Robert Page v. State of Tennessee

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OF TENNESSEE

AT JACKSON

Assigned on Briefs August 2, 2011

ROBERT PAGE v. STATE OF TENNESSEE

Direct Appeal from the Criminal Court for Shelby County

No. 99-09509 Chris Craft, Judge

No. W2010-02268-CCA-R3-PC - Filed December 13, 2011

A Shelby County jury convicted the Petitioner, Robert Page, of second degree murder, and

the trial court sentenced him to serve thirty-eight years in the Tennessee Department of

Correction. The Petitioner appealed, and this Court reversed the conviction and remanded

the case for a new trial, concluding that the trial court’s failure to instruct the jury on

facilitation was reversible error. State v. Robert Page, No. W2003-01342-CCA-R3-CD,

2004 WL 3352994, at *16 (Tenn. Crim. App., at Jackson, Aug. 26, 2004). Upon further

review, our Supreme Court reversed the Court of Criminal Appeals judgment concluding that

the failure to instruct on lesser-included offenses in the Petitioner’s case did not constitute

plain error. State v. Page, 184 S.W.3d 223, 226 (Tenn. 2006). The Petitioner filed a petition

for post-conviction relief, which the post-conviction court denied after a hearing. On appeal,

the Petitioner contends that the post-conviction court erred when it dismissed his petition

because he received the ineffective assistance of counsel. After a thorough review of the

record and applicable law, we affirm the post-conviction court’s judgment.

Tenn. R. App. P. 3 Appeal as of Right; Judgment of the Criminal Court Affirmed

R OBERT W. W EDEMEYER, J., delivered the opinion of the Court, in which J ERRY L. S MITH

and C AMILLE R. M CM ULLEN, JJ., joined.

Lance R. Chism, Memphis, Tennessee, for the appellant, Robert Page.

Robert E. Cooper, Jr., Attorney General and Reporter; John H. Bledsoe, Assistant Attorney

General; Amy P. Weirich, District Attorney General; Nicole Germain, Assistant District

Attorney General, for the appellee, State of Tennessee.

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OPINION

I. Facts

A. Trial

This case arises from the Petitioner’s participation in the beating death of Roosevelt

Burgess. Based on this conduct, a Shelby County grand jury indicted the Petitioner for

second degree murder. On direct appeal, our Supreme Court summarized the underlying

facts of the case as follows:

The proof at trial showed that at approximately 10:00 p.m. on April 30,

1999, Officer Jason McDaniel of the Memphis Police Department responded

to a call directing him to the scene of an altercation at Third and Auction

Streets. He found a man lying face down in a vacant parking lot. Other

investigators found numerous bloody sticks and boards surrounding the victim,

Roosevelt Burgess, who had suffered multiple head wounds and was dead on

the scene.

Ms. Carrie Jones testified that her daughter awakened her on the

evening of April 30, 1999, because four men were outside “beating up”

another man. Ms. Jones went outside and talked to one of the men—the

[Petitioner]—to determine what had caused the fight. She asked the men to

stop hitting the victim, but they would not. She stated that all four men were

hitting the victim with planks, and that she saw the victim fall to the ground as

a result of these blows. After the victim fell, all of the men kicked him except

the [Petitioner]. All four men fled the scene before police arrived.

Thomas Deering, M.D., a medical examiner for Davidson and

Williamson counties, testified as an expert forensic pathologist. He performed

an autopsy on the victim and determined that the cause of death was blunt

trauma to the head caused by numerous blows resulting in injury to the brain.

Officer Gary Creasy, Memphis Police Department, testified that on May

2, 1999, the [Petitioner] confessed to his involvement in the beating that

resulted in the death of Burgess. In his confession, which Creasy read into the

record, the [Petitioner] stated that he, together with Lacy Woods, Andy Carr,

and Michael Woods participated in the beating. The [Petitioner] described his

role in the altercation, stating:

I came from the store at Fifth and Mill Streets. When I stopped at

the stop sign, I seen Lacey [sic] and some other dude arguing about

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some money or something. I seen dude when he pulled a box cutter

and tried to stab Lacey [sic] with it. Lacey [sic] was backing up,

looking for something or anything to hit the dude with. Then, me,

Michael and Andy got with Lacey [sic] and started chasing the dude

with the box cutter. We ran to where the dude fell down. I don’t

know the name of the street. I picked up a sign and hit him with it

in the back of the head. Then the sign slipped out of my hand and

Andy Carr picked up the sign and hit him with it. Then, Michael

Woods picked up the stick and hit the dude one time in the head.

Then Michael throwed it down. That’s when Lacey [sic] picked up

the stick and kept on hitting the dude. I don’t know how many

times Lacey [sic] hit him, I think about seven or eight times. Then

I walked off.

