Direct Appeal

No. 72,795

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OF TEXAS

DARLIE LYNN ROUTIER,

Appellant

THE STATE OF TEXAS,

Appellee

APPELLANT'S BRIEF

On Appeal from the

Criminal District Court No. 3 of

Dallas County, Texas

Trial Court No. F96-39973-J

TO THE HONORABLE JUDGES OF THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS:

COMES NOW DARLIE LYNN ROUTIER, Appellant in the above styled and numbered cause and files this her Appellant's Brief in support of her prayer that the judgment of conviction be reversed and the cause remanded for a new trial and, as appropriate, the Court order further hearings in the trial court as requested herein.

STATEMENT OF THE CASE

Appellant was indicted for the capital murder of a child under the age of six. TEX.PENAL CODE ANN. §19.03(a)(8). A jury found Appellant guilty as charged, CR.1A: 150, and by operation of the jury's answers to the two special issues, CR.1A: 220-1, punishment was assessed at death, CR.1A: 220.

POINTS OF ERROR

Point of Error NUMBER ONE

APPELLANT'S SIXTH AMENDMENT RIGHT TO EFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE OF COUNSEL WAS VIOLATED BECAUSE HER LEAD COUNSEL HAD AN ACTUAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST AND THE TRIAL COURT DID NOT CONDUCT A HEARING ON THE STATE'S MOTION TO DETERMINE WHETHER HE SHOULD BE DISQUALIFIED.

Point of Error NUMBER TWO

APPELLANT'S CONVICTION MUST BE REVERSED BECAUSE A SIGNIFICANT PART OF THE REPORTER'S RECORD NECESSARY TO THE APPEAL WAS LOST OR DESTROYED THROUGH NO FAULT OF HER OWN.

Point of Error NUMBER THREE

APPELLANT IS ENTITLED TO A NEW TRIAL BECAUSE THE REPORTER'S RECORD DOES NOT CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF TEX.R.APP.P. 34.6(A)(1) AND THE DEFECT CANNOT BE CORRECTED.

Point of Error NUMBER FOUR

APPELLANT IS ENTITLED TO A HEARING WHICH COMPORTS WITH DUE PROCESS ON HER OBJECTIONS TO THE COMPLETENESS AND ACCURACY OF THE REPORTER'S RECORD BEFORE IT CAN BE USED TO DECIDE HER APPEAL.

Point of Error FIVE

APPELLANT IS ENTITLED TO A RULE 34.6(E)(2) HEARING TO SETTLE THE DISPUTES ABOUT THE REPORTER'S RECORD BEFORE IT CAN BE USED TO DECIDE HER APPEAL.

POINT OF ERROR NUMBER SIX

THE COURT VIOLATED FORMER TEX.R.CRIM.EVID. 613 WHEN IT REFUSED TO ALLOW APPELLANT'S PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR TO TESTIFY ABOUT A PRIOR INCONSISTENT STATEMENT OF THE STATE'S BLOOD SPATTER EXPERT.

POINT OF ERROR NUMBER SEVEN

THE COURT DENIED APPELLANT DUE PROCESS WHEN IT REFUSED TO ALLOW HER PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR TO TESTIFY ABOUT A PRIOR INCONSISTENT STATEMENT OF THE STATE'S BLOOD SPATTER EXPERT.

POINT OF ERROR NUMBER EIGHT

THE TRIAL COURT VIOLATED APPELLANT'S RIGHT TO COUNSEL BY USING AN UNRECORDED EX PARTE COMMUNICATION FROM AN UNNAMED PERSON THAT OCCURRED WHEN HER LAWYER WAS NOT THERE AS THE ONLY BASIS FOR DISCHARGING A SWORN JUROR.

POINT OF ERROR NUMBER NINE

THE TRIAL COURT VIOLATED APPELLANT'S RIGHT TO BE PRESENT DURING AN UNRECORDED EX PARTE COMMUNICATION WITH AN UNNAMED PERSON THAT PROVIDED THE ONLY BASIS FOR THE TRIAL COURT'S FINDING THAT A SWORN JUROR WAS DISABLED.

POINT OF ERROR NUMBER TEN

THE TRIAL COURT ABUSED ITS DISCRETION UNDER TEX.CODE CRIM.PROC.ANN.ART. 36.29 BY REPLACING A SWORN JUROR WHEN THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE IN THE RECORD TO SHOW THAT SHE WAS DISABLED.

