FI RST DI VI SI ON

BA RNES, P. J.

, GOBEI L and PI PKI N, JJ.

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

ph y sic a l ly r e ce iv ed i n our c le r k ’s offic e w ithin te n

da y s of the da te of de c is ion to be de e m ed tim e ly file d.

https ://w w w

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

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

.

Febr uar y 3, 2021



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A2 0 A2 10 8 . J E FFERSON v . THE STATE.

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

A ju ry fo u n d Orl an d o J effers o n g ui l t y o f f am i l y v i ol en ce ag grav at ed as s au l t

a n d fam i l y v i o len ce b at tery

, an d t h e t ri al co u rt d en i ed h i s m o t io n fo r n ew t ri al

. On

ap p eal

, J effers o n co n t en d s t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred b y n o t s u ffi ci en t l y ex a m i n i n g

wh et h er t h e v i ct im was m en t al l y co m p et en t t o t es t i fy as a wi t n es s at t ri al

. H e fu rt h er

co n ten d s t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred b y g ran t in g t h e St at e’ s p et i t i o n t o g i v e t h e v i ct i m

i m m u ni t y fro m p ro s ecu ti o n an d t o req u i re h er to t es t i fy as a w i t nes s f o r t h e St at e.

Ad d i t i o n al l y , J effers o n arg u es t h at h i s t ri al co u n s el ren d ered i n effect iv e as s i s t an ce.

Fo r t h e reas o n s d i s cu s s ed m o re fu l l y b el o w, we affi rm

.

O n a p p eal fro m a cri m i n al co n v ict i o n

, t h e ap p el l an t i s n o lo n ger p res u m e d

i n n o c e n t

, an d we v iew t h e ev i den ce i n t he l ig h t m o s t fav o rab l e t o t he ju ry v erd i ct

.Ba t t en v. S t a t e

, 29 5 Ga. 4 4 2

, 4 4 3 ( 7 6 1 SE2 d 7 0 ) (2 0 1 4). So v i ewed

, t h e ev i d en ce

s h o wed t hat J effers o n an d t h e v i ct im m arri ed i n M ay 2 01 6

, an d J effers o n m ov ed i n to

t h e vi ct i m ’ s ap art m en t i n DeKal b Co u nt y

. Aft er t h ey m a r r i ed

, Jeffers on an d t h e

vic t im be g an ab u s i n g il l eg al n arco t i cs an d al co h o l

. J effers o n wo u l d b eco m e p aranoid,

s ex u al

, an d irri t ab l e wh en h e t o o k d ru g s

. Th ei r rel at io ns h i p b ecam e i n creas i n g l y

s t rai n ed as th ey w o u l d s t ay u p fo r d ay s at a t i m e, an d a few m o n th s i n t o t h ei r

m arri ag e, J effers o n b ecam e p h y s i cal l y v i ol en t t oward t he v i ct i m

. J effers o n g o t an g ry

wi t h t h e v i ct i m wh en sh e d i d n o t l eav e h i m en o u g h m ari ju an a, an d h e rep eat ed l y

s l ap p ed h er i n t h e face u nt i l h er ey e b ecam e red an d her face was swo l l en

. Sh e cal l ed

t h e p o l i ce, an d J effers on was arres t ed

. J effers o n co n t i n u ed t o p h y si cal ly ab u s e t h e

v i ct i m aft er t h at i n i ti al i n ci d en t , b ut t h e v i ct i m d i d n o t al way s cal l t h e p o li ce.

Th e i n ci d en t s fo rm i n g t h e b as es fo r t h e i n d i ct m en t i n t h i s cas e o ccu rred o v er

a th ree-d ay p eri o d fro m Th u rs d ay

, J u n e 8, 2 0 1 7 t o Sat u rd ay

, J u ne 1 0

, 2 0 1 7

. On

Th u rs d ay

, J effers o n b ecam e an g ry wi t h t h e v i ct i m

, an d h e g rab b ed h er aro u n d t h e

n eck wi t h b o t h h an d s

, h e l d h e r d o wn o n t he fl o o r wi t h h i s k n ees o n h er ch es t

, an d

s t ran gl ed h er, cau s i n g h er t o b e u n ab l e t o b reat h

. J effers o n s t o p p ed s t ran g l i n g t h e

v i ct i m

, b u t h e t h e n h i t h er i n t h e l eft ey e, p u l l ed her h ai r, an d k i ck ed h er i n t h e

s t om ach

. Th e at t ack cau s ed t h e v i ct i m t o s uffer a b lack ey e, a b u s t ed l i p

, a cu t b eh i n d

2h er ear, red m ark s o n h er n eck

, an d b ru i s i n g o n h er ch es t

, n eck

, an d t h i g h

. Th e v i ct i m

d i d n o t cal l t h e p o l i ce aft er t he at t ack b ecau s e Jeffers o n h ad t ak en h er p ho n e t h at d ay

.

On Fri d ay

, J effers o n co n v i n ced t he v i ct i m t o g o t o wo rk wi t h h i m an d t o wai t

fo r h im i n t he car. A ft er J effers o n ’ s s h i ft en d ed an d h e an d t h e v i ct im ret u rn ed t o t h ei r

ap art m en t

, t h ey b eg an u s i ng d ru g s

, an d Jeffers o n b ecam e an g ry wi th t h e vi ct i m an d

accu s ed h er o f s l eep in g w i t h a n ei g h b o r. J effers o n l u n g ed t o ward th e v i ct im o n t h e

co u ch an d “ ch o p p ed ” h er o n t h e t h ro at wi t h h i s h an d

, l eav i n g a red m ark

. Th e v i ct i m

d i d n o t cal l t he p o l i ce b ecau s e s h e h o p ed t h at J effers o n wo u l d cal m d o w n. L at er t h at

n i g h t

, Jeffers o n b arri cad ed t h e do o r t o t h e ap art m en t wi t h t ras h can s so t h at th e v i ct i m

co u ld n o t l eav e wi th ou t h im h eari n g h er.

