Esters, Eugene D. ( 2014 )


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  •                                                                                 PD-1658-14
    PD-1658-14                           COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
    AUSTIN, TEXAS
    Transmitted 12/19/2014 12:54:23 PM
    Accepted 12/29/2014 9:39:39 AM
    ABEL ACOSTA
    IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS                                           CLERK
    OF AUSTIN, TEXAS
    EUGENE D. ESTERS,                    §
    Appellant                   §
    §       NO.
    VS.                                 §
    §
    THE STATE OF TEXAS,                  §
    Appellee                    §
    ON PETITION FOR DISCRETIONARY REVIEW FROM THE DECISION
    OF THE COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE SECOND DISTRICT OF
    TEXAS, AT FORT WORTH, TEXAS
    IN CAUSE NO. 02-13-00219-CR
    AFFIRMING APPELLANT'S CONVICTION AND SENTENCE
    IN CAUSE NO. 1263515D
    HON.ROBB CATALANO, PRESIDING
    FROM THE CRIMINAL DISTRICT COURT NO. THREE
    OF TARRANT COUNTY
    APPELLANT'S PETITION FOR DISCRETIONARY REVIEW
    Richard A. Henderson
    State Bar No. 09427100
    RICHARD A. HENDERSON, P.C.
    100 Throckmorton Street, Suite 540
    Fort Worth, Texas 76102
    817-332-9602 - Telephone
    817-335-3940 - Facsimile
    richard(uirahenderson. corn
    ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT,
    December 29, 2014           EUGENE D. ESTERS
    SUBJECT INDEX
    TABLE OF AUTHORITIES.....................................................................................ii
    STATEMENT REGARDING ORAL ARGUMENT ............................................... 1
    STATEMENT OF THE CASE ................................................................................. 1
    STATEMENT OF PROCEDURAL HISTORY.......................................................2
    GROUNDSFOR REVIEW ......................................................................................2
    REASONSFOR REVIEW .......................................................................................3
    GROUNDONE.................................................................................................3
    GROUNDTWO................................................................................................ 5
    CONCLUSION AND PRAYER...............................................................................6
    CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE ........................................................................7
    CERTIFICATEOF SERVICE..................................................................................7
    APPENDICES...........................................................................................................8
    Appendix "A"
    (Opinion of the Court of Appeals Second District of Texas)
    Appendix "B"
    (Motion for Rehearing)
    Appendix "C"
    (Court's Order denying Appellant's Motion for Rehearing)
    TABLE OF AUTHORITIES
    CASES
    Crabtree v. State, 
    389 S.W.3d 820
    (Tex. Crim. App. 2012) ................................... 5
    Exparte White, 
    211 S.W.3d 316
    (Tex. Crim. App. 2007)........................................ 5
    Prudhoim v. State, 
    274 S.W.3d 236
    (Tex. App.— Houston 1" 2008).....................6
    Wooten v. State, 
    400 S.W.3d 601
    (Tex. Crim. App. 2013).......................................3
    Wooten v. State, 
    400 S.W.3d 606
    (Tex. Crim. App.2013)........................................ 5
    CODES
    TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. §31.03(a) (4)(a).................................................................. 5
    TEXAS PENAL CODE 12.42.........................................................................................6
    11
    STATEMENT REGARDING ORAL ARGUMENT
    Petitioner believes that oral argument would aid the court in deciding the
    critical issue presented. The Court of Appeals and the State of Texas have
    admitted that the error presented was committed by the trial court. Oral argument
    would allow a full airing of the issue presented.
    STATEMENT OF THE CASE
    On December 5, 2011, Appellant shot his estranged girlfriend, Jennifer
    Johnson, in front of her condo in East Fort Worth, as her mother, Della Johnson
    and several other witnesses looked on. Appellant also shot Della Johnson. (The
    couple had been together for six years and had recently separated. Appellant was
    sleeping in his vehicle in front of the condo. On the date in question, Jennifer had
    car trouble and tried to use jumper cables to start the car but Appellant took the
    cables and Jennifer and Della went to buy some new ones.              Jennifer was
    attempting to start her car with the help of a neighbor, Carieta Cook, when
    Appellant approached. Appellant began asking when he could see his child and
    Jennifer responded that
    1
    they would work something out. (RR3 :3 7). Appellant then began shooting. After
    Appellant stopped shooting, he put the gun to his head and pulled the trigger, but
    he was out of bullets. Appellant began screaming that a murder had been
    committed on Shady Lane while holding a Bible. Police arrived and arrested
    Appellant.