POINT OF ERROR NUMBER ELEVEN

THE TRIAL COURT VIOLATED TEX.CODE CRIM.PROC. ANN.ART. 36.27, BY PROVIDING THE JURY WITH AN INACCURATE TRANSCRIPT OF A CRUCIAL PART OF DARIN ROUTIER'S TESTIMONY WHEN APPELLANT WAS NOT PRESENT.

POINT OF ERROR NUMBER TWELVE

THE TRIAL COURT VIOLATED TEX.CODE CRIM.PROC. ANN.ART. 33.03, BY PROVIDING THE JURY WITH AN INACCURATE TRANSCRIPT OF A CRUCIAL PART OF DARIN ROUTIER'S TESTIMONY WHEN APPELLANT WAS NOT PRESENT.

POINT OF ERROR NUMBER THIRTEEN

THE TRIAL COURT VIOLATED APPELLANT'S DUE PROCESS RIGHT TO BE PRESENT AT A CRITICAL STAGE OF HER TRIAL BY PROVIDING THE JURY WITH AN INACCURATE TRANSCRIPT OF A CRUCIAL PART OF HER HUSBAND'S TESTIMONY WHEN SHE WAS NOT PRESENT.

POINT OF ERROR NUMBER FOURTEEN

THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN REFUSING TO RULE ON APPELLANT'S FORMAL BILL OF EXCEPTION.

STATEMENT OF FACTS

Darlie Lynn Routier was charged with stabbing her five-year-old son to death in the early morning hours of June 6, 1996, in the downstairs "Roman" room of her own home. She was further accused of stabbing to death her six-year-old son Devon in the same transaction while her husband Darin and infant son Drake were asleep upstairs. RR.29: 31. Appellant's motive for these acts as alleged by the State was that she was "angry" over her family's purported economic difficulties and the negative effect this had on her "lifestyle." RR.29: 34.

Appellant's written and oral statements explained that she and her two older boys went to sleep in front of the big screen TV that summer's evening. Appellant had frequently slept downstairs recently because the baby's movement in the crib in her bedroom often woke up this young mother. RR.29: 36; Defendant's Exhibit No. 76A; RR.53: 6143.

Appellant said she was awakened during the night from the feeling of pressure on her shoulder and the sound of Damon saying "Mommy." Defendant's Exhibit No. 76A; RR.53: 6143. She then saw a male intruder walking away from her and then go through the kitchen, through the utility room, and out to the attached garage. Appellant followed this person initially, then turned on a light, and she saw a big knife on the floor which she picked up and placed on the kitchen counter. She ultimately noticed blood all over the Roman room, saw her children injured, and noticed she too was bleeding. Appellant screamed for her husband who soon came downstairs and she called 911. Defendant's Exhibit No. 76A; RR.53: 6143

The police investigation of the scene discovered in the garage an open window with a screen which had been cut; a variety of blood "trails" in the house; and microscopic fiber on the household's bread knife that was similar to the material from which the cut screen was made; and four spots of blood on Appellant's night-shirt which each had combinations of Appellant's blood and of one or the other dead boys. RR.28: 41-2.

The police also found a sock down an alley some 75 yards from Appellant's house which contained the blood of both Devon and Damon, but not Appellant's. RR.28: 46.

The police focused their investigation on Appellant virtually from their arrival and weeks prior to any confirmed analysis of the blood evidence and in doing so all but ignored the reports from neighbors of a suspicious black car which had been seen in the area recently, including the night of the offense. RR.28: 47-8.

The State's theory was that Appellant's wounds were "superficial," although this was a medical term simply meaning not "deep." Actually, Appellant's slashed throat was but 2 millimeters away from causing her death in 2-3 minutes time. RR.30: 795-6. It is strongly urged that this Court review the photographs of Appellant's injuries. Such will reveal the same to be anything but "superficial" in non-medical language. Defendant's Exhibit Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 91, 92; RR.53: 6067, 6068, 6069, 6070, 6071, 6160, 6161. State's Exhibit Nos. 52A, 52B, 52C; RR.51: 5914, 5915, 5916.

Further specific evidence and testimony will be cited in support of the relevant points of error herein.

SUMMARY OF THE ARGUMENTS

The record fails to reflect Appellant waived her constitutional right to conflict-free counsel after the State filed a motion alleging her lead counsel might have a conflict from his previous representation of Appellant's husband.

A significant portion of the reporter's record was lost or destroyed thus requiring a reversal of the conviction. Additionally, Appellant is entitled to a new trial because the reporter's record fails to conform with the law and cannot be corrected, or, alternatively, Appellant is entitled to a hearing on her challenges to the record.

