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

De c id e d: No v e m b e r 2 , 2 0 1 5

S 1 5 A1 05 7 . HURT v

. THE S TATE.

HUNS T EIN, Ju stic e

.

Ap p e lla n t Ko rte z Hu rt wa s c o n v ic te d o f fe l o n y m u rd e r a n d a sso c ia te d

c rim e s in c o n n e c tio n with th e sh o o tin g d e a th o f Mic h a e l Ra y

. Hu rt no w a p p e a ls

h is c o n v ic tio n s o n th e g ro u n d s th a t th e tria l c o u rt a llo we d t h e S ta te to e lic it

in a d m issib le h e a rsa y te stim o n y

, th a t t h e t r ia l c o u rt a b u se d its d isc re tio n wh e n

it re fu se d to a sk th re e o f Hu rt’s p ro p o se d v oir d ire q u e stio n s, an d t h a t t r ia l

c o u n se l w a s in e ffe c tiv e

. Th ou g h we fin d no m e rit in Hu rt’s e n um e ra tio n s, we

d o fin d er r o r in c e rta in a sp e c ts o f Hu rt’s se n te n c e s, a n d we m u st, th e re fo re

,

v a c a te a n d re m a nd fo r re se n te n c in g

. 1

1 In No v em

b er 2 0 0 9

, a Fu lt o n Co u nt y g r a n d ju ry ret u rn ed a ten -co u nt

i n d i ct m en t ch arg i n g Hu rt wi t h o ffen s es ari s in g fro m t h e J u l y 2 0 0 9 m urd er an d fro m

t h e d i s co v ery o f d ru g s an d a fi rearm i n an A u g u s t 2 0 0 9 s earch o f Hu rt ’ s res i d en ce.

Th e i n d i ct m en t ch arg ed as fo l l o ws : m al i ce m u rd er; fel o n y m

u rd er p red i cat ed o n

ag g rav at ed as s au l t ; fel o ny m urd er p r e d i cat ed on p o s s es s i o n o f a fi rearm b y a

co n vi ct ed fel o n ; ag grav at ed as s au l t w i t h a d ead l y weap o n ; p o s s es si on of a fi rearm

d u ri n g th e co m

m i s si o n o f a fel o n y (ag grav at ed as s au l t ); p o ss es s io n o f a fi rearm by

a co n v i ct ed fel o n in J u l y 20 0 9 ; p o s s es si o n o f co cai n e; p o s s e s s i o n o f m ari ju an a;

p o s s es s i o n o f a fi rearm d u ri n g t h e co m m i s si o n o f a fel o n y (a v io l at i o n o f t h e

Co n t ro l l ed Su b s t a n c e s Act ); an d

, p o s s es si on o f a fi rearm b y a co n v i ct ed fel o n in

Au g u s t 2 0 0 9

. Fo l lo wi n g a fo u r-d ay t ri al i n No v em b er 2 01 1

, a ju ry fo u n d Hu rt g ui l t yVie we d in th e lig h t m ost fa v o ra b le to th e j u ry ’s v e rd ic ts, th e e v id e n c e

a d d u c e d a t tria l e sta blish e d a s fo llo ws. L aw e n fo rc e m e n t o ffic e rs d isc o v e re d th e

v ic tim d e a d in a d ru g h o use in F u lto n Co u n ty wh e re h e h a d b e e n se llin g d ru g s;

th e vic tim wa s s h o t o n c e in th e h e a d

. Th e e xa c t tim e o f th e v ic tim ’s d e a th is

u n k no wn

, b u t th e v ic tim ’s c e llu la r te le p h o n e re c o rd s re fle c t th a t h e la st p la c e d

o r re c e iv e d a t e l e p h o n e c a ll a t 1 1 :4 9 p.m

. o n Ju ly 7

, 2 0 0 9

, a n d th e m e d ic a l

e x a m in e r te stifie d th a t th e v ic tim lik e ly die d be twe e n 12 a .m

. a n d 1 a .m

. o n Ju ly

8 , 2 00 9

.

Tie q u a n Wo o d s, th e o wn e r o f th e d ru g h o u se a n d a frie n d of th e v ic tim

,

re p o rte d to in v e stig a to rs th a t Hu rt c a lle d h im o n th e n ig h t o f th e m u rd e r to a sk

if h e c o u ld p u rc h a se d ru gs a t th e lo c a tio n a n d th a t h e

, Wo o d s, wa s u n a b le to

o f al l o ffen s e s e x c e p t m al i ce m u rd er. Hu rt was s en t en ced t o l ife i m p ri s on m en t fo r

fel o n y m urd er p red icat ed o n ag grav at ed as s au lt ; fi v e y ears fo r p o s s es s i o n o f a fi rearm

d u ri n g t h e co m

m is s i o n o f a fel o n y

, (ag g ra v a t ed as s au l t ); t h i rt y y ears

, wi t h t en to

s erv e, fo r p o s s e s s i o n o f co cai n e; t en y ears s u s p en d ed fo r p o s s es si on o f m ari ju an a;

fi ve y ears fo r p o s s es s i o n o f a fi rearm d u ri n g t h e co m m i s si on o f a fel o n y (a vi o l at i o n

o f t h e Co n t ro l l ed Su b s t an ces Act ); an d fi v e ye a r s f o r p o s s es s i o n o f a fi rearm b y a

co n vi ct ed fel o n in Au g u s t 2 0 0 9

. T h es e s en t en ces ru n co n s ecu t i v el y

, fo r a t o t al

s en t en ce o f l i fe p l u s t wen ty -fi ve y ears

. Al t h o u gh t h e t ri al co u rt p u rp o rt ed l y m erg ed

al l th e o t her o ffen s es

, as d i s cu s s ed in d i v is i o n ( 5 ) b el o w

, t h i s was erro r. Hu rt fi l ed

a ti m el y m o t io n fo r new t ri al o n No v em b er 1 6

, 2 0 1 1

, wh i ch he am en d ed t h ro u g h n ew

co u ns el o n J an u ary 1 4 an d Ap ri l 6

, 2 0 1 3

. Fo l l o wi n g a h eari ng

, t h e am en d ed m o t i o n

was d en i ed o n Au g u s t 1 4

, 2 0 13

. Hu rt fi led h i s n o ti ce o f ap p eal o n Au g u s t 2 1

, 2 0 1 3.

