Tierra Capri Gobble v. State of Alabama

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REL: 04/30/2010 Notice: T h i s o p i n i o n i s s u b j e c t t o formal r e v i s i o n b e f o r e p u b l i c a t i o n i n t h e advance s h e e t s o f Southern R e p o r t e r . R e a d e r s a r e r e q u e s t e d t o n o t i f y t h e R e p o r t e r o f D e c i s i o n s , Alabama A p p e l l a t e C o u r t s , 300 D e x t e r A v e n u e , M o n t g o m e r y , A l a b a m a 3 6 1 0 4 - 3 7 4 1 ((334) 2 2 9 - 0 6 4 9 ) , o f a n y t y p o g r a p h i c a l o r o t h e r e r r o r s , i n o r d e r t h a t c o r r e c t i o n s may b e made b e f o r e t h e o p i n i o n i s p r i n t e d i n Southern R e p o r t e r . ALABAMA COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OCTOBER TERM, 2009-2010 CR-05-0225 T i e r r a C a p r i Gobble v. S t a t e o f Alabama Appeal from Houston C i r c u i t (CC-05-299) Court On R e t u r n t o Remand MAIN, J u d g e . The appellant, Tierra Capri Gobble, was c o n v i c t e d o f i n t e n t i o n a l l y murdering her 4-month-old son, Phoenix P a r r i s h , an o f f e n s e d e f i n e d a s c a p i t a l b y § 1 3 A - 5 - 4 0 ( a ) ( 1 5 ) , A l a . Code CR-05-0225 1975, because Phoenix court sentenced was u n d e r t h e age o f 14. Gobble t o death. c o n v i c t i o n a n d remanded t h e c a s e This The Court circuit affirmed her to the c i r c u i t court f o r i t t o c o r r e c t i t s s e n t e n c i n g o r d e r t o make s p e c i f i c findings of facts s e t out i n concerning each aggravating circumstance § 13A-5-49, A l a . Code 1975, a n d t o make s p e c i f i c findings of fact aggravating concerning circumstance atrocious, the that application the murder of was the especially o r c r u e l when c o m p a r e d t o o t h e r See G o b b l e v. S t a t e , So. 3d ___ t h i s Court capital [Ms. CR-05-0225, F e b r u a r y ( A l a . Crim. App. 2 0 1 0 ) . heinous, murders. 5, 2010] T h i s case i s now b e f o r e on r e t u r n t o remand. Gobble argues that the c i r c u i t court failed to fully c o m p l y w i t h o u r i n s t r u c t i o n s b e c a u s e , she a s s e r t s , t h e c o u r t failed t o make s p e c i f i c findings of fact the a g g r a v a t i n g circumstances concerning nine of e n u m e r a t e d i n § 13A-5-49, A l a . Code 1975. I n o u r o r i g i n a l o p i n i o n , we n o t e d t h a t i t w o u l d be harmless error findings of circumstances sentencing for a facts circuit on when t h a t order. court a l l the defect Because n o t t o make statutory was t h e o n l y i t was n e c e s s a r y 2 specific aggravating defect i n the t o remand this CR-05-0225 case f o r a n o t h e r r e a s o n , we a l s o d i r e c t e d specific f i n d i n g s o f f a c t c o n c e r n i n g a l l 10 o f t h e s t a t u t o r y aggravating circumstances. the this t h e c o u r t t o make F o r t h e f o l l o w i n g reasons and i n i n t e r e s t o f j u d i c i a l economy, i t i s u n n e c e s s a r y t o remand case a second State, time. A s we e x p l a i n e d i n F o r t e n b e r r y v . 