Miriam Hudman Hughes v. The State of Texas--Appeal from 123rd District Court of Shelby County

NO. 12-02-00254-CR

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS

TWELFTH COURT OF APPEALS DISTRICT

TYLER, TEXAS

MIRIAM HUDMAN HUGHES, APPEAL FROM THE 123RD

APPELLANT

V. JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT OF

THE STATE OF TEXAS,

APPELLEE SHELBY COUNTY, TEXAS

MEMORANDUM OPINION

Appellant Miriam Hudman Hughes ( Appellant ) was convicted of murder after a jury trial. The jury sentenced her to thirty years of imprisonment and no fine. Appellant raises six issues on appeal. We affirm.

Background

Appellant and Stephen ( Butch ) Hughes married on July 11, 1998. Though they were happy the first year, their marriage became troubled, with allegations against both Appellant and Butch of physical and emotional abuse and abusive language. On July 10, 2001, after Butch threw her sewing machine to the floor during an argument, Appellant went into a bedroom. When Butch entered the room to continue the argument, Appellant shot him with a shotgun. Butch died soon thereafter. Appellant was indicted for Butch s murder and elected a jury trial.

At trial, Appellant testified that she shot Butch during an argument. Appellant also offered testimony of a psychologist who testified about domestic violence generally and stated that Appellant was the abused victim of Butch s physical, emotional, and verbal domestic violence.

The jury charge on guilt/innocence provided the jury the options of finding Appellant guilty of murder, manslaughter, or criminally negligent homicide, or finding her not guilty. The jury was also charged regarding the law of self-defense. The jury found Appellant guilty of murder, as charged in the indictment. The punishment charge included a sudden passion issue. However, the jury resolved the sudden passion issue against Appellant and sentenced her to thirty years of imprisonment.

Sufficiency of The Evidence

In her first issue, Appellant challenges the legal and factual sufficiency of the evidence to support her conviction.

Legal Sufficiency

In reviewing a legal sufficiency question, we must view the evidence in the light most favorable to the verdict and determine whether any rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 319, 99 S. Ct. 2781, 2789, 61 L. Ed. 2d 560 (1979); King v. State, 29 S.W.3d 556, 562 (Tex. Crim. App. 2000). The trier of fact, here the jury, is the exclusive judge of the credibility of witnesses and of the weight to be given their testimony. Barnes v. State, 876 S.W.2d 316, 321 (Tex. Crim. App. 1994); Williams v. State, 692 S.W.2d 671, 676 (Tex. Crim. App. 1984). The jury is entitled to draw reasonable inferences from the evidence. Benavides v. State, 763 S.W.2d 587, 588-89 (Tex. App. Corpus Christi 1988, pet. ref d). Likewise, reconciliation of conflicts in the evidence is within the exclusive province of the jury. Losada v. State, 721 S.W.2d 305, 309 (Tex. Crim. App. 1986). Although an appellate court s analysis considers all the evidence presented at trial, it may not re-weigh the evidence and substitute [the appellate court s] judgment for that of the jury. King, 29 S.W.3d at 562.

Legal sufficiency of the evidence is measured by the elements of the offense as defined by the hypothetically correct jury charge, which is a charge that accurately sets out the law, is authorized by the indictment, and does not unnecessarily increase the State s burden. Malik v. State, 953 S.W.2d 234, 240 (Tex. Crim. App. 1997); see also Gollihar v. State, 46 S.W.3d 243, 253 (Tex. Crim. App. 2001).

Appellant was indicted for the murder of Butch Hughes for intentionally or knowingly caus[ing] the death of an individual . . . by shooting him in the abdomen, with a 20-gauge single shot shotgun.

Appellant testified that, on the day of Butch s death, she and Butch were arguing, that Butch threw her sewing machine across the room and cursed her, and that she went to a bedroom. She said Butch followed her, and she picked up the shotgun and aimed it at Butch. She admitted that as he approached her, still cursing and threatening her, she shot him. The shotgun was admitted into evidence.

Reviewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the jury s verdict, we hold that a rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of murder beyond a reasonable doubt. Therefore, the evidence is legally sufficient to support Appellant s conviction. Appellant s first issue, as to legal sufficiency, is overruled.

