SECOND DI VI SI ON

M I LLER, P. J.

, HODGES and PI PKI N, JJ.

N O T IC E : M otions for r e c ons i de r a tion m us t be

ph y sic a l ly r e ce iv ed i n our c le r k ’s offic e w ithin te n

da y s of the da te of de c is ion to be de e m ed tim e ly file d.

https ://w w w

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

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

H I S

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

TH E TIM E S S E T B Y

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

.

October 26, 2021



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A2 1 A0 88 2 . REID v

. THE STATE.

P I P K I N , J u d g e.

A Cl ay t o n Co u n t y ju ry fo u n d Ry an Rei d g u i lt y o f en t i ci n g a ch il d fo r i n d ecen t

p u rp os es an d ag grav at ed ch i l d m o l es t at i o n

. 1 Fo l lo wi n g t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s g ran t o f h i s

m o t i on fo r an o ut -o f-t i m e ap p eal

, Rei d ch al l en g es h i s co n v i ct i on s

, arg u i n g t h a t t h e

ev i d en ce was i n s u ffi ci en t

, t h at t h e t ri al co urt erred by refu s i n g t o ch arg e t he ju ry o n

t h e d efen s e o f al i b i

, an d t h at t ri al co u n s el was i n effect i ve i n t wo res p ect s

. W e affi rm

.

1

. Rei d fi rs t co n t en d s t h at t h e ev i d en ce ad d u ced at tri al w as i n s uff i c i e n t to

s u s t ai n h is co n vi ct i o n s

. W h en we co n s i der t h e s u ffi ci en cy o f ev i d en ce, t h e d efen d an t

“ n o l o n ger en

jo y s a p res um

p t i o n of in n o cen ce,” (Ci t at i on an d p u n ct u at i on o m i t t ed .)

Mi l l er v. S t a te

, 3 5 9 Ga. Ap p

. 3 8 0

, 38 0 (1 ) (8 5 7 SE2 d 8 3 0 ) (2 0 21 ), an d “ t h e rel ev an t

1 T h e ju ry acq u i t t ed Rei d o f a s eco n d c o u n t o f ag g rav at ed ch i l d m o l es t at i o n.q u es ti o n i s wh et h er, aft er v i ewi n g t h e ev i d en ce i n t h e l i g h t m os t fav o rab l e t o t h e

p ro s ecu ti o n

, an y rat i o n al t ri er o f fact co u l d h av e fo u n d t h e es sen t i al el em en t s o f t h e

cri m e[s ] b ey on d a reas on ab l e d o u b t ,” (Em p h as i s o m i t t ed .) Ja cks o n v. Vi rg i n i a

, 4 4 3

U. S. 3 0 7, 3 1 9 (III) (B) (9 9 SCt 2 7 8 1

, 6 1 LE2 d 5 6 0) (1 9 7 9 ). Cri ti cal l y

, “ [o ] u r rev i ew

l e a v es t o t h e ju ry th e res o l u t i o n of co n fl i ct s o r i n co n s i st en ci es i n t h e ev i d en ce,

cred i b i l i t y o f wi t n es ses

, an d r e a s o n ab l e i n feren ces to b e m ad e fro m t h e ev i d en ce.”

Y ar n v. S t a t e , 3 0 5 Ga. 4 2 1

, 4 2 3 (2 ) (8 26 SE2 d 1 ) (2 0 1 9 ).

Vi ewed i n th e ap p ro p ri at e l i g h t

, t h e e v i d en ce p res en ted at tri al sh o w ed t h at

Rei d was b es t fri en d s wi t h t h e fat h er o f t h e v i ct i m

, T.T., an d f r e q u e n t l y v i s i t ed t h e

fam i l y ’ s ho m e. T .T. t es t i fi ed t h at

, wh en s he was el ev en y ears o l d

, Rei d b eg an m ak i n g

h er t o u ch h is p en i s a n d t h a t he m ad e h er p erfo rm o ral s ex o n h i m o n m u l t i p l e

o ccas i o n s . Th e ab u s e g en eral l y o ccu rred wh en t h e res t o f t h e fam i l y was as l eep

.

On o n e occas i o n i n 2 0 1 2

, wh en T.T. was t w el v e y ears ol d

, Rei d acco m p an i ed

t h e fam i l y t o t h e h o m e o f T.T.’ s g ran d fat h er i n Cl ay t on Co u n t y

, wh ere Rei d

, T.T., an d

T.T.’ s fat h er an d b ro t h er, am o n g o t h er p eo p l e, s p en t t h e n i gh t

. T.T. t e s t i fi ed t h at

,

aro u n d 3 : 0 0 a.m

. , s h e was as l eep o n a co u ch i n th e l i v i n g ro o m an d t h at her b ro t h er

an d fat h er were as l eep i n t h e s am e ro o m

. Rei d was al s o in t he ro o m o n t h e fl o o r n ex t

t o T .T.; T.T. t es t i fi ed t h at Rei d “ t o l d [h er] t o co m e d o wn ” fro m t he co u ch to t h e fl o o r

2wi t h h i m an d

, w h en s h e d i d

, in st ru ct ed her t o perfo rm o ral s ex o n h i m

. T.T. co m p l i ed

wi t h Rei d’ s i n s t ru ct i o n s

.

