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

De c id e d : Ma

rc h 7 , 2 0 16

S1 5 A1 72 4 . BRANNON v . THE S TATE.

THOMP S O N, Ch ie f Ju stic e

.

Ap p e lla n t S te w a rt B ra n n o n wa s fo u n d g u ilty o f m a lic e m u rd e r, fe lo n y

m u rd e r, a rm e d ro b b e ry a nd a gg ra v a te d a ssa u lt with a fire a rm in c o n ne c tio n with

th e sh o o tin g d e a th o f Ma rio S m ith

. 1 He a p p e a ls fro m

th e d e n ia l o f h is m o tio n

fo r n e w tria l, a sse rtin g th a t th e tria l c o u rt e rre d in re fu sin g to h o ld th a t OCGA

§ 1 7 -1 6 -4

, Ge o rg ia ’s re c ip ro c a l d isc o v e ry sta tu te

, re qu ire d th e S ta te to tu rn o v e r

la w e n fo rc e m e n t o ffic e rs’ n o te s; e rre d in fa ilin g to fin d th a t th e S ta te with h e ld

e x c u lp a to ry m a te ria l fro m th e d e fe nse in v io la tio n o f Bra d y v . Ma ry la n d , 3 7 3

1 The crimes occurred on Aug ust 23, 2008. Appellant was indicte d b y a Houston County

g rand jury on September 9, 2008, on charg es of malice murder, felony murder ( two counts), armed

r o b b ery

, a

nd ag g ravated assault with a firearm. F o llowing a jury trial from April 8-11

, 2 0 1 3

, appellant was f

ound g uilty on all counts. U pon receipt of the jury ’s v erdict, the trial court sentenced

appellant to life without the possibility o f p a ro l e o n the malice murder count and, as further

discussed in Division 2, infra, determined that the r e maining counts m e r ge d into o ther counts f or

sentencing purposes. Appellant filed a motion for new trial on April 12, 2013, which he amended

on Aug u st 19, 2014, and ag ain on F ebruary 12, 2015. F ollowing a hearing

, the trial court entered

an order on March 2 4, 2015 deny ing the motion for new trial. Appellant filed a notice of appeal on

April 2, 2015 and the appeal was docketed in this Court for the September 2015 term and submitted

for a decision on the briefs.U.S

. 8 3 (8 3 S Ct 11 9 4

, 1 0 LE2 d 2 1 5 ) (1 9 6 3 ) a n d Gig lio v

. Un it e d S t a t e s

, 4 0 5

U.S

. 1 50 (9 2 S C t 7 6 3

, 3 1 LE2 d 1 0 4 ) ( 1 9 7 2); e rre d in a d m ittin g o th e r a c ts

e v id e n c e p u rsu a n t to O CGA § 2 4 -4 -4 0 4 (b ); e rre d in a llo win g a p o lic e d e te c tiv e

to id e ntify th e v i c t i m i n v id e o e v id e n c e ; e rre d in im p ro p e rly re h a

b ilita tin g a

witn e ss fo r th e S ta t e ; a n d e rre d in fa ilin g to fin d h e re c e iv e d in e ffe c tiv e

a ssista n c e o f c o u n se l a t tria l. Fin d in g no e rro r, we a ffirm a p p e lla n t’s c o n v ic tio n

o f m a lic e m

u rd e r. In v ie w of a se n te n c in g e rro r, h o we v e r, we v a c a te a p o rtio n

o f th e se n te nc in g o rd e r a n d re m a n d th is c a se to th e tria l c o urt fo r re se n te n c in g

.

1 . Vie we d in th e lig h t m ost fa v ora ble to th e ju ry ’s v e rd ic t, th e e v id e n c e

a t tria l sh o we d th e v ic tim o wn e d a 1 98 7 re d Ch e v ro le t Mo n te Ca rlo wh ic h h e

a d v e rtise d fo r sa le in A u to tra d e r m a g a z in e in Au g u st o f 20 08

. A p p e lla n t’s c o

d e fe n d a n t Jo sh ua Ro u n so v ille sa w th e a d ve rtise m e n t an d m a d e a rra ng e m e n ts to

s e e t h e c a r w h ic h th e v ic tim k e p t a t a re n te d sto ra ge u n it in Wa rn e r Ro b b i n s

,

Ge o rg ia

. On Au g u st 2 3

, 2 0 0 8

, a p p e lla n t, d riv in g h is m o th e r’s b la c k F ord F -1 5 0

,

to o k Ro u n so v ille to m e e t with th e v i c t i m a n d se e th e c a r. Ap p e lla n t k n e w

Ro u n so v ille wa s c a rry in g a gu n

. Th e n e xt d a y

, th e v ic tim wa s fo u n d d e a d in h is

sto ra g e u n it with a sin g le g un sh o t wo u nd to th e h e a d a n d a 9 -m m sh e ll c a sin g

ly in g n e arb y

.

2Ro u nso v ille

, w h o p le d g u ilty to th e m u rd e r an d te stifie d a t a

pp e lla n t’s

tria l, a d m itte d to sh o o tin g th e v ic tim in th e sto ra g e b a y with a 9 -m m h a n d g u n

.

He te stifie d th a t he th e n d ro v e t h e v ic tim ’s c a r to Ea to n to n with a p p e lla n t

fo llo win g in th e F -1 5 0 ; th a t h e a n d a p p e lla n t le ft th e sto le n v e hic le a t a frie n d ’s

h o u se o v e rn ig h t; th a t th e y re tu rn e d th e n e x t m o rn in g to re trie v e th e c a r wh ic h

h a d b e e n d a m a ge d a n d strip p e d o f its distin c tiv e tire s; a n d

, th a t a fte r o b ta in in g

tire s fo r th e v ic tim ’s c a

r, th e y d ro v e it o ff th e p r o p er ty

. Da rc u s La n e te stifie d

th a t a p p e lla n t a n d Ro u n so v ille b ro u g ht th e v ic tim ’s c a r to h is h o u s e a n d th a t

b o th m e n re tu rn e d th e n e x t d a y to re trie v e th e v e h i c le

. Th e v ic tim ’s c a r wa s

su b se q u e n tly fo u n d d itc h e d in th e wo od s.

Fo llo win g h is a rre st, a p p e lla n t a d m itte d in a re c o rd e d sta te m e n t th a t h e

we n t to Wa rn e r Ro b in s with Ro u n so v ille to m e e t th e v ic tim a n d th a t h e wa ite d

fo r Ro u n so v ille to le a v e in th e v ic tim ’s c a r b e fo re fo llo win g h im b a c k to P u tn a m

Co u n ty wh e re b o th d e fe n da n ts liv e d

. Ap p e lla n t’s sta te m e n t wa s c o rro b o ra te d

a t tria l b y v id e o ta

pe e v id e n c e fro m th e sto ra g e fa c ility ta ke n o n th e d a y o f th e

c rim e wh ic h sh owe d th e v ic tim ’s b la c k S UV p u llin g u p to th e sto ra ge b u ild in g ;

th e re d Mo nte Ca rlo e x i t i n g th e pre m ise s with a b la c k F-1 50 tru c k fo llo win g

b e h in d ; th e vic tim re -e n te rin g th e sto ra g e b u ild in g wh ile th e b la c k F -1 5 0 wa its;

3a n d th e M o n t e Ca rlo a g a in e x itin g th e p re m ise s fo llo we d by th e F -1 5 0

.

