant who asserts that the denial
of a continuance constitutes a denial of due process or the right to counsel must establish actual
prejudice. Odom, 137 S.W.3d at 589.
Although the Appellant avers that a continuance was necessary in order for the mitigation
specialist to complete her investigation, the record reflects that Dr. Charvat never indicated that her
investigation was not complete. Rather, Dr. Charvat explained that the “notebook” in possession
of defense counsel had not been updated.3 Notwithstanding, Dr. Charvat also testified that “[i]f you
think about it, there is no end to how much information one could collect on an individual.” She also
described the “information” collected as being capable of constant change. The record reveals that
Dr. Charvat provided ample testimony regarding the Appellant’s background.
Nothing in the record suggests that the trial court abused its discretion, thereby prejudicing
the Appellant. The matter was remanded for re-sentencing by this Court on May 25, 2001. Counsel
for the re-sentencing were appointed on March 20, 2002. These attorneys were granted permission
to withdraw in February 2003, at which time substitute counsel were appointed. The re-sentencing
hearing began on January 5, 2004, nearly three years from the date of reversal and nearly eleven
months after trial counsel’s appointment. Trial counsel was privy to information in the possession
of counsel originally appointed for the re-sentencing. See, e.g., State v. Jimmy D. Dillingham,
03C01-9110-CR-319, 1993 WL 22155 at *2 (Tenn. Crim. App., at Knoxville, Feb. 13, 1993), perm.
to appeal denied, (Tenn.1993) (holding that trial court did not abuse discretion in denying
continuance where public defender was afforded one month to prepare for case where previous
3
Dr. Charvat testified that the notebook in the possession of defense counsel was “prepared . . . in the initial
stages [of her investigation].” In this regard, she explained that “when you create these things and when you start these
studies, some of the information changes as you secure more data. So that one dated six or seven months ago, is not
particularly germane to what’s going on today and what we know at this point in time.” These statements made by Dr.
Charvat cannot be construed as an assertion that she needed additional time to complete a sufficient mitigation
investigation.
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attorney had been involved as public defender and had benefit of prior counsel’s preparations and
efforts).
Although a capital case will clearly require more preparation by defense counsel than a non-
capital case, we conclude that counsel was afforded adequate time to familiarize themselves with the
facts and present evidence in mitigation on the Appellant’s behalf. There is no indication in the
record that eleven months was insufficient time for the attorneys to prepare for the re-sentencing
trial. The Appellant had the benefit of a mitigation specialist. The mitigation specialist failed to
state that her investigation was complete, but noted that any investigation of this type would be
constantly changing. A review of the record fails to demonstrate that Dr. Charvat’s investigation
was impeded by the denial of the continuance. Moreover, the record fails to demonstrate what, if
any, mitigation proof would have been uncovered had Dr. Charvat been provided more time. We
conclude that the trial court did not abuse its discretion nor was the Appellant prejudiced by the
denial of the continuance. This issue is without merit.
III. Exclusion of Mitigation Evidence
Appellant Rimmer contends that the trial court committed reversible error by excluding
evidence offered to support the mitigating circumstance of residual doubt and by excluding evidence
to rebut the (i)(2) aggravating circumstance relied on by the prosecution.
The admissibility of evidence at capital sentencing hearings is governed by section 39-13-
204(c), Tennessee Code Annotated, which provides:
In the sentencing proceeding, evidence may be presented as to any matter that the
court deems relevant to punishment and may include, but not be limited to, the nature
and circumstances of the crime; the defendant’s character, background history, and
physical condition; any evidence tending to establish or rebut the aggravating
circumstances enumerated in subsection (i); and any evidence tending to establish or
rebut any mitigating factors. Any such evidence which the court deems to have
probative value on the issue of punishment may be received regardless of its
admissibility under the rules of evidence; provided, that the defendant is accorded a
fair opportunity to rebut any hearsay statements so admitted. However, this
subsection (c) shall not be construed to authorize the introduction of any evidence
secured in violation of the constitution of the United States or the constitution of
Tennessee.
Our supreme court has recognized that, under this statute, any evidence which is relevant to the
circumstances of the murder, the aggravating circumstances of the murder, or the mitigating
circumstances of the murder, and which has probative value in the determination of punishment is
admissible at a capital sentencing hearing. See State v. Austin, 87 S.W.3d 447, 459 (Tenn. 2002)
(citing State v. Teague, 897 S.W.2d 248, 250 (Tenn. 1995)). Additionally, “a defendant [is] allowed
to present evidence at a[ ]sentencing hearing to establish residual doubt as a non-statutory mitigating
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circumstance.” State v. Hartman, 42 S.W.3d 44, 55 (Tenn. 2001) (citing Teague, 897 S.W.2d at
256). Residual doubt evidence is typically established by proof which casts doubt upon a
defendant’s guilt, which proof is not limited to evidence mitigating a defendant’s culpability for the
offense. See Hartman, 42 S.W.3d at 57. As the exclusion of mitigating evidence potentially
undermines the reliability of the sentencing determination, any error in failing to admit such evidence
is reviewed by this Court under a constitutional harmless error standard. Austin, 87 S.W.3d at 459
(citing State v. Cauthern, 967 S.W.2d 726, 739 (Tenn. 1998)). The burden thus falls on the State
to prove that any error in excluding the evidence did not affect the verdict and was harmless beyond
a reasonable doubt. Id. (citing Satterwhite v. Texas, 486 U.S. 249, 258, 108 S. Ct. 1792, 1798
(1988); Chapman v. California, 386 U.S. 18, 24, 87 S. Ct. 824, 828 (1967)).
