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

De c id e d : Ma rc h 2 , 2 0 1 5

S 1 4 A1 9 2 5 . HEARD v . THE S T A TE.

HUNS T EIN, Ju stic e

.

A p p e l l a n t Eric Tra m a in e He a rd wa s c o n v ic te d b y a ju ry of m u rd e r a n d

re la te d o ffe n se s in c on ne c tio n with a Ju ly 2 0 0 9 b urg la ry a n d a tte m p te d ro b b e ry

c u lm in a tin g in th e sh o o tin g d e a th of S h e re e c k a P itts in th e p re se n c e of h e r two

y o u ng d a u g h t e r s an d h e r siste r. Ap p e lla n t a p p e a ls th e d e n ia l of his a m e n d e d

m o tio n fo r n e w tria l, c o n te n d in g th a t th e e v id e n c e wa s in su ffic ie n t fo r a ju ry to

fin d h im g u ilty ; h is tria l c o u n se l re n d e re d in e ffe c tiv e a ssista n c e ; an d th e tria l

c o u rt e rre d with re g a rd to c e rta in witn e ss te stim o ny a n d b y n o t g iv in g a sp e c ific

ju ry in stru c tio n . F in din g n o e rro r, we a ffirm

. 1

1 On Decem

b er 1 6

, 2 01 0

, a Cl ay t o n Co u n t y gran d ju ry i n d ict ed Ap p el l an t fo r

t h e fo l l o wi ng : m al i ce m

u rd er; fel o n y m

u rd er (p red i cat ed on b urg l ary ); fel o n y m u rd er

(p red i cat ed o n ag g rav at ed as s au l t ); b u rg l ary ; 1 2 co u n t s o f ag g rav at ed as s au l t ; f o u r

co u nt s o f cri m i n al at t e m p t t o co m m i t arm ed ro b b ery ; k i d n ap p i n g ; s i m p l e b at tery ;

fal s e im p ri s o n m en t ; ei g ht co u n t s o f p os s es s i o n o f a w eap o n d u ri n g a cri m e; an d

p o s s es s i o n o f a fi rearm b y a co n v i ct ed fel o n

. Ap p el l an t w a s t r i e d b y a ju ry o n

Feb ru ary 2 7-M arch 1

, 2 0 1 2

. T h e ju ry fo u n d Ap p el l an t gu i l t y o f t wo co un t s o f fel o ny

m u rd er, ei g h t co un t s o f ag g rav at ed as s au l t

, fo ur co u n ts of cri m i n al at t em p t t o co m m i tVie we d in th e lig h t m o st fa vo ra b le to th e ju ry ’s v e rd i c t

, t h e e v id e n c e

a d d u c e d a t tria l e sta blish e d a s fo llo ws. O n th e m o rn in g o f th e c rim e s, P itts, h e r

d a u g h te rs, a

n d h e r siste r, La c h a u d a P itts, we re a t P itts’ h o u se wa tc h in g

te le v isio n wh e n th e y h e a rd th e d o o rb e ll rin g ; th e y sa w n o o n e a t th e d oo r. Afte r

g o in g b a c k to P itts’ be dro o m

, th e y h e a rd p e o p le c o m in g in th e h ou se an d sa w

two m e n a p p ro a c h in g th e m

. Th e two wo m e n ra n to wa rd s th e ga ra g e in a n e ffo rt

to e sc a p e

. Be hin d h e r, La c h a

u d a th e n h e a rd o n e o f th e m e n sa y

, “ Yo u m o v e I’ll

b lo w y o u r m o th e r f* * * * * * b ra in s ou t.” S h e tu rn e d to se e o ne o f th e m e n

h o ld in g a .4 0 c a lib e r fire a rm a n d th e o th e r ho ld in g a fire a rm sh e c o u l d n o t

id e n tify

. Th e wo m e n sto p p e d a n d re tre a te d to wa rd s th e b e d ro o m wh e re th e two

y o u ng g irls we re lo c a te d . Th e g u n m e n fo llo we d

.

arm ed ro b b ery

, k i d n ap p i n g

, s i m p l e b a t t ery

, fal s e i m

p ri s o n m en t

, ei g h t co u n t s o f

p o s s es s i o n o f a fi rearm d u ri n g t h e co m m i s s i o n o f a cri m e, an d po s ses s i o n of a fi rearm

b y a co nv i ct ed fel on

. On M arch 1 2

, 2 0 1 2

, t he co u rt s en t en ced Ap p el l an t t o l i f e

i m p ri s o n m en t fo r fel o n y m urd er, a co ns ecu t i ve l i fe t erm fo r k i d n ap p i n g