Ad d itio n a lly

, a

n o th e r witn e ss wh o wa s a t a sh o p n e ar th e sto ra g e fa c ility o n th e

d a y o f th e c rim e te stifie d th a t h e sa w two b la c k m a le s le a n in g a g a in st a Mo n te

Ca rlo with a b la c k F -1 50 tru c k p a rk e d n e arb y

. F in a lly

, e v id e n c e o f a pp e lla n t’s

g u ilty p le a to a sim ila r c rim e in wh ic h a p p e lla n t a n d Ro u n so ville sh o t a m a n in

Mo n ro e Co u n ty

, Ge o rg ia in ord e r to ste a l h is v e h ic le o n ly 1 3 d a y s p rio r to th e

c rim e a t issu e wa s a d m itte d in to e v id e n c e

.

We c o n c lu d e th e e v id e n c e in th is c a se wa s su ffic ie n t to e n a b le a ra tio n a l

trie r o f fa c t to fin d a

p p e lla n t g u ilty b e y o n d a re a so n a ble d o u b t o f th e c rim e s fo r

wh ic h h e wa s c o n v ic te d. S e e Ja c k so n v

. Virg in ia

, 4 43 U.S

. 3 0 7 (9 9 S Ct 2 7 8 1

,

6 1 LE2 d 5 6 0 ) (1 97 9).

2

. Wh ile th e e vid e n c e wa s su ffic ie n t to su p po rt th e ju ry ’s g u ilty v e rd ic ts

in th is c a se

, th e tria l c o u rt e rre d in m e rg in g c e rta in c ou n ts fo r ju d gm e n t a n d

se n te nc in g

. Se e Hu le tt v

. S ta te

, 2 9 6 Ga

. 4 9

, 54 (7 6 6 S E 2 d 1 ) (2 0 1 4). Alth o u g h

th e S ta te h a s n ot a

p p e a le d th is se n te n c in g e rro r, u p o n n otic in g su c h m e rg e r

issu e s in a d ire c t a

p p e a l, th is Co u rt m a y re so lv e th e m

. S e e id ; Na z ario v

. S ta te

,

2 9 3 Ga

. 4 8 0

, 4 8 8 (2 ) (b ) (7 4 6 S E2 d 1 09 ) (2 0 1 3 ). He re

, a p p e lla nt wa s c h a rg e d

with m a lic e m

u rd e r (Co u n t 1 ), fe lo n y mu r d er b a se d o n a rm e d ro b b e ry (Co u n t

42 ), a rm e d ro b be ry (Co u n t 3 ), fe lo n y m u rd e r b a se d o n a g g ra v a te d a ssa u lt (Co u n t

4 ) a n d a g g ra v a te d a ssa u lt w ith a fire a rm (Co u n t 5) a n d wa s c o n v ic te d b y th e ju ry

o n a ll c o u n ts. Th e tria l c o u rt c o rre c tly se nte n c e d a pp e lla n t o n th e m a lic e m

u rd e r

c o n v ic tio n

, se e Ma lc o lm v

. S ta te

, 2 6 3 Ga

. 3 6 9

, 3 7 2 (4 ) (4 3 4 SE2 d 4 79 ) (1 9 9 3 ),

b u t fa ile d to re c o g n iz e th a t th e fe lo n y m u rd e r c o u n ts th e re a fte r we re v a c a te d a s

su rp lu sa g e

. Se e H u l ett, su p ra a t 5 3

. As a re su lt, th e tria l c o u rt im p ro p e rly

m e rg e d th e n o n -m

u rd e r c o u nts in to th e c orre sp on din g fe lo n y m u rd e r c o un ts a n d

m e rg e d b o th fe lo n y m

u rd e r c o u n ts in to th e m a lic e m u rd e r c o u n t fo r se n te n c in g

.

Id . As th e fe lo n y m

u rd e r c ou n ts n o lo ng e r e x iste d

, th e o n ly d e te rm in a tio n fo r

th e tria l c o u rt wa s wh e th e r th e un d e rly in g fe lo n ie s m e rg e d, a s a m a tte r o f fa c t,

in to th e m a lic e m

u rd e r c o u n t. Id

. Be c a

u se th e re wa s n o e v i d e n ce p re se n te d

a u th oriz in g th e ju ry to fin d th a t th e a g g ra v a te d a ssa u lt with a fire a rm c o m m itte d

o n th e v ic tim w a s n o t fo llo we d a lm o st imm e d ia te ly by th e fa ta l sh o o tin g o r th a t

a d e lib e ra te in te rv a l e x iste d b e twe e n th e two e ve n ts, we fin d th a t a p p e lla n t’s

c o n v ic tio n fo r a g g ra v a te d a ssa u lt (Co u n t 5 ) m e rg e s a s a m a tte r o f fa c t in to h is

c o n v ic tio n fo r m a lic e m

urd e r ( C o u n t 1 ). S e e id

. a t 5 5. S e e a lso So lo m o n v

.

S ta te

, 2 93 Ga

. 6 0 5

, 60 6 (1 ) (7 4 8 S E 2 d 8 65 ) (2 0 1 3 ). Ho we v e r, “ ‘b e c a use m a lic e

m u rd e r ha s a

n e le m e n t th a t mu s t b e p ro v e n (d e a th o f th e v ic tim ) th a t a rm e d

5ro b b e ry d o e s n ot, a nd a rm e d ro b b e ry h a s an e le m e n t (ta kin g o f p ro p e rty ) th a t

m a lic e m u rd e r do e s n o t,’” we fin d th a t a p p e lla n t’s c o nv ic tio n fo r arm e d ro b b e ry

(Co un t 3 ) d id n o t m e rg e a s a m a tte r o f fa c t with h is m a lic e mu rd e r c o n v ic tio n

(Co un t 1 ). Hu le tt, 2 9 6 G a

. a t 5 5

. T h e tria l c o u rt, th e re fo re

, sh o uld h a v e

se n te nc e d a

p p e lla n t fo r Co u n t 3

, in a d d itio n to th e se n te n c e it im p o se d o n Co u n t

1

. Ac c ord in g ly

, we v a c a te th a t p o rtio n o f th e se n te n c in g o rd e r in w h ic h th e tria l

c o u rt “ m e rg e d ” Co u n t 5 in to Co u n t 4

, Co u nt 3 in to Co u nt 2

, a n d Co un ts 2 a n d

4 in to Co u n t 1

, a

n d re m a nd th is c a se to th e tria l c ou rt fo r re -se n te n c in g o n Co u n t

3

.

3

. Ap p e lla n t c on te n d s th e tria l c o u rt e rre d in d e n y in g h is m o tio n to

c o mp e l th e S ta te ’s p ro d u c tio n o f la w e nfo rc e m e n t o ffic e rs’ n o te s p u rsu a n t to

OCGA § 1 7 -1 6 -4 a n d fu rth e r e rre d in d e ny in g h is c la im o n m o tio n fo r n e w tria l

th a t th e S ta te with h e ld e x c u lp a to ry m a te ria l fro m th e d e fe n se in vio la ti o n o f

Bra d y

, su p ra

, 3 7 3 U. S

. a t 8 7

. Ad d itio n a lly

, a p p e lla n t c o n te nd s th e tria l c o urt

e rre d in re fu sin g to c o m

p e l th e S ta te to p ro v id e th e de fe n se with in fo rm a tio n

a b o u t p le a d e a ls g iv e n to S ta te witn e sse s a s re q u ire d b y Gig lio

, su p ra

, 4 0 5 U.S

.

