COURT OF APPEALS
EIGHTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS
EL PASO, TEXAS
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EDWIN WALLACE KILLIAN, JR., Appellant, v. THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee. |
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No. 08-01-00032-CR Appeal from the 204th District Court of Dallas County, Texas (TC# F9868005-UQ) |
O P I N I O N
This is an appeal from a conviction for the offense of intoxication manslaughter. The jury assessed punishment at seventeen (17) years= imprisonment in the Institutional Division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.[1] We affirm the judgment of the trial court.
I. SUMMARY OF THE EVIDENCE
At trial, Allen Mills testified that he was a friend of Appellant. On March 17, 1998, he went out with Appellant. The evening started at the restaurant in Denton, Texas that Mills managed. Appellant arrived at about 6:30 p.m. and they each had two drinks at the restaurant. Between 7 and 7:30 p.m., they left the restaurant to go to Dallas. They stopped in Lewisville, Texas and bought a six-pack of beer. Appellant was driving and his daughter was also in the vehicle. Appellant drank one beer on the way to Dallas. Mills and Appellant dropped his daughter off at a hotel in Dallas.
At about 9:30 p.m., they left the hotel and went to an Irish pub called the Tipperary Inn. They arrived at 10 p.m. and had to wait in line to get into the pub. While waiting in line, they went across the street to a restaurant/bar where they each had one drink. They went back to the line and entered the pub at approximately 11 p.m. It was between a half hour and forty-five minutes until they had another drink. They each subsequently had one more drink at about midnight. They left the pub around 1 a.m.
As they were going back to Denton, Appellant was driving and Mills was in the front passenger seat. Mills went to sleep. He was next aware that an accident had occurred and he saw Appellant standing with some police officers. Mills testified that neither he nor Appellant had smoked any marijuana and he did not believe Appellant was intoxicated. He partially based this opinion on the training he had received from Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission courses he had taken while he had worked as a bartender. He had also viewed the videotape the police had taken of Appellant and he had the opinion that Appellant was not intoxicated at the time the tape was taken.
Patrick Hennessy testified that he was a member of a band from Cincinnati, Ohio that had come to Dallas to play at a club on March 17, 1998. Brian Driscoll, Steve Hennessy, and Denny Brown were all band members. Craig Falbe was the road manager. A woman named Stacy Mann was traveling with the band. Upon arriving in Dallas on March 17, 1998, they played at a bar called the Curtain Club.
At approximately 1 p.m., they were paid off and they left in a van with Patrick Hennessy driving. They were following a person named Dustin who they had met at the club. He had offered to let them stay the night at his house. As they were driving through the intersection of Live Oak and Lattimer Streets, Craig Falbe said ALook out there=s a van coming.@ The other van hit them on the front passenger side of their van. Hennessy testified that he had the green light when they entered the intersection.
After a while, Appellant came up to Hennessy and stated, AWhat did you do?@ Hennessy responded, AI didn=t do anything.@ Appellant again stated, AWhat did you do?@ Appellant stated AYou hit my van.@ Hennessy stated, ANo I didn=t. You hit me and you hurt my friends and destroyed our vans.@ Appellant responded, AI=m sorry.@ He then walked away. Hennessy testified that Appellant smelled of alcohol and he did not appear coherent. He believed Appellant was intoxicated. Hennessy further testified that he was going 45 miles per hour when he entered the intersection. He knew the light was green and that a witness to the accident told him that he had the green light.
Brian Driscoll testified that he was a member of the band. As a result of the collision, he was thrown out of a window in the vehicle. He had a cut to his head and a black eye. He spent three days in the hospital. As a result of the accident, he testified that he has frequent headaches and short term memory and balance problems.
Lindsay Goin stated that she was in her car at 1 a.m. on March 18, 1998. She was stopped at a traffic light at Latimer and Live Oak streets waiting to make a turn. The light was green. A van ran into her vehicle and pushed her over three lanes.
Dr. Janice Townsend-Parchman testified that she performed an autopsy on Craig Falbe and determined the cause of death to be mechanical trunk compression.
Detective D.T. Marchetti of the Dallas Police Department testified that he conducted an investigation of the accident. He determined from speaking to Goin and Hennessy, that they both had the green light at the time of the collision. When speaking to Appellant, Appellant stated that he did not know what happened.