, an d

c o n s ecu t iv e t erm s to t al i n g 1 16 y ears fo r t h e co u n t s o f ag g rav at ed as s au l t

, s i m p l e

b at t ery

, fal s e i m

p ri so n m e n t

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

cri m e, an d p o s s es s i o n o f a fi rearm b y a co n v i ct ed fel o n

. Th e rem ai n i n g c o u n t s

m erg ed o r were v acat ed b y op erat i o n o f l aw. A p p el lan t fi l ed a m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al

o n March 30

, 2 0 1 2

, wh i ch was am en d e d on Feb ru ary 20

, 2 0 1 3

. Aft er a h eari n g o n

Ap p el l an t ’ s am en d ed m o t i o n fo r n ew tri al o n March 21

, 2 0 1 3, t h e t ri al co urt d en i ed

A p p el l an t ’ s m o t i on o n J an u ary 7

, 2 0 14

. Ap pel l an t fi l ed a n o t ice o f ap p eal o n

Feb ru ary 6

, 2 0 1 4

. Th e ap p eal w as d o ck et ed t o t h e Sep t em ber 2 01 4 t erm o f t h i s Co u rt

an d s ub m i t t ed fo r a d eci s i o n o n t h e b ri efs

.

2Th e two m e n de m a nd e d m o n e y

, a nd th e wo m e n re p lie d th a t th e y d id n o t

h a v e a ny

. P itts to ld th e a ssa ila n ts to ta k e a ny th in g in th e ho use

, a n d La c h a u d a

g o t o n th e g ro un d

. La c h a u d a wa tc h e d a s Ap p e lla n t op e n e d th e c lo se t d o o r,

p u sh e d P itts in sid e

, a n d d e m a n d e d th a t sh e fin d m o n e y

. Th e o th e r m an p o in te d

a gu n in L a c h a

u d a ’s fa c e a n d re p e a te d ly sa id th a t h e wo u ld sh o o t h e r, wh ile sh e

b e g g e d fo r h e r life

. L a c h a u d a th e n o bse rv e d Ap p e lla nt sh oo t P itts in th e

a b d o m e n a n d sa w h e r fa ll to th e g ro u n d

. La c h a u d a wa tc h e d a s A p p e lla n t sh o t

P itts a g a in in th e le g

. P itts’ d a u g h te rs be g a n ju m

p in g a n d c r y i n g h y ste ric a lly

u p o n se e in g th e ir m o th e r sh o t. Ap p e lla n t th e n p u t h is h a n d a ro u n d La c h a u d a ’s

th ro a t an d sa id

, “ I’ll ju st d o y o u h o w I ju st did y o u r m oth e r f* * * * * * siste r [sic ]

wh e re th e m o ne y a t? ” Ap p e lla n t p o in te d a g u n in La c h a ud a ’s fa c e a n d to ld h e r

to g e t th e two g irls o ff o f th e b e d b e fo re h e sh o t th e m

. L a c h a u d a g a th e re d th e

g irls o ff o f th e b e d a

n d trie d to c a lm th e m

. Ap p e lla n t d e ma n d e d c e l l p h o ne s

fro m La c h a

u d a b u t sh e c ou ld n o t lo c a te th e m

. Ap p e lla n t a n d th e oth e r g u n m a n

th e n ra n o u t o f th e fro n t d o o r.

Wh e n p o lic e a rriv e d o n th e sc e n e

, th e y fo u n d P itts u n re sp o n siv e

, w ith

g u n sh o t wo u n d s to h e r rig h t th ig h a n d a b d o m e n . S h e d ie d o f th e se wo u n d s a t

th e h o s p i t al

. Th e b u lle t re c o v e re d fro m h e r b o d y m a tc he d a n o th e r b ulle t th a t

3in v e stig a to rs fo u n d o n th e b e d ro o m c a rp e t. In v e stig a to rs a lso re c o v e re d a .4 0

c a lib e r sh e ll c a sin g in th e b e dro o m

.