Factual Sufficiency

When reviewing the factual sufficiency of the evidence, we review all of the evidence, but not in the light most favorable to the prosecution. Cain v. State, 958 S.W.2d 404, 407 (Tex. Crim. App. 1997). The standard we must apply asks 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 confidence in the jury s determination, or 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).

In conducting our analysis, our duty is to examine the trier of fact s weighing of the evidence. Scott v. State, 934 S.W.2d 396, 398 (Tex. App. Dallas 1996, no pet.). We consider all the evidence in the record related to an appellant s sufficiency challenge, comparing the weight of the evidence that tends to prove guilt with the evidence that tends to disprove it. See Fuentes v. State, 991 S.W.2d 267, 271 (Tex. Crim. App. 1999); Santellan v. State, 939 S.W.2d 155, 164 (Tex. Crim. App. 1997).

Because the jury is the sole judge of the facts, we must give deference to jury findings. Cain, 958 S.W.2d at 407. However, absolute deference is not the standard. Johnson, 23 S.W.3d at 8. The degree of deference we give to jury findings must be proportionate with the facts that we can accurately glean from the trial record. Id. Our factual sufficiency analysis can consider only those few matters bearing on credibility that can be fully determined from the cold appellate record. Id. Unless the appellate record before us reveals that a different result is appropriate, we must defer to the jury s determination concerning what weight to give contradictory testimonial evidence. Id.

In addition to considering the testimony supporting the verdict in this case, including Appellant s admission that she shot Butch, we also consider the evidence that tends to disprove Appellant s guilt. Thus, we also consider Appellant s expert witness who testified regarding Butch s domestic violence toward Appellant and the influence of that pattern of violence on Appellant s thought processes and behavior.

In our weighing of the evidence, both for and against the verdict, we cannot say that the proof of guilt is so obviously weak as to undermine confidence in the jury s determination or is greatly outweighed by contrary proof that is adequate when taken alone. The jury heard both the State s evidence and witnesses and Appellant s testimony and her witnesses. The jury saw the demeanor of the witnesses and evaluated their credibility. The jury chose to believe the State s evidence. Further, it was within the jury s province to evaluate Appellant s expert witness regarding family violence, and they could accept or reject such favorable evidence for the Appellant as they thought appropriate. Therefore, we hold that the evidence was factually sufficient for the jury to find Appellant guilty as charged. Appellant s first issue, as to factual sufficiency, is overruled.

Ineffective Assistance: Failure to Request an

Extraneous Offense Charge and Limiting Instruction

In her second issue, Appellant contends she was denied effective assistance of counsel, guaranteed by the Sixth Amendment, because her trial counsel failed to request limiting instructions and failed to request a jury instruction regarding the State s burden to prove the extraneous acts, admitted during the guilt/innocence phase of her trial, beyond a reasonable doubt.

Appellant testified she shot Butch, but Appellant raised the defense of self-defense. In response to Appellant s defense, the State adduced testimony of a number of persons who testified to several acts // by Appellant that portrayed her as the aggressor in various situations. Witnesses testified that Butch removed guns from their home because he was afraid Appellant would shoot him, that Appellant jumped on Butch s back during an argument over butter the night before the shooting, that Appellant threw an ashtray at Butch, that Appellant had threatened to kill one of her former husbands and tried to attack him, that she threw coffee and a cup at Butch, that she shot at her son, that she waved guns at people, and that she had said that if anyone left that home again it would be Butch in a body bag.

