FI RST DI VI SI ON DOYLE, C. J.

, A NDREWS, P. J.

, and RA Y, J.

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

October 11, 2016



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 6 A1 09 1 . RAY v

. THE STATE DO-0 3 8 C

A1 6 A1 12 6 . RANDELL v . THE STATE. DO-0 4 5 C

A1 6 A1 17 8 . BROW

N v . THE STATE. DO-0 4 4 C

D O Y LE , Ch ief J ud g e.

Dan t errel l Dan d re Ray

, Al ex Do n av o n Ran d el l, an d Sh ak ry s t i n Bri n ae Bro wn

were each co n v i ct ed o f m u l t i pl e o ffen s es b as ed on an arm ed ro b b ery of a res t au ran t

an d i t s o ccu p an ts

. Th ey were i n d i ct ed an d t r i e d jo in t l y , an d we h av e co n s o l i d at ed

t h ei r ap p eal s fo r rev i ew.

In Cas e No

. A1 6 A1 0 91

, Ray ap p eal s fro m h i s co n v i ct i o n s o n 4 3 co u n t s (s o m e

o f wh i ch m erg ed fo r s en t en c i n g ) i n cl u di n g m u l t i p l e co un t s o f arm ed ro b b ery , 1

1 OCGA § 1 6 -8 -4 1 (a).k i d n ap p i ng , 2 f a lse im pr isonm en t

, 3 ag g rav at ed as s au l t

, 4 po s ses s i o n o f a weap o n d u ri n g

t h e co m m i s s i on of a cri m e, 5 po i n ti n g a p i s t o l at an o t h er, 6 an d t h eft b y t ak in g

. 7

F ol l o wi ng t h e d en i al o f h i s m o t i o n fo r n ew tri al

, Ray co n ten d s t h at t h e t ri al co u rt

erred b ecau s e (1 ) t h e ev i d en ce was i n su ffi ci en t t o s u p p o rt th e g u i l t y verd i ct ; (2 ) t h e

t ri al co u rt fai l ed t o s ev er t h e t ri al o r ex cl ud e po s t -arres t s tat em en t s m ad e b y h i s co

d efen d an t s ; an d (3 ) h e recei v ed i n effect iv e as s is t an ce o f co u n s el

.

In Cas e No

. A1 6 A1 1 2 6

, Ran d el l ap p eal s fro m h i s co n vi ct i o n s o n 4 3 co u n t s fo r

t h e s am e o ffen s es , s o m e o f wh i ch al s o m erg ed at s en t en ci n g. Ran d el l ch al l en g es t h e

d en ial o f h i s m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al o n t he g ro u nd s t h at (1 ) t h e ev i d en ce was in su ffi ci en t

t o su p p o rt th e v erd ict ; (2 ) h e recei v ed i neffect i v e as s i st an ce o f co un s el ; (3 ) t h e t ri al

co u rt fai l ed t o s ev er th e tri al ; an d (4 ) t h e t ri al co urt erro n eo u sl y al l o wed t h e St at e to

as k l ead i n g q u es t i o ns

.

2 OCGA § 1 6 -5 -4 0 (a).

3 OCGA § 1 6 -5 -4 1 (a).

4 OCGA § 1 6 -5 -2 1 (b ) (1 ).

5 OCGA § 1 6 -1 1-1 06 (b ) (1 ).

6 OCGA § 1 6 -1 1-1 02

.

7 OCGA § 1 6 -8 -2

.

2Fi n al l y , i n Cas e No

. A1 6A1 1 7 8

, Bro wn ap p eal s fro m h e r co n v i ct i o ns o n 4 3

co u nt s fo r t h e s am e o ffen s es , s o m e o f wh i ch al s o m erg ed at s e n t en ci n g

. Bro wn

ch a l l e n g e s t h e d en i al o f h er m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al o n th e g ro u n d s t hat (1 ) t h e

s en t en ci n g s ch em e fo r arm ed ro b b ery i s u n co n s t i t u t i o na l on i t s face an d as ap p l i ed

t o h er u n d er Ap

p r en d i v. New Jer

s ey ; 8 (2 ) t he el em en t s of k n owl ed g e an d in t en t were

n o t p ro p erl y ch arg ed n o r was t h e ev i den ce s u ffi ci en t u n d er Ro s emo n d v. Un i t ed

S t a t es ; 9 an d (3 ) t h e ev i d en ce was i n su ffi ci en t t o s u p p o rt t he g u i l ty v erd ict

.

Fo r t h e reas o n s t h at fo ll o w, we affi rm t h e co n v ict i o n s i n each cas e.

W e b eg i n wi th a g en eral ov erv i ew o f t h e ev i d en ce p res en t ed at t h ei r jo i n t t ri al

.

Co n s t ru ed i n fav o r o f t h e verd i ct s , 1 0 t h e ev i d en ce s h o ws th at i n J u ne 2 0 1 2, J o n at h an

Ham m o nd s v is i ted Ah k eem Si m m on s ’ s ap art m en t an d t ol d Si m m on s ab o u t a ro b b ery

t h at Ham m o nd s was p l an ni n g wi t h Ray

. H am m on d s ex p e c t ed th e ro b b ery t o y i el d

$ 7 0 ,0 0 0

. A few day s l at er, Ham m o n ds

, Ray

, an d Ran d el l cam e b y Si m m o n s ’s

8 5 3 0 U. S. 4 6 6

, 4 90 (IV) (1 2 0 SCt 2 34 8

, 1 4 7 LE2 d 4 3 5 ) (2 0 0 0 ) (h o l d i n g t h at

an y fact

, o t h er t h an t hat o f a p ri o r co n v i ct i o n , t h at i n creas es t h e p en al t y fo r a cri m e b ey o n d t h e st at u t ory m ax i m u m m u s t b e s u b m i t t ed t o a ju ry an d p ro v en b ey o n d a

reas on ab l e d o u b t ).

9

_

_ U. S. _

_ (1 3 4 SCt 1 2 4 0 , 1 8 8 LE2 d 2 4 8) (2 01 4 ).

1 0 See S h or t v. S ta t e , 2 3 4 Ga. Ap p. 6 3 3, 6 3 4 (1 ) (5 0 7 SE2 d 5 1 4 ) (1 9 9 8 ).

3ap art m en t

, an d Ray as k ed Si m m o n s t o part i ci p at e i n t h e ro b bery

. Ray ex p l ai n ed t h at

Bro w n was a h o s t es s at t h e res t au ran t, an d s h e had t o l d h i m t h at t h e s ecu ri ty cam eras

d i d n o t wo rk an d h ad gi v en h i m t h e l o cat i o n o f t he m an ag er ’s o f f i c e wh ere a

s u b s t an t i al am o u n t of cas h wo u l d b e s t o red

. Ray as k ed Si m m o n s t o d ri v e t he g et away

car, an d Si m

m on s ag reed

.

As t h e res t au ran t ’ s m i dn i g h t c l o s in g t i m e ap p ro ach ed

, Si m m o n s d ro v e Ray

,

Ran del l

, an d Ham

m o n ds to t h e res t au ran t

. T hey wai t ed fo r Bro wn t o cal l fro m wi t h in

t h e res t au ran t t o tel l t h em wh en t h e cu s to m ers h ad l e f t

. As Bro w n co m

p l et ed h er

cl o s i ng d u t i es , s h e en s ured t h at t h e d ead b o l t on t h e fro n t d o o r rem ai n ed u n l ock ed

. At

t h e a p p ro p ri at e t i m e, Ray

, Ran d el l

, an d Ham m o n ds p ark ed at t h e res t au ran t a n d

ex i t e d t h e i r v eh i cl e, al l weari n g b l ack cl ot h i ng an d m as k s , wi t h Ray carry i n g a

b ack pack

. T wo o t her fri en d s , Bri t t an y Pat t ers o n an d J azm i n e W as hi n gt o n , h ad d ri v en

t o t h e res t au ran t an d p ark ed o u t s i d e t o act as lo o k o u t s an d t o fo l l o w t h e g et away car

t o s creen i t fro m

p o l i ce.

Ray

, Ran d el l

, an d Ham

m o n d s en t ered t h e res t au ran t t h ro u gh the f r ont door

, an d

o n e p o i nt ed a g u n at t w o w o r k e r s , t el l i n g ev ery o n e t o get d o wn

. Th e bart en d er

s ecret l y t ri p p ed th e s il en t al a r m a s s he l ay d o wn , an d o n e o f t h e ro b b ers s t o l e $ 1 5 0

i n cas h an d a cel l p ho n e fro m h er at g u n po i n t

. An o t h er g u n m an t i ed u p an em p l o y ee

4wi t h zi p t i es o r d u ct t ap e an d t o ok h i s wal let at g u n p o i n t. A g u n m an al s o st ol e m o n ey

an d a cel l p h o n e fro m

an o t h er em

p l o y ee at g un p o i n t.

