Isaac Paul Milne v. State

NUMBER 13-14-00043-CR
COURT OF APPEALS
THIRTEENTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS
CORPUS CHRISTI – EDINBURG
ISAAC PAUL MILNE, Appellant,
v.
THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee.
On appeal from the 18th District Court of
Johnson County, Texas.
MEMORANDUM OPINION
Before Chief Justice Valdez and Justices Garza and Longoria
Memorandum Opinion by Justice Garza
A jury convicted appellant Isaac Paul Milne of felony capital murder. See TEX.
PENAL CODE ANN. § 19.03(a)(2), (b) (West, Westlaw through 2013 3d C.S.). The trial court
assessed the mandatory sentence of life without parole. See id. § 12.31(a)(2) (West,
Westlaw through 2013 3d C.S.). By two issues, appellant contends: (1) the evidence
was insufficient to support his conviction; and (2) the trial court erred in admitting certain
prejudicial photographs of the decedent. We affirm.
I. BACKGROUND1
Testimony at trial established the following facts. In the early morning hours of
September 21, 2011, Jessica Cryer, then a 911 dispatcher for the Johnson County
Sheriff’s Office, received a 911 call from Michelle Adams. Adams reported that her
brother, Rick Warren, had been robbed and was lying unconscious on the floor of his
mobile home. Warren’s mobile home was located near the home Adams shared with
James Hammond. The property was in a rural area near Rio Vista, Texas.
Jonathan Poole, an officer with the Johnson County Sheriff’s Department, and
several deputies responded to the dispatch call. Officer Poole observed a brick house on
the property and a mobile home located approximately twenty-five yards from the house.
Adams led Officer Poole to Warren’s bedroom in the mobile home; Warren’s severely
beaten and lifeless body was on the floor next to his bed. Blood was spattered on the
bed, floor, and surrounding area. Adams informed Officer Poole that a television, a
laptop, and a guitar were missing from the mobile home.
Adams testified that Warren, who was forty-eight, had suffered three strokes.
Adams often helped him with meals and kept him company. On the night of the murder,
Adams had stayed at the mobile home with Warren watching television until about eleven
or midnight. She returned home and went to bed, but was awakened several hours later
1 This case is before this Court on transfer from the Tenth Court of Appeals in Waco pursuant to
an order issued by the Texas Supreme Court. See TEX. GOV’T CODE ANN. § 73.001 (West, Westlaw through
2013 3d C.S.).
2
by the dog barking. Adams ran outside and noticed someone inside Warren’s vehicle.
Adams ran to Warren’s back door, which had been kicked down from the inside. She
saw two figures running away. Adams stepped inside and saw Warren face down on the
bedroom floor in a puddle of blood. Adams called 911, and she and James attempted to
perform CPR on Warren.
Adams told the officers that she suspected that the intruders were Jenny Sue Davis
and her boyfriend, whose nickname was “Bounce.” Adams believed that “Bounce” was
associated with the Aryan Brotherhood. After consulting a database of street names, law
enforcement officers identified “Bounce” as Jeremy Bukowski. Warren had permitted
Davis and Bukowski to stay in an extra bedroom in his mobile home. However, several
days before the murder, Warren had asked them to leave because he suspected they
were stealing from him. Shortly before Bukowski and Davis were asked to leave, Adams
also discovered that several other men, all with the same tattoos, had been staying in the
extra bedroom. Bukowski told Adams that he had to kill one more person in order to be
a full-fledged member of the Aryan Brotherhood. Davis told Adams that she and Warren
were an “easy target” living in the rural area. Davis also threatened to hit Adams with a
hammer.
Cindy McGuire, an investigator with the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office, testified
that Bukowski consented to a search of his vehicle, where Warren’s laptop computer was
found. McGuire also assisted in the search of Bukowski’s RV, where Warren’s television
and guitar were recovered. Several items were also found in a tub in the RV, including a
pair of gloves and some clothing wrapped around a hammer and a crescent wrench.
Leona Yocham, an investigator with the Johnson County Sheriff’s Department,
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testified that the investigation of the murder focused on three people: Bukowski,
appellant, and Nico Cogdill. Appellant was taken into custody the day after the murder.
Yocham was present during appellant’s first custodial interview and testified that appellant
signed a written statement after the interview. In the statement, appellant stated that the
plan was to drive to Warren’s home where Nico and Bukowski would enter and “get what
was worth it.” Appellant was to stay in the car and meet them when they returned. Nico
took a gun when he got out of the car and Bukowski took appellant’s crescent wrench.
