TEXAS COURT OF APPEALS, THIRD DISTRICT, AT AUSTIN

NO. 03-02-00469-CR

Kristofer Marsh, Appellant

v.

The State of Texas, Appellee

FROM THE DISTRICT COURT OF TRAVIS COUNTY, 147TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT

NO. 1010659, HONORABLE WILFORD FLOWERS, JUDGE PRESIDING

O P I N I O N

Appellant Kristofer Marsh appeals his conviction for possession with intent to

distribute four grams or more but less than 200 grams of cocaine. See Tex. Health & Safety Code

Ann. §§ 481.102(3)(D), .112(d) (West 2003). The jury assessed appellant’s punishment at

imprisonment for sixty-five years. 

Appellant assertsthat the trial court erred in denying hismotion to suppress evidence,

in overruling his challenge of a prospective juror, in failing to grant a severance, and in admitting

inadmissible evidence at the punishment phase of trial. We will affirm the judgment of conviction,

but because of error at the punishment phase of the trial, we will reverse and remand the cause to the

trial court for a new trial on punishment only. See Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Ann. art. 44.29(b) (West

Supp. 2003).
2

SEARCH—NO-KNOCK ENTRY

In his third point of error, appellant asserts that the trial court erred “by denying

appellant’s motion to suppress evidence because the evidence was discovered after the police made

a no-knock, dynamic entry not authorized by the search warrant or information known to the

officers.” An appellate court reviews a trial court’s ruling on a motion to suppress evidence under

an abuse of discretion standard. See Balentine v. State, 71 S.W.3d 763, 768 (Tex.Crim. App. 2002);

Oles v. State, 993 S.W.2d 103, 106 (Tex. Crim. App. 1999). Appellate courts give great deference

to a trial court’s determination of historical fact. Johnson v. State, 68 S.W.3d 644, 652 (Tex. Crim.

App. 2002); Guzman v. State, 955 S.W.2d 85, 89 (Tex. Crim. App. 1997). When, as here, the trial

court does not file findings of fact, we assume the court made implicit findings that support its

ruling, so long as those implied findings are supported by the record. See Maxwell v. State, 73

S.W.3d 278, 281 (Tex. Crim. App. 2002); State v. Ross, 32 S.W.3d 853, 855 (Tex. Crim. App.

2000). We review de novo mixed questions of law and fact that do not turn on the credibility and

demeanor of witnesses. Johnson, 68 S.W.3d at 652; Guzman, 955 S.W.2d at 89. 

The Fourth Amendment to the Constitution protects “[t]he right of people to be secure

in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures.” U.S.

Const. amend. IV. In evaluating the scope of Fourth Amendment rights, we must look to the

traditional protections against unreasonable searches and seizures afforded by the common law at

the time of the framing of the Constitution. See Wilson v. Arkansas, 514 U.S. 927, 931 (1995).

Framers of the Fourth Amendment thought that the method of an officer’s entry into a dwelling was

among the factors to be considered in assessing the reasonableness of a search and seizure. Id. at
3

934. However, the Fourth Amendment’s flexible requirement of reasonableness should not be read

to mandate a rigid rule of announcement that ignores countervailing law enforcement interest. Id.

The common law principle of announcement was never stated as an inflexible rule requiring

announcement under all circumstances. Id. The Supreme Court’s unanimous opinion said: “We

simply hold that although a search or seizure of a dwelling might be constitutionally defective if

police officers enter without prior announcement, law enforcement interest may also establish the

reasonableness of an unannounced entry.” Id. at 936. The Supreme Court left “to the lower courts

the task of determining the circumstances under which an unannounced entry is reasonable under

the Fourth Amendment.” Id. at 936. 

It is the duty of a court confronted with the question to determine whether the facts

and circumstances of the particular entry justified dispensing with the knock-and-announce

requirement. Richards v. Wisconsin, 520 U.S. 385, 394 (1997). In order to justify a “no-knock”

entry, the police must have a reasonable suspicion that knocking and announcing their presence

under the particular circumstances would be dangerous or futile, or that it would inhibit the effective

investigation of the crime by, for example, allowing the destruction of evidence. Id. This

standard—as opposed to a probable cause requirement—strikesthe appropriate balance between the

legitimate law enforcement concerns at issue in the execution of search warrants and the individual

privacyinterests affected by no-knock entries. Id. The showing of a reasonable articulable suspicion

of danger to make a no-knock entry is necessary. “This showing is not high, but the police should

be required to make it whenever the reasonableness of a no-knock entry is challenged.” Id. at 394-

