FI FTH DI VI SI ON

M CFA DDEN, P. J.

, GOBEI L and LA ND, 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

A ugust 23, 2022



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A2 2 A0 67 1 . W H ITE v . THE STATE.

L A N D , J u d g e.

Aft er a ju ry t ri al

, Bi l l y W h i te w as co nv i ct ed o f o n e co u nt o f rap e. He ap p eal s

fro m t h e d en i al o f h i s m ot io n fo r n ew t ri al

, arg u in g th at t h e ev i d en ce was in su ffi ci en t

t o s u p p o rt h i s co n v i ct i o n

. He al s o arg u es t h at h is t ri a l c o u n s el ren dered i n effect i v e

as s i s tan ce b y fai l i n g t o in t erv i ew h i s b ro t h er as a p o s s i b l e d efen s e wi t n es s an d by

fai l i n g to ad eq u at el y rep res en t hi m d u ri n g s en t en ci ng

. Fo r t he fo l l o wi ng reas o n s

, we

affi rm

.

On ap peal fro m a cri m i n al co n v i ct i o n, t h is Co u rt v i ews th e ev i d en ce i n t h e l i g ht

“ m o s t fav o rab l e t o t h e v erd i ct ,” wi t h t h e d efen d an t “ no l o n ger e nj oy i n g a p res u m p t i o n

o f i n n o cen ce. W e n ei t h er wei g h t h e ev id en ce n o r ju d g e t h e cred i b il i t y o f wi t n es s es

,

b u t d et erm in e o nl y wh et h er t h e ev i d en ce was s u ffi ci en t fo r a rat i o n al tri er o f fact tofi nd t h e d efen d an t g u i l t y o f th e ch arg ed o ffen se b ey o n d a reas o n ab l e d o u b t .” Ba s s v.

S t a t e

, 3 5 6 Ga. A pp

. 8 6 2, 8 6 5 (1 ) (8 4 9 SE2 d 7 1 8 ) (2 0 2 0 ). A cco rd Ja cks o n v. Vi r g i n i a

,

4 4 3 U. S. 3 0 7 (9 9 SCt 2 7 8 1 , 6 1 LE2 d 5 6 0 ) (1 9 7 9 ).

Co n st ru ed i n p ro p er li g h t

, t h e reco rd s h o ws t h at i n Sep tem ber 2 0 1 6

, L. J

., t h e

7 9 -y ear o l d v i ct im

, h ad ju s t ret urn ed t o h er h o u s e fro m a d o ct o r’ s ap p o in t m en t wh en

a m an

, l at er i d en ti fi ed as W hi t e, ap p ro ach ed h er at h er fro n t d o o r. Th e v i ct im d i d n ot

reco g n ize W h i t e

, b u t d e s c r i b ed h i m as a heav y s et b l ack m al e, bet ween t h e ag es o f

3 0 an d 4 0

, weari n g a b ro wn s h i rt

, b lu e jean s an d h av i n g n o faci al h ai r. W h i t e as k ed

t h e v i ct i m i f her h u s b an d was ho m e. Al t h o ug h t h e v i ct i m ’ s h u s b an d was d eceas ed

,

s h e l i ed an d t ol d W h i t e t h at her h u s b an d was i n t h e h o us e. W h i t e t h en s ai d “ O p en t h e

d am n d o o r.

. . He ai n ’ t here.” Up o n en t eri n g t he v i ct i m ’ s h o u s e, W hi t e as k ed h er fo r

m o ney an d t hreat en ed t o k i ll an d rap e h er.

On c e i n s i d e t h e v i ct i m ’ s b ed ro o m

, W h it e saw a jar of Vas el i n e o n h er

n i g h t s t an d . W hi te o rd ered t h e v i ct i m t o u n dres s an d p u t t h e Vas el i n e i n h er v ag i na.

Th e v i ct i m co m

p l ied

, an d W h i t e fo rcefu l l y h ad s ex wi t h t h e v i ct i m wi t h ou t a co n d o m

.

Th e v i ct i m t es t i fi ed t hat s h e h ad n ev er h ad s ex wi t h an y o n e ot h er t h an her l at e s p o u s e

an d d en i ed co n s en t i n g t o sex wi t h W h i t e. W h i t e t h en t o o k s o m e o f t h e v i ct i m ’ s

jewel ry an d fl ed t he h o u se. He t h reat en ed t o ret u rn t o ki l l h er i f sh e cal l ed t h e p o l i ce.

