SECOND DI VI SI ON

RI CKM A N, C. J.

, M I LLER, P. J.

, and PI PKI N

, J.

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

June 24, 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 47 3 . J O NES v . THE STATE.

P I P K I N , J u d g e.

Ap p el l an t Bren t o n J o n es was fo u n d g ui l t y o f ag g rav at ed b at t ery an d cru el t y to

ch i l d ren i n t h e fi rs t d eg ree an d s en t en ced t o t en y ears

, wi t h t h e fi rs t y ear t o b e s erv ed

i n co n fi n em en t an d th e b al an ce p ro b at ed

. He ap p eal s fo l l o wi n g t he d en i al o f h i s

m o ti o n fo r n ew t ri al

, as am en d ed

, co n ten d i n g t hat t he ev i d en ce was i n s u ffi ci en t

, t h at

h i s t ri a l c o u n s el was i n effect i v e, t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred b y ad m i t t i n g i rrel ev an t

ev i d e n c e

, a n d t h at t h e cu m u l at i v e effect o f t h es e erro rs d en i ed h i m a fai r t ri al

. As

m o re fu ll y

s et fo rt h b el o w, we n o w affi rm

.Co n st ru ed t o s up p o rt t h e ju ry ’ s v erd i ct

, 1 t h e ev id en ce s h o ws t h at i n J u l y 2 0 1 6,

t h e 2 1 -m on t h -o ld v i ct i m 2 was l iv i n g i n Cl ark e Co u n t y

, Geo rg i a wi th h i s m o t h er, Ari el

J ack s o n ; Ap p el l an t

, wh o was J ack s o n ’ s b o y fri en d ; Ap p el l an t ’ s an d J ack s o n ’ s

n ewb o rn d au g h t er; an d

, at ti m es

, Ap p el l an t ’ s fo ur-y ear-o l d s o n

, A

. J

. Ap p el l an t was

h el p i n g p o t t y-t rai n t he v ict i m

, an d h ad b een al o n e wi th h i m w h i l e J ack s o n was

feed i n g t h ei r da u g ht er i n an o t h er ro o m

. J ack s o n ’ s s i s ter, Sh am o n a Bro wn

, an d

an o th er wo m an s t o p p e d b y

, an d

, acco rd i n g t o Bro w n

, 3 t h e v i ct i m was s i t t i n g o n a

p o t t y -ch ai r wi t h o u t a s h i rt wh en t h ey arri ved

. Sh e s ai d Ap pel l an t cam e i n t o t h e ro o m

an d ru s h ed t o p u t a s h i rt o n t h e v i ct i m

, b u t t h ey n o ti ced m ark s o n t h e v i ct i m ’ s b ack

,

w h i c h B r o wn d es cri bed as b i g an d p u rp l e; Bro wn al so t es ti fi ed it lo o k ed l i k e t h e

m ark s “ ju s t hap p en ed .” J ack s o n an d her s is t er arg u ed ab o u t h o w t h e v ict i m g o t t h e

m ark s

, an d acco rd i n g t o J ack so n

, Ap p el l an t was d efen s i v e an d d en i ed res po n s i b i l i t y

.

J ack s o n co n v i nced h ers el f at t h at t i m e t hat t h e v i ct i m h ad fal l en o ff t h e b ed

.

1 Ja cks o n v. Vi r

gi n i a , 4 4 3 U. S. 3 07 (9 9 SCt 2 7 8 1 , 6 1 LE2 d 5 6 0 ) (1 9 7 9 ).

2 Th e v i ct i m

was b o rn o n No v em

b er 2 , 2 01 4

.

3 Bro wn al s o t es t i fi ed t h at t h e vi ct i m was a hap p y ch il d

, b u t t h at wh en

Ap p el l an t was aro u nd h i m

, t h e v i ct i m wo u l d p u t h i s h ead d o wn an d ru n t o o n e o f t h e

o t h er ad u l t s

.

2J ack so n t es t i fi ed th at s h e h ad a do ct o r’ s ap p o i n t m en t o n t h e m o rn i ng o f Au g u s t

2 2

, 2 0 16

, an d t h at s h e to o k b o th h er n ewb o rn dau gh t er an d t h e v i ct i m wi t h h er. Th e

v i ct i m b ecam e cran k y an d was cry i ng i n co n so l ab ly

. J ack s o n was fru s t rat ed an d cal l ed

h er m o t h er t o t al k t o t h e v i ct i m i n an at tem pt to h el p h im

s t o p cry in g . Sh e al s o s en t

A p p e l l a n t a t ex t m es s ag e st at i n g

, “ I can ’ t wai t t o l eav e t h i s o ffi ce. [Th e v i ct i m ]

g et t i n g h i s as s [t o re] u p .” J o n es res p o nd ed “ Lo l

, I’ m ab o u t t o t ak e a n ap

. Ok ay

, Bab e,

g et hi s as s

. ” J ac k s o n e x p l ai n ed at t ri al t h at s h e was fru s trat ed an d s ai d s h e n ev er

i n t en d ed t o , an d d i d n o t i n fact , p h y s i cal l y d is ci p l i n e t h e v ict i m t h at d ay

.

J ack so n t es t i fi ed t h at t he v i ct i m fel l as l eep wh en t h ey

arri v ed b ack h o m e b ut

t h at s he wo ke h i m 3 0 t o 4 5 m i n u t es l at er b ecau s e s he h ad t o p i ck u p A

. J

. fro m

s ch o ol . J ack s o n s ai d A. J . was d el ay ed co m i n g o u t o f s ch o ol

, an d t h e v i ct i m s t art ed

cry in g ag ai n wh en t h ey were wai t i n g in t he c a r ; J ack s o n s ai d s h e as s u m ed h e was

h u n g ry s i n ce t h e v i ct i m

h ad n o t eat en t h e s n a ck s h e had p rep ared fo r h im

, s o wh en

t h ey arri v ed b ack h o m e, s h e g av e h i m s om et h i n g t o eat

.

Ap p el l an t w as at h om e b et ween h i s t wo jo b s

, an d J ack s o n left t h e t h ree

ch i l d ren – t h e v i ct i m

, A

. J

., an d t h ei r n ewb o rn d a u g h t er – at h o m e w i t h Ap p el l an t

wh i le s h e ran an erran d

. Sh e s ai d t hat t he v i ct i m was h ap p y wh en s h e l eft

, n o t i n g t h at

h e was eat i n g ch i ck en n u g get s , d an ci n g, an d p lay i n g o n t h e b ed wi t h A. J

.

3J ack so n t es t i fi ed t h at

, w h en s h e ret u rn ed h om e ab o u t an ho u r l at er, Ap p el l an t

an d A. J. were p l ay i n g a v i d eo g am e i n t h e l i v i n g ro o m

, an d Ap pel l an t t ol d h er t h e

v i ct i m was i n t h e b ed ro o m s l eep i n g

. Ap p el l an t l eft to go t o h i s s eco n d jo b a sh o rt t i m e

l at er. A. J. wen t in t o t h e b ed ro o m wh ere t h e v ict i m w as s u p p os ed l y s leep i n g an d t o ld

J ack s o n t h at s o m et hi ng was wro n g

. J ack so n sai d s h e ran in t o t h e ro om an d h eard t h e

v i ct i m m ak i ng a n o is e s h e h ad nev er h eard b efo re, wh i ch sh e m i m i ck ed at t ri al

. Sh e

s ai d t h at s h e t ri ed t o g et t h e v i ct i m t o t al k t o h er, b ut h e was l i m p an d u n res p o n s i v e

t o b o t h h er v o ice an d t o uch

.