95. 
4

A SWAT team, having as one of its duties assistance in high-risk warrant service,

assisted the officers serving the warrants in this case. Police entered appellant’s apartment that he

shared with Kimberly Haley to serve a warrant issued to search the apartment and a warrant issued

for appellant’s arrest. Both the search warrant and the arrest warrant were issued in the same

homicide case. The officers did not knock and announce their presence before entering the

apartment; they used a “flash-bang” diversionary device outside of the apartment window, and they

then used a heavy “breaching tool” to force open the apartment door. Appellant argues that the

evidence is insufficient to show the officers had a reasonable concern for their safety so as to allow

them to enter the apartment without knocking and announcing their presence. On the other hand,

the State argues that the evidence and the circumstances show the forceable no-knock entry into

appellant’s apartment was justified. 

Because of their apprehension of danger in serving the warrants, the officers

maintained a surveillance of the apartment prior to the search. Also, the officers obtained from the

apartment manager a copy of the floor plan of the three bedroom apartment. The officers asserted

that their decision to forcibly enter the apartment without knocking and announcing their presence

was to alleviate their concern for their own safety as well as the safety of the occupants of the

apartment. The officers had reliable information that appellant had in his possession in the

apartment a nine millimeter Glock handgun and an SKS assault rifle. The officers knew of “a couple

of previous weapons charges against Kristofer Marsh.” The officers knew that Haley and appellant

were then free on bond having been recently charged with a first degree felony offense; when

arrested for that offense, appellant had a firearm in his possession. Most importantly, the officers
5

had evidence and knew that appellant was capable of aggressive, violent behavior on slight

provocation. The warrants that the officers intended to serve were issued on a showing of probable

cause that appellant, using a baseball bat, brutally beat and killed a strong, healthy young man.

Appellant’s provocation for killing the man was Haley’s complaint to appellant about the man’s

alleged misbehavior toward her on a night club dance floor. Both appellant and Haley had boasted

about appellant’s heinous criminal act. 

Giving proper deference to the trial court’s ruling refusing to suppress the evidence,

we conclude that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in finding that the officer’s no-knock,

unannounced, forcible entry into the apartment was justified. The evidence and the circumstances

support the court’s implied finding that the officers had a reasonable suspicion that their lives, and

the lives of the occupants of the apartment, would be endangered if they knocked and announced

their presence before entering the apartment to serve the warrants. Moreover, in our independent

de novo review of the mixed questions of law and fact, not depending on the credibility and

demeanor of the witness, we find that the overruling of the motion to suppress is supported by the

evidence and circumstances shown. Appellant’s third point of error is overruled. 

SEARCH WARRANT—DESCRIPTION OF ITEMS

In his first point of error, appellant insists that the “trial court erred in denying a

motion to suppress evidence because the evidence was discovered after officers exceeded the

authority granted by the search warrant and engaged in an exploratory search.” Appellant argues that

the warrant authorizing the search of the apartment did not authorize a search of the safe in which

the officers found the cocaine he was charged with possessing. As we have already stated, abuse of
6

discretion is the standard by which a trial court’s ruling on a motion to suppress evidence is

reviewed. See Balentine, 71 S.W.3d at 768; Villarreal v. State, 935 S.W.2d 134, 138 (Tex. Crim.

App. 1996). 

The search warrant authorized officers to search for and seize, among other things,

“rent receipts, utility bills, telephone bills, addressed mail, personal identification, keys, purchase

receipts, sales receipts and photographs.” These items could be concealed in the small safe the

officers opened. When the safe was opened the officers saw the cocaine and immediately

discontinued theirsearch until anothersearch warrant authorizing the seizure of the contraband was

obtained. The evidence does not show that the officers engaged in an exploratory search

unauthorized by the first search warrant. The trial court did not abuse its discretion in overruling

appellant’s motion to suppress the evidence. Appellant’s first point of error is overruled. 