La c h a u d a wa s a

b le to g iv e a d e sc rip tio n o f b o th g u n me n to th e le a d

d e te c tiv e a t th e sc e n e

. Ap p ro x im a te ly two h o u rs la te r, La c h a u da sp o k e fu rth e r

with th is d e te c tiv e a t p o l i c e h e a d q u a rte rs a n d g a v e d e sc rip tio n s o f th e two

g u n m e n to a sk e tc h a rtist. Ba se d o n tip s re c e iv e d a fte r th e m e d ia pu b lish e d th e

sk e tc he s, in v e stig a to rs id e n tifie d Ap p e lla n t a s o ne o f th e a ssa ila n ts. Fo u r d a y s

la te r, th e le a d d e te c tiv e sh o we d La c h a u da a ph o to g ra

p h ic lin e u p

. Up o n se e in g

Ap p e lla n t’s p h o to g ra

p h in th e lin e u p

, La c h a

ud a im m e d ia te ly b e g an c ry in g a n d

sh a k in g

, a n d s h e id e n tifie d Ap p e lla n t a s th e sh o o te r an d th e g u n m an th a t h a d

d e ma n d e d m o n e y

, th re a te n e d h e r a n d th e g irls, gra b b e d h e r b y th e th ro a t, a n d

p o in te d a g u n in h e r fa c e

. Sh e te stifie d to th is e ffe c t a t tria l a nd id e n tifie d h im

in o p e n c o u rt.

Afte r p o lic e a rre ste d Ap p e lla n t, S te rlin g F lin t c o n ta c te d p o lic e

, c la im in g

to h a v e in fo rm a tio n a

b ou t th e m

u rd e r. F lin t me t with p o lic e

, wh e re h e g a v e a

v id e ota p e d sta te m e n t im

plic a t i n g Ap p e lla nt a s th e sh o o te r. At tria l, F lin t

c h a n g e d h is sto ry

, c la im in g th a t h e d id n o t k n o w Ap p e lla n t a n d th a t he h a d lie d

i n h i s sta te m e n t to p o lic e

. Th e v id e o ta p e d sta te m e n t wa s p la y e d fo r th e ju ry

.

4In it, F lin t to ld in v e stig a to rs th a t h e k n e w th a t A p p e lla n t “ d id it” a n d th a t h e h a d

h e a rd Ap p e lla n t sa y

, in re fe re n c e to th e c rim e s, “ B* * * * sh o u ld h a ve ga v e [sic ]

u p th e m o n e y ” a nd “ no b o d y g o nn a [sic ] fin d o ut wh a t I d id to th e b * * * * .”

1

. T h e e v id e nc e a s de sc rib e d a b o v e w a s su ffic ie n t to e n a ble a ra t i o n a l

trie r o f fa c t to c o n c lu d e b e y o nd a re a so na b le d o u b t th a t Ap pe 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 5 6 0 ) (1 9 7 9 ).

2

. Ap p e lla n t a rg u e s th a t th e p h o to g ra p h ic lin e u p sh o wn to La c h a u d a wa s

so im p e rm issib ly su g g e s t iv e th a t it g a v e rise to a su b sta n tia l lik e lih o o d o f

irre p a ra b le m isid e n tific a tio n . We d isa gre e

.

An u n d u ly su gg e stiv e p ro c e d ure i s o n e wh ic h le a d s th e

witn e ss to th e v irtu a lly in e v itab le id e n tific a tio n of th e d e fe n da n t a s

th e p e rp e tra to r, a n d is e q u iv a le n t to th e a u th o ritie s te llin g th e

witn e ss, ‘Th is is o u r su sp e c t.’ Wh e re th e i d e n tific a tio n p ro c e du re

i s n o t u n d u ly su g ge stiv e

, it is n o t n e c e ssa ry to c o n sid e r wh e th e r

th e re wa s a

su b sta n tia l lik e lih o o d o f irre p a ra b le m isid e ntific a tio n

.