2Th e v i ct i m was t h en t ak en t o t h e h o s p i tal w h ere Cel es t e Bo y d

, s ex u al as s au l t

n u rs e ex am i n er, p erfo rm ed a s ex u al as s au lt ex am

. Bo y d t es t i fi ed t h at her ex am i n at i o n

o f t h e v i ct i m rev eal ed a wh i t e, s h i n y s u b s t an ce t h at s h e b el iev ed t o b e Vas el i n e i n t h e

v i ct i m ’ s v ag i n al area. Sh e al s o o b s erv ed p et ech i ae m ark s cau s ed by t rau m a th at co u ld

b e co n s i s t en t wi t h fo rced i n t erco u rs e. Th e s ex u al as s au l t k i t, i n cl u di n g DNA fo u n d

i n t h e v i ct i m ’ s v ag i n al area, was s u b m i t t ed t o th e G eo rg i a Bu reau o f In v es t i g at i o n fo r

DNA an al y s i s

. Th e DNA was a m at ch fo r W h i t e.

Du ri n g an i nt erv i ew wi t h l aw en fo rcem en t

, W h i t e d en i ed b ei ng at t h e v i ct i m ’ s

h o u s e i n Sep t em

b er 2 0 1 6 an d s t at ed t h at h e h ad n o t b een t h ere i n t h e p as t t wo o r t h ree

y ears

. W h en co n fro n t ed wi th D NA ev id en ce, W h i t e c o n t i n u ed t o d en y h av i n g s ex

wi t h t h e v i ct i m

. He d id n o t tel l l aw en fo rcem en t t h at h e ev er had an y co n s en s u al s ex

wi t h t h e v i ct i m

.

W h i t e t es t i fi ed at t ri al th at h e h ad m et t he v i ct i m i n 2 01 3

. W h it e cl ai m ed t h at

h e h ad d o n e ch ores an d y ard wo rk fo r t h e v i ct i m an d t h at h e l at er s t art ed fl i rt i n g wi th

h er an d t h at t h ey b eg an h av i n g s ex ual i n terco u rs e b et ween 2 01 5 a n d 2 0 1 6

. W h i t e

t es t i fi ed t h at s o m et i m e i n Feb ru a ry 2 0 1 6

, h e no t i ced t h at t h e v i ct im was eas i l y

co n fu s ed

, an d wo u l d cal l h i m “ W i l l i e” i n s t ead o f “ Bi l l y .” W h i t e al s o t es t i fi ed t h at h e

h ad s p en t t h e ni gh t at th e v i ct i m ’ s h o u s e i n J u l y 2 0 1 6, an d wh en h e d o zed o ff i n a

3l i vi n g ro o m ch ai r, t he v i ct i m b eg an y el l i n g at h i m

, “ W h o are y o u ? ” an d o rd ered h i m

t o l eav e t h e h o us e. W h i t e tes t ifi ed th at o n Sep t em b er 9

, 2 0 1 6

, he wen t t o t h e v i ct i m ’ s

h o u s e an d k n o ck ed o n t h e d oo r. He t es t i fi ed t h at s h e o p e n e d th e do o r an d t h ey h ad

co n sen s ual s ex i n h er b ed ro o m

. W h i t e ex p l ai n e d t h a t h e d i d n ot p urs u e fu rt h er

i n t eract i o n s wi t h t h e v i ct i m b ecau se s h e refu s ed t o g i v e h im an y m o n ey

.

Bren d a Ken d ri ck

, t h e v i ct i m ’ s in -h o m e caret ak er s i n ce 2 0 14

, t es ti fi ed t h at t h e

v i ct i m h ad n ev e r m en t i o n ed W h i t e t o h er, s he h ad n ev er s een W h it e at th e v i ct i m ’ s

h o u s e b efo re, an d t h e v i ct i m h ad n ev er m en t i o n ed h av i n g a b o y fri en d

. Ken d ri ck

fu rt her t es t i fi ed t h at it w as h er o wn h u s b an d

, an d no t W h i te, t h at d i d y ard wo rk fo r t h e

v i ct i m

. Ken d ri ck tes t ifi ed th at al t h o u g h t h e v ict i m h ad a h eari n g p ro b l em

, s h e d i d n ot

ap p ear t o h av e i s s u es wi t h h er m en t al cap aci t y

.

