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 7, 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 48 1 . REID v

. THE STATE.

R E E S E

, J u d g e.

A Fu l to n Co un t y ju ry fo u n d Ed d i e Rei d gu i l t y b ey o n d a reas on ab l e d o u b t o f

rap e, ag g rav at ed s o d o m

y

, k i d n ap p i n g

, fal s e i m

p ri s on m en t, ag g rav at ed as s au l t

, an d

p o s s es s i o n o f a fi rearm d u ri ng t h e co m m i s s i o n o f a fel o n y. 1 H e ap p eal s fro m t h e

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

, co n t en di n g

, i n t er al i a, t hat t h e t ri al co u rt ab u s ed i t s

d i s cret i o n i n ad m i t t in g cert ai n ev i d en ce, t h at t h e ju d g e i m p ro p erl y co m

m en t ed o n t h e

ev i d e n c e

, t h at t he ju ry i ns t ru ct i o n co n t ai ned erro rs

, t hat t he o at h was n o t p ro p erl y

g i v en t o s o m e o f t h e wi t n es s es

, an d t h at he recei v ed in effect i v e as s i s t an ce o f co u n s el

.

Fo r t h e reas o n s t h at fo ll o w, i nfra, we affi rm

.

1 See OCGA §§ 16 -6 -1 (a) (1 ); 1 6 -6 -2 (a) (2 ); 1 6 -5 -4 0 (a); 1 6 -5 -4 1 (a); 1 6 -5 -2 1

(b ) (2 ); 1 6 -1 1 -1 0 6 (b ) (1 ).Vi ewed i n t h e l i g ht m o s t fav orab l e t o t h e ju ry ’ s v erd i ct

, 2 t h e ev i d en ce s h o ws

t h e fo ll o w i n g fact s

. Aro un d 1 1 : 0 0 p

. m . o n M ay 2 8

, 2 01 0 , a 2 7-y ear-o l d wo m an l eft

h er bro t h er’ s h o m e i n At l an t a an d s t art ed wal ki n g h o m e al o n g Jo n es bo ro Ro ad

. A car

p u l l ed up an d st o p p ed al o n g t h e ro ad

, an d t h e d ri v er, w h o m s h e d i d n o t k n o w, as k ed

h er i f s h e n eed ed a ri d e. Sh e go t i n t o t h e car an d

, as t hey t rav el ed

, s h e g av e th e d ri v er

d i rect i o n s

, ev en t u al l y as k i n g h i m t o m ak e a r i g h t tu rn

. Th e d ri v er d i d n o t t u rn

, b ut

d ro v e on t o t h e ex p res s way i n s t ead

. Th e wo m an (h erei n af t e r

, “ t h e v i ct i m ”) s t art ed

y el li n g at h i m an d as k i ng h i m w h at h e was d o i n g. Th e d ri v er, wh o m t he v i ct i m l at er

i d en t i fi ed as Rei d

, s ai d s o m et hi n g ab o u t “ p im pi n g ,” t o ok h er p h o n e an d p u rs e

, a n d

t o l d h er t o p u t h er h ead d own . Th e v i ct im co ul d n ot s ee wh ere t h ey were g o i n g an d

was f r i g h t e n e d

, an d s he rep eat ed l y as k ed h i m to l et h er g o

. Rei d kep t t el l i n g h er,

“ Bi t ch

, sh u t t h e f u p .” Th e v i ct i m w o u l d h a v e t ri ed t o g et o u t o f t h e car, b u t t h e

p as s en g er-s i d e d o or h an d le was m i ss i ng

.

Rei d t o o k t h e v i c t i m

t o an ab an d o ned h ou s e, b u t, b efo re he l et h er o u t o f t h e

car, h e g o t s o m et h i ng o u t of t h e t ru n k

. W h en h e o p en ed t h e p as sen g er-s id e d o o r, s h e

g o t o u t an d t ri ed t o ru n , b u t h e cau g ht h er an d ch o k ed h er, t el l in g h er t h at h e wo u ld

2 See Ja cks o n v. Vi r

g i n i a

, 4 4 3 U. S. 3 07

, 31 9 (III) (B) (9 9 SCt 2 78 1

, 6 1 LE2 d

5 6 0 ) (1 9 7 9 ).

2k i l l h er ri g h t t h ere. Sh e s aw t h at h e h ad a 9 m i l l i m et er h an d g un

, an d s h e s t art ed

s cream i n g fo r h el p. Rei d t o l d her to s h u t u p

, accu si n g h er o f t r yi n g t o s en d h i m to

p ri s o n

, an d h e d rag ged h er i n t o t h e h o u s e. On ce i n s id e, h e t oo k h er t hro u g h t he h o u s e

an d a p p e ared t o b e l oo k i n g fo r s o m e p l ace t o p u t t h e v i ct i m

, wh i l e s h e b eg g ed h i m

t o l et h er g o

. St i l l h ol d i n g th e han d gu n

, Rei d t o o k t h e v i ct i m u p st ai rs

, fo rced h er t o

p erfo rm o ral s ex o n h i m , an d t hen rap ed h er. W h en h e was fi ni s h ed , Rei d m ad e h er

t ak e o ff h er cl o t h es , s h u tt i n g h er i n s i d e a ro o m wh i l e h e wen t d o wn s tai rs an d m ad e

a p h o n e cal l

. He ret u rn ed an d t i ed h er h an d s b e h i n d h er back wi t h s t ereo w i re an d

d u ct t ap e, t h en u s ed a sh i rt t o h o g -t i e h er h an d s an d feet

. Rei d wen t d o wn s t ai rs

, an d

t h e v i ct i m

t h o ug h t h e h ad l eft t h e h o u s e. Sh e m o v ed aro u n d u n t i l s h e freed h er l eg s

fro m t h e res t rai n t s

. Ho wev er, Rei d cam e b ack i n to th e ro o m

, t ol d h er he was g o i n g

t o ki l l h er, an d t ri ed t o t h ro w h er o ut an u ps t ai rs wi nd o w. W h en t h at fai l ed

, h e t o o k

h er d o wn s t ai rs an d t h rew h er t h ro u g h a wi n d o w t h at was ab o u t ei g h t feet ab o v e t h e

g ro u nd

, s h at t eri n g t h e g l as s an d s eri o u s l y wo un d i n g t h e v i ct i m

. Th e v i ct im h eard

Rei d say s o m et h i n g l i k e, “ I k il l ed t h at b * ** h

, ” b efo re h e l eft i n h i s car.

Th e vi ct i m g ot u p an d ran t o a n ei g h b o r’ s h ou s e, s cream i n g t hat s h e h ad b een

k i d nap p ed an d rap ed an d ki ck i n g t h e d o or b ecau se h er h an d s were s t i l l t ied b eh i n d

h er b ack

. Sh e b eg g ed t h e n ei g hb o r t o l et h er i n

. Th e n ei g h b or s aw t h e v i ct im o n h i s

3fro n t s t ai rs t h ro ug h a wi n do w, an d s aw th at s h e was n ak ed

, b leed i n g s ev e r e l y, an d

h ad h er h an d s t i ed beh i n d h er b ack

. Al t h o u g h h e d id n o t l et h er i n

, h e t o l d h i s

g ran d m o t h er t o cal l 9 1 1 wh i l e h e k ep t an ey e o n t h e v i ct i m

.

A f e w m i n u t es l at er, Rei d ret u rn ed in hi s car, ju m p ed ou t an d ran t o ward t h e

v i ct i m wi t h h i s g u n d rawn

, an d t o ld h er t h at he was g oi n g t o ki l l h er. He g rab b ed h er,

s l am m ed h er ag ai n s t t h e n ei g h bo r’ s d o or, d rag ged h er b y h er h ai r t hro u g h t h e y ard

,

h i t h er rep eat ed l y

, an d th rew h er i n t o h i s car, h i t t i n g h er face ag ai n s t t h e car i n t h e

p ro ces s

. He dro v e away b efo re p o l i ce o ffi c ers arri v ed

, an d, as he d ro v e, he s t art ed

cry in g

, s ay i n g th at h e h ad k i d s an d th at h e s h ou l d n ot hav e d o n e i t

. He t o o k t h e v i ct i m

t o a ho t el

, wh ere t h ey s t ay ed un t i l t h e n ex t m o rn i n g

, wh en t h e v i ct i m co n v in ced h i m

t h at sh e n eed ed to g o to t h e h o s p i t a l

. Rei d dro p p ed o ff t h e vi ct i m at a h o s p i t al

em erg en cy ro o m an d t o l d h er t h at h e was g o i n g t o co m e b ack an d g et h er. Th e v i ct i m

t o l d t h e h o s p i t al st aff wh at h ad h ap p en ed t o h er, an d a s t aff m em b er cal l ed th e p o l i ce.

A n A t l an t a p o l i ce o ffi cer arri v ed at t h e h o s p i t al an d s p o k e wi t h t h e v i c t i m

b efo re cal l in g t h e Sp eci al Vi ct i m s Un i t o f t h e p ol i ce d ep art m en t

. A cco rd i n g t o t h e

d et ect i v e wh o in t erv i ewed t he v i ct i m at t h e h o s p i t al

, t h e v i ct i m h ad d eep cu ts al l o v er

h er b o d y

, s h e was i n p ai n an d ap p eared t o b e i n s h o ck

, an d s h e was cry i ng an d s cared

.

W h i l e s p eak i ng wi th t h e d et ect i v e, t h e v ict i m recei v ed s o m e t ex t s fro m Rei d o n h er

4cel l p h o n e. Aft er read i n g t h e t ex t s, t h e det ect i ve h ad an o t her o ffi cer t race t h e p h o n e

n u m b er. Aft er co nfi rm i n g t h at t h e n um b er b el o n g ed t o Rei d , t h e o ffi cer co m p i l ed a

p h o t o g rap h i c array o f s i x p ict u res

, o n e o f wh i ch was R ei d ’ s

. Th e d et ect iv e s h o wed

t h e v i ct i m t h e p h o to s

, an d t h e v i ct i m p i ck ed ou t Rei d ’ s p ict u re an d i den t i fi ed h i m as

h er as s ai l an t

. Th e d et ect i v e t o o k p i ct ures o f t h e v i ct i m ’ s i n j u ri es

, t h en t ran s p o rt ed h er

t o p o l ice h ead q u art ers

, wh ere t h e d et ect i v e in t erv i ewed t h e v i ct i m ag ai n b efo re

o b t ai n i n g warran t s fo r Rei d ’ s arres t

.

