In th e S u p re m e Co u rt o f Ge o rg ia

De c id e d: Ap ril 2 6, 2 0 1 6

S 1 6 A0 1 7 9 . BROWN v . THE S TATE.

MELTON, Ju stic e

.

F o llo win g a ju ry tria l, R o g e r S h a n n on Bro wn a p pe a ls h is c on vic tio n s fo r

th e m a lic e m

u rd e r a n d a g g ra v a te d a ssa u lt o f De n n is F re e m a n a n d th e a g g ra v a te d

a ssa u lt o f Ro g e r Em ory

. Bro wn c o n te n d s, a m o n g o th e r th in g s, th a t th e tria l c o urt

g a v e in c o m

p le te ju ry in stru c tio n s a n d th a t h e re c e iv e d in e ffe c tiv e a ssista n c e o f

tria l c o u nse l. 1 F o r th e re a so n s se t fo rth b e lo w, we a ffirm

.

1 On Ju ne 2 6

, 2 0 0 8

, Bro wn wa s in d ic te d fo r th e ma l i c e mu rd e r, fe lo n y

m u rd e r , a n d a g g ra v a te d a ssa u lt of Fre e m a n ; th e a g g ra v a te d a ssa u lt o f Em o ry ;

a n d th e a g g ra va te d a ssa u lt o f Tim oth y S hip m a n

. F o llo win g a ju ry tria l e n d in g

o n F e b r ua ry 4, 2 0 1 1

, th e ju ry fo u n d B ro w n g u ilty o f a ll c h a rg e s e xc e p t th ose

re la tin g to S h ip m a n . Th e tria l c o u rt se n te n c e d Bro wn to life im p riso n m e n t fo r th e m a lic e m

u rd e r o f F re e m a n a n d twe nty c o n se c u tiv e y e a rs fo r th e a g g ra v a te d

a ssa u lt of Em o ry

. Th e c o n v ic tio n fo r fe lo n y m urd e r wa s v a c a te d b y o p e ra tio n

o f l a w , M a lc o lm v

. S ta te

, 2 6 3 Ga

. 3 6 9 (4 ) (4 3 4 S E2 d 4 7 9 ) (1 9 9 3 ), a n d th e

re m a in in g c ha rg e w a s m e rg e d fo r p u rp o se s o f se n te nc in g

. On F e bru a ry 7

, 2 0 1 1

, Bro w n file d a m o tio n fo r n e w tria l, a m e n d e d on Oc to be r 1 4

, 2 0 1 3

. T h e t ria l

c o u rt de n ie d th e m otio n o n Ma y 2 2

, 2 01 4, a n d Bro wn f i l e d a tim e ly no tic e o f

a p p e a l. Th e re a fte r, h is c a se w a s d o c k e te d to th e Ja n u a ry 2 0 1 6 Te rm o f th is Co urt

a n d o ra lly a rg u e d o n Ja n u a ry 4 , 2 0 1 6

.1

. Vie we d in th e lig h t m o st fa v o ra b le to th e v e rd ic t, th e re c ord sh o ws th a t,

o n th e e v e n in g o f Ja n u a ry 1 8

, 2 0 0 8

, Em ory , a lo n g with h is wife

, T a m my , h is

d a u g h te r, La

u ra Fre e , Tim o th y S h ip m a n , a n d F re e m a n , wa s wo rk in g la te in a n

o u tsid e wo o d lo t a d

ja c e n t to a p a c k a g e sto re

. Bro wn a n d fe llo w m e m b e rs o f h is

w o r k c re w a rriv e d a t th e p a c k a g e sto re to c a sh th e ir p a y c h e c k s. At th a t time

,

Bro w n wa lk e d be h in d th e p a c k a g e sto re a n d b e g a n u rin a tin g n e x t to a d um p ste r,

in v ie w o f Em o ry a n d his fa m ily a n d c o -wo rk e rs. Em o ry a sk e d Bro w n to sto p

u rin a tin g , a n d Bro wn sta rte d sc re a m in g th a t Em ory wa s n o t sh o win g h im

re sp e c t. Afte r a b rie f c o n fro n ta tio n , Bro wn re trie v e d a c la w h a m m e r a nd p ry b a r

fro m h is wo rk tru c k p a

rk e d n e a rb y

. Bro wn w a lk e d to wa rd Em ory a n d th e o th e rs,

b e a tin g th e p ry b a r a n d h a m m e r to g e th e r in a th re a te n in g m an n e r. At th is p o in t,

Em o ry wa s sta n d in g b y h is p i c k u p tru c k a p p ro x im a te ly te n fe e t fro m Bro wn ,

a n d F re e m a n wa s sta n d i n g a p p r o x im a te ly fiv e to six fe e t fro m Bro wn

.