On Sat u rd ay

, t h e v ict i m refu s ed t o go t o wo r k ag ai n wi t h J effers on

. W h i l e

J effers o n was i n t h e b at h ro o m

, t h e v i ct i m ret ri ev ed a g u n h i d d en u nd er t hei r b ed an d

fl ed i n t o n earb y wo od s

. T h e v i ct i m cal l ed 9 11 o n h er cel l p h o n e, an d s he ret u rn ed to

t h e ap art m en t o n c e s h e s aw J effers o n d ri v e away fro m t h e ap art m en t co m p l ex

. A

p o l i ce o ffi cer res po nd ed t o th e s cen e an d o b s erv ed t h e v i ct im ’ s i n j u ri es

. Th e o ffi cer

d ro v e th e v i ct i m t o p o l i ce h ead q u art ers

, wh ere a d et ect iv e s p o k e wi t h h e r an d t o o k

p h o t o g rap h s o f h er i nju ri es

. T h e v i ct i m al s o em ai l ed t h e d et ect i v e pi ct ures o f h er

i n ju ri es t h at J effers on h ad cau s ed

.

3In a s u b s eq u en t en co u n t er aro u n d M o t h er’ s Day i n 2 0 1 8

, Jeffers o n b ecam e

an g ry wi t h t h e v i ct i m an d p u n ch ed h er i n t h e face, cau s i n g h er ch eek an d ey e t o s wel l

.

Th en

, in J u l y 2 0 1 8

, J effers o n t hreat en ed t o hi t t h e v i ct i m s o h ard i n t h e ey e t h at s h e

wo u l d g o b l i n d

, sai d t h at h e wan t ed t o k i l l h er, an d t o l d h er t h at h e had b een t h i n k i n g

ab o ut way s t o d o t h e k i l l i ng

. W h en J effers o n t h en ran u p t o t he v i ct i m

, s h e s h o t h i m

t wi ce. Th e v i ct i m c a l l ed t he po l i ce an d ex p l ai n ed w h at h ad h ap p en ed

. Sh e was

i n i t i al l y ch arg ed fo r s h o ot i n g J effers o n b u t t h e ch arg es were l at er d is m i ss ed

.

Fi v e i n d i c t m en t s were ret u rn ed ag ai n s t J effers o n b as ed o n hi s v i o l en t

en co un t ers wi t h t h e v i ct i m

. 1 J effers on u l t i m at el y was t ri ed i n th e p res en t cas e s o l el y

o n t h e i n d i ct m en t fo r th e J u n e 2 0 1 7 i n ci d en t s

. In t hat i n d i ct m en t

, he was ch arg ed wi th

fam i l y v i o l en ce ag g rav at ed as s au l t fo r s t ran g li n g t h e v i ct im an d wi t h fam i l y v i o l en ce

b at t ery fo r i nt en t i o n al l y cau s i n g v i s i b l e bo d i l y harm t o th e v i ct i m in t h e fo rm o f

red n es s an d b ru i s i n g as a res u l t o f p u s h i n g, p u n ch i n g , an d k i ck in g h er.

At t ri al

, t he vi ct i m i n v o k ed h er ri g h t ag ai ns t s el f-i ncri m i n at i o n w h e n

q u es ti o n ed b y th e St at e ab o ut h er en co u n t ers wi t h Jeffers o n

. Th e St at e as k ed t h e t ri al

co u rt t o g ran t th e v i ct i m “ u s e i m m u n i ty ” fro m p ro s ecu t i on u n d er O CGA § 2 4 -5 -5 0 7

1 On e o f t h e i n d i ct m en t s ag ai n s t J effers o n was p laced o n t h e dead d o ck et b efo re

t h e t ri al i n t h i s cas e.

4an d t o o rd er h er to t es t i fy

. T h e tri al co u rt g ran t ed t h e St at e’ s req u es t o v er J effers o n ’ s

o b ject i on

, an d t he v i ct im t h en t es t i f i e d ab ou t h er v io len t en co u n t ers wi t h J effers o n

as d es cri b ed ab o v e.

Du ri n g h er t es t i m o n y

, t h e v ict i m al s o ex p lai n ed t h at s h e s u ffered fro m b i p o l ar

d i s o rd er an d recei v ed d is ab i li t y b en efi t s fro m t h e m i l i t ary

, b ut t h at s h e t o o k

m ed i cat i o n so t hat sh e co u l d l i v e a n o rm al l i fe. Th e v ict i m t es ti fi ed t h at s h e t o o k

Pro zac fo r h er d ep res s i o n an d an x i et y an d Sero q uel fo r her ag i t at i o n an d t o h el p h er

s l eep

. Th e v i ct im d en i ed ex p eri en ci n g p aran oi a, heari n g v oi ces

, o r hav i n g p s y ch o t i c

ep i s o d es

.

Al s o d u ri n g h er t es t i m o ny

, t h e vi ct i m t es t i fi ed t h at sh e d i d n o t wan t t o t es t i fy

ag ai n s t J effers on an d d i d n o t wan t h i m t o go to jai l

, b u t s h e h ad b een to l d b y t h e St at e

t h at s h e wo u l d b e arres t ed i f s h e d id n o t a p p e a r a t co u rt b ecau s e s he was u n d er

s u b p oen a. T h e v i ct im al s o t es t i fi ed t h at s he w as u n d erg o in g ch em o t h erap y fo r b reas t

can cer an d fel t s i ck t o h e r s t o m ach

, b u t d i d n o t w an t t o ri s k g o in g t o jai l fo r n ot

ap p eari n g at co u rt an d t hen m i ss i n g h er nex t ch em o t h erap y ap p oi n t m en t

. H o wev er,

t h e v i ct i m tes ti fi ed t h at s h e r e a l i z e d s h e was u nd er o at h an d “ h ad t o tel l t h e t ru t h ”

reg ard l es s o f wh et h er s h e wan ted t o t es t i fy ag ai n s t J effers o n

.