A. Residual Doubt Evidence
Appellant Rimmer asserts that the trial court excluded mitigation evidence of residual doubt
by sustaining hearsay and relevance objections to testimony that two individuals were observed at
the scene of the crime with blood on their hands and that a car was backed up to the night office.
Specifically, the Appellant argues that the trial court erroneously prohibited the victim’s husband
from answering a question regarding whether law enforcement officers had informed him that they
had reason to believe that more than one person was involved in the commission of the crime. The
Appellant also argues that the re-sentencing jury was not informed that the jury that convicted the
Appellant never considered any evidence that more than one person may have been involved in the
crime. The trial court sustained objections raised by the State on numerous grounds, including that
such testimony on these matters were hearsay.
The Appellant is correct in that hearsay is admissible in a capital sentencing hearing. Austin,
87 S.W.3d at 459; State v. Odom, 928 S.W.2d 18, 28 (Tenn. 1996). The State asserts that,
notwithstanding the fact that several objections were made and sustained, the jury heard testimony
indicating that two men were observed at the scene of the crime with blood on their hands and that
a car was backed up to the night office with its trunk open at that time. Accordingly, the State asserts
that no error was committed regarding residual doubt evidence.
At the re-sentencing hearing, Sergeant Robert Shemwell testified he had talked with James
Darnell who had attempted to check into the Memphis Inn that morning. James Darnell reported that
he and Dixie Roberts went to the Memphis Inn between 1:45 a.m. and 2:00 a.m. on February 8,
1997. Darnell observed through the check-out window a white male bleeding from his hands and
another white male on the other side of the check-out window. He further described the first male
as being in his early twenties, long red hair, wearing an orange ball cap and wearing blue jeans.
Darnell stated that the man appeared very drunk. Darnell believed the other man to have been the
clerk. He described the second male as being thirty years of age, long brown hair, moustache and
wearing blue jeans. Darnell observed the man believed to be the clerk hand money through the
check out window to the other male. Darnell was uncomfortable with the situation and left to go
somewhere else. Photographs of suspects were sent to Darnell via the Federal Bureau of
Investigation. Darnell could not positively identify either man from the photospread. A photograph
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of Appellant Rimmer was included in the photospread. Sergeant Shemwell additionally testified
that he had received information that a vehicle, described as a Toyota, was backed to the night
entrance of the Memphis Inn.
The record reveals that the same information that the Appellant now asserts was excluded
was actually presented to the jury. While the Appellant claims that the trial court improperly
excluded residual doubt evidence from the jury’s consideration, the record reveals that the jury did
have such information. Thus, any error in excluding the introduction of the same evidence through
another form was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt.
B. Rebuttal of Aggravating Circumstance
Appellant Rimmer also contends that the trial court excluded evidence that would have
rebutted the (i)(2) aggravating circumstance. Specifically, Appellant asserts that he attempted to
elicit testimony from Sandra Rimmer regarding the details of his assault and rape convictions. The
prosecution objected, alleging that such testimony was hearsay. The trial court sustained the
objections.
Notwithstanding the Appellant’s argument, the record reveals that the jury did hear testimony
that the Appellant, the victim, and a man named “Tommy” got into a fight. The jury also heard
testimony that the victim told Sandra Rimmer that the Appellant did not really rape her and that
“Tommy” had talked her into filing the rape charges. Furthermore, the jury heard testimony that the
victim continued to visit the Appellant while incarcerated on the rape charges. Moreover, Sandra
Rimmer described the Appellant and the victim as “girlfriend and boyfriend.” As the jury had before
it information that was allegedly “excluded,” we conclude any error in its exclusion is harmless.
In the present case, the jury actually heard the evidence that the Appellant now complains
was improperly excluded. The evidence supported the jury’s finding of the statutory aggravating
circumstance. The jury also had sufficient evidence upon which to weigh the aggravating and
mitigating circumstances. Accordingly, we cannot conclude that the Appellant is entitled to relief
on this issue.
IV. Prosecutorial Misconduct
Appellant Rimmer contends that, at the re-sentencing hearing, the prosecutor, Thomas D.
Henderson, made “more than 20 baseless objections to hearsay evidence.” The Appellant asserts that
these “repeated, baseless objections to [his] evidence as ‘hearsay’ constituted prosecutorial
misconduct, and violated [his] rights under the Sixth, Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments to the
U.S. Constitution, and Art. I, § 8 and 16 of the Tennessee Constitution.” In support of his
allegation, Appellant Rimmer relies upon the fact that Mr. Henderson is an experienced prosecutor
and is charged with constructive knowledge of the law that “hearsay is admissible in a capital
sentencing hearing.” Austin, 87 S.W.3d at 447. He further contends that “Thomas D. Henderson,
by his own admission, was ‘near apoplectic in objecting, almost every opportunity.” The Appellant
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concludes that the numerous objections were “a blatant effort to undermine defense counsel’s ability
to present his case.” The State responds that the objections made by the State were to either
inadmissible hearsay or matters of non-relevance. The State further asserts that some of the
objections were sustained and, in many instances, defense counsel withdrew the question. The State
contends that the objections do not rise to the level of prosecutorial misconduct, averring that this
was a case where the “prosecutors struck hard blows as they were entitled to do.”
