In th e S u p re m e Co u rt o f Ge o rg ia

De c id e d: S e p te m b e r 2 2 , 2 0 1 4

S 1 4 A 0 6 3 7 . GEIGER v . THE S TATE.

MELTON, Ju stic e

.

F o llo win g a j u r

y t r i a l, To m o rris Ge ig e r wa s fo u n d g u ilty o f m u rd e r, fe lo n y

m u rd e r, a rm e d ro b b e ry , k id n a p p in g , an d v ar i o u s oth e r o ffe n se s in c on n e c tio n

with t h e s h oo tin g d e a th s o f c o u sin s De wa y n e a n d Jo h n Ba c on

. 1 On a p p e a l,

Ge ig e r c o n te n d s th a t th e e v id e n c e wa s in su ffic ie n t to su p p o rt th e v e rd ic t; th a t

1 O n No v e m

b e r 5

, 2 0 0 4

, Ge ig e r w a s in d ic te d

, a lo n g with Ch a rle s Ma tto x

a n d Te rra n c e S m i t h

, f

o r two c o u n ts o f m a lic e m u rd e r, e ig h t c ou nts of fe lo n y

m u rd e r (with a r me d ro b b e ry , a g g ra v a te d a ssa u lt, k id n a p p in g , a n d hija c k in g a

m o to r v e h i c l e a s t h e u n d e rly in g fe lo n ie s), two c o u n ts o f a rm e d ro b b e ry , two

c o u n ts o f a g g ra v a te d a ssa u lt, two c o u n ts o f k id n a p p in g , a n d tw o co u n t s o f

h ija c k in g a m o to r v e h ic le

. F o llo win g a N o v e m b e r 1 4 -1 7

, 2 0 0 5 ju ry tria l, Ge ig e r

wa s fo u n d g u ilty o n a ll c ou n ts. Th e tria l c o u r t th e re a fte r se nte n c e d G e ig e r to

c o n se c u tiv e te rm s o f life im p riso n m e n t fo r th e m a lic e m u rd e r o f D e wa y n e , th e

ma l ic e m u rd e r o f Jo h n , a n d th e a rm e d ro bb e rie s of b o th vic tim s. G e ig e r a l s o

re c e iv e d two twe n ty -y e a r c o n c u rre n t se nte n c e s fo r th e k id n a pp in g s o f Jo h n a n d

D e wa y n e a s we ll a s two twe n ty -y e a r c o n c u rre n t se n te n c e s fo r e a c h c o u n t o f

h ija c k in g

. Th e fe lo n y m

urd e r c on vic tio n s we re v a c a te d b y o p e ra tio n o f la w (Ma lc olm v

. Sta te

, 2 6 3 Ga

. 3 6 9

, 3 7 2 (1 9 93 )), a n d a ll o th e r c o u n ts we re m e rg e d

fo r se n te n c in g p u rp o se s. Ge ig e r file d a m o tio n fo r a n e w tria l o n De c e m b e r 1 9

, 2 0 0 5, wh ic h h e a m e n d e d with n e w a pp e lla te c o u n se l o n Au g u st 1 6

, 2 0 1 3

. Th e tria l c o u rt d e n ie d th e m o tio n o n Oc to b e r 3

, 2 0 1 3

. Ge ig e r tim e ly file d his a p p e a l

o n Oc to b e r 7 , 2 0 1 3 a n d su b m itte d fo r d e c isio n s o n th e b rie fs.th e tria l c o u rt e rre d b y a dm itti n g sim ila r tra n sa c tio n s a n d im pro p e r c h a ra c te r

e v id e n c e ; th a t th e tria l c o u rt e rr e d b y d en y in g Ge ig e r’s se c o n d re qu e st fo r a

c o n tin u a n c e ; a n d th a t h is tria l c o u n se l w a s in e ffe c tiv e

. Fo r th e re a so n s t h a t

fo llo w, we a ffirm

.

