State of Tennessee v. Chad Ray Thompson, M2015-01534-CCA-R3-CD

Defendant Chad Ray Thompson was indicted for first-degree premeditated murder, first-degree felony murder, and especially aggravated robbery in the death of his cousin Tracy Martin; jury convicted him of first-degree premeditated murder, first-degree felony murder (merged), and facilitation of especially aggravated robbery; effective sentence: life.
Victim received a lump-sum Social Security payment; shortly before disappearance he had cash, a handgun, and purchased .38 ammunition; victim was later found in a river with blunt-force injuries to the back of his head.
Witnesses (Cobb, Muncey) testified Thompson solicited them to help rob the victim, then threatened to kill him when they refused; Thompson sold or arranged sale/transfer of a .38 revolver shortly after the solicitation.
A sledge hammer with the name "Nina" (Defendant’s girlfriend) scratched on it was found near Muncey’s apartment; presumptive blood test was positive; autopsy described blunt force semicircular injuries consistent with a heavy circular object.
Recorded jail calls and letters showed Defendant urging removal of an item from woods and referencing that the item had his girlfriend’s name on it; Defendant also demonstrated knowledge of crime-scene details and displayed nervous/furtive behavior during the investigation.

Issue	State's Argument	Thompson's Argument	Held
Sufficiency of evidence of premeditation for first-degree murder	Evidence of prior statements to kill, procurement/possession of a weapon, repeated blows to back of head, hammer with girlfriend’s name, and attempts to conceal support premeditation	Insufficient proof that killing was premeditated; testimony from Cobb/Muncey unreliable/self-serving	Affirmed — evidence sufficient to support premeditation conviction
Sufficiency of evidence that killing occurred during perpetration of robbery (felony murder underlying robbery)	Defendant planned robbery of victim’s disability funds, solicited assistance, arranged to sell a .38 shortly after, had unusually large cash, victim missing money and gun — supports that killing occurred in perpetration of robbery	Insufficient proof of completed or attempted robbery as underlying felony for felony murder	Affirmed — evidence supported intent to steal by violence and that victim died in perpetration of robbery

Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307 (standard for sufficiency review)
State v. Cabbage, 571 S.W.2d 832 (credibility and weight of evidence are for the jury)
State v. Dorantes, 331 S.W.3d 370 (same standard for circumstantial evidence)
State v. Bland, 958 S.W.2d 651 (jury verdict replaces presumption of innocence)
State v. Vasques, 221 S.W.3d 514 (State entitled to strongest legitimate view of evidence)
State v. Larkin, 443 S.W.3d 751 (circumstantial factors probative of premeditation)
State v. Thacker, 164 S.W.3d 208 (list of factors probative of premeditation)
State v. Lewis, 36 S.W.3d 88 (factors relevant to premeditation)