SECOND DI VI SI ON

M I LLER, P. J.

, DOYLE and REESE, 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

Septem ber 26, 2017



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 7 A0 96 3 . PITTM ON v . THE STATE. DO-0 3 2 C

D O Y LE , J u d g e.

Fo l l owi n g a ju ry t ri al

, E d d y e Pi t t m o n w a s co n v i ct ed o f b at t ery

, 1 cru el t y to

ch i l d ren i n t he fi rs t d eg ree, 2 an d cru el t y t o ch i l d ren i n t h e s eco n d d eg ree. 3 Sh e n o w

ap p eal s fro m t h e d en i al o f h er m o t i o n fo r n ew tri al

, co n ten d i n g t h at (1 ) t h e t ri al co u rt

erro neo u s l y prev en t ed h er fro m p res en t i n g ev i d e n c e o f a th i rd part y ’ s g u i l t; (2 ) t h e

t ri al co u rt fai l ed to su a sp o nt e i n s t r u c t t h e ju ry reg ard i n g ev i d en ce o f p ri o r

d i ffi cu l t i es ; (3 ) s h e recei v ed i n effect i v e as s i s t an ce o f co u ns el ; an d (4 ) t h e ev i d en ce

was i n s u ffi ci en t t o s u p p ort t h e v erd i ct . Fo r t he reas o n s t h at fo l l o w, we affi rm

.

1 OCGA § 1 6 -5 -2 3

. 1 (a).

2 OCGA § 1 6 -5 -7 0 (b ).

3 OCGA § 1 6 -5 -7 0 (c).Co n s t r u e d i n fav o r o f th e v erd i ct

, 4 th e ev i d en ce s h o ws t h at i n J u ne 2 0 1 4,

Pi t t m o n wo rk ed i n t h e i n fan t ro o m o f a d ay care cen t er. On e m o rn i n g

, M eag an Seab o l t

d ro p ped o ff h e r 1 8 -m o n t h -o l d s o n D am o n

, an d an earl y -m o rn i n g s t aff p ers o n,

Am an d a Ban k s

, t o o k care o f h i m b efo re o t her s t aff arri v ed

. W h i l e cari ng fo r Dam o n,

Ban ks h ad o ccas i o n t o ch an g e Dam o n ’ s d i ap er, an d s h e n o t i ced n o i n j u r i es

, an d h e

s eem ed “ p erfect l y f

in e.” W h en Pi t tm o n arri ved s h o rt l y aft er 8 : 0 0 a.m

., Ban k s

t ran s ferred Dam o n i n t o Pi t t m o n ’ s care. Sh o rt l y aft er 1 0 : 0 0 a.m

., wh i l e Ban k s was

o u t s i d e s p eak i n g wi t h o t h er t each ers an d get t in g a h ead co u n t fo r l u n ch

, Pi t t m o n

b ro u gh t Dam o n o ut s i de t o s h o w t h e o t h er t each ers t h at s he h ad d i s co vered d ri ed feces

o n h i s back t h at h ad n ot b e e n p ro p erl y cl ean ed

. Ban ks ap o l o g i zed t h at s he h ad n ot

n o t i ced it wh en s he ch an g ed h i m e a r l i er, an d an o t h er wo rk er t o o k a p ho t o g rap h o f

Dam o n ’ s b o d y t o d ocu m en t h i s co n d i t i o n b ecau se Pi t t m o n w as u p s et t h at h is m o t h er

h ad b ro u g ht h i m t o t h e d ay care d i rt y

. At th at t i m e

, n e i t h er Ban k s no r an o t h er

em pl o y ee n o t i ced an y t h i n g wro n g wi t h Dam o n o t h er t h an h i s u n cl ean co n d i t i o n

.

Ban k s ret u rn ed to t h e k i t ch en

, wh i ch was acro ss t h e h al l fro m t h e i n fan t ro o m

,

wh ere Pi tt m o n b ro u g h t Dam o n t o b at h e hi m

. Ban k s heard Dam o n cry in g wh i l e h e was

b ei n g cl ean ed , b u t s h e d id n o t fi n d i t o u t o f t he o rd i n ary

.

4 See S h o rt v. S t a t e , 2 3 4 Ga. Ap p

. 6 3 3

, 6 34 (1 ) (5 0 7 SE2 d 5 14 ) (1 9 9 8 ).