The trial court's refusal, because of a violation of "the Rule," to permit Appellant's investigator to testify as to what the State's bloodstain expert told the investigator and defense attorneys violated the applicable rule and due process.

The trial court excused a sworn juror in violation of the rules and constitution.

The trial court also violated the rules and constitutions in addressing and answering a jury question during deliberations outside Appellant's presence.

Lastly, the trial court erred in refusing to act on a formal bill of exception filed by Appellant.

Point of Error NUMBER ONE

(Restated)

STATEMENT OF FACTS

Appellant's Lead Counsel Represented Her Husband

At A Hearing That Was Substantially Related To The

Facts Of Her Case When Her Husband Was A

Prosecution Witness And A Suspect

Appellant was initially represented by court appointed counsel because she could not afford to retain a lawyer. On September 19, 1996, the State filed a motion to discharge her court appointed attorneys because she was no longer indigent. The State's motion alleged that Douglas Mulder, "one of the most . . . successful attorneys in the State of Texas," had informed the trial court on September 12, 1996, that he was retained to represent Appellant. CR.1B: 474-75. [1]

Appellant's court appointed lawyers appeared as her counsel of record and Mulder was present in the courtroom on September 20, 1996, when the trial court conducted a show cause hearing to determine whether her husband, Darin Routier, and her mother, Darlie Kee, should be held in contempt for violating a gag order. RR.8: 6-7; [2] CR.1A: 11-16. At the beginning of the hearing, Mulder announced, "I am retained by Ms. Kee to represent her and she has asked me to represent Darin as well, I didn't know that until this morning." RR.8: 8. Mulder informed the trial court that he asked one of Appellant's attorneys to represent Darin, but the attorney told him that he could not do so. RR.8: 8.

Darin Routier was accused of violating a gag order which prohibited any witness or prospective witness from furnishing "any statement or information which could reasonably be expected to be disseminated by means of public communication" about the following subjects: 1) the expected testimony of the defendant or any witness; 2) the character, reputation or credibility of a witness; 3) the contents of any statement given by the defendant and 4) the nature of the evidence which may be presented. CR.1A: 12-14. Darin Routier was a witness and a prospective witness because he had testified about the facts of the case at a bond hearing and received a subpoena to testify for the State at the trial. RR.8: 8.

The show cause order alleged that Darin Routier provided unspecified "statements and information" about Appellant's case "to the KRLD radio talk show hosted by Rick Roberts which was aired on July 26, 1996" after he received his subpoena. CR.1B: 309. On the day after the talk show was broadcast, a Dallas newspaper published a story which stated, "prosecutors and police reacted angrily yesterday after the mother and husband of Darlie Routier appeared on a radio talk show to contend that Routier is innocent of charges that she fatally stabbed her two children. Assistant District Attorney Greg Davis filed a notice that Darlie Kee and Darin Routier had violated a court gag order and asked District Judge Mark Tolle to schedule a hearing to consider sanctions against them." Defendant's Ex. 70, p. 6; S.Ex. [3] The article also stated that Rowlett Police Chief Randall Posey was "outraged that the Routiers would so directly violate Judge Tolle's court order." Defendant's Exhibit. 70, p. 7; S.Ex.1.

When the State introduced a tape recording of the Rick Roberts talk show at the hearing, Mulder assured the trial court that he had already reviewed it. RR.8: 9-10; State's Exhibit ZZZ. Mulder did not introduce any evidence or call Darin as a witness. RR.8: 12. Without placing him under oath, the trial court asked Darin whether he knew that the gag order pertained to him but it did not question him about what he said to the media. Darin acknowledged that he received a subpoena to testify for the prosecution, but he claimed that he was not aware that the gag order applied to him. RR.8: 12-13.

Mulder argued that Darin Routier did not violate the gag order by appearing on the talk show because "as I understand it, he did not discuss the evidence or really anything that pertained to the case." RR.8: 12. The trial court reluctantly agreed with Mulder: "Well, I have heard what Mr. Routier stated on the show. I listened to those tapes several times. You did not go into any of the facts of the case. You were under the gag order, but since you did not go into any of the facts in the case, the Court, at this time, is unable to hold you in contempt." RR.8: 12-13.

Lead Counsel's Third Party Fee Arrangement

When the show cause hearing was completed, the trial court asked Darin Routier whether he had retained Mulder to represent Appellant at her trial. RR.8: 16. Darin denied this. RR.8: 16-17. The trial court then asked Darin whether Appellant had arranged to have Mulder represent her at her trial. RR.8: 16. Darin responded that he did not know of such an arrangement, but he added, "I don't understand exactly what-- he has met with her." RR.8: 17. The trial court repeated the question and Darin unequivocally denied that Appellant had made any arrangements to have Mulder represent her. RR.8: 17.