Th i s ap p e al was do ck et ed t o t h e Ap ri l 2 0 1 5 t erm o f t h i s Co u rt an d was t h ereaft er

s u b m i t t ed fo r d eci s i o n o n t h e b ri efs

.

2c o n ta c t th e v ic tim la te r th a t nig h t. Wo od s a lso re p or t e d t o in v e stig a to rs th a t

Hu rt h a d c o n fe sse d to M o n te z F re e la n d to c o m m ittin g th e m u rd e r. In th e

p re se nc e o f in ve stig a to rs, Wo o d s t e l e p h o n e d F re e la n d

, a n d F re e la n d a g a in

re la y e d th e su b sta n c e of H u r t ’ s c o n fe ssio n to Wo o d s; th e te le p h o n e c a ll wa s

re c o rd e d b y i n v e s tig a to rs. Ac c o rd in g to F re e la n d

, Hu rt a d m itte d g o in g to

Wo o d s’ d ru g ho u se a n d sh o o tin g th e v ic tim in th e he a d “ with a 4 0 ” b e c a u se th e

v ic tim “ bu c ke d ” w h e n Hu rt p ro d u c e d a p isto l wh ile a tte m p ti n g t o ro b h im

.

In v e stig a to rs la t e r c o n d

u c t e d r e c o rd e d in te rv ie ws with F re e la n d on two d iffe re n t

o c ca s i o n s

– o n c e in Ju ly 2 0 0 9 a n d o n c e in S e p te m be r 2 0 0 9

– an d

, in b o t h

in te rv ie ws, F re e la nd a g a in re c o u n te d th e d e ta ils o f Hu rt’s c o n fe ssio n

. In h is

S e p te m b e r 2 0 0 9 in te rv ie w, F re e la n d re p o rte d th a t Hu rt h a d a dm itte d sh o o tin g

th e vic tim o n c e wh e n th e v ic tim re a c h e d fo r Hu rt’s pisto l; d e ta ile d h o w Hu rt

c a m e to b e i n p o sse ssio n o f th e .4 0 c a lib e r p isto l; d isc u sse d wh y Hu rt d id n o t

d isp o se o f th e p isto l a fte r th e m u rd e r; a n d e x pla in e d th a t H u rt ro bb e d th e v ic tim

b e c a u se h e o we d m o n e y to o th e rs.

A se a rc h o f Hu rt’s re sid e n c e y ie ld e d c o c a in e

, m a riju a n a

, a nd a

. 4 0 c a lib e r

p isto l la te r d e te rm in e d to b e th e m u rd e r we a

p o n

. In h is i n t e r v ie w with

in v e stig a to rs, Hu rt a d m itte d c o n ta c tin g Wo o d s to p u rc h a se d ru g s o n th e n ig h t

3o f th e m

u rd e r, b e in g a t th e d ru g h o u se be twe e n 1 1 p .m

. a nd 1 a .m

., an d o wn in g

th e m u rd e r we a p o n

. Hu rt m a in ta in e d

, h o we v e r, th a t h e o b ta in e d th e pisto l a fte r

th e m u rd e r. Wh ile in c u sto dy

, Hu rt wa s re c o rd e d d isc u ssin g w ith h is g irlfrie n d

a p la n to c o n n e c t th e p is to l to F re e la nd

, an d Hu rt’s g irlfrie n d re p o rte d to

in v e stig a to rs th a t th e p isto l b e lo n g e d to F re e la n d

. Hu rt’s girl f rie nd la te r p le d

g u ilty to m a k in g a fa lse sta te m e n t, a n d sh e te stifie d a t t r i a l th a t th e p isto l

b e lo ng e d to Hu rt, b u t sh e a lso te stifie d th a t sh e d id n o t k n o w th e d e ta ils a b o u t

h o w Hu rt c a m e in to p osse ssio n o f th e p isto l.

F r e e la n d

, to o

, a

p p e a re d a t tria l a s a witn e ss fo r th e S ta te

, bu t h e w a s

in siste n t th a t h e d id n o t wa n t to te stify

, a nd h e la rg e ly m a in ta in e d th a t he d id n o t

k n o w an y th in g o r th a t h e c o u ld n ot re m e m be r a n y th in g

. 2 Th e S ta te su b se q u e n tly

e lic ite d te stim o n y fro m Wo o d s a n d In ve stig a to r Nic o le Esq u ilin re g a rd in g

Hu rt’s c on fe ssio n to F re e la n d ; th e S ta te a lso a dd uc e d, with o u t o b je c tio n

, th e

re c o rd in g s o f Fre e la n d’s p h o n e c a ll with Wo o d s a n d F re e la n d ’s re c o rd e d

in te rv ie ws with in v e stig a to rs.

2 Du ri ng h i s i n -co u rt tes ti m o n y

, Freel an d d en i ed an y as so ci at i o n w i t h W o o d s

, d en ied hav in g an y k n o w l ed g e ab o u t W o o d s ’ d ru g h o u s e, den i ed kn o w i n g w h at k i n d

o f weap o n Hu rt h ad

, d en i ed s p e a k i n g t o H u rt aft er th e m u rd er, an d

, wh en as k ed

wh et h er H u r t c o n fes sed t o s ho o t i n g t h e v i ct i m

, Freel an d res po n d ed “ Nah

. I d o n ’ t

rem em b er t h at .”