In hissecond point of error, appellant complainsthat the “trial court erred in denying

appellant’s motion to suppress because the search warrant described some of the items sought in

such an unconstitutionally vague manner asto invite an exploratory search.” This complaint relates

to items enumerated as: “(A) bat or similar blunt object, (B) black short sleeve button up shirt with

a collar, (C) light colored pants, (D) shoes, (E) blood, (F) hair, (G) any articles of personal property

tending to establish that the above listed individuals(Kristofer Marsh or Kimberly Haley) has or had

dominion and control over the place and premises searched, including rent receipts, utility bills,

telephone bills, addressed mail, personal identification, keys, purchase receipts, sales receipts and

photographs, (H) tape.” 
7

The only authority cited by appellantrelating to this point of erroris Walthall v. State,

594 S.W.2d 74 (Tex. Crim. App. 1980). In that case the court condemned and disapproved the

description of “all items of personal property commonly used in the commission of a criminal

offense and in particular the offense of commercial exhibition of obscene material” and “all

implements or instruments used in the commission of a crime.” Id. at 78. In Walthall, the court held

that although the description of film passed specificity muster, the two clauses just quoted were

“unconstitutionally general” and that they “clearly authorize[d] a general, exploratory rummaging

which is properly prohibited by the constitutions of this State and of the United States.” Id. at 78-79.

Appellant concedes “the faulty averments from Walthall are truly general on their

face; ‘[l]anguage of greater generality is difficult to imagine.’ Walthall, 594 S.W.2d at 79.”

Appellant then argues, “In contrast, the objectionable list from the instant cause is facially very

specific as to the particular items being sought. Nevertheless the end result is the same.” We

disagree. The descriptions of the items in the warrant and warrant affidavit in this case are not

unconstitutionally vague. The trial court did not err in overruling the appellant’s motion to suppress

the evidence. Appellant’s second point of error is overruled. 

FRUIT OF POISONOUS TREE DOCTRINE NOT APPLICABLE

In his fourth point of error, appellant urges that the trial court erred in denying his

motion to suppress evidence because the “cocaine discovered in a safe was found as a result of

custodial interrogation without benefit of Miranda warnings.” The record reflects:

THE STATE: Now, after the arrest warrant was executed, what did you

do then?
1

 Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436 (1966).

8

DETECTIVE GERRISH: Ms. Marsh [Haley] and Mr. Marsh were then handcuffed

and taken down to the station, but prior to them leaving,

when we made entry into the house, we noticed a bunch

of keyssitting on top of the kitchen counter and so we—I

asked Mr. Marsh specifically which keys belonged to

him, and he advised me that the keys that were wrapped

around a lanyard were his keys because we were going to

be seizing a vehicle and we wanted to know where the

keys were. 

Appellant had not been advised of hisrights according to the requirements of Miranda1 when he told

Detective Tracy Gerrish that the keys were his. Using one of the keys Gerrish opened the safe in

which the cocaine was found. 

The “fruit of the poisonoustree doctrine” . . . does not apply to mere violations of the

prophylactic requirements in Miranda: while the statement taken in violation of

Miranda must be suppressed, other evidence subsequently obtained as a result of that

statement (i.e. the “fruits” of the statement) need not be suppressed. Michigan v.

Tucker, 417 U.S. 433, 452, 94 S.Ct. 2357, 41 L.Ed.2d 182 . . . (1974); Oregon v.

Elstad, 470 U.S. 298, 314, 105 S.Ct. 1285, 84 L.Ed.2d 222 . . . (1985). The rule . . .

requires suppressing the fruits of a defendant’s statement only when the statement

was obtained through actual coercion. Tucker, 417 U.S. at 448-449, 94 S.Ct. at

2365-67; Elstad, 470 U.S. at 314; 105 S.Ct. at 1296. 

Baker v. State, 956 S.W.2d 19, 22 (Tex. Crim. App. 1997); Montemayor v. State, 55 S.W.3d 78, 90

(Tex. App.—Austin 2001, pet. ref’d). The trial court did not abuse its discretion in denying

appellant’s motion to suppress evidence. Appellant’s fourth point of error is overruled. 
2

 We quote from a part of appellant’s brief in argument of this point of error:

. . . I have got to ask the panel, can you all assure me that under such a

circumstance that you would be able to sign your name as a juror to the verdict

form finding the defendant not guilty, even though you think they probably are

guilty, but it is a circumstance where you don’t believe the proof rose to the level

9

JUROR CHALLENGE

In his fifth point of error, appellant claims that the trial court erred in overruling his

challenge of a prospective juror for cause. Before an appellant can claim that he was harmed by a

trial court’s denial of a defense challenge for cause, the record must show that (1) he exhausted all

of his preemptory challenges, (2) he requested more challenges, (3) his request was denied, and (4)

he identified an objectionable person seated on the jury upon whom he would have exercised a

peremptory challenge. Martinez v. State, 17 S.W.3d 677, 682 (Tex. Crim. App. 2000); Anson v.

