SECOND DI VI SI ON

BA RNES, P. J.

, BOGGS and RI CKM A 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.

http://w w w .ga a ppe a l s .us /r ule s

October 20, 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 97 0 . HARRIS v . THE STATE.

B A R N E S , Pres i d i n g J ud g e.

Ti m o t h y Harri s sh o t an d k i l l ed a m an in s i d e h is ho u se, an d was tri ed o n s ev eral

co u nt s o f fel o n y m

u rd er, ag grav at ed as s au l t

, fi rearm s p o s s es s i o n

, an d o t h er offen s es

.

Th e ju ry co n v i ct ed H a r r i s o f t he l es ser i ncl u d ed o ffen s e o f v o l u n t ary m an s l au g h t er

an d ot h er ch arg es an d th e t ri al co u rt s en ten ced h i m t o 2 0 y ears t o serv e, fo l l o wed by

5 y ears o n p ro b at i o n

. Fo l l o wi n g t h e d en i al of h is m ot i o n fo r n ew t ri al

, Harri s ap p eal s

,

arg u i n g t hat h i s t ri al co u n s el w as i n effect i ve fo r wi t h drawi n g h i s req u es t ed ch arg e o f

d efen s e o f h ab it at i o n

. Fo r t h e reas o n s t h at fo l l o w, we co n cl u d e t h at t h e t ri al co u rt d id

n o t ab u s e i t s d is cret i on i n co n cl u d i n g t h at t ri al co u n s el ’ s deci s i o n t o wi t h d raw t h at

d efen s e was n o t d efi ci en t p erfo rm an ce, an d affi rm

.

1

. Harri s was in d i ct ed fo r fel o n y m u r d e r f o r cau s i n g t h e v i ct i m ’ s deat h by

s h o o ti n g wh il e co m

m i tt i n g t h e o ffen s e of p o s ses s i o n of a h an d g u n b y a c o n v i c t ed

fel o n

, an d fo r fel o n y m u rd er fo r ca u s i n g t h e v i ct i m ’ s d eat h b y s ho o ti n g wh i l eco m

m i t t i n g t he o ffen s e o f ag g rav at ed as s au l t

. 1 Th e ju ry fo u n d h im n o t g u il t y o f t h e

fi rs t co u nt o f fel o n y m

u rd er an d g u i l t y o f t he l es s er i n cl u d e d o ffen s e o f v o l u n t ary

m an s l au g h t er i n t h e s eco n d co u n t o f fel on y m u rd er.

Al t h ou g h [Harri s] d o es n o t d is p ut e t hat t h e ev i d en ce i s l eg al l y su ffi ci en t

t o s u s t ai n h i s co nv i ct i on s

, we n ev ert h el es s rev iew t h e reco rd an d

i n d ep en d en t l y as ses s t he l eg al s u ffi ci en cy o f t h e ev i d en ce. In d oi n g so

,

we ap p l y t h e fam i li ar s tan d ard o f Ja cks on v. Vi r g i n i a

, 4 4 3 U. S. 3 07 (9 9

SCt 2 7 8 1

, 6 1 LE2 d 5 60 ) (1 9 7 9 ), as k i n g wh et h er an y rat i o nal tri er o f fact

co u l d fi n d b ey o n d a reas o n ab l e do u b t fro m th e ev i d en ce ad du ced at t ri al

t h at [Harri s ] i s g u i l t y o f th e cri m es o f wh i ch h e was co n v i ct ed

. See 4 4 3

U. S. at 3 1 9 (III) (B).

W h i te v. S t a t e , 2 93 Ga. 5 23

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

So v iewed

, t he ev i d en ce s h o wed t h at Harri s an d h i s n ep h ew l i v ed i n t h e s am e

h o u s e, an d t h e vi ct i m was a fri en d o f Harri s ’ s wh o cam e ov er n i g h t l y an d s o m et i m es

s t ay ed at t h e h o us e. An o th er fri en d o f Harri s ’ s t es t i fi ed t hat h e w en t t o t h e h o u s e t h at

ev en in g h o p i ng to get hi g h o n co cai n e, w h i ch h e u s u al l y b o ug h t fro m t h e n e p h ew.