In general, a prosecutor commits misconduct by the use of deceptive or reprehensible
methods to persuade either the court or the jury. People v. Strickland, 11 Cal. 3d 946, 955, 114 Cal.
Rptr. 632, 523 P.2d 672 (1974). But the defendant need not show that the prosecutor acted in bad
faith or with appreciation for the wrongfulness of the conduct, nor is a claim of prosecutorial
misconduct defeated by a showing of the prosecutor’s subjective good faith. People v. Bolton, 23
Cal. 3d 208, 214, 152 Cal.Rptr.141, 589 P.2d 396 (1979).
Our review of the record reveals approximately twenty-eight objections made by the
prosecutor during the course of the re-sentencing hearing. Grounds for the objections included but
were not limited to relevance and hearsay. Many of the objections resulted in defense counsel
withdrawing the question. Some objections were sustained, while others were overruled. Bench
conferences reveal that the prosecutor, Thomas Henderson, was well aware of the applicable law
regarding admissible hearsay and provided rational argument in support of his objections. The State
has a legitimate interest in the outcome of a proceeding and, as such, the State has a legitimate right
in advocating its interpretation of applicable law regarding the admissibility of evidence. While
some series of objections were incessant, there is no indication in the record that the objections were
without legal basis or were made merely as an attempt to comment upon the credibility of the
testimony. We conclude that the objections, viewed either singly or collectively, did not deny the
Appellant a fair trial or result in any prejudice. This Court remains convinced that the objections
complained of by the Appellant were not the source of any prejudicial error.
V. Instruction on Reasonable Doubt
Appellant Rimmer next contends that the trial court’s instruction on reasonable doubt
impermissibly lowered the prosecution’s burden of proof. Specifically, Rimmer contests that part
of the instruction providing “[r]easonable doubt does not mean a doubt that may arise from
possibility,” see T.P.I. – Crim. §2.03 (West 2000), “suggests an improperly high degree of doubt for
acquittal and lowers the prosecution’s burden of proof in violation of the state and federal
constitutions.”
The instruction provided by the trial court is as follows:
Reasonable doubt is that doubt engendered by an investigation of all the proof in the
case and an inability after such investigation to let the mind rest easily upon the
certainty of guilt.
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Reasonable doubt does not mean a doubt that may arise from possibility. Absolute
certainty of guilt is not demanded by the law.
The Appellant concedes that this instruction conforms largely to that provided in the Tennessee
Pattern Jury Instructions Criminal, Fifth Edition, § 2.03.
“The beyond a reasonable doubt standard is a requirement of due process, but the
Constitution neither prohibits trial courts from defining reasonable doubt nor requires them to do so
as a matter of course.” Victor v. Nebraska, 511 U.S. 1, 5, 114 S. Ct. 1239, 1243 (1994). As long
as the “court instructs the jury on the necessity that the defendant’s guilt be proved beyond a
reasonable doubt, . . . the Constitution does not require that any particular form of words be used in
advising the jury of the government’s burden of proof.” Id. (citations omitted). Rather, “taken as
a whole, the instructions [must] correctly conve[y] the concept of reasonable doubt to the jury.”
Holland v. United States, 348 U.S. 121, 140, 75 S. Ct. 127, 138 (1954). Considering the full context
of the trial court’s instruction, we conclude that the trial court’s instruction on the definition of
reasonable doubt “sufficiently described the degree of doubt necessary for acquittal and the degree
of proof necessary for conviction.” See Pettyjohn v. State, 885 S.W.2d 364, 365 (Tenn. Crim. App.
1994).
Numerous case law decisions have concluded that the exact instruction as submitted to the
jury in this case is not error. State v. Hall, 976 S.W.2d 121, 159 (Tenn. 1998), cert. denied, 526 U.S.
1089, 119 S. Ct. 1501 (1999); State v. Bush, 942 S.W.2d 489, 520-521 (Tenn.), cert. denied, 522
U.S. 953, 118 S. Ct. 376 (1997); Scott v. State, No. 01C01-9709-CR-00400, 1999 WL 233643, at
**9-10 (Tenn. Crim. App. at Nashville, April 20, 1999); State v. Cowart, No. 03C01-9512-CR-
00402, 1999 WL 5174, at *23 (Tenn. Crim. App. at Knoxville), perm. to appeal denied, (Tenn.
1999); Lane v. State, No. 02C01- 9604-CC-00133, 1998 WL 756746, *7 (Tenn. Crim. App. at
Jackson, October 30, 1998), perm. to appeal denied, (Tenn. 1999). Tennessee courts have
consistently approved jury instructions patterned after T.P.I. (Crim.) 2.03. E.g., State v. Nichols, 877
S.W.2d 722 (Tenn. 1994); State v. Sexton, 917 S.W.2d 263 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1995); Pettyjohn, 885
S.W.2d at 364. In fact, this Court has encouraged the use of T.P.I. (Crim.) 2.03 over the use of the
alternate pattern instruction on “reasonable doubt” found in T.P.I. (Crim.) 2.03(a). E.g., State v. Jose
Holmes, No. 02C01-9505-CR-00154 (Tenn. Crim. App. at Jackson, Dec. 10, 1997); State v. Derek
Denton, C.C.A. No. 02C01-9409-CR-00186 (Tenn. Crim. App., at Jackson, Aug. 2, 1996).
Moreover, the Sixth Circuit has confirmed the constitutionality of the exact language used in the jury
instruction in the instant case. Austin v. Bell, 126 F.3d 843 (6th Cir.1997). We continue to adhere
to the long tradition of authority that has found jury instructions like the one given here
constitutionally sound. The Appellant’s argument is without merit.