At t h e co ncl u s i o n o f t he ev i den ce, t h e ju ry acq u i t t ed W h i t e of b u rg l ary b ut

fo u n d h i m g ui l t y of rap e. He was s en ten ced t o l ife wi t h ou t t h e p o s s ib i l i t y o f p aro l e.

W h i t e fi l ed t h is ap p eal aft er t h e d en i al o f h i s m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al

.

1

. W h i te arg u es t h at t h e ev id en ce p res en t ed at t ri al was i n s uffi ci en t t o s u s t ai n

h i s r ap e co n v i ct i o n b ecau s e t h e ju ry d i s reg ard ed h is t es t i m o ny th at h e h ad a “ l o n g

t erm co n s en s ual ad u l t rel at i o n s h i p ” wi t h W h i te. W e d i sag ree.

4Here, t h ere was s u ffi ci en t ev i den ce fo r a ju ry t o fi n d W h i t e g u i l t y o f rap e

b ey o n d a reas o n ab l e d o ub t: t h e v i ct im t es t i f i e d a t t ri al t h at W h i t e fo rci b l y h ad

i n t erco u rs e wi t h h er wi t h o u t her co n s en t

, t h e vi ct i m m ad e an i m m ed iat e o u tcry aft er

t h e rap e, an d t here was DNA ev i d en ce co n n ect i n g W h i te to t h e cri m e. See OCGA §

1 6 -6 -1 (a) (1 ) (a p ers o n “ co m m i t s t he offen s e o f rap e wh en h e h as carn al k n o wl ed g e

o f

. . . a wo m an fo rci bl y an d ag ai n s t h er wi l l ;” carn al kn o wl ed g e o ccu rs “ wh en t h ere

i s an y pen et rat io n o f t h e fem al e s ex o rg an b y t he m al e s ex o rg an ”); OCGA § 2 4 -1 4 -8

(“ T h e t e s t i m o ny o f a s i n g l e wi t n es s i s g en eral ly s u ffi ci en t t o es tab l is h a fact ”). See

al s o Cu r g i l v. S t a te

, 3 63 G a. Ap p

. 3 5 5 (8 7 1 SE2 d 3 2 2 ) (2 0 2 2 ) (t h e v i ct im ’ s t es t i m o ny

al o n e was s u ffi ci en t to es t ab li s h t h e el em en t s o f rap e).

An y co n fl i ct s b et ween W h i t e’ s t es t im o n y an d t h e v i ct i m ’ s t es t i m o n y reg ard i n g

wh et h er t h e en co u n t er was co n s en su al “ were fo r t h e ju ry t o res o l v e .” Ca n t r el l v.

S t a t e

, 36 0 Ga. Ap p

. 8 6 2

, 8 63 (1 ) (8 6 2 SE2 d 3 29 ) (2 0 2 1 ) (ci t at i o n an d pu n ct u at i o n

o m it t ed ). Acco rd Gr a h a m v. St a t e

, 30 1 Ga. 6 7 5

, 6 7 7 (1 ) (8 0 4 SE2 d 1 1 3 ) (2 0 1 7 ) (“ i t

i s t h e ro le o f t h e j u r y t o res o l v e co n fl i ct s i n t h e ev i d en ce an d to d et erm i n e t h e

cred i b i l i t y o f wi t n es s es ,” an d t h e res o l u t io n o f “ s u c h c o n fl i ct s ad v ers el y t o t h e

d efen d an t d o es n o t ren d er t h e ev i d en ce i n s u ffi ci en t ”).

52

. W h i t e arg u es t h at h e recei v ed i n effect i ve as si s t an ce of co u n s el becau s e h i s

co u ns el (1 ) fai l ed t o p ro p erl y i n v es t i gat e hi s cas e an d p rep are fo r t ri al

, an d (2 ) fai l ed

t o “ p ro p erl y

ad v o cat e” fo r h i m

at s en t en ci n g. W e are u n p ers u ad ed

.

