FI FTH DI VI SI ON

M CFA DDEN, C. J.

, R I CKM A N, P. J.

, and SENI OR A PPELLA TE JUDGE PHI PPS

N O T IC E : M otions for r e c ons i de r a tion m us t be

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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

.

A pr i l 21, 2021



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A2 1 A0 36 5 . HARRIS v . THE STATE.

R I C K M A N , Pres i d i n g J u d g e.

F o l l o wi n g a ju ry t ri al

, Qu as h a Ni co l e Harri s w as co n v i ct ed o f fel o n y

o b s t ru ct i on o f an o ffi cer, 1 fel o n y t h eft b y sh o pl i ft i n g

, 2 i d en ti fy frau d

, 3 s eco n d d eg ree

fo rg ery

, 4 p o ss es s i o n o f a co n t ro l l ed s u b s t an ce, 5 f l e e i n g a n d at t em

p t i n g t o el u d e a

1 OCGA § 1 6 -1 0-2 4 (b ).

2 OCGA § 1 6 -8 -1 4 (a), (b )(1 )(C).

3 OCGA § 1 6 -9 -1 2 1 (a) (1 ).

4 OCGA § 1 6 -9 -1 (c).

5 OCGA § 1 6 -1 3-3 0 (a).p o l i ce o ffi cer, 6 an d d ri v i n g wh i l e li cen s e su s p en d ed

. 7 H arri s ap p eal s th e d en i al o f h er

s u b s eq u en t m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al

, co n ten d i n g t h at t h e ev id en ce was i n s u ffi ci en t to

s u s t ai n h er co n vi ct i o n fo r t h eft b y s h o p li ft i n g an d t h a t s h e recei ved i n effect i v e

as s i s tan ce o f co u ns el i n s ev eral d i fferen t res p ect s

. F o r t h e f o l l o w i n g reas o n s

, we

rev ers e t h e den i al o f Harri s ’ m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al as t o h er t h eft b y s h op l i ft i n g

co n vi ct i o n , an d we affi rm h er rem ai n i n g co n v i ct i on s

.

On ap peal

, t h e e v i d en ce m u s t b e v i ewed i n t h e l i g ht m os t fav o rab l e t o

s u p p o rt t h e v erd i ct ; i n d eed

, t h e ev i den ce i s co n s t ru ed i n fav o r o f th e

v erd i c t

. [ Harri s ] n o l on g er en j o y s a p res u m

pt i o n o f i n n o cen ce.

M o reo v er, an ap p el l at e co u rt d et erm i n es ev i d en ce s uffi ci en cy an d d o es

n o t wei g h t h e ev i d en ce o r d et erm in e wi t n es s cred i b il i t y

.

(Ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t e d

. ) E n twi s l e v. S t a te

, 3 4 0 Ga. Ap p. 1 2 2, 1 2 3 (7 9 6

SE2 d 7 4 3) (2 0 1 7).

So v i ewed

, t h e reco rd sh o ws t h at l aw en fo rcem en t res p o n d ed t o a s h op l i ft i n g

i n p ro g res s cal l fro m

a J u st i ce cl o t h i n g s t o re i n a s h o p p i n g m al l . Th e fi rs t offi cer t o

arri v e o n s cen e s p o k e t o t h e s t o re m an ag er w h o “ co n fi rm ed t h ere a s ho p li ft i n g t h at

d i d o ccu r,” g av e a d es cri p t i o n o f t h e t wo fem al e su s p ect s

, an d “ s t at ed t h at t h ey h ad

6 OCGA § 4 0 -6 -3 9 5 (a).

7 OCGA § 4 0 -5 -1 2 1 (a).

2ju s t s t art ed wal k i n g d o wn t h e s i d ewal k t o ward [an ot h er s t o re] .” Th e o ffi cer wen t to

t h e o t h er s t o re an d o b s erv ed Harri s an d an o th er fem al e m at ch i ng th e d es cri p t i o n

g i v en b y t h e m an ag er t ry i n g t o h i d e i n t h e ai s l es

.

