FI FTH DI VI SI ON REESE, P. J.

, M A RKLE and COLVI N, 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.

https ://w w w

. ga a ppe a ls .us /r ule s

D E A D LIN E S A R E N O LO N G E R TO LLE D IN T

H I S

C O U R T. A LL FILIN G S M U ST B E S U B M I TTE D WITH IN

TH E TIM E S S E T B Y

O U R C O U R T R U LE S

.

Decem ber 21, 2020



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A2 0 A1 75 9 . M A

NER v . THE STATE.

C O LV I N
, J u d g e.

Aft er a ju ry t ri al

, J o h n W i l li am s M an er was co nv i ct ed of fo u r co u n t s o f ch i ld

m o les t at i o n (OCGA § 1 6 -6 -4 (a)) ag ai ns t t wo c h i l d r e n

. He ap p eal s fro m th e d en i al

o f h i s m o t i on fo r n ew tri al

, arg ui n g t h at t h e t ri al co urt erred b y ad m i t t i n g ev i d en ce o f

o t h er act s p u rs u an t to OCGA § 2 4 -4 -4 1 4

, i n i t s j u ry in s t ru ct i o n as t o t h e ev i d en ce o f

o t h er act s, an d in ad m i t t i n g M an er’ s rep o rt ed fl i g h t as ev id en ce o f “ co n s ci o u s n es s o f

g u i l t

. ” He al so arg u es t h at h e recei v ed i n effect i ve a s s i s t a n c e o f co un s el

. Fo r t h e

fo l l o w i n g reas on s , we affi rm

.

“ On ap p eal fro m a cri m i n al co n v i ct i o n , we v i ew t h e ev i d en ce i n t h e l ig h t m o s t

fav o rab l e to t h e v erd i ct

, w i t h t h e d efen d an t n o l o n ger en jo y i n g a p res u m

p t i o n o f

i n n o cen ce.” (Ci tat i o n om i tt ed .) Rees e v. S t a t e , 2 70 G a. Ap p

. 5 22

, 5 2 3 (6 0 7 SE2 d 1 6 5 )(2 0 0 4). W e nei t h er wei g h t h e ev i d en ce n o r ju d g e t h e cred ib i l i ty o f w i t n e ss es , b ut

d et erm i n e o n l y wh et h er, aft er vi ewi n g t h e ev i d en ce i n t h e l i g h t m o s t fav o rab l e t o t h e

p ro s ecu ti o n , “ an y rat i o n al t ri er o f fact co ul d h av e fo u n d t he es s en t ial el em en t s o f t h e

cri m e bey o n d a reas o n ab l e do u b t .” (Em p has i s om i t t ed .) Ja cks o n v. Vi r g in i a , 4 4 3 U.

S. 3 07 , 3 1 9 (III) (B) (9 9 SCt 2 7 8 1 , 6 1 LE2 d 5 60 ) (1 9 7 9).

So v i ewed

, t h e e v i d e n c e s h o ws t h at M an er o ft en vi s i t ed h i s si s t er, J an i s , in

LaGran g e. On o n e s u ch v i s i t

, s o m et i m e aro u n d 20 0 6, M an er’ s 12 -y ear-o ld

g ran d n i ece, A. M

. , was at t h e h o m e. As A. M

. was ro ck i n g her b ab y s i s ter t o s l eep ,

M an er wal k ed b ack an d fo rt h i n fro n t o f h er sev eral t i m es wh i l e m o u th i n g i n au d i b l e

wo rd s

. W h en A. M

. p u t t he b ab y t o s l eep an d jo i n ed J an i s in t h e k i t ch en , M an er s at

at t he t ab l e an d co n ti n u ed t o m o u t h i n au d ib l e wo rd s

. W h en A. M. as k ed M an er wh at

h e was s ay i n g , an d h e t o u ch ed h er h an d an d s ai d “ I wan t t o l i ck y ou r p u ss y .” A. M

.

t o l d J an i s ab o u t t he en co u n t er.