1 5 0

. Th e se c o n te n tio n s la c k m e rit.

(a ) Ap p e lla n t, wh o w a s in te rro g a te d by o ffic e rs fro m th re e se p a ra te

6c o u n tie s a

b o u t se v e ra l d iffe re n t c rim e s, m o v e d to c om p e l th e S ta te to p ro d u c e

a n y a n d a ll in fo rm a tio n sh a re d b e twe e n la w e n fo rc e m e n t o ffic e rs a b o u t th e ir

v a rio u s in t e rro g a tio n s o f a p p e lla n t, in c lu d in g a n y o f th e o ffic e rs’ h a n d writte n

n o te s. F in d in g th a t th e in fo rm a l n o te s o f l a w e n f o rc e m e n t o ffic ia ls we re n o t

in c lu de d a m on g th e ty p e s o f e v id e nc e th e S ta te is sta tu to rily re q u ire d to p ro d u c e

in c rim in a l c a se s, th e tria l c o urt d e nie d th e m o tio n

. In so ru lin g , h o w e v e r, th e

tria l c o urt re m in d e d th e S ta te th a t it h a d a c o ntin u in g o b lig a tio n u n d e r Bra d y to

p ro v id e th e d e fe n se with a n y la w e n f

o rc e m e n t n o te s in th e S ta te ’s p o sse ssio n

wh ic h c o n ta in e d p ote n tia lly e x c u lp a to ry in fo rm a ti o n

. S e e Bra d y

, su pra

.

On m o tio n fo r n e w tria l, th e tria l c o u rt re je c te d a p p e lla n t’s a rg u m e n t th a t

OCGA § 1 7 -1 6 -4 re q u ire d th e S ta te to p ro d u c e la w e nfo rc e m e n t o ffic e rs’ n o te s,

a n d

, fin d in g n o e v id e nc e th a t su c h n o te s c o n ta in i n g e xc u lp a to ry in fo rm a tio n h a d

b e e n with h e ld fro m th e d e fe n se b y th e S ta te

, o r e v e n e xiste d

, th e tria l c o urt

fo u n d n o m e rit to a

p p e lla n t’s c la im th a t th e S ta te ’s fa ilu re to p ro d u c e th e se n o te s

v io la te d Bra dy , su p ra . We a g re e

.

By its p la in la n g u a g e

, OCGA § 1 7

- 1 6

- 4

, wh ic h a d dre sse s Ge o rg ia ’s

re q u ire m e n ts fo r th e d isc lo su re o f e v id e n c e in c rim in a l tria ls a n d sp e c ifie s th e

ty p e s o f e v id e n c e th e S ta te m u st tu rn o v e r to th e d e fe n se , d o e s n o t in c lu d e th e

7in fo rm a l n o te s o f la w e n fo rc e m e n t o ffic ia ls a mo n g th e ty pe s o f e v id e n c e th e

S ta te is sta tu to rily re q u ire d to p r o d u c e

. Ac c o rd in g ly

, we fin d n o e rro r in th e

tria l c ou rt’s d e te rm in a tio n th a t a b se n t a sh o win g b y th e d e fe n se th a t it wa s

le g a lly e n title d to th e d isc o v e ry o f su c h n ote s o n so m e o th e r b a sis, th e S ta te h a d

n o d u ty to p ro v id e th e m

u n d e r OCGA § 1 7 -1 6 -4

. S e e Ki n g v

. S ta te

, 2 7 3 Ga

.

2 5 8

, 2 6 3 (5 3 9 SE2 d 7 8 3 ) (2 0 0 0 ). S e e a lso Ha rp e r v

. S ta te

, 2 4 9 Ga

. 5 1 9

, 5 2 8

(2 9 2 SE2 d 3 8 9 ) (1 98 2 ) (o b se rv in g th e re is “ ‘n o c o n stitu tio na l re qu ire m e n t th a t

th e p ro se c u tio n m a k e a c o m p le te a n d d e ta ile d a c c o u n tin g to th e d e f en s e o f a ll

p o lic e in v e stig a to ry wo rk o n a c a se ,’” q uo tin g M o ore v

. Illin o is, 4 0 8 U. S

. 7 8 6

,

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

Alth o u g h a

p p e lla n t d isp u te s th e tria l c o u rt’s fin din g th a t th e ty p e o f n o te s

h e so u g h t to c om

p e l d id n o t e x ist, m e re sp e c ula tio n is in su ffic ie n t to su b sta n tia te

a p p e lla n t’s c la im th a t th e S ta te with h e ld e x c u lp a to ry e v id e n c e wh ic h p re ju d ic e d

h is d e fe n se

. “ To p re v a il o n a Bra d y c la im

, a de fe n d a n t m u st sh o w (1 ) th e S ta te

p o sse sse d e v id e n c e fa v o ra b le to th e d e fe n d a n t; (2 ) th e d e fe n d a n t d id no t p o sse ss

th e fa v o ra

b le e v id e n c e a

n d c o u l d n o t o b ta in it h im se lf with a n y re a so n a b le

d ilig e n c e ; (3 ) th e S ta t e s u p p r e sse d th e fa vo ra b le e v id e nc e ; a n d (4 ) h a d th e

e v id e n c e b e e n disc lo se d to th e d e fe n se

, a re a so n a b le p ro b a b ility e x ists th a t th e

8o u tc om e o f th e tria l wo u ld h a v e b e e n d iffe re n t.” He ste r v

. S ta te

, 29 2 Ga

. 3 5 6

,

3 5 8 (7 3 6 S E2 d 4 0 4 ) (2 0 13 ). Ac c o rd Ba n k s v. Dre tk e

, 54 0 U.S

. 6 6 8

, 6 9 1 (1 2 4

S Ct 1 2 5 6

, 1 5 7 S E2 d 1 1 6 6 ) (2 0 0 4 ). Be c a u se th e re c o rd sh o ws th a t a p p e lla n t

fa ile d to m a k e a n y o f th e re q u ire d sh o win g s u n de r Bra d y

, th e tria l c o u rt p ro p e rly

re je c te d th is c la im

.