2A fe w m i n u tes lat er, aro u n d 10 : 1 5 o r 1 0 :3 0 a.m

., an o t h er t each er, M o n t an a

Gi rard

, arri v ed t o b eg i n h er s hi ft i n t h e t wo -y ear-o l d cl as s ro o m , an d Pi tt m o n cal l ed

h er o v er an d as k ed h er t o l oo k at Dam o n ’ s leg

. Gi rar d n o t i ced t h at Dam o n h ad ju s t

b een cry i n g an d l o o k ed “ s cared ,” “ wo rri ed ,” an d “ fri gh t en ed .” Th e s k in o n Dam o n ’ s

l e g “ p ret ty m

u ch l o o k ed li k e fres h s u n b u rn wi t h a li tt l e b l i st er.” Gi rard

, wh o was

ju n i o r t o Pi t t m o n

, fo u n d i t un u s u al t h at Pi tt m o n wo u l d ca l l h er o ver t o as k h er

o p i n i o n

, an d sh e ad v is ed Pi t t m o n t o cal l D am on ’ s m o t h er. W h en Gi rard t o l d Pi t t m o n

t h at Dam o n ’ s leg had b een bu rn ed

, Pi t t m o n rep l i ed

, “ n o

, i t i s no t

, d on ’ t s ay t h at .” By

t h e en d o f t h e d ay

, acco rd in g t o Gi rard

, Dam o n ’ s l eg h ad wo rs en ed : “ [It ] was awfu l

.

It lo o k ed l ik e a t h i rd [-] d eg ree b u rn . It h ad b l i s t ers . It was ju s t real l y awfu l .”

At ap pro x i m a t e l y 4 : 1 5 p .m

., an o t h er m o t h er an d fo rm er Arm y HazM at t eam

m em b er arri v ed t o ret ri ev e her ch i ld ren aft er wo rk

. So m e t each ers as k ed h er t o l o o k

at Dam on ’ s l eg , wo nd eri n g i f i t co u l d b e a ch em i cal b u rn . Sh e t o l d t h em t h at i t was

a w at er b u rn b ecau s e i t h ad bl i s tered u p, an d s h e t o o k s o m e p i ct u res o f i t

. Pi t t m o n h ad

co v ered Dam o n ’ s leg i n l o ti o n o r o i n t m en t

, an d sh e m ai n t ai n ed t h e p o s i t i o n t h at i t

was a b i t e o r ras h

.

At ap p ro x i m a t e l y 5 : 30 p .m

., Ban k s en co u n tered Dam o n ag ai n as s h e was

g et t i n g read y fo r cl o s i n g t i m e. Sh e n ot i ced t h at Dam o n ’ s l eft leg

, fro m h is k n ee t o h i s

3an k le, “ wa s r e d

, ” d es p i t e b ei ng “ fi n e t h at m o rn i n g .” A n o t h er t each er s aw Dam o n ’ s

l eg aro u n d t h at ti m e an d sai d i t “ l o o k ed b ad ,” l i k e a b u rn

, an d t o o k t hree p i ct u res to

d o cu m en t i t . Pi t tm o n i n si s t ed t h at Dam o n was h av in g a react i o n t o a b u g b i t e.

Aro u n d 6 : 0 0 p .m

., Dam o n ’ s m o t h er, Seab o lt

, arri v ed t o p i ck h i m u p

. Pi t t m o n

t o l d h er t h at s h e h ad t ak en h i m o u t s i d e at 5 :0 0 p

. m

., an d h e had b een b i t t en b y a b u g,

s o s h e co v ered i t in l o t i o n

. W h en Seab o l t arri v ed h o m e wi t h D am on

, s h e n o t i ced t h at

h e was fav o ri n g h i s l eg

, an d t h e l o t i o n h ad di s p ers ed s o t h at s h e was ab l e t o s ee t h at

“ i t was s o m et h i n g s eri o u s .” Sh e i m m ed i at el y t o o k D am on t o an u rg en t care cl i n i c,

wh ere s h e w as t o l d t h at i t was n o t a b ug b it e b u t a s ev ere l i q u i d b u r n a n d t h a t s h e

s h o u ld t ak e h i m

t o t h e em erg en cy

ro o m

.

At t h e em erg en cy ro o m

, Dam o n was d i ag n o sed wi t h s eco n d an d t h i rd -d eg ree

b u rn s t o h i s l eft leg an d t o sm al l p o rt i o n s o f h i s ab d om en

, s cro t u m

, an d p en is

. Dam o n

was t reat ed fo r t h e b u rn s an d rel eas ed

, b u t h e l at er d ev el o ped a fev er, s o aft er Seab o l t

ret u rn ed h i m t o t h e em erg en cy ro om

, d o c t o r s s en t h i m t o an i n t en s i v e b u rn u n i t

,

wh ere h e s pen t t i m e i n t he in t en s i v e c a r e u ni t an d u n d erwen t cad av er s ki n s u rg ery

.

Ov er t h e n ex t 11 m o n t h s, D am on was s u cces sfu l l y t reat ed fo r hi s b u rn s

, i n cl u d i n g a

s eco n d s u rg ery

i n vo l v i n g a g raft o f h i s o wn s k in

.

