IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OF TENNESSEE
AT JACKSON
APRIL 1997 SESSION
FILED
August 13, 1998
Cecil Crowson, Jr.
STATE OF TENNESSEE, ) Appellate C ourt Clerk
)
Appellee, ) No. 02C01-9605-CR-00140
)
) Shelby County
v. )
) Honorable Chris Craft, Judge
)
ANTHONY E. RICHARDSON, ) (First degree murder)
)
Appellant. )
For the Appellant: For the Appellee:
Joseph S. Ozment Charles W. Burson
217 Exchange Avenue Attorney General of Tennessee
Memphis, TN 38105 and
Deborah A. Tullis
Assistant Attorney General of Tennessee
450 James Robertson Parkway
Nashville, TN 37243-0493
John W. Pierotti, Jr.
District Attorney General
and
Jerry R. Kitchen
Assistant District Attorney General
201 Poplar Avenue
Memphis, TN 38103
OPINION FILED:____________________
AFFIRMED
Joseph M. Tipton
Judge
OPINION
The defendant, Anthony E. Richardson, appeals as of right from his
conviction by a jury in the Shelby County Criminal Court for first degree murder. The
trial court sentenced the defendant to life imprisonment with the possibility of parole.
On appeal, the defendant presents the following issues:
(1) whether the evidence is sufficient to support the first
degree murder conviction;
(2) whether the trial court erred by not declaring a
mistrial when the prosecutor made biblical references during
his closing argument; and
(3) whether the trial court properly charged the jury with
the flight instruction.
We hold that the evidence is sufficient and that the trial court did not commit reversible
error. We affirm the judgment of the trial court.
This case involves the June 1, 1994, shooting death of Terry Gilliard at
the LeMoyne Gardens Apartments in Memphis, Tennessee. The victim was shot six
times by two individuals. The defendant and Earline Jackson were charged with first
degree murder. Before the defendant's trial, Earline Jackson pled guilty to shooting the
victim, but the record does not reflect the particular offense to which she pled.
Robert Flynn, the victim’s first cousin, testified that he saw the defendant
and the victim arguing on the day of the shooting. Flynn stated that he could not hear
what the two were arguing about. He testified that after the defendant and the victim
stopped arguing, he and the victim walked away. Flynn testified that a few minutes
later, they ran into the defendant. He said that the defendant and the victim started
scuffling and swearing at each other for two or three minutes, but neither one hit the
other. He testified that the defendant ran off, shouting that he would be back.
2
Mr. Flynn testified that he and the victim started walking to his house and
went between two buildings. He said that the defendant jumped out with a gun. Flynn
said that he and the victim ran in different directions and that the defendant chased the
victim. Flynn testified that although he did not see the victim get shot, he saw the
defendant point the gun at the victim and heard a shot fired.
Dorothy Jackson testified that she was sitting under a tree with Rose
Smart, who is the defendant's aunt, and a woman named Linda. She said that Robert
Flynn, the victim, Lee-Lee, who was a friend of the victim, and a young boy came by the
tree. She said that Rose tried to play with the boy, but he did not want to play. Ms.
Jackson testified that the victim said to the boy, "Tell that bitch don't play with you."
She said that the defendant came to her defense and that the defendant argued with
the victim. Ms. Jackson said that she told them not to argue and that Flynn, the victim,
Lee-Lee, and the young boy went one way and the defendant went the other.
Ms. Jackson testified that the victim, Flynn, and Lee-Lee returned. She
said that the victim asked Rose where the defendant was, but none of the women
answered. She testified that she saw the victim go in the same direction that the
defendant had gone earlier. She said that about five or ten minutes later, she saw the
defendant running from the direction that the victim, Flynn, and Lee-Lee had gone. She
said that a few minutes later, the defendant ran back, this time carrying a pistol. Ms.
Jackson said that she heard several gunshots and that she and Linda took the children
into the house.