    STATEMENT OF PROCEDURAL HISTORY
    The Court of Appeals issued its memorandum opinion on October 30, 2014.
    Appellant's Motion for Rehearing was e-filed November 14, 2014 and was
    overruled on November 20, 2014. This Petition for Discretionary Review is timely
    if e-filed on or before December 22, 2014.
    GROUNDS FOR REVIEW
    GROUND ONE: Is telling a father that they will "work something out" by the
    mother in response to a question of when the father can see his child sufficient to
    invoke sudden passion and require a jury instruction on sudden passion?
    GROUND TWO: What level of proof is necessary in order to prove that an out of
    state conviction for grand theft is the equivalent of a third degree felony or higher
    in order to enhance the Texas punishment?
    2
    REASONS FOR REVIEW
    GROUND ONE:
    Appellant argued to the Court of Appeals that in the overall context of
    events, that this verbal exchange could have amounted to sudden passion which
    would require that the issue be submitted to the jury. Wooten v. State, 
    400 S.W.3d 601
    (Tex. Crim. App. 2013).
    In Wooten, the court said:
    A murder committed under the" immediate influence of sudden
    passion arising from an adequate cause" is a second-degree felony
    carrying a maximum punishment of twenty years' imprisonment.
    Sudden passion is "passion directly caused by and arising out of
    provocation by the individual killed" which arises at the time of the
    murder.
    Adequate cause is a "cause that would commonly produce a degree
    of anger, rage, resentment, or terror in a person of ordinary temper,
    sufficient to render the mind incapable of cool reflection." The
    defendant has the burden of production and persuasion with respect to
    the issue of sudden passion. To justify a jury instruction on the issue
    of sudden passion at the punishment phase, the record must at least
    minimally support an inference:
    1) that the defendant in fact acted under the immediate
    influence of a passion such as terror, anger, rage, or resentment;
    2) that his sudden passion was in fact induced by some
    provocation by the deceased or another acting with him, which
    provocation would commonly produce such a passion in a person of
    ordinary temper;
    3) that he committed the murder before regaining his capacity
    for cool reflection; and
    4) that a causal connection existed " between the provocation,
    passion, and homicide."
    It does not matter that the evidence supporting the submission
    of a sudden passion instruction may be weak, impeached,
    contradicted, or unbelievable. If the evidence thus raises the issue
    from any source, during either phase of trial, then the defendant has
    satisfied his burden of production, and the trial court must submit the
    issue in the jury charge— at least if the defendant requests it.
    In this case, Appellant was given a vague response by the deceased as to
    when he could visit his child. Such a response could cause anger in an individual
    that could cause anger or resentment. Appellant requested the issue and was denied
    by the trial court, Wooten v. State, 
    400 S.W.3d 606
    (Tex. Crim. App. 2013).
    The Court of Appeals in its opinion stated that the response by the deceased
    was not adequate cause such that a jury instruction was required. Appellant asserts
    that the Court of Appeals was wrong in this evaluation and that, even if considered
    weak, the jury instruction was required.
    GROUND TWO:
    Appellant objected to the submission in the punishment charge of a
    California conviction of grand theft, contending that it was not the equivalent of a
    third degree felony in Texas and Appellant submitted a proposed charge that
    deleted the repeat offender notice which was refused by the trial court.
    Appellant showed to the trial court that the California offense was most
    similar to a Texas state jail felony of Theft $1500420,000 under TEX. PENAL CODE
    ANN. §31.03(a) (4)(a).
    State jail felonies cannot be used to enhance punishment as a repeat offender
    under Texas Penal Code 12.42. See Exparte White, 
    211 S.W.3d 316
    (Tex. Crim.
    App. 2007); Crabtree v. State, 
    389 S.W.3d 820
    (Tex. Crim. App. 2012) and
    5
    Prudhoim v. State, 
    274 S.W.3d 236
    (Tex. App.— Houston 1" 2008).
    The Court of Appeals stated that since the California included prison time,
    then the offense could not be the equivalent of a Texas State jail felony Appellant
    would show that prison time does not a third degree felony or higher, make.
    CONCLUSION AND PRAYER
    WHEREFORE, Appellant respectfully prays that this Court reverse the
    judgment of the Court of Appeals and remand this cause to that court and order
    that Appellant be given a new trial and for all other relief to which he is entitled.