4Bas ed o n t h es e ev en t s

, Pi t t m o n w as ch arg ed w i t h t w o co u n t s o f ag g rav at ed

b at t ery

, fi rs t d eg ree cru el t y t o ch i l d ren fo r b urn i n g Dam o n

, an d s eco nd d eg ree cru el t y

t o ch i l d ren fo r fai l i n g t o s eek m ed i cal care. Fo l l o wi n g a t ri al

, a ju ry ret u rn ed a g ui l t y

v erd i ct fo r t wo co un t s o f b at tery (as l es ser co u n t s in cl u d ed i n t h e ag g rav at ed b at t ery

co u nt s ) an d b o t h cru el t y t o ch i l d ren co u n t s

. 5 Pi t t m o n m o v ed fo r a n e w t ri al

, an d

fo l l o w i n g an ev i d en t i ary heari n g

, t h e t ri al co u rt d en i ed t he m o t i on

, g iv i n g ri se t o t h i s

ap p eal

.

1

. Pi t t m on arg u es t h at th e t ri al co u rt erro n eo u s l y ex cl u d ed ev i d en ce s u p p o rt i n g

h er t h eo ry t h at Dam o n ’ s b urn s o ccu rred i n t he m o t h er’ s care b efo re s h e d ro p p ed h i m

o ff at t he d ay care cen t er. “ W e rev i ew a t ri al co u rt ’ s ev i d en t iary ru l i n g u nd er an ab u s e

o f d i s cret i o n s t an d ard .” 6 W e d is cern n o s u ch ab u s e h ere.

At t ri al

, Pi t tm o n ’ s d efen s e was t hat s h e n ev er bu rn ed t h e ch i l d

, an d h e m u s t

h av e been b u rn ed earl i er i n t he m orn i n g wh i l e s t i ll at h o m e wi t h hi s m o t h er. To

s u p p ort t h i s t h eo ry

, Pi tt m on el i ci t ed cro ss -ex am i n at i o n t es ti m o n y fro m th e m o t h er

t h at Dam o n h ad p oo p ed i n h i s d i ap er t h at m o rn i ng

, an d s he h ad cl ean ed h im ju s t p ri o r

t o d ro p p i n g h i m o ff at t h e d ay care. Sh e a p p a r e n t l y m i s s ed th e feces o n h i s b ack

,

5 Th e b at t ery

co u n t s m erg ed fo r s en t en ci n g p u rp o s es

.

6 Fr eema n v. S t a t e , 3 3 3 Ga. Ap p . 6 , 1 0 (2 ) (7 7 5 SE2 d 2 5 8 ) (2 0 1 5 ).

5wh i ch rem ai n ed aft er h e arri v ed t h at m o rn i n g

. Pi t t m o n was al s o ab l e t o el i ci t

t es t i m o ny t h at s o m et i m es Dam o n was d ro p p ed o ff d i rt y , an d h e h ad h ead l ice.

To fu rt h er ch al l en ge th e m ot h er’ s care i n p aren t i n g Dam o n t h at m o rn i n g,

Pi t t m o n s o u g h t t o i n t ro d u ce ev i d en ce th at : an o t h er ch i ld

, Dam o n ’ s s i b l i n g

, was

b u rn ed o n an o t her o ccas io n b y s p i l l ed h o t ch oco l at e wh i l e i n t h e m o t h er’ s care;

an o th er si b l i ng had ex h i b i t ed b ru i s es an d bu rn s ; an d t h e m o t h er h ad a h i s t o ry wi t h t h e

Dep art m en t o f Fam i l y

an d Ch i l d ren Serv i ces

. Th e t ri al co u rt ru l e d t hat ev i d en ce o f

t h e m o t h er’ s po o r p aren ti n g o f her o t h er ch i l dren was n o t ad m i s s i b l e t o s h o w t h at t h e

m o th er b u rn ed Dam o n i n t h i s cas e s i m p l y b ecau s e s he was a b ad p aren t

. Pi tt m o n n o w

arg u es th at t h i s ru l i ng p rev en t ed h er fro m co n fro n t i n g wi t n es s es an d p res en t cri t i cal

ex cu lp at o ry

ev i den ce o f an o th er p art y ’ s g u i l t

.

As p o i n t ed o u t b y t h e St at e, u n d er O CGA § 2 4 -4 -4 04 (a): “ Ev i d en ce o f a

p ers o n ’ s ch aract er or a t rai t o f ch aract er s h al l n ot b e ad m i s s i b le fo r t h e p urp o s e o f

p ro v in g act i o n in co n fo rm i t y t herewi t h o n a p art i cu l ar o ccas i on ,” s u b ject t o cert ai n

ex cep t i o n s n ot ap p l i cab l e h ere. 7 Bas ed o n Pi t t m o n ’ s arg u m en t t h at t h e m o t h er’ s p ri o r

b ad p aren t i n g s u p p o rt s Pi t t m o n ’ s t h eo ry t h at t h e m o t h er bu rn ed Dam o n i n t h i s cas e,

7 See OCGA § 2 4 -4 -4 0 4 (a) (1 ) - (3 ).

6t h e ev i d en ce at i s su e co u ld n o t b e u s ed b y t h e ju ry t o s h o w t h a t t h e m o t h er b u rn ed

