State's exhibit 153A is a copy of an anonymous letter dated October 27, 1999, and addressed to Laylan Copelin, a newspaper reporter who was involved in the coverage of the Beard shooting. TRUE CRIME - CURRENT TRIALS, OLD or COLD CASES. The record shows that Lofton's motive to fabricate arose in the summer of 2002, when appellant gave her $200 dollars and Lofton began writing letters to appellant asking for favors. He was wealthy and was a member of the Austin Country Club where she worked as a waitress. It is reasonable in such a case to require the State to identify the alleged payor and payee in the indictment. Suddenly, Celeste had it all: a Texas mansion, plenty of money, and a stable life for her two daughters. Tarlton, a lesbian, testified that she loved appellant and believed appellant loved her. Nevertheless, appellant contends that rule 1006 was misused in this cause because the spreadsheets did not accurately summarize the actual billing records and contained additional, unsupported material that was no more than the State's view of the case masquerading as evidence. Evid. 801(e)(2)(A) (admission by party-opponent). Of the other numbers billed to Beard, four are identified as belonging to appellant, two are linked to Kristina, and two are shown to be Jennifer's. Appellant makes the same arguments with respect to Tarlton's encounter with a man named Reginald Breaux. Millholland also testified that after appellant and Tarlton were given separate rooms at Timberlawn, Tarlton told her that this problem would be solved if certain people met with untimely deaths. Miller testified that Tarlton was suffering from bipolar disorder and had a delusional belief that Beard was the bad guy who was pulling Celeste away from her and making trouble in Tracey's life. Brown testified that his review of the medical records led him to conclude that Tarlton had a pathological obsessive attachment to appellant. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Tex.R. Because appellant's civil deposition was not hearsay when offered against her, rule 804(b)(1) was inapplicable and any noncompliance with the rule, including the incorporated requirements of chapter 39, was irrelevant. I, 10. Appellant and Kristina were in another bedroom of the house at the time of the shooting. 801(e)(1)(B). The emboli traveled to the lungs and lodged in the pulmonary arteries, blocking the flow of blood and preventing the oxygenation process. ref'd) (inclusion of certain conclusions and characterizations did not render record summaries inadmissible). She said, I just felt like he was this man who had a whole bunch of money and he pushed his way through all this staff of people and he pushed his wife around and he, you know, grabbed here and grabbed there and didn't have any concern at all for anybody else, including her.. Cantu v. State, 939 S.W.2d 627, 635 (Tex.Crim.App.1997).6. The jury assessed life imprisonment and a $10,000 fine for the injury to an elderly person. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Point of error seventeen is overruled. There, she met Tracey Tarlton, who was another female patient. But Celeste vehemently denies any relationship: 'It wasnt like that. Appellant contends that her convictions for both capital murder and injury to an elderly person constitute double jeopardy. She gave him money to purchase a six-pack of beer at the convenience store. I am not sure what Celeste's real role in this was, but I can say from what I saw on TV , this women got an unfair trial! So I said I would do it,' Tracey explains. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. The only thing Celeste deserves more than her prison sentence is an award for being the most manipulative and damaging mother and wife in Texas. But if Celeste goes free, Steven Beards will calls for the girls to get significantly less. Benton v. Maryland, 395 U.S. 784, 787, 89 S.Ct. Did Celeste Beard daughters inherit money? Later that night, appellant came to Tarlton's residence and told Tarlton to park in a different location in order to avoid being seen by neighbors. When do the clocks change in 2023? Given these circumstances, it was a reasonable exercise of the trial court's discretion to conclude that the letter was written by appellant. Even when all the evidence is viewed in a neutral light, including the restrictions that were imposed on appellant's access to Beard's estate, the jury was justified in finding beyond a reasonable doubt that appellant acted for the purpose of receiving the alleged remuneration. She found the gate open as planned. In a legal sufficiency review, all the evidence is reviewed in the light most favorable to the verdict, and it is assumed that the trier of fact resolved conflicts in the testimony, weighed the evidence, and drew reasonable inferences in a manner that supports the verdict. V, XIV. Tarlton testified that the other cell phone billed to her was purchased in January 2000 after appellant's daughters changed all of the Beard telephone numbers. Obviously, this phone could not have been used by Beard, who died in January 2000. Counsel called one of the defense medical experts. amends. 5. Because Lofton's January 2003 statement was made after the motive to fabricate arose, it did not rehabilitate Lofton and was not admissible under rule 801(e)(1)(B). bu. The court ruled, I will allow you to ask if she went into St. David's because of the breakup of her relationship with Zan Ray. The court also allowed appellant to cross-examine Tarlton regarding her alleged recruitment of Ray into a lesbian relationship. The jury charge authorized appellant's convictions solely as a party to Tarlton's conduct. Proc. In addition to being found on the Beard computer, the letter contained numerous intimate details of appellant's life, confirmed by other evidence, that collectively support an inference that she was the author: her previous marriages, the suicide of her second husband, meeting Tarlton while both were receiving psychiatric treatment, the upcoming trip to Europe. First, it is important to choose the right type of planter and support system for your plants. Appellant was also fearful that her infidelity, if known, would effect her rights under the marital agreement. Tracey fell for Celeste's lies about Steven's abusive behaviour. celeste is every bit the evil murderer that is portrayed. The exact nature of the two womens relationship is unclear, but according to Snapped, they spent a lot of time together and Tarlton harbored romantic feelings. Ninety-four calls totaling 389 minutes were made between these phones from October 2, 1999, through January 26, 2000. When Ray's husband committed suicide, Tarlton was very