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

De c id e d: No v e m b e r 1 7 , 2 0 1 4

S 1 4 A0 6 7 4 . WALKER v . THE S TATE.

B L ACKW EL L , Ju stic e

.

Ce d ric k Ale x is Wa lk e r w a s trie d b y a Ric h m o n d Co u nty ju ry a n d

c o n v ic te d o f th e m

u rd e r o f Ra m o n a Giv e n s, th e m u rd e r o f Ty le r Giv e n s, a n d

u n la w f u l l y c o n c e a lin g th e d e a th of Ra m o n a

. Wa lk e r a p p e a ls, c o n te n d in g th a t th e

e v id e n c e is in su ffic ie n t to su sta in h is c o n v ic tio n s, th a t th e tria l c o u rt e rre d wh e n

it e x c lu d e d th e te stim on y o f a d e fe n se w i t n e ss, a nd th a t h e wa s d e n ie d th e

e ffe c tiv e a ssista n c e o f c o u n se l. Up o n o ur re v ie w o f th e re c o rd a n d b rie fs, we se e

n o h a rm fu l e rro r in th e e x c lu sio n o f th e witn e ss, a n d we c o n c lu d e th a t Wa lk e r

h a s fa ile d to p ro v e a ny d e nia l o f e ffe c tiv e a ssista n c e

. As to th e su ffic ie nc y o f th e

e v id e n c e

, it is su ffic ie n t to su sta in th e c on vic tio n f o r t h e m u rd e r o f Ra m o n a

,

wh ic h we a ffirm

. It is n o t, h o w e v e r, su ffic ie n t to su sta in th e c o n v ic tio n fo r

c o n c e a lin g h e r d e a th , wh ic h we re v e rse . Th e e vid e n c e a lso is no t su ffic ie n t

—

b e c a u se o f th e p a rtic u la r le ga l th e o ry b y w h ic h th e S ta te c h a rg e d Wa lk e r — tosu st a i n h i s c o n v ic tio n fo r th e m u rd e r o f Ty le r, wh ic h we re ve rse a s we ll.

Ac c o rd in g ly

, th e ju d g m e n t o f th e tria l c o urt is a ffirm e d in pa rt and re v e rse d in

p a rt. 1

1 . Vie we d in th e lig h t m o st fa vo ra b le to th e v e rd ic t, th e e vid e n c e sh o w s

th a t Ra m o n a a n d h e r i nfa n t so n

, Ty le r, 2 sh a re d a n a p a rtm e nt in Au g u sta with

Ra m o na ’s m o th e r, Mo n a

Lisa Giv e n s. O n th e e v e nin g o f Sa tu rd a y

, Oc to b e r 4

,

2 0 0 3, Mo n a Lisa sa id g o o d b y e to Ra m on a a n d le ft th e a p artm e n t fo r a n

o v e rn ig h t v isit to A tla n ta

. T h e f o l l o w i n g e v e n in g

, Mo n a Lisa re tu rn e d to th e

a p a rtm e nt, wh e re sh e f

o u n d Ty le r ly in g in h is c rib

, d e a d

. Ne x t, Mo n a L isa

1 Ram ona and Ty ler were killed late on the evening of October 4, 2003 or e a r l y t he

next m orning. W a lker was indicted on D e c e mb e r 30, 2003 and charged w ith the m alice

m urder of R am ona, the f

e lony m urder of T y ler, and c oncealing t h e d e a th of Ram ona.

W a lker’s trial began on March 27, 2006, a n d the j ury r e t urned its v erdict three d ay s later,

f inding W alker guilty

on all counts. On April 28, 2006, the trial court sentenced W alker to

a term of i m

prisonm e nt f

or lif e f or the m urder of Ram ona, a c onsecutive term of

im p risonm ent f

or lif e f or t he m urder o f Ty ler, and a consecutive term of im prisonm ent f

or

ten y ears f

or unlawf ully concealing the death of Ram ona. W alker t im ely f iled a m otion f

or

new trial on May 3, 2006, and he am ended it several tim es, am e nding it f or the last tim e on

February 14, 2 011. The trial court denied his m otion on Decem ber 5

, 2012. W alker tim ely

f iled a notice of appeal n ine day s late r

. The case was docketed in this Court f or the April

2014 term

and orally

argued on April 18, 2014.

2 W hen they were killed, Ram ona was sixteen y ears of age, and Ty ler w as s ix weeks

old.

2d isc o v e re d Ra m o na o n a so f a i n th e liv in g ro o m

, a lso d e a d

. Mo n a L isa

su m m on e d p o lic e o ffic e rs to th e sc e ne

.

Wh e n th e o ffic e rs re sp o n d e d

, o ne wa s a p p ro a c h e d b y Wa lk e r, wh o wa s

a m o n g se v e ra l p e o p le g a th e re d o u tsid e th e a p a rtm e n t. W a lk e r e x p la in e d th a t h e

wa s Ra m o n a ’s b o y frie nd

, a n d h e wa s “ a d a m a n t a b ou t wa ntin g to h e lp an d sp e a k

[with th e o ffic e rs]

. ” Ev e n tu a lly

, Wa lk e r wa s ta k e n

— a lo n g with Mo n a Lisa a n d

h e r b o y frie n d

— to a p o lic e sta tio n fo r in t e r v ie ws. In h is in te rv ie w, Wa lk e r

c la im e d a t first th a t h e h a d n o t se e n Ra m o na d u rin g th e we e ke n d

, b u t th e y h a d

sp o k e n b y te le p h o ne

, he sa id

, o n S a tu rd a y n ig h t. In th a t te le p h o n e c o n v e rsa tio n

,

a c c o rd in g to Wa lk e r, Ra m o n a sa id th a t a m a n h a d b e e n wa tc h in g h e r th ro u g h a

win do w o f th e a

p a rtm e n t. 3 S o o n

, Wa lk e r a d m itte d

, h o we ve r, th a t h e a c tu a lly h a d

v isite d th e a

p a rtm e n t o n S a tu rd a y n ig ht. Ev e n tu a lly

, Wa lk e r sa id th a t h e wa s

p re se nt wh e n Ra m o n a d ie d

, c la im in g th a t sh e su ffe re d a se iz u re a s th e y we re

h a v in g se x, be c a m e p a ra ly z e d

, s t o p p e d b re a th in g

, a n d d ie d a s h e trie d to

a d m in iste r c a rd io p u lm o n a ry re su sc ita tio n

. Wa lk e r e x p la in e d th a t h e n e v e r

3 W alker h a d g i v e n the sam e a ccount of that telephone conversation to several

rel a t i v e s o f Ram o n a, w ho had gathered with him outside the apartm ent as the of f icers

arrived.

3b e fo re h a d se e n so m e o n e d ie

, th a t h e p an i c k e d

, a n d th a t h e ra n fro m th e

a p a rtm e nt with ou t se e in g Ty le r.

Bu t th e p h y sic a l e v i d e n c e d id n o t su pp ort th e a c c ou nt g iv e n b y Wa lk e r.

