FOURTH D I VI SI ON

BA RNES, P. J.

, RA Y and M CM I LLI A 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.

http://w w w .ga a ppe a l s .us /r ule s

Febr uar y 26, 2016



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 5 A1 98 0 . W ILLIAM S v . THE STATE.

B A R N E S

, Pres i d i n g J ud g e.

A ju ry co nv i ct ed Mo eri s e W i l l i am s o f t h ree co u nt s o f ag g rav at ed as s au l t an d

p o s s es s i o n o f a fi rearm d uri n g t h e co m m i ss i o n o f a fel o n y

. Fo ll o wi n g t h e d e n i al o f

h i s m o t i on fo r n ew t ri al

, h e ap p eal s o n s ev eral g ro u nd s

, arg u i n g am on g o t h er t h i ng s

t h at t h e tri al co u rt erred reg ard i n g ev i d en t i ary i s s u es an d c o n ten d i ng t h at h i s t ri al

co u ns el was i n effect iv e. Fo r t h e reas o n s t h at fo l l o w, we affi rm

.

Vi ewed i n th e l i g h t m os t fav o rab l e t o t h e v erd i ct

, t h e ev i d e n ce sh o w ed t h at

s h o rt l y aft er m i d n i g ht o n S e p t e m b e r 2 6

, 20 0 7

, D an t av i o u s W al k er d ro v e t o a

n ei g h b o rh o o d co n v e n i e n c e s t o re wi t h t wo fri en d s

, W i l l i e W i l so n an d Greg Hu n t

.

W al k er wen t i n t o t h e s t o re, W i l s o n g ot o u t t o t al k t o so m e wo m en , an d Hu n t d o zed

i n t h e car. Sh o rt l y aft er W al k er g o t b ack i n t o t h e car, a p as sen g er v an p ul l e d u p i n

fro n t o f th e car, an d Hu n t “ h ad a v i b e.” As h e u rg ed W al k er t o d ri v e o ff, H u n t s aw a

ri fl e barrel co m e o u t of t he v an

, fo l lo wed b y a m an wh o lo o ked i nt o t h e car an d “ wen tt o s h o o t i n g t h e car u p ” w i t h an as s au l t ri fl e. A s ec o n d m an g o t o u t o f t he v an an d

b eg an fi ri n g a h an d gu n at t h e car. W il s on ran fro m t h e s cen e. Hu n t d o v e t o t h e

fl oo rb o ard an d W al k er d ro v e o u t o f t h e p ark i n g l o t i n rev ers e, cro ss ed t h e s t reet

,

cr a s h e d t h r o u gh a wro u g h t -i ro n fen ce, cro s sed a b ack y ard an d an ot her s t reet

, an d

fi nal ly cras h ed i n t o t he s i d e o f a ch u rch b u il d i n g

.

W al k er was sh o t i n t h e arm m u l t i p l e t im es

, bu t t he o t h er t wo vi ct i m s es cap ed

i n ju ry

. D u ri n g a n in terv iew w i t h a det ect i v e at Grad y Mem ori al H o s p it al

, W al k er

i d en t i fi e d h i s a s s ai l an t s as W i l l i am s an d Pren t ice M cNei l

, an d t h e v an d ri v er as

M arco M o s e s

. T h e p o l i ce co l l ect ed 2 1 s h el l s fro m t h ree d i fferen t weap o n s i n t h e

p ark i n g l o t

, an d t h e St at e i n t ro d u ced p h o t o g r a p h s o f t h e v i ct i m s ’ b u l l et -ri d d en car.

A b al l i s ti cs ex pert t es t i fi ed t h at 9 cart ri d g es fo u n d i n t h e p ark i n g l ot were fi red b y a

Ru g er M 1 4 fo un d i n M cN e i l ’s h o u s e. Th e o t her cas i n g s fro m t h e p ark i n g l o t were

fi red fro m

t wo o t h er as s au l t weap o n s fo u n d i n M cNei l ’ s h o u s e.