J ack so n cal l ed Ap p el l an t

, wh o h ad o n ly b een g o n e t wo o r t h ree m i n u t es an d

was st i l l en ro u te to h i s seco n d jo b

, an d h e cam e h o m e t o t ak e t h e v i ct i m t o t h e

h o s p it al

. Th ey cal l ed 9 1 1 w h il e t h ey were en ro u t e an d w ere m et b y an am b u l an ce at

a M cDo n al d ’ s

. Th e v i ct im was t ak en t o At h en s Reg i o n al H o s p i t al

, w here h e was

ex am i n ed b y an em erg en cy ro o m d o ct o r an d a n eu ro s u rg eo n

, b o t h o f wh o m t es t i fi ed

at t ri al

.

W h en h e arri v ed at th e h o s p i t al

, th e vi ct i m was u n res p o n s i v e, i n t erm i t t en t l y

cry in g an d m o an i n g , an d fl ai l i n g aro u n d; as h e was b ei n g p rep ared fo r a CAT s can

,

h e h ad a s ei zu re. Th e CAT s can of t h e vi ct i m ’ s b rai n rev eal ed b l e e d i n g i n t h e

s u b d ural area o f t h e b rai n

, w h i c h h a d cau sed a s i g n i fi can t “ m i d -l i n e s h i ft ,” o r

4m o vem en t o f t he b rai n t o o n e s i d e. Th e n eu ro s u rg eo n

, Dr. Bry an Barn es

, t es ti fi ed t h at

t h e b l eed i n g was si g n i fi can t an d t h at t h ere was al so a s i g n i fi can t am o u nt o f p res s u re

o n t he b rai n s t em

, wh i ch co nt ro l s b reat hi n g an d res p i rat i o n

. Dr. Barn es t es t i fi ed t h at

h e p erfo rm ed an em erg en cy h em i cran i ect o m y – wh i ch i n v o l v ed cu tt in g o u t p art o f t h e

s k u l l t o rel i ev e th e p res s u re an d s t o p t h e b l eed i n g

– i n o rd er t o sav e t h e vi ct i m ’ s l i fe.

T h e v i ct i m was t h en t r a n s p o rt ed b y h el i co p ter t o Ch i l d ren ’ s Heal t h care o f

At l an t a (“ CHOA”). J ack s on an d Ap p el l an t wen t h o m e t o p ack b efo re t hey l eft fo r t h e

h o s p it al , an d J ack so n ’ s m o t h er an d b ro t h er were al read y at CHOA b y

t h e t i m e t h ey

arri v ed

. J ack s o n s ai d t h at her m o t h er was an g ry b ecau s e “ s h e h ad fo un d o u t t h ro u g h

t h e d o ct o r t h at s o m eb od y i n ten t i o n al l y di d t h at t o [t he v i ct i m ]

. It w as n ’ t an acci d en t .”

J ack s o n s ai d s h e q u es t io n ed th e d o ct o r, an d h e t o l d h er t hat “ i t was m o re l ik e an ad u l t

wh o h ad s t ru ck h i m

i n t h e h ead i n t en t i o nal l y .” Sh e t es t i fi ed h er i n i ti al react i o n was

s h e t h o u g h t t h e d o ct ors were wro n g

.

D r

. S t ep h en M es s n er, a ch i l d ab u se p ed i at ri ci an an d m ed i cal d i rect or o f t h e

ch i l d p ro t ect i o n t eam at CHOA, t es t i fi ed t hat h e o bs erv ed a b ru is e beh i n d t h e v i ct i m ’ s

ear, as wel l as m ark in g s o n t h e v i ct i m ’ s b ack

, i n cl u d i n g b u ck l e m ark s

, co n s i s t en t wi th

5t h e vi ct i m h av i n g b een st ru ck wi t h a l o o p ed -o v er b el t. 4 Dr. M es s n er al s o o b s erv ed

m u lt i p l e ret in al h em o rrh ag es

, an d an M R I r e v eal ed t hat t h e vi ct i m ’ s brai n h ad

co n ti n u ed to s wel l s o t h at i t h ad ex p an d ed ou t s i d e t h e s k u l l

, t h at b lo o d rem ai n ed

aro u n d p art s o f th e v i ct i m ’ s b rai n

, an d t h at areas o f b rai n t i s s u e h ad s t art ed t o d i e;

a d d i t i o nal l y

, s wel l i ng bet ween t h e v ert eb rae o f th e n eck i n d i cat ed a wh ip l as h -t y p e

i n ju ry

. D r. M es s n er t es t i fi ed t h at t h e m ark s o n t h e v i ct im ’ s b ack an d t h e in ju ry t o h i s

b rai n

, wh i ch i n d i cat ed t h at s i g n i fi can t fo rce had b een ap p li ed t o t h e v i ct im ’ s head an d

n e c k

, co u l d no t h av e b een “ s el f-i n fl i ct ed ,” m ean i n g th at t h e v i ct i m co u l d n o t h av e

s u s t ai n ed t h e i n

ju ri es fro m ju m

p i n g o r fal l i n g o ff a b ed

. Fu rt her, Dr. M es s n er s ai d t h at

i n t h e ab sen ce o f an y h is t ory of a m o t o r v eh icl e cras h o r o t h er h ig h v el o ci t y acci d en t

s u ch as fal l i n g fro m a h ei gh t o f s ev eral s t o ri es

, hi s ex p e r t o p i n i o n was t h at t h e

v i ct i m ’s h ead i n

ju ri es were t h e res u lt o f n o n -acci d en tal “ i nfl i ct ed ” t rau m a. 5 Dr.

M e s s n e r a l s o t es t i fi ed t h at t h e effect s o f th e i n ju ri es wo ul d h av e b een i m m ed i at el y

o b s erv ab l e, n ot i n g t hat t he v i ct im wo u l d h av e b eco m e u n res p o n s iv e an d l i m p an d t h at

h i s b reat h i n g wo u ld h av e b een al t ered o r ev en ceas ed

. Dr. M es s n er al s o t o ld t h e ju ry

4 Ph o t o g rap h s o f t h e v i ct i m ’ s ex t ern al i n ju ri es w ere i n tro d u ced i nt o ev i d en ce

at t ri al

.

5 Dr. Barn es g av e a s i m i l ar o p i n i o n as t o th e cau s e of t h e i n ju ri es

. Dr. M es s n er

al s o t es t i fi ed t h at a fo u r-y ear-o l d p l ay m at e co u l d n o t h av e cau s ed t h es e i n ju ri es

.

6t h at

, i n hi s ex p eri en ce, t ri g g ers fo r ch i l d ab u s e i n c l u de i n ces s an t cry i n g an d

fru s t rat i on fro m u n re a l i s t i c ex p ect at i o n s s u ch as ex p ect i n g a 2 1 -m o nt h -o l d ch i l d,

p art i cu l arl y

a b o y

, t o b eco m e p o t t y

t rai n ed

.

