SECOND DI VI SI ON

M I LLER, P. J.

, M ERCI ER and C OOM ER, 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.

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

D E A D LIN E S A R E N O LO N G E R TO LLE D IN T

H I S

C O U R T. A LL FILIN G S M U ST B E S U B M I TTE D WITH IN

TH E TIM E S S E T B Y

O U R C O U R T R U LE S

.

June 15, 2020



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A2 0 A0 22 8 . SHAUM v . THE STATE.

M E R C I E R , J u dg e.

A ju ry fo un d Ro b ert Al l en Sh au m g u i l t y o f cri m i n al at t em p t t o co m m i t ch i ld

m o les t at i o n an d cri m i n al at t em p t t o en ti ce a ch i ld fo r i n d ecen t p u rp os es

. Fo l l o wi n g

t h e d en i al o f h i s m o ti o n fo r n ew t ri al

, Sh au m ap p e a l s

, as s ert i n g s ev eral cl ai m s o f

erro r. W e d i s cern n o rev ers i b l e erro r an d affi rm

.

Sh au m was i n i t i al ly ch arg ed wi t h ch i l d m o l es t at i o n, t am p eri ng wi t h ev i d en ce,

cri m i n al at tem

pt t o co m m i t ch i l d m o l es t at i o n

, an d cri m i n al at t em pt t o en t i ce a ch i ld

fo r i n decen t p u rp o s es

. He w as t ri ed an d acq u it ted o f ch i l d m o l es tat i on

, an d a m i s t ri al

was d ecl ared as t o t h e rem ai n i n g co u n t s aft er th e ju ry was u n ab l e t o reach a v erd i ct

.

Th e tam p eri n g wi t h ev i d en ce co u n t was l at er n o l l e p ro s s ed

, an d t h e St at e ret ri ed

Sh au m o n t h e cri m i n al at t em

p t co u nt s ab o ut a week aft er t h e m is tri al was d ecl ared

.Vi ewi n g t h e ev i d en ce p res en t ed at Sh au m ’ s s eco n d t ri al i n fav o r o f th e v erd i ct

,

t h e reco rd rev eal s t h at Sh au m ’ s 1 0 -y ear-o l d g ran d d au g h t er M

. N. w en t to v i s i t h i m

an d h is wi fe fo r t h e s u m

m er. At t h e en d o f t he s um m e r

, M

. N.’ s m o t h er (Sh au m ’ s

d au gh t er ) an d h er m o t h er’ s b oy fri en d m ov ed i n t o Sh au m ’ s h o m e. Du e t o t h e l i m i t ed

s p ace i n t h e h o m e, M. N. b eg an t o s l eep in t h e b ed ro o m wi t h Sh au m an d h is wi fe. M

.

N. h ad a b ed , an d h er g ran d p aren t s h ad a b ed

.

Aft er di nn er on e n i gh t, Sh au m h an ded M

. N. a t y p ed

, fo l ded no t e w h i l e s h e was

i n t he k i t ch en

.

Th e n o t e read :

[M

. N.] ; i d o n t k n o w wh y i feel left o u t o f y o ur lo v e. m ay b e i t s t h e ag e

b u t th at h as no t h i n g to d o wi t h i t. i l o o k at y o u as a y o u n g l ad y

, n o t a

l i tt l e k i d . y o u d o n t k n ow h o w m u ch i l o v e y o u. i f y o u wo u l d o n l y g iv e

i t a ch an ce. o h i k n ow i t w o n t b e a l ife t i m e b u t i t wi u l d be a g ift t o m e.

y o u r l o v e t o m e. i j u s t wan t t o l ay i n b ed b es i d e yo u a n d c a rres s y o u r

b o d y t o m i n e. ju s t t o b e ab l e t o fi ll y o u r lo v e wo u ld b e fan t as t i c. i t

wo u ld b e m o m en ts t h at y o u co u l d n t ex p l ai n

. let m e feel y o u r b o d y w i t h

y o u r l o v e fo r m e. i s wear t h at i l l n ev er h urt y o u

. [M

. N.] , i l o v e y o u s o

m u ch b u t y o u s eem t o m ak e a jo k e o f ev ery th i n g . l i k e y o u d o n t care at

al l

. [M

. N.]

, ju st t el l m e o r s h ow m e. n o on e w i ll ev er k n o w ex cep t y o u

an d m e, i p ro m i se.

2M

. N. wen t t o h er bed t o read t he n o t e. Sh e t h en p l aced t h e n o t e i n h er m o t h er’ s

ro o m in s t ead o f g iv in g i t t o h er b ecau se s h e d id n o t wan t t o “ freak [h er m o t her] o u t .”