1 .Vie we d in th e lig h t m o st fa v o ra b le to th e v e rd ic t, th e re c o rd re ve a ls th a t,

o n Ma y 6, 2 0 0 3

, D ew a y n e a g re e d to g iv e Ge ig e r a rid e

. Th e ne x t da y , Ge ig e r

a n d c o -d e fe n d a n t Ch a rle s M a tto x h e ld De wa y n e h o sta g e a n d ro b b e d h im

. Th e y

th e n lu re d Jo h n to wh e re th e y we re h o ld in g De w a y n e b y m a k in g De wa y n e c a ll

Jo h n un d e r th e p re te n se th a t De wa y n e n e e d e d a rid e

. Jo h n d ro v e fro m h is h om e

in o rd e r to p ic k u p De wa y n e

. W h e n Jo h n e nc o u n te re d Ge ig e r a n d M a t t o x ,

h o we v e r, Ge ig e r fo rc e d De wa y n e a n d Jo h n in to a g ra v e a nd sh o t b o th o f th e m

in th e h e a d , k illin g th e m

.

Ge ig e r wa s a rre ste d o n Ma y 2 3

, 2 0 0 3 a t h is sist e r ’ s h o me fo r a m a tte r

u n re la te d to th e B a c on m

u rd e rs. A n in e m illim e te r p isto l wa s fo u n d in th e ro o m

w h e re Ge ig e r wa s h id in g

. Two y e a rs la te r, in Au g ust 2 0 0 5

, a sh e ll c a s i n g

ma t ch in g th e pisto l fo un d a t th e tim e o f Ge ig e r’s a rre st w a s d isc o v e re d a t t h e

sc e n e o f Jo h n a n d De wa y n e ’s m u rd e rs.

In Ju ly of 2 0 0 3

, o n ly a fe w d a y s a fte r fin d in g th e Ba c o n c o u sin s’ sto le n

2v e h ic le s, in v e stig a to rs d isc o v e re d De w a y n e a n d Jo h n ’s b o d ie s in a c la n d e stin e

g ra v e in th e wo od s b e h in d a n a b a n d o n e d m o b ile ho m e

. We e k s e a rlie r, in n e a rb y

Bry a n C o u n t y , in v e stig a to rs h a d e n c o u n te re d d e b ris a lo n g th e hig h wa y ,

in c lu d i n g Jo h n ’s te n n is sh oe s, so m e d u c t ta p e , sh ov e ls, a nd old so d a b o ttle s.

DNA re c o v e re d fro m th e b o ttle s m a tc h e d c o -d e fe n da n t M a tto x , le a d in g

in v e stig a to rs to b e lie v e th a t Ma tto x m ay h a v e b e e n c o n n e c te d to Jo h n a n d

De wa y n e ’s d isap p e a ra nc e s. Ma tto x a n d Ge ig e r h a d a lso be e n lin k e d to a n u m b e r

o f p a st c rim e s, in c lu d in g th e c a r ja c k in g s a n d ro b b e rie s o f fo u r v ic tim s. At tria l,

th e S ta te pre se n te d th e se p rio r v ic tim s’ te stim o nie s a s sim i l a r t r an sa c tio n s

e v id e n c e

.

Ad d itio n a ll y , c o -d e fe n d a n t Te rra nc e S m ith te stifie d th a t he witn e sse d

Ge ig e r fo rc e Jo h n a n d De wa y n e i n t o a g r a v e a n d th e n fire h is gu n re p e a te dly

.

S m ith ’s sto ry wa s c o rro b o ra te d by S ha k e y a Bre w to n, wh o wro te a le tte r to h e r

b o y frie n d

– a n in m a te – wh ic h sta te d Ge ig e r a d m itte d to sh oo tin g th e Ba c o n

c o u sin s.

Th is e v id e nc e wa s su ffic ie n t to e n a b le a ra tio n a l trie r o f fa c t to fin d Ge ig e r

g u ilty o f th e c rim e s fo r wh ic h h e wa s c o n v ic te d b e y o n d a re a so n a b l e d o u b t.

Ja c k so n v . Virg in ia

, 4 4 3 U.S . 3 0 7 (9 9 S Ct 2 7 8 1 , 6 1 LE2 d 5 6 0 ) (1 9 7 9 ).