Mulder attempted to clarify his role in the case by informing the trial court that Kee retained him as a "consultant" to assist Appellant's court appointed lawyers. RR.8: 17. The trial court ruled that Mulder could act as a consultant to her appointed counsel and remain in the courtroom during the trial, but he could not file motions or directly participate in the litigation of the case. RR.8: 18. The trial court advised Mulder that he had to file a formal motion to substitute himself as counsel of record before he could take control of the defense. RR.8: 19.

The Uncertified Record Of The Hearing On The

Motion To Substitute Counsel

Mulder filed a written motion to substitute himself and his associates as Appellant's counsel of record on October 21, 1996, which was the first day of jury selection. CR.1A: 52. The trial court's entry on docket sheet for that date stated, "hearing on atty Douglas Mulder's motion to substitute counsel. Testimony & evidence rec'd. Motion granted. Douglas Mulder & associates substituted as def's attorneys in this case." CR.1A: 6.

There is no certified reporter's record of the proceedings on the morning of October 21, 1996. The proceedings were stenographically transcribed by the court reporter who filed the original record in this case, Sandra Halsey, but the trial court found that Halsey's entire record had to be replaced with a new record because it did not conform to what happened at the trial. SCR.1: 128-9.

The court reporter who prepared the new record, Susan Simmons, included a 54 page uncertified English translation of Halsey's paper stenographic notes of the proceedings on the morning of October 21, 1996, in Volume 10 of the new record. RR.10: 1-54. Simmons signed a certificate in that volume, but it expressly states that Simmons did not certify that those pages were a true and correct transcription of what happened in court. [4]

Mulder's prior representation of Darin Routier at the show cause hearing was not mentioned in the uncertified English translation of Halsey's stenographic record of the proceedings on the morning of October 21, 1996. The uncertified pages did contain a brief discussion of a separate conflict of interest arising from Mulder's representation of Appellant's mother, Darlie Kee. RR.10: 9-10.

According to Halsey's uncertified stenographic notes, when Mulder presented his motion to substitute himself as Appellant's attorney of record, the trial court asked Mulder whether his "arrangement as a consultant" with Kee was terminated. RR.10: 9-10. Mulder responded that it was "expanded" to include representation of Appellant during the trial. RR.10: 10.

The trial court asked Appellant whether she wanted Mulder to represent her. Appellant stated that she did. RR:10: 10. The trial court then asked Appellant:

[THE COURT:] ... If there is any potential conflict with Mr. Mulder representing you and being a consultant to Ms. Kee, do you waive any potential conflict that might exist.

THE DEFENDANT: I'm not sure if I understand.

MR. DOUGLAS MULDER: He wants to know if you give up any claim to a conflict in so far as I represent your mother as a consultant.

THE DEFENDANT: No, there is no conflict.

THE COURT: So you waive any conflict that might exist, is that correct?

THE DEFENDANT: Yes, sir.

RR.10: 10-11. (Emphasis added.)

The trial court granted Mulder's motion to substitute himself and his associates as Appellant's counsel of record and discharged her court appointed attorneys after that colloquy was completed. RR.10: 11.

The State's Motion To Determine Whether

Appellant's Lead Counsel Had A Conflict Of Interest

On November 12, 1996, the State filed a motion that was styled NOTICE OF POSSIBLE CONFLICT OF INTEREST. CR.1A: 55. The State's motion asked the trial court to determine whether Mulder had an actual conflict of interest because of his prior representation of Darin Routier at the show cause hearing and, if so, whether Appellant and Darin Routier would waive it. CR.1A: 55-56. The State's motion alleged that Mulder knew when he represented Darin Routier:

... that the State disbelieved and intended to disprove the defendant's claim that these murders were committed by an unknown intruder. Mr. Mulder knew that the only other adult person in the residence during and immediately after these murders was his other client, Darin Routier. Mr. Mulder knew that the State's investigation was ongoing with regards to the analysis of physical evidence. Recent analysis of physical evidence suggests that Darin Routier may have participated with the defendant in the crime or cover-up of the crime.

CR.1A: 56.

