TEXAS COURT OF APPEALS, THIRD DISTRICT, AT AUSTIN
NO. 03-01-00345-CR
Pedro Edwardo Gutierrez alias Pete Gutierrez, Appellant
v.
The State of Texas, Appellee
FROM THE DISTRICT COURT OF TRAVIS COUNTY, 331ST JUDICIAL DISTRICT
NO. 0995317, HONORABLE BOB PERKINS, JUDGE PRESIDING
A jury found appellant Pedro Edwardo Gutierrez guilty of the murder of Keith Watson
and assessed punishment at fifty years= imprisonment and a $10,000 fine. See Tex. Pen. Code Ann. '
19.02(b)(1) & (2) (West 2002). We will affirm the conviction.
DISCUSSION
By eleven points of error, appellant contends: (1) the evidence is factually insufficient to
support the conclusion that he intended to cause death or serious bodily injury; (2) the evidence is factually
insufficient to support the conclusion that he did not act in self-defense; (3) the evidence is factually
insufficient to support the conclusion that he did not kill Watson with sudden passion arising from an
adequate cause; (4) he was deprived of the right to a fair trial because the prosecution failed to timely
disclose exculpatory evidence concerning Watson=s character for violence and his extensive prior criminal
history of violent acts; (5) he was deprived of the right to a fair trial because the district court refused to
order the prosecution to reveal certain exculpatory evidence until after trial commenced; (6) he was
deprived of the right to a fair trial because the district court refused to grant a mistrial on the morning of trial
due to the untimely disclosure of voluminous uninvestigated evidence supporting the defensive theory of self-
defense; (7) the district court abused his discretion in overruling appellant=s motion for new trial; (8) the
district court erred by prohibiting defense counsel from cross-examining a witness about Watson=s prior acts
of violence; (9) the district court erred by permitting the prosecution to present a police narrative of hearsay
testimony; (10) the district court erred by refusing to admit evidence that Watson carried an illegal knife; and
(11) he was deprived of the right to a fair trial because the district court overruled appellant=s motion for a
mistrial due to the court=s ill-treatment of potential jurors.
Factual Sufficiency
By points of error one and two, appellant contends that the evidence is factually insufficient
to sustain his conviction on the basis that he intentionally and knowingly caused Watson=s death or that,
with intent to cause serious bodily injury, he committed an act clearly dangerous to human life. By point of
error three, appellant challenges the factual sufficiency of the evidence to establish that he did not kill with
sudden passion arising from an adequate cause.
A review of the factual sufficiency of the evidence begins with the presumption that the
evidence supporting the judgment was legally sufficient. See Clewis v. State, 922 S.W.2d 126, 134 (Tex.
Crim. App. 1996). In such a review, we consider the evidence without employing the prism of Ain the light
most favorable to the verdict.@ Id. at 129. We consider all the evidence impartially, comparing evidence
that tends to prove the existence of a disputed fact with evidence that tends to disprove that fact. Santellan
2
v. State, 939 S.W.2d 155, 164 (Tex. Crim. App. 1997). The verdict or judgment is to be set aside only
when the factual finding is against the great weight and preponderance of the evidence so as to be clearly
wrong and unjust. Clewis, 922 S.W.2d at 129. In a factual-sufficiency analysis, it must be remembered
that the trier of fact is the sole judge of the weight and credibility of the testimony. See Santellan, 939
S.W.2d at 164. The appellate court should be on guard against substituting its own judgment in these
matters for that of the trier of fact. Id. One principle of the factual-sufficiency analysis is deference to the
findings of the jury. Cain v. State, 958 S.W.2d 404, 407 (Tex. Crim. App. 1997). Moreover, A[a]
decision is not manifestly unjust merely because the jury resolved conflicting views of evidence in favor of
the State.@ Id. at 410.
In conducting a Clewis sufficiency review of the elements of a criminal conviction, an
appellate court must ask whether a neutral review of all the evidence, both for and against the finding,
demonstrates that the proof of guilt is so obviously weak as to undermine the confidence in the jury=s
determination, or that the proof of guilt, although adequate when taken alone, is greatly outweighed by
contrary proof. Johnson v. State, 23 S.W.3d 1, 11 (Tex. Crim. App. 2000).