Officer David Kattner of the Dallas Police Department testified that he responded to the scene of the accident. He gave Appellant the HGN test and other sobriety tests. Appellant stated to him that he was going too fast to stop for the intersections and that as he came upon to the intersection, the light turned red. As a result of the field sobriety tests, Kattner formed the opinion that Appellant had lost the normal use of his mental and physical faculties from alcohol. Appellant was arrested. At the police station, Kattner gave Appellant the statutory DWI warnings and read him his Miranda rights. Appellant refused to give the offered blood test. As there was a fatality, Appellant was taken to a nurse and blood was taken.
Dallas Police Officer R.J. Brainard testified that he was working at the intoxilyzer room at the jail. He made a video of Appellant. Brainard gave the opinion that Appellant did not have the normal use of his mental and physical faculties.
Chris Heartsill stated that he was a toxicology chemist at Southwestern Institute of Forensic Sciences. He testified that his analysis of Appellant=s blood sample showed 0.l4 grams of ethyl alcohol per 100 milliliters of blood. There was also 0.002 milligrams per liter of THC, the primary active ingredient of marijuana. He stated that this was a low amount.
Heartsill testified that it would not be possible for blood to have a blood concentration of 0.14 grams of ethyl alcohol per 100 milliliters of blood with someone who had consumed only six drinks between 6 p.m. and midnight. He also stated that a person of Appellant=s size with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.14 two hours after the accident would have a blood alcohol concentration somewhere between 0.14 and 0.18 at the time of the accident.
II. DISCUSSION
In Issue No. One Appellant asserts that the court erred in denying his requested instruction on the lesser-included offense of driving while intoxicated. To determine whether Appellant was entitled to a charge on the lesser included offense, we apply a traditional two‑prong test. See Bignall v. State, 887 S.W.2d 21, 23 (Tex. Crim. App. 1994); Rousseau v. State, 855 S.W.2d 666, 672‑ 73 (Tex. Crim. App.), cert. denied, 510 U.S. 919, 114 S.Ct. 313, 126 L. Ed. 2d 260 (1993); Royster v. State, 622 S.W.2d 442, 446 (Tex. Crim. App. 1981); Bartholomew v. State, 882 S.W.2d 53, 54‑55 (Tex. App.‑‑Houston [14th Dist.] 1994, pet. ref'd); Ramirez v. State, 976 S.W.2d 219, 226‑27 (Tex. App.‑‑El Paso 1998, pet. ref'd). First, the lesser included offense must be included within the proof necessary to establish the offense charged. Bignall, 887 S.W.2d at 23; Ramirez, 976 S.W.2d at 227. Second, some evidence must exist in the record that would permit a jury rationally to find that if the defendant is guilty, he is guilty only of the lesser offense. Ramirez, 976 S.W.2d at 227. The credibility of the evidence and whether it conflicts with other evidence or is controverted may not be considered in making the determination of whether the lesser‑included offense should be given. See Gadsden v. State, 915 S.W.2d 620, 622 (Tex. App.‑‑El Paso 1996, no pet.); Barrera v. State, 914 S.W.2d 211, 212 (Tex. App.‑‑El Paso 1996, pet. ref'd). Regardless of its strength or weakness, if any evidence raises the issue that the defendant was guilty only of the lesser offense, then the charge must be given. Saunders v. State, 840 S.W.2d 390, 391 (Tex. Crim. App. 1992). An accused is guilty only of a lesser‑included offense if there is evidence that affirmatively rebuts or negates an element of the greater offense, or if the evidence is subject to different interpretations, one of which rebuts or negates the crucial element. See Ramirez, 976 S.W.2d at 227. It is not enough that the jury may disbelieve crucial evidence pertaining to the greater offense. See Skinner v. State, 956 S.W.2d 532, 543 (Tex. Crim. App. 1997), cert. denied, 523 U.S. 1079, 118 S.Ct. 1526, 140 L. Ed. 2d 677 (1998). There must be some evidence directly germane to the lesser‑included offense for the jury to consider before an instruction on the lesser‑included offense is warranted. See Ramirez, 976 S.W.2d at 227. That the jury may disbelieve crucial evidence pertaining to the greater offense is not sufficient to warrant the submission of the lesser-included offense submission to the jury; there must be some evidence directly germane to the lesser-included offense to warrant such submission. Skinner, 956 S.W.2d at 543.
At trial, Appellant requested that the lesser-included offense of driving while intoxicated be included in the charge to the jury. The court denied the request. A person commits the offense of intoxication manslaughter if he (1) operates a motor vehicle in a public place; and (2) is intoxicated and by reason of that intoxication causes the death of another by accident or mistake. Tex. Pen. Code Ann. ' 49.08 (Vernon Supp. 2002). A person commits the offense of driving while intoxicated if the person is intoxicated while operating a motor vehicle in a public place. Tex. Pen. Code Ann. ' 49.04 (Vernon Supp. 2002). Clearly, driving while intoxicated is a lesser-included of offense of intoxication manslaughter.