W i l l i am s

, M cNei l l

, an d Mo s es were i n d i ct ed fo r ag g rav at ed as s au l t ag ai n s t t h e

t h ree v i ct i m s, b u t M cNei l l ’ s t ri al was s ev ered

. W i l l i am s a n d M o ses were t ri ed

2t o g et h er an d co n v ict ed

, an d t hi s co u rt affi rm ed M o s es ’ co n v ict i o n s i n Mo s es v. S t a t e

,

3 2 8 Ga. Ap p . 6 2 5 (7 60 SE2 d 2 1 7 ) (2 0 1 4 ). 1

1

. W i l l i am s arg u es t h at t he t ri al co u rt erred in d en y i n g h i s m o t i o n fo r d i rect ed

v erd i ct o n t h e ag g rav at ed as s au l t ch arg e i n v o l v in g W i l l i e W i l s o n

, wh o h ad b een

s t an d i n g o ut s id e o f t h e car wh en t h e s h o ot i n g o ccu rred

. Th e i nd i ct m en t ch arg ed

W i ll i am s wi t h co m

m i t t i n g an as s au l t o n W i l s o n “ by s h o o t i n g at , t o ward s an d i n t h e

d i rect i o n o f W i ll i e W i l s o n wi t h a fi rearm

, ” b u t W il l i am s arg u es t h at t he St at e fai l ed

t o i nt ro d u ce an y ev i d en ce s h o wi n g ex act l y w here W i ls o n was l ocat ed wh en t h e

s h o o ti n g b eg an o r t h at an y o n e p o i n t e d a weap o n at h i m

. Bu t Hu n t t es t i fi ed t h at t h e

g reen v an p u l l ed u p an d “ bl o ck ed u s i n

, ” t hat W i l s o n w a s at t h e b ack o f t h e car

l o o k i n g t oward th e fro n t

, an d t h at h e ran wh en t h e s h o o t i n g b eg an

. Th i s ev id en ce was

s u ffi ci e n t t o a u t h o ri ze a rat i o n al t ri er o f fact t o fi n d W i l l i am s g u i l t y b ey o n d a

reas on ab l e d o u b t o f ag g rav at ed as s au l t ag ai n s t W i l s o n

. Ja cks o n v. Vi r g in i a , 4 4 3 U.

S. 3 07 (9 9 SCt 2 7 8 1 , 6 1 LE2 d 5 6 0) (1 97 9 ).

2

. W i l l i am s arg u es t h at h i s t ri al co u ns el was i n effect i v e fo r fai l i n g t o o b ject to

u n s p eci fi ed “ t h reat ev i d en ce.”

1 Th i s a s s au l t was p reced ed a week b efo re b y t h e m u rd er o f an as s o ci at e o f

Hu n t ’ s

. M cNei l l was al s o in di ct ed fo r t h a t m u rd er, al o ng wi th M at t h ew M i t ch el l

, wh o s e co n v i ct i o n was affi rm ed i n M i t ch el l v. S t a t e

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

3To es t ab l i s h i n effect i v e a s s i s t an ce o f co u n sel

, a d efen dan t m u s t s h o w

t h at h i s co u n s el ’ s p erfo rm an ce was p ro fes s i o n al l y d efi ci en t an d t h at b u t

fo r s u ch d efi ci en t p erfo rm an ce t h ere i s a reas o n ab l e p ro b ab i l i t y th at th e

res u lt o f t h e t ri al wo u l d hav e b een d i fferen t

. S t r i ckl a n d v. W as h i ng t o n

,

4 6 6 U. S. 66 8

, 6 9 5 (1 0 4 SCt 2 05 2

, 8 0 LE 2 d 6 7 4 ) (1 9 8 4 ). To p ro ve

d efi ci en t p erfo rm an ce, o n e m ust show th at h i s at t o rn ey perfo rm ed at t ri al

