Court Opinion

ID: 3108412
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-10-16 06:20:14.836069+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:46:15.509895
License: Public Domain

Opinion issued March 6, 2014

                                     In The

                              Court of Appeals
                                    For The

                         First District of Texas
                            ————————————
                             NO. 01-13-00398-CR
                           ———————————
                  MARK ANTHONY TILLMAN, Appellant
                                       V.
                      THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee

                   On Appeal from the 338th District Court
                           Harris County, Texas
                       Trial Court Case No. 1285679

                                 OPINION

      Appellant, Mark Anthony Tillman, was charged by indictment with capital

murder. 1 Appellant pleaded not guilty. The jury found him guilty. Appellant was

1
      See TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 19.03(a)(2) (Vernon Supp. 2013).
sentenced to life imprisonment. In one issue on appeal, appellant argues the

evidence was insufficient to establish that he intended to commit murder.

      We affirm.

                                   Background

      Complainant, Euland Laster, was found bleeding and lying in the street in a

residential neighborhood in Houston, Texas on November 10, 2010. The bleeding

was a result of blunt-force trauma that Laster had received. He was taken in an

ambulance to a hospital but died before he arrived. Laster was 65.

      Police investigators determined Laster’s credit card and car had been stolen.

In the course of their investigation, they were contacted by Timka Carper. Carper

was a friend of Kendrick Jacobs’s. The day after Laster was attacked, Jacobs told

Carper of his involvement in the crime. Jacobs called appellant on his cell phone,

using the speaker to hear appellant. Carper heard the conversation. In it, appellant

acknowledged hitting Laster. Appellant asserted he did not try to kill Laster.

Laster had been calling for help, and appellant explained he hit Laster because he

wanted him to be quiet. Appellant stated that Laster was moving too slow to get

away. He admitted that he did not know if Laster had died or not. Carper told the

police what she heard in the conversation.

      The investigators also obtained information on the crime from appellant’s

mother and brother. Following that meeting, on November 17, 2010, Officer D.

                                         2
Arnold and Officer Lovelace went to the Ben Taub Neuropsychiatric Center,

where appellant had earlier checked himself in voluntarily. Appellant met with

Officers Arnold and Lovelace. Appellant admitted to his involvement in the crime,

including hitting Laster with a hammer. Appellant described it as a hard plastic or

fiberglass hammer. Appellant again asserted, however, that he did not intend to

kill Laster.

       At trial, Dr. M. Anzalone, a medical examiner, testified that Laster had been

hit ten times with a blunt object. The injuries were consistent with blows from a

hammer. Two of the blows were on one of Laster’s legs. Three were on his back.

One was on his back shoulder. Another was on his clavicle, which broke as a

result of the impact. One was on his chest, with another on his chest consistent

with a blow from the claw portion of a hammer. Finally, one blow was to the

head, causing a fracture of the skull. Dr. Anzalone testified that the injuries to the

head “would be consistent with a significant amount of force.” Each of these

blows caused blood loss.

       Dr. Anzalone also determined that Laster had “very severe and very

significant” heart disease. She testified that the heart disease along with the blood

loss resulting from the blows from the hammer were contributing factors for

Laster’s death. During direct examination, the prosecutor asked, “If [Laster] had

not had heart disease, could it have been possible that he could have survived these

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injuries?” Dr. Anzalone replied, “Yes.” During cross examination, she explained

that, if Laster had not had heart disease, that “doesn’t necessarily mean that he

wouldn’t have died.”      Instead, “[t]there is no way to know precisely” how

significant Laster’s heart disease was in his death.

      Dr. M. Wheeler, the Chairman of the Department of Pathology and

Immunology at Baylor College of Medicine, testified for appellant. He agreed that

Laster had “very severe” heart disease that “involve[d] all three of the major

vessels.”   The left anterior descending coronary artery—which Dr. Wheeler

testified was commonly referred to as “the widow maker” for heart disease—was

85% narrowed.      Another artery was 50% narrowed, and the third was 90%

narrowed.

