The opinion
IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OF TENNESSEE
AT NASHVILLE
April 21, 2010 Session
STATE OF TENNESSEE V. RODRICKUS CARLOS JEFFERSON
Direct Appeal from the Criminal Court for Davidson County
No. 2007-B-886 Mark J. Fishburn, Judge
No. M2009-01279-CCA-R3-CD - Filed May 10, 2011
Following a jury trial, Defendant, Rodrickus Carlos Jefferson, was convicted of first degree
premeditated murder and sentenced to life imprisonment with the possibility of parole. On
appeal, Defendant argues: (1) that the evidence is insufficient to support his conviction; (2)
that the trial court erred in allowing him to represent himself; and (3) the trial court erred in
failing to instruct the jury on self-defense. After a thorough review of the record, we affirm
the judgment of the trial court.
Tenn. R. App. P. 3 Appeal as of Right; Judgment of the Criminal Court Affirmed
T HOMAS T. W OODALL, J., delivered the opinion of the Court, in which D AVID H. W ELLES and
J OHN E VERETT W ILLIAMS, JJ., joined.
Peter D. Heil, Nashville, Tennessee (on appeal) and Mark Anthony Kovach, Nashville,
Tennessee (at trial) for the appellant, Rodrickus Carlos Jefferson.
Robert E. Cooper, Jr., Attorney General and Reporter; Brent C. Cherry, Senior Counsel,
Victor S. (Torry) Johnson, III, District Attorney General; Sarah Davis, Assistant District
Attorney General; and Janice Norman, Assistant District Attorney General, for the appellee,
the State of Tennessee.
OPINION
I. Background
During the early morning hours of January 14, 2007, the victim, Antonio Greer, was
shot while in the back room of a house located at 1917 Cephas Street in Nashville. Pamela
Jenkins Butler, the owner of the house, testified that prior to the shooting, she was in her
bedroom playing poker with Pamela Key. Ms. Butler admitted that many people went in and
out of her house and that “drugs, prostitution, whatever,” went on in the residence. She also
admitted that she had been using crack cocaine at the time of the shooting. Ms. Butler
testified that Defendant sold powder cocaine and occasionally “hung out” at her house.
Ms. Butler testified that Defendant, Fred Ewing, the victim, Eric Fleming, and Ms.
Butler’s boyfriend, Chaston Donta Nix, were at the residence before the shooting. At some
point, she looked out the window and saw Defendant and the victim arguing outside. She
thought that the argument concerned guns, and Mr. Fleming was trying to get the two men
to compromise. She did not see a weapon at that time. Ms. Butler then saw Defendant, the
victim, and Mr. Fleming walk back into the house and into the back room. Ms. Butler
testified that she later heard a gunshot as she was standing in the doorway of her bedroom,
and Pamela Key ran past her yelling, “he shot the boy in the head.” She said that Ms. Key
ran to the front door, but had a hard time opening it because there were some glasses behind
the door, and it would not open very wide. Others ran past Ms. Butler, and she ran into her
bedroom. Ms. Butler said that she saw Defendant run out of the back room and to the side
door. He had a gun his right hand, and he had to move a chair and a stick that he had placed
against the door earlier in the week to get out of the house. By that time, Ms. Butler had
called police and thought that she told them that Defendant had a gun. She did not believe
that she initially told police that Mr. Fleming was in the house at the time of the shooting.
Ms. Butler testified that at some time prior to the shooting, she had seen Mr. Fleming
standing in the back room beside a chest where the video game console was located. She
could not see Defendant. She thought that Mr. Nix was in the living room at the time, and
Mr. Ewing was near the bathroom.
On cross-examination, Ms. Butler testified that a couch and a shelf with glasses were
behind her front door. She admitted that she initially lied to police because she did not want
anyone to get in trouble, but she later decided to tell the truth. Ms. Butler testified that she
told police that “somebody had ran in behind this guy and shot him trying to rob him.” She
did not report a home invasion.
Pamela Key testified that prior to the shooting, she gave the victim two or three
dollars to give her a ride to Ms. Butler’s house to play cards and smoke crack cocaine. When
they arrived, she and the victim both went inside. Ms. Key testified that while she and Ms.
Butler were playing cards in Ms. Butler’s bedroom, she heard Mr. Fleming say, “no, no,
don’t do that, don’t do that.” She then walked to the back room and asked what was going
on, and the victim indicated that he was okay. Ms. Key testified that she and Ms. Butler
continued playing cards, and when they were finished, she walked back into the room and
asked the victim if he was ready to leave. She said that the victim, who was sitting on the
couch, indicated that he needed to drive Defendant somewhere. She and Mr. Fleming, her
former boyfriend, then began arguing about where she purchased her drugs. Neither the
victim nor the Defendant were involved in the argument. Ms. Key testified that she said,
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“Man, this shit crazy, ain’t it,” and when the victim indicated that he agreed with her,
Defendant shot him in the face at close range.
Ms. Key testified that she waited until Defendant ran out the back door, and she ran
out the front door of the house yelling that Defendant had killed the “boy.” She then ran to
a friend’s house and told them to call police because “a boy” had been killed at Ms. Butler’s
house. She did not know the victim’s name at the time. Ms. Key testified that some time
after the shooting, she was approached by Lisa Bridges, who was her cousin and Defendant’s
girlfriend, about the shooting. She said that Ms. Bridges told her that the victim had been
shot three times and that Ms. Key was lying about him being shot one time. Ms. Key testified
that Ms. Bridges also gave her twenty dollars and told her to keep her “mouth closed.”
Chaston Nix testified that he arrived at Ms. Butler’s house around 4:00 or 5:00 p.m.
on January 13, 2007. He was there for a while and then Pamela Key and the victim arrived.