5In ad d i t i o n t o th e v ict i m ’ s t es t i m o n y

, t h e St at e i n t ro d u ced p ho t og rap h s o f t h e

v i ct i m ’ s i n

j u ri es fro m t he J u n e 2 0 1 7 i n ci d en ts an d, am o n g o t h er wi t n es s es

, cal l ed t h e

res p o n d in g o ffi cer wh o o bs erv ed t h o s e in ju ri es . Th e St at e i n t ro d u ced i n t o ev i d en ce

an d p l ay ed fo r th e ju ry p o rt i o n s o f t h e v i ct i m ’ s 9 1 1 c a l l

. Af t e r t he St at e res t ed

,

J effers o n el ect ed n o t t o t es t i fy an d d i d n o t cal l an y

wi t n es s es

.

Th e ju ry fo u nd J effers on g u i l t y o f th e t wo ch arg ed o ffen s es

. J effers on fi l ed a

m o ti o n fo r n ew tri al

, as am en d ed

, wh i ch i ncl u d ed cl ai m s t h a t h i s t ri al co u n s el

ren d ered i n effect i v e as s is t an ce. Aft er co n d u c t i n g a h eari n g wh ere J effers o n ’ s t ri al

co u ns el tes t ifi ed

, t he t ri al co u rt d en i ed th e m o ti o n fo r new t r i a l

, res u l t in g i n t h i s

ap p eal

.

1

. J effers o n arg ues t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred b y n ot co n d u ct i ng a su ffi ci en t

ex am i n at i o n i n t o wh et h er t h e v i ct i m was co m p e t e n t t o t es t i fy as a wi t n es s u n d er

OCGA § 2 4 -6 -6 0 1 (“ Ru l e 6 0 1 ”) o f Geo rg ia’ s cu rren t E v i d en ce Co d e. Acco rd i n g to

J effers o n, t h e v i ct i m ’ s d i ag n o si s o f b i p o l ar d i s o rd er, d ru g ab u se, can cer t reat m en t

,

a n d cert ai n co m

m en ts sh e m ad e d u ri n g h er t ri al t es t i m o ny refl ect ed t h at s h e w a s

i n cap ab le o f t es t i fy i n g i n a co m p et en t fas h i o n

.

As an i n i t i al m at t er, Jeffers o n d i d n o t o b j ect t o t h e ad m i s s i o n o f t h e v i c t i m ’ s

t es t i m o ny o n t he g ro u n d t hat s he was i nco m pet en t t o t es t i fy

u n d er Ru l e 6 0 1 . Un d er

6t h e cu rren t Ev i d en ce Co d e, “ w h ere a p art y fai l s t o o bject t o an ev i d en t i ary ru l i n g at

t ri al

, we rev i ew su ch ru l in g s fo r p l ai n erro r.” S t a te v. Pa rks

, 3 5 0 Ga. A p p

. 79 9

, 8 0 7

(8 3 0 S E 2 d 2 84 ) (2 0 1 9 ). See OCGA § 2 4 -1 -1 0 3 (d ) (“ No t h i n g i n t h i s Co d e s ect i o n

s h al l p recl u d e a co u rt f

r o m t a k i n g n o t i ce o f pl ai n erro rs affect i n g s ub s tan t i al ri g h t s

al t h o u g h s u ch erro rs were n o t b ro u g h t t o t h e at t en ti o n o f th e co ur t

. ” )

. 2 An d

, as

ex p lai n ed b el o w, t h e t ri al co urt d i d no t c o m m i t an y erro r, m

u ch l es s pl ai n erro r, by

al l o wi n g t h e v i ct i m

t o t es ti fy i n t h i s cas e.

Ru l e 60 1 p ro v i d es : “ Ex cep t as o t h erwi s e p ro v i d ed i n [ T i t l e 2 4

, Ch ap t er 6 ]

,

ev ery p ers o n is co m

pet en t t o b e a wi t n es s .” Em b o d i ed i n Ru l e 6 0 1 i s t h e p res u m p t i o n

2 Pl ai n -erro r rev i ew co n s i s t s o f fo u r co m po n en t s :

Fi rs t

, t h ere m

u s t be an er r o r o r d efect

– s om e s o rt o f d ev i at i on fro m a

leg al ru l e– t h at h as n o t b een i n t en t i o n al l y rel i nq u i s h ed or a ba ndone d

, i. e

. , affi rm at iv el y wai v ed

, b y t h e d efen d an t

. Seco n d

, t h e l eg al erro r m u s t be

cl ear o r o b v i ou s

, rat h er t h an s u bject t o reas o n ab le d i s p u t e. Th i rd

, th e

erro r m us t h av e affect ed t h e d efen d an t ’ s s u bs t an ti al ri g ht s

, wh i ch i n th e

o rd i nary cas e m ean s h e m u s t d em o n s t rat e t h at i t affect ed th e o u t co m e o f

t h e t ri al co u rt p ro ceed i n gs

. Fo u rt h an d fi n al ly

, i f t h e ab ov e t h ree p ro n g s

are s at i sfi ed

, t h e ap p el l at e co u rt h as t h e d i s cre t i o n t o rem ed y th e

erro r– d i s cret io n wh i ch o u g h t t o b e ex erci s ed on l y i f t h e erro r s eri o us l y

affect s t h e fai rn es s, i n t eg ri t y or p u b li c rep u t at i o n o f ju d i ci al

p ro ceed i n g s

. Th u s, bey o n d s h o wi n g a cl ear o r o b v io u s erro r, p lai n -erro r

an al y s i s req u i res t h e d efen d an t t o m ak e an affi rm at iv e s h o wi n g th at th e

erro r p ro b ab ly

d i d affect t h e o u t co m e b el ow.