I n t h e m ean ti m e, at 1 : 47 a.m

. t h at m o rn i n g

, At l an t a p o li ce o ffi cers were

d i s p at ch ed i n res p o n s e t o t h e n ei g hb o r’ s 9 1 1 cal l an d s p ok e wi t h t h e n ei g h b o r. Th e

o ffi cers o b s erv ed b lo o d o n t h e n ei g h b o r’ s po rch an d s t ai rs an d d rag m ark s acro s s t h e

y ard

, wh ere t h ey al s o fo u n d b rai d s t h at l o o k ed as if t hey h a d b e e n p u l l ed fro m

s o m eo n e’ s h ead

. T h e h o u s e n ex t d o o r h ad a b ro k en wi n d o w wi t h th e b l i n d s p u s h ed

o u t s i d e t h e wi n d o w an d s h at t ered g l as s an d a s creen o n t h e g ro u n d

. T h ere was b l o o d

o n t he wi n d ows i l l an d t h e s creen

. Fea r i n g t h at t h ere m i g h t b e s o m eo n e i n d an g er

i n s i d e t he h o u s e, t h e o ffi cers b ro k e th ro u g h t h e fro n t d o o r an d wen t i n t o t he h o u s e.

Up s tai rs

, t h e o ffi cers fo u n d b lo o d o n th e fl oo r an d wo m en ’ s cl o t h i n g an d u n d erwear.

On J u n e 1

, 2 0 1 0

, o ffi cers wi t h t h e At l an t a Po l i ce Dep art m en t ’ s Fu g it i v e Sq u ad

arres t ed Rei d p u rs u an t t o s ev eral warran t s ari s i n g fro m t h e i n s t an t o ffen s es

. Aft er

5t ran s po rt i n g Rei d b ack t o t h e p u b l i c safet y head q u art ers

, i nv es t ig at ors wi t h t h e

S pe ci al Vi ct i m s Un i t co n d u ct ed a cu s t o d i al i n terv i ew o f Rei d

. 3 Rei d to l d in v estiga tor s

t h a t

, wh i l e d ri v i n g o n t h e n i gh t at i s s u e, h e p i ck ed u p t h e vi ct i m

, wh o m h e d i d n o t

k n o w, at ran d o m fro m t h e s i d e o f t h e ro ad wi t h t h e i n t en t i on o f fo rci n g h er t o b eco m e

a p ro s t i t u t e. He to o k t h e v i ct i m t o a h o u s e

, s ho wed her h i s h an d g u n, an d t o o k h er

i n s i d e t h e h o u s e. Rei d ad m i t ted t h at t h e v i ct i m was “ u p s et ” an d “ s cared .” In s i d e t h e

h o u s e, h e h ad sex wi th h er. Rei d ad m i tt ed t o t h e i nv es t i g at ors t h at h e d i d n o t t h i n k

s h e wo u l d h av e h ad s ex wi t h h i m i f h e h a d n ot had t h e h an d g u n

. Rei d t i ed t h e

v i ct i m ’ s h an d s wi t h s p eak er wi re, t h en h e l eft th e h ou s e. Acco rd i n g t o Rei d

, wh en h e

cam e b ack

, h e s aw t h e v i ct i m wal k in g d o w n t h e s i d ewal k

, nak ed

, t ry i n g t o “ g et

away

. ” He t ri ed to “ co n v i n ce” h er t o g et i n t o hi s car, b u t

, wh en s he refu s ed

, h e

g rab b e d h er h ai r an d p u l l ed h er i n t o t h e car ag ai n s t h er wi l l

. Rei d ad m i t ted t h at h e

p u n ch ed t h e vi ct i m

, t hat sh e was s cream i n g an d ph y s ical l y res i s t i n g h im

, t h at h e k n ew

s h e was afrai d an d d id n ot wan t t o l eav e wi t h h im , t h at h e k n ew wh at h e was d o i n g

was wro n g

, an d t h at h e was v ery “ s orry t h at h e h ad to d o t hat t o her.” Rei d al s o t o ld

t h e i n v es t i g at o rs t h at a “ pi m p ” an d d ru g d eal er n am ed “ M i k e” h ad fo rced hi m t o p i ck

3 Al t h o u g h t h e i n t erv i ew was v i deo -reco rd e d a n d l at er tran s cri b ed

, t h e

reco rd i n g was n o t p l ay ed fo r t h e ju ry at t ri al

, n o r was t h e t ran scri pt read t o t h e ju ry

d u ri n g t ri al o r p ro vi d ed t o t h e ju ry d u ri n g d el i b erat i o n s

.

6u p t h e v i ct i m s o t h at “ M i k e” co u l d m ak e h er a p ro s t i t u te. Rei d cl ai m ed t h at “ M i ke”

h ad co n t ro l o v er h i m

an d h ad t h reat en ed t o k i l l h i m an d h i s fam i l y

.

Th e ev i d en ce al s o s h o wed t h at

, wh en o ffi cers arres ted Rei d

, t h ey i m p o u n d ed

a car t h at was reg i s t er e d t o h i m a n d was p ark ed at th e h o u s e wh ere h e was

ap p reh en d ed

. Th e d et ect i v e i n ch arg e of t h e cas e o b t ai n ed a s earch warran t fo r t h e

car, an d t h e o ffi cer wh o co n d u ct ed t h e s earch fo u n d a h a n d g u n, b l o o d res i d ue,

s p eak er wi re, p l i ers

, an d a s hi rt wi t h b l o o d on i t. T h ey al so ob s erv ed t h at th e i n s i de,

p as s en g er-s i d e d o or h an d le was m i ss i ng

.

Th e St at e i n d i ct ed Rei d f o r rap e, ag g rav at ed s o d o m y

, k i d n ap p i n g

, fal s e

i m p ri s o n m en t

, arm ed ro b b ery

, ag g rav at ed b at t ery

, t h ree co u n ts o f ag grav at ed as s au l t

,

an d p o s s es s i on o f a fi rearm d u ri n g th e co m m i ss i o n o f a fel o n y

. At t ri al

, Rei d t es t i fi ed

i n h i s o wn d efen s e, tel li n g t h e ju ry t h at

, as he was d ri v i ng o n t h e n i g h t at i s s u e, t h e

v i ct i m wav ed hi m d own an d as k ed h i m fo r a ri d e. Th e v i ct i m d i rect ed h i m t o a h o u s e

an d wen t i n s i de wh i l e he w ai ted i n t h e car. Acco rd i n g t o Rei d

, two m en d ro ve u p an d

fo rced h i m at g u np o i n t t o g o i n t o t h e h o u s e an d t o l i e o n t h e fl o or. A m an i ns i d e t h e

h o u s e, wh o was n am ed “ M i k e

, ” t o o k R ei d ’ s wal l et

, fo u nd o u t Rei d ’ s ad d res s

, an d

t h reat en ed t o k i l l h i s fam i l y

. Rei d t es t i fi e d t h a t h e a n d “ Mi ke” g o t i n t o h i s car an d

d ro v e t o h i s (Rei d ’ s ) h o us e, le a v i n g t h e v i ct i m b eh i n d

. “ M i k e” t o o k Rei d ’ s p h o ne,

7warn ed hi m n o t t o cal l t h e p o l ice, an d t h en l eft wi th t he o t h er m en i n a s ep arat e car.

Rei d to l d t h e ju ry

t h at “ Mi k e” h ad fram ed h im fo r t he cri m es ag ai ns t t h e v ict i m

.

Du ri n g cro s s -ex am i n at i o n , h o wev er, Rei d ad m i t t ed t h at

, d u ri n g h i s cu s t o d i al

i n t erv i ew, h e h ad n o t to l d th e i n ves t i g at o rs ab o u t bei n g acco s t ed b y t h e t wo m en

.

Rei d al s o ad m i t t ed t h at h e h ad t o l d t h e in v es ti g at o rs t h at h e h ad t ak en t h e v i ct i m t o

an ab an d o n ed h ou s e; t h at s h e s aw h i s h an d g u n ; t h at h e h ad s ex wi t h h er; t h at h e t i ed

h er h an d s wi th s p eak er wi re; th at h e bo u n d h er feet wi t h a s h i rt ; th at

, aft er h e ret u rn ed

t o t h e h o u s e, h e g rab b ed her an d p u l l ed h er b y her h ai r; t h at he h ad h i s gu n wh en h e

fo rced h er i n t o h i s car; an d t h at

, t h ro u g h o u t m o s t o f th i s en co u n t er, s h e was n ak ed

,

afrai d

, p a n i c k i n g, an d s cream i n g

. Ev en s o

, h e s peci fi cal l y d en i ed t h at h e rap ed t h e

v i ct i m

, t h rew h er o u t o f t he wi n d o w, h i t h er wi t h h i s g u n

, d rag g ed h er t h ro u g h t h e

y ard , o r t h rew h er i n to h i s car.

Th e j u ry fo u n d Rei d g ui l t y o f rap e, ag g rav at ed s o do m y

, k i d n ap p in g

, fal s e

i m p ri s o n m en t

, ag grav at ed as sau l t

, an d p o s s es s i o n o f a fi rearm d u ri ng t h e co m m i s s i o n

o f a fel on y . Fo l l o w i n g t h e co u rt ’ s d en i al o f h i s m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al , h e ap p eal s

.

1

. Rei d co n t en d s t h at t he t ri al co u rt ab u s ed i t s d i s cret io n i n al l o wi n g t h e St at e

t o i n tro d u c e e v i d e n ce of “ i m p ro p er m at t ers ” d u ri ng t h e tri al

. Th i s Co u rt rev i ews a

8t ri al co u rt ’ s ru l in g on th e ad m i s si o n o f ev id en ce u n d er an ab u s e o f d i s cret i o n

s t an d ard

. 4

(a) Rei d ch al l en g es t he ad m i ss i o n of a s tat em en t b y t he v i ct i m t h at h e

ch aract eri zes as a s t at em en t ab o u t h i s p o t en t i al “ fu tu r e d an g ero u sn es s

. ” Th e t ri al

t ran s cri p t s h o ws t h at

, wh en th e p ro s ecu t o r as k ed t h e vi ct i m w h y s h e rep o rt ed t h e

as s au l t t o t h e p o l i ce, s h e res p o nd ed

, “ Becau s e I fel t l i k e if h e d i d it t o m e, h e’ l l d o i t

t o s o m eb o dy el se.” Defen s e co u n s el o b ject ed o n t h e b as i s t h a t th e p ro s ecu to r’ s

q u es ti o n was “ i m

p ro p er,” an d t h e co u rt o v erru l ed t h e ob ject io n

. Ho w ev er, Rei d d id

n o t o b ject t o t h e ev id en ce at i s s u e (t h e vi ct i m ’ s an s w er) o n t he b as i s t h at i t co ns t i t u t ed

i n ad m is s i b le “ fu t u re d an g ero u sn es s ” ev i d en ce.