The indictment charges that appellant
intentionally and knowingly cause[d] the death of . . . Watson, by stabbing him . . . with a
knife, which knife, in the manner and means of its use and intended use, was capable of
causing death and serious bodily injury, [a]nd . . . with intent to cause serious bodily injury
to . . . Watson, commit[ted] an act clearly dangerous to human life, to-wit: stabbing him . . .
with a knife, which knife, in the manner and means of its use and intended use, was capable
of causing death and serious bodily injury, thereby causing the death of . . . Watson.
3
When the indictment alleges alternate theories of committing the same offense (here
murder), it is proper for the jury to be charged in the disjunctive and to return a general verdict of guilty.
Kitchens v. State, 823 S.W.2d 256, 258 (Tex. Crim. App. 1991); see Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Ann. art.
37.07, ' 1(a) (West 1981) (verdict must be general).
The district court=s charge to the jury provided, inter alia, that the jury could find appellant
guilty of murder if the jury believed beyond a reasonable doubt that appellant
intentionally and knowingly cause[d] the death of . . . Watson, by stabbing him . . . with a
knife, which knife, in the manner and means of its use and intended use, was capable of
causing death and serious bodily injury, thereby causing the death of . . . Watson, OR that
[appellant] . . . with intent to cause serious bodily injury to . . . Watson commit[ted] an act
clearly dangerous to human life, to wit: stabbing him . . . with a knife, which knife, in the
manner and means of its use and intended use, was capable of causing death and serious
bodily injury, thereby causing the death of . . . Watson.
The conviction will be upheld if the evidence is sufficient to support a finding of guilt under any one of the
theories submitted. Kitchens, 823 S.W.2d at 258; Nevarez v. State, 847 S.W.2d 637, 643 (Tex.
App.CEl Paso 1993, pet. ref=d).
Appellant argues that the evidence fails to show that he intended to kill or seriously injure
Watson, as required for a conviction under the indictment. We hold the facts are sufficient to support the
conviction. On October 31, 1999, appellant hosted a Halloween party at his residence. Watson,
accompanied by his friend Paul Davies, arrived at the party around 10:00 p.m. Witnesses testified that at
some point Watson engaged in a verbal altercation with a party guest inside appellant=s home. There was
no physical contact between Watson and the guest, nor were weapons drawn. Appellant asked Watson to
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leave. There was testimony that Watson did not want to leave because he resented being blamed for the
altercation. Witnesses testified that Watson=s friends were successful in encouraging him to leave the party
and that they began walking toward their car.
As Watson was leaving, appellant went to the front yard of his home where he confronted
Watson. Witnesses heard appellant ask Watson if he wanted to go Aone-on-one,@ meaning that appellant
asked Watson if he wanted to fight. Watson took off his shirt. There was no indication that he was carrying
a weapon. Appellant and Watson began punching one another. Appellant pulled a knife from his back
pocket and began waving it at Watson. Appellant stabbed Watson in the chest, puncturing his heart and
killing him. There was testimony that witnesses did not realize Watson had been stabbed until he tried to
scream and then fell to the ground. Appellant ran into his house, took off his shirt, and hid it in his couch.
Appellant threw the knife away, and it was never recovered.
When first questioned about the event, appellant denied that he was involved in a physical
confrontation with Watson and blamed Watson=s death on an unknown Hispanic male. After being
confronted with information gathered from other witnesses, appellant admitted he stabbed Watson.
By its verdict, the jury found that appellant intentionally or knowingly killed Watson, or the
jury found that he committed an act clearly dangerous to human life with the intent to seriously injure
Watson. A person acts intentionally with respect to a result of his conduct when it is his conscious objective
or desire to cause the result. Tex. Pen. Code Ann. ' 6.03(a) (West 1994). A person acts knowingly with
respect to a result of his conduct when he is aware that it is reasonably certain to cause the result. Id. '
5
6.03(b). Proof of a culpable mental state generally relies on circumstantial evidence. Dillon v. State, 574
S.W.2d 92, 94 (Tex. Crim. App. 1978).