Willia m s v

. S ta te

, 2 9 0 G a

. 5 3 3

, 53 5-3 6 (2 ) (a ) (7 2 2 S E 2 d 84 7 ) (2 0 1 2 )

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

Ap p ly in g th is sta n d a rd

, we c o n c lu d e th a t th e p h o to g ra p h ic lin e up sh o wn

5to La c h a

u d a wa s n o t un d u ly su g g e stiv e

. Th o u gh A p p e lla n t a sse rts th a t th e le a d

d e t e c tiv e im

p ro pe rly u se d a p o st-a rre st p h o to g ra p h o f Ap p e lla nt in t h e

p h o to g ra p h ic a rra y

, we fin d n o e rro r. Ea c h o f th e p h o to g ra ph s in th e lin e u p

d e p ic te d a b la c k m a le sta n d in g b e fo re a sim ila r b lu e b a c k g ro u n d

. Th e fa c t th a t

a p o st-a rre st p h o to g ra

p h o f Ap p e lla n t wa s u se d in th e lin e u p d o e s n o t re n d e r it

im p e rm issib ly su g g e stiv e

. S e e S h arp v

. S ta te

, 2 8 6 Ga

. 7 9 9 (4 ) (6 9 2 S E2 d 3 2 5 )

(2 0 1 0 ) (p h o to g ra

p h ic lin e u p c o n sistin g o f b o o k in g p h o to gra p h s d id n o t re n d e r

t h e m i m p e rm issib ly su g g e stiv e ). Mo re o v e r, th e re c o rd d o e s no t in d ic a te a n y

p o lic e a c tio n th a t wo u ld h a v e le d La c h a u da to sin g le o u t Ap pe lla n t in th e lin e u p

.

La c h a ud a h a d a p h y sic a l re a c tio n to A p p e lla n t’s p ho to gra p h d u rin g th e lin e u p

,

wa s c o n fid e nt th a t h e wa s th e sh o o te r, a n d w a s c o n siste n t in h e r id e n tific a tio n

fro m th e tim e o f th e lin e up

, fo u r d a y s a fte r th e c rim e s, th ro u g h th e tim e o f tria l.

3

. Ap pe lla n t a rg u e s th a t h is tria l c o un se l re n d e re d c o n stitu tio n a lly

in e ffe c tiv e a ssista n c e

. To e sta b l i s h i n e ffe c tiv e a ssista n c e o f c o u n se l, a

d e fe n d a n t m

u st sh o w th a t his tria l c o un se l’s p e rfo rm a n c e wa s pro fe ssio n a lly

d e fic ie n t a n d th a t b u t fo r s u c h d e fic ie n t p e rfo rm a n c e th e re is a re a so n a b le

p ro b a b ility th a t th e re su lt o f h is tria l wo u ld h a ve be e n d iffe re n t. S tric k la n d v

.

Wa sh in g to n

, 4 6 6 U. S

. 6 6 8, 6 9 5 (1 0 4 SCt 2 0 5 2

, 8 0 LE2 d 6 74 ) (1 9 8 4 ); We sle y

6v

. S ta te

, 2 8 6 Ga

. 3 5 5 (3 ) (6 8 9 S E2 d 2 8 0 ) (2 0 1 0 ). To p ro ve d e fic ie n t

p e rfo rm a n c e

, o n e m

u st sh o w th a t h is a tto rn e y “p e rfo rm e d a t tria l in a n

o b je c tiv e ly u n re a so n a

b le wa y c o n sid e rin g a ll th e c irc u m sta nc e s a n d in th e lig h t

o f p re v a ilin g p ro fe ssio n a l n o rm s.” Ro m e r v. Sta te

, 2 93 Ga . 3 3 9 , 3 4 4 (3 ) (7 4 5

S E2 d 63 7 ) (2 0 1 3 ). If th e d e fe n d a nt fa ils to sa tisf y e i t h e r th e “ d e fic ie n t

p e rfo rm a n c e ” o r th e “ p re

ju d i c e ” p r o n g o f th e S tric k la n d te st, th is C o u rt is n o t

re q u ire d to e x a m in e th e oth e r. S e e Gre e n v

. S ta te

, 2 9 1 Ga

. 5 7 9 (2 ) (7 3 1 S E2 d

3 5 9 ) (2 01 2 ).

(a ) Ap p e lla nt a sse rts th a t c o u n se l w e re in e f f e c t i v e fo r fa ilin g to file a

m o tio n to su p p re ss La c h a u d a ’s id e n tific a tio n o f A p p e lla n t in th e p h oto g ra p h ic

lin e up

. Giv e n o u r d e te rm in a tio n th a t th e ph oto g ra p h i c lin e u p sh o wn to

La c h a ud a wa s n o t u n d u ly su g g e stiv e

, a n y su c h m otio n b y c o u n se l wo u ld n o t

h a v e b e e n su c ce s s f

u l

, a n d Ap p e lla n t th u s c a n sh ow ne ith e r d e fic ie n t

p e rfo rm a n c e n o r p re

ju d ic e in th is re g a rd . S e e Du rd e n v . S ta te

, 2 9 3 G a

. 8 9

, 9 7

(6 ) (a ) (7 4 4 S E2 d 9 ) (2 0 1 3 ) (“ fa ilu re to m a k e a m e ritle ss m o tio n o r o b je c tio n

c a n n o t c on stitu te in e ffe c tiv e a ssista n c e o f c o u n se l” ).