VI. Waiver of Right to Testify
Next, Appellant Rimmer contends that “[n]either the colloquy with his own counsel nor with
the court established that the waiver of the defendant’s right to testify in the sentencing hearing was
knowing, intelligent and voluntary as required by the Fifth, Sixth, Eighth, and Fourteenth
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Amendments to the U.S. Constitution, and Art. I, §§ 8, 9, and 16 of the Tennessee Constitution.”
Specifically, Appellant Rimmer maintains that “[t]he colloquy with the court concerned only whether
the defendant chose not to testify of his own free will.” He maintains that the right to testify in the
capital sentencing context includes a limited privilege against self-incrimination, that is, an ability
to testify about mitigating circumstances and not be cross-examined about the facts and
circumstances of the murder unless he opens the door. State v. Cazes, 875 S.W.2d 253, 266 (Tenn.
1994). The colloquy regarding his waiver fails to indicate that Appellant Rimmer was advised of
this aspect of his right to testify.
The right of a criminal defendant to testify in his or her own behalf at trial is a fundamental
constitutional right. Momon v. State, 18 S.W.3d 152, 157 (Tenn. 1999). The right may only be
waived personally by the defendant. Id. A right that is fundamental and personal to the defendant
may only be waived if there is evidence in the record demonstrating “an intentional relinquishment
or abandonment of a known right or privilege.” Id. at 161-62. A waiver of this right may not be
presumed by a silent record. Id. at 162.
In order to ensure that defense attorneys do not make unilateral decisions regarding a
defendant’s right to testify, the Tennessee Supreme Court implemented the following procedures:
At any time before conclusion of the proof, defense counsel shall request a hearing,
out of the presence of the jury, to inquire of the defendant whether the defendant has
made a knowing, voluntary, and intelligent waiver of the right to testify. This hearing
shall be placed on the record and shall be in the presence of the trial judge. Defense
counsel is not required to engage in any particular litany, but counsel must show at
a minimum that the defendant knows and understands that:
(1) the defendant has the right not to testify, and if the defendant does not testify, then
the jury (or court) may not draw any inferences from the defendant’s failure to testify;
(2) the defendant has the right to testify and that if the defendant wishes to exercise
that right, no one can prevent the defendant from testifying;
(3) the defendant has consulted with his or her counsel in making the decision
whether or not to testify; that the defendant has been advised of the advantages and
disadvantages of testifying; and that the defendant has voluntarily and personally
waived the right to testify.
Momon, 18 S.W.3d at 162. The Momon court recognized that “[d]efense counsel is generally in the
best position to voir dire the defendant.” 18 S.W.3d at 162. Thus, “[u]nder normal circumstances,
the trial judge should play no role in this procedure.” Id. The court further noted that this approach,
which minimizes judicial interference, strikes the proper balance between the preservation of a
confidential right and the need to protect the relationship and confidences between counsel and
client. Id. Defense counsel and trial courts “should adhere to these procedural guidelines in all cases
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tried or retried after the date of this decision.” Id. at 163. The court noted, however, that the
“procedures are prophylactic measures which are not themselves constitutionally required.” Id. at
163. And, the failure to follow the Momon guidelines will not alone support a claim for deprivation
of the constitutional right to testify if there is evidence in the record to establish that the right was
otherwise personally waived by the defendant. Id.
Appellant Rimmer’s argument contesting the validity of the waiver of his right to testify
focuses upon the failure of the record to demonstrate that he was advised of the limited privilege
against self-incrimination, i.e., an ability to testify about mitigating circumstances and not be cross-
examined about the facts and circumstances of the murder unless he opens the door.4 See Cazes,
875 S.W.2d at 266. Appellant Rimmer took the stand and was questioned by defense counsel
regarding his decision to testify on his own behalf. The following colloquy occurred:
[Counsel for Appellant]: Mr. Rimmer, do you understand that all of the proof
that has been prepared by the defense has been submitted in this case?
[Michael Rimmer]: Yes, sir, I do . . . .
[Counsel for Appellant]: Do you know that the state has rested it’s [sic] case and
have no other proof, unless they decide to put on some rebuttal proof?
[Michael Rimmer]: Yes, sir.
[Counsel for Appellant]: You know that we are now to the point where you have
to make a decision as to whether you want to take the witness stand on your own
behalf?
[Michael Rimmer]: Yes, sir, I understand that.
[Counsel for Appellant]: And that is a subject that we have discussed from time
to time, throughout this trial; is it not?
[Michael Rimmer]: Yes, sir, quite a bit.
[Counsel for Appellant]: And when I say, “we”, I’m talking about myself and
Mr. Springer, who is my co-counsel . . . , and you, in and out of the courtroom we
have talked about your right to take the stand on your own behalf?
4
In Cazes, our supreme court recognized that due to the gravity of a capital sentencing hearing and the
constitutional mandate to ensure that all relevant mitigating circumstances be presented to the sentencing body “a capital
defendant’s testimony regarding mitigating factors that are wholly collateral to the merits of the charges against him does
not operate as a complete waiver of the privilege against self-incrimination. Cazes, 875 S.W.2d at 266. In other words,
a defendant has a right to limited cross-examination if he wishes to testify about only collateral mitigating circumstances
at the penalty phase of a capital trial. Id.