Harri s l et h i m i n

, an d t h e fri en d h e ard t h e vi ct im b ack i n t h e n ep h ew’ s b ed ro o m

1 Harri s was al s o co nv i ct ed o f ag g rav a t e d as s au l t

, wh i ch m erg ed i n t o t h e

v o l u n t ary m an s l au g h t er co n v i ct i o n

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

co m m i s s io n o f a c r i m e, o n e of wh i ch th e tri al co urt di rect ed a v erd i ct o f acq u i t t al

,

m ak i n g a fal s e s t at em en t

, an d t am p eri n g wi t h ev id en ce, an d acq u i t t ed o f p o s s es s i o n

o f a fi rearm

b y a co n vi ct ed fel o n

.

2“ y el l i n g i n g en eral ab o u t s o m e fem al e.” Th e fri en d wen t back an d s u g ges t ed t h at t h e

v i ct i m s t ep o u t o f t h e b ed ro o m t o l et t h e n ep h ew d res s

, an d th e v ict i m res p o n d ed t h at

h e was g o i ng t o co n fro n t Harri s ab o u t m o n ey Harri s o wed h i m

.

Th e v i ct i m wen t i n t o t h e l i v i n g ro o m wh ere Harri s was l y i n g on t he co u ch an d

b eg an j ab b i n g h im wi t h a s i x - t o s ev en -fo o t s t i ck ab ou t th e s i ze o f a cl o s et ro d

, s o t h e

fri en d s t ep ped b et ween H arri s an d th e v i c t i m

. A f t er t h e vi ct i m h i t t h e fri en d i n t h e

face, t h e fri e n d fi n al ly wres ted t h e s ti ck away

, t h rew i t do wn

, an d an n o u n ced h i s

i n t en t i o n t o l eav e t h e h o u s e. H arri s g o t u p fro m t h e co u ch an d t h e fri en d p u s h ed t h e

v i ct i m t o t h e d o o rway

, try in g t o g et h i m t o l eav e, b ut t h e fri en d was un ab le t o co n tro l

t h e v i ct i m

b y h i m s el f. Th e n ep h ew ran o u t t h e d o o r, an d as t h e fri en d y el l ed fo r t h e

n ep hew to co m e b ack an d h el p d e f u s e t h e s i t uat i o n

, t h e v i ct i m “ g o t u p s et ag ai n,”

wal k ed b ack i nt o t he h o u se, an d co n fro n t ed Harri s a s eco nd t i m e.

Th e fri en d heard th e v ict im s cream i n g an d cu rs i n g at Harri s bu t co u l d s ee o n l y

Harri s

. He saw a fl as h

, h eard a p o p

, an d t h en h eard th e vi ct i m s t u m b l i n g b ack t o ward s

t h e bed ro o m

. Th e fri en d wen t t o t h e v i ct i m

, wh o s ai d

, “ Do n ’ t l et h i m s h o o t m e

ag ai n .” Th e fri en d s aw an o bject i n Harri s ’ s h an d

, b u t co u l d n ot t el l i f i t was a g u n o r

n o t

. Th e fri en d tr i e d t o g et t he v i ct i m t o l i e d o wn w h i l e d i rect i n g Harri s

, w h o m h e

d es cri b ed as “ h y s t eri cal ,” to c al l 9 1 1. Th e fri en d fi n al l y d ial ed 9 1 1 h i m s el f an d

3h an ded th e p h o ne to Harri s

, al t h o u gh h e d i d n o t act ual l y h ear Harri s s p eak t o an

o p erat o r. Th e fri en d fi nal l y m an ag ed t o g e t t h e v i ct i m t o l ie d o wn an d t h en l eft t h e

s cen e wi t h i n two m i n u tes o f t h e s h o o t i n g

, ex p l ai n i n g t hat h e w as h ig h an d fran t i c an d

d i d n o t k n o w wh at t o d o

.

Th e n ep h ew t e s t i f

i e d th at h e s aw t h e v i ct im i n t h e l i v i n g ro o m hi t t i n g Harri s

wi t h a s ti ck an d o ffered t o p ay t h e v i ct i m wh at ev er Harri s o wed “ j u s t t o k eep t h e

co m m o t i on d o wn .” Th e v i ct i m res p o n d ed

, “ Bu m p y o u

, I d o n ’ t wan t y o ur m o n e y

.