32

. G e ig e r c o n te n d s th e tria l c o u rt e rre d b y a llo win g th e S ta te to in tro d u c e

e v id e n c e o f fo u r sim ila r tra n sa c tio n s. 2 We d isa g re e

.

In g e n e ra l, e v id e n c e o f in d e p e n d e n t o ffe n se s c o m m itte d b y a d e fe n d a n t

is irre le v a nt a n d in a d m issib le in a tria l fo r a d iffe re n t c rim e

. S te p h e ns v

. S ta te

,

2 6 1 Ga

. 4 6 7 (6 ) (4 0 5 S E2 d 4 8 3 ) (1 9 9 1 ). In so m e c a se s , h o w e v e r, “ [e ] v id e n c e

o f sim ila r c rim e s ( o r tra n sa c tio n s) is a dm issib le wh e re its re le va n c e to sh o w

id e n tity

, m o tiv e , p la n , sc h e m e , b e n t of m in d a nd c o u rse of c o n d u c t, o u twe ig h s

its p re ju dic ia l im

p a c t.” Gu y to n v

. S t a te

, 20 6 G a

. A p p

. 1 4 5

, 14 5-1 4 6 (1 ) (4 2 4

S .E.2 d 8 7 ) (1 99 2 ). Mo re sp e c ific a lly

,

[ e ]v id e n c e of a sim ila r tra n sa c tio n m ay b e a d m itte d if th e S t a t e sh o ws th a t: (1 ) it se e k s to in tro d u c e th e e v id e n c e n o t to ra ise a n im p ro p e r in fe re n c e a s to th e a c c u s e d ’ s c h a ra c te r, b ut fo r so m e

a p p ro p ria te p u rp ose wh ic h h a s b e e n d e e m e d to b e a n e x c e p tio n to
th e g e n e ra l ru le o f in a d m issib ility ; (2 ) th e re is su ffic ie n t e v id e n c e

to e sta b lish th a t th e a c c u se d c o m m itte d th e in de p e nd e n t o ffe n se o r

a c t; a n d (3 ) th e re is a su ffic ie n t c o n n e c tio n o r sim ila rity b e twe e n th e in d e p e n d e n t o ffe n se o r a c t a n d th e c rim e c h a rg e d so th a t p ro o f o f

th e fo rm e r te n d s to p ro v e th e la tte r.

(Cita tio n a n d p u n c tu a tio n o m itte d

. ) Ma tth e ws v. S ta te

, 2 9 4 G a

. 5 0, 5 2 (7 5 1

2 We n o te th a t, b e c a

use th is c a se wa s trie d b e fo re Ja n u a r y 1

, 2 0 1 3

, Ge o rg ia ’s o ld Ev id e n c e Co de a p p lie s he re

. Un d e r o u r ne w Ev id e n c e Co d e , th e

a d m issib ility o f th is so rt o f e v id e n c e wo u ld b e g o v e rn e d b y O CGA § 24 -4 -4 0 4 (b ).

4S E2 d 7 8 ) (2 0 1 3 ). A d d itio n a l l y , “ ‘a tra n sa c tio n d o e s no t h a v e to m irro r e v e ry

d e ta il in o rd e r to a

u th o riz e its a d m issio n ; ra th e r, th e p ro p e r fo c u s is u p o n th e

sim ila ritie s b e twe e n th e in c id e n ts a nd no t u po n th e d iffe re n c e s.’ [Cit.] ” Da n ie ls

v . S ta te , 2 8 1 Ga

. 2 2 6, 2 2 8 (1 ) (6 37 S E2 d 4 0 3) (2 0 0 6 ).

