Staley v. State

887 S.W.2d 885, 1994 Tex. Crim. App. LEXIS 56, 1994 WL 146696

• Court: Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas
• Decided: April 27, 1994
• Docket: 71274
• Status: Published

Opinions

OPINION

McCORMICK, Presiding Judge.

Appellant was found guilty for the capital murder of Robert Read in the course of robbery. V.T.C.A, Penal Code, Section 19.08(a)(2). The trial court sentenced appellant to death after the jury affirmatively answered all the submitted special issues. Article 37.071(b), V.AC.C.P. Appeal to this Court is automatic. Article 37.071(h), V.A.C.C.P. We will affirm.

I.

In his first and second points of error, appellant challenges the sufficiency of the evidence. His first contention is that the evidence is insufficient to prove appellant “intentionally” killed Robert Read. Appellant’s second point avers that the evidence is insufficient to prove his act was committed “deliberately.” In reviewing a challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence, the standard “is whether, after viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution, any rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt.” Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 319, 99 S.Ct. 2781, 2789, 61 L.Ed.2d 560 (1979); Upton v. State, 853 S.W.2d 548, 551 (Tex.Cr.App.1993). A review of the facts is necessary.

During a four-state crime spree, Tracey Duke, Brenda Rayburn, and appellant arrived on October 14,1989 at a Steak and Ale restaurant in Tarrant County just prior to closing. After dinner and dessert, Duke and appellant removed two MAC 11 9-millimeter semiautomatic pistols from Rayburn’s purse. Appellant secured the kitchen and rear area of the restaurant, while Duke proceeded to secure the front. Appellant gathered all the employees in the kitchen storeroom. During the confusion an assistant manager slipped out a rear door and called the police.

After securing the restaurant, appellant demanded that the manager present himself. Robert Read stepped forward and slightly nudged two other assistant managers, indicating they should remain where they were. Appellant then commanded Read to open the cash registers and the safe. He also dictated that the employees in the storeroom throw out their wallets, purses and aprons. One employee lifted his head, only to be kicked in the chest by appellant. Appellant threatened the other employees that if any others looked up, he’d kill them — “he’d blow them away!”

The police arrived. Believing that Read had pressed a silent alarm button, appellant threatened that if the police were outside Read was going to be the first to die. Read remained calm. He told appellant there were no panic buttons, but he would be their hostage and go out front with them as long as they did not hurt the other employees. Appellant told Read, “if you fuck up one time, I’ll kill you.”

Appellant, his two accomplices, and their hostage left the restaurant. Eventually they hijacked a two-door Buick on Alta Mere Road. Duke went around to the driver’s side and instructed the owner of the vehicle to get out. Duke and Rayburn got in the automobile. Appellant pushed Read into the back seat of the car and followed him. Police heard several gunshots as the car accelerated.

During the high-speed pursuit of appellant and his accomplices, a brief case containing some of the stolen money and both semiautomatic pistols were discarded at various locations. Ultimately, the car broke down and the three accomplices attempted to flee. All were quickly captured. Appellant’s first words to the arresting officers were, “[djon’t kill me.” Upon their apprehension, the police discovered Read’s body in the back seat of the Buick.

The medical examiner testified that Read had suffered a blow by a blunt object to the forehead. The nature of the wound led the examiner to believe Read’s head was stationary when the blow occurred. Read had also been shot in the head, shoulder and side. The medical examiner testified Read was shot in the right temple at a distance of one inch. Within approximately thirty seconds, Read was shot in the shoulder region. Both shots would have been fatal. The third and final bullet which would not have been immediately fatal entered Read’s abdomen. The medical examiner testified that when the bullet entered Read’s right shoulder his right arm was down at his side. The forensic expert testified that the gunshot to the shoulder was at a distance of approximately nine inches. There was gun powder residue on both hands of Read. The forensic expert testified the powder on Read’s hands could be consistent with someone attempting to defend himself.

The evidence presented in the guilt phase of the trial is sufficient for a jury to rationally conclude appellant “intentionally” shot and killed Read. In his brief, appellant contends a struggle ensued in the commandeered car between appellant and Read. When Read grabbed the semiautomatic pistol from appellant, the pistol went off several times. Appellant alludes to several witnesses’ testimony concerning movement inside the car as well as evidence that a bullet exited the front windshield of the Buiek as evidence further supporting this theory. However, when viewed in the light most favorable to the verdict, we disagree with appellant’s contention.

