State of Tennessee v. Michael James Bell

Case Number
E2008-01499-CCA-R3-CD

An Anderson County jury found Appellant Michael J. Bell guilty of first degree premeditated murder and was sentenced to life in prison. On appeal, appellant claims that: (1) the trial court improperly admitted an inculpatory statement he made to police; (2) there was insufficient evidence for a finding of premeditation; (3) the trial court improperly admitted an autopsy report; (4) the trial court erred in giving the jury a "sequential" determination jury instruction; (5) the trial court improperly reiterated the sequential determination jury instruction in its verdict forms; and (6) the trial court improperly characterized appellant's statement to the police as a "confession" in its instructions to the jury. Finding no reversible error, we affirm.

Authoring Judge
Judge Norma McGee Ogle
Originating Judge
Judge Donald R. Elledge
Case Name
State of Tennessee v. Michael James Bell
Date Filed
Dissent or Concur
No
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