In th e first p la c e

, Ra m o n a h a d b e e n fo u n d fu lly c lo th e d

, an d in v e stig a to rs fo u n d

n o sp e rm o r s e m in a l flu id o n h e r b o dy o r c lo th in g. An a uto psy re ve a le d n o

d ise a se or tra u ma af

f e c tin g h e r b ra in o r sp in a l c o rd th a t m ig h t h a ve b e e n

in d ic a tiv e o f a se iz u re o r p a ra ly sis. Th e m e d ic a l e x a m in e r d id fin d, h o w e v e r, a

wh itish fo a m in h e r n o se a n d m ou th

, a fin d in g c o n s iste n t with th e e v e n tu a l

d e te rm in a tio n th a t R amo n a d ie d a s a re su lt o f a sp h y x ia tio n. Mo re o v e r, th e

a c c o u nt g iv e n by Wa lk e r fa ile d to e x p l a i n t h e d e a th o f Ty le r. Ty le r’s a u to p sy

re v e a le d c o m

p re ssio n m a rk s o n h is fa c e

, a n d “ a v e ry sp e c ific fa c ia l liv id ity

p a tte rn ” fro m b lo o d th a t p o o le d a ro u n d h is n ose a nd m o u th

, a re su lt, th e m e d ic a l

e x a m in e r c o n c lu d e d

, o f “ th e c e n tra l p a rt o f [h is] fa c e [h a v in g b e e n] pre sse d in to

so m e th in g .” Th e m e d ic a l e x a m in e r d e te rm in e d th a t Ty le r to o h a d die d a s a re su lt

o f a sp h y x ia tio n . Eq

ua lly sig n ific a n t, th e m e d ic a l e x a m in e r d e te rm in e d a s we ll

th a t Ra m o n a

a n d Ty le r d ie d a ro u n d th e sa m e tim e

.

At tria l, th e ju ry wa s p re se n te d with th e sta te m e n ts th a t Wa lk e r h a d g iv e n

to o ffic e rs, a s we ll a s th e te stim o n y o f th e m e d ic a l e x a m in e rs a n d o th e rs a b o u t

4th e p h y sic a l e v id e n c e

. In a d d itio n

, a ja ilh o u se in fo rma n t te stifie d th a t Wa lk e r

h a d c o n fe sse d to k illin g b o th Ra m o n a a n d Ty le r a n d h a d sh a re d h is m o tiv e

, a s

we ll a s th e wa y in wh ic h h e k ille d Ra m o na a n d he r c hild

. 4 An d th e ju ry wa s

sh o wn a le tte r writte n b y Wa lk e r — fo u n d a m o n g Ra m o n a ’s th in g s — in wh ic h

h e e x p re sse d c o n c e rn a

b ou t h e r we ll b e in g

, sa id th a t h e d id n o t wa n t to h u rt he r,

b u t a d d e d th a t h e h a d n o tim e fo r h e r “ ga m e s” a n d wa s n ot in te re ste d in b e in g

o n ly h e r “ p a rtn e r” o r “ frie n d .”

Wa lk e r c o n te n d s th a t th e e v id e n c e is in su ffic ie n t to su sta in e a c h o f h is

c o n v ic tio n s, a n d b e lo w, we will c o n sid e r e a c h in tu rn

. Bu t b e fo re we be g in

, we

a d d re ss th e sta nd a rd of re v ie w. Wa lk e r a sk s th a t th is Co u rt “ re v ie w th e e n tire

re c o rd an d c o m e to th e c o n c lu sio n th a t th e re wa s no t o v e rwh e lm in g e v id e n c e [o f

h is gu ilt] .” Th a t, h o we v e r, is n o t th e p ro p e r sta n d a rd

. Ev id e n c e m a y b e le ss th a n

o v e rwh e lm in g

, b u t still su ffic ie n t to su sta in a c o n v ic tio n

. S e e Z a m o ra v

. S ta te

,

4 According to this jailhouse inf orm ant, W a lker said that he w as angry with Ram ona

because she previously had m iscarried his unborn child, a nd s he then “ d isrespected him ” by

conceiving T y l e r with another m an while W alker was im prisoned f

or a drug of

f ense. The

inf orm ant testif

ied t hat W alker claim ed to have gone to the apartm ent w hile Mona Lisa was

out of town because she d id not like him

, that he and Ram ona a rgued about “why she could

carry another m a n’s baby ” but not his, t hat he sim ultaneously choked Ram ona a nd covered

her f ace (so as to “throw of

f the cause of death”), that he suf f ocated Ty ler by putting his hand

over the baby ’s f

a ce, and that he then lef

t the apartm ent.

52 9 1 Ga

. 5 1 2

, 5 1 4 (2 ) (7 3 1 S E2 d 6 58 ) (2 0 1 2 ). Wh e n w e c o n sid e r th e le g a l

su ffic ie n c y o f th e e v id e n c e

, we m ust “ p u t a sid e a n y qu e stio n s a b o u t c o n flic tin g

e v id e n c e

, th e c re dib ility of w itn e sse s, o r th e we ig h t o f th e e v id e n c e

, le a v in g th e

re so lu tio n o f su c h th in g s to th e d isc re tio n of th e trie r o f fa c t.” W h i t e v

. S ta te

,

2 9 3 Ga

. 5 2 3

, 5 2 3 (1 ) (7 5 3 S E2 d 1 1 5 ) (2 01 3 ) (c ita tio n o m itte d ). In ste a d, w e m u st

v ie w th e e v id e n c e in th e lig h t m o st fa v o ra b le to th e v e rd ic t, id

., a nd we in q u ire

o n ly wh e th e r a n y ra tio n a l trie r o f fa c t m i g h t fin d b e y o nd a re a so n a b le d o u b t

fro m th a t e v id e n c e th a t th e d e fe nd a n t is g uilty o f th e c rim e s o f wh i c 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 4 3 U. S

. 3 0 7, 3 19 (III) (B) (9 9 S Ct 2 7 8 1

,

6 1 L E 2 d 5 6 0) (1 9 7 9 ). With th is sta n d a rd in m in d, we n ow tu rn to th e su ffic ie n c y

o f th e e v id e n c e in th is c a se

.

(a ) As to th e k illin g o f Ra m o n a

, Wa lk e r wa s c o n vic te d o f m a lic e m u rd e r.

To p ro v e m a lic e m

u rd e r, th e S ta te wa s re q u i r e d to sh o w b e y on d a re a so n a b le

d o u bt th a t Wa lk e r “ u n la wfu lly a n d with m a lic e a fo re th o u g h t, e ith e r e x p re ss o r

im p lie d

, c a u se [d ] th e d e a th o f [Ra m o na ] .” OCGA § 1 6 -5 -1 (a ). Th e S ta te c a rrie d

th a t b u rd e n

, we c o n c lu d e

. Alth o u g h th e m e d ic a l e x a m in e r m a y h a v e b e e n u n a b le

to e x p la in th e p re c ise m e c h a nism b y wh ic h Ra m on a wa s a sp h y x ia te d

, th e S ta te

n e v e rth e le ss o ffe re d e v id e n c e su ffic ie nt to p ro ve th a t Wa lk e r w a s th e c a u se o f

6h e r a sp h y x ia tio n a n d th a t h e c a u se d h e r d e a th u n la w fu lly a n d with m a lic e

. Th a t

is e no u g h to su sta in h is c o n v ic tio n fo r th e m u rd e r o f Ra m o n a

.