“The specific intent to kill may be inferred from the use of a deadly weapon, unless in the manner of its use it is reasonably apparent that death or seriously bodily injury could not result.” Godsey v. State, 719 S.W.2d 578, 580-81 (Tex.Cr.App.1986). The evidence indicates in this instance that Read was shot at a distance of one inch in the region of the right temple as well as at a range of nine inches in the region of the right shoulder. These shots were fired within thirty seconds of each other. The evidence also indicated that appellant repeated on numerous occasions that he intended to kill Read if the police were outside. The evidence was sufficient for a jury to rationally conclude appellant intentionally shot Read as he attempted to fend off his impending execution. Appellant’s first point of error is overruled.

We also believe the evidence is sufficient that a jury would rationally conclude appellant acted deliberately.¹

“The facts at the guilt stage of the trial alone can often be sufficient to support the affirmative finding of the jury to the special issues at the penalty stage of the trial. Williams v. State, 773 S.W.2d 525, 538 (Tex.Crim.App.1988), cert. denied, 493 U.S. 900 [110 S.Ct. 257, 107 L.Ed.2d 207] (1989). ‘A jury must find “a moment of deliberation and the determination on the actor to kill” before it is justified in answering “yes” to special issue number one.’ Kinnamon v. State, 791 S.W.2d 84, 95-96 (Tex.Crim.App.1990). The determination of deliberateness must be found from the totality of the circumstances.” Johnson v. State, 853 S.W.2d 527, 531 (Tex.Cr.App.1992).

As in the first point of error, appellant points to the limited evidence of a struggle to illustrate appellant did not act deliberately.

We believe the evidence of a struggle is not inconsistent with a jury determination that appellant acted deliberately. Read’s last efforts may have been an attempt to avoid his impending execution by appellant. A rational jury could believe that appellant shot Read point blank in the right temple. However, even more telling of appellant’s intention to kill Read was his threats to kill Read throughout the robbery if the police were outside. The evidence indicated appellant incorrectly believed Read was responsible for summoning the officers. The evidence is sufficient to believe appellant acted deliberately. Appellant’s second point of error is overruled.

II.

In his third point of error, appellant argues the trial court erred in not disqualifying veniremember Aston because he was under a legal accusation of theft. Article 35.19, V.A.C.C.P., specifies that no veniremember “shall be impaneled when it appears that he is subject to the second, third or fourth cause of challenge in Article 35.16, though both parties may consent.” The third cause of challenge in Article 35.16 is that the venire-member “is under indictment or other legal accusation of theft or any felony.” Today, we must decide whether the phrase “other legal accusation of theft” necessarily includes a civil suit.

In exercising statutory construction, this Court has looked to the clear and unambiguous language of the statute. Boykin v. State, 818 S.W.2d 782, 785 (Tex.Cr.App.1991); Moore v. State, 868 S.W.2d 787 (Tex.Cr.App.1993). Appellant contends the term “accusation” does not have a technical legal definition and therefore it should be interpreted consistent with its common definition. In common parlance, the term “accusation” has a broad meaning including oral or written cries of wrongdoing. However, in the law, the term “accusation” is limited to “a formal charge against a person, to the effect that he is guilty of a punishable offense, laid before a court or magistrate having jurisdiction to inquire into the alleged crime.” Black’s Law Dictionary, 5th Ed.1983; United States v. Patterson, 150 U.S. 65, 68, 14 S.Ct. 20, 21, 37 L.Ed. 999 (1893). We believe it was the clear import of the Legislature that the phrase “other legal accusation” was to correspond with the legal definition of “accusation,” specifically a formal criminal charge against an individual. Therefore, a civil pleading alleging conversion does not constitute a cause of challenge under Article 35.19. Accordingly, appellant’s third point of error is overruled.