So m eb o d y [s i c] g o i n g t o d i e t o n i g h t .” Th e n ep h ew co nfi rm ed t h at t h e fri en d g ot

b et ween Harri s an d t h e v i ct im

, b u t t h e v i ct i m k ep t swi n g i ng h i s s t i ck an d h i tt i n g b o th

m en u n t i l Harri s “ s t ag g ered u p o u t o f t h ere an d t h at ’ s wh en th e gu n wen t b an g .” Th e

n ep hew t es t i fi ed t hat Harri s was s t an d i n g b y t he k i t ch en an d s ho t t h e v i ct i m wh en t h e

v i ct i m ru s h ed Harri s wi t h t h e s t i ck ag ai n

. Th e n ep h ew al s o t es t i fi ed t h at aft er t h e

f r i e n d t oo k Harri s’ s g u n an d l eft wi t h it

, Harri s cal l ed t he p o l i ce. Th e n ep h ew

ad m i t t ed h e l eft t h e s cen e t o o

.

A 9 1 1 s up erv i s o r t es t i fi ed t h at an o p erat o r recei v ed an em erg en cy cal l at 3 : 1 2

a.m

. fro m a m an l at er i d en t ifi ed as H arri s

. Th e s u p erv i s o r p rep ared a rep o rt t h at

q u o t ed t h e cal l er as s ay i n g

, “ It s [s i c] b een an acci d en t

, sen d t h e p o l i ce” an d n o t ed t h at

t h e cal l er t h en h u n g up an d no o n e an s wered a cal l b ack

. A p at ro l o ffi cer was

4d i s p at ch ed t wo m in u t es lat er an d res p o n d ed s ix m in u tes aft er t h at t o fi n d Harri s al o n e

i n t h e h o u s e wi t h t h e v ict i m

, wh o was l y i n g o n a b ed ro o m fl o o r w i t h h i s p an t s d o wn

aro u n d h i s k n ees

.

Th e v ict im ap peared t o b e d ead

, an d t h e o ffi cer t es t i fi ed t h at th ere was “ b l o o d

ev ery wh ere i n t h e ro o m ,” s o m e o f wh i ch h ad al read y d ri ed

. Harri s i ni t i al l y t o l d t h e

res p o n d in g o ffi cer t h at th e vi ct i m h ad been s h o t b y an o t h er m an

, b u t l at er ad m i t t ed

h av in g s h o t t h e v i ct i m h i m s el f. In h i s s eco n d s t at em en t

, Harri s to l d t h e p o li ce t h at t h e

v i ct i m cam e t o t h e h o u s e a n d w ok e h i m wi t h a s t i ck

. Harri s s ai d h e wen t t o t h e

k i t ch en , p u l l ed a g u n fro m t h e d rawer, an d s h o t t h e v i ct i m i n s el f-d efen s e.

A p aram ed i c wh o res p o n d ed t o t h e s cen e t es t i fi ed t h at t h e v i ct i m h ad b een s h ot

i n t h e ch es t an d h i s s k i n t em p erat u re was co o l. Co n g eal ed b l o o d was o n th e fl o o r, an d

t h e param ed ic t es ti fi ed th at i t no rm al l y to o k ab o ut t wo h o u r s f o r bl o od to co n g eal

.

Al s o

, ri g o r m o rt i s w as s et t i n g i n t o th e vi ct i m ’ s b o d y

, an d t h at g en eral l y o ccu rred fro m

ab o ut an h o u r an d a h al f to two h o u rs aft er d eat h

. A cri m e s cen e in v es t i g at o r t es t i fi ed

t h at h e fo u nd a m o p wi th b l oo d y fi n g erp ri n t s o n t h e h an d l e si t t i n g i n a b u ck et o f d ark

wat er at t he s cen e, an d a l at en t p ri n t ex am i n er wi t h t h e G BI t es t i fi ed th at s h e m at ch ed

a p ri n t fro m th e m o p han d l e t o Harri s

. Th e m ed i cal ex am i ner tes t ifi ed t h at t he v i ct i m

was s h o t i n t h e ch es t fro m a f e w f eet away

, an d t h e b u l l et s t ru ck t h e v i ct i m ’ s

5p u l m o n ary a r t e ry

, cau s i n g m as s i v e i nt ern al b l eed in g an d d eat h wi t h i n fi v e t o t en

m i n u t es

.

