Hines v. State

OPINION

Opinion by

Chief Justice CORNELIUS.

Carlos J. Hines was indicted for manslaughter in the death of his common law wife, Vanessa Hines. Hines testified that while cleaning the couple’s closet, he tossed a firearm onto the bed. The firearm discharged, firing a bullet into Ms. Hines and killing her. A jury found Hines guilty of the lesser included offense of criminally negligent homicide. The jury assessed punishment at two years’ confinement in a state jail and a $10,000.00 fine.

Hines filed a motion for new trial alleging jury misconduct. In his motion, Hines alleged that the jurors…