In his sixth point of error, appellant contends the trial court erred in overruling his objection to the State’s racially motivated peremptory challenge to veniremember Calvert. After the State’s peremptory challenge, appellant objected alleging the challenge violated Article 35.261, V.A.C.C.P., and Batson v. Kentucky, 476 U.S. 79, 106 S.Ct. 1712, 90 L.Ed.2d 69 (1986).²

Recently, in Chambers v. State, we addressed Batson challenges stating,

“In Batson, the Supreme Court outlined an analytical tool for testing the challenges to the State’s use of peremptory strikes: Initially, the defendant must establish a prima facie showing that the State exercised its peremptory challenges on a basis of race. The burden then shifts to the State to articulate race-neutral explanations for its questioned strikes; the defendant may rebut these explanations. Finally, the trial court must determine whether the defendant has carried his burden of proving purposeful racial discrimination by the state. [Batson, 476 U.S. at 106, 106 S.Ct. at 1728.]” 866 S.W.2d 9, 23 (Tex.Cr.App.1993)

Appellant is Caucasian. Veniremember Calvert is African-American. Prior to Calvert only three other African-American veniremembers were called for examination — two were successfully challenged for cause by appellant, the other was successfully challenged by the State.³ The State used their ninth peremptory challenge on Calvert — the previous eight were used on non-African American veniremembers. After the State exercised its peremptory challenge, appellant objected, based upon Article 35.261 and Batson. See Powers v. Ohio, 499 U.S. 400, 111 S.Ct. 1364, 113 L.Ed.2d 411 (1991) (white defendant can challenge a state’s peremptory strike of a black veniremember); accord, Mead v. State, 819 S.W.2d 869, 870 (Tex.Cr.App.1991). The trial court determined appellant failed to meet his prima facie burden in this instance.

The policy of this Court in Batson challenges has been not to review a trial court’s determination of whether the defendant has made a prima facie showing. Dewberry v. State, 776 S.W.2d 589, 591 (Tex.Cr.App.1989). Rather, we have avoided any rigid determinations for appellate review of such findings by trial courts. See Dewberry v. State, supra; Texas Department of Community Affairs v. Burdine, 450 U.S. 248, 253-54, 101 S.Ct. 1089, 1093-95, 67 L.Ed.2d 207 (1981). However, in this instance the prima facie showing at the trial court was only that the State struck a member of an identifiable racial group.⁴ This is not sufficient to meet a defendant’s prima facie burden for purposes of Batson. See United States v. Lewis, 892 F.2d 735, 736 (8th Cir.1989) (“While it is true that striking a black venireperson for racial reasons is always vio-lative of the constitution, it is not true that all peremptory strikes of black venirepersons are for racial reasons.”); United States v. Young-Bey, 893 F.2d 178, 180 (8th Cir.1990); United States v. Ratcliff, 806 F.2d 1253, 1256 (5th Cir.1986), cert. denied, 481 U.S. 1004, 107 S.Ct. 1625, 95 L.Ed.2d 199 (1987); United States v. Dennis, 804 F.2d 1208, 1211 (11th Cir.1986), cert. denied, 481 U.S. 1037, 107 S.Ct. 1973, 95 L.Ed.2d 814 (1987). Appellant’s sixth point of error is overruled.

In points of error seven and twenty, appellant contends that allowing the State to use peremptory strikes against veniremembers who are opposed to the death penalty but are not excludable under Witherspoon v. Illinois, 391 U.S. 510, 88 S.Ct. 1770, 20 L.Ed.2d 776 (1968), violates his Sixth and Fourteenth Amendment rights under the United States Constitution and his rights under Article I, Sections 10 and 15 of the Texas Constitution. Appellant “proffers no argument or authority as to the protection offered by the Texas Constitution or how that protection differs from the protection guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution. We decline to pursue appellant’s Texas Constitutional arguments for him.” Johnson v. State, 853 S.W.2d 527, 533 (Tex.Cr.App.1992); Tex.R.App.Proc. 74 and 210.

In support of his federal constitutional challenge, appellant cites to Witherspoon and its progeny. Witherspoon v. Illinois, 391 U.S. 510, 88 S.Ct. 1770, 20 L.Ed.2d 776 (1968); Wainwright v. Witt, 469 U.S. 412, 105 S.Ct. 844, 83 L.Ed.2d 841 (1985); Gray v. Mississippi, 481 U.S. 648, 107 S.Ct. 2045, 95 L.Ed.2d 622 (1987). Appellant acknowledges the cases cited contemplate the State’s use of a challenge for cause to eliminate venire-members who are hesitant in sentencing a defendant to death. Witherspoon, 391 U.S. at 522, 88 S.Ct. at 1777; Wainwright, 469 U.S. at 424, 105 S.Ct. at 852; Gray, 481 U.S. at 657-658, 107 S.Ct. at 2051-2052. However, appellant contends this rule should be extended to peremptory challenges similar to the Supreme Court’s decision in Batson v. Kentucky, 476 U.S. 79, 106 S.Ct. 1712, 90 L.Ed.2d 69 (1986). We disagree.

