FI FTH DI VI SI ON

PHI PPS, P. J.

, DI LLA RD and PETERSON, JJ.

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

M ay 24, 2016



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 6 A0 29 7 . GRAHAM v . THE STATE. PE-0 0 9 C

P E T E R S O N , J u d g e.

M ars h al l M art i n Grah am ap p eal s h is co nv i ct i o n s fo r h i jack i n g a m o t o r v eh i cl e

an d ag g rav at ed as s au l t

. He arg u es t h at (1 ) t h e ev i d en ce was i n s u ffi ci en t t o s u p p o rt h i s

co n vi ct i o n s ; (2 ) th e t ri al co u rt erred b y in s t ru ct i n g th e ju ry t h at t h e St at e d id n o t h av e

t o p ro v e al l o f t h e act s l i s t ed i n each co u n t o f t h e in d ict m en t ; an d (3 ) t h e t ri a l co u rt

erred b y im

p ro p erl y co m

m en t i ng o n th e ev i d en ce d u ri n g i ts i n s t ru ct i o n s t o t h e ju ry

.

Becau s e t h e ev i d en ce was su ffi ci en t t o s u p po rt Grah am ’ s co n vi ct io n s a nd becau s e t h e

ju ry i n s t ru ct i on s o f wh i ch h e co m p l ai ns were n ot erro n eo u s , we affi rm

. 1

1 W i t h o u t req u es t i ng an y s an ct i o n

, Grah am n o t es t h at t h e St at e’ s b ri ef was fi l ed

t h ree d ay s l at e d es p i t e o u r Co u rt h av i ng g ran t ed a o n e-week ex t en s i o n

. W h i l e n o t i n g

t h at Grah am fi l ed an am en d ed bri ef m o re t h an a m o n th aft er fi l in g h i s o ri g i nal b ri ef,

we rem i n d co u n sel o f t h e im p o rt an ce o f o u r d ead l i n es an d ex erci s e o ur d i s cret i o n to

co n si d er t h e p art i es ’ arg u m en t s

. S ee Da ni el v. S t a t e

, 2 9 6 Ga. Ap p

. 5 1 3

, 5 2 2 (7 ) (6 7 51

. Grah am arg ues t h at t h e ev i d en ce was in s u ffi c i e nt t o au t h o ri ze h i s

co n vi ct i o n s

, s p eci fi cal l y co n ten d i n g t h at th e ey ewi t n es s i den t i fi cat i o n ev i d en ce was

i n s u ffi ci en t b ecau s e th e v i ct i m s g av e co n t rad ict o ry d es cri p t i o n s b as ed p u rel y u p o n

race an d cl o t h in g. W e d i s ag ree.

W h en a p p el l at e co u rt s rev i ew t h e s u ffi ci en cy o f t h e ev id en ce, t h ey d o n ot

“ re-wei g h t h e ev i d en ce o r res o l v e co n fl i ct s i n wi t n es s tes t im on y ” b u t in s t e a d d efer

“ t o t h e ju ry ’ s as s es s m en t o f t h e wei g h t an d cred i b il i t y o f th e ev i den ce.” G r ees o n v.

S t a t e

, 2 8 7 Ga. 7 6 4

, 7 6 5 (7 0 0 SE2 d 3 4 4 ) (2 0 10 ) (ci t at io n o m it t ed ). W e d et erm i n e

wh et h er, “ aft er v i ewi n g t h e ev i d en ce i n t h e l i g ht m o s t fav o rab le t o t h e p ro s ecu t i o n,

a n y rat i o n al tri er o f fact co u l d h av e fo u n d t h e es s en t i al el em en t s o f t h e cri m e b ey o n d

a reas on ab l e d o u b t .” Ja cks o n v. Vi r g i n i a

, 4 43 U.S. 3 0 7

, 31 9 (III) (B) (9 9 S. Ct

. 2 7 8 1,

6 1 LE2 d 5 6 0 ) (1 9 7 9 ) (ci t at i o n o m i t t ed ) (em p h as i s i n o ri g i n al ).

So v iewed

, o ne o f t h e v i ct i m s

, Bo b by

, h ad es co rt ed h i s m o t h er, Reb ecca, t o h er

car at h is ap art m en t co m

p l ex wh en t hey were ap p ro ach ed b y t wo m en

, o n e o f wh o m

a s k e d t o b orro w a cel l p h o n e. Th e req u es t d en i ed

, t h e t wo m en wal k ed o ff. B o b b y

cal l ed 9 1 1 at aro u n d 2 : 0 1 a.m , rep o rt i n g t h at a ro b b ery m i gh t b e i m

m i n en t

.