Th e ju ry co u l d hav e d et erm i n ed t h a t a f t e r t he fri en d t o o k t h e v i ct i m ’ s s t i ck

away

, t h e v i ct i m h ad s t o p p ed h i s at t ack o n Harri s

, an d t hat Harri s ’ s act i o n s i n g o i n g

i n t o h i s k i t ch en

, p u l l i n g a g u n fro m t h e drawer, an d s h o o ti n g t h e vi ct i m i n t h e ch es t

were d i s p ro p o rt i on at e to t h e t h reat p res en t ed

. See OCG A § 1 6 -3 -2 1 (a) (p ers o n

ju s t ifi ed i n u s i n g fo rce i n t en ded o r l i k el y to cau s e d eat h o r g reat bo d il y harm o n l y i f

h e reas o n ab ly b el i ev es s u ch fo rce n eces s ar y t o p r e v e nt deat h o r g reat b o d i l y i n ju ry

t o h im s el f) Fu rt h er, H a r r i s ’s i n i t i al s t at em en t t o th e p o l i ce i n wh i ch h e l i ed ab o ut

s o m eo n e el s e h av i n g s h o t t h e v i ct i m

, al o n g w i t h ev i d en ce t h at h e al t ered t he cri m e

s cen e, d i sp o sed o f t h e h an d g u n

, an d cal led t h e p o l i ce o n l y aft er t h e v i ct i m ’ s b l o o d

h ad co n g eal ed an d ri g o r m o rt is h ad s et i n

, co u l d b e v i ewed b y a r a t i o n a l ju ry as

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

. S

weet v. S t at e , 2 7 8 Ga. 3 2 0 , 3 2 5 (7 ) (6 0 2 SE2 d 6 0 3 ) (2 0 0 4 )

(at t em pt t o b l am e an o t her fo r s h o o t i ng vi ct im was rel ev an t as e v i d en ce o f

co n sci o u s n es s o f g u i l t ); W h i t e v. S t a t e , 1 2 7 Ga. 2 7 3 , 2 75 (5 6 SE 4 2 5 ) (1 9 07 ) (“ Th e

co n du ct o f a p ers o n ch arg ed wi t h a cri m e, i n d i cat i n g a co n s ci o u s n es s o f h is g u i l t

, i s

rel ev an t ev i d en ce ag ai ns t h i m .”)

6Co n s i d e r i n g a l l of t he ev i d en ce as s u m m ari zed ab o v e, i t was s u ffi ci en t to

au t h o ri ze a rat i o n al ju ry to fi n d Harri s g u i l t y o f v o l un t ary m an s l au g h ter an d th e o t h er

o ffen s es o f wh i ch h e was co n v i ct ed

. Never s o n v. S t a t e , 3 2 4 Ga. Ap p

. 3 22

, 3 2 3 -3 2 4

(1 ) (7 50 SE2 d 3 97 ) (2 0 1 3 ).

2

. Har r i s a r g u es t h at h is t ri al co un s el was i neffect i v e fo r wi th d rawi n g h i s

req u es t t o ch arg e t h e ju ry on d efen s e o f h ab it at i on un d er OCGA § 16 -3 -2 1. Th e St at e

res p o n d s t hat t h e d efen s e was n o t s u p p o rt ed b y t h e ev id e n c e a n d t h a t t ri al co u n s el

m ad e a reas o n ab l e s trat eg ic d eci s i o n t o p u rs ue a d efen s e o f o n l y ju s t i fi cat i o n

.

A p ers o n accu s ed o f a cri m e h as a ri g ht t o th e effect i v e as s i s t an ce o f co u n s el

.

S t r i ckl a nd

v. W a s h in gt o n

, 4 6 6 U.S. 6 6 8

, 6 86 (1 0 4 SCt 20 5 2

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

S t r i ckl a nd es t ab l i s hed a t wo p r o n g tes t fo r a cl ai m of i n effect i v e as s i s t an ce o f

co u ns el : fi rs t, t h e ap p el l an t m u st s h o w t h at co u n s el ’ s perfo rm an ce was defi ci en t

, an d

s eco n d

, th e ap pel l an t m

u s t s h ow t h at co u n sel ’ s d efi ci en t p erfo rm an ce p reju d i ced h i s

d efen s e. Id

. at 6 8 7. “ [T] h e b u rd en i s on t h e d efen dan t t o m ak e b o th s h o wi n g s

, an d

...

a rev i ewi n g co u rt co u l d fi n d l ack o f su ffi ci en t p reju d i ce wi t h o u t d eci d i n g wh et h er

co u ns el ’ s p erfo rm an ce was d efi ci en t ” o r v i ce-v ers a. S mi t h v. Fr an ci s , 2 5 3 Ga. 7 8 2,

7 8 3 (1 ) (3 2 5 SE2 d 3 6 2 ) (1 9 8 5).

