Misty Jane Brunelle v. State of Tennessee

Petitioner, Misty Jane Brunelle, was convicted of three counts of aggravated child abuse in relation to broken bones sustained by her infant daughter. Her convictions and sentences were affirmed on appeal. State v. Misty Brunelle, E2006-00467-CCA-R3-CD, 2007 WL 2026616 (Tenn. Crim. App. July 13, 2007), perm. app. denied (Tenn. Oct. 22, 2007) (“Brunelle I”). Petitioner then filed a post-conviction petition, which was denied. This Court affirmed the denial of the post-conviction petition on the basis of ineffective assistance of counsel, but reversed the lower court’s determination that no newly discovered evidence existed. Misty Jane Brunelle v. State, No. E2010-00662-CCA-R3-PC, 2011 WL 2436545 (Tenn. Crim. App. June 16, 2011), perm. app. denied (Tenn. Oct. 18, 2011) (“Brunelle II”). Petitioner then filed a petition for writ of error coram nobis, claiming that newly discovered evidence existed which may have resulted in a different outcome had it been presented at trial. After a hearing, the coram nobis court denied the petition. Based upon a thorough review of the law, record, and arguments in this case, we hold that the coram nobis court did not abuse its discretion in denying the petition. Therefore, we affirm the decision of the coram nobis court.