The State disclosed two new pieces of circumstantial evidence that connected Darin to the murder of his sons and linked him to the stabbing of Appellant. A white tube sock that was found in the alley behind the Routier house had the blood of both children, a faint trace of Appellant's DNA, and fibers from Darin's sneakers on it. RR.38: 3127-8, 3144-5; CR.1A: 58. There was also a head hair on the knife that inflicted the children's wounds and Appellant's

wounds which matched a known sample of Darin's head hair. CR.1A: 58-59.

The Evidence Of Darin Routier's Guilt

That The Trial Court Was Aware Of

The trial court was aware of the significance of the new evidence that connected Darin Routier to the murder weapon and sock because the State presented a preview of its case at a bond hearing. [5] The record of that hearing and the trial contains a substantial amount of other circumstantial evidence which also tended to incriminate Darin Routier.

Darin Routier had a powerful pecuniary motive to kill Appellant. Darin's business was failing and he was deeply in debt. RR.1: 10-38. Appellant's life was insured for $250,000. RR.5: 315; HR.6: 491; Defendant's Exhibit No. 6, p. 3. [6]

Appellant suffered multiple knife wounds during the offense, HR.6: 475-7; State's Exhibit Nos. 17-19, and Darin was totally unharmed, HR.6: 490; Defendant's Exhibit No. 5, p. 3. Dr. Vincent DiMaio testified that Appellant could not have inflicted her own wounds and she had to stab herself with both hands to do so. RR.43: 4524; 4548-50.

A significant part of Darin's description of what happened on the night of the murder was implausible and inconsistent with Appellant's version. Darin was in the bedroom on the second floor and Appellant was on the first floor with their sons, Damon and Devin, when the children and Appellant were stabbed. Darin testified at a pre-trial hearing that he was awakened by the sound of glass breaking and Appellant screaming. RR.4: 123. Darin and Appellant agreed in their written statements that Darin ran down the stairs and went straight to the room where the boys were attacked. HR.6: 478; State's Exhibit No. 20, p. 7; HR.6: 488; Defendant's Exhibit No. 3, p. 2. Appellant told the police that Darin yelled, "What is it? What is it?" and she responded, "he cut them, he tried to kill me, my neck." HR.6: 478; State's Exhibit No. 20. At the bond hearing, Darin acknowledged that he saw Appellant standing at the foot of the stairs when he came out of the bedroom. RR.4: 127. Appellant's throat was cut and her white night shirt was drenched in blood, but Darin claimed in his written statement that he ran past Appellant to the room where the boys were killed

without noticing that she was injured. HR.6: 488; Defendant's Exhibit No. 3, p. 5.

Darin Routier made suspiciously inconsistent statements about his blue jeans. At the hospital early after the attacks, the police noticed blood on his blue jeans and a tear just below the right knee. When asked about the tear, he said he got it while working on the back yard gate just the day before. According to the police report, he didn't explain how blood got on his jeans because he said he came down the stairs naked and got blood on his stomach and bare knees while trying to give CPR to Devon. HR.6: 488; Defendant's Exhibit No. 5, p. 3. In his written statement, Darin told the police that he went to sleep naked, rushed downstairs nude when he heard Appellant scream, and then went back upstairs to put his pants on after he gave first aid to the children. HR.6: 488; Defendant's Exhibit No. 3, p. 3. At the bond hearing, Darin claimed that he went to sleep nude and took the time to put his jeans on before he rushed downstairs to find out why Appellant was screaming. RR.4: 124.

Several eyewitnesses saw Darin Routier remain at the crime scene for an inordinate amount of time after Appellant was rushed to the hospital. Officer Matt Walling noticed that Darin was sitting on the curb near the house after the ambulance left. Walling asked Darin whether he had a way to get to the hospital and Darin told him that he did not. One of Darin's neighbors assured Walling that he would drive Darin to the hospital. Thirty minutes later Walling noticed that Darin was still at the crime scene. Walling told him that he had to go to the hospital and he finally left. S.Ex.1; Defendant's Exhibit No. 70.

A neighbor, Nelda Watts, saw Darin lingering at the crime scene when his wounded wife and dead children were at the hospital. Watts thought that it was "strange" that Darin did not leave. She told the police that she believed that Darin and Appellant were both involved in the capital murder. S.Ex.1; Defendant's Exhibit No. 70.

Another neighbor, Bill Gorsuch, also saw Darin lingering at the crime scene. Gorsuch thought that it was very strange that Darin did not appear to be upset. S.Ex.1; Defendant's Exhibit No. 70.

When the surgeons were operating on Appellant at the hospital, Detective Patterson noticed that Darin "acted as if nothing serious had happened." HR.6: 490; Defendant's Exhibit No. 5, p. 3. Darin "smiled and laughed" and boasted to the detective about the size of Appellant's breasts. HR.6: 490; Defendant's Exhibit No. 5, p. 2.

