Morales v. State

OPINION

KENNEDY, Justice.

The appellant, Rodolfo Morales, was convicted for the first degree murder of Maria Covarrubias.1 He was tried by a jury and sentenced to life in prison. We reverse and remand for a new trial.

During the month before her death, eighteen-year-old Maria Covarrubias worked as a waitress at the Texas Lounge in Edin-burg, Texas. According to the testimony of her co-worker, Clara Chazaderth, and the owner of the Texas Lounge, Arnold Pena, Covarrubias was working on the night of November 17, 1985, when the appellant and Emeterio Martinez came in for a few drinks. At the time,…