(b ) Ap p e lla nt c on te n ds th a t c o u n se l fa ile d to p ro p e rly im p e a c h F lin t with

h is prio r c o n v ic tio n s. Giv e n Flin t’s a c k no w le d g m e n t d u rin g h is tria l te stim o n y

7th a t he wa s a t th a t tim e in ca r c e r a te d o n u n re la te d c h a rg e s, Ap p e lla n t c a n n o t

sh o w p re ju d ic e fro m c o u n se l’s fa ilu re to p ro b e m o re d e e p ly in to F lin t’s c rim in a l

h isto ry

. Ad d itio n a lly , in so fa r a s Ap p e lla n t n e g le c te d to in tro du c e e v id e n c e o f

a n y o f F lin t’s p rio r c o n v ic tio n s a t th e n e w tria l h e arin g

, th is c la im m u st fa il. S e e

F u lle r v . S ta te , 2 7 8 Ga

. 8 1 2 (2 ) (d ) (6 0 7 S E2 d 5 8 1 ) (2 0 0 5 ).

(c ) Ap p e lla n t a sse rts th a t c o u n se l we re in e ffe c tiv e fo r fa ilin g to im p e a c h

La c h a ud a with h e r p rio r in c o n siste n t sta te me n ts. Ho we v e r, Ap pe lla n t’s tria l

c o u n s el we re no t q u e stio n e d a t th e ne w tria l h e a rin g a b o u t th e ir fa ilu re to

im p e a c h La c h a

u d a

, a nd we th u s m

u st p re su m e th a t th e ir d e c isio n s in th is re g a rd

we re re a so n a

b ly stra te gic a nd c a n n o t g iv e rise to a n in e ffe c tiv e ne ss c la im

. S e e

Brig ht v . S ta te

, 2 9 2 Ga . 2 7 3 (2 ) (a ) (7 3 6 S E 2 d 3 8 0 ) (2 01 3).

(d ) Ap p e lla n t co n te n d s th a t c o u n se l fa ile d to c a ll a re b u tta l witn e ss to

c o n tra d ic t F lin t’s te stim o n y

. To p re v a il o n th is c la im

, A p p e lla n t m u st m a k e “ a n

a ffirm a tiv e sh o win g [o f] h o w c o u n se l’s fa ilu re wo u ld h a v e a ffe c te d th e o u tc om e

o f h is c a se ” b y d e m o nstra tin g th a t th e re b utta l witn e ss’ te stim o n y wo u ld h a v e

b e e n re le v a n t a n d fa v o ra

b le t o h i m. Go o d win v

. C ru z -P a d illo

, 2 6 5 Ga

. 6 1 4

,

6 1 5 (4 58 S E2 d 6 2 3 ) ( 1 9 9 5 ). Alth o u g h th e re bu tta l witn e ss te stifie d a t

A p p e l l a n t ’ s h e a rin g o n h is m o tio n fo r ne w tria l, he did n o t te stify sp e c ific a lly

8a

b o u t wh a t h is tria l te stim on y wo u ld h a ve b e e n

. Ha v in g fa i l e d t o ma k e a n y

p ro ffe r o f th e re b u tta l witn e ss’ e x p e c t e d t r ia l te stim o n y

, Ap p e lla nt c a n n o t

e sta b lish p re

ju d ic e in th is re g a rd . Id

.

(e ) Ap p e lla n t a sse rts th a t c ou n se l fa ile d to in v e stig a te th e o wn e r o f a c e ll

p h o ne fo u n d a t th e c rim e sc e n e

. Ho we v e r, Ap pe lla n t did n o t p ro d u c e th is c e ll

p h o ne a t th e n e w tria l h e a rin g

, n o r d id h e m a k e a n y p ro ffe r a s t o wh a t fu rth e r

in v e stig a tio n wo u ld h a ve u n c o v e re d. He th us ca n n o t e sta b lish in e ffe c tiv e

a ssista n c e o f c o u n se l o n th is g ro u n d

. Wh ite v

. S ta te

, 2 9 3 Ga

. 8 2 5 (2 ) (c ) (7 5 0

S E2 d 1 65 ) (2 0 1 3 ).