545 So. 2d 129 ( A l a . C r i m . App. 1 9 8 8 ) : " [ T ] h i s C o u r t h a s , on s e v e r a l o c c a s i o n s , remanded cases w i t h i n s t r u c t i o n s f o r the t r i a l court to correct the sentencing order to include s p e c i f i c findings of fact regarding those aggravating c i r c u m s t a n c e s i n § 13A-5-49, A l a . Code 1975, t h a t i t h a d f o u n d n o t t o e x i s t . However, i n t h o s e c a s e s , t h e r e were a d d i t i o n a l d e f e c t s i n t h e s e n t e n c i n g o r d e r t h a t r e q u i r e d a remand o t h e r t h a n t h e f a i l u r e to include specific findings regarding the a g g r a v a t i n g c i r c u m s t a n c e s t h a t d i d n o t e x i s t . See, e.g., Z i e g l e r v . S t a t e , 886 So. 2d 127 ( A l a . C r i m . App. 2 0 0 3 ) ( r e m a n d i n g c a s e b e c a u s e t h e t r i a l c o u r t f a i l e d t o make s p e c i f i c f i n d i n g s o f f a c t r e g a r d i n g the m i t i g a t i n g c i r c u m s t a n c e s t h a t i t h a d f o u n d n o t t o e x i s t as w e l l as t h e a g g r a v a t i n g c i r c u m s t a n c e s i t h a d f o u n d n o t t o e x i s t ) ; T u r n e r v . S t a t e , 924 So. 2d 7 3 7 ( A l a . C r i m . App. 2 0 0 2 ) ( r e m a n d i n g c a s e b e c a u s e t h e t r i a l court's findings regarding certain mitigating c i r c u m s t a n c e s were e r r o n e o u s as w e l l as b e c a u s e t h e c o u r t h a d f a i l e d t o make s p e c i f i c f i n d i n g s o f f a c t r e g a r d i n g those a g g r a v a t i n g circumstances i t had f o u n d n o t t o e x i s t ) ; K e y v . S t a t e , 891 So. 2d 353 (Ala. C r i m . App. 2 0 0 2 ) ( r e m a n d i n g c a s e b e c a u s e t h e t r i a l c o u r t f a i l e d t o make s p e c i f i c f i n d i n g s o f f a c t r e g a r d i n g the m i t i g a t i n g circumstances t h a t i t had f o u n d n o t t o e x i s t as w e l l as t h e a g g r a v a t i n g c i r c u m s t a n c e i t h a d f o u n d n o t t o e x i s t ) ; McNabb v . S t a t e , 887 So. 2d 929 ( A l a . C r i m . App. 2 0 0 1 ) ( s a m e ) ; and C l a r k v . S t a t e , 896 So. 2d 5 8 4 ( A l a . C r i m . App. 2000)(remanding case f o r t h e t r i a l c o u r t t o e n t e r 3 CR-05-0225 s p e c i f i c w r i t t e n f i n d i n g s summarizing t h e crime and the defendant's p a r t i c i p a t i o n i n i t , r e g a r d i n g the existence or nonexistence o f each mitigating c i r c u m s t a n c e i n § 13A-5-51, A l a . Code 1975, as w e l l as regarding the nonexistence of aggravating circumstances)." 545 So. 2d a t 144. In applying the a harmless-error analysis to a c o u r t ' s f a i l u r e t o make s p e c i f i c f i n d i n g s o f f a c t s each a g g r a v a t i n g circumstances Code 1975, we f u r t h e r n o t e d circuit concerning e n u m e r a t e d i n § 13A-5-49, A l a . i n Fortenberry: "While t h e t r i a l c o u r t ' s s e n t e n c i n g order i s defective, t h e e r r o r s a r e n o t so e g r e g i o u s o r s u b s t a n t i a l as t o r e q u i r e a new s e n t e n c i n g o r d e r . 'The s o l e p u r p o s e o f r e q u i r i n g t h a t t h e t r i a l j u d g e , as t h e s e n t e n c i n g a u t h o r i t y , make a w r i t t e n f i n d i n g of the aggravating circumstance i s t o p r o v i d e f o r a p p e l l a t e r e v i e w o f t h e s e n t e n c e o f d e a t h . ' Ex p a r t e K y z e r , 399 So. 2d 330, 338 ( A l a . 1 9 8 1 ) . '[T]he h a r m l e s s e r r o r r u l e does a p p l y i n c a p i t a l c a s e s a t t h e s e n t e n c e h e a r i n g . ' Ex p a r t e W h i s e n h a n t , 482 So. 2d 1 2 4 1 , 1244 ( A l a . 1 9 8 3 ) . 'As l o n g as t h e t r i a l judge p r o p e r l y e x e r c i s e s h i s d i s c r e t i o n and t h e f a c t s i n d i c a t i n g t h e d e a t h p e n a l t y a r e 'so c l e a r a n d c o n v i n c i n g t h a t v i r t u a l l y no r e a s o n a b l e p e r s o n c o u l d d i f f e r , ' a h a r m l e s s e r r o r a n a l y s i s c a n be u s e d . ' B a l d w i n v . S t a t e , 456 So. 2d 117, 126 ( A l a . C r . App. 1 9 8 3 ) , a f f i r m e d , Ex p a r t e B a l d w i n , 456 So. 2d 129, 140 ( A l a . 