Which of the following circumstances can elevate a murder charge to capital murder in Texas?

In Texas, certain circumstances can elevate a murder charge to capital murder, which carries significantly harsher penalties. One of the key circumstances is the act of killing a public servant. Under Texas Penal Code Section 19.03, capital murder includes intentionally or knowingly causing the death of an individual who is a public servant, meaning a government employee engaged in official duties. This shows a disregard for the rule of law and is treated with the utmost severity by the legal system, thus justifying the capital murder classification.

While the other circumstances listed may carry serious charges or consequences, they do not meet the specific criteria set forth in the law for capital murder. For instance, murdering a person over the age of 60 can be a serious offense, but it is classified as murder, not capital murder. Similarly, committing murder while intoxicated is also treated as murder, and killing in self-defense is a legal justification that would not result in a murder charge at all, let alone capital murder.