    Respectfully Submitted,
    RICHARD A. HENDERSON, P.C.
    Two City Place
    100 Throckmorton Street, Suite 540
    Fort Worth, Texas 76102
    (Telephone) 817-332-9602
    (Telecopier) 817-335-3940
    E-mail: richar.cl(rahenderson. om
    /j~"' /-Y)/ il~
    Richard A Henderson
    State Bar No. 09427100
    ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT
    CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE
    This document complies with the typeface requirements of Tex.R. App.
    Proc. 9.4(e), because it has been prepared in a conventional typeface no smaller
    than 14-point for text and 12-point for footnotes. This document also complies
    with the word-count limitations of Tex.R.App.P. Rule 9.4(i), because it contains
    1,456 words, excluding any parts exempted by Tex.R.App.Proc 9.4(i) (1), as
    computed by the word-count feature of Microsoft Office Word 2010, the computer
    program used to prepare the document.
    Richard A. Henderson
    CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
    A true copy of the Appellant's brief has been electronically served on
    opposing counsel, Mr. Charles Mallin, Assistant District Attorney, Chief of
    Appellant Section, Tarrant County District Attorney's Office, 401 W. Belknap
    Street, Fort Worth, Texas 76196 and mailed U.S. Regular Mail to Appellant, Mr.
    Eugene Esters, TDCJ #01856715, William B. Clements Unit, 9601 Spur 591,
    Amarillo, Texas 79107-9606 on this the /      day of Decembr 2014.
    A. Henderson
    7
    APPENDICES
    APPENDIX "A"
    OPINION OF
    COURT OF APPEALS
    SECOND DISTRICT OF TEXAS
    FORT WORTH
    COURT OF APPEALS
    SECOND DISTRICT OF TEXAS
    FORT WORTH
    NO. 02-13-00219-CR
    EUGENE D. ESTERS                                              APPELLANT
    V.
    THE STATE OF TEXAS                                                  STATE
    FROM CRIMINAL DISTRICT COURT NO. 3 OF TARRANT COUNTY
    TRIAL COURT NO. 1263515D
    MEMORANDUM OPINION'
    I. Introduction
    In three issues, Appellant Eugene D. Esters appeals his conviction for
    murder. We affirm.
    'See Tex. R. App. P. 47.4.
    II. Factual and Procedural Background
    Esters lived with his girlfriend, Jennifer, for about four or five years. He
    moved out of their apartment about a month before her murder. Even after his
    move, he was allowed to stay there when Jennifer and her two children were
    gone and allowed to come by and see their two-year-old daughter, Sara,2 in the
    morning before Jennifer's mother, Della, took the children to school.
    On December 5, 2011, Della arrived back at the apartment after taking the
    children to school to discover that Jennifer and Esters had been involved in an
    argument about the ownership of a set of jumper cables. Shortly thereafter,
    Della, who was a secretary at Jennifer's business, drove Jennifer to work and
    later dropped her off at her apartment, noticing on the way to her own home that
    Esters's truck was heading toward the apartment. Puzzled over why Esters
    would be returning to Jennifer's apartment, Della called Jennifer, told her what
    she had seen, and stayed on the line with her. Jennifer told Della that she saw
    Esters enter the apartment garage, then get in his truck, park it, and wait there,
    but she asked Della not to call the police. Della decided to return to the
    apartment and stopped at a police substation on the way there but did not find
    any officers present. After Della arrived back at the apartment, Jennifer and a
    neighbor, Carrieta Cook, met Della at her car where Della could see Esters
    2   W use a pseudonym for the child's name. See Tex. R. App. P. 9.8.
    KA
    sitting in his truck across the parking lot from Jennifer's apartment. Esters next
    pulled his truck up behind the three women and said "Della, I wanted to know
    when I'll be able to see Sara." Della relayed the message to Jennifer, who was
    close by and who responded, "Gene, we will work out something." Without
    saying anything else, Esters exited his truck, drew a gun from his pocket, and
    shot Jennifer from several feet away; after she collapsed, Ester's approached
    Jennifer and shot her again. He then confronted Della and said, "[N]ow go put
    that on Facebook," and he shot her in the chest. Esters apparently then tried to
    shoot himself under his chin, but when the gun did not fire, he said, "[D]amn, I
    had a bullet for myself. . . . I killed the bitch, I told her I'd kill her." He then yelled
    for someone to call 911. Esters next told Della, "[S]it [your] stupid ass down
    before [you] bleed to death," and looking at Cook, he said "[B]itch, I ran out of
    bullets." Esters then put the gun in his truck, shouted "religious slurs," and
    stated, "I don't have anything else to live for." When the police arrived, he was
    compliant, offered no resistance, and told the officer, "I'm not going to do
    anything."