When they returned to the car, Nico was carrying the shotgun and a flat-screen television.
Bukowski was carrying the laptop and a guitar. Appellant asked about the crescent
wrench, which had been left inside the mobile home. Appellant asked Bukowski to come
with him to retrieve the wrench. Bukowski picked up the wrench from the kitchen.
Appellant asked what else they could take, and Bukowski told him to check the computer
room. Appellant went to the computer room. When appellant walked into the bedroom,
Bukowski was beating Warren with the wrench until appellant “saw [Warren’s] skull cave
in.” Appellant stated that he did not tell Bukowski to stop because Bukowski was “a made
bro” and appellant was only a “prospect” with the Aryan Brotherhood. Appellant stated
that he was “afraid” of what would happen if he refused or said anything to Bukowski.
When appellant and Bukowski heard Adams screaming, appellant kicked down the back
door and ran through the field. The three drove to Carolyn Harris’s home in Alvarado,
Texas and then to Bukowski’s RV. They unloaded the stolen items, the bloody clothing,
and the wrench into Bukowski’s RV.
Don Stoner, a Texas Ranger with the Department of Public Safety, testified that
he interviewed Bukowski the morning after the murder. Bukowski named appellant and
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Cogdill as additional suspects in the crime. Appellant, whose nickname is “Rooster,” was
identified in a photo lineup by Bukowski and was arrested a couple of days after the
murder. Cogdill, whose nickname was “Bamm,” was also arrested a couple of days after
the murder. Stoner participated in interviews of each of the defendants. According to
Stoner, each defendant implicated the other two and minimized his own participation.
Appellant was first interviewed on September 22, 2011. Stoner and Investigator Yocham
participated in the interview. Stoner said that subsequent interviews of appellant were
done at appellant’s request. Appellant was interviewed by another officer on September
25. Stoner participated in another interview of appellant on September 26 and again on
September 27. On each occasion, appellant was advised of his rights. Appellant’s
account of events, and his characterization of his own involvement, changed over the
several interviews.
In the September 22 interview, appellant stated he was a “prospect” with the Aryan
Brotherhood. In the September 26 interview, however, he denied any involvement with
the Aryan Brotherhood. There were other inconsistencies in appellant’s interviews. In
the September 26 interview, appellant said he drove Bukowski to Warren’s home so
Bukowski could pick up some of his belongings that had been left at the home. Later,
however, appellant stated that he, Bukowski, and Cogdill planned the burglary, and that
“Richie Rich”, an Aryan Brotherhood member, knew of the plan. In the September 27
interview, appellant admitted for the first time that he hit Warren with the crescent wrench.
Appellant stated that Warren was still alive when he hit him with the wrench.
Dr. Gary Sisler, a retired pathologist trained in forensic medicine, testified that he
performed an autopsy on Warren’s body. Dr. Sisler stated that the cause of Warren’s
5
death was blunt trauma of the head and brain. The injuries to the back of Warren’s head
extended into the brain. Warren’s skull was “fractured into many parts” and was “driven
into the brain, caus[ing] lacerations of the brain with fragmentation of brain tissue.”
According to Dr. Sisler, “the extensive damage to the brain tissue . . . cause[d] almost
immediate death.”
Carolyn Van Winkle, a forensic scientist from the Tarrant County medical
examiner’s office, testified regarding DNA evidence related to the murder. Among other
items found in the tub in Bukowski’s RV, Van Winkle tested blood stains found on the
crescent wrench; the stains were consistent with Warren’s DNA. Van Winkle also tested
DNA on a white tank top found in the tub; the DNA was consistent with appellant’s DNA.
The State rested. Appellant testified on his own behalf. Appellant testified that on
the night of September 20, he and Cogdill were at Carolyn Harris’s house and Bukowski
was there also. Appellant had known Cogdill for a couple of weeks and had met Bukowski
about a week before the murder. Bukowski asked appellant for a ride to pick up some of
his belongings. Appellant initially refused, but agreed after a “guy named Richie” asked
him to give Bukowski a ride. Appellant said there was no discussion about robbing
Warren. Appellant denied knowing that Cogdill and Bukowski brought gloves or weapons.
When they arrived at the property, Cogdill and Bukowski got out and took the wrench.
