Kreasha Sims v. The State of Texas--Appeal from 217th District Court of Angelina County

State: Texas

Court: Texas Northern District Court

Docket No: 06-10-00057-CR

Case Date: 10/15/2010

Plaintiff: THE STATE OF TEXAS

Defendant: SHERYL KAY REYNOLDS--Appeal from 103rd District Court of Willacy County

Preview:In The

Court of Appeals Ninth District of Texas at Beaumont
____________________ NO. 09-09-00228-CR ____________________ DARRIUS EUGENE SPEARMAN, Appellant V. THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee

On Appeal from the Criminal District Court Jefferson County, Texas Trial Cause No. 07-02482

OPINION A jury found Darrius Eugene Spearman guilty of murder and assessed punishment at confinement in prison for fifty years. Spearman challenges the legal and factual sufficiency of the evidence to support the jury's guilty verdict and rejection of his self-defense claim. He also argues the trial court erred in allowing a witness's statement to be read to the jury. We conclude the evidence is sufficient to support the verdict, and although the evidentiary ruling did not strictly follow a Court of Criminal Appeals' opinion construing the applicable

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hearsay exception, we conclude any error did not affect substantial rights. Accordingly, we affirm the judgment of the trial court. T HE S UFFICIENCY S TANDARDS OF R EVIEW Spearman first challenges the sufficiency of the evidence supporting the jury's finding that he intentionally caused the victim's death by shooting him with a firearm. See T EX. P EN. C ODE A NN.

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