Lacy Woods pleaded guilty to second degree murder for his

involvement in the beating and testified at the [Petitioner]’s trial. In Woods’

prior statement to the police, he claimed that he had hit the victim about four

times, using only his fist. He also said that the [Petitioner] had hit the victim

about five or six times with his hands because the victim owed the [Petitioner]

some drugs. At trial, he claimed that some of the information he had

previously given was incorrect because he had been “messed up” the night he

gave the statement. He admitted, however, that he was not drunk the next day

when he signed that same statement. Woods testified that contrary to his prior

statement, he was the one who hit the victim repeatedly with a two by four. He

also testified that the [Petitioner] had tried to break up the fight, and that the

[Petitioner] hit the victim only once with a plastic sign after the victim had

taken a swing at the [Petitioner].

The jury was instructed on second degree murder and the

lesser-included offenses of voluntary manslaughter and reckless homicide.

The [Petitioner] did not request an instruction on facilitation of second degree

murder, and none was given. The jury returned a verdict convicting the

[Petitioner] of second degree murder.

State v. Page, 184 S.W.3d 223, 226-27 (Tenn. 2006). The jury convicted the Petitioner of

second degree murder. The trial court sentenced him to serve thirty-eight years in the

Tennessee Department of Correction.

The Defendant filed a direct appeal, and this Court reversed the Defendant’s

conviction and remanded the case for a new trial, concluding the trial court committed

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reversible error when it omitted a jury instruction on facilitation of second degree murder.

Robert Page, 2004 WL 3352994, at *16, rev’d by Page, 184 S.W.3d at 226. The State

appealed this decision, and the Tennessee Supreme Court subsequently held that, by failing

to request a jury instruction on a lesser-included offense, the Petitioner waived his right to

seek appellate review, and the trial court’s failure to instruct the jury as to facilitation of

second degree murder did not constitute plain error. Page, 184 S.W.3d at 226.

B. Post-Conviction Hearing

The Petitioner filed a petition for post-conviction relief, claiming that he received the

ineffective assistance of counsel. The post-conviction court held an evidentiary hearing

wherein it heard the following evidence:1 Co-Counsel testified that, to his knowledge, neither

he nor Counsel had filed any written motions requesting jury instructions on lesser-included

offenses in the Petitioner’s case. Co-Counsel said that “[a]ny discussion of the jury charges

happened during the trial orally.” Co-Counsel confirmed that the trial court charged the jury

with instructions for second degree murder, voluntary manslaughter and reckless homicide.

When asked why a motion was not filed asking the trial court to charge the jury on

facilitation of second degree murder, Co-Counsel responded that Counsel, as lead counsel

at trial, would better be able to respond to questions on trial strategy. He then went on to say,

“You could see that the defense strategy did involve a self-defense, defense of others issue,

and that was a primary focus based upon the facts that we had presented at trial, and that so

insuring that those were in there, certainly, was the primary focus.”

Co-Counsel testified that “certainly” an attorney wants every lesser included possible

charged, however, “the focus was making sure that the instructions [ ] fit the facts that were

presented at trial and the strategy of the defense.” Co-Counsel said that the defense strategy

in the Petitioner’s case was self-defense and defense of others. He explained, “I would say

that when you choose certain defense strategies, then you present a case in a certain light that

[ ] doesn’t necessarily go both ways. You can’t necessarily say [ ] it is facilitation, but [ ],

no. It is really he is acting in a defense of others, defense of himself.” Upon further

questioning, Co-Counsel said, “[O]ur defense strategy was focused on what [the Petitioner]

had told us, what the facts told us, and it was more focused along the lines of defense of

others, self-defense, that would have acquitted him at end result, not wound up as a lesser-

included charge. And I certainly can state that I feel like the stance from the defense was

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In his petition for post-conviction relief, the Petitioner alleged several issues in which he

asserted Counsel was ineffective. On appeal, however, he maintains only that Counsel failed to request an

instruction on facilitation of second degree murder as a lesser-included offense of second-degree murder.

As such, we omit claims asserted within the petition for post-conviction relief and testimony concerning

allegations of ineffectiveness that the Petitioner does not maintain on appeal.

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focused on what [the Petitioner] directed us that this was not something that he started and

that was really the focus.”

Counsel testified that he made a strategic decision that he did not want any lesser-

included offenses instructed because the defense theory of the case was that the Petitioner

did not murder the victim. Counsel said, “Strategy changes with each little nuance that

happens. My strategy changed to the point where we had to argue just second degree murder,

and that is what we did.” Counsel explained that a co-defendant in this case testified at trial

that he murdered the victim and not the Petitioner so a request for a lesser-included charge

would have been inconsistent with the theory Counsel presented to the jury.

Based upon this testimony, the post-conviction court denied post-conviction relief.

It is from this judgment that the Petitioner now appeals.