M

. N. ex p l ai n ed at t ri al t h at th e no t e m ad e h er feel “ wei rd ,” an d t h at Sh au m h ad g i v en

h er o t h er t y

p ed n o t es t h at s u m

m e r

, bu t t h at s h e d i d n ot read t h em an d t h rew t h em

away

. In M

. N.’ s fo ren si c i n t erv i ew co n d u ct ed s ho rt l y aft er t h e i nci d en t, i n ad d i t i o n

t o m ak i n g s t at em en t s c o n c e rn in g t h e n o t e, M

. N. s t at ed t h at o n on e o ccas i o n t h at

s u m m er, Sh au m “ g rab b ed ” an d “ s q u eezed ” h er b u tt o ck s

. Sh e ex p l ai n ed th at wh en i t

h a p p e n e d

, s he “

j us t k ep t wal k i n g li k e real l y fas t b ecau se I wan t ed h i m t o l et g o

. It

was l i k e t h e wei rd es t feel i n g ev er.”

Th e St at e al s o p res en t ed ev i d en ce t h at Sh au m had en g ag ed i n s ex act s wi t h h i s

t wo dau g h t ers

, M

. N.’ s m o t h er an d au n t

, w h e n t h e y were ch i l dren

. M

. N.’ s au nt

t es t i fi ed th at Sh au m s t art ed h av i n g s ex ual co n t act wi t h h er w h en s he was ab o u t 7 o r

8 y ears o l d t h at es cal at ed t o s ex u al i nt erco u rs e wh en s he was 1 5 y ears o l d

, an d t h at

d u ri n g t h at t i m e Sh au m oft en h an ded h er h an d wri t t en n ot es t el l i n g h er t o d o t h i n g s

,

s u ch as “ co m e t o m

y ro o m l at er.” Th e au n t ex p l ai n ed t h at Sh au m fat h ered two o f h er

ch i l d ren

. Fo ll o wi n g t h e p res en t at i o n o f t h i s ev i d en ce, t h e ju ry fo u nd Sh au m g u i l t y o n

b o t h co u n t s

. Th e t ri al co urt d en i ed h is m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al

, an d th i s ap p eal fo l l o wed

.

31 . Sh au m arg u es t h at t he ev i d en ce was i n s u ffi ci en t t o s u s t ai n h i s co n v i ct i on s

an d t h at t h e t ri al co urt erred i n d en y i n g h i s m o ti o n fo r a d i rect ed v erd i ct

. H e arg u es

t h a t t h ere w as n o m ed i cal ev i d en ce o r o u t cry

, M

. N.’ s t es ti m o n y was t ai nt ed b y a

co n vers at i on s he o v erh eard an d b o l s t ered b y t he ad m i s s i o n o f h er fo ren s i c i n t erv i ew,

t h ere w as ev i d en ce th at o t h ers h ad acces s t o a co m p u t er fo r t y

p in g th e n ot e, an d t h ere

was n o ev i d en ce b ey on d t h e n o t e t h at h e to ok a s u b s t an t i al s t ep to ward co m p l et i o n

o f t h e u n d erl y i n g cri m es

.

Th e s t an d ard o f rev iew fo r t h e d en ial o f a m o t i o n fo r d i rect ed v erd i ct o f

acq u i t t al i s t h e s am e as t h at fo r rev iewi n g t h e s u ffi ci en cy o f t he ev i d en ce

t o s u p p o rt a co nv i ct i o n

. Un d er t h at st an d ard we v i ew t h e ev i d en ce i n th e

l i gh t m o s t f

a v orab l e t o th e ju ry ’ s v erd i ct an d d et erm i n e wh et h er an y

rat i o n al t ri er of fact co u l d h av e fo un d th e es sen t i al el em en ts of t h e cri m e

b ey o n d a reas o n ab l e d o u b t

. M o reo v er, an ap p el l at e co urt d o es n ot wei g h

t h e ev i d en ce or d et er m i n e w i t n es s cred i b i l i t y bu t o nl y d et erm i n es

wh et h er t h e ev i den ce i s s u ffi ci en t u n d er t he s t an d a r d o f Ja cks o n v.

Vi r g in ia

. 1

W a s h i n g t o n v. S t a t e , 2 5 1 Ga. Ap p . 2 0 6 , 2 0 6 -2 0 7 (1 ) (5 5 3 SE2 d 8 5 5 ) (2 0 0 1 ).

Sh au m w as ch arg ed wi t h cri m i n al at tem p t to co m m i t b o t h ch i ld m o l es t at i o n

an d en ti ci n g a ch i l d fo r in decen t p u rp o s es

. OCGA § 1 6-4 -1 p ro v i d es t hat “ [a] p ers o n

1 4 4 3 U. S. 3 07 , 3 1 8 (III) (B) (9 9 SCt 2 7 8 1 , 6 1 LE2 d 5 6 0 ) (1 9 7 9 ).