      Dr. Wheeler testified, “Even though [Laster] may have been walking around

and appeared normal, his severe underlying heart disease made him, in effect, a

walking time bomb.” He explained that, when a person is attacked, this triggers an

adrenaline rush. The adrenaline increases the work of the heart and, for people

with heart disease, can lead to heart complications. If the blood vessels cannot

accommodate the increased flow of blood, the oxygen necessary for the heart to

function properly cannot reach the heart, which leads to an irregular heartbeat, or

arrhythmia. Once the heart chambers are not beating in rhythm, “there is no blood

supply being given to the rest of the body; and the patient dies.”

                                          4
      Dr. Wheeler also testified that the estimated amount of blood that Laster lost

was “not a fatal thing in and of itself” for a person without heart disease. But for

someone like Laster, “it can be a devastating condition to lose that much blood

when you have that underlying heart disease.” Dr. Wheeler testified that if Laster

“had been younger or not had heart disease, I would suspect that those injuries

would not have been fatal.”

      After Wheeler’s testimony, the State recalled Dr. Anzalone. She testified

that she did not disagree with Dr. Wheeler.

                              Intent to Commit Murder

      In his sole issue, appellant argues the evidence was insufficient to establish

that he intended to commit murder.

A.    Standard of Review

      We review the sufficiency of the evidence establishing the elements of a

criminal offense for which the State has the burden of proof under a single

standard of review. Matlock v. State, 392 S.W.3d 662, 667 (Tex. Crim. App. 2013)

(citing Brooks v. State, 323 S.W.3d 893, 895 (Tex. Crim. App. 2010)). This

standard of review is the standard enunciated in Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307,

319, 99 S. Ct. 2781, 2789 (1979). Winfrey v. State, 393 S.W.3d 763, 768 (Tex.

Crim. App. 2013). Pursuant to this standard, evidence is insufficient to support a

conviction if, considering all the record evidence in the light most favorable to the

                                         5
verdict, no rational fact finder could have found that each essential element of the

charged offense was proven beyond a reasonable doubt. See Jackson, 443 U.S. at

319, 99 S. Ct. at 2789; In re Winship, 397 U.S. 358, 361, 90 S. Ct. 1068, 1071

(1970); Laster v. State, 275 S.W.3d 512, 517 (Tex. Crim. App. 2009); Williams v.

State, 235 S.W.3d 742, 750 (Tex. Crim. App. 2007). We can hold evidence to be

insufficient under the Jackson standard in two circumstances: (1) the record

contains no evidence, or merely a “modicum” of evidence, probative of an element

of the offense, or (2) the evidence conclusively establishes a reasonable doubt. See

Jackson, 443 U.S. at 314, 318 & n.11, 320, 99 S. Ct. at 2786, 2789 & n.11; see

also Laster, 275 S.W.3d at 518; Williams, 235 S.W.3d at 750.

      The sufficiency-of-the-evidence standard gives full play to the responsibility

of the fact finder to resolve conflicts in the testimony, to weigh the evidence, and

to draw reasonable inferences from basic facts to ultimate facts. See Jackson, 443
U.S. at 319, 99 S. Ct. at 2789; Clayton v. State, 235 S.W.3d 772, 778 (Tex. Crim.

App. 2007). An appellate court presumes that the fact finder resolved any conflicts

in the evidence in favor of the verdict and defers to that resolution, provided that

the resolution is rational. See Jackson, 443 U.S. at 326, 99 S. Ct. at 2793. In

viewing the record, direct and circumstantial evidence are treated equally;

circumstantial evidence is as probative as direct evidence in establishing the guilt

of an actor, and circumstantial evidence alone can be sufficient to establish guilt.

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Clayton, 235 S.W.3d at 778.          Finally, the “cumulative force” of all the

circumstantial evidence can be sufficient for a jury to find the accused guilty

beyond a reasonable doubt. See Powell v. State, 194 S.W.3d 503, 507 (Tex. Crim.

App. 2006).

B.    Analysis

      As it pertains to appellant, “[a] person commits an offense if the person

commits murder as defined under Section 19.02(b)(1) and . . . the person

intentionally commits the murder in the course of committing . . . robbery. . . .”

TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 19.03(a)(2) (Vernon Supp. 2013). Murder as defined by

section 19.02(b)(1) of the Texas Penal Code is “intentionally or knowingly

caus[ing] the death of an individual.”        TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 19.02(b)(1)

(Vernon 2011). Because section 19.03(a)(2) requires the murder to be committed

intentionally, the “knowingly” mens rea in section 19.02(b)(1) is not available to

support a conviction. Demouchette v. State, 731 S.W.2d 75, 80 (Tex. Crim. App.

1986). “A person acts intentionally, or with intent, with respect to the nature of his

conduct or 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)

(Vernon 2011).

      Appellant asserted that he did not intend to kill Laster but only meant to

make him be quiet. The jury was free to disbelieve this evidence. See Johnson v.

                                          7
State, 673 S.W.2d 190, 196 (Tex. Crim. App. 1984) (holding “jury, sitting as the

trier of facts, may accept or reject any or all of the testimony adduced”). Disbelief

of certain testimony, however, cannot stand in as proof of the opposite of that

testimony. Id.; see also Wright v. State, 603 S.W.2d 838, 840 (Tex. Crim. App.

1980) (holding “disregard[ing] the appellant’s testimony does not mean that the

missing elements of the offense are supplied by rejecting this testimony”).

      The State argues that the jury could have inferred the intent to kill from the

use of a deadly weapon. See Jones v. State, 944 S.W.2d 642, 647 (Tex. Crim. App.

1996) (holding “the jury may infer the intent to kill from the use of a deadly

weapon unless it would not be reasonable to infer that death or serious bodily

injury could result from the use of the weapon”). We cannot agree that this line of

legal reasoning applies in this circumstance.

      The Texas Penal Code includes two definitions of what constitutes a deadly

weapon. First, a deadly weapon is “a firearm or anything manifestly designed,

made, or adapted for the purpose of inflicting death or serious bodily injury.” TEX.

PENAL CODE ANN. § 1.07(a)(17)(A) (Vernon Supp. 2013).             Second, a deadly

weapon is also “anything that in the manner of its use or intended use is capable of

causing death or serious bodily injury.” Id. § 1.07(a)(17)(B).

      All of the cases that the State relies on to argue that an inference to support

an intent to kill can be drawn by the use of a deadly weapon are cases in which the

                                          8
weapon was a deadly weapon under the first definition. See Jones, 944 S.W.2d at

647 (defendant used .357 revolver); Adanandus v. State, 866 S.W.2d 210, 215

(Tex. Crim. App. 1993) (defendant brought loaded gun into bank). It is certainly

reasonable to allow a jury to infer that a person who used something “manifestly

designed, made, or adapted for the purpose of inflicting death or serious bodily

injury” intended to kill the person on whom the weapon was used.

      In contrast, the second definition of what can cause a deadly weapon

encompasses anything that is capable of causing death or serious bodily injury in

the manner of its use. TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 1.07(a)(17)(B); see also Tucker v.

State, 274 S.W.3d 688, 691 (Tex. Crim. App. 2008) (noting State is only required

to show use or intended use is capable of causing death or serious bodily injury).

The possibilities for what fits within this definition are almost limitless. See, e.g.,

Tucker, 274 S.W.3d at 691 (unknown object, possibly a key); Turner v. State, 664
S.W.2d 86, 90 (Tex. Crim. App. 1983) (hands or knees); Kennedy v. State, 402
S.W.3d 796, 802 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2013, no pet.) (television set); but see

Mosley v. State, 545 S.W.2d 144, 145–46 (Tex. Crim. App. 1976) (holding BB gun

did not fit definition of “deadly weapon” when expert testified that its projectiles

could not penetrate skin). Under this definition of deadly weapon, “the injuries

suffered by the victim can by themselves be a sufficient basis for inferring that a

deadly weapon was used.” Tucker, 274 S.W.3d at 691–92.