1984) . See a l s o B a r c l a y v. F l o r i d a , 463 U.S. 939, 103 S . C t . 3418, 77 L.Ed.2d 1134 ( 1 9 8 3 ) ; Thompson v. S t a t e , 503 So. 2d 8 7 1 , 881 ( A l a . C r . App. 1 9 8 6 ) , a f f i r m e d , Ex p a r t e Thompson, 503 So. 2d 887 ( A l a . ) , c e r t . d e n i e d , Thompson v. A l a b a m a , 484 U.S. 872, 108 S . C t . 204, 98 L.Ed.2d 155 ( 1 9 8 7 ) . We e m p h a s i z e t h a t ' t h e s a f e r p r a c t i c e w o u l d have b e e n for the t r i a l judge t o simply f o l l o w the verbiage of 4 CR-05-0225 the s t a t u t e i n n e g a t i n g a g g r a v a t i n g B e r a r d v. S t a t e , 402 So. 2d 1044, App. 1 9 8 0 ) . " 545 circumstances.' 1051 (Ala. Cr. So. S t a t e , 10 2d a t 144. (Ala. C r i m . App. Crim. App. 2003); C r i m . App. See a l s o S a u n d e r s v. its this Stewart case, sentencing order: circuit v. "No court's S t a t e , 891 State, the c i r c u i t e n u m e r a t e d by s t a t u t e was the v. 730 So. 3d 53 1996). In 2007); Gavin So. So. 2d 907 (Ala. 1203 (Ala. 2d c o u r t s t a t e d the following in other aggravating circumstance as found to e x i s t . " "technical omission" (C.R. 275.) in failing Thus, t o make s p e c i f i c f i n d i n g s o f f a c t on a l l o f t h e s t a t u t o r y a g g r a v a t i n g circumstances by t h i s and does n o t w a r r a n t a s e c o n d remand Court. Gobble that i s harmless next asserts t h e m u r d e r was that the especially aggravating heinous, circumstance a t r o c i o u s , or cruel when c o m p a r e d t o o t h e r c a p i t a l m u r d e r s was e r r o n e o u s l y a p p l i e d in this On case. remand, the findings concerning circuit this court aggravating stated the following circumstance: " [ T ] h e o f f e n s e was c o m m i t t e d upon a s m a l l c h i l d ( f o u r months o l d ) by s t r i k i n g h i s h e a d a g a i n s t a h a r d s u r f a c e c a u s i n g t r a u m a [and] i n t e r n a l i n j u r i e s . The v i c t i m ' s f o u r t h , f i f t h , and s i x t h r i b s were 5 CR-05-0225 f r a c t u r e d . B l e e d i n g was o b s e r v e d b e t w e e n t h e s c a l p and s k i n as w e l l as b e t w e e n t h e s k u l l and b r a i n . T h i s a c t by a m o t h e r s h o c k s t h e c o n s c i e n c e o f t h i s C o u r t . T h i s was a c a l l o u s and c a l c u l a t e d a c t and, i n t h i s C o u r t ' s o p i n i o n , was e s p e c i a l l y c r u e l , h e i n o u s and a t r o c i o u s as compared t o o t h e r c a p i t a l o f f e n s e s . T h i s was a b r u t a l b e a t i n g t h a t c a u s e d t r e m e n d o u s p a i n and s u f f e r i n g upon t h i s s m a l l c h i l d , who was h e l p l e s s and u n a b l e t o d e f e n d h i m s e l f . The m o t h e r D e f e n d a n t , T i e r r a G o b b l e . . was n o t s u p p o s e d t o be a r o u n d t h e c h i l d b e c a u s e t h e S t a t e o f F l o r i d a had given custody of the child t o Mr. Parrish, a roommate o f t h e d e f e n d a n t , due t o h e r a b u s e and neglect. Apparently, the pattern of abuse and n e g l e c t c o n t i n u e d u n t i l she e n d e d t h e l i f e o f t h i s s m a l l c h i l d . Her l a s t f a t e f u l a c t on t h e s m a l l c h i l d o n l y showed h e r t o t a l d i s r e g a r d o f any f e e l i n g s f o r h e r own c h i l d and d e m o n s t r a t e s v e r y c l e a r l y why t h e j u r y ' s unanimous