Appellant=s claim that he did not intend to kill Watson is inconsistent with his conduct.
Appellant admitted to stabbing Watson, and numerous witnesses testified they observed appellant stab
Watson. Although appellant claims he acted in self-defense, Watson was not in possession of a weapon,
nor had he threatened appellant with deadly force. An autopsy of Watson=s body revealed that he had
defensive wounds on his hands and stab wounds in his back. Stabbing Watson in the chest was an act
clearly dangerous to human life from which the jury could infer the culpable intent or knowledge. The jury=s
verdict was not against the great weight and preponderance of the evidence so as to be clearly wrong and
unjust. Johnson, 23 S.W.3d at 11. We hold that there was sufficient evidence to support the jury=s verdict
and overrule appellant=s first two points of error.
By point of error three, appellant argues that the evidence fails to show that he did not kill
with sudden passion arising from an adequate cause. Evidence that a defendant acted under the influence of
sudden passion is a mitigating factor raised at the punishment phase of a murder trial, which the defendant
must prove beyond a reasonable doubt. Tex. Pen. Code Ann. ' 19.02(d). Section 19.02(a)(2) defines
Asudden passion@ as Apassion directly caused by and arising out of provocation by the individual killed or
another acting with the person killed which passion arises at the time of the offense and is not solely the
result of former provocation.@ Id. ' 19.02(a)(2). Section 19.02(a)(1) defines Aadequate cause@ as Acause
that would commonly produce a degree of anger, rage, resentment, or terror in a person of ordinary temper,
sufficient to render the mind incapable of cool reflection.@ Id. ' 19.02(a)(1).
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There was no evidence indicating that appellant acted with sudden passion arising from an
adequate cause. There was testimony that appellant was not arguing with Watson prior to the physical
confrontation that resulted in Watson=s death. Although witnesses testified that appellant was angry, anger
does not rise to the level of adequate cause. Naasz v. State, 974 S.W.2d 418, 425 (Tex. App.CDallas
1998, pet. ref=d) (citing Mason v. State, 798 S.W.2d 854 (Tex. App.CHouston [14th Dist.] 1990, no
pet.)).
We overrule point of error three.
Discovery Violations
By points of error four and five, appellant contends that he was deprived of the right to a
fair trial because the prosecution failed to timely disclose exculpatory evidence of the victim=s character for
violence and extensive prior criminal history of violent acts and because the trial court refused to order the
prosecution to reveal the Ahandle-bys@1 of the victim until after trial commenced.
1
AHandle-bys@ are the results of searches conducted through local police databases of names that
appear anywhere in police reports. Here, running the victim=s handle-bys would generate a list of any
incident where Watson=s name appeared in a police report in any capacity, including as a witness, a victim,
or a suspect.
7
Before trial, appellant filed several motions,2 asking the State to produce any evidence
relating to Watson=s violent character. He also specifically requested that the State reveal any information
regarding Watson=s handle-bys. The State allowed appellant access to its file, which reflected that Watson
had been arrested twice for assault and once for aggravated assault. However, the State did not produce
Watson=s handle-bys until the conclusion of jury selection. Trial on the merits began the next day. That
morning, instead of requesting a continuance, appellant moved for a mistrial3 based on the State=s tardy
disclosure of large amounts of material relating to Watson=s handle-bys. The court denied the motion.
Appellant also asked the court to order the State to subpoena witnesses contained in the handle-bys, and
the court granted this request. The State subpoenaed five police officers as ordered by the court; however,
only one police officer actually appeared to testify. Appellant never moved for a continuance.