                                          9
      If any object is used in a manner that ultimately brings about a person’s

death, then, the object can be inferred to be a deadly weapon. See id. If we

adopted the State’s reasoning and allow a further inference in this circumstance

that intent to commit murder can be inferred by use of the deadly weapon, we

would, in effect, allow the jury to infer the intent to kill from the bare fact that the

victim died. Allowing such an inference would excuse the State from meeting its

burden of showing that defendants in these circumstances intentionally committed

murder. See TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 19.03(a)(2). We cannot reach such a

conclusion. See TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. 38.03 (Vernon Supp. 2013)

(mandating presumption of innocence and requiring each element of offense to be

proved beyond reasonable doubt).

      A hammer is not manifestly designed, made, or adapted for the purpose of

inflicting death or serious bodily injury. Cf. Charleston v. State, 33 S.W.3d 96, 99

(Tex. App.—Texarkana 2000, pet. ref’d) (holding wrench is not deadly weapon per

se). It is a deadly weapon in this circumstance because it was used in a manner

“capable of causing death or serious bodily injury.” TEX. PENAL CODE ANN.

§ 1.07(a)(17)(B). Accordingly, the State cannot rely on an inference that, because

he used a deadly weapon, appellant intended to commit murder.

      This is not to say, however, that the circumstances of Laster’s death and the

nature of the injuries inflicted by appellant cannot be a basis for the jury to infer

                                          10
appellant’s intent. Undoubtedly, they can. See Guevara v. State, 152 S.W.3d 45,

50 (Tex. Crim. App. 2004) (holding “[i]ntent may also be inferred from

circumstantial evidence such as acts, words, and the conduct of the appellant”);

Cordova v. State, 698 S.W.2d 107, 112 (Tex. Crim. App. 1985) (holding “jury may

find the specific intent to kill from the circumstances accompanying the use of the

weapon”); Powell, 194 S.W.3d at 507 (holding “cumulative force” of all

circumstantial evidence can be sufficient for jury to find accused guilty beyond a

reasonable doubt). Instead, we hold only that the State cannot rely on the use of a

deadly weapon in this circumstance to establish an inference of intent to commit

murder.

      Turning to the circumstances of Laster’s death and the nature of the injuries

inflicted by appellant, we acknowledge, as appellant argues, that the circumstantial

proof of intent is somewhat clouded by the fact that Laster’s heart disease played at

least some role in his death. There is no indication in the record that appellant had

any way of knowing Laster’s heart condition or how it would weaken Laster’s

ability to withstand an attack that another man of the same age might be able to

survive. Nevertheless, the evidence does establish that appellant struck Laster in

the head with a hammer. 2      The only description of the hammer came from

2
      The medical examiner testified that it was not possible to determine the order in
      which any of the strikes occurred. Accordingly, nothing in this opinion should be
      read to suggest an order of progression.
                                         11
appellant. Appellant told the police officers who questioned him that it was either

a hard plastic or fiberglass hammer. The blow was forceful enough to fracture

appellant’s skull, an amount of force that the medical examiner described as

significant. In addition, the evidence establishes that appellant hit Laster twice in

the chest. Both were in approximate vicinity of the heart. One of the blows was

likely caused by the claw portion of the hammer. A fourth blow was to the left

clavicle with enough force to break it.

      The totality of the circumstances establishes that appellant delivered a blow

to the head significant enough to fracture Laster’s skull, two blows to the chest

near the heart—including a gouging blow with the claw end of the hammer—and a

fourth blow in an area directly in between the head and chest.          In addition,

appellant hit Laster six additional times on the back and legs.

      Furthermore, there is evidence in the record that appellant stated afterwards

that he did not know if Laster lived or died. This indicates that appellant was

aware that he was delivering blows sufficiently hard to enough sensitive areas that

he could have killed Laster. We hold, then, that the cumulative force of all of this

evidence can support an inference by the jury that appellant intended to kill Laster.

Accordingly, we hold that there was sufficient evidence in the record for the jury to

have found that each essential element of the charged offense was proven beyond a

reasonable doubt. See Jackson, 443 U.S. at 319, 99 S. Ct. at 2789.

                                          12
      We overrule appellant’s sole issue.

                                    Conclusion

      We affirm the judgment of the trial court.

                                              Laura Carter Higley
                                              Justice

Panel consists of Justices Jennings, Higley, and Sharp.

Publish. TEX. R. APP. P. 47.2(b).

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