Appellant remained in the car. Bukowski and Cogdill were in the mobile home
approximately ten minutes. When they returned, appellant noticed they had gloves on.
When appellant asked what happened, they said they had beaten Warren. Appellant
asked about his wrench. Bukowski said they had left it inside. Appellant and Bukowski
went back inside the mobile home. Bukowski told appellant to check the computer room
6
for a modem. Bukowski went back to the bedroom. Appellant saw Warren on the floor
and Bukowski standing over him. Appellant said that Bukowski demanded that he “be a
part of it” so he would not “call and snitch” on Bukowski and Cogdill. Bukowski told
appellant, “you do it or you can stay here.” Appellant interpreted this as a threat: either
do as he was told or Bukowski would beat him also. Appellant testified that he feared
Bukowski and the Aryan Brotherhood because Bukowski was a member of the gang.
Appellant admitted that he hit Warren, but did so only because he was threatened by
Bukowski. Appellant testified that he was given the nickname “Rooster” when he was
young. He denied being a prospect of the Aryan Brotherhood.
On cross-examination, appellant admitted that in his first three interviews, he
denied that he had participated in beating Warren. In his last interview, however, he
admitted that he hit Warren because Bukowski threatened him. Appellant admitted that
Warren was still alive when he hit him in the face with the wrench. Appellant also admitted
that “Richie Rich” was a member of the Aryan Brotherhood. Appellant admitted that he
was aware that Bukowski and Cogdill had brought a shotgun along on the trip to Warren’s
property, but denied knowing they planned to rob Warren. Appellant testified that he had
twice before been convicted of theft.
Appellant also admitted that while in jail awaiting trial, he wrote a letter to his then-
wife, in which he admitted that he, Cogdill, and Bukowski went to Warren’s property with
the plan of robbing him and beating him. The letter said that Bukowski “knew this guy we
could rob for some stuff and if we wanted beat him up.” After Bukowski told appellant
that the target was a child molester, appellant agreed to “go beat his ass.” The letter
stated that all three entered Warren’s mobile home and that Cogdill and appellant started
7
beating Warren. The letter stated that when appellant started to leave, Bukowski
threatened appellant with a shotgun. At trial, appellant testified that the events as
recounted in the letter were not true, but he wrote the letter in an effort to make Cogdill
appear more sympathetic. Appellant was also questioned about statements he made in
an earlier interview, in which he said that, the day after the murder, he and Cogdill were
asked by Aryan Brotherhood members to kidnap Bukowski and deliver him for
questioning.
The jury charge authorized the jury to convict appellant of capital murder as a
principal, a party, or a conspirator under the law of parties. The jury was also instructed
on the affirmative defense of duress.
The jury found appellant guilty of capital murder, and the trial court imposed a
sentence of life imprisonment.
II. SUFFICIENCY OF THE EVIDENCE
By his first issue, appellant contends the evidence is insufficient to support his
conviction. Specifically, appellant contends that the State failed to prove that he intended
to cause Warren’s death or that he struck the fatal blow. Although appellant admitted
striking Warren in the face with the wrench, appellant argued that he was under duress
when he did so because his life was threatened by Bukowski.
A. Standard of Review and Applicable Law
In a sufficiency review, courts examine the evidence in the light most favorable to
the verdict to determine whether “any rational fact finder could have found guilt beyond a
reasonable doubt.” Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 319 (1979); see Brooks v. State,
323 S.W.3d 893, 895 (Tex. Crim. App. 2010) (plural. op.) (“[T]he Jackson legal-sufficiency
8
standard is the only standard that a reviewing court should apply in determining whether
the evidence is sufficient to support each element of a criminal offense that the State is
required to prove beyond a reasonable doubt.”). This standard requires reviewing courts
to resolve any evidentiary inconsistencies in favor of the judgment, keeping in mind that
the jury is the exclusive judge of the facts, the credibility of the witnesses, and the weight
to give their testimony. Brooks, 323 S.W.3d at 899; see TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art.
38.04 (West, Westlaw through 2013 3d C.S.) (“The jury, in all cases, is the exclusive
judge of the facts proved, and of the weight to be given to the testimony. . . .”). Appellate
courts do not re-evaluate the weight and credibility of the evidence; they only ensure that
the fact finder reached a rational decision. Laster v. State, 275 S.W.3d 512, 517 (Tex.