Appellant maintains that the instruction should have been given to the jury because it could have believed that Appellant caused the accident but not as a result of any intoxication. He also contends that tiredness or inattention could have caused the accident. Appellant also argues that there was evidence indicating that the other car ran the red light in that there was testimony that the victim=s vehicle was following another vehicle and the second vehicle probably ran a red light to keep up with the first car.
However, there in nothing in the record aside from speculation supporting these contentions. There was no affirmative evidence at trial which indicated tiredness or inattention. The driver of the victim=s van stated that he had a green light when he entered the intersection. There is no evidence to the contrary. The mere supposition that the following van probably ran a red light to keep up the first van will not support the submission of the requested lesser-included offense. We find that the evidence did not raise the lesser-included offense of driving while intoxicated. Issue No. One is overruled.
In Issue No. Two, Appellant asserts that the evidence is legally insufficient to support the conviction. In reviewing the legal sufficiency of the evidence, we are constrained to view the evidence in the light most favorable to the judgment to determine whether any rational trier of fact could find the essential elements of the offense, as alleged in the application paragraph of the charge to the jury, beyond a reasonable doubt. Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 99 S.Ct. 2781, 61 L. Ed. 2d 560 (1979); Geesa v. State, 820 S.W.2d 154, 159 (Tex. Crim. App. 1991); Butler v. State, 769 S.W.2d 234, 239 (Tex. Crim. App. 1989); Humason v. State, 728 S.W.2d 363, 366 (Tex. Crim. App. 1987). More particularly, sufficiency of the evidence should be measured by the elements of the offense as defined by the hypothetically correct jury charge for the case. Malik v. State, 953 S.W.2d 234, 239-40 (Tex. Crim. App. 1997).
Our role is not to ascertain whether the evidence establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Stoker v. State, 788 S.W.2d 1, 6 (Tex. Crim. App. 1989), cert. denied, 498 U.S. 951, 111 S.Ct. 371, 112 L. Ed. 2d 333 (1990); Dwyer v. State, 836 S.W.2d 700, 702 (Tex. App.‑‑El Paso 1992, pet. ref'd). We do not resolve any conflict in fact, weigh any evidence or evaluate the credibility of any witnesses, and thus, the fact‑finding results of a criminal jury trial are given great deference. Menchaca v. State, 901 S.W.2d 640, 650-52 (Tex. App.‑-El Paso 1995, pet. ref=d); Adelman v. State, 828 S.W.2d 418, 421 (Tex. Crim. App. 1992); Matson v. State, 819 S.W.2d 839, 843 (Tex. Crim. App. 1991); Leyva v. State, 840 S.W.2d 757, 759 (Tex. App.‑‑El Paso 1992, pet. ref'd); Bennett v. State, 831 S.W.2d 20, 22 (Tex. App.‑‑El Paso 1992, no pet.). Instead, our only duty is to determine if both the explicit and implicit findings of the trier of fact are rational by viewing all the evidence admitted at trial in the light most favorable to the verdict. Adelman, 828 S.W.2d at 421‑22. In so doing, we resolve any inconsistencies in the evidence in favor of the verdict. Matson, 819 S.W.2d at 843, (quoting Moreno v. State, 755 S.W.2d 866, 867 (Tex. Crim. App. 1988)). The trier of fact, not the appellate court, is free to accept or reject all or any portion of any witness's testimony. Belton v. State, 900 S.W.2d 886, 897 (Tex. App.--El Paso 1995, pet. ref=d).
The application paragraph in the court=s charge to the jury read:
Now, if you find from the evidence beyond a reasonable doubt that in Dallas, County, Texas, on or about the 18th day of March, 1998 the defendant, EDWIN WALLACE KILLIAN, JR., did then and there operate a motor vehicle in a public place while said defendant was intoxicated, in that the defendant did not have the normal use of his mental or physical faculties by reason of the introduction of alcohol and any other substance into defendant=s body or defendant had an alcohol concentration of at least 0.10, and by reason of that intoxication did cause the death of Craig C. Falbe, an individual, by accident or mistake, to-wit: by then and there driving said motor vehicle, a deadly weapon, into and causing it to collide with a motor vehicle occupied by said individual, thereby causing the death of the said individual, then you will find the defendant guilty as charged in the indictment.