i n an o b ject i v el y u n reas o n ab l e way co n s i d eri n g al l t h e c i r c u m s tan ces

an d i n t h e l i g h t o f prev ai l i n g p ro fes s i o n al n o rm s

. Co u rt s rev i ewi n g

i n effect iv en es s cl ai m s m

u s t ap p ly a s t ro n g p res um p t i o n t h at co u n s el ’ s

co n d u ct fel l wi t h in t h e wi d e ran g e o f reas o n ab l e p ro fes s i o nal

p erfo rm an ce. T h u s

, d eci s i o ns reg ard i n g t ri al t act i cs an d s t rat eg y m ay

fo rm t h e b as i s fo r an in effect i v en es s cl ai m on l y i f th ey w ere s o p at en t l y

u n reas o n ab l e t h at n o c o m p et en t at t o rn ey wo ul d h av e fo l l o wed s u ch a

co u r s e. If th e d efen d an t fai l s t o sat i sfy ei t h er t h e “ d efi ci en t

p erfo rm an ce” o r th e “ p reju d i ce” p ro n g o f th e S t r i ckl a nd t es t

, t h i s Co u rt

i s n o t req u i red t o ex am i n e t h e o t h er.

( C i t a t i o ns an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) Red d in g v. S t a t e

, 2 9 7 Ga. 8 45

, 8 5 0 (5 ) ( 7 7 8

SE2 d 7 7 4) (2 0 1 5).

W h i l e W i ll i am s d oes n o t i d en t i fy t h e ev id en ce t o wh ich h e co n ten d s h i s t ri al

co u ns el s h o u l d h av e o b

ject ed

, i t i s o b v i o u s t h at ev id en ce ab o ut p ercei v ed t h reat s ran

t h ro u g h ou t t h e t ri al

. Fo r ex am p l e

, w h e n W i l l i am s as k ed W al ker d uri n g cro s s

ex am i n at i o n wh et h er h e was n erv o u s ab ou t b ei n g t h ere, W al k er rep li ed t hat h e was

n erv o u s becau se h e co u l d s ee i n t h e co u rt ro o m “ lo t s o f faces I ai n ’ t n ev er s een b efo re

4an d I go t m

y fam i l y d o wn h ere wi t h m e. I ai n ’ t s cared

. It ’ s ju s t I d o n ’ t wan t n o t h i n g

t o h ap p en t o m

y fam i l y at th e en d .” In d es cri b i n g h i s co n cern t h at W al k er h ad n am ed

t h e s h o o t ers

, Hu n t t es t i fi ed

, “ I w as s t i l l o u t th ere, y ou k n o w, I w as n ’ t t ry i n g t o m ak e

n o t h i n g h ap p en t o m e.” W i l s o n t e s t i f i e d h e d i d n o t wan t t o b e th ere at t h e t ri al

b e c a u s e h e “ di d n o t wan t t o p u t [h is ] fo l k s i n t h i s ty p e o f p os i t i o n.” W i l s o n al s o

ad m i t t ed t h at i f s o m eo n e i n jai l co o p erat ed w i t h th e p o li ce, “ [a ]n yt h i n g b o u n d to

h ap pen . Get k i l l ed

, an y t h i n g

. ”

Th reat ev i d en ce i s ad m i s s i b l e to ex p l ai n a wi t n es s ’ s co n du ct o n th e st an d

, ev en

i f it i s n ot t i ed t o a d efen dan t

. Co l ema n v. S t a t e

, 2 78 Ga. 4 8 6

, 4 8 8 (3 ) (6 0 4 SE2 d 1 5 1 )

(2 0 0 4). In th i s cas e, s u ch ev i den ce was p art i c u l a r l y rel ev an t

, b ecau s e o n t he s t an d,

W al k er co m

p l et el y d i s av owed h i s i d en t ifi cat i o n t o t he d et ect i v e o f W i l l i am s an d