“ W h ere an en t i rel y d i fferen t o b j ect i on i s p res en t ed o n ap p eal

, we can n ot

co n si d er i t b ecau s e t h i s i s a co u rt fo r rev i ew an d co rrect i o n of erro r co m m i t t ed i n t h e

t ri al co u rt .” 5

Rei d arg u es t h at

, ev en t h o u g h h i s co u n s el d i d n ot rai s e t h is s p eci fi c o b ject i o n

at t ri al

, t h e ad m i s s i on of t h is ev i d en ce m ay b e rev i ewed fo r “ p l ai n er r o r” o n ap p eal

4 Ca r t er v. S t a t e

, 2 9 6 Ga. Ap p . 5 98 , 6 0 1 , n . 7 (6 7 5 SE2 d 3 2 0 ) (2 0 0 9 ).

5 Ro ger s v. S t a t e

, 29 8 Ga. Ap p

. 8 9 5, 9 03 (6 ) (6 8 1 SE2 d 6 9 3 ) (2 0 0 9 ) (ci t at i on s

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

9u n d er OCGA § 2 4 -1 -1 03 (d ). H o wev er, t h e Gen eral As s em b ly en act ed t h at p ro v i s i o n

as p art of t h e n ew Ev i d en ce Co d e, wh ich d o es no t ap p l y i n t h i s cas e, b ecau s e Rei d ’ s

t ri al was co n d u ct ed i n Ap ri l 2 0 1 1

. 6 An d

, u nd er t h e fo rm er E vi d en ce Co d e, ev i d en ti ary

ru l i n gs are n o t s u b

ject t o a p p e l l a t e rev i ew i n t h e ab s en ce o f a ti m el y o b ject i o n at

t ri al

. 7

Co n seq u en t l y

, b ecau s e Rei d ’ s co u n s el d i d n o t o b ject t o t h e v i ct i m ’ s an s wer o n

t h e b as i s t h at i t co n st i tu ted i n ad m is s i b l e “ fu t u re d an gero u s n es s ” ev i d en ce, 8 t h i s

al l eg ed erro r i s wai ved

. 9

(b ) Rei d co nt en d s t h at t h e S tat e i m pro p erl y p res en ted a “ v i ct i m i m p act

s t at em en t ” wh en i t el i ci te d t h e v i ct i m ’ s t es t i m o n y ab o u t h o w h er l i fe h ad ch an g ed

6 See Ga. L. 2 0 11

, p

. 9 9, § 2

. T h e n e w E v i d en ce Co d e ap p l i es o n l y t o an y

m o ti o n m ad e o r h eari n g o r t ri al co m m en ced o n o r aft er J an u ary 1

, 2 0 1 3. See Ga. L.

2 0 1 1 , p . 9 9 , § 1 01

.

7 Pya t t v. S t a t e , 2 9 8 Ga. 7 4 2 , 7 4 5 -7 46 (2 ), n . 7 (7 8 4 SE2 d 7 5 9 ) (2 0 1 6 ).

8 See Di vi si o n 7 (d ) (i ), i n fra, reg ard i n g a rel at ed cl ai m o f i n effect i v e as s i s t an ce

o f co u ns el

.

9 See Pya tt , 2 9 8 Ga. at 7 4 5 -7 4 6 (2 ), n . 7

.

10s i nce h er as s a u l t

. R e i d di d n ot o b ject t o t h e t es t i m o n y

, 1 0 h o wev er, s o t h i s cl ai m o f

erro r i s n o t p res erv ed fo r ap p el l at e rev i ew. 1 1

(c ) R ei d co n t en ds th at t h e t ri al co u rt ab us ed i t s d is cret i o n i n ad m it t i n g b ad

ch aract er ev id en ce, s peci fi cal l y

, an o ffi cer’ s referen ce t o h i m as a “ v i o l en t fel o n ,” in

v i o l at i o n o f fo rm er OCGA § § 24 -2 -2 an d 2 4-9 -2 0 (b ). 1 2 He arg u es t h at t he s t at em en t

was fal s e, i rrel ev an t , an d p reju di ci al

.

Th e t ri al tran scri p t s h o ws t h at an o ffi cer wi t h t h e Fu g i t i v e Sq u ad o f b o t h t h e

At l an t a Po li ce Dep art m en t an d t h e Fed eral Bu reau o f In v es t i g at i o n t es t i fi ed t h at

, o n

J u n e 1

, 20 10

, th ree day s aft er t h e v i ct i m was as s au l t ed

, h i s s q u ad was t as k ed wi th

1 0 See Di v i s i o n 7 ( d ) (i i ), i n fra, reg ard i ng 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

.

1 1 See Pya t t

, 2 98 Ga. at 7 4 5 -7 46 (2 ), n. 7 ; s ee al s o To l l et t e v. St a t e

, 2 8 0 Ga.

1 0 0

, 1 0 3 (6 ) (6 2 1 SE2 d 7 42 ) (2 0 0 5 ) (Th e d efen d an t ch al l en g ed t h e ad m is s i b i l i t y o f

t es t i m o ny b y t h e v i ct i m ’ s wi d o w t hat t h e g ri ef t h e v i c t i m ’s m ot h er carri ed o v er t h e

m u rd er o f h er s o n i n di rect l y l ed t o h er d eat h

. W i t h o u t ru l i ng o n t h e ad m is s i b i l i t y o f

t h i s t es t i m on y

, th e Co u rt h el d t h at t h e d efen d an t wai v ed hi s ri g h t t o co m p l ai n ab o ut

i t on ap p eal b ecau s e h e fai l ed t o o b j ect at t ri al .).

1 2 S e e Hi n t o n v. S t a t e

, 2 5 3 Ga. Ap p. 6 9

, 7 0 (1 ) (5 57 SE2 d 4 8 1 ) ( 2 0 0 1 )

(“ Gen eral l y

, a part y ’ s ch aract er an d co n d uct i n o t h er t ran s act i o ns are i rrel ev an t

, an d

ev i d en ce o f a cri m i nal defen d an t ’ s g en eral b ad ch aract er i s no t ad m i s s i b le un l es s t h e

d efen d an t fi rs t p u ts h i s ch aract er i n i s s u e. [Fo rm er] O CGA § § 24 -2 -2 ; 2 4 -9 -2 0 (b ).”).

In 2 0 11

, t h e Geo rg ia Gen eral As s em b l y ad o p ted a n ew Ev i d en ce Co d e t h at rev i s ed

an d ren u m

bered t h es e fo rm er Co d e s ect i o n s

, b u t t h e n ew Co d e b ecam e effect i v e o n

J an u ary 1 , 2 0 1 3

, aft er t h e 2 0 11 t ri al i n t h is cas e. See Ga. L. 2 01 1

, p . 9 9 , § § 2 , 1 0 1

.

11ap p reh en d in g Rei d p urs u an t t o s ev eral arres t warran t s

. As t h e offi cer ex p l ai n ed

, “ It ’ s

co m m o n p ro ced u re fo r t h e fu g it i v e u n i t

. . . to b e as s i gn ed cas es wh ere v i ol en t fel on s

h av e

. . . o u t s t an d in g warran t s[ ] fo r t h ei r ap p reh en s i o n .” Rei d d i d n o t o bject t o t h i s

t es t i m o ny at t ri al

, bu t t h e reco rd s h o ws t h at h e fi l ed a m o ti on i n l im in e t o ex cl u d e b ad

ch aract er ev i d en ce. Al t h o u g h t h e t r i a l c o u r t ’ s o rd er o n t h i s m o t i o n is n o t i n t h e

ap p el l at e reco rd

, 1 3 we fi n d t h at t h e m o t i on h as p res erv ed t hi s i s s u e fo r o u r rev i ew. 1 4

Pret erm it t i n g wh et h er t h e o ffi cer’ s g en era l r e f eren ce t o “ v i o l en t fel o n s ”

ap p eared t o l ab el Rei d

, s p eci fi cal l y

, as a “ v i o l en t fel o n

, ” th e o verwh el m i n g ev i d en ce

p res en t ed p r i o r t o t h e o ffi cer’ s t es t i m o n y s h o wed t h at Rei d h ad

, i n fact

, co m m i t t ed

s ev eral ex t rem el y vi o l en t f el o n ies ag ai n s t th e v i ct im an d t h at

, as a res u l t

, i nv es t i g at o rs

h ad o b t ai n ed m

u l ti p l e fel o n y warran t s fo r h i s arres t

. An d

, s h o rt l y befo re m ak i n g t h e

s t at em en t at i s s u e, t h e s am e o ffi cer t es t i fi ed t h at

, as a d et ect iv e wi t h t h e Fu g it i v e Tas k

Fo rce, “ m y p ri m ary res p on s i b i l i t y i s ap p reh en d i n g p eo p l e th at are wan t ed fo r v i o l en t

cri m es .” M o reo ver, t h ere w a s n o ev i d en ce th at t h ere were an y o th er o u t s t an d i n g

1 3 Th e part i es ap p ear t o ag ree t h at t he co u rt d en i ed t h e m o t i o n at l eas t i n p art

,

ru l i n g t h at t h e o ffi cers wo u l d b e al l o w ed t o t es t i fy ab o ut t h e “ Fu g i t i v e Sq u ad .”

1 4 See To l l et t e

, 28 0 Ga. at 1 0 3 (8 ) (“ [A] n ad v ers e ru l i n g b y a t r i al co u rt t o a

m o t io n i n l i m i n e s eek i n g to l i m i t a s p eci fi c arg u m en t at t ri al s erv es t o p res er v e t h e

i s su e o f t h e arg um en t ’ s p ro p ri et y fo r ap p el l at e rev i ew[.] ”) (ci t at i o n o m i t ted ).