    A jury convicted Esters of murder and assessed his punishment at life in
    prison. This appeal followed.
    Ill. Sudden Passion
    In his first issue, Esters asserts that the trial court committed fundamental
    punishment charge error by denying his request for a sudden passion special
    issue. The defendant requested that the jury be instructed that if "the Defendant
    3
    has raised by a preponderance of the evidence the issue of sudden passion and
    you so find then the punishment range for this offense is that of a second
    degree," which was 2 to 20 years plus a fine. He further requested that "sudden
    passion" be defined as "passion directly caused by and arising out of provocation
    by the individual killed or another acting with the person killed which passion
    arises at the time of the offense and is not solely the result of former
    provocation." Esters argues that Jennifer's response—"[W]e will work something
    out"—to his inquiry about seeing Sara "could have amounted to sudden passion
    which would require that the issue be submitted to the jury." The State responds
    that there is no evidence that the murder occurred under the immediate influence
    of sudden passion arising from an adequate cause.
    A. Standard of Review
    "[A]II alleged jury-charge error must be considered on appellate review
    regardless of preservation in the trial court." Kirsch v. State, 
    357 S.W.3d 645
    ,
    649 (Tex. Crim. App. 2012). In our review of a jury charge, we first determine
    whether error occurred; if error did not occur, our analysis ends. 
    Id. B. Requirements
    for Submission
    An accused who successfully argues that murder was committed under the
    immediate influence of sudden passion arising from an adequate cause reduces
    the level of the offense from the first to the second degree, thereby reducing the
    possible punishment range. Wooten v. State, 
    400 S.W.3d 601
    , 605 (Tex. Crim.
    App. 2013), Trevino v. State, 
    100 S.W.3d 232
    , 237 (Tex. Crim. App. 2003). The
    4
    instruction given to the Jury in this regard is required if some evidence raises the
    issue, regardless of whether that evidence is contradicted, weak or impeached,
    but is not required to be given if the evidence is so contested, weak, or incredible
    such that it could not support a finding by a rational jury. Davis v. State, 
    268 S.W.3d 683
    , 693 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2008, pet. ref'd).            Further, if the
    evidence, viewed in the light most favorable to the defendant, fails to raise the
    issue of sudden passion from adequate cause, the defendant is not entitled to an
    instruction. See 
    Id. at 698.
    Certain evidentiary requirements are necessary for sudden passion to be
    submitted to the jury. Those are: (1) that the defendant in fact acted under the
    immediate influence of a passion such as terror, anger, rage, or resentment;
    (2) that his sudden passion was in fact induced by some provocation by the
    deceased or another acting with him, which provocation would commonly
    produce such a passion in a person of ordinary temper; (3) that he committed the
    murder before regaining his capacity for cool reflection; and (4) that a causal
    connection existed between the provocation, passion, and homicide.             See
    
    Wooten, 400 S.W.3d at 605
    . Sudden passion is more than ordinary anger and
    does not include a cause of the defendant's own making. Hernandez v. State,
    
    127 S.W.3d 206
    , 211 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2003, pet. ref'd); Nance v.
    State, 
    807 S.W.2d 855
    , 861 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi 1991, pet. ref'd).
    Further, the sudden passion must have arisen from adequate cause, which
    requires some evidence of the condition of the accused's mind at the time of the
    offense. Mitchell v. State, 
    191 S.W.3d 219
    , 224 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 2005,
    pet. refd); Naasz v. State, 
    974 S.W.2d 418
    , 423 (Tex. App—Dallas 1998, pet.
    ref d).
    C. Analysis
    With this legal backdrop, we will examine the evidence and determine if
    the submission of a sudden passion instruction was required. The only evidence
    proffered by Esters was the previously recounted exchange:
    [Esters to Della]—"Della, I wanted to know when I'll be able to see
    [Sara]."
    [Della to Jennifer]—"Jennifer, Gene wants to know when he'll be able
    to see [Sara]."
    [Jennifer to Esters]—"Gene, we will work out something."