M o s es as t w o o f t h e t h ree s h oo t ers . He t es t i fi ed t h at wh en h e t o l d t h e d et ect i v e t h at

h e h ad s een bo t h W i l l i am s an d M os es s ho o ti n g at h i m

, h e h ad m erel y been rep eat i n g

wh at h e h a d h e ard fro m ot hers rat h er t h an s o m et h in g h e h ad act ual l y s een

. In fact

,

W al k er ev en s i g n ed an affi dav i t p rep ared b y M o s es ’ prev i o u s t ri al co u n s el

, i n wh i ch

W al k er s t at ed t h at h i s p ri o r i d en t i fi cat i o n o f M o ses h ad b een m is t ak en

.

A bse nt W ill i am s ’ i d en ti fi cat i o n o f t he p art i cu l ar ev i d en ce t o wh i ch he c onte nds

h i s t ri al co u n s el s ho u l d h av e o bject ed

, an d i n l i gh t o f t h e fact s as o u t l i n ed ab o v e, we

5co n cl u d e t h at t h e tri al co u rt di d n o t err i n ad m i t t i n g t h e wi t n es s es ’ t es t i m o n y we h av e

i d en t i fi ed ab o v e. See Li n d s ey v. S t a t e , 2 9 5 Ga. 3 4 3, 3 48 (3 ) (7 6 0 SE2 d 1 7 0 ) (2 0 1 4 )

(n o erro r i n p erm i t ti ng w i t n es s t o t es t i fy reg ard i ng t h reat en i n g p h o n e cal l s d es p i t e fact

t h at t here was n o d i rect ev i d en ce l i n k i n g d efen d an t wi t h cal l s ); Co lema n v. St a t e

, 2 7 8

Ga. 48 6

, 4 8 7-4 8 8 (3 ) (6 0 4 SE2 d 1 5 1 ) (2 0 04 ) ( e v i d e n c e o f an o n y m o u s t h reat

ad m i s s i b l e t o ex pl ai n wi tn es s ’ s ev as iv e co n d u ct o n th e s t an d). “ Becau se t h i s ev i d en ce

was ad m i s s i b l e

, co u ns el ’ s fai l u re t o o b ject th eret o d o es no t co ns t i t u t e d efi ci en t

p erfo rm an ce.” Red

d i n g , 2 9 7 Ga. at 8 5 1 -8 5 2 (5 ) (a).

3

. W i l l i am s arg u es t h at t h e St at e v io l at ed hi s Si xt h Am en d m en t ri g h t t o co u n s el

i n i ts o p en i n g s t at em en t wh en i t s ai d

,

T h e re’ s o n e m o re t h in g t h at t h i s cas e is ab o u t. Becau s e, wh en t h e i r

m i s s i o n fai l ed

, a t eam o f as s as s i n s th e fact s an d ev i den ce wi l l s h o w h ad

t o co v er i t u p

, an d t h ey d i d t h ei r b e s t t o co v er i t u p in m o re t h an o ne

way

. On e way was v ery s o p h i s t i cat ed

. An d t h ey hi red l awy ers

, wh ich

t h ey ’ re en t i t l ed t o d o u n der o u r co ns t i t u ti o n

.

W i ll i am s co n t en d s t hat t hi s st at em en t “ b el i t t l es ” hi s co n s t i t u ti on al ri g h t s

, b ecau s e

h i ri n g a l awy er i s n ei t h er s o p h is t i cat ed n o r a co v er-u p

, an d fu rt h er co n t en ds t h at h i s

t ri al co u n s el was in effect i v e fo r fai l i n g t o o b ject t o i t

.

6Th e co n t ex t o f t h i s part o f t h e St at e’ s o p en i n g s t at em en t

— t h at t h e d efen d an t s

t ri ed t o “ co v er up ” t h ei r fai l ed m i s s i o n

— b e c o m es ap p aren t fro m t h e n ex t few

s en t en ces

.