A t h ird g u n m an wen t t o t h e m an ag er’ s o ffi ce an d p o i n ted a g u n at th e m an ag er.

He fo rced her to o p en t he s afe, an d he t oo k t he cas h b o x l o cat ed i n s i d e, al s o t ak i n g

t h e m o n ey i n t h e m an ag er’ s p u rs e a n d i n t h e c a s h reg i s t er. Th e g u n m an p u t al l t h e

s t ol en m o n ey i n t o a b ack p ack he carri ed

. Th e g u n m an t h en o rd ered t h e m an ag er at

g u n p o i n t t o m ov e fro m th e o ffi ce to t h e res t au ran t fl o o r w h ere t h e o th er em p l o y ees

were l o cat ed

. Al s o i n t h e co u rs e o f t h e ro bb ery , t h e d i s hwas h er w as m o v ed at

g u n p o i n t fro m

t he d i s h was hi ng area t o t h e b ar area fl o or, an d hi s wa l l e t was s t o l en

b y a ro b b er. Bro wn , wh o s t il l was p res en t , was n o t ro bb ed

.

Ray

, Ran d el l

, an d Ham

m o n ds th en l eft t h e res t au ran t an d fl ed i n t he wai t i n g

cars dri v en b y Si m

m o n s an d W as h i n g t o n

. A s th ey dro v e t o Si m m o ns ’s ap art m en t

,

Ran del l t hrew a s t o l en cel l p h o ne o u t o f t h e wi n do w t o av o i d b ei ng t rack ed b y p o l i ce,

an d Ray t h rew a s eco nd st o len cel l p h o ne i n t o t h e wo o d s u p o n arri v al

. W it h t h e h el p

o f t h e p h o n e’ s o w n er, p o l i ce l at er t rack ed t h e s eco n d p h on e’ s l ocat i o n t o t h e area o f

Si m m o n s ’ s ap art m en t

.

Ev ery on e fro m t he two cars g at h ered i n s i de Si m m o n s ’ s ap art m en t t o co u n t t h e

m o ney fro m t h e ro b b ery

. Th ey were d is ap p o in t ed t o fi n d t h at i n st ead o f t he $ 7 0 ,0 0 0

5t h ey ex p ect ed

, t h e h ad on ly s t o l e n ab o u t $ 1 ,9 0 0

. Th ey d i v i d ed t h e m o n ey b et ween

Si m m o n s , Ray , Ran d el l

, Ham m o n d s , Pat t ers o n , an d W as hi n g t o n

.

Aft er i nv es t i g at in g t h e cri m e s cen e an d i n t erv i ewi n g wi t n es s es , p o li ce l earn ed

t h at Bro w n h ad left t h e fro n t d o o r u n l o ck ed an d s u b p o en aed h er cel l p h o n e reco rd s

.

Th o se reco rd s ev en t ual l y l ed t o an i nt erv i ew wi t h Pat t ers o n , wh o h ad b een i n o n e o f

t h e v eh i cl es d u ri n g t he ro b b ery an d wh o i d en ti fi ed each o f th e p erp et rat o rs i n v o l v ed

.

W as h i n g t o n al s o co n f

i r m ed t h e s am e i n fo rm at i o n t o p o l i ce. A ft er s earch i n g t h e

v eh icl e d ri v en b y

Si m m o n s , p o l i ce fo u nd a m as k an d b an dan a.

In a 5 2-co u nt i n d i ct m en t

, Bro wn , Ran d el l

, Si m m o n s, Pat t ers on , W as h i n g t o n,

Ham m o nd s , an d Ray were accu s ed o f co m m i t ti n g m u l ti p l e o ffen s es ag ai n s t m u l t i p l e

v i ct i m s du ri n g t h ei r ro les i n t he ro b b ery

. Ray un s ucces s fu l l y m o v ed t o s ev er h i s t ri al

,

an d aft er d ecl i ni n g p l ea o ffers

, t h e d e f e n dan t s were t ri ed j o i n t l y b efo re a ju ry

. Th e

t ri al co u rt d i rect ed n o t g u i l t y v erd i ct s as t o s ev en co u n t s , an d t h e ju ry ret u rn ed g ui l t y

v erd i ct s o n t h e rem ai n i n g co u n t s

. Th e t ri al co u rt den i ed each d efen d an t ’ s m o t i o n fo r

n ew t ri al

, g i v i n g ri s e t o t h es e ap p eal s

.

Ca s e No . A1 6

A1 0 9 1

1

. Ray co n t en d s t h at th e ev i d en ce was i n s uffi ci en t t o s u p p o rt t h e gu i l t y v erd i ct

as t o cert ai n co u n ts

.

6(a) Ki dn a p pi n g

. Ray fi rs t ch al l en ges t wo k i d n ap pi n g co u n t s. Ci t i n g Ga r z a v.

S t a t e , 1 1 Ray arg u es th at t he ev i d en ce fai l ed t o s uffi ci en t l y d em o n st rat e t h e as p o rt at i o n

el em en t o f k i d n ap p i n g as t o t h e m an ag er an d t h e d i sh was h er. W e d i sag ree.

Deci d ed i n 2 0 08

, Ga rz a ad d res s ed t h e el em en t s o f k i d n ap p i n g :

A p ers o n co m

m i t s t h e offen s e o f k i d n ap p i n g wh en he ab d u ct s or s t eal s

away an y p ers o n wi t h o u t l awfu l au t ho ri t y o r warran t an d h o l d s s u ch

p ers on ag ai ns t h is wi l l

. U n d er [t h en ] cu rren t Geo rg i a ju ri sp ru d en ce, th e

el em en t o f “ ab d u ct i n g o r s t eal i ng away ” t h e v i ct i m , k no wn i n l eg al

p arl an ce as “ as po rt at i o n ,” [co u ld ] b e es t ab l i sh ed b y p ro o f o f m o v em en t

o f t h e v ict i m , h o wev er s l i g h t

. 1 2

Ga r za ab an d o n ed t h e “ s l i g h t n es s ” t h res h o l d an d i n s t ead ad o p t ed a fo u r-p art t es t to

d i s t i n gu i sh a k i d n ap p i n g fro m an i nci d en t al part o f an o t h er o ffen s e s u ch as a

ro b b ery

. 1 3

1 1 2 8 4 G a. 6 9 6 (6 70 SE2 d 7 3 ) (2 00 8 ), s u p ers ed ed b y s tat u t e as s t at ed in

Go n z a l ez v. Ha r t

, 2 97 G a. 6 7 0

, 6 7 2 (7 7 7 SE2 d 4 5 6 ) (2 01 5 ). See al so OCGA § 1 5 -5

- 4 0 (b ) (2 ) (2 00 9 ).

1 2 (Ci t at io n an d p u nct u at io n o m i t t ed .) Id

. at 6 9 7 (1 ), ci t i n g fo rm er OCGA § 1 6

- 5 -4 0 (a) (2 00 8 ).

1 3 See i d

. at 7 0 2 (1 ) (Co u rt s m u s t “ as ses s fo u r fact o rs i n d et erm i n i n g wh et h er

t h e m o v em en t at i s s u e co n s t i tu t es as p o rt at i on : (1 ) t h e d u rat i o n o f t he m ov em en t ; (2 )

wh et h er t h e m o vem en t o ccu rred d u ri n g th e co m m is si o n o f a s ep arat e o ffen s e; (3 )

wh et h er su ch m o v em en t was an i n h eren t p art o f t h at s ep arat e o ffen s e; an d (4 ) wh et h er

t h e m ov em en t i t s el f p res en ted a s i gn i fi can t d an g er t o t he v i ct i m i n d ep en d en t o f t h e

7Nev ert h el es s , “ Ga r z a h as b een s u p ers ed ed b y s t at u t e fo r o f f e n s e s o ccu rri n g

aft er J u ly 1

, 2 0 0 9

, ” 1 4 s u ch as t h e o n es h ere, wh i ch o ccu rred i n 2 0 1 2. Th e cu rren t an d

ap p li cab l e s tat u t e read s as fo l l o ws , i n rel ev an t p art :

(a) A p ers on co m

m i t s t h e o ffen s e o f k idn ap pi n g wh en su ch p ers o n

ab d u ct s o r s t eal s away an ot h er p ers o n w i t ho u t l awfu l au t h ori t y o r

warran t an d h o l d s s u ch o t h er p ers o n ag ai n s t h i s o r h er wi l l.

( b) (1 ) Fo r th e o ffen s e o f ki d n ap p i n g t o o ccu r, s li g h t m o v e m e n t

s h al l b e s u ffi ci en t ; p ro vi ded

, h o wev er, t h at an y s uch s li g h t m o vem en t o f

an o t her p ers o n wh i ch o cc u r s w h i l e i n t h e co m m is s i o n o f an y o t h er

o ffen s e s h al l n o t co n s t i t u t e t h e o ffen s e of k i d n ap p in g i f s u ch m o v em en t

i s m erel y i n ci d en t al t o s u ch o t h er o ffen s e.