7In d eci d in g wh et h er t ri al co u n s el ’ s perfo rm an ce was d efi ci en t u n d er t h e fi rs t

p ro n g o f S t r ickl a n d

, G eo rg ia h as fo l l o wed m o s t fed eral an d s t at e co u rt s an d ad o p t ed

t h e “ reas o n ab l y effect i v e as s i s t a n ce” s t an d ard

, wh i ch as k s wh et her co u n sel ’ s

as s i s tan ce was reas on ab l e co ns i d eri n g al l o f t h e ci rcu m s t an ces

. S m i t h

, 2 5 3 Ga. at 7 8 3

(1 ). Th i s s t an d ard al s o en ti tl es co u n s el t o “ a s t ro n g p res um p t i o n

. . . t h at co u n sel ’ s

co n du ct fal l s wi t h i n t h e wi d e ran g e o f reas o n ab l e p ro fes s i o nal co nd u ct an d t h at al l

s i gn i fi can t d eci s i on s w e r e m a d e i n t h e ex erci s e o f reas on ab l e p ro fes s i o n al j u d g m en t .”

Id

. W e rev iew a t ri al co urt ’ s d eci s i on o n an in effect i v e as s i s t an ce cl ai m fo r ab u s e o f

d i s cret i o n

. Ro b i n s o n v. S t at e

, 3 3 2 Ga. Ap p

. 2 4 0

, 2 5 1 (5 ) (b ) (7 7 1 SE2 d 75 1 ) (2 0 1 5 ).

Here, t he t ri al co urt rev iewed t h e ev i d en ce an d fo u n d th at Harri s ’ s t ri al co u n s el

was an ex p eri en ced an d s eas o ned cri m i n al d efen s e at t orn ey wh o s e t es t im on y

at t h e

m o ti o n fo r n ew t ri al h eari n g was cred i b le. Th e co urt fo un d t h at th e vi ct i m at t ack ed

Harri s rat h er t h an Harri s ’ s h ab it at i o n , t h at s el f-d efen s e was an ap p ro p ri at e d efen s e,

an d th at t ri al co u n s el “ reas o n ab l y an d s trat eg i cal l y ” d eci ded t o wi t h draw h is req u es t

fo r a ju ry ch arg e o n d efen s e o f h ab i t at i o n an d p ro ceed wi t h o n l y a s el f-d efen se cl ai m

.

Tri al co u ns el s u bm i t t ed t h e fo l lo wi n g req u es t t o ch arg e:

On e wh o i s n o t t h e ag g res s o r i s n o t req u i red t o ret reat b efo re b ei n g

ju s t i fi ed i n u si n g s u ch fo rce as i s n eces sary fo r p ers o n al d efen s e o r i n

8u s i n g fo rce t h at i s l i k el y t o cau s e d eat h o r g r e a t b o d i l y h arm if o ne

reas o n ab l y b el iev e s s u ch fo rce is n eces s ary t o p rev en t d eat h o r g reat

b o d i l y i n ju ry t o o n es el f o r a t h i rd p ers o n o r t o p rev en t t h e co m m i s s i o n

o f a fo rci b l e fel on y

.

Du ri n g t h e ch arg e co n feren ce, t ri al co u ns el wi t h d rew t hat req ues t wi t h o ut

d i s cu s s i o n

, l at er ex p l ai ni n g at t h e m o t io n fo r new t ri al h eari n g t h at “ t h e way t h e cas e

p l ay ed o u t at t ri al

, i t was p ret t y m u ch an accep t ed fact th at [t h e v ict i m ] s t ay ed t h ere

reg u l arl y

. He was s o rt o f l i k e an ex t en d ed m em b er o f t h e fam i l y

. An d at t he t i m e o f

t h e i nci d en t

, [t h e v i ct i m ] was act i n g k i n d o f crazy

. . . wh i ch l ed t o t h e i n ci d en t

,

v ers u s [t h e v ict i m ] b ei n g an i n t ru d er.”

Tri al co u n s e l tes t ifi ed at t h e new t ri al h eari n g t h at h e was fam i l i ar wi t h t h e

d efen s es o f ju s t i fi cat i o n o r sel f-d efen s e an d hab i t at i o n

, an d k n ew t h at t here w as cas e

l aw t h at al l o wed fo r t h e d efen s e o f h ab i t at io n “ wh et her t h e vi ct i m w as a co m m o n

g u es t o r n o t .” H ere, hi s reco l l ect i o n was t hat “ o ri g i n al l y [t h e v i ct i m ] cam e at M r.