(f) Ap pe lla n t a lso c la im s h is c o u n se l we re in e ffe c tiv e fo r fa ilin g to

p ro d u c e Ap p e lla n t’s c e ll p h o ne re c ord s. Ho w e v e r, c o u nse l te stifie d a t n e w tria l

h e a rin g th a t th e y ha d o b ta in e d th e se r e c o rd s, re v ie we d th e m

, an d sp o k e n to

Ap p e lla n t a

b o u t h is in c om in g a n d o u tg o in g c a lls. Co u n se l te stifie d th a t th e y d id

n o t ha v e a n y re a so n to d isb e lie v e w h a t Ap p e lla n t to ld th e m a bo ut th e c a lls a n d

h is wh e re a

b o uts wh e n h e re c e iv e d th e c a lls, a n d th a t, o n th is b a sis, th e y d id n o t

fo llo w u p fu rth e r in th is re g a rd

. Ap p ly in g th e stro n g p re su m p tio n th a t c o u n se l’s

c o n d u c t fe ll with in th e wid e ra n g e o f re a so n a ble p ro fe ssio n a l p e rfo rm a n c e

, we

d o n o t fin d th a t c o u n se l’s a c tio n s h e re we re so p a te n tly u n re a so na b le th a t n o

9c o m

p e te n t a tto rn e y wo uld h a v e fo llo we d su c h a c o urse

. S e e Ro m e r, 2 9 3 Ga

. a t

3 4 4

. Ad d itio n a lly

, Ap pe lla n t h a s fa ile d to e sta b lish h o w th is e v id e n c e o r o th e r

in fo rm a tio n fro m h is c e ll p h o n e r e c o r d s wo u ld h a v e b e e n fa vo ra b le to h is

d e fe n se . S e e Wh ite , 2 9 3 Ga

. a t 8 2 7 -2 8

.

(g ) A p p e lla n t a lso c o n te n d s th a t c o u n se l we re in e ffe c tiv e b e c a u se (1 ) th e y

n e v e r q u e stio n ed A p p e lla n t’s a lib i witn e ss a b o u t Ap p e lla n t’s wh e re a

b o u ts o n

th e m o rn in g o f th e m

u rd e r; (2 ) th e y fa ile d to re q ue st lim itin g in stru c tio n s wh e n

th e tria l c o u rt a llo we d th e S ta te t o im p e a c h F lin t b y pla y in g h is v id e o ta p e d

sta te m e n t; a n d (3 ) th e y fa ile d to re q u e st a ju ry c h a rg e o n “ a ssa u lt” a s it re la te d

to a g g ra va te d a ssa u lt a lle ge d in th e in d ic tm e nt. Ap p e lla nt d id n o t ra ise a n y o f

th e se issu e s in h is a m e n d e d m o tio n fo r ne w tria l o r a t th e h e a rin g o n h is m o tio n

,

a n d th e tria l c ou rt d id n o t ru le o n th e m

. Ac c o rd in g ly

, he h a s fa ile d to p re se rv e

t h e se issu e s fo r re v ie w on a p p e a l. Jo n e s v

. S ta te

, 2 9 4 Ga

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

1 3 1 ) (2 01 4 ).

4

. A p p e lla n t a rg u e s th a t th e tria l c ou r t e r r e d with re ga rd to F lin t’s

te stim o n y

. F irst, h e a sse rts th a t th e c o u rt im p ro p e r l y al lo we d F lin t to te stify

a b o u t a d isc u ssio n h e h a d with Ap p e lla n t. Ho we v e r, tria l c o u nse l d id n o t o b je c t

to th is te stim on y ; h e o b je c te d o n ly to th e p la y in g o f F lin t’s v id e o ta p e d

10sta te m e n t. “ Th e fa ilu re to m a k e a tim e ly a n d sp e c ific o b je c tio n is tre a te d a s a

wa iv e r

. ” S e a

b ro o k s v

. S ta te

, 2 5 1 Ga

. 5 64

, 5 6 7 (1 ) (3 0 8 S E 2 d 1 6 0 ) (1 9 8 3 ).

Ac c o rd in g ly , Ap p e lla n t h a s n o t p re se rv e d th is issu e fo r a p p e a l. S e e id

.