12fel o n y warran t s fo r Rei d fo r o ffen ses ari s i n g fro m a s ep arat e, u n rel at ed i n ci d en t

, n o r

was t h ere an y ev id en ce t h at h e h ad p rev i o u s l y b een co nv i ct ed o f o t h er vi ol en t cri m es

.

Th erefo re, b as ed up o n t h e ev i d en ce p res en t ed

, th e o nl y reas o n ab l e i n feren ce t h e ju ry

co u ld h av e m ad e fro m t h e t erm “ v i o l en t fel o n s ” w a s t h at i t referred t o Rei d ’ s

co m m i s s io n o f t h e i n s tan t cri m es

.

W e co n cl u d e t hat

, wh en read i n co n tex t

, t h e referen ce t o “ v i o l en t fel o n s ” was

n o t fal s e, i rrel ev an t

, o r u n fai rl y p reju d i ci al t o Rei d, an d 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 al l o wi n g t h e t es t i m o n y

. 1 5

2

. Rei d co n t en ds th at t h e t ri al co urt ab u s ed i t s d i s cret i o n in al l o wi n g t h e St at e

t o p res en t “ v i ct i m i m

p act ” ev i d en ce wh en t h e St at e fai l ed t o p ro v i d e ad v an ce n o t i ce

o f i t s i n t en t t o p res en t s u ch ev id en ce an d fai l ed to g et t h e co u rt ’ s p erm i ss i o n

. Becau s e

Rei d fai l ed t o o b

ject o n t h i s b as i s b efo re o r d u ri ng th e t ri al

, t hi s al l eg ed erro r i s

wai v ed

. 1 6

1 5 See Da vi s v. S ta t e

, 2 7 2 Ga. 3 2 7

, 3 29 (2 ) (5 2 8 SE2 d 8 0 0 ) (2 0 0 0 ) (“ Ev i d en ce

rel ev an t t o an i s s u e i n t h e cas e i s n o t ren d ered i n ad m i ss i b le b ecau s e i t m ay

i n ci d en t al l y

p l ace t he d efen d an t ’ s ch aract er i n i s s u e.”) (fo o t no t e o m i t t ed ).

1 6 See W i l l i a ms v. S t a t e

, 2 7 7 Ga. Ap p

. 1 0 6

, 10 8 (2 ) (6 2 5 SE2 d 5 0 9) (2 0 0 5 )

(“ W e are a co u rt fo r t h e co rrect i o n o f erro rs o f l aw co m m i t t ed by t h e t ri al co u rt wh ere

p ro p er ex cep t i o n i s t ak en

, an d we wi l l n o t co n s i d er i ss u es an d g ro u n d s fo r o b ject i o n,

ev en o f a co n st i tu ti o n al m ag n i t u d e, wh i ch were n o t rai s ed an d d et erm i n ed b y t h e t ri al

co u rt .”) (fo o t n o t e o m i t t ed ).

133

. Rei d co n t en d s t h at a wi t n es s fo r t h e St at e im p ro p erl y co m

m en t ed o n h i s ri g ht

t o rem ai n s i l en t . W e d i s ag ree.

Th e t ri al t ran s cri p t sh o ws t h at

, w h en t h e p ro secu t o r as k ed t h e arres ti n g o ffi cer

i f Rei d was g i ven h i s M i r a n d a 1 7 warn i n g s at th e t i m e o f h i s ar r e s t

, t h e o ffi cer

res p o n d ed

, “ N o t b y m e, b u t I al s o d i d n ’ t as k h i m an y q u es t i o ns or an y th i ng l i k e t h at .”

Th e p ro secu t o r t h en as k ed h i m

, “ Di d h e s p eak t o y o u ? ” Th e o ffi cer res p o n d ed “ No t

ab o ut t he cas e. W e m i g h t hav e h ad a b ri ef co n v ers at i o n l i k e, y o u kn o w

. . .” Defen s e

co u ns el o b

ject ed , s t at i n g , “ Th i s i s i m p ro p er,” an d t h e co u rt s u s t ai ned t h e o b ject i o n.

Bu t

, wh en co u n s el ad d ed t h at h e wan t ed t o m ak e a m o t i o n

, t h e co u rt t o l d h i m

, “ No

.

y o u can m ak e i t lat er.” Aft er t h e St at e res ted i ts cas e-i n -ch i ef, Rei d ’ s co u n s el m o v ed

fo r a m i s t ri al o n t he b as i s t h at t h e o ffi cer’ s t es ti m o n y i m p erm i s s i b l y co m

m en t ed o n

h i s ri g ht t o rem ai n si l en t

. Th e co u rt d en i ed i t

, an d co u n s el d i d n o t as k fo r a cu rat i v e

i n s t ru ct i o n

.

[A] n i m p ro p er co m

m en t o n t h e d efen d an t ’ s s il en ce d oes n o t n eces s ari l y

req u ire a rev ers al

. Th e g ran t o r d en i al o f a m i s t ri al i s wi t h i n t h e t ri al

co u rt ’ s s o un d d i s cret i o n

, an d t h e ap pel l at e co u rt wi l l n o t i n t erfere w i t h

t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s ex erci s e o f th at d i s cret io n u n l es s i t i s cl ear t hat a m i s t ri al

1 7 Mi r a n d a v. Ar i z o n a

, 3 8 4 U. S. 4 3 6

, 4 7 8 -4 79 (III) (8 6 SCt 1 6 02

, 1 6 L E 2 d

6 9 4 ) (1 9 6 6 ).

14was es sen t i al t o p res erv e t h e ri g ht t o a fai r t ri al

. Fu rt h erm o re, t es t i m o n y

ab o u t t h e d efen dan t rem ai n i n g s i l en t i s n o t d eem ed t o b e p reju d i ci al i f

i t i s m ad e d u ri n g a narrat i v e o n t h e p art o f t h e au t h o ri ti es o f a co u rs e o f

ev en t s an d ap p aren t l y w as n o t i n t en d ed t o

, n o r di d it h av e t h e effect o f,

b ei n g p ro b at iv e o n t he g u i l t o r i n n o cen ce o f t h e d efen d an t

. In d eed

, t o

warran t a rev ers al o f a d efen d an t ’ s co n vi ct i o n

, t h e e v i d e n c e o f th e

el ect i o n t o r em ai n s i l en t m u s t p o in t di rect l y at t he s ub s t an ce o f th e

d efen d an t ’ s d efen s e o r o t h erwi s e s u bs t an t i al l y p reju d i ce th e d efen d an t

i n t h e ey es o f t he ju ry

. 1 8

In t h i s cas e, t h e s t at em en t at i s s u e was el i ci t ed w h i l e t he o ffi cer was d es cri b i n g

t h e ci rcu m s t an ces s u rro u n d i n g Rei d ’ s arres t

, t h e o ffi cer affi rm at i v el y st at ed t h at h e

h ad n o t as k ed Rei d an y q u es t io ns

, t he co m m en t d i d n o t p o i n t d i rect ly at th e su b s t an ce

o f Rei d’ s d e f

en s e, 1 9 an d t h e co m

m en t co u l d n o t reas o n ab l y be i n t erp ret ed as

co m m en t i n g o n Rei d ’ s g u i l t o r i n n ocen ce. An d, al t h o ug h t h e tri al co u rt d i d n o t g i v e

a cu rat i v e i n st ru ct i o n aft er s u s t ai n i n g t he o b ject i o n, Rei d can n o t as s ert o n ap p eal t h at

t h e “ co u rt erred i n fai l i n g t o t ak e an y ad d i t i o n al , u nreq u es t ed cu rat iv e act io n s .” 2 0

1 8 W h i ta ker v. S t a t e

, 2 8 3 G a. 5 2 1

, 5 2 4 (3 ) (6 61 SE2 d 5 5 7 ) (2 0 0 8 ) (ci t at i o n s an d

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

1 9 See W h i t a ker

, 2 8 3 Ga. at 5 2 4 (3 ); s ee al s o Ber r yh i l l v. S ta t e

, 2 8 5 Ga. 1 9 8,

2 0 3 (5 ) (6 7 4 SE2 d 9 20 ) (2 0 0 9 ).

2 0 See Eva n s v. S t a te

, 1 90 Ga. Ap p

. 3 0 2 (2 ) (3 7 8 SE2 d 9 0 3) (1 9 8 9 ) (ci t at i o n s

,

p u n ct u at i o n , an d em

p h as i s o m i t t ed ).

15Un d er t h es e ci rcu m st an ces

, we fi n d t hat t h e co u rt di d n ot ab u s e i t s d i s cret i o n

i n d en y i n g Rei d ’ s m ot io n fo r a m i s t ri al

. 2 1

4

. Rei d arg u es t h at t h e tri al co u rt i m pro p erl y i n v i t ed a hears ay o b ject i o n t o h i s

t es t i m o ny ab o ut hi s co erci o n d efen s e. Acco rd i n g to Rei d

, t h i s m ad e i t ap p ear t h at t h e

co u rt w as ad v i s i n g t h e p ro s ecu t o r, was b i as ed i n f a v o r o f t h e St at e, an d was

co m m en t i n g o n Rei d ’ s cred i b i l i t y

.

As s h own i n t he reci tat i o n of fact s

, s u p ra, wh i le t es t i f yi n g at t ri al

, Rei d g av e

a l en g t h y

, u n i n t erru p t ed n arrat i v e ab o u t h i s i n t eract i o n wi t h t h e vi ct i m

, t h e m an wh o

h ad al l eg ed l y t h reat en ed h i m (“ M i ke”), an d t h e two o t h e r m en wh o h e cl ai m ed

acco s t ed h i m o n t h e n i g h t at i s s u e. Rei d rep eat ed ly t es t i fi ed

, wi t h ou t o b j ect i o n

, ab o ut

wh at t he m en s ai d to h i m an d t o each o t h er, 2 2 b u t t h en s t art ed t es t i fy i n g ab o u t wh at

h e h eard “ M i k e” s ay t o t h e v i ct im

. T he co u rt i n t erru p ted

, as k i n g

, “ Is t h ere an

o b ject i on t o h ears ay ? ” Th e p ro s ecu t o r r e s p on d ed wi th a h ears ay o b ject i on

, an d t h e

2 1 See W hi t a ker

, 2 83 Ga. at 5 2 4 -5 2 5 (3 ) (Th e Co u rt ru l ed t h at t h e t ri al co u rt d id

n o t a b u s e it s d i s cret i o n i n d en y i n g a m o t i o n fo r m i s t ri al b as ed up o n a det ect i v e’ s

t es t i m o ny t h at t h e d efen d an t i n i t i al l y wai v ed h i s Mi r a n d a ri g ht s d u ri n g a c u s t o d i al

i n t erv i ew, b u t l at er in vo k ed h i s ri g ht t o rem ai n si len t

, en d i n g t h e in t erv i ew. Th e

t es t i m o ny was p art o f t h e d et ect i v e’ s ex p lan at i on o f ev en t s

, was n o t d i r ect ed at

ev i d en ce o r defen s es o ffered b y t h e d efen d an t

, an d w as n o t p ro b at i v e of h is g u i lt o r

i n n o cen ce, an d t h e co u rt g av e a cu rat i v e i n s t ru ct i o n.)