Appellant's statements to the police did not conclusively exonerate her husband. Appellant stated that she only had a brief glimpse of her assailant in the dim light that emanated from a large screen television a moment after she regained consciousness. Appellant was initially uncertain about the intruder's race and she did not see his face. Her description of a white male with long hair in blue jeans fit Darin as far as it went: Darin wore blue jeans that night and he had his hair in a pony tail at the hospital. RR.4: 54, 111-2; HR.6: 489; Defendant's Exhibit No. 4, p. 3; S.Ex.1; Defendant's Exhibit No. 70, Supplemental Report of Officer Walling at p.2; Statement of E. Zimmerman at p.3.

The Trial Court's Unfulfilled Promises To Conduct

A Hearing To Determine Whether Appellant's Lead

Counsel Had A Conflict Of Interest

On November 12, 1996, the same day that the State's NOTICE OF POSSIBLE CONFLICT OF INTEREST motion was filed, the trial court conducted the following colloquy with Appellant and two of the prosecutors:

THE COURT: All right. Let's put on the record. I have in my possession notice of motion, notice of possible conflict of interest, by Gregory Davis, an Assistant District Attorney from Dallas asking me to ascertain whether or not Mr. Mulder has any conflict of interest in this case. And I believe that the record will reflect that I have already asked these same questions of Mr. Mulder when we first started and that Mrs. Routier previously waived any conflict of interest. Is that not so, Miss Routier?

THE DEFENDANT: Yes, yes sir.

THE COURT: And I believe that your husband Darin Routier also knowingly and intentionally waived any conflict of interest.

THE DEFENDANT: Yes, he did.

THE COURT: I think that was all in the record. Was it not?

THE DEFENDANT: It was asked to us at the beginning when we changed.

THE COURT: That is my recollection of things.

THE DEFENDANT: Yes, sir.

THE COURT: We did that the first day here, didn't we?

MR. TOBY L. SHOOK: I think so.

THE DEFENDANT: We did it that day, but you had asked me when I was changing attorneys.

THE COURT: Yes, ma'am. But I mean in Kerrville. We did it right then and there.

THE DEFENDANT: Yes.

THE COURT: As I recall it, it was the first day before the jury, change of venue and all that, before we got into the jury selection.

MS. SHERRI WALLACE: Judge, I think this is new evidence and Greg just wanted to make real sure. There is some new evidence.

THE COURT: Well, I will tell you what will do. We will have the hearing when this jury's picked. We will have a hearing all over and I will ask Miss Routier again and I will ask Mr. Routier again. I'm sure we will see what the questions are.

THE DEFENDANT: I know you have to go through that procedure but the questions will be--.

THE COURT: Well, I feel I will not be surprised at the same answers. Thank you. But we will do it after we get this jury picked.

THE DEFENDANT: Yes, sir.

THE COURT: All right.

RR.22: 2668-70. (Emphasis added.)

On November, 18, 1996, the trial court briefly addressed the State's motion to determine whether Mulder had a conflict of interest because of his representation of Darin Routier again without ruling on it:

THE COURT: ... Now, I have several motions. I have a motion filed last week considering any conflict of interest that Mr. Mulder might have. The Routiers, I think, we have already waived that. We have got him on the record when they came down here the first day. Was it not, Mrs. Halsey?

THE COURT REPORTER: Yes, sir.

THE COURT: On the 21st, as I recall, I put Ms. Kee under oath, Mr. Routier under oath, Ms. Darlie Routier, the defendant, under oath for this purpose only. And they both waived any conflicts that may exist. Has anything new happened since then?

MR. RICHARD MOSTY: Our response, that Darlie Routier signed last week further reconfirms that.

THE COURT: That's right. She reconfirmed it last week. Now, we can have a brief hearing when we start this on the 6th if everybody wants to, but I'm quite sure the answers will be the same.

RR.26: 3322-23.

The signed "response" that defense counsel Mosty referred to is not in the record. Despite this second promise to conduct a hearing on the State's conflict motion, such is never mentioned again in the appellate record of the trial.

ARGUMENT AND AUTHORITIES

Appellant's Sixth Amendment right to effective assistance of counsel was violated because the trial court did not conduct a hearing on the State's motion to determine whether her lead attorney, Doug Mulder, had a conflict of interest. There is no reason to remand the case for such a hearing now because the record clearly shows that Mulder had an actual conflict of interest and prejudice must be presumed.