v e r d i c t o f e s p e c i a l l y h e i n o u s , a t r o c i o u s and c r u e l as compared t o o t h e r capital o f f e n s e s was c o r r e c t and s u p p o r t e d by t h e e v i d e n c e . "This Court has weighed this aggravating circumstance along w i t h the m i t i g a t i n g circumstances t h a t were f o u n d t o e x i s t , and finds that the aggravating circumstance as described above outweighs the m i t i g a t i n g c i r c u m s t a n c e s , and the appropriate sentence f o r t h i s crime i s death." (C.R. 123-24.) In reviewing circumstance, we the application of this aggravating have s t a t e d : "The A l a b a m a a p p e l l a t e c o u r t s ' i n t e r p r e t a t i o n o f ' e s p e c i a l l y h e i n o u s , a t r o c i o u s , o r c r u e l ' has p a s s e d m u s t e r u n d e r t h e E i g h t h Amendment b e c a u s e those c o u r t s have c o n s i s t e n t l y d e f i n e d t h e t e r m t o i n c l u d e o n l y 'those c o n s c i e n c e l e s s or p i t i l e s s homicides w h i c h a r e u n n e c e s s a r i l y t o r t u r o u s t o t h e v i c t i m . ' Ex p a r t e C l a r k , [728 So. 2d 1126 ( A l a . 1 9 9 8 ) ] , c i t i n g , 6 CR-05-0225 Lindsey 1989)." v. Thigpen, T a y l o r v. S t a t e , 808 this determination involved in necessary to So. we achieving cause 875 F. 2d 1148 must the death, 2d 1509 (11th ( A l a . C r i m . App. consider killing whether whether went the Cir. 2000). the beyond victims "In violence what was experienced a p p r e c i a b l e s u f f e r i n g a f t e r a s w i f t a s s a u l t , and w h e t h e r t h e r e was psychological torture." 0743, A p r i l 27, 2007] B r o w n f i e l d v. S t a t e , So. 3d , [Ms. CR-04- (Ala. Crim. 2007). "We have c o n s i s t e n t l y h e l d t h a t b r u t a l b e a t i n g s t h a t r e s u l t i n d e a t h meet t h e s t a t u t o r y d e f i n i t i o n o f e s p e c i a l l y h e i n o u s , a t r o c i o u s , o r c r u e l . See B r o o k s v. S t a t e , 695 So. 2d 176 ( A l a . C r i m . App. 1996), a f f ' d , 695 So. 2d 184 ( 1 9 9 7 ) ; S m i t h v. S t a t e , 795 So. 2d 788 ( A l a . C r i m . App. 2 0 0 0 ) ; A s h l e y v. S t a t e , 651 So. 2d 1096 ( A l a . C r i m . App. 1 9 9 4 ) ; McGahee v. S t a t e , 632 So. 2d 976 ( A l a . C r i m . A p p . ) , a f f ' d , 632 So. 2d 981 ( A l a . 1 9 9 3 ) ; Freeman v. S t a t e , 555 So. 2d 196 ( A l a . C r i m . App. 1 9 8 8 ) . O t h e r s t a t e s have a l s o found t h a t b r u t a l b e a t i n g s t h a t r e s u l t i n death are e s p e c i a l l y h e i n o u s . See S t a t e v. G e r l a u g h , 135 A r i z . 89, 659 P.2d 642 (1983) ( b r u t a l b e a t i n g l a s t i n g 15 minutes was sufficient to satisfy aggravating circumstance t h a t t h e m u r d e r was c o m m i t t e d i n an e s p e c i a l l y heinous, c r u e l , or depraved manner); S c o t t v. S t a t e , 494 So. 2d 1134, 1137 ( F l a . 1986) ('The b r u t a l s e n s e l e s s b e a t i n g s w h i c h t h e v i c t i m was f o r c e d to endure f u r t h e r set t h i s crime a p a r t from t h e norm o f c a p i t a l f e l o n i e s and c l e a r l y r e f l e c t t h e c o n s c i e n c e l e s s , p i t i l e s s and u n n e c e s s a r i l y t o r t u r o u s n a t u r e o f t h i s c r i m e . ' ) ; S t a t e v. S e p u l v a d o , 672 So. 2d 158 (La. 1 9 9 6 ) . " 7 App. CR-05-0225 B l a c k m o n v. S t a t e , A victim's assessing 982 age Jonas injuries pain. and physical 421 ( A l a . C r i m . App. condition are t h i s aggravating circumstance. So. 2d 565, Dr. 