Justia Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Opinion Summaries

The case revolves around the defendant, Larry Jean Hart, who was charged with capital murder while committing or attempting to commit the felony offense of burglary. Hart drove an acquaintance and three other individuals to an apartment complex where they robbed and shot the complainant, Michael Gardner. Hart claimed he remained in the car during the incident and was unaware of the group's intentions. The State argued that Hart knew about the planned crime and should have anticipated the outcome.The trial court admitted rap videos during the guilt phase of the trial to demonstrate Hart's character and sophistication. Hart objected, arguing that the videos' prejudicial effect outweighed their probative value. The trial court overruled Hart's objections, stating that Hart's testimony opened the door to character witness evidence. The jury found Hart guilty and sentenced him to life without parole.On appeal, Hart argued that the trial court erred in admitting the rap videos, among other things. The appellate court upheld the trial court's ruling, stating that the rap videos were relevant to Hart's ability to comprehend and form intent regarding the planned crime. The court also conducted a balancing test under Rule 403 and concluded that the trial court's ruling did not constitute a clear abuse of discretion.The Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas disagreed with the lower courts. It found that the rap videos' probative value was outweighed by their potential for prejudice and confusion. The court reversed the judgment of the appellate court and remanded the case to the trial court for further proceedings. View "Hart v. State of Texas" on Justia Law