State v. Pervis Payne

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OF TENNESSEE
AT JACKSON
NOVEMBER SESSION, 1997

FILED
PERVIS TYRONE PAYNE, ) January 15, 1998
) No. 02C01-9703-CR-00131
Appellant ) Cecil Crowson, Jr.
) SHELBY COUNTY Appellate C ourt Clerk
vs. )
) Hon. Bernie Weinman, Judge
STATE OF TENNESSEE, )
) (Post-Conviction - Death Penalty)
Appellee ) (Writ of Error Corum Nobis)

For the Appellant: For the Appellee:

Burch, Porter & Johnson John Knox Walkup
J. Brook Lathram Attorney General and Reporter
Les Jones
R. Porter Feild Amy L. Tarkington
130 N. Court Avenue Assistant Attorney General
Memphis, TN 38103 Criminal Justice Division
450 James Robertson Parkway
Nashville, TN 37243-0493

William Gibbons
District Attorney General

Thomas D. Henderson and
Reginald Henderson
Asst. District Attorneys General
Criminal Justice Complex, Suite 301
201 Poplar Street
Memphis, TN 38103

OPINION FILED:

AFFIRMED

David G. Hayes
Judge
 OPINION

In this capital case, the appellant, Pervis Tyrone Payne, appeals as of right

the judgment of the Criminal Court of Shelby County denying his consolidated

petitions for post-conviction relief and writ of error coram nobis. In 1988, the

appellant was convicted of two counts of first degree murder and one count of

assault with intent to commit first degree murder, resulting in the imposition of two

sentences of death and a sentence of thirty years imprisonment. The appellant’s

convictions and sentences were affirmed on direct appeal by both the Tennessee

Supreme Court and the United States Supreme Court.1 See State v. Payne, 791

S.W.2d 10 (Tenn. 1990), judgment affirmed by, 501 U.S. 808, 111 S.Ct. 2597

(1991).

In January, 1992, the appellant filed his original petition for post-conviction

relief. As a result of an interlocutory appeal to our supreme court, the appellant’s

post-conviction hearing was conducted in August, 1996.2 On October 10, 1996, the

trial court denied post-conviction relief. The appellant’s petition for writ of error

coram nobis was denied on January 10, 1997.3

On appeal, the appellant raises the following issues:

I. Whether the State failed to disclose exculpatory evidence in
violation of Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83, 83 S.Ct. 1194 (1963);

II. Whether the appellant was denied the effective assistance of
counsel at trial and on appeal;

1
Certiorari was granted by the United States Supreme Court on the limited issue of the
adm issibility of victim im pact evid ence. Payne v. Tennessee, 501 U.S. 808, 111 S.Ct. 2597
(1991), reh’g denied, 501 U.S. 1277, 112 S.Ct. 28 (1991).

2
The a ppellant w as gran ted an inter locutory ap peal on th e issue o f whethe r the statute
authorizing funds fo r investigative and ex pert serv ices in ca pital cases applied to th e post-
conviction procee ding. Ou r suprem e court fo und in the affirma tive. See Owen s v. State , 908
S.W .2d 923 (Tenn. 1995).

3
Appellant’s petition for writ of error cora m no bis was filed o n June 26, 1992 , with
argument being heard on January 9, 1997.

2
 III. Whether the appellant was denied his right to be free from cruel
and unusual punishment in that the introduction of irrelevant testimony
and a color videotape of the crime scene during the sentencing phase
caused the jury to arbitrarily impose the death penalty;

IV. Whether the appellant was denied his right to confront witnesses
against him at the penalty phase of the trial;

V. Whether the appellant was denied his right to due process when
the prosecutors engaged in gross misconduct during the sentencing
phase of the trial;

VI. Whether the trial court erred in denying the appellant’s Motion to
Suppress or Exclude certain physical evidence and scientific test
results after the State failed to provide timely notice thereof;

VII. Whether the trial court properly instructed the jury; and

VIII. Whether the trial court erred in denying the appellant an
evidentiary hearing on his petition for writ of error coram nobis.

After reviewing the record, we affirm the judgments of the court below.

Background

The proof, as set forth in the supreme court’s decision, Payne, 791 S.W.2d at

11-16, established that Charisse Christopher, age twenty-eight, lived with her two

children, Nicholas, age three and one-half, and Lacie, age two and one half, in the

Hiwassee Apartments in Millington. The appellant’s girlfriend, Bobbie Thomas, lived

in the apartment across the hall from Ms. Christopher’s apartment, and Nancy

Wilson, the resident manager, lived in the downstairs unit directly below the

Christophers.4 On June 27, 1987, the appellant visited Ms. Thomas’ apartment

several times in anticipation of their plans to spend the weekend together. However,

he found no one at home. On one visit, he left his overnight bag and three cans of

Colt 45 malt liquor near the entrance to Ms. Thomas’ apartment.

4
The building in which Ms. Christopher resided consisted of four units, two upstairs and
two downstairs. Each of the upstairs apartments had back doors in the kitchen that led to an
open p orch ov erlookin g the bac k yard. In the center o f the porc h was a meta l stairway lead ing to
the ground. There was also an inside stairway leading to the ground floor hallway and front
entrance to the four-unit building.

3
 While waiting for Ms. Thomas to return, the appellant passed the morning

and early afternoon injecting cocaine and drinking beer. Later, he and a friend

cruised around the area looking at a magazine containing sexually explicit material.

At approximately 3:00 p.m., the appellant returned to the Hiwassee Apartment

complex and entered Ms. Christopher's apartment. At the same time, Nancy Wilson

heard Ms. Christopher screaming, “get out, get out.” The noise briefly subsided and

then began, “horribly loud.” Ms. Wilson called the police after she heard a “blood

curdling scream” from the Christophers’ apartment. A police unit was immediately

dispatched to the Hiwassee Apartments. Meanwhile, although Ms. Wilson noted that

the shouting, screaming, and running upstairs had stopped, she heard footsteps go

into the bathroom, the faucet turned on, and the sound of someone washing up.

The first police officer arrived at the apartments within minutes of the radio

dispatch. Upon arrival, he observed a black man on the second floor landing pick

up an object and come down the stairs. The officer encountered the appellant as he

was leaving the apartment building. He noted that the appellant had “blood all over

him. It looked like he was sweating blood.” The officer confronted the appellant,

who responded, “I’m the complainant.” When the officer asked “What’s going on up

there?” the appellant struck the officer with the overnight bag, dropped his tennis

shoes and started running. The officer pursued him, but the appellant outdistanced

him and disappeared into another apartment complex.

Inside the Christophers’ apartment, the police encountered a horrifying

scene. Blood covered the walls and floor throughout the unit. Ms. Christopher and

her two children were discovered lying on the kitchen floor. Nicholas, despite

abdominal stab wounds that completely penetrated his body, was still breathing.

Ms. Christopher and Lacie were dead. Charisse Christopher had sustained forty-

two direct knife wounds and forty-two defensive wounds on her arms and hands.

The wounds were caused by forty-one separate thrusts of a butcher knife. None of

4
the eighty-four wounds inflicted were individually fatal; rather, the cause of death

was most likely bleeding from all of the wounds. The body of Ms. Christopher was

found lying on her back with her legs fully extended. Her shorts were pushed up on

her legs and a used tampon was found beside the victim’s lifeless body.

Lacie’s body was on the kitchen floor near her mother. She had suffered

nine stab wounds to the chest, abdomen, back, and head. One of the wounds cut

the aorta and would have been rapidly fatal. The murder weapon, a butcher knife,

was found at her feet. The appellant’s baseball cap was recovered from Lacie’s

forearm - her hand and forearm sticking through the opening between the

adjustment strap and the cap material. Three cans of Colt 45 malt liquor, bearing

the appellant’s fingerprints, were found on a small table in the living room. A fourth

empty beer can was on the landing outside the apartment door. The appellant’s

fingerprints were also found on the telephone and counter in the Christophers’

kitchen.