Th e v i ct i m was rel eas ed fro m t h e h o s p i t al o n Oct o ber 5

, 20 1 6

. M u l t i p l e

wi t n es s es

, i n cl ud i n g t h e v i ct im ’ s reg u l ar p ed i at ri ci an

, t es t i fi ed t h at t h e v i ct i m was a

h ap py ch i l d b efo re h e was i n ju red

, t h at h e w as wal ki n g an d b eg i n n i n g t o t al k

, an d t h at

h e h ad n o m en t al or p h y si cal d ev el o p m en tal i s s u es

. Ho wev er, aft er th e b rai n i n ju ry

,

h e co u l d n o t wal k o r t al k

, he was p art i al l y p aral y zed o n hi s ri g h t s i d e, an d h e req u i red

s ei zu re m ed i cat i on

. By t he t i m e o f t ri al

, an d aft er y ears o f i n ten s i v e s peech

, ph y s i cal

,

an d o ccu p at i o n al t herap y

, t h e v i ct i m h ad i m p ro v e d

, b ut a recen t CAT scan s h o wed

t h at areas o f t h e v i ct i m ’ s b rai n were p erm an en t l y d am ag ed

.

Aft er p o l i ce l earn ed t hat A

. J

. was pres en t i n t h e h o m e o n t h e d ay o f t h e

i n ci d en t

, h e was i nt erv iewed b y an ex p ert t rai n ed t o i n t erv i ew ch i l dren ; t h i s in t erv i ew

was reco rd ed an d p l ay ed fo r t h e ju ry at t ri al . W h en h e was as k ed wh at h ap p en ed to

t h e v i ct im

, A. J

. sai d t h at t h e v i ct i m co u l d n o t o p en h i s ey es an d was n ot res p o n d i n g.

A. J

. t o l d t h e i n t erv i ewer m u l t ip l e ti m es t h at Ap p el l an t “ wh u p p ed ” t he v i ct im wi t h a

b el t b ecau s e he was cry i n g

, t h at Ap p el l an t to l d t h e v i ct i m t o s t o p cry i ng

, an d t h at h e

al s o h i t t h e v ict i m m

u l t i p l e t i m es i n t he h ead o r face wi t h a b al l

. W h en t h e i n t erv i ewer

7as k ed A. J . wh y Ap pel l an t “ w h u p p ed ” t h e v i ct im , A. J . cal l ed t h e v i ct i m a cry b ab y

,

wh i ch i s a t erm th at o t h er wi t n es s es s ai d t h e Ap p el l an t cal l ed t h e v i ct i m

, an d s ai d t h at

h e cri ed a l l t h e t i m e

. At o n e po i n t d u ri ng t h e vi d eo

, A. J

. h i t a do l l in th e h ead an d

s a i d “ s t o p th at cry i n g .” A. J

. al s o t o l d th e i n terv i ewer t h at t he am bu l an ce m et t h e m

at t h e “ c h i c k en n u g g et p l ace.” Th e i n terv i ewer, wh o h ad co n d u ct ed ov er 1 3 0 0

fo ren s i c i n t erv i ews

, t es t ifi ed t h at h er i n t erv iew wi t h A. J

. w as u ni q u e i n t h e s en s e t h at

“ y ou can p h y s i cal l y wat ch h i m try t o p ro ces s t h e in fo rm at i on

. Yo u can s ee hi m d o i n g

d i rect recal l o f t h i n g s t h at y ou k n o w t hat

, b a s e d o n t h e wo rd s t h at h e u s es an d t h e

h an d g es t u res t h at he u s es an d t h i n g s

, y o u can s ee h i m al m os t l ik e rewat ch i n g t h at

,

t ry i n g t o u n d ers tan d .”

Ap p el l an t t es t ifi ed i n h i s o wn d efen s e at t ri al

. He t es t ifi ed ab o u t h i s m u l t i p l e

jo b s an d sai d t h at J ack s o n was t h e p ri m ary careg i v er fo r t h e ch i l d ren

, al t ho u g h t h ey

wo u l d s o m et im es st ay w i t h hi s m o t h er wh il e Jack s o n w o rk ed p art -t i m e. Fu rt h er,

Ap p el l an t t es t i fi ed ab o ut t h e tex t m es s ag e h e recei v ed fro m J ack s o n wh en t h e v i ct i m

wo u l d n o t s t o p cry i n g wh i l e s h e was at t he d o ct o r. He al s o to l d t h e j u ry ab o ut

J ack s o n ’ s st ru g gl es cari n g fo r t h e ch i l d r e n an d i n d i cat ed t h at s h e s u ffered fro m

d ep res s i o n an d had at t em p t ed s u ici d e wh i le p reg n an t wi t h t h ei r d au g ht er an d

t h reat en ed t o k i ll t h e v i ct im

.

8Ap p el l an t al s o t es t i fi ed ab o u t t h e t i m el in e o f ev en t s t h e d ay o f t h e i n ci d en t

, in

p art i cu l ar t h e ti m efram e wh en h e w a s a l o n e wi t h t h e ch i l dren

. Acco rd i n g to

Ap p el l an t

, h e was i n t h e l i v in g ro o m wi t h h is d au g h ter, w at ch i ng t el ev i s i o n

, wh i l e A.

J

. an d t h e vi ct i m w ere p l ay i ng i n t h ei r b ed ro o m ; Ap p el l an t cl a i m e d t h at wh en h e

ch eck ed o n t h em

, t h e v i ct i m was l au g hi n g. He t es ti fi ed t h at h e wen t b ack to t h e o t h er

ro o m w i t h h i s d au g ht er an d t h en h eard a l o ud bo o m

. Becau s e, acco rd in g t o Ap p el l an t

,

t h e v i ct i m so m et i m es ki ck ed o r t h rew a b al l at th e wal l

, A p p e l l a n t s t ay ed wh ere h e

w a s an d d i d n o t ch eck o n t h e ch i l dren

. Ap p el l an t t es t i fi ed t h at A. J

. t h en cam e i n t o

t h e ro o m an d s ai d t hat t h e v ict i m was as l eep

, so h e wen t t o ch eck o n h i m

. Ap p el l an t

t es t i fi ed t h at t h e v i ct i m ap p eared t o b e s l eep i n g n o rm al l y an d he p u t a co v er o v er t h e

v i ct i m an d t h en wen t t o t h e o th er ro o m

. Ap p el l an t s ai d t h at J ack s on cam e h o m e an d

t h at h e l eft fo r h i s s eco nd jo b ab o u t t en m in u t es l at er; b efo re h e l eft

, h e di d n o t s ee t h e

v i ct i m ag ai n an d d i d n ot s ee J ack s o n c h e ck o n t he v i ct i m

. Acco rd i n g t o Ap p el l an t

,

J ack s o n cal l ed h i m ab o u t t en m i n u t es lat er an d h e wen t b ack h o m e t o tak e t he v i ct i m

t o t h e h o s p i t al

. Ap p el l an t d en i ed t hat t h e v ict i m h ad b een fu s s y or wh i n i n g wh i l e h e

was al o n e wi t h t h e v i ct i m t h at d ay , an d h e d en i ed ev er h i t t i n g t h e v ict i m wi t h a b el t

o r p h y s i cal l y d i s ci p l in in g h im i n an y way

.

