State v. Cynthia Ambrose

OPINION

Opinion by:

Luz Elena D. Chapa, Justice

The State appeals the trial court’s order granting Cynthia Ambrose a new trial. The trial court granted Ambrose’s motion on the basis that the trial court failed to sua sponte submit an accomplice-witness instruction to the jury and that its failure egregiously harmed Ambrose. The State challenges both components of the trial court’s basis for granting the motion. Because we agree that the absence of an accomplice-witness instruction did not egregiously harm Ambrose, we reverse and remand the case to the trial court.

Background

In December 2012,…