The appellant was apprehended later that day hiding in the attic of the home

of a former girlfriend. As he descended the stairs of the attic, he stated, “Man, I ain’t

killed no woman.” One of the arresting officers remarked that the appellant had a

“wild look about him. His pupils were contracted. He was foaming at the mouth,

saliva. He appeared to be very nervous. He was breathing real rapid.” The

appellant had blood on his body and clothes and several scratches across his chest.

He also was wearing a gold Helbrose wristwatch that had bloodstains on it. It was

later determined that the blood types found on the appellant’s clothing matched the

victims’ blood types. A search of his pockets revealed a packet containing cocaine

residue, a hypodermic syringe wrapper, and a cap from a hypodermic syringe. His

overnight bag, which was found in a nearby dumpster, contained a bloody white

shirt.

5
 Laura Picard was visiting her sister in the same apartment complex that

Saturday afternoon. She was sunbathing in the back yard and heard a noise like a

person moaning coming from the Christophers’ apartment followed by the back door

slamming three or four times, “but it didn’t want to shut. And this hand, a dark-

colored hand with a gold watch, kept trying to shut that back door.”

The medical examiner testified that Ms. Christopher was menstruating and a

specimen from her vagina tested positive for acid phosphatase. He said that result

was consistent with the presence of semen, but not conclusive, absent sperm, and

no sperm was found.

At trial, the appellant took the stand on his own behalf. He testified that he

did not harm any of the Christophers. Rather, he asserted that another man had

raced by him as he was walking up the stairs. When he reached the landing, he

heard a baby crying and a faint call for help and saw the door was ajar. He stated

that, motivated by curiosity, he announced that he was coming in, and entered the

apartment. He described what he saw as follows:

I saw the worst thing I ever saw in my life and like my breath just had--
had tooken--just took out of me. . . . she was looking at me. She had
the knife in her throat with her hand on the knife like she had been
trying to get it out and her mouth was just moving but words had faded
away. And I didn’t know what to do.

He explained that he got blood on his clothes and his person when he pulled the

knife out of Ms. Christopher’s neck and . . . “she reached up and grabbed me and

hold me . . .” The appellant panicked and fled when he heard the police sirens.

During the State’s cross-examination, the appellant made the following admission:

Q. Can you explain why there’s bloodstains on your left leg?
A. Left leg?
Q. Yes, sir.
A. Evidently it probably came--had to come from when she--when she hit
the wall. When she reached up and grabbed me.
Q. When she hit the wall?
A. When she--when she hit--when she hit when I got ready to run up--
when I got ready to vomit.
Q. When she hit the wall she got blood on you?
A. When she splashed. It was blood--a lot of blood on the floor.

6
Q. She got blood on you when she hit the wall. Is that what you said?
A. She hit against the wall when she fell back.
Q. Is that what you said, sir, that she got blood on you when she hit the
wall?
A. I didn’t say she got blood on me when she hit the wall.
Q. Isn’t that what you said just a moment ago, sir?
A. That ain’t--that’s not what I said.

The jury returned guilty verdicts against the appellant on all counts.

During the sentencing phase of the trial, the appellant presented the

testimony of four witnesses. Bobbie Thomas testified that she met the appellant at

church. She stated that he was a very caring person, and that he devoted much

time and attention to her three children. She said that her three children had come

to love him very much. She asserted that the appellant did not drink, nor did he use

drugs, and that it was inconsistent with the appellant’s character to have committed

these crimes. Dr. John Hutson, a clinical psychologist, testified that the appellant’s

scores were verbal IQ 78 and performance IQ 82. Historically, the “mental

retardation” score is considered 75. Based upon these scores, Dr. Hutson found the

appellant “mentally handicapped,” but not “retarded.” He also stated that the

appellant was the most polite prisoner he had ever met. The appellant’s parents

testified that their son, who was twenty years old, had no prior criminal record and

had never been arrested. They also stated that the appellant had no history of

alcohol or drug abuse, he worked with his father as a painter, he was good with

children, and he was a good son.

The State presented the testimony of Charisse Christopher’s mother, who

related the emotional trauma that the double murders had on Nicholas and how he

continues to cry for his mother and sister.

The jury found, as to both the murder of Charisse Christopher and Lacie

Christopher, that the appellant knowingly created a great risk of death to two or

7
more persons other than the victim murdered during his act of murder and that the

murder was especially heinous, atrocious, or cruel in that it involved torture or

depravity of mind. As to the murder of Lacie Christopher, the jury found that the

murder was committed against a person less than twelve years of age and the

appellant was eighteen years of age or older. Finding no mitigating circumstances

sufficiently substantial to outweigh the statutory aggravating circumstances, the jury

sentenced the appellant to death on each of the murder counts.

Post-Conviction Hearing

In post-conviction proceedings, the appellant must prove the allegations

contained in his petition by a preponderance of the evidence. State v. Kerley, 820

S.W.2d 753, 755 (Tenn. Crim. App.), perm. to appeal denied, (Tenn. 1991);

Oliphant v. State, 806 S.W.2d 215, 218 (Tenn. Crim. App.), perm. to appeal denied,

(Tenn. 1991). Findings of fact and conclusions of law made by the trial court are

given the weight of a jury verdict, and, this court is bound by those findings unless

the evidence contained in the record preponderates otherwise. Butler v. State, 789

S.W.2d 898, 899 (Tenn. 1990); Teague v. State, 772 S.W.2d 932, 934 (Tenn. Crim.

App. 1988), cert. denied, 493 U.S. 874, 110 S.Ct. 210 (1989). This court may not

reweigh or reevaluate the evidence or substitute its inferences for those drawn by

the trial court. Questions concerning the credibility of witnesses and the weight and

value to be given their testimony are for resolution by the trial court. Black v. State,

794 S.W.2d 752, 755 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1990).

8
 I. Alleged Brady Violations

Approximately four years after the appellant’s conviction, members of the

appellant’s defense team inspected and reviewed the investigative files of the

Millington Police Department relating to the prosecution of Pervis Tyrone Payne.

The appellant contends that the failure of the State to disclose the following

evidence revealed in the investigative reports was violative of his right to due

process of law. Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. at 83, 83 S.Ct. at 1194: (1) that

Charisse Christopher had a boyfriend who spent the night with her the night before

her murder and (2) that Charisse Christopher had told her children’s babysitter the

night before the murders that she “was having a problem with someone.”

A. Brady v. Maryland

In Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. at 83, 83 S.Ct. at 1194, the United States

Supreme Court held that, in a criminal case, the prosecution has a compelling duty

to furnish the accused with exculpatory evidence pertaining either to the accused’s

guilt or innocence or to the potential punishment that may be imposed. See Bell v.

State, No. 03C01-9210-CR-00364 (Tenn. Crim. App. at Knoxville, Mar. 15, 1995),

perm. to appeal denied, (Tenn. Aug. 28, 1995). Exculpatory evidence under Brady

includes information or statements of witnesses which are favorable to the accused.

See, e.g., McDowell v. Dixon, 858 F.2d 945 (4th Cir. 1988), cert. denied, 489 U.S.

1033, 109 S.Ct. 1172 (1989); State v. Goodman, 643 S.W.2d 375, 379-80 (Tenn.

Crim. App. 1982). Moreover, exculpatory evidence under Brady includes

information which can be used only for impeachment purposes. See Giglio v.

United States, 405 U.S. 150, 154-55, 92 S.Ct. 763, 766 (1972); Workman v. State,

868 S.W.2d 705, 509 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1993), cert. denied, 510 U.S. 1171, 114

S.Ct. 1207 (1994); State v. Davis, 823 S.W.2d 217, 218 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1991).