(b ) F o r re a so n s th a t will b e c o m e a p p a re nt so o n e n o u g h

, we n e x t c o n sid e r

wh e th e r th e e v id e nc e wa s s u f f i c ie n t to p ro ve b e y o n d a re a so na b le d o u b t th a t

Wa lk e r u nla wfu lly c o n c e a le d th e d e a th o f Ra m o n a

. To p r o v e u n la wfu l

c o n c e a lm e n t, t h e S t a t e ha d to sh o w th a t W a lk e r, “ by c o n c e a lin g th e d e a th o f

[Ra m o na ]

, h in de r[e d ] a d isc o v e r y o f wh e th e r o r n o t [sh e ] wa s u n la wfu lly

k ille d.” OCGA § 1 6 -1 0 -3 1

. T h a t is, th e S ta te h a d to p ro v e th a t Wa lk e r a c tu a lly

c o n c e a le d th e fa c t o f h e r d e a th

, an d it h a d to e sta b lish th a t h is d o in g so d e la y e d

o r o th e rwise h in d e re d th e d isc o v e ry th a t h e r d e a th wa s a n u n la wf u l o n e

. S e e

Na z a rio v

. S ta te

, 2 9 3 Ga

. 4 8 0

, 4 9 1 (3 ) (d ) (7 46 S E2 d 10 9 ) (2 01 3 ) (“ As th e

sta tu to ry te x t in d ic a te s, th e g ra v a m e n o f th e o ffe n se is c o n d u c t th a t h i n d e r s ‘a

d isc o v e ry ’ th a t a p e rso n h a s b e e n u n la w fu lly k ille d b y c o n c e a lin g th a t d e a th .” ).

As to c o n c e a lin g th e fa c t o f d e a th

, w e h a v e fo u n d su ffic ie n t p ro o f o f th a t

e le m e n t in p re v io u s c a se s in w h ic h th e e v id e n c e sh o we d , fo r in sta n c e

, th a t th e

b o d y o f th e d e c e a se d wa s re m o v e d fro m th e sc e n e o f d e a th to a re m o te lo c a tio n

, 5

5 See, e.g., Edenf

ield v. State, 293 Ga. 370, 371-373 (1) (744 SE2d 738) ( 2013); W hite

v. State, 287 Ga. 7 13, 716 (1) (c) (699 SE2d 291) ( 2010); Duncan v. S tate, 283 Ga. 584, 585

(2) (662 SE2d 122) (2008); Young v. State, 280 Ga. 65, 65-66 (1) (623 SE2d 491) (2005);

7th a t th e b o d y wa s b u rn e d, 6 th a t th e b o d y wa s d ism e m b e re d

, 7 th a t p e rso n s with

k n o w le d g e o f th e d e a th we r e p r e v e n te d fro m re p o rtin g it b y th re a ts o r

in tim id a tio n

, 8 a n d th a t p e rso n s in se a rc h o f th e de c e a se d w e re m isd ire c te d

in te ntio n a lly

. 9

In th is c a se

, th e S ta te sa y s th a t th e e le m e nt of c on c e a lm e n t is sa tisfie d b y

p ro o f th a t Wa lk e r m o v e d th e b o d y o f Ra m o n a fro m th e f l o o r to th e so fa o n

wh ic h sh e wa s fo u n d a n d th a t h e tu rn e d o ff a n ig ht lig h t in th e a p a rtm e n t b e fo re

le a v in g

. Ab ou t th e m o v e m e n t o f th e b o d y to th e so fa

, we d o n ot d o u b t th a t e v e n

m o v in g a b o d y a sh o rt d ista n c e m ig h t in so m e c irc u m sta n c e s a m o u n t to

c o n c e a lm e n t o f th e b o d y

. Bu t h e re

, th e re wa s n o p ro of th a t th e m o v e m e n t to th e

so fa m a d e th e b o d y m ore d i f f i c u l t t o se e fro m a n y v a n ta g e p o in t, n o r th a t th e

p o sitio n in g o f th e b o d y o n th e so fa m a d e it m o re d iffic ult fo r a ny o ne to d isc e rn

th a t Ra m o n a wa s, in fa c t, d e a d

. Ab o u t th e tu rn in g o ff o f th e n ig h t lig h t, we a g a in

Bragg v. State, 279 Ga. 156, 157 (1) (611 SE2d 17) ( 2005); W are v. State, 2 79 Ga. 1 7, 17-18

(1) ( 6 0 8 SE2d 643) (2005); Mitchell v. State, 274 G a. 768, 7 70 (1) (560 SE2d 8) (2002).

6 See, e.g., Hendrix v. State, 284 Ga. 420, 421-422 (1) (667 SE2d 597) (2008).

7 See, e.g., McKibbins v. State, 293 Ga. 843, 844-847 (1) (750 SE2d 314) (2013).

8 See, e.g., Duncan v. State, 283 Ga. 584, 585 (2) (662 SE2d 122) (2008).

9 See, e.g., W hite v. State, 287 Ga. 713, 716 (1) (c) (699 SE2d 291) (2010).

8d o n o t d isp u te th a t th e c re a tio n o f c o n ditio n s in w h ic h a b o d y is m o re d iffic u lt

to se e c ou ld a m o u n t to c o n c e a lm e n t. Bu t in th is c a se , th e re is n o e vid e n c e th a t

tu rn in g o ff th e n ig h t lig h t m a d e th e b od y m o re d iffic u lt to se e

, e sp e c ia lly sin c e

th e lig h t wa s lo c a te d in th e k itc h e n

, n o t th e liv in g ro o m in wh ic h Ra m o n a wa s

f o u n d

, a n d th e re is n o in d ic a tio n in th e re c o rd th a t th e kitc he n lig ht so m e h o w

wo u ld h a v e ill u mi n a te d th e so fa o n wh ic h h e r b o d y la y

. Th e re sim p ly is n o

p ro o f at a ll th a t m o v in g Ra m o n a to th e so fa o r tu rn in g o ff a n ig h t lig h t in

a n o th e r ro o m in a n y wa

y c o n c e a le d th e d e a th o f Ra m o na

.

Th e S ta te a lso n o te s so m e e v id e n c e t h at th e b a c k d o o r o f th e a pa rtm e n t

lo c k e d a s Wa lk e r le ft it. 1 0 To th e e x te n t th a t th e e v id e n c e sh ows th a t he lo c k e d

it in te n tio n a lly

, 11 th a t c irc um sta n c e a rg u a b ly c o u l d a

m o u n t t o c o n c e a lm e n t o f th e

f a c t o f d e a th

, in so fa r a s it wo u ld m a k e it m o re d iffic ult to a c c e ss th e p l a c e i n

wh ic h th e b o d y c o u ld b e fo u nd , a t le a st th ro ug h th a t p a rtic ula r d o o r. Bu t e v e n

10 The jury heard a statem ent given b y W alker in which he described hearing the door

“click” as he lef

t the apartm ent. That the back door w as locked, h owever, was disputed by

Mona Lisa a nd e m e rgency personnel who responded to t he apartm ent. Nevertheless, as we

noted earlier, we leave t he resolution of c onf licts in the evidence to the jury

, and so w e accept

that the jury

could have f

ound that W alker locked the door as he lef t

.

11 The State arg u ed earlier in this appeal t hat W alker a d m itted to p olice that he

intentionally locked the door to p revent any one f rom f inding her, but the State later conceded

in a supplem ental brief

that no such adm i ssion was presented to the jury at trial.