Appellant maintains that the evidence is legally insufficient because the State failed to establish a causal connection between the intoxication and the death. In the present case there was testimony from police witnesses and eyewitnesses that Appellant was intoxicated. His blood alcohol concentration was 0.14 after the accident. There was testimony that Appellant ran a red light. While the evidence only circumstantially connected Appellant=s intoxication to the collision, we find that the connection was sufficient to support the conviction. See Anderson v. State, 774 S.W.2d 733, 736 (Tex. App.--Houston [14th Dist.] 1989, no pet.). Issue No. Two is overruled.
In Issue No. Three, Appellant maintains that the evidence is factually insufficient to support the conviction. When conducting a review of the factual sufficiency of the evidence, we consider all of the evidence, but we do not view it in the light most favorable to the verdict. Clewis v. State, 922 S.W.2d 126, 129 (Tex. Crim. App. 1996); Levario v. State, 964 S.W.2d 290, 295 (Tex. App.‑‑El Paso 1997, no pet.). We review the evidence weighed by the jury that tends to prove the existence of the elemental fact in dispute and compare it with the evidence that tends to disprove that fact. Johnson v. State, 23 S.W.3d 1, 7 (Tex. Crim. App. 2000); Jones v. State, 944 S.W.2d 642, 647 (Tex. Crim. App. 1996), cert. denied, 522 U.S. 832, 118 S.Ct. 100, 139 L. Ed. 2d 54 (1997). A defendant challenging the factual sufficiency of the evidence may allege that the evidence is so weak as to be clearly wrong and manifestly unjust, or in a case where the defendant has offered contrary evidence, he may argue that the finding of guilt is against the great weight and preponderance of the evidence. See Johnson, 23 S.W.3d at 11. Although we are authorized to set aside the fact finder's determination under either of these two circumstances, our review must employ appropriate deference and should not intrude upon the fact finder's role as the sole judge of the weight and credibility given to any evidence presented at trial. See Johnson, 23 S.W.3d at 7. We are not free to reweigh the evidence and set aside a verdict merely because we feel that a different result is more reasonable. Cain v. State, 958 S.W.2d 404, 407 (Tex. Crim. App. 1997); Clewis, 922 S.W.2d at 135.
Appellant maintains that the evidence is factually insufficient because it is more likely that the van with the band members ran the red light. Appellant reasons that even if it was established that Appellant ran the red light, there are numerous other reasons for the cause of the accident such as fatigue. Appellant reasons that the evidence was factually insufficient to show the causal connection between the accident and intoxication. As stated, there was evidence from numerous witnesses that Appellant was intoxicated. There was testimony that he ran the red light. The sole evidence favorable to Appellant, aside from speculation as to who caused the accident, was from his passenger who stated that Appellant had consumed only six drinks during the night and he did not think Appellant was intoxicated. He was asleep at the time the accident occurred. We find that Appellant has failed to disprove any elemental fact established by the State and we hold that the evidence is factually sufficient to support the conviction. Issue No. Three is overruled.
In Issue No. Four, Appellant contends that the prosecutor utilized improper jury argument. During argument, the prosecutor faulted defense counsel for attempting to place the blame for the accident on Patrick Hennessy. We note that Appellant did not object to this argument. Accordingly, the error, if any, has not been preserved. Cockrell v. State, 933 S.W.2d 73, 89 (Tex. Crim. App. 1996). Issue No. Four is overruled.
In Issue No. Five, Appellant asserts that the court erred in failing to instruct the jury regarding the consequences of parole as set forth in Article 37.07, Section 4(a) of the Code of Criminal Procedure. The jury was not instructed regarding the mandatory parole instruction found in Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Ann. art. 37.07 ' 4(a) (Vernon Supp. 2002). The jury was instructed that:
You are further instructed that in determining the punishment in this case, you are not to discuss among yourselves how long the defendant will be required to serve any sentence you decide to impose. Such matters come within the exclusive jurisdiction of the Board of Pardons and Paroles of the State of Texas and are no concern of yours.
Although at the punishment stage of trial, the record does not reveal that the court asked if there were any objections to the charge, there is no indication in the record that Appellant requested the parole instruction or objected to its omission in the charge. During the punishment stage of trial the parties stipulated that Appellant had three prior misdemeanor convictions for possession of a controlled substance, criminal trespass and harassment.