Under Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83, 87 (1963), the suppression by the prosecution of
evidence favorable to an accused upon request violates due process where the evidence is material either to
2
Motions filed by appellant included: AMotion for Discovery of Exculpatory and Mitigating
Evidence,@ AMotion for Discovery,@ and AMotion for Discovery of the Arrest and Conviction Records of
State=s Witnesses.@
3
Although the motion for mistrial does not appear in the trial record, numerous, undisputed
references to it were made in appellant=s motion for new trial and throughout the hearing on that motion.
Appellant=s trial counsel testified:
And the problem was, the reason I moved for a mistrial the morning that the trial
started after I discovered the victim=s handle-bys, is I was faced with the choice of
asking for continuance . . . or ask[ing] for the Court to allow me to start over and
declare a mistrial.
Because the district court and the State had the opportunity to dispute that a motion for mistrial was made
and did not, we will presume, for the purposes of this opinion, that appellant made such a motion.
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guilt or punishment. However, when previously withheld evidence is disclosed at trial, the defendant=s
failure to request a continuance waives any Brady violation. Williams v. State, 995 S.W.2d 754, 762
(Tex. App.CSan Antonio 1999, no pet.) (citing Lindley v. State, 635 S.W.2d 541, 544 (Tex. Crim. App.
1982)). At no time after the prosecution disclosed the handle-bys did appellant request a continuance;
therefore, any Brady violation was waived.
Appellant directs this Court to Hampton v. State, 36 S.W.3d 921 (Tex. App.CEl Paso
2001, pet. granted), and Nickerson v. State, 69 S.W.3d 661 (Tex. App.CWaco 2002, no pet. h.), to
support his contention that a motion for mistrial, as opposed to a motion for continuance, is sufficient to
prevent a waiver of a Brady allegation. Appellant=s reliance on these cases is misplaced. In Hampton,
Aimmediately before the State rested its case-in-chief,@ the State produced a police report that the defendant
asserted contained exculpatory evidence. 36 S.W.3d at 925. The defendant Arequested a continuance for
the purpose of locating two witnesses mentioned in this report.@ Id. (emphasis added). The trial court
denied the motion as well as a subsequent motion for mistrial. Id.
In Nickerson the State produced a videotape at the punishment phase of the trial Adepicting
an episode in the county jail in which Nickerson engaged in aberrant behavior.@ 69 S.W.3d at 672. The
court of appeals noted that A[t]he State does not question that the videotape is >favorable= to Nickerson=s
insanity defense,@ id. at 676, and held that the trial court erred in overruling the defendant=s motion for
mistrial Apremised on an alleged Brady violation,@ id. at 672, 676. The difference between Nickerson and
the case now before us is readily apparentCa continuance will not assist the defendant when potentially
9
exculpatory evidence is produced after the guilt/innocence phase of a trial has concluded. Under such
circumstances, a defendant=s only remedy is through a motion for mistrial.
We overrule appellant=s fourth and fifth points of error.
By point of error six, appellant asserts that he was deprived of the right to a fair trial
because the district court refused to grant a mistrial on the morning of trial due to the untimely disclosure of
voluminous uninvestigated evidence supporting the defensive theory of self-defense. A careful review of the
record shows that although appellant made motions for a mistrial based on ill-treatment of potential jurors,
he never moved for mistrial based on the theory he now asserts on appeal. To preserve an issue on appeal,
appellant must have made a timely objection that specifically stated the legal basis for the objection. Rezac
v. State, 782 S.W.2d 869, 870 (Tex. Crim. App. 1990). An objection stating one legal basis may not be
used to support a different theory on appeal. Id. We overrule point of error six.
Appellant timely filed a motion for new trial contending, inter alia, that the State suppressed
evidence favorable to the accused in violation of Brady, thereby violating appellant=s constitutional rights.
The district court denied appellant=s motion for new trial. By his seventh issue, appellant contends this was
an abuse of the district court=s discretion. See Lewis v. State, 911 S.W.2d 1, 7 (Tex. Crim. App. 1995).