(Ci t at i o n s an d p un ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) P a r ks

, 3 50 Ga. Ap p

. at 80 8

. See G a t es v. S t a t e

, 2 9 8 Ga. 3 2 4

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

7t h at wi t n es s es are co m p et en t to t es t i fy

. See Un i t ed S t a t es v. Devi n

, 9 1 8 F2 d 2 8 0

, 2 9 1

-

2 9 2 (IV) (D) (1 s t Ci r.1 9 9 0 ) (“ It i s a wel l -es t ab l i s h ed p ri n ci p l e, em b od i ed in Fed

. R.

Ev i d

. 60 1

, t h at wi tn es s es are p res u m ed co m p et en t t o tes t i fy .”); Un i t ed St a t es v

.

Kh o u r y

, 90 1 F2 d 9 4 8

, 9 66 (VII) (1 1 t h Ci r. 19 9 0 ) (“ [T] h e Fed eral Ru l es of Ev i d en ce

p ro v id e an i n it i al p res u m p t i o n o f co m

p et en ce.”). 3 A n d t h ere i s n o th i n g i n t h e reco rd

t h at wo u l d reb u t t hat p res u m p t i o n i n t h i s cas e. W h i l e J effers o n n o t es t h at t h e v i ct i m

h ad b een d i ag n o s ed wi t h b i p o l ar d i s o rd er, t h e v i ct i m t es t i fi ed t h at s h e t o o k

m ed i cat i o n t o co nt ro l h er co n d i t i o n

. In an y e v en t

, s ufferi n g fro m a m en tal h eal th

co n di t i o n i s n o t o n e o f t he st at u t o ry ex ce p t i o n s t o Ru l e 6 0 1. 4 In deed

, “ Ru l e 6 0 1

3 As ou r Su p rem e Co u rt has ex p l ai ned

, “ M an y p ro vi s i o n s o f th e n ew Ev i d en ce

Co d e were b o rro wed fro m t h e Fed eral Ru l es o f Ev i d en ce, an d wh en we co n s i d er t h e

m e a n i n g o f t h es e p ro v i s i o n s, we lo o k to d eci si o n s o f t h e fed eral ap p el l at e co u rt s

co n st ru i n g an d ap p l y i n g t h e Fed eral Ru l es

, es p eci al l y t h e d e c i s io n s of t h e Un i t ed

St at es Su p rem e Co urt an d t h e El e v e n t h Ci rcu i t .” Ol ds v. S ta t e

, 2 9 9 G a. 6 5, 6 9 (2 )

(7 8 6 SE2 d 6 3 3) (2 0 1 6). In t h e c o n t ex t o f cri m i n al cas es

, G eo rg i a’ s Ru l e 6 0 1 i s

m at eri al l y i d en t i cal t o Fed eral Ru l e o f Ev i d en ce 6 01 (“ FRE 6 0 1 ”), wh i ch pro v i d es in

p e r t i n en t p art t h at “ [e] v ery pers o n i s co m pet en t t o b e a wi t n es s u n l es s t h es e r u l e s

p ro v id e o t h erwi s e.”

4 Ru l e 6 0 1 ab o l i sh es an y co m p et en cy req u i rem en t s o t h er t h an t h o se fo u n d i n

o t h er pro vi s i o n s o f Ti t le 2 4

, Ch ap t er 6

. See OCGA § 2 4 -6 -6 0 1

. In t h i s reg ard

, OCGA

§ 2 4-6 -6 0 2 req u ires t h at a wi t n es s h av e p ers o n al k n o wl ed g e o f m at t ers t o wh i ch h e

o r s he t es t i fi es ; § 2 4-6 -6 0 3 (a) req ui res t h at an ad u l t wi t n es s d ecl are th at h e o r s h e

wi l l t es t ify t ru th fu l ly b y an o at h o r affi rm at i on ; § 2 4 -6 -6 0 5 a d dres s es t h e

d i s q u al i fi cat i o n of

ju d g es as wi t n es s es ; an d § 2 4 -6 -6 0 6 ad d res s es t h e di s q ual i fi cat i o n

o f ju ro rs as wi t n es s es

.

8al l o ws o n e n o t m en t al l y co m p et en t t o t es t i fy , an d i t as s u m es t h at ju ro rs are cap ab l e

o f ev al u at i n g a wi t n es s ’ s t es t i m o n y i n li g h t o f t h e fact t h a t [ s ]h e is n o t m en t al l y

co m p et en t .” Un i t ed S t at es v. G at es

, 1 0 F3 d 76 5

, 7 6 6 (I) (1 1 t h Ci r. 1 9 9 3 ) (co n s t ru i n g

FRE 6 0 1). See A n d

rews v. Neer

, 2 5 3 F 3 d 1 0 5 2

, 1 06 2 -1 0 6 3 (IV) (8 t h Ci r. 2 0 0 1 )

(wi t nes s ’ s “ s t at u s as an i n v o l u n t ari l y co m m i t t ed s ch i zo p hren i c

. . . [d i d ] n o t i p s o fact o

ren d er h i m i n co m

pet en t t o t es t i fy i n fed eral d i s t ri ct co u rt ” u n d er FRE 6 0 1 ) ; Un i t ed

S t a t es v. Ro a ch

, 5 9 0 F2 d 1 8 1

, 1 8 6 (V) (5 t h Ci r. 1 9 79 ) (q u ot i ng Ad v i s ory Co m m i t t ee

No t e t o FRE 6 0 1 fo r p ro p o s i t i o n t h at q u es t io n s o f m en t al cap aci t y are “ p art i cu larl y

s u i t ed t o t h e ju ry a s o n e o f wei g h t an d cred i bi l i t y ”). H en ce, t h e fact t h at t h e v i ct i m

h ad b een di ag n o s ed wi t h b ip o l ar d i s o rd er, s tan d i n g al o n e, d i d n ot req u i r e t h e

ex cl u s i o n o f h er t es t im o n y

, b u t ra t h er was a m at t er t h at t h e j u ry co u l d co n s i d er in

wei g h i ng h er t es t i m o n y an d as ses s i n g h er cred i b i l i t y

.