W h en t h e wo m en ex i t ed t h e s t o re, t h e o ffi cer req u es t ed t hat Harr i s a n d t h e

o t h er fem al e s to p

. Bo th wo m en d en i ed go i n g i n t o t h e J u s t i c e s t o re an d wh en t h e

o ffi cer as k ed t h em fo r t h ei r i d en t i fi cat i o n

, t h ey res p o n d ed t h at th ei r d ri v ers l i cen s es

were i n t h ei r c a r

. H a r ri s an d t h e o t h er fem al e t h en b eg an to wal k away fro m t h e

o ffi cer an d ev en tu al l y

Harri s ran t o ward h er veh i cl e. Th e o ffi cer p u rs u ed Harri s o n

fo o t as s h e g o t i n h er v eh icl e an d “ s p ed o u t o f t h e park i n g l ot ” d es p i t e th e o ffi cer’ s

d em an d s fo r Harri s t o s t o p

. H arri s s t ru ck t h e o ffi cer wi t h h er v eh icl e as s h e d ro v e

away

.

An o t h e r l a w en fo rcem en t o ffi cer wh o res p o n ded t o t h e i n ci d en t o b s erv ed

Harri s dri v i n g h er v eh i cl e i n t h e p ark i n g l o t

. H arri s ’ s d ri v ers l icen s e was s us p en d ed

at t he t i m e. Harri s s t o p p ed h er v eh i cl e an d fl ed o n fo o t at a fas t p ace. Th e o ffi cer

co m m an d ed Harri s t o s t o p b u t s h e co nt i nu ed t o ru n an d wen t i n s i d e a d ru g s t o re.

Harri s fl ed o u t o f t h e b ack o f t h e s t o re an d was s ub s eq u en t l y ap p reh en d ed

.

W h i l e Harri s was b ei ng pu rs u ed

, o t h er l aw en fo rcem en t o ffi cers s earch ed h er

v eh icl e. Two p u rs es were reco v ered fro m th e v eh i cl e. O ffi cers al s o reco v ered

3u n m ark ed p i ll s

, d ri v er’ s l i cen ses

, an d m u l ti p l e cred i t card s i n s i de t h e p u rs e t h at Harri s

i d en t i fi ed as h ers

. On e o f th e d ri v er’ s l icen s es an d cred i t card s was i n t he n am e o f a

d i fferen t wo m an

. Th at wo m an t es t ifi ed t hat s h e k n ew n ei t h er H arri s n o r t h e o t h e r

fem al e wi t h Harri s, t hat s h e d i d n o t g i v e an y o ne p erm i s s io n t o p os s es s h er d ri v er’ s

l i cen se an d t h at sh e n ev er h ad a cred i t card li k e t h e o ne reco vered an d n ev er

au t h o ri zed o n e t o b e i s su ed i n h er n am e.

A cri m e l ab s ci en ti s t w it h t h e Geo rg i a Bu reau o f In v es t i g at i o n t es t i fi ed t h at h e

t es t ed t h e p i l l s reco v ered fro m Harri s ’ s p u rs e. T h e an al y s is of t h e p i l l s co n fi rm ed t h at

t h ey co n t ai n ed p h en t eram i n e, a s ch ed u l e IV co n t ro ll ed s u b s tan ce.

Th e o f f i c e r s al s o reco v ered cl o th i n g wi t h J u s t i ce s t o re t ag s fro m Harri s ’ s

v eh icl e. Th e o ffi cer t es t i fi ed t h at t h e cl o t h in g reco vered was i d en t i fi ed b y t h e J u s t i ce

m an ag er as b ei n g t h e cl o t h i n g s t o l en fro m t h e st o re. T he m an ag er pro v i d ed t h e o ffi cer

wi t h a recei p t d o cu m en t in g t h o s e i t em s an d t h at recei p t was i n t ro d u ced t h ro u g h t h e

o ffi cer at t ri al

.

A d as h cam era v i d eo reco rd i n g was al s o i n t ro du ced an d pu b l i s h ed t o t h e ju ry

.

On th at reco rd i n g a J u s t i ce em p l o y ee can b e h eard s t at i n g t h at sh e o b s erv ed t h e t wo

fem al es rem o v in g se nsor s f r om m e r c ha

ndis e an d t h at s h e co u ld i d en t i fy ex act l y wh i ch

i t em s o f cl o t h i ng were s t o l en

.