(2 ) Mo vemen t s h a l l n o t b e co n s i der ed mer el y i nci d en t a l t o

a n o t h er o ff en s e if i t : (A) Co n cea l

s o r i s o la t es th e vi ct i m; (B) Ma kes th e

co mmi s s i o n o

f t h e o t h er o

ff en s e s u b s ta n t i a l ly ea s i er ; (C) Les sen s th e

r i sk o f d et ect i o n ; or (D) Is f

o r t h e p ur p os e o f a vo id i n g a

p p r eh en s i o n. 1 5

Th e d i s h was her was m o v ed at g u n p o i n t fro m t he d i sh was h i n g area to t h e fro nt

o f t h e res t au ran t an d o rd ered t o l i e d own o n t h e f l o o r. Si m i l arl y , th e m an ag er was

d an ger p o s ed b y

t h e s ep arat e o ffen s e.”)

1 4 Go n za l ez , 2 9 7 Ga. at 6 7 2 , n . 3 . See Ga. L. 2 0 0 9 , p . 3 3 1

.

1 5 (Em p has is s u pp l i ed .) OCGA § 1 5 -5 -4 0.

8m o ved at g u n p o i n t fro m t h e m an a g e r ’s o ffi cer t o t h e fro n t o f t h e res t au ran t an d

o rd ered t o l i e d o wn o n t h e fl o o r. Th es e m o v em en ts were n o t m erel y i n ci d en t al t o t h e

arm ed ro bb ery b ecau se t h ey m ad e t h e co m p l et i o n o f t h e arm ed ro b b ery su b s t an t i al l y

eas i er b y co n s o li d at i n g a l l o f t h e res t au ran t o ccu pan ts i n t o o n e area an d en h an ci n g

t h e p erp et rat o rs ’ co nt ro l o v er t h e v i ct i m s , t h ereb y l es sen i n g t h e ri s k of d et ect i o n an d

ap p reh en s i o n du e to a v i ct i m ’ s fl i g h t o r at t em p t t o co n t a c t p o l i c e

. Un d er t h es e

ci rcu m s t an ces , an d acco rd i n g t o t h e ap p l i cab l e s t at u t o ry d efi n i t io n o f k i d nap p i n g , t h e

ev i d en ce s u ffi ced t o s up p o rt t h e k id n ap p i n g o ffen s e s as t o t h e m an ag er an d

d i s h was her. 1 6

(b ) Fa l s e Imp r i s o n men t o

f C. G. Ray al s o co n ten d s t hat t h e St at e fai l ed t o p ro v e

t h at h e fal s el y i m

p ri s on ed a cert ai n v i ct i m , C. G., arg ui n g t h at t h ere was n o ev i d en ce

t h at t h e vi ct i m was co n fi n ed or d et ai n ed ag ai n s t h i s w i ll

. Un d er OCGA § 1 6 -5 -4 1 (a)

“ [ a ] p ers o n co m

m i ts t h e o ffen s e o f fal s e i m p ri so n m en t wh en , i n v i o l at i on o f t h e

p ers o n al l i b ert y of an o t h er, h e arres t s , co n fi n es , or d et ai ns s u ch p ers o n wi th o u t l eg al

au t h o ri t y .” Ray ’ s arg u m en t i g n o res t h e t es t i m o n y o f t wo o t h er v i ct i m s wh o s t at ed t h at

1 6 S e e Wa r d v

. S t a t e , 3 2 4 Ga. Ap p

. 2 3 0

, 2 3 2 -2 3 3 (1 ) (7 4 9 SE2 d 81 2 ) (2 0 1 3 ) (m o v em en t fro m

o n e ro o m

o f a res i den ce t o an o t h er d u ri n g a rap e was s uffi ci en t t o

co n st i t u t e as p o rt at i on ).

9t h e g u n m en hel d C. G. at g u np oi n t

, an d h e was n ot free t o l eav e d u ri n g t h e ro b b ery

.

W h en an ap pel 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,

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 o f 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 dard 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

fact fai rl y t o res 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 le i n feren ces fr o m b as ic fact s t o u l t i m at e fact s

. On ce a d e f

e n d an t h as b een fo 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 her of t h e ev id en ce i s p res erv ed t h ro u gh a l eg al

co n cl u s i o n t hat u po n ju d i ci al rev i ew al 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. 1 7

Bas ed o n t he t es t i m o n y

fro m t he o t h er v i ct i m s , Ray ’ s arg um en t fai l s.

(c) Ar med r o bb er

y o f C. G

. Ray al s o ch al l en ges th e s uffi ci en cy o f t h e ev i d en ce

as t o arm ed ro b bery o f C. G. Un d er OCGA § 1 6 -8 -4 1 (a), “ [a] p e r s o n co m m i t s t h e

o ffen s e o f arm ed ro b b ery wh en , wi t h i n t en t t o co m m it t h eft

, h e o r s h e t ak es p ro p ert y

o f an o t h er fro m t h e p ers o n o r t h e i m m ed i at e p res en ce o f an o th er b y u s e o f an

o ffen s i v e weap o n

. . . . ” Here, t here was t es t i m o n y fro m an ot h er vi ct i m t h at o n e o f t h e

t h ree gu n m en p o i n t ed a g u n at C. G

. a n d t o o k m o n ey fro m h i m

. Th i s was

1 7 (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 ).

10co rro b o rat ed b y a s eco n d v i ct i m wh o s aw a g u n m an p oi n t hi s g un at C. G. Th i s

ev i d en ce s u ffi ced t o s h o w t h at C. G. was a v ict i m o f arm ed ro b b ery

. 1 8

W i t h res p ect t o t h e i d en ti t y o f t h e perp et rat o r o f t h e ro b b ery ag ai n s t C. G., we

n o t e t h at

a p art i ci p an t t o a cri m e m ay b e co n v ict ed al t h o u g h h e is n o t th e p ers o n

wh o d i rect l y co m m i t s t h e cri m e. A p ers o n w h o i nt en t i o n al l y ai d s o r

ab et s i n t h e co m

m i s s i o n of a cri m e o r in t en t i o nal l y ad v is es , en co urag es , h i res , c o u n s el s o r p ro cu res an o t h er to co m m i t t h e cri m e m ay be

co n v i ct ed o f t he cri m e as a part y t o t h e cri m e

. M e r e pres en ce at th e

s cen e i s n o t s u ffi ci en t t o co n vi ct o n e o f b ei n g a p art y t o a c r i m e , b u t

cri m i n al i n t en t m ay b e i n ferred fro m co nd u ct b efo re, d u ri ng , an d aft er

t h e co m m i s s i o n o f a cri m e. Th e q ues t i o n o f wh et h er [a d efen d an t ] was

a p art y t o t h e arm ed ro b bery [i s a q u es t i on ] fo r t h e ju ry t o res o l v e. 1 9

Th e ev i d en ce h ere s ho w ed t h at t he t h ree ro b b ers wo re m as k s t o h i d e t h ei r

i d en t i t i es

. Bu t t h ere was al s o ev i d en ce t h at Ray w as on e o f t h e t hree m as ked m en wh o

en t ered th e res tau ran t t o carry ou t t h e ro b b ery an d t h at Ray carri ed a pi s t o l

. Al s o , Ray

was o n e o f t h e i n i t i al p l an n ers of t h e ro b b ery , an d he recru i t ed Si m m o n s t o d ri v e. Ray

1 8 See O d le v. St a t e , 3 31 Ga. A p p

. 14 6

, 14 9 -1 5 0 (1 ) (7 7 0 SE2 d 2 5 6 ) (2 0 1 5 ).

See al s o OCGA § 24 -1 4 -8 (“ Th e t es t i m on y o f a s in g l e wi t n es s i s g en eral l y su ffi ci en t

t o es t ab l i s h a fact .”).

1 9 (Ci t at i o ns an d p u n ct uat i o n o m i t t ed .) Hi n es v. S t at e , 3 2 0 Ga. A p p

. 85 4

, 8 5 7 (1 ) (7 40 SE2 d 7 86 ) (2 0 1 3 ).

11t h rew a st o l en ph on e i n to t h e w o o d s t o co n ceal t he cri m e an d av o i d d et ect i o n by

p o l i ce. Vi ewed i n t he l i g h t m o s t fav o rab l e t o t h e verd i ct

, as i s p ro p er o n ap p eal

, t h i s

ev i d en ce was s u ffi ci en t to s u pp o rt a gu i l t y v erd i ct ag ai n s t Ray fo r t h e arm ed ro b b ery

o f C. G. 2 0

2

. Nex t

, Ray co n t en d s t h at t h e t r i a l c o u r t erred b y fai l i n g t o s ev er t h e t ri al o r

ex cl u d e p o st -arres t st at em en t s m ad e b y h i s co -d efen d an ts

. Ray fi l ed a m o ti on t o s ev er

h i s t ri al

, b u t t h e reco rd d o es n o t refl ect a p art i cu l ar ru l i n g o n h i s m ot i o n , an d t h e t ri al

was n o t sev ered

. Pret erm it t i n g wh et h er Ray wai v ed h i s r e q u es t fo r s ev eran ce, we

d i s cern n o rev ers i b l e erro r.

