Shana Lee Barrett v. State of Alabama

Annotate this Case

Download PDF

REL 10/02/2009 Notice: T h i s o p i n i o n i s s u b j e c t t o f o r m a l 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 , A l a b a m a 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 be 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, 2007-2008 CR-06-0090 Shana Lee Barrett v. S t a t e o f Alabama Appeal WINDOM, Court Judge. Shana Lee B a r r e t t manslaughter, and f r o m J e f f e r s o n County C i r c u i t (CC-05-5550) appeals her conviction f o r reckless a v i o l a t i o n o f § 1 3 A - 6 - 3 ( a ) ( 1 ) , A l a . Code 1975, her r e s u l t i n g sentence of 20 years i n prison. The evidence presented a t t r i a l tended t o e s t a b l i s h the f o l l o w i n g . CR-06-0090 On t h e e v e n i n g o f A p r i l drove from B a r r e t t ' s house i n Walker p a r t y i n Bessemer, Alabama. automobile. of a case beer. 16, 2 0 0 5 , B a r r e t t a n d h e r n i e c e B a r r e t t was d r i v i n g h e r Geo S t o r m On t h e way t o t h e p a r t y , B a r r e t t p u r c h a s e d a h a l f o f Corona beer friends. April and a h a l f A t some p o i n t 17, 2 0 0 5 , B a r r e t t home. of a case of Heineken i n the e a r l y morning hours of and h e r n i e c e left the party t o go B a r r e t t was d r i v i n g t h e c a r . On t h e way home, B a r r e t t J e f f e r s o n County. behind vehicle collision d r o v e down U.S. Highway 78 i n A t some p o i n t w h i l e Howard C h a p p e l l . V i l l a g e r Van. her to a D u r i n g t h e p a r t y , B a r r e t t d r a n k some b e e r , a n d v i s i t e d with got County, Alabama, Barrett struck Chappell Following was d r i v i n g a M e r c u r y attempted t o pass C h a p p e l l ; the back of Chappell's caused both v e h i c l e s separate trees. on H i g h w a y 78, B a r r e t t t o leave however, vehicle. The t h e r o a d and s t r i k e C h a p p e l l d i e d as a r e s u l t o f t h e c o l l i s i o n . the accident, B a r r e t t was a r r e s t e d a violation fordriving under the influence, 1975. A f t e r her arrest, Barrett submitted to a test. The r e s u l t s i n d i c a t e d B a r r e t t h a d a b l o o d - a l c o h o l 2 o f § 3 2 - 5 A - 1 9 1 , A l a . Code blood-alcohol level CR-06-0090 of 0.096%. Barrett was subsequently charged with reckless m a n s l a u g h t e r , a v i o l a t i o n o f § 1 3 A - 6 - 3 ( a ) ( 1 ) , A l a . Code 1975. At trial, Barrett criminally negligent vehicular circuit § 32-5A-192, offenses court charged of the jury on v e h i c u l a r found B a r r e t t guilty Ala. reckless jury h o m i c i d e ; however, i t r e f u s e d instruction t h e j u r y be c h a r g e d on h o m i c i d e , § 13A-6-4, A l a . Code 1975, a n d homicide, lesser-included requested that on 1975, manslaughter. criminally Barrett's homicide. Code After request as The negligent for a jury d e l i b e r a t i n g , the o f m a n s l a u g h t e r as c h a r g e d i n t h e indictment. On a p p e a l , B a r r e t t a r g u e s t h a t instructions that were d e f e c t i v e . the c i r c u i t court the c i r c u i t Specifically, court's Barrett "It court 883, We those been t h e law i n Alabama t h a t i n s t r u c t i o n s are accurate and f a c t s o f t h e c a s e . " 885 3 a [circuit] jury instructions, r e f l e c t i o n s of the C u l p e p p e r v. S t a t e , ( A l a . C r i m . App. 2001) included agree. has b r o a d d i s c