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

De c id e d : Ju ly 5 , 2 0 1 6

S 1 6 A0 3 9 3 . S MART v . THE S T ATE.

HUNS T EIN, Ju stic e

.

Ap p e lla n t N o r m a

n S m a rt wa s c o nv ic te d of m a lic e m u rd e r a n d re la te d

o ffe n se s in c o n n e c tio n w ith th e b e a tin g d e a th o f h is wife

, La ure n Sm a rt, a n d wa s

se n te nc e d to life im

p riso n m e n t with o ut th e po ssib ility of p ar o l e

. On a p p e a l,

Ap p e lla n t c on te n d s, in te r a lia

, th a t th e re wa s in su ffic ie n t e v id e n c e to su sta in h is

c o n v ic tio n s a nd th a t th e tria l c o u rt e rro n e o u sly a d m itte d b o th c h a ra c te r e v id e n c e

a n d h e a rsa y te stim o n y . F o r th e re a so n s th a t fo llo w, we a ffirm

. 1

1 In No v em

ber 2 0 1 4

, a C h a t h a m Co u n t y g ran d ju ry ret u rn ed an i n d i ct m en t

ch arg i n g A p p e l l an t wi t h on e co u n t o f m al i ce m u rd er, o n e co u n t o f fel o n y m u rd er

p red i cat ed o n ag g rav at ed as sau l t, t wo co u n t s o f fel o n y m u rd er p red i cat ed o n

ag g rav at ed b at t ery

, t wo co u n ts of ag g rav at ed b at t ery - fam i l y v i o len ce, an d o n e co u nt

o f ag g rav at ed as s au l t

- fam i l y vi o l en ce; Ap pel l an t was al s o ch arg ed wi t h cru el t y t o

ch i l d ren i n t h e fi rs t d eg re e f o r c a u s i n g Lau ren ’ s d eat h i n t h e p res en ce o f h er ch i l d.

Fo l l o wi ng a t ri al i n D ecem b er 2 0 14

, a j u ry fo un d Ap p el lan t g u il ty o f al l co u n t s

. Aft er p ro p erl y m erg i ng an d v acat i n g o ffen s es

, t h e t ri al co u rt s en t en ced Ap p el l an t to

l i fe w i t ho u t p aro l e fo r m al i ce m u rd er an d 20 -y ears co n s ecu ti v e fo r cru el t y t o ch i l d ren

i n t h e fi rs t d eg ree. In Decem ber 2 0 1 4

, Ap p el lan t m o v ed fo r a new tri al

, an d h e l at er

am en d ed t h e m o t i o n t h ro u g h n ew co u n s el in A p ri l 2 0 1 5

. Ap p el l an t w ai v ed a h eari n g

o n t h e m o t io n

– as k i n g th at t h e is s u es b e deci d ed o n b ri efs

– an d t h e tri al co u rt d en i ed

t h e am en d ed m o t i on o n t h e p lead i n g s i n J u n e 20 1 5

. Th i s ap peal was do ck et ed t o t h e

J an u ary 2 0 1 6 t erm

o f t h is Co u rt , an d o ral arg u m en t was h eard o n M arch 7 , 2 0 1 6

.Vie we d in a lig h t m o st fa v o ra b le to th e ju ry ’s v e rd ic t, th e e v id e n c e a t tria l

e sta b lish e d a s fo llo ws. On th e e v e n in g o f Ju n e 6

, 20 1 4

, a d e liv e ry m an m a k in g

a d e liv e ry a t th e m a rita l re sid e n c e o b se rv e d Ap p e lla n t a n d La u re n arg uin g a n d

o v e rh e a rd A p p e lla n t sta te “th is B’s g o in g to m a k e m e F h e r u p .” Th e n e x t

m o rn in g

, Ap p e lla nt c a l l e d 9 1 1 re g a rd in g h is wife ; o ffic e rs re sp o n d e d to th e

m a rita l h o m e a n d disc o v e re d La u re n o n th e flo o r n e x t to th e c o u p le ’s b e d

,

o b v io u sly d e c e a se d

. Th e m a rita l re sid e n c e sh o we d n o s i g n o f fo rc e d e n try

.

Ap p e lla n t, a we ig h tlifte r a n d fo rm e r p ro fe ssio n a l fig h te r, re p o rte d to p o lic e th a t

h e h a d a rriv e d h o m e ea r l i e r th a t m o rn in g

, a t a p p ro xim a te ly 1 :3 0 a .m

., a n d

d isc o v e re d th a t h is w ife wa s in to x ic a te d

. Ac c o rd in g to Ap p e lla nt, h is wife h a d

la in d o wn o n th e flo or a nd “ p a sse d o u t” fro m h e r a l c o h o l c o n su m p tio n ;

Ap p e lla n t to ld a

u th o ritie s t h at h e c o v e re d h is wife w ith a b la nk e t a nd we n t to

b e d b ut th a t, wh e n h e a wo k e

, h e fo u n d h e r un re sp o n siv e

. In a su b se q u e n t le tte r

writte n fro m ja il, h o we v e r, Ap p e lla n t re p o rte d th a t h e an d La u re n “ we n t to sle e p

to g e th e r” a n d th a t La

u re n h a d “ p a sse d a wa y in h e r sle e p.”

A su b se q u e n t a

uto p sy re v e a le d th a t La

u re n d ie d fro m m

u ltip le b lu n t-fo rc e

tra u m a s a n d stra n g u la t i o n

. La u re n su ffe re d d o z e n s o f in te rn a l a n d e x te rn a l

in ju rie s, so m e c a

u se d with th e fo rc e e x p e c te d fro m a c a r c ra sh or lo ng fa ll. Th e

2m e d ic a l e xa m in e r te stifie d th a t, “ v isu a lly ,” th e re wa s a “ v e ry h ig h d e g re e o f

sim ila rity ” b e twe e n in

ju rie s o n La

u re n ’s bo d y a nd th e so le o f a sh o e b e lo n g in g

to Ap p e lla n t. Th ou g h Ap p e lla n t h a d r ep o r t e d in th e 9 1 1 c a ll th a t h e wa s

p e rfo rm in g CP R o n h is wife

– a n d a re c o rd in g o f th a t c a ll c a p tu re d a rh y th m ic

“ sq u e a k in g ” s o u n d

– th e m e d ic a l e x a m in e r fo u n d n o e v id e n c e th a t CP R wa s

p e rfo rm e d o n La

u re n. Lik e wise

, th e rh y th m ic sq u e a k in g so u n d s c a p tu re d o n th e

9 1 1 c a ll lik e ly c a m e fro m th e c o u p le ’s m a ttre ss, bu t th e re wa s n o in d ic a tio n th a t

La u re n’s b o d y w a s o n th e m a ttre ss im m e d ia te ly b e fo re o r a fte r h e r d e a th

.