Standard for Effective Assistance of Counsel

The proper standard by which to gauge the adequacy of representation by counsel is articulated in Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 104 S. Ct. 2052, 80 L. Ed. 2d 674 (1984); see also McFarland v. State, 928 S.W.2d 482 (Tex. Crim. App. 1996). To establish that counsel s representation was so inadequate as to violate a defendant s Sixth Amendment right to counsel, an appellant must first show that counsel s performance was deficient, i.e., that his assistance fell below an objective standard of reasonableness. Strickland, 466 U.S. at 687-88, 104 S. Ct. at 2064; McFarland, 928 S.W.2d at 500. Second, assuming an appellant has demonstrated deficient assistance, she must also affirmatively prove prejudice. See Strickland, 466 U.S. at 694, 104 S. Ct. at 2068; McFarland, 928 S.W.2d at 500. In other words, an appellant must show a reasonable probability that, but for counsel s unprofessional errors, the result of the proceeding would have been different. Strickland, 466 U.S. at 694, 104 S. Ct. at 2068; McFarland, 928 S.W.2d at 500. A professionally unreasonable error by trial counsel does not require a reversal if the error had no effect on the judgment. Strickland, 466 U.S. at 693, 104 S. Ct. at 1067. A reasonable probability is a probability sufficient to undermine confidence in the outcome. McFarland v. State, 845 S.W.2d 824, 842-43 (Tex. Crim. App. 1992).

When determining the validity of a defendant's claim of ineffective assistance of counsel, any judicial review must be highly deferential to the trial counsel and avoid the deleterious effects of hindsight. Ingham v. State, 679 S.W.2d 503, 509 (Tex. Crim. App. 1984). Therefore, in any case in which we address a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel, we begin with the strong presumption that counsel s conduct fell within the wide range of reasonable professional assistance, and that it was motivated by sound trial strategy. See Strickland, 466 U.S. at 689, 104 S. Ct. at 2065; Jackson v. State, 877 S.W.2d 768, 771 (Tex. Crim. App. 1994). The appellant has the burden of rebutting this presumption. Id. To do so, the appellant must (1) identify the acts or omissions that are alleged to constitute ineffective assistance and (2) affirmatively prove they fall below the professional norm for reasonableness. McFarland, 928 S.W.2d at 500. The record must affirmatively demonstrate the alleged ineffectiveness. Id. In the absence of a proper evidentiary record developed at a hearing on a motion for new trial, it is extremely difficult on direct appeal to show that trial counsel s performance was deficient. Chambers v. State, 903 S.W.2d 21, 35-36 (Tex. Crim. App. 1992) (Baird, J. concurring); see also Gibbs v. State, 7 S.W.3d 175, 179 (Tex. App. Houston [1st Dist.] 1999, pet. ref d). An appellant must prove ineffective assistance by a preponderance of the evidence. McFarland, 845 S.W.2d at 843.

Request for Extraneous Offense Charge and Limiting Instruction

As a general rule, extraneous acts are inadmissible at the guilt/innocence stage of a trial. Ex parte Varelas, 45 S.W.3d 627, 630 (Tex.Crim.App. 2001) (citing Tex. R. Evid. 404(b)). This is because a defendant is to be tried on accusations in the State s pleading only, and not for being a criminal generally. Wilkerson v. State, 736 S.W.2d 656, 659 (Tex. Crim. App. 1987). Proof of an extraneous offense may be admissible at the guilt/innocence phase of trial insofar as it illuminates a material issue in that case. Abdnor v. State, 808 S.W.2d 476, 478 (Tex. Crim. App. 1991).

Where evidence is admissible for a limited purpose and the court admits it without limitation, the party opposing the evidence has the burden of requesting a limiting instruction. Id. (citing Plante v. State, 692 S.W.2d 487, 493 (Tex. Crim. App. 1985)). Once an extraneous act has been ruled admissible, the jurors must be instructed about the limits on their use of that extraneous act if the opposing party so requests. Ex parte Varelas, 45 S.W.3d at 631.

Analysis

Although Appellant was entitled to a limiting instruction for each of the extraneous acts and a jury instruction regarding the standard of proof necessary to assess an admitted extraneous offense, Appellant has the burden to produce a record on appeal establishing that trial counsel s failure to request either a limiting instruction or a charge on the standard of proof was not trial strategy. In the case at hand, the record is silent as to why Appellant s trial counsel chose the course of action that he did. Thus, as to the alleged deficiencies in trial counsel s performance, we hold that Appellant has not met the first prong of Strickland. Moreover, even if Appellant had shown that trial counsel s performance was deficient, she has failed to show harm from the conduct of which she complains. Therefore, we cannot conclude that Appellant's trial counsel was ineffective. Appellant s second issue is overruled.