State, 959 S.W.2d 203, 204 (Tex. Crim. App. 1997). In the trial court, appellant followed the

procedural steps outlined and preserved for appellate review the error claimed. Therefore, we must

determine whether the trial court erred in refusing to grant appellant’s challenge of prospective juror

Cynthia Horacek for cause.

Appellant argues that “objection to Horacek rested on grounds that she could not

follow the burden of proof beyond a reasonable doubt.” However, appellant “concedes that Horacek

did not herself affirmatively state explicit disagreement with the reasonable doubt standard on the

record.” 

In a lengthy, convoluted argument,2appellant urges that “the record leaves the

impression that Horacek had difficulty in holding the State to the reasonable doubt standard of
10

burden of proof upon which the defense is entitled to rely . . . . the trial court abused its discretion

in denying the challenge for cause.” 

 

of proof beyond a reasonable doubt? Can you all do that? Is there anyone here

that is willing to admit to me in all honesty that they may not be able to do that

under circumstances where the proof is less than beyond a reasonable doubt but

it is more than a preponderance of the evidence?

. . .

VENIREPERSON NABORS: If my gut told me they were guilty, I don’t know

that I could sign a not guilty. I really don’t think I could.

[Defense Counsel]: What is your name, ma’am?

VENIREPERSON NABORS: Jill Nabors

[Defense Counsel]: Anyone else feel that way?

VENIREPERSON HORACEK:CindyHoracek. If we are asked to prove—if the

District Attorney provesthat they are guilty and Ifeel that that is a true statement,

then are you going to say technicalities not guilty [sic]? I am going to have

trouble with that.

Appellant concedes that Horacek did not herself affirmatively state explicit

disagreement with the reasonable doubt standard on the record. However, her

fellow panel member Nabors had provided a rather explicit answer to [defense

counsel’s] line of questioning. Without further elaboration, Nabors’ answer—“If

my gut told me they were guilty, I don’t know that I could sign a not

guilty”—conveys a fundamental disagreement with the reasonable doubt

standard. By answering “Cindy Horacek” to [defense counsel’s] question

“anybody else feel that way?,” venireperson Horacek not only identified herself,

she also signified her agreement with Nabors’ stated position on reasonable

doubt. The tenor of Horacek’s follow-up question, when evaluated according to

the context of defense counsel’s preceding discussion of reasonable doubt,

further indicates that her intent in taking the opportunity to speak was to express

her discomfort with the concept of reasonable doubt. She was therefore subject

to a challenge for cause.
11

The denial or grant of a challenge for cause is within the discretion of the trial court

and will not be overturned absent an abuse of that discretion. Mooney v. State, 817 S.W.2d 693, 701

(Tex. Crim. App. 1991). The reviewing court examines the record as a whole to determine whether

there is support for the trial court’s decisions, and, in doing so, gives great deference to the trial

court. Satterwhite v. State, 858 S.W.2d 412, 415 (Tex. Crim. App. 1993). The trial court is able to

considersuch factors as demeanor and tone of voice that do not come through when reviewing a cold

record. Mooney, 817 S.W.2d at 701. The trial court’s decision is accorded great deference. Id. 

After examination of the record, and the appellant’s argument, we conclude that

appellant has failed to demonstrate that Horacek, if she had been allowed to serve, would not have

properly applied the reasonable doubt standard. Appellant has failed to show that the trial court

abused its discretion in refusing to grant appellant’s challenge of Horacek for cause. Appellant’s

fifth point of error is overruled. 

REFUSAL TO SEVER

In his sixth point of error, appellant complains that the trial court erred in refusing to

grant his motion for severance because a joint trial was prejudicial. Appellant argues that the court

erred in failing to grant him a separate trial at the guilt or innocence phase of trial and in the

alternative at the punishment phase of trial. 

Art. 36.09. Severance on separate indictments

Two or more defendants who are jointly orseparately indicted . . . for

the same offense . . . may be, in the discretion of the court, tried jointly or separately
12

as to one or more defendants; . . . and provided further, that in cases in which, upon

timely motion to sever, and evidence introduced thereon, it is made known to the

court that there is a previous admissible conviction against one defendant or that a

joint trial would be prejudicial to any defendant, the court shall order a severance as

to the defendant whose joint trial would prejudice the other defendant or defendants.

Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Ann. art. 36.09 (West 1981). 

Before trial the State agreed that it would not offer in evidence at the guilt or

innocence phase of trial any prior convictions of appellant and it appearsthe co-defendant Haley had

no previous convictions. Therefore, appellant was not entitled to severance and a separate trial as

a matter of right under the provisions of article 36.09 of the code of criminal procedure. Appellant’s

motion for severance was filed after the trial commenced and was therefore untimely. Appellant

relies upon the motions for severance filed by the co-defendant, Haley. Appellant states that

appellant joined the co-defendant’s “earlier motions retroactively by leave of court” and argues:

“contrary to traditional notions ofstanding the fact that [the co-defendant’s] motions were presented

from [co-defendant] Haley’s standpoint is immaterial, as the plain wording of the statute indicates

(‘. . . or that a joint trial would be prejudicial to any defendant. . . .,’ TX C.C.P. 36.09, emphasis

supplied).” Appellant cites no supporting authority and we find his contention untenable. Moreover,

although counsel, particularly counsel for Haley, made extensive argument at trial concerning the

issue of severance, no evidence was offered to support the motions for severance before they were

overruled by the trial court. On appeal, appellant fails to show specifically how he was prejudiced

by being tried with the co-defendant Haley. If either defendant was prejudiced by being tried with

the co-defendant it was Haley at the punishment phase of the trial. 
13

Absent evidence of prejudice to one defendant in a joint trial, or evidence that one

of the defendants has a prior admissible conviction, a motion for severance is left to the trial court’s

discretion. King v. State, 17 S.W.3d 7, 16-17 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2000, pet. ref’d);

Patterson v. State, 783 S.W.2d 268, 270 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 1989, pet. ref’d). When

an accused is not entitled to a severance as a matter of right, the denial of a severance motion by the

trial court constitutes an abuse of discretion only when the movant satisfies the heavy burden of

showing clear prejudice. Id. Moreover, the mere allegation that prejudice will result is not evidence

of, or a sufficient showing of, prejudice under article 36.09, particularly when the severance is

discretionary with the trial judge. Id. If the motion to sever is not supported by evidence, its denial

is not an abuse of discretion. Id. Here, appellant has not met his heavy burden of showing clear

prejudice. The trial court did not abuse its discretion in overruling appellant’s motion for severance.

Appellant’s sixth point of error is overruled. 

VICTIM IMPACT EVIDENCE

In his seventh point of error, appellant asserts that the trial court erred at the

punishment phase of the trial by admitting victim impact evidence relating to an extraneous offense.

The State contends that appellant has mischaracterized the complained of testimony of Arleen

Adelman as victim impact evidence, but argues that if the testimony is victim impact evidence, it is

relevant and its value is not substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice. 

At the punishment phase of trial, the State offered the testimony of twelve witnesses

to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that appellant had murdered Michael Adelman—an extraneous
3

 Appellant had been convicted previously of Michael Adelman’s murder, but that conviction

was not a final conviction at the time of the trial of this case. 

14

offense. 

3

 One of these witnesses, who testified before Arleen Adelman, was Dr. Elizabeth Peacock,

the deputymedical examiner;she testified about Michael Adelman’sinjuries, the cause of his death,

and that his organs had been donated for the use of others. The last witness was Arleen Adelman,

the mother of Michael Adelman. Before Arleen Adelman was allowed to testify about the evidence

complained of, counsel for both defendants objected on the ground that Arleen Adelman’stestimony

would not be relevant. The objections were overruled. Counsel then asked the court “for a 403

balancing,” which the court overruled. 

Arleen Adelman testified about the family’s ordeal while Michael Adelman was 

hospitalized:

Q. When you got to the hospital, tell me what you saw.

A. Michael Girard was there and there was a girl crying in the other room and I

found out later—I didn’t remember that that was Keith, but that wasthe girl that

had witnessed what had happened that night. And she was hysterical, as we all

were, and then they took us to see Mike. And he was just not moving or

speaking or—his eyes were open, but he wasn’t seeing anything.