    The second element under Wooten requires that the provocation "would
    commonly produce such a passion in a person of ordinary temper." See 
    Wooten, 400 S.W.3d at 605
    . Jennifer's response about working something out is not an
    unreasonable response such as "you'll never see your child again." It cannot be
    said that a person of ordinary temper would produce such sudden passion under
    these circumstances, and Esters cannot meet his burden under this element.
    Further, the fourth Wooten element requires that a causal connection exist
    between the provocation, the passion, and the homicide. 
    Id. Here, following
    the
    murder, Esters attempted to shoot himself, and when this failed, he said "[D]amn,
    I had a bullet for myself." This clearly indicates that this act was planned and that
    he set out to kill himself after killing Jennifer, thus negating his attempt to
    establish this fourth element of proof. Therefore, no error occurred in the
    omission of a sudden passion special instruction, and Esters's first issue is
    overruled.
    IV. A Prior Felony
    In his second issue, Esters asserts that the trial court committed
    fundamental charge error by submitting a special issue inquiring of a prior felony,
    thereby enhancing punishment. Esters argues that a California conviction for
    grand theft was not the equivalent of the type of felony required for punishment
    enhancement in Texas. The State responds that the Texas Penal Code only
    requires the State to prove that an out-of-state conviction was punishable in the
    penitentiary of that State in order to meet the definition of "felony" for
    enhancement purposes.
    A. Analysis
    Esters had been convicted of the offense of grand theft in California, which
    he argued was similar to a Texas state jail felony of theft between $1500 and
    $20,000, Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 31 .03(a)(4)(A), and that such state jail felonies
    cannot be used for repeat offender enhancement purposes. See Ex Parte White,
    
    211 S.W.3d 316
    (Tex. Crim. App. 2007).
    Punishment for a first degree felony offense can be enhanced to life
    imprisonment if it is shown that "the defendant has previously been finally
    convicted of a felony other than a state jail felony. . . ." Tex. Penal Code Ann.
    § 12.42(c) (West 2011 & Supp. 2014). The code further articulates that
    7
    any conviction not obtained from a prosecution under this [Penal]
    [C]ode shall be classified as follows: (1) 'felony of the third degree' if
    imprisonment in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice or
    another penitentiary is affixed to the offense as a possible
    punishment; (2) 'Class B misdemeanor' if the offense is not a felony
    and confinement in a jail is affixed to the offense as a possible
    punishment.
    
    Id. § 12.41(1)—(2)
    (West 2011) (emphasis added). Referring to this section, our
    Court of Criminal Appeals has told us that
    [T]he Legislature enacted a statute to deal specifically with the
    classification for enhancement purposes of convictions obtained
    outside the Penal Code. . . . [T]here can be no doubt that the
    Legislature intended to make convictions for felonies in federal
    courts as well as courts of other states available for enhancement
    purposes.
    Ex Parte Blume, 
    618 S.W.2d 373
    , 376 (Tex. Grim. App. 1981). These
    convictions are contrasted with convictions whose punishment is confinement in
    a jail. Specifically, "penitentiary" refers to facilities run by the Texas Department
    of Corrections, that is, a facility run by the State of Texas, as opposed to a
    "county jail run by the local sheriff." Smith v. State, 
    789 S.W.2d 590
    , 592 (Tex.
    Crim. App. 1990) (Clinton, J. concurring). The same state prison—versus—county
    jail distinction is made in California. See People v. Lopez, 218 Cal. App. 4th
    Supp. 6, 160 Gal. Rptr. 3d 678, 681 (2013). Therefore, we must determine
    whether Esters's out-of-state conviction resulted in confinement in a California
    penitentiary, which would be classified then as a felony for enhancement
    purposes. An examination of Esters's pen packet, contained in an exhibit
    introduced by the State, indicates in the "Abstract Of Judgment" that he was the
    subject of a "commitment to state prison." Therefore, this constitutes a "felony of
    the third degree" for purposes of the penal code section 12.41 (1), and no charge
    error occurred. Esters's second issue is overruled.
    V. Autopsy Photos
    Esters argues in his third issue that the trial court erred by admitting
    autopsy photos that were gruesome and unduly prejudicial.
    A. Standard of Review and Rule 403
    The standard of review for a trial court's admission of evidence is abuse of
    discretion, and wide discretion is afforded to the trial judge. Green v. State, 
    934 S.W.2d 92
    , 101-03 (Tex. Crim. App. 1996), cert. denied, 
    520 U.S. 1200
    (1997);
    Miller v. State, 
    196 S.W.3d 256
    , 267 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2006, pet. ref d);
    Hale v. State, 
    140 S.W.3d 381
    , 395 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2004, pet. ref d).
