''Intent'' Legal Definition (To Commit Murder) In Texas

A person commits the offense of murder if he intentionally or knowingly causes the death of an individual, or intends to cause serious bodily injury and commits an act clearly dangerous to human life that causes the death of an individual. See TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. 19.02(b)(1), (2) (Vernon 1994). A person acts with intent with respect to the result of his conduct when it is his conscious objective or desire to cause the result. Dues v. State, 634 S.W.2d 304, 305 (Tex. Crim. App. [Panel Op.] 1982). Intent may be inferred from the acts, words, and conduct of the accused. Id. Intent is a question of fact to be determined by the trier of fact from all the facts and circumstances in evidence. Hemphill v. State, 505 S.W.2d 560, 562 (Tex. Crim. App. 1974). Proof of a defendant's culpable mental state is almost invariably proved by circumstantial evidence. Morales v. State, 828 S.W.2d 261, 263 (Tex. App.-Amarillo 1992), aff'd, 853 S.W.2d 583 (Tex. Crim. App. 1993).