4Th e fem al e wh o was wi t h Harri s on t h e dat e o f in ci d en t t es ti fi ed t h at s h e wen t

t o Ju s ti ce wi t h Harri s i n Harri s ’ s v eh i cl e. Harri s to l d t h e o t h er fem al e t h at s h e wan t ed

t o s h op fo r Harri s ’ s l i t t l e s i s t er. Th e fem al e t es t i fi ed t h at s h e an d Harri s ju s t “ l o o k ed

aro u n d ” t h e J u s t ice s t o re, bu t ad m i t t ed t h at s h e p l ed g u i l t y t o th e i n ci d en t an d o n t h e

d at e s h e en t ered t h e p l ea wh en as k ed b y th e di s t ri ct at t o rn ey i f s he an d Harri s

co m m i t t ed t h eft b y s ho p l i ft i n g s h e an swered i n t h e affi rm at i v e.

Harri s t es t i fi ed i n h er o wn d efen se an d ad m i t t ed t h at wh en s h e s aw t h e p at ro l

v eh icl e, s h e ran an d

, t h u s

, was gu i l t y o f fl eei n g an d el u d i n g a p o l i ce o ffi cer; s h e al s o

ad m i t t e d t h at s h e d ro v e wh i l e s h e k n ew h er l i cen s e was s u s pen d ed

. Harri s was

i m p each ed wi t h t hree p ri o r t h eft b y s h o p l ift i n g co n v i ct i o n s

.

A g r an d ju ry

ret u rn ed an i n d i ct m en t ch arg in g Harri s wi t h ag g rav at ed as s au l t

o n a peace o ffi cer, fel o n y ob s t ru ct i o n o f an o ffi cer, fel o n y t h eft b y s h o p l i ft i ng

, t h ree

co u nt s o f i d en t i t y frau d

, s eco n d d eg ree fo rg ery

, p os s es si o n o f a co n t ro l l ed s u b s t an ce,

fl eei n g o r at t em

pt i n g t o el u de a p o l i ce o ffi cer, an d d ri v i n g wh i l e l i cen s e s us p en d ed

. 8

Harri s was co n v i ct ed o f fel on y o b s t ru ct i o n o f an o ffi cer, fel o n y t h eft by s ho p l i ft i n g,

i d en t i fy frau d, s eco n d d eg ree fo rg ery

, po s s es s i o n o f a co n t ro l l ed s u b s t an ce, fl eei n g

8 W i l l i am s w as al s o ch arg ed i n t h e in d ict m en t an d en t ered a n eg o t i at ed p l ea o f

g u i l t y to on e co u n t of i d en t it y frau d

, s eco n d d eg ree fo rg ery

, an d t h eft b y s ho p l i ft i n g.

5an d at tem

p t i ng t o el u d e a p o l i c e o f fi cer, an d d ri v i n g wh i l e l icen s e s us p en d ed

. 9

Fo l l o wi ng H arri s ’ s co n v ict i o n s

, s h e fi l ed a t i m el y m o t i o n fo r new tri al

, wh i ch t h e t ri al

co u rt d en i ed

.

1

. Harri s co n t en ds t h at th e ev i d en ce was in s u ffi ci en t t o su p po rt h er co n v i ct i o n

fo r t h eft by s h o p l i ft i n g

. Sp eci fi cal l y

, Harri s arg u es t h at t h e o n l y ev i d en ce p res en t ed

t o co n vi ct Harri s o f t h eft b y s h o p l ift i ng was i n ad m i s s ib l e h ears ay

. 1 0

“ [ I ]t i s wel l es t ab li s h ed t h at i n d et erm i n in g th e l eg al s u ffi ci en cy o f t h e

ev i d en ce, t h i s Co u rt co n si d ers al l o f t h e ev i d enc e a d m i tt ed

, i n cl u d in g ev i d en ce a p art y

cl ai m s was e r r o n e o us l y ad m i t t ed .” (Ci t at io n an d p u nct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) R o s s er v.