Bria n P a tte rso n

, wh o wo rk e d fo r Ap p e lla n t, te stif i ed th a t he re p a ire d a

d o o r an d d o o r fra m e in th e m a rita l re sid e n c e th a t h a d b e e n “ se v e re ly d a m a g e d ”

a n d th a t, on th e n ig h t h e p e rfo rm e d th e re pa irs, L a u re n wo r e s u n g la sse s th e

e n tire tim e

. Wa tso n Le e

, wh o w a s w ith P a tte rso n th a t n ig h t, te stifie d th a t h e

sa w La u re n re m ov e h e r su n g la sse s a n d th a t sh e h a d two b la c k e y e s. Th e ju ry

a lso he a rd te x t m e ssa g e s se n t b y Ap p e lla n t in wh ic h h e sta te d th a t h e wa s “ re a lly

g o in g to ra ttle [Lu a re n’s] bra in ” a n d th a t h e wa s g oin g to “ sm a sh h e r.” F in a lly

,

th e ju ry h e a rd te stim o n y th a t, La u re n ’s so n, Bray d e n

, h e a rd Ap p e lla n t b e a tin g

h is m o th e r a n d h e a rd h e r sc re a m in g du rin g th e fa ta l a ssa u lt.

1

. Th e e v id e n c e a s su m m a riz e d a b ov e wa s su ffic ie n t to e n a ble a ra tio n a l

3trie r o f fa c t to c on c lu d e b e y o n d a re a so na b le do u b t th a t A p p e lla n t wa s g u ilty o f

th e c rim e s o f wh ic h h e wa s c o n v ic te d

. Ja c k so n v . Virg in ia , 4 4 3 U. S . 3 0 7 (9 9

S Ct 2 7 81

, 6 1 L E2 d 56 0 ) (1 9 7 9 ). Th o u g h Ap p e lla n t c o n te n ds th a t th e e v id e n c e

wa s in su ffic ie nt b e c a

u se th e S ta te fa ile d to p re se n t su b sta n tia l c re d ib le a n d

d ire c t e v id e n c e to su sta in th e c o n v ic tio n fo r m u rd e r

, i t i s a x io m a tic th a t

re so lv in g e v id e n tia ry c o n flic ts a n d a sse ssin g witn e ss c re d ib ility a re with in th e

e x c lu si v e p r o v i n c e o f th e ju ry

. S e e Ha m p to n v

. S ta te

, 2 72 G a

. 2 8 4 (1 ) (5 2 7

S E2 d 8 72 ) (2 0 0 0 ).

2

. Th e tria l c o u rt p e r mi t t e d th e S ta te to p re se n t th e te stim o n y o f Ka tie

Tu c k e r, th e siste r o f A p p e lla n t’s e x -wife

, Sa ra h

, re g a rd in g p rio r a c ts o f d o m e stic

v i o l e n c e c o m m itte d b y Ap p e lla n t. Tu c ke r te stifie d th a t Ap p e lla n t wo u l d

th re a te n S a ra h da ily

, wo u ld h it S a ra h in su c h a wa y so a s to le a v e n o v isib le

in ju ry

, a n d th a t Ap p e lla n t’s “ m o tto ” wa s th a t “ h is lo v e is p a in .” Ac c o rd in g to

Tu c k e r, Ap pe lla nt wo u ld a sk S a ra h “ ho w m a n y ”

– re fe re n c in g pu nc h e s

– a n d

if S a ra h sa id “ o n e

, ” Ap p e lla nt wo u ld p u n c h h e r twic e

. Tu c k e r e x p la in e d th a t

S a ra h d id no t lik e h a v in g h e r k n e e c a p s to u c h e d b u t th a t Ap pe lla n t wo u ld o fte n

p u n c h h e r th e re

. Tu c k e r a lso d e sc rib e d a n in c id e n t in wh ic h S a ra h, th e n e ig htm o n th s p re gn a nt, su sp e c te d th a t Ap p e lla nt wa s with a n oth e r wo m a n in th e

4m a rita l re sid e n c e

. A p p e lla n t p re v e n te d S ara h fro m e n te rin g th e re sid e n c e a n d

,

wh e n Sa ra h a tte m

p te d to c lim

b th ro u g h a b ro k e n w in do w

, Ap p e lla n t sh o v e d h e r

o u t o f th e win d ow to th e g ro un d

. Tu c k e r e x p la in e d th a t, wh e n th e in ju re d a n d

b lo o d y Sa ra h m a n a ge d to e nte r th e ho u se

, sh e wa s fo rc e fu lly dra g g e d o u t o f th e

h o u se b y Ap p e l l a n t. Ap p e lla n t n o w a rg u e s th a t th e tria l c o u rt a b u se d its

d isc re tio n in a d m ittin g th is te stim o n y

. 2 We d isa g re e

.

Be c a u se Ap p e lla n t wa s trie d a fte r Ja n u ary 1, 2 0 1 3

, we u tiliz e Ge o rg ia ’s

n e w Ev id e n c e Co d e to e v a lu a te th is c la im . Un de r th e n e w c o d e

,

[e ] v id e n c e o f oth e r c rim e s, wro n gs, o r a c ts sh a ll n o t b e a d m issib le

to p ro v e th e c h a ra c te r o f a p er s o n i n o rd e r to sh ow a c tio n in

c o n fo rm ity th e re with

. It m a y

, ho w e v e r, be a d m iss i b l e f o r o th e r

p u rp o se s, in c lu d in g

, b u t no t lim ite d to

, p ro o f o f m o tiv e

,

o p p o rtu n ity

, in te n t, p r e p a ra tio n

, p la n

, k n o wle d g e

, id e n tity

, o r

a b se n c e o f m ista k e o r a c c id e n t.