9a ssu m in g th a t th e S ta te p ro ve d th a t Wa lk e r in te n tio na lly lo c k e d th e b a c k d o o r,

a n d a ssu m in g th a t su c h c on d u c t sa tisfie s th e c o n c e a lm e n t e le m e n t, th e re i s n o

e v id e n c e th a t it h in d e re d th e d isc o v e ry o f th e un la w fu l k illin g in a n y wa y

wh a tso e v e r. Mo n a Lisa

, w h o fo u n d Ra m o n a

, u se d he r k e y to o p e n th e fro n t d o o r

o f th e a p a rtm e n t, a n d th e re is n o su g g e stio n th a t a lo c k e d b a c k d o o r d e la y e d h e r

e n try

. An d th e re is n o e vid e n c e th a t a n y o n e e lse c a m e to do o r th a t we e k e n d a n d

trie d to e n te r, b ut wa s d e te rre d b y th e lo c k e d d o o r.

F in a lly

, th e S ta te p o in ts to th e e v id e n c e th a t W a lk e r k ille d Ty le r, th e re b y

p re v e n tin g th e ba

b y fro m c ry in g a n d a ttra c tin g th e a tte n tio n o f n e ig h b o rs wh o

,

th e S ta te a rg u e s, c o u ld ha v e fo u n d Ra m o na so o n e r. To b e g in

, we d o u b t th a t th e

k illin g o f Ty le r wa s sh o wn to a m o u n t to c on c e a lin g th e fa c t o f t h e d e a th o f

Ra m o na

, in so fa r a s th e re is n o te stim o ny th a t th e c rie s o f a b a b y wi t h i n th e

a p a rtm e nt wo u ld h a ve be e n a u d ib le in a n y p la c e o u tsid e it. At o ra l a rg u m e n t, th e

p ro se c u tin g a tto rn e y sa id th a t th e a pa rtm e n t h a d th in wa ll s a n d th a t n u m e ro u s

p e rso n s liv e d in c lo se p ro x im ity to th e a p a rtm e n t, b ut w e h a v e fo u n d n o

e v id e n c e o f su c h fa c ts in th e re c o rd

. Bu t m o re im p o rta nt, e ve n if th e k illin g o f

Ty le r c o uld sa tisfy th e c o n c e a lm e n t e le m e n t, th e S ta te still h a d to p ro v e th a t h is

k illin g a c tu a lly h in d e re d th e disc ov e ry th a t R a m o n a wa s k ille d u nla wfu lly

. Ev e n

10if th e ju ry c o u ld h a v e in fe rre d th a t h is c rie s wo u ld h a v e b e e n a u d ib le o u tsid e th e

a p a rtm e nt, th e re is n o e v id e n c e th a t th e y wo u ld ha v e be e n a u d ib le fro m a p la c e

in wh ic h o th e rs we re or lik e ly wo u l d h a v e be e n p re se n t o n th e we e k e n d in

q u e stio n

, m

u c h le ss th a t a n y s u c h p e rso n lik e ly w o u ld h a v e re sp o n d e d to th e

c rie s in a way th a t wo u ld h a ve le d a n y o n e to so on e r d isc o v e r Ram o n a

.

Ev e n v ie we d in t h e l i g h t m o st fa v o ra b le to th e ve rd ic t, we fin d n o

e v id e n c e fro m wh ic h a ra tio n a l ju ry c o u ld fin d b e y o n d a re a so n a b le d o u b t th a t

Wa lk e r d id a n y th in g to c o n c e a l th e fa c t o f th e de a th o f Ra m on a th a t in a n y wa y

h in d e re d th e d isc o v e ry o f th e u n la wfu l n a tu re o f h e r k illin g

. S e e OCGA § 1 6

-

1 0 -3 1

. A c c o rd in g ly

, th e e v id e n c e is le g a lly in su ffic ie n t to su sta in th e c o n v ic tio n

fo r u n la wfu lly c o n c e a lin g th e d e a th o f R a mo n a

. Th a t c o n v ic tio n m ust b e se t

a sid e

.

(c ) L a st, we tu rn t o th e m u rd e r o f Ty le r. No d o u b t, th e e v id e n c e wa s

su ffic ie n t to p ro v e th a t th e c o n d u c t o f Wa lk e r c au se d T y le r’s d e a th

. Bu t th e

S ta te e le c te d to c h a rg e W a lk e r with n e i t h e r th e m a lic e m urd e r o f Ty le r n o r a

fe lo ny m u rd e r p re d ic a te d o n a fe lo n io u s a ssa u lt u p o n th e b a by

. In ste a d, th e S ta te

sp e c ific a lly c ha rg e d W a l k e r w ith a fe lo n y m u rd e r o f T y le r p re d ic a te d o n th e

m u rd e r o f Ra m o na

a n d th e u n la wfu l c o n c e a lm e n t o f h e r de a th

. To a u th o riz e a

11c o n v ic tio n u n d e r th is pa rtic u la r th e o ry o f p ro se c u tio n

, th e S ta te h a d t o p ro v e

b e y o n d a re a so n a

b le do u b t th a t Wa lk e r c a u se d th e d ea t h o f Ty le r “ in th e

c o m m issio n o f” th e se sp e c ific p re d ic a te fe lo n ie s. S e e OCGA § 1 6-5 -1 (c ). An d

to c a rry th a t b u rd e n

, th e S ta te h a d to sh o w, a m o ng o th e r th in g s, th a t Wa lk e r’s

c o m m issio n o f th e pre d ic a te fe lo n ie s wa s a pro x im a te c a use o f T y l e r ’ s d e a th

.

S e e S ta te v

. Ja c kso n, 2 8 7 Ga

. 6 46

, 6 6 0 (6 ) (6 9 7 SE2 d 75 7) (2 0 10 ). We a lre a d y

h a v e h e l d

, o f c o u rse

, th a t th e S ta te fa ile d to pro v e th a t Wa lk e r u n la wfu lly

c o n c e a le d th e d e a th o f Ra m o n a

, a n d fo r th a t re a so n, th e m a lic e mu rd e r o f

Ra m o na is th e o n ly p o ssib le pre d ic a te fe lo n y u p o n w h ic h th e c on vic tio n fo r th e

fe lo ny m u rd e r m ig h t b e su sta in e d

.

Th e re is n o p ro of, h o we v e r, th a t t h e mu rd e r o f Ra m o na p ro x im a te ly

c a u se d Ty le r’s d e a th

. Th is is n o t a c a se in wh ic h a n i n f a n t d ie d a s a re su lt o f

n e g le c t, p ro lo n g e d e x po su re

, o r so m e o th e r d a n g e ro u s c irc u m sta nc e fro m wh ic h

th e c h ild c ou ld ha v e be e n re sc ue d

, b u t fo r th e k i l l i n g o f its o n ly p o te n tia l

re sc u e r. To th e c o n tra ry

, th e S ta te re lie d a t tria l o n te stim o n y th a t Wa lk e r

a d m itte d c a

u sin g Ty le r to a sp h y x i at e b y p la c in g h is h a nd o v e r th e fa c e o f th e

c h ild

. Th e S ta te a lso re lie d a t tria l o n p h y sic a l e v id e n c e th a t Ty le r h a d n o t ju st

b e e n le f t l y in g in a d a n ge ro u s po sitio n in wh ic h h e m ig h t u n in te n tio na lly b e