Mr. Nix testified that he left the residence a couple of times, and when he returned, Eric
Fleming, Fred Ewing, and Defendant were there. Mr. Nix testified that at some point, he and
the victim walked out of the house and were talking to some people outside. He said that the
victim gave him the keys to his car, and asked Mr. Nix to drive over to 12th Street and pick
up his brother, Dominique. When Mr. Nix arrived at the residence, Dominique’s mother
informed him that Dominique was not home. Mr. Nix testified that he drove back to Cephas
Street, and the victim was still outside talking. He then returned the victim’s keys to him.
Mr. Nix testified that he had previously asked the victim to drive him to a store, and he asked
the victim a second time; however, the victim indicated that he was waiting on something.
Mr. Nix then walked up the street and “caught” a ride to a store at Metro Center.
Mr. Nix testified that when he returned from the store, he walked in the side door of
the house and saw Defendant standing in the doorway of the back room. The victim was
sitting on the couch, and Eric Fleming was also in the room. Ms. Butler and Ms. Key were
in Ms. Butler’s room playing cards. Mr. Nix testified that Defendant asked him for some
tissue, and when Mr. Nix refused get it, Mr. Ewing went to the bathroom to get it for him.
Mr. Nix said that as he was sitting in the living room drinking beer and smoking cigarettes,
he heard some glass breaking and a gunshot. He then heard Ms. Key scream “that boy shot
him or something, in the face or something like that.” Mr. Nix testified that he, Ms. Key, and
Mr. Ewing all ran to the front door and were trying to get out of the house. He did not see
anyone else leave the house. Mr. Nix testified that he went back in the house to check on
Ms. Butler and saw the victim “slanted over on the couch.” He then ran to the house on 12 th
Street and told Dominique and his mother what happened. Mr. Nix and Dominique then
returned to Ms. Butler’s house. They later spoke with detectives.
Fred Ewing testified that he was at Ms. Butler’s house on January 14, 2007, to find
crack cocaine. When he first arrived, some men were standing in the yard, and he went
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inside the house to speak with Ms. Butler. Mr. Ewing testified that while he was in the
house, Defendant asked a man two or three times for some toilet paper. He said that the man
did not “move,” so Mr. Ewing volunteered to get the toilet paper for Defendant. As he was
returning from the bathroom, Mr. Ewing testified that he heard a gunshot. He said:
I tried to get out the front door but I couldn’t and I had to go back and tried to
get out and I said forget it everybody was on my back when I was trying to get
out the front door and I said I will just go out the side door then I just went out
the side door and went around the block and sat down.
Mr. Ewing did not know who all was in the house at the time of the shooting. He said that
before the shooting, he heard someone say “what is all of this stuff or something that you
have been talking” or something similar to that. Mr. Ewing testified that Defendant did not
seem to be arguing with anyone before the shooting and that “it just popped off so fast that
you wouldn’t believe it.” He said that the side door of the house was already open when he
ran out. Mr. Ewing testified that he was eventually interviewed by police and identified
Defendant from a photographic line-up.
Officers John Roberson and Atif Williams of the Metropolitan Nashville Police
Department, North Crime Suppression Unit, responded to the shooting on January 14, 2007,
around 3:45 a.m. There were several people standing on the porch when the officers arrived,
and they were informed that “the dude that had been shot was in the back bedroom.” The
front door was open, and the officers went inside to clear the house. Pamela Jenkins [Butler]
was in a bedroom to the left yelling and “ranting and raving.” The officers also noticed that
the side door of the residence was open. They found the victim in the back room sitting on
the couch with his feet on what appeared to be a small dresser. A video game controller was
still in his hand, and there was bloody money at his feet. Officer Roberson then set up a
perimeter around the house, and Officer Williams secured Ms. Butler in his patrol car.
Officer Williams testified that Dominique Wallace walked up to the scene with Chaston Nix
and said that the victim was his brother-in-law and that Defendant shot him.
Officer Lynette Mace of the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department, ID Unit,
testified that she and Officer William Fleak processed the scene on January 14, 2007.
Officer Mace testified that she was assigned to photograph the residence, and she processed
the scene for fingerprints. She saw the victim in a back room lying back on the couch with
his feet propped on a table that was partially overturned. It appeared that he had been
playing a football video game, and there was some money on the floor in the doorway
leading “from the kitchen from the rear room, that had what appeared to be blood on it.”
Officer Mace testified that she collected a liquor bottle, a spent shell casing, and two game
controllers. She said that there was a large couch partially blocking the front door of the
residence, and there was what appeared to be a crack pipe and some lighters in the first
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bedroom that were collected by patrol officers. Electronic scales and a white rock substance
in a baggy were also collected. Officer Warren Fleak testified that he diagramed the scene,
and he also processed the scene for fingerprints. One of the items that he processed was a
metal pipe that had been used to secure one of the doors.
Detective Jim Fuqua of the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department, North
Investigative Unit, testified that he was called to the shooting around 3:30 or 4:00 a.m. and
was later assigned as the lead detective. Detectives Robert Russell, Robert Hanson, and
Viviyonne Watson also worked on the case. Detective Fuqua walked through the residence
and saw the victim lying on a couch with a bloody wound on the left side of his neck and
face. He and Detective Hanson then took Pamela Butler and Chaston Nix to the North
Station for interviews, and they were later released. Detective Fuqua testified that he
received information that Defendant was a suspect in the case, and Detective Hanson then
prepared a photographic line-up. Detective Fuqua later showed the line-up to Ms. Butler,
Pamela Key, and Fred Ewing, and they identified Defendant as the person who shot the
victim. He also interviewed Eric Fleming and Defendant’s girlfriend, Lisa Bridges.