Un d er OCGA § 1 7 -8 -4 (a), w h en m u l t i pl e d efen d an ts are jo i n t ly “ i nd i ct ed fo r

. . . [fel o n i es ] l es s t h an cap i t al

, . . . s uch d efen d an t s m ay b e t ri ed jo in tl y or s ep arat el y

i n t he d i s cret io n o f t h e t ri al co u rt .”

It i s i n cu m

ben t u po n t h e d efen d an t w h o s eek s a s ev eran ce t o s h o w

cl earl y t h at t h e d efen dan t wi l l b e preju d iced b y a j o i n t t ri al

, an d i n th e

ab s en ce o f s u ch a s h o wi n g , t h e tri al co u rt ’ s d en i al o f a s ev eran ce m o t i o n

wi l l n o t b e d i s t u rb ed

. Fact o rs t o b e co ns i d ered b y t h e t ri al co urt are:

wh et h er a jo i n t t ri al wi ll creat e co n fu si on o f ev i d en ce an d l aw; wh et h er

t h ere i s a d an g er t h at ev i d en ce i m p li cat i n g o n e d efen d an t wi l l be

2 0 See i d

. at 85 8 (1 ) (a); Ca n t r el l v. S t a t e , 2 30 Ga. Ap p

. 6 9 3

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

9 0 ) (1 9 9 8 ).

12co n s i d ered ag ai n s t a co -d efen d an t d es p i t e l i m i t i n g i n s t ru ct i o n s ; an d

wh et h er t h e d efen d an t s are as s ert in g an t ag o n i s t i c d efen s es

. T he b u rd en

i s o n th e defen d an t req u es t i n g t h e s ev eran ce t o d o m o re t han rai s e th e

p o s s i b i l i t y t hat a s ep arat e t ri al wo ul d g iv e hi m a b et t er ch an ce o f

acq u i t t al

. He m

u s t m ak e a cl ear s ho wi n g o f p reju d i ce an d a co n s eq u en t

d en i al o f d u e p ro ces s

. 2 1

In t h e o rd er d en y i n g Ray ’ s m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al , t h e t ri al co u rt fo u n d t h at t h e

d efen d an t s d i d n o t hav e an t ag o n i s t i c d efen s es becau s e t h ey al l t o o k t h e p os i t i o n t h at

t h ey h ad n o i n v o l v em en t in t h e ro b b ery . No n e o f t h e d efen d an t s o n t ri al t es t i fi ed o r

p res en t ed ev i d en ce, s o t h ere was n o d efen s e t h eo ry p res en t ed b y a co -d efen d an t t h at

was an t ag o n i s t i c t o Ray ’ s d efen s e

. Ot h er t h an m ak i n g t h e g en eral al l eg at i o n t h at

Ray ’ s co -d efen d an ts ’ d efen ses were an t ag o n i s t i c , h e p oi n t s t o n o s p eci fi c ev i d en ce

i n cu l p at i ng h i m an d ex cu l p at i ng an o th er co -d efen d an t. Th e s am e i s t ru e o f Ra y’ s

g en eral al l eg at i o n t h at t h e ev id en c e o v e r w h el m ed t h e ju ry

. Rat h er, t h e ev i d en ce

s h o wed t h at t h e defen d an ts al l p l ay ed a ro l e i n a s i n g l e ro b b ery , n o t s e p a r a t e ,

u n rel at ed o ffen ses t hat m ig h t m u d d y t h e ev id en ce as to a s in g l e d efen d an t ’s

o ffen s es

. 2 2

2 1 (Ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at io n o m i t ted .) Da n i el v. S ta t e , 2 8 5 Ga. 4 0 6

, 4 0 7 -4 0 8 (3 ) (6 7 7 SE2 d 1 2 0 ) (2 0 0 9 ).

2 2 See i d . at 4 0 8 (3 ) (a).

13Ray al s o rel i es o n Byr d v. W a i n wr i g h t

, 2 3 t o arg u e t h at h e was d ep ri v ed o f t h e

b en efi t o f h i s co -d efen d an t s’ t es t i m o n y, w h o were en ti t led n o t t o i n cri m i n at e

t h em s el v es i n th ei r o wn t ri al s

. Bu t Ray g i v es n o s p eci fi c s h o wi n g o r ex p l an at i o n o f

wh at t h at t es t i m o n y wo ul d h av e b een

. 2 4 Fu rt h er, t h ere w as s t ro n g ev i den ce o f Ray ’ s

p art i ci p at i o n i n t h e ro b b ery , an d ab s en t s o m e o t h er s h o wi ng , Ray fai l ed to

d em o n s t rat e preju d ice s h o wi n g an ab u se of th e t ri al co urt ’ s d i s cret i o n i n t ry i n g h i m

jo i n t ly

. 2 5

Ray fi n al l y rel ies o n Br u to n v. Un it ed S t a t es , 2 6 t o arg u e th at h i s t ri al s h o u l d n ot

h av e i n cl u d ed h ears ay s t at em en t s b y h i s co -d efen d an ts t h at i n cri m i n at ed h i m an d t h at

h e was d en i ed hi s Si x t h Am en d m en t ri g h t t o cro s s -ex am i ne t ho s e wi t n es s es (wh o d id

n o t act u al l y t es t i fy ). “ As an in i t i a l m at ter, t h e s t at em en t s i n q ues t i o n w ere

. . .

p ro p erl y ad m i tt ed u n d er th e co -c o n s p i rat o r ex cep t i o n t o t h e h ears ay ru l e.” 2 7 Th ere

2 3 4 2 8 F2 d . 1 0 17 (5 t h Ci r. 1 9 7 0 ).

2 4 See i d

. at 1 0 2 0 (d efen d an t m us t m a k e a c lear sh o wi n g as t o w h at t h e

co -d efen d an t ’ s t es t i m o n y wo u ld h av e b een ).

2 5 See Avel l a n ed

a v. S t a t e , 2 61 Ga. Ap p. 8 3 , 8 9 (5 8 1 SE2 d 7 0 1 ) (2 0 0 3 ).

2 6 3 9 1 U. S. 1 2 3 (8 8 SCt 1 6 2 0 , 2 0 LE2 d 4 76 ) (1 9 6 8 ).

2 7 See Fa vo r

s v. S ta te

, 29 6 Ga

. 8 4 2

, 8 44 -8 4 5 (2 ) (7 7 0 SE2 d 8 55 ) (2 0 1 5 );

OCGA § 2 4 -8 -8 01 (d ) (2 ) (E) (ad m i s s i on s s h al l n o t b e ex cl u d ed b y t h e hears ay ru l e,

an d ad m i s s i o n s i n cl ud e “ s t at em en t [s ] b y a co co n s p i rat o r o f a p art y d u ri n g t h e co u rs e

14was i n d ep en d en t ev i d en ce

– tes t i m o n y b y Si m m o ns t hat was s u b

ject t o Ray ’ s cro s s

ex am i n at i o n

– o f Ray ’ s p l an n in g o f an d p art i c i p a t i o n i n th e ro b b ery wi th h i s co

d efen d an t s

.

As t o t h e Co n fro n t at i o n Cl au se i s s u e, a d efen dan t ’ s Si x th Am en d m en t

ri gh t t o b e c o n fro n t ed b y t h e wi tn es s es ag ai ns t h i m i s v i o l at ed u nd er

B r u t o n wh en co -d efen d an ts are tri ed jo i n t ly an d t h e t es t i m o n i al

s t a t e m e n t o f a co -d efen d an t wh o do es no t t es t ify at t ri al i s u sed t o

i m p l i cat e t h e o t h er co -d efen d an t in t h e cri m e. B r u t o n t h u s ap pl i es o n l y

t o o u t -o f-co u rt s t at em en t s b y n o n -t es t i fy i n g co -d efen d an ts t h at are

“ t es t i m o n i al ” i n n at ure. A st at em en t i s t es ti m o n i a l i f i t s “ p ri m ary

p u rp o s e wa s t o es t ab l i s h ev i d en ce t h at co u l d b e u s ed i n a fu t u re

p ro s ecu t i o n .” H ere, [n o n e] o f th e st at em en t s i n q u es t i o n were

t es t i m o n i al i n n at u re[, becau s e]

. . . s tat em en t s b y a co -co n s p i rat o r m ad e

d u ri ng an d i n fu rt h eran ce o f t he co n s pi racy are n ot co n s id ered

“ t es t i m o n i al ” an d t herefo re d o n o t req u i re an y co n s t it u t i o n al s cru t i n y

u n d er t h e Co n fro n t at i o n Cl au s e. 2 8

Acco rd in g ly , t h es e s t at em en t s were n ot a b as i s fo r s ev eran ce o f Ray ’ s t ri al

.