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[Michael Rimmer]: Yes, sir.
[Counsel for Appellant]: We have informed you that you have a Constitutional
right to take the stand and testify on your own behalf, if you decided to do so?
[Michael Rimmer]: Yes, sir, I do.
[Counsel for Appellant]: You also know that you have a Constitutional right not
to take the witness stand, because the law says that you can’t be made to be a witness
against yourself?
[Michael Rimmer]: Yes, sir, I do.
[Counsel for Appellant]: And if you decide not to take the witness stand, that the
Judge. . . will instruct the jury that they cannot consider that as evidence against you
in this case, because you’re standing on your Constitutional rights?
[Michael Rimmer]: Yes, sir, I’m aware of that.
[Counsel for Appellant]: Have you, at this time, Mr. Rimmer, made a decision
as to whether you would like to take the stand and testify on your own behalf?
[Michael Rimmer]: Yes, sir, I have made that decision. . . . The burden of
proof is on the state, it is not on me, so therefore I am not going to take the stand in
this trial, Your Honor.
[Counsel for Appellant]: You’ve decided not to testify?
[Michael Rimmer]: Yes, sir. The burden of proof is on the state.
...
The trial court then informed the Appellant that the decision to testify was an individual decision and
asked whether he had been pressured or coerced in any way regarding his decision not to testify.
Appellant Rimmer responded, “this is of my own free will, my own accord.”
The colloquy between the Appellant and trial counsel reveals that Mr. Rimmer was
questioned regarding his decision to testify. He was informed that he had a right to testify and that
he had a right not to testify if he so chose. Appellant Rimmer responded that the burden of proof
was on the State and not him and that he would not take the stand and testify. He further stated that
he had not been pressured or coerced in any way regarding his decision. Appellant Rimmer also
agreed that he had discussed the decision to testify with his trial attorneys on numerous occasions
throughout the course of the trial.
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Based upon the record, this Court declines to adopt the Appellant’s attempt to expand the
Momon requirements. Nothing in Momon requires either defense counsel or the trial court to advise
the defendant of every possible factor that could necessarily result from his decision to testify or his
decision not to testify, including the permissible scope of cross-examination. Moreover, there is no
indication in the record that Appellant Rimmer failed to understand the consequences of his decision
not to testify. Again, the record reflects that Appellant Rimmer’s decision not to testify was based,
in large part, upon his assertion that he did not bear the burden of proof; rather, the burden of proof
rested with the State. The Appellant was informed that the State’s case had concluded and that
defense counsel had presented all the evidence that they had prepared in mitigation. We reject the
Appellant’s argument that he was not sufficiently advised of the salient consequences of exercising
his fundamental constitutional right to testify. We further conclude that the record reflects that
Appellant Rimmer’s waiver of his constitutional right was voluntarily, knowingly and intelligently
made. Appellant Rimmer is not entitled to relief on this claim.
VII. Revelation to Jurors that Appellant had been on Death Row
Appellant Rimmer argues that the revelation to the jury that he was a death row inmate and,
thus, had been sentenced to death by a previously empaneled jury constitutes plain error as it violated
his right to a reliable non-arbitrary sentencing determination.5 The information complained of was
elicited during the direct examination of the Appellant’s mitigation witness, Thomas Mach.
Specifically, the record reveals the following references to the Appellant’s previous death sentence:
[Counsel for Appellant]: And how is it that you know Mr. Michael Rimmer?
[Thomas Mach]: I visited him in prison. I’m involved in prison ministry at
Riverbend.
....
[Counsel for Appellant]: Now, you stated you met Michael while he was on death
row?
[Thomas Mach]: Yes, sir.
[Counsel for Appellant]: And how would you describe his interest in the services and
the worship services?
[Thomas Mach]: Michael’s done amazing things in unit four. When he was
taken off of death row and went to unit four, . . . he got eighteen men interested in the
[B]ible. . . .
5
Appellant Rimmer acknowledges that no objection to the information was made at trial as the information was
largely elicited by defense counsel. He further concedes that the issue was not raised in the Appellant’s motion for new
trial. In this regard, Appellant invokes the “no waiver” rule in capital cases.
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The following colloquy occurred on cross-examination of this witness:
[Prosecutor]: How long have you known the defendant in prison?
[Thomas Mach]: Since I met him on death row.
In contesting the introduction of the fact that he had previously been on death row, Appellant
Rimmer asserts that “making known to the jury that a defendant had previously been sentenced to
death for the same crime by a different jury will also affect the jury’s deliberations, if for no other
reason than it would seem to suggest that because another jury concluded that death was the
appropriate sentence the present jury should as well.” In this regard, he asserts that the reliability
of the jury’s verdict and sentence was diminished by the knowledge that another jury had sentenced
him to die for the same offense that was under consideration at the resentencing hearing.
The United States Supreme Court has held that the introduction, during the sentencing phase,
of evidence of a prior death sentence is not constitutional error, so long as the evidence does not
affirmatively mislead the jury and diminish its sense of sentencing responsibility. Romano v.
