Court Opinion

ID: 3206969
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-05-25 21:16:02.243036+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:27:04.192567
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
                         OF TEXAS
                                         NO. WR-28,586-09

                   EX PARTE RICHARD BRYAN KUSSMAUL, Applicant

                  ON APPLICATION FOR A WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS
                  CAUSE NO. 93-773-C IN THE 54TH DISTRICT COURT
                            FROM MCLENNAN COUNTY

        Per curiam.

                                              ORDER

        Pursuant to the provisions of Article 11.07 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, the

clerk of the trial court transmitted to this Court this application for a writ of habeas corpus. Ex parte

Young, 418 S.W.2d 824, 826 (Tex. Crim. App. 1967). Applicant was convicted of capital murder

and sentenced to imprisonment for life. The Tenth Court of Appeals affirmed his conviction.

Kussmaul v. State, No. 10-94-00238-CR (Tex. App.—Waco Sept. 29, 1995) (not designated for

publication).

        Applicant contends that he is actually innocent and that had newly available scientific

evidence been presented at trial, on the preponderance of the evidence, he would not have been

convicted. Ex parte Elizondo, 947 S.W.2d 202 (Tex. Crim. App. 1996); TEX . CODE CRIM . PROC.
                                                                                                    2

art. 11.073.

       Applicant has alleged facts that, if true, might entitle him to relief. Ex parte Patterson, 993
S.W.2d 114, 115 (Tex. Crim. App. 1999). In these circumstances, additional facts are needed. As

we held in Ex parte Rodriguez, 334 S.W.2d 294, 294 (Tex. Crim. App. 1960), the trial court is the

appropriate forum for findings of fact. The trial court shall hold a live evidentiary hearing.

       Applicant appears to be represented by counsel. If he is not and the trial court elects to hold

a hearing, it shall determine whether Applicant is indigent. If Applicant is indigent and wishes to

be represented by counsel, the trial court shall appoint an attorney to represent him at the hearing.

TEX . CODE CRIM . PROC. art. 26.04.

       After holding an evidentiary hearing, the trial court shall make findings of fact and

conclusions of law as to whether (1) Applicant’s claims are barred by Article 11.07, § 4 of the Code

of Criminal Procedure; (2) the evidence Applicant relies on for his actual innocence claim is newly

discovered or newly available;1 (3) Applicant has established by clear and convincing evidence that

no reasonable juror would have convicted him in light of new evidence; (4) for purposes of Article

11.073, the DNA evidence in Applicant’s case was “not available at the time of [his] trial because

the evidence was not ascertainable through the exercise of reasonable diligence by [him] before the

date of or during [his] trial”;2 (5) the DNA evidence would be admissible under the Texas Rules of

Evidence at a trial held on the date this application was filed; and (6) had the DNA evidence been

presented at trial, on the preponderance of the evidence, Applicant would not have been convicted.

       1
         See Ex parte Brown, 205 S.W.3d 538, 545 (Tex. Crim. App. 2006) (“Not only must the
habeas applicant make a truly persuasive showing of innocence, he must also prove that the
evidence he relies upon is ‘newly discovered’ or ‘newly available.’”).
       2
           TEX . CODE CRIM . PROC. art. 11.073(b)(1)(A).
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The trial court shall also make any other findings of fact and conclusions of law that it deems

relevant and appropriate to the disposition of Applicant’s claims for habeas corpus relief.

       This application will be held in abeyance until the trial court has resolved the fact issues. The

issues shall be resolved within 90 days of this order. A supplemental transcript containing all

affidavits and interrogatories or the transcription of the court reporter’s notes from any hearing or

deposition, along with the trial court’s supplemental findings of fact and conclusions of law, shall

be forwarded to this Court within 120 days of the date of this order. Any extensions of time shall

be obtained from this Court.

Filed: May 25, 2016
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