Fu rt herm o re, d es p i t e J effers o n’ s s u gg es t i o n o n ap peal

, t h e reco rd refl ect s t h at

t h e v ict i m was ab l e to co h eren t l y d es cri b e t h e in ci d en ts l ead i n g t o t h e ch arg ed cri m es

b as ed o n her p ers o n al k n o w l ed g e o f t h o se m at t e r s an d was res p o ns i v e t o t h e

q u es ti o n s as k ed t o h er. Li k ewi se, t he reco rd i s d ev o i d o f an y ev i d en ce refl ect i n g t h at

h er h i s t o ry o f dru g an d al co h o l ab u s e o r h er ch em o t h erap y t reat m en t fo r h er can cer

affect ed h er co m

p et en cy t o t es t i fy in an y m an n er wh at so ev er. See Un i t ed S t a t es v.

9Ja cks o n

, 5 7 6 F2 d 4 6

, 4 8 (5 t h Ci r. 1 9 7 8 ) (n arco t i cs u s e g o es t o wi t n es s ’ s cred i b i l i t y

,

n o t hi s or h er co m

p et en cy t o t es t i fy u n d er FRE 6 0 1). No r i s th ere an y al l eg at i o n t h at

t h e v i ct i m

fai l ed t o u nd ers t an d t h e n at u re o f t h e o at h ad m i n i st ered t o h er.

Un d er t h es e ci rcu m s t a n c e s

, t h e t ri al co u rt co m m i t t ed n o erro r, p l ai n o r

o t h e r w i s e

, i n al l o wi n g t h e v ict i m t o t es t i fy at t ri al

. See, e.g

., Un i t ed S t a t es v.

S ko rn i a k

, 5 9 F3 d 7 50

, 7 55 (II) (B) (8 t h Ci r. 1 9 9 5 ) (wi tn es s wh o h ad p rev i o u s l y b een

h o s p it al i zed f

o r m e n t a l h eal t h p ro b l em s an d wh o had a h i s t o ry o f d ru g an d al co h ol

ab u se wa s c o m

p e t e n t to tes t i fy u n d er FRE 60 1 ; t ho s e i s s ues wen t t o t h e wi t n es s ’ s

cred i b i l i t y

, n o t h i s co m

p et en cy t o t es t i fy ); Un i t ed S t a t es v. Peyr o

, 7 8 6 F2 d 82 6

, 8 3 0

-

8 3 1 (III) (8 t h Ci r. 1 9 8 6 ) (d i s t ri ct co u rt d i d no t err i n fi n d i n g t h at wi t n es s wi th m em o ry

p ro b lem s an d w h o was “ em o t i o na l ly unba l a nced ” was co m p et en t t o tes t ify u n d er FRE

6 0 1 ); U n i t ed S t a t es v. Gu t ma n

, 7 2 5 F2 d 4 1 7

, 4 2 0 (7 t h Ci r. 19 8 4 ) (d i s t ri ct co u rt

au t h o ri zed t o co n cl u d e t h at wi tn es s wh o “ h ad b o u t s o f s eri o u s m en t al il l n es s i n t h e

10y ear befo re t ri al ” was co m p et en t t o t es t i fy u n d er FRE 6 0 1 ). 5 Jeffers o n t h u s h as fai l ed

t o s h o w an y

b as i s fo r a n ew t ri al o n t he as s ert ed g ro u n d

.

2

. J effers o n co n t en d s t h at t h e t r i a l co u rt erred b y g ran ti n g

, o ver a d efen s e

o b ject i on

, t h e St at e’ s req u es t fo r t h e v i ct i m to b e g i ven “ u se i m m u n i t y ” fro m

p ro s ecu ti o n u n d er O CGA § 2 4 -5 -5 0 7 an d be req u i red t o t es t i fy at t ri al

. A cco rd i n g to

J effers o n, t h e i m

m u n it y g ran t ed t o t h e v i ct i m was d efect i v e s u c h t h at h er Fi ft h

Am en d m en t ri g h t ag ai n s t s e lf

- inc r im ina tion w a s viola

te d. Je f f e r s o n al s o co n t en d s t h at

t h e v i ct i m ’ s Si x th Am e n d m en t ri g h t t o co u ns el was v i o l at ed becau s e s h e was n ot

ad v is ed t o co n s u l t co u n sel ab o u t t h e s co p e o f h er “ u s e i m m u ni t y .”