With th e s e p r in c ip le s in m in d

, th e re c ord sh ows th a t, in th e su m m e r o f

2 0 0 1, An th o n y S a l l y a g re e d to m e e t Ge ig e r a n d Ma tto x , wh o th e n fo rc e d h im

a t g u n p o in t to d riv e h is c a r to th e wo od s, wh e re th e y sto le $ 2 0 0 an d m a riju a n a

fro m h im

. Ne x t, in De c e m be r o f 2 0 0 2, Ge i g e r h e l d a g u n to Ke v in Mc Co y ’s

h e a d an d fo rc e d h im to d riv e to Ma tto x ’s ho u se , w h e re th e de fe n d a n ts to o k h is

c e ll p ho n e , sh o e s, wa lle t, a n d c a r. In Ap ril 2 0 0 3

, Ho p e Alv a re z fo llo we d Ge ig e r

o u t o f a lo u n g e b e fo re mu ltip le m e n ju m pe d h im

. Ma tto x th re a te n e d Alv a re z

w i t h a gu n b e fo re th e m e n ro b b e d him an d ra n. Fin a lly

, in Ap ril 2 0 03

, G e i g e r

a n d M a t to x a sk e d Lo re n z o Wa lk e r fo r a rid e to a g a s sta tio n

. On c e in th e c a r ,

Ge ig e r p ro d u c e d a p isto l, fo rc e d Wa lk e r o n to th e stre e t, a n d sto le his c a r. All o f

th e se in d e p e n d e n t o ffe n se s a re su ffic ie ntly sim ila r to th e c h a rg e d c rim e s in th is

c a se in th a t th e y in vo lv e d th e u se o f a h a n d g u n to su b d u e t h e v i c tim s,

c o o p e ra tio n b e twe e n c o -d e fe n d a n ts Ma tto x an d Ge ig e r, th e c o m m o n m o tiv e o f

ro b b e r y , a n d lu rin g th e v ic tim s to th e c rim e sc e n e s wh e re th e y we re a ssa u lte d

5a n d ro b b e d

. We fin d n o e rro r in th e tria l c o u rt’s d e c isio n to a d m it th is e v id e n c e

a t tria l. S e e , e .g ., Co llu m

v . S ta te , 2 8 1 Ga . 7 1 9 (4 ) (6 4 2 S E2 d 6 4 0 ) (2 0 0 7 ).

3

. Ge ig er a r g u e s t ha t th e tria l c o u rt e rre d b y d e n y in g h is se c o nd re q u e st

fo r a c o n tin u a n c e in o rd e r to h a v e th e sh e ll c a s i n g fo u n d a t th e m u rd e r sc e n e

in d e pe n d e n tly te ste d a nd to se c u re a n a d d itio n a l witn e ss. We d isa g re e

.

Th is Co u rt will n o t re v e rse a tria l c o u rt’s d e c isio n to d e n y a m otio n fo r a

c o n tin u a n c e a

b se n t a sh o win g o f a c le ar a bu se o f d isc re tio n. Co lu m bu s v

. S ta te

,

2 7 0 G a

. 6 58

, 66 5 (4 ) (5 1 3 S E 2 d 4 9 8 ) (1 9 9 9 ). F u rth e rm o re , “ to b e e n title d to a

n e w tria l b a se d u p o n th e d e n ia l o f [a ] m o tio n fo r a co n t i n u a n c e , [a d e fe n d a n t

h a s] th e bu rd e n to sh o w th a t h e wa s h a rm e d b y th a t de n ia l.” (F o o tn o te o m itte d .)

Id

. T h e re c o rd re v e a ls th a t Ge ig e r re c e iv e d th e S ta te ’s b a llistic s re p o rt o n

S e p te m b e r 2, 2 00 5

, wh ic h c o n firm e d th a t th e sh e ll c a s i n g f o u n d a t th e c rim e

sc e n e in 2 0 0 5 m a tc he d th e g u n d isc o v e re d a t Ge ig e r’s siste r’s ho m e d u rin g h is

a rre st in 20 0 3

. Th e tria l c o u rt g ra n te d Ge ig e r’s first re q u e st fo r a c o n tin u a n c e o n

