SECOND DI VI SI ON

DOYLE, C. J.

, M I LLER, P. J.

, and REESE, J.

N O T IC E : M otions for r e c ons i de r a tion m us t be

ph y sic a l ly r e ce iv ed i n our c le r k ’s offic e w ithin te n

da y s of the da te of de c is ion to be de e m ed tim e ly file d.

http://w w w .ga a ppe a l s .us /r ule s

June 14, 2017



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 7 A0 06 8 . LESLIE v . THE STATE.

R E E S E

, J u d g e.

A Bart o w Co u n t y ju ry fo u n d Ch ri s t o p h er Les l i e gu i l t y b ey o n d a r e as o n ab l e

d o u b t of th ree co u n t s o f cru el t y t o a ch i l d in t h e s eco n d d eg ree, OCGA § 1 6-5 -7 0 (c),

an d two co u n t s o f fal se i m p ri s o n m en t

, OCGA § 1 6 -5 -4 1 (a). He ap p eal s p ro s e fro m

t h e d en i al o f h i s m ot i o n fo r n ew t ri al

, co n ten d i n g t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n ru l i n g

t h at cert ai n a f

fi rm at iv e d efen s es were n o t ap pl i cab l e; i n fai l i ng t o i n s t ru ct t h e ju ry

,

s u a s p o n te, o n th o s e affi rm at i v e d efen s es ; an d i n ex cl u d i n g cert ai n ev i d en ce. He al s o

c l a i m s t h at t h e ev i d en ce was i n s u ffi ci en t t o s u p p ort h i s co n vi ct i o n s an d t h at h e

recei v ed i n effect i ve as s i s t an ce o f co u n s el

. Fo r th e r e a s o n s t h at fo ll ow, i n fra, we

affi rm

.

1

. Th e Ap p el l an t co n t en d s t hat t h e St at e fai led t o p res en t s uffi ci en t ev i d en ce

fo r t h e ju ry t o co n v i ct h im o f t he o ffen s es as ch arg ed

, p art icu l arl y g i ven h i s d efen s et h at t h e act s at i s s u e were n eces s ary t o d i s ci pl i n e t h e ch i l d an d were ju s ti fi ed u n d er

t h e ci rcu m s t an ces

.

“ On ap p eal fro m a cri m i n al co n v i ct i o n

, we v i ew t h e ev i d en ce i n t h e l ig h t m o s t

fav o rab l e t o t h e verd i ct [,] an d an ap p el l an t n o l o n g e r e n jo y s t h e p res u m

p t i o n o f

i n n o cen ce.” 1

Becau s e a ju ry fo u n d [t h e Ap p el l an t ] g u i l ty

, t hi s Co u rt lo o k s o n l y t o s ee

i f t h ere i s a fac t u a l b a s i s fro m wh i ch a rat i o nal t ri er o f fact co u l d

co n cl u d e b ey o n d a reas o n ab l e d o u b t t hat a g u i l t y v erd ict was warran t ed

.

W e d o n o t ju d g e t h e cred i b i l i t y o f th e wi t n es s es

. W e d o n o t rev is i t

co n fl i ct s i n t he ev i d en ce. An d we w i ll n o t s im p l y s u bs t i t u t e o ur o p i n i o n

fo r t h at o f t h e ju ry

. So l o n g a s t h ere i s s om e co m p et en t ev i den ce t o

s u p p o rt each el em en t o f t h e o ffen ses as ch arg ed

, t he ju ry ’ s verd i ct wi l l

b e u p h el d

. 2

Vi ewed i n t h i s l i g h t , t h e ev i den ce s ho ws t h e fo l l o wi n g fact s

. In M arch 2 0 1 0,

t h e A p p el l an t l i v ed in Bart ow Co u n t y wi t h h i s wi fe, h i s two s o n s (wh o were s e v e n

an d t en y ears o l d), an d h i s t wo s t ep -ch i l d ren

. On Fri d ay

, M arch 2 6

, 2 0 1 0

, t h e

Ap p el l an t bu i l t a wo o d en b o x t h at was ap p ro x i m at el y t wo feet b y f o u r feet b y t wo

fe e t

, m a d e fro m p l y wo o d an d t wo -b y -fo u r beam s

. Th e bo x ’ s l i d w as at t ach ed wi th

1 Ra n ki n v. S t a t e

, 2 7 8 Ga. 7 0 4

, 7 05 (6 0 6 SE2 d 2 6 9) (2 0 0 4 ) (ci t at i on o m i t t ed ).

2 Fr a s i er v

. S t a t e

, 2 9 5 Ga. Ap p

. 5 9 6, 5 9 8 -5 9 9 (2 ) (6 7 2 SE2 d 6 6 8 ) (2 0 0 9 )

(ci t at i o n an d p u nct u at io n o m i t ted ).

2h i n g es an d h a d a h as p t h at co u l d b e l o ck ed fro m t h e o u t s i d e. Th e b ox h ad n o h o l es

fo r l i g h t o r ai r t o en t er. Acco rd i n g t o t h e Ap p el l an t

, h e b u i l t t h e b o x fo r th e s p eci fi c

p u rp os e o f p l aci n g h i s y o u n g er s o n (h erei naft er, “ t h e v i ct i m ”) i n s i de i t t o cal m h i m

d o wn ; t o d i s ci p l i ne h i m ; an d t o t each h i m t o b eh av e, l i s t en

, an d fo l l o w o rd ers wh en

o t h er fo rm s o f p un i s h m en t d i d n o t wo rk

.

Th e n ex t d ay

, t h e Ap p el lan t p u t a sl eep in g bag an d pi l l o w i n s i d e t h e b o x

, t h en

g rab b ed t h e v i ct i m ’ s arm an d l eg an d f o r c e d h i m i n to t h e b o x

. He t h en s ecu red t h e

l at ch wi th a s crewd ri v er an d s et th e m i cro wav e t i m er fo r 3 0 m i n ut e s

. Wh i l e i n t h e

b o x

, t h e v i ct i m scream ed

, k i ck ed

, an d y el l ed o u t th at h e was h ot an d co u l d n o t

b reat h e. Acco rd i n g to t h e v i ct i m

, wh en h e s cream ed

, h i s fat h er p u t a bl an k et o v er t h e

b o x . Aft er ab o u t 3 0 m i n u tes , t h e Ap p el lan t rel eas ed t h e v i ct i m , wh o “ n ev er cal m ed

d o wn ,” b u t wh o b eh av ed p ro p erl y t h e res t o f t h e d ay

.

Th e n ex t ev en i n g, t h e Ap p el l an t p u t t h e v i ct i m i n t h e b o x fo r an o th er 30 -m i n u t e

p eri o d

. Th e Ap p el l an t ’ s wi fe was p res en t , h o wev er, an d

, w h en t h e v i ct i m s cream ed

t h at h e was v ery h o t an d co u l d n o t b reat h e

, s h e o p en ed t h e b o x an d wi p ed h i s face

wi t h a co o l cl ot h

. Th e Ap p el l an t t h en cl os ed th e l i d

, l ock ed i t wi t h a s crewd ri v er, an d

k ep t t h e v i ct i m

i n s i d e t h e b ox fo r t h e rem ai nd er o f t h e 3 0 m i n ut es

.