Gen eral ly s p eak in g

, an d part i cu l arl y o u ts i de the F ir st A m e ndm e n t

c o nt ex t

, a cri m i n al d efen d an t wi l l n o t b e h eard t o co m p l ai n o f th e

v i o l at i o n o f an o th er p ers o n ’ s co n s t i t u ti o n al ri g ht s

. An d Geo rg i a co u rt s

h av e s p eci f

i c a l l y h el d t hat a cri m i n al defen d an t h as no ri g h t t o rai s e

5 W e al s o n o t e t hat a t ri al co u rt g en eral l y h as n o d u ty t o s u a s p o n t e co n d u ct a

wi t n es s co m

p et en cy h eari n g

. See Un i t ed S t at es v. Kel l y

, 4 3 6 F3 d 9 9 2, 9 9 6 (II) (C)

(8 t h Ci r. 2 0 0 6 ) (co ns t ru i n g FRE 6 01 ). See al so Ga t es

, 1 0 F3 d at 7 67 (I) (t ri al co u rt

co m m i t t ed n o erro r b y “ no t g ran t i n g an ex am i n at i o n an d i n n o t co n d uct i ng a h eari n g

o n t h e i s s u e o f c o m

p et en cy ” o f wi t n es s wh o h ad p rev i o u s l y b een h o sp i t al i zed in

m en t al h eal t h in s ti t u t i o n ); Kh o u r y

, 9 0 1 F2 d a t 9 6 6 ( V I I ) (t ri al co urt d id n o t err in

fai l i n g t o o rd er p sy ch i at ric e xa m ina t ion o f wi t n es s t o d et erm i n e h i s co m p et en cy ). An d

J effers o n h as p o in t ed t o n o t h i ng i n t h e reco rd t hat w o u ld h av e req u i red s uch a h eari n g

i n t hi s cas e.

11a l l e g e d v i o l a t i o n s o f a n o t h e r i n d i v i d u a l ’ s r i g h t a g a i n s t

s el f-i n cri m in at i o n [.]

(Ci t at i o n s an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) Ro mer v. S t a t e

, 2 93 Ga. 3 39

, 3 4 2 (2 ) (7 4 5 SE2 d

6 3 7 ) (2 0 1 3 ). Li k ewi s e, a cri m i n al d efen d an t h as no ri g ht to rai s e a cl ai m t hat an o t h er

p ers o n ’ s Si x th Am en dm en t ri g h t t o co u ns el was vi o l at ed b ecau s e “ t h e ri g h t s

g u a r a n t eed b y t h e Si x t h Am en d m en t are p ers o n al .” Gr a h am v. S t a t e

, 1 7 1 Ga. Ap p.

2 4 2

, 2 46 (3 ) (3 1 9 SE2 d 4 8 4 ) (1 9 8 4 ). J effers o n t h erefo re l ack s s t an d in g t o ch al l en g e

a ny a lle ge d viola

t i o n of t h e vi ct i m ’ s Fi ft h Am en d m en t ri g h t ag ai n s t s el f-inc r im ina tion

o r h er Si x t h Am en dm en t ri gh t t o co un s el

. See W il s on v. S ta t e

, 2 8 6 Ga. 1 4 1, 1 4 2 (2 )

(6 8 6 SE2 d 1 0 4 ) (2 0 09 ) (co n cl u di n g t hat “ a cri m i n al defen d an t l ack s stan d i n g t o as s ert

an o th er’ s p ri v i l eg e ag ai n s t s el f-i n cri m i n at i o n” b ecau s e “ [t ] h e p ri v i l eg e ag ai n s t

s el f-i n cri m i n at i o n i s t h at o f th e p ers o n u n d er ex am i n at i o n as a w i tn es s an d i s i n t en d ed

fo r hi s p ro t ect i on o n l y ”) (ci t at i o n s an d p u n ct uat i on o m i t t ed ); La wt o n v. S t a t e

, 2 5 9 Ga.

8 5 5

, 8 5 6 (2 ) (3 8 8 SE2 d 6 9 1 ) (1 9 9 0 ) (d efen d an t co ul d n o t ch al l en g e tri al co urt ’ s

ru l i n g s g ran t i n g a wi t n es s im m u n i t y fro m p ro s ecu t i o n an d req u iri n g t h e wi t n es s to

t es t i fy at t ri al b ecau se d efen d an t l ack ed s t an d i n g t o as sert t he w i t nes s ’ s p ri v i l eg e

ag ai n s t sel f-i n cri m i n at i o n ); Gr a h a m

, 1 7 1 Ga. Ap p

. at 2 4 6 ( 3 ) (d efen d an t s h ad n o

12s t an d i n g t o arg u e t h at t h ei r co -d efen d an t ’ s Si xt h Am en d m en t ri g ht t o co u n s el h ad

b een vi o l at ed ).

3. Je f f e r s on a r gues t h at h e recei v ed i n effect i v e as s i s t an ce fro m h i s tri al co u n s el

.

To es t ab l i s h a cl ai m o f i n effect i v e as s i s t an ce o f co u ns el u n d er t h e t es t en u nci at ed in

S t r i ckl a nd v

. Wa s h i n g t o n

, 4 66 U.S. 6 6 8

, 6 8 7 (III) (1 0 4 SCt 2 0 52

, 8 0 LE2 d 6 7 4 )

(1 9 8 4), J effers o n

m u s t p ro v e bo t h th at hi s co u n sel ’ s p er f o rm an ce was co ns t i t u ti o n al l y

d efi ci en t an d t h at t he defi ci en cy res ul t e d i n p r eju d i ce t o h i s cas e. To

es t ab l i sh defi ci en t p erfo rm an ce, [J effers o n] m u s t d em o n s t rat e t h at h i s

t ri al co u n s el ’ s act s o r o m is s i o n s were o b ject i v el y u n rea s o n a b l e,

co n s i d eri ng al l t he ci rcu m s t an ces at t h e t i m e a n d i n t h e l i g h t o f

p rev ai l i n g p ro fes s io n al n o rm s

. To m eet t h e preju d ice p r o n g o f

S t r i ckl an d

, [J effers o n] m

u s t s h o w th at t h ere i s a reas on ab l e p ro bab i l i t y

t h at

, b ut fo r co u n s el ’ s u n p ro fes s i on al erro rs

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

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

. A reas on ab l e p ro b ab i l i t y i s a p ro bab i l i t y

s u ffi ci en t t o u n d erm in e co n fi d en ce i n t h e o u t co m e. Th i s Co u rt n eed n o t

ad d res s b o th co m

p o n en t s of t h e i nq u i ry i f t h e defen d an t m ak es an

i n s u ffi ci en t s h owi n g o n o n e.