Detective Fuqua testified that Ms. Butler did not initially tell him that she saw Defendant
with a gun after the shooting. However, she later told him about it on the day of the
preliminary hearing.
Detective Fuqua testified that at some point during the investigation, he and Detective
Jeff Robinson pulled records from the Davidson County Sheriff’s Office of jail phone calls
between Defendant and Lisa Bridges. Most of the calls were made before and after the
preliminary hearing. Defendant indicated that he wanted Ms. Bridges to prevent “Pam” and
“D” from testifying at the preliminary hearing because he thought that the charges against
him would be dismissed. He told her to ride them around and get a room. During another
call, Defendant had Ms. Bridges use three-way calling to call several individuals and tell him
that he was out of jail so that witnesses would be afraid to show up for court. Defendant
also told Ms. Bridges to find Ms. Key and see what she knew. He wanted Ms. Bridges to
convince Ms. Key that she [Ms. Key] did not see anything.
Officer Lorita Marsh, a latent print examiner for the Metropolitan Nashville Police
Department, testified that she examined latent prints received from Officers Marsh and Fleak.
She said that two prints lifted from a Scarface video game belonged to Eric Fleming.
Dr. Bruce Levy performed an autopsy on the victim and determined that he died from
a single gunshot wound to left side of his jaw. He said that the shot was unusual because the
bullet traveled through the victim’s chin and re-entered his neck. The bullet then struck major
blood vessels leading from the heart to the brain, the airway in the middle of the victim’s
neck, his right lung, and liver. It was Dr. Levy’s opinion that the gun was between six inches
and two feet from the victim’s face when the shot was fired. He further opined that the
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victim was sitting on the couch and was shot by someone standing in front of him. The
toxicology report indicated that the victim was under the influence of alcohol, cocaine, and
marijuana at the time of his death.
Lashonda McQueen testified that the victim was her fiancée, and Dominique Wallace
is her brother and was a friend of the victim. She last saw the victim on his birthday, January
13, 2007, around 11:00 or 11:30 p.m. Ms. McQueen testified that the victim left her house
and was going to her mother’s house on 12th Avenue North to look for Mr. Wallace. She
later received a call around 3:30 to 3:45 a.m. from her mother indicating that the victim had
been shot. Ms. McQueen then drove to 1917 Cephas Street and saw police and ambulance
personnel. She also saw Eric Fleming and some others that she had seen before. Ms.
McQueen testified that her mother’s house on 12th Avenue is located very close to 1917
Cephas Street.
Dominique Wallace testified that approximately a week before the shooting, he was
carrying two guns that belonged to the victim when he got into a car with Defendant. He
said that Defendant hid the guns in his car and drove him and someone named “Allen” to
look at a house. When Mr. Wallace and “Allen” got out of the car, Defendant drove away
with the guns and left the two men at the house. Mr. Wallace testified that Defendant never
returned the guns to him or the victim.
Mr. Wallace testified that on the night of the shooting, he was supposed to meet the
victim at his residence on 12th Avenue, and they were going to “hang out.” However, he had
gone to get something to eat when the victim came by to pick him up. Mr. Wallace testified
that he was later awakened by Chaston Nix who told him that the victim had been shot. He
then ran to the residence on Cephas Street with Mr. Nix. The police were there when he
arrived, and he also saw Eric Fleming.
Lawanda Sparks, who was friends with Defendant and his sister, testified that
Defendant and another man showed up at her apartment one afternoon in January of 2007
and asked to use the restroom. She knew that Defendant was “on the run,” and he showed
her a “wanted ad” that had been printed from the internet. Ms. Sparks testified that she asked
Defendant about what happened. She said:
I think he, I remember as far as I remember he was saying something like, you
know, the argument was over or something, they might have sat back down or
something and that is when he told me that he shot [the victim] with his own
gun, and he had the gun.
Ms. Sparks testified that Defendant then pulled out a gun and said that it was the one that he
used to shoot the victim. She then suggested that Defendant turn himself in and he “said
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something about, you know, what happened to the last mother f------ that told me that.”
After Defendant left, Ms. Sparks called police.
Defendant admitted that he was at the residence on Cephas Street at the time of the
shooting, even though he told detectives that he was not there. He also wrote a letter to the
assistant district attorney general stating that he was not there at the time of the shooting.
Defendant testified that he never told Ms. Sparks that he shot the victim with the victim’s
own gun, but he said that someone else shot the victim with his own gun. He said that he
showed his gun to Ms. Sparks and told her that it was not used in the crime.
Defendant claimed that at the time of the shooting, he was standing in the kitchen
talking to Mr. Nix and asking him for some tissue. He said that he heard a shot in the back
room while Mr. Ewing was getting the tissue for him, and he then ran out the back door.
Defendant testified that he was never in the back room and that he had seen Ms. Key, the
victim, and Eric Fleming in the room. He said that he and the victim’s brother-in-law
[Dominique Wallace] were mad at each other over “some stuff,” but he did not have a
problem with the victim. Defendant claimed that from prior experience, he felt that Ms. Key
brought the victim to Ms. Butler’s house for the purpose of having Mr. Fleming rob the
victim.
Defendant admitted that he made several phone calls from the jail. He said:
When I made them phone calls I was actually calling to get Pam Key not to
show up for Court and I was also trying to get Eric Fleming and Pam Butler
for the simple fact that I told then that if they actually come to Court I was
going to tell on them.
