Court Opinion

ID: 9774247
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-29 18:12:45.782583+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:32:04.403576
License: Public Domain

PHILLIPS, Judge,
dissenting.
The majority concludes the objection at trial does not comport with the objection asserted on appeal. I do not agree. To hold that the objection “this testimony is not admissible for the reason that it shows an extraneous offense” is at variance with the objection that, notwithstanding that identity was in issue, the extraneous offense lacked sufficient distinguishing characteristics, ignores the basic rule that:
“Evidence of another crime is admissible to prove identity, when identity is in issue, only if there is some distinguishing characteristic common to both the extraneous offense and the offense for which the accused is on trial. [Citations omitted]” Ford v. State, 484 S.W.2d 727, 729.
As stated in Cobb v. State, 503 S.W.2d 249, 251:
“The rule is that evidence of another crime is admissible to prove identity if identity is in issue and if there is some distinguishing characteristic common to both the extraneous offense and the offense for which the accused is on trial. See Ford v. State, 484 S.W.2d 727 (Tex.Cr.App.1972); Lancaster v. State, 82 Tex.Cr.R. 473, 200 S.W. 167 (1918). We reiterate: (1) identity must be in issue; and (2) there must be distinguishing characteristics common to both the extraneous offense and the offense for which the accused is on trial.” (Emphasis added.)
Having conceded that identity was in issue, appellant nonetheless objected at trial to the admissibility of the extraneous offense. Although not artfully worded, the objection could only be interpreted to mean the second requirement for admissibility, that there were no distinguishing characteristics common to the extraneous offense and the alleged offense, had not been met. Apparently the trial judge understood the objection, and this Court should be able to also.
En Banc.