Laster v. State
Texas Court of Criminal Appeals
275 S.W.3d 512 (2009)
Facts
Eight-year-old Beatrice and her 10-year-old brother, Raymond, were walking home from the store along a busy street. Tommy Laster (defendant) was walking toward them. When the children came close to Laster, Laster grabbed Beatrice around the waist and pulled her toward him. Beatrice screamed, and Raymond grabbed Beatrice’s arm and attempted to pull her back from Laster’s hold. A nearby driver honked the car’s horn, and Laster let Beatrice go. The children ran home to their mother, who called the police. Laster was arrested later that day. Laster told the police that voices in his head had told him to grab Beatrice and get her and that he let her go after he heard the car horn because he suddenly realized what he was doing. Laster was convicted of injury to a child and attempted aggravating kidnapping. Laster appealed.
Rule of Law
Issue
Holding and Reasoning (Keasler, J.)
Dissent (Cochran, J.)
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