Dam o n wi t h o u t rel y i n g o n t h e im p er m i s s i b le i nferen ce t h at th e m o th er’ s b ad

p aren t i n g o f o t h er ch i l d ren m ad e i t m o re l i k el y th at s h e bu rn ed Dam o n i n t h i s cas e. 8

Th i s i s n o t a p erm i ss i b l e u se o f ev i d en ce u nd er O CGA § 2 4 -4 -4 0 4 (a), an d t h e t ri al

co u rt d id n o t ab u s e i t s d i s cret i o n b y ex cl ud i n g th e ev i d en ce s u p p ort i ng s u ch an

i n feren ce. 9

Un l i ke cas es i n wh i ch t he d efen s e was en t i r e l y p recl u d ed fro m i n t ro d u ci n g

ev i d en ce o f a t h i rd -p art y ’ s g u i l t

, 1 0 th e t ri al co u rt d i d al l ow Pi t tm on t o m ak e rel ev an t

ch al l en g es t o t h e m o th er’ s p aren t i n g an d c o n d u c t wi t h res p ect to Dam o n

. As n o t ed

ab o ve, Pi t t m o n el i ci t ed t e s t i m o n y t h at Dam o n was o ccas i o n al l y d i rt y an d h ad l i ce.

Sp eci fi c to t h e d ay i n q u es t i o n

, Pi t t m o n was al l o wed t o cro ss -ex am i n e t h e m o t h er

8 Cf. Pa r ks v. S t a t e , 3 0 0 Ga. 3 0 3

, 3 0 7 (2 ) (7 9 4 SE2 d 6 2 3) (2 0 1 6) (ad d res s i n g

Ru l e 4 0 4 (b ) ev id en ce).

9 See Kl i n ect v. S t a te

, 2 6 9 G a

. 5 70

, 5 7 3 (3 ) (5 0 1 SE2 d 8 1 0 ) (1 9 9 8 ) (“ Th e

d efen s e i s en t i t l ed t o a th o ro u g h c r o s s -ex am i n at i o n

, b u t t he s co p e o f

cro s s -ex am i n at i o n i s wi t h in t he s o u n d di s cret i o n o f t h e t ri al co urt

, an d u n d er t h e fact s

o f t h i s cas e, t h ere was n o ab u s e o f d i s cret i on .”).

1 0 Co m p are Gi lr ea t h v. S t a t e

, 2 9 8 Ga. 6 7 0

, 6 7 3 -6 7 4 (2 ) (7 8 4 SE2 d 3 8 8) (2 0 1 6 )

(fi n di n g rev ers i b l e erro r wh ere t h e d efen d an t

, wh o was co n v i ct ed o f beat i n g h i s two

ye ar-o l d ch i l d t o d eat h

, was pro h i b i t ed fro m el i ci t i n g cro s s -ex am i n at i o n t es t i m o n y

t h at t he ch i ld ’ s m o t h er h ad t h reat en ed h er ch i l dren an d o n ce sl ap p ed t h e v i ct i m o n h er

face).

7ab o ut h er carel es s bat h i n g o f Dam o n o r wh et h er sh e had sp i l l ed an y h o t l i q u i d s o n

Dam o n t h a t m o r n i n g

. An d Pi t t m o n was al l o wed t o el ici t ex p ert t es t i m o n y t h at

Dam o n ’ s b u rn s w o u l d n o t h av e res u l t ed in b li s t ers u n t i l h o urs aft er t h e bu rn i ng ev en t

.

Al l o f th i s s u p p o rt ed Pi t t m o n ’ s t h eo ry o f t h ird -p art y g u il t ; acco rd i n g l y

, b as ed o n t h e

reco rd b efo re u s , we d i s cern n o rev ers i b le erro r.

2

. Pi t t m o n n ex t arg u es t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred b y fai l in g t o su a sp o nt e i n s t ru ct

t h e ju ry reg ard i n g t h e p ro per co n s i d erat i on o f p ri or d i ffi cu l t y ev id en ce. At t ri al

, t h ere

was t es t i m o n y fro m Pi t t m o n ’ s co -wo rk ers t hat Pi t t m o n h ad t reat ed Dam o n h ars h l y o n

p ri o r occas i o n s b y h i t ti n g hi m wi t h a ru l e r

, p e n

, an d h ai rb ru sh ; b ei ng “ m ean ” to

Dam o n ; an d res t ri ct in g h i s p l ay area. Pi t t m o n co nt en d s t hat t h i s ev i den ce req u i red an

i m m ed i at e i n s t ru ct i o n b y t h e t ri al co u rt

, ev en ab s en t a req ues t fro m h er co u ns el

, t h at

s u ch ev i d en ce co u l d on l y b e co n s i d ered fo r t h e p ro p er pu rp o s e o f d em o n st rat i n g t h e

rel at i o n s h i p b et ween t h e d efen d an t an d t h e v ict i m

. 1 1 Nev ert h el es s

, Pi t t m o n ’ s t ri al

1 1 See g en eral l y W

a l l v. S t a t e

, 2 6 9 Ga. 5 0 6

, 50 9 ( 2 ) ( 5 00 SE2 d 9 0 4 ) (1 9 9 8 )