91 .Ap p el l an t fi rs t arg u es t h at t h e ev i d en ce was i n s u ffi ci en t t o co nv i ct h i m o f

cru el t y t o ch i ld ren i n t h e fi rs t d eg ree. 6 Un d er OCGA § 1 6 -5 -7 0

, a p ers o n co m m i t s t h e

cri m e o f cru el t y t o ch il d ren i n t h e fi rs t d eg ree wh en h e “ m a l i ci o u s l y cau s es a ch i ld

u n d er t h e ag e o f 18 cru el o r ex ces s i ve p h y s ical o r m en t al pai n .” Ap p el l an t ad m i t s t h at

t h e ev i d en ce s h owi n g th at t h e v i ct im s u ffe r e d p h ys i cal o r m en t al p ai n i s

o v erwh el m i ng

, bu t arg u es t h at t h e ev i d en ce w as i n s u ffi ci en t t o s ho w t h at h e cau s ed

t h e p ai n o r act ed m al i ci o u sl y

. In s u pp o rt of t hi s co n t en ti o n

, A p p el l an t arg u es t h at t h e

ci rcu m s t an t i al ev i d en ce p res en t ed at t ri al d i d n o t ru l e o u t t h e po s si b i l i t y t h at J ack so n

cau s ed t h e v i ct i m ’ s b rai n i n ju ry an d t h at t h e ev i d en ce was co n fl i ct i ng an d u n cl ear.

As an i ni ti al m at ter, it i s i m p o rt an t t o p o i nt o u t t h at t he ev i d en ce h ere i s n ot

en t i rel y ci rcu m s t an t i al

– A. J .’ s fo ren s i c i n t erv iew, d u ri ng w h i ch h e des cri b ed wh at

Ap p el l an t d i d t o t h e v i ct im o n t h e d ay i n q u es ti o n an d wh i ch was pl ay ed fo r t h e ju ry

i n i t s en t i ret y

, was d irect ev i d en ce o f Ap pel l an t ’ s g u i l t

. See Cu r gi l v. S t a t e

, 3 6 3 Ga.

Ap p

. 35 5

, 3 5 8 & n.3 (8 7 1 SE2 d 3 2 2 ) (2 0 2 2 ). Fu rt h er, a s o u r ap p el lat e co u rt s h av e

6 J o n es w as ch arg ed w i t h t wo co u n t s o f cru el t y t o ch i l d ren i n th e fi rs t d eg ree

– Co un t 2 bas ed o n t h e v i ct im ’ s h ead i n ju ry an d Co un t 3 b as ed o n t h e act s o f h i t t i n g

t h e vi ct i m wi t h a b el t

. He was fo u n d n o t g u i l ty o f Co u nt 3

, s o h ere w e co n s i d er o n l y

Co u n t 2

. M o reo v er, al t ho u g h Ap p el l an t d o es n ot m en t i o n t h e a g g r a v at ed b at t ery

co n vi ct i o n i n hi s en u m erat i o n o r arg u m en t s ch al len g i n g s u ffi ci en cy

, we fi n d t h e

ev i d en ce s u ffi ci en t o n t h at co u n t as wel l

.

10ex p lai n ed nu m ero u s t i m es

, it i s fo r t h e t ri er o f fac t

– h e r e t h e j u ry

– t o res o l v e

co n fl i ct s o r i n co ns i st en ci es in t h e ev i d en ce, t o d et erm i n e th e cred i b i l it y o f wi t n es s es

,

an d t o d raw reas on ab l e i n f e r e n c e s f r o m t h e ev i den ce pres en t ed at t ri al

. See, e.g

.,

S mi th v. S t a t e

, 30 8 Ga. 8 1, 8 4 (1 ) (8 3 9 SE2 d 6 3 0 ) ( 2 0 2 0 ). Hav i n g ex am i n ed t h e

en t i ret y o f t h e reco rd

, i n cl u di n g t h e ev i d en ce s et o u t ab o v e as wel l as o t h er ev i d en ce

p res en t ed at tri al

, we fi n d th e ev i d en ce m o re t h an s u ffi ci en t t o au t ho ri ze an y rat i o n al

t ri er of fact t o fi n d Ap p el l an t g u i l t y b ey o n d a reas on ab l e d o u bt of t h e cri m es o f wh i ch

h e was co n v i ct ed

. Acco rd i n g l y , t h i s en u m erat i o n p res en t s n o b as i s fo r rev ers al

.

2

. Ap p el l an t al s o co n t en ds t h at h i s t ri al co u n s el w as i n effect i v e. To p rev ai l o n

t h i s cl ai m

, Ap p el l an t m

u s t s ho w b o t h t h at h i s co u n sel p erfo rm ed defi ci en t l y an d t h at

h e was preju d i ced as a res u l t o f t h e d efi ci en t p erfo rm an ce. S t ri ckl a n d v. W as h i n g t o n

,

4 6 6 U. S. 6 6 8

, 6 8 7 (III) (1 0 4 SCt 2 05 2

, 8 0 L E 2 d 6 7 4 ) (1 9 8 4 ). To p ro v e d efi ci en t

p erfo rm an ce, Ap p el l an t m u s t s h o w t h at h is co u n s el act ed o r fai l e d t o a ct i n an

o b ject i vel y u n reas o n ab l e way

, co n s i d e r i n g al l t h e ci rcu m st an ces an d i n l i g h t o f

p rev ai l i n g p ro fes s i on al n orm s

. Id

. at 68 7 -6 90 (III) (A). “ Th i s i s n o eas y s h o wi n g

, as

t h e l aw reco g n i zes a ‘ s t ro n g p res u m p t i o n ’ t h at co un s el p erfo rm ed reas o n ab l y ,” an d

t o o v erco m e t hat pres u m p t i on

, Ap p el l an t “ m

u s t s h o w t h at n o reas o n ab l e l awy er

wo u l d h av e d o n e wh at h i s l aw ye r d i d

, n o r w o u l d h av e fai l ed t o d o wh at h i s l awy er

11d i d n o t

. ” (Ci t at i o n o m it t ed .) Da vi s v. S t at e

, 2 9 9 G a. 18 0

, 1 8 3 (2 ) (7 8 7 SE2 d 2 2 1 )

(2 0 1 6). To es t ab l i s h p reju d i ce, A p p el l an t m u s t d em o ns t rat e t h at th ere i s “ a reas o n ab l e

p ro b ab i l i t y t h at

, b u t fo r co u n s el ’ s un p ro fes s i o nal erro rs

, th e res u lt o f t h e pro ceed i n g

wo u l d h av e b een d i fferen t

. A reas o n ab l e p ro b ab i l it y is a pro b ab i l i ty s u ffi ci en t to

u n d erm i n e co nfi d en ce i n t h e ou t co m e.” St r i ckl a n d

, 4 6 6 U. S. at 6 9 4 (III) (B). “ Th i s

b u rd en i s a h eav y o n e[.] ” Jo r d a n v. S t a t e

, 3 0 7 G a. 4 5 0

, 4 5 4 (3 ) (8 36 SE2 d 86 ) (2 0 1 9 ).