Oklahoma, 512 U.S. 1, 10, 114 S. Ct. 2004 (1993). In Romano, the defendant was found guilty of
murder, and during the subsequent penalty phase, the prosecution introduced evidence of a previous
conviction and death sentence. The defendant argued that the admission of the prior death sentence
undermined the jury’s sense of responsibility for determining the death penalty in violation of the
Eighth Amendment. In rejecting the defendant’s argument, the Supreme Court stated, “We do not
believe that the admission of evidence regarding petitioner’s prior death sentence affirmatively
misled the jury regarding its role in the sentencing process so as to diminish its sense of
responsibility.” Id. at 10, 114 S. Ct. at 2010; see also State v. Bell, 302 S.C. 18, 24, 393 S.E.2d 364,
368, cert. denied, 498 U.S. 881, 111 S. Ct. 227(1990) (“[W]e also reject Bell’s argument that the
jurors’ knowledge of the previous death sentence diminished their sense of responsibility in deciding
what sentence to impose.”). Accordingly, the relevant inquiry that this Court must consider is
whether the admission of evidence regarding the Appellant’s prior death sentence so infected the
sentencing process with unfairness as to render the jury’s imposition of the death penalty a denial
of due process.
After review of the record, we conclude that Appellant Rimmer has not established how this
passing reference to “death row” misled the jury regarding its role in the sentencing process or
diminished its sense of responsibility. In reaching this conclusion, this Court is cognizant that the
reference to death row was elicited by the Appellant on direct examination of his mitigation witness.
Appellant Rimmer cannot assert as error an act or omission to which he contributed or in which he
participated in such fashion. Tenn. R. App. P. 36(a). Also, the trial court properly instructed the jury
as to the applicable law. We presume that the jury followed the trial court’s instruction. Applying
these facts, this Court holds that passing references to the fact that the Appellant was previously on
death row did not corrupt his constitutional guarantee to a fair re-sentencing jury. The Appellant is
not entitled to relief on this issue.
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III. Jury Verdict
Appellant Rimmer contends that the jury verdict is incomplete as it fails to contain a finding
that the aggravating circumstance was proven beyond a reasonable doubt. In support of his
argument, Appellant Rimmer quotes the verdict form as follows: “We, the jury, unanimously find
the following listed statutory aggravating circumstance or circumstances.” He asserts that the failure
to reflect that the aggravating circumstance was found beyond a reasonable doubt violates his state
and federal constitutional rights, including that the verdict form permitted the sentence of death to
be imposed on a lower burden of proof than required by statute.
Our supreme court rejected the identical argument in State v. Faulkner, 154 S.W.3d 48(Tenn. 2005). Our supreme court, in doing so, concluded:
The verdict form incorporated the language of Tennessee Code Annotated section 39-
13-204(g)(1)(B) (1997), which provides: “We, the jury, unanimously find the
following listed statutory aggravating circumstance or circumstances . . . .” The
statutory form also omits the burden of proof for establishing aggravating
circumstances.
Regardless of waiver, a similar issue was rejected by this Court recently in State v.
Davidson, 121 S.W.3d 600, 619-20 (Tenn. 2003). We concluded that such an error
can be distinguished from the reversible error in the verdict form in State v. Carter,
988 S.W.2d 145, 152 (Tenn. 1999). See Davidson, 121 S.W.3d at 620. In Carter, the
wrong form was used, and the form was not merely silent as to the burden or proof
but conflicted with the trial court’s instructions regarding the burden. Like Davidson,
the language used in the verdict form in the present case was statutorily mandated,
and the trial court repeatedly and clearly instructed the jury that it must find any
statutory aggravating circumstances beyond a reasonable doubt. We conclude,
therefore, that the failure of the verdict form to recite that the jury found the
aggravating circumstance “beyond a reasonable doubt” did not render the verdict
invalid.
Faulkner, 154 S.W.3d at 61-62. Applying the Faulkner holding to the facts before this Court, we
conclude that the Appellant is not entitled to relief on this issue.
IX. Cumulative Error
Appellant Rimmer, reciting the litany of his alleged errors, asserts that this Court should not
consider in isolation any errors that this Court would deem harmless. He asserts that “individually
and in combination the foregoing errors resulted in an arbitrary and unreliable imposition of the
death penalty.” Because our review of the individually assigned error has concluded errors are either
without merit or harmless, the Appellant’s argument of cumulative error is likewise without merit.
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X. Constitutionality of Death Penalty
Appellant Rimmer next raises numerous challenges to the constitutionality of Tennessee
Code Annotated sections 39-13-204 and 39-13-206. Specifically, Appellant Rimmer argues that (A)
the death sentence is imposed capriciously and arbitrarily; (B) the appellate review process in death
penalty cases is constitutionally inadequate; and (C) lethal injection is cruel and unusual punishment.
A. The Death Sentence Is Imposed Capriciously and Arbitrarily
Appellant Rimmer argues that the death sentence is imposed capriciously and arbitrarily
because (1) the jury is required to unanimously agree to a life verdict in violation of McKoy v. North
Carolina, 494 U.S. 433, 110 S. Ct. 1227 (1990), and Mills v. Maryland, 486 U.S. 367, 108 S. Ct.
1860 (1988); (2) unlimited discretion is vested in the prosecutor as to whether or not to seek the
death penalty; and (3) the death penalty is imposed in a discriminatory manner based upon race,
geography, and gender. Our supreme court has rejected each of these arguments. See Hines, 919
S.W.2d at 582; State v. Brimmer, 876 S.W.2d 75, 87 (Tenn. 1994); Cazes, 875 S.W.2d at 268; State
v. Smith, 857 S.W.2d 1, 23 (Tenn. 1993); State v. Thompson, 768 S.W.2d 239, 250-52 (Tenn. 1989).
These claims are without merit.