41

. Th o u g h Hu rt h a s n o t e n u m e ra te d th e ge n e ra l g ro u n d s, we h a v e

c o n c lu d e d th a t th e e v id e n c e a s su m m a riz e d a b o v e wa s su ffic ie nt to e n a b le a

ra tio n a l t r i e r o f f

a c t to c on c lu d e b e y o nd a re a so n a b le do ub t th a t he w a s g u ilty

o f th e c rim e s of wh ic h h e w a s c o nv ic te d

. Ja c k so n v

. Virg in ia

, 4 43 U. S

. 3 0 7 (9 9

S Ct 2 7 81 , 6 1 L E2 d 5 6 0 ) (1 9 7 9 ).

2

. Hu rt first a r g u e s th a t th e tria l c o u rt a llo we d in a dm issib le te stim o n y

fro m W o o d s a n d In v e stig a to r E s q u i l i n c o n c e rn in g F re e la n d ’s sta te m e n t to

Wo o d s a b ou t Hu rt’s c o n fe ssio n ; th e te stim o n y w a s a d m itte d a s e v id e n c e o f a

p rio r in c o n siste n t sta te m e n t m a d e b y F re e la n d

. Ac c o rd in g to Hu rt, h owe v e r, th e

S ta te fa ile d to sh o w th a t Fre e la n d ’s tria l te stim on y wa s in c o n si s t e n t w ith h is

p rio r sta te m e n t to Wo o d s

, a nd th e S ta te fa ile d to la y a pro p e r fo u n d a tio n fo r

Wo o d s’ te stim o n y re g a rd in g h is c o n v e rs a t i o n with F re e la n d

. H e a lso a rg ue s

th a t In v e stig a to r E s q u ilin ’s te stim o n y in c lu d e d a n a d ditio n a l la y e r o f

in a d m issib le h e a rsa y

n o t a d d re sse d b y th e S ta te

.

As a n in itia l m a tte r, n o n e o f th e se c o nte n tio n s a re p re se rv e d fo r o u r

re v ie w. Tria l c o u n se l o b

je c te d to th e te stim o n y a t issu e on th e b a sis th a t it wa s

“ h e a rsa y ,” a n d th e n, in re sp on se to th e S ta te ’s c o n te n tio n th a t th e te stim o n y wa s

a d m issib le a s a

p rio r in c o nsiste n t sta te m e n t, a rg u e d on ly th a t “ [F re e la n d ] sa id

5h e d i d n ’ t re m e m b e r a ny th in g .” Ho we v e r, “[i] n o rd e r to ra ise o n a p p e a l a n

im p ro p rie ty re g a rd in g th e a d m issib ili t y o f e vid e n c e

, th e sp e c ific g ro u n d o f

o b je c tio n m u st b e m a d e a t th e tim e th e e v id e n c e is o ffe re d, a n d th e fa ilu re to d o

so a m o u n ts to a wa iv e r o f t h a t s p e c ific g ro u n d .” (Cita tio n a nd p u n c tu a tio n

o m itte d .) Sa n c he z v

. Sta te

, 2 8 5 Ga

. 7 4 9

, 75 1 ( 3 ) ( 6 8 4 S E2 d 2 5 1 ) (2 0 0 9 ).

F u rth e r, o b

je c tio n s m

u s t b e ma d e “ with sp e c ific ity to e n a b le th e tria l c o u rt to

in te llig e n tly ru le o n th e ob je c tio n a n d to c re a te a

c le a r re c o rd fo r th e a

p p e lla te

c o u rt.” To lv e r v. S t at e

, 2 6 9 Ga

. 5 3 0

, 53 2 (2 ) (5 0 0 S E2 d 5 63 ) (1 9 98 ). We

c o n c lu d e th a t th e ob

je c tio ns h e re fa ile d to sp e c ific a lly ra ise th a t F re e la n d ’s tria l

te stim o n y wa s n o t in c o n siste n t w ith h is p rio r sta te m e n t to Wo o d s, th a t th e S ta te

fa ile d to la y th e p ro p e r fo u n d a tio n fo r th e te stim o n y

, or t h a t In ve stig a to r

Esq uilin ’s te stim o n y in c lu d e d a n a d d itio n a l la y e r o f in a d m issib le h e a rsa y

.

Ne v e rth e le ss, e v e n i f th e se issu e s w e re p re se rv e d fo r o u r re v ie w, th e

su b sta n c e of th e te stim o n y h e re is m e re ly c u m u la tiv e o f o th e r pro p e rly a d m itte d

e v id e n c e

. A s d isc usse d a b o v e

, th e tria l c o u rt a d m itte d

, with o u t o b je c tio n

,

F re e la n d ’s re c o r d e d te le p h o n e c o n v e rsa tio n w ith W o o d s a n d F re e la n d ’s

re c o rd e d in te rv ie ws with po l i c e

, a ll o f wh ic h d isc uss Hu rt’s c on fe ssio n to

6F re e la n d

. 3 Ac c ord in g ly

, it is h ig h ly p ro ba b le th a t a n y e rro r h e re d id n o t

c o n trib u te to th e v e rd ic t a n d

, th u s, a ny e rro r w a s ha rm le ss. S e e Bu llo c h v

. S ta te

,

2 9 3 Ga

. 1 7 9 (3 ) (a ) (7 4 4 S E2 d 7 6 3 ) (2 0 1 2 ) (a n y e rro r in a d m issio n o f h e a rsa y

te stim o n y wa s h a rm le ss, wh e re te stim o n y wa s c u m u la tiv e o f o th e r p ro p e rly

a d m itte d e v id e nc e ).