3W h en t h e v i ct i m ret urn ed t o s ch o o l o n M o n d a y

, h i s teach er an d t h e s ch o ol

co u ns el o r o b s erv ed bru is es o n h i s arm s an d l eg s

, an d t h e co u n s el o r co n tact ed t h e

co u nt y o ffi ce o f t he Dep art m en t o f Fam il y an d Ch i l dren Serv i ces (“ DFCS”). DFCS

o ffi ci al s co n t act ed t h e p o l i ce d ep art m en t, an d o ffi cers wen t t o t h e Ap p el l an t ’ s h o m e

t h e nex t d ay t o i n v es t i g at e. W hen t h ey arri ved

, t h e Ap p el l an t m et t h em at t h e d o o r

a n d t al k ed wi th th em b ri efl y b efo re s h o wi ng t h em t h e b o x, wh i ch h e ad m i t t e d

b u i l d i n g

, an d co n s en t i n g t o a s earch o f t h e h o us e. Th e o ffi cers s ei zed t h e b o x a n d

as k ed t h e Ap p el l an t t o co m e t o t h e s t at i o n fo r an i nt erv i ew. Th e Ap p el lan t d ro v e t o

t h e s t at i o n

, s p o k e w i t h an o ffi cer i n a v i deo t ap ed i n t e rv i ew, 3 an d t h en wen t h o m e.

Lat er t h at day

, o ffi cers arres t ed t h e Ap p el l an t at h is ho m e o n ch arg e s o f cru el ty to

ch i l d ren an d fal s e i m

p ri s o n m en t

. 4

Th e ev i den ce al s o s h owed t h at

, p ri o r t o b u i ld i n g t h e b o x

, t h e Ap p el l an t

p u n i s h ed t h e v i ct i m

b y l o ck i n g h i m

i n a s t o rag e co n t ai n er t h at was un d er th e b ed in

t h e sl eep er co m

p art m en t o f h i s t ract o r-t rai l er. On o t her o ccas io ns

, t h e Ap p el l an t p ut

3 T h e St at e p l ay ed th e reco rd i n g o f t h e i n t erv i ew fo r t h e ju ry at t ri al wi t h o ut

o b ject i on

.

4 O f f ic e r s a lso inte r

vi ewed t h e Ap p el l an t’ s wi fe (t h e vi ct i m ’ s s t ep -m o t he r )

, a nd,

aft er s h e m ad e s t at em en ts i n cri m i n at i n g h ers el f i n t h e cri m es ag ai n s t t h e v i ct i m

, t h ey

p l aced her u n d er arres t

. Th e Ap p el l a n t a n d h i s wi fe were jo i nt l y t ri ed

, b ut s h e was

acq u it t ed o n al l ch arg es

, an d s h e i s n o t a p art y t o t h i s ap peal

.

4t h e v i ct i m i n a s l eep i n g b ag an d t i ed ro p es aro u nd i t to k eep h i m i n s i d e. In ad d i t i o n,

wh en t h e v i ct i m s cream ed o r y el l ed wh i l e b ei n g p un i s hed o r res t rai n ed

, t he Ap p el l an t

p u t cru s h ed red p ep p er i n h i s m o u t h

. In fact

, t h e Ap p el l an t ad m i tt ed t o p u t t i n g t h e

fo l l o w i n g su bs t an ces i n t h e v i ct i m ’ s m o u t h i n an effo rt t o q ui et h i m : cru s h ed red

p ep per, cay en n e p ep p er, g ro u n d ci n n am o n

, v i n eg ar, l em o n pep per, g ro u n d c l o v es

,

p ep per s au ce, an d h o t s au ce.

Th e St at e p res en t ed t h e t es t i m o ny o f a ch i l d p sy ch o l o gi s t wh o was t reat i n g t h e

v i ct i m at t h e t i m e o f t h e M arch 2 0 1 1 t ri al

, aft er d i ag n o s i n g h i m wi t h Po st -Trau m at i c

St res s Di so rd er (“ PTSD”) i n J u n e 2 0 10

. Th e p s y ch o l o g i s t t es ti fi ed t hat s he b as ed h er

d i ag n o s is o n t h e v i ct im ’ s s t at em en t s t o h er t h at h e h ad b een “ p l aced i n a b o x b y h i s

fat h er fo r p eri o d s o f t i m e o n rep eat ed o ccas i on s

, ” ad di n g t h at t h e vi ct i m t al k ed ab o ut

“ t h e t erro r h e fel t

, feel i n g l i k e h e co u l d n ’ t b reat h e, cry i n g an d p o u nd i ng o n t h e b o x

an d b ei n g s cared t o d eat h n ot k n o wi n g h o w l o n g h e w a s g o i n g t o b e i n t h ere.”

Acco rd in g t o t h e p s y ch o l o g is t

, t h e v i ct i m des cri b ed feel i n g “ v ery s cared

, very an g ry

,

[an d ] v ery sad ” wh en he was in t h e b o x

. Th e v i ct i m al s o rep o rt ed h av i n g n ig h t m ares

ab o ut t he b o x an d t o l d h er t h at he d i d n o t li k e to b e i n an y k i n d o f “ cl o s ed -i n s p ace.”

In fact

, d u ri n g p l ay -t h erap y s es s i o n s, t h e v ict i m wo u l d oft en p u t t o y s i n a to y ch es t

,

5t h en creat e “ res cu e s cen ari os ” wh ere s om eo n e wo ul d co m e i n an d res cu e t h e t o y s

fro m t h e b o x

.

Th e p sy ch o l og i s t al s o t es t i fi ed t h at b in d in g a ch il d i n a s l eep in g b ag was n ot

a d i s ci p li n e tech n i qu e t h a t w as ap p ro v ed an d accep ted b y rep u t ab le o rg an i zat i o n s

.

Fu rt h er, s h e t es t i fi ed th at

, i n h er o p i n i o n, p l aci n g a ch i l d i n an en cl o s ed b o x wh ere h e

o r s h e fel t t h at th ey co u l d n o t b reat h e, as i n t h i s cas e, “ cro s s e[d ] t h e l i n e o f ab u s e” an d

was n o t an ap p ro p ri at e di s ci p l i n e t ech n i q u e. A cco rd i n g t o t h e p s y ch o l og i s t, s h e b as ed

h er d i a g n o s i s of PTSD o n s y m p t o m s t h at t h e v i ct im was ex peri en ci n g

, an d t h o s e

s y m p to m s were d i rect l y rel at ed t o h is h av i n g b een l o ck ed i n t h e b o x

.

Aft er co n s i d eri n g t h e ev i d en ce an d th e ap pl i cab l e l aw, t h e ju ry fo u n d t h e

Ap p el l an t n o t gu i l t y o n t h ree co u n t s o f ch i l d cru el t y i n t h e fi rs t d eg ree, b u t i t fo u n d

h i m g u il t y o n t w o co u n t s o f ch il d cru el t y i n t h e s eco n d d eg ree an d t wo co u n t s o f fal s e

i m p ri s o n m en t b as ed up o n h i s l o ck i n g t he v i ct i m i n t h e b ox

, a n d o n e c o u n t o f ch i ld

cru el t y i n t h e s eco n d d eg ree bas ed u p o n h i s b i n d i n g t h e v i ct i m i n t h e s l eep i n g b ag

. 5

5 See OCGA § § 1 6 -5 -7 0 (c) (A “ p ers o n co m m i t s t h e offen s e o f cru el t y to

ch i l d ren i n t h e s eco n d d eg ree w h en s uch p ers o n wi t h cri m i nal n eg l i gen ce cau s es a

ch i l d u nd er t h e a g e o f 1 8 c r u el o r ex ces si v e

. . . m en t al p ai n

. ”); 1 6 -5 -4 1 (a) (A

“ p ers o n co m

m i t s t h e offen s e o f fal s e i m p ri s o n m en t wh en

, in v io lat i on o f t h e p ers o n al

l i bert y o f an o t h er, h e arres t s

, co n fi n e s

, o r d et ai n s s uch p ers o n wi t h o u t l eg al

au t h o ri t y .”); s ee al s o O CGA § 1 6 -5 -7 0 (b ) (A “ p ers o n co m m i t s t he o ffen s e of cru el t y

t o ch i l d ren i n t h e fi rs t d eg ree wh en s u ch p ers o n m al i ci o u s l y cau s es a ch i l d u n d er t h e