S t a t e

, 30 8 Ga. 5 97

, 6 0 0

– 0 1 (8 4 2 SE2 d 8 2 1) (2 0 2 0 ). Th u s

, reg ard l es s o f wh et h er t h e

h e a r s a y ev i d en ce ag ai n s t Harri s was p ro p erl y ad m i t t ed

, t h o s e s t at em en t s are

9 H arri s wa s f

o u n d g u i l ty o f s i m

p le as s au l t

, as t h e l es s er i n cl u d ed o ffen s e o f

ag g rav at ed as s au l t o n a p eace o ffi cer bu t th at ch arg e m erg ed i n to Harri s ’ s co n v i ct i o n

o f o b st ru ct i o n o f an o ffi cer fo r s en t en ci n g p urp o s es

.

1 0 H arri s ci t es t o Cu

yu ch v. S t a t e

, 2 84 Ga

. 2 9 0, 2 9 5 (6 6 7 SE2 d 8 5 ) (2 0 0 8 ) to

s u p p ort h er arg u m en t t hat t h i s h ears ay ev i d en ce can n o t b e co n s i d ered i n d et erm i n i n g

t h e su ffi ci en c y o f th e ev i d en ce. “ Cu y u ch [h o wev er] i s m erel y an ex am p l e o f an

ex cep t i o n t o t h e g e n e ral ru l e fo r im p ro p erl y ad m i t t ed h ears ay u n d er G eo rg i a’ s o ld

Ev i d en ce Co d e— an ex cep t i o n t h at i s n o l o n g er rel ev an t un d er o u r new Ev i d en ce

Co d e, w h i ch ap pl ied to [Harri s ’ s ] t ri al .” Gl en n v. S ta te

, 30 6 Ga. 5 5 0

, 5 5 4 (2 ) n

. 3 (8 3 2

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

6co n si d ered wh en ev al u at i n g t he s u ffi ci en cy o f t he ev id en ce pres en t ed ag ai ns t h er. See

i d . Th e i n d i ct m en t ch arg ed Harri s wi t h

u n l awfu l l y tak [i n g ] p o s s es s i o n o f cl o th i ng m erch an d is e, t o wi t : p an t s

,

s h o rt s

, s hi rt s an d a t an k t o p

, wi t h a v al ue l es s th an fi ve h u n d red d o l l ars

($ 5 0 0 .0 0 ), t o wi t : on e h u n dred fo urt een d o l l ars t wen t y- s i x cen t s

, th e

p ro p ert y o f J u s t i ce Ret ai l ers

, a ret ai l es t ab l i s h m en t

, wi t h o u t p ay i n g fo r

s ai d m erch an d i s e an d wi t h t h e i n t en t t o ap p ro p ri at e s ai d m erch an d i s e t o

t h e accu s ed ’ s o wn u s e, wi t h o u t p ay i n g s ai d o wn er fo r s ai d p ro p ert y [.]

See OCGA § 1 6 -8 -1 4 (a) (d efi ni n g t h eft b y s h o p li ft i n g ).

Here, t h e t es t i m o n y fro m t h e o ffi cers t h at H arri s m at ch ed t h e d es cri p t i o n o f t h e

o n e o f t h e fem al es s h o p li ft i n g in t h e s to re co m b i ned wi th t h e o ffi cer’ s t es t im o n y t h at

t h e m an ag er i d en t ifi ed t h e cl o t h i n g fo un d in Harri s ’ s v eh icl e as th e cl ot h i ng t h at was

s t ol en was s u ffi ci en t to co n v i ct Harri s o f th eft o f s h o p l i ft i n g

. See Cr o s b y v. St a t e

, 2 8 7

Ga. Ap p

. 1 0 9

, 1 12 (1 ) (6 5 0 SE2 d 7 7 5 ) (2 0 0 7 ); Ag o n y v. S t a t e

, 22 6 Ga. Ap p

. 3 3 0

, 3 3 2

(2 ) (4 86 SE2 d 6 25 ) (1 9 9 7 ).

2

. H arri s co n ten d s t h at sh e recei v ed i neffect i v e as s is tan ce o f co u n sel in s ev eral

res p ect s

.