To p rev ai l o n h i s cl ai m s of i n effect i v e as s i s t an ce o f co u n sel

, W h i t e m u s t s h o w

b o t h t h at h i s t ri al co u n s el ren d ered d efi ci en t p er f o r m a n c e an d th at t h i s d efi ci en cy

p reju d i ced h i s d efen s e

. W a t ki n s v. S ta t e

, 3 6 1 Ga. Ap p. 5 5

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

(2 0 2 1). “ To es t ab l i sh d efi ci en t p erfo rm an ce, an ap p el l an t m u s t o v erco m e t h e s t ro n g

p res u m p t i o n t h at h i s co un s el ’ s co n d u ct fal l s wi t h i n t h e b ro ad ran g e o f reas o n ab l e

p ro fes s i on al co nd u ct an d s h o w t h a t h i s co u n s el p erfo rm ed i n an o bject i v el y

u n r e a s o nab l e way i n t he l i g h t o f al l o f t h e ci rcu m s t an ces

. ” Id

., ci ti n g S t r i ckl a n d v

.

W a s h i n g t o n

, 4 6 6 U. S. 66 8

, 6 8 7 (III) (1 0 4 S.Ct

. 2 05 2

, 8 0 LE2 d 6 7 4 ) (1 9 8 4 ). Th i s

Co u rt accep t s t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s fact u al fi n d i n gs an d cred i b il it y det erm i n at io n s u n l es s

t h ey are cl earl y erro n eo u s

, b u t i n d ep en d en t l y ap p l i es l eg al p ri nci p l es to t h e fact s

.

Jo h ns o n v. S t a te , 2 9 0 Ga. 3 8 2, 3 8 3 (2 ) (7 2 1 SE2 d 8 5 1 ) (2 0 12 ).

(a) W h i t e arg u es t h at h i s co u ns el ren d ered i neffect i v e as si st an ce b y fai l i n g to

i n t erv i ew h i s b ro t h er, Ben n y W h i t e, as a p o s s ib l e d efen s e w i tn es s wh o wo u l d h av e

k n o wl ed g e o f W h it e’ s al l eg ed rel at i o n s h ip wi th t h e v i ct i m

.

6Tri al co u n s el i s “ o b l i g ed t o co n du ct a reas o nab l e an d t h o ro u g h i n ves t i g at i o n,

i n cl u d i n g l o cat i n g an d i n t erv i ewi n g p o t en t i al wi t n es s es

. ” Do u gl a s v. S t at e

, 3 2 7 Ga.

Ap p

. 7 9 2

, 7 9 5 (2 ) (A) (7 61 SE2 d 1 8 0 ) (2 0 1 4 ). W e p res um e t h at tri al co un s el p ro v i d ed

“ ad eq u at e as s i s t an ce an d m ad e al l s ig n i fi can t d eci s i o ns i n t h e ex erci s e o f reas o n ab l e

p ro fes s i on al ju d g m en t

, an d co u n s el ’ s p erfo rm an ce i s ev al u at ed wi t h o ut referen ce to

h i n d s i g h t.” (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 7 9 5 (2 ).

W e are n o t p ers u ad ed t h at W h i t e’ s t ri al co u n sel ren dered i n effect i v e as s i s t an ce

b y fai l i n g t o p ro p erl y i n v es t i g at e t h e cas e. W h i t e’ s t ri al co un s el t es t i fi ed t h at h e s p en t

ab o ut ei gh t m o n t h s prep ari n g t he cas e fo r t ri al an d t h at h e m et wi t h W hi t e at l eas t fi v e

t i m e s

, wi t h each m eet i ng l as t i n g bet ween 3 0 m i n ut es t o an h o u r. Tri al co u n s e l

t es t i fi ed at t h e m o ti o n fo r n ew t r i a l h e ari n g t h at h e d i d n o t cal l Ben n y W h i t e as a

co rro b o rat in g wi t n es s b ecau se t h ere were c o m p l i cat i o n s m ak i n g co n t act wi t h h i m

.

Fu rt h er, as t h e t ri al go t cl o s er, W h i t e ex p res s ed s om e h es it at i o n ab o u t cal l i n g h i s

b ro t h er as a wi t n es s

, wh i ch cau s ed t ri al co u n s el t o b e l i e v e t h at t h e b ro t h er was

u n l i k el y to t es ti fy o n h i s b eh al f. See S u ll i va n v. S ta t e

, 3 0 8 G a. 5 0 8

, 51 1 (2 ) (a) (8 4 2

SE2 d 5 ) (2 0 20 ) (“ [A] d eci s i on as t o wh ich d efen s e wi t n es s es t o c a l l i s a m at t er o f

co u ns el ’ s t ri al s t rat eg y an d t act i cs an d wi l l n ot s u p p o rt a cl ai m o f in eff e c t i v e

7as s i s tan ce o f co u n s el u n l es s i t i s s o u n reas on ab l e t h at n o co m p et en t at to rn ey

wo u ld

h av e m ad e t h e d eci s i o n u n d er t h e ci rcu m s t an ces ”) (ci t at io n an d p u n ct u at io n o m i t t ed ).