Ineffective Assistance: Failure to Pursue Motions for New Trial

In her third issue, Appellant asserts that she was denied effective assistance of counsel because her retained appellate counsel did not pursue the motions for new trial filed on September 6 and September 9, 2002.

On August 9, 2002, the jury assessed punishment. Appellant filed a pro se Notice of Appeal on August 28, 2002. Appellant s present appellate counsel ( appellate counsel ) was first appointed on August 30, 2002. Appellant then retained counsel ( retained counsel ), who filed a motion for new trial on September 6, 2002. Three days later, appellate counsel filed a motion for new trial. On October 10, appellate counsel filed a motion in this Court to withdraw as Appellant s counsel. On October 11, the trial court signed an order releasing appellate counsel. On October 23, Appellant s motions for new trial were overruled by operation of law.

On October 24, 2002, this Court remanded appellate counsel s motion to withdraw for consideration by the trial court. On November 8, the trial court held a hearing on the motion to withdraw. At the hearing, the trial court acknowledged that appellate counsel had been released on October 11 based upon the court s understanding that retained counsel intended to pursue the appeal. Retained counsel, who was present at the hearing, stated that he had returned the funds furnished to pursue the motion for new trial and that nothing further had been done in the case. The trial court then appointed appellate counsel a second time.

Appellant complains that retained counsel s inaction during the time the motions for new trial were pending constitutes a constructive denial of counsel at a critical stage of a criminal proceeding. Therefore, she concludes, she is entitled to a presumption that prejudice resulted from retained counsel s failure to present the motions for new trial to the trial court and request a hearing on the motion. We have reviewed the cases cited by Appellant in support of her arguments and conclude they are inapposite. Consequently, we apply the presumption that counsel s conduct fell within the wide range of reasonable professional assistance, and that it was motivated by sound trial strategy. See Strickland, 466 U.S. at 689, 104 S. Ct. at 2065; Jackson, 877 S.W.2d at 771.

We reiterate that Appellant must rebut the Strickland presumption by first showing that counsel s performance was deficient, i.e., that his assistance fell below an objective standard of reasonableness. See Strickland, 466 U.S. at 687-88, 104 S. Ct. at 2064; McFarland, 928 S.W.2d at 500. Second, assuming she has demonstrated deficient assistance, she must also affirmatively prove prejudice. See Strickland, 466 U.S. at 694, 104 S. Ct. at 2068; McFarland, 928 S.W.2d at 500. In other words, she must show a reasonable probability that, but for counsel s unprofessional errors, the result of the proceeding would have been different. See Strickland, 466 U.S. at 694, 104 S. Ct. at 2068; McFarland, 928 S.W.2d at 500.

Appellant has the burden to produce a record on appeal establishing that trial counsel s failure to pursue her motion for new trial after filing was deficient performance. See McFarland, 928 S.W.2d at 500. However, the record is silent as to why retained counsel chose the course he did. Thus, as to the alleged deficiencies in her trial counsel s performance, we hold that Appellant has not met the first prong of Strickland. Moreover, even if Appellant had shown that retained counsel s performance was deficient, she has failed to establish prejudice by demonstrating that a new trial would have been granted had the trial court conducted a hearing on the motions for new trial. See Redmond v. State, 30 S.W.3d 692, 699 (Tex. App. Beaumont 2000, pet. ref d) (no prejudice shown from counsel s failure to supplement motion for new trial with supporting affidavits); Bacey v. State, 990 S.W.2d 319, 334 (Tex. App. Texarkana 1999, no pet.) (no prejudice shown from counsel s failure to obtain hearing on motion for new trial within 75 days); Bryant v. State, 974 S.W.2d 395, 400 (Tex. App. San Antonio 1998, pet. ref d) (no prejudice shown from counsel s failure to file motion for new trial). Therefore, we cannot conclude that Appellant's retained counsel was ineffective. Appellant s third issue is overruled.