On cross-examination, Defendant admitted that Mr. Wallace had left two guns in his
car. He said that he thought the guns belonged to Mr. Wallace, and he later gave them back
to the victim. Defendant testified that he was at the house on the night of the shooting for
ten or fifteen minutes to buy cocaine from his friend, Mr. Fleming. However, he did not get
a chance to buy anything because he was talking to Mr. Nix. Defendant testified that he did
not know who shot the victim, and he did not see any guns at the time. He said that the
victim, Ms. Key, and Mr. Fleming were in the back room at the time of the shooting.
Defendant admitted that he went into hiding after the shooting, and when he was found and
interviewed by police, he repeatedly told them that he was not at the house. Defendant
testified that when detectives told him that witnesses might have seen him running from the
house, he told them that he walked up to the side of the house and knocked on the door, but
ran after he heard a shot.
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Defendant admitted that he told Lisa Bridges that he needed two witnesses, “Tweety”
and “Kim” to show up for court and say that he was with them at the time of the shooting.
He said that he was trying to influence Ms. Key’s testimony and prevent witnesses from
testifying because he did not commit the crime and did not want anyone to “do this old flip
stuff saying that I did it and all of that.” He also claimed that he asked Mr. Fleming to
change his story to police because he was trying to help Mr. Fleming and cover for Mr.
Fleming shooting the victim. Defendant admitted that he told Ms. Bridges that he shot the
victim in self-defense. He acknowledged that he wrote a letter to the prosecutor indicating
that he saw Mr. Ewing and Mr. Nix with guns on the night of the shooting and that Mr. Nix
had told him that Mr. Ewing shot the victim. Defendant admitted that he had told several
different versions of what happened.
II. Analysis
A. Sufficiency of the Evidence
Defendant argues that the evidence was insufficient to support his conviction of first
degree murder because the State failed to prove premeditation beyond a reasonable doubt.
When a defendant challenges the sufficiency of the convicting evidence, we must
review the evidence in a light most favorable to the prosecution in determining whether a
rational trier of fact could have found all 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). Once a jury finds a defendant guilty, his or her presumption of innocence is
removed and replaced on appeal with a presumption of guilt. State v. Black, 815 S.W.2d
166, 175 (Tenn. 1991). The defendant has the burden of overcoming this presumption, and
the State is entitled to the strongest legitimate view of the evidence along with all reasonable
inferences which may be drawn from that evidence. Id.; State v. Tuggle, 639 S.W.2d 913,
914 (Tenn. 1982). The jury is presumed to have resolved all conflicts and drawn any
reasonable inferences in favor of the State. State v. Sheffield, 676 S.W.2d 542, 547 (Tenn.
1984). Questions concerning the credibility of witnesses, the weight and value to be given
the evidence, and all factual issues raised by the evidence are resolved by the trier of fact and
not this court. State v. Bland, 958 S.W.2d 651, 659 (Tenn. 1997). These rules are applicable
to findings of guilt predicated upon direct evidence, circumstantial evidence, or a
combination of both direct and circumstantial evidence. State v. Matthews, 805 S.W.2d 776,
779 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1990).
Defendant was convicted of first degree premeditated murder, which is a premeditated
and intentional killing of another. T.C.A. § 39-13-202(a)(1). An act is premeditated if the
act is done after the exercise of reflection and judgment. Id. at (d). Furthermore,
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Premeditation means that the intent to kill must have been formed prior to the
act itself. It is not necessary that the purpose to kill pre-exist in the mind of the
accused for any definite period of time. The mental state of the accused at the
time the accused allegedly decided to kill must be carefully considered in order
to determine whether the accused was sufficiently free from excitement and
passion as to be capable of premeditation.
Id.
The element of premeditation is a question of fact for the jury to determine based
upon consideration of all of the evidence. State v. Suttles, 30 S.W.3d 252, 261 (Tenn. 2000)
(citing State v. Bland, 958 S.W.2d 651, 660 (Tenn. 1997). Because premeditation involves
the defendant’s state of mind, concerning which there is often no direct evidence, Tennessee
cases have long recognized that premeditation may be proved by circumstantial evidence.
State v. Davidson, 121 S.W.3d 600, 614-616 (Tenn. 2003) (citing State v. Brown, 836
S.W.2d 530, 541 (Tenn. 1992)). Our supreme court has provided a list of non-exclusive
circumstances that would justify a jury in finding or inferring premeditation: the use of a
deadly weapon on an unarmed victim; the particular cruelty of a killing; the defendant’s
threats or declarations of intent to kill the victim; the defendant’s procurement of a weapon;
preparations taken to conceal the crime undertaken before the crime is committed;
destruction or secretion of evidence of the killing; and the defendant’s calm demeanor
immediately after the killing. State v. Pike, 978 S.W.2d 904, 914-15 (Tenn.1998); Bland,
958 S.W.2d at 660. A jury, however, is not limited to any specific evidence when
determining whether a defendant intentionally killed the victim after the exercise of
reflection and judgment. See T.C.A. § 39-13-202(d). All of the circumstances of the offense
and the defendant’s conduct may be considered in determining whether the act was
premeditated. Davidson, 121 S.W.3d at 615 (citing State v. LaChance, 524 S.W.2d 933, 937
(Tenn. 1975)).
Viewing the evidence in a light most favorable to the State, the proof established that
Defendant shot the unarmed victim without provocation in the back room of Pamela Butler’s
house. Prior to the shooting, Ms. Butler had looked out her bedroom window and saw
Defendant and the victim arguing outside. She thought that the argument concerned guns,
but she did not see any weapons at the time. The two men later walked back inside Ms.
Butler’s house with Eric Fleming and went into a back room.