(b ) No r d o we fin d e rro r in th e tria l c o u rt’s re fu sa l to re q u ire th e S ta te to

o b ta in a n d su p p ly in fo rm a tio n to th e d e fe n se a b ou t p le a d e a ls a lle g e dly g iv e n

to v a rio u s S ta te witn e s s es

. T h e S ta te h a s a d u ty to re v e a l to th e d e fe n se a n y

a g re e m e n t with a wit n e ss c o n c e rn in g c rim in a l c h a rg e s p e n din g a g a in st th a t

witn e ss, a n d th e fa ilu re to d isc lo se su c h a n a g re e m e n t c on stitu te s a v io la tio n o f

th e a c c u se d ’s d u e p ro c e ss rig h ts u n d e r B ra d y

, su p ra

. S e e G ig lio

, su p ra

, 4 0 5

U.S

. a t 1 5 4 ; Co le m a n v

. S ta te

, 2 7 1 Ga

. 8 0 0

, 8 0 2 (5 2 3 SE2 d 8 5 2 ) (1 9 9 9 ). In

o rd e r to e sta b lish re v e rsib le e rro r, h o we v e r, a de fe n d a n t m u st sh o w th a t h a d

e v id e n c e o f th e a g re e m e nt b e e n d isc lo se d

, th e re e x ists a re a so n a b le p ro b a b ility

th a t th e re su lt of th e d e fe n d a nt’s tria l wo uld h a v e b e e n d iffe re nt. S e e Co le m a n

,

su p ra

.

He re

, th e tria l c o u rt fo u n d th e p ro se c u tio n wa s n o t in v olv ed in a n y

d isc u ssio n s with o th e r la w e n fo rc e m e n t a g e n c ie s o u tsid e o f H o u sto n Co u n ty

9re g a rd in g a n y p le a offe rs m a d e to a n y o f th e S ta te ’s w itn e sse s a t a pp e lla n t’s

tria l. Th e tria l c ou rt fu rth e r d e te rm in e d th a t th e o n ly p le a offe r m a d e b y th e

S ta te in th is c a se wa s to Ro u n so v ille

, a d e a l th e S ta te re v e a l e d to a p p e lla n t

d u rin g d isc o v e ry

. Ha vin g fa ile d to c o m e fo rwa rd with an y e v id e nc e su p p o rtin g

h is c o n te n t io n th a t p le a d e a ls we re giv e n to S ta te witn e sse s b y o th e r

ju risd ic tio n s, a

p p e lla n t fa ile d to m a ke th e sh o win g s re q u ire d u n d e r Bra d y to

su p p o rt h is c la im . S e e He ste r, su pra a t 3 5 8.

4 . Ap p e lla n t n e x t c o n te n d s th e tria l c o u rt e rre d in h o ld in g th a t e v id e n c e

o f th e Mo nro e Co u n ty c rim e s to wh ic h h e p le d g u ilty wa s a d m issib le p u rsu a n t

to OCGA § 2 4 -4 -4 0 4 (b ). We d isa g re e

.

Ev id e n c e o f o th e r c rim e s, w ro n g s, o r a c ts c o m m itte d b y a d e fe n d a n t is

a d m issib le to pro v e

, a m o n g o th e r th in gs, m o tiv e

, o p po rtu nity

, in te n t

,

p re p ara tio n

, pla n

, k n owle d g e

, id e n tity o r a bse nc e o f m ista ke o r a c c id e n t

, b u t

c a n n o t b e u se d to p ro v e th e c h a ra c te r o f th e d e fe n d a n t b y p re se ntin g e v id e n c e

th a t th e a c c u se d h a s a p ro p e n sity to c o m m it c rim e

. Se e OCGA § 2 4 -4 -4 0 4 (b ).

In th e in sta n t c a se

, th e tria l c o u rt ru le d th a t th e e v id e n c e o f th e Mo n ro e Co u n ty

c rim e s c ou ld be c o n sid e re d b y th e ju ry fo r th e p u rp o se s of sh o win g a pp e lla n t’s

k n o w le d g e

, in te nt, pa rtic ip a tio n in a p la n

, o r id e n tity

. Ap p e lla n t c la im s th e tria l

10c o u rt e rre d in a dm ittin g th is e v id e n c e b e c a u se its p ro b a ti v e v a l u e wa s

su b sta n tia lly ou twe ig h e d by th e d a n g e r o f u nfa ir p re ju d ic e

. S e e OCGA § 2 4 -4

-

4 0 3

.

In d e te rm in in g th e a d m issib ility o f “ oth e r a c ts” e v id e n c e

, th is Co u rt ha s

a d o p t e d th e Ele v e n th Circ u it’s th re e -p a rt te st fo r a d m issib ility u n d e r F e d e r a l

Ru le o f E v id e n c e R

u le 4 0 4 (b ) wh ic h re qu ire s th a t th e a d m ittin g c ou rt fin d (1 )

th e e v i d e n c e i s re le v a n t to a n issu e in th e c a se o th e r th a n th e d e fe n d a n t’s

c h a ra c te r, (2 ) th e p ro b a tiv e v a lu e is n o t su b sta n tia lly o utwe ig he d b y u n d u e

p re ju d ic e

, a n d (3 ) th e re is su ffic ie n t p ro o f fo r a ju ry to fin d b y a p re p o n d e ra n c e

o f th e e v id e n c e th a t th e de fe n d a n t c o m m itte d th e p rio r a c t. S e e Bra d sh a w v

.

S ta te

, 2 96 Ga

. 6 5 0

, 65 6 (7 6 9 S E2 d 8 92 ) (2 01 5), c itin g Un ite d S ta te s v

. Elliso r,

5 2 2 F3 d 1 2 55

, 1 2 6 7 (1 1 th Cir. 2 0 0 8 ). Wh e n we ig h in g t h e p ro ba tiv e v a lu e o f

o th e r a c ts e v id e n c e a g a in st its p re ju d ic ia l e ffe c t, Ge o rg i a c o u r t s a p p ly th e

b a la n c in g te st se t fo rth in OCGA § 24 -4 -4 0 3, 2 wh ic h sim ila rly tra c k s its fe d e ra l

c o u n te rp a rt. S e e F e d

. R. Ev id

. 4 0 3

. O n a p pe a l, a tria l c o urt’s d e c isio n to a d m it

2 OCGA § 24-4-403 provides:

Relevant e v idence may be ex c luded if its probative value is substantially outweig h ed

by the dang er of unfair prejudice, confusion of the issues, or misleading the jury or

by co n s i d e r ations of undue delay

, waste of time, or needless presentation of

cumulative evidence.

11e v id en c e p u rsu a n t to OCGA § 2 4 -4 -4 0 4 (b ) is re vie we d fo r a c le a r a b u se o f

d isc re tio n

, a re v ie w re q u irin g th e a p pe lla te c ou rt to m a k e a “ c o mmo n se nse

a sse ssm e n t o f a ll th e c irc u m sta n c e s su rro u n d in g th e e x trin sic offe n se

, in c lu d in g

p ro se c u to ria l n e e d

, ov e ra ll sim ila rity b e twe e n th e e x trin sic a c t a n d th e c h a rg e d

o ffe n se

, a s w e l l a s te m

p o ra l re m o te ne ss.” Bra d sh aw, 2 9 6 Ga

. a t 65 7 -6 5 8

(c ita tio n s a n d q u o ta tio n m a rk s o m itte d ).

Asse ssin g th e c irc u m sta n c e s su rro u n d in g th e oth e r a c ts e v i d e n c e a d m itte d

in th is c a se we fin d th a t e v id e n c e o f th e Mo n ro e Co u n ty ro b b e ry an d sh o o tin g

sa tisfie d th e th re e -p a rt te st fo r a d m issib ility

. F irst, th is e v id e n c e wa s p ro p e rly

a d m itte d b y th e tria l c o u rt to sh o w a p p e lla n t’s in te n t, k n o wle dg e a n d id e n tity

. 3

Wh er e a p p e l la n t wa s p ro se c ute d a s a p a rty to th e m u rd e r a n d d id n o t a d m it to

k n o w in g wh a t Ro u n so v ille d id to th e v ic tim in th e sto ra g e b a y

, th e S ta te h a d th e

b u rd e n to p ro v e a

pp e lla n t a n d Ro u n so v i l l e s h are d a c o m m o n c rim in a l in te n t.

