Johnny Flores v. State, 13-14-00338-CR

Flores was charged with murder, a first-degree felony, for the death of his girlfriend Mechell Ramos under an act clearly dangerous to life with intent to cause serious bodily injury.
An audio 911 call was admitted where Flores stated, I just killed my girlfriend, and that he suffocated her and used a knife to attempt suicide, with drinking as context.
A police interview video where Flores claimed he lost control, snapped after learning of an STD, hit and choked Mechell, and contemplated but did not commit suicide with a knife.
Autopsy by Dr. Fernandez showed extensive injuries to Mechell and a mechanism of mechanical asphyxia with a contributing stab wound, with petechial hemorrhages suggestive of asphyxia under certain pressure conditions.
Forensic testimony noted on-off pressure could be consistent with a struggle; a psychiatrist testified about how schizoaffective disorder and off-medication status can affect judgment and impulse control.
The jury ultimately convicted Flores of murder; Flores requested a jury instruction on manslaughter, which the trial court denied.

Issue	Plaintiff's Argument	Defendant's Argument	Held
Whether Flores was entitled to a manslaughter instruction	Flores	Flores	No, instruction denied

Rice v. State, 333 S.W.3d 140 (Tex. Crim. App. 2011) (two-prong test for lesser-included offenses)
Hall v. State, 225 S.W.3d 524 (Tex. Crim. App. 2007) (evidence threshold for lesser-included offenses)
Cavazos v. State, 382 S.W.3d 377 (Tex. Crim. App. 2012) (affirmative evidence required to find lesser offense and rebut greater offense)
Wortham v. State, 412 S.W.3d 552 (Tex. Crim. App. 2013) (standard for evaluating lesser-included offense requests)
Saunders v. State, 840 S.W.2d 390 (Tex. Crim. App. 1992) (presence of alternative interpretive evidence for lesser offense)
Almanza v. State, 686 S.W.2d 157 (Tex. Crim. App. 1985) (harm analysis for improper jury instructions)