S e c o n d

, Ap p e lla n t c on te n d s th a t th e c o u rt e rre d b y a d m i t t i n g t h e v i d e o t a p e

o f Flin t’s sta te m e n t w ith o u t p ro p e r a ut h e n t i c a tio n. A “ v id e ota p e is

a u th e n tic a te d by s h o w i n g it is a fa ir re p re se nta tio n o f th e o b je c t, sc e n e

, o r

p e rso n d e p ic te d ,” a n d a n y witn e ss fa m ilia r w ith th e su b j e c t d e p ic te d c a n

a u th e n tic a te a v id e o ta

p e

. Wa lth a ll v

. S ta te

, 2 8 1 Ga

. Ap p

. 4 3 4, 4 4 1 (2 ) (b ) (6 3 6

S E2 d 1 26 ) (2 0 0 6 ). At tria l, F lin t a c k n owle d g e d th a t th e S ta te h a d a v id e o ta p e

o f h is in te rv ie w with Co b b Co u n ty d e te c tiv e s, id e ntifie d h im se lf in th e v id e o

,

a n d a d m itte d th a t th e d a te o n th e v id e o wa s c o nsiste nt wit h t h e d a te h e wa s

in te rv ie we d

. S e e id

. At th e n e w t r i a l h ea rin g

, Ap p e lla n t d id n o t p re se n t a n y

e v i d e n c e to sh o w th a t th e v id e o ta p e w a s n o t a fa ir re p re se n ta tio n o r h a d b e e n

a lte re d

. T h e Co u rt fin d s th a t F lin t’s te stim on y su ffic ie n tly a u th e n tic a te d th e

v id e ota p e d sta te m e n t.

Th ird

, Ap p e lla nt a sse rts th a t th e c o u rt e rre d b y fa ilin g to g iv e th e ju ry a

lim itin g in stru c tio n re ga rd in g th e u se o f th e v id e ota pe d sta te m e n t f

o r

im p e a c h m e n t p u rp o se s o n ly

. Ev e n a ssu m in g su c h a n in stru c tio n wo u ld h a v e

11b e e n pro p e r, Ap p e lla n t ne v e r re q u e ste d a lim itin g in stru c tio n

. Th e re fo re

,

Ap p e lla n t c a n sh o w n o e rro r. He rrin g v

. S ta te

, 2 7 7 Ga

. 3 17

, 3 1 9 (3 ) (5 8 8 S E2 d

7 1 1 ) (2 0 0 3 ) (“ Lim itin g in stru c tio n s m u st b e re q u e ste d in o rd e r fo r th e fa ilu re to

in stru c t to b e e rro n e o u s.” ).

5

. Ap p e lla n t a rg ue s th a t th e tria l c o urt e rre d b y n o t giv in g th e ju ry a

c h a rg e o n “ a ssa u lt” a s it re la te d to th e o ffe n se of a g g ra v a te d a ssa u lt. Be c a use

Ap p e lla n t fa ile d to o b

je c t to th e c o u rt’s ju ry in stru c tio ns a t tria l, we re v ie w th is

e n u m e ra tio n o n ly fo r “ p la in e rro r.” S e e S c o tt v

. S ta te

, 2 9 0 Ga

. 8 8 3 (4 ) (7 2 5

S E2 d 3 05 ) (2 0 1 2 ). Th e re c o rd re fle c ts th a t th e c ou rt c ha rg e d th e ju ry o n th e

o ffe n se s o f a g g ra v a te d a ssa ult with in te n t to c o m m it m u rd e r, a gg ra v a te d a ssa u lt

with in te n t to ro b

, a n d a g g ra v a te d a ssa u lt with a d e a d ly w e a p o n

. Th e c o urt

p ro v id e d th e sta tu to ry d e fin itio n o f sim p le a ssa u lt wh e n c h a rg in g o n a g g ra v a te d

a ssa u lt fo r th e se o ffe n se s. S e e OCGA § 1 6-5 -2 0. Th e re fo re

, th e re wa s n o e rro r.

Jo h n so n v

. S ta te

, 2 8 9 G a

. 6 5 0 (5 ) ( 7 1 5 S E 2 d 9 9 ) (2 0 1 1 ) (a g g ra v a te d a ssa u lt

c h a rg e wa s su ffic ie n t b e c a u se it c o v e re d th e fu n d a m e n ta ls o f sim p le a ssa u lt).

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

12