When reviewing charge error, the appellate court must conduct a two‑step review: the appellate court must first determine whether there was actual charge error, and if so, the court then takes the next step of determining whether sufficient harm resulted to require reversal. Almanza v. State, 686 S.W.2d 157, 171 (Tex. Crim. App. 1984). The standard to determine if the harm is sufficient to require reversal depends upon whether the error was properly preserved. Where there was a proper objection to preserve the error on appeal, the court only looks for "some harm." Where there was not a proper objection and the error is urged for the first time on appeal, the appellate court looks for "egregious harm." Id. As the error in this case is undisputed but unobjected to, reversal is warranted only if we find that the error caused "egregious harm." In other words, a reversal is required only if the accused was denied a fair and impartial trial. Id. In making this determination, "the actual degree of harm must be assayed in light of the entire jury charge, the state of the evidence, including the contested issues and weight of probative evidence, the argument of counsel and any other relevant information revealed by the record of the trial as a whole." Id. Further, there is a required showing of actual, not just theoretical harm. Id. at 174.
Appellant urges that egregious harm is shown in the intoxication manslaughter case because jurors have been exposed to publicity concerning inmates serving a small portion of their sentences and the omitted charge would have benefitted Appellant by informing the jury that the parole eligibility date would be much later than they had previously thought. Also, Appellant maintains that as the jury assessed punishment at ten (10) years= probation on the intoxication assault case, they must have believed that Appellant would be out of prison on the manslaughter case in a short period of time and they would receive supervised probation.
However, as stated, the demonstration of harm must be actual and not just theoretical. Id. There is no evidence in the record that the punishment assessed was influenced by any juror's misunderstanding or misstatement of the law of good time or parole. See Cormier v. State, 955 S.W.2d 161,164 (Tex. App.--Austin 1997, no pet.). Furthermore, the permissible range of punishment was five to twenty (20) years= imprisonment. There was evidence that Appellant has three prior misdemeanor convictions. The prosecutor did not argue good time or parole in his argument to the jury and the question of good time or parole was not mentioned at any time during the trial. Also, the instruction actually given to the jury about the parole law is generally regarded as a curative factor against a finding of harm when determining whether the omission of the statutory parole instruction harmed a defendant. Underwood v. State, 927 S.W.2d 661, 663 (Tex. App.--Texarkana 1996, no pet.). Appellant has not demonstrated that the omission of the statutory parole instruction was so egregiously harmful as to deny him a fair and impartial trial. Issue No. Five is overruled.
In Issue No. Six, Appellant contends that the court erred in denying Appellant=s challenge for cause regarding one of the veniremembers. In order to preserve error regarding this type of contention, an Appellant must: (1) use all of his peremptory strikes; (2) ask for and be refused additional peremptory strikes; and (3) be forced to take an identified objectionable juror whom Appellant would not otherwise have accepted had the trial court granted his challenge for cause or granted him additional peremptory strikes. Garcia v. State, 16 S.W.3d 401, 408 (Tex. App.--El Paso 2000, pet. ref=d); Davila v. State, 930 S.W.2d 641, 648 (Tex. App.‑‑El Paso 1996, pet. ref'd). We note that Appellant failed in the record to show that he used all his peremptory strikes, asked for and was refused additional peremptory strikes, and was then forced to take an identified objectionable juror whom Appellant would not otherwise have accepted had the trial court granted his challenge for cause or granted him additional peremptory strikes so that he might strike the juror. Absent these requirements, Appellant has failed to preserve this issue on appeal. Issue No. Six is overruled.
In Issue No. Seven, Appellant maintains that the court erred in admitting evidence of the blood test and the retrograde extrapolation testimony of witness Chris Hartsell. However, we find that Appellant has failed to preserve this issue on appeal. Appellant failed to object to this testimony either at trial or in his motion to suppress the blood sample. Tex. R. App. P. 33.1; Taylor v. State, 863 S.W.2d 737, 737-38 (Tex. Crim. App. 1993); Miller v. State, 939 S.W.2d 681, 687 (Tex. App.--El Paso 1996, no pet.). Accordingly, Issue No. Seven is overruled.
Having overruled each of Appellant=s issues on review, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.
August 14, 2002
RICHARD BARAJAS, Chief Justice
Before Panel No. 4
Barajas, C.J., Larsen, and McClure, JJ.
(Do Not Publish)
[1] Appellant was also convicted of intoxication assault and received a ten (10) year= probated sentence and a $10,000 fine. Both cases arose out of the same incident and were tried together. That case is also before us on appeal with our case No. 08-01-00033-CR.