FOURTH D I VI SI ON
DI L LA RD, P. J.

, M ERCI ER and M A RKLE, 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.

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

A ugust 19, 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 73 1 . THE STATE v . ANDERSON.

M A R K LE
, J ud g e.

Aft er Ch es t er An d ers o n was ch arg ed wi t h t wo co u n t s o f arm ed ro bb ery , t h e

St at e s o u g h t t o ad m i t a t t r i a l ev i d en ce o f A n d ers o n’ s co n v i ct i o n fo r an o t her arm ed

r o b b e r y u n d er OCGA § 2 4-4 -4 0 4 (b ) (Ru l e 4 0 4 (b )). Fo l l o wi ng a h eari n g , t h e tri a l

c o u r t g ran t ed An ders o n ’ s m o t i o n i n l i m i n e t o ex cl u d e an y ev i d en ce of t h e o t h e r

ro b b e r y. Th e St at e n o w ap p eal s , arg u i n g t h at t h e tri al co u rt erred b y fi n d i n g t h e

ev i d en ce i n ad m i s s i bl e. Fo r t he reas o n s t h at fo l l o w, we v acat e t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s o rd er,

an d rem an d t h e cas e fo r fu rt h er p ro ceed i n g s

.

“ W e rev i ew a t ri al co u rt ’ s d eci s io n reg ard i n g Ru l e 4 0 4 (b ) ev i den ce fo r an

ab u se of d i s cret i o n

. ” S t a t e v. A t ki n s , 30 4 Ga. 4 1 3

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

Al t h o u g h we reco g ni ze t h e b ro ad ran ge of co ncl u s i o ns a t ri al co u rt m ay reach i n t h eex erci s e o f i t s d i s cret i o n , i t ab u s es t h at d i s cret io n wh en i t ap p l i es an i n co rrect l eg al

s t an d ard

. S t a te v. Ja cks o n , 3 5 1 Ga. Ap p . 6 7 5

, 6 7 7 (8 3 2 SE2 d 6 5 4) (2 01 9 ).

So v i ewed

, t h e reco rd s h o ws th at i n M ay 2 0 17

, An d ers on en t ered an O’ Rei l l y

Au t op art s st o re wi t h a weap o n , ap p ro ach ed t h e co u n t er, an d d em a n d ed th e cas h i er

g i v e h i m t h e m o ney fro m t h e reg i s ter. Th e cas h ier co m p l i ed

, an d

, as A n d ers o n fl ed

,

t h e cas hi er s h o t h i m

. I d

. Po l ice o bt ai n ed An d ers o n ’ s b l o o d fro m t h e s cen e, an d

l o cat ed An d ers o n i n t h e h o s p i t al

, wh ere p o li ce were ab l e t o i n t e rv i ew h i m t wi ce.

Du ri n g t h e s eco nd in t erv i ew, An d ers o n ad m i t t e d t h at h e ro b b ed th e O’ Rei ll y s t o re,

an d a l s o s t at ed t hat h e h ad ro b b ed an o t h er O’ Rei l l y s t o re in Decem b er 2 0 1 6

. 1

An d ers on ex p lai n ed t h at h e n eed ed t h e m o n ey fo r h o s p it al b i l ls an d co l l eg e. He al s o

co n fi rm ed t h at h e wo re a h o o d i e an d g l o v es , b u t n o m as k

. A nd ers o n was l at er

co n vi ct ed o f t h e 2 01 7 ro b bery

, an d s en t en ced t o l i fe i m p ri s o n m en t. W e affi rm ed t h at

co n vi ct i o n i n an u n p u b l is h ed o p i n i o n

. See An d er s on v. S ta t e , 3 5 9 G a

. Ap p

. XXVI

(2 0 2 1).

Aft er h e w as i n d i ct ed fo r t h e 2 0 1 7 ro bb ery , b u t b e f o r e h e was co n v i ct ed

,

An d ers on was ch arg ed in a s ep ara t e i n d i c t m en t wi t h ro b bi n g an O’ Rei l l y s t o re in

1 Th ere were t wo i n t erv i ews s ev eral day s ap art i n wh i ch An ders o n d i s cu s s ed

t h e ro b b eri es

.