4co m

m i t s th e o ffen s e o f cri m in al at t em p t wh en

, wi t h i n ten t to co m m i t a s p eci fi c cri m e,

h e p erfo rm s an y act w h i c h co ns t i t ut es a s u bs t an ti al s t ep t o w ard th e co m m i s s i o n o f

t h at cri m e.” Cri m i n al at t em p t “ co n si s t s o f t h ree el em en t s : fi rs t

, t he i n t en t t o co m m i t

t h e cri m e; seco n d

, t he p erfo rm an ce o f s o m e o v ert act t o ward [ ] t h e co m m i s s io n o f t h e

cri m e; an d t hi rd

, a fai l u re t o co n s u m m at e it s co m

m i s s i on .” Ma r t i n -Ar

g aw v. S t a t e

,

3 4 3 Ga. Ap p

. 86 4

, 8 6 4 -8 6 5 (1 ) (8 0 6 SE2 d 24 7 ) (2 0 1 7 ) (ci t at i o n s an d pu n ct u at i o n

o m it t ed ). Th erefo re, t h e St at e h ad t o s h o w t h at Sh au m h ad t h e i n t en t t o co m m i t t h e

cri m es an d t h at h e t oo k a s u bs t an t i al s t ep t o ward do i n g “ an y i m m o ral o r i n d ecen t act

t o o r i n t h e p res en ce o f o r wi t h an y ch il d u nd er t h e ag e o f 1 6 y ears w it h t h e i n t en t to

aro u s e o r s at i s fy t h e s ex u al des ires o f ei t h er th e ch i ld o r [h i m s el f] ,” OCGA § 1 6 -6 -4

( a ) ( 1 )

, an d a s u b s t an t i al st ep to ward “ s o l ici t [i n g ]

, en ti c[i n g]

, o r t ak [i n g ] an y ch i l d

u n d er t he ag e o f 1 6 y ears t o an y p l ace wh at s oev er fo r t h e p u rp os e o f ch i ld m o l es t at i o n

o r i n d ecen t act s .” OCGA § 1 6 -6 -5 (a).

Th ere was ev i den ce p res en t ed th at Sh au m had s ex u al co n t act a n d / o r s ex u al

i n t erco u rs e wi t h h i s dau g h ters wh en t h ey were ch i l d ren

, wi t h on e o f t h e dau g h t ers

g i v i n g b i rt h t o t wo o f h i s ch i l d ren

, an d ev id en ce t h at h e p rev i o u s l y t o u ch ed M

. N.

i n ap p ro p ri at el y . Sh au m

g av e M . N. a n o t e wh i l e s h e was i n t h e k i t ch en i n wh i ch h e

l am en t ed t he ag e d i fferen ce b e t w e en t h em

, ex p res s ed t h at h e wan t ed to lay i n b ed

5wi t h h er an d cares s h er b o d y

, an d req u es t ed t h at s h e let h i m “ feel [h er] b o d y ” as a

“ g i ft ” t o h i m an d “ s h o w [h i m ] ” s he cares

. Th i s ev i d en ce wa s s u f f i ci en t t o es t ab l i s h

t h at Sh au m h ad t h e i n t en t t o co m m i t t h e cri m es an d t h at h e p erfo rm ed a s u b s t an t i al

s t e p t o wa r d an i n d ecen t act wi t h M

. N. (ch i l d m o les t at io n ) an d a s ub s tan t i al s t ep

t o ward p ers u ad i ng h er to g o b ed wi t h h i m fo r t h e p urp o s e o f an in d ecen t act (en t i ci n g

a ch il d ) as ch arg ed i n t he i n di ct m en t

, n ei t h er o f wh i ch w as co n s u m m at ed

. See Lo

p ez

v. S t at e

, 2 5 8 G a. Ap p

. 9 2

, 9 4 -9 5 (5 7 2 SE2 d 7 3 6 ) (2 00 2 ) ( e v i d e nce s u ffi ci en t to

es t ab l i s h at t em

p t t o co m m i t ch i l d m ol es t at i o n wh ere d efen d an t v i s i t ed ch i l d

, o ffered

h er m o n ey

, s tu ck h i s h an d i n t h e fro n t po ck et o f h er p an t s

, an d g av e h er a n o t e t h at

ex p res s l y s t at ed h e wan t ed t o “ m ak e l o v e” t o h er); W i t t sch en v. S t a t e , 2 59 Ga. 4 4 8,

