Napier v. State

Sears, Presiding Justice.

Appellants Jack Wayne Napier and James Neal Halley appeal their convictions for murder, concealing the death of another and auto theft.1 Among other things, appellants urge the trial court erred by forbidding voir dire questioning regarding appellants’ status as prison escapees and in charging the jury on certain statutory presumptions regarding venue. Because the issue of appellants’ escape from prison was relevant to the subject matter of the State’s prosecution, the trial court abused its discretion by prohibiting them from raising that issue during voir dire.…