Bu t t h ey ap pro ach ed th e v ery v i ct i m s t h at th ey t ri ed t o k il l, an d t h ro u g h

t h ei r l awy er s t h ey had o n e o f t h e v i ct i m s s i g n affi d av i ts s ay i n g

, y o u

k n o w wh at

, i t was n ’ t t h em wh en t h at vi c t i m h ad al read y m ad e a

sta t em en t t o l aw en fo rcem en t o ffi ci al s i d en ti fy i n g t h is M arco M o s es an d

t h e d efen dan t Mo eri s e W i l l i am s as t wo of t h e as s as s in s wh o s ho t at h i m

o n Sep t em

b er

... 2 6 o f 2 0 0 7

. Th ey

— h e cam e in to t h ei r o ffi ces m o n t h s

l at er an d si g ned affi dav i t s s ay i n g I recan t m y s t at em en t

. Th at ’ s p art o f

t h e co ver-u p t h at t h ey t ri ed t o d o

.

W i l l i a m s a l s o co n t en d s t h at v ari o u s p ort i on s o f t h e St at e’ s cl o si n g arg u m en t

v i o l at ed h i s ri g h t t o a fai r tri al

, an d t h at h i s t ri al co u ns el was i n effect i ve fo r fai l i n g to

o b ject t o t h em

.

W i l l i am s di d no t o b

ject t o an y o f th e as s ert ed l y i m p ro per p o rt i o ns o f t he St at e’ s

o p en in g s t at em en t o r cl o s in g arg u m en t

, w h i ch wo ul d h av e affo rd ed t h e t ri al co u rt t h e

o p p o rt u ni t y t o t ak e rem ed i al act i o n

, an d t h u s th i s co u rt i s p recl ud ed fro m co n s i d eri n g

t h e m eri t s o f h i s co n t en t i o ns reg ard i n g t ho s e s t at em en t s

. D i xo n v. S t a t e

, 2 9 8 Ga. 2 0 0,

2 0 3 (3 ) (7 7 9 SE2 d 2 90 ) (2 0 1 5 ).

7Fu rt her, as t o h i s co n t en t i o n t h at h i s t ri al co u n s el was i n effect i v e i n fai l i n g to

o b ject at th i s p o i n t i n hi s o pen i n g st at em en t

, W i l l i am s si m p l y arg u es t h at t h e o p en i n g

s t at em en t i m

pro perl y i m

p u g n e d h i s Si x t h Am en d m en t ri g h t t o co u n s el an d t h at t h e

fai l u re to o bject to p ort io n s o f t he cl o s i ng arg u m en t co n st it u t ed i n effect i v e as s i s t an ce

o f co u n s el

. He d o es n o t ad d res s t ri al co un s el ’ s t es t i m o n y i n t h e m o t i on fo r n ew t ri al

h eari n g reg ard i n g w h y co u n sel m i g h t h av e ab s tai n ed fro m ob ject i n g. Ab s en t an y

an al y s i s fro m Wi l li am s ab ou t wh et h er t h e fai l u res t o o b ject co ns t i t u ted d efi ci en t

p erfo rm an ce o r wh et h er s u ch d efi ci en ci es p reju d i ced W i l l i am s , we fi n d n o m eri t i n

t h i s en u m erat i o n. See Mo s es , 3 2 8 Ga. Ap p . at 6 3 4 (5 ) (b ) (i i i ).