Pamela Key testified that she had been playing cards with Ms. Butler before the
shooting. At some point, she walked into the back room to ask the victim if he was ready to
leave. While in the room, Ms. Key got into an argument with Mr. Fleming, her former
boyfriend, over where she purchased her drugs. Neither the victim nor the Defendant were
involved in the argument. Ms. Key testified that Defendant then removed a handgun from
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under his coat, and shot the victim, who was sitting on the couch, in the face. After the
shooting, Ms. Butler saw Defendant run out of the back room and flee the house with a gun
his right hand.
Fred Ewing testified he had been standing near Defendant before the shooting and had
walked to the bathroom to get Defendant some toilet tissue when he heard the shot. When
asked if Defendant seemed to be in an argument with anyone, Mr. Ewing said:
No. He was cool like he always is. I mean, wasn’t nothing going on. I mean,
it seems like it just something had to pop off like I don’t know it was, I don’t
know what could have happened, I, you know, it could have been something
that happened before I got there or something. I don’t know what happened.
I don’t know it just popped off so fast that you wouldn’t believe it.
Lawanda Sparks testified that Defendant showed up at her apartment one afternoon
in January of 2007, sometime after the murder. She knew that Defendant was “on the run,”
and he showed her a “wanted ad” that had been printed from the internet. Ms. Sparks
testified that when she asked Defendant about the murder, he said:
I think he, I remember as far as I remember he was saying something like, you
know, the argument was over or something, they might have sat back down or
something and that is when he told me that he shot [he victim] with his own
gun, and he had the gun.
Defendant then pulled out a gun and said that it was the one that he used to shoot the victim.
Defendant went into hiding after the shooting and after his arrest, gave several different
versions of what happened at the time of the murder.
The State sums up its argument that sufficient evidence of premeditation exists as
follows:
From the evidence presented at trial, the jury could reasonably infer that the
defendant and the [victim] had argued in the front yard shortly prior to the
shooting. They came into the house and were calm, allowing some “cooling
off” for the parties. With no provocation, the defendant drew a loaded weapon
and shot the victim at close range. The jury could reasonably infer from the
calm circumstances before the shooting, the lack of provocation and the cool,
calm demeanor of the defendant immediately prior to the shooting, that the
murder was premeditated.
We agree with the State’s argument, and only add that the victim was unarmed.
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Defendant is not entitled to relief on this issue.
B. Self-representation
Next, Defendant asserts that the trial court erred by permitting him to represent
himself at trial. He contends that the waiver of his right to counsel was not knowingly and
intelligently made because the trial court failed to adequately question Defendant concerning
his ability to represent himself, and there was no written waiver of his right to counsel as
required by Rule 44 of the Tennessee Rules of Criminal Procedure.
The right to assistance of counsel in the preparation and presentation of a defense to
a criminal charge is grounded in both the Tennessee and United States Constitutions. See
U.S. Const. amend. VI; Tenn. Const. art. I, § 9. There also exists an alternative right-the right
to self- representation-which is necessarily implied by the structure of the Sixth Amendment.
Faretta v. California, 422 U.S. 806, 95 S.Ct. 2525, 45 L.Ed.2d 562 (1975); State v.
Northington, 667 S.W.2d 57, 60 (Tenn.1984). “The right to defend is given directly to the
accused; for it is he who suffers the consequences if the defense fails.” Northington, 667
S.W.2d at 60 (quoting Faretta, 422 U.S. at 821-22, 95 S.Ct. at 2533).
The exercise of the right to self-representation depends, in large part, upon a knowing
and intelligent waiver of the right to counsel. Id.; State v. Burkhart, 541 S.W.2d 365 (Tenn.
1976)); State v. Herrod, 754 S.W.2d 627, 629-630 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1988). Consequently,
in cases where the accused states a desire to represent himself or herself at trial, the trial court
has a duty to first determine whether the waiver is knowing and intelligent. In Johnson v.
Zerbst, 304 U.S. 458, 465, 58 S.Ct. 1019, 82 L.Ed. 1461 (1938), the United States Supreme
Court placed “the serious and weighty responsibility ... of determining whether there is an
intelligent and competent waiver” directly upon the trial judge. More specific guidelines
were subsequently established in Von Moltke v. Gillies, 332 U.S. 708, 723-724, 68 S.Ct. 316,
323, 92 L.Ed. 309 (1948), wherein the Supreme Court stated that
[A] judge must investigate as long and as thoroughly as the circumstances of
the case before him demand. The fact that an accused may tell him that he is
informed of his right to counsel and desires to waive this right does not
automatically end the judge’s responsibility. To be valid such waiver must be
made with an apprehension of the nature of the charges, the statutory offenses
included within them, the range of allowable punishments thereunder, possible
defenses to the charges and circumstances in mitigation thereof, and all other
facts essential to a broad understanding of the whole matter. A judge can make
certain that an accused’s professed waiver of counsel is understandingly and
wisely made only from a penetrating and comprehensive examination of all the
circumstances under which such a plea is tendered.
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In Smith v. State, 987 S.W.2d 871 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1998), this Court recommended that in
cases where a defendant aspires to proceed pro se, the trial court should conduct its inquiry
in accordance with the guidelines contained in 1 Bench Book for United States District Judges
1.02-2 to -5 (3d ed .1986) (for ease of reference, the guidelines were reprinted in the appendix
to Smith ).
Rule 44 of Tennessee’s Rules of Criminal Procedure states the following:
(a) Right to Assigned Counsel. - Every indigent defendant is entitled to have
assigned counsel in all matters necessary to the defense and at every state of the
proceedings, unless the defendant waives counsel.