Ac c o rd in g to Em ory , Bro wn th re at e n e d t o k ill F re e m a n , wh o wa s sile n tly

sm o k in g a c ig a re tte

. Bro wn th e n swu n g th e ha m m e r a n d stru c k F re e m a n in th e

sid e o f th e he a d

, a n d

, a s F r e e ma n f e ll to th e gro u n d

, fa ta lly wo u n d e d

, Bro wn

sc re a m e d, "Die m o th e rf---e r." It is u n d isp u te d th a t F re e m an n e ith e r c h a lle n g e d

Bro w n n o r to ok

a n y a g g re ssiv e a c tio n s to wa rd s h im

.

2Em o ry te stifie d th a t Bro wn th re a te n e d to kill h im n e x t, so Em o ry re trie v e d

a n a x h a n d le fro m h is o w n tru c k to d e fe nd him se lf. At th a t po in t, Bro wn

sto pp e d

, lo o k e d a t F re e m a n ’s b o d y , a n d d e c id e d to le a v e th e wo o d lo t a re a

.

Bro w n th re w th e h a m m e r in a wo o d p ile and d isc a rd e d th e p ry b a r in to a p ile o f

b o x e s. B ro wn sto p p e d m om e n ta rily a t th e d o o rwa y o f th e p a c k a g e sto re in o rd e r

to re trie v e h is wo rk p a y , b u t h e so o n fle d

. Bro wn w a s l a te r a p p re h e n d e d b y

p o lic e in a

c u lv e rt n e a r th e sc e n e o f th e m u rd e r.

At tria l, B ro wn te stifie d a n d c o nte nd e d th a t h e wa s m e re ly a c tin g in

se lf-d e fe n se to w a rd o ff Em ory ' s b e l l i g e re n t a d v a nc e s with th e a x h a n d le

. Bro wn

a r g u e d th a t h e swu n g h is h a m m e r to m a k e Em ory ste p b a c k

, a n d h e

u n in te n tio n a lly h it F re e m a n wh e n h e m a d e th a t "wa rn in g " swin g. Bro wn

a d m itte d th a t F re e m a n wa s m e re ly a n in n o c e n t b y sta n d e r i n th e c on fro n ta tio n

with Em o ry

.

Th is e vid e n c e wa s su ffic ie nt to e n a b le th e ju ry to fin d Bro wn g u ilty o f th e

c rim e s fo r w h ic h h e wa s c o n v ic te d b e y o n d a r e aso n a ble d o u b t. Ja c k so n v

.

Virg in ia , 4 4 3 U.S . 3 0 7 (9 9 S CT 2 7 8 1 , 6 1 LE2 d 5 6 0) (1 9 79 ).

2

. Bro wn c o n te n d s th a t th e tria l c o urt e rre d b y a d m ittin g i n t o e v i d e n c e

c e rta in a u to psy p h o to g ra

p h s o f F re e m a n wh ic h sh o we d th e wo u n d to h is sk ull.

3We d isa g re e

.

With re g a rd to th e im a g e s in q u e stio n , th e m e d ic a l e x a m in e r te stifie d th a t

th e ph o to g ra

p h s w e re n e c e ssa ry to sh o w th e e x te n t o f th e sk u ll fra c tu re su ffe re d

b y F re e m a n ; th e re fo re , th e p h o to g ra p h s we re re le va n t. S e e Bro wn v

. Sta te

, 2 5 0

Ga

. 8 6 2

, 8 6 7 (5 ) (3 0 2 S E2 d 3 4 7 ) (1 98 3 ) (h o ld in g , u nd e r fo rm e r Ev id e n c e Co d e ,

th a t “ [a ] p h o to g ra

ph wh ic h d e p ic ts th e v ic tim a fte r a u to p sy in c isio n s a re m a d e