7 So. 3d 397, 607 ( A l a . C r i m . App. Salne inflicted testified on Phoenix had b l u n t - f o r c e relevant See Brown v. when State, 2006). that each would Phoenix 2005). have injuries of the caused numerous him t o h i s head, great several f r a c t u r e d r i b s , a f r a c t u r e t o h i s r i g h t arm, f r a c t u r e s t o b o t h wrists, multiple bruises on h i s f a c e , h e a d , neck, and chest, and a t e a r i n t h e i n s i d e o f h i s mouth t h a t was c o n s i s t e n t having a b o t t l e shoved i n t o h i s mouth. The broken with ribs, he s a i d , w o u l d have c a u s e d P h o e n i x t r e m e n d o u s p a i n e v e r y t i m e he breathed, minute. which f o r a baby, he s a i d , was o r 30 times a Dr. S a l n e f u r t h e r t e s t i f i e d t h a t a c h i l d o f P h o e n i x ' s age w o u l d be u n a b l e t o h e l p h i m s e l f . He a l s o s a i d t h a t some o f P h o e n i x ' s i n j u r i e s were i n v a r i o u s c a u s e o f d e a t h , Dr. S a l n e t e s t i f i e d , w h i c h , he d e s c r i b e d , stages of h e a l i n g . was then t h i s The a s u b d u r a l hematoma " i s a m e d i c a l term f o r a b l o o d c l o t forms between the i n s i d e of the s k u l l And 20 that and t h e b r a i n t i s s u e . causes s u f f i c i e n t p r e s s u r e which then d i s r u p t s the e n t i r e b r a i n system, which u l t i m a t e l y w i l l l e a d t o death, 8 CR-05-0225 if not t r e a t e d . " (R. 460.) n o t o c c u r f r o m one act. There was The specific evidence injuries, he t e s t i f i e d , did a c t b u t were f r o m more t h a n one indicating that Phoenix's o c c u r r e d d u r i n g t h e m i d d l e o f t h e n i g h t and G o b b l e t h a t P h o e n i x was a l i v e a t a r o u n d 9:00 him. testified evidence i n d i c a t i n g t h a t the v i c t i m for T h e r e was an appreciable period cruelty the exercised nature injuries died. and caused upon extent [Phoenix] when she c h e c k e d his is clearly physical i n t e n s e and "The demonstrated injuries. by These severe p a i n before he The p h y s i c a l abuse and n e g l e c t were s i g n i f i c a n t l y more r u t h l e s s t h a n t h a t r e q u i r e d t o commit m u r d e r . " 814 So. 2d 899, 924 ( A l a . C r i m . App. 2000). c o r r e c t l y f o u n d t h a t P h o e n i x ' s m u r d e r was atrocious, The c i r c u i t c o u r t e s p e c i a l l y heinous, Gobble Phoenix, murders. w i t h § 13A-5-53, A l a . Code 1975, address the p r o p r i e t y of Gobble's death. Ward v. S t a t e , o r c r u e l when compared t o o t h e r c a p i t a l In accordance son, on suffered before h i s untimely death. [Phoenix] of a.m. injuries c o n v i c t e d of murdering an offense defined 1975. 9 must c o n v i c t i o n and s e n t e n c e was 4 0 ( a ) ( 1 5 ) , A l a . Code we as her capital of four-month-old by § 13A-5- CR-05-0225 The imposed record under reflects the that Gobble's sentence i n f l u e n c e of passion, p r e j u d i c e , or o t h e r a r b i t r a r y f a c t o r . See § 1 3 A - 5 - 5 3 ( b ) ( 1 ) , The the sole aggravating e s p e c i a l l y heinous, capital A l a . Code c i r c u i t c o u r t found t h a t the a g g r a v a t i n g outweighed the m i t i g a t i n g circumstances. murders. circumstance The that was § 13A-5-49(8), any 1975. circumstance c o u r t found the murder a t r o c i o u s , o r c r u e l as compared t o See not A l a . Code was other 1975. c i r c u i t c o u r t f o u n d as s t a t u t o r y m i t i g a t i n g c i r c u m s t a