Q. Was he in a hospital bed?

A. Yes, ma’am, with many plugs and tubes and everything imaginable. His head

was shaved, which was such a shock, but there were staples all acrossthe top of

his head where hisscalp had been fractured. I remember thinking how could his

head be broken open that way. But they had an intracranial module in his head
15

by the time we saw him, so there was a big plug on top of his head where they

could monitor his swelling and brain activity.

Q. Prior to seeing him, Ms. Adelman, was your son a pretty healthy, fit person?

A. He was very healthy. He was very conscious about his health. He didn’t smoke.

He didn’t do drugs. He was always working out. I am sure he worked out even

when he traveled. He would make sure he stayed at hotels where there was a

gym. He loved sports. He was very, very active in every sport.

Q. When you saw him like this, were you able to communicate with him at all?

A. No, ma’am.

Q. Was your family and were there friends there?

A. There were friendsthere all the time. We were only allowed to go in once every

hour orset timesthat we could go in. We had to keep the activity down because

it seemed like a lot of his friends would want to come in and talk to him and

there was a lot of crying going on and we would watch the gauge and it would

move his intracranial pressure. So we were told to keep kind of quiet. But we

were praying. We had priests there. We had a lot of people going in and out.

Q. It sounds like he was in an intensive care unit; is that right?

A. Yes, ma’am, the trauma unit.

Q. How long was he there?

A. He died on the sixth day, so I guess he was there five days.

Q. When he was there, was there any indication that he might get better?

A. Yes, ma’am. We were real hopeful at one point because he had started moving

around and his eyes were tracking us. He seemed to have messages that he was

getting across. He kept moving his hand and I know he was telling me to undo

the restraint on his arm. He was trying to pull out plugs and tubes and things,

and he was fighting so hard to live. 

Q. Was there—did you get information—tell me, did that change?
16

A. Yeah. We thought he was getting better. I had even been told that we should

try to look for a therapy center, that he probably would not—he wouldn’t have

been able to speak or possibly walk. We knew the damages were dreadful, but

we did think he was doing better and we left the hospital that night.

He was doing a lot of movement and stirring a lot. He was trying to get out of

the bed and he was moving to the end of the bed. I remember once my husband

kind of held him down and we kept telling him that he was all right and that we

thought he was coming out of the coma. I guess he was still in a semi-coma.

But that night when we went home, a nurse called me and said that we had better

come back to the hospital, that he had taken a turn for the worse.

And we had already been approached by a pulmonary doctor because they did

remove him from the respirator and they had taken the intracranial module out

of his head. So that was a good sign, but then they felt like fluid was developing

in his lungs so they need to put him back on the respirator. So the pulmonary

doctor said things aren’t looking good.

I remember saying, he is so healthy and so strong, he can lick pneumonia. But

then a neurologist called and said that they needed to do another—I don’t know

if it was a CT scan orsome type of brain activity test and they would have to put

the module back into hisskull. They found a brain stem bleed and so due to that

bleeding he went into a deeper coma and his eyes no longer tracked us or he

didn’t look at us. He just laid there and never moved again. 

Q. From that point, ma’am, did you get information that he wasthen declared brain

dead?

A. Yes, ma’am.

Q. And did the family have to make a decision?

A. We knew both Matt’s and Mike’s wishes concerning their organs. They had it

on their driver’s license. It was a hard decision, but we knew that’s what Mike

would have done. Mike would have done anything for his friends or his family.

He was that type person. He would have been proud that he could give life to

other people.

Q. So Mike Adelman donated organs?
4

 The record reflects that the prosecutor was crying during her examination of Arleen

Adelman.

17

A. We have heard from the ex-policeman that has his heart and he is doing very

well. He just says it was a miracle. There are three other people that received

kidneys and liver and other organs. They are all doing well. We haven’t heard

from them.4 

Following Arleen Adelman’s testimony, counsel renewed their objections and asked the court to

instruct the jury to disregard the testimony. The court refused to so instruct the jury. 

The danger of unfair prejudice to a defendant inherent in the introduction of “victim

impact” evidence with respect to a victim not named in the indictment on which he

is being tried is unacceptably high. The admission of such evidence would open the

door to admission of victim impact evidence arising from any extraneous offense

committed by a defendant. Extraneous victim impact evidence, if anything, is more

prejudicial than the non-extraneous victim impact evidence. . . . [S]uch evidence is

irrelevant under Tex. R. Crim. Evid. 401.