. . . will no t b e a d m issib le u n le ss n e c es s a r y t o sh o w so m e m a te ria l fa c t wh ic h

b e c o m e s a

pp a re n t on ly b e c a

u se o f th e a

uto p sy ” ). Be fo re a d m ittin g th e

p h o to g ra p h s, th e tria l c o u rt c a re fu lly c o n sid e re d wh e th e r th e ir p ro b a tiv e v a lu e

wa s su b sta n tia lly o u twe ig h e d b y th e d an g e r o f u n fa ir p re ju d ic e

. By fin d in g th a t

th e pro b a tiv e v a lu e wa s n o t su b sta n tia lly ou twe ig h e d

, th e tria l c o u rt d id n o t

a b u se its d isc re tio n in th is c a se . Bro wn , su p ra

. 2

3

. Bro wn a rg u e s th a t th e tria l c ou rt c o m m itte d p l a in e rro r b y a d m in iste rin g

a n in c o m ple te ju ry c h a rg e re g a rd in g Bro wn ’s d e fe n se o f ju stific a tio n

. We

d isa g re e

.

2 F o r a g e n e ra l d isc u ssio n of th e re le v a n c e o f a u to p sy p h o to g ra

p h s u n d e r th e n e w e v id e n c e c o d e , se e Mo ss v

. S ta te

, Ca se No

. S1 5A1 7 3 6 (d e c id e d Ma rc h

7 , 2 01 6 ).

4Th e tria l c o u rt c h a rg e d th e ju ry : “To ju stify a n a ssa u lt

, it is no t e sse n tia l

th a t th e re sh o u ld be a n a c tu a l a ssa u lt m a d e up o n t h e d e fe n da n t. Th re a ts

a c c o m p a n ie d b y m e na c e s, th o u g h th e m e n a c e s d o n o t a m o u nt to a n a c tu a l

a ssa u lt, m a

y in so m e in sta n c e s b e su ffic ie n t to a ro u se a re a so na b le b el i e f th a t

o n e ’s life is in im m in e n t d a n g e r.” (Em p h a sis su p p lie d .) Bro wn c on te n d s th a t th e

tria l c ou rt sh ou l d h a v e g iv e n th e sta n da rd pa tte rn c h a rg e wh ic h re fe rs to th e

ju stific a tio n o f a

h o m ic id e ra th e r th a n th e ju stific a tio n o f a n a ssa ult. 3

A re v ie w o f th e re c o rd sh o ws th a t th e j u s t i f i c a t i o n c h a r g e w a s in iti a l l y

r e q u e s t e d b y t

h e S t a t e , a n d i t t

r a c k e d t h e p a t t e r n c h a r g e b y r e f

e r r in g to a

h o m i c i d e r a t

h e r t h a n a n a s s a u l t

. Du rin g th e c h a rg e c o nfe re n c e , h o we v e r, Bro wn

c la rifie d th a t he o n ly wa n te d a ju stific a tio n c h a rg e fo r th e a g g ra v a te d a ssa u lt o f

Em o ry a n d n o t fo r th e c o u n ts re g a rd in g th e m a lic e m u rd e r a n d fe lo n y m

u rd e r o f

F re e m a n

. T h e t r i a l c o u rt a n d th e p a rtie s c o n c lu d e d th a t th e re wa s n o b a sis fo r

a n y se lf-d e fe n se c la im a g a in st F re e m a n , wh o h a d m e re ly b e e n a b y sta n d e r to th e

in te ra c tio n b e twe e n Bro wn a n d Em o ry

. Bro wn a g re e d th a t th e ju stific a tio n

c h a rg e sh o u ld o n ly re fe r t o E m o ry , n ot F re e m a n , b e c a u se th e re wa s "n o o th e r

3 Se e G e o rg ia S u g g e ste d P a tte rn Ju ry In stru c ti o n s V o l u m e II: C rim in a l
Ca se s, § 3 .1 6 .1 0

.