(Ci t at i o n s an d p u n ct u at i on o m i t t ed .) S t ep p -McCo mmo n s v. S t a t e

,

_ _ Ga.

__ (4 ) (8 4 5

SE2 d 6 4 3 ) (2 0 20 ). Gu i d ed b y t he S t r i ckl a n d s t an d ard

, we t u rn t o J effers o n ’ s s p eci fi c

cl ai m s o f i n effect i v e as s i s t an ce.

13(a) J effers o n fi rs t m ai n t ai n s t h at h is t ri al co u ns el was i n effect i v e i n fai l i n g t o

m o ve t o ex cl u d e t h e t es t i m o n y o f t h e v i ct i m o n th e g ro u n d th at sh e was i nco m p et en t

u n d er Ru l e 6 0 1. Fo r t h e reas o n s d i s cu ss ed s up ra i n Di v i s i o n 1, s u ch a m o t i o n wo u ld

n o t h av e b een s u cces s fu l

, an d t h u s J e f f ers o n h as fai l ed t o s h o w t h at h i s co u n s el

p e r f o r m ed d efi ci en t l y

. “ Tri al co u ns el ’ s fai lu re t o p u rs u e a fu t i l e m o ti o n d o es n o t

co n st i t u t e i n effect i v e as s i st an ce.” (Ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i on om i t t ed .) Ni cker s o n v.

S t a t e , 2 4 8 Ga. Ap p

. 8 2 9 , 8 3 2 (2 ) (b ) (5 4 5 SE2 d 5 8 7 ) (2 0 0 1).

(b ) J effers o n n ex 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 “ [f] o r fai l i n g to

p u rs u e t h e al l eg at i o ns o f p ro s ecu t o ri al t h reat s t o [t h e v i ct i m ] .” Bu t t h e t ri al tran s cri pt

refl ect s t hat J effers o n’ s t ri al co u n s el el i ci ted t es t i m o ny fro m t h e vi ct i m d u ri ng cro s s

ex am i n at i o n t h at t h e St at e h ad th reat en ed h er t h at sh e w o u l d b e arres ted i f s h e d i d n ot

ap p ear at co u rt an d t es t i fy

, 6 an d l at er d u ri n g cl o s in g arg u m en t

, co u n s el as s ert ed t h at

t h e vi ct i m h ad b een co erced t o t es t i fy fav o rab l y to ward t he St at e b as ed o n t h e t h reat

o f arres t

. M o reo v er, J effers o n fai l ed t o p res en t an y t es t i m o ny o r o t h er ev i d en ce at t h e

m o ti o n fo r n ew t ri al h eari n g refl ect i ng t hat t here were an y ad d i ti o n al t h reat s m ad e to

t h e v i ct im t h at were n o t hi g h l i g h t ed b y t ri al co u n s el d u ri ng h is cro ss -ex am i n at i o n o f

6 On red i rect ex am i n at i o n

, t h e v i ct i m cl ari fi ed th at s h e h a d b e e n s u b p o en aed

t o ap p ear at tri al an d h ad b een t o l d t h at s h e wo ul d b e arres t ed i f s he fai l ed t o co m p l y

wi t h t h e s u b p o en a.

14t h e vi ct i m o r d u ri n g cl o s i n g arg u m en t

. J effers o n t h e r e f o re fai l ed t o s h o w t h at h i s

co u ns el p erfo rm ed d efi ci en t l y in ad d res s i n g t h e al l eg ed p ro s ecu t o ri al t h reat s m ad e to

t h e v i ct i m

. See, e.g

., Ga s t o n v. St a t e

, 3 0 7 G a. 63 4

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

(“ Th e s co p e of cro s s -ex am i n at io n i s g ro u n d ed i n tri al tact i cs an d s t rat eg y

, an d wi l l

rarel y co n s t i t u t e i n effect i v e as s i s tan ce o f co u n s el .”) (ci t at i on a n d pu n ct u at i o n

o m it t ed ).

(c) J effers o n co n t en d s t h at h i s t ri al co u ns el was d efi ci en t i n fai l i n g t o o b ject o n

h ears ay g ro u n d s t o th e v ict i m ’ s t es ti m o n y t h at J effers o n th reat en ed t o hi t h er s o h ard

t h at s h e wo u ld b e b l i nd ed i n o n e ey e, s ai d t hat h e wan t ed t o k i l l h er, an d t o l d h er t h at

h e h ad been t h i n k i n g ab ou t way s t o d o t h e k il li n g. Bu t J effers o n’ s s t at em en t s t o t h e

v i ct i m “ were h i s o wn an d

, t h erefo re, w e r e ad m i s s i b l e as ad m i s s io n s o f a p art y

o p p o n en t .” Lyo n s v. S t a te

, 3 0 9 Ga. 1 5

, 2 8 (8 ) (d ) (8 43 SE2 d 8 2 5 ) (2 0 2 0 ). See OCGA

§ 2 4 -8 -8 0 1 (d ) (2 ) (A). “ Fai l u re t o l o dg e a m eri tl es s o b ject i on d o es n o t s u p p o rt an

i n effect i v e as s is t an ce cl ai m .” Lyo n s , 3 0 9 Ga. at 2 8 (8 ) (d ).