Fu rt her, W h i t e can n o t p ro v e t h at he was p reju d i ced by his tr ial co u ns el ’ s fai l u re

t o i n t erv i ew h i s b ro t h er b ecau s e h e fai l ed t o p o i n t t o a p ro ffer o f ev i d en ce reg ard i n g

wh at Ben n y W h it e w ou l d h av e b een ex p ect ed t o t es t i fy t o at t h e m ot io n fo r n ew t ri al

h eari n g

. See Go o d

wi n v. Cr u z-Pa d i l lo

, 2 6 5 Ga. 6 1 4

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

(ap p el l an t ’ s fai l u re “ t o m ak e an y p ro ffer o f t h e u n cal l ed w i t nes s es ’ t es t i m o n y [m ad e]

i t i m p o s s i b l e fo r ap p el l an t to s h o w t h at t h ere i s a reas on ab l e p ro bab i l i t y th e res u l t s

o f t h e pro ceed in g s wo u l d h av e b een d i fferen t ” i f he h ad t es ti fi ed ) (ci tat i o n o m i t t ed ).

Acco rd Ma n r i q u ez v. S t a te

, 2 8 5 Ga. 8 8 0

, 8 81 (2 ) (6 84 SE2 d 6 5 0 ) (2 00 9 ) (d efen d an t

b o re th e b urd en o f d em o n st rat i n g b o t h S t r i ckl a n d p ro n g s

, an d wh en a d efen d an t

cl ai m s t h at t ri al co un s el p erfo rm ed d efi ci en tl y b y fai l i n g t o i n t erv i ew o r cal l a wi t n es s

fo r t ri al

, d efen dan t “ m

u st i n t ro d u ce ei t h er tes t im o n y fro m t h e u n cal l ed w i tn es s o r a

l eg al ly reco g n i zed s u b s t i t u t e fo r h i s t es ti m o n y , s u ch as an affi d av i t”).

(b ) W i t h o u t p ro v i d i n g ci t at i o n t o t h e rel ev an t po rt i o n o f t h e reco rd

, W h i t e

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 tan ce b y fai l i n g t o fi l e a m o t i o n

i n l im i n e t o p ro hi bi t t h e ad m is s i o n o f p ri o r b ad act s ev i d en ce.

8“ It i s no t t h e fu n ct i o n o f an ap p el l at e co u r t t o c u l l t h e reco rd i n s earch o f erro r o n

b eh al f o f a p art y .” Bl ackwel l v. Go o d wi n

, 2 3 6 Ga. Ap p

. 86 1

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

(1 9 9 9). Becau s e W h it e h as f a i l e d t o p ro v i d e rel ev an t ci tat i o n t o t h e reco rd o f t h e

ev i d e n ce t h at he cl ai m s h i s t ri al co u n s el sh o u l d h av e s o u g h t t o ex cl u d e t h ro u g h a

m o ti o n i n l i m i n e, we d eem t h i s arg u m en t ab an d o ned

. See Co urt o f Ap peal s Ru l e 2 5

(c) (2 ) (“ Each en u m erat ed erro r s h al l b e su p po rt ed i n th e b ri ef b y s p eci fi c referen ce

t o t h e reco rd o r t ran s cri pt

. In t he ab s en ce o f a s p eci fi c referen ce, t h e Co u rt wi l l n ot

s earch fo r an d m ay n o t co n s i d er t h at en u m erat i o n ” )

. A cco rd R o l l es t o n v. Es t a t e of

S i ms

, 2 5 3 Ga. A p p. 1 8 2 , 1 8 5 (2 ) (5 5 8 SE2 d 4 1 1 ) (2 0 0 1 ) (“ Ap p el l at e ju dg es s h o u ld

n o t b e ex p ect ed t o tak e pi l g ri m ag es i nt o reco rd s i n s earch o f erro r wi t h o u t t h e

co m p as s o f ci t at i o n o r arg u m en t ”) (ci t at i o n o m i t t ed ).