Sufficiency of Evidence Regarding Sudden Passion

In her fourth issue, Appellant contends that the evidence was sufficient to prove that she caused the death under the immediate influence of sudden passion. Therefore, Appellant concludes, she should have been punished for a second degree felony. In making this assertion, Appellant invokes our factual review jurisdiction because she had the burden of proof on the issue. Naasz v. State, 974 S.W.2d 418, 420-21 (Tex. App. Dallas 1998, pet. ref d); see also Meraz v. State, 785 S.W.2d 146, 154-55 (Tex. Crim. App. 1990).

Appellant recognizes that the weight to be given contradictory testimonial evidence is within the sole province of the jury because it turns on an evaluation of credibility and demeanor. Naasz, 974 S.W.2d at 423 (citing Cain, 958 S.W.2d at 408-09). In other words, a jury resolves inconsistencies in the evidence by determining the credibility of the witnesses. See Jones v. State, 944 S.W.2d 642, 644 (Tex. Crim. App. 1996). We will not disturb those determinations. See id.

We have reviewed the record in this case and have held that the evidence is both legally and factually sufficient to support Appellant s conviction. We also hold, after applying the appropriate standard of review, that the evidence is factually sufficient to support the jury s rejection of Appellant s sudden passion claim. Appellant s fourth issue is overruled.

Testimony Regarding Appellant s Incarceration

Appellant contends, in her fifth issue, that the trial court abused its discretion in allowing testimony to be presented before the jury, through the State s cross-examination of one of Butch s relatives, that Appellant was incarcerated at the time of trial. However, Appellant had previously stated on direct examination that our jail doctor has discovered that my right hand has some fractures in it[,] and I ve been treated for it all year long.

It is well settled that any error in the admission of evidence is cured where the same evidence comes in elsewhere without objection. Hudson v. State, 675 S.W.2d 507, 511 (Tex. Crim. App. 1984). Because Appellant had previously referred to her incarceration, the trial court did not abuse its discretion in allowing the complained-of testimony. Appellant s fifth issue is overruled.

Admission of Photograph

Appellant s sixth issue is that the trial court abused its discretion in finding the State s exhibit 12, a photograph, to be more probative than prejudicial. Appellant s issue raises a Texas Rule of Evidence 403 question: whether the photograph s relevance was outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice.

Rule of Evidence 403 provides that all relevant evidence is admissible unless its probative value is substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice. . . . Tex. R. Evid. 403. As such, [r]ule 403 favors the admission of relevant evidence and carries a presumption that relevant evidence will be more probative than prejudicial. Williams v. State, 958 S.W.2d 186, 196 (Tex. Crim. App. 1997); Jones v. State, 944 S.W.2d 642, 653 (Tex. Crim. App. 1996).

Rule 403 requires exclusion of evidence only when there exists a clear disparity between the degree of prejudice of the offered evidence and its probative value. Id. The decision of whether to admit a photograph is within the discretion of the trial court. Williams, 958 S.W.2d at 196. The trial court s decision will be disturbed only for an abuse of discretion. Narvaiz v. State, 840 S.W.2d 415, 429 (Tex.Crim.App. 1992).

In determining whether a photograph is more prejudicial than probative, the trial court must consider the inherent tendency that the photograph may have to encourage resolution of material issues on an inappropriate emotional basis. Id. Among the factors to consider are (1) the number of exhibits offered; (2) the gruesomeness of the photograph; (3) whether the body is naked or clothed; (4) the detail and size of the photograph; (5) whether the photograph is black and white or color; and (6) whether the photograph is a closeup shot. Long v. State, 823 S.W.2d 259, 272 (Tex. Crim. App. 1991). Morever, a photograph is usually admissible if testimony regarding the matter depicted is admissible. Williams, 958 S.W.2d at 196.

The photograph to which Appellant objected was of the victim s upper body, showing the gunshot wounds on the victim s body. It was the only photograph admitted to demonstrate the location of the wounds, and testimony regarding the same injuries would have been admissible. Therefore, we cannot say the trial court abused its discretion in admitting the photograph. Appellant s sixth issue is overruled.

Disposition

Having overruled Appellant s first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth issues, the judgment of the trial court is affirmed.

SAM GRIFFITH

Justice

Opinion delivered July 14, 2004.

Panel consisted of Worthen, C.J., Griffith, J., and DeVasto, J.

(DO NOT PUBLISH)