3

. Hu rt a lso a l l e g e s t ha t h is tria l c o un se l wa s in e ffe c tiv e fo r fa ilin g to

o b je c t to th e a d m issio n o f F re e la n d ’s v a rio u s re c ord e d sta t e m e n t s a n d to

in a d m issib le h e a rsa y

te stim o n y fro m In ve stig a to r Esq u ilin

.

To e sta b lish in e ffe c tiv e a ssista nc e o f c o u n se l, a d e fe n d a n t m ust sh o w th a t

(1 ) his tria l c o u nse l’s p e rfo rm a n c e wa s p ro fe ssio n a lly d e fic ie n t a n d (2 ) b u t fo r

su c h d e fic ie n t p e rfo rm a n c e th e re is a re a so n a b le p ro b a bility th a t th e re su lt o f th e

tria l w o u ld h a v e b e e n d iffe re n t. S tric k la n d v

. Wa sh in g to n

, 46 6 U. S. 6 6 8

, 6 9 5

,

(1 0 4 S Ct 2 0 5 2, 8 0 L Ed 2 d 67 4 ) ( 1 9 8 4 ); We sle y v

. S ta te

, 28 6 Ga

. 3 5 5 (3 ) (6 8 9

S E2 d 2 8 0 ) (2 0 10 ). To p ro v e d e fic ie n t p e rfo rm a n c e

, on e m u st sh o w th a t h is

a tto rn e y “ p e rfo rm e d a t tria l in a n o b je c tiv e ly u nre a so na

b le wa y c on sid e rin g a ll

th e c irc um sta n c e s a nd in th e lig h t o f p re v a ilin g p ro fe ssio n a l no rm s.” Ro m e r v

.

3 H u rt ’ s co n fes s io n t o Freel an d was ad m i s si bl e as an ad m i s s i on ag ai n s t Hu rt ’ s

p en al i n t eres t b ecau s e h i s co n fes s i o n was t he ad m i s s i o n o f a p art y op p o n en t

. See

St an fo rd v . St at e, 2 72 Ga. 2 6 7

, 2 7 0 (4 ) (5 2 8 SE2 d 2 4 6 ) (2 0 00 ).

7S ta te

, 2 9 3 Ga

. 3 3 9

, 3 4 4 (3 ) (7 4 5 S E2 d 63 7 ) (2 0 1 3). “ [T] o sh o w t h at h e w a s

p re ju d ic e d b y th e p e rfo rm a n c e o f h is la wy e r, [Hu rt] m u st p ro v e ‘a re a so n a

b le

p ro b a b i l i ty th a t, b u t fo r c o u n se l’s u np ro fe ssio n a l e rro rs, th e re su lt o f th e

p ro c e e d in g wo uld h a ve b e e n d iffe re nt. A re a so n a b le p ro b a b ility is a p ro b a

b ility

su ffic ie n t to u n d e rm in e c o n fid e n c e in th e o u tc o m e

. ’” Arn o ld v

. S ta te

, 2 9 2 Ga

.

2 6 8

, 2 6 9 (2 ) (7 3 7 S E2 d 9 8 ) (2 0 1 3 ) (q u o tin g S tric k la n d

, 4 6 6 U. S

. a t 6 9 4 (III)).

With th e se we ll-e sta b l i s h e d p rin c ip le s w e n o w a d d re ss e a c h o f Hu rt’s

c o n te n tio n s.

(a ) Th e tria l c o u rt a d m itte d

, with o u t o bje c t i o n

, F r e e l a n d ’ s S e p t e m

b e r 2 0 0 9

v id e o-re c o rd e d in te rv ie w with in v e stig a to rs. H u rt arg u e s, h o we v e r, th a t th e

S ta te fa ile d to la y th e p ro p e r fo u n d a tio n fo r th e a d m issio n o f th e in te rv ie w a s a

p rio r in c o nsiste n t sta te m e nt a n d th a t tria l c o u n se l w a s in e ffe c tiv e fo r fa ilin g to

o b je c t o n th a t g ro u n d

. Th e S t a t e c on te n d s, a s it d id b e lo w, th a t th e in te rv ie w

wa s p ro p e rly a d m itte d a s a p rio r in c o n siste n t sta te m e n t.

F re e la n d te stifie d th e h e e ith e r d id n ot k n o w o r did n o t re m e m b e r th e

d e ta ils o f Hu rt’s c o n fe ssio n

. Un d e r th e la w in e ffe c t a t th e tim e o f Hu rt’s tria l,

th e S ta te wa s re q u ire d to m e e t th re e re q u ire m e n ts b e fo re im p e a c h in g F re e la n d

with th e S e p te m

b e r 2 0 0 9 in te rv ie w. Se e fo rm e r OCGA § 2 4 -9 -8 3 ; Du c k wo rth

8v

. S ta te

, 2 6 8 Ga

. 5 6 6 (4 9 2 S E2 d 2 0 1 ) (1 99 7 ). 4 “ First, th e p rio r sta te m e n t m u st

c o n tra d ic t o r b e in c on siste n t w ith th e w itn e ss’s in -c o u rt te stim o ny ; se c o n d

, th e

p rio r sta te m e n t m

u st b e re le v a n t to th e c a se ; a n d

, th ird

, th e e x a m in in g a tto rn e y

m u st la y th e p ro p e r fo un d a tio n with th e witn e ss.” Id

. a t 5 67

. Re ga rd in g th e first

re q u ire m e n t, “ th e fa c t th a t th e witn e ss a d m i t s th a t h e or sh e m a d e th e

in c o nsiste nt p re -tria l sta te m e n t d o e s n o t re n d e r i t i n a d m i s s i b le ,” W a rn e r v