12a sp h y xi a t e d

, b u t ra th e r th a t T y le r h a d b e e n p re sse d a ga in st so m e th in g

in te ntio n a lly

, le a din g to h is a sp h y xia tio n

. In d e e d

, th e m e dic a l e x a m in e r te stifie d

th a t sh e sp e c ifi c a l l y r u le d o u t “ p o sitio n a l a sp h y x ia tio n ”

— th a t Ty le r

a sp h y xia te d sim

p ly a s a re su lt o f th e po sitio n in wh ic h h e wa s le ft in his c rib

—

a s a c a u se o f th e d e a th o f th e c h ild

. An d th e Sta te a p p e a rs to h a v e go ne to g re a t

le n g th s a t tria l to sh o w — b y p h o to g ra p hs of th e c h ild

, a s we ll a s th e te stim o n y

o f se v e ra l witn e sse s — th a t Ty le r wa s o ld e n o u g h to lift a n d tu rn h is h e a d

, su c h

th a t h e wo uld b e a

b le to b re a th e e v e n if le ft o n h i s sto m a c h

. F in a lly

, th e

e v id e n c e sh owe d th a t Ty le r a nd Ra m o n a d ie d a ro u n d th e sa m e tim e

. Th e S ta te ’s

th e o ry o f fe lo ny m

u rd e r p re m ise d o n th e m a lic e m u rd e r o f R a m o n a — th a t h e r

k illin g p re v e n te d h e r fro m c o m in g to th e a id o f Ty le r — sim p ly d o e s n o t

c o rre sp o n d to th e S ta te ’s own e vid e n c e a t tria l. Th e e v id e n c e is le g a lly

13in su ffic ie n t to su sta in th e c o n v ic tio n fo r th e fe lo n y m u rd e r of Ty le r a s c h a rg e d

in th e in d ic tm e n t, a n d we m u st re v e rse th a t c on vic tio n a s we ll. 1 2 , 1 3

2

. W a lk e r c la im s th a t th e tria l c o urt e rre d wh e n it e xc lu d e d th e te stim o n y

o f a d e fe n s e w i t n e ss. O n th e th ird da y o f tria l, th e p ro se c u tin g a tto rn e y

a n n o u n c e d th a t Wa lk e r h a d p ro v id e d h im with th e n a m e o f a p o te n tia l w itn e ss,

La sh o n d a Da rria n

, w h o wa s a fa m ily frie nd o f Wa lk e r. 1 4 Da rria n wa s m a d e

a v a ilable to th e S ta te a t th e e n d o f th a t d a y — a fte r th e S ta te ha d re ste d a n d th e

ju ry h a d b e e n e x c u s e d

— a n d Da rria n in d ic a te d th a t h e r te stim o n y wo u ld b e

th a t, a lth o u g h Wa lk e r w a s in c a rc e ra te d wh e n Ty le r wa s b o rn a n d fo r a we e k o r

12 That the State c h o s e t o charge W alker by way of a convoluted theory of f elony

m urder that did not m atch its own evidence

— rather t h a n by a s traightf o rward theory of

m alice m urder or f e lony m urder p rem ised on aggravated assault, which w o u l d have been

consistent with that evidence

— i s puzzling. N evertheless, we c annot af f i rm a convi c t i o n

based upon a legal theory of t he c rim e with which the d e f e n d a n t was never c h arged. See

Childs v. State, 257 Ga. 243, 253 (17) (357 SE2d 48) (1987).

13 Because the convictions f or concealing the death o f Ram o na and the f elony m urder

of Ty ler m

ust be set a side, several other claim s of error a sserted by W alker o n a ppeal are

m oot. W e do not need to consider the claim that his t rial c ounsel was inef f e ctive because he

did not f ile a general dem

urrer t o c hallenge the suf

f i ciency o f t he indictm ent as it related to

unlawf ul concealm e nt and f

elony m urder and because h e did not m ove f or a d irected verdict

on those counts. Nor n eed we consider the claim that the unlawf ul concealm ent should have

me r g e d w ith the f

elony m urder. S ee Bright v. State, 265 Ga. 265, 285 ( 19) (455 S E 2 d 3 7 )

(1995).

14 “Generally speaking, the parties are obligated to give notice at least f ive day s bef

ore

trial com m ences of any witnesses who m ay appear at trial.” Jones v

. State, 292 G a. 593, 597

(4) (740 SE2d 147) (2013).

14two w e e k s a fte r th e b irth

, h e i n v ite d Ra m o na a n d Ty le r to h is fa m ily ’s h o use

“ a ll th e tim e ” a fte r h e wa s re le a se d

, th a t Mo n a Lisa wo u ld p i c k Ra m o n a a n d

Ty le r up in th e e ve n in g s a n d th e n Ra m o n a a n d Wa lk e r “ wo uld b e o n th e p h o n e

a ll n ig h t,” a n d th a t, in th e fe w we e k s b e twe e n W a lk e r’s re le a se fro m p riso n a n d

th e k illin g s o f Ra m on a a n d Ty le r, sh e ha d ne v e r se e n Wa lk e r a rg u e with

Ra m o na o r m istre a t Ty le r in a n y wa y

. Th e Sta te o bje c te d to Da rria n’s p ro ffe re d

te stim o n y

, a rg u in g th a t it wa s “ e n tire ly irre le v a n t to an y o f th e issu e [s] o n tria l.”

Th e tria l c o u rt a gre e d , a

n d th e te stim on y wa s e x c lu d e d

.

It is we ll e sta b lish e d th a t th e e x c lu sio n o f e v id e n c e th a t “ is o b je c te d to o n

th e g ro u n d o f re le v a n c y lie s with in th e so u n d d isc re tio n o f th e tria l c o u rt, wh ose

d e c isio n will n ot b e d i s t u r b e d o n a p p e a l a b se n t a c le a r a

b u se o f d isc re tio n .”

O’Ne a l v

. S ta te

, 2 5 4 Ga

. 1

, 3 (3 ) (3 2 5 S E2 d 7 5 9 ) (1 9 8 5 ). Ac c o rd in g to Wa lk e r,

Da rria n ’s p ro ffe re d te stim o n y wa s re le v a n t b e c a u se it se rv e d to re bu t th e S ta te ’s

c la im th a t Wa lk e r “ h a te d ” Ra mo n a

. Ev e n a ssu m in g th a t th is te stim o n y wa s

re le v a n t, a s Wa lk e r c la im s, we c o n c l u d e th a t its e x c lu sio n wa s h a rm le ss.