Failure to reveal exculpatory evidence violates due process where the evidence is

material either to guilt or to punishment, irrespective of the good faith or bad faith of

9
the prosecution. Brady, 373 U.S. at 87, 83 S.Ct. at 1196-97. In order to determine

the materiality of undisclosed information, the reviewing court must ascertain

whether “in [the] absence [of the information] [the defendant] received a fair trial,

understood as a trial resulting in a verdict worthy of confidence.” Kyles v. Whitley,

514 U.S. 419, ---, 115 S.Ct. 1555, 1566 (1995). See also State v. Edgin, 902

S.W.2d 387, 390 (Tenn.), as amended on reh’g, (1995). Thus, in order to prove a

Brady violation, a defendant must show that “the favorable evidence could

reasonably be taken to put the whole case in such a different light as to undermine

confidence in the verdict.” Id.

Before a reviewing court may find a due process violation under Brady, four

prerequisites must be satisfied:

(1) The defendant must have requested the information (unless the
evidence is obviously exculpatory, in which case the State is bound to
release the information whether requested or not);

(2) The State must have suppressed the information;

(3) The information must have been favorable to the accused; and

(4) The information must have been material.

Edgin, 902 S.W.2d at 390. The appellant bears the burden of demonstrating the

elements of this claim by a preponderance of the evidence. See Smith v. State, 757

S.W.2d 14, 19 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1988).

1. Information Regarding Darryl Shanks

At the post-conviction hearing, various witnesses were called to testify as to

their participation in the investigation and trial. Former Millington Police Detective

Sammy B. Wilson, the lead investigator in the Christopher murders, testified that

during his investigation of this case he had occasion to communicate and work with

the district attorney’s office. Detective Wilson kept all notes and reports concerning

this case in a notebook and explained that the district attorney general’s office had

access to this notebook. Included in this notebook were W ilson’s notes from a July

10
1, 1987 telephone conversation with Darryl Shanks, Charisse Christopher’s

boyfriend. The notes revealed that Shanks saw Charisse on the Thursday evening

preceding the murder. Detective Wilson could not recall whether Shanks had said

he had spent the night at Christopher’s apartment.

On November 11, 1992, after the post-conviction hearing had been initiated,

Darryl Shanks signed an affidavit, submitted by the appellant’s post-conviction

investigator, which stated, in part:

The last time I saw Charisse was during the early morning hours of
June 27, 1987. I stopped at her apartment and spent the night with
her, and we had sex. I left the apartment approximately eight hours
before she was killed. I did inform the prosecuting attorney,
Henderson, of this fact.

At the hearing, Shanks testified that when he signed the affidavit he had

misconstrued the inquiry into the nature of his relationship with Charisse. He stated

that he understood his answer to mean that he previously had sexual relations with

Charisse during the course of their relationship, but not on the night preceding her

murder. He revealed that he had been involved in an “on and off” intimate

relationship with Charisse Christopher for the past fourteen years. He stated that he

last saw Charisse alive the night before her murder. He added that he spent the

night at her apartment, however, he averred that they did not have sexual relations

because Charisse was menstruating and because Lacie had a nightmare that

evening and had slept with them in their bed. He maintained that the last time he

and Charisse had intimate relations was approximately two weeks prior to that night.

Jim Garts, the appellant’s trial counsel, testified that this was his first death

penalty case as a defense attorney, however, he stated that he had been practicing

law for over nineteen years, three of which were spent as an assistant district

attorney general. Garts maintained that he made every effort to protect his client’s

constitutional rights. He testified that, because of the odd nature of this case,

motive was an important issue. He conceded that, although the State could not

11
show that a particular person had sexual relations with Ms. Christopher on the day

of the murders, the testimony from two expert witnesses concerning acid

phosphatase found in a sample taken from Ms. Christopher’s vagina was both

significant and lengthy. Garts’ strategy on cross-examination was to show that this

testimony did not prove anything with respect to the appellant. The testimony

revealed that, although acid phosphatase is a good indicator of sexual contact, it

can be found in a person who has not had sex. Garts further testified that, if he had

been provided the information that Darryl Shanks had spent the previous night with

Charisse Christopher, his strategy would have changed. Specifically, he stated that

he would have put Shanks on the stand to show that this expert testimony was “a

smoke screen created by the district attorney’s office.” In other words, if Shanks

had testified that he had sexual intercourse with Charisse the previous night, then it

would have eliminated the State’s expert testimony on phosphatase acid. Even if

Shanks had not testified that he had sex the previous night, Garts would still have

put him on the stand to create a doubt in the jury’s minds as to who was the source

of the acid phosphatase. Garts testified that he filed a Brady request and that the

information regarding Darryl Shanks should have been provided to him.

The State presented the testimony of Tom Henderson, the lead prosecutor in

this case. Henderson did not recall meeting or talking with Darryl Shanks, however,

his case notes reflect the name of “Daryl Starks.” The notes indicate that “Starks”

was Charisse Christopher’s boyfriend and that an investigator was looking for him.

Henderson testified that, because of Garts’ former affiliation with the district

attorney’s office, he had turned over more information to Garts than what was

required. He believed that, if Garts had been given the information that Shanks had

intercourse with Charisse Christopher the night before the murders, Garts would

have used it to explain the acid phosphatase present in Ms. Christopher’s body.

Henderson also stated that, if Shanks had told him that he had sex with Ms.

Christopher the night before the murder, he would have turned the information over

12
to Garts. However, Henderson would not have considered it Brady material if

Shanks had merely told him he had spent the night. Henderson admitted that the

prosecution attempted to show the appellant had attempted to rape Ms. Christopher.

Notwithstanding the State’s effort, however, he felt that the jury rejected this theory

because it did not find the felony murder aggravating circumstance. Moreover, he

felt the strongest evidence indicating rape was the removed tampon and the position

of the victim’s shorts.

Obviously, the State was in possession of information that Darryl Shanks was

the boyfriend of Ms. Christopher. However, as the trial court found, there is not “any

indication that the prosecutors had any information in their possession that would

indicate that Mr. Shanks and Ms. Christopher had sex[ual] relations the night prior to

the murders.” The affidavit signed in 1992 and Shanks testimony at the post-

conviction hearing are irrelevant to our determination of a Brady violation. Our

perspective of the undisclosed information is to be evaluated based upon that

information which would have been available at the time of the non-disclosure.

Thus, our contemporaneous assessment focuses solely on the police investigative

report which reveals that Darryl Shanks, Charisse Christopher’s boyfriend, “saw [the]

victim [the] Thursday nite [sic] [preceding the murders],” and not, as the appellant

argues on appeal, “the night before the murder.” Next, defense counsel filed a

motion requesting exculpatory evidence. However, the motion did not specifically

request the name of the boyfriend of the victim. Thus, the only questions remaining

are whether the evidence is exculpatory, and, if the evidence is exculpatory, whether

the information is material.

The trial court concluded that information revealing Mr. Shanks as the

boyfriend of Ms. Christopher is “not . . . the type of information that the prosecutor

would have a constitutional obligation to disclose. . . .” We agree with the trial court

that the undisclosed material was not exculpatory. We are unpersuaded that,

13
because Shanks spent Thursday night with the victim, Charisse Christopher, prior to

her murder on Saturday afternoon, this fact would have served to weaken the

State’s theory of a sexual motive. Our review focuses, not on speculation or

conjecture, but rather upon those undisputed facts and circumstances surrounding

the murders. The proof does show that, after a period of injecting cocaine, drinking

beer, and looking at sexually stimulating pictures, the appellant entered Ms.