2Decem

b er 2 0 1 6, wh i ch fo rm s t h e b as i s o f t h e cas e cu rren t l y b efo re u s

. In p ro s ecu t i n g

An d ers on fo r t h e 2 0 1 6 ro b b ery , t h e St at e s o u g ht t o ad m i t t h e 2 01 7 co n v i ct i on as o t h er

act s ev i d en ce u n d er Ru l e 4 0 4 (b ). 2 An d ers on m o ved t o ex cl u d e an y referen ce t o o t h er

ro b b eri es , i n cl u di n g t h e 2 01 7 O’ Rei l l y ro b bery fo r wh i ch h e h ad b een co n v i ct ed

.

At a h eari n g , t h e St at e arg u ed t h at t h ere h ad b een a s t ri n g o f ro b b eri es

co m m i t t ed i n a s i m i l ar way , wi t h t he p erp et rat o r weari n g si m i lar cl o t h i n g , a n d t h at

i n h i s s eco nd i n t erv i ew, An d ers o n ad m i tt ed t h at h e co m m i t t e d t h e Decem

b er 2 0 1 6

ro b b ery

. Th u s , t h e St at e co n t en d ed t h at t he ev i d en ce o f t h e 2 0 1 7 ro b b ery co n v i ct i o n

was rel ev an t t o s h o w i d en t i t y , m o t i v e, m o d u s o peran d i

, p l an , an d prep arat i o n

. Th e

St at e al so s o u g h t t o ad m i t a red act ed vers i o n o f t h e fi rs t i n t erv i ew, i n wh i ch An d ers o n

s t at ed he was d es p erat e fo r m o ney , t h at O’ Rei l ly w as an eas y t arg et

, an d t h at h e wo re

a h o o d i e an d g l as s es

.

Th e t ri al co u rt u l t i m at el y g ran ted An d ers o n ’ s m o t i o n t o ex cl u de t h e ev i d en ce,

fi nd i ng i t was n ot i n t ri n s i c, an d t h at ev en i f i t was p ot en t i al l y rel ev an t t o i d en t i t y o r

m o ti v e, “ u p o n a co m

m o n s en s e as s es s m en t of al l of t h e ci rcu m s t an ces s u rro u n d i n g

2 In o u r p ri o r o p i n i o n affi rm i n g An d ers o n ’ s co n vi ct i o n fo r th e 20 1 7 ro b b ery ,
we o p i n ed t h at an y referen ce t o o t h er ro b beri es as i n t ri n si c ev id en ce was “ d u b i o u s .”
See An d er s o n , 3 5 9 Ga. A p p. XXVI, at 1 2 (3 ). Nev ert h el es s , we co n cl u d ed t h at an y

erro r i n t h e ad m i s s i o n o f un ch arg ed co n d u ct wo u l d b e h arm l es s i n l i g h t o f t h e

o v erwh el m i ng ev i d en ce t h at An d ers o n co m m i tt ed t he 2 0 17 ro b bery . Id

.

3t h e ex t ri n s i c act s an d t h e act ch arg ed

, . . . t h e d a n g er o f u n f a ir p rej u d ice o u t wei

gh s

t h e p r ob a t i ve va l u e o

f th e evi d en ce .” (Em

ph as i s s u pp l i ed .) Th e St at e t i m el y fi l ed t h i s

ap p eal

.

In rel at ed en u m erat i o n s o f erro r , t h e St at e arg u es th at t h e tri al co u rt erred in

ex cl u d i n g th e ot h er act s ev id en ce b ecau se t h e t ri al co u rt d i d n o t co n si d e r al l o f t h e

p u rp os es fo r wh i ch th e ev i den ce was s u b m it t ed

, m i sap p l ied t h e b al an ci n g t es t by

n eg lect i ng t o fi n d t h e p reju di ce s u b s t a n ti a l l y o u t wei g h e d an y p ro b at i v e v al u e, an d

fai l ed t o b al an ce t h e R u l e 4 0 3 fact o rs i n fav o r o f ad m it t i n g t h e ev i d en ce. 3 W e

co n cl u d e t h at t h e t ri al co u rt ab u s ed i t s d i s cret i o n

. Th us , we v acat e t h e t ri al co urt ’ s

o rd er ex cl u d i n g t h e ev i d en ce, an d rem an d t he cas e fo r fu rt h er p ro ceed i n gs

.