We do not believe the Supreme Court intended to further restrict peremptory challenges in Witherspoon or its progeny. Hernandez v. State, 819 S.W.2d 806, 818-819 (Tex.Cr.App.1991), cert. denied, — U.S. -, 112 S.Ct. 2944, 119 L.Ed.2d 568 (1992). As Justice O’Connor stated in her opinion concurring to the denial of certiorari in Brown v. North Carolina, “[permitting prosecutors to take into account the concerns expressed about capital punishment by prospective jurors, or any other factor, in exercising peremptory challenges simply does not implicate the concerns expressed in Witherspoon.” 479 U.S. 940, 941, 107 S.Ct. 423, 424, 93 L.Ed.2d 373 (1986) (O’Connor J., concurring); see also Brown v. Dixon, 891 F.2d 490, 496-498 (4th Cir.1989), cert. denied, 495 U.S. 953, 110 S.Ct. 2220, 109 L.Ed.2d 545 (1990); People v. Howard, 147 Ill.2d 103, 167 Ill.Dec. 914, 927-928, 588 N.E.2d 1044, 1057-1058 (1991); State v. Johnson, 306 S.C. 119, 410 S.E.2d 547, 550 (1991), cert. denied, — U.S. -, 112 S.Ct. 1691, 118 L.Ed.2d 404 (1992); State v. Brogden, 329 N.C. 534, 407 S.E.2d 158, 166 (1991); People v. Davis, 794 P.2d 159, 208 (Col.1990), cert. denied, 498 U.S. 1018, 111 S.Ct. 662, 112 L.Ed.2d 656 (1991); State v. Esparza, 39 Ohio St.3d 8, 13, 529 N.E.2d 192, 198 (1988).

We hold the State’s use of peremptory challenges to veniremembers who are against the death penalty does not violate the Sixth and Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution. Hernandez, 819 S.W.2d at 818-819. Appellant’s seventh and twentieth points of error are overruled.

In the eighth point of error, appellant contends the trial court improperly granted a State’s challenge for cause against a potential juror. Veniremember Hodgkins was challenged for cause based on his inability to follow the law. See Article 35.16(b)(3), V.A.C.C.P. When reviewing the responses of a potential juror, we give great deference to the trial court’s ruling. Moody v. State, 827 S.W.2d 875, 884 (Tex.Cr.App.), cert. denied, - U.S. -, 113 S.Ct. 119, 121 L.Ed.2d 75 (1992); Felder v. State, 758 S.W.2d 760, 766 (Tex.Cr.App.1988).

The following exchange is indicative of veniremember Hodgkins understanding of the burden of proof in this cause:

“STATE: Let me see if I am clear. You said before that if you heard evidence in a criminal case and it tipped the scales just a little bit in favor of the death that you didn’t see any other way that you could go about making your decision with whether to vote guilty or not than to look at that. Did I misunderstand you?

“VENIREMEMBER: In saying what I said really, what I was simply saying—I guess, for some reason we are thinking different. If the evidence were put before me and if I saw that the evidence were more overbearing on one side than the other, I think I would lean that side, yes.

“STATE: Okay. And by lean that side, you mean you’d vote that way?

‘VENIREMEMBER: If it appeared to me that a man was more innocent than guilty, I would vote innocent. If he was more than guilty than innocent, I would vote guilty.”

After the State attempted to explain, to no avail, the differing burdens of proof in civil and criminal trials, the trial court also attempted and failed. Upon sustaining the State’s objection to the potential juror, the trial court stated,

“I’ve had an opportunity to observe this juror, or have listened to his answers, I find that he did not—and I find beyond a reasonable doubt that he did not intentionally mislead or lie on his information sheets, that he simply did not understand the oath.[⁵] And I find after observation of this juror that he has sufficient difficult (sic) at the understanding the burden of proof and other legal issues which have been discussed and the challenge should be granted.”

A review of the entire voir dire indicates the trial judge did not abuse her discretion in granting the State’s challenge for cause. Appellant’s eighth point of error is overruled.