r e t i o n i n f o r m u l a t i n g provided law of r e c k l e s s manslaughter. has l o n g argues abused i t s d i s c r e t i o n by r e f u s i n g t o i n s t r u c t t h e j u r y on v e h i c u l a r h o m i c i d e as a l e s s e r offense jury 827 So. 2d ( c i t i n g K n o t t s v. S t a t e , 686 CR-06-0090 So.2d 4 3 1 , 456 ( A l a . C r i m . App. 1 9 9 5 ) ) . The c i r c u i t court's b r o a d d i s c r e t i o n , however, i s f e t t e r e d by a d e f e n d a n t ' s t o have t h e c o u r t the indictment, c h a r g e on t h e l e s s e r o f f e n s e s when t h e r e evidence supporting i s a reasonable hisposition." "right included i n theory from the J o n e s v. S t a t e , 514 So. 2d 1060, 1063 ( A l a . C r i m . App. 1987) ( c i t i n g W i g g i n s v . S t a t e , 491 So. 2d 1046 ( A l a . C r i m . App. 1 9 8 6 ) ; C h a v e r s v. S t a t e , 361 So. 2d 1106 ( A l a . 1 9 7 8 ) ; a n d F u l g h u m v . S t a t e , 277 So. 2d 886 (Ala. 1973)) . toto, but the evidence reasonable "Even i f t h e d e f e n d a n t presented by denies the charge i n the State suggests a t h e o r y s u p p o r t i n g a c h a r g e on a l e s s e r o f f e n s e , t h e trial c o u r t i s o b l i g e d t o g i v e a c h a r g e on t h e l e s s e r o f f e n s e when requested." omitted). Jones, 514 Lesser-included So. offenses 2d a t 1063 encompass, (citations among other t h i n g s , o f f e n s e s t h a t a r e " e s t a b l i s h e d b y p r o o f o f t h e same o r fewer than a l l t h e f a c t s r e q u i r e d t o e s t a b l i s h t h e commission of the offense charged" or offenses that " d i f f e r [ ] from t h e offense charged only i n the respect that a l e s s s e r i o u s or risk of injury interests, to a t o t h e same lesser kind 4 person, of property culpability injury or p u b l i c suffices to CR-06-0090 e s t a b l i s h i t s commission." § 1 3 A - 1 - 9 ( a ) ( 1 ) , ( a ) ( 4 ) , A l a . Code 1975. Barrett was manslaughter, charged which with requires the and convicted State of must p r o v e " r e c k l e s s l y c a u s e [ d ] the death of another person." 3 ( a ) ( 1 ) , A l a . Code 1975. instruction she and another person" while that she § 13A-6- She r e q u e s t e d and was r e f u s e d a j u r y on v e h i c u l a r h o m i c i d e w h i c h "unlawfully reckless requires proof u n i n t e n t i o n a l l y c a u s e [ s ] the violating "any s t a t e law or that death of municipal o r d i n a n c e a p p l y i n g t o t h e o p e r a t i o n o r u s e o f a v e h i c l e " and the v i o l a t i o n p r o x i m a t e l y caused the death of other person. § 3 2 - 5 A - 1 9 2 ( a ) , A l a . Code 1 9 7 5 . 1 R e v i e w i n g t h e s e two s t a t u t e s , t h i s c o u r t , i n C u l p e p p e r v. State, determined a person charged w i t h r e c k l e s s manslaughter s t e m m i n g f r o m an a l c o h o l r e l a t e d a c c i d e n t t h a t r e s u l t e d i n t h e death of another person i s e n t i t l e d to a j u r y i n s t r u c t i o n on v e h i c u l a r homicide 2d as a l e s s e r - i n c l u d e d o f f e n s e . 827 So. I n Ex p a r t e E d w a r d s , t h e A l a b a m a Supreme C o u r t e x p l a i n e d that a person acts u n i n t e n t i o n a l l y f o r v e h i c u l a r homicide purposes i f that person acts knowingly, r e c k l e s s l y , or negligently. A . L . L . v. S t a t e , [Ms. 1080395, Aug. 21, 2009] So. 3d , ( A l a . 