Christopher’s apartment. Upon his leaving her apartment, she was found lying on

her back, a used tampon at her side, her shorts pushed up, and the presence of

acid phosphatase in her vagina. We find from these facts that a rational jury could

have clearly inferred that the attack upon Charisse Christopher was sexually

motivated. Moreover, we conclude that the fact that Shanks spent the night with Ms.

Christopher two days prior to her murder would not have diminished the State’s

theory that the crimes were sexually motivated. Accordingly, we conclude that the

information regarding Darryl Shanks is not favorable, or even relevant, to the guilt or

innocence of the appellant. The appellant has not satisfied his burden of showing

that the undisclosed information is exculpatory. This claim is without merit.

2. Information about Kay Mason

The case notebook of Detective Wilson also contained a note referencing a

conversation, on July 1, 1987, with Kay Mason, Charisse Christopher’s babysitter.

During this conversation, Mason had informed Wilson that Charisse had told her

that she was having a problem with someone. Ms. Christopher related that she

thought she might call the police, but later recanted and said that she would take

care of it herself. A criminal complaint filed by Kay Mason on July 1, 1987, was also

in the notebook. According to the corresponding police report, Mason had received

a telephone call at approximately 9:25 p.m. She did not recognize the caller’s voice

and could not discern the caller’s race. However, she could tell that the caller was

attempting to disguise his voice. The caller said “Do you know what happened to

those children?” He then instructed her to keep her mouth shut and hung up the

14
telephone. Mason told the police officers that relatively few people knew her home

telephone number.

At the hearing, Mason confirmed that, the day prior to the murders, Charisse

Christopher stated that she was having a problem with “someone” or “something.”

She added that “[Charisse] wasn’t upset” about the matter. Additionally, she stated

that, although she had told the police that few people knew her phone number, at

the time she received the telephone call, she was raising money for Nicholas’

medical bills and her phone number was flashed on the television. She added that

the caller threatened her that “if she did not stop raising money, the same thing

would happen to her and her children.” The telephone call was made after the

appellant had been arrested.

Garts testified that, while he also did not receive the information regarding

Kay Mason’s complaint to the police, he was not certain that this information was of

any value. Regardless of its potential worth, Garts maintained that had he been

provided with the information he would have interviewed Kay Mason.

Henderson testified that he could not recall nor did his notes reflect Mason’s

complaint to the police department. However, he stated that, had he known about

Mason’s interview with Detective Wilson and her subsequent complaint, he would

not have disclosed them under Brady. However, he conceded that he would have

wanted to talk with Mason to inquire as to whether the appellant could have been

“the problem” mentioned by Ms. Christopher.

Our examination of the record leads us to the conclusion that (1) the

information was requested and (2) that the information was in the possession of the

State. Again, we are left to ascertain whether the information was indeed

exculpatory, and, if it is exculpatory, whether the information is material.

15
 Regarding these inquiries, the trial court made the following findings:

The Court is of the opinion that the information concerning threats
made to Ms. Mason subsequent to the murders would not serve to
exculpate Mr. Payne. There is no information as to who made these
threats. It would be reasonable to assume that these threats were
made on behalf of Mr. Payne as it would be that they were being made
to protect someone else. As previously stated, Mr. Henderson
indicated that he would have tried to connect them to the petitioner
and Mr. Garts testified to the effect that he did not believe knowledge
of these threats would have been beneficial to his client, though he
would have further investigated them.5

Again, the questioned undisclosed information consists of (1) the

conversation between Charisse Christopher and Kay Mason and (2) the telephone

threats made to Kay Mason after the appellant’s arrest. We fail to find the

challenged information exculpatory. To conclude that the telephone threats were

made by the “real killer” is merely speculative. It is just as possible that the threats

were made on behalf of the appellant. Additionally, regarding the conversation

between Mason and Christopher, defense counsel admitted that not much could be

done with this information. The appellant has failed to carry his burden of showing

that this information was exculpatory. This issue is, likewise, without merit.

B. Conclusion of Brady Challenges

The Tennessee Supreme Court made it clear in Edgin that a criminal

defendant has the burden of proving a Brady violation by a preponderance of the

evidence. Edgin, 902 S.W.2d at 389. The trial court found that the appellant had

failed to carry this burden. We agree. Again, we reiterate that “the Brady rule does

not require a prosecutor to deliver his entire file to defense counsel, but only to

disclose evidence favorable to the accused that, if suppressed, would deprive him of

a fair trial. . . .” State v. Walker, 910 S.W.2d 381, 389 (Tenn. 1995), cert. denied, --

U.S. --, 117 S.Ct. 88 (1996). As we conclude that the challenged information is not

exculpatory, we need not reach the issue of the information’s materiality. This

5
We acknowledge the fact that the trial court did not make specific findings as to Mason’s
conversation with Charisse Christopher the day preceding the murders.

16
challenge is without merit.

II. Ineffective Assistance of Counsel

Next, the appellant contends that he was denied effective representation of

counsel due to his counsel’s: (1) failure to appeal the denial of the appellant’s right

to an impartial jury when jurors were asked whether they could execute him; (2)

failure to present a consistent trial theory throughout the guilt and sentencing phase

of the trial; (3) failure to investigate and present adequate mitigation evidence at the

sentencing phase; (4) failure to object to highly emotional testimony at sentencing

phase; and (5) failure to object to prosecution’s closing argument during sentencing

phase. We note that issues four and five have been previously determined on

direct appeal. The fact that these issues are now couched in terms of ineffective

assistance of counsel is of no consequence. See Overton v. State, 874 S.W.2d 6,

12 (Tenn. 1994) (“to allow every error committed by the trial court to be recast in a

post-conviction petition as an ineffective assistance of counsel allegation would be

to subvert the limited purposes of the post-conviction procedure”).

Additionally, without citation to the record, explanation, or citation to any legal

authority, the appellant lists eight additional allegations of ineffective assistance of

counsel.6 The State submits that these eight additional allegations have been

waived. We agree. None of these claims were argued at the post-conviction

hearing nor was any proof presented. When an appellant fails to articulate reasons

to support a conclusory statement, the issue may be deemed waived. Tenn. R.

App. P. 27(a)(7); State v. McKay, 680 S.W.2d 447, 454 (Tenn. 1984), cert. denied,

6
Specifically, these eight grounds are: (1) failure to adequately investigate the case; (2)
failure to interview certain witnesses and reque st and exam ine certain hospital records; (3) failure
to object to certain irrelevant and inflammatory evidence; (4) failure to object to gross
prosecutorial misconduct during sentencing phase; (5) failure to object to State’s argument that
death penalty serves as a general deterrent; (6) failure to request a continuance for scientific and
physical ev idence; (7 ) failure to pro vide effec tive assista nce on direct app eal; and (8 ) failure to
object to unconstitutional jury instructions.

17
470 U.S. 1034, 105 S.Ct. 1412 (1985). See also Tenn. Ct. Crim. App. R. 10(b);

State v. Campbell, 904 S.W.2d 608, 614 (Tenn. Crim. App.), perm. to appeal

denied, (Tenn. 1995).

Regarding the appellant’s contention that he was denied effective assistance

of counsel based upon trial counsel’s failure to present a consistent theory

throughout the guilt phase and the sentencing phase of the trial, we note that the

appellant fails to explain how trial counsel’s theory was inconsistent and fails to

make appropriate references to the record. Again, an issue may be waived when a

defendant fails to articulate reasons to support a conclusory statement. Tenn. R.

App. P. 27(a)(7); McKay, 680 S.W.2d at 454; Adkins v. State, 911 S.W.2d 334

(Tenn. Crim. App. 1994). Notwithstanding waiver of this issue, the record simply

does not support the appellant’s contention. The defense’s theory at the guilt phase

was that these murders were committed by someone other than the appellant. The

appellant testified that he did not commit these crimes and five witnesses testified

as to the appellant’s reputation for truth and veracity. At the sentencing hearing,

defense counsel presented the testimony of the appellant’s parents and of his

girlfriend, all of whom testified that these murders were completely inconsistent with

the appellant’s character.