3

. Las t

, Ray co n t en d s t hat h e r e c ei v ed i n effect iv e as si s t an ce o f co un s el

. W e

d i s ag ree.

an d i n fu rt h eran ce o f t h e co n s p i racy , i n cl u di n g a s t at em en t m ad e d u ri n g t h e

co n ceal m en t p h as e o f a co n s p i racy .”).

2 8 (Ci t at i o n s an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) Fa vo r s , 2 9 6 Ga. at 8 4 5 (2 ).

15To es t ab l i s h t h at h i s t ri al co u n s el was co n s t it u t i o n al l y i n effect i v e,

[Ray ] was req u i red t o p ro v e b o t h d efi ci en t p erfo rm an ce b y co u n s el an d

res u lt i n g p reju d i ce. To p ro v e d efi ci en t perfo rm an ce, [Ra y ] h ad t o

d em o ns trat e t h at co u ns el p erfo rm ed h i s d ut i es i n a n o b j e ct i v el y

u n reas o n ab l e way , co n si d eri n g al l t h e ci rcu m s t an ces an d i n t h e l ig h t o f

p rev ai l i n g p ro fes si o n al no rm s

. Becau s e ju d i ci al s cru t i n y o f co u n s el ’ s

p erfo rm an ce m

u s t b e h i g h l y d eferen t i al

, t h e l aw reco gn i zes a “ st ro n g

p res um p t i o n” t h at co u n s el p erfo rm ed reas o n ab l y , an d t h e d efen d an t

b ears t h e b u rd en o f o v erco m i ng t hi s p res u m p t i o n

. To carry t h i s b u rd en , [Ray ] m us t s h o w t h at n o reas o n ab l e l awy er wo u l d h av e d o ne wh at h i s

co u n s el d i d

, o r fa i l ed t o d o wh at hi s co u ns el d i d n o t d o

. In p art i cu l ar,

d eci si o n s reg ard i ng t ri al t act i cs an d s t rat eg y m ay fo rm

t h e b as is fo r an

i n effect iv en es s cl ai m o n l y i f t h ey were s o p at en t l y u n reas o n ab l e t h at n o

co m p et en t at t o rn ey wo u l d h av e fo l l o w ed s u ch a co urs e.

Ev en i f a defen d an t can p ro ve t h at h is co un s el ’ s p erfo rm an ce w as

d efi ci en t

, he m

u s t al s o p ro v e p re

ju d i c e b y s h o w i ng a reas o n ab l e

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

, b ut fo r co u n s el ’ s u np ro fes s io nal erro rs , t h e res ul t o f th e

p ro ceed i n g wo u l d h av e b een d i fferen t. It i s n o t en ou g h t o s h o w th at th e

erro rs h ad s o m e co n cei v ab l e effect on th e o ut co m e o f t he p ro ceed i n g

. Rat h er, t h e d efen d an t m

us t d em o n s t rat e a “ reas o nab l e p ro b ab i l i t y ” o f a

d i fferen t res u l t

, w hi ch

, t h e Un i t ed St at es Su p rem e Co urt h as ex p l ai n ed

, i s “ a p ro b ab i l i t y s u ffi ci en t t o u n derm i n e co n fi den ce i n th e o u t co m e.” In

16al l

, t h e b u rd en o f p ro v i n g a d en i al o f effect i v e as s i s t an ce o f co u n s el i s

a h eav y o n e. 2 9

(a) Fa il ur e t o i n ves t i

g a t e ca s e

. Ray g en eral l y as s ert s t h at h i s t ri al co u n s el

p erfo rm ed d efi ci en t ly b y fai l i n g t o ad eq u at el y i n v es t i g at e t h e cas e a n d i n t erv i ew

wi t n es s es

. Bu t h e d o es n ot i den t i fy wh i ch wi t n es s es h i s tri al co u n s el s h o u l d h av e

i n t erv i ewed

, wh at th e i nt erv i ews m i g h t h av e r e v eal ed t h at t ri al co u n s el d i d n ot

al read y k n o w, o r wh at ev i d en ce s h o u l d h av e b een i nv es t i g at ed fu rt her. At t h e p o s t

t ri al heari n g o n Ray ’ s m ot io n fo r n ew t ri al

, h i s t ri al co u n s el t es ti fi ed t h at h e was

u n ab le t o i n terv i ew Ray ’ s co -d efen d an t s (wh o d i d no t t es t i fy ) becau s e th ey w e r e

rep res en t ed b y

co u n s el

. 3 0 Ray

h as t h e b urd en o f d em o n s t rat i n g h o w h e was h arm ed

b y h i s co u n s el ’ s d efi ci en t p erfo rm an ce, an d h e h as fai l ed t o d o s o

.

(b ) Fa i l u r e t o cr o s s -exa m i n e wi t n es s es

. Ray al s o gen eral l y p o i n t s to h i s t ri al

co u ns el ’ s fai l u re t o ad eq u at el y cro s s -ex am i ne wi t n es s, b u t ag ai n , h e d o es n o t i d en t i fy

wh i ch wi t n es s es s h o u l d hav e b een cro s s -ex am i n ed or wh at su c h an ex am i n at i o n

2 9 (Ci t at i o n s an d p u n ct uat i o n o m it t ed .) S m i t h v. St a te

, 2 9 8 G a. 40 6

, 4 1 2 (3 ) (a) (7 8 2 SE2 d 2 6 9 ) (2 0 1 6 ), q u o t in g S t r i ckl a nd v. W a sh i n gt o n , 4 6 6 U. S. 6 6 8 , 6 8 7 , 6 9 4 (1 0 4 SCt 2 05 2 , 8 0 LE2 d 6 7 4 ) (1 9 8 4 ).

3 0 See D i

xo n v. S t a t e , 2 6 7 G a

. 1 3 6, 13 8 (2 ) (4 7 5 SE2 d 6 33 ) (1 9 9 6 ) (u n s u cces s fu l at t em

p t t o i n t erv i ew wi t n es s was n o t d efi ci en t p erfo rm an ce).

17wo u l d h av e p ro d u ced

. At t h e p o s t -t ri al h eari n g , Ray ’ s t ri al co u n s el t es t i fi ed t h at at t h e

jo i n t t ri al

, h i s “ tu rn ” was t h i rd in l i ne, s o t h e St at e’ s wi t n es s es h ad al read y been cro s s

ex am i n ed b y co un s el fo r Bro wn (wh o was th o ro u g h ) an d Ham m o n d (wh o fi l l ed -i n

g ap s wi th fo l l ow-u p q u es t io ns ). “ [ T ]h e s co p e o f cro s s -ex am i n at i o n i s gro u n d ed in

t ri al t act i cs an d s trat eg y [] an d w i l l rarel y co n s t it u t e in effect i v e as s i s t an ce o f

co u ns el .” 3 1 Bas ed on t h e reco rd b efo re us , Ray h as fai l ed t o m e e t h i s b u rd en o f

s h o wi n g d efi ci en t p erfo rm an ce o n t h i s g ro un d

. 3 2

(c) Fa i l u re t o s ever

. Ray arg u es t h at h i s t ri al co u n s el was i n effect i v e by

ab an do n i n g h i s m o t i o n t o sev er. In li g h t of o u r ru l in g i n Di v i s i o n 2

, t h i s a r g u m en t

fai l s becau se “ th e fai lu re to m ak e a m eri t l es s m o t i o n o r ob ject io n do es n o t p ro v i d e a

b as i s u p o n wh i ch t o fi nd i n effect i v e as si s t an ce o f co u n s el

. ” 3 3

Ca s e No . A1 6

A1 1 2 6

4

. Ran d el l co n t en ds t h at t h e ev i d e n c e w a s in s u ffi ci en t t o s u p p o rt t he g ui l t y

v erd i c t

, c o n cl u s o ri l y arg u i n g t h at “ t h e ev id en ce pres en t ed w as co n t rary t o a

3 1 (Ci t at io n an d p u nct u at io n o m i t t ed .) Co o per v. S ta t e , 28 1 G a. 7 6 0, 76 2 (4 ) (a) (6 4 2 SE2 d 8 1 7 ) (2 0 0 7 ).

3 2 See i d

.

3 3 Ha mp t o n v. S ta te , 2 9 5 Ga. 6 6 5 , 6 7 0 (7 6 3 SE2 d 4 6 7 ) (2 0 1 4 ).