6Im

p l i ci t in t h i s v erd i ct is t h e ju ry ’ s r e j e c t i o n o f t h e Ap pel l an t ’ s d efen s e t h at h i s

act i on s were ju st i fi ed as reas o n ab l e p aren t al d i s ci p l in e. It w as u p t o t he ju ry to

d et erm i n e wh et h er t h e ci rcu m st an ces ju s t i fi ed t h e Ap pel l ant’ s c onduc t, a n d t h i s Co u rt

wi l l n ot i n t erfere wi t h th at d et erm i n at i o n as lo n g as i t was s u p p ort ed b y ev id en ce at

t ri al

. 6

Hav i n g rev i ewed th e t ri al t ran s cri pt

, we co ncl u d e th at t h e ev i d en ce p res en t ed

was s u ffi ci en t fo r t h e ju ry t o fi n d t h e Ap p el l an t g u i l t y b ey o n d a reas o n ab l e d o u b t o f

t h e cri m es ch arg ed

.

2

. Th e Ap p el l an t c o nt en d s t h at t h e t ri al co u rt ab us ed i t s d i s cret i o n wh en i t

p ro h ib i t ed h i m fro m i n tro du ci n g ev i d en ce o f p ri o r act s of v i o l en ce co m m i t t ed b y t h e

v i ct i m ag ai n s t a fo rm er t each er an d cl as s m at es

. 7 W e d is ag ree.

Th e reco rd s h o ws th at t h e St at e fi l ed a m o t i o n i n l i m i n e as k in g t h e co u rt to

ex cl u d e ev i d en ce o f al l eg ed p ri o r b ad act s b y t h e vi ct i m t o w a r d t h i rd p art i es wh o

ag e o f 1 8 cru el o r ex ces s i v e . . . m en t al p ai n .”).

6 See Fr as i er

, 2 9 5 Ga. Ap p

. at 5 9 9 (2 ) (a); s ee al s o Ha j i v. St at e

, 33 1 G a. Ap p.

1 1 6

, 1 1 9 (3 ) ( 7 69 SE2 d 8 1 1 ) (2 0 1 5 ) (wh et h er th e d efen d an t ’ s act s fel l w i t h i n t h e

real m o f r e as o n ab l e p aren t al d i s ci p l i n e an d w h et h er t h os e act s cau sed t he ch i l d to

ex p eri en ce ex ces s i v e p ai n were q u es t i o n s t o b e d eci d ed b y t h e fact fi nd er).

7 See Ca r t er v. S ta t e

, 2 9 6 Ga. Ap p. 5 9 8

, 6 01

, n

. 7 (6 7 5 SE2 d 3 2 0 ) (2 00 9 ) (Th i s

Co u rt rev i ews a t ri al co u rt ’ s ru l i n g o n t h e ad m i ss i o n of ev id en ce un d er an ab u s e o f

d i s cret i o n s t an d ard .).

7were n o t h i s fam i l y m em b ers

, s p eci fi cal l y act s co m m i t t ed wh en h e was fi v e y ears o ld

ag ai n s t h i s fo rm er k i n derg art en t each er an d h is cl as s m at es

. Fo l l o wi n g a h eari n g

, t h e

co u rt ru l ed t hat t h e ev id en ce w as i n ad m i s s i b l e ch aract er ev i d en ce an d i rrel ev an t

b ecau s e t h e t each er an d cl as s m at es were n ot p art i es to t h e in s t an t cas e, an d b ecau s e

t h e al l eg ed b ad act s were t o o rem o t e i n t i m e, hav i n g o ccu rred ap p ro x i m at el y t wo

y ears an d ei gh t m o n t h s b efo re t he i n c i d e n t s at i s su e. 8 Th e Ap p el l an t ’ s co u n s el

s u b s e q uen tl y p ro ffered t h e ev i d en ce t hat h e w o u l d h av e p res en t ed at t ri al to

d em o n s t rat e t he vi ct i m ’ s p r i o r b ad act s

. Sp eci fi cal l y

, h e s t at ed th at t h e v i ct i m ’ s

k i n d erg art en t each er wo u l d tes t i fy t h at

, i n A u g u s t an d Sep t em b er 2 0 0 7

, t h e v i ct i m

rep eat ed l y s l ap p ed

, p u n ch ed

, s ho v ed

, o r k i ck ed t h e t each er an d t h e v i ct i m ’ s

cl as s m at es . Th e co u rt reaffi rm ed i t s earl ier ru l i n g an d ex cl ud ed t he ev i d en ce.

Th e A p p el lan t arg u es t h at t h e co u rt erred i n ex cl u d i n g ev i den ce o f th e v i ct i m ’ s

p r i o r b a d act s to ward t h i rd p art i es

, co m p l ai n i n g t h at t hi s ev i d en ce wo u l d h av e

s u p p ort ed hi s cl ai m t h at h e w as act i n g i n s el f-d efen s e wh en h e co m m it t ed th e act s at

i s su e.

8 W e n o te t hat th e co u rt d i d n o t p rev en t t h e Ap p el l an t fro m el ici t i n g ex t en s i v e

ev i d en ce ab o u t t h e v ict i m ’ s ag g res s i v e a c t s t o ward fam i l y m em b ers w i t h wh o m h e

was l i v i n g

, an d t h e Ap p e l l a n t was ab l e t o t es t i fy g en eral l y ab o u t t he v i ct i m ’ s

b eh av i o ral p ro bl em s at s ch o o l

.

8Un d er G eo rg i a’s fo rm er Ev i den ce Co d e, a d efen d an t cl ai m in g sel fd efen s e ju s ti fi cat i o n co u ld i n t ro d u ce ev i d en ce o f s p eci fi c v i ol en t act s b y

t h e v i ct i m ag ai n st t h ird p art i es .[ 9 ] T h e d efen dan t , h o wev er, carri ed t he

b u rd en o f p ro v i n g t h at t he s p eci fi c v i o l en t act s s h o u l d be ad m it t ed an d

h a d t o

, at a m in i m

u m

, (1 ) fo l l o w t h e pro ced u ral req u irem en ts fo r

i n t ro d u ci n g t he ev i d en ce, (2 ) es t ab l i sh t h e ex i s t en ce o f p ri o r v i o l en t act s

b y co m p et en t ev i d en ce, an d (3 ) m ak e a p ri m a faci e sh o w i n g o f

ju s t i fi cat i o n

. To m ak e a p ri m a faci e cas e o f ju s t i fi cat i on

, t h e d efen d an t

was req u i red t o sh o w th at t h e v i ct i m w as th e ag g res s o r, t h e v i ct i m

as s au l t ed th e d efen d an t, an d t h e d efen d an t w as h o n es t l y t ry i n g t o d efen d

h i m s el f. 1 0

In th i s cas e, t h ere was n o ev i d en ce t o s u pp o rt a fi n d i n g th at t h e sev en -y ear-o ld

v i ct i m p res en t ed an i m

m i nen t v i o l en t t h reat t o t h e Ap p el l an t an d t hat t h e Ap p el l an t

was fo rced t o d efen d h i m sel f b y l o ck in g t h e v i ct i m i n t h e b o x o r t y i n g h i m u p i n a

9 See Ch a n dl er v. S t a t e

, 2 6 1 Ga. 4 0 2

, 4 0 7 (4 05 SE2 d 6 69 ) (1 9 9 1 ), o v e r r u l e d

i n part

, Mo ha mu d v. S t a t e

, 2 97 Ga. 5 3 2

, 5 3 5 -5 3 6 (3 ) (7 7 3 SE2 d 7 5 5 ) (2 0 1 5) (h o l d i n g

t h at th e ru l e s et fo rt h i n Ch an d l er h as b een s u p e r s ed ed b y p ro v i s i o ns o f t h e n ew

Ev i d en c e C o d e). Al t h o ug h t he Ch a n dl er ev i d en ti ary ru l e n o l o n g er rem ai n s v i ab l e

u n d er Geo rg i a’ s n e w Ev i d en ce Co d e, i t ap p l ies i n t h i s cas e b ecau s e Les l i e’ s t ri al

o ccu rred b efo re J an u ary 1

, 2 0 1 3

, th e n ew Ev i d en ce Co d e’ s effect i v e d at e. See Ga. L.