Un d er Ru l e 4 0 4 (b ),

3 In res po ns e, A n d e r s o n as s ert s th at th e St at e wai v ed an y arg um en t t h at t h e

ev i d en ce was ad m i ss i b l e u n d er Ru le 4 0 4 (b ). W e are n o t co n v i nced

. Al t h o u g h t h e St at e’ s arg u m en t s eem s t o c o n fu s e i nt ri n s i c ev i den ce an d ev i den ce t h at wo u l d b e ad m i s s i b l e u n d er Ru l e 4 0 4 (b ), an d t h e t ri al co urt i t s el f ack n o wl ed g ed t h at t h e
arg u m en t s were “ m

u d dl ed ,” t h e reco rd n ev ert h el es s s ho ws t h at t h e St at e pre s erv ed
i t s Ru l e 4 0 4 (b ) arg u m en t

. W e fu rt h er n ot e t hat b ot h t h i s cas e an d t h e on e a r i s i n g fro m t h e 2 0 1 7 ro b b ery

were h eard b y t h e s am e t ri al ju d g e, an d t he t ran s cri p t s h o ws
t h at t h e p art i es an d th e co u rt rep eat ed l y referred to t h e ev i d en ce an d arg u m en t s fro m
t h e 2 0 1 7 cas e, as wel l as t h i s Co u rt ’ s affi rm an ce o f An ders o n ’ s co n v ict i o n

. M u ch o f

t h e ev i d en ce ci t ed i s n o t p art o f t h e reco rd b efo re u s, an d t h e St at e d i d no t fi l e n o t i ce
t o rel y o n t h e p ri o r reco rd . See Co u rt o f Ap p eal s Ru l e 4 2 (c).

4Ev i d en ce o f ot h er cri m es , wro n g s, o r act s s h al l n o t b e ad m is s i b l e t o

p ro v e t h e ch aract e r o f a p ers o n i n o rd er t o s h o w act i o n in co n fo rm i t y

t h erewi th

. It m ay , h o wev er, b e ad m i s s ib l e fo r o t h er p urp o s es , i n cl ud i n g , b u t n o t l im ite d to

, p ro o f of m o t i v e, o p p o rt u n i t y , i nt en t

, p rep arat i o n , p l an , k n o wl ed g e, i d en t i t y , o r ab s en ce o f m i st ak e o r acci den t

.

As we h av e ex p l ai n ed

, th e ru l e fav o rs t h e ad m i s s i o n o f ev id en ce. W r i g h t v. S t a t e , 3 6 2

Ga. A p p. 8 6 7 , 8 7 6 (2 ) (8 7 0 SE2 d 4 8 4 ) (2 0 2 2 ). Nev ert h el es s , ev i den ce rel ev an t t o a

p ro p er p u rp o s e m ay st i ll b e ex cl u d ed “ i f i t s p ro bat i v e v al u e i s su b st a n t i a l l y

o u t wei g hed b y t h e d an g er o f un fai r p reju d ice, co nfu s i on o f t h e i s su es , o r m i s l ead i n g

t h e j u ry o r b y co n s i d erat i on s o f u n d u e d el ay , was te o f t i m e, o r n eed l es s p res en t at i o n

o f cu m u l at i v e ev i d en ce.” (Em

p h as i s s up p li ed .) OCGA § 2 4 -4 -4 0 3 (Ru l e 4 0 3 );

W r ig h t

, 3 6 2 Ga. Ap p . at 8 7 6-8 77 (2 ).

Fo r ev id en ce t o b e ad m i ss i b l e u n d er Ru l e 4 0 4 (b ),

t h e St at e m

u s t m ak e a s h o wi n g t h at : (1 ) ev i d en ce of ex t ri n s ic, o r ot h er,

act s i s rel ev an t to a n i s s u e o t her t h an a d efen d an t ’ s ch aract er; (2 ) th e

p ro b at iv e val u e o f t h e o t h er act s ev i d en ce is n o t su b s t an t i al l y

o u t wei g h ed b y i t s u n fai r p r e ju d i ce, i .e., t h e ev i d en ce m u s t sat i sfy th e

req u irem en ts o f Ru le 40 3 ; an d (3 ) t h ere i s s u ffi ci en t pro o f s o t hat th e ju ry co u l d fi n d t h at t h e d efen d an t co m m i t t ed t h e act i n q u es t i o n.

