Court Opinion

ID: 9674289
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 04:26:05.722695+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:16:26.722721
License: Public Domain

ONION, Judge
(concurring).
I concur in the result reached. I would caution, however, against any interpretation of this opinion that would limit or restrict an accused’s right to offer evidence legally and properly admissible to mitigate punishment or evidence that is relevant to an application for probation, if any. The hearing on punishment is not limited to evidence of the accused’s prior criminal record, character or reputation. Allaben v. State, Tex.Cr.App., 418 S.W.2d 517.
If there was any error committed it was only at the penalty stage of the proceedings conducted before the trial judge and such error would not entitle appellant to a new trial but only a remand for re-assessment of punishment by the trial judge. Johnson and White v. State, Tex.Cr.App., 436 S.W.2d 906; Baker v. State, Tex.Cr.App., 437 S.W.2d 825.
While the informal bill of exception was perfected after the court had assessed punishment the court, having heard testimony in connection with such bill, did not see fit to alter the punishment while it still had authority to do so. For this court now to remand, order the trial court to consider such evidence and then in its discretion assess punishment would be absurd, even if there was error.
MORRISON, J., joins in this concurrence.