To p rev ai l o n an i n effect i v e a ssista nce of co un s el cl ai m

, Harri s m u s t pro v e b o th

t h at h we t ri al co un s el ’ s p erfo rm an ce was d efi ci en t an d t h at h e was p reju d i ced b y t h i s

7d efi ci en t p erfo rm an ce. S t r i ckl a n d v. W a s hi n g t o n

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

2 0 5 2

, 8 0 LE2 d 6 7 4 ) (1 9 8 4 ). To es t ab l i sh p reju d i ce, Harri s m u s t s h o w t h at “ b u t fo r

s u ch d efi ci en t p erfo rm an ce t here i s a reas o n ab l e pro b ab i l it y t h at t h e res ul t o f t h e t ri al

wo u l d hav e b een d i fferen t .” S h er ma n v. S ta te

, 2 9 5 Ga. 3 3 9

, 3 42 (2 ) (7 5 9 SE2 d 8 3 2 )

(2 0 1 4). “ In r e v i ewi n g a l o wer co urt ’ s d et erm i n at i o n o f a cl ai m o f i n effect i v e

as s i s tan ce of co u n s el

, w e g i v e d eferen ce t o t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s fact u al fi n d i n g s

, wh i ch

are u p h el d o n ap p eal u n l es s cl earl y erro neo u s ; h o wev er, we rev i ew t h e l o wer co urt ’ s

l eg al co n cl u s i o n s d e n o v o

. ” (Ci t at i o n om i t t ed .) W a s h i n g t o n v. S t at e

, 2 7 6 Ga. 6 5 5

, 6 5 8

(3 ) (5 8 1 SE2 d 51 8 ) (2 0 0 3 ). “ If an ap p el l an t fai l s t o m eet h i s b u rd en o f p ro v i n g ei t h er

p ro n g o f t h e S t r i ckl a n d t es t

, t h e rev i ewi n g co u rt d o es n o t hav e t o ex am i n e t h e o t h er

p ro n g.” (Ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) W a r d v. S t a t e

, 2 9 2 Ga. 6 3 7

, 6 3 9 (2 ) (7 4 0

SE2 d 1 1 2) (2 0 1 3).

(a) Harri s arg u es t h at her t ri al co u n s e l was in effect i v e fo r fai li n g t o o b ject to

h ears ay ev i d en ce. W e ag ree.

“ ‘ Hears ay ’ m ean s a st at em en t

, o t h er th an o n e m a d e by t h e d ecl aran t wh i l e

t es t i fy i ng at t h e t ri al o r heari n g

, o ffered i n ev i d en ce t o pro v e t h e t ru t h o f t h e m at t er

as s ert ed

. ” OCGA § 2 4 -8 -8 0 1 (c).

8No t a s i ng l e em p l o y ee fro m J u s t i ce o r ey ewi tn es s t o t h e sh o pl i ft i n g t es t i fi ed at

t ri al

. Th e St at e rel i ed o n t es t i m o n y fro m t h e o ffi cers ab o u t t h ei r co n v ers at i o n s wi th

t h e J us t ice m an ag er i n o rd e r t o es t ab l i s h t h e el em en t s of th eft b y s h o p l i ft i n g

. An

o ffi cer t es t i fi ed t h at h e s p o k e wi t h t he J u s t i ce m an ag er wh o “ c o n f i r m ed t h ere a

s h o p li ft i n g t h at di d occu r” an d g av e a d es cri p t i on o f th e t wo fem al es i n v o l v ed i n t h e

ro b b ery

. An o ffi cer al s o t es t ifi ed t h at t h e c l o th i ng reco v ered was i d en t i fi ed b y t h e

J u s t i ce m an ag er as th e cl o t h i ng t h at w as s t o l en fro m t he st ore. Ad di t i o n al l y

, t h e ju ry

s aw a d a s h c a m v i d eo wh ere a J u s t i ce em p l o y ee can b e h eard s t at i n g t h at s h e

o b s erv ed t h e t w o fem al es rem o v i n g s en so rs fro m m erch an d is e an d th at s h e co u ld

i d en t i fy ex a c t l y w h i c h i t em s o f cl o t hi n g were s to l en

. Th e ju ro rs as k ed to h ear t h at

d as h cam v i d e o ag ai n d u ri n g d el i b erat i on s

. W hi l e t he vi d eo was p l ay i n g t h e ju ry

fo rep ers o n as k ed , “ Y o ur Ho n o r, can we rewi n d t hat ju st a li t tl e b i t t o - - di d s h e s ay

t h at t h ey saw t h em po p t h e sen s o rs o ff t h e cl o t h es ? ” Th e t ri al co u rt co m p l i ed wi t h t h e

req u es t an d t h e fo rep ers on ex p l ai n ed

, “ [j] u s t at t h e part wh ere t he o ffi cer’ s t al k i n g in

t h e s t o re.”

