OPINION
CAMPBELL, Judge.
Appeal is taken from a conviction for capital murder. V.T.C.A., Penal Code § 19.03(a)(1). After finding the appellant guilty, the jury returned affirmative answers to the special issues under Article 37.071, V.A.C.C.P. Punishment was assessed at death.
The appellant was convicted of knowingly and intentionally causing the death of Kevin Williams, a peace officer who was acting in the lawful discharge of an official duty. Appellant raises thirty-one points of error. We will affirm.
On March 9, 1985, appellant went to the home of his estranged wife, Linda Havard, and her roommate, Lynn Risner. Appellant arrived at their apartment in the Woodcreek complex at approximately 1:15 A.M. According to the testimony of Lynn Risner, appellant and his wife argued, and the argument escalated into a scuffle. When Risner became concerned for Linda Havard's safety, she called the police. Officer Kevin Williams responded to the call for the Huntsville Police Department. Jay Huber and David Hall, security guards for Resources Unlimited, were also dispatched to the scene by their employer because Resources Unlimited had a security contract with the management of the Woodcreek Apartments.
Hall arrived first on the scene, riding a Resources Unlimited motorcycle. About a minute later, Officer Williams arrived in a marked Huntsville Police car, immediately followed by Huber in a Resources Unlimited station wagon. Williams pulled into a parking place as did Huber and Hall.
Hall testified that, as he was propping his helmet on the motorcycle, he heard Lynn Risner yelling for help and saw her running towards them. After Risner came around the corner of a building, Linda Havard approached from an alley running between two buildings. At this point, the testimony begins to conflict.
According to Risner's testimony, she saw appellant step from behind a building, raise a .22 caliber rifle to his shoulder, and point it at the police officer. She said that she shouted "There he is," and pointed in appellant's direction. Officer Williams then turned to appellant and shouted "Freeze; stop; police; drop your weapon." She said that she saw a flash from the muzzle of appellant's rifle and heard a shot. Risner counted six shots, all fired by appellant, but was not able to say precisely where the shots were aimed. On cross-examination, she was able to add few details.
Hall's and Huber's testimony was substantially the same as Risner's. The only direct conflict was that both security guards agreed that Risner did not shout "There he is" and that Officer Williams did order appellant to freeze and drop his weapon, but did not announce that he was a police officer. In addition, Hall said that after the shots were fired, appellant went back around the building beside which he had been standing. Hall drew his pistol and followed appellant. He saw appellant start to get into a pickup truck. Hall shouted for appellant to freeze and drop his weapon, and appellant complied.
Next, Huber arrived at the scene and asked Hall if appellant was the man who had fired the shots. Appellant replied to Huber, "Yeah, I did it." Huber's testimony corroborated that of Hall. Huber's testimony supplied the additional information that he was struck in the shoulder by appellant's fifth shot. All three of these witnesses testified that the area was well-lit and that everyone at the scene was visible.
Medical testimony showed that Williams was killed by a small caliber gunshot wound to the middle of the forehead and
Appellant's testimony agreed with that of Huber and Hall, with certain additions. Appellant testified to his agitated mental state at the time of the offense; that he believed that he saw a flash from Williams' gun, that he believed was fired at him; and that he did not know that Williams was a police officer. Neutron activation tests and the testimony of Risner, Hall, and Huber indicate that appellant was the only one to fire a gun.
In his twenty second point of error, appellant argues that the trial judge erred in denying his motion for a directed verdict at the end of the State's case in chief. The uncontroverted evidence showed that appellant intentionally or knowingly fired the fatal shot at Officer Williams and that, at the time of the killing, Williams was a peace officer engaged in the exercise of his official duties. The only contested factual issues, in regard to this motion, was whether appellant was aware that Williams was a peace officer. Our examination of the sufficiency of the evidence will, thus, be limited to this element of the offense.
The standard for review applicable to a motion for directed verdict is the same as that used in reviewing the sufficiency of the evidence. This Court has recently set out that standard in Butler v. State, 769 S.W.2d 234 (Tex.Cr.App.1989).
Butler, supra at 239.
Hall, Huber, and Risner all testified that, although his overhead lights were not flashing, Williams arrived in a conspicuously marked police car and was wearing a Huntsville Police Department uniform and badge. Their testimony, as well as that of other police officers and EMS technicians who arrived on the scene after the shooting, indicated that the parking lot was amply illuminated. State's exhibits 11, 16, 30, 31, 32, 33, and 34, color photographs of the scene taken the night of the shooting, indicate that visibility was good. Although appellant elicited the fact that some of the photographs were taken with the aid of a flash device, other photographs were not so assisted. Finally, appellant was able to see well enough to fire a shot that struck Williams "right between the eyes." Based on this evidence, a rational trier of fact could have easily believed that the State had proven, beyond a reasonable doubt, that appellant was on notice that Williams was a peace officer. Appellant's twenty-second point of error is overruled.
In his first point of error, appellant complains of the trial court's denial of his motion for change of venue. Appellant's motion was timely filed, stated a cognizable reason for change of venue, and was properly accompanied by affidavits in support of his motion. The State controverted appellant's motion in a timely manner, raising a factual issue and the need for a hearing.