5(Ci t at i o n o m i t t ed .) S t a t e v. Jo n es , 2 9 7 Ga. 1 5 6

, 1 5 8 -1 5 9 (1 ) (7 7 3 SE2 d 1 70 ) (2 0 1 5 ); 4

s ee al s o Al len v. S t a t e , 3 1 0 Ga. 4 1 1

, 4 1 4 (2 ) (8 51 SE2 d 5 4 1 ) (2 0 2 0 ); W r i g ht

, 3 6 2 Ga.

Ap p . at 8 7 7 (2 ).

Un d er t h e fi rs t pro ng of t h i s t es t

, t h e t ri al c o u rt m u s t co n s i d er w h et h er t h e

ev i d en ce i s rel ev an t u n d er OCGA § 2 4 -4 -4 01

. Rel ev an t ev i den ce i s “ ev id en ce h av i n g

an y t en d en cy t o m a k e t h e ex i s t en ce of an y fact t hat i s o f co n s eq u en ce t o t h e

d et erm i n at i o n o f t h e act i o n m o re p ro b ab le o r les s p ro b ab l e t han it w o u l d b e wi t h o ut

t h e ev i d en ce.” Hea r d v. S t a t e , 3 0 9 G a. 7 6

, 8 4-8 5 (3 ) (b ) (8 4 4 SE2 d 7 9 1 ) (2 02 0 ). “ Th i s

i s a b i n ary

q u es t i o n —

ev id en ce i s ei t h er rel ev an t o r i t i s n o t .” Id . at 8 5 (3 ) (b ).

Un d er t he s eco n d p ro n g, t h e t ri al co u rt ap p l i es Ru l e 4 0 3 an d m u s t “ u n d ert ak e

i n each cas e a co n s i d ered ev al u at i o n o f t h e pro ffered ju s t i fi cat i on fo r t h e ad m i s s i o n

o f s u ch ev i d en ce an d m ak e an i n dep en d en t d et erm i nat i on o f wh et h er t h e pro b at i v e

v al u e o f t h e ev id en ce i s s u b s t an t i al l y ou t w ei g h ed by ” t he d an g er o f u n fai r p reju d i ce.

(Ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n om it t ed .) J o n es , 29 7 G a. at 1 6 3 (3 ). “ In wei g h i n g t h e

p ro b at i v e v al u e o f o t h er act s ev i d en ce, a co u rt m ay co n s i d er a n um b er o f fact o rs ,

i n cl u d i n g (1 ) p ro s ecu t ori al n eed , (2 ) o v eral l s i m i l ari t y o f t h e o t her act s an d t h e act s

ch arg ed

, an d (3 ) t he t em

p oral rem o t en es s o f t h e o t h er act s .” Th omp s o n v. S t a t e , 3 0 8

4 Th e p art ies d o n o t d i s p u t e t h at t h e t hi rd p ro n g i s s at i s fi ed

.

6Ga. 8 5 4

, 8 5 9 (2 ) (8 4 3 SE2 d 7 94 ) (2 0 2 0 ). Th e b al an ci ng t es t ap p l ies o n a cas e-b y -cas e

b as i s , an d “ req u ires a co m m o n s en s e as s es s m en t o f al l t h e ci rcu m s t an ces su rro u n d i n g

t h e ex t ri n s i c act an d t h e ch arg ed o ffen s e.” (Ci t at i o n an d pu n ct uat i o n o m i t t ed .) Gr een

v. S t a t e , 3 5 2 G a. Ap p . 2 8 4 , 2 9 0 (2 ) (e) (8 3 4 SE2 d 3 7 8 ) (2 0 1 9 ). W e h av e ex p l ai n ed

,

h o wev er, t h at

t h e g reat er t h e t en d en cy t o m ak e t h e ex is t en ce o f a fact m o re o r l es s

p ro b ab l e, t h e g reat er t h e p ro b at i ve v al u e. Pro b at i ve v al u e al s o d ep en d s

o n t h e m a r g i n a l wo rt h of t he ev i d en ce — h ow m u ch i t ad d s , in o t h er

wo rd s , t o t he o t h e r p ro o f av ai l ab l e t o es t ab l i s h t he fact fo r wh i ch i t i s

o ffered

. An d pro bat i v e v al u e d ep e n d s a s w el l u p o n t h e n eed fo r th e

ev i d en ce. W h en t h e fact fo r wh i ch t h e ev i d en ce i s o ffered i s u n d i sp u ted

o r n ot reas o n ab l y s u s cep t i b l e o f d i s p u t e, t h e l es s th e p ro b at i v e v al u e o f

t h e ev id en ce.