Da rria n ’s d e sc rip tio n o f Wa lk e r a s a n a tte n tiv e b o y frie n d w a s e ntire ly c o n siste n t

with th e te stim o n y of Mo n a Lisa

, wh o s a i d th a t sh e w o u ld driv e Ra m o n a a n d

Ty le r to t h e h o me wh e re Wa lk e r liv e d a fte r h e wa s re le a se d fro m p riso n

, th a t

15Wa lk e r “ wo uld a lwa y s sh o w u p [a t Mo n a Lisa a n d Ra m o na ’s a pa rtm e n t] wh e n

[Mo na Lisa wa s] a t wo rk ,” a n d th a t

— e v e n wh e n Ra m o n a an d Wa lk e r we re n o t

a b le to b e to g e th e r — th e y wo u ld sp e n d c o nsid e ra b le tim e ta lk in g to e a c h o th e r

o n th e te le p h o n e

. Alth o u g h Mo n a Lisa te stifie d th a t sh e d id n ot a p p ro ve o f th e

re la tio nsh ip be twe e n W a lk e r a n d h e r d a u g h te r, he r d isa

p pro va l wa s n o t b e c a

use

sh e o b se rv e d Wa lk e r m istre a t e ith e r Ra m o n a or T y le r, b u t ra th e r b e c a u se o f th e

d isp a rity in th e ir a ge s. Ne ith e r Mo n a Lisa n o r a ny o f th e S ta te ’s o th e r witn e sse s

t e s t i fie d th a t th e y e v e r o b se rv e d Wa lk e r a rg u e with R a m o n a

, tre a t Ra m o n a o r

Ty le r p o o rly

, o r a c t o th e r th a n a s a n a tte n tiv e bo y frie n d

. S o

, wh ile th e e v id e n c e

p re se nte d by th e S ta te su g g e ste d th a t Wa lk e r h a rb o re d so m e an im o sity to wa rd

Ra m o na a

b ou t h e r d e c isio n t o c o n c e iv e a c h ild wh ile h e wa s in p riso n

, th e

e v id e n c e d id n o t su g g e st th a t Wa lk e r tre a te d h e r p o o rly in p u b lic o r t h a t h e

d isc u sse d h is a n im o sity with a n y o n e p rio r to h e r d e a th

. As su c h

, th e e x c lu d e d

te stim o n y wa s e sse n tia lly c um u la tiv e o f th e te stim o n y p ro v id e d b y Mo n a Lisa

,

a n d th e p ro b a tiv e v a lu e o f th e e x c lu de d te stim o n y — a ssu m in g th a t it h a d a n y

p ro b a tiv e va lu e — w a s n o t su b sta n tia l e n o u g h to re n d e r its e x c lu sio n h a rm fu l.

S e e Mc Willia m s v . S ta te , 2 8 0 Ga . 7 24 , 7 2 7 (4 ) (6 3 2 S E2 d 1 2 7 ) (2 0 0 6 ).

163

. La st, w e c o n sid e r th e c la im th a t Wa lk e r wa s d e nie d th e e ffe c tiv e

a ssista n c e o f co u n s e l a n d th a t th e tria l c o u rt, th e re fo re

, o u gh t to ha v e g ra n te d

Wa lk e r a n e w tria l. To p re va il o n a c la im o f in e ffe c tiv e a ssista n c e

, Wa lk e r m u st

p ro v e b o th th a t th e p e rfo r ma n c e o f h is la wy e r w a s d e fic ie n t a n d th a t h e wa s

p re ju d ic e d b y th is d e fic ie nt p e rfo rm a n c e

. S tric k la n d v

. Wa sh in gto n

, 4 6 6 U. S

.

6 6 8

, 6 8 7 (III) (1 0 4 SCt 2 0 5 2

, 8 0 LE2 d 6 7 4 ) (1 9 8 4 ). To p ro ve th a t th e

p e rfo rm a n c e o f his la w y e r wa s d e fic ie n t, Wa lk e r mu s t p r o v e th a t th e la wy e r

p e rfo rm e d h is d u tie s a t tria l in a n o b je c tiv e ly u n re a so n a

b le wa y

, c o n sid e rin g a ll

th e c irc u m sta n c e s, a nd i n t h e lig h t o f p re v a ilin g p ro fe ssio na l n o rm s. Id

. a t

6 8 7 -6 8 8 (III) (A). S e e a lso Kim m e lm a n v

. Mo rriso n

, 4 7 7 U. S

. 3 6 5, 38 1 (II) (C)

(1 0 6 S C t 2 5 74

, 9 1 LE2 d 3 0 5 ) (1 9 8 6 ). An d to p ro v e th a t h e wa s p re ju d ic e d b y

th e p e rfo rm a n c e o f h is la wy e r, W a lk e r m u st p ro v e “ a re a so n a

ble p ro b a b ility

th a t, b u t fo r c ou n se l’s u n p ro fe ssio n a l e rro rs, th e re su lt o f th e p ro c e e d in g wo u ld

h a v e b e e n d iffe re n t. A re a so n a b le p ro b a bility is a p r o b a

b ility su ffic ie n t to

u n d e rm in e c o n fid e n c e in th e ou tc o m e

. S tric k la n d, 4 6 6 U. S

. a t 6 9 4 (III) (B). S e e

a lso Willia m s v

. Ta y lo r, 5 2 9 U. S

. 3 6 2

, 3 9 1 (III) (1 2 0 S Ct 1 49 5, 14 6 LE2 d 3 8 9 )

(2 0 0 0 ). T h is b u rd e n is a h e a v y o n e

. S e e Kim m e lm a n

, 4 77 U

. S

. a t 3 8 2 (II) (C).

We c o n c lu d e th a t Wa lk e r h a s fa ile d to c arry h is b u rd e n

.

17(a ) Wa lk e r a sse rts th a t h is tria l la wy e r wa s in e ffe c tiv e b e c a use th e la wy e r

fa ile d to file a tim e ly m otio n to su p p re ss th re e sta t e m e n ts g iv e n by Wa lk e r to

p o lic e

. W he n th e “ fa ilu re to file a m o tio n to su p p re ss is th e b a sis fo r a c la im o f

in e ffe c tiv e a s s i s ta n c e

, th e d e fe n d a n t m u st m a k e a stro n g sh o win g th a t th e

d a m a g in g e v id e n c e wo u ld h a v e b e e n su p p re sse d h a d c o u n se l m a d e th e m o tio n .”

Willia m s v

. Sta te

, 2 90 G a

. 5 3 3

, 5 3 5 (2 ) (a ) (7 2 2 S E2 d 8 4 7 ) (2 0 1 2 ) (c ita tio n a n d

p u n c tu a tio n o m itte d ). Wa lk e r h a s fa ile d to m a k e su c h a sh o win g a s to a n y o f th e

sta te m e n ts th a t h e n o w c l ai m s sh o u ld h a v e b e e n th e su b je c t of a m o tio n to

su p p re ss.

F irst, Wa lk e r c on te n d s th a t th e in itia l sta te m e n t th a t h e p ro v id e d to p o lic e

sh o u ld h a v e b e e n su p p re sse d b e c a u se it wa s a c u sto d ia l sta te m e n t g iv e n b e fo re

h e w a s in fo rm e d o f th e rig h ts p ro v id e d to h im b y Mira n d a v

. Ariz o na

, 3 8 4 U. S

.

4 3 6 (8 6 S Ct 1 6 0 2

, 1 6 LE2 d 6 9 4 ) (1 9 6 6 ). S e e a lso Va ug hn v

. Sta te

, 2 8 2 Ga

. 9 9

,

1 0 2 (4 ) (6 4 6 S E2 d 2 1 2 ) (2 0 0 7 ) (Mira n d a wa rn in g s re q u ire d o n ly wh e n a p e rso n

is in te rv ie w e d b y la w e n fo rc e m e n t wh ile in c u sto dy

, a n d a sse ssm e n t o f wh e th e r

a p e r so n wa s in c u sto dy “ in v o lv e s a n e xa m in a tio n o f th e c irc um sta n c e s

su rro u n d in g th e q u e stio n in g t o d e te rm in e wh e th e r a re a so n a ble pe rso n wo u ld

h a v e fe lt a t lib e rty to te rm in a te th e in te rro g a tio n an d le a v e ” ) (c ita tio n s o m itte d ).