4 4 9 (1 ) (3 8 3 SE2 d 8 8 5 ) (1 9 8 9 ) (ev i d en ce t h at d efen d an t as k e d g i r l s i f th ey wan t ed

s o m e m o n ey an d wh en t h ey res p o n d ed affi rm at i v el y

, h e as ked th em t o l et h i m s t i ck

h i s h an d do wn t h ei r p an t s

, was s u ffi ci en t t o s u st ai n co n v i ct i o n fo r at t em p t t o co m m i t

ch i l d m ol es t at i o n ). See al s o Tu d o r v. S t a t e

, 3 2 0 Ga. Ap p

. 4 8 7

, 4 9 1 -4 9 3 (2 ) (7 4 0 SE2 d

2 3 1 ) (2 0 13 ) (s l i g h t m o vem en t o f t h e v i ct i m s at i s fi es t he as p o rt at i o n el em e n t o f

en t i ci n g a ch il d fo r i n d ecen t p u rp o s es ; m o v em en t f r o m l i v i ng ro o m s o fa t o k i t ch en

was s uffi ci en t as p o rt at io n fo r en t i cem en t ); c om pa re Hea r d v. S t at e

, 3 1 7 G a. Ap p

. 6 6 3,

66 6 6 (7 3 1 SE2 d 1 2 4 ) (2 0 1 2 ) (n o ev i d en ce t h at d efen d an t at tem pt ed t o p ers u ad e v i ct i m

t o g o t o an o th er p l ace).

2

. Sh au m co n t en d s t h at t h e t ri al co u rt i m p ro p erl y al l owed t h e St at e to p res en t

ev i d en ce t hat b ol s tered M

. N.’ s c r e d i b i l i t y

. He arg u es t h at th e ad m is s i o n o f t h e

fo ren s i c in t erv i ew (co m

p o u n d ed b y a l l o w i n g t h e ju ry to h av e th e t ran s cri p t o f t h e

i n t erv i ew), wen t b ey o n d es tab l i s h i n g M

. N.’ s ab il i ty t o di s t i n gu i s h b et w een t h e t ru th

an d fal seh o o d

. Ho wev e r

, S h a u m d i d n ot o b ject t o t h e ad m i s s i on o f t h e fo ren s i c

i n t erv i ew o n t h i s g ro u n d at t ri al

. 2 “ W h ere an ap pel l an t fai ls t o m ak e an o b ject i o n to

t h e ad m i s s io n o f ev i den ce i n t h e t ri al co u rt

, th e cl ai m o f err o r i s n o t p res erv ed fo r

o rd i n ary ap p el lat e rev i ew.” Mo o r e v. S ta t e

, 3 0 5 Ga. 2 5 1

, 2 55 (2 ) (b ) (8 24 SE2 d 3 7 7 )

(2 0 1 9). See OCGA § 2 4 -1 -1 0 3 (a) (1 ). W e t h erefo re rev i ew Sh au m ’ s cl ai m o n l y fo r

p l ai n erro r. See OCGA § 2 4 -1 -1 0 3 (d ).

Th e fi rs t s t ep o f th e p l ai n erro r an al y s i s req u i res us t o co n si der wh et her Sh au m

h as sh o wn th e ex i s t en ce o f an erro r i n th e ad m i s s io n of th e fo ren s i c i n t erv i ew. Mo o r e

,

s u p ra. Pu rs u an t t o Geo rg i a’ s Ch i l d Hears ay St at u t e, a st at em en t m ad e b y a ch i ld

y o u n g er t h an 1 6 y ears o ld d es cri b i n g an act o f s ex u al co nt act

2 Co u n s el s t at ed : “ I h av e no o bject i o n t o t he [ju ry recei v i n g t h e fo r e n s i c

i n t erv i ew] t ran s cri p t

. I wi ll fo r ch i l d h ears ay pu rp o s es o b ject to co n fro n t at i o n,

Cr a wf o r d an d h ears ay .”

7p erfo rm ed wi t h or o n s uch ch i l d b y an o t h er o r wi t h or o n an o t h er in th e

p res en ce o f s u ch ch i l d s hal l b e ad m i s s i b l e i n ev i d en ce b y t h e t es t i m o n y

o f t h e pers o n t o wh o m m ad e i f

. . . su ch ch i l d t es t i fi es at th e t ri al

, . . .

an d

, at th e t i m e of t h e t es t i m o n y reg ard in g t he o ut -o f-co urt s t at em en t s

,

t h e pers o n t o w h o m t h e c h i l d m ad e s u ch s t at em en t is s u b ject t o

cro s s-ex am in at i o n reg ard i n g t h e o u t -o f-co u rt s t at em en t s

.

OCGA § 2 4 -8 -8 2 0

. Th e s t at u t e “ act u al l y co n tem pl at es t es t i m o ny fro m b o t h t h e ch i ld

an d th o se wi t n es s i n g t h e ch i ld ’ s l at er react i o n

, even i f t he h ea r s a y ma y b e b o l s t er i n g .”