OCGA § 2 4 -4 -4 04 (b ) (“ Ru le 4 0 4 (b )” ). Ev id e n c e o ffe re d fo r a p ro p e r p u rp ose

u n d e r th is ru le m a y b e e x c lu d e d u n d e r OCGA § 2 4 -4 -4 0 3 (“ R u le 4 0 3 ” ) “ if its

2 Th e St at e co n ten d s t hat

, b ecau s e Ap p el l an t d i d n o t o b j e c t t o t h is t es t i m o ny

at tri al

, t h i s arg u m en t i s wai v ed

. Th e reco rd i s cl ear, h o wev er, t h at A p p el l an t m ad e

a pre-t ri al o b

ject i o n t o th e t es t i m o n y an d t h at

, i m m ed i at el y b efo re t ri al

, t h e t ri al co u rt

en t e r e d an o rd er ad m i t ti n g Tu ck er’ s t es t i m o n y ; acco rd i ng l y

, Ap p el l an t was n ot

req u i red t o l o d g e a s u b seq uen t ob ject i o n

. See OCGA § 2 4 -1 -1 0 3 (a) (“ On ce t h e co u rt

m ak es a d efi n i t i v e ru l i n g o n t h e reco rd ad m it t in g o r ex cl u d i n g an y ev i d en ce, ei t h er

at o r b efo re t ri al

, a p art y n eed n o t ren ew an o bject i o n o r o ffer o f p ro o f to p res erv e

s u ch cl ai m

o f erro r fo r ap peal

. ”).

5p ro b a tiv e v a lu e is su b sta n tia lly o u twe ig h e d b y th e d a n g e r of u n fa ir p r e ju d ic e

,

c o nfu sio n o f th e issu e s, o r m isle a d in g th e ju ry o r b y c o nsid e ra tio n s o f u n d u e

d e la y

, wa ste o f tim e

, o r ne e d le ss p re se n ta tio n o f c um u la tiv e e v id e n c e .” Th e se

ru le s tra c k th e ir fe de ra l c o u n te rp a rts, a n d th is Co u rt h a s a d o p te d th e th re e -p a rt

te st u se d b y th e Ele ve n th C irc u it Co u rt o f Ap p e a ls to e va lu a te th e a d m issib ility

o f o th e r a c ts e v id e n c e

. Bra dsh a w v

. S ta te

, 2 9 6 Ga

. 6 5 0 ( 3 ) ( 7 69 S E 2 d 8 9 2 )

(2 0 1 5 ) (a d o ptin g th e th re e -p a rt te st). Th e th re e -p a rt te st to u tiliz e d b y th e

Ele v e n th Circ u it to d e te rm in e th e a d m issib ility of e v id e n c e u n d e r Ru le 4 0 4 (b )

is a s fo llo ws:

(1 ) th e e v id e n c e m

u st b e re le v a n t to a n issu e o th e r th a n d e fe nd a n t’s

c h a ra c te r; (2 ) th e p ro b a tiv e v a l u e mu st n o t b e su b sta n tia lly

o u twe ig h e d b y its u n d u e p re ju d ic e ; (3 ) th e g o ve rn m e n t m u st o ffe r

su ffic ie nt p ro o f so th a t th e ju ry c o u ld fin d th a t d e fe n d a n t c o m m itte d

th e a c t.

Un ite d S ta te s v

. Elliso r, 5 2 2 F 3 d 1 2 55

, 1 2 6 7 (1 1 th Cir.2 00 8). S e e a lso S ta te v

.

Jo n e s, 29 7 Ga

. 1 5 6 (1 ) (7 73 S E2 d 1 7 0) (2 0 1 5 ). He re

, th e tria l c ou rt ru le d th a t

th e te stim o n y

wa s a d m issib le fo r th e p u rp o se s o f sh o w in g d e fe nd an t’s m o tiv e

to c o ntro l fa m ily m e m

b e rs wi t h v io le n c e an d h is in te n t to ha rm h is in tim a te

p a rtn e rs, a s we ll a s to sh o w th e a b se n c e o f m ista k e o r a c c id e n t. We re v ie w th is

d e c isio n fo r c le a r a

b u se o f d isc re tio n . Bra d sh a w, 2 9 6 Ga . a t 6 5 6

.

6(a ) Ru le 4 0 4 (b ) pro h ib its o th e r a c ts e v id e n c e fro m be in g a d m itte d fo r th e

so le p u rp o se o f p r o v i n g th e c h a ra c te r of a p e rso n in o rd e r to sh o w a c tio n in

c o n fo rm ity th e re with , se e Jo n e s, 2 9 7 Ga

. a t 1 5 9 ; h o we v e r, o th e r a c ts e v id e n c e

m a y b e a d m itte d u n d e r Ru le 4 0 4 (b ) if th a t e v i d e nc e is re le v a nt to so m e issu e

o th e r th a n c h a ra c te r. S e e Old s v

. S t a t e

,

_ _ _ G a

.

_ _ _ ,

__ _ (2 ) (_

_ _ S E2 d

_ _ _ )

(2 0 1 6 ). To e v a lu a te re le v a nc y

, th is Co urt re lie s o n O CGA § 2 4 -4 -4 01

, wh ic h

d e fin e s “ re le v a n t e v id e n c e ” a s “ e v id e n c e h a v in g a n y te n d e n c y to m a k e th e

e x iste nc e o f a n y fa c t th a t is of c o n se qu e n c e to th e d e te rmi n a t i o n o f th e a c tio n

m o re p ro b a

b le o r le ss p ro b a

b le th a n it wo u ld b e w ith o ut th e e v id e nc e .” S e e a lso

Jo n e s, 2 9 7 Ga

. a t 1 5 9

. Th e tria l c o u rt c on c lu d e d th a t th e e v id e n c e wa s re le v a n t

to sh o w, in te r a lia

, m o tiv e

. “ Mo tiv e h a s be e n d e fin e d a s ‘th e re a so n th a t n u d ge s

th e will a n d p ro d s th e m in d to in d u lg e th e c rim in a l in te n t.’” (Cita tio n o m itte d .)

Un ite d S ta te s v

. Be n to n, 6 3 7 F 2 d 1 0 5 2 , 1 0 5 6 (2 ) (5 th Cir. 1 98 1).