At the evidentiary hearing on this motion, appellant called two representatives of the local news media. Kathy Bear, of the Huntsville Item, testified concerning the coverage of this case by her newspaper. She stated that only the initial reports concerned the facts of the crime and appellant's possible involvement. Although she
J.D. Dickenson, of a local radio station, testified similarly to Ms. Bear. His testimony agreed with Bear's characterization of the news coverage, and he also believed that appellant could receive a fair trial in the county.
Dean Lewis, a local banker, testified concerning his personal efforts to raise money to aid Officer Williams' family. He concluded that appellant could receive a fair trial and recalled that a significant number of the people who approached a fund-raising booth at a local fair did not know who Officer Williams was.
Other witnesses for appellant testified that it would be difficult, but not impossible, to find 12 unbiased jurors and stated that they would prefer to be tried outside Walker County. Ken Lee, one of appellant's compurgators, stated that he did not believe that appellant could receive a fair trial, but he admitted that he had not formed an opinion as to appellant's guilt.
The State's witnesses all believed that appellant could receive a fair trial. These witnesses included the owner of a local cafe, two county commissioners, the warden for the Walls unit of T.D.C., and two local, civil attorneys.
In reviewing the motions for change of venue, where there is a hearing on the motion and conflicting testimony is adduced, the proper standard of appellate review is whether the trial judge abused his discretion in denying the motion. E.g., Cockrum v. State, 758 S.W.2d 577, 584 (Tex.Cr.App.1988). Here, the vast majority of the testimony indicated that appellant could receive a fair trial. Based on the strength of the evidence indicating that appellant could receive a fair trial and the specific exhibits of newspaper reports and radio broadcasts, the trial judge did not abuse his discretion. Appellant's first point of error is overruled.
In his second point of error, appellant argues that the trial judge erred in excusing venireman Thomas Mims for cause. During the State's initial voir dire of Mr. Mims, he said that he would be unable to answer "yes" to the special issues, regardless of what the evidence showed, because of his personal opposition to the death penalty. The State challenged Mr. Mims for cause. During cross examination, Mims vacillated, stating that "I would probably vote `yes' if that was my conviction as far as the evidence goes." After further examination by the State, Mr. Mims stated that he would definitely have to answer the special issues "no." At this point, the State reasserted its challenge. Appellant's attorney, in a final attempt to get Mr. Mims to equivocate, conducted the following examination:
In a capital murder case, if a potential juror is, because of conscientious scruples against the death penalty, unable or unwilling to follow the law in answering the special issues, he may be excused for cause on motion by either party. E.g., Bennett v. State, 742 S.W.2d 664, 674 (Tex.Cr.App. 1987); McCoy v. State, 713 S.W.2d 940, 952-53 (Tex.Cr.App.1986).
Bennett, supra at 674. Characterizing Mr. Mims as an "equivocating" juror, appellant asserts that Wainwright v. Witt, supra, prevents his excusal for cause. While Mr. Mims did vacillate in his answers, he ultimately stated that he could not answer the issues "yes." The voir dire examination of Mr. Mims was remarkably similar to that of venireman Griggs in Perillo v. State, 758 S.W.2d 567, 575-76 (Tex.Cr.App.1988).
In his third point of error, appellant argues that the trial judge erred in excusing venireperson Karen Glaze because of
[Questions by Mr. Carter]
On redirect examination, the State elicited the following:
[Questions by Mr. Blazek]
BY MR. BLAZEK:
BY MR. LAKE:
As stated in the above discussion of the second point of error, a venireman who would be unable to follow the law may be properly excused for cause. Perillo, supra.
In determining whether a venireman may be disqualified under Wainwright v. Witt,
Our reading of the cold record, accompanied with the trial judge's opportunity to observe the venireman's demeanor leads us to the conclusion that Ms. Glaze could not follow the law and was properly dismissed for cause. Appellant's third point of error is overruled.
In his fourth point of error, appellant argues that testimony concerning his attempted escape from the Walker County jail prior to trial should not have been admitted. Appellant argues that under Albrecht v. State, 486 S.W.2d 97 (Tex.Cr.App. 1972), and Clark v. State, 726 S.W.2d 120 (Tex.Cr.App.1986), evidence having greater prejudicial than probative value should not be admitted. While appellant is correct in stating the relevant rule, we have repeatedly held that evidence of escape or attempted escape from pretrial detention has greater probative than prejudicial value. E.g., Rumbaugh v. State, 629 S.W.2d 747, 752 (Tex.Cr.App.1982); Walker v. State, 588 S.W.2d 920, 924 (Tex.Cr.App.1979).
Rumbaugh, supra at 752 (quoting Wockenfuss v. State, 521 S.W.2d 630, 632 (Tex.Cr. App.1975)). Here, appellant fails to make any attempt to connect his escape attempt to another offense, and the record is devoid of any evidence that appellant was being held pursuant to other charges. Appellant's fourth point of error is overruled.