Ja cks o n v. S ta t e

, 3 4 4 Ga. Ap p

. 6 1 8

, 6 2 1 (2 ) (a) (8 1 0 SE2 d 67 2 ) (2 0 1 8 ) (ci t at i o n an d

p u n ct u at i o n o m it t ed ; em

ph as i s s u p p l i ed ). In h er fo ren si c i n t erv i ew, th en 11 -y ear-o ld

M

. N. d es cri bed Sh au m ’ s act o f s q u eezi n g h er b u t t o ck s, wh i ch m ad e her feel “ wei rd ,”

an d h i s act o f g i v in g h er a no t e i n wh i ch h e s tat ed t h at h e w a n t e d t o l ie i n b ed wi th

h er an d cares s an d “ feel [h er] b o d y .” Bo t h M

. N. an d t h e fo ren s i c i n t erv i ewer t es t i fi ed

at t ri al

, an d b o t h were s u b

j ect ed t o cro s s -ex am in at i o n reg ard i n g t he s t at em en t s

. Th ere

was t h erefo re n o erro r, m u ch l es s p l ai n erro r, i n t h e ad m i s s i o n o f M

. N

. ’s f o ren s i c

i n t erv i ew, as i t s at i s fi ed t h e req u i rem en t s o f OCGA § 2 4 -8 -8 2 0

. See Co r n el l v. S t a t e

,

3 4 9 Ga. Ap p

. 88 3

, 8 84 -8 85 (2 ) (8 2 7 SE2 d 6 3 ) (2 0 1 9) (ch i l d v i ct i m ’ s o u t -o f-co u rt

s t at em en t s ad m i ss i b l e w h ere s tat e p ro vi d ed no t i ce of it s i n ten t t o u s e t h e s t at em en t s

,

t h e v i ct i m t es t i fi ed at t ri al

, an d t h e p ers o n s t o wh o m t h e v ict i m m ad e t h e st at em en t s

8were su b

ject t o cro s s -ex am i n at io n at t ri al ; wh i l e d efen dan t d i d no t q ues t i o n t h e v i ct i m

ab o ut h er ou t-o f-co u rt s t at em en t s

, h e was n o t p r e c l u d ed fro m d o i n g so ); s ee al s o

Ca r o l i n a v. S t a t e

, 2 7 6 Ga. A p p

. 2 9 8

, 3 0 2 (3 ) (6 2 3 SE2 d 1 5 1) (2 0 0 5 ) (s ex u al co n t act

fo r p u rp o s es o f Ch i l d H ea r s a y S t at u t e can b e m erel y v erb al ). Fu rt h er, t ri al co u n s el

s t at ed s p eci fi cal l y t h a t s h e h ad n o o b j ect i o n t o t h e j u ry hav i n g a t ran s cri p t o f t h e

fo ren s i c i n t erv iew. Pl ai n er r o r d o e s n o t ev en ap p l y t o s u ch an affi rm at i ve wai v er.

McAl l i s t er v. S t at e

, 3 5 1 Ga. Ap p

. 76

, 8 8 -8 9 (3 ) (8 30 SE2 d 4 4 3 ) (2 0 1 9 ). Th erefo re,

t h i s p o rt i o n o f Sh au m ’ s arg u m en t p res en t s n o t h i n g fo r rev i ew. Id

.

3

. Sh au m as s ert s t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n refu s in g to g ran t h i m a co nt i n u an ce

aft er t h e fi rs t t ri al en d ed i n a m i st ri al s o t h at h e co u l d h i re h i s o w n co u ns el

. He as s ert s

t h at a “ fres h s et o f ey es rev i ewi n g t h e t ran s cri p t s o f t he ju s t co m pl et ed ju ry

t ri al

. . .

co u ld h av e p ro d u ced a d i fferen t res u l t i n a seco n d tri al h ad new co u ns el b een ab l e to

h av e t i m e t o g et in t o t h e cas e.” A refu s al t o g ran t a co n t i n u an ce wi l l n o t b e d i s t u rb ed

b y t h e ap p el l at e co u rt s u n l es s i t cl earl y ap p ears t h at t h e t ri al co u r t a b u s e d i t s

d i s cret i o n

. La n e v. S t a t e

, 2 9 9 Ga. 7 9 1

, 7 9 4 (2 ) (7 9 2 SE2 d 3 7 8 ) (2 0 16 ).

