AFFIRM; and Opinion Filed July 29, 2019 In The Court of Appeals Fifth District of Texas at Dallas No. 05-17-00782-CR MUSTAPHA RAHMAN COKER, Appellant V. THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee On Appeal from the 194th Judicial District Court Dallas County, Texas Trial Court Cause No. F-1632844-M MEMORANDUM OPINION Before Justices Brown, Schenck, and Pedersen, III Opinion by Justice Pedersen, III Appellant Mustapha Rahman Coker was charged by indictment with the offense of assault family violence by impeding breathing or circulation. A jury convicted him of the lesser-included misdemeanor offense of assault family violence. The trial judge sentenced him to one year of confinement, probated, in the county jail and a $500 fine. In one issue on appeal, appellant challenges the trial court’s admission of expert testimony. We affirm the trial court’s judgment. Background Appellant does not challenge the sufficiency of the evidence to support his conviction. Therefore, we relate only such evidence as is necessary to understand his appellate issue. The victim of appellant’s assault was his wife, Amber Harrison. Harrison testified that after she arrived home from work, appellant asked why she was late, backed her up against a wall, and began yelling at her. As the argument escalated, they moved into the kitchen where Harrison grabbed a knife to defend herself. When appellant left the room, Harrison went to her bedroom and went to sleep. Harrison was awakened by appellant entering her bedroom and screaming at her. She testified that appellant dragged her out of bed and onto the floor where he began to strangle her. As she struggled, appellant struck her in the face with his fist, and then placed her in a choke hold that caused her to black out. Appellant then took Harrison’s phone and left the room. Harrison logged into Facebook and asked for assistance. An acquaintance saw Harrison’s Facebook posting and called 911. Irving Police Officer Sean Bissinger testified that on December 11, 2015, he responded to a 911 call of domestic violence. Harrison was nervous and appeared to be crying. She said she was afraid of her husband and just wanted to get away. Officer Bissinger noted that Harrison appeared to have recent injuries to her shoulder, her right elbow, and the side of her face and neck. He testified that the markings on Harrison’s neck were indicative of possible strangulation. Officer Bissinger also interviewed appellant who stated that nothing had happened. Appellant was arrested and indicted on one count of assault family violence by impeding normal breathing or circulation. During its case in chief, the State called Ruth Guerreiro, a licensed clinical social worker at the Genesis Women’s Shelter, to testify about the dynamics of domestic violence in a family relationship and to explain the three-stage “cycle of violence.” The State also presented Dr. Petra Rahaman, a forensic pathologist at the Southwestern Institute of Forensic Science, to testify regarding the external and internal injuries caused by strangulation. Appellant testified on his own behalf. He denied assaulting Harrison and suggested that her ...
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