n c e s G o b b l e had no s i g n i f i c a n t h i s t o r y o f p r i o r c r i m i n a l § 1 3 A - 5 - 5 1 ( 1 ) ; t h a t t h e m u r d e r was § 1 3 A - 5 - 5 1 ( 2 ) ; and The mitigating that activity, circuit court found of another the person, following or § 13A-5- nonstatutory circumstances: "(1) Ms. G o b b l e s u f f e r s f r o m A t t e n t i o n D e f i c i t H y p e r a c t i v i t y D i s o r d e r ; and, f u r t h e r , Ms. G o b b l e was d i a g n o s e d and t r e a t e d by two d i f f e r e n t p s y c h i a t r i s t s i n L a k e l a n d , F l o r i d a , and was p r e s c r i b e d R i t a l i n and A d d e r a l l to t r e a t her h y p e r a c t i v i t y ; "(2) Ms. Gobble [was born and]...tested p o s i t i v e f o r m a r i j u a n a and methamphetamine; 10 was disturbance t h a t Gobble a c t e d under extreme duress under the s u b s t a n t i a l domination 51(5). The committed w h i l e Gobble under the i n f l u e n c e of extreme mental or e m o t i o n a l as CR-05-0225 "(3) Ms. G o b b l e was r a i s e d i n an a b u s i v e e n v i r o n m e n t and, i n f a c t , b o t h Tierra Gobble's mother, L o r i Gobble, and h e r s t e p f a t h e r a t t h a t t i m e , D a l l a s G o b b l e , a d m i t t h a t t h e two o f them 'fought l i k e c a t s and dogs....,' "(4) D o m e s t i c v i o l e n c e o c c u r r i n g b e t w e e n Ms. Gobble's mother and s t e p f a t h e r d u r i n g t h e time t h e y were m a r r i e d ( a p p r o x i m a t e l y e i g h t y e a r s ) was so s e v e r e t h a t t h e Navy o r d e r e d D a l l a s G o b b l e , t h e s t e p - f a t h e r , t o attend marriage c o u n s e l i n g as a c o n d i t i o n o f D a l l a s Gobble's being able t o remain i n t h e Navy; "(5) D u r i n g t h e t i m e when T i e r r a was t e n y e a r s o l d , T i e r r a ' s mother, L o r i Gobble, abandoned T i e r r a and T i e r r a ' s b r o t h e r , D a l l a s , J r . , t o go l i v e w i t h a boyfriend; "(6) During Tierra's childhood, after her y o u n g e r b r o t h e r , D a l l a s , J r . , was b o r n , T i e r r a was frequently saddled with the sole r e s p o n s i b i l i t y of c a r i n g f o r h e r younger b r o t h e r because h e r mother was n o t i n t h e h o u s e h o l d o r h e r m o t h e r p l a c e d t h e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y o f c a r i n g f o r D a l l a s J r . on T i e r r a ; "(7) On an o c c a s i o n d u r i n g T i e r r a ' s c h i l d h o o d , she was s t a b b e d i n t h e h a n d w i t h a f o r k b y h e r mother, L o r i Gobble, because L o r i Gobble b e l i e v e d T i e r r a was r e a c h i n g f o r t o o many p i e c e s o f b r e a d ; "(8) T i e r r a ' s grandparents, Beth and B o r d i e G o b b l e , upon c h e c k i n g on T i e r r a a n d h e r y o u n g e r b r o t h e r D a l l a s J r . , f o u n d a n i m a l a n d human f e c e s t h r o u g h o u t t h e house and d i s c o v e r e d t h a t t h e t o i l e t was n o t w o r k i n g b e c a u s e i t was s t o p p e d up; a n d T i e r r a was a l o n e w i t h D a l l a s J r . t r y i n g t o be t h e parent. T h i s o c c u r r e d when T i e r r a was a p p r o x i m a t e l y e l e v e n y e a r s o l d ; and, f u r t h e r a t t h i s time i n t h e h o u s e , T i e r r a was d i s c o v e r e d t o have b r u i s e s on h e r and t h e h o u s e was i n f e s t e d w i t h r o a c h e s ; 11 CR-05-0225 "(9) D u r i n g T i e r r a ' s c h i l d h o o d , when she was about e l e v e n or t w e l v e , T i e r r a ' s mother, L o