Ms. Jackson testified that she went to where she heard the gunshots and
that she saw the victim lying on the ground, bleeding. She said that as she went toward
him, Earline Jackson came out and told Lee-Lee to get back. She testified that Earline
Jackson fired one shot at the victim from behind a concrete wall, walked to within ten or
3
fifteen feet of him, and fired twice more. She said that by this time, Lee-Lee had
walked away. She testified that neither the victim nor Lee-Lee had a gun but that when
Flynn came back after the shooting, he had a gun.
Brenda Mack testified that she witnessed the shooting while she was
leaning out her kitchen window. She said that she was speaking to Linda, who was on
the grass below her second floor apartment. She testified that she saw the defendant
shoot the victim once as the victim was running away from the defendant. She testified
that after firing the first shot, the defendant ran away, came back and cursed the victim,
and then shot the victim a second time as he lay on the ground.
Ms. Mack testified that after the defendant ran off the second time, Earline
Jackson came out of her apartment, locked her door, walked down some steps, and
fired a shot at the victim. She said that the first shot missed. She testified that Earline
Jackson moved closer to the victim and shot him twice, once in the leg and again in the
back. Ms. Mack said that the victim was begging for his life.
Frankie Sanford, a thirteen-year-old girl from the neighborhood, testified
that she was riding her bicycle when she saw the defendant shoot the victim in the
back. She said that she saw the defendant shoot once and then she saw a woman
shoot the victim.
Teresa Taylor testified that she was in her kitchen when she heard a
noise outside. She said that she looked out her kitchen window and saw the defendant
chasing and cursing the victim. She testified that the victim got caught in her
clothesline at about the same time that the defendant shot the victim in the back. Ms.
Taylor stated that the defendant shot the victim two more times before he ran away.
Ms. Taylor testified that she saw Dorothy Jackson and Lee-Lee approach the victim
4
after he had been shot. She said that Earline Jackson came out and told Lee-Lee to
get away. She stated that neither the victim nor Lee-Lee had a gun.
Nicole McKinley, the victim's girlfriend, testified that on the day before the
shooting, she was driving the victim's car when she had an accident. She said that she
was returning to her apartment when the car she was driving hit a yellow Cadillac
belonging to Earline Jackson's husband, Vernon. She testified that Vernon and Earline
Jackson had just left the car when she hit it. Ms. McKinley testified that when the victim
got home later that evening, he went to talk to Vernon and Earline Jackson. She said
that he returned about ten minutes later and said everything was resolved.
Ms. McKinley testified that at the time of the shooting, she was hanging
clothes on a line in her backyard. She testified that she heard someone say,
"Somebody been hit," before she saw the defendant chasing the victim and before she
saw and heard the defendant shooting at the victim. She said that the defendant shot
the victim three or four times, the first from about twenty feet and the others from about
twelve feet from the victim. Ms. McKinley testified that Earline Jackson then shot the
victim, got into her car, and left. Ms. McKinley testified that after Earline Jackson left,
she went to the victim, who was trying to say something but could not. Although Ms.
McKinley testified that she did not see Lee-Lee either during or after the shooting, she
stated that she had seen Lee-Lee and Robert Flynn with the victim earlier in the day.
Memphis Police Officer William Harsley testified that he had tagged a gun
found in the yellow Cadillac. Officer Harsley said that the gun contained two live rounds
and four spent casings.
Dr. O'Brien Cleary Smith, Assistant Medical Examiner for Shelby County,
testified that he performed an autopsy on the victim. He stated that he determined that
5
the victim suffered six gunshot wounds, and he identified each one by a letter, A
through F. Dr. Smith said gunshot wound A entered the front of the neck, went through
the victim's windpipe, and fractured a portion of the victim's spine. He said that this
wound, by itself, would have been fatal to the victim.