Accordingly, our review of the appellant’s Sixth Amendment claim is limited to

two issues:

(1) Whether counsel failed to raise Witherspoon violations on direct
appeal; and

(2) Whether counsel failed to adequately investigate and present
mitigating evidence during the sentencing phase of the trial.
A. Standard for Determining Ineffective Assistance of Counsel

In determining whether the appellant received effective assistance of counsel

as guaranteed by the Sixth Amendment of the United States Constitution and Art. I,

Sec. IX of the Tennessee Constitution, this court must look to whether the

18
performance of trial counsel was within the range of competence demanded of

attorneys in criminal cases. Baxter v. Rose, 523 S.W.2d 930, 936 (Tenn. 1975). To

reverse a conviction on these grounds, the appellant must show, by a

preponderance of the evidence, Taylor v. State, 875 S.W.2d 684, 686 (Tenn. Crim.

App. 1993), perm. to appeal denied, (Tenn. 1994), that counsel's representation

was deficient and that there was prejudice resulting from that deficiency.7 Strickland

v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 686, 104 S.Ct. 2052. 2064 (1984). Unless the

appellate court finds that the evidence preponderates against the factual findings of

the trial court, the findings of the trial court are conclusive on appeal. Butler v.

State, 789 S.W.2d at 899.

Counsel's representation is deficient if the errors were so serious as to

deprive the appellant of representation guaranteed by the Sixth Amendment. Cox v.

State, 880 S.W.2d 713, 717 (Tenn. Crim. App.), perm. to appeal denied, (Tenn.

1994). The deficient representation becomes prejudicial when the appellant is

deprived of a fair trial with a reliable result. Id. However, this court's review may first

look at the prejudice prong of Strickland. If the court finds that the defendant

suffered no prejudice, a deficiency, if any, is considered harmless. Strickland, 466

U.S. at 693, 104 S.Ct. at 2067. Therefore, even if there are attorney errors, in order

to succeed on an ineffectiveness claim, the appellant must show that "there is a

reasonable probability that, but for counsel's unprofessional errors, the result of the

proceeding would have been different." Strickland, 466 U.S. at 693, 104 S.Ct. at

2068.

While the post-conviction court did not address every claim of ineffective

assistance of counsel individually, it made the following findings of facts and

conclusions of law:

7
The Strickland standard has been applied to the right of counsel under Article I, Section
IX of the T ennes see C onstitution. State v. Melson, 772 S.W .2d 417, 4 19 n.2 (T enn.), cert.
denied, 493 U.S. 874, 110 S.Ct. 211 (1989).

19
 The next issue to be determined is the petitioner[’]s claim of ineffective
assistance of counsel. There is an accusation concerning insufficient
psychological evidence presented by the defense at the sentencing
stage of the trial. As heretofore stated, Dr. Baroff testified at the
hearing on this petition that Mr. Payne’s IQ is 78 and he functioned
within the range of a ten or eleven year old. The trial transcript reflects
that Dr. John Hutson testified at the sentencing hearing that he had
evaluated Mr. Payne and determined his IQ was 78. . . . The record
further reveals that Dr. Hutson was examined on his findings on both
direct and cross-examination. This Court does not find a deficiency in
the expert testimony presented by the defense at the sentencing stage
of the trial.

The Court will next consider the character proof put on by the defense
at the sentencing hearing. Other than Dr. Hutson the defense had
three witnesses at the sentencing stage, Bobbie Thomas . . .Bernice
Payne . . .and Carl Payne. . . .

At this hearing the petitioner presented seven character witnesses that
would have been available at trial. The record seems to reveal that
there may have been some concern about the cross-examination of
character witnesses involving allegations of other criminal activity by
the defendant. This Court would note that at this hearing Mr. Garts
was not asked why he limited the number of character witnesses at the
sentencing stage.

“Allegations of ineffective assistance of counsel relating to
matters of trial strategy or tactics do not provide a basis for post-
conviction relief. Counsel has some discretion in conducting the
defense and is entitled to use his best judgment in matters of trial
strategy or tactics. See McBee v. State, 655 S.W.2d 191.”,[sic] (Tenn.
Crim. App. 1984) [sic] Taylor v. State, 814 S.W.2d 374.[sic]

This Court does not find ineffective assistance of counsel because the
trial attorney could have presented more character proof during the
course of the trial. If counsel had presented seven character
witnesses it could have been argued that ten would have been a better
number.

...

The Court finds that the advice given and services rendered by the
defendant’s counsel was within the range of competency demanded
by an attorney in a criminal case and that Mr. Garts’ representation of
the defendant at his trial complied with the requirements set out by the
Supreme Court of Tennessee in Baxter v. Rose . . . .

There were numerous other issues enumerated in the Petition for
Post-Conviction Relief that counsel for the petitioner agrees have
either been ruled upon by the appellate courts or have been waived.

(emphasis added).

1. Failure to Raise Witherspoon Violation on Direct Appeal

20
 The appellant argues that appellate counsel was ineffective for failing to raise

on direct appeal the issue of whether potential jurors were excluded in violation of

the Sixth and Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution and in

violation of Article I, § 6 of the Tennessee Constitution.8 Specifically, the appellant

contends that the State violated the dictates of Witherspoon v. Illinois, 391 U.S. 510,

88 S.Ct. 1770 (1968) and Wainwright v. Witt, 469 U.S. 412, 105 S.Ct. 844 (1985) by

improperly questioning prospective jurors, specifically, prospective jurors Evon

Bentley, Jessie Brown, and Tommie Johnson, during the voir dire stage of the trial,

as to whether they could sentence this specific defendant to death by electrocution.

Thus, the appellant insists that, because the prosecution’s questioning of these

particular jurors violated Witherspoon - Wainwright, resulting in challenges for cause

and dismissal of these jurors, appellate counsel was ineffective for failing to raise

this issue on direct appeal.

A prospective juror may be excluded for cause because of his or her views on

capital punishment when those views would “prevent or substantially impair the

performance of his duties as a juror in accordance with his instructions and his

oath.” Wainwright, 469 U.S. at 424, 105 S.Ct. at 852 (quoting Adams v. Texas, 448

U.S. 38, 45, 100 S.Ct. 2521, 2526 (1980)). The Witherspoon standard was clarified

in Wainwright v. Witt, 469 U.S. at 424, 105 S.Ct. at 852:

That standard is whether the juror’s views would “prevent or
substantially impair the performance of his duties as a juror in
accordance with his instructions and his oath.” We note that, in
addition to dispensing with Witherspoon’s reference to “automatic”
decision making, this standard likewise does not require that a juror’s
bias be proved with “unmistakable clarity.”

The specific question challenged by the appellant was the prosecutor’s

inquiry:

8
W e note tha t the appe llant failed to pre sent an y proof as to this issue at the pos t-
conviction hearing. The trial court, likewise, did not specifically address this issue in its findings of
facts.

21
 Does everybody here believe that if they find this defendant guilty
beyond a reasonable doubt and to a moral certainty of murder in the
first degree, and if you also find that there are aggravating
circumstances and that there are aggravating circumstances not
outweighed by mitigating circumstances, can you and will you
sentence him to death by electrocution? Can you do that? I’m going
to point to you. I’m going to point to you and ask you to answer for
me, please. Will you be able to do that?

(emphasis added). The record reflects that, before asking this question, the

prosecutor prefaced the inquiry with a detailed explanation (five pages of the

transcript) of the trial procedure, jury’s role, and applicable law in the present case.

At trial, this line of inquiry drew an immediate objection by trial counsel which was

followed by the trial court’s extensive voir dire of the potential jurors concerning the

performance of their duties as jurors.