Wh ile m o tiv e is n o t a

n e le m e n t o f a n y o f th e c h a r g e d o f f e n se s h e re

,

Tu c k e r’s te stim o n y wa s re le v a n t t o h e lp th e ju ry u nd e rsta n d wh y Ap p e lla n t

m ig h t h a v e u se d v io le n c e a g a in st La u re n

. Th ou gh Tu c k e r’s te stim o n y

re fe re nc e d sp e c i f

i c a c t s o f d o m e stic v io le n c e

, h e r te stim o n y a lso re v e a le d th e

im p e tu s b e h in d th a t vio le n c e : c o n tro l. S a ra h wo u ld a sk fo r o n e p u n c h

, b u t

7wo u ld g e t two ; Ap p e lla n t wo u ld h it S ara h wh e re sh e wa s m o st se nsitiv e a n d in

a wa y th a t wo u ld n o t re v e a l th a t v io le n c e ; an d Ap p e lla n t fo rc ib ly re m o v e d S ara h

fro m th e m a rita l re sid e n c e wh e n h e d id n o t wa n t h e r th e re

. Ac c o rd in gly

,

Tu c k e r’s te stim o n y wa s re le v a n t to th e S ta te a d dre ssin g m o tiv e

, n a m e ly

, t h a t

Ap p e lla n t u se d v io le n c e to c o n tro l La u re n

. 3 Cf. Un ite d S ta te s v

. Ba n k s, 5 1 4 F 3 d

9 5 9

, 9 7 6 (9 th C ir. 2 0 0 8 ) (h o ld in g th a t e v id e n c e o f th e d e fe n d a nt’s p rio r sta b b in g

o f so m e o n e w h o in su lte d h is ga n g sta tu s wa s a d m issib le to p ro v e m o tiv e u n d e r

Ru le 4 0 4 (b ) in h is tria l fo r a tte m pte d m u rd e r o f so m e o n e e lse wh o a lso in su lte d

h is g a n g sta tu s).

(b ) Th e m e re fa c t th a t th e e v id e n c e wa s re le v a nt to a n issu e o t h e r th a n

Ap p e lla n t’s c h a ra c te r d o e s n o t e n d o u r a n a ly sis. W e n o w m u st a dd re ss wh e th e r

“ th e p ro ba tiv e v a lu e o f th e o th e r a c ts e v id e n c e is [] su b sta n tia lly ou twe ig h e d b y

its u n fa ir p re

ju d ic e

, i.e

., th e e v id e n c e m u st sa tisfy th e re q uire m e n ts o f Ru le

4 0 3

. ” Jo n e s, 2 9 7 Ga . a t 1 5 9. “ Th e a p p lic a tio n o f th e Ru le 4 0 3 te st is a m a tte r

c o m m itte d p rin c ip a lly to th e d isc r e t i o n o f th e tria l c ou rts, b u t a s we h a v e

3 Becau s e we co ncl u d e th at Tu ck er’ s t es ti m o ny w a s a dm issib l e t o s h o w m o t i ve,

we n eed n o t ad d res s wh et h er th at t es ti m o ny w as ad m i s s i b l e t o s h o w i n ten t o r ab s en ce

o f m is t ak e o r acci d en t

.

8e x p la in e d be fo re

, th e e xc lu sio n o f e v id e n c e u n d e r R u le 4 0 3 ‘is a n e x tra o rd in a ry

re m e d y w h ic h sh o u ld b e u se d o n ly sp a rin g ly .’” (Cita tio n s o m itte d .) Old s,

_ _ _

Ga

. a t

__ _ . “ Th e ‘m a

jo r fu n c tio n ’ o f Ru le 4 03 is to ‘“ e x c lu d [e ] m a tte r o f sc a n t

o r c u m ula tiv e p ro b a tiv e fo rc e

, d ra g g e d in by th e h e e ls f o r th e sa ke o f its

p re ju d ic ia l e ffe c t.” ’” Ho o d v . S ta te

, _

_ _ Ga

. _

_ _ (4 ) (_

_ _ S E2 d

_

_ ) (2 0 1 6 ).

W h ile th e e v id e n c e a ga in st A p p e lla n t wa s pre ju d ic ia l

– a s a lm o st a ll

e v i d e n ce p re se n te d b y th e S ta te will b e

– o n b a la n c e

, we a g re e with th e tria l

c o u rt th a t th e pro b a tiv e n a tu re o f Tu c ke r’s te stim o n y o u twe ig h e d th a t p re ju d ic e

.

A s d isc usse d a

b o v e

, T u c ke r’s te stim on y wa s n o t e lic ite d m e re ly to sh o w t h a t

Ap p e lla n t h a d e ng a g e d in p rio r a c ts o f d o me s t i c v io le n c e

, bu t, in ste a d

, it

d e m o n stra te d th a t th e v io le n c e wa s a m e c h a n i s m fo r c o n tro l o f h is in tim a te

p a rtn e rs. W h ile th e e v id e n c e o f Ap p e lla n t’s g u ilt wa s stro n g – wh ic h te n d s to

le sse n th e p ro ba tiv e v a lu e o f T u c k e r’s te stim o n y

– th e re wa s v e ry little e v id e n c e

fro m wh ic h a ju ry c o u ld ha v e g l ea n ed w h y Ap p e lla nt la sh e d ou t a g a in st h is

wife

. F u rth e r, wh ile th e e v id e n c e in Tu c k e r’s te stim o n y wa s d istu rb in g

, th e re

wa s “ n o th in g in h e re n t in th is e v id e nc e th a t wo u ld c re a te a risk th a t [Ap p e lla nt]

wo u ld b e c o n v ic te d ‘o n a gro u n d d iffe re nt fro m p ro o f sp e c ific to th e o ffe nse

c h a rg e d .’” Ba n k s

, 5 1 4 F 3 d a t 9 7 6 -9 7 7

. As in Ba n k s, “ [n ] oth in g in th e

9[te stim o n y ] wo u ld sh o c k th e a ve ra g e ju ro r o r o th e rwise re n d e r th e ju ry

in c a p a ble o f we ig hin g th e e v id e n c e in a d isin te re ste d m a n n e r,” a n d “g iv e n th e

re le v a n c e o f th e e v id e nc e to th e q u e stio n o f m o tiv e

, we c a nn ot sa y th a t a n y

p re ju d ic e it m ig h t ha v e c a

u se d o u twe ig he d its sig nific a n t p ro b a tiv e v a lu e .” Id

.

a t 9 7 7

.