4

. Ov er o b

ject i o n

, t he t ri al co u rt al l o wed t h e St at e to q ues t i o n a d et ect i v e ab o ut

t h e v i ct i m W al k er’ s i n it i al st at em en t i d en t i fy i n g W i l li am s an d h i s co -d efen d an t as

as s ai lan ts

, an d t o ad m i t a reco rd i n g o f t hat s tat em en t i n t o ev i d en ce. W i l l i am s arg u es

t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n ad m it t i n g t h i s ev i d en ce b ecau s e t h e St at e fai l ed to

es t ab l i s h t h e fo u n d at io n req u i red b y fo rm er OCGA § 2 4 -9 -8 3 2 fo r t h e i n t ro d u ct i o n o f

i n t ro du ci n g p ri o r co n t rad ict o ry s tat em en ts fo r i m p each m en t p u rp o s es

. Th at Co d e

s ect i on s et fo rt h t he fo l l o w i n g p ro ced u re:

2 Th e cu rren t Ev i d en ce Co d e ad d res s es t he i n t ro d u ct i o n o f a wi t n es s ’ s p ri o r

i n co n s i s t en t s t at em en t at OCGA § 2 4 -6 -6 1 3 (b ).

8A wi t n es s m ay b e i m p each ed b y co n t rad ict o ry s t at em e nt s prev i o us l y

m ad e b y hi m as t o m at t ers rel ev an t t o h i s t es t i m o n y an d t o t h e cas e.

Befo re co n trad ict o ry s tat em en t s m ay b e p ro v ed ag ai n s t h i m

, ... t h e t i m e,

p l ace, p ers on , an d ci rcu m s t an ces at t en d i n g t h e fo rm er s t at em en t s s h al l

b e c al l ed t o h is m i n d wi t h as m u ch cert ai n t y as p o s s i b le. If t h e

co n t rad i ct o ry s t at em en t s are i n wri t i n g an d i n ex i s t en ce, t hey s hal l be

s h o wn t o h i m

o r read i n h i s h eari n g

. ...

Fo rm er OCGA § 24 -9 -8 3.

“ Th e p u rp o s e o f l ay i n g s u ch a fo u n d at i on i s t o g i v e t h e w i tn es s t h e o p p o rt u n i t y

t o ex p l ai n or d en y t h e p ri o r co n trad i ct o ry st at em en t .”(Ci t at io n o m i t ted .) M es ch i n o v.

S t a t e

, 2 5 9 Ga. 6 1 1

, 6 14 (2 ) (b ) (3 8 5 SE2 d 28 1 ) (1 9 8 9 ). Here, t h e St at e es t ab l i s h ed t h e

req u i red fo u nd at i on u n d er fo rm er OCGA § 2 4 -9 -8 3

. At t ri al

, W al k er den i ed s eei n g

M o s es at t h e s cen e o f th e s h o ot i n g

. In res p on s e t o t h e St a t e ’s q u e s t i o n s

, h o wev er,

W al k er t es ti fi ed th at h e recal l ed m ak i ng a st at em en t t o a cert ai n d et ect iv e wh i l e at t h e

h o s p it al awai t i ng t reat m en t s h o rt l y aft er t he s ho oting. T hr ough this te stim o n y

, W al k er

d em o n s t rat ed t h at t h e St at e s u ffi ci en t l y cal l ed t o h i s m in d t h e t i m e, p l ace, p ers o n

, an d

ci rcu m s t an ces o f t h e st at em en t s u ch t h at h e co u l d ex p l ai n o r d en y t h e s t at em en t

. See

Mes ch i no , 2 5 9 Ga. at 6 1 5 (2 ) (c) (fi n d i n g req ui rem en t s o f fo rm er OCGA § 2 4 -9 -8 3

were m et wh ere wi t n es s “ ack n o wl ed g ed m ak i n g s o m e k i n d o f st at em en t ”). Co m p are

Da n i e l y v

. S t a t e

, 3 0 9 Ga. A p p

. 1 2 3, 12 5 -1 2 6 (2 ) (7 0 9 SE2 d 2 7 4 ) (2 0 1 1 ) (fi n d i n g

9req u i rem en t s o f fo rm er OCGA § 2 4 -9 -8 3 were n o t m et wh ere “ p ri o r s t at em e n t was

n o t m en t i o n ed d u ri n g [wi t n es s ’ s ] t es t i m o n y an d s h e was n o t as k ed an y q u es t i on s

co n cern in g t he t i m e, p lace, p ers o n

, o r ci rcu m s t an ces at t en d i n g i t ”). An d here, i n fact

,

W al k er d i d ex pl ai n t h e s t at em en t

.