In Au g u s t 2 0 1 0

, Man er was at J an is ’ s h ou s e fo r a b i rt h d ay p a r t y

. An o t h er

g ran d n i ece, A

. G., t h e n a n 1 1

- y ear-o l d

, was al so at t h e p art y

. A. G. as k ed t o u s e

M an er’ s co m

p u ter, an d h e t o l d h er t h at s h e co u l d u se i t l at er t hat ev en i n g

. T h at

ev en in g , aft er t h e res t o f t h e fam i l y was i n b ed

, M an er s at n ex t t o A. G. o n t h e co u ch

an d l et h er u s e t h e co m

p u ter. W h i l e t h ey

were s eat ed o n t h e co u ch

, M an er b eg an to

2as k A. G. ab o u t h er pers o n al l i fe an d t o to u ch h er back

. M an er t h en as k ed i f h e co u ld

k i s s h er. A. G. t ol d h i m t hat h e co u l d

, an d h e beg an t o k i s s h er ch eek

. M an er t h e n

p l aced h i s h an d on h er l eg , ru b b ed h er t h ig h an d m o v ed h i s h an d t o ward s h er cro t ch

.

A. G. b ecam e u n co m fo rt ab le an d l eft t h e ro om

. Aft erward s, A

. G. t o l d Jan i s an d h er

fat h er, an d l aw en fo rcem en t was cal l ed

. S. G

. t o l d t h e res p o n d i n g o ffi cer t h at M an er

h ad k i ss ed h er an d t o u ch ed h er i n ap p ro p ri at el y

.

1

. Man er arg ues t h at t h e t r i a l co u rt erred b y ad m i t t i n g ev id en ce, p u rs u an t to

OCGA § 2 4 -4 -4 1 4 (a), t h at h e co m m i t t ed p ri o r act s o f ch i l d m o l es tat i on

. M an er

arg u es t h at t h e o t h er i n s t an ces o f ch i l d m o l es t at i on s h o u l d h av e b een ex cl u d ed

b ecau s e th ey were t o o rem o t e i n t i m e fro m t h e o ffen s es al l eg ed i n t h e i n d i ct m en t an d

were h i g h l y preju d ici al

. W e rev i ew t h e ad m i ss i o n o f o th er act s ev i d en ce pu rs u an t to

OCGA § 2 4 -4 -4 1 4 fo r an ab us e o f d i s cret io n , Ki n g v. S ta t e , 3 4 6 Ga. Ap p . 3 6 2 , 3 6 4

(1 ) (8 16 SE2 d 3 90 ) (2 0 1 8 ), an d we d i s cern n o s u ch ab u s e h ere.

OCGA § 2 4 -4 -4 1 4 (a) p ro v i d es : “ [i ] n a cri m i n al p ro ceed i n g i n w h i c h t h e

accu s e d i s accu sed o f an offen s e o f ch il d m o les t at i o n , ev i den ce o f t he accu s ed ’ s

co m m i s s io n o f an o th er o ffen s e o f ch i l d m o l es t at i o n s hal l b e ad m i s si bl e an d m ay b e

co n si d ered fo r i t s b eari n g o n an y m at t er wh i ch i t i s rel ev an t .” Th e St at e fi l ed a p ret ri al n o t i ce t o in t ro du ce o t h e r act s ev i d en ce p u rs uan t to OCGA § 2 4 -4 -4 1 4

, an d a

3h eari n g was h el d p ri o r t o t ri al

. Th e t ri al co urt ru l ed t hat t h e ev id en c e c o u l d b e

ad m i t t ed , b u t ag reed t o i s s u e a l i m i t i n g i ns t ru ct i o n d u ri n g t ri al

.

At t ri al

, t h e St at e p res en t ed ev i den ce o f t wo o t h er act s of ch i l d m o l es t at i o n by

M a n e r

. A l i m i t i n g i n s tru ct i o n was read t o t h e ju ry p ri o r t o t h e t es ti m o n y o f each

wi t n es s

. J an i s t es t i fi ed ab o u t an ex p eri en ce wi t h h er b ro t h er i n t h ei r ch il d h oo d h o m e.

