 |
 |
to fill out a simple form to connect to Personal Injury Lawyers in your area.
|
|
|
|
|
State v. Stem12/29/2000
was seventeen years old, just two months shy of her eighteenth birthday, when the offense was committed. The appellant argues that, because she left home at a young age, became pregnant early, and married the father of her child, the trial court should have found that these circumstances indicated the appellant's immaturity. However, there is proof in the record that the appellant finished the tenth grade and continued her education by obtaining a nursing certificate. See State v. Carter, 908 S.W.2d 410, 413 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1995). Additionally, she had been married to the victim for almost two years at the time of the murder. Moreover, the appellant previously had been charged with minor juvenile offenses, which suggests that the appellant had some familiarity with the criminal justice system. See State v. Jones, No. 03C01-9807-CR-00245, 1999 WL 538389, at *7 (Tenn. Crim. App. at Knoxville, July 14, 1999). Furthermore, as was evidenced by the appellant's repeated attempts to lie to the police and to minimize her role in the crime, the appellant obviously appreciated the nature of her behavior. We conclude that "the trial court acted within its prerogative in determining that the [appellant] was sufficiently mature to understand the nature of conduct." Carter, 908 S.W.2d at 413.
III. Conclusion
Based upon the foregoing, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.
|