2 0 1 1

, p. 9 9

, § § 1, 1 0 1 ; W r i gh t v. S t a te

, 3 0 0 Ga. 1 85

, 1 88 (3 ), n

. 3 ( 7 9 4 SE2 d 1 0 5 )

(2 0 1 6).

1 0 W r i g h t

, 3 0 0 G a. at 1 8 8 (3 ) (ci t at i o n s

, p u n ct u at i o n, an d fo o t n o t e o m i t t ed ). See

OCGA § 1 6 -3 -2 1 (a) (“ A p ers o n i s ju s t i fi ed i n t h reat en i n g o r u s i n g f o r c e a g ai n s t

an o th er wh en an d t o t h e ex ten t t h at h e o r sh e reas o n ab l y b el iev es t h at su ch t h reat o r

fo rce i s n eces s ary t o d efen d h i m s el f o r h ers el f o r a t h i rd p ers o n ag ai n s t su ch o t h er’ s

i m m i n en t u s e o f u n l awfu l fo rce[.] ”).

9s l eep i n g b ag

. In st ead

, th e Ap p el l an t ad m i t t ed t h at h e u s ed b o ok s an d t h e In t ern et to

r e s e a r c h d ifferen t m et h o d s o f di s ci p l i n e an d t hat he p l an n ed an d b u il t t h e b o x wi t h

t h e i n ten ti o n o f u si n g i t to p u n i s h t h e v i ct i m ; t o cal m hi m do wn ; an d t o t each h i m to

b eh av e, b e n i ce, li s t en t o h i s p aren t s an d t each ers

, an d fo l l o w o rd ers s o h e w o u l d

real ize “ we are th e b o s s

, h e’ s n o t t h e b o s s .” Acco rd i n g t o t h e Ap p el l an t, h e n eed ed

t o fi nd a way t o di s ci p l i n e t h e v i ct i m

, ex p l ai n i ng t h at t h e ch i l d was “ g et ti n g s t ro n g er

an d i t ’ s h ard t o h o l d h i m d o wn .” Th e Ap p e l l an t al s o t es t i fi ed t h at h e wan t ed t o u s e

i t to k eep t h e vi ct i m fr o m g o i n g i n t o “ fi t s of rag e” t h at h e (t he Ap p el l an t) d i d n ot

k n o w h o w to d eal wi t h an d t h at h e was co n cern ed t h at t h e o t h er fo rm s o f p u n i s h m en t

h e o ft en u s ed

, s uch as s pan k i ng h i m wi t h a wi re f l ys w a t t e r, wo u l d b ru i s e o r l eav e

m ark s o n t h e v i ct i m

. Th e s e ad m i s s io n s were co rro b o rat ed b y o t h er wi t n es ses

, wh o

t es t i fi ed th at t h e Ap p el l an t h ad s ai d h e p u t t h e v i ct i m i n t h e bo x t o co n t ro l h i m o r to

p u n i s h h i m

fo r h i s b ad b eh av i o r.

M o reo v er, d u r i n g h i s i n t erv i ew wi t h an i n v es t i gat o r, w hi ch was wi t h i n t h ree

d ay s o f th e fi rs t t i m e h e lo ck ed t h e v i ct i m i n t h e b o x

, t h e Ap p el l an t ad m i tt ed t h at h e

co u ld n ot rem em

b er wh at t he v ict i m h ad d o n e th at cau s ed hi m (t h e Ap p el l an t ) t o u s e

t h at p u n i s h m en t. As fo r wh y h e l o ck ed th e v i ct i m i n t h e b o x t he n ex t d ay

, t h e

Ap p el l an t t o l d o ffi cers t h at t h e v i ct i m h ad fai l ed t o d o h i s h om ewo rk

, an d t h at

, wh en

10t h e A p p el l a n t t r i e d t o p u n i s h h i m by s en d i n g h i m to h i s ro o m

, t h e ch i l d wo u l d n ot

s t ay i n th e ro o m an d s cream ed an d cal l ed h im n am es

. Th e Ap p el lan t t h en s p an k ed t h e

ch i l d befo re lo ck i ng h i m i n t h e b o x fo r 3 0 m i n u t es

. No t ab l y

, t h e Ap p el l an t n ev er t o ld

t h e i n v es t i gat o r t h at he p u t t h e v i ct i m i n t he b o x i n a n e f f o r t t o d efen d h i m s el f, h i s

wi fe, o r t h e ch i ld ’ s s i bl i n g s fro m i m m i n e n t h a r m b ecau s e t h e ch i l d was h i t t i n g,

k i ck i n g , o r o t h erwi s e h u rt in g t hem at t h at m o m en t

.

Li k ewi s e, t h e Ap p el l an t n ev er t o l d th e i n v es t i g at o r t h at t h e vi ct im cl im b ed i n to

t h e b o x v o l u n t ari l y

. At t ri al

, h o wev er, t h e Ap p el l an t cl ai m ed t h at

, o n b o t h o ccas i o n s

,

h e t al k ed t o t he v i ct i m wh i l e t he v i ct i m “ s t i l l h ad a reas o n i n g cap ab il i t y ” an d g av e t h e

v i ct i m a ch o ice o f p u n is h m en t s : h e co u l d s i t i n t h e b o x fo r 3 0 m i n u t es o r s t ay i n h i s

ro o m fo r t h e res t o f t h e d ay

. Acco rd i n g t o t h e A p p el l an t

, t h e v i ct i m v o l u n tari l y ch o s e

t h e fo rm er o p t i o n

. Th us

, t h e Ap p el l an t ’ s o w n tri al tes t i m o n y d em o n st rat ed t h at t h e

v i c t i m was no t t hreat en i n g h i m wi th i m m i n en t h arm at ei t h er t i m e t h e Ap p el l an t

l o ck ed h i m

i n t h e b o x

.

As fo r wh at cau s ed h im to t i e u p t h e vi ct im i n t he s l eep i n g bag

, t h e Ap p el l an t

t es t i fi ed t h at h e d i d n o t rem em ber, s t at i n g o n l y t h at i t m i gh t h av e b een b ecau s e h e h ad

t ri ed t o s p an k t h e v ict i m fo r s o m e earl i er m is b eh av i o r an d th e v i ct i m had t ri ed t o ru n

11o r fi g h t b ack to av o i d bei n g p u n i s h ed

. 1 1 Acco rd i n g t o t h e A p p el l an t

, he t o l d t h e

v i ct i m t o g et i ns i d e t h e s l eep i n g b ag

, b u t, wh en t h e v ict i m refu s ed

, t h e Ap pel l an t p ut

t h e v i ct i m in s i d e an d ti ed h i m u p

. Th e Ap pel l an t t o l d t h e v i ct i m th at

, i f he g o t o u t

, h e

wo u l d g et an ot h er s p an k i n g an d t h at h e was “ g oi n g t o d o wh at I as k [ed h i m ] t o d o.”