2 2 No n e o f t h e m en t es t i fi ed at t ri al

.

16co u rt t o l d Rei d

, “ Do n ’ t t el l u s wh at an y b o dy el s e s ai d

. ” Rei d t h en t es t i f i e d t h at

“ M ik e” t o o k i n fo rm at i on ab o u t wh ere h e l i v ed an d th en t h reat en ed h i m

. A l t ho u g h t h e

St at e o b ject ed to t he hears ay

, t h e co u rt al l o w ed i t b ecau s e t h e ev i d en ce was rel ev an t

t o Rei d ’ s cl ai m of co erci o n

.

Lat er, d u ri n g ju ry i n s t ru ct i o n s, t h e co u rt g av e t h e fo l l owi n g ch arg e: “ By n o

ru l i n g o r co m

m en t t h at t h e c o u r t has m ad e d uri n g t h e pro g res s o f t he tri al h as t h e

co u rt i nt en d ed t o ex p res s an y o p i n i o n u p on th e fact s o f t hi s cas e, u p o n t h e cred i b i l i t y

o f t h e wi tn es s es

, u p on t h e ev i den ce, o r u po n t h e g u i l t o r i n n o cen ce o f t h e d efen d an t .”

Fo rm er O CGA § 1 7-8 -5 7 2 3 p ro v i d ed

, i n p art

, as fo l l o w s : “ It i s erro r fo r an y

ju d g e i n an y cri m in al cas e, d u ri n g i t s p ro g res s o r i n h i s ch arg e to t he j u ry

, t o ex p res s

o r i n ti m at e h i s o p i n io n as t o w h at h as o r h as n ot b een p ro v ed o r as t o t h e g u i l t o f t h e

accu s ed

. ” Ho wev er,

[t ]h e t r i a l j u d ge i s m o re t h an a m ere m o d erat o r o f a deb at e, h e i s a

m i n i s t er o f ju s t i ce, wh o se d u t y i t i s t o g o v ern t h e p ro g res s o f t h e t ri al

an d

, wh ere p o s s i b l e, t o p rev en t i n t r o d u ct io n o f red u nd an t o r

i n ad m i s si b le m at ters

. Becau s e o f t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s b ro ad d i s cr e t i o n i n

reg u lat i n g an d co n t ro l l i n g t h e b u si n es s o f t h e co u rt

, t h e rev iewi n g co u rt

s h o u l d nev er i nt erfere wi t h t h e ex erci s e o f t h at d i s cret i on u n l es s it i s

2 3 Th e Geo rg i a Gen eral As s em b l y am en ded t h e s t at u t e i n 2 0 1 5

. See Ga. L.

2 0 1 5 , p . 1 0 5 0 , § 1

.

17m ad e to ap p ear t h at wro n g o r o p p res s i o n h as res u l t ed fro m it s ab u s e, o r

t h e co u rt i n s o m e m a n n e r t ak es away t h e ri gh t s t h e p art ies h av e u nd er

t h e l aw. 2 4

Here, th e t ri al ju dg e d i d n o t ex p res s o r i n t i m at e h i s o p i n i o n as t o Rei d ’ s g u i l t

o r wh at h ad o r had n o t b een p ro v en

, n o r d i d he dem ean o r a d m o n i s h Rei d o r h i s

co u ns el o r s u g g es t an y

b i as t o w ard t h e St at e. Fu rt h er, Rei d was n o t p rev en t ed fro m

t es t i fy i ng ab ou t w h at th e m en p u rp o rt ed l y s ai d t o h i m

, ex p l ai n i n g h o w t h e i r

s t at em en t s an d act i o n s affect ed h i m

, an d o t h erwi s e p res en t i n g hi s defen s es

. 2 5 Un d er

t h es e ci rcu m s t an ces , we fi n d n o erro r.

5 . Rei d co m

p l ai n s t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n ch arg i n g t he ju ry

.

(a) Rei d cl ai m s t h at t h e co u rt co m m i tt ed rev ers i b l e erro r b y fai l i ng t o g i v e t h e

co erci o n ch arg e h e req u es t ed i n wri t i n g b efo re t ri al

. W e d i s ag ree.

Rei d req u es t ed t h e fo l l o wi n g i n s tru ct i on :

A p ers on i s n o t g u i l t y o f a cri m e (ex cep t m u rd er) i f t h e act u p o n wh ich

t h e s u p p o s ed cri m i n al l i ab i l i t y i s b a s e d is perfo rm ed u n d er s u ch

co erci o n t h at t h e p ers o n reas o n ab l y b e l i ev es th at p erfo rm i n g th e act i s

t h e o n l y way t o p rev en t h i s / her i m m i n en t d eat h o r g reat b o d i l y i n ju ry

.

2 4 Ha a s v. S t a t e , 1 4 6 Ga. Ap p . 7 2 9 , 7 3 2 (5 ) (2 4 7 SE2 d 5 0 7) (1 9 7 8 ) (ci t at i on s

o m it t ed ).

2 5 See Al exa n d

er v. S ta t e , 2 9 4 Ga. 3 4 5, 3 4 8 (3 ) (7 5 1 SE2 d 4 0 8) (2 01 3 ).

18Co erci o n in v o l v es t h e i n v o l u n t ary p erfo rm an ce o f a cri m in al act u nd er

fear i n d uced b y t h reat s or m e n a ces i n v o l v i n g a d i rect d an g er t o l i fe o r

g reat b o d i l y i n

ju ry wh en th e d an g e r c an b e av o i d ed o n l y b y th e

p erfo rm an ce of t h e cri m in al act

. In o rd er fo r d u res s o r fear p ro du ced b y

t h reat s o r m en aces t o b e a v al i d l eg al ex cu s e fo r do i n g so m et h in g t hat

wo u ld o th erwi se b e cri m i n al

, t h e act m u s t h av e b een co m

m i t t ed u nd er

t h reat s o r m e n a c e s t h at s h o w t h at t h e d efen d an t’ s l i fe o r part of th e

d efen d an t ’ s bo d y was i n d an g e r o r th at th ere was reas o n ab l e cau s e t o

b e l i ev e t h at th ere was s u ch d an g er an d t h at t h e accu sed

, i n o rd er t o

p ro t ect h i m sel f/ h ers el f fro m t h e t h reat of h arm

, h ad n o al t ern at i v e co urs e

o f co n d u ct b ut t o co m

m it t h e al l eg ed cri m i nal act

. Th e d an g er m u s t n o t

h av e b een o n e o f fu tu re v i o l en ce b u t rat h er m u s t hav e b een o n e o f

p res en t

, i m

m i n en t

, an d im

m ed i at e v i ol en ce at t h e t im e th e al l eg ed act

was co m m i tt ed

.

Th e b u rd en res t s u p o n t h e St at e t o d i s p ro v e co erci o n b ey on d a

reas o n ab l e d o u b t

.

It i s ax i o m at ic t hat “ [a] ju ry ch arg e m u st b e ad ju st ed t o t h e ev i d en ce, ap t

, an d

a co rrect s tat em en t o f t h e a p p l i cab l e l aw.” 2 6 Here, t h ere w as n o ev i d en ce p res en t ed

t o s h o w t h at Rei d o r hi s fam i l y was at ri sk o f “ p res en t, im m i n en t

, an d i m

m ed i at e

v i o l en ce” at t h e t i m e Rei d k i dn ap p ed an d rep eat ed ly as s au l t ed th e v ict i m

. In fact

, t h e

2 6 Ma r r yo t t v. S t a t e

, 2 6 3 Ga. Ap p

. 6 5

, 6 9 (5 ) (5 8 7 SE2 d 2 1 7) (2 0 0 3) (ci t at i o n

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

19o v erwh el m i ng ev i d en ce s h o wed t h at n o o ne o t her t h an he an d t h e v i ct i m was p res en t

fro m t h e t i m e Rei d p i ck ed h er u p i n h i s car u nt il sh e ran

, n ak ed an d s ev erel y b l eed i n g,

t o a n earb y h o u s e s eek i n g hel p aft er h e p u s h ed h er t hro u g h a wi n d o w. Al t h o ug h Rei d

t o l d i nv es t i g at ors t h at “ M i k e” had co erced hi m i n t o p i ck in g u p a wo m an s o “ M i ke”

co u ld m ak e h er a p ro s t i tu t e, an y t h reat b y “ M i k e” was

, at m o s t

, a t h reat o f f u t u r e

v i o l en ce. M o re i m

p o rt an t l y

, t here was n o ev i d en ce t h at “ M i k e” o r an y o n e el s e fo rced

Rei d to co m

m i t t he o ffen s es fo r wh i ch h e was co n v i ct ed

, i .e., rap in g t h e v i ct i m

,

fo rci ng h er t o p er f

o rm o ral s od o m

y o n hi m

, rep eat ed l y as s au l ti n g an d s eri o u s l y

i n ju ri n g h er, t y i n g h er u p an d h o l d i n g h er ag ai n s t h er wi l l

, an d k i d n ap p i n g h er by

t ak i n g h er fro m

t h e ab an d o ned h o u s e t o t he h o t el

.

It fo l l ows t h at t h e t ri al co u rt d i d n ot err i n refu si n g t o g i v e t h e req u es t ed ju ry

i n s t ru ct i o n b ecau se i t was n o t ad ju s t ed t o or s u p p o rt ed b y ev i d e n c e p res en t ed at

t ri al

. 2 7

Fu rt h e r, to t he ex t en t Rei d co n t en d s t h at th e co u rt w as req u i red t o g i v e t h e

i n s t ru ct i o n b ecau s e co erci o n w as h is s o l e d efen s e, 2 8 t h e t ri al t ran scr i p t s h o ws t h at

2 7 See Ma r r

yo tt

, 2 63 G a. Ap p

. at 6 9 (5 ) (a ju ry ch arg e m u s t be ad ju st ed t o t h e

ev i d en ce p res en t ed ).