II. Analysis

On appeal, the Petitioner contends the post-conviction court erred when it dismissed

his petition because Counsel and Co-Counsel failed to properly request that the trial court

instruct the jury on the lesser-included offense of facilitation of second-degree murder. The

State responds that because the Petitioner failed to show deficient performance, the trial court

properly denied the Petitioner post-conviction relief.

In order to obtain post-conviction relief, a petitioner must show that his or her

conviction or sentence is void or voidable because of the abridgment of a constitutional right.

T.C.A. § 40-30-103 (2006). The petitioner bears the burden of proving factual allegations

in the petition for post-conviction relief by clear and convincing evidence. T.C.A. § 40-30-

110(f) (2006). Upon our review, the trial judge’s findings of fact are given the effect and

weight of a jury verdict, and this Court is “bound by the trial judge’s findings of fact unless

we conclude that the evidence contained in the record preponderates against the judgment

entered in the cause.” Black v. State, 794 S.W.2d 752, 755 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1990). Thus,

this Court will not re-weigh or re-evaluate the evidence below; all questions concerning the

credibility of witnesses, the weight and value to be given their testimony and the factual

issues raised by the evidence are to be resolved by the trial court judge, not the appellate

courts. Momon v. State, 18 S.W.3d 152, 156 (Tenn. 1999); Henley v. State, 960 S.W.2d 572,

578-79 (Tenn. 1997). A post-conviction court’s conclusions of law, however, are subject to

a purely de novo review by this Court, with no presumption of correctness. Fields v. State,

40 S.W.3d 450, 457 (Tenn. 2001).

The right of a criminally accused to representation is guaranteed by both the Sixth

Amendment to the United States Constitution and article I, section 9, of the Tennessee

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Constitution. State v. White, 114 S.W.3d 469, 475 (Tenn. 2003); State v. Burns, 6 S.W.3d

453, 461 (Tenn. 1999); Baxter v. Rose, 523 S.W.2d 930, 936 (Tenn. 1975). The following

two-prong test directs a court’s evaluation of a claim for ineffectiveness:

First, the [petitioner] must show that counsel’s performance was deficient.

This requires showing that counsel made errors so serious that counsel was not

functioning as the “counsel” guaranteed the [petitioner] by the Sixth

Amendment. Second, the [petitioner] must show that the deficient

performance prejudiced the defense. This requires showing that counsel’s

errors were so serious as to deprive the [petitioner] of a fair trial, a trial whose

result is reliable. Unless a [petitioner] makes both showings, it cannot be said

that the conviction or death sentence resulted from a breakdown in the

adversary process that renders the result unreliable.

Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687 (1984); State v. Melson, 772 S.W.2d 417, 419

(Tenn. 1989).

In reviewing a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel, this Court must determine

whether the advice given or services rendered by the attorney are within the range of

competence demanded of attorneys in criminal cases. Baxter, 523 S.W.2d at 936. To prevail

on a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel, a petitioner must show that “counsel’s

representation fell below an objective standard of reasonableness.” House v. State, 44

S.W.3d 508, 515 (Tenn. 2001) (citing Strickland, 466 U.S. at 688).

When evaluating an ineffective assistance of counsel claim, the reviewing court

should judge the attorney’s performance within the context of the case as a whole, taking into

account all relevant circumstances. Strickland, 466 U.S. at 690; State v. Mitchell, 753

S.W.2d 148, 149 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1988). The reviewing court must evaluate the

questionable conduct from the attorney’s perspective at the time. Strickland, 466 U.S. at 690;

Hellard v. State, 629 S.W.2d 4, 9 (Tenn. 1982). In doing so, the reviewing court must be

highly deferential and “should indulge a strong presumption that counsel’s conduct falls

within the wide range of reasonable professional assistance.” Burns, 6 S.W.3d at 462.

Finally, we note that a defendant in a criminal case is not entitled to perfect representation,

only constitutionally adequate representation. Denton v. State, 945 S.W.2d 793, 796 (Tenn.

Crim. App. 1996). In other words, “in considering claims of ineffective assistance of

counsel, ‘we address not what is prudent or appropriate, but only what is constitutionally

compelled.’” Burger v. Kemp, 483 U.S. 776, 794 (1987) (quoting United States v. Cronic,

466 U.S. 648, 665 n.38 (1984)). Counsel should not be deemed to have been ineffective

merely because a different procedure or strategy might have produced a different result.

Williams v. State, 599 S.W.2d 276, 279-80 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1980). “The fact that a

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particular strategy or tactic failed or hurt the defense does not, standing alone, establish

unreasonable representation. However, deference to matters of strategy and tactical choices

applies only if the choices are informed ones based upon adequate preparation.” House, 44

S.W.3d at 515 (quoting Goad v. State, 938 S.W.2d 363, 369 (Tenn. 1996)).

