Everett Nellums v. The State of Texas--Appeal from 278th District Court of Madison County

IN THE

TENTH COURT OF APPEALS

No. 10-96-085-CR

EVERETT NELLUMS,

Appellant

v.

THE STATE OF TEXAS,

Appellee

From the 278th District Court

Madison County, Texas

Trial Court # 9543

O P I N I O N

Everett Nellums was indicted for the offense of capital murder by intentionally stabbing his ex-wife, Ruby Nellums, in the course of committing burglary. Tex. Penal Code Ann. 19.03 (Vernon 1994). A jury convicted him of the lesser-included offense of murder and sentenced him to 90 years in prison. Id. 19.02 (Vernon 1994). Nellums appeals on five points complaining of (a) racially-motivated peremptory challenges; (b) the admission of extraneous offenses, prejudicial photographs, and hearsay; and (c) improper closing argument. We will affirm the conviction. //

FACTS

Ruby and Everett Nellums were divorced in April of 1993. Ruby and their four children lived in a trailer home next to her mother's house. Ruby's mother, Velma Bradley, and three of Ruby's children testified to the events of the offense. Nellums broke into the back door of Ruby's trailer home around midnight on September 16, 1994. Ruby ran from the trailer home to her mother's house. Unable to get in through the front door, she began banging on her mother's bedroom window. Bradley opened her window and saw Nellums approaching. She jumped out of the window to protect Ruby. Nellums stabbed Ruby repeatedly as Bradley and the children attempted to intervene. He pushed them out of the way or to the ground and continued stabbing Ruby. When Ruby finally fell to the ground, Nellums returned to the trailer home, got Ruby's car keys, and drove away in her car.

Nellums did not deny that he stabbed Ruby. Rather, his defensive theory was that the crime was not premeditated but resulted from sudden passion.

BATSON MOTION

Nellums' first point asserts that the State used racially-motivated peremptory challenges in violation of Batson v. Kentucky, 476 U.S. 79, 106 S. Ct. 1712, 90 L. Ed. 2d 69 (1986). He argues that six blacks were on the venire panel and that the State struck four of them. Two were seated on the jury. The court found the State's reasons for striking the jurors were race-neutral and overruled the motion.

Although Nellums was charged with capital murder, the State did not seek the death penalty. Accordingly, voir dire was conducted as with any other felony. After the parties made their strikes, Nellums stated his Batson motion and called the prosecutor to testify as to her reasons for striking panel members Green, Gilbert, Franks, and Whaley. Several jurors, including Green, had been questioned separately because they had indicated that they knew Nellums or his family.

The prosecutor testified that she struck Green because he was good friends with Nellums' family. Although Green had stated that he could be fair, the prosecutor testified that she did not believe he was being truthful. Green was single, and the prosecutor stated that she had planned to strike single or divorced males.

She struck Gilbert because he was nineteen years old. In addition, the court had instructed him to return to the courtroom after lunch the previous day. Instead, he had listened to his sister who had apparently told him he did not have to return that day. The prosecutor stated that she did not want a juror who was stupid enough to listen to his sister rather than the Judge when his sister wasn't even in the courtroom.

The prosecutor testified that she had remembered Franks as a white male. She struck him because he was divorced and had no children.

The prosecutor struck Whaley because she glared at her during voir dire, was a friend of the Nellums family, and knew some of the facts of the case.

Because the court ruled on the ultimate question of intentional discrimination, we need not review the issue of whether the defendant established a prima facie case. Hill v. State, 827 S.W.2d 860, 865 (Tex. Crim. App. 1992). We review the record of the Batson hearing and the voir dire examination in the light most favorable to the trial court's ruling. Adanandus v. State, 866 S.W.2d 210, 223 (Tex. Crim. App. 1993). We will not disturb that ruling unless it is clearly erroneous. Id. Our review includes the racial makeup of the venire, the voir dire examination, the prosecutor s explanations, and any rebuttal and impeaching evidence. See Chambers v. State, 866 S.W.2d 9, 23 (Tex. Crim. App. 1993). Absent some evidence rebutting the State's race-neutral explanation, we will not disturb the court's finding that the State's explanation is legitimate. Id. at 25; Pondexter v. State, 942 S.W.2d 577, 581 (Tex. Crim. App. 1996).

The prosecutor stated her race-neutral reasons for making her peremptory strikes. Nellums did not rebut those reasons. The record is silent about whether similarly situated non-minority panel members were not struck. Having reviewed the record, we cannot say that the court's determination is clearly erroneous. Adanandus, 866 S.W.2d at 223; see also Yarborough v. State, No. 0235-94, slip op. at 3 (Tex. Crim. App. June 11, 1997). //

EXTRANEOUS OFFENSES

Nellums' second point asserts that the court erred in admitting evidence of extraneous offenses. After the defense rested, the State moved to reopen. The State recalled Bradley and Charity Nellums, Ruby's and Nellums' nine-year-old child. Charity testified that when she was eight, her father had held a knife to Ruby's throat. Charity testified that he had used the same knife that he later used to murder her mother. Bradley testified that she had twice seen Nellums hitting or beating Ruby.