(c) W h i te arg ues t hat h i s t ri al co u n s el fai l ed t o accu rat el y i n fo rm t h e t ri al co u rt

o f t h e ap p l i cab l e law g ov e r n i n g r e c i di v is t sen t en ci n g an d fai led t o ad v is e t h e t ri al

co u rt t h a t i t h ad th e d i s cret io n t o p ro b at e p art o f h i s s en t en ce. Th i s arg u m en t i s

wi t h o u t m eri t

.

Th e reco rd s h o ws t h at t h e St at e fi l ed a reci d i vi s t n ot i ce un d er OCGA § 1 7 -1 0 -7

(a) an d (c) bas ed o n W hi te’ s fo ur p ri o r fel o n y co n vi ct io n s

. At th e s en t en ci n g h eari n g,

t h e St at e arg u ed t h at OCGA § 1 7

- 1 0

- 7 (a) an d (c) m an dat ed t h at t h e t ri al co u rt

9s en t en ce W h i t e t o l i fe wi t h o ut t h e p o s si bi l i t y o f p a r o l e. W h i t e’ s co u ns el t h en

i n s t ru ct ed t h e t ri al co u rt t h at OCGA § 1 7 -1 0 -7 (a) an d (c) d id n o t d ep ri v e t h e t ri al

co u rt o f t h e d i s cret io n t o i m po s e a s p l it s en t en ce, an d req u es t ed t h at t h e t ri al co u rt

s en t en ce W h i t e t o t h e m i n i m u m s en t en ce av ai l ab l e to the tr i al co u rt ’ s d i s cret io n

— t h at

i s

, 2 5 y ears t o s erv e fo l l o wed b y l i fe o n p ro b at i o n

. See OCGA § 1 6 -6 -1 (b ) (a p ers o n

co n vi ct ed o f rap e “ s h al l b e p u n i s h ed b y d eat h

, b y i m p ri s o n m e n t f

o r l i fe wi t h o ut

p aro l e, b y i m

p ri s o n m en t fo r l ife, o r b y a s p l i t s en t en ce t h at i s a t erm o f i m p ri s o n m en t

fo r n o t les s t h an 2 5 y ears an d n o t ex ceed i n g l i fe i m p ri s on m en t

, fo l l o wed b y p ro b at i o n

fo r l i fe,”an d an y p ers o n co n v i ct ed o f rap e s h al l “ i n ad d i t i o n

, b e su b ject t o t h e

s en t en ci n g an d p u n i s h m en t p ro v i s i o n s o f [OCGA § ] 1 7 -1 0 -7 ); Pr i t ch et t v. St a t e

, 2 6 7

Ga. Ap p

. 3 0 3

, 3 0 4 (1 ) (5 99 SE2 d 2 9 1 ) (2 0 0 4 ) (al t h o u g h OCGA § 1 7 -1 0 -7 (c)

“ p ro h i b i t s p aro l e” fo r a fo u r-t i m e reci d i v i s t

, “ i t d oes n o t d i s p en s e wi t h t h e tri al co urt ’ s

d i s cret i o n t o p ro b at e o r su s p en d p art o f t h e s e n t en ce u n d er OCGA § 1 7-1 0 -7 (a)”).

On ce t h e t ri al co u rt s en t e n c e d Wh i t e t o l i fe wi t h o u t p aro l e

, W h i t e’ s t ri al co u n s el

ag ai n u rg ed t h e t ri al co u rt t o co ns i d er cas e l aw i n d i cat in g t h at i t h ad t h e d i s cret i o n to

s u s p en d o r p r o b at e a p o rt i o n o f h i s s en t en ce. Th e t ri al co urt d ecl i n ed t o ch an g e i t s

s e n t e n ce. T h e fact t h at t he t ri al co u rt d i sag reed w i t h t ri al co u n s el ’ s s en t en ci n g

10reco m

m en d at i o n di d no t m ak e t ri al co un s el i n effect i v e. W h i t e h as t h erefo re fai l ed to

m eet h i s b u rd en u n der S t r i ckl a n d , s u p ra.

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

d en , P. J., a n d

Go b ei l

, J., co n cu r

.

11