(Ci t at i o n an d p u nct u at io n o m i tt ed .) W r ig h t , 3 6 2 Ga. Ap p . at 8 7 7-8 7 8 (2 ).

“ Th e m ajo r fu n ct io n o f Ru l e 4 03 i s to ex cl u d e m at t er of s c a n t o r cu m u l at i v e

p ro b at i v e fo rce, d rag ged i n b y th e h eel s fo r t h e s ak e o f i t s preju d ici al effect

. Th u s , t h e

ex cl u s i o n o f ev i d en ce u n d er Ru l e 4 0 3 i s a n ex t rao rd i n ary rem ed y wh ich s ho u l d b e

u s ed on l y s p ari n g l y .” (Ci t at i on s an d p u n ct u at i o n om i t t ed .) W r i g h t

, 3 62 Ga. Ap p . at

8 7 8 (2 ). “ Ob v i o u s l y , th e re a s o n fo r s uch cau t i o n i s t h at rel ev an t ev i d en ce i n a

cri m i n al t ri al i s i n h eren t l y p reju d i c i a l

, an d

, as a res ul t

, Ru le 40 3 p erm i t s ex cl u s i o n

7o n l y wh en u n fai r p reju di ce s u b s t a n t i a l l y o u t wei g h s p ro b at i v e v al u e.” (Ci tat i o n s an d

p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ; em

p h as i s s u p p l i ed .) W

i l l i a ms v. S t a t e , 3 2 8 Ga. Ap p

. 8 7 6

, 8 7 9

(1 ) (7 63 SE2 d 2 61 ) (2 0 1 4 ). A s a res u l t

, wh en we co n s i d er Ru l e 4 0 3 i s s u es o n ap p eal

,

we “ m u s t l o o k at t h e ev i d en ce in a li g h t m o s t fav o rab l e t o i t s ad m i s s i o n, m ax i m i zi n g

i t s p ro b at i v e v al u e a n d m i n i m i zi n g i ts u n d ue p reju d i ci al i m p act .” (Ci t at i o n an d

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

r i g h t , 3 6 2 Ga. Ap p

. at 8 7 8 (2 ).

In t h i s cas e, we m

u s t co ncl u d e t h at t h e t ri al co u rt ab us ed i t s d is cret i o n b o t h in

i t s a p p l i c a t i o n o f t h e fi rs t p ro n g o f Ru le 4 0 4 (b ) an d in i t s an al y s i s o f Ru l e 4 0 3 ’ s

b al an ci n g t es t

. W it h r e g ard t o t h e fi rs t p ro n g , t h e t ri al co urt as s u m ed t h e ev i d en ce

co u ld b e rel ev an t t o i d en t i t y o r m o t i v e, b ut t h e t r i a l c o u rt d o es n o t ap pear t o h av e

co n si d e r e d i t s ad m i s s ib i l i t y t o s h ow m o du s op eran d i

, pl an , o r p rep arat i o n

. Th i s

o m is s i o n al o n e req u i res u s to rem an d t h e cas e. Cf. Ol d s v. S t at e , 2 99 Ga. 65

, 7 7 (3 ),

n

. 1 8 (7 86 SE2 d 6 3 3 ) (2 0 1 6 ) (rem an d i n g fo r fu rt h er co n s i d erat i o n w h ere Co u rt o f

Ap p eal s di d n o t co ns i d er al l of t h e p u rp o s es fo r wh i ch t h e ev id en ce was p ot en t i al l y

ad m i s s i b l e u n d er Ru l e 4 0 4 (b )).

Tu rn i n g t o t he seco n d p ro n g , t h e t ri al co u rt ab us ed i t s d i s cret i o n wh en i t

ap p li ed an i n co rrect l eg al s t an d ard to i t s Ru l e 4 0 3 an al y s i s

. Fi rs t

, t h e t ri al co u rt s eem s

t o h av e i g n o red t h e p ro s ecu t o ri al n eed fo r t h i s ev i d en ce, g iv en An d ers on ’ s o wn

8co n ces si o n at t h e h eari n g t h at t h e ev i den ce was t h e o n l y li n k b et ween h i m a n d t h e

2 0 1 6 ro b b ery. S e e Br a n n o n v. S t a te

, 2 9 8 Ga. 6 0 1

, 60 8 (4 ) (7 8 3 SE2 d 6 4 2 ) (2 0 1 6 )

