Crane v. State

786 S.W.2d 338, 1990 Tex. Crim. App. LEXIS 13, 1990 WL 6252
CourtCourt of Criminal Appeals of Texas
DecidedJanuary 31, 1990
Docket69977
StatusPublished
Cited by241 cases

This text of 786 S.W.2d 338 (Crane v. State) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Crane v. State, 786 S.W.2d 338, 1990 Tex. Crim. App. LEXIS 13, 1990 WL 6252 (Tex. 1990).

Opinion

*342 OPINION

CAMPBELL, Judge.

This case was tried on a change of venue from Ochiltree County to Denton County. Appeal is taken from a conviction for capital murder. V.T.C.A. Penal Code, § 19.03(a)(1). After finding the appellant guilty, the jury returned affirmative findings to the special issues under Article 37.071, V.A.C.C.P. Punishment was assessed at death.

Appellant raises eight points of error. He challenges: the exclusion of two venire-members who were excused for cause based on their bias against the imposition of the death penalty; the exclusion of one veniremember for cause based on her intent to require that the State show evidence of premeditation; the trial court’s admission into evidence of items seized from appellant’s automobile as a result of an illegal arrest; the admission of a witness’s identification of appellant, arguing that the trial court erred in failing to grant appellant’s motion for mistrial; the trial court’s admission of evidence of extraneous offenses during the guilt/innocence stage to show motive; the trial court’s admission of a tape recording of a conversation between a police officer and a radio dispatcher and a transcription of that recording; exclusion of a transcription made of tape recordings of phone calls between appellant and his wife; and finally, the sufficiency of the evidence to support an affirmative finding to special punishment issue number two. We will affirm.

On March 28, 1987, Melvin K. Drum, the deceased, was employed as Chief Deputy Sheriff of Ochiltree County, Texas. Several calls were made to Drum’s residence that day concerning the activities of the appellant. The calls concerned a domestic dispute between the appellant and his wife, Linda Crane, and threatening calls made by the appellant to the residence of Mr. Gayle Rogers, the business manager of Mrs. Crane’s employer.

Mrs. Crane was employed as a practical nurse at the home of Mrs. Spicer, an elderly invalid. Appellant had visited the Spicer home earlier in the day and had an argument with his wife. Appellant then smashed the windows of his wife’s car as she sat in the car and the police were called. Appellant departed before the arrival of the police. Later, the appellant called Mr. Rogers’ home, demanding his wife’s check, although it was not yet due to be issued. The deceased and his son, Del-vin Drum, an Ochiltree deputy sheriff, upon being informed of the appellant’s activities, left the Drum residence to investigate. The officers departed in separate vehicles, the deceased driving an unmarked vehicle.

At trial, Sherry Vance testified that she lived across the street from the Spicer residence. On the day of the homicide, she testified that at approximately 1:25 p.m., she heard the short beep of a siren. She went to the window and observed a green car pull into the Spicer driveway. A red car, driven by the deceased, pulled in near the Spicer residence.

Ms. Vance testified that she saw the appellant’s wife approach the decedent’s car. Vance then saw the appellant with a shotgun. Appellant pointed the shotgun at the deceased. His wife grabbed him, shook him, and told him, “No.” She then went back toward the Spicer residence. Appellant then shot the deceased who was seated in his car. Vance saw the impact of the shot on the deceased’s body. The appellant then fled.

Bruce Evans, an Ochiltree County deputy, testified that when he arrived the red “kojak” light on the dashboard was still flashing. Delvin Drum testified that when he arrived, his father was slumped over in the car. The deceased’s badge was plainly visible. Melvin Drum was wearing a holstered service revolver.

Based on a police broadcast, appellant was arrested by Oklahoma authorities two and a half hours later at a roadblock in Beaver County, Oklahoma for the murder of Melvin Drum.

In his first point of error, appellant alleges that the trial court erred when it excused two prospective jurors for cause based on their alleged bias against the im *343 position of the death penalty. Appellant contends that veniremembers Traynor and Conley should not have been excused because their bias against the death penalty was not “unmistakably clear.” He argues that it was not demonstrated that the two veniremembers were “unwilling or unable to obey the law or follow their oath,” citing Wainwright v. Witt, 469 U.S. 412, 105 S.Ct. 844, 83 L.Ed.2d 841 (1985). The State responds that it need only show that the veniremember’s view on capital punishment would “prevent or substantially impair the performance of his duties as a juror in accordance with his instructions and his oath,” citing Cuevas v. State, 742 S.W.2d 331, 334 (Tex.Cr.App.1987), cert. denied, 485 U.S. 1015, 108 S.Ct. 1488, 99 L.Ed.2d 716 (1988).

At the beginning of voir dire examination of Ms. Traynor, the State asked the following:

Q: [By Mr. Cobb, Prosecutor] As I understand what you checked is “I would never under any circumstances return a verdict which assessed the death penalty”. Is that correct?
A: That’s correct.
Q: Can you tell me what that feeling is based on?
A: Well, I just don’t feel that I as an individual or anyone, or any other individual, has the right to determine somebody’s death.
Q: Is that a personal feeling? Is that a religious feeling? I mean, is it based on some religious concept, just your own personal feelings, or a combination of them?
A: It’s a combination of both.
Q: Okay. Has there ever been a time in your life where you did believe that the death penalty was appropriate?
A: No, I don’t believe so.
Q: Okay. Would you — would the— would your opposition to the death penalty be true under any set of circumstances?
A: I think so. I can’t think of any circumstances that I would feel otherwise.

During her examination, Ms. Traynor acknowledged that if she were under oath she might be compelled to answer the special issues affirmatively although she would not want to do so. On further examination by the State, Ms. Traynor stated that unless compelled she could not in good faith take an oath that would result in the death penalty. The State challenged Ms. Traynor for cause based on her opposition to the death penalty. The judge withheld his ruling until the appellant examined the veniremember.

Appellant’s attorney attempted to rehabilitate Ms. Traynor. He explained the structure of the trial and the special questions and stressed the fact that the jurors were under oath to follow the law. These arguments did not persuade Ms. Traynor. She continued to assert that she could not answer all the questions affirmatively, if it would result in the death penalty:

Q: [Mr.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
786 S.W.2d 338, 1990 Tex. Crim. App. LEXIS 13, 1990 WL 6252, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/crane-v-state-texcrimapp-1990.