In the ninth through thirteenth points of error, appellant complains the trial court erred in participating in the voir dire of specific veniremembers thereby depriving appellant effective assistance of counsel in intelligently exercising his peremptory strikes.⁶ Appellant’s specific complaint concerning these five veniremembers is that the “cumulative effect of the court’s interference with each of the jurors deprived appellant of effective assistance of counsel in intelligently exercising his peremptory challenges.”

In points nine through twelve, appellant does not set forth any rulings by the trial court which restrict or prohibit him from asking the potential jurors any questions.⁷ Absent such a showing nothing is preserved for review. Jones v. State, 843 S.W.2d 487, 494 (Tex.Cr.App.1992), cert. denied, — U.S. -, 113 S.Ct. 1858, 123 L.Ed.2d 479 (1993); Tex.R.App.P. 52(a).⁸ Points nine through twelve are overruled.

In the thirteenth point of error, appellant argues the trial court gave the potential juror “a false impression of the relative abilities of the attorneys involved.” After appellant objected to a State’s question, the trial court requested that appellant clarify the objection. An exchange between the trial court and appellant occurred concerning whether moral culpability included guilt. The trial court requested appellant define “moral culpability.” Eventually, this request became an order. Several times during the exchange the trial judge stated she did not understand appellant’s objection. However, appellant’s attorney refused to clarify his objection, at which point appellant’s other attorney objected to the trial court’s implication that they had improperly objected.

To preserve a complaint for our review to a trial objection, the party objecting must state the “specific grounds for the ruling he desired the court to make if the specific grounds were not apparent from the context.” Tex.R.App.Proe. 52(a). A trial court is permitted to request clarification of an objection at trial. Appellant’s refusal or inability to clarify his objection for the trial court cannot be impugned upon the trial court creating reversible error. Appellant’s thirteenth point of error is overruled.

In appellant’s fourteenth point of error, he contends the trial court improperly granted the State’s challenge for cause of veniremember Chandler in violation of Wainwright v. Witt, 469 U.S. 412, 105 S.Ct. 844, 83 L.Ed.2d 841 (1985). A veniremember may be challenged for cause when it is shown that his or her views on the death penalty would “prevent or substantially impair the performance of his or her duties in accordance with the oath taken and the trial judge’s instructions.” Crane v. State, 786 S.W.2d 338, 343 (Tex.Cr.App.1990) (quoting, Wainwright v. Witt, supra. “The trial court’s ruling on a challenge for cause on this basis is reversible only if it was clearly an abuse of discretion.” Jones, 843 S.W.2d at 497; Goodwin v. State, 799 S.W.2d 719, 731 (Tex.Cr.App.1990), cert. denied, 498 U.S. 1301, 111 S.Ct. 902, 112 L.Ed.2d 1026 (1991).

Veniremember Chandler evinced clear reservations about the death penalty. However, the trial court and prosecutor properly questioned the veniremember on how those feelings would affect her in following the law and performing her duties as a juror in answering the special issues. Chandler stated that her feelings concerning the death penalty would “probably somewhat impair” her decision. The extent of the impairment was undefinable. But eventually the trial court asked:

“Would your feelings that you have, your reservations, if you heard evidence that convinced you beyond a reasonable doubt that the answer should be yes to [the special issues,] would your reservations, after you had thought it over very, very thoroughly and weighed everything, would your reservations cause you to tend to answer one of the questions no in this way?”

Veniremember Chandler answered the court, “If I’m honest, I’d probably say yes.” Appellant attempted to rehabilitate Chandler.

“DEFENSE COUNSEL: Okay. And in inspecting the evidence harder, you’re not saying that it would make you answer one of the questions that you have to answer against the evidence, are you?

“CHANDLER: I would probably be looking for reasons to lessen.”

A considerable discussion ensued following a confusing set of answers and questions. Chandler stated that she originally believed that if she found a defendant guilty that she would be required to vote for the death penalty. After further voir dire Chandler stated that she would not automatically answer the special issues “no” merely to prevent the death penalty, but rather she would listen to the evidence. Chandler arguably may not have been challengeable for cause based upon her answers, because while she was opposed to the death penalty she stated she would answer the special issues based upon the evidence. See Adams v. Texas, 448 U.S. 38, 100 S.Ct. 2521, 65 L.Ed.2d 581 (1980); Riley v. State, 889 S.W.2d 290 (Tex.Cr.App.1993, rehearing granted).