(a) Ap p el l an t fi rs t arg u es t h at h i s t ri al co u n s el was i n effect i v e b ecau s e h e fai l ed

t o ob ject t o wh at Ap p el l an t al l eg es i s i m p ro p er b o l s t eri n g tes t im o n y

. As t o th i s i s s ue,

t h e ev i den c e s h o ws t h at d u ri n g t h e St at e’ s cro ss -ex am i n at i o n o f Ch ery l Barn et t

,

A p p e l lan t ’ s au n t wh o was cal l ed as a wi t n es s fo r t h e d efen se, t h e St at e p l aye d a

p o rt i on o f A. J .’ s fo ren s i c in terv i e w w h ere A. J

. s tat ed th at Ap p el l an t “ wh u p [p ed ] ”

t h e vi ct i m

. Th e St at e i m

m ed i at el y as k ed Ba r n et t i f sh e k n ew A. J

., an d wh en s h e

r es p o n d ed y es

, t h en as k ed “ Do y ou b el iev e h i m t o be a li ar? ” Barn et t res p o n d ed

,

“ No .”

Pret erm it t i n g wh et her t h i s t es t i m o ny was s u b ject to o b j ect i o n

, s ee O CGA § 2 4

-

6 -6 0 8 (a), t h e t ran s cri p t fro m t h e h eari n g on Ap p el l an t ’ s m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al s h o ws

t h at wh i l e t ri al co un s el was as k ed ab o u t o t h er m at t ers i n rel at i o n t o t h i s wi t n es s, h e

was n ev er as k ed ab o u t h i s fa i l u re t o ob ject t o t h i s t es ti m o n y

. “ Ab s en t t es t i m o ny

12ex p lai n i n g t ri al co u n sel ’ s rat i o n al e o n t h i s p o i n t, an ap p el l at e co u rt g en eral l y

p res u m es t h at t ri al co u n sel ’ s act i o n s were s t rat eg i c, an d on l y wh en a s t rat eg i c

d eci s i o n is s o p at en t l y u n reas o n ab l e t h at n o co m p et en t at t o rn ey wo u l d hav e m ad e i t

d o w e fi n d i neffect i v e as s is t an ce o f co un s el .” Mo r el a n d

v. S t at e

, 3 5 6 Ga. Ap p

. 4 5 2,

4 5 7 (2 ) (a) (i i i ) (8 4 7 SE2 d 6 41 ) (2 02 0 ). Gi v en t h e fl eet i ng nat u re of t he t es ti m o n y an d

t h e way t h e qu es t io n was ph ras ed

, co u p l ed w i t h t h e fact th at t he ju ry v iewed A. J .’ s

l en g t h y fo ren s i c i n t erv i ew an d h eard n o t ju s t wh at A. J

. sai d b u t al s o h o w h e i m p art ed

t h e i n fo rm at i o n d u ri n g t h e i nt erv i ew, i t was n o t o bject i v el y un reas o nab l e fo r co u n s el

t o d eci d e t h e b et t er t act i c wa s n o t t o d raw at t en t i o n t o t h e t es t i m o n y ev en i f was

o b ject i on ab l e. A cco rd i n g l y

, Ap p el l an t h as fai l e d t o s h o w th at h i s t ri al co u n s el

p erfo rm ed d efi ci en tl y b y fai l in g t o o b ject . See, e.g

. , Pr i es t er v. S t a t e

, 3 5 0 Ga. Ap p.

2 0 0

, 2 05 -2 0 6 (4 ) (8 2 8 SE2 d 4 3 9 ) (2 0 1 9) (“ G e o r g i a cas es h av e reco g n i zed t h at t h e

fai l u re t o o b

ject t o bo l s t eri n g can al s o b e p art o f a reas on ab l e t ri al s t rat eg y .”).

(b ) Ap p el l an t n ex t arg ues th at h i s t r i a l c ou n s el was i n effect i v e fo r fai l i n g to

o b ject wh en J ack s o n

, r e f

e r r i ng t o h er arri val at CHOA, t es t i fi ed ab o u t h er m o t h er

b ei n g m ad b ecau se t h e d o ct o r t o l d h er m o t h er th at t he vi ct i m ’ s in ju ri es h ad b een

i n t en t i o n al l y i nfl ict ed

. Ap p el l an t arg u es t h a t h is t ri al co u n s el sh o ul d h av e o b ject ed

t o t hi s t es t i m o n y

o n h ears ay an d b o l s t eri n g g ro u n d s.

13As was ev i d en t at t ri al an d as t ri al co u n s el t es t i fi ed at t h e h eari n g o n

Ap p el l an t ’ s m o t io n fo r n ew t ri al , t h e m ai n d efen s e s t rat eg y was t o s h o w t h at o t h ers

h ad g reat er acces s t o t h e v i ct im an d m o re o p po rt u n i ty t o h arm h i m

, an d

, in p art i cu l ar,

o n t h e d ay of t h e i nci d en t

, J ack s on was wi th t h e v i c t i m m os t o f t h e d ay wh i l e

Ap p el l an t was al o n e wi t h th e v i ct i m o n l y b ri efl y

– 4 0 m in u t es t o an h o u r. It was n ot

o b ject i vel y u n reas o n ab l e fo r t ri al co u n s el t o fo reg o an ob ject i o n t o t h i s t e s t i m o ny

s i nce h is s t rat eg y was n o t t o f o c u s o n t he i n t en t i o n al i t y o f t h e act

, ab o u t w h i ch t h e

ev i d en ce was ov erwh el m i n g

, b u t t o s h o w t h at Ap p el l an t was n o t t h e p ers o n wh o

i n ju red t h e v i ct im

. Fu rt h er, co u n s el k n ew t h at m o re ex ten s i v e ex p ert t es t i m o n y wo u ld

b e p res en t ed l at er i n th e t ri al d i sp el l i n g an y n o t i o n t h at th e i nju ri es were t he res u l t o f

an acci d en t

, an d an o b

ject i o n t o J ack s o n ’ s p as s i n g referen ce t o t h is ev i d en ce wo u ld

o n l y s erv e t o h i g h l i g h t i t. On ce ag ai n, t ri al co u n s el was n ot as k ed at th e m o t i o n fo r

n ew tri al h eari n g wh y h e d i d n o t o b ject to t he co m

p l ai n ed -o f t es t i m o n y

, an d “ co u n s el

i s s tro n g l y p res u m ed t o h av e ren d ered ad eq u at e as s i s t an ce an d m ad e al l s i g n i fi can t

d eci s i o n s i n t h e ex erci s e o f reas o n ab le pro fes s i o n al j u d g m en t .” (Ci t at i o n an d

p u n ct u at i o n om i t t ed .) Ha r r i s v. S t a t e

, 3 1 0 Ga. 3 72

, 3 8 6 (4 ) (b ) (8 5 0 SE2 d 7 7) (2 0 2 0 ).

W e t h u s ag ree w i th t h e t ri al co u rt t h at t ri al co u n s el ’ s d eci s i o n t o fo reg o a h ears ay o r

b o l s t eri n g o b

ject i on t o t h i s t es t i m o n y

d i d n o t co n s ti t u t e d efi ci en t p erfo rm an ce.

