Johnny Paul Penry, Appellant v. the State of Texas, Appellee

Summary

The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals affirmed Johnny Paul Penry’s capital murder conviction and death sentence, rejecting all of his asserted errors ranging from the failure to charge voluntary manslaughter to the admissibility of confessions, hearsay statements, and expert testimony. The court held that the trial court’s evidentiary rulings and jury instructions complied with Texas statutes and applicable constitutional standards. A concurring opinion noted disagreement with the majority’s view on the term “deliberately” but joined the judgment.