In i t s b ri ef t o t h i s Co u rt

, t h e St at e co n ced es t h at “ t wo i d en ti fi ed p o rt i o n s o f t h e

t ran s cri p t an d reco rd were h ears ay an d s h o u l d h av e b een o b ject ed t o ” h owev er, t h e

St at e arg u es t h at reg ard l es s t h ere was a d m i s s i b l e, o v erwh el m i n g ev i d en ce ag ai n s t

9Harri s

. W e d i s ag ree. Th e ev i d en ce co n n ect i n g Harri s t o t he t h eft b y sh o pl i ft i n g was

i n ad m is s i b le h ears ay

. At t h e h eari n g on Harri s ’ s m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al

, t ri al co u n s el d id

n o t g i v e an y

reas o n fo r fai l i n g t o o b

ject t o t h e h ears ay

t es t im o n y

.

“ In as s es s in g t h e o b

ject i v e reas o n ab len es s o f a l awy er’ s p erfo rm an ce, we are

n o t l i m i t ed t o t h e s ub

ject i v e reas o n s o ffered b y t ri al co u n s el fo r h i s co n d u ct .”

(Ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at io n o m i t t ed .) En t wi s l e

, 3 4 0 Ga. Ap p. at 12 9 (1 ) (b ). “ In s t ead

,

we co n s i der wh et her a reas o nab l e lawy er m i g h t hav e d o ne wh at t h e act ual l awy er

d i d

— wh et h e r f

o r t h e s am e reas o n s gi v en b y t h e act u al l awy er or d i fferen t reas on s

en t i rel y ; i f t h e an swer t o t hat q u es ti o n i s y es

, t h en th e act ual l awy er can n o t b e s ai d to

h av e p erfo rm ed i n an o b ject i v el y u n reas o n ab le way .” (Ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u a t i o n

o m it t ed ). Id

. “ In t h is cas e, we can n o t i d en ti fy an y reas o n wh y a reas o n ab l e at t o rn ey

wo u l d h av e d eci d ed n o t t o o b j ect t o t h e h ears ay t es t i m o n y t h at p r o v i d ed t h e o n l y

e v i d en t i ary b as i s fo r a co nv i ct i o n o f [t h eft b y s h o p li ft i n g ] .” (Ci t at i o n

, p u nct u at i o n

,

an d fo o t n o t e o m it ted ). Id

. “ As a res u l t

, t ri al co u n s el was defi ci en t fo r fai l i n g t o o b ject

t o . . . [t he] h ears ay

t es t i m o ny .” Id

.

“ Th e p reju di ce fro m t ri al co u n s el ’ s defi ci en cy i s cl ear. [Th e] h ears ay t es t i m o ny

w a s t h e o n l y ev i d en ce o ffered t o p ro v e t h e el em en t s o f t h e [t h eft by s h o p l i ft i n g ]

o ffen s e.” (Ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ). En t wi s l e

, 3 4 0 Ga. Ap p

. at 1 3 0 (1 ) (b ).

10“ Had t hi s ev id en ce b een ex cl u ded

, t h ere wo u ld n ot h av e b een su ffi ci en t ev i d en ce to

co n vi ct [Harri s ] o f th at o ffen s e.” (Ci t at io n an d p u nct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) Id . “ T h u s , b ut

fo r co u n s el ’ s p erfo rm an ce, m o re t h an a reas o n ab l e p ro b ab i l i t y ex is ts t h at t h e o u t co m e

o f t h e tri al wo u l d hav e b een d i fferen t

, an d t h i s am o u nt ed t o i n effect i v e as s i s t an ce o f

co u ns el .” (Ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) Id

. “ Acco rd i n g l y

, w e rev ers e t h e t ri al

co u rt ’ s d en i al o f [Harri s ’ s ] m o t i o n fo r a n ew tri al w i t h res p ect t o t h e [t h eft by

s h o p li ft i n g co n v i ct i o n ] .” (Ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n om i t t ed .) I d

. S e e al s o Ta yl o r v.