Dr. Smith testified that gunshot wound B was a superficial wound that
entered at the front of the neck. He stated that gunshot wound C entered the victim's
back. Dr. Smith said that gunshot wound D, by itself, could have been fatal to the
victim. He said that it entered the victim's lower back, went through one kidney, and
punctured his abdominal aorta. Dr. Smith testified gunshot wound E was a grazing
wound to the victim's upper arm. He said that gunshot wound F was a flesh wound and
the bullet had entered the back side of the victim's leg and traveled up his thigh.
Dr. Smith testified that gunshot wounds A and D could have been lethal,
but it was possible for a victim to survive either one with rapid medical intervention. He
could not say whether either wound by itself was certain to be fatal. He testified that
the cause of death was multiple gunshot wounds. He said that he had no way of
determining which wound was the actual cause of death of the victim.
Dr. Smith testified that he recovered five bullets from the body, one for
each wound except gunshot wound E, which was the grazing wound. He said that the
bullets were two different calibers. The parties stipulated that the bullet that caused
gunshot wound D was from the revolver recovered from the yellow Cadillac and the
other four bullets were from another gun that was unknown.
Rose Smart testified that on the day of the shooting she was outside with
Dorothy Jackson and a lady named Montgomery when the victim, Robert Flynn, and a
young boy came by. She said that as they passed by, she spoke to the boy, and the
6
victim told the boy, "Tell that bitch don't speak to you no more." She testified that she
said, "You can't tell me what to do," to which the victim replied, "You keep on talking,
I'm going to dump you on your head like I dumped that bitch around there." She
testified that the defendant had approached them by this time and told the victim, "You
ain't fixing to keep on talking to my auntie like that." She said that the victim and Flynn
turned around and came towards the defendant. She testified that she told the
defendant to leave, and he did. She stated that the victim and Flynn also left, but in the
opposite direction.
Ms. Smart testified that the victim and Flynn returned and that the victim
asked her where the defendant was. She said that the victim said he would see her
later and then he left with Flynn, heading the same way that the defendant had left
earlier. She testified that she saw the defendant come back from that direction and he
was dusty. She said she saw the victim, Flynn, and Lee-Lee following the defendant.
She testified that the defendant then turned and started shooting. She said that at that
point, she ran into a neighbor's house.
Ms. Smart testified that after the shooting stopped, she saw Flynn and
Lee-Lee kneeling near the victim. She said that Flynn had two guns, and he passed
one of them to Lee-Lee. She testified that she did not see Nicole McKinley, but she
heard someone shouting, "Go get Nicole."
Dorothy Jackson testified that she saw Robert Flynn with a gun. She said
that she saw Flynn about five minutes after the defendant shot the victim and while
Earline Jackson was getting into the yellow Cadillac. She testified that he came back
running with a gun in his hand. She said Flynn never got near the body but was pacing
back and forth. She said that Lee-Lee was also there, but she did not see him touch
the victim.
7
The defendant testified that on the day of the shooting, he was outside
with Rose Smart and her friends. He said that the victim came by with Robert Flynn,
Lee-Lee, and a young boy. The defendant testified that he argued with the victim, but
he left when his aunt told him to leave. He testified that he went to pick up a pair of
short pants, and when he returned, he passed by the victim, Flynn, and Lee-Lee. He
said that the victim swung at him, and the two fought.
The defendant testified that after the fight was over and as he was
leaving, the victim threatened him. He said that he was scared and that he went to get
his gun, which he had hidden nearby. He stated that he returned and saw Lee-Lee
pass something to either the victim or Flynn. He testified that although he did not see
any of the others with a gun, he shot because he feared for his life. He denied killing
the victim. He testified that he shot in self-defense. The defendant testified that he did
not shoot the victim in the back, and the victim was still standing after he shot him.
The defendant testified that he ran away after he shot the victim because
he was scared. He stated that he left because he heard other shots and thought that
the victim or his friends were going to come after him. He said that he threw the gun
away after the shooting. He said that two hours after the shooting, he found out that
the victim had died. The defendant testified that he did not wait around for the police to
show up after the shooting because he was afraid that if he remained at the scene with
a gun, he might be shot or get beaten. The defendant stated that five days after the
shooting, he voluntarily turned himself in to the police.
