From Casetext: Smarter Legal Research

Allen v. State

Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas
Jun 26, 1974
511 S.W.2d 53 (Tex. Crim. App. 1974)

Summary

holding that Article 38.23, by its terms, applies only to illegally obtained evidence, not to in-court identifications

Summary of this case from Curry v. State

Opinion

No. 48625.

June 26, 1974.

Appeal from the Criminal District Court, Dallas County, James B. Zimmerman, J.

James P. Finstrom, Dallas, for appellant.

Henry Wade, Dist. Atty. and Richard W. Wilhelm, Asst. Dist. Atty., Dallas, Jim D. Vollers, State's Atty., Austin, for the State.


OPINION


This is an appeal from conviction for robbery; punishment was assessed at fifteen years.

By his first and fourth grounds of error, appellant contends the trial court erred in overruling his motion for new trial and in denying him compulsory process for a witness at the hearing on the motion for new trial. The record reflects that appellant was tried and judgment entered in July of 1970. His original motion for new trial was filed July 30, 1970. Under the provisions of Article 40.05, Vernon's Ann.C.C.P., this motion was overruled by operation of law twenty days thereafter. There is no showing in the record that any extension of time was granted or that good cause for any extension existed. Neither the trial court's action in overruling the amended motion for new trial nor process for attendance of witnesses for the hearing on said motion is before us for review where it appears from the record that said motion was filed Over two years after conviction. See St. Jules v. State, Tex.Cr.App., 438 S.W.2d 568.

Appellant next contends the trial court erred in denying his motion to suppress the in-court identifications by witnesses Ruiz and Cole. Following a pretrial hearing on the motion to suppress, the court denied the motion and entered findings of fact and conclusions of law. After reviewing the evidence, we find the trial court's decision is fully supported by the record. It appears that three photographic displays and one line-up were conducted in the investigation of this case. The first photographic display contained no photograph of appellant. At the second display a tentative identification was made, but the witnesses were not positive because of the poor quality of the picture. Identification was positive at the third display and also at the line-up, at which counsel for the accused was present. Each identification by each witness was made in the absence of the other. No suggestion was made by the investigating officers regarding who, if any of the persons in the line-up, were suspects in the case. The record supports the trial court's conclusion that the identifications were untainted and admissible.

Appellant's remaining contention is that the court erroneously overruled his special requested charge for an instruction under Article 38.23, V.A.C.C.P., with respect to the identification testimony. He cites no authority for the application of that article to in-court identifications. By its own terms it applies to illegally obtained evidence. We hold that in-court identifications are not within the scope of Article 38.23, supra.

Finding no reversible error, the judgment is affirmed.


Summaries of

Allen v. State

Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas
Jun 26, 1974
511 S.W.2d 53 (Tex. Crim. App. 1974)

holding that Article 38.23, by its terms, applies only to illegally obtained evidence, not to in-court identifications

Summary of this case from Curry v. State

holding article 38.23 does not apply to in-court identifications

Summary of this case from In re J.V.M.

In Allen v. State, 511 S.W.2d 53, 54 (Tex.Crim.App. 1974), the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals held that Article 38.23 does not apply to in-court identifications, but to illegally obtained evidence.

Summary of this case from McAllister v. State

In Allen v. State, 511 S.W.2d 53 (Tex.Cr.App. 1974), it was held that art. 38.23 by its terms applies only to illegally obtained evidence and that in-court identifications do not come within the scope of such article.

Summary of this case from Johnigan v. State
Case details for

Allen v. State

Case Details

Full title:Billy Frederick ALLEN, Appellant, v. The STATE of Texas, Appellee

Court:Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas

Date published: Jun 26, 1974

Citations

511 S.W.2d 53 (Tex. Crim. App. 1974)

Citing Cases

Hudson v. State

By its own terms, Article 38.23 applies only to illegally obtained evidence, but not identification. See…

Thomas v. State

The requirement for this type of instruction has been reviewed and rejected by the court of criminal appeals…