Court Opinion

ID: 2940385
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-09-15 22:05:21.471756+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:40:47.566381
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
                          OF TEXAS
                               NOS. AP-75,954 & AP-75,955

                        EX PARTE MICHAEL NAWEE BLAIR

             ON APPLICATIONS FOR WRITS OF HABEAS CORPUS
           IN CAUSE NOS. W366-81344-93 (HC3 & HC4) IN THE 366TH
              JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT OF COLLIN COUNTY

Per curiam.

                                        OPINION

       These are post conviction applications for writs of habeas corpus filed pursuant to the

provisions of Texas Code of Criminal Procedure article 11.071.

       In September 1994, a jury found applicant guilty of the offense of capital murder. The

jury also answered the special issues submitted pursuant to Texas Code of Criminal

Procedure article 37.071 in favor of the State, and the trial court, accordingly, set applicant’s

punishment at death. This Court affirmed applicant’s conviction and sentence on direct

appeal. Blair v. State, No. 72,009 (Tex. Crim. App. Sept. 25, 1996) (not designated for

publication). Applicant filed his initial post-conviction application for writ of habeas corpus

in the convicting court on January 20, 1998. This Court denied applicant relief. Ex parte
Blair, No. WR-40,719-01 (Tex. Crim. App. Apr. 7, 1999) (not designated for publication).

       This Court later dismissed applicant’s first subsequent application on September 13,

2000, and remanded his second subsequent application to the trial court on May 30, 2001,

to consider five of the issues raised. Ex parte Blair, Nos. WR-40,719-02 and -03 (Tex. Crim.

App. Sept. 13, 2000 and May 30, 2001) (neither designated for publication).             While

applicant’s second subsequent writ application was under consideration by the trial court,

applicant filed a third subsequent application alleging one additional claim. This third

subsequent application was remanded by this Court to the trial court to be considered with

the second subsequent writ application. Ex parte Blair, No. WR-40,719-05 (Tex. Crim. App.

Dec. 13, 2006). The trial court returned both subsequent applications to this Court, but both

were remanded to the trial court a second time so that it could consider additional evidence

submitted after the trial court’s findings on the subsequent writs were already made. See Ex

parte Blair, No. WR-40,719-05 (Tex. Crim. App. April 9, 2008). The trial court has returned

the second and third subsequent writ applications to this Court with its findings and

conclusions.

       The trial court finds, “The State of Texas has conceded that, in light of the remaining

inculpatory evidence in the record, [Applicant] has established by clear and convincing

evidence that no reasonable juror would have convicted him in light of newly discovered

evidence.” See also Ex parte Elizondo, 947 S.W.2d 202, 209 (Tex. Crim. App 1997)

(holding that to gain relief on a bare actual innocence claim, the applicant must show by clear

and convincing evidence that no reasonable juror would have convicted him in light of the
new evidence). The trial court ultimately concludes, “The post-conviction DNA results and

the evidence discovered in the State’s new investigation have substantially eroded the State’s

trial case against [applicant]. This new evidence in light of the remaining inculpatory

evidence in the record, has established by clear and convincing evidence that no reasonable

juror would have convicted [applicant] in light of newly discovered evidence.” The trial

court’s findings and conclusions are extremely detailed and well-reasoned. In addition to

setting out all of the evidence in this case, both adduced at trial and in collateral proceedings,

the trial court weighs the new exculpatory evidence against the inculpatory evidence from

trial.   Further, it details the State’s additional exhaustive investigation in response to

applicant’s post-conviction claims. The trial court recommends to this Court that relief be

granted.

         After our review of the record of the proceedings on remand, we determine that the

trial court’s findings of fact and conclusions of law are supported by the record, and we adopt

them as our own. The relief applicant seeks is therefore granted: The judgment of guilt and

sentence of death are set aside, and applicant shall answer the indictment against him.

Copies of this opinion shall be sent to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, institutional

and pardons and paroles divisions. See Ex parte Thompson, 153 S.W.3d 416, 421 (Tex.

Crim. App. 2005);

         IT IS SO ORDERED THIS THE 25 TH DAY OF JUNE, 2008.

Do Not Publish