5e v id e n c e e x c e p t fo r th a t." As a re su lt, th e tria l c o u rt c a re fu lly ta il o r e d th e

ju stific a tio n c h a rg e to a d d re ss th e a g g ra va te d a ssa u lt o f Em o ry

.

Ba se d o n th is re c o r d

, e v e n if th e c h a rg e we re e rro ne o u s, Bro wn in v ite d

th a t e rro r. As su c h

, a n y c o n te n tio n o f p la in e rro r b y Bro wn ha s be e n e ffe c tiv e ly

wa iv e d fo r re v ie w. S e e S h a w v

. S ta te

, 2 92 G a

. 8 7 1

, 8 7 3 (2 ) n

. 3 (7 4 2 S E2 d 7 0 7 )

(2 0 1 3 ) (“ [E] v e n wh e re p la in e rro r a p p e a rs, re v e rsa l is n o t wa rra n te d if th e e rro r

wa s in vite d b y th e a

p p e lla n t. S h a n k v. S ta te

, 2 9 0 Ga

. 84 4

, 8 4 5 (2 ) (7 2 5 S E2 d

2 4 6 (2 0 1 2 )” ). Ev e n if n o t wa iv e d , h o we v e r, Bro wn h a s n ot sh o w n p la in e rro r.

“ P la in e rro r” re q u ire s a c le a r o r o b v io u s le g a l e rro r o r d e fe c t n o t

a ffirm a tiv e ly wa iv e d b y t h e a p p e lla n t th a t m

u st h a ve a ffe c te d th e

a p p e lla n t' s su b sta n tia l rig h ts, i.e

., it a ffe c te d th e o u tc o m e o f th e tria l

c o u rt p ro c e e d in g s. S ta te d m o re su c c in c tly

, “ th e p ro pe r i n q u iry is
wh e th e r th e in stru c tio n wa s e rro n e o u s, w h e th e r it wa s ob vio u sly so ,
a n d wh e th e r it lik el y a ffe c te d th e o u tc o m e o f th e p ro c e e d in g s.” If
th e fa ilu re to g iv e a n in stru c tio n is sh o w n t o c o n stitu te su c h a n

e rro r, th e a

p p e lla te c o u rt m a y re m e d y th e e rro r b y e xe rc isi n g its
d isc re tio n if th e e rro r se rio u sly a ffe c ts th e fa irn e ss, in te g rity o r
p u b lic re p u ta tio n o f ju dic ia l p ro c e e d in g s.

(Cita tio n a n d p u n c tu a tio n o m itte d .) Alv e lo v

. S ta te

, 2 9 0 Ga

. 6 0 9

, 6 1 4 -6 1 5 (3 )

(7 2 4 S E2 d 3 7 7 ) (2 01 2 ). In th is c a s e , th e re wa s n o sh o win g o f p la in e rro r a s

Bro w n h a s p ro v e n n o h a rm

. Ev e n if th e tria l c ou rt h a d in stru c te d th e ju ry th a t

se lf-d e fe n se w a s a

p p lic a b le to a h o m ic id e in g e n e ra l, se lf-d e fe n se c o u ld b e

6a

p p lic a b l e t o th e sp e c ific m

u rd e r o f F re e m a n o nly if Bro wn ’s in te n t to d e fe n d

h im se l f a g a i n s t Em o ry c o u ld b e tra n sfe rre d

. Th e ju ry , h o we v e r, fo u n d th a t

Bro w n di d n o t a c t in se lf-d e fe n se a g a in st Em o ry wh e n he swu n g th e h a m m e r,

a n d

, a s su c h

, th e re wa s n o ju s t i f i ca t i o n de fe n se wh ic h c o u ld h a v e b e e n

a p p lic a b le to th e mu r d e r of F re e m a n p ursu a n t to a n y a rg u m e n t o f tra nsfe rre d

in te nt. As su c h

, th e tria l c o u rt d id n o t c o m m it p la in e rro r b y ta ilo r i n g a s e l f

d e fe n se in stru c tio n to th e sp e c ific fa c ts o f th is c a se

.

4

. F in a lly

, B ro wn c o n te n d s th a t h e re c e iv e d in e ffe c tiv e a ssista n c e o f

c o u n s e l

, a rg u in g th a t th e th e o ry o f d e fe n se th a t wa s p re se n te d a t tria l o n h is

b e h a lf wa s u n te n a

ble

.