2009) ( c i t i n g Ex p a r t e E d w a r d s , 816 So. 2d 98, 107 ( A l a . 2001)) . 1 5 CR-06-0090 883, 885 ( A l a . Crim. App. 2001). Brian driving, his vehicle. struck Id. he h i t a t r a c t o r - t r a i l e r Id. His vehicle another v e h i c l e which, The drank I d . a t 884-85. a l c o h o l and c h o s e t o d r i v e h i s v e h i c l e . Culpepper While truck then and lost crossed i n turn, struck d r i v e r of the v e h i c l e that Culpepper driver of the motorcycle d i e d Id. After the blood-alcohol l e v e l was as accident, test, which c o n t r o l of a median a motorcycle. s t r u c k and a r e s u l t of the Culpepper indicated to a his blood-alcohol two individuals, 0.15%. I d . Based on Culpepper the was manslaughter. DUI related charged At t r i a l , with deaths two of counts of reckless Culpepper requested j u r y i n s t r u c t i o n s on c r i m i n a l l y n e g l i g e n t h o m i c i d e and v e h i c u l a r h o m i c i d e . The the accident. consented that and circuit court refused reviewing the t o i n s t r u c t t h e j u r y on Id. vehicular homicide. After facts presented at t r i a l , homicide was manslaughter. the Alabama a against Culpepper and the t h i s court determined that v e h i c u l a r lesser-included I d . a t 886. Supreme charges offense of S p e c i f i c a l l y , t h i s court, Court's holding 6 i n Ex parte reckless applying Long, 600 CR-06-0090 So.2d 982 ( A l a . 1992), E d w a r d s , 816 So.2d 98 overruled on o t h e r g r o u n d s , ( A l a . 2001), a n d Ex p a r t e Ex parte J o r d a n , 486 So. 2d 485 ( A l a . 1 9 8 6 ) , d e t e r m i n e d t h a t i n c i r c u m s t a n c e s where a defendant i s charge w i t h an accident vehicular reckless and d e a t h homicide r e c k l e s s manslaughter by violating contains manslaughter. the State's t h e same I d . a t 886. f o r causing or fewer DUI l a w , elements T h e r e f o r e , under as those circumstances, a defendant i s e n t i t l e d t o a j u r y instruction on v e h i c u l a r h o m i c i d e as a l e s s e r - i n c l u d e d o f f e n s e of reckless manslaughter. 886 So. 2d 846, 848-49 homicide a lesser-included (holding offense when t h e f a c t s e s t a b l i s h e d i n t o x i c a t e d , drove h i s v e h i c l e that that of that vehicular murder 600 So. 2d a t 985-87 a lesser-included (holding a n d c a u s e d an offense of that when accident Ex vehicular murder and the defendant, r e s u l t e d i n the death of another i n d i v i d u a l ) ; Long, was C r a w f o r d v. S t a t e , ( A l a . C r i m . App. 2003) was manslaughter while I d . ; see a l s o parte homicide the facts e s t a b l i s h e d t h a t t h e d e f e n d a n t r a n h i s v e h i c l e over a curb and k i l l e d an individual). Applying of this t h i s court's d e c i s i o n i n Culpepper t o the f a c t s c a s e , B a r r e t t was e n t i t l e d 7 to a jury instruction on CR-06-0090 vehicular h o m i c i d e as a l e s s e r - i n c l u d e d as of reckless B a r r e t t was c h a r g e d w i t h r e c k l e s s manslaughter. offense manslaughter follows: "SHANA LEE BARRETT, whose name i s t o t h e g r a n d j u r y o t h e r w i s e unknown , d i d r e c k l e s s l y c a u s e t h e d e a t h o f HOWARD CHAPPELL JR b y d r i v i n g u n d e r t h e influence s t r i k i n g h i s v e h i c l e causing h i s death, i n v i o l a t i o n o f S e c t i o n 13A-6 - 3 ( a ) ( 1 ) o f t h e A l a b a m a C r i m i n a l code, a g a i n s t