If the petitioner shows that counsel’s representation fell below a reasonable standard,

then the petitioner must satisfy the prejudice prong of the Strickland test by demonstrating

“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 694; Nichols v. State, 90

S.W.3d 576, 587 (Tenn. 2002). This reasonable probability must be “sufficient to undermine

confidence in the outcome.” Strickland, 466 U.S. at 694; Harris v. State, 875 S.W.2d 662,

665 (Tenn. 1994).

In its order denying the Petitioner relief on this issue, the post-conviction court made

the following findings:

As the defense strategy was to have the [P]etitioner exonerated entirely by the

testimony of a co-defendant and the presence of the box cutter tagged and

preserved by the police, attributed to the victim, this court cannot say this was

an unreasonable strategy. As a Range II Multiple Offender, the [P]etitioner

would be looking at a sentence of between 12 and 20 years if he were

convicted of facilitation, and it was [ ] a reasonable decision, given the co-

defendant’s testimony, to attempt an acquittal instead.

....

This court finds that this tactical decision was not below “the range of

competence demanded of attorneys in criminal cases.” Baxter v. Rose, 523

S.W.2d 930, 936 (Tenn. 1975), and has determined that the [P]etitioner

deserves no relief.

The evidence in this case does not preponderate against the trial court’s findings on

this matter. Both Counsel and Co-Counsel testified at the post-conviction hearing that the

defense stance at trial was that the Petitioner did not kill the victim. One of the co-

defendants in the case testified on the Petitioner’s behalf in this respect. Further, evidence

of the victim’s box-cutter was introduced as a basis for a self-defense or a defense of others

defense. Counsel testified that it was a strategic decision not to request the lesser-included

offense of facilitation of second degree murder because it undercut their theory that the

Petitioner did not commit the murder and acted in self-defense or in defense of Lacy.

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The Petitioner relies upon Montea Wilson (a.k.a. Marcus Floyd) v. State, No. W2008-

02439-CCA-R3-PC, 2010 WL 3822934 (Tenn Crim. App., at Jackson, Sept. 30, 2010) no

perm. app. filed, for the premise that, even though the decision not to request a lesser-

included charge is strategic, it may still be ineffective representation. At the time of the

defendant’s trial in Montea Wilson the law placed a mandatory duty on trial courts to instruct

the jury on lesser included offenses. The defendant was charged with felony murder and his

trial attorney did not request that the trial court instruct the jury on the lesser-included offense

of second degree murder. As to this issue, this Court stated as follows:

Trial counsel, though not obligated to request the instruction, was deficient in

failing to request an instruction on second degree murder and in failing to

preserve the issue for appeal.

....

The transcript from the post-conviction hearing shows that trial counsel

may have made strategic decision not to ask for the instruction; however,

this does not relieve counsel’s obligation to preserve the issue in a motion

for new trial for appellate review.

Montea Wilson, 2010 WL 3822934, at * 14-15. Unlike in the Montea Wilson case, the post-

conviction hearing does not show that Counsel “may have made a strategic decision” but

rather Counsel stated he made a strategic decision not to request the instruction because it

undercut the defense’s theory and evidence presented that the Petitioner did not murder the

victim. Further, in this case, Counsel did preserve the issue for appeal. See Robert Page,

2004 WL 3352994, at *16.

The Petitioner also recognizes Carl Anthony Watson v. State, No. W2005-02324-

CCA-R3-PC, 2007 WL 1215057 (Tenn. Crim. App., at Jackson, Apr. 20, 2007), perm. app.

denied (Tenn. Aug. 13, 2007), wherein this Court approved of a trial counsel’s strategic

decision to not request a jury instruction on a lesser-included offense because it was

inconsistent with the defense theory at trial. Specifically, the Court noted that it, “would be

illogical to conclude that [c]ounsel was deficient because he did not demand that something

occur which, in his strategic opinion, would be detrimental to the defense of his client.” Id.

at *5. The Petitioner attempts to distinguish Carl Anthony Watson from his case on the basis

that Counsel’s defense theory was not “all or nothing.” Counsel agreed that the Petitioner

hit the victim in this case, whereas in Carl Anthony Watson the defendant claimed he never

touched the victim. This distinction is not significant as it relates to this issue. In the present

case, the Petitioner admitted he hit the victim one time in self-defense. Although admitting

he hit the victim one time, the defense theory that he was acting in self-defense would be

undercut by a jury instruction on facilitation of second degree murder.

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Accordingly, the evidence in the record does not preponderate against the trial court’s

finding that Counsel was not deficient in this respect. Thus, the Petitioner is not entitled to

relief.

III. Conclusion

After a thorough review of the record and relevant authorities, we conclude that the

post-conviction court properly denied post-conviction relief. Accordingly, we affirm the

judgment of the post-conviction court.

_________________________________

ROBERT W. WEDEMEYER, JUDGE

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