SE2 d 4 7 2) (2 0 0 9).

2Th e m en q u i ck l y ret u rn ed

, h o wev er, an d Bo b b y en d ed h i s cal l

. On e o f t h e m en

p res s ed wh at ap p eared t o b e a h an d g u n t o Bo bb y ’ s t em p l e, t el l i n g Bo b b y t o em

p t y

h i s p o ck et s an d h an d o v er h is wal l et

. Bo bb y h an d ed o v er h i s wal l et

, an d t h e g u n m an

n u d g ed h i m t oward t h e cu rb o f t h e p ark i ng lo t

. M ean wh i l e, t h e ot h er m an

, w h o was

o n t h e p as s en g er’ s s i de o f Reb ecca’ s car, en t ered t h e car t h ro u g h t h e b ack d o o r an d

b eg an ru m

m ag i n g a r o u n d t h e car an d Reb ecca’ s p o ck et s. On e o f t h e m en o rd ered

Reb ecca o u t o f t he c a r a n d t h e t wo m en dro v e away i n h er v eh i cl e. Th e v i ct i m s

t es t i fi ed th at t h ey d i d no t k n o w wh i ch m an was i n wh i ch s eat wh en t h e car d ep art ed

b u t s ai d t h ey

h ad n o t s een t h e m en s wi t ch in g s id es o f t h e car.

Aro u n d 2 : 1 1 a.m

. , ab o u t 1 0 m i n u t e s aft er Bo b b y ’ s i n i ti al 9 1 1 cal l

, a d ep u t y

s t op p ed Reb ecca’ s au t om o b i l e aft er a b ri ef ch as e. Th e d ri v er o f th e car p u l l ed i n t o a

g as s t at i o n p ark i n g l o t

, s t o p ped

, an d ran away wi t h o u t ev er b ei n g ap p reh en d ed

. Th e

d ep ut y fo u n d Grah am

s i tt i n g i n t h e p as sen g er s eat , wi t h a d ark s h i rt t i ed aro u n d h i s

n eck l i k e a b an d an a. A few s m al l i t em s t h at Reb ecca cl ai m ed were h ers

— a l i g h t er,

l i p b al m

, an d a b ro k en k n i fe

— were i n Grah am ’ s p an t s

. Reb ecca’ s p u rs e w as fo u n d

o n t h e fl o o r o f th e v eh i cl e. Reb ecca al s o c l a i m ed t h at b et ween n i n e an d t h i rt een

d o l l ars h a d b een tak en fro m h er p u rs e befo re it was ret urn ed t o h er b y p ol i ce, an d

t h i rt een d o l l ars were fo u n d i n Grah am ’ s p an t s. Bo b b y ’ s wal l et was n ot fo u n d i n t h e

3car o r on Grah am

. No g u n was fo u n d o n Grah am

, al t h o u g h a g u n was fo u n d res t i n g

o n t h e co n so l e o f t h e car. 2

At t ri al

, b ot h Bo b b y an d Reb ecca p ro v i d ed d es cri p ti on s o f t he p erp et rat o rs o r

wh at th ey were weari n g, al th ou g h on l y Reb ecca p o s i t i v el y i d en t i fi ed Grah am as o n e

o f t he h i jack ers

. In h i s t ri al t es t i m o n y

, Bo b b y s ai d t he p ers o n wh o ap p ro ach ed o n t h e

d ri v er’ s s i d e an d p u t a gu n t o h is h ead was weari n g al l b l ack

. Bo b b y s ai d h e co u l d s ee

o n l y t h e gu n m an ’s ey es

, as t h o u g h h is m o ut h were co v ered w i t h s o m e s o rt o f red

,

b l ack o r o t h erwi s e d ark m as k

. Th e p erp et rat o r wh o ap p ro ach ed th e p as s en g er’ s s i d e

was weari n g red cl o t h i n g an d a red ban d an a wi t h w h i t e po l ka do t s as a m as k

, Bo b by

t es t i fi ed . Bo b b y

was n o t as k ed t o i d en t i fy Grah am at t ri al

.

