State of Tennessee v. Charles Vantilburg, III

The defendant, Charles Vantilburg III, was originally convicted of second degree murder in 2002 and sentenced to 20 years’ incarceration. On direct appeal, this court reversed the defendant’s conviction and remanded the case for a new trial on the basis of the trial court’s giving an erroneous definition of the term “knowingly.” See State v. Charles Vantilburg, No. W2002-01480-CCA-R3-CD (Tenn. Crim. App., Jackson, Jan. 13, 2004). After a second trial, the defendant was again convicted of second degree murder, and the trial court imposed a 22-year sentence. In this appeal, the defendant asserts that (1) the evidence is insufficient to support his conviction, (2) the trial court erred by admitting into evidence a “memorandum of understanding” signed by the parties, (3) the trial court erred by permitting the state to play a videotape of the recovery of the victim’s body, (4) the trial court erred by instructing the jury on flight, and (5) the sentence is excessive. The sentence is modified to 20 years; otherwise, the judgment of the trial court is affirmed.