The Trial Court Violated Its Constitutional Duty

To Conduct A Hearing On The State's Motion To

Determine Whether Appellant's Lead Counsel

Had A Conflict Of Interest

The Sixth Amendment guarantee of effective assistance of counsel cannot be satisfied "when the advocate's conflicting obligations have effectively sealed his lips on crucial matters." Holloway v. Arkansas, 435 U.S. 475, 490 (1978). An actual conflict of interest existed if counsel's duties of loyalty or confidentiality to the defendant and another client were inherently opposed to each other. Perillo v. Johnson, 205 F.3d 775, 797 (5th Cir. 2000); Ramirez v. State, 13 S.W.3d 482, 486 (Tex.App. - Corpus Christi 2000, pet.dism'd, improvidently granted, 2001 WL 599698 Tex.Crim.App., May 30, 2001).

A trial "court confronted with and alerted to possible conflicts of interest must take adequate steps to ascertain whether the conflicts warrant" a substitution of counsel. Wheat v. United States, 486 U.S. 153,160 (1988); accord Lerma v. State, 679 S.W.2d 488, 497 (Tex.Crim.App. 1984). There are three circumstances in which the trial court must conduct a hearing to determine whether counsel should be disqualified:

1. the attorney or the defendant made a timely objection to a potential conflict of interest, Holloway v. Arkansas, 435 U.S. at 488;

2. the prosecutor raised the issue and the "facts demonstrate convincingly the duty of the court to recognize the possibility of a disqualifying conflict of interest," Wood v. Georgia, 450 U.S. 261, 272-73 (1981); or

3. the trial court "knows or reasonably should know that a particular conflict exists" in spite of the fact that neither party raised the issue. Cuyler v. Sullivan, 446 U.S. 335, 346-47 (1980).

The State's motion to determine whether Mulder had a conflict of interest because of his representation of Darin Routier was certainly sufficient to trigger a constitutionally mandatory hearing. Wheat v. United States, 486 U.S. at 160; Wood v. Georgia, 450 U.S. at 273. The potential for a conflict existed for three reasons. First, Darin Routier was suspected of participating in the crime that Appellant was accused of. Maya v. State, 932 S.W.2d 633 (Tex.App. Houston [14th Dist.] 1996, no pet.). Second, Darin was an important prosecution witness. [7] United States v. Martinez, 630 F.2d 361 (5th Cir. 1980). Third, there was substantial relationship between Mulder's representation of Darin and Appellant. Webb v. State, 433 So.2d 496 (Fla. 1983) (hearing was required to determine whether counsel had a conflict because he represented defendant's wife at proceeding to hold her in contempt for not complying with prosecution's subpoena to testify at his capital murder trial). The need for a hearing was so obvious that the trial court "reminded the defense that [it] had inquired into a possible conflict several weeks" before the State raised the issue. Lerma v. State, 679 S.W.2d at 496.

The trial court did not perform its constitutional duty to conduct a hearing about the conflict that arose from Mulder's representation of Appellant's husband regardless of whether the uncertified English translation of Halsey's stenographic notes of the proceedings on the morning of October 21, 1996, can be considered as part of the record. The uncertified record of those proceedings shows that the trial court only conducted a hearing about the potential conflict that existed because of Mulder's representation of Appellant's mother, Darlie Kee. The separate conflict that existed because of Mulder's representation of Darin Routier was not mentioned in the uncertified part of the record and the trial court did not keep its promise to conduct a hearing about that conflict after the State raised the issue.

Appellant's Conviction Must Be Reversed Because

The Trial Court Should Have Known That Her

Lead Counsel Had An Actual Conflict Of Interest

When It Failed To Conduct A Constitutionally

Mandatory Hearing On The Matter

When the trial court violated its constitutional duty to inquire about counsel's conflict of interest, the defendant is entitled to relief regardless of whether the conflict adversely affected her attorney's performance. Ciak v. United States, 59 F.3d 296 (2d Cir. 1995). If, as occurred here, a trial court should have known that counsel had an actual conflict of interest and failed to conduct a hearing when the State raised the issue, the defendant's conviction must be reversed automatically. Wood v. Georgia, 450 U.S. at 273; United States v. Levy, 25 F.3d 146, 154 (2d Cir. 1994); United States v. Fish, 34 F.3d 488, 492 (7th Cir. 1994); State v. Watson, 620 N.W.2d 233, 238 (Iowa 2000); State v. Bowen, 999 P.2d 286, 292 (Kan. App. 2000); State v. Gillard, 595 N.E.2d 878, 881 (Ohio 1992); People v. Bonin, 765 P.2d 460, 475-76 (Cal. 1989); In re Richardson, 675 P.2d 209 (Wash. 1983).