(n o t i ng t h at p ro secu t ori al n eed fo r ev i d en ce h as a ro l e i n t h e co m m o n s en s e ap p ro ach

t o ad m i t t i n g ev i d en ce u n d er Ru l e 4 04 (b )); Ta r iq -Ma d yu n v. S t a te

, 3 6 1 Ga. Ap p

. 2 1 9,

2 2 6 -2 2 7 (3 ) (b ) (8 6 3 SE2 d 70 3 ) (2 0 2 1 ) (ev i d en ce o f o t h er ro b b eri es was ad m i s s i b l e

u n d er Ru l e 4 0 4 (b ) i n ro b b ery t ri al wh en o t her ev i d en ce was li m i t ed ); co m p are S l o a n

v. S t a t e , 3 5 1 Ga. Ap p

. 1 9 9

, 2 1 0 (2 ) (e) (i )-(i i ) (8 3 0 S E 2 d 5 7 1 ) (2 0 1 9 ) (ev i d en ce

i n ad m is s i b l e u n d er Ru l e 4 0 3 b ecau s e i t s u g g es ted d efen dan t was seri al ro bb er an d

t h ere was am

p l e ev i d en ce t o es t ab l i s h i n ten t ).

Seco n d

, t h e t ri al co u r t f

a i l ed t o co n si d er wh et h er t h e p reju d i ce s u b s t a n t i a l l y

o u t wei g hed t h e p ro b at i v e v al u e , s t a t i n g i n s t ead o n l y t h at th e preju d ici al effect

o u t wei gh ed i t s p ro b at i ve v al u e. Bu t l er v. S t a t e , 3 0 9 Ga. 7 5 5

, 7 6 1 (2 ) (b ) (8 4 8 SE2 d

9 7 ) (2 02 0 ) (t ri al c o u r t a p p l i ed wro n g l eg al s t an dard wh en i t det erm in ed t h at t h e

p reju d i ci al effect m erel y o u t w e i g h ed t h e p ro b at i v e v al u e, n o t t h at i t su b s t an t i al l y

o u t wei gh ed th e p ro b at i v e v al u e, an d reco rd s ho wed t hat t ri al co u rt was co n fu s ed as

t o t h e p u rp o s e fo r w h ich th e ev i d en ce was b ei n g ad m i t t ed ); 5 St a t e v. Ja cks o n , 3 5 1 Ga.

5 Bu t l er i nv o l v ed a d i fferen t s t at u t e u n der t he ol d Ev i d en ce c o d e , b u t t h at

s t at u te al s o req u ired th e co u rt t o d et erm in e t hat t h e “ p ro b at iv e v al u e o f ad m i t t i n g t h e

ev i d en ce s u b s t an t i al l y o u t w ei g h ed i t s p reju di ci al effect t o t h e d efen d an t .” 30 9 Ga. at

9Ap p

. 6 7 5

, 6 7 7 (8 3 2 SE2 d 6 54 ) (2 0 1 9 ) (t ri al co u rt erred i n ap p l y i n g Ru l e 4 0 3 b y n ot

d et erm i n i n g wh et h er t h e p reju d i ce s u b s t a n t i a l l y o u t wei g h ed t h e p ro b at i v e v al u e).

Al t h o u g h t he t ri al co u rt u s ed t h e “ co m m o n s en s e as s es s m en t ” l an g uag e fro m o u r cas e

l aw, t h i s al o n e d o es n o t en ab l e u s to d efer t o t h e t ri al co u rt ; i n s t ead

, t h e t ri al co urt ’ s

fai l u re t o co n s id er t he o t h er p u rp o s es fo r t h e ex tri n si c ev i d en ce an d t o p ro p erl y ap p l y

t h e Ru l e 4 0 3 b al an ci n g t es t req u i res t h at we rem an d t h e cas e.

Fo r al l t h es e reas o ns , we v acat e t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s ord er, an d rem an d t he cas e fo r

fu rt her p ro ceed i n g s co ns i st en t wi t h t h i s o p i n i on

.

Ju d g men t va ca t ed a n d rema n d e d wi th d i r ect i o n

. Di l l a rd

, P

. J., a n d M

er ci er
,

J., co n cu r

.

7 6 0 (2 ) (b ) (ci t i n g fo rm er OCGA § 2 4 -9 -8 4

. 1 (a) (2 )).

10