In o rd e r to su c c e e d o n h is c la im of in e ffe c tiv e a ssista n c e , [Bro wn ]

m u st p ro v e b o th th a t h is tria l c o un se l' s p e rfo rm a n c e wa s d e fic ie n t

a n d th a t th e re is a re a so n a b le p ro b a b ility th a t th e tria l re su lt wo u ld
h a v e b e e n diffe re n t if n o t fo r th e d e fic ie n t p e rfo rm a n c e

. S tric k la n d

v

. W a sh in g to n , 4 6 6 U.S

. 6 6 8 (1 0 4 S C T 2 0 5 2

, 80 LE2 d 6 7 4 ) (1 9 8 4 ).
If a n a p p e lla n t fa ils to m e e t h is or he r b u rd e n o f p ro v in g e ith e r
p ro n g o f th e Stric kla n d te st

, t h e re v ie w in g c o u rt d o e s n o t ha v e to

e x a m in e th e o th e r p ro ng

. Id

. a t 6 9 7 (IV); F u l l e r v

. S ta te

, 2 7 7 Ga

. 5 0 5 (3 ) (5 9 1 SE2 d 7 8 2 ) (2 0 0 4 ). In re v ie win g th e tria l c o u rt' s d e c isio n , “ ‘[w] e a c c e p t th e tria l c o u rt' s fa c tu a l fin d i n g s a n d

c re d ib ilit y d e te rm in a tio ns u n le ss c le a rly e rro n e o u s, b u t w e i n d e p e n d e n tly a

p p ly th e le g a l prin c ip le s to th e fa c ts.’ [Cit.] ”

Ro b in so n v . S ta te , 2 7 7 Ga . 7 5 , 7 6 (5 8 6 S E 2d 3 1 3 ) (2 00 3).

Wrig h t v . S ta te , 2 9 1 Ga

. 8 6 9

, 8 7 0 (2 ) (7 3 4 S E2 d 8 76 ) (2 0 1 2 ).

7Th e re c o rd sh o ws th a t, in a n a tte m p t t o p r ev e n t Bro wn fro m b e in g

c o n v ic te d o f m

u rd e r o r fe lo n y m

u rd e r, tria l c o u n se l ra ise d d u a l d e fe n se s with

re g a rd to F re e m a n ’s d e a th : (1 ) h e arg u e d th a t, u n d e r OCGA § 1 6

- 5

- 3 (b ),

Bro w n c o m m itte d in v o lu n ta ry m a n sla u g h te r- b y swin g in g th e h a m m e r a t

Em o ry , Bro wn c o m m itte d a c rim in a lly n e g lig e n t a c t of se lf-d e fe n se (a la wfu l a c t

in a n u nla wfu l m a n n e r); a n d (2 ) in th e a lte rn a tiv e , u n d e r O C G A § 1 6 -5 -3 (a ),

Bro w n c o m m itte d o n ly a n a c t o f re c k le ss c o n d u c t b y swin gin g th e h a m m e r a t

Em o ry - a m isd e m e a n o r. Bro w n n o w c o n te n d s th a t n e ith e r o f th e se de fe n se s wa s

le g a lly v ia

b le , a n d , a s su c h , h e wa s so m e h o w h a rm e d

.

As a g e n e ra l m a tte r, a ta c tic a l d e c isio n m a d e b y a n a tto rn e y will n o t

su p p o rt a n in e ffe c tiv e a s s i sta n c e o f c o u nse l c la im u n le ss it w a s “so p a te n tly

u n re a so n a

b le th a t n o c om

p e te n t a tto rn e y wo u l d h a v e c h ose n it.” M c Ke n z ie v

.