r i , would b r i n g men home w i t h h e r and have s e x w i t h t h e men i n 4^ , the house; "(10) T i e r r a G o b b l e , f r o m age t w e l v e u n t i l h e r h i g h s c h o o l g r a d u a t i o n a t age n i n e t e e n , r e c e i v e d no c o n t a c t o r c o m m u n i c a t i o n f r o m h e r m o t h e r , and a f t e r t h a t , h e r m o t h e r had no c o n t a c t w i t h h e r until T i e r r a was a r r e s t e d f o r c a p i t a l m u r d e r ; "(11) Ms. G o b b l e was b o r n i n t o and grew up i n a n e g l e c t f u l , a b u s i v e and d a n g e r o u s e n v i r o n m e n t ; "(12) From t h e t i m e she was e i g h t months o l d u n t i l she was t e n y e a r s o l d , Ms. G o b b l e w i t n e s s e d s e v e r e and p e r v a s i v e v i o l e n c e by h e r p a r e n t s . She was n e v e r o f f e r e d any p r o t e c t i o n f r o m t h e r e c u r r i n g domestic v i o l e n c e ; "(13) Ms. Gobble e x p e r i e n c e d e m o t i o n a l and f i n a n c i a l n e g l e c t and a b u s e . D u r i n g t h i s p e r i o d o f t i m e , t h e c h i l d r e n had v e r y l i t t l e t o e a t , s t a y e d i n a v i o l e n t e n v i r o n m e n t and were n o t a b l e t o e s t a b l i s h an e n d u r i n g p a t t e r n o f p r o t e c t i o n and s e c u r i t y ; "(14) Ms. G o b b l e was a v i c t i m o f p h y s i c a l abuse p r i m a r i l y f r o m h e r m o t h e r t h r o u g h o u t most o f h e r childhood. T h e r e was e m o t i o n a l abuse as w e l l i n t h i s environment; "(15) As a r e s u l t o f t h e above f o u r f a c t o r s , Ms. G o b b l e i n t e r n a l i z e d t h e v i o l e n c e and n e g l e c t she witnessed and experienced c r e a t i n g an internal e m o t i o n a l e n v i r o n m e n t o f d e p r e s s i o n t h a t she was u n a b l e t o cope w i t h . I n a d d i t i o n t o d e p r e s s i o n she v e r y l i k e l y e x p e r i e n c e d a n x i e t y and s e v e r e e m o t i o n a l t r a u m a t h a t she t r i e d t o r e p r e s s ; ' "(16) Ms. G o b b l e ' s u n r e s o l v e d c h i l d h o o d i s s u e s apparently exacerbated i n t o post-partem depression. She d i d n o t l e a r n a p p r o p r i a t e c o p i n g s k i l l s as a 12 CR-05-0225 child s o she i n t e r n a l i z e d h e r w o r r y c a u s i n g d e p r e s s i o n symptoms; and anger "(17) T h e r e does n o t a p p e a r t o be any p r e ¬ m e d i t a t i o n i n the commission of the o f f e n s e b u t r a t h e r an i m p u l s i v e , t h o u g h t l e s s r e s p o n s e t o s t r e s s w h i l e s h e was i n t h e t h r o e s o f a post-partem depression. T h i s r e s p o n s e was t h e c u l m i n a t i o n o f a l i f e t i m e of mistreatment and trauma t h a t T i e r r a experienced; "(18) Ms. G o b b l e s u f f e r e d as a c h i l d a n d c o n t i n u e s t o s u f f e r t o d a y as an a d u l t f r o m A t t e n t i o n [Deficit] Hyperactivity Disorder." (C.R. 277-79.) On remand, t h e c i r c u i t aggravating circumstance and found mitigating Gobble that reweighed the against the mitigating circumstances that the aggravating circumstance argues circumstance and sentenced that one a g g r a v a t i n g mitigating court the c i r c u i t circumstance outweighed the Gobble t o death. court erred outweighed i n finding "over twenty circumstances." S e c t i o n 13A-5-48, A l a . Code 1975, p r o v i d e s : "The process described i n Sections 13A-54 6 ( e ) ( 2 ) , 1 3 A - 5 - 4 6 ( e ) ( 3 ) a n d S e c t i o n 13A-5-47(e) o f weighing the aggravating