. S ta te

,

2 8 1 Ga

. 7 6 3

, 7 6 6 (3 ) (6 4 2 S E2 d 8 2 1 ) (2 0 0 7), a n d “ te stim o ny th a t a witn e ss d oe s

n o t re c a ll c e rta in d e t a i l s wh ic h h a v e p re v io usly b e e n in c lu d e d in a p rio r

s t a t e m e n t is in c o n siste n t with th e prio r sta te m e n t a b o u t th o se d e ta ils

. ”

Cu m m in g s v

. S ta te

, 2 8 0 Ga

. 8 3 1

, 8 3 2 (2 ) (6 3 2 S E2 d 1 5 2 ) (2 0 0 6 ). With re sp e c t

to la y in g th e fo u n d a tio n i n a c c o rd a n c e with th e th ird re q u ire m e n t, “ th e tim e

,

p la c e

, p e rso n

, a nd c irc u m sta nc e s a tte n d in g th e fo rm e r sta te m e n ts sh a ll b e c a lle d

to [th e witn e ss’] m in d with a s m u c h c e rta in ty a s po ssib le

. If th e c o n tra d ic to ry

sta te m e n ts a re in writin g a n d in e x iste n c e

, th e y sh a ll b e sh o wn to him o r re a d in

h is h e a rin g .” F o rm e r OCGA § 2 4 -9 -8 3

. Th e fo u nd a tio n re q u ire me n t is

d e sig n e d to a llo w th e witn e ss a n o p p o rtu nity to a d m it, e x p la in

, o r d e n y th e p rio r

4 OCGA § 24 -9 -8 3

, wh i ch was i n effect at th e ti m e o f H u rt ’ s t ri al

, was rep eal ed

effect i v e J an u ary 1

, 2 0 1 3

. T h e u s e o f p ri o r i n co n s i s t en t s t at em en ts fo r th e p u rp o s e

o f i m p each m en t i s n ow co d i fi ed at OCGA § 2 4 -6 -6 1 3 (b ).

9c o n tra d ic to ry sta te m e n t. Du c k wo rth

, 2 6 8 Ga

. a t 5 6 7 -5 68

. “ In G e o rg ia

, th e p rio r

in c o ns i s t e n t sta te m e n t o f a witn e ss wh o ta k e s th e sta n d a n d is su b je c t to

c ro ss-e x a m in a tio n is a d m issib le b o th to im p e a c h th e witn e ss an d a s su b sta n tiv e

e v id e n c e .” Riv e rs v . S ta te , 2 9 6 Ga . 3 96

, 4 0 3 (9 ) (7 6 8 S E2 d 4 86 ) (2 0 1 5 ).

H e r e

, a f t e r a n un c o op e ra tiv e F re e la n d g a ve te stim o n y i n c o n s i s t e n t w i t h h i s

S e p te m b e r 2 0 0 9 in te rv ie w with in ve stig a to rs, th e Sta te a sk e d h im wh e th e r h e

re m e m b e re d th e in te rv ie w a n d a s k ed h im sp e c ific q u e stio n s re g a rd in g th e

c o n te n t o f th a t in te rv ie w; a lth o u g h F re e la n d a c k n o wle d ge d m e e tin g with

in v e stig a to rs, h e d e n ie d re m e m be rin g a n y sp e c ific sta te m e n ts h e m a d e d u rin g

th a t in te rv ie w. Th e p ro se c uto r q u e stio n e d F re e la n d in d e ta il “ a b ou t th e tim e

,

p la c e

, p e rso n

, a n d c irc u m sta n c e s a tte n d in g th e fo rm e r sta te m e n t, in c lu d in g th e

sp e c ific in c o n siste n c y a t issu e ,” la y in g a n “ a m p le fo u n d a tio n ” fo r th e

in tro d u c tio n o f th e in c o n siste n t sta te m e n t, Ca d e v . S ta te , 2 8 9 Ga

. 8 0 5

, 8 1 0 (6 )

(7 1 6 S E2 d 19 6 ) (2 0 11 ), a n d sa tisfy in g th e p u rp o s e o f th e fo u n d a tio n

re q u ire m e n t. Du c k wo rth

, 26 8 Ga

. a t 56 7 -5 6 8

. Th e re c o rd e d in te rv ie w wa s la te r

a d m itte d with o ut ob

je c tio n a n d pla y e d fo r th e ju ry

. H u rt n o w c o n te n ds th a t th e

S ta te wa s re q uire d to s h o w F r e e la n d a p re v io u sly p re p a re d tra n sc rip t o f th e

re c o rd e d in te rv i ew a s a p re d ic a te to a d m ittin g th e in te rv ie w a n d th a t tria l

1 0c o u n se l wa s in e ffe c tiv e in n e gle c tin g to o b je c t wh e n th e S ta te fa ile d to c o m p ly

with th is re q u ire m e n t.

Th is Co u rt h a s p re v io u sly h e ld th a t, “ [a ] lth o u g h [ fo rm e r] OCGA §