Crim. App. 2009). A fact finder may support its verdict with reasonable inferences drawn
from the evidence, and it is up to the fact finder to decide which inference is most
reasonable. Id. at 523.
A person commits capital murder if he intentionally or knowingly causes the death
of an individual and intentionally commits the murder in the course of committing or
attempting to commit, among other things, burglary or robbery. See TEX. PENAL CODE
ANN. § 19.02(b)(1) (West, Westlaw through 2013 3d C.S.); id. § 19.03(a)(2) (West,
Westlaw through 2013 3d C.S.). Under the law of parties, “[a] person is criminally
responsible as a party to an offense if the offense is committed by his own conduct, by
the conduct of another for which he is criminally responsible, or by both.” See id. § 7.01(a)
(West, Westlaw through 2013 3d C.S.). “A person is criminally responsible for an offense
committed by the conduct of another if: . . . acting with intent to promote or assist the
commission of the offense, he solicits, encourages, directs, aids, or attempts to aid the
9
other person to commit the offense.” Id. § 7.02(a)(2) (West, Westlaw through 2013 3d
C.S.). A person is also “criminally responsible” for an offense committed by the conduct
of another if:
in the attempt to carry out a conspiracy to commit one felony, another felony
is committed by one of the conspirators, all conspirators are guilty of the
felony actually committed, though having no intent to commit it, if the
offense was committed in furtherance of the unlawful purpose and was one
that should have been anticipated as a result of the carrying out of the
conspiracy.
Id. § 7.02(b) (West, Westlaw through 2013 3d C.S.)).
“Evidence is sufficient to convict under the law of parties where the accused is
physically present at the commission of the offense and encourages its commission by
words or other agreement.” Hernandez v. State, 198 S.W.3d 257, 261 (Tex. App.—San
Antonio 2006, pet. ref’d). “In determining whether an accused participated as a party, the
fact finder may examine the events occurring before, during, and after the commission of
the offense and may rely on actions of the accused that show an understanding and
common design to commit the offense.” Id. “Further, circumstantial evidence may be
used to prove party status.” Id.
Here, the jury was instructed that it could find appellant guilty of capital murder (1)
as a principal; (2) as a party under penal code section 7.02(a)(2); or (3) as a co-
conspirator under penal code section 7.02(b). See TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 7.02(a)(2),
(b). The jury returned a general guilty verdict; therefore, if the evidence is sufficient to
support a guilty finding under any of the allegations submitted, we must uphold the jury's
verdict. See Guevara v. State, 152 S.W.3d 45, 49 (Tex. Crim. App. 2004).
Sufficiency of the evidence is measured by the elements of the offense as defined
by a hypothetically correct jury charge. Villarreal v. State, 286 S.W.3d 321, 327 (Tex.
10
Crim. App. 2009); Malik v. State, 953 S.W.2d 234, 240 (Tex. Crim. App. 1997). “Such a
charge is one that accurately sets out the law, is authorized by the indictment, does not
unnecessarily increase the State's burden of proof or unnecessarily restrict the State's
theories of liability, and adequately describes the particular offense for which the
defendant was tried.” Villarreal, 286 S.W.3d at 327; see Malik, 953 S.W.2d at 240. As
authorized by the indictment in this case, the State was required to show that appellant
(1) intentionally (2) caused Warren’s death (3) by hitting him with a wrench (4) while
appellant was in the course of committing or attempting to commit either (a) the offense
of robbery of Warren or (b) the offense of burglary of Warren’s habitation. The charge
authorized appellant’s conviction if the jury found that he caused Warren’s death by acting
as a principal, a party, or a participant in a conspiracy.
“A person acts intentionally, or with intent, with respect . . . to a result of his conduct
when it is his conscious objective or desire to engage in the conduct or cause the result.”
TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 6.03(a) (West, Westlaw through 2013 3d C.S.). Murder is a
“result of conduct” offense. Cook v. State, 884 S.W.2d 485, 490 (Tex. Crim. App. 1994).
“That is, the accused must have intended the result, death, or have been aware that his
conduct was reasonably certain to cause that result.” Guzman v. State, 20 S.W.3d 237,
240 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2000), rev'd on other grounds, 85 S.W.3d 242 (Tex. Crim. App.
2002).
It is not necessary that the evidence directly proves the defendant's guilt;
“[c]ircumstantial evidence is as probative as direct evidence in establishing the guilt of the
actor, and circumstantial evidence alone can be sufficient to establish guilt.” Hooper v.