14(c) Ap p el l an t al s o arg u es t h at h i s t ri al co u n s el was i n effect i v e b ecau s e h e fai l ed

t o o b j ect t o t es t i m o ny ab ou t co n v ers at i o n s th at J ack s o n h ad wi th h er at t o rn ey

co n cern in g ch arg es t h at w ere b ro u g h t ag ai n s t h er rel at i n g t o t h e i n ci d en t

. Th e reco rd

s h o ws t h at d u ri n g cro s s-ex am in at i o n

, t ri al co u n sel el i c i t ed tes t i m o n y fro m J ack so n

t h at s h e o ri g i n al l y faced th e s am e ch arg es as Ap p el l an t b u t t h at t h e ch arg es h ad b een

d ro p ped

. On red i rect

, t he St at e q u es t i o ned Jack s o n ab o u t h er t es t i m o n y t h at t h e

ch arg es ag ai n s t h er were t h e s am e as t h e ch arg es t h at h a d b een bro u g h t ag ai n s t

Ap p el l an t

, an d s h e ack n o wl ed g ed t h e ch arg es were n o t t h e s am e

– t h at s h e was

ch arg ed w i t h cru el t y t o ch i l d ren i n t h e s eco n d d eg ree, wh i l e Ap pel l an t h ad b een

ch arg ed wi t h cru el t y t o ch i l d ren i n t h e fi rs t d eg ree an d ag g rav at ed b at t ery

. J ack so n

i n d i c a t e d t h a t s h e u nd ers t oo d t h e d i fferen ces b et ween t h e ch arg es

, an d s h e al s o

ack n owl ed ged t h at an at t o rn ey ex p l ai n ed t o h er t h at t h e cri m e s h e was ch arg ed wi th

rel at ed to h er al l owi n g th e vi ct i m t o b e i n ju red

, n ot p erp et rat i n g th e i n ju ri es u p o n h i m

.

On re-cro s s

, t ri al co u n s el el i ci t ed t es t i m o ny em p h as i z i n g t hat “ ei t h er way ,” al l

ch arg es ag ai n s t J ack s on h ad b een d i sm i s s ed an d s h e was n o w t es ti fy i n g fo r t h e St at e.

Ap p el l an t n ow arg u es t h at h i s t ri al co un s el s h o u l d h av e o b ject ed t o t h i s h ears ay

t e s t i m on y an d t h at “ h av [i n g ] t h es e d efi ni t i o n s [o f t h e cri m es ] i n tro d u ced t h ro u g h

h ears ay b y an un q u al i fi ed wi t n es s wa s p r e j u di ci al

. ” Fu rt h er, Ap pel l an t arg u es t h at

15J ack s o n wai v ed h er at to rn ey -cl i en t p ri v i leg e b y t es t i f yi n g ab o u t t h i s co n v ers at i o n

wi t h h er at t o rn ey

, an d t h at o nce s h e d i d so

, t ri al co u n sel s h ou l d h av e cro s s -ex am i n ed

h er ab o u t al l t h e co nv ers at i o n s s h e h ad wi t h h er at to rn ey

.

Fi rs t

, as t h e t ri al co urt fo u n d

, J ack s o n ’ s t es t i m o ny d id n o t t o u ch on m at t ers o f

s t rat eg y o r an y o t h er t o p i c th at w o u l d res u l t i n a wai v er o f t h e a t t o r n e y- c l i en t

p ri v i leg e, an d t ri al co u ns el d i d n o t ren d er d efi ci en t perfo rm an ce b y fai l i n g t o at t em pt

t o el i ci t s u ch t es t i m o ny

. Fu rt h er, ev en as s u m i ng t h e t es t i m o ny ab o u t wh at J ack s o n ’ s

at t o rn ey to l d her ab o u t t h e ch arg es was i n ad m i ss i b l e h ears ay

, s u ch t es t i m o n y was

ren d ered h arm les s wh en t he l ead i n ves t i g at o r i n t h e cas e t es t i fi ed t h at t h e warran t s h e

t o o k o u t ag ai n s t J ack s o n w as fo r cru el t y to ch i l d ren i n t he s eco n d d eg ree “ f o r f a i l i n g

t o ma ke a r ea s o n a b le a tt emp t t o p r o t ect t h e v i ct i m .” (Em p h as i s s u pp l i ed .) See An g l in

v. S t a te

, 3 0 2 Ga. 3 3 3

, 3 3 6 (2 ) (8 0 6 SE2 d 5 7 3 ) (2 0 1 7 ) (“ [T] h e err o neo us ad m i s s i o n

o f h ears ay is h arm l es s w h ere s u b s t an t i al

, cu m ul at iv e, leg al l y ad m i ss i b l e ev i d en ce o f

t h e s a m e fact i s in tro du ced .”). Las t l y

, th e ju ry was p ro p erl y i ns t ru ct ed ab o u t t h e

el em en t s o f t h e cri m es Ap p el l an t was ch arg ed wi t h h av in g c o m m i t t ed

, an d

, ev en

as s u m in g de f

ic ie nt pe r f or m a nc e

, A ppe l la nt ha s f a iled t o s h o w p reju di ce. Acco rd i n g l y

,

t h i s i n effect iv e cl ai m

al s o fai l s

.

16(d ) Ap p el lan t co n t en ds t hat t ri al co u n s el was i n effect i v e fo r fai l i n g t o i m p each

t h e vi ct i m ’ s m at ern al gran d m o t h er. Sp eci fi cal l y

, Ap p el l an t arg u es t h at a Faceb o o k

p o s t in w h i ch t h e g ran d m ot her al l eg ed l y m ad e fav o rab l e co m m en t s ab o u t Ap p el l an t

s h o u l d h av e b een i n t ro d uced t o i m p each h er t ri al t es t i m on y t h at t h e v i ct i m s eem ed

s cared o f Ap p el lan t an d t h at Ap p el l an t m ad e d ero g at o ry rem ark s i n referen ce t o t h e

v i ct i m

– s u ch as cal li n g h i m a cry b ab y

– an d d i d no t t reat t he v i c t i m i n t h e s am e

fav o rab l e m an n er t h at h e t reat ed h is b i ol o g i cal s o n

.

Th e t ran s cri p t s h ows t h at t ri al co u n sel d id n o t at t em p t to cro s s -ex am i n e t h e

g ran d m o t h er wi t h t h e p o s t d u ri n g h er t es t i m o n y

, an d t h at h e d i d n o t p ro v i d e i t t o t h e

St at e un t i l t h e ev en i n g befo re t h e l as t d ay o f t ri al aft er t h e St at e h ad r e s t e d

. 7 Tri al

co u ns el i n d i cat ed h e i n t en ded t o i n t ro d u ce t h e p o s t w h en t h e Ap pel l an t t es t i fi ed

, an d

t h e S t a t e o b

j ect ed on s ev eral g ro u n d s

, i n cl u d i n g t h at i t was h ears ay an d t h at

Ap p el l an t had n o t p ro v i d ed t h e ev i d en ce t o t h e St at e i n a t i m e l y m a n n e r

. Aft er

h eari n g arg u m en t fro m co u n sel

, t he t ri al co u rt d i sal l owed t h e ev i den ce, in d i cat i n g

t h at h e d i d n o t b el i ev e t h e ev i d en ce co ul d co m e i n t h ro u g h Ap pel l an t ’ s t es t i m o n y

.