S e e Na v a rre te v

. S ta te

, 28 3 Ga

. 1 5 6

, 1 5 8 (6 5 6 SE2 d 8 14 ) (2 0 08 ) (o b se rv in g

m e re p re se n c e a t th e sc e n e of a c rim e is in su ffic ie n t e v id e n c e to c o nv ic t o n e o f

b e in g a p a rty to a c rim e ). As p ro o f o f a c o m m o n c rim in a l in te nt m a y be in fe rre d

3 H aving determined that the evidence was admissible as to intent, knowledg e and identity

,

we need not e x amine whether it was also admissible to show participation in a plan. See B radshaw,

supra at 657, n. 5.

12fro m th e d e fe nd a nt’s pre se n c e

, c o m p a n io n sh ip

, a n d c o nd uc t b e fo re

, d u rin g a n d

a fte r a n o ffe n se

, se e id

, e vid e n c e o f a p p e lla n t’s prio r p a rtic ip a tio n in th e Mo n ro e

Co u n ty c r i m e s in wh ic h Ro u n so v ille sh o t a m a n in o rd e r to ste a l his c a r, wa s

a d m issib le to sh o w a

p p e lla n t h a d k n owle d g e o f

, a n d sh a re d

, Ro u n so v ille ’s

c rim in a l in te n t in th e in sta n t c a se

.

In a d d itio n

, th e Mo n ro e Co u n ty c rim e s we re su ffic ie n tly sim ila r to th e

c rim e s a t issu e to b e a dm issib le a s p ro o f o f id e n tity

. S e e Bro o k s v

. S ta te

,

_ _ Ga

.

_ _ (S 1 5 A1 4 8 0

, Ma rc h 7

, 2 0 1 6 ). S e e a lso Un ite d S ta te s v

. P ha k n ik o n e

, 60 5 F 3 d

1 0 9 9, 11 0 8 (1 1 th Cir. 2 0 1 0) (Wh e n in tro d u c e d to p ro v e id e n tity

, th e p h y sic a l

sim ila rity o f e x trin sic o ffe n se e v id e n c e to th e o ffe n se c h a rg e d “ ‘ m ust b e su c h

th a t it m a rk s th e o ffe n se s a s th e h a n d iwo rk o f th e a c c u se d

. ’ ” )

. H e re

, b o th

c rim e s, w h ic h o c c u rre d 1 3 da y s a p a rt in n e ig h b o rin g c o u n tie s, in v o lv e d th e

sa m e two de fe n d a n ts ste a lin g a c a r with d istin c tiv e tire rim s a fte r sh o o tin g th e

v e h ic le ’s o wn e r. In e a c h c a se

, a p p e lla nt u se d o ne o f h is m o th e r’s c a rs to d riv e

Ro u n so v ille to th e sc e n e o f th e c rim e , wa ite d wh ile Ro un so v ille sh o t th e c a r’s

o wn e r a n d to ok th e v e h ic le

, a n d th e n f o l l o w e d Ro u n so v ille a s h e dro v e th e

sto le n c a r fro m th e sc e n e

. We fin d th a t th e m o d u s o p e ra n di fo r e a c h c a rja c k in g

wa s su ff i c i e n t l y sim ila r to m a rk th e o ffe n se s a s a p p e lla n t’s h a n d iwo rk

. S e e

13Un ite d S ta te s v

. C le m o n s, 32 F 3d 1 5 0 4

, 1 5 0 9 ( 1 1 th Cir. 19 94 ) (u n c h a rg e d

c a rja c kin g s we re su ffic ie n tly sim ila r to th e c h a rg e d o ffe n se o f m u rd e rin g a

fe d e ra l a g e n t a s to wa rra n t th e i r a d m issio n in e v id e n c e to p ro v e id e n tity ).

F u rth e r, a lth o u g h a

p p e lla n t a d m itte d in a sta te m e n t h e g a v e p olic e fo llo win g h is

a rre st th a t h e d ro v e Ro u n so v ille to Wa rn e r Ro bin s o n th e d a y o f t h e c rim e to

m e e t with th e v ic tim

a bo u t th e v ic tim ’s c a r, h e re c an te d th is sta te m e n t a t tria l,

te stify in g th a t h e h a d b e e n c oe rc e d in to m a k in g it b y th e p olic e a nd th a t it wa s

u n tru e

. B y pre se n tin g a

n a lib i d e fe n se a t tria l, a

p p e lla n t m a d e id e n tity a p iv o ta l

c o n sid e ra tio n fo r th e ju ry to re so lv e

. Id

.

In lig h t o f th e fo re g o in g

, we fin d th e tria l c o urt d id n o t a b u se its disc re tio n

in d e te rm in in g th a t th e se c o n d p ro n g o f th e a dm issib ility te st lik e wise wa s m e t.

As e vid e n c e o f th e Mo n ro e Co u n ty c rim e s wa s n e c e ssa ry to c ou n te r a pp e lla n t’s

te stim o n y a t tria l a n d th e d e fe nse s o n wh ic h h e re lie d

, th e p ro b a tiv e v a lu e o f th is

e v id e n c e wa s n o t su b sta n tia lly o u twe ig h e d b y th e d a n g e r o f u n fa ir p re ju d ic e to

a p p e lla n t. S e e Un ite d S ta te s v . Je rn ig a n, 3 4 1 F 3 d 1 2 73

, 1 2 80 (1 1 th Cir. 2 0 0 3 )

(Ru le 4 0 4 (b ) is a ru le o f in c lu sio n an d oth e r c rim e s e v id e n c e

, lik e o th e r re le v a n t

e v id e n c e

, sh o u ld n o t b e e x c l u d e d lig h tly wh e n c e n tra l to th e g o v e rn m e n t’s c a se ).

Bra d sh a w, su p ra a t 65 7 (a d m issib ility o f o th e r a c ts e v id e nc e c a lls fo r c o m m o n

14se n se a

p p ro a c h

, wh ic h in c lu d e s p ro se c u to ria l n e e d ). F in a lly

, w e n o te th a t

a p p e lla n t p le d gu ilty to th e Mo nro e Co u n ty c rim e s, th u s th e th ird a n d fin a l

re q u ire m e n t, th a t th e r e b e s u f f i c i e n t p r o of th a t a

pp e lla n t c o m m itte d th e se c rim e s,

h a s a lso b e e n m e t

. F o r t h e re a so n s sta te d a b o v e

, we fin d n o e rro r in th e tria l

c o u rt’s a d m issio n o f th e o th e r a c ts e v id e n c e a t tria l.

