State v. Lewis
Tennessee Supreme Court
235 S.W.3d 136 (2007)
- Written by Sean Carroll, JD
Facts
Sabrina Lewis (defendant) helped set up a robbery of Gary Finchum’s antique store. To do so, Lewis made an appointment to have Finchum appraise two vases. At the time of the appointment, the store was robbed. Finchum was shot during the robbery. Finchum told witnesses at the scene that he was shot in the heart. When the police arrived, Finchum told Detective Mike Chastain that the contact information of the “lady with the vases” was on Finchum’s desk. The piece of paper to which Finchum referred contained Lewis’s name and the words “two vases.” When asked whether he thought the lady was involved in the robbery, Finchum said, “I know she is.” Finchum died as a result of his wounds. The trial court admitted Finchum’s statements over Lewis’s objection, under the dying-declaration exception to the hearsay rule. Lewis was convicted of criminally negligent homicide. Lewis appealed.
Rule of Law
Issue
Holding and Reasoning (Wade, J.)
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