(“ [T] h e ad m i s s io n o f [p ri o r d i ffi cu l t y ] ev i d e n c e s h ou l d b e acco m p an i ed b y an

i n s t ru ct i o n fro m t h e t ri al ju d g e ex p l ai n i n g t h e l i m i t ed u s e [i .e., t o d em o n st rat e t h e

rel at i o n s h i p b e t we e n t h e vi ct i m an d d efen d an t ] t o wh ich t h e ju ry m ay p u t s u ch

e v i d e n c e

. ”). See al s o Po r t er v. S t a t e

, 24 3 G a. Ap p

. 4 9 8

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

(2 0 0 0) (“ Becau s e t h e rel at i o n s h i p b et ween t h e d efen d an t an d t h e vi ct im i s u s u al l y

rel ev an t

, i t i s n o t su rp ri s in g t h at t h e n at u re o f t hat rel at i o ns h i p i s s u b ject t o p ro o f at

t ri al .”).

8co u ns el d i d n o t o b ject o n th is g ro u n d n o r req ues t s uch an i n s tru ct i o n o r ot her rem ed y

at t h e t i m e t h i s t es t i m o n y was el i ci ted

, an d “ [i ] n t h e ab s en ce o f a [t i m el y ] req u es t

, i t

can n ot b e s ai d th at t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n fai l i ng t o gi v e co n t em p o ran eo u s

i n s t ru ct i o n s wi t h reg ard t o th e [S] t at e’ s ev id en ce o f p ri o r d i ffi cu l t i es .” 1 2 Fu rt h er, t h e

t ri al co u rt d i d co rrect l y i n s t ru ct t h e ju ry at th e cl o s e o f t h e ev i d en ce as t o t h e p ro p er

u s e o f s u ch ev id en ce. Acco rd i n g l y , we d i s cern n o rev ers i b l e erro r. 1 3

3

. Pi tt m o n al s o arg u es t hat h er t ri al co u n s el ren d ered in effect i v e as s i s t an ce. W e

d i s ag ree.

Un d er S t r i c k l a n d v. W

a s h i n g t o n

, 1 4 t o s ucceed o n an i n effect i v e as s i s t an ce

cl ai m

, a c r i m i n al defen d an t m u s t d em o n st rat e b ot h th at h is t ri al co u n sel ’ s

p erfo rm an ce was d efi ci en t an d t h at p reju di ce res ul t ed

.

To s h o w t h at t h e p erfo rm an ce o f [h er ] l awy er was defi ci en t, [a

d efen d an t ] m

u st p ro v e t h at [h er] lawy er p erfo rm ed [h i s ] d u ti es at t ri al i n

an o b ject i v el y un reas on ab l e way

, co n s i d eri n g al l th e ci rcu m st an ces

, an d

i n t h e l i g h t o f p r e v a i l i ng p ro fes s i o nal n o rm s

. As fo r preju d ice, th e

p ro p er s t an d ard req ui res t h e d efen d an t t o s ho w t h at t h ere i s a reas o n ab l e

1 2 (Pu n ct u at i o n o m i t ted .) Du n n v. S t at e

, 2 9 2 G a. 3 5 9

, 3 6 1 (2 ) (7 3 6 SE2 d 3 9 2 )

(2 0 1 3).

1 3 See i d

.

1 4 4 6 6 U. S. 6 6 8 (1 0 4 SCt 2 0 5 2 , 8 0 LE2 d 6 7 4 ) (1 9 8 4 ).

9p ro b ab i l i t y t h at

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

, t h e res u l t o f th e

p ro ceed i n g wo u l d hav e b een d i fferen t

. A reas o n ab l e p ro b ab i li t y is a

p ro b ab i l i t y s u ffi ci en t t o u n d erm i n e co n fi d en ce in t h e o u t c o m e

. I f th e

d e f e n dan t fai l s t o s at i s fy ei t h er p ro n g of t h e St ri ck l an d 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. 1 5

Fu rt h erm o re, “ [t ] h ere i s a s t r o n g p res u m p t io n t hat t h e p erfo rm an ce o f t ri al co u n s el

fal l s w i t hi n t h e wi d e ran g e o f reas o n ab l e p ro fes s i o n al as s i s t an ce. T he reas o nab l en es s

o f th e co n d u ct is v i ewed a t t h e t i m e o f t ri al an d u n der t h e ci rcu m s tan ces o f t h e

cas e.” 1 6 In rev i ewi n g t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s d eci si on , “ [w] e accep t t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s fact u al

fi nd i ng s an d cred i b i l it y d et er m i n at io n s u n l es s cl earl y erro n eo u s

, b u t we

i n d ep en den t l y

ap p ly t h e l eg al p ri n ci p l es t o t h e fact s .” 1 7

(a) Pi t t m o n fi rs t arg u es t h at h er t ri al co u n sel p erfo rm ed d efi ci en t ly b y fai l i n g

t o req u es t a ju ry i ns t ru ct io n fo r t h e l es s er-i n cl u ded o ffen s e o f s eco nd -d eg ree cru el t y

t o ch i l dren wi th res p ect t o Co u n t 3

, wh i ch al l eg ed fi rs t-d eg ree cru el t y t o ch i l d re n

.