2 8 See S t a t e v. A l va r ez

, 2 9 9 Ga. 2 1 3 , 2 1 4 -2 1 5 (1 ) (7 90 SE2 d 6 6 ) (2 0 1 6 ) (Th e

Co u rt affi rm ed th e g ran t o f a n ew tri al bas ed o n p l ai n err o r i n t h e co u rt ’ s fai l u re to

20Rei d as s ert ed an o t h er d efen s e at t r i a l

, t o wi t : h e d en i ed t h at h e h ad co m m i t t ed t h e

o ffen s es at i s s ue an d cl ai m ed

, i n s t ead

, t h at “ M i ke” h ad fram ed h im

. Co n s eq u en t l y

,

t h i s co n t en t i o n l ack s m eri t

.

(b ) Rei d al s o co n ten d s t h e co urt erred i n fai l i n g to gi v e a ch arg e o n “ v i ct i m

i m p act ” ev i d en ce, ev en t ho u g h Rei d d id n o t req u es t s u ch an i n s tru ct i o n

. As ex p l ai n ed

fu rt her i n Di vi si o n 7 (d ) (i i ), i n fra, an y erro r was h a r m l e s s i n l i gh t o f t h e

o v erwh el m i ng ev i d en ce o f Rei d ’ s g u i l t

. 2 9

6

. Rei d co n t en ds th at t h e t ri al co u rt erred b y n o t gi v i n g s om e o f t h e wi t n es s es

t h e o at h in fro n t o f t he ju ry an d b y n o t t el l i n g t h e ju ry t h at t h e w i t n es s es h ad b een

s wo rn

. 3 0 Pret erm i t t i n g wh et her t h i s al l eg ed o v ers i g ht co ns t i t u t ed erro r, 3 1 t h e Su p rem e

g i v e a req u es t ed ju ry in s t ru ct io n o n th e d efen d an t ’ s s o l e defen s e, ju s t i fi cat i o n

, wh i ch

was s up p o rt ed b y ev i d en ce at t ri al .).

2 9 See Br o wn v. S ta te

, 2 8 9 Ga. 2 5 9

, 26 0 -2 61 (2 ) (7 1 0 SE2 d 7 51 ) (2 0 1 1 )

(h o l d i n g t h at , b ecau s e t h e ev i d en ce o f t h e d efen d an t ’ s g u i l t was o verwh el m i n g , t h e

co u rt ’ s fai l u re t o g i v e a req ues t ed ch arg e on i m p each m en t co n st it u t e d ha r m le s s erro r).

3 0 No t a b l y, Rei d d o es n o t co n t en d t h at an y wi t n es s was al lo wed t o t es t i fy

wi t h o u t t ak i n g t h e req u i red oat h

, an d t h e t ri al tran s cri p t s h o ws t h at al l wi t n es s es were

“ d u l y s wo rn .”

3 1 No n e o f t h e cas es ci t ed b y Rei d i n h i s b ri ef h o l d t h at a wi tn es s m u s t s wear

an o at h i n t h e ju ry ’ s p res en ce o r t h at t h e co u rt m u s t ex p l i ci tl y in fo rm th e ju ry t h at t h e

wi t n es s h as b een swo rn

.

21Co u rt o f Geo rg i a has ru l ed t h at “ [o ] n e wh o

, wi t h o u t ob ject i o n, al l o ws a wi t n es s t o g o

o n th e s t an d an d g i v e ev i d en ce ag ai n s t h im wi t h ou t fi rs t b e i n g s wo rn can n o t

, aft er

co n vi ct i o n

, u rg e t h e fai l u re o f t h e w i t n es s t o t ak e t h e o at h

, as a g ro u n d o f a m o t i o n

fo r n ew t ri al .” 3 2 Becau s e Rei d fai l ed t o ob ject on t h i s b as i s at t ri al

, t h i s al l eg ed erro r

i s wai v ed

.

7

. Rei d co n t en d s t h at h i s t ri al co u n s el p ro v id ed i n effect i v e as s i s t an ce, ci t i n g

t o s ev eral al l eg ed o m i s s i o n s.

In o rd er t o p rev ai l o n a cl a i 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 d an t m

u st 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

a reas o n ab l e l i k el ih oo d t hat

, b u t fo r co u ns el ’ s erro rs

, t he ou t co m e o f th e

t ri al wo u ld h av e b een d i fferen t .[ 3 3 ] 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 o n t h at t ri al co u n s el ’ s co n d u ct fal l s

w i t h i n t he b ro ad ran g e o f reas o n ab l e p ro fes s i o n al co n d uct

. W e accep t

t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s fact u al fi n d i ng s a n d c red ib i l i t y d et erm i n at i o n s un l es s

3 2 Mo n t es v. S t a t e

, 2 6 2 Ga. 4 7 3, 4 7 5 (3 ) (4 2 1 SE2 d 7 1 0 ) (1 9 9 2 ) (ci t at i o n s an d

p u n ct u at i o n o m it t ed ). See al s o Ben n et t v. S t a t e

, 3 34 Ga. Ap p

. 38 1

, 3 8 3 (1 ) (a) (7 7 9

SE2 d 4 2 0) (2 0 1 5) (“ [I] t is wel l s et t l ed t hat t h e fai l u re t o o b j ect t o u n swo rn t es t i m o ny

wai v es t h e i s s u e fo r ap p eal .”) (ci t at i o n s o m it t ed ).

3 3 St r i ckl a n d v. W

a s h i ng t o n

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

, 8 0 L E 2 d 6 7 4 )

(1 9 8 4).

22cl 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

. 3 4

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

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

. As a g en 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 u n wi s e, d o n o t am o u n t t o i n effect i v e as s is t an ce o f co u n sel .” 3 5

(a ) Rei d as s ert s t h at h is co u n s el fai l ed t o i nt erv i ew t h e v i ct i m an d fai l ed to

l o c at e an d i n t erv i ew p o t en t i al d efen s e wi t n es ses

. D u ri ng t h e m o t i o n fo r n ew tri al

h eari n g

, h o wev er, t ri al co u n s el t es t i fi ed t hat h e at t em p t ed t o i n t erv i ew t h e v i ct i m

, b ut

was u n ab l e t o d o s o

, an d t h at Rei d d i d n o t t el l h i m ab o u t an y al i b i o r o th er wi t n es s es

wh o m ig h t t es t i fy o n h is b eh al f. N o r d i d R e i d p ro ffer t h e t es t i m o ny o f an y s u ch

wi t n es s d u ri n g t h e h eari n g. M oreo v er, h e “ fai l ed t o p res en t an y ev i d en ce as t o wh at

fu rt her res earch wo u l d h av e rev eal ed o r ho w an y ad d i t i o nal in fo rm at i on wo u l d h av e

3 4 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 ).

3 5 Gr i er v. S t a te

, 2 7 3 Ga. 3 6 3

, 3 6 5 (4 ) (5 4 1 S E2 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 ).

23i m

p ro v ed h i s p o s i t i o n

. It i s no t en o u g h t o s p ecu lat e t hat su ch in fo rm at i o n ex i s t s an d

wo u l d h av e m ad e a d i fferen ce.” 3 6 Th erefo re, t h is cl ai m l ack s m eri t

.

(b ) Rei d co n t en ds th at co u n s el was i n effect iv e fo r f ai l i n g to fi l e a m o t i o n to

s u p p res s ev i d en ce reco vered fro m h i s car an d fro m t h e ab an d on ed h o u s e wh ere h e

co m m i t t ed s o m e o f t h e cri m es

.

It i s cl earl y set tl ed t h at th e m ere fai lu re t o fi l e a s u p p res s i o n m o ti o n d o es

n o t co n s ti t u t e p er s e i n effect i v e as s is t an ce o f co u n s el

. Fo r ex am p l e, i t i s

n o t defi ci en t t o fai l t o fi l e a m o t i o n wh i ch i s fri v o lo u s

. Ev en i f a

d efi ci en cy d i d res u l t fro m t ri al c o u n s el ’ s fai l u re t o fi l e a m o ti o n t o

s u p p r e s s

, [ t h e defen d an t’ s ] b u rd en i s t o m ak e a s t ro n g s h o wi n g t hat i f

t ri al co un se l h ad m ad e a m o t i o n t o s u pp res s

, t h e d am ag in g ev i d en ce

wo u ld h av e b een s u p p res s ed

. 3 7

(i ) Rei d co m

p lai ns t h at h i s car had b een l eg al l y park ed o n p u b l i c p ro pert y an d

t h at o ffi cers i l leg al l y sei zed an d i m p o u n d ed t h e car w it ho u t a warran t

. H e arg u es t h at

,

3 6 Da vi s v. S t a te

, 29 9 Ga. 1 8 0

, 1 9 1 (2 ) (c) (7 8 7 SE2 d 2 2 1 ) (2 0 1 6) (ci t at i on s

o m it t ed ); s ee al s o Do mi ng u es v. S t at e

, 2 7 7 Ga. 3 7 3

, 3 7 4 (2 ) (5 89 SE2 d 10 2 ) (2 0 0 3 )

(h o l d i n g t h at a d efen d a n t c o u l d n o t s h o w p reju d i ce b as ed o n h i s t ri al co u n sel ’ s

al l eg ed fai l u re t o t h o ro u g h l y i n v es ti g at e t h e cas e an d cal l p o t en t i al wi t n es s es b ecau s e

h e m ad e n o p ro ffer as t o wh at ad d i ti o nal i n v es ti g at i o n wo ul d h av e un co v ered o r wh at

t h e wi t n es s es wo u l d h av e s ai d i f t hey h ad t es t i fi ed ).

3 7 Ma yes v. S t a t e

, 2 29 Ga. Ap p

. 37 2

, 37 3 (1 ) (4 9 4 SE2 d 3 4) (1 9 9 7 ) (ci t at i o n,

p u n ct u at i o n , an d em

p h as i s o m i t t ed ).

24as a res ul t

, co u n s el was i n effect i v e fo r fai l i n g t o m o v e t o s u p p res s ev i den ce o ffi cers

s u b s eq u en t l y

reco v ered fro m

t h e car p u rs uan t t o a s earch warran t

.