J an i s t es t i fi ed t h at i n 1 9 5 8

, wh en s h e w as ei g ht y ears o l d

, M an er cal led fo r h er to

co m e u p t o a s t o rag e l o ft i n th ei r h o u s e. M an er, th en 1 4 y ears o ld

, was on a co t i n t h e

l o ft wi t h an erect p en i s

. He u n s u cces s fu l l y a t t e m p t e d t o p en et rat e her b efo re s h e

es cap ed

. J an i s ex p lai n ed t h at s h e nev er t o l d a n yo n e ab ou t t h e occu rren ce b ecau s e

“ [i ] t ’ s j u s t s o m et h i n g we d i d n’ t t al k ab o u t [,] ” an d b ecau s e sh e m an ag ed to b l o ck i t

fro m h er m em ory fo r a l on g t i m e.

Th e St at e al so pres en ted ev i d en ce o f an earl i er act o f ch i l d m o l es t at i o n by

M an er ag ai n s t Gab r i e l l e Gu y

. Gu y t es ti fi ed t h at M an er is h er m o t her’ s fri en d

. In

2 0 0 2

, wh en Gu y was n i n e y ears o l d

, M an er s p en t t h e n ig h t at t h ei r h o u s e in

Pen saco l a, Fl o ri da a n d s l e p t o n t h ei r co u ch

. W h en G u y l eft h er ro o m i n t h e m i d d l e

o f t h e n i g h t t o g et a g las s o f wat er, M an er as k ed h er t o co m e o v er an d s i t n ex t t o h i m

o n t he co u ch

. Gu y co m

p li ed

, an d M an er b eg an ru n n i n g h i s h an d s o n h er l eg s aro u n d

4h er th i g h s an d un d erwear. Th e n ex t m orn i n g, G u y t o l d her p aren t s ab ou t t h e i n ci d en t

,

an d t h ey cal l ed t h e p ol i ce.

M an er arg u es t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n co n cl ud i n g t h at t he p ro b at i v e v al u e

o f t h i s ev i d en ce was n ot s u b s t an t i al l y o u t wei g h ed b y

i t s u n d u ly

p reju d i ci al effect

.

OCGA § 2 4 -4 -4 1 4 (a) (“ Ru l e 4 1 4 ”)

creat e[s ] a ru l e o f i ncl u s i o n , wi t h a st ro n g pres u m p t io n i n fav o r o f

ad m i s s i b i l i t y , an d t h e St at e can s eek t o a d m i t e v i d en ce u nd er t hes e

p ro v i s i o n s fo r an y rel ev an t p u rp o s e, inc l u d i n g p ro pen s i ty

. N ev ert h el es s ,

ev i d en ce t h at i s ad m i s s i b l e u n d er t h es e ru les m ay s t i l l b e ex cl u d ed i f i t s

p ro b at iv e v al u e i s s u b s t an t ial l y o u t wei g h e d b y t h e d an g er o f u n fai r

p reju d i ce, c o n f

u s i o n o f t h e i s s u es , o r m i sl ead i n g t he ju ry o r b y

co n s i d er a t i o n s o f u n du e d el ay , was t e o f t i m e, or n eed l es s p res en t at i o n

o f cu m u l at i v e ev id en ce. OCGA § 2 4 -4 -4 03

. Th e t ri al co u rt i s req u i red

t o co n d uct a b a l an ci ng t es t u nd er Ru l e 4 0 3 wh en co n s i d eri n g wh et h er

ev i d en ce i s ad m i s s i bl e u n d er [Ru l e 4 1 4 ]

. Th i s d et erm i n at i o n l i es wi t h i n

t h e d i scret i o n o f t h e t ri al co u rt [.]