Th e Ap p el l an t al s o ad m i t t ed t h at he p u t p ep p er i n t h e ch i l d ’ s m ou t h a f t er h e h ad t i ed

t h e v ict i m i n t h e s l eep i n g b ag

, b ecau s e t h e ch i l d h ad b een v ery an g ry an d was cu rs i n g.

Al t h ou g h t h e A p p el l an t t es t i fi ed at t ri al t h at t h e v i ct i m h ad hi t

, k ick ed

, b i t t en

,

an d o t h erwi s e act ed v i o l en t l y t oward h i m an d o t h er fam i l y m em b ers

, t h at t es t i m o n y

,

wh en read i n co n t ex t, d es cri b ed t h e v i ct i m ’ s b eh av i o r th at p u rp o rt ed l y cau s ed t h e

Ap p el l an t t o reg u l arl y s p an k, res trai n

, o r ot h e r w i s e p u n i s h h i m

, o r i t s h o wed t h e

v i ct i m ’ s n eg at i v e r ea ct i o n s t o b e i n g p un i s h ed

. No n e o f t h e ev i d en ce s u p p o rt ed a

fi nd i ng t h at t h e v i ct i m was t he in i t i al ag g res s o r wh o t h reat en ed t h e Ap pel l an t wi t h an

i m m i n en t, vi o l en t at t ack s o t h at t h e Ap p el lan t was ju s ti fi ed in res t rai ni n g t h e v i ct i m

i n t he b o x o r t h e s l eep i n g b ag i n an act o f s el f-d efen s e.

In s t ead

, as t h e t ri al co urt fo u n d

, t h e o v erwh el m i n g ev i den ce sh o we d t h at t h e

Ap p el l an t co m

m i tt ed d el i berat e, p re-m ed i t at ed act s o f res t rai n in g t h e sev en -y ear-o ld

1 1 No t ab l y

, d u ri n g h is i n t erv i ew wi t h t h e i nv es t i g at or, th e Ap p el lan t d i d n o t t el l

t h e i n v es t i g at o r t h at h e h ad ev er t ied u p t h e v i ct im i n t h e s leep i n g b ag

.

12v i ct i m wi t h t he s o l e i n t en t i on o f p u n i s h i n g h im fo r earl i er b ad b eh av i o r, an d i t was

fo r th e ju ry t o d eci d e w h et h er t h o s e act s co n s t i t ut ed reas o n ab l e paren t al d i s ci p l i n e

u n d er th e ci rcu m s t an ces

. It fo ll o ws t h at

, becau s e t h e Ap p el l an t fai l ed t o p res en t a

p ri m a faci e cas e o f sel f-d efen s e t o ju s t i fy h i s act i o ns

, t h e t ri al co u rt d i d n o t ab u s e i t s

d i s cret i o n i n ex cl u d i n g e v i d en ce o f p ri o r b ad act s co m m i tt ed b y t h e v i ct i m ag ai n s t

t h i rd p art i es

. 1 2

3

. Th e A p p el l an t co n t en d s t h at th e t r i a l co u rt erred i n fai l i n g t o in s t ru ct t h e

ju ry

, s u a s p o n t e, 1 3 o n t h e affi rm at i v e d efen s e of ju s t ifi cat i o n un d er OCGA § § 1 6 -3 -2 1

(a), 1 6 -3 -2 3, an d 1 6-3 -2 4 (a).

1 2 See W r i g h t

, 3 0 0 G a. at 1 8 8 (3 ); s ee al s o Gr ah a m v. S t a t e

, 2 7 4 Ga. 6 9 6

, 6 9 8

(3 ) (5 5 8 SE2 d 3 9 5 ) (2 0 0 2 ) (Th e d efen d an t ’ s t es t i m o n y t h at h e t h o ug h t t h e v i ct i m h ad

a g u n an d t h at h e fi red at t h e v i ct i m t o s care h i m d i d n o t es t ab l i s h t h at th e v i ct i m was

t h e ag g res s o r. As a res u l t

, t h e d e f e n d an t fai l ed to es t ab l i sh a p ri m a faci e cas e o f

ju s t ifi cat i o n t h at wo u l d h av e p erm i t t ed h i m t o i n t ro d u ce s pec i fi c act s o f v i o l en ce

co m m i t t ed b y th e v ict i m ag ai n s t t h i rd p art i es .); W a l d en v. S t a te

, 2 6 7 Ga. 1 6 2

, 1 6 3 (2 )

(a) (4 7 6 SE2 d 2 5 9 ) (1 9 9 6 ) (Ev en i f t h e v ict i m s h o w ed s om e ag g res si v e b eh av i o r, t h e

d efen d an t s t il l h ad t o s ho w t h at t h e v i ct i m as s au l t ed h i m

an d t h at h e was d efen d i n g

h i m s el f wh en he s h o t t h e v i ct i m

. Be c a u s e he fai l ed t o m ak e t h i s s ho wi ng

, t h e t ri al

co u rt di d n o t err i n ex cl ud i n g ev i den ce o f t he v i ct i m ’ s p ri o r act s o f v i o l en ce t o ward

t h i rd p art i es .).

1 3 It i s u n d i s p u ted t h at t h e Ap p el l an t’s a t t o r n e ys d i d n o t req u es t t h es e ju ry

i n s t ru ct i o n s

. See Di v i s i o n 4 (b ), i nfra, reg ard in g a rel at ed cl ai m o f i n effect i v e

as s i s tan ce o f co u n s el

.

13(a) As an i n i t i a l m a t t er, w e n o t e t h at t h e t ri al co urt i n s tru ct ed t h e ju ry o n t h e

affi rm at i v e d efen s e o f ju s t i fi cat i o n an d o n p aren t al d i s ci p l in e, 1 4 as req u es t ed b y t h e

Ap p el l an t

.

(b ) In co n tras t

, t he co u rt d i d n o t err i n fai l i n g t o ch arg e t h e ju ry

, s ua s p o n t e, o n

s el f-d efen s e u n d er OCGA § 1 6 -3 -2 1 (a), becau s e t h e Ap p el l an t fai l ed t o req u es t t h e

1 4 Th e co u rt i n s t ru ct ed t h e ju ry as fo ll ows :

An affi rm at i ve d efen s e i s a d efen s e th at ad m i t s t h e d o i n g o f t h e act

ch arg ed b ut seek s t o j u s t i fy

, ex cu s e, o r m i t i g at e i t. O n ce an affi rm at iv e

d efen s e i s rai s ed

, t h e b u r d e n i s o n t h e St at e t o d i s p ro ve i t b ey on d a

reas o n ab l e d o u b t

. T h e fact t h at a p ers o n ’ s co n d uct i s ju s t ifi ed i s a

d efen s e t o p ro s ecu t i o n fo r an y cri m e b as ed on t h at co n d u ct

. T h e defen s e

o f ju s t i fi cat i on can b e cl ai m ed w hen t he p e r s o n ’ s co n d u ct i s th e

reas o n ab l e d i s ci p l i ne o f a m i n o r b y h i s p aren t or a p ers o n in l o co

p aren t i s [.]