“ Im p o u n d m en t o f a v eh i cl e i s v al i d o n ly i f t h ere i s s om e n eces s it y fo r t h e

p o l i ce t o t ak e ch arg e o f t h e pro p ert y .[ 3 8 ] In each i n st an ce, t h e u l t im at e t es t fo r t h e

v al i d i t y o f t h e p o l i ce’ s co n d u ct i s wh et h er, u n der t h e ci rcu m s t an ces t h en co n fro n t i n g

t h e p o l i ce, t h ei r co n d u ct was reas o n ab l e wi th i n t he m ean i n g o f t h e Fo u rt h

Am en d m en t .” 3 9

In t h i s cas e, t h e arres t i n g o ffi cer t es t i fi ed t h at t h e car was reg i s t ered t o Rei d an d

was p ark ed o u t s i d e th e h o us e wh ere Rei d was l o cat ed an d arres t ed

. Acco rd in g t o t h e

o ffi cer, t h e d es cri p t i on o f th e v eh i cl e m at ch ed t h e car u s e d in t he k i dn ap p i n g an d

o t h er cri m es ag ai ns t t h e v i ct i m

, an d h e b el i ev ed th at t h e car, i t s e l f

, was ev i d en ce.

M o reo v er, i m

p o u nd i n g w as n eces s ary t o en s u re t h at n o o ne el s e g ai n ed acces s t o t h e

car an d rem o v ed o r d es t ro y ed ev i d en ce. U n d er t h es e ci rcu m s t an ces

, we co n cl u d e t h at

3 8 Bu t s ee S tr o bh er t v. S t a t e , 1 6 5 Ga. Ap p . 5 1 5 (3 0 1 SE2 d 6 81 ) (1 9 8 3 ) (“ It i s

wel l es t ab l i s h ed t hat a p o l i ce s ei zu re an d i n v en t o ry i s n o t d ep en d en t fo r i t s v al id i t y

u p o n t he a b s o lu t e neces s it y fo r t h e p o l i ce t o t ak e ch arg e o f pro p ert y t o p res e r v e i t

. Th ey are p erm i t t ed t o t ak e ch arg e o f p ro p ert y u nd er b r o a d e r ci rcu m s t an ces t h an

t h at .”) (ci t at i on an d p u nct u at io n o m it t ed ; em p has i s s u p p li ed ).

3 9 Ca n i n o v. St a t e

, 3 1 4 Ga. Ap p

. 6 3 3

, 6 4 0 (3 ) (7 2 5 SE2 d 7 8 2 ) (2 0 1 2 )

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

25t h e offi cer w as au th o ri zed to im p o u n d t h e car as an in s t ru m en t al it y of t h e cri m e. 4 0 It

fo l l o w s t h at

, becau se t h e car was l awfu l l y i m p o u n d ed

, t here w as n o b as i s to s u p p res s

t h e ev i d en ce reco v ered p u rs u an t t o a v al i d s earch warran t

. 4 1 Th u s

, co un s el can n o t b e

d eem ed i n effect iv e fo r fai l i n g t o fi l e a m eri t l es s o r fu t i l e m o t i o n t o s u p p res s

. 4 2

(i i) Rei d arg ues th at t ri al co u n s el s ho u l d h av e m o v ed t o s u pp res s ev i d en ce

s ei zed d u ri ng t he warran t l es s en t ry i n t o t h e ab an d on ed h o us e b ecau s e, i n o rd er t o g ai n

en t ry

, p o l i ce o ffi ce r s h ad t o fo rce t h e do o r o pen

. N o ev i d en ce was p res en t ed

,

h o wev er, t o s h o w t h at Rei d l i v ed i n t h e h o u s e o r h ad an o wn ers h i p in t eres t i n i t

. As

s u ch

, h e h ad n o ex p ect at i on o f p ri v acy i n t he h o us e an d l ack ed s tan d i n g t o ch al l en g e

t h e v al i d i t y of t h e s earch

. 4 3 Th us

, a m o t i o n t o s u pp res s ev i d en ce reco vered fro m t h e

4 0 See Co l l i n s v. St a t e

, 1 7 1 Ga. Ap p

. 9 0 6

, 9 0 7 -9 1 0 (2 ) (3 2 1 SE2 d 7 5 7 ) (1 9 8 4 )

(Offi cers were au th o ri zed t o s ei ze an au t om o b i l e wh en t h ere was p ro b ab le cau s e t o

b el i ev e i t was us ed in t he k i d n ap p i n g an d rap e o f t h e v i ct i m

, ev en t ho u g h t he car was

p ark ed i n t h e d ri v eway o f a h ou s e b el o n g i n g t o t h e defen d an t ’ s acco m pl i ce, wh i ch i s

wh ere t h e d efen d an t was arres t ed .).

4 1 Rei d d o es n o t ch al len g e t h e v al i di t y o f t h e s earch warran t o n ap p eal

.

4 2 See Bu rke v. S t a t e

, 3 1 6 Ga. Ap p. 3 8 6, 3 8 9 (1 ) (a) (7 2 9 SE2 d 5 3 1 ) (2 0 1 2 ).

4 3 See Br o wn v. S t a t e , 2 40 Ga. Ap p . 3 2 1

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

26h o u s e wo u l d h av e b een m eri t l es s

, a n d t h e fai l u re t o fi l e s u ch a m o t i o n d o es n ot

co n st i t u t e i n effect i v e as s i s t an ce o f co u n s el

. 4 4

(c) Rei d co n t en d s t h at h i s arr e s t was i l l eg al b ecau se (i ) t h e m ag i st rat e wh o

i s su ed t he warran t was n o t gi v en s u ffi ci en t in fo rm at i on t o d et erm i n e i f p ro bab l e cau s e

ex i s t ed

, an d (i i ) t h e offi cers d i d n o t h av e a s earch warran t fo r th e h ou s e wh ere h e was

arres t ed

, wh ich h e cl ai m s b el o n g ed t o a t h ird p art y

. H e arg u es

, t h erefo re, t h at co u n s el

was i n effect i v e fo r n ot m o v i n g t o ex cl u d e h i s cu s to d i al s t at em en t o n t h e b as i s t h at i t

was o bt ai n ed fo ll o wi n g an i l leg al arres t

.

(i ) Reg ard i ng wh et h er t h e arres t warran t was s u ffi ci en t l y s u p p o r t ed b y a

s h o wi n g o f p ro b ab l e cau se, t h e reco rd s h o w s t h at each o f t h e t en warran t s i s s u e d

co m p l ied wi t h OCGA § 1 7 -4 -4 1 (a), wh i ch p ro v i d es as fo ll o ws :

An affi d av i t m ad e o r warran t is s u ed fo r t h e arres t o f a p ers o n wh o i s

accu s ed o f v io l at i n g th e pen al l aws o f t h is s t at e s h al l in cl u de, as n earl y

as p ract i cab l e, t he fo ll o wi n g fact s : (1 ) T h e o ffen s e, i n cl u di n g t h e t i m e,

d at e, p lace o f o ccu rren ce, ag ai n s t wh o m t h e offen s e was co m m i t t ed

, an d

a s t at em e n t d es cri b i ng t h e o ffen s e; an d (2 ) Th e co u nt y i n w h i ch th e

o ffen s e was co m

m i tt ed

.

4 4 See Bu rke

, 3 1 6 Ga. Ap p . at 3 89 (1 ) (a).

27Fu rt h er, t h e d et ect i v e wh o h ad i n t erv i ewed t h e v i ct im wi t h i n ho u rs o f t h e cri m es

s i gn ed th e affi d av i t s un d er o at h t h a t

, t o t h e b e s t o f h er k n o wl ed g e an d b el i ef, Rei d

h ad co m m i t t ed t h e cri m es al l eg ed

. 4 5

“ A m ag i s t rat e’ s d eci s i o n t o i s s u e a w arran t b as ed o n a fi n d in g o f p r o b ab l e

cau s e is en t i tl ed t o s ub s t an t i al d eferen ce b y a rev i ewi n g co u rt .” 4 6 W e co n cl u d e t h at

Rei d h as fai l ed t o dem o n s t rat e t h at t h e arres t warran t s were no t s up p o rt ed b y p ro b ab l e

cau s e. It fo l l o ws t h at co u ns el can n o t b e d eem ed in effect i v e fo r f a i l i n g t o ch al l en g e

t h e v al i d i t y

o f t h e arres t warran t s , as s u ch a ch al l en ge wo u l d h av e b een fu t i l e. 4 7

(i i) Al t h o u g h Rei d cl ai m s t h at t h e ho u s e wh ere h e was arres t ed bel o n g ed t o a

t h i rd p art y

, t h ere i s n o ev i d en ce i n th e reco rd t o s u p p o rt t h i s

. On t he co n t rary

, t h e

ev i d en ce s h o wed t h at Rei d was arres t ed at th e ad d res s t h at was l is t ed o n h i s car

reg i s trat i o n

. Fu rt h er, i f Rei d had n o o wn ers h i p o r p os s es so ry i n t eres t i n t h e h o u s e, as

4 5 See OCGA § § 1 7 -4 -4 0 (a) (“ An y ju d g e o f a su p eri o r, ci t y

, s t at e, o r m ag i s t rat e

co u rt

. . . m ay i s s u e a w arran t fo r t h e arres t o f an y o ffen d er ag ai n s t th e p en al l aws

, b as ed o n p ro b ab l e cau s e ei th er o n t h e ju dg e’ s o r o ffi cer’ s o wn k n o wl ed g e o r o n t h e

i n fo rm at i o n o f o t h ers gi v en t o t h e ju d g e o r o ffi cer u nd er o at h .”); 1 7 -4 -4 5 (fo rm o f

affi d av i t fo r arres t warran t ).

4 6 W a t er s v. S t a t e

, 2 8 1 Ga. 1 1 9

, 1 2 0 (3 ) (6 3 6 SE2 d 5 3 8 ) (2 0 0 6 ) ( c i t a t i o n

o m it t ed ).

4 7 See Bu rke

, 3 1 6 Ga. Ap p . at 3 89 (1 ) (a).

28h e cl ai m s

, t h en h e l ack ed s t an d i n g t o o b ject t o t h e o ffi cers ’ warran t l es s en t ry t o t h e

h o u s e. 4 8 Th u s , t h i s arg um en t l ack s m eri t

.