Harri s wi t h a s t i ck

, s t ru ck h im o n t h e n o s e, cau si n g s om e m i n o r i n ju ry

. An d t h en aft er

i t d iffu s ed [s i c] s o m ewh at

, [t he v i ct i m ] t hen b ecam e b el l i g eren t ag ai n an d cam e aft er

M r. Harri s

, an d M r. Harri s ret reat ed an d g o t a g un an d s h o t h i m ,” as o p p o s ed t o t h e

v i ct i m h av i n g co m e s t rai g h t i nt o t h e ho u s e. Tri al co un s el fu rt h er ex p l ai n ed

, “ [A] t t h e

t i m e o f t h e i n ci den t [t h e v i ct i m ] d i d n ’ t fi t t h e cl as s i c p a t t ern o f bei n g an i n t ru d er,

9wh i ch i s wh y I s et t l ed wi t h go i n g s o l el y wi th s el f-d e f e n s e v ers u s g o i n g wi t h s el fd efen s e an d t h e n defen se o f h ab i t at i o n

, ” an d m ad e t h e d eci s io n t o wi t h draw t h e

ch arg e o f d efen s e o f h ab i t at i o n

.

Harri s fi rs t arg u es t h a t h i s t ri al co un s el ’ s wi t h drawal of t h e d efen s e o f

h ab it at i o n d efen s e co n s t i t u t ed d efi ci en t p erfo rm an ce, s at i s fy i n g t h e fi rs t p ro n g o f t h e

S t r i ckl a nd t es t. He co n ten d s t h at t h e ev i d en ce co u ld h av e s u p p o rt ed a ch arg e o n

d efen s e o f h ab i t at i on

, a n d t h e r e f o re t ri al co u n sel ’ s fai lu re t o as k fo r s u ch a ch arg e

co n st i t u t ed d efi ci en t p erfo rm an ce. Th e i s s u e h ere i s n o t

, h owev er, wh et h er “ an y

ev i d en ce, h o wev er s l i g h t ” wo u l d h av e s u p p o rt ed t h e ch arg e, as i t was i n Hen d r i x v.

S t a t e

, 2 6 8 G a. Ap p

. 4 5 5, 4 5 6 (1 ) (6 0 2 SE2 d 1 3 3 ) (2 0 0 4 ) (n o erro r in tri al co u rt ’ s s u a

s p o n te d eci s i o n t o ch arg e t h e ju ry o n s el f-d efen s e, b ecau s e s o m e ev id en ce s u p p o rt ed

i t ). Rat h er, t he i ss u e i s w h et h er t r i a l c o u n s el was d efi ci en t fo r fo cu s i n g on wh at h e

t h o u g h t was t h e s t ro n g er d efen s e.

Th e s t at u te o n d efen s e o f h ab i t at i o n , OCGA 1 6 -3 -2 3 , p ro v i d es :

A p ers o n i s ju s t i fi ed i n t h reat en i n g or u s i n g fo rce ag ai ns t an o t h er wh en

an d t o t he ex t en t t h at h e o r s he reas o n ab l y b el i ev e s t h a t s uch th reat o r

fo rce i s n eces s ary to p rev en t o r t erm i nat e s u ch o t h er’ s u n l awfu l en t ry

i n t o o r at t ack u p o n a h ab i t at i o n; h owev er, s u ch p ers o n i s j u s ti fi ed i n th e

u s e o f fo rce wh i ch i s i n ten d ed o r l i kel y t o ca u s e d e a t h or g reat b o di l y

h arm o n l y i f:

10(1 ) Th e en t ry is m ad e o r at t em p t ed i n a v i o l en t an d t um

u l t uo u s m an n er

an d h e o r s h e reas o n ab l y b el i ev es t h at t he en t ry i s at t em p ted o r m ad e fo r

t h e p u rp o s e of as sau lt in g o r o fferi n g p ers o n a l v i o l en ce to an y p ers o n

d wel l i n g o r b ei n g t h erei n an d t h at s uch fo rce i s n eces s ary t o prev en t th e

as s au l t o r o ffer o f p ers o n al v i ol en ce;