The appellant contends that the emphasized portion of the prosecutor’s

inquiry violated Witherspoon because “a prospective juror cannot be expected to

say in advance of trial whether he would in fact vote for the extreme penalty in the

case before him.” Witherspoon, 391 U.S. at 522, 88 S.Ct. at 1777 footnote 21.

Footnote 21 continues, however, to provide:

We repeat, however, that nothing we say today bears upon the power
of a State to execute a defendant sentenced to death by a jury from
which the only veniremen who were in fact excluded for cause were
those who made unmistakably clear . . . (2) that their attitude toward
the death penalty would prevent them from making an impartial
decision as to the defendant’s guilt.

Id. (emphasis in original). Within this context, we find that, although the question

was improperly couched, the responses of the respective veniremen made it

unmistakably clear that their views on the death penalty would substantially impair

the performance of their duties as jurors. Accordingly, no prejudice is shown.

“[E]xperienced advocates have long ‘emphasized the importance of

winnowing out weaker arguments on appeal and focusing on one central issue if

possible, or at most a few key issues.’” Cooper v. State, 849 S.W.2d 744. 747

22
(Tenn. 1993) (citing Jones v. Barnes, 463 U.S. 745, 751, 103 S.Ct. 3308, 3313

(1983)). As we have determined the substance of the appellant’s claim to be

without merit, we cannot conclude that the failure of appellate counsel to raise this

issue on direct appeal amounted to deficient performance or that counsel’s failure to

raise this issue prejudiced the appellant. See Kimmelman v. Morrison, 477 U.S.

365, 375, 106 S.Ct. 2574, 2583 (1986) (to prevail on ineffectiveness claim involving

counsel’s failure to raise legal issue on appeal, defendant must show that issue has

merit). This claim is without merit.

2. Failure to Investigate and Present Mitigating Proof at Sentencing

The appellant asserts that counsel was ineffective at the sentencing phase

for (1) failing to illicit mitigating evidence from witnesses; (2) failing to properly

interview witnesses prior to testifying; (3) failing to adequately investigate existence

of additional mitigators; (4) failing to present existing psychological evidence of

reasoning skills; and (5) failing to develop and present a comprehensive mitigating

plan.

In response, the State submits that (1) there was a valid strategic reason for

limiting the testimony of the five character witnesses called at the guilt phase

because information concerning the appellant’s bad character and habits would

have detracted from the mitigation character witnesses; (2) the proof and closing

argument presented by trial counsel was exactly the type of character and

background evidence which the appellant now argues should have been presented

through the testimony of more witnesses; and (3) the post-conviction court properly

held that, on a comparison of the expert testimony at the sentencing hearing and at

the post-conviction hearing, there was no deficiency in the expert testimony

23
presented at the penalty phase. Moreover, the State emphasizes, as did the trial

court, that trial counsel was not given the opportunity to explain the choices he

made in the presentation of the appellant’s defense.

A brief summary of mitigation evidence presented during the appellant’s trial

follows: During the guilt phase of the appellant’s trial, trial counsel called William

Brooks, Willie Wright, Vera Wherry, Sidney Thomas, and John Scott to testify that

the appellant had a good reputation for truth and veracity. The record indicates that

the prosecutor attempted to question these witnesses about prior bad acts of the

appellant including his drug use and reputation as a peeping Tom. Then, at the

sentencing phase, the appellant’s girlfriend and his parents testified regarding the

appellant’s general good character, that he was not known to use drugs or alcohol,

his church attendance, and that he was a good worker. The appellant’s father also

testified that the appellant had dropped out of high school in the twelfth grade. Trial

counsel called Dr. Hutson, a clinical psychologist. Dr. Hutson revealed that the

appellant had “a full scale IQ of 78 with a variance of plus or minus three, with a

verbal IQ of 78, plus or minus 3, and a performance IQ of 82, plus or minus 4,” thus,

placing the appellant “approximately one standard deviation below the norm of

average intelligence.” He described the appellant as “somewhat naive” and one of

the most polite individuals he had ever interviewed in jail. During his closing

argument during the sentencing phase, counsel referred to the five character

witnesses who testified at the guilt phase. He also told the jury that “[w]e could call

every person seated back there and they would say essentially the same things

about Pervis and their experiences with Pervis over the years. And you can

consider the support that he has as a mitigating circumstance.”

a. Duties of Counsel In Capital Cases

Our supreme court has observed that there is no legal requirement and no

established practice that the accused must offer evidence at the penalty phase of a

24
capital trial. Melson, 772 S.W.2d at 421. However, mitigating evidence, i.e., any

aspect of the defendant’s character or record that justifies a sentence less than

death, is relevant to sentencing hearing and should be heard. See Zagorski v.

State, No. 01C01-9609-CC-00397 (Tenn. Crim. App. at Nashville, June 6, 1997),

perm. to appeal granted, (Tenn. Nov. 3, 1997) (citing Lockett v. Ohio, 438 U.S. 586,

604-605, 98 S.Ct. 2954, 2964-65 (1978) (plurality opinion); Johnson v. Texas, 509

U.S. 350, 361, 113 S.Ct. 2658, 2666, reh’g denied, 509 U.S. 941, 114 S.Ct. 15

(1993); California v. Brown, 479 U.S. 538, 541, 107 S.Ct. 837, 839 (1987); Eddings

v. Oklahoma, 455 U.S. 104, 113-15, 102 S.Ct. 869, 876-77 (1982)). “[E]vidence

about the defendant’s background and character is relevant because of the belief . .

. that defendants who commit criminal acts that are attributable to a disadvantaged

background, or to emotional and mental problems may be less culpable than

defendants who have no such excuse.” California v. Brown, 479 U.S. at 544, 107

S.Ct. at 841. Thus, although there is no requirement that defense counsel present

mitigating evidence in the sentencing phase of a capital trial, counsel’s duty to

investigate and prepare for a capital trial encompasses both the guilt and sentencing

phases. Goad v. State, 938 S.W.2d 363, 369-70 (Tenn. 1996) (citations omitted).

The extent of the investigation required by counsel regarding such mitigating

evidence depends critically upon information supplied by the defendant. Zagorski,

No. 01C01-9609-CC-00397 (citing Burger v. Kemp, 483 U.S. 776, 795, 107 S.Ct.

3114, 4126 (1987); see also Whitmore v. Lockhart, 8 F.3d 614, 621 (8th Cir. 1993)).

In determining whether or not trial counsel was ineffective for failing to

present mitigating evidence, our supreme court has outlined several factors to

consider in making such an evaluation. First, the reviewing court must analyze the

nature and extent of the mitigating evidence that was available but not presented.

Goad, 938 S.W.2d at 371 (citing Deutscher v. Whitley, 946 F.2d 1443 (9th Cir.

1991); Stephens v. Kemp, 846 F.2d 642 (11th Cir. 1988); Cooper, 847 S.W.2d at

532; Adkins, 911 S.W.2d at 334). Second, the court must determine whether

25
substantially similar mitigating evidence was presented to the jury in either the guilt

or penalty phase of the proceedings. Id. (citing Atkins v. Singeltary, 965 F.2d 952

(11th Cir. 1992); Clozza v. Murray, 913 F.2d 1092 (4th Cir. 990); Melson, 772

S.W.2d at 421)). Third, the court must consider whether there was such strong

evidence of aggravating factors that the mitigating evidence would not have affected

the jury’s determination. Id. (citing Fitzgerald v. Thompson, 943 F.2d 463, 470 (4th

Cir. 1990); Elledge v. Dugger, 823 F.2d 1439 (11th Cir. 1987)).