Cantu v. State, 939 S.W.2d 627, 637 (Tex. Crim. App. 1997); see also Boston v. State, 965 S.W.2d

546, 550-51 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 1997, no pet.). Appellant was being tried for the

offense of possession of cocaine with the intent to deliver—notfor murder. The indictment charging

the offense named no victim. It was error to admit evidence in the nature of victim impact evidence

relating to the extraneous offense of murder. Moreover, before being admitted in a proper case,

victim impact evidence is subject to the limitations imposed by Texas Rule of Evidence 403.
18

Ripowski v. State, 61 S.W.3d 378, 390 (Tex. Crim. App. 2001); Mosley v. State, 983 S.W.2d 249,

265 (Tex. Crim. App. 1998).

Having determined that the evidence was erroneously admitted, we must decide

whether the admission of this evidence was so harmful as to require a new trial on punishment. The

error complained of is not of constitutional dimension. Other than constitutional error, any error that

does not affect an appellant’s substantial rights must be disregarded. Tex. R. App. P. 44.2(b). A

substantial right is affected when the error had a substantial and injurious effect or influence in

determining the jury’s verdict, King v. State, 953 S.W.2d 266, 271 (Tex. Crim. App. 1997), Roberts

v. State, 29 S.W.3d 596, 602 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2000, pet. ref’d); or leaves one in

grave doubt whetherit had such effect. Espinosa v. State, 29 S.W.3d 257, 259 (Tex. App.—Houston

2000, pet. ref’d). 

During closing argument, the prosecutor characterized the complained of testimony

of Arleen Adelman as victim impact evidence, arguing: 

The call to his family, the call at 3:00 o’clock in the morning as his family get the

phone call that their strong, healthy son has been injured. And as they go and they

tell and they rush to the hospital praying please, please, he will be okay. What do

they see?

This is what the mother and father see. This is what happens to Michael Adelman.

So asthe hospital isfilled with family and friends asthey comfort him, asthe mother

and father touch him and say it’s going to be okay, mom is here. It’s going to be

okay. Dad is here. You are going to pull out of this. Every day praying, praying and

hoping. God, help our baby.

I believe the way that this—everything you have heard that they both should get,

absolutely without a question should get a life sentence, both of them. Kristofer

Marsh life, Kim Haley life. For everything they have done to this community, for
19

everything they have done to the Adelman family, for everything they have done to

Michael Adelman.

You see, ladies and gentlemen, if that happens, then the family can go to the grave

of Michael Adelman—because they do that. They go talk. They can’t touch him.

They can’t see him, but they talk to him. They can go to his grave and they did say,

son, we know you are not coming back to us. See, we can’t bring him back, but we

have asked for one thing and Travis County responded. We only want justice. Do

you know what, son, we got justice. Kimberly Haley and Kris Marsh will sell no

more drugs in this community. They will not hurt anybody else. They will not bash

anyone’s head in. They will not kill someone else. They will not do any other

vicious act because justice was served. So, Mike, you can rest in peace. You can

now rest in peace. Justice has been served in this case. We are now protected. Rest

in peace. 

The prosecutor in closing jury argument stressed and overemphasized the erroneously admitted

victim impact evidence relating to the extraneous murder offense, obviously to justify the State’s

demand that the jury assess the most harsh and severe punishment for the charged offense of

possessing cocaine. 

In determining the magnitude of the harm resulting from the erroneous admission of

the complained of evidence, we have examined, reviewed, and considered the whole record. We

conclude that the error in admitting the victim impact evidence relating to the extraneous offense of

murder had a substantial effect on the jury’s verdict. There can be little doubt that the erroneously

admitted evidence, and the way it was used by the State, substantially affected and influenced the

jury in assessing appellant’s punishment. We cannot disregard as harmless error the erroneous

admission of this evidence relating to the extraneous murder offense. Appellant’s seventh point of

error is sustained. 
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The judgment of conviction is affirmed, but the judgment on punishment isreversed

and the cause is remanded to the trial court for a new trial of the punishment phase of the trial. See

Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Ann. art. 44.29(b) (West Supp. 2003).

__________________________________________

Carl E. F. Dally, Justice

Before Chief Justice Law, Justices Patterson and Dally*

Affirmed in Part, Reversed and

 Remanded in Part

Filed: August 14, 2003

Publish

* Before Carl E. F. Dally, Judge (retired), Court of Criminal Appeals, sitting by assignment. See

Tex. Gov’t Code Ann. § 74.003(b) (West 1998).