(2 ) Th at fo rce i s u s ed ag ai n s t an o t h er p ers o n wh o i s n o t a m em b er o f

t h e fam il y o r h o u s eh o l d an d wh o u n l awfu l l y an d fo rci b l y en t ers o r h as

u n l awfu l l y an d fo rci b l y en t ered t he res i d en ce an d t h e p ers o n u s i n g s u ch

fo rce k n ew o r had reas o n t o bel i ev e t h at an un l awfu l an d fo rci b l e en t ry

o ccu rred ; o r

(3 ) Th e p ers o n u s i n g s u ch fo rce reas o nab l y b el i ev es th at th e en t ry i s

m ad e o r at t em

pt ed f o r t h e p u rp o s e o f co m

m it t in g a fel on y t herei n an d

t h at s u ch fo rce i s n eces sary t o p rev en t t h e co m m i s s i o n o f t he fel o n y

.

Th e k ey t o t h i s d efen s e i s t h at t h e res i d en t d efen d an t h ad t o us e fo rce ei t h er to

p rev en t o r t erm i n at e an un l awfu l en t r y i n to o r a t t a ck o n t h e d e f e n d a n t ’s res i d en ce.

Ad d i t i o n al l y

, t he us e o f d ead l y fo rce i s o n l y d efen s i b l e i f t h e v i ct i m en t ered o r t ri ed

t o en t er “ i n a v io l en t an d t u m u l t u o u s m an ner,” “ u n l awfu l l y an d fo rci b l y ,” o r fo r t h e

p u rp os e o f co m

m i t ti n g a fel o n y

.

Here, Harri s ad m i t t ed t o t h e p o l i ce t h at th e v i ct i m s tay ed wi t h h i m p eri od i cal l y

,

t h at t h e v i ct i m

h ad co m e o v er t h at n i g h t t o d ri n k , an d t h at Harri s h ad l et h im i n s i d e

t h ro u g h t h e fro n t d o o r. Harri s ’ s fri en d t es t i fi ed t h at wh en h e cam e t o t h e h o u s e, t h e

v i ct i m was al read y b ack i n t h e n ep h ew’ s b ed ro o m

. Th e nep h ew al s o tes t i fi ed t h at t h e

11v i ct i m was at t h e h o u se “ l i k e ev ery n ig h t” an d s o m et i m es s t ay ed t h ere. T h e reco rd

co n tai n s n o ev i d en ce th at t h e v i ct i m en tered v i o l en tl y , u n l awfu ll y

, fo rci b l y , o r wi th

t h e i n t en t t o co m

m i t a fel o ny

.

Harri s arg u es t h a t t h e v ict i m ’ s “ refu s al to cro s s t h e t h res h ol d ” an d l eav e t h e

p rem i s es

, co u p l ed wi t h h i s co n t i n u ed effo rt s t o as sau l t “ was a v i o l en t an d t um u l t u ou s

en t ry fo r th e p u rp o s es o f vi o l en ce t o pers o n s wi t h in t h e h o m e” an d s up p o rt ed a ch arg e

o n d efen s e o f h ab i tat io n u n d er OCGA § 1 6-3 -2 3

. Bu t

[t ] h e s t at u t e i s cl earl y co n cern ed wi t h t h e us e o f d ead ly fo rce t o co u n t er

en t ry

, o r at tem

pt ed en try

, i n t o t h e h o m e..., an d t here i s n o ev id en ce t hat

[t he v i ct i m ] m ad e an y t h reat s ag ai n s t t h e h a b i t a t i o n

. Fu rt h er, he w as

t h ere as a g u e s t of [Harri s ]

, wh o w as a res i d en t of t he [h ou s e]

, an d

d efen s e o f hab i t at io n i s no t a d efen s e av ai l ab l e t o a defen d an t wh en th e

v i ct i m i s a g u es t i n t h e h o m e.

S t o b b a r t v. S t at e

, 2 7 2 Ga. 6 08

, 6 1 2 (4 ) (5 3 3 SE2 d 3 79 ) ( 20 0 0 ). See al s o Rees e v.

S t a t e

, 2 8 9 G a

. 4 4 6

, 44 7 (2 ) (7 1 1 SE2 d 71 7 ) (2 01 1 ) (n o erro r i n fai l in g t o ch arg e

d efen s e o f h ab i t at i o n ab s en t ev i d en ce v i ct i m m ad e u n l awfu l en try i n t o o r a t t ack o n

h o u s e, v ict i m en tered i n v io len t m an n er, o r d efen d an t reas o n ab l y b el i ev ed v i c t i m

i n t en d ed p ers o n al v i o l en ce); Never s o n v. S t a t e , 3 2 4 Ga. Ap p. at 32 5 (2 ) (d efen s e o f

12h ab it at i o n u n av ai l ab l e wh en ev i d e n ce es t ab l i s h ed vi ct i m was p res en t o n p o rch as

g u es t an d refu s ed t o l eav e).