B. The Appellate Review Process in Death Penalty Cases Is Constitutionally Inadequate
The Appellant also contends that the appellate review process in death penalty cases is
constitutionally inadequate. Specifically, the appellant contends that the review process is not
“meaningful” and that the statutorily mandated proportionality review violates due process. Both
arguments have been rejected by our supreme court. See Vann, 976 S.W.2d at 118-19; Cazes, 875
S.W.2d at 270-71. Moreover, our supreme court has held that, “[w]hile important as an additional
safeguard against arbitrary or capricious sentencing, comparative proportionality review is not
constitutionally required.” State v. Bland, 958 S.W.2d 651, 663 (Tenn. 1997). Accordingly,
Appellant Rimmer is not entitled to relief on this claim.
C. Lethal Injection is Cruel and Unusual Punishment
Appellant Rimmer contends that lethal injection constitutes cruel and unusual punishment
because the use of Pavulon with sodium pentothal and potassium chloride creates a risk of
unnecessary physical and psychological suffering and because the lethal injection protocol lacks
written provisions or other appropriate safeguards. Our supreme court has recently rejected these
claims in Abu-Ali Abdul ‘Rahman v. Bredesen, 181 S.W.3d 292, 307-310 (Tenn. 2005). While
Appellant acknowledges this ruling, he makes specific challenges as to the validity of our supreme
court’s reasoning. We, as an intermediate appellate court, are bound by the decisions of the
Tennessee Supreme Court as to state and federal constitutional questions. State v. Pendergrass, 13
S.W.3d 389, 397 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1999). Thus, we decline the Appellant’s invitation to revisit
this claim.
XI. Review Pursuant to Section 39-13-206(c), Tennessee Code Annotated
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Pursuant to Tennessee Code Annotated section 39-13-206(c)(1), we are required to
review the application of the death penalty to determine whether
(A) The sentence of death was imposed in any arbitrary fashion;
(B) The evidence supports the jury’s finding of statutory aggravating circumstance
or circumstances;
(C) The evidence supports the jury’s finding that the aggravating circumstance or
circumstances outweigh any mitigating circumstances; and
(D) The sentence of death is excessive or disproportionate to the penalty imposed in
similar cases, considering both the nature of the crime and the defendant.
A. Arbitrariness
Having thoroughly reviewed the record, we conclude that the sentence of death was not
imposed in any arbitrary fashion.
B. Sufficiency of Statutory Aggravating Circumstances Found by Jury
In imposing the death penalty, the jury found the proof supported the (i)(2), prior violent
felony, aggravating factor relied upon by the State. See T.C.A. § 39-13-204(i)(2). During the
penalty phase, the State presented proof that the Appellant was convicted in 1985 of assault with
intent to commit robbery with a deadly weapon and aggravated assault. The proof further revealed
that, in 1989, the Appellant entered guilty pleas to aggravated assault and rape. The jury’s verdict
reflects that it found that the State had proven the presence of the prior violent felony conviction
aggravating factor. The record supports this finding. We conclude that the State’s evidence was
sufficient to establish the (i)(2) aggravating circumstance. See T.C.A. § 39-13-204(i)(2).
C. Totality of Aggravating Factors Applied
With consideration of the evidence before the jury, we conclude that the evidence supports
the jury’s finding that the aggravating circumstance outweighed any mitigating circumstances
beyond a reasonable doubt.
D. Proportionality
This Court is required by Tennessee Code Annotated section 39-13- 206(c)(1)(D) and under
the mandates of Bland, 958 S.W.2d at 661-74, to consider whether the Appellant’s sentence of death
is disproportionate to the penalty imposed in similar cases. See State v. Godsey, 60 S.W.3d 759,
781-82 (Tenn. 2001). The comparative proportionality review “is designed to identify aberrant,
arbitrary, or capricious sentencing.” State v. Stout, 46 S.W.3d 689, 706 (Tenn. 2001). It does this
by determining whether the death penalty in a given case is “‘disproportionate to the punishment
imposed on others convicted of the same crime.’” Bland, 958 S.W.2d at 662 (quoting Pulley v.
Harris, 465 U.S. 37, 43, 104 S. Ct. 871, 876 (1984)). If a case is “‘plainly lacking in circumstances
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consistent with those in cases where the death penalty has been imposed,’ then the sentence is
disproportionate.’” Stout, 46 S.W.3d at 706 (quoting Bland, 958 S.W.2d at 668).
In conducting our proportionality review, this court must compare the present case with cases
involving similar defendants and similar crimes. See id.; see also Terry v. State, 46 S.W.3d 147,
163-64 (Tenn. 2001). We select only from those cases in which a capital sentencing hearing was
actually conducted to determine whether the sentence should be life imprisonment, life imprisonment
without the possibility of parole, or death. See State v. Carruthers, 35 S.W.3d 516, 570 (Tenn.
2000); see also Godsey, 60 S.W.3d at 783.
This Court begins with the presumption that the sentence of death is proportionate with the
crime of first degree murder. See Terry, 46 S.W.3d at 163 (citing State v. Hall, 958 S.W.2d 679, 699
(Tenn. 1997)). This presumption applies only if the sentencing procedures focus discretion on the
“particularized nature of the crime and the particularized characteristics of the individual defendant.”
Id. (quoting McCleskey v. Kemp, 481 U.S. 279, 308, 107 S. Ct. 1756, 1775 (1987) (quoting Gregg
v. Georgia, 428 U.S. 153, 206, 96 S. Ct. 2909, 2940-41 (1976))).