Nellums objected that the testimony was not relevant and was prejudicial. The State argued that the evidence was admissible to show Nellums' intent to commit aggravated assault.

Rule 404(b) of the Rules of Criminal Evidence precludes evidence of extraneous acts unless used for an other purpose, such as to prove motive, opportunity, intent, preparation, plan, knowledge or identity. Tex. R. Crim. Evid. 404(b). However, Article 38.36 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, Evidence in Prosecution of Murder, provides in part:

(a) In all prosecutions for murder, the state or the defendant shall be permitted to offer testimony as to all relevant facts and circumstances surrounding the killing and the previous relationship existing between the accused and the deceased, together with all relevant facts and circumstances going to show the condition of the mind of the accused at the time of the offense.

Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Ann. art. 38.36(a) (Vernon Supp. 1997).

Before a court may properly admit evidence of an extraneous offense under article 38.36, it must find the evidence relevant to a material issue other than the defendant's character. Hernandez v. State, 914 S.W.2d 226, 232 (Tex. App. Waco 1996, no pet.). The material issues in a homicide case are determined by the theories of the prosecution and the defense. Id. In reviewing the court's determination of relevancy, we uphold the ruling absent an abuse of discretion. Montgomery v. State, 810 S.W.2d 372, 390-91 (Tex. Crim. App. 1990) (on rehearing). As long as the court's ruling is within the zone of reasonableness, we will not intercede. Id. at 391; Hernandez, 914 S.W.2d at 233.

The State charged Nellums with intentionally causing Ruby's death by stabbing. Nellums' theory was that he was overcome by sudden passion. The evidence of Nellums' prior assaults is relevant to the previous relationship existing between Nellums and Ruby. Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Ann. art. 38.36(a). The evidence tends to make it more probable that it was Nellums' conscious objective to injure Ruby. Hernandez, 914 S.W.2d at 233. It tends to rebut his defensive theory that the crime occurred under the influence of sudden passion. Id. The court did not abuse its discretion in determining that the prior assaults were relevant.

We next address whether the probative value of the extraneous acts is substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice. Tex. R. Crim. Evid. 403. Rule 403 favors admissibility of relevant evidence, and again, we must uphold the court's ruling absent an abuse of discretion. Hernandez, 914 S.W.2d at 233. The jury had already heard evidence that Nellums' had been under a restraining order, had committed criminal trespass, and that the police had been called the morning of the murder to order Nellums away from Ruby's home. We overrule point two.

PHOTOGRAPHS

Nellums' third point asserts that the court erred in admitting photographs without requiring the proper predicate. He also argues that the probative value of the photographs was outweighed by their prejudicial nature.

Winifred Smith, a Madison County deputy sheriff, was dispatched to the scene. When he arrived, he found Ruby lying on her back in the yard surrounded by her mother and children. Smith saw that Ruby had several lacerations on her chest and her eye. He observed blood around her feet, arms, and neck. He could not detect a pulse nor could he determine whether she was breathing. He called for emergency medical services.

Smith identified Exhibits 14 and 15 as photographs taken at the scene. Nellums objected that the proper predicate had not been laid and that the photographs were prejudicial and inflammatory. The court overruled the objection. Exhibits 14 and 15 are photographs of Ruby's body lying in the grass.

The State later offered Exhibits 73-89 through the medical examiner, Dr. Charles Odom. Odom testified that he performed the autopsy on Ruby's body. He identified the exhibits as photographs taken during the autopsy depicting the injuries inflicted. Nellums objected that the photographs were prejudicial. He also objected that the photographs were irrelevant because he was not disputing that Ruby had died from stab wounds that he had inflicted. The court overruled the objections.

Admissibility of allegedly inflammatory photographs is governed by the rules of evidence. Hicks v. State, 860 S.W.2d 419, 426 (Tex. Crim. App. 1993). In determining admissibility of photographs under Rule of Criminal Evidence 403, the following factors are relevant for consideration:

... number of exhibits offered, their gruesomeness, their detail, their size, whether they are black and white or color, whether they are close-up, whether the body is naked or clothed[, and] ... the availability of other means of proof and the circumstances unique to each individual case....

Long v. State, 823 S.W.2d 259, 272 (Tex. Crim. App.1991). Generally, photos are admissible when verbal testimony as to the matters depicted in the photos is also admissible. Hicks, 860 S.W.2d at 426; Hernandez v. State, 819 S.W.2d 806, 819 (Tex. Crim. App.1991). Ultimately, the admissibility of photographs over any challenge is within the sound discretion of the trial judge. Sonnier v. State, 913 S.W.2d 511, 518 (Tex. Crim. App. 1995).

Exhibits 14 and 15 depict Ruby's body at the scene of the crime. The photographs depict the same facts described in Officer Smith's testimony.