7 At th e m ot i o n fo r n ew t ri al heari ng

, t ri al co un s el ex p res s ed u n cert ai n t y ab o ut

wh en h e fi rs t l earn ed ab ou t t h e p o s t

.

17Ap p el l an t d o es no t ch al l en g e t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s ru l i ng an d i n s t ead arg u e s o n l y

t h at h i s t ri al co u n s el was i n effect i v e b ecau s e h e d i d n o t at t em p t t o i n t ro d u ce t h e p o s t

wh en t h e g ran d m ot her t es t i fi ed rat h er t h an d u ri n g Ap p el l an t’ s t es t i m o n y

. H o wev er,

as t he tri al co u rt fo u n d i n i t s ord er d en y i n g A pp el l an t ’ s m o t i on fo r new t ri al

, t h e

t ran s cri p t d o es n o t co n t ai n a p ro ffer o f t h e Faceb o o k p o st

, an d Ap p el lan t di d n o t cal l

t h e g ran d m o t h er t o t es t i fy at t h e m o t i on fo r n ew t ri al h eari n g co n cern i ng t h e co n t en t

o f th e p os t o r t h e t i m i n g of t h e p o s t rel at i v e t o t h e gran d m o t h er’ s t es t i m o ny ab o u t h er

o b s erv ations o f A

ppe l la nt’ s inte r a c tion s wi t h t h e v i ct i m

. Th i s i s p art i cu larl y i m p o rt an t

b ecau s e, at t h e h eari n g o n t h e m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al

, t h ere was co n fu si on co n cern i n g

wh et h er t h e po s t h ad b een m ad e b y J ack so n ’ s si s ter, an d t h e des cri p t i o n s o f t h e

co n ten t s o f th e p o s t at t ri al an d a t t h e m o t io n fo r n ew t ri al h eari n g were m ark ed l y

d i fferen t. Fu rt h er, i n h i s bri ef o n ap p eal

, Ap p el l an t n o w arg u es t h e p o s t w as “ p rai s i n g

[h i m ] as a fat h er t o [t h e v i ct i m ] ,” wh i ch i s m o re sp eci fi c t h an wh at w as s ai d at t ri al

o r t h e m ot i o n fo r n ew t ri al h eari n g

. Eq u al l y i m p ort an t

, as t h e t ri al co u r t fo u n d

, t h e

t i m i ng o f t h e p o s t i s un k n o wn

. In o rd er t o b ol s t er h i s arg u m en t

, Ap p el l an t n o w as s ert s

t h e p o s t was m ad e b et ween t h e d at e o f t h e i n ci d en t an d t h e d at e o f t h e gran d m o t h er’ s

t es t i m o ny at t ri al

. Ho wev er, at t ri al

, i t was s t at ed t h at t h e p o s t was m ad e on J u n e 2 2,

2 0 1 6

, w h i ch was t wo m o n t h s b ef o r e t h e v ict i m s uffered t he brai n i n ju ry an d ab o u t a

18week b ef

o r e t h e ev en t s t h e gran d m o t h er des cri b ed in h er t es t i m o ny t hat h e s o u g h t to

i m p each

. 8 Th us

, Ap pel l an t h as fai l ed t o s h ow t h at t h e Faceb oo k p o st wo u l d hav e b een

ad m i s s i b l e as a pri or in co n si s t en t s t at em en t

, an d h e h as fai led t o carry h i s b u rd en to

s h o w th at t ri al co u n s el p erfo rm ed d efi ci en t l y

. A cco rd i n gl y

, t h i s e n u m erat i o n i s

wi t h o u t m eri t

.

3

. Ap p el l an t as s ert s t h at th e t ri al co urt erred b y ad m i t t i n g i rrel ev an t an d

p reju d i ci al ev i d en ce, n am el y p i ct u res o f fi rearm s fo u n d d uri n g th e s earch o f t h e h o m e

h e s h ared wi t h J ack s on . Th e reco rd s h o ws t h at t h e p o l i ce o b t ai n ed a s earch warran t

fo r t h e h o m e, an d

, at tri al

, t h e St at e i n t ro du ced o v er 1 0 0 ph o to g rap h s o f t h e h o m e an d

i t em s fo u n d d u ri n g th e s earch

, i n cl ud i n g p i ct u res o f t wo h an d g u n s an d t h e

am m u n i t io n t h at was rem o v ed fro m t h e g u n s. Ap pel l an t o b ject ed o n t h e b as i s t h at t h e

p h o t o g rap h s p l aced h i s ch aract er i n ev i d en ce, an d t he St at e co u nt ered t h at i t s i n t en t

was t o pres en t th e fu l l ev i d en ce o f wh at was reco vered fro m t h e h o m e, t h at t h ere was

n o t h i n g i l l eg al ab o u t own i n g han d gu n s

, t h at th ere was n o ev id en ce t h at Ap p el l an t h ad

u s ed t h e h an d g u n s in an i m p ro p er o r v i ol en t m an n er, an d t h at t h e St at e di d n o t p l an

t o m ak e an y s p eci fi c m en t i o n o f t h e h an d g u n s o t h er t han wh en th e p i ct u res were

8 Th e gran d m o t h er t es t i fi ed th at o n e o f t h e o ccas i o ns s h e o b s erv ed Ap p el l an t ’ s

n eg at i v e b eh av i o r was wh en h i s d au g h t er was b o rn o n J u l y 2 9 , 2 0 1 6

.

19i n t ro du ced an d id en t i fi ed

. Th e t r i al co u rt ov erru l ed Ap p el lan t ’ s o b ject i o n, an d t h e

p h o t o g rap h s o f t h e han d g un s were i n t ro d uced al o n g wi t h t h e ot her pi ct u res s h o wi n g

n u m ero u s

, l i k ewi se i rrel ev an t

, it em s o b serv ed d u ri n g t h e se arch

. A d et ect i v e wh o was

p res en t du ri n g t h e s earch i d e n t i f i ed each o f t h e pi ct ures as t h ey were s ho wn t o t h e

ju ry an d ex p l ai n ed wi t h o u t b ei n g p ro m p t ed wh y t h ere were m u lt i p l e p i ct ures o f t h e

s am e h an d g u ns s h o wn i n d i fferen t l o cat i o n s

. 9

Aft er t h e ju ry v i ewed t h e p h o t o g rap h s

, t h e tri al co u rt reco n si dered i ts ru l i n g o n

t h e ad m i s s i b il it y o f t h e p i ct u res o f t h e h an d gu n s

. Aft er a co l l o qu y wi th co u n s el

,

d u ri n g wh i ch th e St at e’ s at to rn ey el ab o rat ed t h at h e d i d n o t w an t t o red act t h e g u n

p h o t o g rap h s b ecau se h e h ad prev i o u s l y been in v o l v ed in cas es wh ere t h e ju ro rs h ad

q u es t i o n e d t h e om is s i o n o f cert ai n pi ct u res

, th e t ri al co u rt d eci d ed t h at t h e b es t

rem ed y was to p ro v i de t h e j u ry wi t h a cu rat i ve i n s tru ct i on

. T h e t ri al co u rt t h en g av e

t h e fo ll o wi n g i n s t ru ct i o n: “ I’ m go i n g to di rect t h at y o u ’ re no t t o co n s i d er t h e fact t h at

t h ere are weap o n s i n t h e h o us e as t o th i s i s s u e fo r wh i ch [Ap p el l an t ] i s ch arg ed

. It i s

– t ho s e t wo weap o n s

. . . – t h at were i n t he h o u s e are n o t m at eri al t o t h e ch arg es fo r

9 Th e wi t n es s t es t i fi ed th at t h e g u n s were m o v ed so i den t i fy i ng i n fo rm at i o n

co u ld b e p ho to g rap h ed an d al s o wh en t h e g un s were u n l oad ed

.