Al t h ou g h W al k er i ni ti al l y t es ti fi ed t h at he d id no t recal l t el l i n g t h e d et ect i v e

t h at W i l li am s s h o t at h i m

, h e l at er ad m it t ed t hat h e d i d id en t i f y W i ll i am s t o t h e

d et ect i v e i n h i s s t a t em en t

, ex pl ai n in g t hat h e h ad ju s t b een rep eat i n g wh at o t h er

p e o p l e h ad b een t el l i ng h i m rat h er t han s t at i n g wh at h e h i m sel f h ad s een

. W al k er’ s

ad m i s s i o n t h at h e m ad e t h e i n co n s i s t en t s t at em en t t o t h e det ect i v e d id no t ren d er t h e

s t at em en t i n ad m i ss i b l e. Ou r Su p rem e Co urt has “ reject ed t h e as s ert i o n t h at a p ri o r

i n co n s i s t en t s t at em en t i s ad m i s s i b l e o n l y i f th e wi t n es s d en i es m ak i n g t h e p ri o r

s t at em en t

, bu t n o t i f h e s i m pl y d i s p u t es th e t ru th o f t he earl i er s t at em en t

. T h ere i s n o

s u ch d en i al req ui rem en t u n d er [fo rm er] OCGA § 2 4 -9 -8 3 .” (Ci t at i o n an d pu n ct u at i o n

o m it t ed .) Jo h n s o n v. S ta t e , 2 8 9 Ga. 1 0 6 , 1 0 8 (3 ) (7 0 9 SE2 d 7 6 8 ) (2 0 1 1 )

W i l l i am s al s o co n t en d s t h at al l o wi n g t h e d et ect i v e t o t es t i fy ab ou t W al k er’ s

i n co n s i s t en t t es t i m o n i al s t at em en t co n s ti t u t ed a v i o l at i on of hi s ri g h t t o c o n f r o nt

wi t n es s es ag ai ns t h i m u n der Cr a wf o r d v. W as h i ng t o n

, 5 4 1 U.S. 3 6 (1 2 4 S Ct 1 3 5 4,

1 5 8 L E2 d 1 7 7 ) (2 0 0 4 ). Th i s arg u m en t i s m i s p l aced

, h o wev er, b ecau s e th e p ro h i b i t i o n

10i n Cr a wf

o r d ap p li es t o t h e ad m i ss i o n of t es t i m o n i al s t at em en t s b y u n av ai l ab l e

wi t n es s es

, n o t t h e ad m is s i o n o f av ai l ab l e wi t n es s es fo r i m p each m en t pu rp o s es

.

W al k er was n o t u nav ai l ab le, b u t h ad al read y t es t i fi e d an d was s u b ject t o b ei n g

recal l ed

. “ Th erefo re, co n t rary t o [W il l iam s’ ] co n t en t i o n s

, Cr a wf o r d i s n o t ap p l i cab l e

t o t hi s cas e.” McKn i

gh t v. S t at e , 2 8 3 Ga. 5 6

, 5 8 (2 ) (i ) (6 5 6 SE2 d 8 30 ) (2 0 0 8 ).

5

. Fi n al l y

, W i l l i am s co nt en d s t h at h i s co -d efen d an t ’ s t ri al co u n s el an d t h e l ead

d et ect i v e h el d a len g t h y co l l o q uy o n W i l l i am s ’ p o s t -arres t s i l en ce, an d t h at h i s t ri al

co u ns el was i n effect i v e fo r fai li n g t o o b ject . Th e St at e res p o n d s fi rs t t h at q u es t i on s

ab o ut W i l l i am s’ p os t -arres t s il en ce cam e fro m co -d efen d an t ’ s co u n sel

, n o t fro m t h e

St at e, an d t h at co -d efen d an t ’ s co u n s el was at t ack i ng t he cred i b i l it y o f a key wi t n es s

fo r t h e St at e.