(c ) F in a lly

, we m

u st d e c id e wh e th e r th e S ta te o ffe re d su ffic ie n t p ro o f fo r

th e ju r y to c o n c lu d e th a t Ap p e lla n t c o m m itte d th e a c ts d e sc rib e d b y Tu c ke r.

Tu c k e r te stifie d th a t sh e sp e n t c o n sid e ra b le tim e in th e m a r i t a l re sid e n c e with

Ap p e lla n t a n d S a ra h

– su m m e rs a n d we e k e n ds

– a n d th a t sh e witn e sse d th e a c ts

a b o u t wh ic h sh e te stifie d ; th is wa s su ffic ie n t. S e e Un ite d Sta te s v

. La il, 84 6 F 2 d

1 2 9 9, 1 3 0 2

, n

. 3 (1 9 8 8 ) ( ey e w i t n e ss te stim o ny su ffic ie n t p ro o f th a t d e fe n d a n t

c o m m itte d e x trin sic a c ts u nd e r Ru le 4 0 4 (b )). Ac c o rd in g ly

, th e tria l c o u rt d id

n o t a b u se its d isc re ti o n w h e n it pe rm itte d th e S ta te to pre se n t T u c k e r’s

te stim o n y

.

3

. Th e tria l c o u rt a lso g ra n te d th e Sta te ’s re q u e st to a d m it va rio u s h e a rsa y

te stim o n y a n d e v id e nc e u n d e r OCGA § 2 4 -8 -8 0 7 (“ Ru le 8 0 7 ” ), th e n e w re sid u a l

h e a rsa y p ro v isio n

. N a me ly

, th e tria l c o u rt a d m itte d th e fo llo win g : te stim o n y

fro m Ma ra n d a S e lf th a t, o n t h e e v e n in g b e fo re La u re n ’s d e a th

, S e lf b ro u g h t

1 0a lc o h o l to La u re n a t th e ma r i t a l r e sid e n c e

, th a t sh e wa s to ld b y La u re n th a t

Ap p e lla n t h a d sla sh e d a tire o n La u re n ’s tru c k

, a n d th a t La

u re n wa s a n xio u s fo r

S e lf to le a v e th e re sid e n c e b e f o r e Ap p e lla n t re tu rn e d ; te stim o ny fro m Ap ril

S o lo m o n th a t, a

p p ro x im a te ly se v e n m o n th s be fo re th e m u rd e r, L a u re n re p o rte d

th a t Ap p e lla nt h a d b e a te n h e r with a su itc a se wh e n sh e an n o u n c e d h e r in te n tio n

to le a v e th e m a rria g e ; F a c e b o o k m e ssa g e s e x c h an g e d b e twe e n A p p e lla n t a n d

La u re n (wh o w a s p re te n din g to b e so m e on e e lse ) in wh ic h Ap p e lla n t u se d th e

p h ra se “ d e a th b e fo re d ish on or” ; “ le tte rs to G o d ,” writte n b y La u r e n

, in wh ic h

sh e d e sc rib e d h e r tu m

u l tu o us a n d a

b u siv e re la tio n sh ip with h e r h u sb a n d ; a n d

,

n u m e ro u s te xt m e ssa ge s se n t b y La u re n to v a rio u s fa m ily a n d frie n d s re g a rd in g

h e r re la tio n sh ip with Ap p e lla n t. Ap p e lla n t c o n te n ds th a t th e e v id e n c e wa s

im p ro p e rly a d m itte d

. 4

As a n in itia l m a tte r, o u r re v ie w of th is c la im is h a m pe re d b y Ap p e lla n t’s

fa ilu re to sp e c ify wh ic h e v id e n c e h e c o n te n d s wa s w ro n g fu lly a d m itte d a n d

, if

4 A p p e lla n t a lso su g g e sts th a t th e a d m issio n of th is e vid e n c e v io la te d h is

rig h t to c o n fro n ta tio n ; th is a rg u m e n t, h owe v e r, wa s no t ra ise d b e lo w a n d n o n e

o f th e sta te m e n ts we re te stim o n i a l

. S e e D a v is v

. Wa sh in g to n, 5 47 U. S

. 8 1 3

, 8 2 2 (1 2 6 S Ct 2 2 6 6

, 16 5 LE2 d 2 2 4 ) (2 00 6) (sta te m e n ts a re te stim on ia l wh e n th e

p rim a ry p urp ose is to e sta b lish p a st e ve n ts p o te n tia lly re le v a nt to la te r c rim in a l

p ro se c u tio n ).

1 1h e ta ke s issu e with a ll o f th e e v id e n c e, h is fa ilu re to e n g a ge in le g a l a n a ly sis

with re sp e c t to e a c h p ie c e o f e v id e n c e h e is c h a lle n g in g

. “ It is n o t th is Co u rt’s

jo b to c u ll th e re c o rd o n b e h a lf o f [Ap p e lla n t] to fin d a lle g e d e rro rs.” (Cita tio n s

o m itte d .) Ma x we ll v

. S ta te

, 29 0 Ga

. 5 74

, 5 7 5 (2 ) (7 2 2 S E 2 d 76 3) (2 0 1 2 ). Wh ile

Ap p e lla n t a

p pa re n tly se e k s to c h a lle n g e th e a d m issib ility o f a ll th e e v id e n c e

a d m itte d u n d e r Ru le 8 0 7

, we a g re e with th e S ta te th a t Ap p e lla n t’s a rg um e n ts a re

n o t p re se rv e d fo r a

p p e lla te re v ie w. 5 Ac c ord in g ly

, we re v ie w th is c la im fo r p la in

e r r o r

. S e e OCGA § 2 4 -1 -1 0 3 (d ); Ga te s v

. S ta te

, 2 9 8 Ga

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

7 7 2 ) (2 01 6 ).