S e p te m b e r 26

, 20 0 5 in ord e r to g iv e Ge i g e r a d d i t i o na l tim e to h a v e th e sh e ll

c a sin g in d e p e nd e n tly te ste d

. Ho we v e r, h e fa ile d to h a ve th e c a sin g te ste d a t a n y

tim e p rio r to th e re sc he du le d No v e m b e r 1 4

, 2 0 0 5 tria l d a te

. No r d id he h a v e th e

sh e ll c a sin g te ste d a t a

n y tim e p rio r to th e m o tio n fo r a n e w tria l h e a rin g in o rd e r

6to sh o w a t th e h e a rin g th a t a n y in d e p e n de n t t e s t i n g re su lts wo u ld h a v e b e e n

fa v o ra ble to h im a t his tria l. 3 Be c a u se o f th is, Ge i g e r c a n no t sh o w h a rm fro m

th e tria l c o u rt’s d e n ia l o f h is se c o n d m o tio n fo r a c o n tin u a n c e o n th e b a sis th a t

h e wa s a lle ge dly im

p ro p e rly d e n ie d th e op p o rtu n ity to in d e p e n d e ntly te st t h e

sh e ll c a sin g

. Se e Willia m s v

. S ta te

, 3 1 7 Ga

. Ap p

. 2 4 8

, 2 5 6 (3 ) (7 30 S E2 d 7 2 6 )

(2 0 1 2 ) (d e fe n d a

n t fa ile d to sh o w p re

ju d ic e fro m d e n i a l o f h is m o tio n fo r a

c o n tin u a n c e wh e re h e p re se n te d n o e v id e n c e a t m otio n fo r ne w tria l h e a rin g to

in d ic a te th a t h is d e fe n se wo u ld h a v e b e n e fitte d f r o m f u rth e r q u e stio n in g a

witn e ss re g a rd in g th e lo c a tio n o f m a te ria l e v id e n c e ).

With re sp e c t to G e ig e r’s c la im th a t th e se c o n d c o n tin u a n c e wa s wa rra n te d

b e c a u se h e n e e de d tim e to se c u re a n a d ditio n a l witn e ss, th is c la im is a lso

with ou t m e rit. G e i g e r c o n te n d s th a t La to y a Bre wto n ’s te stim o ny a lle g e d ly

wo u ld ha v e c o n tra d ic te d th e a n tic ip a te d te stim o ny of S h a k e y a Bre wto n a t tria l.

Ho we ve r, du rin g tria l, Ge ig e r’ s c o un se l in fo rm e d th e c o u rt th a t La to y a

Bre wto n ’s te stim o n y wa s n o lo n g e r n e e d e d a n d th a t sh e wo u ld n o t b e c a lle d

.

3 In d e e d

, to th is d a y , th e re is n o e v id e nc e o f r e c o rd th a t Ge ig e r h a s e v e r h a d th e sh e ll c a sin g in d e p e n d e n tly te ste d

, d e sp ite th e fa c t th a t h e h a d se c u re d

fu n d in g fo r in de p e n d e nt te stin g m o re th a n two we e k s b e fo re h is No ve m b e r 1 4

, 2 0 0 5 tria l.

7Be c a

u se G e i g e r a dm itte d a t tria l th a t h e n o lo n ge r n e e d e d th is witn e ss, wh ic h

o b v ia te d th e n e e d fo r a c on tin u a n c e in o rd e r to b rin g th is w itn e ss to th e tria l, h e

c a n n o t n o w b e h e a rd to c o m p la in th a t th e tria l c o u rt so m e h o w e rre d b y d e n y in g

h is re q u e st fo r a c o n tin u a n c e

. Ca rn e tt’s, In c

. v

. Ha m m o n d

, 2 79 Ga

. 1 25

, 1 3 0 (6 )

(6 1 0 S E2 d 5 29 ) (2 0 0 5 ) (“ A p a rty c a n n o t c om pla i n o f a ju d g m e n t, ord e r, o r

ru lin g th a t h is o wn c o n d u c t p ro d u c e d o r a id e d in c a usin g ” ).

4

. Ge ig e r fu rth e r c o n te nd s th a t th e tria l c o u rt e rre d b y a llo win g im p ro p e r

c h a ra c te r e v id e n c e t o b e a d m itte d a t tria l. S p e c ific a lly

, Ge ig e r c la im s th a t th e

tria l c o u rt e rre d b y (a ) a llo w in g h im to e n te r t h e c o u rtro om wh ile we a rin g

sh a c kle s, a n d (b ) a llo w in g re fe re n c e s to h is p rio r in c a rc e ra tio n a nd his a tte m p ts

to e v a d e p o lic e c u sto dy to b e m a d e a t tria l.