Harri s p o in t s ou t t h at o ur Su p rem e Co urt fo u n d t ri al co un s el i n effect i v e fo r

fai l i n g t o req ues t a ch arg e o n d efen s e o f hab i t at i o n in Ben h a m v. S t a t e

, 2 7 7 Ga. 5 1 6,

5 1 7 -5 1 8 (5 9 1 SE2 d 8 2 4) (2 0 0 4 ). Bu t i n Ben h a m, t h e “ vi ct i m ” h ad b een as s au l t i n g t h e

d efen d an t th ro u g h a n o p en wi n d o w wh i l e at t em p ti ng t o en t er t h e d efen d an t ’ s car

(wh ich co n s ti t u t es a “ h ab i t at i o n” u n d er OCGA § 1 6 -3 -2 4.1 ). Tri al co u n s el t es t i fi ed

t h at s h e req u es ted on l y a ch arg e on s el f-d efe n s e a n d n ot o n d efen s e o f hab i t at i o n

b ecau s e s h e wan t ed t h e ju ry t o b el i ev e t h at t he d efen d an t h ad feared fo r h er s afet y an d

was n ot “ m erel y p ro t ect i n g h er v eh i cl e.” Id

. at 5 1 7

. T h e co u rt fo un d t h at t ri al co u n s el

d i d n o t “ ap p reci at e t h at t h e d efen s e o f h ab i t at i on m ay h av e ju s ti fi ed t h e u s e o f d ead l y

fo rce i n t h i s cas e ev en i f t h at am o u n t o f f o rce w as n o t n eces s ari l y

req u ired t o rep el

[t he o t h er wo m an ’ s ] at t ack

, ” b ecau s e t h e wo m an h ad at t em p t ed en t ry i n a v i o l en t o r

t u m u l t u o u s m an n er fo r t h e p u r p o s e o f as s au lt i n g t h e d efen dan t

. Id

. Th u s

, t ri al

co u ns el ’ s fai l u re “ t o ad eq u at el y res earch an d u n d ers t an d t h e d efen s es av ai l ab l e t o t h e

d efen d an t ” co n st i t u t ed d efi ci en t p erfo rm an ce. Id

. at 5 1 7 -5 1 8 (1 ).

Si m i l arl y

, i n Ro b is o n v. S t a t e

, a v i ct i m was en t i t l ed t o u s e fo rce a g ai n s t t h e

d efen d an t

, wh o was i n i t ial l y i n t h e h o u s e as a g ues t

, b ecau s e t he d efen d an t l eft t h e

13h o u s e wh en as k ed t o

, ret ri ev ed a m eat cl eav er fro m h i s car, an d ret urn ed t o ch as e t h e

v i ct i m i nt o h i s b ed ro o m

. 2 7 7 Ga. Ap p

. 1 3 3

, 1 3 3 -1 3 4 (6 2 5 SE2 d 53 3 ) (2 0 0 6 ). Th e

d efen d an t ’ s re-en try in t o t h e h ab i t at i o n was v io l en t an d t u m u l t u o u s

, an d t h e v i ct i m

reas on ab l y b el i ev ed h e was ret u rn i n g t o as s au l t h i m

. Id

. at 1 34

. In co n t ras t

, t h e v i ct i m

i n t h i s cas e w as i nv i t ed i nt o t h e h o us e an d nev er l eft

. Becau s e t h e u n co n t ro v ert ed

ev i d en ce ad d u ced at t ri al wo u l d n o t h av e au t h o ri ze a ch arg e of d efen s e of h ab i t at i o n,

t h e t ri al co u rt co m

m i t t ed no ab u s e o f d i s cret i o n i n fi n d i n g t h at t ri al co u n sel ’ s

wi t h d rawal o f t h at ch arg e was n o t d efi ci en t p erfo rm an ce.

Ab s en t a fi n d i n g o f d efi ci en t p erfo rm an c e

, w e n eed n ot co ns i d er wh et h er

wi t h d rawi n g t h e d efen s e o f h ab i t at i o n ch arg e p reju d i ced Harri s ’ s d efen s e.

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

g s a n d Ri ckma n , JJ., co ncu r

.

14