. . . A p aren t i s ju s t ifi ed i n u s i n g co rp oral o r p hy s i cal

p u n i s h m en t i n o rd er t o d i s ci p l i n e a m i n o r ch i l d s o l on g as t h e co rp o ral

p u n i s h m en t i s r e a s o n ab l e. A p aren t i s no t j u s ti fi ed in u s i n g co rp o ral

p u n i s h m en t t o d i s ci p l i n e a m i n o r ch i l d i f t he co rp o ral p u n i s h m en t

m al i ci o u s l y cau ses t h e ch i l d cru el o r ex ces s i v e p h y s i cal p ai n , h arm

, o r

i n ju ry

. If y o u fi n d fro m t h e ev id en ce t h at t h e d efen dan t di d i n fl i ct

co rp oral p u n i s hm en t u p o n t h e ch i l d i n t hi s cas e an d y o u fu rt h er fi n d t hat

i t was reas o nab l e an d d i d n o t cau s e th e ch i l d t o s u ffer cru el or ex ces s iv e

p h y s i ca l o r m e n t al p ai n, h arm

, o r i n j u ry

, th en t h e d efen d an t wo ul d be

ju s t i fi ed

, an d i t w ou l d b e y ou r du t y t o acq u i t t h e d efe n d a n t

. Wh en th e

i s su e o f j u s t i fi cat i o n in t h e ex erci s e o f p aren t al d is ci pl i n e i s rai s ed b y th e

ev i d en ce, t h e b u rd en i s o n t he St at e t o d i s p ro v e t h at t h e d efen d an t w as

ju s t i fi ed

.

14c h a rg e, t h ere was n o ev i d en ce t o su p p o rt i t

, 1 5 an d i t was n ot t h e Ap p el l an t ’s s o l e

d efen s e. 1 6

(c) As fo r t h e affi rm at i v e d efen s es o f d efen s e o f h ab i t at i o n u n d er OCGA § 1 6

-

3 -2 3

, 1 7 an d d efen s e of p ro p ert y o t her t h an h ab i t at io n u n der OCGA § 1 6 -3 -2 4 (a), 1 8

t h ere was n o ev i den ce p res en t ed t o s u p p o rt t h es e i n st ru ct io n s

. In fact

, th e Ap p el l an t ’ s

1 5 See Di v i s i o n s 1 an d 2

, s u p ra; s ee al s o Co d e v. S t at e

, 2 5 5 G a. Ap p. 4 3 2

, 4 3 4

(4 ) (5 6 5 SE2 d 4 7 7 ) (2 0 0 2 ) (“ [E] v en i f ju s t i f i c a t i on i s a d efen dan t ’ s s o l e d efen s e, i t

i s no t erro r t o refu se t h e ch arg e i f t h ere i s n o e v i d en ce t o s u p p o rt it .”) (fo o t n o t e

o m it t ed ).

1 6 See Ch a p el v. S t a te

, 2 7 0 Ga. 1 5 1

, 1 5 6 (7 ) (5 1 0 SE2 d 8 0 2 ) (1 9 9 8 ) (“ Th e t ri al

co u rt was n o t req u i red t o g i v e an i n s t ru ct i o n on al ib i ab s en t a d efen s e req u es t b ecau s e

al i b i was n o t [t h e d efen d an t ’ s ] s o l e d efen s e.”) (fo o t n o t e o m it t ed ); cf. W at t s v. S t a t e

, 2 5 9 Ga. Ap p

. 5 3 1

, 5 3 3 (3 ) (5 7 8 SE2 d 2 3 1 ) (2 0 0 3 ) (“ If an affi rm at i v e d efen s e i s rai s ed

b y t h e ev i d en ce, i n cl u d i n g t h e d efen dan t s ’ o wn s t at em en t s

, t h e tri al c o u r t m u s t

p res en t t h e affi rm at i v e d efen s e t o t h e ju ry as p art o f t h e cas e i n i t s ch arg e, ev en ab s en t

a req u es t .”) (ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ).

1 7 See OCGA § 1 6-3 -2 3 (“ A p ers o n i s ju s t i fi ed i n t h reat en i n g o r u s i n g fo rce

ag ai n s t an o t h er wh en an d t o th e ex t en t t h at h e o r sh e reas o nab l y b el i ev es t h at s u ch

t h reat or fo rce i s n eces s ary t o p rev en t o r t erm i n at e s u ch o t h er’ s u n l awfu l en t ry i n to

o r at t ack u po n a h ab i t at i o n[.] ”).

1 8 See OCGA § 1 6 -3 -2 4 (a) (“ A p ers o n i s ju s t i fi ed i n t h reat en i n g o r us i n g fo rce

ag ai n s t an o t h er wh en an d to t he ex t en t t hat h e reas o nab l y b el iev es t hat s u ch t h reat o r

fo rce is n eces s ary t o p rev en t o r t erm i n at e su ch o t h er’ s t res p as s o n o r ot h er t ort i o u s o r

cri m i n al in t erferen ce wi t h real p ro p ert y o t h er t h an a h ab i t at i on o r p ers o n al p ro p ert y :

(1 ) Lawfu l l y i n h is p o ss es s i o n ; (2 ) Lawfu l l y in t h e p o s s es s i o n o f a m em b er o f h i s

i m m ed i at e fam i l y ; o r (3 ) Bel o ng i n g t o a p ers o n wh o s e p ro p ert y h e h as a l eg al d u t y

t o p ro t ect .”).

15o wn t ri al t e s t i m o n y a b o u t w h y h e l o ck ed t h e v i ct i m i n th e b o x an d t i ed h i m i n t h e

s l eep i n g b ag n ev er ev en su g ges t ed th at h e d i d s o i n o rd er t o p rev en t an “ u n l awfu l

en t ry ” i n to h i s h om e b y t h e v i ct i m (wh o al s o li v ed t h ere 1 9 ) o r t o d efen d h i s h o m e o r

p ro p ert y fro m an u n lawfu l act b y t h e v i ct i m

. 2 0 Fu rt h er, t h e Ap p el l an t fai l ed t o req u es t

t h es e ch arg es

, an d n ei t h er d efen s e was h i s s o l e d efen se. Th u s, t h e co u rt d i d n o t err

i n fai li n g t o i n st ru ct t h e ju ry o n t h es e d efen ses

. 2 1

4 . Th e Ap p el lan t co n t en d s t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n reject i n g h i s cl ai m t h at

h e recei v ed in effect i v e as si s t an ce o f co u n s el

. T h e Ap p el l an t was rep res en ted b y t wo

at t o rn ey s d u ri ng tri al

, an d h e as s ert s t h e s am e in effect i v e as s i st an ce cl ai m s ag ai n s t

t h em jo i n t l y

.

In o rd er t o p rev ai l o n a cl ai m o f i neffect i v e as s i s t an ce o f co u ns el

, a

cri m i n al d efen dan t m

us t s h o w t h at co u n s el ’ s p erfo rm an ce was d efi ci en t

an d t h at t h e d efi ci en t perfo rm an ce s o p reju d i ced t h e cl i en t th at t h ere i s

1 9 See gen eral l y S to bb a r t v. S t at e

, 2 7 2 Ga. 6 0 8

, 6 1 2 (4 ) (5 3 3 SE2 d 3 7 9) (2 0 0 0 )

(“ [D] efen s e o f h ab i t at io n is n o t a d efen s e av ai l ab l e t o a d efen d an t wh en th e v i ct i m i s

a g u es t i n t h e h o m e.”) (ci t at i o n o m i t t ed ).