T.T.’ s g ran d fat h er t es t i fi ed t h at h e al s o awo k e aro u n d 3 : 0 0 a.m

. th at n i g h t an d

wen t t o t he k i t ch en fo r a d ri n k

. W h en h e w al k ed p as t t h e li v i n g ro o m

, he l o o k ed in

an d o bs erv ed T.T.’ s fat h er as l eep o n a co uch an d Rei d as l eep i n a ch ai r w i t h T.T. in

h i s l ap an d h i s h an d o n h er th i g h at h er wai st l i n e. Th e g ran d fat h er i n s t ru ct ed T.T. to

g o s l eep i n a b ed ro o m wi t h h i s o t h er g ran dch i l d ren

, ex p l ai n i n g th at h e d i d s o

“ [b ] ecau se b as ed o n her ag e an d b y [h er] b ei n g a fem al e, i t ’ s in ap p ro p ri at e fo r h er to

b e i n h is l ap at t h at l at e at n i g h t .” No o n e el s e was awak e at t he t im e.

T.T. t es t ifi ed t h at th e ab u s e co n t i n u ed u nt i l ap p ro x i m at el y 20 1 4; s h e ex p l ai n ed

t h at s h e d i d n o t d i s cl o s e th e ab u s e i m m ed i at el y b ecau se s h e was afrai d h er fat h er

wo u l d k i l l Rei d an d g o t o p ri s on as a res u lt

. Ho we v e r

, T.T.’ s m o t h er b ecam e

c o n cern ed wh en T.T. b eg an ex p eri en ci n g v ari o u s s y m p t o m s, i n c l uding a r a c ing pulse

,

an d t o ok h er t o t h e h o s p i t al fo r t es t i n g

. W h i l e at t h e h o s pi tal

, T .T.’ s m o t h er n o t i ced

T.T.’ s rel i ev ed react i o n wh en t he d oct o r i n fo rm ed T.T. t h at s h e was n o t p reg n an t an d

d i d n o t h av e an y s ex ual l y t ran s m i t t ed d i s eas es

. T.T.’ s m o t h er q u e s t io n ed h er ab o ut

h er react i o n, at wh i ch p oi n t T.T. d i s cl o sed t h e ab us e; T.T.’ s m o t h er t hen i n fo rm ed

3T.T.’ s fat h er ab o u t th e ab u s e. T .T.’ s fat h er co n fro n t ed Rei d ab o u t t he ab u se, an d Rei d

ad m i t t ed t o h av i n g “ s ex u al co n t act ” wi t h T.T.

On ap p eal

, Rei d g en eral ly ch al l en g es t h e s u ffi ci en cy of t h e ev i den ce as t o b o th

h i s co n v i ct i o n s o n th e g ro u n d t h at T.T.’ s t es ti m o ny was i n c o n s i s t en t an d

u n co rro bo rat ed

. Rei d al s o co n t en d s t hat t h e ev i d en ce p res en ted at t ri al fai l ed to

es t ab l i s h t h e as p o rt at io n el em en t req u ired fo r en t i ci n g a ch i l d fo r in d ecen t pu rp o s es

.

W e ad d res s t h es e arg u m en ts i n t u rn

.

Rei d fi rs t as s ert s t h at t h e ev i d en ce was i n s u ffi ci en t t o s u pp o rt h i s co n v i ct i on s

b ecau s e T.T.’ s acco u n t o f t h e ab u s e w as

, in h i s es t i m at i o n

, un co rro b o rat ed

,

“ i m p ract ical

, ” an d in co n s i s ten t i n cert ai n res p e c t s wi t h t h e t es ti m o n y o f o t h er

wi t n es s es fo r t he St at e. Rei d ’ s arg u m en t s ch al l en g e T.T.’ s cred i b i l i t y as a wi t n es s an d

t h e p ro p er wei g ht t o affo rd h er t es t i m on y

, b ut t h i s Co u rt “ do es n o t rewei g h ev i d en ce

o r res ol v e co n fl i ct s i n t es t i m o n y .” (Ci t at i o n an d p u n ct uat i on o m i t t ed .) Co x v. S t a t e

,

3 0 6 Ga. 7 3 6

, 7 3 6 (1 ) (8 3 2 S E 2 d 3 5 4 ) (2 01 9 ). In s t ead

, w it nes s cred ib i l i t y i s fo r t h e

ju ry ’ s d et erm i n at i o n. See Y a r n

, 3 0 5 Ga. at 4 2 3 (2 ). See al s o OCGA § 24 -1 4 -8 (“ Th e

t es t i m o ny of a s i n g le wi t n es s i s g en eral l y s u ffi ci en t t o es t ab li s h a fact .”); M i l l er

, 3 5 9

Ga. Ap p . at 3 8 3 (v i ct im ’ s t es t i m o n y al o n e was s u ffi ci en t t o s u p p ort co n v i ct i o n s fo r

4en t i ci n g a ch i ld fo r i n d ecen t p u rp os es an d ch i l d m o l e s t at i o n, am o n g o th er cri m es ).