18He re

, a lth o u g h Wa lk e r’s tria l la wy e r did n o t file a p re tria l m o tio n to su p p re ss,

h e o b je c te d to th e a dm issio n o f th e i n i tia l sta te m e n t a t tria l, a n d th e tria l c o urt

c o n d u c te d a Ja c k so n -De n n o 1 5 h e a rin g ou tsid e th e p re se n c e o f t h e ju ry to

c o n sid e r th e a d m issib ilit y o f t h e sta te m e n t. Th e e v id e n c e p re se n te d a t th is

h e a rin g sh o w e d th a t W a lk e r a p p ro a c h e d o ffic e rs o u tsid e Ra m o n a ’s a pa rtm e n t

a n d id e n tifie d h im se lf a s h e r b o y frie n d

, th a t he to ld th e m th a t h e wa n te d to h e lp

with th e ir in ve stig a tio n

, th a t h e “ w a n te d to c o m e d o wn a n d g iv e a sta te m e n t,”

th a t he wa s so “ a d a m a

n t a b o u t ta lk in g ” to offic e rs th a t, o n c e h e wa s b ro u g h t to

th e sta tio n , th e y

h a d to a sk h im

to b e p a tie n t wh ile th e y first sp ok e with Mo n a

Lisa a n d h e r b o y frie n d

, th a t Wa lk e r wa s n o t h a nd c u ffe d o r re stra i n e d in a n y

wa y

, 1 6 a n d th a t th e p o lic e o ffic e r wh o i n t e r v ie we d Wa lk e r m a de it c le a r to

Wa lk e r th a t h e w a s n o t u n d e r a rre st b u t wa s b e in g in te rv ie we d o n ly b e c a u se h e

h a d e x p re sse d a n in te re st in h e lp in g th e p o lic e in th e ir in v e stig a tio n

. G iv e n th a t

th is sa m e e v id e n c e wo u ld h a v e b ee n p re se n te d h a d Wa lk e r’s la w y e r file d a

15 See Jackson v. Denno, 378 U. S. 368 (84 SCt 1774, 12 LE2d 908) (1964).

16 Although W alker t estif ied at the hearing o n h is m otion f or n e w t r i a l that he was

restrained in the interview r oom

, this testim ony w a s c ontradicted by the t estim o ny of the

p o l i c e of f icer at the J ackson-Denno hearing, which the trial court apparently f ound to be

credible. And “[ o]n appeal, w e accept the t rial court’s f indings on dis p u t e d f

acts and

credibility

of witnesses unless clearly erroneous . . ..” Green v. S tate, 291 Ga. 287, 291 (4)

(728 SE2d 668) (2012) (citations and punctuation om itted).

19p re tria l m o tio n to su p pre ss, a n d g iv e n th a t th is e v id e n c e su p p o rte d th e tria l

c o u rt’s fin d in g t h a t t h e in itia l sta te m e n t wa s m a de b e fo re Wa lk e r wa s p la c e d

in to c u sto d y

, Wa lk e r’s la w y e r wa s n ot in e ffe c tiv e b e c a u se h e f a i l e d to file a

m o tio n to su p pre ss th e in itia l sta te m e nt. S e e Wig g in s v

. S ta te

, 2 8 0 Ga

. 6 2 7

, 6 2 9

(2 ) (6 3 2 S E2 d 8 0 ) (2 0 0 6 ).

Wa lk e r a lso c la im s th a t h is l a w y e r wa s in e ffe c tiv e b e c a u se h e d id n o t

m o v e to su p p re ss a se c on d sta te m e n t th a t Wa lk e r m a de to th e p olic e

. At th e

b e g in n in g o f th e se c o n d sta te m e n t, Wa lk e r a dm itte d th a t h e wa s p re se n t wh e n

Ra m o na d ie d

, t h e in te rv ie w wa s in te rru p te d fo r th e re a d in g of Mira n d a

wa rn in g s, a n d th e in te r v i e w c o n tin u e d a fte r W a lk e r sig ne d a wa iv e r o f h is

rig h ts. Ac c o rd in g to W a lk e r, th e p o rtio n o f th e se c o n d sta te m e n t th a t fo llo we d

h is wa iv e r o f rig h ts wa s p ro c u re d b y wa y o f th e “ two -ste p in te rro g a tio n

te c h n iq u e ” th a t wa s re

je c te d in Misso u ri v

. S e i b e rt, 5 42 U. S

. 6 0 0 (1 2 4 S Ct

2 6 0 1, 1 5 9 LE2 d 6 4 3 ) (2 0 0 4 ). B u t i n S e ib e rt, o ffic e rs pro c u re d a n in itia l

sta te m e n t in v io la tio n of Mira n d a

, th e n a d v i s e d th e d e fe n da n t o f h is Mira n d a

rig h ts with o u t in fo rm in g him th a t h is in itia l st a te m e n t wo u ld h a v e b e e n

in a d m issib le

, a

n d fin a lly c o n d u c te d fu rth e r in te rro g a tio n th a t le d th e d e fe n d a n t

to re p e a t th e sa m e in fo rm a tio n th a t h e h a d p ro v id e d in th e in a d m issib le in i t ia l

20sta te m e n t. Id

. a t 6 0 6 (I); se e a lso S ta te v

. F o lso m

, 2 8 6 Ga

. 1 0 5

, 1 0 8 -1 0 9 (2 ) (6 8 6

S E2 d 2 3 9 ) (2 00 9 ). He re

, in c o n tra st, th e p ortio n o f th e sta te m e n t th a t W a lk e r

p ro v id e d p rio r to th e re a d in g o f Mira n d a wa s a dm issib le a n d n ot in v io la tio n o f

Mira n d a

, a n d th e c on tin u a tio n o f th e in te rv i e w a f t e r W a lk e r wa iv e d h is rig h ts

wa s n o c irc u m v e n tio n o f Mira n d a

.

F in a lly

, Wa lk e r c la im s th a t h is la wy e r sh ou ld h a v e m o v e d to su p p re ss a

th ird s t a te m e n t, wh ic h h e p ro v id e d so m e fiv e o r six h o u rs a fte r th e se c o n d

.

Ac c o rd in g to Wa lk e r, th is sta te m e n t wa s in a d m issib le be c a u se

— a lth o u g h th e

p o lic e in v e stig a to r re m in d e d Wa lk e r th a t th e Mira n d a wa rn in g s h e p re v io u sly

h e a rd “ still a p p lie d ”

— th e in v e stig a to r d id n ot re p e a t th e wa rn in g s. Bu t we

h a v e a lre a d y h e ld th a t th e re is n o du ty to re p e a t Mira n d a wa rn in g s fo r a fo llo wu p in te rv ie w th a t is p a rt o f a c o n tin u in g in te rro g a tio n

. S o sn ia k v

. S ta te

, 2 8 7 Ga

.

2 7 9

, 2 85 (1 ) (B) (6 9 5 S E2 d 6 0 4 ) (2 0 1 0 ); Willia m s v

. S ta te

, 2 44 Ga

. 4 85

, 4 8 8 (4 )

(b ) (2 6 0 S E2 d 8 7 9 ) (1 9 79 ). As a re su lt, a n y m o ti o n t o s u p p r e ss file d o n th is

g ro u n d wo u ld h a v e b e e n m e ritle ss.