Sh au m ’ s s eco n d t ri al s t art ed ap p ro x i m at el y o n e week aft er t h e fi rs t t ri al en d ed

i n a m i st ri al

. Hi s ap p o i n t ed co u n s el

, wh o h ad al s o rep res en t e d hi m i n t h e fi rs t t ri al

,

i n fo rm ed t h e co u rt t h at Sh au m w as “ req u es t i n g a co n ti n u an ce s o t h at h e can l o o k i n to

9h i ri n g an ot h er l awy er wh o can ei t h er rep res en t hi m o r at l eas t rev i ew t h e t ran s cri p t s

at t hi s p art i cu l ar t i m e .” Sh au m ex p l ai n ed t h at h i s fam i l y m em b ers t ol d hi m n o t to

p l ead g u i l t y

. Th e t ri al co u rt i n fo rm ed Sh au m “ t h at ’ s n o t wh at we’ re h ere fo r,” an d

t h at Sh au m m

us t h av e “ l eg i t i m at e, l eg al gro u n d s fo r co n ti n u an ce o t her th an t o d el ay

an d read s o m e t ran s cri pt s .” Tri al co u n s el th en as k ed Sh au m i f h e was s at i s fi ed wi th

h er rep res en t at i o n o f hi m at t h e fi rs t t ri al

, an d Sh au m res p o n d ed

, “ [y ] es an d n o.”

W h en t h e t ri al co u rt as k ed fo r a s p eci fi c reas on

, co u n s el ex pl ai n ed t o t h e co u rt t h at

Sh au m “ ju s t wo u ld l i k e a d i fferen t l awy er.” Th e co u rt t h en d en i ed Sh au m ’ s req u es t

fo r a co n t i n u an ce.

“ [W ] h i l e ev ery defen d an t h as t h e ri g h t t o h i re c o u n sel

, a d efen d an t m u s t u s e

reas on ab l e d i l i g en ce in o bt ai n i ng ret ai ned co u n s el

. A d efen d an t m ay n o t u s e a req u es t

fo r ch an g e o f co u n sel as a d i l at o ry t act i c.” La ne , s up ra, 2 9 9 Ga. at 7 9 4 (2 ) (ci t at i o n

an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ). See OCGA § 17 -8 -2 0 (“ In al l cas es

, th e part y m ak i n g an

ap p li cat io n fo r a co n t i n u an ce m u s t s h o w t h at h e h as u s ed d ue d i l i g en ce.”). A l t h o u g h

t h e r e w a s o n l y ab ou t a w eek b et ween t ri al s

, Sh au m d i d n o t ex p l ai n wh y h e w a i t e d

u n t i l t h e s t art o f t h e s eco nd tri al t o s eek t o hi re n ew co un s el an d h e d i d n o t art i cu l at e

w h y h e was p art i al ly d i s p l eas ed wi t h ap p o in t ed co u n s el ’ s perfo rm an ce i n t h e fi rs t

t ri al

. Un d er t hes e ci rcu m s t a n c e s

, we can n o t s ay t h at t h e t ri al co u rt ab u s ed i s

10d i s cret i o n in d en y i n g Sh au m ’ s l as t -m i n u t e req u es t fo r a co n ti n u an ce. Se e S t ep h en s

v. S t a t e , 2 0 8 Ga. Ap p . 6 2 0, 6 20 -6 2 1 (1 ) (4 3 1 SE2 d 4 2 2 ) (1 9 9 3 ) (d efen d an t g av e n o

reas on wh y h e wai ted un t i l t h e d a y o f t ri al t o h i re new co u n s el

, s t at i n g o n l y t h at h e

f e lt “ ‘ m igh t y i n co m

p et en t ’ ” wi t h ap p o in t ed co un s el ; no i n d i cat i o n in reco rd th at t a c t ic

was o t h er t h an at t em

p t t o d el ay t ri al ). See al s o Jo r d a n v. S t at e

, 2 4 7 Ga. Ap p

. 5 5 1

, 5 5 5

(3 ) (5 4 4 SE2 d 7 3 1 ) (2 0 0 1 ) (n o ab u s e o f d i s cret i o n i n tri al co urt ’ s d en i al o f

d efen d an t ’ s req u es t fo r a co n t i n u an ce t o h ire n ew co u n s el m ad e fi v e d ay s b efo re t ri al

,

wh ere d efen d an t fai l ed t o art i cu l at e an y b as is fo r h i s d i s s at i s fact io n wi t h t ri al co u n s el

an d fai led to sh o w ho w a co n ti n u an ce wo u l d hav e affect ed t h e o u tco m e o f t h e t ri al ).