1 5 (Ci t at i o n s an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t ted .) S t a t e v. Ha r r i s

, 3 0 1 Ga

. 2 3 4

, 2 3 7 (2 )

(7 9 9 SE2 d 8 0 1 ) (2 0 1 7 ).

1 6 (Ci t at i o n an d p un ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) W il l i a m s v. S ta t e

, 2 7 7 Ga. 8 5 3, 8 5 7 (6 )

(5 9 6 SE2 d 5 9 7 ) (2 0 0 4 ).

1 7 (Pu n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) Ro b i n s o n v. S ta t e

, 2 7 7 Ga. 7 5

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

(2 0 0 3).

10Co u n t 3 al l eg ed t h at Pi t t m o n co m m i t t ed fi rs t -d eg ree c r u e l t y t o ch i l d ren b y b u rn i n g

Dam o n ; Co u n t 4 al l eg ed t h at Pi t t m on co m m i t t ed s eco n d -d eg ree cru el ty t o c h i l d ren

b y fai l i n g t o s eek ap pro pri at e m ed ical at t en t i o n fo r Dam o n ’ s i n ju ri es

. 1 8

T h e r e l ev an t d ifferen ce b et ween fi rs t

- an d s eco n d-d eg ree cru el t y

, o t h er t h an

s e n t e n c i n g

, i s t h at t h e fo rm er req u i res m al i ce, wh i l e t h e l at t er req u i res cri m i n al

n eg li g en ce. 1 9 Th erefo re, Pi t t m o n as s ert s t hat h er t ri al co u n sel s h o u l d h av e req u es t ed

an i n s t ru ct io n o n seco n d -d eg ree cru el t y fo r t he b u rn in g o f Dam o n

– arg ui n g t h at s h e

d i d n o t b u rn h im

wi t h m al i ce, o n l y

cri m i nal n eg l i g en ce.

Nev ert h el es s

, at t h e h eari n g o n Pi tt m o n ’ s m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al

, h er t ri al co u n s el

t es t i fi ed t h at h i s wh o l e d efen s e was p red i cat ed o n s h o wi n g t h at Pi t t m o n d i d n o t b u rn

Dam o n at al l

. At t hat h eari n g

, h e h i gh l i g h t ed tes t im on y fro m h i s ex p ert w i t nes s t h at

t h e b u rn co u l d n ot h av e o ccu rred at t h e h an d s o f Pi t t m on . At t ri al an d at t h e m o t i o n

fo r n ew t ri al h eari n g , Pi tt m on ’ s d efen se co u n s el co n s i s ten t l y m ai n t ai ned t h e t h eo ry

t h at “ t h i s n ev er h ap p en ed o n h er wat ch , s h e d i d n ’ t d o t hi s .”

1 8 See OCGA § 16 -5 -7 0 (c).

1 9 See OCGA § 1 6 -5 -7 0 (b ) an d (c). See al so W el l s v. S ta t e

, 3 0 9 Ga. Ap p

. 6 6 1,

6 6 3 -6 6 4 (2 ) (a) & (b ) (7 1 0 SE2 d 8 6 0 ) (2 0 1 1 ) ( ad d res s i n g fi rs t

- an d s eco n d-d eg ree

cru el t y t o ch i l dren o ffen s es ).

11In l i g h t o f t h i s t es t i m on y

, n o t req u es t i ng a ch arg e o n m ere cri m i n al n eg l i g en ce

i s co n s i s t en t wi t h a reas o n ab le s t rat eg y o f s h owi n g th at t h e ch i l d was n o t b u rn ed i n

Pi t t m o n ’ s care.

Pi t t m o n n o w p o i n t s t o an affi d av i t s i g n ed b y h er d efen s e co u n sel p ri o r t o t h e

h eari n g o n h er m o t io n fo r n ew t ri al

. Th e affi d av i t s t at es t h at Pi t t m o n ’s d e fen s e

co u ns el d i d n o t req ues t a l es s er-i n cl ud ed ch arg e fo r Co u n t 3 “ b ecau s e I t h ou g h t t h at

[Co un t 4 ] was a l es s er-i n cl u d ed ch arg e o f [Co u n t 3 ] .” Bu t i n h i s t es t i m o n y

, Pi t t m o n ’ s

t ri al co u n s el ex p l ai ned t h at h e was g o i n g fro m m em o ry wh en h e s i gn ed th e affi d av i t

,

an d h e h ad co n fu s ed t h o s e co u n t s wi t h Co u n t s 1 an d 2

, fo r wh ich t h e t ri al co u rt d id

p ro v id e i n s t ru ct i o n s o n l es s er-i n cl u d ed co u n t s : “ [W ] h en I l o o k ed at t h e i n d i ct m en t