5

. Ap p e lla nt a d d itio n a lly a rg u e s th e tria l c o u rt im p ro p e r l y a l lo we d a

p o lic e d e t e c t i v e

, S e rg e a n t Art Cu rn utte

, to te stify a s to th e c o n te nts o f a

su rv e illa n c e v id e o o v e r a

p p e lla n t’s o b

je c tio n

. Ap p e lla n t c o m

p la in s th a t th e tria l

c o u rt im p ro p e rly a llo we d Cu rn u tte to id e n tify th e v i c t i m a s b e in g d e p ic te d o n

th e su rv e illa n c e v id e o d e sp ite h a v in g n o p e rso n a l k n o wle dg e o f t h e v i c tim ’s

p e rso n a l fe a tu re s o r o b se rv a b le b e h a v io rs. He a lso c o n te n d s th e tria l c o u rt e rre d

in p e rm ittin g Cu rn u tte to te stify a bo u t th e d a te -tim e sta m

p a p p e a rin g o n th e

v id e o, a rg u in g th a t th e se rg e a nt’s se c o n d-h a n d v i e win g o f th e su rv e illa n c e v id e o

in th is c a se d id no t m e e t th e th re sh o ld re q u ire m e n ts n e c e ssa ry fo r its a d m issio n

p u rsu a n t to OCGA § 2 4 -9 -9 23

. 4

4 As the F e d eral Rules of Evidence do not c o ntain a provision like OCGA § 24-9-923

specifically pertaining to the authentication of photog raphs, motion pictures, video a nd au d i o

recording s when no witness is a vailable, and a s this statute in Georg ia’s new evide n ce c o d e is

substantially similar to the pre-ex isting statute, former OCGA § 24-4-48, w h i c h i t r e p laced, w e

therefore g ive OCGA § 24-9-923 the same meaning a s former OCGA § 24-4-48. See B r adshaw, 296

at 654.

15OCGA § 2 4 -9 -9 2 3 (c ) g o v e rn s th e m e th o d fo r a d m ittin g v id e o re c o rd in g s

c re a te d b y u n m a n n e d c a m e ra s su c h a s th e su rv e illa n c e v id e o a d m itte d b y th e

tria l c o u rt in th is c a se

. 5 S e e Da wso n v

. S ta te

, 2 8 3 G a

. 31 5, 3 1 7 (6 5 8 S E2 d 7 5 5 )

(2 0 0 8 ). P u rsu a n t to th is sta tu te , v id e o ta p e s c re a te d b y u n m a n n e d c a m e ra s

“ sh a ll b e a d m issib le in e vid e n c e wh e n th e c o urt d e te rm in e s, b a se d o n c o m p e te n t

e v id e n c e p re se nte d to th e c o u rt,” th a t th e v id e o te nd s to re liably sh ow th e fa c t

o r fa c ts fo r wh ic h it is o ffe re d

. OCGA § 2 4 -9 -9 2 3 (c ). Alth o u g h th is p ro v isio n

a lso re q u ire s th a t th e v id e ota p e sh o w th e d a te an d tim e th e re c ord in g wa s m a d e

,

th e f a ct “ [ t ]h a t th e da te -tim e sta m p d oe s n o t re fle c t th e a c tu a l tim e w h e n th e

im a g e s we re c a

p tu re d g o e s t o t h e we ig h t to b e g iv e n th e e v id e n c e

, n o t its

a d m issib ility .” Da wso n, su p ra a t 3 1 8 -3 1 9

. S e e Ho llo wa y v

. S t a te

, 2 8 7 Ga

.

Ap p

. 6 5 5

, 6 5 8 (2 ) (6 5 3 S E2 d 9 5 ) (2 0 0 7 ). Th e re c o rd sh o ws th a t Cu rn u tte

5 This provision provides, in pertinent part:

(c) Subject to any other v alid objection

. . . video re co r d i n gs a n d a udio r e cording s

produced at a time when the device producing the items was not being operated by

an individual person or was not under the p ersonal control or in the presence of an

individual operator shall be admissible in e vidence when the court d etermines, based

on competent evidence presented to the court, that such items tend to show reliably

the fact or facts for w hich the items are offered, provided that, prior to the admission

of such evidence, the date and time of such

. . . video recording shall be contained on

such e v i d e n ce, and such date and time shall be shown to have b een made

contemporaneously

with the events depicted in such . . . video recording

.

OCGA § 24-9-923 (c).

16te stifie d th a t h e h a d be e n tra in e d in v id e o su rv e illa n c e a n d r e t r i e v e d a n d

c a p tu re d v id e o re c o rd in g s a s p a rt o f h i s wo rk ; th a t h e do w n lo a d e d v id e o ta p e

fro m su rv e illa n c e c a m e ra s a t th e sc e ne o f th e c rim e o n th e da y th e v ic tim ’s b o d y

wa s d isc o v e re d ; th a t h e r e t r i e v e d t h e v id e o u sin g a sy ste m fo r wh ic h h e wa s

c e rtifie d a n d a l s o t r a i n e d o th e r o ffic e rs to u se ; th a t a t th e tim e h e d o wn lo a d e d

th e v id e o th e e q u i p me n t a p p e a re d to b e fu n c tio n in g pro pe rly e x c e pt th a t th e

d a te -tim e sta m

p w a s in a c c u ra te ; th a t h e wa s a b le to d e te rm in e th a t th e d a te -tim e

e n try o n th e v id e o wa s two d a y s, 1 2 h o u rs, an d 45 m in u te s fa st b y c o m p a rin g

i t w i t h th e a c tu a l d a te a nd tim e ; th a t h e v ie we d th e v id e o on th e d a y h e

d o wn lo a d e d it; a

n d th a t th e v id e o b e in g offe re d a s e v id e nc e w a s th e o n e h e

re trie ve d fro m th e su rv e i l l an c e c a m e ra s a t th e sc e n e o f th e c rim e

. Un d e r th e

c irc u m sta n c e s, we h o ld th e tria l c o u rt d id no t a b u se its disc re tio n in a d m ittin g

th e v id e ota

p e

. S e e D a wso n

, su p ra ; Dix o n v

. S ta te

, 30 0 Ga

. Ap p

. 1 8 3

, 1 8 5 (6 8 4

S E2 d 6 79 ) (2 0 0 9 ).

Ap p e lla n t fu rth e r c o m

p la in s th a t wh e n th e v id e o w a s p la y e d fo r th e ju ry

,

th e tria l c o u rt im

pro p e rly a llo we d Cu rn utte to offe r o p in i o n te stim o n y

id e n tify in g th e v ic tim a s a p p e a rin g th e re in

. Wh e n a w itn e ss id e n tifie s a p e rso n

in a vid e o o r pic tu re

, th e re m u st b e so m e b a sis in k n o wle d g e fo r th e witn e ss’s

17id e n tific a tio n to b e su p e rio r to th a t o f th e ju ry

. Se e Da wso n

, su p ra a t 3 2 0 (“ ‘It

is im p ro p e r to a llo w a witn e ss to te stify a s to th e id e n tity o f a p e rso n in a v id e o

o r p h oto g ra

ph wh e n su c h o p in io n e v id e n c e te n d s o n ly to e sta blish a fa c t wh ic h

a v e ra ge ju r o rs c o u ld d e c id e th in k in g fo r th e m se lv e s a n d d ra win g th e ir o wn

c o n c lu sio n s. [Cits.] ’” ); Grim e s v

. S ta te

, 2 9 1 Ga

. Ap p. 5 8 5

, 5 90 (6 6 2 S E2 d 3 4 6 )

(2 0 0 8 ) (sa m e ). P re te rm ittin g wh e th e r C u rn u tte ’s k n o w le d ge o f th e v ic tim ’s

a p p e a ra n c e o n th e d a y he wa s k ille d w a s su p e rio r to th a t o f th e a v e ra g e ju ro r in

th is c a se

, 6 we fin d th a t a

n y e rro r b y th e tria l c o u rt in a llo win g C u rn u tte to o ffe r

o p in io n e v id e n c e id e n tify in g t h e vic tim o n th e v id e o ta p e wa s h a rm le ss.