In S ta te v

. Ke lly

, 2 9 0 Ga

. 2 9 (7 1 8 SE2 d 2 3 2 ) (2 0 1 1 ), th is Co u rt a d o p te d

th e fe d e ra l p la in -e rro r sta n d a rd a s se t o u t in Pu c k e tt v

. U n ite d S ta te s, 5 5 6 U. S

.

1 2 9 (II) (a ) (1 2 9 S Ct 14 2 3

, 17 3 LEd 2 d 2 6 6) (2 00 9), wh ic h in v o lv e s t h e

fo llo win g fo u r p ro n g s:

5 Pri o r t o t ri al , t h e St at e fi l ed a n o ti ce of in t en t t o i nt ro d u ce h ears ay ev i d en ce

u n d er Ru l e 8 0 7 ; Ap p el lan t fi l ed a wri t t en o b j ect i o n an d arg u ed ag ai n s t t he ad m i s s i o n

o f t h at ev i d en ce at a s u b s eq u en t h eari n g

. Lat er, t h e St at e fi l e d a s u p p l em en t t o i t s

o ri g i nal n o t i ce, ad d i n g t ex t m es s ag es t h at Lau ren ha d s en t t o vari o u s fri en d s an d

fam i l y

. W h i l e Ap p el l an t o b j ect ed t o o t h e r e v i d en ce t h at th e St at e s o u g h t t o ad m i t

u n d er Ru l e 8 0 7

, t h ere w as n o p re-t ri al o r co nt em p o ran eo u s o bject i o n wi t h res p ect to

t h e t ex t -m es s ag e ev i d en ce. W i t h res p ect t o t h e r e m ai n i n g ev i d en ce, Ap p el l an t ’ s

arg u m en t s i n t hi s Co u rt are n o t t h e s am e t h at Ap p el l an t m ad e p re-t ri al . Ou r rev i ew

i s n o w l im i t ed t o p l ai n erro r.

1 2F irst, th e re m ust b e a n e rro r o r d e fe c t

– so me s o r t o f “ [d ] e v ia tio n

fro m a le g a l ru le ”

– th a t h a s n o t be e n in te ntio n a lly re lin q u ish e d o r

a b a n d o n e d

, i.e

. , a ffirm a tiv e ly wa iv e d

, by th e a pp e lla n t. S e c o n d

, th e

le g a l e rro r m

u st b e c l e a r o r o b v io u s, ra th e r th a n su b je c t to

re a so n a b le d isp u te

. Th ird

, th e e rro r m u st h a v e a ffe c te d th e

a p p e lla n t’s su b sta n tia l rig h ts, wh ic h in th e o rd in a ry c a se m e a n s h e

m u st de m o n stra te th a t i t “ a ffe c te d th e o u tc o m e o f th e [tria l] c o u rt

p ro c e e d in g s.” F o urth a n d f i n a l ly

, if th e a

b o v e th re e p ro n g s a re

sa tisfie d

, th e [a

p p e lla te c o u rt] h a s th e disc re tio n to re m e d y th e e rro r

– d isc re tio n wh ic h o u g h t to b e e x e rc ise d o n l y if th e e rro r

“ ‘se rio u sly a ffe c t[s] th e fa irn e ss, in te grity o r pu b l i c re p u ta tio n o f

ju d ic ia l p ro c e e d in gs.” ’

(Em p h a sis in o rig in a l.) Ke lly

, 2 9 0 Ga

. a t 33

. Se e a lso G a te s, 2 98 G a

. a t 3 2 7

(re c o gn iz in g th a t th e te st a d o p te d in Ke lly a pp lie s to ru lin g s o n e vid e n c e ).

Ac c o rd in g ly

, b e y on d sh owin g a c le a r o r o b v io u s e rro r, “ p la in -e rro r a n a ly sis

. .

. re q u ire s th e a

p p e lla nt to m a k e a n a ffirm a tiv e sh o win g th a t th e e rro r p ro b a b ly

d id a ffe c t th e ou tc o m e b e lo w.” (Cita tio n a n d p u nc tu a tio n o m itte d.) S h a w v

.

S ta te

, 2 9 2 Ga

. 8 7 1

, 8 7 3 (2 ) (7 4 2 S E2 d 7 0 7 ) (2 0 1 3 ). “ Re ve rsa l is a u th oriz e d o n ly

if a ll fo u r p ro n g s a re sa tisfie d —a ‘d iffic u lt’ sta n d a rd in d e e d .” Ca rru th v

. S ta te

,

2 9 0 Ga . 3 42 , 3 4 8 (6 ) (7 2 1 S E2 d 8 0 ) (2 0 1 2 ).

Th e re le v a n t p o rtio n o f Ru le 8 0 7 sta te s a s fo llo ws:

A sta te m e n t n ot s p ec i f

i c a lly c o v e re d b y a n y la w bu t h a v in g

e q u iv a le n t c irc u m sta ntia l g u a ra n te e s o f tru stwo rth in e ss sh a ll n ot b e

e x c lu de d b y th e h e a rsa y ru le

, if th e c ou rt d e te rm in e s th a t:

1 3(1 ) Th e sta te m e n t is o f f ere d a s e vid e n c e o f a m a te ria l

fa c t;

(2 ) Th e sta te m e n t is m o re p ro b a tiv e o n th e p o i n t fo r

wh ic h it is off

e r e d th a n a n y o th e r e v id e n c e wh ic h th e

p ro p o ne n t c a n p ro c u re th ro u gh re a so na b le e ffo rts; a n d

(3 ) Th e g e n e ra l p u r p o se s o f th e ru le s o f e v id e n c e a n d

th e in te re sts o f ju stic e will b e st b e se rv e d b y a d m issio n

o f th e sta te m e n t in to e v id e n c e

.

OCGA § 2 4 -8 -8 0 7

. Th e re sid u a l h e a rsa y e xc e p tio n wa s d e sig n e d “ ‘to b e u se d

v e ry r a r ely

, a n d o n ly in e x c e p tio n a l c irc u m sta n c e s.’” (Cita tio n s o m itte d .)

Riv e rs v. Un ite d S ta te s, 7 7 7 F 3 d 1 3 0 6

, 1 3 1 2 (II) (1 1 th Cir. 2 0 1 5 ). Th e ru le

a p p lie s “ ‘o n ly wh e n c e rta in e x c e p tio n a l gu ara n te e s o f tru stwo rth in e ss e x ist a n d

wh e n h ig h d e g re e s o f p ro b a tiv e ne ss a n d n e c e ssity a re p re se n t.’” Id

.