S ta te

, 2 8 4 Ga

. 3 4 2

, 3 4 7 (6 6 7 S E2 d 4 3 ) (2 0 0 8 ). He re , tria l c o u n s el r e a so n a b ly

trie d to p ro v id e th e ju ry with le ss se v e re ly p u n ish e d a lte rn a tiv e s to th e c h a rg e s

re la tin g to th e m

urd e r o f F re e m a n , a n d, e v e n if we a c c e p t Bro wn ’s c o n te n tio n

th a t tria l c o u n se l’s d e fe n se s sh o u ld n o t h a ve b e e n a llo we d by th e tria l c o u rt, th e y

we re , in fa c t, a llo we d

. Th e re c o rd sh ows th a t th e tria l c o u rt in stru c te d th e ju ry

o n j u s t i f

i c a t i o n , i n v o l u n t a r y m a n s l a u g h t e r , a n d r e c k l e s s c o n d u c t

,

8n o twith sta n d in g Bro wn ’s c u rre n t c o n te n tio n s th a t th e tria l c o u rt wa s p ro h ib ite d

fro m giv in g th e se in stru c tio n s. S e e De m e ry v

. Sta te

, 2 8 7 Ga

. 80 5, 80 9 (3 ) (7 0 0

S E2 d 3 7 3 ) (2 0 1 0 ). S o , a t wo rst, Bro w n ’s tria l c o u n se l wa s a b le to p ro v id e h im

with e x tra d e fe n se s to wh ic h Bro wn n ow c la im s th a t h e wa s n ot e n title d

. T h is

is a b e n e fit to Bro wn , n o t a h a rm . Th e re wa s n o p re

ju d ic e

.

Bro wn a lso c o n te n d s tria l c o u n se l sh o u ld h a v e ra ise d a d e fe n se b a se d o n

th e c o n c e p t o f tra n sfe rre d in te n t. Sp e c ifi c a l ly

, B ro wn a rg u e s th a t tria l c o u n se l

p e rfo rm e d d e fic ie ntly be c a u se h e d id n o t arg u e th a t Bro wn ’s in te n t to d e fe n d

h im se lf fro m E m o ry sh o u ld b e tra n sfe rre d to th e a c t o f strik in g Fre e m a n in th e

h e a d

. Th is c o n t e n tio n fa ils. Th e re c o rd sh o ws th a t th e ju ry re je c te d Bro wn ’s

c o n te n tio n th a t h e wa s a c tin g in se lf-d e fe n se e v e n to wa rd s Em o ry , a s th e ju ry

fo u n d B ro wn g u ilty o f a g g ra v a te d a ssa u lt in th a t c o n te x t. Th e re fo re , e v e n if it

c o u ld b e sa id th a t tria l c o u n se l sh o uld h a ve ra ise d th e issu e o f tra n sfe rre d in te n t,

th e re h a s b e e n n o sh owin g o f p re ju dic e

.

In a n y e v e n t, Bro wn ’s c o n te n tio n re g a r d i n g a tra n sfe rre d in te n t d e fe nse

is wh o lly b a se d o n h in dsig h t.

Bu t h in d sig ht h a s n o p la c e in a n a sse ssm e nt o f th e p e rfo rm a nc e o f
tria l c o un se l, th e Un ite d S ta te s S u p re m e Co u rt h a v in g in stru c te d
th a t “ [a ] fa ir a sse ssm e n t o f a tto rn e y p e rfo rm an c e re q u ire s th a t e v e ry

9e ffo rt b e m a d e to e lim in a te th e d isto rtin g e ffe c ts of hin d s ig h t.”

S t r i c k l a n d

, su p ra , 4 6 6 U.S

. a t 6 8 9 (III) (A). In ste a d

, we “ m u st in d u lg e a stro n g p re su m

p tio n th a t c o un se l' s c o n d u c t fa lls w ith in th e wid e ra n ge o f r e a so n a

b le p ro fe ssio n a l a ssista nc e , ” id

., a n d to

o v e rc om e th a t p re su m

p tio n , [Bro wn ] m

u st sh o w th a t no re a so na

b le

c o u n se l wo u ld h a ve fa ile d to [ra ise a tra n sfe rre d in te n t d e fe n se ]

.

(Cita tio n o m itte d .) Jo ne s v

. Sta te

, 2 9 2 G a

. 5 9 3, 6 0 0

– 6 0 1 (7 ) (d ) (7 40 S E2 d 1 4 7 )

(2 0 1 3 ). Bro wn h a s fa ile d to m a k e th is sh o win g.

Ju d g m e n t a ffirm e d . All th e Ju stic e s c o n c u r.

10