18co n vi ct i o n

. . . an d [Ran d el l ] s h o u l d h av e b een acq u i t ted o n al l co u n t s

. ” Th i s i s b el i ed

b y tes t i m o n y t h at Ran d el l p art i ci p at ed i n t he p l an n i n g o f t h e ro bb ery , ro d e i n t h e car

t o t he ro b b ery , en t ered t he res t au ran t wi t h th e o t h er ro b bers , fl ed t h e s cen e wi t h t h e

o t h er ro b b ers , t h rew a s to len cel l p h o n e ou t o f t he car w i n d ow t o av o i d t raci n g , an d

d i v i d ed t h e sp o i l s w i t h t h e o t h er ro b b ers

. Co n t rary t o Ran d el l ’ s a r g u m en t

, “ [o ] n

cri m i n al ap p eal

, ap p el l an t i s n o l o n g er p res um ed in n o cen t [,] an d al l o f t he ev i d en ce

i s t o b e v i ewed in t h e l i gh t m o s t fav o rab l e t o th e ju ry v erd i c t

. Th i s Co u rt d o es n ot

reco n s i d e r ev i d en ce o r at t em p t t o co n fi rm t he accu racy of t es t i m o n y

. As s es s i n g a

wi t n es s ’ s cred i b i li t y i s t h e res p o n s i b i l i t y of t h e fact fi n der, n ot t hi s Co u rt .” 3 4 Vi ewed

p ro p erl y , t h e ev i d en ce as a wh ol e was s u ffi ci en t t o s u p p o rt t h e j u ry ’ s g u i l t y v erd i ct

as t o Ran d el l

.

Ran d el l al s o m ak es t h e s am e arg u m en t s as Ray as t o cert ai n offen s es , an d fo r

t h e reas o n s s tat ed i n Di v i si o n 1 , t h o s e arg u m en t s fai l

.

5 . Ran d el l n ex t arg ues t h at h e recei v ed i n effect iv e as s i s t an ce o f co u ns el . Hi s

b u rd en o n ap p eal i s t h e s am e as s t at ed i n Di v is i on 3

.

3 4 (Ci t at io n s om i t t ed ) Ba t t en v. S t a t e , 2 9 5 Ga. 4 4 2

, 4 43 ( 1 ) ( 7 6 1 SE2 d 7 0 ) (2 0 1 4).

19(a) Fa il u r e t o o b j ect t o l ea d i n g q u es t i on s

. Ran d el l arg u es t h at h i s t ri al co u n s el

p erfo rm ed d efi ci en t l y by fai l i n g t o o b ject t o m u l t i p l e lead i n g q u es t i o n s b y t h e St at e.

At t h e m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al h eari n g , Ran d el l ’ s t ri al co u n sel t es t i fi ed t hat i t i s h i s

p ract i ce t o o b

ject t o s om e l ead i n g q u es t i o n s b u t n o t o t h ers , as h e d i d in t h i s c a s e ,

d ep en d i ng o n th e co n t ex t an d wh et h er i t h el ps h i s c a s e : “ I t ’s a ju d g m en t cal l .” “ As

a g en eral ru l e, m at t ers o f reas o n ab l e t ri al s t rat eg y an d t act i cs d o n o t am o u n t to

i n effect i v e as s i s t an ce o f co u n s el

. An at t o rn ey ’ s d eci s i o n t o fo reg o o b j ect i n g to

h ears ay o r t o l ead i ng q u es t i on s u s ed t o es t ab l i s h ro u t in e p o i nt s co n st i tu t es reas o n ab l e

t ri al s t rat eg y .” 3 5 Bas ed o n t h e reco rd b efo re u s, Ran d el l h as fai led t o m eet h i s b u rd en

u n d er St r i ckl a nd o n t h i s g ro un d.

(b ) Fa i l u r e t o r eq u es t d i s co ver y o r in t er vi ew wi t n es ses

. Ran d el l ch al l en g es h i s

t ri al co un s el ’ s d eci s i on n o t t o o p t -i n t o d i s co v ery an d hi s fai l u re t o i n terv i ew an y

wi t n es s es

. Th i s i s b el i ed b y t h e t ran s cri p t o f t h e p o s t -t ri al h eari ng , wh ich co n t ai n s

t es t i m o ny b y Ran del l ’ s co u n sel ex pl ai n i n g t hat as p art o f h i s pre-t ri al i n v es t i g at i o n

h e was p ro v i d ed wi t h t h e St at e’ s en t i re fi l e an d i n fo rm at i o n o n an y d eal s t h ey m ad e

wi t h t he St at e. Fu rt h er, Ran d el l’ s t ri al co u n s el t es t i fi ed th at h e d id i nt erv i ew m u l t i p l e

3 5 (Ci t at i o n an d p un ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) W i l l i a ms v. S t a t e , 28 2 Ga. 5 6 1, 5 6 4 (5 ) (a) (6 51 SE2 d 6 74 ) (2 0 0 7 ).

20p o l i ce wi t n es s es du ri n g h i s i nv es t i g a t i o n an d t h at h e sp o ke to t h e at t o rn ey s o f t h e

o t h er defen d a n t s

. Bas ed o n t hi s reco rd

, Ran d el l h as n o t d em o n s t rat ed d efi ci en t

p erfo rm an ce. 3 6

(c) Fa i l u r e t o s ever

. Li k e Ray

, Ran d el l as s ert s t hat h i s co u n s el was i n effect i v e

b y fai l i ng t o m ov e t o s ev er h is t ri al fro m t h at o f h i s co -d efen d an t s

. Nev ert h el es s , h i s

t ri al co u ns el ex p lai ned t h at t hi s d eci s i on was a s t rat eg i c o n e h i n gi n g o n a d efen s e

s t rat eg y

– t h at cel l p h o ne reco rd s wo u l d ex o n erat e h i s cl i en t – t h at u lt im at el y fai l ed

t o co m e t o fru i t i on

. Fu rt h er, as we ex p l ai n ed i n Di v is i on 2

, t ry i n g t h e co -d efen d an t s

jo i n t ly

, des p i te a pen d i n g m o t i o n t o s ev er fi l ed b y Ray

, w as w i t h i n t h e tri al co urt ’ s

d i s cret i o n , s o Ran d el l can no t d em o n s t rat e t hat h e was h arm ed o n t h i s b as i s

.

(d ) Fa il u r e t o r eq u e s t j u r y i n st r u ct i o n

. Las t

, Ran d el l arg u es t h at h i s t ri al

co u ns el p erfo rm ed defi ci en t l y b y fai l i n g t o req u es t t he fo l l o wi n g ju ry ch arg e:

“ Th o u gh y o u m ay co n si d er al l o f t h e ev i d en ce as a wh o l e, co n v ict i o n o f o n e

d efen d an t d o es n o t n eces sari l y req u i re co n vi ct io n o f an o t h er (o r al l ). Yo u , t h e ju ry ,

m u st d et erm i n e th e g u i l t o r i nn o cen ce o f each d efen dan t s ep arat el y .” Th e t ran s cri pt

3 6 See Th o mp so n v. S t at e , 2 0 3 Ga. Ap p. 3 3 9 (2 ) (4 1 6 SE2 d 7 5 5 ) (1 9 92 ) (rel y i n g

o n i n fo rm al pro ces s t o o bt ai n d i s co v ery m a t e ri al s fro m St at e was n ot i n effect i v e

as s i s tan ce o f co u n s el ).

21r e v eal s t h at t h e t ri al co u rt gav e t h i s i n s t ru ct i o n n earl y v erb at i m

. Acco rd i ng l y , t h i s

arg u m en t fai l s

.

6

. Ran d el l al s o ch al l en g es t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s fai l u re t o s ev er th e t ri al

. Fo r t h e

reas on s s t at ed i n Di v is i o n 2 , t h i s en u m erat i on i s wi t h ou t m eri t

.

7

. Fi n al ly

, Ran d el l arg u es t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erro n eo u s l y al l o wed t h e St at e to

as k l ead i n g q u es t i o ns

.

Lead i n g q u es t i o n s g e n eral l y are al l o wed o n ly o n cro s s -ex am i n at i o n

. Ho wev er, t h e t ri al co u rt h as t h e d i s cret i o n t o al l ow l ead i n g q u es ti o n s o n

d i rect ex am i n at i o n , w h ere, fo r ex am p l e, t h e wi t n es s is n erv o us , o r

i g n o ran t

, o r ho s ti l e. It wo u l d b e a rare cas e i n wh i ch t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s

ex erci s e o f d i s cret i o n o n t h i s i s s u e wo u l d warran t rev ers al

. 3 7

Here, cert ai n l ead i ng q ues t io n s were n o t ch al l en ged b y co u n s el

, s o t h e t ri al

“ co u r t ’s d i s cret io n was n o t ev en i n v o k ed ,” 3 8 an d as ru l ed i n D i vi s i o n 5 (a), t h o s e

q u es ti o n s do no t s u pp o rt an i neffect i v e as s i s t an ce o f co u n s el cl ai m

. A s t o o t h er

q u es ti o n s t hat w ere ch al l en ged

, t h e t ri al co u rt s u s t ai n ed s o m e of t h e o b ject io n s m ad e

b y d efen se co u n s el

, an d Ran d el l p o i n ts t o n o sp eci fi c ob ject i o n t h at was erro n eo u s l y

3 7 (Ci t at i o n s om i t t ed .) Fu g a t e v. S t a t e , 2 6 3 Ga. 2 6 0

, 2 6 5 (1 0 ) (4 3 1 SE2 d 1 0 4 ) (1 9 9 3).