However, our inquiry does not end here. The trial court was aware early on that appellant was entitled to an additional charge, a fourth special issue. The court would submit to the jury a special issue concerning whether the death sentence was appropriate in this case. See points of error seventeen and eighteen, infra. When asked what her answer to this question was by the court, Chandler responded that she did not “believe death is appropriate,” and that feeling would cause her to answer that question “no.” The trial court sustained the State’s challenge and found that Chandler’s views would substantially impair her performance as a juror.

Today, we are presented with a juror who, under our former caselaw and absent the fourth special issue, arguably would not have been challengeable for cause. For while Chandler was opposed to the death penalty she may have been able to follow the law. See Adams, supra; Riley, supra. However, as for the fourth special issue, Chandler stated in no uncertain terms that she believed morally that death was not appropriate and she would answer that question in the negative. Recently the Supreme Court stated that jurors “whether they be unalterably in favor of or opposed to the death penalty in every case — by definition are ones who cannot perform their duties in accordance with the law, their protestations notwithstanding.” Morgan v. Illinois, — U.S. -, -, 112 S.Ct. 2222, 2233, 119 L.Ed.2d 492 (1992). This is such a juror. The trial court did not abuse her discretion in granting the State’s challenge for cause in this instance. Appellant’s fourteenth point of error is overruled.

Appellant contends in his nineteenth point of error that the trial court deprived appellant of a qualified juror by giving a fourth special issue. This special issue essentially asked the jury to determine whether, considering mitigating evidence, the death sentence is appropriate. Specifically, appellant argues:

“that the trial court reinstated the problems found to be fatal in Furman [v. Georgia, 408 U.S. 238, 92 S.Ct. 2726, 33 L.Ed.2d 346 (1972) ] by making the infliction of death an unguided, arbitrary and capricious decision of the jury. The extra special question is the only arguable decision of the jury under which Venire-member Chandler could have been excused and even then, the testimony did not support the removal by cause. [Appellant] was deprived of a key juror whose absence may have cost him his life. Without her being left on the panel, the jury became composed of those persons uncommonly willing to condemn a man to die. The improper excusal provided [appellant] ‘a tribunal organized to return a verdict of death’ in violation of Witherspoon v. Illinois, [391 U.S. 510, 88 S.Ct. 1770, 20 L.Ed.2d 776 (1968) ].”

Appellant has forfeited any complaint on appeal concerning challenges for cause against jurors who would always answer the fourth special issue in the negative. Appellant’s only objection to the charge as given was a general objection to the constitutionality of Article 37.071.⁹ Appellant cannot argue, on the one hand, that the jury should be instructed upon the law in a certain manner throughout the trial, and on the other hand argue that a potential juror should not be disqualified for her inability to follow that portion of the law during voir dire. Accordingly, appellant’s nineteenth point of error is overruled.

III.

In his fourth and fifth points of error, appellant contends the prosecutor improperly commented on appellant’s failure to testify. There are four areas of permissible jury argument by the State: summation of the evidence, reasonable deduction from the evidence, a response to an opponent s argument, and plea for law enforcement. Hughes v. State, 878 S.W.2d 142 (Tex.Cr.App.1993); Gomez v. State, 704 S.W.2d 770, 771 (Tex.Cr.App.1985). In the fourth point of error, appellant complains of the following State’s jury argument:

“Let’s talk a little about intentional and what kind of actions we have. There’s so many actions. We have to prove that this defendant’s conduct is intentional. And that’s what we have to prove as we told you on voir dire. Remember also on voir dire when we talked about intentional can be proved circumstantially, the legal term meaning that you don’t have to have a person saying what he’s going to do, you can’t read another person’s mind, but you can judge his intent.”

The State contends this argument was proper as an explanation to the jury of circumstantial evidence.

When addressing a complaint of improper comments on a defendant’s failure to testify in his own behalf, we review the language from the standpoint of the jury. Swallow v. State, 829 S.W.2d 223, 225 (Tex.Cr.App.1992); Koller v. State, 518 S.W.2d 373, 375 (Tex.Cr.App.1975). The fact the language might be construed as an implied or indirect allusion to a defendant’s failure to testify is not sufficient. Swallow, 829 S.W.2d at 225. “Language that can reasonably be construed to refer to a failure to present evidence other than from the defendant’s own testimony does not amount to comment on failure to testify.” Ibid.