1. Evidence Available but not Presented

At the post-conviction hearing, four of the five character witnesses who

testified at the guilt phase of the appellant’s trial again testified as to the appellant’s

good reputation and character. Specifically, Sydney Thomas reiterated the

appellant’s attendance at church, the appellant’s musical talents and how the

appellant taught younger children to play the drums. William Brooks, the appellant’s

assistant high school principal, testified regarding the appellant’s leadership role in

high school, including his participation in the band and the glee club. Willie Wright,

the owner of a store in Drummonds, stated that he had extended the appellant credit

on a store account and that the appellant drove Wright’s son to band practice. John

Scott, the principal of Munford High School, explained that the appellant got along

well with all students and was never a disciplinary problem.

Additionally, four other witness who did not testify at the appellant’s trial

testified that they were not interviewed by Garts and would have offered mitigating

testimony on the appellant’s behalf. The appellant’s two sisters described their

relationship with their brother. They testified that he was always involved in their

lives and was very protective. They also mentioned that the appellant was a very

popular young man. Stephanie Robinson testified that the appellant transported

herself and her family to church services. Martha Fain, a guidance counselor at

Munford High School, stated that, although the appellant was not a discipline

26
problem, he sometimes needed extra help in science class.

Additionally, the appellant presented testimony of two expert witnesses.

Gloria Shettles, a mitigation specialist with Inquisitor Incorporated, testified that she

spent approximately sixty hours on this case investigating potential mitigating proof

that was not presented at the appellant’s sentencing hearing. She testified that

“[t]his is probably the easiest investigation I’ve ever done,” because potential

witnesses were easily located. In her opinion, Garts’ investigation was minimal and

very poor. Dr. George Baroff, a clinical psychologist, examined the appellant and

confirmed Dr. Hutson’s evaluation of the appellant, i.e., an IQ of 78, which placed

the appellant in a category of borderline intelligence. However, Dr. Baroff added

that the appellant had the reasoning ability of a ten year old child.

2. Comparison with Evidence Presented

The appellant contends that presentation of this evidence would have shown

that, up until the present offenses, he had been a good person. Initially, we note

that, regarding counsel’s failure to interview all potential mitigation witnesses, “when

the facts that support a certain potential line of defense are generally known to

counsel because of what the defendant has said, the need for further investigation

may be considerably diminished or eliminated altogether.” Stickland v. Washington,

466 U.S. at 691, 104 S.Ct. at 2066. Clearly, the testimony of the non-testifying

mitigating witnesses was merely cumulative of that offered by those character

witnesses called at both the guilt and penalty phase. See Tenn. R. Evid. 403.

Additionally, the testimony of Dr. Baroff merely confirmed that of Dr. Hutson. Id.

Finally, Garts’ closing argument detailed the appellant’s life noting that the appellant

had lived an exemplary life until these crimes had been committed. In almost an

effort to explain his limited presentation of mitigation witnesses, Garts stated in

closing argument:

. . .You have heard from character witnesses from every walk of life. I
just chose five people that have known Pervis all his life. People from

27
 every walk of life, in education, his high school principal. Farthest
thing from anybody’s mind that Pervis could ever do or be accused of
anything like this. . . .

. . . We could call every person seated back there and they would say
essentially the same things about Pervis and their experiences with
Pervis over the year. And you can consider the support that he has as
a mitigating circumstance.

Again, we cannot minimize trial counsel’s obvious concerns that testimony about the

appellant’s character would have opened the door to questions about the appellant’s

alleged bad acts. Absent a showing that counsel’s tactical decision was uninformed

due to inadequate preparation, this court will not second guess the strategic choices

made by trial counsel. See Hellard, 629 S.W.2d at 9.

28
 3. Evidence of Aggravating Factors

The proof of the aggravating circumstances was extremely strong in this

case. As to both murders, the jury found that the appellant knowingly created a great

risk of death to two or more persons other than the victim murdered during his act of

murder and that the murder was especially heinous, atrocious, or cruel in that it

involved torture or depravity of mind. Additionally, regarding the killing of Lacie

Christopher, the jury found that the murder was committed against a person less

than twelve years of age and the defendant was eighteen years of age or older.

The appellant cannot show that a reasonable probability of a different result had the

additional mitigation evidence been introduced. Considering the cumulative nature

of the mitigating evidence in comparison with the strength of the existing aggravating

factors, we conclude that the appellant cannot show that he was prejudiced by the

absence of the additional proof. Stickland, 466 U.S. at 697, 104 S.Ct. at 2069.

After consideration of the appellant’s claims of ineffective assistance of

counsel, we find that (1) trial counsel’s performance was not deficient and (2) no

prejudice enured to the disadvantage of the appellant. This issue is without merit.

Post-Conviction Issues Previously Determined

The appellant concedes that several of his post-conviction claims have been

previously determined on direct appeal by the Tennessee Supreme Court.

Specifically, the following issues have been previously determined by the supreme

court:

(1) that the appellant was denied his right to be free from cruel and
unusual punishment in that the introduction of irrelevant testimony and

a color videotape of the crime scene during the sentencing phase
caused the jury to arbitrarily impose the death penalty, see Payne, 791

29
 S.W.2d at 19-20;

(2) that the State’s argument concerning Nicholas Christopher’s future
desire that the appellant be executed violated his right to confront
witnesses9, see Payne, 791 S.W.2d at 18;

(3) that the appellant was denied his right to due process when the
prosecutors engaged in gross misconduct during the sentencing phase
of the trial, see Payne, 791 S.W.2d at 20;

(4) that the appellant was denied a fair trial because the trial court
denied the appellant’s motion to suppress certain scientific and
physical evidence based upon the State’s failure to provide timely
notice thereof, see Payne, 791 S.W.2d at 16; and

(5) that the trial court failed to properly instruct the jury at the
sentencing hearing, see Payne, 791 S.W.2d at 20-21.

Issues that have been previously determined on direct appeal cannot support a

petition for post-conviction relief and are, therefore, excluded. See Tenn. Code Ann.

§ 40-30-111, -112 (a)(1990)(repealed 1995); State v. Denton, 938 S.W.2d 373, 377

(Tenn. 1996); House v. State, 911 S.W.2d 705, 710 (Tenn. 1995), cert. denied, --

U.S.--, 116 S.Ct. 1685 (1996).

III. Petition for Writ of Error Coram Nobis

The appellant timely filed a petition for writ of error coram nobis based upon

newly discovered evidence, i.e., the testimony of Kay Mason developed at the post-

conviction hearing and the affidavits of John Edward Williams. The appellant

contends that both Mason’s testimony and Williams’ statements identify another

person as the perpetrator . The appellant claims that this newly discovered

information corroborates his testimony that another person was present at the crime

9
On d irect a ppe al, the appe llant a ttack ed th e ver y sam e por tion o f the p rose cuto r’s
argument. The Tennessee Supreme Court concluded that even if the argument was error, it was
harm less beyo nd a rea sonab le doubt. See Payne, 791 S.W.2d at 19. The United States
Supre me C ourt later de termin ed that the argum ent was not a violation of the Eigh th Am endm ent.
See Payne, 501 U.S. at 827, 112 S.Ct. at 2609. To the extent that the appellant did not present
this argum ent in the co ntext of b eing a de nial of a right to c onfron tation, he ha s waived his right to
raise the c laim. See Ten n. Co de A nn. § 40-3 5-11 1, 11 2(b) (1) (“ [a] gro und for re lief is ‘w aived ’ if
the petitioner knowingly and understandingly failed to present it for determination in any
proceedings before a court of competent jurisdiction in which the ground could have been
previous ly presente d”).