(Ci t at i o n s an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) Di xo n v. S t a t e , 3 5 0 G a. Ap p

. 2 11

, 2 1 3 -2 1 4 (1 )

(8 2 8 SE2 d 4 2 7 ) (2 0 1 9). U p on rev i ew o f t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s d eci s i o n u n d er OCGA § 2 4

-

4 -4 0 3, we d et erm i n e wh et h er t h e t ri al co urt

p ro p erl y co n si d ered al l t h e ci rcu m s t an ces s u rro u n d i ng t he ex t ri n si c act

ev i d en ce, t h e re m o t e n es s i n t im e b et ween t h e ch arg ed act an d th e

ex t ri n s i c act

, i ncl u d i ng t h e s i m i l ari t ies b et w een t h e ch arg ed act an d th e

5ex t ri n s i c act

, an d t h e p ro s ecu t i o n ’ s n eed fo r t h e ex tri n si c act ev id en ce.

An d i n do i n g s o , w e m

u s t b e m i n d fu l t h at t h e ex cl u si o n of rel ev an t

e v i d en ce u n d er OCGA § 2 4 -4 -4 0 3 is an ex trao rd i n ary rem ed y wh i c h

s h o u l d b e u sed o n l y s p ari n g l y , s i nce i t p erm i t s t h e t ri al co u rt to ex cl u de

co n ced ed l y p ro b at i v e ev i d en ce. Th u s, w e lo o k at th e ev i d en ce i n th e

l i gh t m o s t fav o rab l e t o i ts a dm iss i o n , m ax i m i zi n g i t s p ro b at i ve v al ue an d

m i n i m izi n g i ts u n d u e p reju d i ci al i m pact

.

(Pu n ct u at i on an d fo o t n o tes om i t t ed .) McAl l i s t er v. S t a t e , 3 51 Ga. Ap p

. 7 6

, 8 2 -8 3 (1 )

(8 3 0 SE2 d 4 4 3 ) (2 0 1 9 ).

Here, th e t ri al co u rt co n s i d ered each of t he fact o rs del i n eat ed ab o v e, an d

co n cl u d ed t h at t h e ev i d en ce o f ot h er act s s ho u ld b e ad m i t t ed wi t h a l i m i t i n g

i n s t ru ct i o n

. Up o n rev i ew, we co n cl u d e t h at t h e t ri al co u rt d i d n o t ab u se i t s d i s cret i o n

i n ad m i t t i n g ev i d en ce reg ard i n g M an er’ s p ri o r act s b ecau s e t h e ev i den ce was rel ev an t

t o s h o w M an er’ s “ i n t en t

, i d en t i t y , an d p ro pen s i t y t o co m m i t t h e cri m es

. ” Di

xo n , 3 5 0

G a

. A p p

. a t 2 14 (1 ). Bo th o f t h e p ri o r i n ci d en t s t hat th e St at e s o u g h t t o ad m i t w e r e

r e l ev an t “ t o s h o w [M an er’ s ] l u s t fu l d i s p o si ti o n wi t h res p ect t o p ret een o r teen a g e d

g i rl s a n d h i s p a t t ern o f m o l es t i n g y o u n g gi rl s wi t h wh om h e was l i vi n g .” Ha r r is v.

S t a t e , 3 4 0 Ga. Ap p

. 8 6 5 , 8 6 9 (1 ) (b ) (7 9 8 SE2 d 4 9 8 ) (2 0 1 7).

Fu rt her, al t ho u g h m o re th an fi ft y y ears el ap s ed bet ween Man er’ s p ri o r o ffen s e

ag ai n s t J an i s an d t h e cu rren t o ffen s e, s u ch an i n t erv al

, “ s t an d i n g al o n e, i s no t en o u g h

6t o req ui re t h at ev i d en ce o f t h e s i m i l ar t ran sact i o n b e ex cl u d ed