In his fifth point of error, appellant argues that photographs of his jail cell which show that an escape was attempted were erroneously introduced into evidence. Based on Burdine v. State, 719 S.W.2d 309 (Tex.Cr.App.1986), and Martin v. State, 475 S.W.2d 265 (Tex.Cr.App.1972), appellant acknowledges that photographs are admissible if the equivalent oral testimony would be admissible. For the reasons stated in the immediately preceding point of error, the challenged photographs were admissible. Appellant's fifth point of error is overruled.
In his sixth point of error, appellant argues that the trial judge should have declared a mistrial due to prosecutorial misconduct when the prosecutor disobeyed an order not to display certain photographs to the jury. The State sought to have a number of photographs admitted into evidence, but the trial judge refused to admit them.
Appellant bases this point of error on language from Justice Clark's opinion in Mapp v. Ohio, 367 U.S. 643, 659, 81 S.Ct. 1684, 1693, 6 L.Ed.2d 1081, 1092 (1961), which condemns governmental lawlessness in the judicial process, and Dakin v. State, 632 S.W.2d 864 (Tex.App.-Dallas 1982). The State responds that the prosecutor never violated any order by the trial judge. We agree with the State's assessment.
The judge's first order, not to exhibit the photographs to the jury, was obeyed. Appellant has conceded in his brief that the jury never saw the photographs. The second order, requiring that the prosecutor cease using the photographs during examination of his witness, was also obeyed. Because this point of error is premised on the allegation that the prosecutor violated one of the judge's orders, we find in it no merit. Point of error six is overruled.
In his seventh point of error, appellant argues that the trial judge erred in overruling his motion for a mistrial based on the State's failure to provide him, pursuant to a pretrial discovery motion, with exculpatory evidence. In part, the motion asked for:
These discovery requests were granted by the trial judge.
During the guilt/innocence phase of trial, the State called Lt. Frank Hidalgo to testify. In preparation for his cross-examination, appellant was given an offense report prepared by Lt. Hidalgo. After cross-examination, appellant made an oral motion for mistrial based on the State's failure to comply with the discovery order. The offense report revealed that appellant had made a statement to the sheriff of Walker County and a jail administrator. The report indicated that appellant told the authorities that he fired at Officer Williams after Williams fired at him.
Appellant argues that the State's failure to produce this statement violated the discovery order and, thus, denied him his right to due process. Appellant cites United States v. Agurs, 427 U.S. 97, 96 S.Ct. 2392, 49 L.Ed.2d 342 (1976), Moore v. Illinois, 408 U.S. 786, 92 S.Ct. 2562, 33 L.Ed.2d 706 (1972), and Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83, 83 S.Ct. 1194, 10 L.Ed.2d 215 (1963), as setting out the proper standard for reviewing this point of error. We disagree. Agurs, Moore, and Brady all involved the nondisclosure of exculpatory evidence known to the state, but not to the defendant.
In Agurs, the Supreme Court stated:
Agurs, supra, 427 U.S. at 103, 96 S.Ct. at 2397 (citation omitted and emphasis added). Here, appellant knew of the fact that he made a statement to the police and the content of that statement. First, appellant knew of both the existence and the content of his statement, as a matter of simple logic, because he was there when it was made. Second, at a pretrial hearing on change of venue, appellant's exhibit number 13 was the script for a broadcast on a local radio station. The exhibit reads, in relevant part:
Thus, this exhibit gave appellant notice, prior to trial, that he had made a statement to the Sheriff and the content of that statement. Appellant's written motion contains no citation to any legal authority, and his brief before this Court is limited to a discussion of Brady, supra, and its progeny. Brady, Moore, and Agurs simply do not apply to this factual setting. Appellant's seventh point of error is overruled.
In his eighth point of error, appellant argues that it was reversible error for the trial judge to admit, over objection, a photograph of Officer Williams and his daughter. Appellant argues that the photograph had no relevance and would tend to inflame the jury. An objection to photographic evidence is waived if the same information contained in the photographs is conveyed to the jury in some other form. Brown v. State, 696 S.W.2d 913, 914 (Tex. Cr.App.1985); cf. James v. State, 772 S.W.2d 84, 98 (Tex.Cr.App.1989).
In Brown, supra, the defendant was tried for attempting to murder Ruiz. Oville, a person who tried to stop the altercation between the defendant and Ruiz, was also stabbed by the defendant. The defendant objected to the introduction of photographs which depicted the injuries received by Oville. The basis for the defendant's objection was that these photographs constituted proof of an extraneous offense. We found that the objection was waived because Oville showed his wounds in open court and told about the circumstances surrounding their infliction. Thus, the information which the defendant wished to keep from the jury, the existence of an extraneous offense, found its way to the jury through an alternate route, and for that reason, error was waived.
Here, appellant sought to exclude the photograph because it informed the jury that appellant had a child and depicted that child's appearance. Prior to admission of the photograph, one of the State's witnesses, Officer Horner, identified Officer Williams' wife, children, and parents sitting in the first row of the courtroom. Appellant did not object to this identification. Because the family had been identified, the jury had the opportunity to view the family and observe the girl depicted in the photograph. In this way, the jury was exposed, without objection, to the same information that served as the basis for appellant's objection to the photograph.