and mitigating c i r c u m s t a n c e s t o d e t e r m i n e t h e s e n t e n c e s h a l l n o t be d e f i n e d t o mean a mere t a l l y i n g o f a g g r a v a t i n g a n d mitigating circumstances f o r the purpose of n u m e r i c a l c o m p a r i s o n . I n s t e a d , i t s h a l l be d e f i n e d t o mean a p r o c e s s b y w h i c h c i r c u m s t a n c e s r e l e v a n t t o sentence are marshalled and c o n s i d e r e d i n an organized f a s h i o n f o r the purpose of determining whether t h e proper sentence i n view of a l l the 13 CR-05-0225 r e l e v a n t c i r c u m s t a n c e s i n an i n d i v i d u a l c a s e i s l i f e imprisonment without p a r o l e or death." "The d e t e r m i n a t i o n o f w h e t h e r t h e a g g r a v a t i n g outweigh but circumstances t h e m i t i g a t i n g c i r c u m s t a n c e s i s n o t a n u m e r i c a l one, instead involves the compared t o t h e m i t i g a t i o n . " 108-09 ( A l a . 1 9 8 4 ) . gravity of the aggravation as Ex p a r t e C l i s b y , 456 So. 2d 105, " [ W ] h i l e t h e e x i s t e n c e o f an a g g r a v a t i n g or m i t i g a t i n g circumstance i s a f a c t s u s c e p t i b l e t o proof, the relative unlike weight facts, of each i s not; the process i s not s u s c e p t i b l e Lawhorn v. State, 1990). Clearly, 581 the So. of weighing, t o p r o o f by e i t h e r p a r t y . " 2d 1159, circuit 1171 court gave ( A l a . Crim. the App. mitigating c i r c u m s t a n c e s l i t t l e w e i g h t i n l i g h t o f t h e b r u t a l and h e i n o u s a g g r a v a t i n g c i r c u m s t a n c e t h a t was p r e s e n t i n t h i s c a s e . weight t o be a t t a c h e d t o t h e a g g r a v a t i n g a n d t h e m i t i g a t i n g evidence i s s t r i c t l y w i t h i n the d i s c r e t i o n of the sentencing authority." S m i t h v. S t a t e , 908 So. 2d 273, 298 App. 2000). We a g r e e w i t h t h e c i r c u i t Section 13A-5-53(b)(2), this "The Court circumstance must against court's findings. A l a . Code independently 1975, p r o v i d e s weigh the m i t i g a t i n g ( A l a . Crim. the that aggravating circumstances. After i n d e p e n d e n t l y w e i g h i n g t h e s e c i r c u m s t a n c e s , we a r e c o n v i n c e d 14 CR-05-0225 t h a t d e a t h was the appropriate sentence f o r Gobble's horrific a c t i o n s that u l t i m a t e l y l e d to the u n t i m e l y death of her f o u r month-old son. Neither excessive for is to sentences s i m i l a r murders, J o h n s o n v. S t a t e , 3d Gobble's sentence imposed disproportionate i n other c a p i t a l § 1 3 A - 5 - 5 3 ( b ) ( 3 ) , A l a . Code 1975. App. 2009) (death sentence two-year-old 2005) (death sentence imposed d a u g h t e r ) ; Broadnax ( A l a . C r i m . App. four-year-old 2000) v. for 397 f o r murder o f So. 2d 134 f o r murder o f child). have a d v e r s e l y a f f e c t e d Gobble's See R u l e 45A, Accordingly, i s hereby, So. 7 So. 3d 825 (death sentence imposed L a s t , we have s e a r c h e d t h e r e c o r d f o u n d none. State, See imposed m u r d e r o f s i x - m o n t h - o l d s o n ) ; B l a c k m o n v. S t a t e , ( A l a . C r i m . App. convictions [Ms. CR-06-0858, December 18, 2009] ( A l a . Crim. nor f o r any e r r o r t h a t s u b s t a n t i a l r i g h t s and may have Ala.R.App.P. G o b b l e ' s s e n t e n c e o f d e a t h i s due t o be, and affirmed. AFFIRMED. Wise, P . J . , and W e l c h , Windom, and K e l l u m , J J . , c o n c u r . 15

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