(b) Waiver. -
(1) Actions by the Court. - Before accepting a waiver of counsel, the court
shall:
(A) advise the accused in open court of the right to the aid of
counsel at every stage of the proceedings; and
(B) determine whether there has been a competent and
intelligent waiver of such a right by inquiring into the
background, experience, and conduct of the accused, and other
appropriate matters.
(2) Written Waiver. - A waiver of counsel shall be in writing.
(3) Record of Waiver. - An accepted waiver of counsel shall be in the record.
The record in this case demonstrates that the trial court substantially complied with
guidelines set forth in the Bench Book for United States District Judges. Before trial,
Defendant addressed the court and asked to represent himself “so I can present the evidence
that I need to present because Mr. Kovach is not willing to present this evidence.” He then
asked if trial counsel could remain as “elbow” counsel to help him. A discussion was then
had about the disagreements in strategy between Defendant and trial counsel, and trial
counsel indicated that he was willing to comply with Defendant’s requests concerning
strategy. However, trial counsel told the court that “he feels that he can present it better than
I can, your Honor. but [sic] this is what he wants to do. I will be more than happy to stay
on an help him.” Defendant informed the court that he needed assistance “to determine what
is admissable [sic] and what is not admissable[sic].”
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The trial court then asked Defendant his age, educational training, if he had any
formal legal training, and if he had ever been involved in any type of legal proceedings.
Defendant responded that he got his GED and had some college training. He said that he had
helped in other people’s cases by “[w]riting motions and looking up certain, looking up
information in law books and stuff like that.” Defendant told the court that he understood
the charges against him and that his theory of defense was that he was outside the house
when the shooting occurred. He also knew the lesser-included offenses to first-degree
murder, although he confused them with possible defenses. Defendant told the trial court
that he was aware of the State’s evidence, and he understood the possible sentences that he
faced. The trial court questioned Defendant about his knowledge of the Rules of Evidence
and the rules of Criminal Procedure, and Defendant indicated that he had read them while
incarcerated. The trial court asked Defendant if he understood that if he testified on his own
behalf, he could not “just get on the stand and give a narrative of what happened.” The court
also informed Defendant that he would have to ask himself questions and respond to those
questions and not just tell his side of the story.
Defendant told the court that he understood the range of punishment for the lesser-
included offenses of first-degree murder, and the court advised Defendant that he would be
a Range II offender for second-degree murder. Defendant said that he had previously been
convicted of burglary, aggravated assault, and a drug charge, and he understood that the State
might be allowed to present evidence of those prior convictions if he testified. Defendant
told the trial court that he understood that if he failed to make appropriate objections, he
might lose the issue for appeal purposes. He indicated that he did not “really” understand
appeals and trying to preserve the record for appeal, but it was something that he could study
and work on in post-conviction. Defendant also said: “If I am convicted I can just accept my
punishment.” The trial court informed Defendant that he could not file a post-conviction
petition against himself, and Defendant said that he understood. The following exchange
then took place:
[Trial Court]: You are going to lose that right. I understand that Mr.
Kovach has discussed with you in detail various
strategies that he thinks that you should pursue in this
case; is that right?
[Defendant]: Yes, sir.
[Trial Court]: I understand that you disagree with his assessment of the
case; is that right?
[Defendant]: Yes, sir.
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[Trial Court]: Do you understand that if you chose or elect to go a route
different than the one that he is recommending that then
you are going to lose benefits possibly of having that
before the jury and you will certainly lose your right to
raise those issues on appeal?
[Defendant]: Yes, sir.
[Trial Court]: Do you understand that your lack of training could place
you at a significant disadvantage with the State’s
attorney’s who are highly trained in criminal law?
[Defendant]: I understand that.
[Trial Court]: That they may be able to, I mean, they are going to have
to comply with the rules of evidence and procedure as
well but because of their extensive insight relative to
your knowledge of the case that they may be able to
accomplish things that they wouldn’t otherwise be able
to accomplish had you had benefit of counsel; do you
understand that?
[Defendant]: Yes, sir. I do.
[Trial Court]: I think I mentioned this to you last week and I am
mentioned [sic] it to you again yesterday afternoon that
I think that you are absolutely foolish in attempting to
represent yourself. Have I advised you that on at least
this now being your third occasion?
[Defendant]: Yes, sir.
[Trial Court]: And in spite of all of the shortcomings and disadvantages
that you have in representing yourself and knowing full
well of the possible consequences of that self
representation are you determined to proceed with this
trial by representing yourself?
[Defendant]: Yes, sir.
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[Trial Court]: Are you making this decision freely and voluntarily of
your own free will?
[Defendant]: Yes, sir.
The prosecutor also questioned Defendant about his understanding of the possible
sentence that he faced if convicted of first degree murder or any lesser-included offense, and
Defendant said that he understood. When asked why he wanted to represent himself,
Defendant said:
Because I feel that for the last past two years since I have actually been sitting
and studying my case myself and I know exactly what to present and Mr.
Kovach is not prepared or even willing to present and because of him not
being prepared I am able to actually present [sic] myself better.
He then explained that counsel had been preparing for a different strategy than he wanted to
pursue. Defendant understood that he would be required to comply with all of the court
rules, and he understood the proper procedure for questioning witnesses. He indicated that
he also understood what could be included in opening and closing statements.
Trial counsel and Defendant then spoke for a few minutes, and counsel informed the
court that he was willing give up his theory of self-defense and proceed to trial on
Defendant’s theory of defense. However, Defendant indicated that he still wished to
represent himself. The trial court then made the following statement:
All right. Just a few things that before I, well, first of all, I find that Mr.
Jefferson is exercising his right to represent himself and that he has chosen to
do so knowingly and intelligently and when I say intelligently it is not because
I think it is a smart decision for him to make but that he is fully aware of all of
the possible ramifications that may arise from it and he is aware of the
significant serious nature of the charge against him and that he has been fully
counseled on the various trial strategies in this case.
