Bansal v. State

OPINION

HOLLIS HORTON, Justice.

The issue in this case is whether the defendant in a criminal case is entitled to represent himself at trial. The trial court refused to allow the defendant to represent himself and attempted to rectify the mistake by conducting a second trial wherein the defendant did represent himself. Devendrá Prakash Babulal Bansal, the defendant, was accused of harassment. The jury in the first trial, where Bansal was represented by counsel, and the jury in the second trial, where he represented himself, both found him guilty. Bansal successfully challenged the verdict in…