Reb ecca t es t ifi ed th at t h e m an wh o p ut a g u n t o h er s o n ’ s h ead h ad d ark s k in

an d wo re al l b lack

, i n cl u d i n g s o m et h i n g o ver h i s face. Sh e s ai d t h e o t h er m an m i g ht

h av e b een weari n g s o m et h i n g red b u t s h e d id n o t recal l h i m weari ng a m as k . In h er

t ri al t es t im o n y

, Reb ecca i d en t i fi ed Grah am as t h e m an wh o h ad s t o o d at h er d ri v er’ s

s i de d o o r, h o l d i n g a g u n t o h er s o n ’ s head

, n o t t h e m a n w h o w a l k ed u p o n t h e

p as s en g er’ s s id e. Sh e ex pl ai n ed t h at s h e was ab le t o m ak e t h e id en t i fi cat i on bas ed o n

2 Th e t ri al p ro s ecu t o r s t at ed d u ri n g t he t ri al t hat t h e g u n reco v ered fro m t h e car

was a p el l et g u n

.

4h i s sk i n co l o ri n g an d h i s ey es

, wh i ch s he des cri b ed as “ s ad ey es

, d own at t h e

co rn ers .” Defen s e co u n s el at t em p t ed t o s h o w du ri n g cro s s-ex am in at i o n t h at t h e

d es cri p t io n s p ro vi d ed b y t h e vi ct i m s at t ri al were i n co n si s t en t wi t h t h o s e prev i o u s l y

p ro v id ed t o p o l i ce.

Grah am d i d n ot t es t i fy at t ri al b u t t o l d p o li ce t h at h e d i d n o t p art i ci pat e i n t h e

ro b b ery an d i n s t e a d was i n t h e car t o cat ch a ri d e fro m t h e Fi el d st o n e h o u s i n g

co m p l ex

. A d ep u t y t e s t ifi ed t h at at s o m e p o i n t su b s eq u en t t o Grah am ’ s arres t h e

d ro v e fro m Bo b by ’ s ap art m en t co m p l ex t o t he l o cat i o n o f t h e s t op v i a t he h i g h way

,

an d th e t ri p t o o k 1 1 m i n u tes t r av el i n g at 8 0 m p h, t h e sp eed Reb ecca’ s car was

t rav el i n g d u ri n g t he p urs u i t

. Al t h o u g h it i s n o t en t i rel y cl ear fro m th e co l d rec o rd

,

wi t n es s es g av e t es t i m o n y t h at p ro s ecu t o rs ch aract eri ze as d em o n s t rat i n g t h at

Fi el d s t o n e

, w h e r e Grah am s ai d h e was p i ck ed u p, i s i n t h e o pp o si t e d i rect i o n fro m

t h at i n wh i ch t he v eh i cl e was s een trav el i ng wh en i t l eft Bo b b y ’ s ap art m en t co m p l ex

.

Th e ju ry acq u i t t ed Grah am o f Co u nt s 1 an d 2, wh i ch ch arg ed G rah am wi t h t h e

arm ed ro b b ery o f Reb ecca an d Bo b b y

, res p ect iv el y

, a n d C o u n t 5

, wh i ch ch arg ed

Grah am wi t h t h e ag g rav at ed as s au l t o f Bo b by

. Th e j u ry co n v ict ed Grah am o n Co u nt

3

, wh i ch ch arg ed hi m wi t h h i jack i ng a m o t o r v eh icl e, an d Co u nt 4

, wi t h ch arg ed h i m

wi t h t h e ag g rav at ed as s au l t o f Reb ecca.

5Grah am arg u es t h at t h e v i c t i m s ’ t es t i m o n y was su s p ect b ecau s e ey ewi t n es s

i d en t i fi cat i o ns

, p art i cu l arl y cro s s -raci al o n es

, 3 are o ft en wro n g

. H e al s o arg u e s t h a t

t h ei r t es t i m o n y w as su s p ect b ecau se i t w as l arg el y l i m i t ed t o race an d cl o th i n g an d

b ecau s e t h e v i ct i m s ’ en co u n t er wi t h t h e p erp et rat o rs was b ri ef, st res s fu l

, an d i n a d ark

l o cat io n

. Ho wev er, t h e rel i ab i li t y o f a wi t n es s’ i den t i fi cat i on g o es t o t h e cred i b i l i t y

an d wei g h t o f t h e wi t n es s ’ t es t im o n y

, a m at t er t h at i s wi t h i n t h e p ro v i n ce o f t h e ju ry

,

n o t th i s Co u rt

. J

o n es v. S t a t e

, 3 2 9 Ga. Ap p

. 4 7 8

, 4 7 9 (1 ) (7 6 5 SE2 d 6 57 ) (2 0 1 4 )