State, 214 S.W.3d 9, 13 (Tex. Crim. App. 2007); see Kuciemba v. State, 310 S.W.3d 460,
11
462 (Tex. Crim. App. 2010). A defendant's intent, in particular, may be inferred from his
words, acts, and conduct. Patrick v. State, 906 S.W.2d 481, 487 (Tex. Crim. App. 1995).
In other words, intent and knowledge are fact questions and are almost always proven
through evidence of the circumstances surrounding the crime. Robles v. State, 664
S.W.2d 91, 94 (Tex. Crim. App. 1984). Both the identity of the accused and the corpus
delicti of an offense may be proven by circumstantial evidence. See Earls v. State, 707
S.W.2d 82, 85 (Tex. Crim. App. 1986); see also Wheeler v. State, 35 S.W.3d 126, 134
(Tex. App.—Texarkana 2000, pet. ref'd); Clark v. State, No. 13–10–00496–CR, 2011 WL
3821055, at *4 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi Aug. 25, 2011, no pet.) (mem. op., not
designated for publication).
A defendant's extrajudicial confession alone is not sufficient to support a
conviction. Williams v. State, 958 S.W.2d 186, 190 (Tex. Crim. App. 1997); In re C.P.,
998 S.W.2d 703, 709 (Tex. App.—Waco 1999, no pet.). There must be other evidence
independent of the confession that tends to prove the corpus delicti. Williams, 958
S.W.2d at 190; In re C.P., 998 S.W.2d at 709. The independent evidence of the corpus
delicti does not need to connect the defendant to the crime, be sufficient by itself to prove
the crime, nor be a great quantum of evidence; it only needs to be some evidence which
renders the corpus delicti more probable than it would be without the evidence. Williams,
958 S.W.2d at 190; In re C.P., 998 S.W.2d at 709–10.
“Duress is an affirmative defense requiring the defendant to prove by a
preponderance of the evidence that he committed the offense ‘because he was compelled
to do so by threat of imminent death or serious bodily injury to himself or another.’” Guia
v. State, 220 S.W.3d 197, 205 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2007, pet. ref'd) (quoting TEX. PENAL
12
CODE ANN. § 8.05(a) (West, Westlaw through 2013 3d C.S.)). “To establish compulsion,
a defendant must prove that ‘the force or threat of force rendered a person of reasonable
firmness incapable of resisting the pressure.’” Id. (quoting TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. §
8.05(c) (West, Westlaw through 2013 3d C.S.)). The defense of duress is unavailable if
a defendant “intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly placed himself in a situation in which
it was probable that he would be subjected to compulsion.” See TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. §
8.05(d) (West, Westlaw through 2013 3d C.S.).
Appellant argued that he “proved by a preponderance of the evidence that he was
under duress” when the murder was committed. We construe appellant’s argument as a
challenge to the legal and factual sufficiency of the evidence supporting the jury’s
rejection of his duress defense.
A challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence to support a finding on an issue for
which the defendant has the burden of proof may be made on legal or factual sufficiency
grounds. See Matlock v. State, 392 S.W.3d 662, 670 (Tex. Crim. App. 2013). In
evaluating whether there is legally insufficient evidence to support the finding, we first
search the record for evidence favorable to the finding, disregarding all contrary evidence
unless a reasonable fact-finder could not. Id. at 669. If we find no evidence supporting
the finding, we then determine whether the contrary was established as a matter of law.
Id. In evaluating factual sufficiency, we consider the entire body of evidence in a neutral
light to determine whether the finding on the affirmative defense was so “against the great
weight and preponderance” of the evidence as to be manifestly unjust. Id. at 671.
B. Discussion
13
Under both standards, we conclude that the evidence is sufficient to overcome
appellant’s affirmative defense of duress. Appellant’s own trial testimony established that
Warren was alive when appellant hit him in the face with the wrench. Although appellant
claimed that he only hit Warren because he was threatened by Bukowski, the jury was
free to accept or reject appellant’s claim that he was threatened.2 See Anderson v. State,
322 S.W.3d 401, 405 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2010, pet. ref’d) (“The fact-finder
is the exclusive judge of the credibility of witnesses and of the weight to be given to their
testimony”). In the letter appellant wrote to his then-wife, appellant admitted that he,
Cogdill, and Bukowski went to Warren’s property with the plan of robbing him and beating
him. In the letter, appellant admitted that all three men initially went inside and that he
and Cogdill beat Warren. Although appellant denied this version of events at trial, the
jury was free to believe it. See id. Appellant also admitted at trial that he knew Bukowski
and Cogdill had brought a shotgun along on the trip to Warren’s property, but denied
knowing that they planned to rob Warren.
