She said she had accompanied him to the house to buy drugs and that the shootings took place after they returned later. The four victims were found dead July 18, 2003, in a Clear Lake-area home. Prosecution witnesses have said the killings appeared to have been drug-related. She and Snider went to the house to steal money and drugs — his idea, she said — and Snider surprised her by handing her a gun just before entering the house.
Sergeant Harris accompanied appellant on her transfer to Santa Rosa Hospital. He testified that appellant was relaxed and conversational during the hospital interview. Despite her treatments of morphine and Methadone, Sergeant Harris testified that appellant did not appear to be under the influence of any sort of intoxicant. Rather, he stated she was conscious and alert, and she made appropriate hand gestures when communicating her story. Paolilla’s husband, Stanley Justin Rott, testified at length how she confessed her role in the murders to him numerous times and how they were both addicted to heroin. Paolilla told police that she and Snider went to the Rowell home looking for drugs and Snider just started shooting the four, even putting his hand on the gun he had given her to hold and causing it to go off.
In that time, his work has involved some exposure with heroin addicts. He stated that heroin is a depressant, and addicts tend to appear tired or lethargic. He also testified that he has witnessed the symptoms of withdrawal, which primarily include vomiting, seizing, sweating, and visible illness.
Although appellant received potent dosages of each drug, no one testified that either morphine or Methadone would render appellant incapable of understanding her rights. After receiving this treatment, appellant did not slur her words during the second interview. She did not pause inappropriately before answering a question, nor did she seem confused. Nothing on the audio recording indicated that appellant was incompetent to testify.
We examine a trial court's ruling on a motion to suppress using a bifurcated standard of review. Wilson v. State, 311 S.W.3d 452, 457–58 (Tex.Crim.App.2010). We afford “almost total deference to a trial court's determination of historical facts,†especially when the trial court's findings are based on an evaluation of the credibility and demeanor of the witnesses. If supported by the record, the trial court's ruling will not be disturbed. The only question we review de novo is whether the trial court properly applied the law to the facts presented. Carmouche v. State, 10 S.W.3d 323, 327 (Tex.Crim.App .2000).
Paolilla and Rott have not been charged with possessing the heroin. Harris said police have not made any deals with Rott, who remains on probation, to forgo the drug charge if he will testify against Paolilla. "Christine doesn't know what transpired to lead Christopher to draw the gun. They were all friends. They all knew each other," seekers nightmares he said. Rott, 27, is living with friends and attending recovery meetings. He remains married to Paolilla, although he plans to divorce her. As part of his 12-step recovery program, Rott said, he had to do what was right.