. . . Th e l ap s e o f t i m e

b et ween t h e p ri or o ccu rren ces an d t h e offen s es ch arg ed g o es t o t h e wei g h t an d

c r ed i b i l i ty o f s u ch t es t i m o ny , n o t i t s ad m i s s i bi l i t y .” (Ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n

o m it t ed .) Ba n ks v. S t a t e , 2 5 0 Ga. Ap p

. 7 2 8

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

(d i s ap p ro v ed o n o t h er gro u n d s b y S t a t e v. Bu r n s , 3 0 6 Ga. 1 1 7

, 1 2 4 n

. 3 ( 8 2 9 SE2 d

3 6 7 ) (2 01 9 ). Acco rd H

a r r i s , 3 4 0 Ga. A p p

. at 8 68 -8 6 9 (1 ) (b ) (ev i d en ce o f m o l es t at i o n

t h at o ccu rred 4 4 y ears earl i er rel ev an t an d ad m i ss i b l e u n d er Ru l e 4 1 4 to sh o w p at t ern

o f m ol es tat i o n d es p i t e rem o t en es s i n t i m e); B r ys o n v. S t a t e , 2 1 0 Ga. Ap p

. 6 4 2

, 6 4 3

(2 ) (4 3 7 SE2 d 35 2 ) (1 9 9 3 ) (3 1 -y ear l ap s e b et ween p ri o r s ex u al o ffen s e an d t h e s ex u al

o ffen s e o n t ri al wen t t o w ei g h t an d cred i b i l it y an d n o t i t s ad m i s si b i l i t y ).

In l i g h t o f t h e “ s t ro ng p res u m p t io n i n f a v o r o f ad m i s s i b i l i t y ,” we can n o t s ay

t h at t h e t ri al co u rt ab u s ed i t s d i s c r e t i o n i n al l owi n g t h e p ri o r act s t o b e ad m i t t ed

.

W i l ker s o n v. S t a t e ,

_

_ G a. Ap p

.

_

_ * 3 (1 ) (Cas e No

. A2 0 A1 48 9

, d eci d ed Sep t em b er

3 0 , 2 0 2 0 ).

2

. Man e r a r g ues t h at t he t ri al co u rt erred i n i t s ju ry i n s t ru ct i o n o n t h e “ o t h er

act s ” ev i d en ce i nt ro d u ced at t ri al . W e fi n d n o erro r.

Here, M an er’ s t ri al co u n sel d id n o t o b ject t o t h e ju ry i ns t ru ct i o n at i s su e. Th i s

fai l u re t o o b

ject precl u d es “ ap p el l at e rev i ew o f su ch p o rt i o n o f t h e ju ry ch arg e, u n l es s

7s u c h p o rt i o n o f t h e ju ry ch arg e co n s t i t ut es pl ai n erro r wh i ch affect s t h e s u b s t a n t i a l

ri gh t s o f t h e p art i es .” OCGA § 1 7 -8 -5 8 (b ). See Al vel o v. S t a te

, 2 9 0 Ga. 6 09

, 6 1 4 (5 )

(7 2 4 SE2 d 3 7 7 ) (2 01 2). To m ak e t hi s d et erm i nat i on , t h i s Co urt m u s t co n s i d er

“ wh et h er t h e i ns t ru ct io n was erro n eo u s , wh et h er i t w as o b v i o u sl y s o , an d wh et h er i t

l i kel y affect ed t h e o ut co m e o f th e p ro ceed i n gs .” (Ci t at i o n s an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .)

Id . at 6 1 5 (5 ).

In Di xo n

, s u pra, 3 5 0 Ga. Ap p . at 2 15 (2 ), t he t ri al co urt i n s t ru ct ed t h e ju ry to

co n s i d e r o th er act s ev id en ce t o s h o w i n ten t an d i d en ti t y , b u t l at er t o l d t h em t h ey

co u ld co n s id er t he ev i d en ce fo r “ an y m at t er t o wh i ch i t was rel ev an t

. ” Di x o n arg u ed

t h at t hi s co n t rad i ct io n was co n fu s i n g an d co n s t i t u t ed rev e r s i b l e erro r. W h i l e t h i s

Co u rt reco gn i zed t h at th e ju ry i n s t ru ct i o n i n Di xo n was “ n ot i deal ,” i t s t il l fo u n d t h e

i n s t ru ct i o n t o b e an accu rat e an d co rrect s tat em en t o f t h e l aw. Id . at 2 1 7 (2 ).