The defendant testified that he had a gun to protect himself. He said that
he lived in an area where others would come to shoot or to harm the residents. He
testified that he had witnessed violence and had seen numerous murders in the area
where he lived. He said that he bought his first gun when he was twelve years old.
8
Verlene Reynolds testified that she was in her house when she heard
shots. She said that she ran outside and saw Earline Jackson shoot the victim. She
stated that after Earline Jackson left, she saw Lee-Lee. She testified that Lee-Lee had
a gun and that she told Lee-Lee that he better get rid of it before the police got there.
She said that the ambulance arrived about thirty-five to forty minutes after the shooting.
I. SUFFICIENCY OF THE EVIDENCE
The defendant contends that the evidence is insufficient to convict him
because his actions were not the cause of the victim's death. He argues that the action
of Earline Jackson was the intervening cause. He asserts that gunshot wound A was
not an absolutely fatal wound and that the victim could have survived if not for gunshot
wound D inflicted by Earline Jackson. He also asserts that Earline Jackson's actions
were not foreseeable and were not events that would naturally flow from his conduct.
The state contends that there is sufficient evidence that the defendant fatally shot the
victim.
Our standard of review when the sufficiency of the evidence is questioned
on appeal is "whether, after viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the
prosecution, any rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the
crime beyond a reasonable doubt." Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 319, 99 S. Ct.
2781, 2789, 61 L. Ed. 2d 560 (1979). This means that we may not reweigh the
evidence, but must presume that the jury has resolved all conflicts in the testimony and
drawn all reasonable inferences from the evidence in favor of the state. See State v.
Sheffield, 676 S.W.2d 542, 547 (Tenn. 1984); State v. Cabbage, 571 S.W.2d 832, 835
(Tenn. 1978). Under this standard, the state is entitled to the strongest legitimate view
of the evidence and all reasonable inferences which may be drawn from it. Cabbage,
571 S.W.2d at 835. That is, the testimony favoring the state is accredited and all
9
conflicts are resolved in favor of the state's theory. See State v. Williams, 657 S.W.2d
405, 410 (Tenn. 1983); State v. Hatchett, 560 S.W.2d 627, 630 (Tenn. 1978).
In order to sustain a criminal conviction for first degree murder, the
evidence must establish that the defendant's actions or conduct caused the victim's
death. Generally, this is established by showing that the victim's death was the natural
and probable result of the defendant's unlawful act. See State v. Barnes, 703 S.W.2d
611, 614-15 (Tenn. 1985); State v. Ruane, 912 S.W.2d 766, 774 (Tenn. Crim. App.
1995). Our court has held that in order to convict a defendant, it is not necessary that
the defendant's act be the sole cause of death nor the most immediate cause of death.
State v. Roberson, 644 S.W.2d 696, 698 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1982). "It is only necessary
that the defendant unlawfully contributed to the death of the deceased." Id.
In Roberson, the defendant was convicted of involuntary manslaughter
when the ninety-year-old man that he beat during a robbery died three weeks after the
beating. Id. at 697-98. The treating physician stated that the immediate cause of death
was bronchial pneumonia, which the victim contracted while in the hospital. Id. The
doctor testified that but for the beating, the victim would not have died of pneumonia.
Id. This court held that the "victim's death was the natural and probable result of the
defendant's unlawful acts." Id. In Barnes, our supreme court noted the holding in
Roberson in determining that the death of a ninety-one-year-old woman, who died of
complications from pneumonia, was directly caused by the man who beat her. Barnes,
703 S.W.2d at 615.
In the light most favorable to the state, the evidence shows that the
defendant caused the death of the victim. The evidence shows through the assistant
medical examiner's testimony that the gunshot wound attributed to the defendant was
10
fatal. The evidence further showed that although there was no way of determining
which wound was the actual cause of death, the assistant medical examiner essentially
attributed death to both gunshots. As the Roberson court noted, the defendant's act
need not be the sole cause of death and a conviction will be upheld if the defendant
unlawfully contributed to the victim's death. 644 S.W.2d at 698. Under these
circumstances, we conclude that a rational trier of fact could find beyond a reasonable
doubt that the defendant caused the death of the victim and was guilty of first degree
murder.