He certainly understands the pitfalls that may arise during the course of these
proceedings and the disadvantage that he faces in representing himself,
nonetheless he chose to proceed in that manner anyway so the Court will grant
him that right.
I am going to appoint Mr. Kovach as stand-by counsel and I need to make a
few things clear Mr. Kovach since you are simply stand-by counsel you cannot
actively participate in any manner whatsoever. You cannot be nudging him
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and standing up and objecting for him or doing any of the things that you
probably routinely and normally do during the course of this trial.
You can sit there and you can respond to any questions that Mr. Jefferson may
have of you, but you cannot take a proactive part in the trial of this case. You
are basically on call for when Mr. Jefferson feels that he may want some
guidance from you.
The trial court also stated that “[Defendant] has been fully advised of the consequences I
believe of proceeding and has made a knowingly intelligent waiver to the right to his right
of counsel and chooses instead to proceed with self representation.”
We conclude that the trial court’s questioning was in accordance with the guidelines
contained in the Bench Book. We further conclude that the appellant knowingly and
intelligently waived the right to the assistance of counsel.
Defendant asserts that his conviction in this case is “void” because there was no
written waiver of counsel as required by Tenn. R. Crim. P. 44(b)(2). However, the record
does contain the following acknowledgment, dated November 16, 2008, the day before the
trial began, and signed by Defendant:
I, Rodrickus Jefferson, do hereby acknowledge that Mr. Kovach has explained
to me the crimes for which I am charged, what the State must prove beyond a
reasonable doubt, possible punishments, given me all documents related to my
case, and reviewed all relevant audio and video recordings associated with my
case. Also, I acknowledge that Mr. Kovach has personally interviewed Eric
Fleming, Fred Ewing, and Pam Keys. Furthermore, I have been advised that
the State has made a plea bargain offer of 30 years at 100 percent to serve, and
I do not accept that offer.
Finally, I acknowledge that against Mr. Kovach’s advice, I have advised Mr.
Kovach that I do not wish to proceed on a theory of self defense. But rather,
I wish to defend myself on the theory that I was not present at the time of
the alleged crime, for which I am charged, was committed. I wish to put
forth this defense against the advice of my attorney, despite the fact that
multiple State witnesses have placed me in the room with the victim at the
time of the shooting and I have made various phone calls from jail instructing
people to speak with State witnesses.
(Emphasis added).
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In State v. Goodwin, 909 S.W.2d 35 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1995), the record did not
contain a waiver form signed by defendant to assert his intent to represent himself. However,
the record did contain a Motion for Self-representation in which defendant asserted his desire
to represent himself, and defendant also filed two other motions titled, “Motion for Court to
Issue Order granting the Defendant Right to Self representation” which demonstrated “how
determined Defendant was to represent himself.” This Court held that the motions satisfied
the requirement for a written waiver. Id. at 39. In State v. Gregory Scott Battles, No.
W1998-00558-CCA-R3-CD, 1999 WL 1525475 at * 8, fn. 5 (Tenn. Crim. App. Dec. 30,
1999), this Court noted:
Rule 44(a) of the Tennessee Rules of Criminal Procedure requires a written
waiver of the defendant’s right to counsel. Although the trial court requested
the state to prepare a waiver, the record before us does not contain a written
waiver of the defendant’s right to counsel signed by the defendant.
However, we note that the defendant has stated in each of his written motions
that he was appearing in propria persona. We find that this assertion of self-
representation is sufficient to satisfy the written waiver requirement because
these motions were initiated by the defendant and the assertion was made
repeatedly. Additionally, after he was questioned about the definition of in
propria persona by the trial court, the defendant began using the term “pro se”
in his motions and court filings.
Likewise in the present case, the acknowledgment signed by Defendant is sufficient to satisfy
the requirement for a written waiver under Tenn. R. Crim. P. 44(b)(2).
Even if the waiver was not sufficient, this alone does not require a reversal of
Defendant’s conviction. In State v. Simmie Black, No. 02C01-9803-CR-00081, 1999 WL
280810 at *4, (Tenn. Crim. App. May 7, 1999) app. denied (Tenn. Sept. 25, 2000), the record
did not contain a written waiver of defendant’s right to counsel as required by rule 44(b)(2).
This Court held: “While in no way condoning this omission, we have concluded from our
review that such error was harmless and does not preclude a finding of actual waiver.” It is
clear from the record that Defendant was adamant about representing himself, and he
knowingly and intelligently waived his right to counsel. Moreover, we note that the trial
court allowed Defendant’s court-appointed counsel, who was prepared for trial, to remain as
elbow counsel to assist Defendant during trial.
C. Failure to Instruct the Jury on Self-Defense
Finally, Defendant contends that the trial court in this case erred by failing to provide
the jury with an instruction on self-defense based on evidence of an argument before the
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shooting, and Ms. Sparks’ testimony that Defendant told her that the victim “upped” on him
with a gun. We disagree.
The defense of self-defense in Tennessee is defined as follows:
(a) A person is justified in threatening or using force against another person
when and to the degree the person reasonably believes the force is immediately
necessary to protect against the other’s use or attempted use of unlawful force.
The person must have a reasonable belief that there is an imminent danger of
death or serious bodily injury. The danger creating the belief of imminent
death or serious bodily injury must be real, or honestly believed to be real at
the time, and must be founded upon reasonable grounds. There is no duty to
retreat before a person threatens or uses force.
“It is the duty of a trial judge to give a complete charge of the law applicable to the
facts of a case.” State v. Harbison, 704 S.W.2d 314, 319 (Tenn.1986) (citing State v.