(a ) Alth o u g h

, “ [a ] bse n t ju stify in g c irc u m sta n c e s, th e de fe n d a n t n o rm a lly

sh o u ld n o t b e se e n b y th e ju ry h a n d c u f fe d in th e c o u rtro o m o r c o u rth o u se ”

(Ga te s v

. S ta te

, 2 4 4 Ga

. 5 8 7

, 5 9 3 (2 ) (2 6 1 S E 2 d 3 4 9 ) (1 9 79 )), “ [ t ] h e fa ilu re ,

th ro u g h a n o v e rsig ht, to re m ov e sh a c k le s fro m a p riso n e r fo r a sh o rt tim e a fte r

p ro c e e d in g s h a v e c o m m e n c e d, or a n y te c h n ic a l v io la tio n of th e ru le p ro h ib itin g

sh a c klin g , n o t p re

ju d ic ia l to h im

, is n o t g r o u n d fo r a n e w tria l

. . . .” S ta rr v

.

S ta te

, 2 0 9 Ga

. 2 5 8

, 2 6 0 (5 ) (a ) (7 1 S E2 d 6 5 4 ) (1 9 5 2 ). He re , b e fo re th e ju ry wa s

8se le c te d, Ge ig e r e n te re d th e c o u rtro o m in c iv ilia n c lo th e s th a t o b sc u re d th e v ie w

th a t a ny o f th e p ro sp e c tiv e ju ro rs m a y ha v e h a d o f h is le g iro n s, a n d th e le g iro n s

we re re m o v e d o u tsid e o f th e v ie w o f th e p ro sp e c tiv e ju ro rs. Alth o u gh Ge ig e r’s

c o u n se l m o v e d fo r a ne w ju ry p a n e l to b e a p p o in te d

, h e d id n o t in q u ire du rin g

v o ir d ire a b o ut wh e th e r a n y of th e p ro sp e c tiv e ju ro rs h a d se e n Ge ig e r’s sh a c k le s,

a n d h e “ m a d e n o e ffo rt to d e te rm in e o n v oir d ire wh e th e r[, if th e y ha d se e n th e

d e fe n d a n t ’ s s h a c k l e s ,] th e m o m e n ta ry ‘te c h n ic a l vio la tio n o f th e ru le p ro h ib itin g

sh a c klin g m a y h a v e h a d a n y p re ju d ic ia l e ffe c t o n th e [p ro sp e c tiv e ] ju ro rs.

[ C i t

. ]’ ” Rh o d e s v

. Sta te

, 2 64 Ga

. 1 2 3 (4 4 1 S E2 d 7 4 8 ) (1 9 9 4) Fu rth e rm o r e ,

d e sp ite th e fa c t th a t th e tria l c o u rt o ffe re d to g iv e a c ura tiv e in stru c tio n , wh ic h

wo u ld h a v e be e n th e a

p p ro p ria te re m e dy h e re (se e S ta rr, su p ra , 2 0 9 Ga

. a t 2 6 0

(5 ) (b )), Ge ig e r d e c lin e d th e tria l c ou rt’s offe r to g iv e c u ra tiv e in str u c tio n s.

Un d e r th e se c irc u m sta nc e s, we fin d n o e rro r in th e tria l c o u rt’s d e n ia l o f

Ge ig e r’s m o tio n h a v e a

n e w ju ry p a n e l a

pp o in te d . S e e Rh od e s, su p ra

.

(b ) Th e re c o rd re v e a ls th a t Ge ig e r d id n o t o b je c t to a n y o f th e te stim o n y

re g a rd in g h is p rio r in c a

rc e ra tio n a n d a tte m

p ts to e v a d e p o lic e c u sto d y . He h a s

th e re fo re wa iv e d re vie w o f th is issu e on a pp e a l. S e e Ea rn e st v

. S ta te

, 2 6 2 Ga

.

4 9 4 (1 ) (4 22 S E2 d 1 8 8 ) (1 9 9 2 ).