(reject i ng s u ffi ci en cy arg u m en t t h at i d en t i fi cation of de f e nda nt w a s s u s pect g i v en t h at

v i ct i m s aw o n l y p erp et rat or’ s e y es d u ri n g ro b b ery ). Grah am ci tes Ru t l a n d v. S t a t e

,

1 2 9 Ga. Ap p

. 3 1 3 (1 9 9 SE2 d 5 9 5 ) (1 9 7 3 ), fo r th e pro p o si t i o n t h at an i d en t i fi cat i o n

l arg el y b as ed o n race an d cl o t h i n g is i n s u ffi ci en t t o s u s t ai n a co n v i ct i o n

. H o wev er,

i n o u r o pi n i o n i n t h at cas e t h ere was no in d icat i o n t h at th e v i c t i m

, wh os e face was

co v ered d u ri ng th e cri m e, was ab le to i d e n t i fy t h e d efen dan t

. S ee id

. at 3 1 3

. Th e

ev i d en ce d eem ed i n s u ffi ci en t t here was t hat t h e p erp et rat or was b l ack an d barefo o t

,

t h at o t h er wi t n es s es had s een th e d efen d an t w al k i n g b a r e fo o t in t h e v ici n i t y o f t h e

cri m e, t hat t h e vi ct i m h ad at tem pt ed t o s crat ch t h e p erp et rat o r, an d t h at s crat ch es were

n o t e d o n t he defen d an t ’ s arm

. S ee i d

. at 3 1 3-1 4

. In co n t ras t

, Reb ecca p os i t i v e l y

3 Grah am d o es n o t p oi nt t o reco rd ev i d en ce o f t h e v i ct i m s ’ race.

6i d en t i fi ed G rah am as th e g u nm an

, an d h er t es t i m o ny was l arg el y co rro b orat ed by

ad d it i o n al ev i d en ce

— p art i cu larl y Grah am b ei n g fo u nd i n h er s t o l en v eh icl e s h o rt l y

aft er t h e 91 1 cal l an d h i s po s s es s i o n o f i t em s t h at s he cl ai m ed were s t o l en fro m h er.

Grah am al s o arg u es t h at d es cri p t i o n s g i v en b y t he v i ct i m s at tri al co n t rad i ct ed

o n e an o t h er, as wel l as Bo b b y ’ s p ret ri al d e s cri p t i o n s

. Ho wev er, an y s u ch

i n co n s i s t en ci es g o to t h e wei g h t an d cred i b i l i t y o f t h e i n -co urt i d en t i fi cat i o ns

, an d i t

i s fo r t he ju ry t o a s s es s t h e wi t n es s ’ cred i b i l i t y an d res o l v e an y co n fl i ct s i n t h e

ev i d e n c e

. M

c C r a r y v. St at e

, 3 1 0 Ga. Ap p

. 21 5

, 2 1 6 (1 ) (7 12 SE2 d 6 2 2 ) (2 0 1 1 )

(i nco n s i s t en ci es am o n g wi t n es s es ’ t es t i m o n y ); S h er ma n v. S t a t e

, 2 2 5 Ga. Ap p

. 8 6 9,

8 7 2 (2 ) (4 8 5 SE2 d 5 5 7 ) (1 9 9 7 ) (i n co n s is t en ci es b et ween p re-t ri al an d i n

- t ri al

i d en t i fi cat i o n s ).

Grah am ad d i t i on al l y arg u es t h at t h e ju ry ’ s d eci s io n t o co n v i ct hi m o n Co u n t s

3 an d 4 an d acq u i t on Co u n t s 1

, 2

, an d 5 was i l l o g ical gi v en th at Reb ecca i d en t i fi ed

h i m as t h e m a n wh o p o i n t ed a g u n at Bo b b y

, bu t Reb ecca i s t h e n am ed v i ct i m in

Co u n t s 3 an d 4

, an d Bo b b y i s t h e n am ed v i ct i m i n C o u n t s 1

, 2

, an d 5

. 4 Grah am

4 In fact

, Reb ecca i s t h e v i ct i m n am ed i n Co u nt 1 o f t h e i n d i ct m en t