20wh i ch Ap p el l an t i s s t an d i ng t ri al fo r. So y o u are n o t t o co n si d er t h at i n y o u r

d el i b erat i o n .” Du ri n g i t s fi n al ch arg e, t h e t ri al co u rt g av e a s i m il ar i n s t ru ct i o n

.

W e ag ree wi t h Ap p el l an t

, an d t h e St at e co n ced es

, t hat t h e p ho t og rap h s o f t h e

h an dg u n s were i rrel ev an t an d

, acco rd in g l y

, s h ou l d n o t h av e b een ad m i t t ed

. See

OCGA § 2 4 -4 -4 0 2 (“ Ev i d en ce wh i ch i s n ot rel ev an t s h al l n o t be ad m i s s i b l e .”); s ee

al s o Ma r t i n ez -Ar ia s v. St a t e

, 3 1 3 Ga. 2 7 6

, 2 8 5 (3 ) (8 6 9 SE2 d 5 0 1) (2 02 2 ) (ex p l ai n i n g

t h at th ere are n o ex cep t io n s to t h e ex cl u s i o n o f i rrel ev an t ev i d en ce u nd er OCGA § 2 4

-

4 -4 0 2). Bu t t h at do es no t m ean t h at rev ers al i s req u i red ; Ap p el l an t can n o t s ho w h arm

h ere.

To b eg i n wi t h

, t h e t ri al co u rt t wi ce p l ai n ly i n s tru ct ed t h e j u ry t h at t h e

p h o t o g rap h s were n ot rel ev an t an d t h at t h e ju ry was n o t t o co n s id er t hem i n d eci d i n g

Ap p el l an t ’ s g u i l t

. Th e j u ry i s pres u m ed t o fo l l o w t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s i n s t ru ct io n s

, S mi th

v. S ta t e

, 3 0 7 Ga. 2 6 3

, 27 6 (3 ) (b ) (8 3 4 SE2 d 1 ) (2 0 19 ), an d “ a n ew t ri al wi l l n o t b e

g ran t ed u n l es s i t cl ear th at t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s cu rat i v e i n s t ru ct i o n fai l ed t o el i m i n at e t h e

effect o f t h e p reju d i ci al [ev i den ce] .” Tu r n er v. S t at e

, 2 9 9 Ga. 7 2 0, 7 2 3 (5 ) (7 9 1 SE2 d

7 9 1 ) (2 0 1 6 ).

Al t h ou g h Ap p el l an t arg u es t h at t he tri al co urt ’ s i n s t ru ct i o n s were in su ffi ci en t

t o cu re t he “ h i g h l y p reju di ci al effect ” t h i s ev i d en ce h ad o n t h e ju ry b ecau s e t h e co u rt

21d i d n o t ex p l ai n w h y t h e g un s h ad been m ov ed

, i n d o i n g s o he om i t s or m i s s t at es k ey

t es t i m o ny

, n am el y t h e t es t i m o ny o f t h e d et ec t i ve wh o d et ai l ed s t an d ard p ro ced u re

wh en p h ot o g rap h i n g weap o n s

. Ad d i t i o n al l y

, t h e St at e d i d n o t referen ce t h e g u n s at

an y t i m e o t h er th an w h en th ey were i n tro d u ced

, an d th e St at e n e v e r i nt i m at ed o r

s o u g ht t o el i ci t t es t i m o n y t h at A p p el l an t i l l eg al l y o wn ed t h e g u n s o r t h at an y cri m es

were as s o ci at ed wi t h t h e g u n s

. See Ro b er t s v. S t at e

, 3 1 7 Ga. Ap p

. 3 85

, 3 8 8 (2 ) (a)

(7 3 0 SE2 d 7 5 3 ) (2 01 2) (“ [O] ur Su p rem e Co u rt h as h el d t h at gu n o wn ers hi p an d t h e

cu s t o m o f carry i n g a g u n d o no t b y t h em s el v e s s ug g es t b ad ch aract er.”). In l i g h t o f

t h es e ci rcu m s t an ces

, an d b as ed o n t h e reco rd i n t h i s cas e, i t i s h i g h l y un l i k el y t h at t h e

erro neo u s l y ad m i tt ed ev id en ce co n tri b u t ed t o t h e ju ry ’ s verd i ct

, an d a n ew t ri al i s n ot

warran t ed

. Ma rt i n ez -Ar i a s , 3 1 3 Ga. at 2 93 (4 ).

4

. Las t l y

, Ap p el l an t arg u e s t h a t h e i s en t i t led to a new tri al d u e t o t h e

cu m u l at i v e p reju d i ci al effect o f t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s ev i d en t iary erro r an d t ri al co u n sel ’ s

i n effect i v en es s

. “ To es t ab l i sh cu m u l at i v e erro r a d efen d an t m u s t sh o w th at (1 ) at l eas t

t wo erro rs were co m m i t t e d i n t h e co u rs e o f t h e t ri al ; an d (2 ) co n s i d ered t o g et h er

al o n g wi t h t h e en t i re reco rd

, t h e m u l t i p l e erro rs so i n fect ed t h e j u ry ’ s del i b erat i o n t h at

t h ey d en i ed t h e p et i t i on er a fu n d am en t al ly fai r t ri al

. ” (Ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n

o m it t ed .) S t a t e v. La n e

, 30 8 Ga. 1 0

, 2 1 (4 ) (8 3 8 SE2 d 8 08 ) (2 0 20 ). As s et ou t ab o ve,

22we h av e fo u n d on e h arm l es s ev i d en ti ary erro r

– D i v i s i o n 3

– an d o ne i n s t an ce o f

p res u m ed d efi ci en t p erfo rm an ce

– Di v i s io n 2 (c). Nei t h er o f t h es e m at t ers d i rect l y

t o u ch ed o n Ap pel l an t’ s g u i l t fo r t h e cri m es ch arg ed

, an d th e p res u m ed d efi ci en cy an d

t ri al co u rt erro r were on un rel at ed m at t ers

. Co ns i d ered cu m u l at i v el y i n l i g h t o f t h e

en t i re reco rd

, we h av e n o hes it an cy i n co n cl u d i n g t h at t h es e erro rs

, ev en wh en t ak en

t o g et h er, d o no t warran t a n ew tri al

. See, e.g

., St a f f o rd v. S t a t e

, 31 2 Ga. 8 1 1

, 8 2 4 -8 2 5

(6 ) (8 65 SE2 d 1 16 ) (2 0 2 1 ).

Ju d g men t a f f i r m ed . Ri ckma n , C. J., a n d Mi l ler , P. J., co n cu r

.

23