In appellant’s September 22, 2011 written statement, he admitted that he, Cogdill,
and Bukowski planned to rob Warren. In the statement, appellant stated that Bukowski
was a “made bro” in the Aryan Brotherhood and was “over” appellant, who was “just a
prospect.” In later interviews and at trial, appellant denied being in the Aryan
Brotherhood. He admitted at trial, however, that the day following the murder, he was
asked to assist in a plan to kidnap Bukowski at the request of some Aryan Brotherhood
2 We note that appellant’s credibility was undermined by the various versions of events that he
related in his interviews. In his September 22 interview and his interview on September 26, appellant
denied that he hit Warren. In his September 27 interview and at trial, appellant admitted that he hit Warren,
but did so only out of fear of Bukowski. A defendant’s inconsistent statements are probative of guilt. See
Guevara v. State, 152 S.W.3d 45, 50 (Tex. Crim. App. 2004).
14
members. Appellant also told Adams that as a “prospect” in the Aryan Brotherhood, he
was required to kill one more person to become a full-fledged member of the organization.
The jury was free to resolve these conflicts by believing that appellant was a “prospect”
with the Aryan Brotherhood, which provided him with an additional motive to participate
in the murder. See id.
Evidence corroborating the testimony that appellant participated in the murder
included appellant’s DNA on a shirt that was found, along with the bloody wrench and
other clothing, in a tub at Bukowski’s RV.
Moreover, the letter appellant wrote to his then-wife and his trial testimony
established appellant’s guilt as a party to Warren’s murder. As noted, the jury was free
to reject appellant’s claim that he only hit Warren because he was threatened by
Bukowski. See id. Appellant’s duress claim was also undermined by his admission that,
on the day after the murder, he was willing to assist in kidnapping Bukowski at the request
of several Aryan Brotherhood members. This suggests that appellant was more
motivated by a desire to appease Aryan Brotherhood members than by fear of Bukowski.
We hold the evidence was sufficient to support the jury’s finding against appellant’s
affirmative defense of duress. See Matlock, 392 S.W.3d at 669–71. We conclude that
the jury was rationally justified in finding appellant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt as a
principal or as a party. We overrule appellant’s first issue.
III. ADMISSION OF PHOTOGRAPHS
By his second issue, appellant contends that the trial court erred in admitting
certain photographs of Warren’s body taken at the crime scene and during the autopsy.
Specifically, appellant argues that admission of State’s Exhibits Nos. 9, 11, 12, 13, 18,
15
66, and 81 through 88 was improper because the probative value of the photographs was
substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice. See TEX. R. EVID. 403.
Appellant complained that the photographs were “duplicitous [sic] with other photos” and
offered “for the sole purpose of inflaming the minds of the jurors.”
A. Standard of Review and Applicable Law
We review a trial court’s decisions on evidence admissibility under an abuse-of-
discretion standard, reversing only when the trial court’s decision falls outside the zone
of reasonable disagreement. See Rodriguez v. State, 203 S.W.3d 837, 841 (Tex. Crim.
App. 2006); see also Bailey v. State, No. 10-11-00437-CR, 2012 WL 4841465, at *3 (Tex.
App.—Waco Oct. 11, 2012, no pet.) (mem. op., not designated for publication). Rule 403
provides that: “Although relevant, evidence may be excluded if its probative value is
substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice, confusion of the issues, or
misleading the jury, or by considerations of undue delay, or needless presentation of
cumulative evidence.” TEX. R. EVID. 403.
A court may consider many factors in determining whether the
probative value of photographs is substantially outweighed by the danger
of unfair prejudice. These factors include: the number of exhibits offered,
their gruesomeness, their detail, their size, whether they are in color or in
black and white, whether they are close-up and whether the body depicted
is clothed or naked. A court, however, should not be limited to this list. The
availability of other means of proof and the circumstances unique to each
individual case should also be noted.