II. BIBLICAL REFERENCES
The defendant contends that the trial court erred by not declaring a
mistrial when the prosecutor cited the Bible in its closing argument. The defendant
argues that the biblical references were improper and prejudicial. The state contends
that the biblical references do not constitute reversible error unless they clearly affected
the jury's verdict.
During the state's rebuttal closing argument, the following occurred:
[PROSECUTOR KITCHEN'S CLOSING]: You know,
the judge is going to charge you the law about flight. But the
good book, ladies and gentlemen, also talks about
someone's flight, the flight of a person.
[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: Your Honor, I'm going to
object and ask to approach the bench.
THE COURT: All right, sir.
[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: I don't know what passage he
is about to read from the Bible, Your Honor, but I would
suggest that saying that God's law should convict this man or
if he is implying anything of that nature, that the good book
says this man, if he runs he is guilty, or the good book says
that he killed this man, I think that is really pushing it.
That is not -- the law is not the Bible, Your Honor. The
law is the law the state of Tennessee has passed by the
Tennessee legislature, and I would suggest that he is treading
on ground that is improper and that he is pulling on their
religious beliefs as to whether or not to convict this man. And
11
I would ask that he put the Bible away and not be allowed to
do that.
THE COURT: Mr. Kitchen.
MR. KITCHEN: Your Honor, I am commenting on the
evidence, and I am bringing in a passage that states that "The
wicked will flee when no man pursueth" --
[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: Your Honor.
MR. KITCHEN: -- "and the righteous will stand as bold
as a lion." That is a comment on flight. That's putting it in
another way. That's all I'm doing --
[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: Your Honor, it's saying --
MR. KITCHEN: -- and I have a right to comment on the
evidence.
[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: -- saying that the Bible, God's
word, God's book says that if you flee you are the wicked, Your
Honor, that is improper.
THE COURT: Let me say this. I think one of the
problems, Mr. Kitchen, is that some of the jurors may think that
the law in the scripture is higher than my law. And I agree with
[defense counsel] that I think we might -- we are treading
reversible grounds here. You can discuss it with them, but I'd
ask you not to read from the Bible as authority.
...
[MR. KITCHEN'S CLOSING]: Ladies and gentlemen,
the wicked will flee --
[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: Your Honor, may I approach
the bench?
THE COURT: Yes, sir. Excuse me, ladies and
gentlemen.
[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: Your Honor, I'm going to move
for a mistrial. They know he got that directly out of that Bible.
He went back and said exactly what he was going to say.
Anybody that has had any reading of the Bible knows that's in
there. They saw him put the Bible down. They saw him
reading it before he said it, Your Honor. I call for -- I would ask
for a mistrial at this time.
THE COURT: That will be denied.
[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: Thank you.
THE COURT [ADDRESSING THE JURY]: Ladies and
gentlemen, just so you will understand what we are doing here,
12
when I told you that the only law that you could get would be
from the Court's instructions, that also means that you cannot
use the Bible or the Talmud or the Torah or any kind of holy
work as law. Regardless of this Court's opinion as to scripture
or whatever else, we can't, since we have separation of church
and state in here, we have to try these cases on the law that is
established by courts rather than law established by holy
works.
Mr. Kitchen can comment to you on what he believes is
true about the world and nature and in the proof. But you are
not in any way to accept some other work as higher authority
for purposes of deciding this case only, than the law the Court
is going to give you.
All right. Mr. Kitchen, you may proceed.
[MR. KITCHEN'S CLOSING]: Ladies and gentlemen,
the judge will charge you about flight which simply says to a
degree that if someone leaves the scene of an incident that
you can take that into consideration as to an inference of the
person's guilt.