t h e peace and d i g n i t y o f t h e S t a t e o f Alabama." (C.R. 16.) To c o n v i c t Barrett charged i n the indictment, Barrett caused recklessly, influence 1975. the death the State Further, manslaughter had t o e s t a b l i s h o f C h a p p e l l and t h a t i . e . , by d r i v i n g of alcohol of reckless her vehicle i n violation as that she d i d so while under t h e o f § 32-5A-191, A l a . Code t h e e v i d e n c e adduced a t t r i a l e s t a b l i s h e d that B a r r e t t d r o v e h e r v e h i c l e w i t h a .096% b l o o d - a l c o h o l level i n v i o l a t i o n o f § 32-5A-191, a n d i n d o i n g s o c a u s e d an accident and t h e d e a t h o f C h a p p e l l . Accordingly, vehicular under t h e charge and t h e f a c t s o f t h i s case, homicide (a d e a t h c a u s e d b y B a r r e t t driving under t h e i n f l u e n c e o f a l c o h o l ) , r e q u i r e d p r o o f o f t h e same o r f e w e r facts as manslaughter the facts (Barrett necessary to r e c k l e s s l y caused 8 establish reckless a death by d r i v i n g CR-06-0090 under the (holding influence). that "'the See same Culpepper, or fewer than 827 So. 2d at a l l of the 886 facts' r e q u i r e d t o e s t a b l i s h m a n s l a u g h t e r were r e q u i r e d t o e s t a b l i s h ... v e h i c u l a r h o m i c i d e , so t h a t [ t h a t o f f e n s e ] t h e r e b y f a l l [ s ] within the definition 13A-1-9(a)(1)"). case, vehicular of an Therefore, homicide included under is a the offense facts of lesser-included in § Barrett's offense of r e c k l e s s m a n s l a u g h t e r , and the c i r c u i t c o u r t e r r e d i n f a i l i n g t o so i n s t r u c t t h e Id. Further, jury. the c i r c u i t c o u r t ' s on v e h i c u l a r h o m i c i d e was the not r e f u s a l to i n s t r u c t the harmless because " [ n ] o t h i n g j u r y ' s v e r d i c t supports the have r e t u r n e d contention a v e r d i c t on [ t h e o f f e n s e i n s t e a d o f m a n s l a u g h t e r i f i t had o r t h a t any finding implicit p r e c l u d e s a v e r d i c t on 600 So.2d at 987, E d w a r d s , 816 So. So. 849 2d not of v e h i c u l a r been g i v e n the not homicide] opportunity, i n the j u r y ' s v e r d i c t n e c e s s a r i l y overruled on see Crim. other Ex p a r t e grounds, a l s o C r a w f o r d v. parte State, p r e c l u d e a v e r d i c t on v e h i c u l a r h o m i c i d e ; t h e r e f o r e , the 9 (holding 886 did the 2003) Ex defendant of manslaughter convicting App. Long, the verdict (Ala. i t could in that jury's 846, that [vehicular homicide]." 2d a t 107; jury CR-06-0090 circuit vehicular court's erroneous h o m i c i d e was refusal not h a r m l e s s ) . u n d e r t h e f a c t s and c i r c u m s t a n c e s have r e t u r n e d a v e r d i c t the circuit reversed, and instruct Given the f o r h o m i c i d e by v e h i c l e . foregoing, the t o be Wise, P.J., jury circuit opportunity, could Therefore, court's judgment i s trial. REMANDED. and Welch, Kellum, 10 and on reversed. t h i s c a u s e i s remanded f o r a new REVERSED AND the of t h i s case, the j u r y c o u r t ' s j u d g m e n t i s due B a s e d on t h e to Main, J J . , concur.

Some case metadata and case summaries were written with the help of AI, which can produce inaccuracies. You should read the full case before relying on it for legal research purposes.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.