. M o reo v er,

b o t h Co u n t s 3 an d 4 i n v ol v ed t h e h i jack i n g o r at t em

p ted h i jack i ng o f Reb ecc a ’s

v eh icl e. Al t h ou g h b o t h Co u n ts 3 an d 4 m ad e referen ce t o a f i r e a r m

, ev i d en ce t h e

d efen d an t p o i n t ed a g u n d i rect l y at Reb ecca i s n o t n eces s ary t o s u p po rt co n v i ct i on s

o n t h os e co u n ts

. S

ee OCGA § 1 6 -5 -4 4 .1 (b ) (“ A p e r s o n co m m i t s t h e o ffen s e o f

7ack n owl ed ges t h at o ur Su p rem e C o u rt h as ab o l i s h ed t h e ru l e ag ai n s t i n co n s i s t en t

v erd i ct s

, s ee Mi l am v. S ta t e

, 2 5 5 Ga

. 5 6 0

, 5 6 2 (2 ) (3 4 1 SE2 d 2 1 6 ) (1 9 8 6 ), b ut

s u g g es t s i n a fo o t n o te i t m i g h t b e t i m e t o rei ns t at e t h at ru l e. Ho wev er, “ t h i s Co u rt h as

n o au t h o ri t y t o o v erru l e o r m o d i fy a d eci s i o n m ad e b y t h e Su p rem e Co u rt o f

Geo rg i a[.] ” Pa k v. Ga

. D ep ’t o f Beh a vi o r al Hea lt h & D e v e lopmen t a l Di s a b il it i es

, 3 1 7

Ga. Ap p . 4 8 6 , 4 8 8 (7 3 1 SE2 d 3 8 4 ) (2 0 1 2 ).

2

. Grah am n ex t arg u es t hat t h e t ri al co u rt erred b y i n st ru ct i n g t h e ju ry t h at t h e

St at e di d n o t h av e t o p ro v e al l o f t h e act s l i s t ed i n each co u n t o f t h e in d i ct m en t

. W e

d i s ag ree.

Co u nt s 3 an d 4

, th e t wo co u n t s o n wh i ch Grah am w as co n v i ct ed

, each referred

t o b o t h a “ fi rearm an d a rep l i ca o f a fi rearm .” Co u n t 3

, t h e h i j ack i n g ch arg e, accu s ed

Grah am o f o b t ai n i n g a v eh i cl e “ wh i l e i n a p o ss es s io n o f a fi rearm an d a rep l i ca o f a

fi rearm ,” an d Co u n t 4

, o n e of t h e ag g rav at ed as s au l t ch arg es

, a l l e g e d t h at h e “ d id

b ran d i s h a fi rearm an d a rep l i ca o f a fi rearm .” Th e St at e req u es t ed t h at t h e t ri al co u rt

h i jack i ng a m o t o r v eh icl e wh en s u ch p e r s o n w h i l e i n p o s s es s i o n o f a fi rearm o r

weap o n o b t ai n s a m o t o r v eh i cl e fro m t h e p ers o n o r p res en ce o f an o t h er b y fo rce an d

v i o l en ce o r i nt i mi d

a t io n o r at te m

p t s o r co n sp i r es t o d o s o ”) (em p h as is ad d ed ); OCGA

§ 1 6-5 -2 0 t o -2 1 (ag g rav at ed as s au lt m ay be co m m i t t ed b y u s e of a d ead l y weap o n to

p l ace s om eo n e “ i n reas o n ab l e ap p reh en s i o n o f i m m ed i at el y recei v i n g a v i o l en t

i n ju ry ”).

8i n s t ru ct th e ju ry t h at

, i n o rd er fo r t h e j u ry t o fi n d t h e d efen d an t g u il ty

, t h e St at e n eed

p ro v e o n l y

t h at t h e d efen d an t co m

m i t t ed at l eas t o n e act t h at s at i s fi ed each el em en t

o f t h e cri m e ch arg ed

. Th e t ri al co u rt g av e an i n s t ru ct i o n t h at was s i m i l ar, b u t n o t

i d en t i cal , t o t h at req u es t ed b y t h e St at e:

I ch arg e y o u t h at t o fi n d t h e d efen d an t g u i lt y o f t h e cri m e ch arg ed , t he

St at e need o n l y p ro v e t h at t h e d efe n d an t co m m i t t ed at l eas t o n e act

wh i ch s at i s f

i e s each an d ev ery el em en t o f t h e cri m e ch arg ed

. M erel y

b ecau s e t wo o r m o re s ep arat e act s are li s t ed in t h e ch ar g e do es n o t

req u ire t h e St at e t o p ro v e a l l of th e l i s t ed act s t o fi n d t h e d efen d an t

g u i l ty o f t h e cri m e ch arg ed

.

