Tommy Lynn Sanders v. State ( 1992 )

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS, THIRD DISTRICT OF TEXAS,

AT AUSTIN









NO. 3-90-296-CR





TOMMY LYNN SANDERS,

APPELLANT

vs.





THE STATE OF TEXAS,

APPELLEE

FROM THE DISTRICT COURT OF TOM GREEN COUNTY, 51ST JUDICIAL DISTRICT

NO. CR90-0187-A, HONORABLE JOHN E. SUTTON, JUDGE PRESIDING

PER CURIAM

A jury found appellant guilty of murder. Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 19.02(a)(2) (1989). The jury assessed punishment at imprisonment for forty years.

In three points of error, appellant asserts that the district court erred by refusing to instruct the jury on the lesser included offenses of voluntary manslaughter, involuntary manslaughter, and criminally negligent homicide. Finding no error, we affirm.

On February 25, 1990, there was a party at William Merriman's house in San Angelo. Among those attending the party were Lena Miller, John Hyatt, Randy Villarreal (the deceased), and appellant. A large amount of beer was consumed. Shortly after midnight, an argument broke out between Miller and Villarreal. Villarreal hit the woman with a can of beer. Appellant responded to this by jumping on Villarreal and striking him with his fists. After this brief scuffle ended, Villarreal left the scene on foot.

Appellant and Hyatt got into Hyatt's car. Merriman joined them, apparently in hopes of encountering Villarreal. Merriman stated his intention to kill Villarreal. After driving a few blocks, the men saw Villarreal walking through Pecan Park. Appellant and Merriman left the car and began to chase Villarreal. Appellant caught Villarreal, dragging him to the ground. Appellant repeatedly struck the victim with his fists, then got up when Merriman approached. Merriman began to strangle Villarreal with one hand and hit him with the other. Appellant renewed his attack, kicking the victim in the face with his boot. Hyatt arrived and successfully urged the men to stop their assault on Villarreal, who by this time was unconscious and near death. Help was summoned, but Villarreal was dead by the time emergency personnel arrived.

Appellant did not testify. Merriman testified that he was in his house when Villarreal struck Miller. He did not remember his reaction when told of this incident, nor did he remember why he got in the car with Hyatt and appellant. He testified that he did not remember being enraged or in fear of Villarreal when he attacked him in the park. Merriman testified, "It just got out of hand. I didn't realize it was that bad."

The charge authorized appellant's conviction if the jury found that he committed an act clearly dangerous to human life (hitting, strangling, or kicking the deceased) with the intent to cause serious bodily injury. The charge also included an instruction on the law of parties, and authorized appellant's conviction if he encouraged or aided Merriman's murder of the deceased in the manner described.

Voluntary manslaughter is murder committed under the immediate influence of sudden passion arising from an adequate cause. Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 19.04 (1974). The only provocative act committed by the deceased was striking Miller with a beer can. There is no evidence that this act produced in either appellant or Merriman a degree of anger, rage, resentment, or terror sufficient to render the mind incapable of cool reflection, much less that they were in the heat of such passion when they later assaulted Villarreal in the park. Merriman testified that he did not remember feeling any such passion. There is evidence that Villarreal's act angered appellant, but there is no evidence that this anger continued after Villarreal left the party. We conclude that the district court did not err by refusing to instruct the jury on voluntary manslaughter, and overrule point of error one.

In his argument under points of error two and three, appellant urges that in a prosecution under § 19.02(a)(2), the charge should always include instructions on the lesser offenses of involuntary manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide. That is incorrect. A charge on a lesser included offense is required only if there is evidence that the defendant, if guilty, is guilty only of the lesser offense. Royster v. State, 622 S.W.2d 442, 446 (Tex. Crim. App. 1981) (opinion on rehearing). The uncontradicted evidence in this cause shows that appellant and Merriman chased a fleeing Villarreal, threw him to the ground, strangled him, and pummeled him with their fists and feet. This attack continued after all resistance by Villarreal ceased. There is no evidence that appellant or Merriman did not intend to cause serious bodily injury to Villarreal, nor is there evidence that they failed to perceive, or consciously disregarded, the risk that their actions would cause Villarreal's death. Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 6.03 (1974). Therefore, no issue of reckless or criminally negligent conduct is raised. In re S.D.W., 811 S.W.2d 739, 751-53 (Tex. App. 1991, no writ); Zepeda v. State, 797 S.W.2d 258, 263-65 (Tex. App. 1990, pet. ref'd); see Mendieta v. State, 706 S.W.2d 651 (Tex. Crim. App. 1986). The district court did not err by refusing to charge on involuntary manslaughter or criminally negligent homicide.

The judgment of conviction is affirmed.

[Before Justices Powers, Jones and B. A. Smith]

Affirmed

Filed: January 15, 1992

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