Appellant presented argument on his motion for new trial that the district court committed a
material error by denying his motion for mistrial for an alleged Brady violation. Appellant argues that the
State=s failure to provide the Ahandle-bys@ of Watson until ordered by the trial judge the night of voir dire
serves as a Brady violation. Appellant argues that because this information was not provided to him until
after trial commenced, his defense was undermined and he was deprived of a fair trial. Appellant argues
10
that the Ahandle-bys@ confirmed Watson=s violent character and the Adegree of terror he can strike in his
victims.@ However, in the two months between trial and the hearing on the motion for new trial, appellant
did not produce any witnesses to substantiate these claims. Therefore we hold that the district court did not
abuse his discretion in denying appellant=s motion for new trial and overrule appellant=s seventh point of
error.
Watson=s Prior Acts of Violence
By his eighth point of error, appellant contends that the district court erred by prohibiting
defense counsel from cross-examining Paul Davies, a State=s witness, about Watson=s prior acts of violence.
Appellant attempted to question Davies concerning Watson=s prior misconduct, to which the State
objected. Appellant questioned Davies on voir dire and asked him whether he knew that Watson was
arrested for carrying a knife, that Watson punched a man in the face and broke his nose and jaw, that
Watson assaulted a person by punching him in the face and kicking him while he was on the ground, and
that Watson assaulted his girlfriend.
Following the voir dire examination of the witness, appellant rebutted the State=s objection
on the basis of Texas Rules of Evidence 404(a)(2) and 405.
[Defense Counsel]: Judge, I think that clearly under Rule 404[a](2), I am allowed to
elicit, at a minimum, the victim=s reputation or this witness= opinion.
He is qualified to give an opinion on his character for truthfulness
and law-abidingnessBor I=m sorry, his pertinent character trait for
violence.
11
And under 405, if this witness says that it=s noBI am absolutely
entitled and the law is clear, I can ask the Adid you know@ questions
to question for the jury the basis of his opinion.
And 404[a](2) and 405, these are standard questions that are
always permitted where there=s a contested issue on who was the
aggressor. And it goes to the victim=s intent and ability to inflict the
serious bodily injury that my client reasonably feared
A lengthy discussion between the court and appellant=s counsel concerning rule 405 followed. The court
explained to appellant=s counsel that because the State had not called Davies as a reputation or opinion
witness, appellant could not go into instances of specific conduct.
[Defense Counsel]: Okay. And would the Court allow, without my giving the details of
those other offenses, to just say, ADo you know about the assault on
this day?@
The Court: I will not, because that seems to me a clear violation of 405.
....
The Court: Okay. I=ve ruled on the objection.
There was no discussion of rule 404(a), which provides that evidence of a particular character trait of the
victim may be admissible to rebut evidence of the same trait. Tex. R. Evid. 404(a).
Appellant does not assert error with regard to the district court=s ruling against him based on
rules 404(a) and 405. Instead, he now argues that the testimony was admissible under rule 404(b), a
different argument than that raised at trial. Rule 404(b) allows evidence of other crimes, wrongs, or acts to
show Amotive, opportunity, intent, preparation, plan, knowledge, identity, or absence of mistake or
accident.@ This is a wholly separate basis for allowing otherwise inadmissible evidence of the victim=s prior
12
acts of violence than that offered by appellant to the district court here. Rules 404(a) and 405 disallow
evidence of specific acts of victim to show character. Tate v. State, 981 S.W.2d 189, 192 (Tex. Crim.
App. 1998). Rule 404(b), on the other hand, is an inclusionary rule where Aevidence of other wrongs,
crimes, or acts is allowed so long as it is not offered to prove character or propensity to act or behave in a
certain fashion.@ Id. at 193. Appellant did not argue for the admission of the testimony on such ground. An
argument stating one legal basis may not be used to support a different legal theory on appeal. Rezac, 782
S.W.2d at 870. In order to properly preserve error for appeal, appellant must show that he stated the
grounds for his argument Awith sufficient specificity to make the trial court aware of [his] complaint.@ Tex.
R. App. P. 33.1. We hold that appellant failed to preserve his complaint and overrule the eighth point of
error.
