Romero v. State

in which PRICE, WOMACK, JOHNSON, KEASLER, HERVEY and COCHRAN, JJ„ joined.

The question before us is whether the defendant’s Sixth Amendment right to confront witnesses was violated when a witness testified in disguise. Although this is a very close issue, and one undecided by the United States Supreme Court, we answer that question “yes” and affirm the judgment of the Court of Appeals.

I. BACKGROUND

Appellant was indicted for aggravated assault.2 On the morning of trial, Cesar Hiran Vasquez, one of the State’s key witnesses, arrived at the courthouse but refused to enter the courtroom to…