95

. F in a lly

, Ge ig e r c o n te n d s th a t his tria l c o u n se l wa s in e ffe c tiv e fo r (a )

fa ilin g t o lo c a te La to y a Bre wto n , (b ) n e g le c tin g to ha v e th e sh e ll c a sin g

in d e pe n d e n t l y te ste d

, a nd (c ) fa ilin g to o b je c t to th e a d m issio n of im p ro p e r

c h a ra c te r e v id e n c e

.

In o rd e r to su c c e e d o n h is c la im of in e ffe c tiv e a ssista n c e , [Ge ig e r]

m u st p ro v e bo th th a t h is tria l c o un se l’s p e rfo rm a n c e wa s d e fic ie n t

a n d th a t th e re is a re a so n a b le p ro b a b ility th a t th e tria l re su lt wo u ld

h a v e b e e n diffe re n t if n o t fo r th e d e fic ie n t p e rfo rm a n c e

. S tric k la n d

v

. Wa sh in g to n , 4 6 6 U. S

. 6 6 8 (1 0 4 SCt 2 0 5 2, 8 0 LE2 d 6 74 ) (1 9 8 4 ).

If a n a p p e lla n t fa i ls to m e e t h is or he r b u rd e n o f p ro v in g e ith e r

p ro n g o f th e Stric kla n d te st, th e re v ie win g c o u r t d o e s n o t ha v e to

e x a m in e th e o th e r p ro ng

. Id

. a t 6 9 7 (IV); F u lle r v

. S ta te

, 2 7 7 G a

. 5 0 5 ( 3 ) (5 9 1 S E2 d 7 8 2 ) (2 0 0 4 ). In re v ie win g th e tria l c o u rt' s d e c isio n , “ ‘[w] e a c c e p t t h e tria l c o u rt' s fa c tu a l fin d in g s a n d

c re d ib ility d e te r mi n a tio ns u n le ss c le a rly e rro n e o u s, b u t w e i n d e p e n d e n tly a

p p ly th e le g a l prin c ip le s to th e fa c ts.’ [Cit.] ”

Ro b in so n v . S ta te , 2 7 7 Ga . 7 5 , 7 6 (5 8 6 S E 2d 3 1 3 ) (2 00 3).

Wrig h t v . S ta te , 2 9 1 Ga

. 8 6 9

, 8 7 0 (2 ) (7 3 4 S E2 d 8 76 ) (2 0 1 2 ).

(a ) Th e re c ord sh ows th a t c o u n se l m a d e a re a so n a b le stra te g ic d e c isio n n o t

to c a ll La to y a Bre wto n a s a witn e ss to re fu te S h a k e y a Bre wto n ’s te stim o n y

.

S p e c ific a lly

, b e c a

u se S h a k e y a Bre wto n d e n ie d a t tria l th a t Ge ig e r h a d e v e r to ld

h e r d e ta ils o f th e c rim e , th is o b v ia te d th e n e e d fo r La to y a Bre wto n to re fu te h e r

te stim o n y

. Ge ig e r’s c l a i m of in e ffe c tiv e a ssista n c e th e re fo re fa ils in th is

in sta n c e . S e e , e .g ., Wa sh in gto n v . S ta te , 2 9 4 Ga . 5 6 0 , 5 6 6 (3 ) (7 5 5 SE2 d 1 6 0 )

1 0(2 0 1 4 ) (Co u n se l’s stra te g ic d e c isio n s, su c h a s wh ic h witn e sse s to p re se n t, “ d o

n o t a m o un t to de fic ie n t p e rfo rm a n c e u n le ss th e y are so u n re a so n a b le th a t n o

c o m p e te n t a tto rn e y w o u ld h a v e m a de th e m u n d e r sim ila r c irc u m sta n c e s” )

(c ita tio n s o m itte d ).

(b ) As sh own in Div isio n 3, su p ra , Ge ig e r d id no t p re se nt any e v id e n c e a t

th e m o tio n fo r ne w tria l h e a rin g th a t a d d itio n a l te stin g of th e sh e ll c a sin g wo u ld

h a v e p ro d u c e d e v id e n c e th a t wo u ld h a v e b e e n fa v o r a b le to h im a t h is tria l.