Here, M an er al l eg es t h at b ecau s e t h e ju ry was ch arg ed t h at t h e St at e m u s t s h o w

“ i n ten t an d m ay s h o w a l us t fu l d i s p o s i t i o n ” an d w as l at er i ns t ru ct ed t h at t h ey m ay u s e

t h e ot h er act s ev id en ce fo r “ an y m at t er” t h ey d eem “ rel ev an t ,” t h e ju ry was p o s s i b l y

co n fu s ed

. Ho wev er, as i n Di xo n , b o t h as s ert i o n s ar e a n a c c urat e s t at em en t o f l aw.

OCGA § 2 4 -4 -4 1 4 p ro v i d es t h at o t h er act s ev i d en ce “ m ay b e co n s i d er e d f o r i t s

b eari n g o n an y m at t er t o wh i ch i t i s rel ev an t ,” an d i t m ay be u sed t o es t ab l i s h a

8d efen d an t ’ s “ i d en t i t y ” an d “ l u s t fu l d i s p o s i t i o n .” In Di xo n , t h e ju ry

was “ au t h o ri zed

t o c o n s i d er t h e ev i den ce fo r an y rel ev an t pu rp o s e, i n cl u d i n g i n t en t

, i d en t i t y , a n d

p ro p en s it y

. ” Di

xo n , 3 5 0 at 2 17 (2 ). Here, t h e t ri al co u rt au th o ri zed th e ju ry to

c o n s i d er t he ev i d en ce fo r an y rel ev an t p urp o s e an d i n t en t

, i ncl u d in g l u s t fu l

d i s p o s i t i on

. T h i s i n s t ru ct i o n d i d n ot co n s t i t u t e p l ai n erro r an d p res en t s n o b as i s fo r

rev ers al

.

M an er al s o rai s es i s s u e w i t h t h e u se o f t h e wo rd “ s ex u al b a t t ery ” i n t h e t ri al

co u rt ’ s i n s t ru ct i o n on o t h er act s ev i d en ce. “ [I] n d et erm i n i n g wh et h er t h ere was p l ai n

erro r, ju ry ch arg es m

u s t b e r ead an d co n s i d ered as a wh o l e.” (Ci t at i o n an d

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

cCu ll o u g h v. S t a t e , 33 0 Ga. A p p

. 7 1 6

, 7 2 4 (2 ) (7 69 SE2 d

1 3 8 ) (2 0 15 ). H ere, befo re t h e t ri al co u rt g av e t h e co n tes t ed ju ry i n s t ru ct i o n , t h e co u rt

i n s t ru ct ed t h e ju ry

as fo l l o ws :

In o r d e r t o pro ve t h ei r cas e, t h e St at e wi l l offer ev id en ce o f o t h er

o ffen s es o f ch il d mo l es t a t i o n al l eg ed l y co m m i t t ed b y t h e accu s ed

. T he

Defen d an t i s o n t ri al fo r t h e o ffen s es ch arg ed i n t h i s Bi l l o f i n d i ct m en t

o n l y an d n o t fo r an y ot h er act s , ev en th o u g h s uch act s m ay i n ci d en t al l y

b e cri m i n al

.

(Em p h as i s s u p pl i ed ). Th i s p o rt i o n o f t h e i n s t ru ct i o n i n fo rm ed t h e ju ry t h at t h ey wo u ld

h ear o t h er act s o f ch i l d m ol es t at i o n

. Th e t ri al co u rt fu rt h er pro v i ded t he ju ry wi t h t h e

9d efi n i t i o n o f ch i l d m o l es t at io n

. Th u s , i n read i n g t h e i n st ru ct io n as a wh o l e an d

co n si d eri n g t h e t es ti m on y p ro v i d ed at t ri al

, t h e ju ry was p ro p erl y i n fo rm ed t wi ce

ab o ut t h e t y

p e o f o t h er act s ev i d en ce t h ey h eard

.