A post-conviction hearing on the State's motion to determine whether counsel had a conflict of interest is only permissible if the trial court violated its duty to inquire and the appellate record does not show whether counsel had a potential conflict or an actual conflict. Wood v. Georgia, 450 U.S. at 273. [8] If a post-conviction hearing shows that counsel had an actual conflict in such a case, the defendant's conviction must still be reversed regardless of whether the conflict adversely affected counsel's performance. id. [9]

A remand for a post-conviction hearing is not necessary here because the record already shows that Mulder had an actual conflict of interest. Wood v. Georgia, 450 U.S. at 273. The test for an actual conflict is whether Mulder owed a duty of loyalty or confidentiality to Darin that was inherently opposed to his duty of loyalty to Appellant. Perillo v. Johnson, 205 F.2d at 797-801; Hess v. Mazurkiewicz, 135 F.3d 905, 910 (3d Cir. 1998); United States v. Fahey, 769 F.2d 829, 836 (1st Cir. 1985). Mulder had an actual conflict because there was a plausible alternative defensive strategy that he could not have pursued in Appellant's case without violating his duty of loyalty and confidentiality to her husband who was a suspect, a prosecution witness, and a former client in a substantially related case. Perillo v. Johnson, 205 F.2d at 801. That conflict existed regardless of whether Mulder actually failed to pursue the alternative strategy because he owed a duty to Darin, Perillo v. Johnson, 205 F.3d at 807; United States v. Malpiedi, 62 F.3d 465, 470 (2d Cir. 1995), or whether his performance was adversely affected by his failure to use that strategy. Perillo v. Johnson, 205 F.3d at 806; see also Berger v. Kemp, 483 U.S. 776, 785 (1987) (existence of actual conflict and adverse effect are separate issues); cf. James v. State, 763 S.W.2d 776 (Tex.Crim.App. 1989) (possible existence of alternative defensive strategy was not sufficient to establish an actual and significant conflict of interest of the degree requiring reversal when no one raised the issue at trial). [10]

A defense that shifted all of the blame for the murder of both children and the cover-up to Darin Routier was a very plausible alternative to the unknown intruder defense that Mulder used. There was substantial circumstantial evidence in the record to support that alternative defense and no credible evidence which disproved it beyond a reasonable doubt. Darin had a stronger motive than Appellant, he had the means, and he had the opportunity to commit the crime. The fact that Darin was not harmed and Appellant had nearly fatal knife wounds that could not have been self-inflicted in the opinion of a renowned forensic pathologist strongly incriminated Darin. [11] Darin could have carried the sock with the blood of both boys on it to the alley without shedding any blood because he was not wounded. Darin could have cut the window screen in the garage with the knife from the wooden block on the kitchen counter.

Darin's demeanor after the crime was much more incriminating than the disputed evidence of Appellant's failure to express sufficient grief about the murder of their children at the hospital. Darin's claim that he slept through the murder by stabbing of his two children and was awakened by the sound of a wine glass breaking was at least as problematic as Appellant's claim of traumatic amnesia. Appellant's failure to recognize that her husband was the faceless intruder who attacked her in a dark room when she was asleep might have presented an obstacle to a defense that shifted all of the blame to Darin, but it was not insurmountable and she does not have to "show that the defense necessarily would have been successful if it had been used." O'Brien v. United States, 695 F.2d 10, 15 (1st Cir. 1982). [12]

A defense which shifted part of the blame to Darin Routier was also a plausible alternative to blaming the unknown intruder because there would have been no evidence of the roles that Appellant and Darin played in the crime. The State had to prove that Appellant actually caused Damon's death because she was not tried for the murder of Devon and the jury was not instructed to apply the law of parties. Goff v. State, 931 S.W.2d 537, 544 (Tex.Crim.App. 1996). Appellant's presence at the scene of the crime with someone who had the means and the opportunity to murder both children and even any involvement in the cover-up would not have been sufficient to convict her of murdering Damon as a party. See Moffett v. State, 207 S.W.2d 384 (Tex.Crim.App. 1948) (fact that mother of three year old child stood idly by while another person beat girl to death and mother's failure to report the crime to police was insufficient to convict her of murder as party); Isham v. Collins, 905 F.2d 67 (5th Cir. 1990) (defendant's presence at scene of murder with killer and his concealment of murder weapon insufficient to prove that he was a party to the murder). [13]