    The trial court's decision should be reversed on appeal only if there is a showing
    of abuse of discretion. 
    Green, 934 S.W.2d at 101-02
    ; 
    Miller, 196 S.W.3d at 267
    .
    Only if the court's decision falls outside the "zone of reasonable disagreement"
    has it abused its discretion. Rankin v. State, 
    974 S.W.2d 707
    , 718 (Tex. Crim.
    App. 1998) (op. on reh'g); Montgomery v. State, 
    810 S.W.2d 372
    , 391 (Tex.
    Crim. App. 1991) (op. on reh'g). This standard applies to the admission of
    photographs. See 
    Davis, 268 S.W.3d at 683
    .
    Evidence may be excluded under Texas Rule of Evidence 403 if its
    probative value is substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice. But
    this rule also favors the admission of relevant evidence, and such evidence is
    presumed to be more probative than prejudicial. See Shuffield v. State, 
    189 S.W.3d 782
    , 787 (Tex. Crim. App. 2006), cert. denied, 
    549 U.S. 1056
    (2006).
    B. Analysis
    We begin our review with an examination of the autopsy photos in
    question. Those photos include: two close-ups of head wounds, a close-up of
    bullet fragments and two of unfragmented bullets, four close-ups of arm wounds,
    a side wound, what appears to be a leg wound, and the front view of the head
    and shoulders of the victim. All of the wound photos are "clean" in that no blood
    is depicted and no internal tissue is shown. Dr. Lloyd White, a pathologist and
    deputy medical examiner for Tarrant County, took the photographs. He
    examined and photographed six wounds in connection with the formation of his
    opinion that death resulted from "penetrating handgun wounds of the chest" and
    that the manner of death was a homicide. He testified that he typically takes
    photographs during autopsies to help him explain the results of the autopsy if he
    is called to trial, such as occurred in this case. A review of his testimony reveals
    that he explained to the jury the six wounds in question including their location,
    entry and exit, and possible internal damage caused thereby.
    An examination of the case law in this area shows that much more graphic
    autopsy results have been deemed admissible than the bullet wounds shown in
    the subject photographs. We note that there is no depiction of dissection of the
    body, removed organs, or exposed body cavities. For example, in Davis v. State,
    
    313 S.W.3d 317
    (Tex. Crim. App. 2010), a cross section of the victims tongue
    was properly admitted when necessary to show an injury not otherwise visible.
    In Rayford v. State, 
    125 S.W.3d 521
    (Tex. Crim. App. 2003), depictions of
    autopsy procedures, including removed organs, were properly admitted. Nothing
    of this nature is contained in the autopsy photos in this case. Additionally,
    [a] court may consider many factors in determining whether the
    probative value of photographs is substantially outweighed by the
    danger of unfair prejudice, including: the number of exhibits offered,
    their gruesomeness, 31 their detail, their size, whether they are in
    color or black-and-white, whether they are close up, whether the
    body depicted is clothed or naked, the availability of other means of
    proof, and other circumstances unique to the individual case.
    See 
    Davis, 313 S.W.3d at 331
    .
    Turning to the above listed factors, only eleven autopsy photographs out of
    over 140 State's exhibits were introduced.             Under the commonsense
    understanding of the word they cannot be said to be "gruesome"; they are
    detailed only to the extent that they are well-photographed pictures of clean
    wounds that depict nothing under the surface of the skin and are blown-up
    pictures on boards for purposes of explanation by the assistant medical
    examiner. The record does not indicate whether the photos were color or black-
    and-white. All but one are close ups depicting no more of the body than
    necessary; the photographs of the arm and leg suggest that the body is
    uncovered but this is not shown in the photographs. Lastly, it would theoretically
    3Merriam Webster's Collegiate Dictionary defines "gruesome" as "inspiring
    horror or repulsion."
    11
    be possible, but more difficult, for the assistant medical examiner to testify about
    the location and description of the wounds without the photographs.
    Considering the foregoing factors, the previously discussed case law
    concerning the admission of autopsy photographs, and the importance of the fact
    that these autopsy photos are simply not "gruesome," we hold that the trial court
    did not abuse its discretion in admitting these photographs in connection with the
    testimony of the assistant medical examiner in explaining the wounds and their
    connection to the cause of death. Esters's third issue is overruled.