[[]]*
In his twelfth, thirteenth, and fourteenth points of error, appellant complains of the trial judge's refusal to include the following proposed instruction in the jurys charge:
In his twenty-ninth point of error he argues that the failure to provide a statutory definition for "committed deliberately" prevents the jury from fully considering mitigating evidence.
Noting King v. State, 553 S.W.2d 105 (Tex.Cr.App.1977), appellant acknowledges that it is a matter of settled law in this state that the charge to the jury need not define the term "committed deliberately." See also, e.g., Demouchette v. State, 731 S.W.2d 75, 80 (Tex.Cr.App.1986). Because this phrase has not been statutorily defined, the jury charge need not define "committed deliberately," and until such time as the legislature elects to provide a definition, we will not require trial judges to include a definition in jury charges. James, supra at 102 n. 17. Appellant's twelfth, thirteenth, fourteenth, and twenty-ninth points of error are overruled.
In his fifteenth and sixteenth points of error, appellant complains of the trial judge's refusal to include the following instruction in the jury charge at the punishment phase.
In point of error fifteen, appellant characterizes the third special issue as "imperfect self-defense" and seeks to have us apply the requirement that, if raised by the evidence, the jury must be instructed that self-defense applies to all assailants, not only the deceased. Point of error sixteen argues that, if the third special issue is limited only to the conduct of the deceased, the jury is prevented from considering all mitigating evidence.
Although a capital murder defendant has a right to have all evidence considered in mitigation of punishment, he is not entitled to jury instructions specifically informing the jury that specific evidence may be considered or how it may be applied. E.g., James, supra at 102; Cordova v. State, 733 S.W.2d 175, 190 (Tex.Cr.App.1987) cert. denied 487 U.S. 1240, 108 S.Ct. 2915, 101 L.Ed.2d 946 (1988); Demouchette, supra at 80.
Quinones v. State, 592 S.W.2d 933, 947 (Tex.Cr.App.1980), cert. denied, 449 U.S. 893, 101 S.Ct. 256, 66 L.Ed.2d 121, rehg. denied, 449 U.S. 1027, 101 S.Ct. 600, 66 L.Ed.2d 490 (1980). Thus, because the meaning of each of the special issues is readily understandable and because the evidence which appellant considers to be mitigating was heard by the jury, no additional instruction was required. Appellant's fifteenth and sixteenth points of error are overruled.
In his twenty-fourth and twenty-fifth points of error, appellant argues that the trial court erred by overruling his objection to the charge at punishment because it failed to include an instruction concerning voluntary intoxication as mitigating evidence.
As we held in points of error fifteen and sixteen, regardless of the evidence which would support such an instruction, there is no need to include specific instructions apprising the jury of what mitigating evidence may be considered and how the jury might want to use it. James, supra; Cordova, supra; Demouchette, supra; Quinones, supra. Appellant's twenty-fourth and twenty-fifth points of error are overruled.
In his thirtieth and thirty-first points of error, appellant argues that Art. 37.071, supra, failed to allow consideration of all mitigating evidence in this case. The State responds that appellant's challenge to our sentencing scheme was resolved against him in Franklin v. Lynaugh, 487 U.S. 164, 108 S.Ct. 2320, 101 L.Ed.2d 155 (1988).
In Franklin, supra, the United States Supreme Court concluded that the trial court's refusal to give petitioner's requested special instructions did not violate his Eighth Amendment right to present mitigating evidence. On the facts of that case, a majority of the Court found that the jury was able to fully consider all mitigating evidence.
As in Franklin, we find that the mitigating evidence in the instant case could be fully considered within the framework of the three special issues. The only mitigating evidence to which appellant cites in his brief is voluntary intoxication and the idea of third-party provocation. Voluntary intoxication clearly serves to suggest that appellant's violent acts were the product of a temporary state, rather than a more permanent psychosis or general defect in character. As such, the jury could have used this evidence to answer "no" as to the question of future dangerousness.
Second, as explained earlier, supra n. 7, third-party provocation is indicative of a dynamic cause of appellant's behavior, rather than some static condition. Again, such evidence could have been used by the jury to find that appellant would not pose a future threat of violence. Because all of the mitigating evidence before the jury was cognizable under the special issues, appellant was not denied his Eighth Amendment right to present mitigating evidence. See generally, Franklin, supra. Points of error thirty and thirty-one are overruled.
In his seventeenth through twenty-first points of error, appellant raises a number of issues related to the manner in which the jury returned its verdict during the punishment phase of trial. We will first discuss the facts, which are common to all five points of error, and then examine the points of error, grouping the points when common issues of law predominate and discussing them separately when appropriate.
The charge at punishment included the following instruction:
At 11:35 A.M., the jury retired to deliberate on punishment. At 1:15 P.M., the jury sent the following note to the trial judge:
The judge replied with a note stating, "I don't understand the question."