Applying this approach, in comparing this case to other cases in which a defendant was
convicted of the same or similar crime, this Court looks “at the facts and circumstances of the crime,
the characteristics of the defendant, and the aggravating and mitigating factors involved.” See Terry,
46 S.W.3d at 164. Regarding the circumstances of the crime itself, numerous factors are considered,
including the following: (1) the means of death; (2) the manner of death; (3) the motivation for the
killing; (4) the place of death; (5) the victim’s age, physical condition, and psychological condition;
(6) the absence or presence of provocation; (7) the absence or presence of premeditation; (8) the
absence or presence of justification; and (9) the injury to and effect on non-decedent victims. Stout,
46 S.W.3d at 706; see also Terry, 46 S.W.3d at 164. Contemplated within the review are numerous
other factors, including the Appellant’s “(1) prior criminal record; (2) age, race, and gender; (3)
mental, emotional, and physical condition; (4) role in the murder; (5) cooperation with authorities;
(6) level of remorse; (7) knowledge of the victim’s helplessness; and (8) potential for rehabilitation.”
Stout, 46 S.W.3d at 706; Terry, 46 S.W.3d at 164. In completing our review, we remain cognizant
of the fact that “no two cases involve identical circumstances.” Terry, 46 S.W.3d at 164. Thus, our
function is not “to limit our comparison to those cases where a defendant’s death sentence ‘is
perfectly symmetrical,’ but only to ‘identify and to invalidate the aberrant death sentence.’” Id.
(quoting Bland, 958 S.W.2d at 665).
Turning to the instant case, we first acknowledge that a sentence of death has been upheld
where the defendant killed an estranged wife or girlfriend. See, e.g., State v. Ivy, 188 S.W.3d 132(Tenn. 2006) (defendant ambushed estranged girlfriend shooting her five times at close range);
Faulkner, 154 S.W.3d at 148 (defendant beat estranged wife to death with iron skillet); State v.
Keough, 18 S.W.3d 175 (Tenn. 2000) (defendant stabbed estranged wife to death after argument;
death penalty affirmed based on (i)(2) aggravating circumstance); State v. Hall, 8 S.W.3d 593 (Tenn.
1999) (defendant strangled estranged wife to death after assault on her person; death penalty affirmed
based on (i)(5) aggravating circumstance); State v. Smith, 868 S.W.2d 561 (Tenn. 1993) (defendant
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shot estranged wife, slit her throat and stabbed her multiple times; death sentence upheld based upon
(i)(5) and (i)(12); State v. Johnson, 743 S.W.2d 154 (Tenn. 1987) (defendant suffocated wife; death
penalty affirmed based upon (i)(2) and (i)(5) aggravating circumstances); State v. Miller, 674 S.W.2d
279 (Tenn. 1984), on remand, 771 S.W.2d 401 (Tenn. 1989) (defendant beat girlfriend to death with
fists and fire poker, he then stabbed her numerous times; death penalty upheld under (i)(5)
aggravating circumstance).
The death sentence has been upheld based on the sole aggravating circumstance of a prior
violent felony conviction, T.C.A. § 39-13-204(i)(2). See, e.g., State v. McKinney, 74 S.W.3d 291(Tenn. 2002) (prior conviction for aggravated robbery as adult and aggravated assault as juvenile);
State v. Chalmers, 28 S.W.3d 913 (Tenn. 2000) (prior convictions for attempted especially
aggravated robbery and attempted first degree murder); Keough, 18 S.W.3d 184 (prior convictions
for assault with intent to commit voluntary manslaughter and manslaughter); State v. Smith, 993
S.W.2d 6 (Tenn. 1999) (prior convictions for robbery and first degree murder); State v. Boyd, 959
S.W.2d 557 (Tenn. 1998); State v. Adkins, 725 S.W.2d 660 (Tenn. 1987) (prior conviction for
aggravated assault). The prior violent felony factor is an aggravating circumstance that the courts
of this state have described as “more qualitatively persuasive and objectively reliable than others.”
McKinney, 74 S.W.3d at 313; State v. Howell, 868 S.W.2d 238, 261 (Tenn. 1993).
In completing our review, we need not conclude that this case is exactly like prior cases in
every respect, nor must this Court determine that this case is “more or less” like other death penalty
case. Rather, this Court need only identify “aberrant death sentences by analyzing whether a capital
case plainly lacks circumstances similar to those cases in the pool of cases in which a death sentence
has been upheld.” Ivy, 188 S.W.3d at 158. The penalty imposed by the jury in the present case is
clearly not disproportionate to the penalty imposed for similar crimes.
Conclusion
In accordance with the mandate of Tennessee Code Annotated section 39-13-206(c)(1),
Tennessee Code Annotated, and the principles adopted in prior decisions of the Tennessee Supreme
Court, we have considered the entire record in this capital case and determine that the sentence of
death was not imposed in any arbitrary fashion, that the evidence supports the jury’s finding of the
statutory aggravating circumstance, and that the jury’s finding that the aggravating circumstance
outweighed mitigating circumstances beyond a reasonable doubt. T.C.A. § 39-13-206(c)(1)(A)-(C).
A comparative proportionality review, considering both “the nature of the crime and the defendant,”
convinces us that the sentence of death is neither excessive nor disproportionate to the penalty
imposed in similar cases. We conclude that no error exists requiring reversal. Accordingly, the
sentence of death is affirmed.
______________________________
DAVID G. HAYES, JUDGE
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