In ad d i t i o n t h e p res en ce o f t he wo rd

, an d

, i n t he d es cri p t i o n of act i o n s

t ak en b y t he accu sed i s n o t req u i red fo r t h e St at e t o p ro v e each act l i st ed

.

A ft er t h e t ri al co u rt sen t t h e ju ry o u t t o d el i b erat e, d efen s e co u n s el s ai d h e h ad n o

o b ject i on s t o t h e ju ry

i n s t ru ct i o n s

.

Becau s e th e d efen d an t fai l ed t o l o d g e an y s p eci fi c o b j ect i o n t o th e i ns t ru ct i o n

h e co m pl ai n s o f n o w, we rev i ew t h e i n s t ru ct i o n t o det erm i n e wh et her i t “ co n s t i t u t es

p l ai n erro r wh i ch affect s s u b s t an t i al ri g h t s o f th e p art i es .” OCGA § 1 7 -8 -5 8 (b ). Un d er

t h at s t an d ard

, t h e co u rt m u s t co n s i d er “ wh et her t h e i n st ru ct io n was erro n eo u s

,

wh et h er i t was o b v i o us l y s o

, an d wh et h er i t l i k e l y affect ed t h e o u t co m e o f t h e

9p ro ceed in g s .” S t a te v. Kel l y

, 2 9 0 Ga. 2 9

, 3 3 (2 ) (a) (7 1 8 SE2 d 2 3 2 ) (2 01 1 ) (ci t at i o n

an d i n t ern al p u n ct u at i o n o m it t ed ). I f i t a n s wers al l t hree of t h es e q ues t i o n s i n t h e

affi rm at i v e, t he ap p el l at e co u rt m ay rev ers e “ i f t h e erro r s eri o u sl y affect s t h e fai rn es s

,

i n t eg ri t y , o r p u b l i c rep u t at i o n o f t h e p ro ceed i n g s b el o w.” Id . (ci t at i o n o m i t t ed )

Here, t h e i n s t ru ct io n i n q u es t i o n d o es n o t co ns t i t u te erro r at al l

. Al t h ou g h t h e

i n s t ru ct i o n was n o t p erfect l y cl ear, t h e es sen ce o f t h e in st ru ct i o n was a co rrect

s t at em en t o f t he l aw: “ If a cri m e m ay b e co m m i t t ed in m o r e t h a n o n e way

, i t i s

s u ffi ci en t fo r t h e St at e t o s h ow t h at i t was co m m i t t ed i n an y o n e o f t h e s ep arat e way s

l i st ed i n t h e i n d i ct m en t, ev en i f t h e i n d i ct m en t u s es th e co n ju n ct i v e rat h er t h an

d i s ju nct iv e fo rm

. ” Gi

p s o n v. S t a t e

, 3 3 2 Ga. Ap p. 30 9

, 3 17 (5 ) (7 7 2 SE2 d 4 0 2) (2 0 1 5 )

(ci t at i o n an d i n t ern al p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ). Fo r t h at reas o n

, i n Gi p so n

, we ru l ed t h at

i t was no t erro r to i n s t ru ct t he ju ry o n t h e el em en t s of ag g rav at ed b at t ery by u s i n g t h e

d i s ju nct iv e l an g u ag e o f t h e s t at u t e, 5 ev en t h o u g h th e i n d i ct m en t ch arg ed th e cri m e in

t h e co n ju n ct i ve. Id

. Si m il arl y

, h ere i t d i d n o t s h i ft t h e b urd en o f p ro o f t o t he d efen s e

5 “ A p ers o n c o m m i t s t h e o ffen s e o f ag g rav at ed b at tery wh en h e o r s h e

m al i ci ou s l y cau s es b od i l y h arm t o an o th er b y d ep ri v i n g h i m o r h er o f a m em b er o f h i s

o r her b od y

, b y ren d eri n g a m em b er o f h i s o r h e r b o d y us el es s

, o r by s eri o u s l y

d i s fi g u ri n g h i s o r h er b o d y o r a m em

b er t h ereo f.” OCGA § 1 6 -5 -2 4(a).