3

. M an er arg u es t h at h i s t ri al co u n s el ren d ered i n effect i v e as s i s t an ce o f co u n s el

d u e t o co u n s el ’ s fai l u re t o o b ject t o t h e ju ry i n s tru ct io n s reg ard i n g o t h e r act s

ev i d en ce.

To p rev ai l o n t h i s cl ai m , [M an er] m u st pro v e b o t h t hat h i s t ri al co u n s el ’ s

p erfo rm an ce was defi ci en t an d t h at t here i s a reas o n ab le p ro bab il i t y t hat

t h e tri al res u l t wo u l d h a v e b e en di fferen t i f n ot fo r t h e d efi ci en t

p erfo rm an ce. To p ro v e d efi ci en t p erfo rm an ce, an ap p el l an t m u s t s h o w

t h at h i s at t o rn ey perfo rm ed at t ri al in an ob ject i v el y u n reas on ab le way

co n s i d eri ng al l t h e ci rcu m st a n c es an d i n t h e l ig h t of p rev ai l i n g

p ro fes s io nal n o rm s

. In rev i ewi n g co u n s el ’ s perfo rm an ce o n ap peal

, we

m u s t ap p l y a s t ro n g p res u m p t i o n t h at co u n s el ’ s rep res en t at i o n w as

wi t h in t h e wi d e ran g e o f rea s o n a b le p ro fes s i o n al as s i st an ce. If an

ap p el l an t fai l s t o s at i s fy ei t h er p ro n g o f t hi s t es t

, we n eed n o t ex am in e

t h e o t her p ro ng

.

(Ci t at i o n s an d pu n ct uat i o n om i t t ed .) Di xo n , 3 50 G a. A p p

. at 2 1 7 -2 1 8 (3 ). Th ere i s n o

d efi ci en t p erfo rm an ce ari si n g fro m t h e fai l u re t o m ak e a m eri t l es s o bject i o n

. Ha r d in

v. St a te

, 3 4 4 Ga. Ap p. 3 7 8

, 3 8 1 (1 ) (8 10 SE2 d 6 0 2 ) (2 0 1 8 ). A n d wh ere th ere i s n o

erro r i n t h e ju ry i n s t ru ct i o n , an d t h u s n o b as i s t o m ak e an o b ject i on , t h e d efen d an t

10can n ot s h o w i n effect i v e as s i st an ce o f co u n sel

. Go d fr e y v

. S t at e , 2 7 4 Ga. Ap p

. 2 3 7,

2 4 0 (1 ) (c) (6 1 7 SE2 d 21 3 ) (2 0 0 4 ). In l i g h t o f o u r co ncl u s i o n i n D i v i s i o n 2 t h at t h ere

was n o erro r i n th e j u ry i n s tru ct i o n , co u n s el ’ s p erf o rm an ce w as n o t d efi ci en t

.

Th erefo re, M an er can n o t m eet h i s b u rd en t o s ho w i n effect i v e as s i s t an ce o f co u n s el

.

Di xo n , 3 5 0 Ga. Ap p . at 21 8 (3 ).

4

. M an er arg u es t h a t t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n ad m i t t i n g ev i d en ce o f h i s fl i g ht

fro m h i s fi rs t ju ry t ri al as co n s ci o u s n es s o f g u i l t . W e d i s ag ree.

