Ramon Leal, Appellant v. the State of Texas, Appellee; Victor Leal, Appellant, v. the State of Texas, Appellee

Summary

The Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas reversed the murder convictions of Ramon and Victor Leal and ordered acquittals, holding that the admission of a Spanish‑language tape without a sworn interpreter was error not harmless and that the State failed to provide sufficient corroboration for the accomplice testimony. The Court also affirmed the lower court's decision to vacate the conspiracy conviction due to misjoinder of offenses. Justice Teague, in a concurring opinion, emphasized that such an error is fundamental and the harmless error doctrine should not apply.