In addition, autopsy photographs are generally admissible unless
they depict mutilation of the victim caused by the autopsy itself. Changes
rendered by the autopsy process are of minor significance if the disturbing
nature of the photograph is primarily due to the injuries caused by the
appellant.
Hayes v. State, 85 S.W.3d 809, 815–16 (Tex. Crim. App. 2002) (internal citations
omitted). “Ultimately, the admissibility of the challenged photograph is within the sound
16
discretion of the trial court.” Aragon v. State, 229 S.W.3d 716, 724 (Tex. App.—San
Antonio 2007, no pet.).
B. Discussion
We first address State’s Exhibits 9, 11, 12, 13 and 18. Those photographs were
admitted during the testimony of Officer Poole. When appellant’s counsel objected, the
prosecutor responded that “[t]hose are actual first responder views of exactly what [Officer
Poole] saw on the scene.” Exhibit 9 depicts Warren’s body lying on the floor in a pool of
blood next to the bed. The photograph shows blood stains on the sheets and blood
spatter on nearby items. Exhibit 11 shows a close-up of Warren’s bloody head and torso
in the same pose next to the bed. Warren’s face is covered in blood. Exhibit 12 is an
extreme close-up of Warren’s bloody face and hair; open wounds on Warren’s face are
visible. Exhibit 13 shows Warren’s entire body lying next to the bed. Exhibit 18 is a close-
up photograph of a blood-soaked hole in the back of Warren’s skull.
These photographs depicted the severity of Warren’s injuries, the cause of death,
the location of the body next to the bed, and suggested that Warren was beaten while in
the bed and on the floor. Blood spatter on surrounding items showed that the blows were
inflicted in the vicinity where the body was found. The close-up photographs of Warren’s
face and the back of his head show wounds consistent with being beaten with a crescent
wrench. Each of the photographs was taken from a different angle or different distance
from the body. Although the photographs are disturbing, they depict “nothing more than
the reality of the crime committed.” See id.
Exhibit 66 is a close-up of Warren’s blood-covered face. Exhibit 66 was admitted
during the testimony of Officer Michael Gaudet, an investigator with the Johnson County
17
Sherriff’s Office. Similar to Exhibit 12, Exhibit 66 shows the severity of the wounds on
Warren’s face. We conclude that Exhibits 9, 11, 12, 13, 18, and 66 were probative and
that any danger of unfair prejudice did not substantially outweigh the probative value of
the photographs. We hold that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in admitting the
photographs.
Appellant also complains of the admission of autopsy photographs, State’s
Exhibits 81 through 88. The autopsy photographs were admitted during the testimony of
Dr. Sisler. Dr. Sisler testified that Warren suffered seventeen blunt force injuries to the
face and head. He testified that one of the most serious injuries was to the back of the
head. Exhibits 81 through 85 show close-ups of Warren’s face and shaven head. Exhibit
81 shows a frontal view of Warren’s face; severe wounds to his cheek, chin, and temple
are visible. Exhibit 82 shows the right side of Warren’s face and head; severe wounds to
his cheek and head are visible. Exhibit 83 shows the left side of Warren’s face and head;
multiple lacerations to his cheek, temple, and head are visible. Exhibit 84 is a close-up
of the left side of Warren’s face. The photograph depicts the depth and severity of the
wounds. Exhibit 85 shows the back of Warren’s head. The photograph shows multiple
lacerations and fractures to the skull. A large gaping hole in Warren’s skull is visible. Dr.
Sisler described the photograph as showing “brain, scalp and bone protruding from the
open wound.” Exhibits 86 through 88 show “defensive wounds.” Exhibit 86 shows a
close-up of a laceration to the thumb, 87 shows a laceration to the hand, and 88 shows a
laceration to the arm.
Dr. Sisler explained that the cause of death was “destruction of the brain.” He
stated that “with the extensive damage to the brain tissue, it would cause almost
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immediate death.” The autopsy photographs are probative of the severity of Warren’s
injuries and the cause of death. We conclude that any danger of unfair prejudice did not
substantially outweigh the probative value of State’s Exhibits 81 through 88. The trial
court did not abuse its discretion in admitting the photographs. We overrule appellant’s
second issue.
IV. CONCLUSION
We affirm the trial court’s judgment.
DORI CONTRERAS GARZA,
Justice
Do not publish.
TEX. R. APP. P. 47.2(b).
Delivered and filed the
20th day of November, 2014.
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