In Sanchez v. State, the Appellant was convicted of “intentionally and knowingly caus[ing] the death of [the victim] by manner and means to the Grand Jurors unknown.” The court likewise charged the jury on the “unknown” manner and means. The Appellant objected to the “manner and means unknown” theory because, as he argued, the allegation was unsupported by the evidence presented at trial and was thus based on insufficient evidence to convict. The trial court overruled the objection. Appellant was convicted of murder and sentenced to sixty-eight years in prison.
On appeal to the 13th District Court of Appeals (Corpus Christie), Appellant argued that the manner and means the Appellant employed were not actually unknown as there was testimony at trial regarding possible strangulation and use of a stun gun, and that the jury charge was erroneous in authorizing conviction on an “unknown” theory. The 13th Court bought it.
In determining whether the trial evidence was sufficient to warrant a charge on the “unknown” theories, the [Appellate] Court relied on the rule stated in Hicks v. State that when an unknown allegation is made in an indictment, the burden falls to the State either to present a prima facie case at trial that the manner and means were actually unknown, or to prove (usually by testimony) that the grand jury used due diligence to ascertain the manner and means of death.The CCA, however, was no so persuaded. Identifying the thrust of the Hicks decision as “notice to the defendant,” the CCA explained that the rule “seems to have lost it intent and focus.” Devising a new rule in “unknown manner and means” cases, the CCA held:
we overrule the two-pronged rule in Hicks and announce a new standard for indictments with “unknown” allegations to the grand jury that are subsequently used as the jury charge at trial:
Where the State has alleged “unknown” manner and means in the indictment and/or jury charge, the defendant may challenge the propriety of the “unknown” allegation before trial and (if the evidence at trial has made a second inquiry necessary) at the conclusion of evidence, but before the charge is submitted to the jury.Addressing the “notice” concern of the Hicks litany, the CCA provided:
The first question (whether raised before or during the trial) is whether the defendant was given proper notice so that he could properly prepare for trial. The pre-trial hearing will ensure that the “unknown” allegation was truly unknown to the grand jury and is not being used to surprise or manipulate the defendant at trial. This hearing replaces the Hicks test, but does not require proof of “unknownness” at trial. Instead, it permits hearings that will, at the very least, elicit all evidence that is now known so that the “unknown” aspect of the case can be minimized or eliminated by amendment of the indictment or the presentation of a superseding indictment.The CCA reversed the 13th Court and affirmed Appellant’s conviction.