Appellant contends the argument was a direct comment on appellant’s failure to testify. See Minton v. State, 162 Tex.Crim. 358, 285 S.W.2d 760 (App.1956) (“We cannot open up that man’s head and tell what was in his mind” amounts to an improper direct comment). However, we do not believe the argument complained of was necessarily a direct reference to appellant’s failure to testify. Prom the jury’s perspective the argument was directed to establish “intent” through the circumstantial evidence presented at trial. The State attempts to define circumstantial evidence of intent as evidence in which you can determine intent without knowledge of what the person thinks. While the State’s definition or explanation of circumstantial evidence may be lacking, it does not rise to the level of an improper comment on appellant’s failure to testify. Appellant’s fourth point of error is overruled.

In his fifth point of error, appellant contends the following prosecution argument was again an improper comment on appellant’s failure to testify:

“What we have here is not — not a suicide, not an — not intentional act, but an intentional, deliberate premeditated execution to the victim Bob Read. And then what kind of words of remorse do the testimony show this defendant made after this happened?”

The trial court overruled appellant’s objection after a bench conference. The State argued they were not making a comment on appellant’s failure to testify, but were speaking specifically of the testimony elicited during trial of appellant’s first words to the arresting officers. This is further illustrated by the remaining portion of the State’s argument on the subject:

“What words are the first thing that we learned from the evidence and from the testimony of the first words out of this defendant’s mouth after executing Bob? Do you remember the remorseful words he said after he leaves Bob’s body in the car bleeding and surely dead and runs to get away, what does he say when the cop put the gun and the flash light over the fence to stop him? Don’t kill me, don’t kill me. He sure is expecting a lot more from the police than he ever gave his victim, a lot more. And he’s got it, because he’s had a fair trial. And that’s what we’re all about here today.”

We agree with the State that in its entirety the argument was not a reference to appellant’s failure to testify, but rather his lack of remorse as seen through his single comment to the arresting officers. Appellant’s fifth point of error is overruled.

IV.

In appellant’s fifteenth point of error he complains the trial court erred in failing to instruct the venire of the definition of the term “reasonable doubt.” Voir dire examination of potential jurors in capital cases is governed by Article 35.17, Section 2, V.A.C.C.P.¹⁰ Appellant does not complain the trial court failed to question the venire concerning “beyond a reasonable doubt,” but rather his complaint is that the court failed to instruct the venire on the definition of “beyond a reasonable doubt.” Appellant argues he was unable to properly exercise peremptory challenges without an understanding of the potential juror’s views of definitions of law.¹¹

The objective of voir dire examination “is to cause to be assembled a competent, fair, impartial, and unprejudiced jury to judge the facts of the case.” Yanez v. State, 677 S.W.2d 62, 66 (Tex.Cr.App.1984). This is accomplished in question and answer format. However, the venire is not presented with the exact law which it will follow until the conclusion of the trial. Our statutory scheme has provided that the court’s charge setting out the applicable law is presented to the jury after they have heard the evidence and before jury argument. Article 36.14, V.AC.C.P. In so far as appellant complains of any questions by the State which may have confused particular veniremembers, the proper remedy was to object to the State’s question at that time. Tex.R.App.Pro. 52(a).

We hold that nothing in Article 35.17 requires a trial court to define terms for the venire. Therefore, a trial court does not abuse its discretion in refusing to instruct the venire upon a definition of a legal term at the request of either party. See Robertson v. State, 871 S.W.2d 701, 711 (Tex.Cr.App.1993) (“Because the evidence has not been heard [during voir dire], it is not an abuse of discretion for a trial court to deny a request prior to voir dire, to decide upon the type of charge to be given at punishment.”) Appellant’s fifteenth point of error is overruled.

V.

In his sixteenth point of error, appellant contends the trial court erred in refusing an instruction to the jury which would have required them to exclude every other reasonable hypothesis except appellant’s guilt. However, no instruction was required. Hankins v. State, 646 S.W.2d 191, 199-200 (Tex.Cr.App.1981) (opinion on rehearing). Appellant’s sixteenth point of error is overruled.