At 2:10, the jury indicated that they had reached a verdict and returned to the courtroom. The following transpired immediately upon the verdict form being passed to the judge:
Comes now the defendant in the above numbered cause and moves for a mistrial for the following reasons, to wit:
The jury has returned a verdict that is incomplete. It is signed on the Special Issue No. 3 only, and signed by the presiding juror in provided for his signature, and on Special Issue No. 3. Special Issue No. 1 and Special Issue No. 2 are unanswered. We move for a mistrial on the grounds that the verdict is not complete.
At 2:25 P.M., the jury again retired to deliberate.
While the jury was out, appellant read the following motion into the record:
MOTION TO RECEIVE VERDICT
BY MR. CARTER:
The State stipulated to appellant's version of the facts, and argued that there had been nothing to indicate that the jury could not reach a verdict.
At 2:40 the jury sent a note asking "If either answer on one issue cannot be reached what do we do?" The judge, over appellant's objection, instructed the jury: "Please continue your deliberations." After an undisclosed amount of time, the jury returned with a verdict. This time, all three special issues were answered affirmatively. A polling of the jurors confirmed the answers on the verdict form.
Appellant's seventeenth point of error argues that the trial judge abused his discretion by refusing to accept the jury's verdict of 2:10. Point of error eighteen argues that the trial judge abused his discretion by instructing the jury to continue its deliberation. And, point of error nineteen argues that the trial judge erred in overruling appellant's motion to receive the verdict of 2:10.
Appellant reasons that, because the jury was instructed that it should leave blank any special issues on which there was neither a unanimous "yes" nor ten votes for "no," that the jury's failure to answer the first two issues indicates that they were "unable to answer" these issues, within the meaning of Art. 37.071(e). The State responds that failure to complete the verdict form does not prove that the jury was unable to reach a legally sufficient consensus,
The instruction concerning failure of the jury to reach a legal consensus on the special issues does not mean that the jury's failure to reach answers on the first two special issues was indicative of inability to answer those questions.
First, the instruction speaks of a failure to garner a unanimous "yes" or ten votes for "no." Such a failure to reach a verdict is different than an inability to reach a verdict. If the two ideas were equivalent, then a jury's failure to reach a verdict on its first ballot would mean that the jury was deadlocked, and all further deliberation would be futile. This is not the case. Juries that have difficulties in reaching a verdict may be instructed to continue deliberations. E.g., Beltran v. State, 728 S.W.2d 382, 392 (Tex.Cr.App.1987).
Second, Art. 36.31 V.A.C.C.P. places the determination of when a jury is deadlocked in the hands of the judge, not the jury.
It is within the trial court's sound discretion whether to discharge a jury that says it is deadlocked or to instruct it to continue deliberations. Art. 36.31 V.A.C.C.P. The standard a trial judge should use in making such a decision is whether the jury "has been kept together for such time as to render it altogether improbable that it can agree." Id. Neither of these rules were affected by the 1981 amendment to Art. 37.071(e). See DeLuna v. State, 711 S.W.2d 44, 48 (Tex.Cr.App.1986). Thus, the remaining question is whether the trial court abused its discretion in believing that the jury had not deliberated for so long that it was "altogether improbable that it [could] agree."
According to the statement of facts, the jury began deliberating at 11:35 A.M. and returned its "verdict" at 2:10. The jury resumed deliberations at 2:25, sent the second note to the judge at 2:40, and finished deliberating approximately forty-five minutes later.
Including breaks during the exchange of notes and in-court argument by counsel, the jury deliberated for approximately four hours. We hold that, given the relatively brief period of deliberation, the trial judge did not abuse his discretion by implicitly finding that a jury consensus was not "altogether improbable." Cf. Beltran, supra; DeLuna, supra; Andrade v. State, 700 S.W.2d 585 (Tex.Cr.App.1985); Williams v. State, 476 S.W.2d 300 (Tex.Cr.App.1972). Appellant's seventeenth point of error is overruled.
In his twentieth point of error, appellant argues that the trial judge violated Art. 37.071 V.A.C.C.P. when he refused to accept the "verdict" at 2:10. Point of error twenty-one argues that the trial judge erred in holding that the 2:10 "verdict" was incomplete.
As discussed above, the determination of when a consensus verdict becomes "altogether improbable" lies solely within the trial judge's discretion. DeLuna, supra. Thus, even if the jury's failure to answer the first two special issues accurately reflected their belief that they could not reach an answer on the first two special issues, such a "finding" by the jury is not binding on the trial judge. Art. 37.071(e); see also discussion of points of error seventeen through nineteen. Because it is immaterial whether the 2:10 "verdict" accurately reflected the jury's stance concerning continued deliberation, points of error twenty and twenty-one are overruled.
In his twenty-eighth point of error, appellant argues that the trial judge's instructions to the jury to continue deliberating after the 2:10 "verdict" was returned, violated his right against double jeopardy as guaranteed by the Fifth Amendment,
We must agree with the State that the previous points of error resolve this issue. As we held above, the 2:10 "verdict" did not compel the trial judge to enter a sentence of life imprisonment. In addition, a failure to reach an answer on a special issue does not bar relitigation of that issue. See Padgett v. State, 717 S.W.2d 55, 58 (Tex.Cr.App.1986) (in context of collateral estoppel). Point of error twenty eight is overruled.