10t o i n st ru ct t h e ju ry t h at t he p ro s ecu t i o n n eed p ro v e o n l y t h e u s e of a fi rearm o r a

rep l i ca.

3

. Grah am al s o arg u es t h at t h e t ri al co u rt i m p ro p erl y co m

m en t ed o n t h e

ev i d en ce wh en i t t o l d ju ro rs

, “ yo u n o w h av e a p ret t y g o od i d ea wh ere t h i ng s

h ap pen ed .” W e d i s ag ree.

Near t h e en d o f t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s ch arg e t o t h e ju ry , i t i n s t ru ct ed :

No w I w an t t o cau ti o n y o u ab o u t o ne o th er t h in g

. Yo u n o w h av e a p ret t y

g o o d i d ea ab o u t w h ere th i n g s h a p p en ed

, al l th at ’ s

— y ou k n o w, th e

d i s t an ces

, t i m es t h at m ay b e i m p o rt an t i n t h i s cas e.

Th i s i s n o t a free l an ce co m m i t t ee wo rk w h ere s o m eb od y n eed s t o g o o u t

an d d o an y m ore ev al uat i o n o r in v es ti g at i o n

. D o n ’ t g et o n G oo g l e, d o n ’ t

g et o n M ap s, d on ’ t g o ch eck o u t wh o se ad d res s i s wh at

. St ay away fro m

al l t h at s t uff as i t rel at es t o t h i s cas e.

Ag ai n, t he d efen s e d i d n o t o b ject t o t h e ch arg e.

Grah am arg u es th at t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s i n s t ru ct i o n s i n th i s reg ard am o u n t ed t o an

i m p erm i s s i b le co m

m en t o n t h e ev i d en ce req u i ri n g a n ew t ri a l unde r O CGA § 1 7 -8 -5 7.

He arg ues t h at t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s st at em en t co n v ey ed t o ju ro rs t h at t he co u rt t ho u g h t t h at

v en ue an d a n u m

ber o f e s s e n t i a l el em en t s o f t h e cri m e h ad b een p ro v en

. Grah am

11co n ten d s t hat t h e t r i a l co u rt ’ s st at em en t “ s erv ed t o h i g h li g h t” th e St at e’ s arg u m en t

t h at h i s s t o ry

t hat h e was ju s t cat ch i n g a ri d e was fal s e.

T h e v ers i o n of O CGA § 1 7 -8

- 5 7 i n effect at t h e t i m e o f Grah am ’ s t ri al 6

p ro v id ed :

It i s erro r fo r an y ju d g e i n an y cri m in al cas e, d uri n g i ts p ro gres s o r i n h i s

ch arg e t o t h e ju r y

, t o ex p res s o r i n t im at e hi s o p i n i on as t o wh at h as o r

h as n o t b een p ro v ed o r as t o t h e g u i l t of th e accu s ed

. Sh o ul d an y j u d ge

v i o l at e th is Co d e s ec t i o n

, t h e v i o lat i o n s h al l b e h el d b y t h e Su p rem e

Co u rt o r Co u rt o f Ap p e a l s t o b e erro r an d t h e deci s i o n i n t he cas e

rev ers ed

, an d a n ew t ri al g ran t ed i n t h e co u rt b el ow w i t h s u ch d i rect i o n s

as t h e Su p rem e Co u rt o r Co u rt o f Ap p eal s m ay l awfu l l y g i v e.

A s u n d ers co red b y o u r Su p rem e Co u rt i n Ro us e v. S t a t e

, 2 9 6 Ga. 2 1 3

, 2 1 4 -1 5 ( 2 )

(7 6 5 SE2 d 8 7 9) (2 0 1 4 ), an y vi ol at i o n o f t h at v ers i o n o f OCGA § 1 7 -8 -5 7 req u i red a

6 Grah am was t ri ed in No v em b er 2 0 1 4

. Th e L eg i s l at u re am en d ed t h e s t at u t e in

2 0 1 5

. G a. L

. 2 0 1 5

, p. 1 0 5 0

. Th e n ew s t at ut e “ l i m it s t h e s co p e o f ap p el l at e rev i ew in

cas es i n wh i ch n o ti m el y o b ject i o n was m ad e at tri al .” Pya t t v. S t a t e