2 0 See g en eral l y Ba rr on v. S t a t e

, 2 1 9 Ga. Ap p

. 48 1

, 4 82 (4 6 5 SE2 d 5 2 9 ) (1 9 9 5 )

(Th e d efen dan t was n o t ju st i fi ed i n u s i ng fo rce ag ai n s t hi s s p ou s e, fro m wh o m h e was

s e p arat ed

, to p rev en t h er fro m t ak in g p ers o n al p ro p ert y o u t o f h i s car, bec a u s e t h e

p ro p ert y s t i l l b el o ng ed t o t h em b o t h

. Th u s

, t h e defen s e of ju st i fi cat i o n u n d er OCGA

§ 1 6-3 -2 4 (a) d i d n o t ap p l y

. ).

2 1 See Ch ap el , 2 7 0 Ga. at 1 56 (7 ); Co d e , 2 55 Ga. Ap p. at 4 34 (4 ).

16a reas o n ab l e l i kel i h o od t h at

, b u t fo r co u n s el ’ s erro rs

, t h e o u tco m e o f th e

t ri al wo u ld h av e b een d i fferen t .[ 2 2 ] T h e cri m i n al d efen dan t m u s t

o v erco m e th e s t ro n g p res u m p t i on t h at t ri al co u n s el ’ s co n d u ct fal l s

wi t h i n t h e bro ad ran g e o f reas o n ab le pro fes s i o n al co n d u ct

. W e accep t

t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s fact u al fi n d i ng s an d cre d i b i l i t y d et erm i n at i o n s un l es s

cl earl y erro n eo u s

, b u t we i n d ep en d en t ly ap p l y t he l eg al p ri n ci p l es t o th e

fact s

. 2 3

“ An ap p el l at e co u rt ev al u at es co u n s el ’ s p erfo rm an ce fro m c o u n s e l ’ s p ers p ect i v e at

t h e t i m e o f t ri al

. As a gen eral ru l e, m at t ers o f reas o n ab l e t act i cs an d s t rat eg y

, wh et h er

wi s e o r un wi s e, d o n o t am o un t t o i neffect i v e as s i s tan ce of co u ns el .” 2 4 “ Si n ce an

ap p el l an t cl ai m i n g i n ef

f e c t i v e as s i s t an ce of co u n s el m u st s h o w b o t h d efi ci en t

p erfo rm an ce an d act u al p reju d i ce s t em m i ng f r o m th at d efi ci en cy

, an in su ffi ci en t

s h o wi n g o n ei t h er o f th es e p ro n g s rel i ev es t h e rev i ewi n g co u rt o f t he n eed t o ad d res s

t h e o t h er p ro ng .” 2 5

2 2 St r i ckl a n d v. W

a s h i ng t o n

, 4 6 6 U. S. 66 8 (1 0 4 SCt 2 0 52

, 8 0 L E 2 d 6 7 4 )

(1 9 8 4).

2 3 Ro b i n s o n v. S ta t e

, 2 77 Ga. 7 5, 7 5-7 6 (5 8 6 SE2 d 3 1 3 ) (2 0 0 3 ) (ci t at i o n s an d

p u n ct u at i o n o m it t ed ).

2 4 Gr i er v. S t a te

, 2 7 3 Ga. 3 6 3

, 3 6 5 (4 ) (5 4 1 SE2 d 3 6 9 ) (2 0 0 1 ) (ci t at i o n s an d

p u n ct u at i o n o m it t ed ).

2 5 W il l i a ms v. St at e

, 2 7 7 Ga. 8 5 3

, 8 5 8 (6 ) (a) (5 96 SE2 d 5 9 7 ) (2 0 0 4) (ci t at i on s

an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ).

17(a) Th e A p pel l an t co m p l ai n s t h at hi s at t o rn ey s fai led t o pro v i de t i m el y n o t i ce

o f h i s i n ten t io n t o i n t ro d u ce ev i d en ce of p ri o r b ad act s b y t h e v ict i m t o ward t h i r d

p a r t i e s

. As s h o wn i n Di vi s io n 2

, s u p ra, t h e t ri al co u rt co n s i d ered th e m eri t s o f t h e

n o t i ce an d t he at to rn eys ’ p ro ffer o f ev i d en ce b efo re ru l in g t h at t h e ev i den ce was

i n ad m is s i b le. An d

, as t he A p pel l an t co n ced es

, t h e co urt d id n ot ex cl u d e th e ev i d en ce

b ecau s e t h e n o ti ce fi l ed b y t h e at t o rn ey s was u n t i m el y

. T h u s

, p ret erm i t t in g wh et h er

t h e at t o rn ey s fai l ed to p ro v i d e t i m el y n ot i ce reg ard in g t he ev i d en ce, t h e Ap pel l an t h as

fai l ed t o d em on st rat e an y p r e j u d i ce ari s in g fro m t h e o v ers ig h t

. It fo l l ows t h at h e

can n ot p rev ai l o n t h i s i n effect i v e as s i s t an ce cl ai m

. 2 6

(b ) Th e Ap p e l l an t co n t en d s th at h is at t o rn ey s were i n effect iv e fo r fai l i n g to

p u rs u e a d efen se b as ed u p o n s el f-d efen s e, d efen s e o f h ab i t at i o n, an d d efen s e o f

p ro p ert y o t h er t h an h ab i t at i on

. Ho wev er, as we h av e co n cl u d ed i n Di v i si o n s 2 an d 3

(c), s u p ra, t h ere was n o ev id en ce t o s u pp o rt t h es e d efen s es

, an d t he Ap p el l an t h as n ot

i d en t i fi ed an y ot h er ev id en ce t h at wo u l d h av e s u p p o rt ed th es e d efen ses

. Fu rt h er, o n e

o f t h e Ap p el l an t’ s at t o rn ey s s p eci fi cal l y t es ti fi ed at t h e m o t io n fo r n ew tri al h eari n g

t h a t h e d i d no t t h i n k a sel f-d efen s e cl ai m was ap p ro p ri at e i n t h i s cas e, pri m ari l y

b ecau s e t h e v i ct i m was sev en y ears o l d an d wei g h ed ab ou t ei g h t y t o n in et y p o u n d s

,

2 6 See W i l l i a m s , 2 7 7 Ga. at 8 5 8 (6 ) (a).

18wh i le t he Ap pel l an t was ab ou t t h i rt y y ears o l d an d wei g h ed 1 6 0 p o u nd s

. Th at was a

reas on ab l e s t rat eg i c d eci s i on b y t ri al co u n s el an d d i d n o t am o u n t t o i n effect i v e

as s i s tan ce. 2 7 It fo l l o ws t h at t h i s cl ai m l ack s m eri t

.

(c) Th e Ap p el lan t co n ten d s t h at h i s at to rn ey s w e r e i n effect i v e becau s e t h ey

fai l ed t o cal l p ot en t i al d efen s e wi t n es ses or i n t erv iew o th er d efen se wi t n es s es p ri o r

t o t ri al

. “ T h e d eci s i o n s o n w h ich wi t n es s es t o cal l an d al l o t her s t rat eg i es an d t act i cal

d eci s i o n s are t h e ex cl u s i v e pro v i n ce o f t h e l awy er aft er co n s u l t at i o n w it h h i s cl i en t .” 2 8

Su ch reas o nab l e s t rat eg i c deci s i o n s do no t s u p p o rt a cl ai m o f i n effect iv e as si s t an ce. 2 9

(i ) Du ri n g t h e heari n g o n t h e m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al

, t h e o n ly p o t en t i al d efen s e

wi t n es s cal l ed b y t h e A p p e l l an t was h i s m o t h er, wh o t es t i fi ed ab ou t t h e v i ct i m ’ s

ag g res s i v e b eh av i o r to w ard h er an d o t h er t hi rd p art i es

. Ho wev er, w h en as k ed b y t h e

p ro s ecu to r i f s h e h ad ev er t i ed u p th e v i ct im i n a s l eep i ng b ag o r l o ck ed h i m i n a b o x

as a res u l t o f t h at b eh av i o r, t h e A p p e l l a n t ’s m o t h er res p o n d ed t h at sh e h ad n o t

,

ex p lai n i n g t h at s h e di d no t ag ree wi t h t h o s e m et h o d s o f d i s ci p l i n e. W h en as k ed ab o ut

t h e Ap p el l an t ’ s m ot h er’ s t es t i m o n y

, o n e o f t h e Ap p el l an t ’ s at t o rn ey s t es ti fi ed t h at t h e

2 7 See Gr ier , 2 7 3 Ga. at 3 6 5 (4 ).