In his twenty-sixth point of error, appellant complains of a comment made by the trial judge after the jury returned the 2:10 "verdict". Appellant argues that the trial judge's instruction for the jury to continue deliberations was an impermissible comment on the weight of the evidence. The allegedly erroneous statement was:
Appellant correctly states that a trial judge may make no comment to the jury which would convey to the jury the judge's view of the strength of the evidence. Appellant contends that this statement to the jury conveyed the judge's view on the weight of the evidence. The State responds that, in order to preserve such error for appellate review, a defendant must object to the judge's comment and ask for an instruction to disregard. The State argues that appellant failed to do this.
A defendant, if he is to complain of error on appeal, must make a specific, timely objection. E.g., Zillender, 557 S.W.2d 515, at 517. Even if a proper objection is made, the defendant may not, on appeal, argue a reason for error that was not urged at trial. Id. Here, appellant never argued at trial that the trial judge's statement constituted an impermissible comment on the weight of the evidence. Error, if any, was waived, and appellant's twenty-sixth point of error is overruled.
In his twenty-seventh point of error, appellant argues that the complained-of comment in point of error twenty-six also constituted a misstatement of the law. Appellant's argument is premised on the assumption that the 2:10 "verdict" was complete, and the trial judge was bound to accept it. This underlying premise has already been rejected in other points of error. For the reasons stated therein, appellant's twenty-seventh point of error is overruled.
In his twenty-third point of error, appellant argues that the evidence was insufficient to support the jury's affirmative answer to the first special issue. Art. 37.071(b)(1) V.A.C.C.P. Appellant cites to a number of cases in which this Court has reviewed the sufficiency of evidence on the first special issue. He argues that the evidence in this case is less than in those cases, and emphasizes the mitigating effect of the evidence that Officer Williams fired at appellant. The State responds that the evidence was sufficient because it showed that when Officer Williams arrived, appellant told Risner to leave, tried to drag his wife back into the apartment, and got Risner's gun. In addition, appellant was seen aiming the rifle and was told "Freeze; stop; police; drop your weapon," before firing. We additionally find that appellant aimed the rifle using a scope; the fatal shot struck Officer Williams in the middle of the forehead; and that six shots were fired.
The standard for sufficiency of the evidence to support an affirmative finding on special issue one is whether a rational trier of fact could find beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant acted with the reasonable expectation that death would result. E.g., Santana v. State, 714 S.W.2d 1,
Appellant's argument concerning evidence of provocation carries no weight in this analysis. The State controverted appellant's assertion that the deceased fired his gun through use of eyewitness testimony and physical evidence. Because we must judge the evidence in the light most favorable to the verdict, we may assume that the jury did not believe appellant's account of events. See Goodman, supra at 866. Appellant's twenty-third point of error is overruled.
In his tenth and eleventh points of error, appellant argues, respectively, that the trial judge erred in refusing appellant's motion for directed verdict on the second special issue and that the evidence was insufficient to sustain the jury's affirmative answer to that special issue. Appellant argues that because: he had no criminal conviction; his criminal conduct occurred when he was either a juvenile or 19 years old; he is now only 23; was in a highly agitated state when the offense was committed; and the offense was spontaneous rather than calculated, the jury reached the wrong result on future dangerousness. The State concedes that appellant has no criminal convictions, but argues that appellant has an extensive history of violent acts and has a bad reputation in the community. In addition, psychological testimony suggested that appellant has a tendency to react violently when under stress or the influence of alcohol.
In answering the special issues in a capital case, the jury may consider all evidence adduced at both phases of the trial. E.g., Keeton v. State, 724 S.W.2d 58, 61 (Tex.Cr. App.1987); Santana, supra at 8.
Keeton, supra at 61; see also cases cited therein.
Here, the State proved a number of violent, unadjudicated acts on the part of appellant. Such acts of violence are relevant to the second special issue, even if no criminal proceedings resulted from the acts. Smith v. State, 676 S.W.2d 379, 390 (Tex. Cr.App.1984), cert. denied, 471 U.S. 1061, 105 S.Ct. 2173, 85 L.Ed.2d 490 (1985).
At age 19, appellant assaulted Ronnie Johnson with a rifle. Appellant beat Johnson to the point of requiring hospitalization. That same year, appellant shot Lynn Babbs. As a juvenile, appellant resisted arrest and attacked the arresting officer. Testimony revealed that appellant had bragged about this incident. All of these events suggest a pattern of violent behavior and could reasonably have contributed to the jury's affirmative answer on the second special issue.
Reputation evidence is relevant on the issue of future dangerousness. Rougeau
Psychiatric testimony is relevant to the issue of future dangerousness. Keeton, supra at 61. Here, appellant called Jim Whitley, a psychologist, as an expert witness. He testified that when appellant consumes alcohol, he "becomes very aggressive" and has "a complete failure of his inhibitions." In addition, when under stress, appellant has a tendency to "act out aggressively." These factors militate in favor of the jury's answer.