"The wicked will flee when no man pursueth, but the
righteous will stand as bold as a lion." What does that mean?
What are you hiding? Why did you throw away the
gun? Why did you hide out for five days? Get your story
straight? See if anybody was going to identify you? Maybe no
one is going to talk because everyone will be too scared
because we live in such a dangerous community.
Our supreme court has recognized that closing argument is a valuable
privilege for both the state and the defense and that counsel is afforded wide latitude in
presenting final argument to the jury. See State v. Cribbs, 967 S.W.2d 773, 783 (Tenn.
1998); State v. Cone, 665 S.W.2d 87, 94 (Tenn. 1984). When a prosecutor's argument
goes beyond the latitude afforded, the test for determining if reversal is required is
whether the impropriety "affected the verdict to the prejudice of the defendant."
Harrington v. State, 215 Tenn. 338, 340, 385 S.W.2d 758, 759 (1965). Factors relevant
to that determination include:
1. The conduct complained of viewed in context and in light of
the facts and circumstances of the case.
2. The curative measures undertaken by the court and the
prosecution.
13
3. The intent of the prosecutor in making the improper
statement.
4. The cumulative effect of the improper conduct and any
other errors in the record.
5. The relative strength or weakness of the case.
Judge v. State, 539 S.W.2d 340, 344 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1976).
In Cribbs, the defendant argued that it was prosecutorial misconduct for
the prosecutor to use the passage, "whatever a man sows, so shall he reap," in his
argument during the sentencing phase. 967 S.W .2d at 783. The court stated, "It is
well-established in Tennessee law that references to biblical passages or religious law
during the course of a criminal trial are inappropriate." Id. at 784. However, the court
concluded that the biblical references did not affect the verdict to the prejudice of the
defendant. Id.
In this case, the state wanted to put the flight instruction into perspective
for the jury. The evidence showed that the defendant left the scene after the shooting.
The defendant testified as to why he left the scene. Without the biblical reference, the
state could properly comment on this evidence and the significance of flight. We note
that the trial court gave a curative instruction to the jury but still permitted the state to
use the biblical passage. We also note that there was overwhelming evidence of the
defendant's guilt. We conclude that the improper argument did not affect the verdict to
the substantive prejudice of the defendant.
We must note, though, that this court has previously reviewed the same
prosecutor for using the Bible and making biblical references during closing argument.
While discussing flight during closing argument in State v. Alfonzo E. Anderson and
Barry Woodley, No. 02C01-9419-CR-00243, Shelby County (Tenn. Crim. App. Sept.
20, 1995), app. denied as to Anderson (Tenn. May 6, 1996), the prosecutor quoted
14
from the Bible and stated, "This is the real law book." Slip op. at 8. After objection, the
trial court instructed the jury that this was just closing argument and that they were to
consider only what they heard in the case. Id. Following the trial judge's admonition,
the prosecutor made another brief reference to the same biblical passage. Id. The
Anderson court held that the prosecutor's conduct did not constitute reversible error
because the prosecutor's comments were limited in scope, the trial court gave a
curative instruction, and the defendant had not shown how he was prejudiced by the
comments.
In this respect, we hasten to add that the fact that we hold the error to be
harmless in the present case should not be taken as precedent for similar improper
argument in the future. We note that Anderson was decided approximately two months
before the trial in the present case began. Our supreme court has stated that “it is
inappropriate for the appellate courts to preside over the creation of a body of ‘harmless
error law’” arising from the continued failure of a trial court to meet procedural
requirements. State v. Gorman, 628 S.W.2d 739, 740 (Tenn. 1982). We believe it to
be similarly inappropriate for a continuing practice of prosecutors using biblical
references during trial. At some point, the need to preserve the integrity of the judicial
process will require that the continued practice not be subject to the harmless error rule.
