Opinion
No. AP-75,596.
Delivered: January 24, 2007. DO NOT PUBLISH.
On application for a Writ of Habeas Corpus Cause No. 00-10-10447-B in the 155th District Court from Waller County.
OPINION
Pursuant to the provisions of Article 11.07 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, the clerk of the trial court transmitted to this Court this application for writ of habeas corpus. Ex parte Young, 418 S.W.2d 824, 826 (Tex.Crim.App. 1967). Applicant was convicted of aggravated robbery and sentenced to seventy-five years' imprisonment. The Tenth Court of Appeals affirmed his conviction. Tate v. State, No. 10-01-239-CR (Tex.App.-Waco, Delivered August 4, 2003, no pet.) On May 3, 2006, this Court remanded to the trial court for further findings regarding Applicant's claim that his trial counsel rendered ineffective assistance because he failed to prepare for trial, advised Applicant to waive a jury trial, and failed to interview and call alibi witnesses who would have testified that Applicant could not have committed the offense. On remand, the trial court appointed counsel for Applicant and held a hearing. At the hearing, five witnesses testified that they were available and willing to testify at Applicant's trial, and that they would have testified that Applicant was in Houston at the time the offense was committed in Sealy or Brookshire. The transcript of the habeas hearing is in the supplemental record. The trial court entered findings indicating that Applicant's original trial counsel is deceased, and that the court cannot therefore make the findings requested by this Court on remand regarding counsel's trial strategy and reasons for not calling the witnesses. Because the record after remand did not contain findings as to the credibility of the witnesses who testified at the hearing, this Court remanded to the trial court a second time to obtain such findings, and to obtain information regarding the date upon which defense counsel died. The trial court has submitted additional findings following the second remand. The trial court finds that no evidence has been presented that the witnesses who testified at the habeas hearing were not credible. The trial court also finds that it has no evidence as to the specific date of counsel's death, but that it occurred "some time after Mr. Tate's trial and prior to the hearing on June 22, 2006." Based on the testimony of the witnesses at the habeas hearing, and on the transcript of the original bench trial, we find that trial counsel failed to present available witnesses on Applicant's behalf. Had counsel presented testimony from the witnesses who testified at the habeas hearing, the result of the proceedings would likely have been different. We find, therefore, that Applicant is entitled to a new trial. Relief is granted. The judgment in Cause No. 00-10-10447 from the 155th Judicial District Court of Waller County is set aside, and Applicant is remanded to the custody of the Sheriff of Waller County to answer the charge against him.