(d ) J effers o n arg u es t hat h i s t ri al co u n s el was i n effect i v e i n fai l i ng t o h av e v o i r

d i re t ran s cri b ed

. “ [A]l t h o u g h o b ject i on s an d ru l i n g s t h ereo n m ad e d u ri n g ju ry

s el ect i o n are req u i red t o b e r e p o r t e d a n d m ad e p art of t h e tri al reco rd

, t h ere i s n o

req u i rem en t t h at t h e en t i re ju ry s el ect i o n b e rep o rt ed an d m ad e p art o f t h e reco rd in

15a n o nd eat h p en al t y fel o n y cas e.” (Ci t at io n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) Cu r t i s v. S t a t e

,

3 3 0 Ga. Ap p

. 83 9

, 8 4 2 ( 1 ) (a) (7 6 9 SE2 d 5 8 0) (2 01 5 ). J effers o n ’ s s p ecu l at i o n t h at

erro r m ay h av e o ccu rred d u ri n g t h e un reco rd ed v o i r d ire “ i s i n s u ffi ci en t to s h o w an y

d efi ci en cy o n t h e p art o f co u n s el ” o r an y p reju d i ce re s u l t i n g t herefro m

. Du n l a p v.

S t a t e

, 2 9 1 G a. 51

, 5 3 (3 ) (7 2 7 SE2 d 4 6 8 ) (2 0 1 2 ). See Cu r t is

, 3 3 0 Ga. Ap p

. at 8 4 2 (1 )

(a) (h ol d i n g t h at co u n s el ’ s fai l u re t o h av e v o ir d i re t ran s cri b ed d i d n ot “ co n s t i t u t e a

b as i s fo r an i n effect i v e as s i st an ce o f co u n s el cl ai m ”). J effers o n t h u s can n o t s u cceed

o n t h i s i n effect i ve as s i s tan ce cl ai m

.

(e) J effers o n as s ert s t h at h i s t ri al co un s el ’ s cro s s-ex am i n a t i o n o f t h e v i ct i m

“ i n di cat ed t h at h e was n o t l i s t en i n g n o r t ak i n g n o t e s w h en s h e was o n d i rect

ex am i n at i o n .” W e hav e rev i ewed th e t ri al t ran s cri p t an d c o n c l u d e t h at i t d o es n ot

suppor t J effers o n ’ s bl an k et as sert i o n

. Rat h er, t h e t ran s cri p t refl ect s t h a t tr ia l c ounse l’ s

cro s s -ex am i n at i o n o f t h e v i ct i m fel l wi t h in t he b ro ad ran ge o f p ro fes s i o n al co n d u ct

affo rd ed t ri al at t orn ey s

. See Go o d s o n v. S ta te

, 3 0 5 Ga. 2 4 6

, 2 49 (2 ) (8 2 4 SE2 d 3 7 1 )

(2 0 1 9) (n o ti n g t h at t o p ro v e d efi c i e n t p erfo rm an ce, “ [t ] h e cri m in al d efen dan t m u s t

o v erco m e t h e s t ro n g p res u m p t i o n t h at t ri al co u n sel ’ s co n d u ct fal l s wi t h in t he b ro ad

ran g e o f reas o n ab l e p ro fes s i o n al co n d u ct ”) (ci t at io n an d p u n ct uat i o n o m i t t ed ).

16(f) J effers o n as s ert s t h at “ [t ] h e t ri al co u rt co r r e ct ed tri al co u n sel ’ s

m i s u n d ers t an d i n g o f i t s ru l in g on t he ad m i s s i b i l i ty o f t h e 9 1 1 t ap e” an d lat er “ h ad to

co rrect t ri al co u n s el ’ s co n fu s io n ab o u t a ch arg e t h e [S] tat e h ad ju s t p ro p o s ed .”

Ho wev er, J effers o n fai l s t o o ffer an y ex p l an at i o n as t o h o w t h es e al l eg ed

“ co rrect i o n s ” b y t he t ri al co u rt d em o n s t rat e an y co nd u ct ri s i n g t o t h e l ev el o f d efi ci en t

p erfo rm an ce b y

h i s t ri al co u n s el o r res u lt ed i n an y p reju d i ce t o h i m

.

4

. Las t l y

, J effers o n c i t e s t o o u r Su prem e Co urt ’ s recen t d eci s i o n i n S t a t e v.

La n e

, 3 0 8 Ga. 1 0

, 1 4 (1 ) (8 3 8 SE2 d 80 8 ) (2 0 20 ), wh ere t he Co urt h el d t h at “ Geo rg i a

c o u r t s co n si d eri ng wh et h er a cri m i n al defen d an t i s en ti t led t o a n ew t ri al s h o u l d

co n si d er co l l ect i vel y t h e p reju d i ci al effect o f t ri al co u rt erro rs an d an y d efi ci en t

p erfo rm an ce b y co u n s el

– at l eas t wh ere th o s e erro rs b y th e co u rt an d co u n s el i n v o l v e

ev i d en t i ary i s s u es .” A s prev i o u s l y ex p l ai n ed

, J effers o n h as fai l ed t o s h o w an y

ev i d en t i ary erro rs b y t h e t ri al co u rt o r t h a t h i s t ri al co u n s el ’ s p erfo rm an ce was

d efi ci en t i n an y res p ect

. “ Acco rd i n g l y

, wh ere [J effers on ] h as fai l ed to show erro r, [h e]

h as l i k ewi s e fai l ed t o s h o w cu m u l at i v e erro r.” Cr i der v. S t at e , 3 5 6 Ga. Ap p . 3 6

, 5 0

(4 ) (8 46 SE2 d 2 05 ) (2 0 2 0 ).

Ju d g men t a f f i r m ed . Go b ei l

a n d Pi p ki n

, JJ., co n cu r

.

17