Christopher Redin v. The State of Texas

Summary

The Texas Sixth Court of Appeals affirmed Christopher Redin’s conviction for dating-violence assault by occlusion and his ten-year prison sentence. The court held that evidence of Redin’s alleged prior domestic-violence offenses against two other women was admissible to rebut his theory that the complainant fabricated her allegations and was not substantially outweighed by unfair prejudice; it also upheld the denial of his mistrial motions.

Holdings

1. The trial court did not abuse its discretion in admitting the extraneous-offense evidence because it was relevant to rebut Redin's fabrication defense and its probative value was not substantially outweighed by unfair prejudice.
2. The trial court did not abuse its discretion in denying the mistrial motions because any harm from references to California charges was rendered harmless by the subsequent extensive testimony of the extraneous-offense witnesses.

Questions Presented

1. Whether the trial court erred in admitting evidence of extraneous domestic violence assaults Redin committed against other women
2. Whether the trial court erred in failing to grant a mistrial upon admission of testimony referencing charges arising from the extraneous assaults

Disposition

affirmed