In reviewing the sufficiency of evidence to support an affirmative answer to the second special issue, this Court must view the evidence in the light most favorable to the verdict to determine whether "a rational trier of fact could have found the elements of Art. 37.071(b)(2), supra, beyond a reasonable doubt." Keeton, supra at 61. In light of our above discussion, we find that a rational trier of fact could have answered the second special issue affirmatively. Appellant's tenth and eleventh points of error are overruled.
The judgment of the trial court is affirmed.
CLINTON, J., adhering to views expressed in his dissenting opinions in James v. State, supra, and Stewart v. State, 686 S.W.2d 118, at 125-126 (Tex.Cr.App.1984), and disagreeing with treatment of points 17-21 and 11, respectfully dissents.
TEAGUE, J., dissents on point of error # 23.
DUNCAN, J., not participating.
ON MOTION FOR REHEARING
MILLER, Judge.
Appellant was convicted of capital murder and assessed the death penalty as punishment. On direct appeal, this Court found no merit in appellant's thirty-one points of error and affirmed his conviction. See Havard v. State, 800 S.W.2d 195 (Tex. Cr.App.1989). Appellant raises ten grounds for rehearing in his motion, of which we granted nine. Finding merit in appellant's first three grounds for rehearing, we accordingly reverse his conviction.
The facts of this offense are critical to resolving the issues raised in this motion for rehearing. Appellant was convicted of killing Kevin Williams, a peace officer who was acting in the lawful discharge of an official duty. We quote the pertinent portions of the facts which were summarized in the opinion on original submission.
In grounds for rehearing one through three, appellant challenges this Court's holding as to his ninth point of error on direct appeal wherein appellant asserted the trial court erred in overruling his objection to the jury charge at the guilt/innocence phase of trial. Appellant objected to the failure of the charge to instruct the jury on the lesser included offense of voluntary manslaughter. V.T.C.A. Penal Code § 19.04. In addressing the ninth point of error, we held the trial court did not err in failing to instruct the jury on voluntary manslaughter because the issue was not raised by the evidence. In reaching this conclusion, the Court stated that provocation, in support of a claim of "sudden passion" under Penal Code § 19.04, must derive from the deceased and that therefore "the only evidence relevant to appellant's claim of voluntary manslaughter is his testimony that he believed that he had been fired at by [the deceased]." Havard, 800 S.W.2d at 206. This Court found the evidence did not show "appellant acted out of `terror' and was incapable of reflecting on his action and acting with cool reflection[ ]", but rather it was appellant's conscious desire to fire at the deceased. Id. at 206.
In the three grounds for rehearing, appellant contends the Court erred in holding (1) the evidence did not raise the lesser included offense of voluntary manslaughter, and thus the trial court did not err in failing to submit a charge on the issue; (2) the only evidence relevant to whether voluntary manslaughter was raised was appellant's testimony that he believed the deceased had fired at him; and (3) that provocation in support of a voluntary manslaughter charge must derive from the deceased. The three grounds are obviously interrelated, but we address them independently in reverse order for clarity's sake.
Penal Code section 19.04 provides in pertinent part:
Clearly, under the express language of this statute, provocation, in support of a claim of "sudden passion", may derive from someone other than the deceased, but this person must be someone "acting with" the deceased. Marquez v. State, 725 S.W.2d 217 (Tex.Cr.App.1987) (evidence must show anger was result of act of provocation on part of deceased or third party acting in concert with deceased). Thus, the Court erred in its original opinion when it stated provocation must derive from the deceased. In making that erroneous statement the Court relied upon two cases from this Court, Hobson v. State, 644 S.W.2d 473 (Tex.Cr.App.1983), and Daniels v. State, 645 S.W.2d 459 (Tex.Cr.App.1983).
Finding merit in appellant's third ground for rehearing leads us to find merit in his second ground as well. In his second ground for rehearing, appellant contends the Court erred in holding the only evidence relevant to whether voluntary manslaughter was raised was appellant's testimony that he believed the deceased had fired at him. Appellant correctly asserts that this Court, in determining whether voluntary manslaughter was raised by the evidence, must consider not only the acts of the deceased but also the acts of anybody acting with the deceased. In his motion for rehearing, appellant argues that the security officers, Huber and Hall, were acting with the deceased, and therefore, in accordance with Penal Code § 19.04(b), the actions of the security officers as well as those of the deceased must be considered in determining whether the necessary provocation exists so as to raise voluntary manslaughter. Given the facts of this case, we agree with appellant that the security officers were acting in conjunction with the deceased and that evidence concerning their actions must be considered in determining whether the issue of voluntary manslaughter was raised. Thus, the Court erred on original submission in finding "the only evidence relevant to appellant's claim of voluntary manslaughter [was] his testimony that he believed that he had been fired at by [the deceased]." See Havard, 800 S.W.2d at 206. We therefore sustain appellant's second ground for rehearing.