2 4 -9 -8 3 p ro v id e s th a t writte n c o n tra d ic to ry sta te m e nts th a t a re in e x iste n c e sh a ll

b e sh o wn o r re a d to th e witn e ss, th e re is n o sim ila r la n gu a g e re q u irin g

v id e ota p e d sta te m e n t s t o b e sh o wn to th e witn e ss p rio r to th e ir u se fo r

im p e a c h m e n t p u rp o se s.” By ru m v

. S ta te

, 2 8 2 Ga

. 60 8, 6 1 0 -6 1 1 (4 ) (6 5 2 S E2 d

5 5 7 ) (2 00 7 ). S e e a lso Ca de , 2 8 9 Ga . a t 8 0 5 (a p p ly in g sa m e p rin c ip le to a u d io

re c o rd in g s). As w e n o te d in By ru m

, th e p la in la n g u a g e of fo rm e r OCGA § 2 4

-

9 -8 3 re q u ire s o nly th a t “ writte n c o n tra d ic to ry sta te m e n ts

. . . b e sh own o r re a d

to t h e w i t n e ss,” 2 82 G a

. a t 61 0

, a n d th e fa c t th a t th e S e pte m be r 2 0 0 9 v id e o

re c o rd e d in te rv ie w wa s tra nsc rib e d d oe s n o t tra nsfo rm th e n a tu re o f F re e la n d ’s

p rio r sta te m e n t in th a t in te rv ie w. Fu rth e r, if fo rm e r OCGA § 2 4 -9 -8 3 d o e s n o t

re q u ire a vid e o -re c o rd e d sta te m e n t to b e p la y e d fo r a witn e s s i t f o l lo ws th a t

th e re is n o re q u ire m e n t th a t th e witn e ss b e sh o w n a tra n sc rip t o f th a t re c o rd in g ;

w e s ee n o m e a n in g fu l d istin c tio n b e twe e n p ro v id in g th e witn e ss with a

1 1tra n sc rip t o f th e re c ord in g a nd p la y in g th e re c o rd in g fo r th e w itn e ss. 5

Ac c o rd in g ly

, th e S ta te la id a p r o p e r fo u n d a tio n fo r th e a d m issio n o f th e

S e p te m b e r 2 0 0 9 in te rv ie w, a n d tria l c o u n se l wa s n o t in e ffe c tiv e fo r fa ilin g to

m a k e a m e ritle ss o b

je c tio n . S e e We sle y

, 2 8 6 Ga . a t 3 5 6

.

(b ) Also a d m it t e d w ith o u t ob je c tio n we re F re e la n d ’s a u d io -re c o rd e d

te le p h o n e c o n v e r s a t i o n with Wo o d s a n d Fre e la n d’s Ju ly 2 0 0 9 a u d io -re c o rd e d

in te rv ie w w ith in v e stig a to rs. At th e m o tio n fo r n e w tria l h e arin g

, tria l c o u n se l

t e s t i f i e d th a t h e d id n o t re m e m b e r wh y h e d id n o t o b

je c t a n d th a t h e h a d n o

stra te g ic re a so n fo r n o t o b je c tin g . Ho we ve r,

[a ] s we re c e ntly e x p la in e d

, we are n o t lim ite d in ou r a sse ssm e n t o f

th e o bje c tiv e re a so n a

b l e n e ss o f la wy e r p e rfo rm a nc e to th e

su b je c ti v e re a so n s offe re d by tria l c o u n se l fo r h is c on du c t. If a

re a so n a b le la w y e r m ig h t h a v e d o n e wh a t th e a c tu a l la wy e r d i d

–

wh e th e r fo r th e sa m e re a so ns g iv e n b y th e a c tu a l la wy e r o r d iffe re n t

re a so n s e n tire ly

– th e a c tu a l la wy e r c a n no t b e sa id to h a v e

p e rfo rm e d in a n o b

je c tiv e ly u n re a so n a

b le wa y

.

5 In M cDo n al d v. St at e, 2 4 9 Ga. Ap p

. 1

, 3 -4 (3 ) (5 4 8 SE2 d 3 6 1 ) (2 00 1 ), t h e

Co u rt o f Ap p eal s co n cl u d ed t h at t h e St at e was req u i red t o s h o w a d efen d an t a co py

o f h i s t ran s cri b ed s t at em en t o r read t h e s t at em en t in hi s h e a r i n g b efo re im p each i n g

t h e d efen d an t wi t h t h at s t at em en t

. Th i s co n cl u s i o n

, h o wev er, was reach ed aft er t h e

Co u rt o f Ap p eal s h ad al read y rev ers ed th e d efen d an t ’ s co n v i ct i o n on o t h er g ro u nd s

an d wi t h o u t s i gn i fi can t an al y s i s ; fu rt h er, M cDo n al d p red at es By ru m an d Cad e. To

t h e ex t en t t h a t t h i s di ct a fro m M cDo n al d i s in co n si s t en t wi t h t h i s o p in i o n

, it i s

d i s ap p ro v ed

.

1 2S h a w v

. S ta te , 2 92 Ga . 8 7 1 , 8 7 5 , n .7 (3 ) (a ) (7 4 2 S E2 d 7 0 7 ) (2 0 1 3 ).

Th e re c o rd sh o ws th a t tria l c o un se l’s th e o ry wa s th a t Fre e la n d wa s th e

a c tu a l k ille r w h o wa s try in g to b la m e Hu rt fo r th e m u rd e r, an d th e se re c o rd in g s

le n d su p p o rt to th a t th e ory

. In th e re c ord in gs, F re e la n d re la y s e x a c t a n d in tim a te

d e ta ils re g a rd in g t h e mu r d e r, in c lu d in g th e tim e o f th e m u rd e r a nd h ow Hu rt

a rriv e d a t th e d ru g h o u se ; a c k n o wle d g e s be in g in v o lv e d i n th e d ru g tra d e a n d

h a v in g se rv e d p riso n tim e ; e x c la im s th a t, a s a c o n v ic te d fe lo n

, h e m ig ht g e t th e

“ e le c tric c h a ir” we re h e in v o lv e d in th e m u rd e r; su g ge sts to p o lic e th a t th e y

“ c a tc h ” Hu rt with th e m

u rd e r we a p o n a n d o b ta in a wa rra n t fo r h is re sid e n c e ; a n d

c a lls Hu rt “ s lim e .” Wh ile it is u n c le a r wh e th e r th e Sta te la id a su ffic ie n t

fo u n d at i o n fo r th e a d m issio n o f th e se re c o rd in g s, a n d wh ile th e se re c o rd in g s

c e rta in ly in c u lp a te Hu rt, th e re c o rd in g s a lso p ro v id e n o t-in su b sta n tia l su p p ort

fo r th e th e ory th a t a ll th e de ta ils c o n c e rn in g th e m urd e r c a m e e xc lu siv e ly fro m

F re e la n d a n d th a t F re e la n d wa s th e a c tu a l mu rd e re r; tria l c o u n se l c e rta in ly

fo c u se d o n th e se id e a s d u rin g h i s o p e n in g sta te m e nt a n d c lo sin g a rg u m e n t.