,

Co u n t s 3 an d 4 weren ’ t t h e co un t s t h at I t h o u g ht t h ey were referri n g t o d u ri n g o u r

d i s cu s s i o n

. . . So i t w as an h o n es t erro r b y ev ery b o dy .” Acco rd i ng l y

, th e ev i d en ti ary

v al u e o f t h e affi d av i t was g reat l y u n d erm in ed

, an d t h e t ri al co urt

, as fi n der o f f a c t

,

was en t i t l ed t o d i sreg ard i t as ev i d en ce o f t ri al co u n s el ’ s i n t en t i o n s o n t h is i s s u e. 2 0

(b ) Pi tt m o n al s o arg u es t h at h er t ri al co u n s el s h ou l d h av e m o v ed fo r a m i s t ri al

b ecau s e t h e St at e as k ed o n e o f Pi t t m o n ’ s ch aract er w i tn es s es

, a m o t h er w h o u s es t h e

2 0 See Fi n ch v. S t a te

, 28 7 Ga. A p p

. 3 1 9

, 3 2 1 (1 ) (b ) (6 5 1 SE2 d 47 8 ) (2 0 0 7 ) (“ It

i s t h e fu n ct i o n o f t h e t ri al co u rt at th e h eari n g o n t h e m o t i o n fo r new t ri al t o d et erm i n e

wi t n es s cred ib il i t y an d t o res ol v e an y co nfl i ct s i n t h e t es t i m o n y .”).

12d ay care, q u es t i o n s ab ou t Pi t t m o n ’ s n eg at i v e em pl o y m en t h i s to ry wi t h o u t a g o o d fai th

b as i s

.

Wh i l e cro s s -ex am i n i n g t h e ch aract er wi t n es s, t h e St at e as k ed th e wi t n e s s

wh et h er s h e was aware t h at Pi t t m o n h ad b een fi red fro m a p rev i o u s d ay care p o s i t i o n

fo r i m p ro p erl y g i v i ng a ch i l d m ed i cat i o n. Pi t t m o n o b ject ed o n t h e g ro u n d t h at i t was

fal s e (arg u i n g th at s h e res i g ned an d w as n ot fi red ) an d was n o t i n ev id en ce. Th e St at e

arg u ed t h at i t h ad a g o o d fai t h bas i s t o el i ci t t he t es t i m o n y an d p ro ffered an acco u nt

b y a wi tn es s wh o wo u l d t es t i fy ab o u t Pi tt m o n ’s t erm i n at i o n fro m h er pri o r d ay care

p o s i t i on

. W h en th at w i t n e s s w as l at er cal l ed

, s he t es t i fi ed t hat Pi t t m o n h ad g i v en a

ch i l d Ben ad ry l w i t ho u t t h e p ro p er fo rm b ei n g fi l l ed o u t b y t h e p a r e n t

, an d s h e was

t erm i n at ed fo r th at reas o n

. Du ri n g t h e earl ier q u es t i o ni n g

, t he St at e i m p li ed t h at i t h ad

h ap pen ed t wi ce, b u t t h e wi t n es s c l ari fi ed t h at it was o n l y on ce b efo re Pi t t m o n was

t erm i n at ed

.

Bas ed o n th i s d i s crep an cy

, Pi t t m o n m o v ed fo r a m i s t ri al b u t u l t i m at el y

wi t h d rew t h e m o t i o n

. Sh e n o w arg u es fo r t he fi rs t t i m e t h a t h e r t ri al co u n s el

p erfo rm ed d efi ci en t l y

b y wi t h d rawi n g t h e m o t i o n

.

It is wel l s et t l ed t h at

13[a] d efen d an t m u s t rai s e al l al l eg at i o n s o f i n effect i ve as s i s tan ce o f

co u n s el as s o o n as pract i cab l e. W h en n ew c o u n s el ap p ears fo r a

d efen d an t

, he o r s h e m

u st rai s e t h e i neffect i v en es s o f p rev i o u s co u n s el

at t h e fi rs t p o s s i b l e st ag e o f p o s t -co n v i ct i o n rev i ew. W h ere n ew co u n s el

rai s es t h e i s s ue o f t ri al co u n s el ’ s i neffect i v en es s o n m o t i o n fo r new tri al

,

an y in effect i v e as s i s t an ce o f t ri al co u n s el cl ai m s no t rai s ed at t h at t i m e

are wai v ed

. 2 1

Here, at t he m ot i o n fo r n ew t ri a l h eari n g

, n ew co u n s el pro b ed t ri al co u n sel ’ s

p erfo rm an ce, b u t d i d n o t arg u e t h i s g ro un d

. Acco rd i n gl y

, i t i s p ro ced u ral ly b arred an d

can n ot s erv e as a b as i s fo r a n ew t ri al o n d irect ap p eal

. 2 2

4

. Las t

, Pi tt m o n arg u es th at the e v i d en ce was i n s u ffi ci en t to s u p p o rt t h e v erd i ct

.