[S ]u c h g u a ra n te e s m

ust b e “ e q u iv a le n t to c ro ss-e x a m in e d fo rm e r

te stim o n y

, sta te m e n ts u n d e r a b e lie f o f im p e n d in g d e a th

, sta te m e n ts

a g a in st in te re st, a n d sta te m e n ts o f p e rso n a l o r fa m ily h isto ry .”

[Cit.] Th e se c a t eg o r i e s o f h e a rsa y “ h a v e a ttrib u te s o f

tru stwo rth in e ss no t p o sse sse d b y th e g e ne ra l ru n o f h e a rsa y

sta te m e n ts t h a t t ip th e b a la n c e in fa v o r o f in tro d u c in g th e

i n f o rm a tio n if th e d e c la ra n t is u n a v a ilab le to te stify

. ” [Cit.] A n d

th e y a re a ll c o n sid e re d su ffic ie ntly tr u s t wo rth y n o t b e c a u se o f th e

c re d ib ility o f th e witn e ss re p o rtin g th e m in c o urt, b u t be c a u se o f th e

c irc u m sta n c e s u n d e r wh ic h th e y w e re orig in a l l y m a d e

. F o r

e x a m p le

, a d y in g d e c la ra tio n is tru st w o r t h y e n o u g h to a d m it a s

e v id e nc e in c e rta in ty pe s o f c a se s b e c a u se a t th e tim e th e d e c la ra tio n

is m a d e

, th e d e c la ra n t b e lie v e s th a t sh e is a b o u t to d ie an d th e

sta te m e n t c o n c e rn s th e c a

u se o f he r d e a th —in o th e r wo rd s, b e c a u se

1 4o f th e p a rtic u la r c irc um sta n c e s su r r o u n d in g th e o rig in a l utte ra n c e

o f th e sta te m e n t.

(Cita tio n s o m itte d

. ) Riv e rs, 7 7 7 F 3 d a t 1 3 1 4

.

Wh ile Ap p e lla nt a rg u e s th a t La u re n ’s sta te m e nts la c k e d th e “ e x c e p tio n a l

g u a ra n te e s o f tru stwo rth in e ss” re q u ire d to b e a d m issib le u n d e r Ru le 8 0 7

, a n y

e rro r in a d m ittin g th o se sta te m e n ts is n e ith e r c le a r n o r o b v io us. We c an n o t sa y

th a t sta te m e n ts fro m a wife to h e r frie n ds o r fa m ily

, or h e r o wn writin g s, wh ic h

d e sc rib e a c ts o f d o m e stic vio le n c e

, d o n o t, in fa c t, be a r a n in c re a se d l e v e l o f

tru stwo rth in es s. Lik e wise

, in lig h t o f th e o fte n -se c re tiv e n a tu re o f d o m e stic

v io le nc e

, w e c a n a lso e n v isio n th a t su c h sta te m e nts m ig h t b e h ig h ly p ro b a tiv e

.

Mo re o v e r

, Ap p e lla nt h a s fa ile d to de m o n stra te th a t th e a d m issio n o f th is

e v id e n c e a ffe c te d h is su b sta n tia l rig h ts. As n ote d a b o v e

, Ap p e lla n t d o e s n o t

sp e a k to

, m

u c h le ss a na ly z e

, th e e n tire ty o f th e e v id e nc e a d m itte d u nd e r th is

ru le

. Th o u g h th e Ru le 8 0 7 e v id e n c e a d m itte d a t tria l c le arly p a in te d a p ic tu re

th a t Ap p e lla n t wa s v io le n t a n d c o n tro llin g, t h e j u r y h a d a lre a dy h e a rd o th e r

e v id e n c e e sta blish in g th is, n a m e ly : th a t La u re n wa s se e n with e x te n siv e in ju rie s

a n d th a t Ap pe lla n t h a d m a d e th re a te n in g sta te m e nts a b ou t La u re n

.

F u rth e r, th e S ta te ’s c a se wa s in c re d ib ly stro n g

. T h e u n d isp ute d e v id e n c e

1 5b e lo w e sta b lish e d th a t: La u r e n w a s be a te n to d e a th in h e r m a ste r b e d ro o m ; in

two d iffe re n t sta te m e nts, Ap p e lla nt a d m itte d to b e in g in th e sa m e ro o m with h is

wife a t th e tim e o f h e r d e a th a n d g a v e in c o nsiste nt a c c o u n ts o f wh a t h a p p e n e d

o n th e n ig h t o f th e m

u rd e r; A p p e lla n t wa s o ve rh e a rd th re a te n in g his wife o n th e

d a y b e fo re h e r m

u rd e r; th e re wa s n o e v id e n c e o f fo rc e d e n try in to th e h o u se o n

th e n ig ht o f th e in c id e n t; sh o e p rin ts o n La u re n ’s b od y ve ry c le a rly m a tc h e d th e

so le s o f sh oe s b e l o n g in g to Ap p e lla n t; a n d

, th e ju ry h e a rd te stim o n y th a t

L a u re n ’s so n h e a rd Ap p e lla n t p u n c h in g h is m o th e r o n th e n ig h t o f h e r d e a th

.

Re v ie w in g th e re c o rd as a wh o l e we c a n n ot sa y th a t a n y e rro r h e re “se rio u sly

a ffe c t[e d ] th e fa irn e ss, in te g rity

, o r p u b lic re p u ta tio n of ju d ic ia l p ro c e e d in g s.”

Ke lly , su p ra . Ac c o rd in g ly , th e re is n o p la in e rro r.

4

. Ap p e l l an t a rg ue s th a t th e tria l c o u rt c o m m itte d re v e rsib le e rro r b y

t e l l i n g p o te n tia l ju ro rs th a t Ap p e lla n t wa s “ c h a rg e d with th e

. . . m u rd e r o f

La u re n Bro wn S m a rt, h is w ife .” Ac c o r d in g to Ap p e lla n t, La ure n’s sta tu s a s

Ap p e lla n t’s wife wa s a n e sse n tia l a nd d isp u te d e le m e n t th a t th e Sta te wa s

re q u ire d to pro ve w ith re sp e c t to th e e a c h o f th e fa m ily v io le n c e c o u n ts. Th e re

is n o e rro r.