Hearsay Objections
By his ninth point of error, appellant asserts that the district court erred by permitting the
prosecution to present a police narrative of hearsay. Appellant contends that over his hearsay objections,
the district court permitted three police officers to testify to out-of-court statements made by witnesses to
the stabbing. However, the record reflects that appellant only received an adverse ruling to his hearsay
objection to the testimony of Officer James Harrell. Appellant made no hearsay objection to Officer John
Lengenfeld=s testimony, and all hearsay objections appellant made during Officer Mark Spangler=stestimony
were sustained. Therefore we will review only Officer Harrell=s testimony for a violation of the hearsay rule.
The district court allowed Officer Harrell to testify over appellant=s hearsay objection to
what Roberto Ellis, a witness to the stabbing, told the officer the night of the stabbing. Officer Harrell
13
testified that Ellis told him that he was inside when the stabbing occurred. Appellant objected to this
testimony as hearsay, and the trial court overruled the objection on the prosecution=s contention that the
testimony fell within the excited-utterance exception to hearsay. Appellant then questioned Officer Harrell
on voir dire. Appellant argued that because Ellis did not observe the startling event and because under the
excited-utterance exception the statements must directly relate to the startling event, the statements did not
fit into the excited utterance exception to hearsay. The prosecution pointed out that there is no requirement
that the declarant witness the startling event for his statement to fall under the excited-utterance exception.
The court overruled appellant=s objection.
We review the admission of evidence for an abuse of discretion. Salazar v. State, 38
S.W.3d 141, 154 (Tex. Crim. App. 2001). We will affirm the trial court=s decision if it is within Athe zone
of reasonable disagreement.@ Id. The excited-utterance exception states that a Astatement relating to a
startling event or condition made while the declarant was under the stress of excitement caused by the event
or condition@ is admissible. Tex. R. Evid. 803(2). The exception is founded on the belief that statements
made as a result of a startling or exciting event are involuntary and do not allow the declarant an adequate
opportunity to fabricate, thereby ensuring enough trustworthiness to fall within the exception. See
Bondurant v. State, 956 S.W.2d 762, 765 (Tex. App.CFort Worth 1997, pet. ref=d). The hearsay
statement contains the sufficient requisite indicia of reliability to be admissible when the statement is shown
to be a spontaneous utterance. Id. In order for the utterance to be admissible under the rule 803(2)
exception, the statement must be the product of a startling event where the declarant was dominated by the
emotion, excitement, fear, or pain of the event, and related to circumstances of the startling event. Id. The
14
critical factor is whether the declarant made the statement while dominated by the emotion arising from a
startling event or condition. Id.
Officer Harrell testified that the scene was Apretty hectic@ and people were running around
and screaming. Officer Harrell testified that when he spoke with Ellis, Ellis was Ashaking, as if he was in
shock,@ and that he had blood splatters on his shirt. The evidence indicates Ellis made his statements to
Officer Harrell while dominated by emotion arising from the stabbing.
Appellant argues that the statements were not within the excited-utterance exception
because the witness did not volunteer his statement but merely was answering police questions. The court
of criminal appeals recently reiterated that it is not dispositive that the statement is in answer to a question.
Salazar, 38 S.W.3d at 154. The fact that the statements were made in answers to questions is simply a
factor to consider in determining whether the statement is admissible under the excited-utterance exception.
Id.
We agree with the district court and hold that the statements made to Officer Harrell were
excited utterances within the rule 803(2) exception. We overrule appellant=s ninth point of error.
Evidence that Watson Carried an Illegal Knife
By his tenth point of error, appellant contends that the district court erred by refusing to
admit evidence that Watson, on an earlier occasion, carried an illegal knife. Appellant proffered the opinion
testimony of Officer Keith Suits that Watson was neither peaceful nor law-abiding. The State objected to
Suits=s testimony on the grounds that because Suits had had only one encounter with Watson, he lacked
sufficient knowledge from which to base an opinion. The State also objected on the grounds that Suits did
15
not observe Watson=s behavior and that the probative value of such evidence was substantially outweighed
by its prejudicial effect. The district court overruled these objections.
