State of Tennessee v. James Lee Simpson

Syllabus

Following a trial, a Davidson County jury convicted Defendant, James Lee Simpson, of voluntary manslaughter, aggravated assault resulting in death, and felon in possession of a firearm, for which he received a total effective sentence of fifteen years' incarceration. On appeal, Defendant contends that: (1) the trial court erred by providing incomplete and erroneous jury instructions on the issue of self-defense (2) the trial court erred by preventing Defendant from cross-examining a witness regarding alleged prior acts of violence by the victims in violation of both Tennessee Rule of Evidence 405 and Defendant's right to confrontation (3) the trial court erred in refusing to instruct the jury on the defense of necessity (4) the trial court abused its discretion in sentencing Defendant (5) the State failed to present sufficient evidence to support convictions for voluntary manslaughter and aggravated assault resulting in death and (6) the trial court abused its discretion by allowing the State to cross-examine a witness regarding Defendant's prior conviction for possessing a firearm after concluding that Defendant had \opened the door\ to the cross-examination. Following a thorough review of the record and applicable law, we reverse Defendant's convictions and remand for a new trial.