(d ) Rei d cl ai m s t ri al co u n s el was in effect i v e fo r n o t o bject i n g t o in ad m i s s i b l e

ev i d en ce el i ci t ed b y

t h e p ro s ecu t o r’ s i m

p ro per q u es t i on i n g o f wi t n es s es

.

(i ) Rei d cl ai m s t h at c o u n s e l was d efi ci en t fo r fai li n g t o o b ject t o ev i d en ce o f

h i s “ fu t u re dan g ero us n es s ,” 4 9 s p eci fi cal l y

, t he v i ct i m ’ s s tat em en t t h at s h e rep o rt ed t h e

cri m es t o t he p ol i ce b ecau s e sh e “ fel t l i ke i f h e d i d i t t o [h er]

, h e’ l l d o i t t o s om eb o dy

el s e.” Pret erm i t ti n g wh et h er co u n s el was d efi ci en t fo r n o t o bject i n g t o t h i s s i n g l e,

i s ol at ed

, an d b ri ef res p o n s e b y t h e vi ct i m

, Rei d h as fai led t o d em o n st rat e t h at h e was

p reju d i ced t h ereb y

. G i v en th e o v erwh el m i n g ev id en ce o f h i s g u il t

, h e h as fai l ed to

s h o w t h at t h ere i s a reas o nab l e p ro b ab i l it y t h at t h e o u t co m e o f t h e t ri al wo u l d h av e

b een di fferen t i f t hat s t at em en t h ad b een ex cl ud ed

. 5 0

4 8 See Br o wn

, 2 4 0 Ga. Ap p

. at 3 2 2 -3 2 3 (1 ) (“ [R] i g h t s s uch as t h o s e co n ferred

b y t h e Fo u rt h Am en d m en t are pers o n al i n n at u re, an d can n o t b es t o w v i cari ou s

p ro t ect i o n on t h o s e wh o d o n ot h av e a reas o n ab l e ex p ect at i o n o f p ri v acy i n t h e p l ace

t o b e s earch ed .”) (ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i on o m i t ted ).

4 9 See Di v i s i o n 1 (a), s u p ra.

5 0 See McCl a i n v. S t a te

, 2 6 7 Ga. 3 7 8

, 3 8 3 (3 ) (a) (4 7 7 SE2 d 81 4 ) (1 9 9 6 ) (wh i l e

rei t erat i ng t h at t h e is s u e o f th e d efen d an t ’ s fu t u re d an g ero u sn es s m ay be rel ev an t to

s en t en ci n g b u t n o t t o t h e q u es t i o n o f h is gu i l t

, t h e Co u rt co n cl ud e d t h a t

, g i v en t h e

o v erwh el m i ng ev i d e n c e o f t h e d efen d an t ’ s g u il t

, it w as h i g h l y u n l i k el y t h at t h e

29(i i) Rei d arg u es t hat co u n s el was i n effect i ve fo r fai li n g t o o b j ect t o t h e

ad m i s s i o n o f a “ v ict i m i m p act ” s t at em en t an d fo r fai l i n g t o req ues t a ju ry i ns t ru ct i o n

o n t h e co ns i d erat i o n o f s uch s t at em en t

. 5 1 Rei d c o n t en d s

, i n ter al i a, t h at s u ch t es t i m o ny

i s i nad m i s s i b l e d uri n g t h e g u i l t / i n n o cen ce s t ag e o f t ri al

.

Th e t es t i m o n y at i s s ue i s as fo l lo ws : W h en t h e p ro s ecu to r as k ed th e vi ct i m h o w

h er l i fe had ch an g ed i n t h e y ear s i n ce s h e was as sau l t ed

, t h e v i ct im res p o n d ed t h at s h e

“ [d ] ro p p ed o u t of s ch o o l

. St o p p ed g o i n g to s ch o ol

. Lo si ng wei g ht

. I’ m n o t s l eep i n g.

I h av e n i g h t m ares an d s t u ff. J u s t

, b as i cal l y, i t ju s t

– p eo p l e [are] al way s as k i n g m e

i m p ro p er p o rt i o n o f t h e p ro s ecu t o r’ s cl os i n g arg u m en t co n t ri b u ted t o t h e ju ry ’ s

v erd i ct ); cf. Co l l i er v. St a t e

, 26 6 Ga. Ap p. 3 45

, 3 51 -3 55 (2 ) (5 9 6 SE2 d 7 9 5 ) (2 0 0 4 )

(h o l d i n g t h at t ri al co u ns el ’ s fai l u re t o o b ject t o t h e p ro s ecu t o r’ s rep eat ed

, p erv as i ve,

an d cl ear l y i m

p ro p er referen ces d u ri n g cl o s i n g arg u m en t s t o s im il ar t ran s act i on s

co m m i t t ed b y t he defen d an t co n s t i t ut ed d efi ci en t p erfo rm an ce an d am o u n t ed to

p reju d i ce t h at req u i red a n ew t ri al ); W i l l i a m s v. S ta t e

, 26 1 Ga. A p p

. 5 1 1

, 5 1 7 -5 1 8 (3 )

(5 8 3 SE2 d 1 7 2 ) (2 0 0 3) (Th i s Co u rt h el d th at tri al co u ns el p ro v id ed i n e f f e ct i v e

as s i s tan ce b y fai li n g t o o b ject t o t h e p ro s ecu t o r’ s cl os i n g arg um en t

, d u ri n g wh i ch s h e

referen ced t h e Co l u m

b i n e Hi g h Sch o o l t rag ed y an d i m p ro perl y fo cu s ed o n t h e

d efen d an t ’ s fu t u re d an g ero u s n es s

, s u g g es t i n g t h at

, if th e ju ry acq u i t t ed t he d efen d an t

, h e m i g h t co m

m i t m as s m

u rd er. Th e Co u rt ch aract eri zed t h e arg u m en t as i n cen d i ary

, i n fl am m at o ry

, an d d is t ract in g

, n o t ed t h at t h e i m p r o p e r co m

m en t s were “ n ei t h er

i s ol at ed n o r offh an d ,” an d fo u n d t h at preju d i ce was m o re l i kel y b ecau s e t h e ev i d en ce

ag ai n s t t h e d efen d an t “ was h ard l y o v erwh el m i ng .”).

5 1 See Di v i s i o n s 1 (b ), 2 , an d 5 (b ), s u p ra.

30h o w I [g ot ] t h at scar o n m y face. Li k e wh en i t ’ s h ot o u t s id e, as k [i n g ] m e h o w I [g ot

t h e] s cars o n m

y b o dy an d s t u ff.”

I t i s u n n eces s ary fo r t h i s Co u rt t o deci d e wh et h er t h e ad m i s s i o n o f t h i s

s t at em en t was

, i n fact

, i m

p ro p er o r w h et h er co u n s el was d efi ci en t fo r fai l in g t o o b ject

t o i t or req u es t a j u ry i n s t ru ct i o n. W e co n cl u de t h at

, g i v en t h e o v erwh el m i n g ev i d en ce

o f Rei d ’ s g u i l t

, t here i s n o reas on ab l e p ro b ab i l it y t h at t h e o u t co m e o f t he tri al wo u ld

h av e b een d i fferen t b u t fo r t h e ad m i s si o n o f t h i s s tat e m en t

. “ Si nce an ap p el l an t

cl ai m i ng i n effect i v e as si s t an ce o f co u n s el m us t 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 tem m i n g fro m t h at d efi ci en cy

, an i ns u ffi ci en t s h o wi n g on ei t h er o f

t h 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 h e n eed t o ad d res s t h e o t h er p ro n g .” 5 2

Th u s, Rei d can n o t p rev ai l o n t h i s i n effect i v e as s is t an ce cl ai m

.

(e) Rei d cl ai m s t hat h i s co u n sel was i n effect i v e fo r n o t o b j ect i n g wh en t h e t ri al

co u rt fai led t o g i v e s o m e o f t h e wi t n es s es t h e o at h i n t h e ju ry ’ s p res en ce. Ho wev er,

as n o t e d ab o ve, Rei d h as fai led t o s h o w t h at an y wi t n es s es t es t i fi ed wi t h o u t b ei n g

“ d u l y s w o rn ,” no r h as h e ci t ed t o an y au t h ori t y t h at req u i res th e co u rt t o g i v e

wi t n es s es t h e o at h i n t h e ju ry ’ s p res en ce o r t h at req u i res t h e co u rt t o i nfo rm t h e ju ry

5 2 W i l li a ms v. S t a t e

, 2 7 7 Ga. 8 5 3

, 8 5 8 (6 ) (a) (5 9 6 SE2 d 5 9 7 ) (2 00 4 ) (ci t at i o n

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

31t h at t h e wi t n es s h as been s w o rn

. 5 3 Th us

, h e has n o t carri ed h i s b u rd en o f s h o wi n g t h at

co u ns el ’ s fai l u re t o o b

ject i n t h i s cas e co n s t i t u t ed d efi ci en t p erfo rm an ce. 5 4

M o reo v er, Rei d fai l ed t o as s ert t h i s in effect i v e as s i st an ce cl ai m in h i s o ri g i n al

m o ti o n fo r n ew t ri al o r h is t wo am en d ed m o ti on s fo r n ew t ri al

. A d efen d an t m u s t rai s e

al l al l eg at i o n s o f i n effect i v e as s i st an c e o f t r i al co u ns el as s o o n as p ract i cab l e an d,

wh en ap p el l at e co u ns el rai ses th e i s s u e of i n effect i ve as si st an ce in a m o t i o n fo r n ew

t ri al

, an y i n effect iv e as s i st an ce cl ai m s n o t rai s ed at t h a t t i m e are wai v ed

. 5 5

Co n s eq u en t l y , t h i s cl ai m

h as b een wai v ed

.

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

.

5 3 See fo o t n o t es 3 0 an d 3 1 , s u p ra.

5 4 See Ro bi ns o n , 2 7 7 Ga. at 7 5 -7 6 (d efen d an t as s ert i n g i neffect i v e as s i s t an ce

m u st d em o n s t rat e b o th d efi ci en t p erfo rm an ce an d res u l t i n g p reju d i ce).

5 5 See McGl o ckl i n v. S t at e

, 2 9 2 G a. A p p

. 1 62

, 1 6 3 (6 6 4 SE2 d 5 5 2 ) (2 0 0 8 ); s ee

al s o S p a r ks v. S t a t e

, 2 77 Ga. 7 2 , 7 5 (4 ) (5 8 6 SE2 d 6 4 5 ) (2 0 0 3 ).

32