Be c a u se th e se two re c o rd in g s su p p o rte d tria l c o u n se l’s th e ory a t tria l, we c a n n o t

sa y th a t tria l c o u n se l p e rfo rm e d in a n o b je c tiv e ly u n re a so n a

ble wa y b y

fa ilin g

to o b je c t to th e se re c o rd in gs. S e e S h a w, 2 9 2 Ga

. a t 8 7 5

, n .7

. Mo re o v e r, in lig h t

1 3o f th e fa c t th a t th e S e p te m b e r 2 0 0 9 re c o rd in g wa s p ro p e rly a d m itte d

, th e

re c ord e d te le ph on e c o n v e rsa tio n a n d th e Ju ly 2 00 9 in te rv ie w a re m e re ly

c u m u la tiv e o f th e S e p te m

b e r 2 0 0 9 in te rv ie w b e c a

u se a ll th re e re c ord in gs sp e a k

to H u rt’s sin g le a dm issio n to F re e la n d ; a c c o rd in g ly

, e ve n if tria l c o u n se l sh o u ld

h a v e ob je c te d to th e a d m issio n o f th e se re c o rd in gs, Hu rt su ffe re d n o p re ju d ic e

.

S e e Wilso n v

. Sta te

, 2 9 7 Ga

. 8 6

, 8 8 (2 ) (7 7 2 SE2 d 68 9) (2 0 15 ) (“ Th e fa ilu re o f

tria l c o u n se l to o bje c t to su c h c u m u la tiv e e vid e n c e d o e s n o t su p p o rt a c la im o f

in e ffe c tiv e a ssista n c e o f c o un se l.” ).

(c ) Th e ju ry a lso h e a rd with o u t o b je c tio n a re c o rd e d e n c o u n te r b e twe e n

F re e la n d a n d in v e stig a to rs o u tsid e o f F re e la n d ’s re sid e n c e in Ju ly 2 0 0 9

. In th is

re c o rd in g

, in v e stig a to rs a tte m p t to q u e stio n F r ee l a n d a b o u t th e m

u rd e r, a n d it

is a p p a re n t th a t F re e la n d is re lu c ta n t to sp e a k with th e m ; F re e la nd a g re e s to b e

in te rv ie we d a t a la te r tim e a t th e p re c in c t. A g a in

, th o u g h tria l c o u n se l c o u ld n o t

a rtic ula te wh y h e d id n o t o b je c t to th e a d m issio n o f th is re c o rd in g

, th e tra n sc rip t

sh o ws th a t tria l c o u n se l e xp lic itly utiliz e d th is re c o rd in g to p o in t o u t th a t

F re e la n d wa s h e sita n t to sp e a k wi th th e in v e stig a to rs b e c a u se h e wa s se llin g

d ru g s fro m h is r e s i d e n c e a n d th a t h e wa s h e sita n t to sp e a k o u t in th e o p e n fo r

fe a r th a t o th e rs wo u ld le a rn th a t h e wa s b la m in g Hu rt fo r th e m u rd e r. Th o u g h

1 4it is n o t c le a r th a t th is re c o rd in g wa s a d m issib le

, th e re c o rd in g a g a in su p p o rte d

tria l c o u nse l’s th e o ry o f th e c a se , an d tria l c o u n se l’s fa ilu re to o b je c t h e re wa s

n o t ob je c tiv e ly u n re a so n a

b le

. Mo re ov e r, n oth in g in th is r e c o r d in g in c u lp a te s

Hu rt, a n d it is c le a r th a t th e re c o rd in g h a d n o b e a rin g o n th e o u tc om e o f tria l;

a c c o rd in g ly

, e v en if tria l c o u n se l sh ou ld h a v e ob je c te d

, Hu rt su ffe re d n o

p re ju d ic e

.

(d ) F in a lly

, Hu rt a sse rts th a t tria l c o u n se l fa ile d to o bje c t wh e n

In v e stig a to r Esq u ilin te stifie d th a t F re e la n d sa id th a t Hu rt a lso c o n fe sse d to a n

in d iv id u a l n a m e d “ Ma rio .” As Hu rt a c k n owle d g e s, h o w e v e r, th is fa c t wa s

re fe re nc e d d u rin g F re e la n d ’s S e p te m b e r 2 00 9 i n t e rv ie w, wh ic h

, a s d isc u sse d

a b o v e

, wa s p ro p e rly a d m itte d a n d pla y e d fo r th e ju ry

. Mo re ov e r, in lig h t o f th e

o th e r e v id e n c e a d m itte d a t tria l, we c a n n o t sa y th is te stim o ny in re a so n a b le

p ro b a b ility c h a n g e d th e o u tc o m e o f H u rt’s tria l; a c c o rd in g ly

, Hu rt su ffe re d n o

p re ju d ic e fro m

tria l c o u n se l’s fa ilu re to o b je c t to th is te stim o ny

.