30
scene. Essentially, for purposes of the writ of error coram nobis proceedings, the

appellant alleges that Ms. Mason’s testimony was relevant because Charisse

Christopher had told her, shortly before her murder, that she was having a problem

with someone or something, and, because subsequent to Ms. Christopher’s murder,

Ms. Mason received threatening phone calls, which the appellant contends could be

attributable to the actual murderer. The appellant also presented two affidavits of

John Edward Williams. In the first affidavit, Williams stated that he had been

present on several occasions when Charisse Christopher sold cocaine in her

apartment and when she used it in her apartment. He also stated that he had

bought cocaine from her and used it with her. In his second affidavit, Williams

related that, on the afternoon of June 27, 1987, he saw the appellant in front of the

apartment building and then saw the appellant enter the building. He next saw a

black man, who was not the appellant, leave the building, get in a car, and drive

away. Soon after that, he saw the appellant running from the building. Williams

averred that he had seen the unidentified black man with Charisse Christopher on

several occasions, and that sometimes this black man and Charisse were arguing.

In denying the appellant’s request for an evidentiary hearing on the petition

for writ of error coram nobis, the trial court made the following finding:

The Court finds that the information contained in the affidavits of John
Edward Williams coupled with the testimony of Kay Mason, taken as
true, would not have resulted in a different judgment if this evidence
had been presented at trial.

A writ of error coram nobis lies “for subsequently or newly discovered

evidence relating to matters which were litigated at the trial if the judge determines

that such evidence may have resulted in a different judgment, had it been presented

at the trial.” Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-26-105 (1990); State v. Hart, 911 S.W.2d 371,

374 (Tenn. Crim. App.), perm. to appeal denied, (Tenn. 1995). The procedure in

error coram nobis suits is governed by the rules applicable to civil cases to the

extent the civil rules do not conflict with the provisions of Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-26-

31
105. Hart, 911 S.W.2d at 374 (citations omitted). The procedure is almost identical

in nature to a motion for a new trial predicated upon newly discovered evidence. Id.

(citing Teague, 772 S.W.2d at 920). As a practical matter, the only difference is the

time in which the issue must be raised. Id. (footnote omitted).

The petition for writ of error coram nobis must contain:

(a) the grounds and nature of the newly discovered evidence;

(b) why the admissibility of the newly discovered evidence may have
resulted in a different judgment if the evidence had been admitted at
the previous trial;

(c) the appellant “was without fault in failing to present” the newly
discovered evidence at the appropriate time; and

(d) the relief sought by the appellant.

Hart, 911 S.W.2d at 374-375 (citing Tenn. R. Crim. P. 47) (internal citations

omitted). The petition filed by the appellant in the present case satisfies these

requirements.

Additionally, affidavits should be filed in support of the petition or at some

point in time prior to the hearing. Id. at 375 (citations omitted). An affidavit, like the

testimony of a witness, must be relevant, material and germane to the grounds

raised in the petition; and the affiant must have personal knowledge of the

statements contained in the affidavit. Hart, 911 S.W.2d at 375 (citations omitted).

Affidavits which fail to meet these criteria will not justify the granting of an

evidentiary hearing since the information contained in the affidavits, taken as true,

would not entitle the petitioner to relief. Id. (citation omitted). However, if the

affidavits are sufficient and the petition satisfies the above enumerated criteria, the

trial court should not determine the merits of the petition on the strength of the

affidavits alone. Id. (citing Hicks v. State, 571 S.W.2d 849, 854 (Tenn. Crim. App.),

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perm. to appeal denied, (Tenn. 1978)).10

In the present case, the affidavits are sufficient and the petition satisfies the

enumerated criteria. Thus, the better procedure would have been to grant the

appellant an evidentiary hearing on the petition. Nonetheless, we acknowledge that,

before the appellant would be entitled to relief, it must be established that the

subsequently or newly discovered evidence “may have resulted in a different

judgment had it been presented at the trial.” Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-26-105. We

cannot discern the importance of Kay Mason’s testimony in regards to the guilt or

innocence of the appellant. See supra Section I, Brady Issue. Moreover, Williams’

testimony merely corroborates the appellant’s recitation of his version of the facts,

which was contradicted at trial by witnesses for the State. Evidence which is simply

cumulative to other evidence in the record, or serves no other purpose than to

contradict or impeach the evidence adduced during the course of the trial will not

justify the granting of a petition for the writ when the evidence, if introduced would

not have resulted in a different judgment. See Hart, 911 S.W.2d at 375 (internal

citations omitted).

The trial court determined that “[the testimony of Kay Mason and John

Edward Williams] would not change the outcome of the trial.” The decision to grant

or deny a petition for the writ of error coram nobis on the ground of newly discovered

evidence rests within the sound discretion of the trial court. Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-

26-105; Hicks, 911 S.W.2d at 375. Based upon our review of the record and the

facts of this case, the appellant’s “newly discovered evidence” would not have

resulted in a different judgment if the evidence had been admitted in the previous

trial. The proof showed that the appellant, who was covered in blood, was seen by

10
In Hicks v. State , 571 S.W .2d a t 852 , this c ourt, addr ess ing an issue of ne wly
disc over ed ev idenc e rais ed in a mo tion fo r new trial, sa id tha t “[t]o g rant r elief o n aff idavits only
would deny the opposing party an opportunity to test the accuracy or veracity of the information
contained therein by confrontation or by evidence contrary to this assertion.” See Hart, 911
S.W.2d at 375, footnote 2.

33
a police officer as he was leaving the apartment building following the murders. His

fingerprints were throughout the apartment. Three cans of Colt 45 malt liquor were

found on a small table in the Christopher apartment. There was proof that the

appellant purchased this type of beer earlier that day, and the open can of beer had

the appellant’s fingerprints on it. Moreover, Type O blood, that of the victims, was

found on the appellant’s bag, shirts, and shoes, even though he had Type A blood.

The appellant’s own testimony was damning. Incredibly, he testified at trial

that he went into the apartment and found the Christophers. In trying to explain how

he had so much blood on him, the appellant testified that it happened when he

pulled the knife out of Ms. Christopher’s neck. As Ms. Christopher reached for him,

she fell and hit the kitchen wall, splattering him with blood. This, of course, was

after Ms. Christopher had been stabbed forty-one times. The appellant fled the

scene, assaulting a police officer as he ran, and was later found hiding in a friend’s

attic. The appellant’s baseball cap was found intertwined in Lacie’s arm, although

he did not recall his hat falling off. Moreover, we note that the time frame of the

murders virtually precludes any person other than the appellant from committing

these crimes. Witnesses at trial testified that, after they heard screaming from the

upstairs apartment, they saw no one go up or down the stairs. The resident

manager, Wilson, testified that, after the screaming stopped, she heard a person

walk into the bathroom and heard water running. She then heard a person walk

across the floor, slam the door shut and then run down the steps. The police were

on the scene at that point in time with the first officer observing the appellant as he

ran down the stairs covered in blood. There is no question as to the confidence in

the jury’s verdict. Thus, the appellant suffered no prejudice by the trial court’s denial

of an evidentiary hearing. This issue is without merit.

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 V. Conclusion

After a thorough review of the record and the law applicable to the issues

raised herein, we find, regarding the appellant’s petition for post-conviction relief, the

appellant has failed to prove his allegations by a preponderance of the evidence.

Kerley, 820 S.W.2d at 755. Accordingly, we accredit the findings of the trial court in

denying post-conviction relief. Additionally, regarding the petition for writ of error

coram nobis, we conclude that although the better procedure would have permitted

an evidentiary hearing on the issues, the trial court correctly concluded that the “new

evidence” would not have resulted in a different judgment and, thus, the appellant

suffered no prejudice by the court’s denial of an evidentiary hearing. The judgment

of the trial court is affirmed as to both petitions.

The appellant’s sentence of death by electrocution shall be carried out on

April 22, 1998, unless otherwise stayed by an appropriate order.

____________________________________
DAVID G. HAYES, JUDGE

CONCUR:

__________________________________
GARY R. WADE, JUDGE

__________________________________
JOE G. RILEY, JUDGE

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