The autopsy photographs depict the numerous stab wounds inflicted. Dr. Odom identified the photographs and testified as to which were defensive wounds and which were lethal wounds. He testified that the lethal injuries were on the back of the right shoulder. These stab wounds severed the aorta in Ruby's neck and injured major organs. He testified to the strength of the blows required to sever an aorta and puncture a lung. Odom identified the defensive wounds to Ruby's hands and legs. He testified that leg wounds are fairly rare and suggested that Ruby had used her legs defensively kicking her attacker.

The photographs are gruesome, but they depict the reality of the crime committed. Id. at 519. Nothing is depicted in the photographs which was not included in the testimony of the witnesses. Id. Although Ruby suffered 36 stab wounds, less than half that number of autopsy photographs were introduced. Each photograph was referred to by Odom in describing the manner or nature of Ruby's injuries and ultimate death.

The photographs are not so gruesome as to be unfairly prejudicial. See Emery v. State, 881 S.W.2d 702, 710 ( Tex. Crim. App. 1994). The court did not abuse its discretion in admitting the photographs. Id. We overrule point three.

PROBATION FILE

Nellums' fourth point asserts that the court erred in admitting his probation file into evidence during the punishment phase. The State sought to admit Nellums' probation file from a prior forgery conviction. The State sought to admit the file as business and/or public records and as statements against interest. Nellums' objected that the file was hearsay which did not fall within a hearsay exception.

Rodney Poe, chief probation officer of Madison County, testified that he had made all of the handwritten entries in Nellums' probation file. Poe testified that the probation records were kept in the regular course of business, that the events were recorded by someone with personal knowledge, that they were recorded at or near the time of the event, and that he was the custodian of the records. The court admitted the probation file.

Poe testified to Nellums' violations of the conditions of probation. He stated that Nellums had tested positive for cocaine and opiates within one month of being placed on probation. Poe referred Nellums to substance abuse counseling, but Nellums did not follow through on the program. Poe testified that Nellums was later arrested for unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. Poe stated that Nellums did not pay any of his court-ordered probation fees.

The majority of the hearsay contained in Nellums' probation file was testified to by Poe without objection. Nellums cites cases in which the courts found error in the admission of parole records in the guilt-innocense phase. Porter v. State, 578 S.W.2d 742 (Tex. Crim. App. 1979); Philpot v. State, 897 S.W.2d 848 (Tex. App. Dallas 1995, pet ref'd). In both cases, the reviewing court determined that the records lacked trustworthiness and reliability. In Porter, the file contained letters from unknown sources. 578 S.W.2d at 746. In Philpot, the file contained test results from an independent laboratory. 897 S.W.2d at 852. Thus in each case the evidence failed to satisfy the requirements of business records.

Here, Poe testified to facts based on his personal knowledge. This evidence does not present the question of lack of trustworthiness and reliability as did the records in Porter and Philpot. We agree that other parts of the file contained hearsay that did not fall within an exception. However, we do not find harm. Tex. R. App. P. 81(b)(2). We overrule point four.

CLOSING ARGUMENT

Finally, Nellums complains of the prosecutor's statement during punishment argument:

As I told you during voir dire, Ruby Nellums had a right to protect herself in that home and he knew he wasn't wanted there. It's not sudden passion. The other thing that tells you it's not sudden passion evidence in this case is when after he stabs her thirty-six times and she falls to the ground do you hear any evidence that he said oh, baby, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, at that moment, God forgive me, God forgive me? No.

Nellums objected that the argument was a comment on his failure to testify.

A defendant's failure to testify may not be alluded to or commented on by the State. Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Ann. art. 38.08 (Vernon 1979). This prohibition applies to both the guilt-innocense and the punishment phases. Brown v. State, 617 S.W.2d 234, 236-37 (Tex. Crim. App. 1991). For an argument to violate article 38.08, the language must have been manifestly intended or was of such character that the jury would naturally and necessarily take it to be a comment on the accused's failure to testify. Dickson v. State, 685 S.W.2d 320, 323 (Tex. Crim. App. 1984). A remark which alludes to evidence which only the defendant could supply is prohibited. Patrick v. State, 906 S.W.2d 481, 490 (Tex. Crim. App. 1995).

The evidence showed that Nellums stabbed Ruby in front of her mother and her children. Ruby's mother and the children testified to the stabbing. Prior to the argument complained of, the prosecutor had argued:

His statement shows that he didn't commit that murder in sudden passion. Because he says he went over there to talk to her. He wasn't mad. He committed this murder cold blooded. You heard Ms. Bradley and the others say he wasn't saying anything when he was stabbing her. He wasn't saying I can't stand you, why are you with that man, you know you're dirt. He didn't say anything. He was just stabbing her and stabbing her and stabbing her.

The State's comments, in context, are not manifestly intended as a comment on Nellums' failure to testify. Id. Four others were present when Nellums committed the crime and could have testified to his words or the absence of words. See Robinson v. State, 888 S.W.2d 473, 490 (Tex. Crim. App. 1994). The State's comments are a deduction from the evidence presented.

We overrule point five. We affirm the judgment.

BILL VANCE

Justice

Before Chief Justice Davis,

Justice Cummings, and

Justice Vance

Affirmed

Opinion delivered and filed August 1, 1997

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