In i t s o rd er d en y i n g W i l li am s ’ m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al

, t h e t ri al co u rt ex t en s i v el y

q u o t ed t he ex ch an g e an d fo u n d t h at “ t he qu es t i o n s were in t he co nt ex t o f an at t em pt

t o ev i s c e r a t e t h e i nv es t ig at o r’ s cred i b i l i t y b ecau se t he d et ect iv e’ s tes t im o n y was

d i fferen t fro m wh at h e wro t e i n h is o ri g i n al rep ort .” T h e co u rt co ncl u d ed th at

, t ak en

i n co n t ex t

, t h e cro ss -ex am i n at i o n o f t h e d et ect i v e b y t h e co -d efen d an t ’ s co u n s el

h el p ed W i l l i am s

, an d t h us i t was reas o n ab le fo r W i l l i am s ’ t ri al co u n s el n o t t o o b ject

.

11Wi l l i am s arg u es th at “ t h ere is n o ev i d en ce i n t h e reco rd t hat t ri al co u n s e l ’s

d eci s i o n to n ot o b

j ect an d m ov e fo r a m i s t ri al

... was st rat eg ic[, an d t h at w] i t h o u t s u ch

ev i d en ce, t h e co u rt m

u s t co ncl u d e

, t h erefo re, t h at co u n s el ’ s p erfo rm an ce was

d efi ci en t.” Bu t in t h e cas es ci t ed as s u p po rt fo r t h a t p ro p o s i ti o n

, t h e t ri al co u n s el

ei t h er t es t i fi ed t h at th ey h ad n o s t rat eg i c reas on fo r fai l i n g t o o bject ( A r el la n o v. S t a t e

,

3 0 4 Ga. Ap p

. 8 3 8

, 8 4 1 (6 98 SE2 d 3 6 2 ) (2 0 1 0); Jo h n s o n v. S t a te

, 29 3 Ga. Ap p

. 7 2 8,

7 3 0 (2 ) (a) (6 6 7 SE2 d 6 3 7 ) (2 0 0 8 )), o r we fo u n d t h at t h e fai l u re to o b ject was b as ed

o n c o u n s e l ’ s o b

ject i v el y u n reas o n ab l e m i s i nt erp ret at i o n o f th e t es t i m o n y ( Hi n es v.

S t a t e , 2 7 7 Ga. Ap p

. 4 0 4 , 4 0 7 -4 0 8 (2 ) (6 2 6 SE2 d 6 01 ) (2 0 0 6 )).

In t h i s cas e, W i l li am s d i d n o t as k tri al co u n s el d u ri ng t h e m o t i o n fo r new t ri al

h eari n g wh et h er h e h ad s t rat eg i c r e a s o n s no t to o b ject t o th is l i n e o f q u es t i o n i n g.

Th u s, t h e reco rd co n t ai n s n o ev i d en ce th at t ri al co u ns el ’ s d eci s i on s were n ot s t rat eg i c.

“ Th e t ri al co urt ’ s fi n d i n g t h at t ri al co u ns el w as n o t i n effect i v e i s s u p p ort ed b y t h e

p res u m p t i o n t h at

, in t h e ab s en ce o f co n t rary ev i den ce, co u n sel ’ s act i on s are p res u m ed

s t rat eg i c i n n at u re.” Mi t ch el l v. S t a t e

, 2 42 Ga. Ap p

. 1 77

, 1 8 2 (4 ) (c) (5 2 9 SE2 d 1 6 9 )

(2 0 0 0).

Ju d g men t a f f i r m ed . Ra y a n d McMi l l i a n , JJ., co n cu r

.

12