With the resolution of the second and third grounds for rehearing, we are now in a position to address appellant's first ground for rehearing, which is actually a restatement of his ninth point of error on original submission, viz: the issue of voluntary manslaughter was raised and should have been submitted to the jury via the court's charge at guilt/innocence. This Court utilizes a two-prong test when determining whether the jury must be charged on a lesser included offense. This test, first followed by a plurality of this Court in Royster v. State, 622 S.W.2d 442 (Tex.Cr. App.1981) (Opinion on Rehearing), was adopted by a majority of the Court in Aguilar v. State, 682 S.W.2d 556 (Tex.Cr.App. 1985). The test consists of the following: (1) the lesser included offense must be included within the proof necessary to establish the offense charged; and (2) there
Logic dictates that the first prong of this test is easily satisfied. At the risk of overstating the obvious, we note that in proving the charged offense, capital murder, the State must prove inter alia the defendant committed a murder. Murder is, by definition, a lesser included offense of capital murder because "it is established by proof of the same or less than all the facts required to establish the commission of [capital murder]". Art. 37.09(1), V.A.C.C.P. In Bradley v. State, 688 S.W.2d 847, 849 (Tex. Cr.App.1985), this Court held that in some circumstances voluntary manslaughter may be a lesser included offense to murder. If all other conditions are met, and if there is some evidence of sudden passion in the case, then voluntary manslaughter will be considered a lesser included offense of either murder or capital murder.
In deciding whether the issue of a lesser included offense is raised, we look to all the evidence presented at trial and not solely whether the defendant's testimony raises or negates the issue of the lesser included offense. Lugo v. State, 667 S.W.2d 144, 147 (Tex.Cr.App.1984). The credibility of the evidence and whether it is controverted or conflicts with other evidence may not be considered. Marras, 741 S.W.2d at 405. It is the jury's duty, under proper instruction, to determine whether the evidence is credible and supports a finding that the lesser included offense was committed. Hayes v. State, 728 S.W.2d 804 (Tex.Cr.App.1987). The credibility of testimony is solely within the jury's domain, and it may "selectively believe" evidence at trial presented by the State and the defendant. See Godsey, 719 S.W.2d at 585 (Miller, J. concurring). In other words, the jury may accept or reject all or a part of a witness's testimony, including that of the defendant.
After reviewing the record, we find the evidence raises the issue of voluntary manslaughter. Appellant testified he went to his wife's apartment to get some information for their income tax forms. He and his wife, Elaine, began arguing when she refused to let him spend the night with her. Appellant stated he felt emotionally hurt and angry at this time, and both his and Risner's testimony established the argument was emotional and became physical.
This case is clearly distinguishable from those cases wherein this Court has held that a mere claim of fear does not establish the existence of sudden passion arising from an adequate cause. See e.g. Gonzales v. State, 717 S.W.2d 355 (Tex.Cr.App. 1986). For a claim of fear to rise to the level of sudden passion, there must be evidence that the defendant's state of mind rendered him incapable of cool reflection. Id. at 357, citing Daniels, 645 S.W.2d 459. Testimony that the defendant became enraged, resentful or terrified immediately prior to the shooting adequately indicates such a state of mind. Id., citing Bradley, 688 S.W.2d 847. In Gonzales, there was no testimony indicating the defendant was "emotionally aroused" at the time of the shooting or that he had cause to be aroused. On the contrary, the evidence showed appellant, after witnessing a confrontation between his friend and the victim in a bar, went to his friend's car, retrieved his pistol, waited for the victim, and then shot him after the victim came up behind him and fired a shot. This Court found the defendant's own testimony indicated he remained cool and composed throughout this confrontation. Thus, the defendant's "mental state did not call for an instruction on voluntary manslaughter." Gonzales, 717 S.W.2d at 357.
We find the present cause is more akin to Schoelman v. State, 644 S.W.2d 727 (Tex.Cr.App.1983). In that case, the defendant had an argument with a man she had dated. At the time of the argument, the defendant was described as "real mad", "mad", and "upset". The victim attempted to calm the defendant and eventually slammed the door in her face and locked her out of the victim's establishment, wherein was the boyfriend. The defendant kicked in the door and fired her revolver, killing the victim. At trial, the defendant testified the gun fired accidentally and that she was emotionally distraught immediately after the shooting. Considering all the relevant facts and circumstances in the case, the Court held the evidence was sufficient to warrant an instruction on voluntary manslaughter. Id. at 733.
Appellant's testimony in the case sub judice indicates he was emotionally hurt and mad at the time he raised his rifle while standing on the ledge. Appellant thought he saw two men with weapons drawn coming toward him and that someone actually shot at him. He testified the events of the shooting happened quickly and he did not know what he was thinking at the time. Appellant expressed fear for his life. Under these circumstances, the evidence indicates appellant was acting under the immediate influence of sudden passion arising from an adequate cause. Penal Code § 19.04(a). If the jury chose to believe appellant's testimony, then appellant is guilty only of voluntary manslaughter. Therefore, we hold the trial court erred in failing to instruct the jury on the lesser included offense of voluntary manslaughter. Appellant's third ground in his motion for rehearing is granted, and we withdraw that portion of our original opinion addressing appellant's ninth point of error.
Accordingly, the judgment of the trial court is reversed and the cause is remanded.
DAVIS, J., not participating.
BERCHELMANN, J., dissents.
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