Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas, 2000

The Court of Criminal Appeals affirmed the court of appeals’ judgment upholding suppression of evidence. When a suppression ruling is unexplained and the sole witness’s uncontroverted testimony would establish probable cause if believed, the trial court may disbelieve that testimony based on credibility and demeanor…

The court affirmed King’s capital-murder conviction and death sentence, rejecting his challenges to the sufficiency of the evidence, counsel, jury selection, and denial of a hearing on his motion for new trial.

The Court of Criminal Appeals affirmed Wesbrook’s capital-murder conviction and death sentence, rejecting his challenges to the sufficiency of the evidence, jury instructions, recusal ruling, and other trial rulings.

The court held that the informant’s reliable tip, corroborated by events at the gas station, justified the vehicle stop; the suspected cocaine trafficking also justified a limited weapons frisk, and the officer could seize money he immediately recognized by touch.