In point of error seventeen and eighteen, appellant contends the jury was not given a proper jury instruction on how to apply mitigating evidence offered during trial in violation of Penry v. Lynaugh, 492 U.S. 302, 109 S.Ct. 2934, 106 L.Ed.2d 256 (1989). In addition to the statutory special issues, the trial court gave the jury the following fourth special issue:

“Do you find from the evidence beyond a reasonable doubt, after considering all mitigating evidence, if any thereby, and considering the defendant’s level of culpability, character and background and the circumstances of the offense, that the penalty of death is the appropriate punishment?”

The jury answered the question in the affirmative. This “fourth special issue” is sufficient to meet the commands of Penry. State v. McPherson, 851 S.W.2d 846, 847-850 (Tex.Cr.App.1992). Appellant’s seventeenth and eighteenth points of error are overruled.

Accordingly, appellant’s sentence and judgment are affirmed.

CLINTON, J., dissents.

1 . The special issue provided in Article 37.071(b)(1), V.A.C.C.P., inquires,

"whether the conduct of the defendant that caused the death of the deceased was committed deliberately and with the reasonable expectation that the death of the deceased or another would result; ...”

2 . Recently in Butler v. State, 872 S.W.2d 227, 246 (Tex.Cr.App.1994), we held Article 35.261 was inapplicable to capital cases. Therefore, we limit our analysis to appropriate state and federal constitutional considerations.

3 . Batson challenges in our capital cases are necessarily problematic because the veniremembers are examined and challenged individually. In this instance the Batson challenge occurred during voir dire, and therefore we limit our review of the prima facie showing to the available facts at the time of the trial court's ruling.

4 . During the Batson hearing appellant also argued the State causally challenged several African-American veniremembers. Initially we note the record indicates otherwise. However, Batson does not limit the State's right to challenge venirepersons for cause. Tompkins v. State, 774 S.W.2d 195, 200 n. 3 (Tex.Cr.App.1987).

5 . Veniremember Hodgkins did not answer a question on his juror information sheet pertaining to whether he had been previously arrested. During voir dire, he admitted to a previous misdemeanor conviction for possession of marihuana and an anrest and charge for a terroristic threat.

6 . Points nine through thirteen concern venire-members Waites, Watson, Seibert, White, and Cannon, respectively. While not necessary to the disposition of this point of error, we note that Watson served on the jury, Seibert was successfully challenged for cause, and White was peremptorily challenged by the State.

7 . The trial court participated in the voir dire to the extent that she instructed the potential jurors on points of law. For example, the judge instructed veniremember Waites that the defendant was presumed to be innocent; that venire-member Seibert must consider all evidence; that veniremember Watson was not to consider parole. Additionally during the voir dire of White, concerning whether she believed there was a difference between intentional and deliberate, the court commented that her answer should be based on the definitions of those terms presented by counsel.

8 . Appellant cites several examples in which the trial court instructed a potential juror on fine points of the law. For example, one juror initially stated that he would find a defendant guilty even though he had a reasonable doubt. The trial court instructed the juror that under the law he is innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. However, there is no ruling cited by appellant in which the trial court restricted questioning.

9 . After the State objected to the submission of the fourth special issue during punishment, counsel for appellant stressed that throughout voir dire there was a belief by all parties that the charge would contain such a special issue. Appellant argued:

"Your Honor, the participation in this portion of the trial, up to this point, has all pointed toward doing it in this manner; There is no manner set out in the code as I previously pointed out by my objection. So, any manner that we agreed upon is extra-legislative as it were. But this is the manner that it was my impression that we had all determined before we had started voir dire we would use.

"And since we have done it this way, and since we have voir dired in this manner, I feel that it would be improper to change at this point because, at the very least, we would confuse the jurors, and we have been — been able to adequately exercise our peremptory challenges because everything we did was based on what we have now in the charge.”

The trial court then overruled the State’s objection to the submission of the fourth special issue.

10 . Article 35.17, Section 2 provides,

"In a capital felony case, the court shall propound to the entire panel of prospective jurors questions concerning the principles, as applicable to the case on trial, of reasonable doubt, burden of proof, return of indictment by grand jury, presumption of innocence, and opinion. Then, on demand of the State or defendant, either is entitled to examine each juror on voir dire individually and apart form the entire panel, and may further question the juror on the principles propounded by the court."

11 . Appellant fails to illustrate that he was prevented from questioning the potential jurors on this subject. Absent such a showing nothing is preserved for review. Jones, 843 S.W.2d at 494; Tex.R.App. 52(a). Therefore, we need not reach the propriety of this portion of appellant’s argument.