2 8 Mo r el a n d v. S t a t e

, 2 6 3 Ga. Ap p. 58 5

, 5 88 (4 ) (5 8 8 SE2 d 7 85 ) (2 0 0 3 )

(ci t at i o n an d p u nct u at io n o m i t ted ).

2 9 See Gr ier , 2 7 3 Ga. at 3 6 5 (4 ).

19t es t i m o ny wo u l d n o t h av e b een rel ev an t t o t h e i s s u e s o n t ri al

. Th e at t o rn ey was

co rrect

, g i v en th e co u rt ’ s ex cl u s i o n o f ev i d en ce o f pri o r b ad act s by th e vi ct i m t o ward

t h i rd p art i es

. 3 0 M o reo ver, t h e Ap p el l an t h as fai l ed t o sh o w t h at hi s m o th er’ s t es t i m o ny

wo u l d h av e been m o re b en efi ci al t h an p ro b lem at i c t o h i s d efen se, co n s i d eri n g h er

cl ear ex p res s i o n o f d is ap p ro v al o f t h e act s at i s s u e. 3 1

(i i) On e o f th e Ap p el lan t ’ s at t orn ey s al so t es t i fi ed t h at h e di d no t refu s e t o cal l

an y wi t n es s wh o m th e Ap p el l an t h ad req u es t ed

. H e t es t i fi ed th at t h e Ap p el l an t h ad

i d en t i fi ed s ev eral po t en t ial de f e nse wi t n es s es

, an d h e had s u b po en aed al l o f t h em

. Th e

at t o rn ey d i d no t i n t erv iew th e wi t n es s es p ri o r t o t ri al

, h o wev er, b ecau s e t h e Ap p el l an t

h ad s p eci fi cal l y t o l d h i m t h at t h es e wi t n es s es wo u l d tes t ify i n h i s fav o r, an d h e rel i ed

o n t he Ap p el l an t ’ s as s u ran c e s

. W h en p lan n i n g d efen s e s t rat eg y

, co un s el i s en t i t l ed

t o rel y o n t h e v eraci ty o f h i s c l i e n t ’ s as sert i o n s

, 3 2 an d co u ns el i s n o t req u i red to

an t i ci p at e t h at h i s cl i en t m ay h av e m i s l ed h i m

. 3 3 Th e Ap p el lan t h a s f ai l ed to

d em o n s t rat e t h at co u n s el ’ s rel i an ce o n h i m w as u n reas o n ab l e, an d an y p reju d i ce t h at

3 0 See Di v i s i o n 2 , s u p ra.

3 1 See W i ll i a ms

, 2 7 7 G a. at 8 5 8 (6 ) (a) (A d efen d an t cl ai m i n g i n effect i v e

as s i s tan ce m

us t sh o w b o t h d efi ci en t p erfo rm an ce b y co un s e l a nd r e sulting pr e j udic e.).

3 2 See S p ar ks v. S t a te , 2 7 7 Ga. 7 2 , 7 4 -7 5 (3 ) (5 8 6 SE2 d 6 4 5) (2 00 3 ).

3 3 See Ni ch ol

s on v. S t a te , 2 6 5 Ga. 7 1 1 , 7 1 5 (4 ) (4 62 SE2 d 1 4 4 ) (1 9 9 5 ).

20res u l ted fro m s u ch rel i an ce was at t ri b u t ab le t o t h e Ap p el l an t

, an d n o t t o t h e

i n effect i v en es s o f h i s co un s el

. 3 4

(i ii ) A s to an ex p ert wi t n es s t h at t h e co u rt ex cl u d ed bas ed u p on t h e at t o rn ey s ’

fai l u re t o p ro v i d e t i m el y no t i ce t o th e St at e, t h e Ap p el l an t’ s at t o rn ey s t es t i fi ed t h at t h e

d el ay i n i d en t i fy i n g t h e w i t nes s was n o t d u e t o t h ei r ov ers i g ht

, b u t, i n s t ead

, was d u e

t o t he Ap p el l an t ’ s i n ab i li t y t o p ay fo r t he ex p ert ’ s s erv i ces

. 3 5 Fu rt h er, t h e Ap p el l an t

fai l ed to pro ffer t he ex p ert ’ s rep o rt

, s o i t can no t b e co n s id e red on ap p eal

. 3 6 Fi n al l y

,

o n e o f t h e Ap p el l an t ’ s at t o rn ey s t es t i fi ed t h at t h e d efen s e ex p ert wh o t es ti fi ed at t ri al

“ d i d t h e bet t er jo b fo r u s t h an an y o f t h e [o t h er p o t en t i al ex p ert w i t nes s es ] an d t h at ’ s

wh at I was d ep en d in g o n.

. . . I d i d n ’ t real l y feel t h at we n eed ed t o cal l [t h e o t h er

e x p ert wi t n es s ] .” Co n s eq u en t l y

, t h e A p p el lan t h as n ot s h own an y p reju d i ce t h at

3 4 See i d

.

3 5 See gen eral l y B o wd

en v. Za n t

, 2 4 4 Ga. 2 6 0 -2 61 (1 ), (2 ) (2 6 0 SE2 d 4 6 5 )

(1 9 7 9) (h o l d i n g t h at t ri al co u n s el co u l d n o t b e d eem ed i n effect i v e fo r fai l i n g t o cal l

an ex pert wi t n es s u n der t h e ci rcu m s t an ces

, ex p l ai n i n g t h at t he l aw d o es n o t req u i re

co u ns el to p ay “ o u t o f hi s o wn p o ck et ” fo r an ex pert wi t n es s fo r an i n d i g en t

d efen d an t ).

3 6 See Co u rt o f Ap p eal s Ru l e 2 4 (g ) (“ Do no t at t ach d o cu m en t s o r ex h i b i t s to

ap p el l at e b ri efs [.] ”); B o a t r i g h t v. S t a t e

, 1 9 2 G a. Ap p. 1 12

, 1 1 5 ( 5 ) ( 3 8 5 SE2 d 2 9 8 )

(1 9 8 9) (“ [F] act u al as s ert i o n s co n t ai n ed i n t h e p art i es ’ bri efs u n s up p o rt ed b y ev i d en ce

o f reco rd can n ot b e co n si d ered i n t h e ap p el lat e p ro ces s

. ”) (ci tat i o n o m i t t ed ).

21res u l ted fr o m th e ex cl u s i o n o f t h i s ex p ert ’ s t es ti m o n y

. It fo l lo ws t hat h e can n ot

p rev ai l o n t h i s i n effect i v e as s i s t an ce cl ai m

. 3 7

Ju d g men t a f f i r m ed . Do yl e, C. J., a n d

Mi l l er , P. J., co n cu r

.

3 7 See W i l l i a m s , 2 7 7 Ga. at 8 5 8 (6 ) (a).

22