3 8 Id . at 26 5 -2 6 6 (1 0).

22o v erru l ed

. W e n o t e t hat t wo o f t h e t h ree wi t n es s es at i s s u e were t es t i fy in g wi t h an

i n t erp ret er, an d “ al l owi n g l ead i n g q u es t i o n s wh ere t h ere is a l an g u ag e b arri er” i s n ot

an ab u s e o f d i scret i o n

. 3 9 Bas ed o n Ran d el l ’ s lack o f s peci fi c o bject i o n s at t ri al

, an d

h i s t ri al co u n s el ’ s res p o n s e s w i t h res p ect t o h i s i n effect i v e as s i s t an ce o f co u n s el

cl ai m , we d i s cern n o rev ers i b l e erro r.

Ca s e No . A1 6

A1 1 7 8

8

. Bro wn , t he res t au ran t em p l oy ee wh o was al s o co n v i ct ed o f p art i ci p at i n g in

t h e ro bb ery , u rg es t h at her s en t en ce was u n co n s t it u t i o n al as ap p l i ed an d o n i t s

face. Sh e was fo u n d g u i l ty o f 4 3 co u n t s b a s e d o n t h e ro b bery

, i n cl ud i n g m u l t i p l e

co u nt s o f arm ed ro b bery

, k i d n ap p i ng , fal s e i m pri s o n m en t

, p os s es si o n o f a fi r earm

d u ri n g th e co m

m i s s i on of a fel o n y , ag g rav at ed as s au l t

, p o i n t i n g a p i s t o l at an o t h er,

an d t h e f t b y t a k i n g

. Sh e w as s en t en ced to t wo co ns ecu t iv e l i fe s en t en ces wi t h t h e

p o s s i b i l i t y o f p aro l e, wi t h t h e rem ai n d er o f h er co n fi n em en t co n cu rren t t o t h e l i fe

s en t en ces

. 4 0

3 9 Du ma s v. S t a t e , 2 8 3 Ga. Ap p . 2 7 9, 2 8 2 (3 ) (6 4 1 SE2 d 2 7 1) (2 00 7 ).

4 0 Fo r t h e reas o n s di scu ss ed b el o w, we p ret erm i t wh et h er Bro wn m ad e a t i m el y

o b ject i on t o h er s en t en ce o r wh et h er h er t ri al co un s el was in effect i v e f o r n o t d o i n g

s o

.

23(a) Ap p r en d i ch a l l en g e

. Sp eci fi cal l y , Bro w n ch al l en g es t h e t wo l ife s en t en ces

s h e recei v ed fo r arm ed ro b b ery u n d er OCGA § 1 6 -8 -4 1 (b ), w h i ch p ro v i d es t h at “ [a]

p ers o n co n v i ct ed o f t h e offen s e o f arm ed ro b b ery s h a l l b e p u n i s h ed b y d eat h o r

i m p ri s o n m en t fo r l i fe o r b y im p ri s o n m en t fo r n o t les s t h an t en n o r m o re t h an 2 0

y ears .” Sh e as s ert s t hat t h i s s ch em e i s u n co n s t i t u t i on al u n d er t h e p reced en t

es t ab l i s h ed b y Ap

p r en d i

, wh i ch s t an d s fo r t h e p ro p o s i t i o n t h at “ [o ] t h er t h an t h e fact

o f a p ri or co n v i c t i o n , a n y fact t h at i n creas es t h e pen al t y fo r a cri m e b eyo n d t h e

p r es cr i b ed s t a t u t o r

y ma xi mu m m

u s t b e s u b m i t t ed t o a ju ry , an d p r o v e d b e yo n d a

reas on ab l e d o ub t.” 4 1 Becau s e t h e s en t en ce at i s s u e was wi t h i n t h e s t at u t o ry m ax i m u m

an d d i d no t ex t en d Bro wn ’ s p u n n i s h m en t b ey o n d t he p res cri b ed ran ge s up p o rt ed by

t h e ju ry ’ s v erd i ct , “

A p p r en d i s im

pl y d o es n o t ap p l y t o t hi s s en ten ci ng s ch em e.” 4 2

(b ) Va g uen es s ch a l l en g e

. B r o wn al s o arg u es t h at her s en t en ce was i m p ro p er

b as ed o n t h e v ag u en es s o f OCGA § 1 6 -8 -4 1 (b ) as t o wh en a l i fe s en t en ce m i g ht

4 1 (Em p h as i s s u p p l i ed .) Ap

p r en d i

, 5 3 0 U .S. at 4 7 4 (II), 4 9 0 (IV) (s peci fi cal l y ad d res s i n g “ w h et h er t h e 1 2 -y ear s en t en ce i m p o s ed

. . . was p erm i s s ib l e, g iv en t h at i t

was ab o v e t h e 1 0-y ear m ax i m um fo r t h e o ffen s e ch arg ed i n t h at co u n t ”).

4 2 Ba b b a g e v. S t at e , 2 9 6 Ga. 3 6 4

, 3 6 8 (2 ) (b ) (7 6 8 SE2 d 4 6 1 ) (2 0 1 5). See al s o
Bu r ke v. S t a t e , 2 7 4 Ga. Ap p

. 4 0 2 , 4 04 (1 ) (6 18 SE2 d 3 6 ) (2 0 0 5 ).

24ap p ly v ers u s a t en -t o -t wen t y y ear s en t en ce. Bu t t hi s Co u rt h as ex p l ai n e d t h a t t h e

s en t en ci n g s t ru ct u re i s n o t u n co n s t i t u ti o n al l y v ag u e:

Al t h ou g h t h e s t at u t e a l l o w s t h e s en t en ci n g ju d g e b ro ad d i s cret i o n , i t

d o es n o t p ro v i d e t wo d i fferen t m ax i m u m s e n t e n ces an d i s n o t

u n co n s t i t u t i o n al l y v ag u e. Th e co u rt s o f th i s st at e h av e co n s is t en t l y h el d

t h at t h e m ax im

u m p en al t y u p o n co n v i ct i o n fo r arm ed ro b bery i s l i fe

i m p r i s o n m en t

. As an al tern at i v e t o i m p os i n g t h i s m ax i m

u m sen t en ce,

u n d er OCGA § 16 -8 -4 1 (b ), a co u rt al s o h as t h e d i s cret i o n t o i m p o s e a

d et erm i nat e s en t en ce o f an y p e r i o d o f t im e b et ween fi v e an d t wen t y

y ears

. 4 3

Th erefo re, Bro wn ’ s arg u m en t s b as ed o n th e vag u en es s o f OCGA § 1 6

- 8

- 41 (b ) are

wi t h o u t m eri t

.

(c) Ei g h t h A men d

men t ch a l l en g e

. Bro wn arg u es t h at h er s en t en ce vi o l at ed t h e

U. S. an d Geo rg i a Co n s t it u t i o n s’ p ro h i b i t i o n s ag ai n s t cru el an d u nu s ual p u n i s h m en t

.

As s t at ed ab o v e, Bro w n ’ s s en t en ce was wi t h in t he ran g e p res cri bed b y t h e s t at u t e.

[A] p res u m

p ti o n ari s es wh en a d efen d an t i s s en t en ced wi t h in th e

s t at u t o ry li m it s s et b y t h e l eg i s l at u re t hat s u ch s en t en ce do es no t v i o l at e

t h e Ei g h t h Am en d m en t ’ s g u aran t ee ag ai n s t cru e l an d u nu s ual

p u n i s h m en t

. Su ch p res u m p t i o n rem ai n s u n t i l a d efen dan t s et s fo rt h a

4 3 (Pu n ct u at i o n o m i tt ed .) Hu d s o n v. S t a t e , 3 3 4 Ga. Ap p

. 1 6 6

, 1 6 8 (2 ) (7 7 8 SE2 d

4 0 6 ) (2 0 1 5 ), q u ot i n g Co r ey v. S t a t e , 2 1 6 G a

. A p p

. 18 0

, 1 8 0-1 8 1 (4 5 4 SE2 d 1 5 4 ) (1 9 9 5).