S t a t e

, 3 3 7 Ga. Ap p

. 4 8 6

, 4 9 7 -4 9 8 (4 ) (b ) (i ) (7 8 8 SE2 d 9 7 ) (2 01 6 ) (h o l d i n g t h at t ri al

co u ns el ’ s p erfo rm an ce was d efi ci en t an d p reju d i ci al fo r fai l i n g t o ob ject t o h ears ay

ev i d en ce t h at w as t h e o nl y ev i d en ce o ffered t o p ro v e th e el em en t s of d efen d a n t ’s

t raffi c o ffen s es ).

(b ) Harri s arg u es t h at h er t ri al co u n s el was i n effect i v e fo r fai l in g t o i n v es t i g at e

h i s cas e. Sp eci fi cal l y

, s h e arg u es t h at h er t ri al co u n sel s h o u l d h av e i n v es t i g at ed t h e

o wn e rs h i p o f t he car s h e was d ri v i n g an d ch eck in t o t he p res cri pt i o n fo r t h e

co n tro l l ed s u b st an ces t h at were fo u n d i n t h e car.

Pret erm it i n g wh et h er t ri al co u ns el ’ s p erfo rm an ce was d efi ci en t fo r fai l i n g to

i n v es t i g at e ei t h er t h e car’ s o wn ers h i p an d / o r a pres cri p ti o n fo r th e d ru g s

, s h e fai l s to

es t ab l i s h an y p reju d i ce fro m t ri al co u n s el ’ s d efi ci en cy

. In t h i s cas e, t h e ev i d en ce was

11o v erwh el m i ng t hat Harri s d ro v e t he v eh i cl e an d t hat s he p o s s es s ed b o t h i t a n d i t s

co n ten t s

, i n cl u d in g th e fact th at s h e ad m it t ed l y h ad pers o n a l i t e m s i n th e car. See

g en eral l y Do wd

y v. St a t e

, 2 6 7 Ga. Ap p

. 5 9 8, 6 0 0 (6 00 SE2 d 6 8 4 ) ( 2 0 0 4 ). W i th

reg ared s t o t h e pres cri p t i o n fo r t h e co n t ro l l ed s u b s t a n c e

, at t h e h eari n g o n Harri s ’ s

m o ti o n fo r n e w t r ial

, s h e i n tro d uced bu s i nes s reco rd s fro m Harri s ’ s p h y s i ci an

i n d i cat i n g t h at i n 2 0 13 s h e h a d a p r e s cri p t i o n fo r p h en t erm i ne. Th i s i n ci den t t o o k

p l ace i n 2 0 1 6

, ac c o r d i n g ly t h ere i s n o reas o n ab l e p ro b ab il i t y th at a t h ree y ear o ld

p res cri pt i o n wo u l d h av e ch an g ed t h e o u t co m e o f th e t ri al

. See Ba ker v. S t a t e

, 2 9 3 Ga.

8 1 1

, 81 5 (3 ) (7 5 0 SE2 d 1 3 7) (2 0 1 3) (“ [P] ret erm i t t i n g th e i s su e o f d efi ci en t

p erfo rm an ce, Ap p el l an t fai led t o s h o w an y res u lt i n g preju d ice, an d h i s i n effect i v e

as s i s tan ce o f t ri al co un s el cl ai m fai l s .”).

In co n cl us i on

, we rev e r s e t h e d e n i al o f Harri s ’ m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al as t o h er

t h eft by s h o p l i ft in g co n v i ct io n , an d we affi rm h er rem ai n i n g co n v i ct i o n s

.

Ju d g men t a f f ir med in p a r t a n d r ever

s ed i n p a r t

. McFa d

d en

, C. J., a n d S

en i o r

Ap p el l a te Ju d

g e Her b er t

E. Ph i p p s , co ncu r

.

12