S ig n ific a n tly

, Cu rn u tte n e v e r id e n tifie d a p p e lla nt a s a

p p e a rin g in th e v id e o ta

p e

a n d m isid e n tific a tio n o f th e v ic tim wa s n o t th e b a sis o f a p p e lla n t’s d e fe n se

. S e e

Ro g e rs v

. S ta te

, 2 9 4 Ga

. Ap p

. 1 9 5

, 19 8-1 9 9 (6 7 0 S E2 d 1 0 6 ) (2 0 0 8 ). Co m pa re

Grim e s, su p ra a t 5 92 (2 ) (im p ro pe r a d m issio n o f o p in io n te stim o n y id e n tify in g

d e fe n d a n t in p h o to g ra

ph c o n stitu te d h a rm fu l e rro r w h e r e b a sis o f th e d e fe nse

wa s m isid e n tific a tio n o f th e d e fe n d a n t). Mo re o ve r, Cu rn u tte ’s te stim o n y

id e n tify in g th e v ic tim a t th e c rim e sc e ne w a s c u m u la tiv e in th a t it w a s su p p o rte d

6 The trial court noted at the motion for new trial hearing that Curnutte had d i r e c t contact

with the victim’s body and car a t the crime scene, as well as with the stolen Monte Carlo when it was

recovered in Putnam County

.

18b y te stim o n y fro m o th e r witn e sse s, a s we ll a s b y a p p e lla n t’s o wn sta te m e n t.

Co n sid e rin g th e se fa c to rs a n d th e o v e rwh e lm in g e vid e n c e o f a p p e lla n t’s g u ilt,

we fin d th a t a

n y e rro r by th e tria l c o u r t i n a llo w in g Cu rn u tte to id e n tify th e

v ic tim o n th e v id e o ta

p e wa s h a rm le ss.

6

. Ap p e lla n t a lso c o m

p la in s th a t th e tria l c o u rt a b u se d its d isc re tio n in its

h a n d lin g o f h is c o -d e fe n da n t, Ro u n so v ille

, o n th e witn e ss sta n d. At th e tim e o f

a p p e lla n t’s tria l, Ro u n so v ille h a d a lre a dy b e e n trie d a n d c o n v ic te d o f th e

Mo n ro e Co u nty sh o o tin g a n d c a r th e ft, a n d h i s co n v ic tio n wa s o n a p p e a l.

Alth ou g h h e h a d e n te re d a g u ilty p le a in th e in sta n t c a se

, Ro u n so v ille ’s tru th fu l

te stim o n y a t a

p p e lla n t’s tria l wa s n o t a sp e c ific c o nd itio n o f h i s p l e a

. Wh e n

c a lle d a s a w itn e ss a t a

p p e lla n t’s tria l, Ro u n s o ville in itia lly re fu se d to a n swe r

a n y q u e stio n s th a t sp e c ific a lly im p lic a te d a

pp e lla n t in e ith e r c rim e

. Afte r

e x c u sin g th e ju ry

, th e tria l c o u rt a d m o n ish e d Ro u n so v ille b y th re a te n in g to h o ld

h im in c o n te m

p t a n d strik e h is te stim o n y

. Ho w e v e r

, w h e n Ro u n so v ille

su b se q u e n tly fa ile d to c o op e ra te

, in st e a d o f imm e dia te ly h old in g h im in

c o n te m pt, th e tria l c o u rt e x p la in e d Ro u n s o v i l l e ’ s F i f t h Am e n dm e n t rig h ts to h im

a n d a llo we d h im to m e e t with h is a tto rn e y

. Th e re a fte r, Ro u n so v ille re tu rn e d to

th e sta n d a n d a n swe re d th e q u e stio ns re la te d to th e Ho u sto n Co u n ty c rim e s,

19wh ile in v o k in g h is F ifth Am e n d m e n t rig h ts w ith re sp e c t to th e Mo n ro e Co u n ty

c rim e s.

Ap p e lla n t a rg u e s th a t b y n o t fo llo win g th ro u g h o n its in itia l th re a t to h o ld

Ro u n so v ille in c o n te m

p t a n d strik e h is te stim o n y

, th e tria l c o u rt im p ro p e rly

a ssiste d th e Sta te in re h a

b ilita tin g a h o stile witn e ss a n d th u s fa ile d to m a in ta in

its im p a rtia lity

. S e e Un ite d S ta te s v

. Wrig h t, 3 9 2 F 3 d 1 2 6 9, 1 27 4 (1 1 th C ir.

2 0 0 4 ) (tria l c o u rt a

bu se s its a

u th o rity wh e n it a

b a n d o n s its im

p a rtia l ro le a n d

a ssu m e s th a t o f a n a d v oc a te ). Alth ou gh a d m itt i n g t h a t th e tria l c o u rt wa s

a llo w e d to in te rro g a te Ro un so v ille to e n su re h e u n d e rsto od his rig h ts, a p p e lla n t

c o n te n d s th a t th e c o u r t ’ s re m a rk s b e c a m e p re ju d ic ia l wh e n th e y k e p t a k e y

witn e ss o n th e sta n d fo r th e b e n e fit o f th e S ta te o v e r th e d e fe nse

.

Lo o kin g a t th e re c ord a s a wh o le

, we fin d n o e v id e n c e th a t th e c o m p la in e d

o f re m ark s b y th e tria l c o u rt sh o we d b ia s a ga in st a p p e lla n t o r c re a te d “ a n a ir o f

p a rtia lity wh ic h d e n ie d [a pp e lla n t] th e rig h t to a fa ir and im pa rtia l tria l.” U. S

.

v

. Ve rb itsk a y a

, 4 0 6 F 3 d 1 3 2 4

, 1 3 3 7 (1 1 th Cir. 2 0 0 5 ) (fin d in g no re v e rsib le e rro r

wh e re a ju d g e ’s re m a

rk s we re n o t so b ia se d a n d u n fa ir so a s to p re ju d ic e th e

d e fe n d a n t). S e e a lso Bro u g h v. Im p e ria l S te rlin g Ltd

., 29 7 F 3 d 1 1 7 2

, 1 1 8 1 (1 1 th

Cir. 2 0 0 2 ) (In d e t e rm in in g wh e th e r a p a rty ’s rig h ts ha v e b e e n su b sta n tia lly

20im

p a c te d

, “ a c o u rt m

u st c o n sid e r th e re c o rd a s a w h o le an d n o t m e re ly iso la te d

re m a rk s.” ). He re

, th e tria l c o urt wa s sim p ly in stru c tin g a witn e ss o n his d u ty to

a n swe r q u e stio n s. S e e Co g g in s v. F i t t s

, 2 6 8 Ga

. 1 1 2

, 1 1 3 (4 8 5 SE2 d 4 9 5 )

(1 9 9 7 ) (h o ld in g th a t th e tria l c o u rt d id n o t e x pre ss a n im p ro pe r b ia s b y

a sk in g

q u e s t i o n s a

b o u t a le g a l q u e stio n th a t wa s ta n g e ntia lly re la te d to th e p a rtie s ’

d isp u te ). Ap p e lla n t ha s fa ile d to sh o w a n y e rro r on th e p a rt o f th e tria l c o u rt in

in stru c tin g th e witn e ss in th is c a se o r th a t h e wa s h a rm e d th e re b y

, th u s th e

c h a lle ng e d re m a rk s d o n o t re q u ir e r e v e r sa l. Se e He n dric k s v

. Sta te

, 2 8 3 Ga

.