III. FLIGHT INSTRUCTION
The defendant contends that the rule allowing the jury to hear an
instruction on flight should be reconsidered. He argues that a flight instruction is unduly
prejudicial considering the defendant's age (sixteen years old) and immaturity. Also, he
argues that public policy should favor individuals voluntarily turning themselves in to the
police, particularly when they do so after they have time to reflect on their actions and
only a short time has elapsed after the crime was committed. The jury was charged
with the following instruction on flight:
15
The flight of a person accused of a crime is a
circumstance which, when considered together with all the
facts of the case, may justify an inference of guilt. Flight is the
voluntary withdrawal of oneself for the purpose of evading
arrest or prosecution for the crime charged. Whether the
evidence presented proves beyond a reasonable doubt that
the defendant fled is a question for your determination.
The law makes no nice or refined distinction as to the
manner or method of a flight; it may be open, or it may be a
concealment within the jurisdiction. However, it takes both a
leaving the scene of the difficulty and a subsequent hiding out,
evasion, or concealment in the community, or a leaving of the
community for parts unknown, to constitute flight.
If flight is proved, the fact of flight alone does not allow
you to find that the defendant is guilty of the crime alleged.
However, since flight by a defendant may be caused by a
consciousness of guilt, you may consider the fact of flight, if
flight is so proven, together with all of the other evidence when
you decide the guilt or innocence of the defendant. On the
other hand, an entirely innocent person may take flight and
such flight may be explained by proof offered, or by the facts
and circumstances of the case.
Whether there was flight by the defendant, the reasons
for it, and the weight to be given to it, are questions for you to
determine.
In State v. Smith, 893 S.W.2d 908 (Tenn. 1994), our supreme court
reviewed the effect of a flight instruction when the defendant abandoned a stolen car
filled with stolen goods and remained free for one year. Id. at 918. The defendant
murdered an elderly woman while burglarizing her home. Id. at 911-12. As the
defendant was leaving, the car he took from the victim became stuck in the mud near
the victim's house. Id. at 911. A police officer, responding to another call, noticed the
car as he drove by the area. Id. After the officer returned from the call, he checked the
car and found that the engine was still warm. Id. Our supreme court held that the facts
led to a reasonable inference that the defendant saw the police cruiser drive by with its
lights flashing and abandoned the car stuck in the mud. Id. at 918. The court held that
there was also evidence that the defendant concealed himself. Id. Although not
holding that the flight instruction given was error, the court addressed the issue of the
effect of a flight instruction given in error:
16
Even if an instruction on flight should not have been
given, any error is not reversible. The Court instructed the jury
that whether the Defendant fled was a question solely for their
decision, that they need not infer flight, and that flight alone
was insufficient to prove guilt. This, coupled with the
overwhelming proof of Defendant's guilt, renders any error as
to the flight instruction harmless.
Id.
In the present case, the evidence shows that after the defendant shot the
victim, he left the scene. The evidence also shows that two hours after the shooting,
the defendant knew the victim had died, but he still remained hidden in the community
for five days. We conclude that a flight instruction was warranted.
The defendant argues that the facts and circumstances in this case are
such that the flight instruction should not have been given. He asserts that public policy
should not penalize those that voluntarily turn themselves in to the police. In this case,
the flight instruction pointed out to the jury that innocent persons may take flight, and it
was up to the jury to determine whether there was flight, the reasons for the flight, and
the weight to be given to it. Just as the instruction allowed an inference of guilt from
flight, it also instructed that the evidence, facts, and circumstances may show that an
innocent person may take flight.
The evidence shows that the defendant was young, living in a dangerous
neighborhood, and was scared. The Smith court held that it was up to the jury to
determine the meaning and the weight of this type of evidence. 893 S.W.2d at 918.
We conclude that the flight instruction properly charged the jury with their duty and did
not unduly prejudice the defendant.
In consideration of the foregoing and the record as a whole, we affirm the
defendant's conviction for first degree murder.
17
______________________________
Joseph M. Tipton, Judge
CONCUR:
___________________________
David G. Hayes, Judge
(Not Participating)
William M. Barker, Judge
18