4

. Sh au m co m

p lai n s t h at t h e t ri al co u rt d en ied h is m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al o n a

g ro u nd h e d i d n o t rai s e

– i n effect i v e as s i s tan ce of co un s e l

. I n t h e o rd er d en y i n g

Sh au m ’ s m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al

, th e co u rt fo u n d th at “ [a] lt h o ug h i n effect i v e as s i s t an ce

o f co u ns el was n o t d i rect l y p res en t ed as an i s s u e, t he am en d ed m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al

. . . al l eg e[d ] th at [Sh au m ] w an t ed an o th er at t o rn ey an d was no t en t i rel y sat i sfi ed wi th

t h e p erfo rm an ce o f t ri al co u n s el [.] ” Th e co u rt fo u nd fu rt h er t h at Sh au m p res en t ed n o

ad d it i o n al ev i d en ce at t h e h eari n g o n t h e m ot i o n fo r new tri al co n cern i n g h i s

co u ns el ’ s perfo rm an ce at t h e s eco n d t ri al an d co n cl ud ed t h at co u n s e l “ r e n d ered

reas on ab l y

effect i v e as s is t an ce.”

11Sh au m d i d no t s p eci fi cal l y en um erat e i n effect i v e as s i s t an ce o f t ri al co u n s el as

a g ro u n d i n h i s m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al as o ri g i n al l y fi l ed

. Ho wev er, i n h i s am en d ed

m o ti o n fo r n ew t ri al

, an d d u ri n g t h e h eari n g o n t h e m o t i o n

, Sh au m ’ s (n ew) ap p el l at e

co u ns el arg u ed t h at hi s “ y es an d n o ” res p o n s e to t h e q ues t i o n o f w h e t h e r h e was

s at i s fi ed wi t h t ri al co u ns el ’ s rep res en t at i o n “ was a cl ear s ig n al ” t h at Sh au m an d t ri al

co u ns el “ h ad a co n fl i ct ,” an d Sh au m s ho u ld h av e b een a l l o w ed t i m e t o h i re n ew

co u ns el

. As t h e t r i a l co u rt co n cl u d ed

, an y as s ert io n co n cern i n g t ri al co u n sel ’ s

p erfo rm an ce w as th erefo re rai s ed b y Sh au m

. Th e t ri al co u rt d i d n o t err i n ad d res s i n g

i n effect i v e as s is t an ce o f co u n s el t o t h e ex t en t i t was rai sed

.

5

. Sh au m as s ert s t h at t he t ri al co u rt erred i n al l o wi n g M. N. to t es ti fy ab o u t t h e

n o t es th at s h e d i d n o t read an d t h rew a w a y, b e c a u s e th ey were n o t p ro d u ced as

ev i d en ce o r p ro p erl y au t h en t icat ed

, an d w ere h ears ay

. He arg u es t hat t h e n o t es m ay

h av e b een wri t t en b y o t h er p ers o n s an d t h at t he ev i d en ce s h o wed

, at b es t, t h at h e was

m erel y a co u ri er fo r t h e n o t es . Ho wev er, M

. N. d i d n o t t es t i fy ab o u t t h e ot h er n o t es

o n d i rect ex am in at i o n

. Sh au m ’ s t ri al co u ns el s p eci fi cal l y as k ed M

. N. ab o u t t h e o t h er

n o t es d u ri n g cro s s -ex am in at i o n

. Sh au m “ can n o t p u rp o sefu l l y el ici t t es t i m o ny at t ri al

,

an d th en cl ai m o n ap p eal t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n ad m it t in g t h at s am e t es ti m o n y .”

Ph i l l ip s v. S t at e

, 2 7 5 Ga. 5 9 5, 5 9 9 (6 ) (5 7 1 SE2 d 3 6 1 ) (2 0 0 2 ). Fu rt h er, M

. N. t es t i fi ed

12t o w h at s h e p ers on al l y o b s erv ed

, s o h er tes t im o n y co n cern i n g t h e n o t es an d t h e n o t es

t h em s el v es were n o t h ears ay

. See, e.g

., Ha m mo ck v. S t a t e

, 3 1 1 Ga. Ap p

. 3 4 4

, 3 4 5 (1 )

(7 1 5 SE2 d 7 0 9 ) (2 0 11 ) (wi t nes ses ’ t es t i m o n y co n cern i ng w ha t a ppeared o n vi d eo t ap e

was n o t h ears ay

, b u t rat h er co n cern ed p ers o n al o b serv at i on s ). Th i s cl ai m o f erro r i s

t h erefo re wi t ho u t m eri t

.