4 7 0

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

7

. F in a lly

, a

p p e lla n t a sse rts h is tria l c ou n se l wa s c o n stitu tio n a lly

in e ffe c tiv e in th a t c o u n se l in a d e q u a te ly c h a lle n g e d th e se a rc h wa rra n t fo r

a p p e lla n t’s h o u se

, un tim e ly file d a m o tio n fo r a p riv a te in v e stig a to r a n d a n

in c o m p le te list o f a lib i witn e sse s, a n d fa ile d to th o ro ug hly p re pa re a pp e lla n t’s

a lib i witn e sse s fo r tria l. To su c c e e d o n a c la im o f in e ffe c tiv e a ssis t a n c e o f

c o u n s e l

, a p p e lla n t m

u st sh o w b o th th a t c o u n se l’s p e rfo rm a n c e w a s d e f i c i e n t

, a n d

th e d e fic ie n t p e rfo rm a n c e wa s p re ju d ic ia l to h is d e fe n se

. S e e S tric k la n d v

.

Wa sh in g to n

, 4 6 6 U.S

. 6 6 8

, 6 8 7 (1 0 4 S Ct 2 0 5 2

, 8 0 LE2 d 6 7 4 ) (1 9 8 4 ).

Mo re o v e r, to e sta b lish d e fic ie n t p e rfo r ma n ce

, a p p e lla n t m

u st o v e rc o m e th e

21stro ng p re su m p tio n th a t h i s c o u n se l’s c o n d u c t fe ll with in th e b ro a d ra n g e o f

re a so na b le p ro fe ssio n a l c o n d u c t a nd “ sh o w th a t h is c o u n se l p e r f o rm e d in a n

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

ble w a y

, c o n sid e rin g a ll c irc u m sta nc e s a n d in th e lig h t o f

p re v a ilin g p ro fe ssio n a l n o rm s.” P rin c e v . S ta te

, 2 9 5 Ga . 7 8 8 , 7 9 1 (7 6 4 S E2 d

3 6 2 ) (2 01 4 ). F u rth e r, “ [f] a ilu re to sa tisfy e ith e r p ro n g o f th e S tric k la nd te st is

su ffic ie n t to d e fe a t a c l ai m o f in e ffe c tiv e a ssista nc e

, a nd it is n o t in c u m b e n t

u p o n th is Co u rt to e x a m in e th e o th e r p ro n g .” Ha rg ro v e v

. S ta te , 2 91 Ga . 8 7 9

,

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

Ap p e lla n t a

rg u e s h is tria l c o u n se l wa s in e ffe c tiv e fo r fa ilin g to a rg u e th a t

th e se a rc h wa rra nt issu e d fo r a p p e lla n t’s h o u se wa s in su ffic ie nt a s l a c k in g in

sp e c ific ity b e c a

u se it wa s e sse n tia lly id e n tic a l to th e w a rra n t fo r Ro u n so v ille ’s

h o u se e x c e p t fo r th e n a m e , a d d re ss, a n d a c c om p a n y in g a ffid a vits. Th e re c o rd

re fle c ts th a t a

p p e lla n t’s tria l c o u nse l m o ve d t o su p pre ss e v id e n c e o b ta in e d

p u rsu a n t to a

p p e lla n t’s se a

rc h wa r r an t a n d

, a t th e h e a rin g o n th is m o tio n

,

th o ro u g h ly c ro ss-e x a m in e d th e P utn a m Co u n ty S h e riff re g a rd in g th e a ffid a v it

in su pp o rt o f th e wa rra nt a n d th e in fo rm a tio n th e sh e riff h a d re c e iv e d a b o u t

a p p e lla n t a n d th e s t o l e n c a r. T h e sh e riff, wh o te stifie d a t le ng th a b o u t h is

in v e stig a tio n s re ga rd in g th e h o m ic id e a n d th e su sp e c ts’ v e h ic le s, sta te d th a t la w

22e n fo rc e m e n t o ffic ia ls we re l o o k i n g fo r th e sa m e ite m s a t b o th h o u se s b e c a use

it wa s k n o wn th e d e fe n d a n ts h a d b e e n to g e th e r an d ha d re c e n tly p o sse sse d th e

v ic tim ’s v e h ic le

. T h e wa rra n ts c o n ta in e d a list of sp e c if ic ite m s, in c lu d in g

v e h ic le s a n d a

p p a re l, w h ic h th e a c c o m

pa n y i n g a f

f i d a v its id e n tifie d a s a sso c ia te d

with th e h om ic id e in th is c a se a n d th e c rim e wh ic h o c c u rre d in M o nro e Co u nty

.

In d e sc rib in g th e ite m s to b e se iz e d p u rsu a n t to a se a rc h wa rra n t, th e d e g re e o f

sp e c ific ity re q u ire d “ ‘is fle x i b le a n d will v a ry with th e c irc um sta n c e s

in v o lv e d .’” Re a v e s v

. Sta te

, 28 4 Ga

. 1 8 1

, 1 8 4 (6 6 4 SE2 d 2 1 1 ) (2 0 08 ) (c ita tio n

o m itte d ). Un d e r th e c i r c u m sta n c e s p re se n te d

, we fin d th e se a rc h wa rra n t fo r

a p p e lla n t’s h o u s e w a s su ffic ie n tly d e fin ite a n d th a t tria l c o u n se l’s fa ilu re to

c h a lle ng e th e wa

rra n t o n th is b a sis wa s n ot u n re a so n a b le

.

W ith re sp e c t to a

p pe lla n t’s re m a in in g c la im s, th e re c ord sh o ws t h a t

c o u n se l d i d pro v id e a d e q ua te n o tic e o f a lib i witn e sse s, th a t h e m e t with th e se

witn es s es a n d th a t h e wa s a b le to p re se n t su c h e v id e n c e a t tria l. Ba se d o n th e

fo re g o in g

, a

p p e lla n t h a s fa ile d to sh o w h is tria l c o u n se l p e rfo rm e d d e fic ie n tly

a n d h is in e ffe c tiv e a ssista nc e o f c o u n se l c la im s la c k m e rit.

J u d g me n t a f

f irm e d in p a rt a n d va c a te d in p a rt a n d c a se re m a n d e d f o r

re se n te n c in g . All th e Ju stic e s c o n c u r.

23