W h en an ap p el l at e co u rt rev i ews t h e s u ffi ci en cy o f t h e ev i d en ce su p po rt i n g a g ui l t y

v erd i ct

,

t h e rel ev an t q u es ti o n i s wh et h er, aft er v i ewi n g th e ev i d en ce i n th e l i g h t

m o s t fav o rab l e t o t h e pro s ecu ti o n

, a n y rat i on al t ri er o f fact co u l d h av e

fo u n d t h e es s en ti al el em en t s of t h e cri m e b ey o n d a reas o n ab l e do u bt

.

Th i s fam i l i ar s t an d ard gi v es fu l l p l ay t o t h e res p o n s i bi l i t y o f t h e t ri er o f

2 1 (Fo o t n o t es an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) McGl o ckl i n v. S t a t e

, 2 9 2 Ga. Ap p

. 1 6 2,

1 6 3 (6 64 SE2 d 5 5 2 ) (2 0 0 8 ).

2 2 See W i l s o n v. S ta t e , 2 8 6 Ga. 1 4 1 , 1 4 4 (4 ) (6 8 6 SE2 d 1 0 4 ) (2 0 0 9 ).

14fact fai rl y t o r e s o lv e co n fl i ct s i n t h e t es t i m o n y

, t o wei g h t h e ev id en ce,

an d t o d raw reas o n ab l e i n feren ces fro m b as ic fact s t o u l t i m at e fact s

.

On ce a d efen d an t h as b een f o u n d g u i l t y o f t h e cri m e ch arg ed

, th e

fact fi n d er’ s ro l e as wei g h er o f t h e ev i d en ce i s p res erv ed t h ro u g h a l eg al

co n cl u s i o n t hat u po n j u d i ci al rev i ew a l l o f t h e evi d

en ce i s t o be

co n s i d ered i n t h e l i g h t m o s t fav o rab l e t o t h e p ro s ecu t i o n. 2 3

Here, as n o t ed ab o ve, Pi t t m o n arg u ed at t ri al t hat t h e b u rn occu rred at h o m e

wh en Seab o lt cl ean ed Dam o n b efo re t ak i n g h im t o s c h o o l

. Sh e p o i n t s t o t es t i m o ny

fro m a defen s e ex p ert (a p l as t i c s u rg eo n ) w h o t es t i f i e d t h a t t h e b l i s t ers fo r t h e t y p e

o f b urn Dam on recei ved d o n o t ap p ear u n t i l sev eral h o u rs aft er th e bu r n i n g e v en t

,

an d sh e rel i es o n o t h er ev i d en ce (ad d res s ed i n D i v s i o n 1 ) t h at al l eg ed l y s h o ws

Seab o l t’ s gu i l t

. Bu t as d i s cu s s ed i n Di v i s i o n 1

, t h e ot h er ev i d en c e o f S e ab o l t ’ s

ch aract er as a m ot h er was l awfu l ly e x c l u d ed fro m t ri al

, an d th e St at e ad d u ced

t es t i m o ny fro m i ts o w n ex p ert (a p ed i at ri c cri t i cal care p h y s ici an at a bu rn cen t er) t h at

t h e b u rn Dam o n recei v ed w o ul d b e “ i m m ed i at el y ev i d en t wi t h b l i s teri n g .” “ [I] t i s fo r

t h e ju ry

, n o t th e ap p el l at e co u rt

, t o res o l v e co n fl i ct s i n t es t i m on y

, wei g h th e ev i d en ce

an d d raw reas o n ab l e in feren ces t h erefro m

. As l on g a s t h ere i s so m e co m p et en t

2 3 (Ci t at i o n o m i t ted ; em

p h as i s i n o ri g i n al .) Ja cks o n v. Vi r g in i a

, 4 4 3 U. S. 3 0 7,

3 1 9 (III) (B) (9 9 SCt 2 78 1 , 6 1 LE2 d 5 6 0 ) (1 9 7 9 ).

15ev i d en ce, ev en t h ou g h co n trad ict ed

, t o s u pp o rt each fact n eces s ary t o m ak e o u t t h e

St at e’ s cas e, t h e ju ry ’ s v erd i ct wi l l be u p h el d

. ” 2 4 Bas ed o n o u r rev i ew o f t h e reco rd

b efo re u s , t h ere i s s u ffi ci en t ev i d en ce o f Pi t t m o n ’ s g u il t t o au t h o ri ze t h e v erd i ct

.

Ju d g men t a f f i r m ed . Mi l l er

, P. J., a n d

Rees e, J., co n cu r

.

2 4 (Ci t at i o n s an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) Ab er n a t h y v. S t a t e

, 2 7 8 Ga. Ap p

. 5 7 4,

5 7 9 (2 ) (6 3 0 SE2 d 4 21 ) (2 0 0 6 ).

16