6

. Sh au m arg u es th at t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n refu s i n g hi s c o u n sel ’ s req u es t to

p o s e a p art i cu l ar q u es t i o n t o th e ju ry p an el d u ri n g v oi r d i re. Th e St at e fi l ed a n o t i ce

t h at i t was s eek i n g t o ad m i t ev i d en ce o f o th er act s p u rs uan t t o OCGA § § 2 4 -4 -4 0 4,

2 4 -4 -4 1 3, an d 2 4 -4 -4 1 4

. Aware f r o m t h e fi rs t t ri al t h at th i s ev i d en ce wo u l d rev eal

t h at Sh au m h ad m o l es t ed h i s dau g h t ers wh en t h ey were ch i l d ren an d h ad fat h ered t wo

o f h i s g ran d ch il d ren

, t ri al co u n s el req ues t ed p erm i s s i o n t o as k t h e p an el m em b ers i f

t h ey wo u l d b e ab l e t o g i ve Sh au m t he p res u m p t i o n o f i nn o cen ce wi t h k n owl ed g e o f

t h o s e a c t s

. Th e p art i es ack n o wl ed g ed t h at t ri al co u ns el was al l o wed t o as k t hi s

q u es ti o n d u ri n g v o i r d i re i n th e fi rs t t ri al

. Nev ert h el es s

, t he t ri al co u rt ru l ed t h at i t

wo u l d no t p erm i t t ri al co u n sel t o p o s e t he q u es t i o n

, ex p lai n i n g t h at it was n o t g o i n g

t o al l o w co u n sel “ t o t ry

[h er] cas e d u ri ng v o i r d i re.”

“ Si n ce t h ere is o ft en a fi n e l in e b et ween as k i n g p o t en ti al ju ro rs h o w t h ey wo u ld

d eci d e t h e cas e an d q ues t i on s t h at m erel y s eek t o ex p o s e b i as or p reju d i ce, t h e s co p e

13o f t h e v o ir d i re ex am i n at i o n

, of n eces s i t y

, m u s t b e l eft t o t he s o u n d d i scret i o n o f t h e

t ri al co u rt .” S

a l l i e v. S t a te

, 2 7 6 Ga. 5 0 6, 5 1 0 (3 ) (5 7 8 SE2 d 4 4 4) (2 0 03 ). Bu t “ [w] h i l e

t ri al ju d g es h av e d i scret i o n t o o v ers ee ju ry s el ect io n

, t h e Su p rem e Co u rt o f th e Un i t ed

St at es h as h el d t h at d u e p r o ces s req u i res t h at vo i r d ire b e s u ffi ci en t t o al l o w t h e

p art i es a n d t h e t r i a l co u rt t o el i ci t ju ro r b i as .” S l ack v. S t a te

,

_ _ _ Ga. Ap p

.

_

_ _ (1 )

(8 4 1 SE2 d 2 3 1) (2 0 2 0 ) (ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ). Pu rs u an t t o OCGA § 1 5

-

1 2 -1 33 , a p art y

m ay

i n q u i re of t h e i n d i v i d ual p ro s pect i v e j u ro rs ex am i n ed t o u ch i n g an y

m at t er o r t h i n g w h i c h wo u l d i l l us t rat e an y i n t eres t of t h e p ro s p ect iv e

ju ro r i n t h e cas e, i n cl u d i n g an y o p in i o n as t o wh i ch p art y ou g h t t o

p rev ai l

, t h e r e la t i o n sh i p o r acq uai n t an ce o f t h e p ro s p ect i v e ju ro r w i t h th e

p art i es o r co u ns el t h erefo r, an y fact o r ci rcu m s t an c e i n di cat i n g an y

i n cl i n at i o n, l ean i n g

, o r b i as wh i ch t h e p ro s pect i ve ju ro r m i g ht h av e

res p ect i n g t h e s u b

j ect m at t er o f t h e act i o n o r t he co u n s el o r p art i es

t h eret o

, an d t he rel i g i o u s

, s o ci al

, an d fr a t e r n a l co n n ect i o n s of th e

p ro s pect i ve ju ro r.

Ho wev er, ev en i f t h e t ri al co u rt ab u s ed i t s d i scret i o n in refu s i n g to al l o w t h e

q u es ti o n t ri al co u n s el s o u g h t t o p o s e, Sh au m can n ot s h o w h arm b ecau s e t h e fu l l v o i r

d i re was n o t t ran scri b ed

. Th e o nl y p o rt i o n t ran s cri b ed was fu rt h er q u es t i o n i n g b y t h e

p art i es o f p art i cu l ar ju ro rs wh o rai s ed t h ei r h an d s i n res po n s e t o in i t i al q u es t i o n i n g.

14Th erefo re, ev en i f t h e co u rt erred i n refu s i n g to al l o w Sh au m t o p o s e th e q u es t i o n at

i s su e h ere, b ecau s e p o rt i o n s o f t h e v o i r d i re were o m i t t ed

, we u nab l e t o co n s i d er wh at

q u es ti o n s were as ked o f

ju ro rs an d t h u s can n ot d et erm i n e wh et h er h arm res u l t ed

. See,

e.g

., Ja cks o n v. S t a te , 2 8 1 Ga. Ap p . 5 0 6 , 5 09 -5 1 0 (2 ) (6 3 6 SE2 d 6 9 4 ) (2 0 06 ).

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

, P. J., a n d

Co o mer , J., co n cu r

.

15