25fact u al p red i cat e sh o wi n g t h at s u ch leg i s l at i v el y au t h ori zed p u n i s h m en t

was s o ov erl y s ev ere o r ex ces s i ve i n p ro p ort i o n t o t h e o f f en se as t o

s h o ck t h e co n s ci en ce. 4 4

[I] n o rd er t o det erm i n e i f a s en t en ce i s g ro s sl y d i s p ro p o rt i o n at e, a co u rt

m u s t fi rs t ex am i n e t h e “ g rav i t y o f t h e o ffen s e co m p ared to th e hars h n es s

o f t h e p en al t y ” an d det erm i n e wh et h er a th res h o ld i n feren ce o f g ro s s

d i s p ro p o rt i o nal i t y i s rai sed

. In m ak i n g t h i s d et erm i n at i o n , co u rt s m u s t

b ear i n m in d t he pri m a c y o f t h e l eg i s l at u re i n s et ti n g p u n i s hm en t an d

s eek t o d et erm i n e wh et h er t h e s en te n c e fu rt h ers a “ l eg i t i m at e

p en o l o g i cal g o al ” co ns i deri n g t h e o ffen s e an d th e o ffen der i n q ues t i o n

. If a s en t en ce d o es n o t fu rt h er a l eg i t i m at e p en o l o g i cal g o al , i t d o es n o t

“ r e f l e c t a rat io n al l eg i s l at i v e j u d g m en t

, en ti t l ed t o d eferen ce,” an d a

t h res h o l d sh o wi ng of d is p ro p o rt i o n al i t y h as b een m ad e. If t h is t h res h o l d

a n al y s is rev eal s an i n feren ce of g ro s s di s p ro p o rt i o n al i t y , a co u rt m u s t

p ro ceed t o t h e s eco n d s t ep an d d et erm i n e wh et h er t h e i n i t i al ju d g m en t

o f d i s p ro po rt i o n al i t y i s co n fi rm ed b y a co m pari s on of t h e d efen d an t ’s

s en t en ce t o s en t en ces i m

p o s ed fo r o t h e r cri m es w i t hi n t h e j u ri s d i ct i o n

an d fo r t h e s am e cri m e i n o th er ju ri sd i ct i o n s

. 4 5

Here, t h e t ri al co u rt ex p l ai n ed at t h e s en t en ci n g h eari n g t hat t h e cri m e “ wo u ld

n o t h av e h ap p en ed wi t h o u t ” Bro wn ’ s p art i ci p at i o n. Bro wn wo rk ed at t h e res t au ran t

4 4 (Pu n ct u at i o n om it t ed .) McKen zi e v. S t a t e , 3 0 2 G a

. A p p

. 5 3 8, 5 41 (2 ) (6 9 1

SE2 d 3 5 2) (2 0 1 0).

4 5 (Fo ot n o t es o m i t t ed .) H u mp h r ey v. W

i l so n , 2 82 Ga. 5 2 0

, 5 25 (3 ) (a ) ( 6 5 2

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

26an d h ad n o t i ced t he p o t en t i al fo r a l arg e am o un t o f cas h t o b e h an dl ed at th e en d o f

t h e d ay an d t hat th e s ecu ri t y cam eras di d n o t wo rk

. M ore i m p o rt an t l y , Bro wn l eft t h e

fro n t do o r o f t h e res t au ran t u n l o ck ed aft er h o u rs , co n t rary t o t h e res t au ran t ’ s p o l i cy

o f lo ck i n g th e d o o r d uri ng cl os i n g

. Th e t ri al co u rt al s o n o t ed t h e effect o n each o f t h e

m u lt i p l e v ict i m s in t h e res t au ran t wh o had gu n s “ t o t h e i r h ead s an d b ack s ” n ot

k n o wi n g “ wh et h er t h ey w ou l d l i v e o r d i e,” as w el l as t h e r i p p l e effect o n t h e

co m m u n it y s u ch t h at “ y o u can ’ t g o i n t o a res t au ran t wi t h o u t wo n d eri n g

. . . wh at ’ s

g o i n g to h ap p en .” Th e co u rt al s o co n s i d ered t h e p u ni ti v e effect of a h ars h sen t en ce,

as wel l as en s u ri n g t hat “ t h e res t o f u s wi l l b e s afe fro m y ou .” L as t

, t h e co u rt n o t ed

t h at Bro wn ’ s co nd u ct was “ p erh ap s ev en wo rs e” t h an h er co -d efen d an t s b ecau s e t h e

v i ct i m s w e r e h e r co -wo rk ers an d fri en d s, an d Bro wn was t h e o n e wh o d el i b erat el y

al l o wed th ree m as k ed g u n m en t o en t er an d ro b t h e v i ct i m s at g u np o i n t

.

In l i g h t o f al l o f t hes e fact o rs , as wel l as t h e s t at u t o ry s en t en ci n g s ch em e an d

Bro w n ’ s ev en t u al el i g i bi l i t y fo r p aro l e, Bro wn ha s n o t ov erco m e t h e p res u m p t i o n t h at

h er s en t en ce d i d n o t v i o l at e t h e Ei g h t h Am en d m en t ’ s g u aran t ee ag ai n s t cru e l an d

u n u s ual p u n i s hm en t

. 4 6

4 6 See W i n d h om v. S t a t e , 3 2 6 Ga. Ap p . 2 1 2 , 2 1 6 (5 ) (7 5 6 SE2 d 2 9 6 ) (2 0 1 4 ).

279

. Bro wn al s o a r g u e s t h at t h e St at e fai l ed t o p ro v e h er acco m p l i ce l i ab i l i t y

u n d er Ro s emo nd 4 7 fo r t h e o ffen s es i n v o l vi n g fi rearm s. Th at cas e “ h el d th at

, u n d er t h e

fed eral ai d i n g an d ab et ti n g s t at u t e, 4 8 a p ers o n m ay b e co n v i ct ed o f ai d i n g an d ab et t i n g

t h e fed eral cri m e o f u s i n g o r carry i n g a fi rearm i n co n n ect i o n wi t h a d ru g t raffi ck i n g

cri m e, 4 9 o n l y i f [s ] he h ad ad v an ce k n o wl ed g e t h at a co -d efen d an t wo ul d u s e o r carry

a fi rearm

. ” 5 0 Pret erm i t t i n g wh et h er t h e ev i d en ce s h o wed Bro wn ’ s k n o wl ed g e t h at h er

co -d efen d an t s wo u l d b e arm ed

, “ [t ] h at cas e aro s e u n d er f e d e r al l aw [ad d res s i n g a

d i fferen t cri m i n al s t at u t e,] an d t h u s d o es n ot co n tro l h ere.” Th u s , “ al t h o u gh [Bro wn ]

arg u es t h at p urs u an t t o R o s emo n d

. . . a d efen d an t m u s t k n o w i n ad v an ce th at [h er]

co m p an i o n i s arm ed b ecau s e t h e d efen d an t m us t i nt en d t o co m

m i t each el em en t o f t h e

cri m e rat h er t h an a s i n g l e co m p on en t o f it

, ou r Su p rem e Co u rt al read y h as

4 7

_

_ U. S. at

_ _ (1 3 4 SCt 1 2 4 0 ; 1 8 8 LE2 d 2 4 8 ) (2 0 1 4 ).

4 8 See 1 8 U SC § 2

.

4 9 See 1 8 U SC § 9 2 4 (c).

5 0 Hi cks v. S t a t e , 2 9 5 Ga. 2 6 8 , 2 73 , n . 3 (1 ) (7 5 9 SE2 d 5 09 ) (2 0 1 4).

28d i s t i n gu i sh ed an d d ecl i n ed t o fo l l o w Ro s emo n d

. ” 5 1 Acco rd i n g l y , t h i s en u m erat i o n i s

wi t h o u t m eri t

.

1 0

. Fi n al ly

, Bro wn arg u es t h at t h e ev i d en ce w as i ns u ffi ci en t t o s u p p o rt t h e

ve rd i ct as t o t h e ki dn ap p in g , fal se im p ri s o n m en t

, an d arm ed ro b b ery co u n t s ad d re sse d

i n Di v is i o n 1

. Fo r t h e reas o n s d i s cu s s ed i n t hat d i v i s i on , t h i s en um erat io n fai l s

.

Ju d g men t s a f f ir med . An dr ews , P. J. a n d Ra y, J., co n cu r

.

5 1 Bo cci a v. S t a t e , 3 3 5 G a. Ap p

. 6 8 7, 6 9 8 -6 99 (5 ) (7 8 2 SE2 d 7 9 2 ) (2 0 1 6 ),

ci t i n g W i l l i a ms v. S t a te

, 2 7 6 Ga. 3 8 4

, 3 8 6 (4 ) (5 7 8 SE2 d 85 8 ) (2 00 3 ) (p ro secu t i o n i s

n o t req u i red t o p r o v e d efen d an t k n ew t h at co -d efen d an t i n t en d ed t o us e a g u n ; t h e

o n l y p ro o f req u i red was t h at d efen d an t was part o f a co n s p i racy t o ro b an d

co -d efen d an t ’ s “ u s e o f t h e w eap o n b y t h e acco m p l i ce was n at ural ly an d n eces s ari l y d o n e i n fu rt h eran ce o f t h at cri m e”).

29