4

. Hu rt a lso c o n te nd s th a t th e t r i a l c o u rt a b use d its d isc re tio n wh e n it

d isa llo we d th re e o f Hu rt’s p r o p o s e d v o ir d ire q u e stio n s. S pe c ific a lly

, Hu rt

so u g h t to a sk p ro sp e c tiv e ju ro rs if th e y wo u ld fa u lt Hu rt if he d id n o t te stify

, if

th e y b e lie v e d th a t Hu rt wa s re q u ire d to p ro v e h is in n o c e n c e

, a n d if th e y wo u ld

1 5b e lie v e a n in d iv id u a l g u ilty of a c rim e sim p ly b e c a u se h e o r sh e wa s a rre ste d

.

T h e tria l c o u rt d isa llo we d th e p ro p o se d q ue stio ns o n th e b a sis th a t th e y w e r e

“ c o v e re d in th e n a tu re o f th e c h a rg e s.” Hu rt n o w arg ue s th a t h e wa s p re v e n te d

fro m id e n tify in g ju ro rs wh o wo u ld h a ve b e e n b ia se d a g a in st h im

.

Ac c o rd in g t o t h e re c o rd

, h o we v e r, tria l c ou nse l did n o t ob je c t wh e n th e

tria l c o u rt a nn ou n c e d th a t i t wo u ld d isa llo w th e re q u e ste d q u e stio n s;

a c c o rd in g ly

, th is issu e is n o t p re se rv e d fo r a p pe lla te re v ie w. S e e Bro c k m a n v

.

S t at e

, 2 9 2 Ga

. 70 7

, 7 2 0 (8 ) (7 3 9 S E2 d 3 3 2 ) (2 0 1 3 ); Sta te v. G ra h a m

, 2 4 6 Ga

.

3 4 1

, 3 42 (2 7 1 S E2 d 6 2 7) (1 9 8 0 ). Ev e n if th is issu e we re p ro pe rly p re se rv e d

, th e

c la im is w ith o u t m e rit. “ Th e sin g le pu rp o se fo r v o ir d ire is th e a sc e rta in m e n t o f

th e im p artia lity o f ju ro rs, [a n d ] th e ir a b ility to tre a t th e c a

u se o n th e m e rits with

o b je c tiv ity a n d fre e do m fro m b ia s a n d prio r in c lin a tio n .” Wh itlo c k v

. S ta te

, 2 3 0

Ga

. 70 0

, 7 0 5 (4 ) (1 9 8 S E2 d 8 6 5 ) (1 9 7 3 )

. “ [ T ]h e sc o p e of v o ir d ire a n d th e

p ro p rie ty o f p a rtic u la r qu e stio n s a re b e st le ft to th e so u n d d isc re tio n o f th e tria l

c o u rt[.] ” Ha m m o n d v

. S ta te

, 2 7 3 Ga

. 4 4 2

, 4 4 6 (2 ) (c ) (5 42 S E2 d 4 9 8 ) (2 0 0 1 ).

He re

, th e su b sta n c e o f Hu rt’s q u e stio n s w a s c ov e re d wh e n th e tria l c o u rt a sk e d

th e th re e sta tu t o r y q u e stio n s se t fo rth in OCGA § 1 5 -1 2-1 6 4

. Th e tria l c o urt

e x e rc ise d so un d d isc re tio n h e re

.

1 65

. Wh ile th e e v id e n c e w a s su ffic ie n t to su sta in Hu rt’s c o n v ic tio n s a n d we

fin d n o me r i t to Hu rt’s e n u m e ra tio n s o f e rro r, we d o fin d e rro r in Hu rt’s

se n te nc e s. Hu rt wa s fo u n d g u ilty o f, in te r a lia

, fe lo n y mu r d e r p re d ic a te d o n

a g g r a v a te d a ssa u lt, fe lo ny m u rd e r p re d ic a te d o n p o sse ssio n o f a fire a rm b y a

c o n v ic te d fe lo n

, a n d p osse ssio n o f a fire a rm b y a c o n v ic te d fe lo n

. Th e tria l

c o u rt se n te n c e d H u rt to life im p riso n m e n t fo r fe lo n y m u rd e r p re d ic a te d o n

a g g ra v a te d a ssa u lt a n d p u rp o rte d ly m e rg e d th e re m a in in g c o u n ts liste d a b o v e

.

Ho we ve r, th e se c o n d c o u n t of fe lo n y m u rd e r

– fe lo ny m

urd e r p re d i c a te d o n

p o sse ssio n o f a fire a rm b y a c o n v ic te d fe lo n – d id n o t m e rg e b u t wa s v a c a te d b y

o p e ra tio n o f la w. S e e Le e k s v

. S ta te

, 2 9 6 Ga

. 5 1 5

, 5 2 4 (7 ) (7 6 9 S E2 d 2 9 6 )

(2 0 1 5 ) (se c o n d fe lo n y m

u rd e r c o u n t v a c a te d b y o pe ra tio n o f la w b e c a use fe lo n y

m u rd e r c o n vic tio n s in v o lv e d th e sa m e v ic tim ). Be c a u se th a t se c o n d c o u n t o f

fe lo ny m u rd e r sto o d v a c a te d b y o p e ra tio n o f la w, th e re wa s n o th in g in to wh ic h

th e fe lo n-in -p o sse ssio n c o u n t c o u ld h a ve m e rg e d

. S e e Ma lc o lm v

. S ta te

, 2 6 3 Ga

.

3 6 9

, 3 7 3 (5 ) (4 3 4 S E2 d 4 7 9) (1 9 9 3 ). Th e re fo re

, th e t ria l c o u rt is re q u ire d to

v a c a te th a t p o rtio n o f its se n t e n c i n g ord e r p u rp ortin g to m e rg e th e fe lo n -in

p o sse ssio n c o u n t a n d im

p o se a p ro p e r se n te n c e fo r th a t c o u n t.

Ju d g m e n t a ffirm e d in p a rt a n d v a c a te d in pa rt, a n d c a se re m a n d e d

. All th e

Ju stic e s c o n c ur.

1 7