Goff v. State

I dissent to the majority’s disposition of this cause for reasons articulated in my dissenting opinions in Lawrence v. State, 700 S.W.2d 208, at 215 (Tex.Cr.App.1986) and Ex parte Chandler, 719 S.W.2d 602 (Tex.Cr.App.). I would also take issue with the conclusion of the court of appeals that the issue of “sudden passion” was not raised in this cause.

The court of appeals concluded that appellant’s testimony, liberally excerpted in the majority opinion, failed to raise the issue of voluntary manslaughter. Specifically the court found that, because appellant testified he wanted, in effect, to…