(b ) Wa lk e r a lso c la im s th a t h is tria l la w y e r ’ s p e rfo rm a n c e wa s d e fic ie n t

b e c a u se h e fa ile d to im

p e a c h th e ja ilh ou se in fo rm a n t w ith e v id e nc e o f h is p rio r

fe lo ny c o n v ic tio n s a n d to re q u e st a ju ry c h a rg e on im p e a c h m e n t b y fe lo n y

21c o n v i c t i o n s

. Se e fo rm e r OCGA § 2 4 -9 -8 4 .1 (a ). 17 B u t th e re c o rd sh o ws th a t

Wa lk e r’s la wy e r d id e lic it te stim o n y in wh ic h th e in fo rm a n t a d m itte d th a t h e h a d

m u rd e re d a m a n in 1 9 9 6

, wa s fo u n d g u ilty a t tria l, h a d h is c o nv ic tio n a ffirm e d

o n a pp e a l, a nd wa s still in p riso n fo r th e o ffe n se

. 1 8 In a dd itio n

, t h e t r i a l c o u rt

c h a rg e d th e ju ry th a t a w itn e ss c o u ld b e im p e a c h e d b y p ro o f th a t h e h a d “ b e e n

c o n v ic te d o f a c rim e of m o ra l tu rp itu d e .” 1 9 No d o u b t, a c h arg e o n im p e a c h m e n t

b y a f e l o n y c on v ic tio n a lso wa s in o rd e r. B u t th e ju ry k n e w no t on ly th a t th e

in fo rm a n t h a d b e e n c o n v ic te d o f m u rd e r bu t a lso th a t Wa lk e r h a d a fe lo n y d ru g

c o n v ic tio n

. S o, a c h a rg e o n im p e a c h m e n t b y a fe lo ny c on vic tio n wo uld n o t h a v e

b e e n te rrib ly he lp fu l to Wa lk e r. Fo r th e ju r y

, t h e c h a rg e re fe rrin g to c rim e s o f

17 Because this case w as tried bef o re January 1, 2013, our new Evidence C ode was not

applicable to W alker’s trial. See Ga. L. 2011, pp. 99, 2 14, § 101. In any event, substantially

all of f orm er OCGA § 24-9-84.1 was carried f orward into t he new E vide n c e C o d e

, and it

now can be f

o und at OCGA § 24-6-609 (a), which provides f o r the adm ission of evidence

of a witnes s ’ s p r i o r f

elony conviction

— s u

bject to tim e lim itations

— f or im peachm ent

purposes.

1 8 In his appeal, W alker ref ers to the “convictions” of the jailhouse inf o rm ant. B u t

W a lker did not introduce certif ied copies of a n y convictions at the m otion f or new trial

hearing, nor did he i ntroduce evidence of any f elonies that t he inf

orm ant h ad com m itted other

than the 1996 m

urder that he discussed at trial.

19 In Georgia, prior to the 2005 enactm ent of OCGA § 24-9-84.1, a witness could be

im p eached by proof that he h a d b e e n c o nvicted of a crim e o f m oral turpitude. See, e.g.

W i tcher v. Pender, 260 Ga. 248 (392 SE2d 6) (1990).

22m o ra l tu rp itu d e m ig h t ha v e se e m e d a m b ig uo us, a n d in th e se c irc u m sta nc e s th a t

a m b ig u ity c o u ld h a v e b e e n he lp fu l to Wa lk e r. Be c a u se th e tria l c o u rt d id n o t

in fo rm t h e j u r y th a t W a lk e r’s fe lo n y d ru g c o n v ic tio n wa s, in d e e d, a c rim e o f

m o ra l tu rp itu d e

, th e ju ry c o u ld h a v e c o n c lu d e d (e rro n e o u sly ) th a t th e in fo rm a n t

c o u ld b e im

p e a c h e d b y h is m

u rd e r c o n v ic tio n b u t t h a t W a lk e r c o u ld n o t b e

im p e a c h e d b y h is fe lo n y d ru g c o n v ic tio n

. Or th e ju ry c ou ld h a v e c o nc lu d e d th a t

th e in fo rm a n t’s c rim e wa s “ m o re im m o ra l” th an Wa lk e r’s c ri me an d th e re b y

d e te rm in e d th a t th e in fo rm a nt wa s le ss tru stwo rth y th a n Wa lk e r. An d g iv e n th a t

Wa lk e r’s o wn c re d ib ility wa s c e n tra l to h is d e fe n s e

, it wo u ld h a v e b e e n

re a so na b le tria l stra te gy no t to re q u e st a n a d d itio na l c h arg e o n im p e a c hm e n t b y

fe lo ny c o n v ic tio n s.

(c ) Wa lk e r a sse r t s t h a t h is tria l la wy e r wa s a lso in e ffe c tiv e b e c a u se h e

fa ile d to re q ue st a c ha rg e on in v o lu nta ry m a n sla ug hte r. Bu t wh e th e r to re q u e st

a c h a rg e o n a le sse r c rim e o r to pu rsu e a n “ a ll o r no th in g ” d e fe n se g e n e ra lly is

a m a tte r o f tria l stra te g y

. Bro wn v

. S ta te

, 28 5 Ga

. 3 24

, 32 7 -3 2 8 (4 ) (6 7 6 S E2 d

2 2 1 ) (2 00 9 ). He re , it wa s n ot o b je c tiv e ly u n re a so n a

b le fo r W a lk e r’s la wy e r to

c o n tin u e to p u rsu e a d e fe nse th a t wa s c o n s iste n t with Wa lk e r’s c la im th a t

Ra m o na h a d so m e so rt of se iz u re wh ile th e y we re h a v in g se x

, th a t Ra m on a d ie d

23d u e to no fa u lt o f h is o wn

, a n d th a t h e su b se q u e n tly fle d th e a p a rtm e n t in fe a r.

Be c a u se it wa s re a so n a

b le to p u t o n a d e fe n se th a t Wa lk e r d id n o t kill Ra m o n a

— e ith e r in te n tio n a lly o r u n in te ntio n a lly

— h is tria l la wy e r’s p e rfo rm an c e wa s

n o t d e fic ie n t b a se d up o n a fa ilu re to re qu e st a c ha rg e o n in v o l u n ta ry

m a n sla u g h te r. Id . a t 3 2 8 (4 ).

(d ) F in a lly

, Wa lk e r a

p p e a rs to c la im th a t h is tria l la wy e r wa s in e ffe c tiv e

b e c a u se h e fa ile d to se e k a d ire c te d v e rd ic t o f a c q u itta l o n th e c h arg e o f m a lic e

m u rd e r. Bu t b e c a

u se th e e v id e n c e w a s su ffic ie n t to su sta in Wa lk e r’s c o n v ic tio n

fo r m a lic e m

u rd e r, a n y m o tio n fo r a dire c te d v e rd ic t wo u ld h a v e b e e n m e ritle ss,

a n d th e fa ilu re to m a k e su c h a m o tio n d o e s no t c o nstitu te d e fic ie n t p e rfo rm a n c e

.

Je ssie v. S ta te

, 29 4 Ga

. a t 37 7 (2 ) (b ); Ne lso n v

. S ta te

, 2 8 3 G a

. 1 1 9

, 1 2 1 (2 ) (a )

(6 5 7 S E 2 d 2 0 1 ) (2 0 0 8).

Ju d g m e n t a ffirm e d in p a rt a n d re v e rse d in p a rt. All th e Ju stic e s c o n c u r.

24