At th e tim e of A p p el l a n t ’ s tria l, OCGA § 1 7 -8 -5 7 p ro v id e d

, in re le v a n t

1 6p a rt, th a t “ [i] t is e rro r fo r a n y ju d g e in a n y c rim in a l c a se

, d u rin g its p ro g re ss o r

in h is c h a rg e to th e ju ry

, to e x p re ss o r in tim a te h is o pin io n a s to wh a t h a s o r ha s

n o t b e e n p ro v e d o r a s to th e g u ilt o f th e a c c u se d .” 6 Ho we v e r, OCGA § 1 7 -8 -5 7

“ is v io la te d o n ly wh e n [a ] tria l c o urt’s in stru c tio n

, c o n sid e re d a s a wh o l e

,

‘a ssu m e s c e rta in th in g s a s fa c ts a nd in tim a te s to th e ju ry wh a t th e ju dg e b e lie ve s

th e e v id e n c e to b e .’” (Cita tio ns o m itte d.) P a rk e r v

. S ta te

, 2 76 Ga

. 59 8, 6 0 0 (5 )

(5 8 1 S E 2 d 7 ) (2 0 0 3 ). He re

, th e re c o rd is c le ar th a t th e ju d g e wa s n o t

c o m m e n tin g o n th e e v id e nc e b u t, in ste a d , wa s m e re lye xp la in in g th e na tu re o f

th e c a se d u rin g v o ir dire to h e lp p o te n tia l ju ro rs d e t e rm in e wh e th e r th e y h a d

b e e n e x p o se d to th e e x te n siv e m e d iac o ve ra g e ; th e tria l c o u rt’s sta te m e n t h e re

wa s a k in to re fe re nc in g a lle g a tio n s in a n in d ic tm e n t an d “ in n o wa y c on stitu te d

th e ty p e o f d ire c t c o m m e n t o n th e su b sta n c e o r we ig h t o f th e e v id e n c e th a t we

h a v e h e ld to v io la te OCGA § 1 7 -8 -5 7 .” Da ile y v

. Sta te

, 2 9 7 Ga

. 4 42

, 4 4 3 (2 )

(7 7 4 S E2 d 6 7 2) (2 0 15 ). S e e Lin d se y v

. S ta te

, 29 5 Ga

. 3 4 3 (2 ) (7 60 S E2 d 1 7 0 )

(2 0 1 4 ) (tria l c ou rt’s p re lim in a ry in stru c tio n s to v e n ire e x p la in in g a lle g a tio n s in

in d ic tm e n t d id n o t v io la te OCGA § 1 7

- 8 -5 7 ). Co m pa re Mu rp h y v

. S ta te

, 2 9 0

6 Th i s co d e s ect i o n was am en d ed s ub s eq u en t t o Ap p el l an t ’ s t ri al

.

1 7Ga

. 4 5 9

, 4 60 -4 61 (2 ) (7 2 2 S E2 d 5 1 ) (2 0 1 2 ) (tria l ju d g e ’s c o m m e n ts th a t witn e ss

wa s a “ g o o d d e te c tiv e ” a n d th a t th ro ug h “ h is g o o d e ffo rts we 're g o in g to fin d th e

tru th o f th e m a tte r” v io la te d OCGA § 1 7 -8 -5 7).

5

. F in a lly

, Ap p e lla nt c la im s th a t b o th h is tria l c o u n se l a n d first a p p e lla te

c o u n se l w e re in e ffe c tiv e

. Th e re c o rd sh o ws th a t, wh ile a c la im o f in e ffe c ti v e

a ssista n c e o f tria l c ou nse l wa s a sse rte d in Ap p e lla n t’s in i t i a l mo tio n fo r n e w

tria l, first a

p p e lla te c o u n se l la te r with d re w th a t c la im in an a m e n d e d m otio n a n d

d id no t p u rsu e it fu rth e r. A c c o rd in g ly

, A p p e lla n t’s c la im th a t tria l c o u n se l wa s

in e ffe c tiv e is n o w wa iv e d a n d c a n n o t n o w b e re a sse rte d o n a p pe a l. S e e

Willia m s v

. Mo o d y

, 2 8 7 Ga

. 6 6 5

, 6 66 (6 9 7 S E2 d 1 99 ) (2 01 0 ) ( “ I n o r d e r t o

a v o id a w a iv e r o f a c la im o f in e ffe c tiv e a ssis t an c e a g a in st tria l c o u n se l, th e

c la im m ust be ra ise d a t th e e a rlie st p ra c tic a b le m o me n t

, a n d th a t m o m e n t is

‘b e fo re a p p e a l if th e o p p o rtu n ity to d o so is a v a ilab le .’ Th e p re -a p p e a l

o p p ortu n ity is ‘a v a ilab le ’ wh e n th e c o n v ic te d d e fe n d an t is n o lo n g e r re p re se n te d

b y th e a tto rn e y wh o re p re se n te d h i m a t t r ia l.” (c ita tio n o m itte d )). Wh ile

Ap p e lla n t a lso a rg u e s th a t first a p p e lla te c o u n se l wa s in e ffe c tiv e fo r fa ilin g to

p u rsu e th o se c la im s, h e is n o t e n title d to a re m a n d o n th a t c la im a n d m u st

in ste a d ra ise it in a h a

b e a s c o rp u s p ro c e e d in g. Se e W ilso n v. Sta te

, 2 8 6 Ga

. 1 4 1

,

1 81 4 5 (6 8 6 S E2 d 10 4 ) (2 0 0 9 ) (“ [Th e a pp e lla n t] c a n no t re s u s c i t at e t h e p r o c e d u r a lly

b a rre d c la im s o f in e ffe c tiv e a ssista n c e of tria l c ou nse l by b o o tstra p p in g th e m to

a c la im o f in e ffe c tiv e n e ss o f a p p e lla te c o u n se l.” ). S e e a lso Co wa rt v

. S ta te

, 2 9 4

Ga . 3 33 , 3 3 7, n . 6 (3 ) (7 5 1 S E2 d 3 9 9 ) (2 0 1 4 ).

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

1 9