Pri o r t o t ri al

, th e St at e fi l ed a m o t i o n i n l i m i n e t o i n tro d u ce M an er’ s p ri o r fl i g ht

as co n s ci ou s nes s o f g u i l t

. T h e m o t i o n s o u gh t t o i n t ro d uce ev i d en ce t h at M an er’ s t ri al

o n th e ch arg ed o ffen s es was o ri g i n al l y s ch ed u l ed o n J u n e 2 9

, 2 0 1 2

. M an er ap p eared

fo r t ri al

, b u t t h en h e fl ed t h e co u rt h o u s e p ri o r to t h e s weari n g -i n o f t he ju ry an d n ev er

ret u rn ed

. M an er was n ot fo u nd u n t i l s ev eral y ears l at er, w h en h e was arres t ed

p u rs u an t t o a b en ch warran t o n J u ne 1 0

, 2 0 1 7. Aft er h eari n g arg u m en t s fro m p art i es

p ri o r t o t ri a l

, t h e t r i a l co u rt gran t ed t h e m o t io n an d al l owed t h e ev i d en ce i n fo r t h e

p u rp os e o f s h o wi ng t h e reas o n fo r t h e t ri al ’ s d el ay as wel l as co n s ci ou s nes s o f g u i l t

.

M an er arg u es th at b ecau se t wo y ears l ap s ed b et ween h is arres t an d h is es cap e,

t h e d u rat i o n was t o o l o n g t o s u p p o rt t he co n cl us i o n t h at hi s es cap e was d u e to

co n sci o u s n es s o f gu i l t

. W e fi n d n o m eri t i n t h i s arg u m e n t

. “ T h e St at e i s en t i t l ed to

11o ffer ev i d en ce o f fl i g h t wh i l e a defen dan t i s awai t i n g t r i al an d arg ue t h at i t

d em o n s t rat es co n s ci o u s n es s o f g u i l t .” (Ci t at i o ns om i t t ed .) Tu r ner v. St a t e , 2 3 7 Ga.

Ap p . 6 4 2

, 64 4 (3 ) (5 1 6 SE2 d 3 4 3 ) (1 9 99 ). Acco rd Ro b in s o n v. S t at e , 3 1 2 Ga. Ap p.

7 3 6

, 7 5 5 (8 ) (7 1 9 SE2 d 6 0 1 ) (2 0 1 1 ) (ev i den ce t h at a d efen dan t fl ed fro m t h e

co u rt ro o m m i d -t ri al was ad m i s s i b l e t o s e r ve a s ci rcu m s tan t i al ev id en ce o f g u i l t ). “ Th e

am ou n t o f t i m e l ap s ed i s a fact o r t o b e wei g h ed b y t h e ju ry , al o n g w i t h t h e o t h er

ci rcu m s t an ces su rro u n d in g t h e fl i g h t, t o d et erm i ne if t h e fl ig h t was d u e t o a s en s e o f

g u i l t o r s om e o th er reas o n.” (Ci tat i o n an d p u nct u at i o n o m i tt ed .) Tu r n er , 23 7 Ga. Ap p.

at 6 4 4 (3 ). 1 Th 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 ad m i t ti n g t h i s ev i d en ce. 2

Ju d g men t a f f i r m ed . Rees e, P. J., a n d

Ma rkl e, J., co n cu r

.

1 Fu rt h er, t h e ev i d en ce o f M an er’ s fl i g h t was pro p erl y ad m it t ed t o ex p l ai n t h e d el ay i n p ro s ecu ti o n

. See e. g ., W i s e v. S t a te

, 3 2 1 Ga. Ap p

. 3 9

, 4 1 -4 2 (2 ) (7 4 0 SE2 d

8 5 0 ) (2 0 1 3 ).

2 A l t h o u g h M an er rel i es u p o n th e El ev en t h Ci rcu i t cas e i n Un i t ed S t a t es v. Bo r der s , 6 9 3 F.2 d 1 3 1 8 (1 1 t h Ci r.) (1 9 82 ), s uch d eci s i o ns “ are n o t b i n d i n g o n t h i s Co u rt

, [b ut are m erel y ] pers u as i v e au t ho ri t y .” (Ci t at i o n o m i t t ed .) Per ez v. S t a t e , 2 8 3

Ga. 1 9 6 , 1 9 8 (6 5 7 SE2 d 8 4 6 ) (2 0 0 8 ).

12