, No

. S1 5 A1 7 3 4,

2 0 1 6 Ga. LEXIS 2 4 9

, 1 3 -1 4 n .9 ( 3 ) ( Ga. M arch 2 5, 2 0 1 6 ). Ou r Su p rem e Co u rt

recen t l y s u g g es t ed t h at th is l i m i t o n ap p el l at e rev i ew m ig h t ap p l y ev en t o cas es t h at

were t ri ed b efo re th e effect i v e dat e o f t h e n ew s t at u t e. S ee i d

. at 1 4 n .9 (3 ). Li k e t h at

Co u rt

, we n eed n o t d eci d e wh et h er t h e 20 1 5 am en dm en t ap p l i es t o t h i s cas e b ecau s e

we fi n d n o rev ers i b l e erro r ev en u n d er t h e fo rm er v ers i o n o f t h e s t at u t e. S ee i d

. at 1 5

n .9 (3 ).

12n ew tri al reg ard l es s o f wh et her t h ere h ad b een an y s h o wi n g o f act u al p reju d i ce t o t h e

d efen d an t

.

Grah am arg u es t h at t h e t r ia l co u rt ’ s in s t ru ct i o n was ak i n t o th e co m m en t s fo u n d

t o m eri t rev ers al i n Ro u s e

, in wh i ch t h e t ri al co urt du ri n g p rel i m i n ary i ns t ru ct i o n s t o ld

m em b ers o f th e ven i re t h at t h ey w o u l d “ b e h eari n g ab o u t a cas e, wh i ch i s a m u rd er

cas e, t h at h ap p en ed i n M u s co g ee Co u n t y [.] ” Ro u s e

, 29 6 Ga. at 2 1 5 (2 ). Ho wev er, t h e

t ri al co u rt ’ s i n s t ru ct i on s h ere are d i fferen t becau s e t h ey were n o t “ an ex p l i ci t

co m m en t b y a t ri al ju d g e i n d i cat in g t h e co urt ’ s op i n i o n t h at a cri t i cal el em en t t h at

m u st be p ro v ed b y th e St at e was n o t i n d i sp u te.” Id

. at 2 1 6 (2 ). Th e co m m en t s h ere

were m ad e i n t he co n t ex t of t el l i n g ju ro rs n ot to d o t h ei r o w n i n v es ti g at i o n

. Th ey are

m o re ak i n to t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s in art fu l co m m en t s i n At

ki n s v. S t a t e

, 2 5 3 Ga. Ap p

. 1 6 9,

1 7 0 -7 1 (2 ) (5 58 SE2 d 7 5 5 ) (2 0 0 2 ), wh i ch i n cl u d ed an ad m o ni s h m en t t h at p ro s p ect i v e

ju ro rs “ l i st en carefu l ly to t h e fact s as co n t ai n ed i n t h e in d i ct m en t .” In an op i n i o n t h at

was d is t i n g u i s h ed

, n o t o v erru l ed

, i n R o u s e

, t h i s co u rt fo u n d t h at t h os e co m m en t s d id

n o t v i o l at e OCGA § 1 7 -8 -5 7

, p art icu l arl y i n t he l i g h t o f t h e t ri al co u r t ’s o t h e r w i s e

a c cu rat e i n s t ru ct i o n s o n t h e St at e’ s b u rd en o f p ro o f an d o t h er rel at ed m at t e r s

. S e e

Ro u se

, 29 6 Ga. at 2 1 6 -1 7 (2 ); At ki n s

, 2 5 3 Ga. Ap p

. at 1 7 0 -7 1 (2 ). Si m i l arl y

, h ere, t h e

t ri al co u rt in s t ru ct ed t h e ju ry t hat t h e St at e b o re t h e b u rd en t o p ro v e each e s s e n t i al

13el em en t o f t h e ch arg ed cri m es

, as wel l as v en u e, b ey o n d a reas o n ab le d o ub t

. Th e t ri al

co u rt al s o i n s t ru ct ed ju ro rs t h at i t h ad n o t i n t en d ed b y an y of ru l i ng s o r co m m en t s to

ex p res s an y o p i n i o n o n t h e ev i d en ce o r g u i l t o f t h e accu s ed

. Th e tri al co u rt d i d n o t err

i n m ak i n g t h e co m

p l ai ned -o f co m

m en t h ere.

Ju d g men t a f f i r m ed . Ph i

p p s , P. J., a nd

Di l la r d , J., co n cu r

.

14