Thompson, 519 S.W.2d 789, 792 (Tenn.1975)). In other words, “a defendant has a
constitutional right to a correct and complete charge of the law.” State v. Teel, 793 S.W.2d
236, 249 (Tenn.1990). “While the jury is the judge of the facts and the law, it is the duty of
the jury to apply the law contained in the charge of the trial court to the ultimate facts
determined by the jury.” State v. Williamson, 919 S.W.2d 69, 80 (Tenn.Crim.App.1995). The
question of whether or not an individual acted in self-defense is a factual determination to
be made by the jury. State v. Ivy, 868 S.W.2d 724, 727 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1993). “The issue
of the existence of a defense is not submitted to the jury unless it is fairly raised by the
proof.” T.C.A. § 39-11-203(c). According to the Sentencing Commission Comments: “The
defendant has the burden of introducing admissible evidence that a defense is applicable. If
the defense is at issue, the state must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defense does
not apply.”
After the close of proof in this case, there was a discussion concerning the jury
instructions, and Defendant requested an instruction on self-defense. In support of his
request, elbow counsel for Defendant pointed out that Lawanda Sparks testified that the
victim “came up on him and he shot him with his own gun.” The trial court noted that there
had not been any testimony that placed Defendant in fear of serious bodily injury. Defendant
then told the court that he did not intend to argue self-defense in his closing argument, and
elbow counsel pointed out that Defendant was adamant about not arguing self-defense.
Concerning this issue, in denying Defendant’s motion for new trial, the trial court stated:
In the discovery there was evidence from at least one witness that would have
supported an argument and a jury instruction on self-defense. [Defendant]
absolutely did not want to go that direction, instead taking the position that he
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was not anywhere around at the time of the shooting and someone else did it.
Because of the approach he took , even though there was some slight evidence
I guess that could have been interpreted in a manner that might have supported
the instructions for self-defense, Mr. Jefferson made it clear that’s not the route
he was traveling and, therefore, it really wasn’t an issue for the jury to
consider.
We do not believe that a review of the proof in this case supports a jury instruction
on self-defense. Although there was some testimony that Defendant and the victim had an
argument before the shooting, there was no testimony that the victim was threatening
Defendant at the time of the shooting. The proof shows that the unarmed victim was sitting
on the couch with his feet propped on a table playing video games. Pamela Key testified
that she and Eric Fleming were arguing at the time of the shooting, but Defendant and the
victim had no part of the argument. She said that Defendant pulled a gun out of his coat and
shot the victim in the face without provocation. Chaston Nix testified that there was “no
screaming or nothing” prior to the shooting. He testified that “[e]verything seems to be
going pretty smooth I guess and the next thing I know I heard some glass breaking and stuff
and it sounded like somebody could be wrestling or scuffling or something and then I heard
a gunshot go off.” Likewise, Fred Ewing testified that Defendant’s demeanor before the
shooting was “cool” and that he did not see anything going on before the shooting.
Although Lawanda Sparks testified that Defendant told her that the victim “upped on
me with his gun,” a complete reading of her testimony, as noted by the trial court, indicates
that a period of time passed before the victim was shot. During her direct testimony, the
following exchange took place:
[Prosecutor]: What did he say happened after that?
[Ms. Sparks]: I think he, I remember as far as I remember he was
saying something like, you know, the argument was over
or something, they might have sat back down or
something and that is when he told me that he shot him
with his own gun, and he had the gun.
[Prosecutor]: And when you say he shot him with his own gun, you are
saying that Mr. Jefferson said he shot the victim with his
own gun?
[Ms. Sparks]: Uh-huh. (Affirmative.)
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[Prosecutor]: Okay. And just to go back a little bit you said that it was
over, did he, what was he saying that made you think that
the argument was over, if you remember?
[Ms. Sparks]: He said something about sitting back down or something,
smoking, I don’t know. I don’t remember.
[Prosecutor]: Okay. Did he tell you at any point where the argument
was?
[Ms. Sparks]: No. He didn’t say a place, but to me it sounded like it
was in the house or something but I am not sure.
Ms. Sparks’ testimony was further clarified on redirect examination:
[Prosecutor]: Okay. And Mr. Jefferson specifically told you I shot the
victim with his own gun?
[Ms. Sparks]: Not in those words.
[Prosecutor]: Okay.. What did he say exactly?
[Ms. Sparks]: He said, the [n----r] upped on me with his gun and
whatever he said in between that and he said I shot him
and I took his gun.
[Prosecutor]: And the stuff that you said that he said between that what
was he saying?
[Ms. Sparks]: He was explaining the situation, I really honestly don’t
know, I can’t, I am not going to make it up but he was
basically saying something about the altercation if there
was one what happened with, you know, between the
time that he had the first, the altercation and between the
time that he was actually shot.
[Prosecutor]: Okay.
[Ms. Sparks]: Either they was smoking or talking or something and he
was doing something.
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[Prosecutor]: As if they had calmed down?
[Ms. Sparks]: Yes.
Even if the trial court’s failure to instruct the jury on self-defense was error, it was
clearly harmless. As noted by the trial court, the evidence supporting an instruction was
“very tenuous at best.” Defendant did not suggest during his opening or closing statements
that he acted in self-defense, nor during his examination of witnesses did he make the
suggestion. In his own testimony, Defendant said that he was not in the room when the
victim was shot, and he did not know who shot the victim. He then suggested that Eric
Fleming may have shot the victim while trying to rob him. Defendant is not entitled to relief
on this issue.
CONCLUSION
After a thorough review, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.
___________________________________
THOMAS T. WOODALL, JUDGE
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