    VI. Conclusion
    Having overruled Esters's three issues, we affirm the judgment of the trial
    court.
    PER CURIAM
    PANEL: MCCOY, J.; LIVINGSTON, C.J.; and MEIER, J.
    LIVINGSTON, C.J., concurs without opinion.
    DO NOT PUBLISH
    Tex. R. App. P. 47.2(b)
    DELIVERED: October 30, 2014
    12
    COURT OF APPEALS
    SECOND DISTRICT OF TEXAS
    FORT WORTH
    NO. 02-13-00219-CR
    Eugene D. Esters                          §   From Criminal District Court No. 3
    § of Tarrant County (1263515D)
    v.                                        § October 3O,2014
    § Per Curiam
    The State of Texas                        § (nfp)
    JUDGMENT
    This court has considered the record on appeal in this case and holds that
    there was no error in the trial court's judgment. It is ordered that the judgment of
    the trial court is affirmed.
    SECOND DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS
    PER CURIAM
    APPENDIX "B"
    MOTION FOR REHEARING
    IN THE COURT OF APPEALS
    FOR THE SECOND DISTRICT OF TEXAS
    FORT WORTH, TEXAS
    NO. 02-13-00219-CR
    EUGENE D. ESTERS
    APPELLANT                                    From Criminal District Court No. 3
    of Tarrant County
    VS.                                        it
    Trial Court Case No. 1263515D
    THE STATE OF TEXAS,
    APPELLEE
    APPELLANT'S MOTION FOR REHEARING
    TO THE HONORABLE COURT OF APPEALS:
    COMES NOW, Eugene D. Esters, Appellant in the above-styled and numbered
    appeal, and, pursuant to Rule 49.5(c) of the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure, hereby
    files this Motion for Rehearing, and asks the Court to reconsider and withdraw its opinion
    of October 30, 2014 and shows as follows:
    1. Appellant respectfully requests the court to reconsider its opinion ruling against
    Appellant and withdraw its opinion and issue a new opinion granting him relief.
    Appellant's Motion for Rehearing                                                     Page 1
    WHEREFORE, PREMISES CONSIDERED, Appellant respectfully requests the
    court to reconsider its opinion of October 30, 2014 and prays the court to withdraw its
    opinion and submit a new opinion in favor of Appellant.
    Respectfully submitted,
    RICHARD A. HENDERSON P.C.
    100 Throckmorton Street, Suite 540
    Fort Worth, Texas 76102
    Telephone: 817-332-9602
    Facsimile: 817-335-3940
    richard(à,rcJ.he-4deson. corn
    A. Henderson
    State Bar No. 09427100
    ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT
    CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
    A true copy of the Appellant's Motion for Rehearing has been electronically served
    on opposing counsel, Mr. Charles Mallin, Assistant District Attorney, Chief of Appellant
    Section, Tarrant County District Attorney's Office, 401 W. Belknap Street, Fort Worth,
    Texas 76196, via the State's e-mail address, coaappellatealertstarrantcounty.corn and
    mailed, U.S. Regular Mail to Appellant, EugeneD Eçers, TDCJ #018567 15, William B.
    Clements Unit, 9601 Spur 591, Amarillo, Texas ,10j-9606 pn,'4his the              day of
    November 2014.
    A. Henderson
    Appellant's Motion for Rehearing                                                   Page 2
    APPENDIX "C"
    ORDER DENIED
    MOTION FOR REHEARING
    FILE COPY
    COURT OF APPEALS
    SECOND DISTRICT OF TEXAS
    FORT WORTH
    NO. 02-13-00219-CR
    EUGENE D. ESTERS                                                     APPELLANT
    V.
    THE STATE OF TEXAS                                                         STATE
    FROM CRIMINAL DISTRICT COURT NO.3 OF TARRANT COUNTY
    TRIAL COURT NO. 1263515D
    ORDER
    We have considered the "Appellant's Motion For Rehearing."
    It is the opinion of the court that the motion for rehearing should be and is
    hereby denied and that the opinion and judgment of October 30, 2014, stand
    unchanged.
    The clerk of this court is directed to transmit a copy of this order to the
    attorneys of record.
    DATED November 20, 2014.
    PER CURIAM
    PANEL: MCCOY, J.; LIVINGSTON, C.J.; and MEIER, J.