Part 1 of 2: On the afternoon of July 24, 2002, Clara Harris learned that her husband, David Harris, was having an affair with his secretary. Incensed, Clara went to the hotel where the David and his mistress had just checked in and confronted the couple before being escorted out by hotel staff. However, the argument between David and Clara continued in the parking lot, only ending when Clara ran her husband down with her car, driving over him three separate times and killing him.
The trial of Clara Harris proved to be as exciting and dramatic as the marriage and the explosive argument that ended David’s life. The defense had tried to frame the murder as a crime of passion, an act of “sudden passion” committed by a woman rejected and scorned. That defense fell apart immediately when, without warning or expectation, Clara Harris decided to testify on her own behalf, at which point she essentially confessed to murder, sending the courtroom into chaos.
The trial of Clara Harris for the murder of her husband garnered national attention, not only for the defense of “sudden passion,” but also for the unusually high amount of drama and scandalous details that emerged in the testimony at trial.
Thank you to the Incredible Dave White of Bring Me the Axe Podcast for research and Writing support!
References
Clara L. Harris v. The State of Texas. 2004. 01-03-00177-CR (Court of Appeals for the First District of Texas, December 16).
Hollandsworth, Skip. 2002. "Suburban madness." Texas Monthly, November: 117-169.
Long, Steven. 2004. Out of Control. New York, NY: St. Martin's.
Madigan, Nick. 2003. "Houston woman on trial in killing of husband testifies." New York Times, February 6.
—. 2003. "Jury gives 20-year term in murder of husband." New York Times, February 15.
—. 2003. "Trial in killing of orthodontist goes to jury." New York Times, February 13.
—. 2003. "Wife testifies she was 'in a fog' just before her car struck." New York Times, February 8.
—. 2003. "Woman who killed spouse with car is guilty of murder." New York Times, February 14.
—. 2003. "Youth who saw killing says stepmother 'stomped' accelerator and 'went for' father." New York Times, January 30.
Zernike, Kate. 2003. "A wife betrayed finds sympathy at murder trial." New York Times, January 24.
Cowritten by Alaina Urquhart, Ash Kelley & Dave White (Since 10/2022)
Produced & Edited by Mikie Sirois (Since 2023)
Research by Dave White (Since 10/2022), Alaina Urquhart & Ash Kelley
Listener Correspondence & Collaboration by Debra Lally
Listener Tale Video Edited by Aidan McElman (Since 6/2025)
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