supportive and the two women soon began a romantic relationship. Appellant contends that her due process rights were violated by the trial court's remarks to Lofton. When asked by her daughters why she was talking to Tarlton, appellant denied doing so. At FindLaw.com, we pride ourselves on being the number one source of free legal information and resources on the web. Tex.R. You will have a far clearer perspective than you could ever get from an hour long crime show. Appellant arranged dates for herself and Goodson while in Houston. amends. At the time of their marriage, appellant and Beard signed a marital agreement by which Beard promised to give appellant one million dollars during the marriage. Appellant told her that someone was at the front door and asked her to investigate. See id. Celeste Beard Johnson . The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. Leal v. State, 782 S.W.2d 844, 852 (Tex.Crim.App.1989); and see Duff-Smith v. State, 685 S.W.2d 26, 33 (Tex.Crim.App.1985) (defendant's extreme haste to enjoy the fruits of [deceased's] estate considered corroborative of accomplice testimony). Appellant asserted other grounds for quashing the indictment, but she does not assert these other grounds on appeal. "I was devastated," said Celeste. She thought her friend was in danger and wanted to help her, and they attempted to kill him several times before Celeste took drastic action. This inference is also supported by evidence that by April 2000, the twins were estranged from appellant and no longer lived or communicated with her. She told Tarlton that Beard was already in bed asleep, and assured her that the house would be unlocked and the security system would be off. But if she still refuses to admit her guilt it is likely she will spend the rest of her life behind bars. What happened Steven Beard? The details of the Breaux incident were, in themselves, of little or no relevance to any material issue in the case, and the trial court could reasonably conclude that any probative value of the evidence was outweighed by the danger of undue delay and confusion of the issues. Consistent with this testimony, the spreadsheets show no activity for this phone number until January 2000. According to Goodson, appellant said she told the bankers, Do you remember how you used to kiss my husband's ass? In 2017, Celeste's daughter, Jennifer, was wounded . 2072, 23 L.Ed.2d 656 (1969). the defense argued that tracey was crazy and a pathological liar and should not be trusted but the same could also be said for celeste. 22.04(h) (West Supp.2005). Delaware v. Van Arsdall, 475 U.S. 673, 678-79, 106 S.Ct. In the facility, Johnson befriends fellow patient Tracey Tarlton the woman who would later be convicted for playing a role in Steves murder. A criminal defendant is constitutionally entitled to confront the witnesses against her. Celeste Beard JOHNSON, Appellant, v. The STATE of Texas, Appellee. Ann. Appellant called three experts to testify regarding Tarlton's mental status: Susan Millholland, a counselor who conducted individual therapy sessions with Tarlton while she was at Timberlawn in March 1999; Dr. Howard Miller, a psychiatrist who was Tarlton's attending physician at Timberlawn; and Dr. Jerome Brown, a clinical psychologist who had studied Tarlton's medical records dating from September 1998 but had never treated her. It is not necessary that the corroborating evidence directly connect the defendant to the crime or be sufficient in itself to establish the defendant's guilt. art. Goodson testified that during the trip to Houston for the rodeo, she and appellant were in their hotel room when appellant made the comment that Goodson had large breasts. Skin grafts were required to close the wound. Pen.Code Ann. and DeGuerin alleged that Johnson's daughters lied on the witness stand because they would inherit no money if their mother was acquitted. Exhibits 179 and 180 show all of the calls made to or from the billed numbers. In four additional points of error relating only to the capital murder conviction, appellant asserts that the evidence is legally and factually insufficient to prove the alleged cause of death and that the murder was committed for remuneration. There is evidence that Beard had a rash in his groin area at the time of his discharge from HealthSouth. Evid. This ruling was within the scope of the court's discretion. Const. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. Evidence that appellant made a sexual advance toward Goodson, urges the State, tended to corroborate Tarlton's description of her relationship with appellant as one of mutual sexual attraction. Beard's condition deteriorated at the hospital, and he died on January 22, 2000. Acting on the tip from appellant's daughters, Knight and Officer Rick Wines interviewed Tarlton at her house on the afternoon of October 2. Appellant contends that the trial court violated her due process rights by threatening Lofton with perjury charges prior to her testimony. Steven fought for his life for months in hospital, and was eventually released. Each spreadsheet also has five additional columns for five land line phone numbers for which the State did not have billing records. Tarlton called appellant in June 2000 after not hearing from her for three weeks. That said, this was not justice, the real killer of this man will hit the streets in ten years, not a comforting thought and not justice. At about 3:00 a.m. on October 2, 1999, Tarlton entered Beard's bedroom and shot him in the abdomen with a shotgun while he slept. Tarlton ultimately pleaded guilty to murder and agreed to cooperate with the State in exchange for a twenty-year sentence. The opinions cited by the State involve evidence that the defendant sought to intimidate a witness. Other testimony shows that this was the so-called secret cell phone discovered in appellant's car on the day Beard died and later seen in appellant's possession. Steven gave his new wife a $35,000 (27,917) allowance each month. While this contact with the accomplice may not, in itself, be sufficient to corroborate Tarlton's testimony, it is corroborative when considered in light of the other evidence. 1006. According to Lofton, Tarlton said that she called the Beard house immediately after the shooting and asked appellant to retrieve the shotgun shell. We decline to consider the recording over the State's objection because it is not part of the official record and because the reporter's record is adequate for our consideration of this point of error. Only Celeste failed to do so, and a police ballistics team traced the cartridge back to Tracey and she was arrested. 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