Ac c o rd in g ly

, h e c a n n o t sh o w p re j u d i c e f ro m h is c o u n se l’s fa ilu re to h a v e th e

sh e l l c a sin g in d e p e n d e n tly te ste d

. S u tto n v

. S ta te

, – Ga

. – (6 ) (e ) (Ca se No

.

S 1 4 A0 9 4 1 ; d e c id e d Ju n e 1 6 , 2 0 1 4 ).

(c ) As a n in itia l m a tte r, th e te stim o n y re la tin g to Ge ig e r’s 2 00 3 arre st wa s

p ro p e rly a d m itte d

, a s “ [e ] vid e n c e th a t is re le v a nt a n d m a te ria l to a n is s u e i n a

c a se is n o t re n d e r e d in a d m issib le be c a u se th e d e fe n d a nt’s c h a ra c te r is

in c id e n ta lly p u t in issu e .” (Cita tio n o m itte d.) Ro ss v

. S ta te

, 2 5 5 Ga

. 1

, 6 (2 ) (a )

(3 3 4 S E2 d 3 0 0) (1 9 8 5 ). G e ig e r wa s a rre ste d in Ma y 2 0 0 3 wh ile o n th e ru n fro m

p o lic e re g a rd in g a m a tte r th a t wa s u n re la te d to th e c rim e s a t issu e in th is c a se

.

Ho we ve r, th e gu n th a t wa s fo u n d a t th e tim e of Ge ig e r’s 2 0 0 3 a r re st wa s

c o n n e c t ed t o th e Ba c on m u rd e rs a fte r a sh e ll c a sin g w a s fo u n d a t th e sc e n e o f

1 1th a t c rim e in 2 0 0 5

. G e ig e r a d m itte d to p oli c e th a t th e g u n wa s h is, a n d th e

sta te m e n ts th a t we re a d m itte d a t tria l re g a rd in g th e m an n e r in wh ic h Ge ig e r h a d

a c q u ire d th e g u n we re b a se d o n Ge ig e r’s o wn a d m issio n s to po lic e

. De sp ite th e

fa c t th a t Ge ig e r wa s b e in g a rre ste d fo r a d iffe re n t c rim e a t th e tim e th a t th e g u n

wa s fo u n d in 2 0 0 3

, wh ic h in c id e n ta lly p la c e d h is c h a ra c te r in issu e , th e

sta te m e n ts re la tin g to t h a t a r r e st a n d th e g un fo un d in c o n n e c tio n with it we re

re le v a n t to th e c rim e s p re se n tly a t issu e , a s th e y e x p la in e d Ge ig e r’s c on n e c tio n

to th e g u n th a t wa s use d in th e m u rd e rs o f th e B a c o n c o u s in s. Ac c o rd in gly

,

Ge ig e r’s c o un se l’s fa ilu re to o b je c t to th is a dm issib le e vid e n c e d id n o t a m o u n t

to in e ffe c tiv e a ssista nc e

. Ha y e s v

. S t a t e , 26 2 Ga

. 8 81

, 8 8 4 (3 ) (c ) (4 2 6 S E2 d

8 8 6 )(1 9 9 3 ) ( “ F a i l u re to m a k e a m e ritle ss o b je c tio n c a n no t b e e vid e n c e o f

in e ffe c tiv e a ssista n c e ” ).

F u rth e r, with re sp e c t to th e fe w re m a in in g sta te m e n ts re g a rd in g Ge ig e r’s

p re v io u s in c a rc e ra tio n th a t m a y h a v e in c id e n ta lly p la c e d h is c ha ra c te r in issu e ,

Ge ig e r c a n n o t sh o w p re

ju d ic e fro m th e a dm issio n o f th e se sta te m e n ts in lig h t o f

th e ov e rwh e lm in g e v id e n c e o f h is g u ilt. K itc h e ns v. S ta te

, 2 8 9 Ga

. 2 4 2 (2 ) (b )

(7 1 0 S E 2 d 5 5 1 ) (2 0 1 1).

Ju d g e m e nt a ffirm e d. All o f th e Ju stic e s c o n c u r.

1 2