Officer Suits testified that Watson was neither peaceful nor law-abiding. On cross-
examination, the State asked the following:
Q: At the time you contacted him, there was some fight at a hotel or something like that B
some disturbance at a hotel, correct?
A: Correct, appeared to be a high school party.
Q: When you arrived there, he was intoxicated?
A: Right.
Q: You placed him under arrest?
A: Correct.
Q: That=s against the law to be intoxicated in public, correct?
A: Yes, it is.
At a bench conference, appellant argued that the State had Aopened the door@ to testimony
that following the arrest, Officer Suits found an illegal knife on Watson=s person. Appellant asserted that the
State only brought out part of the incident and that he should be able to ask about the weapon. The district
court overruled appellant=s objection.
Appellant asserts that, pursuant to the rule of optional completeness, he was entitled to
question Suits about the details of the offense because the State only brought out part of the offense and it
16
was necessary to inquire further so that the jury could fully understand the offense. See Tex. R. Evid. 107.
We disagree.
The rule of optional completeness provides in part that when a portion of an act is given in
evidence by one party, the whole on the same subject may be inquired into by the other, and any other act
which is necessary to make it fully understood or to explain the same may also be given in evidence. Tex.
R. Evid. 107. Evidence that is used to fully explain a matter opened by the other party need not be
otherwise admissible. See Parr v. State, 557 S.W.2d 99, 102 (Tex. Crim. App. 1977). However, the
evidence offered for context must be Aon the same subject@ as the portion already admitted. See Tex. R.
Evid. 107; Jernigan v. State, 589 S.W.2d 681, 694-95 (Tex. Crim. App. 1979). Here, the excluded
evidence does not appear to be Aon the same subject@ of Watson=s arrest for public intoxication. It was
only after Suits arrested Watson for public intoxication that he discovered Watson was carrying an illegal
knife. The State did not inquire beyond the arrest for public intoxication, and, therefore, did not Aopen the
door@ for the appellant to inquire into the arrest for carrying an illegal knife. Appellant=s tenth point of error
is overruled.
Mistreatment of Potential Jurors
By his final point of error, appellant argues that he was deprived of the right to a fair trial
because the district court overruled his motion for a mistrial due to the court=s ill-treatment of potential
jurors. Appellant urges that the court should have granted a mistrial because the potential jurors were tired,
hot, and hungry. We review a trial court=s denial of a motion for mistrial under an abuse-of-discretion
17
standard. Trevino v. State, 991 S.W.2d 849, 851 (Tex. Crim. App. 1999); Bryant v. State, 25 S.W.3d
924, 926 (Tex. App.CAustin 2000, pet. ref=d).
The record reflects that voir dire was scheduled to begin at 2:00 p.m. and was postponed
until shortly after 3:00 p.m. At 3:15 p.m. appellant asked the court to rule on discovery motions, but the
court began voir dire. At that time, the State conducted a two-hour voir dire examination. When the
State concluded, appellant moved for a mistrial on the basis that the potential jurors were Ahot@ and Asleepy@
and it was unfair to require appellant to proceed with voir dire. The district court denied appellant=s
motion. The jurors were recessed for ten minutes and were told where they could obtain snacks.
Following this recess, appellant conducted his voir dire examination.
We hold that it was not unfair for appellant to proceed with voir dire late in the afternoon.
There is nothing in the record to indicate that appellant=s examination of potential jurors was hindered by the
lateness of the hour or the fact that the jurors were tired and hungry. Appellant was able to conduct a
thorough voir dire examination. Furthermore, we find no evidence in the record that the district court=s
decision to proceed with voir dire posed a threat to fairness or impeded the fact-finding process.
Appellant=s eleventh point of error is overruled.
CONCLUSION
Having overruled appellant=s assertions of error, we affirm the district court=s judgment.
18
Lee Yeakel, Justice
Before Chief Justice Aboussie, Justices Yeakel and Puryear
Affirmed
Filed: August 30, 2002
Publish
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