Th erefo re, t h i s co n t en ti o n i s wi t h o u t m eri t

.

Tu rn i n g t o Rei d’ s sp eci fi c ch al l en ge t o t h e ev id en ce u n d erl y i n g h i s co n v i ct i o n

fo r en t i ci n g a ch i l d fo r i nd ecen t p u rp o s es

, h e as s ert s t h at T.T.’ s m o v em en t fro m t h e

co u ch t o t h e fl o o r at h i s en co u rag em en t was i n s u ffi ci en t t o s h o w as po rt at i o n b ecau s e

T.T. “ m o v ed b y her o wn v o l i t i o n ” an d b ecau s e h er m o v em en t wa s “ m i n i m al in

d u rat i o n ” an d d i d no t “ hi d e or s ep arat e” h er, m ak e co m m i s s i o n o f t he ab us e “ an y

eas i er,” o r “ l es s en t h e ri s k o f d et ect i o n

. ” Th es e arg u m en t s are u n av ai l i n g.

Un d er OCGA § 1 6 -6 -5 (a) “ a p ers o n co m m it s th e o ffen s e o f en t i ci n g a

ch i l d fo r i n decen t p u rp o s es wh en h e o r s h e s o l i ci ts

, en t i ces

, o r t ak es an y

ch i l d u n d er t h e ag e o f 16 y ears t o an y p l ace wh at s o ev er fo r t he pu rp o s e

o f ch i l d m o l e s t a t i o n o r i n d ecen t act s .” Th e s t at u t e h as b een h el d t o

i n cl u d e th e el em en t o f “ as p o rt at io n ,” an d o u r Su p rem e C o u r t h as h el d

t h at t h i s el em en t i s s at i s f i ed wh et her t h e “ t ak in g ” i n v o l v es p hy s i cal

fo rce, en t i c e m en t, o r pers u as i o n

. Fu rt h er, a n y as p o r t a ti o n

, h o wever

s l ig h t

, i s s u f f i ci en t t o s h o w t he t a ki n g el emen t o f en t ici n g a ch i l d fo r

i n d ecen t p u rp o s es

.

(Em p h as i s s u p p l i ed ; ci t at io ns

, fo o t n o t e, an d pu n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) W h o r t o n v. S t a t e

,

3 1 8 Ga. Ap p

. 88 5

, 8 8 7 (1 ) (a) (7 3 5 SE2 d 7 ) (2 0 1 2 ). Co n t rary t o Rei d ’ s arg u m en t

, i t

i s wel l s et t l ed t h at as po rt at io n n eed n o t b e acco m p li sh ed b y fo rce. See M

o o re v. S t a t e

,

53 1 9 Ga. Ap p

. 6 9 6

, 69 8 -6 9 9 (1 ) ( 7 3 8 SE2 d 14 0 ) (2 0 1 3 ) (“ [W ] h i l e [as p o rt at i o n ] can

b e t h e res u l t o f p h ys i c a l fo rce, i t al s o can b e t h e res u l t o f m ere pers u as i o n,

en t i cem en t

, o r t em

p t at io n .”). Fu rt h erm o re, a s ho wi n g o f as p o rt at i o n fo r p u rp o s es o f

OCGA § 1 6 -6 -5 (a) i s n o t d ep en d en t u p on t h e d u rat i o n of t h e ch il d ’ s m o v em en t

. See

Tu d o r v. S t a t e

, 32 0 Ga. Ap p

. 4 8 7

, 4 9 2 -4 9 3 (2 ) (7 40 SE2 d 23 1 ) (2 0 13 ) (reject i n g

arg u m en t t h at ch i l d ’s m ov em en t of s h o rt d u rat i on was i n s u ffi ci en t t o es t ab l i s h

as p o rt at io n ). No r d o es t h e s tat u t o ry l an g u ag e m an d at e a s h o w i n g th at t h e m o v em en t

was d o n e i n o r d e r t o h i d e th e s u b s eq u en t ab u s e o r t o m ak e t h e v ict i m “ eas i er” to

ab u se; i n s t ead

, i t req u i res o n l y t h at t h e m o vem en t h av e b een acco m p l i s h ed “ fo r t h e

p u rp os e o f ch il d m o l es t at i o n o r i n d ecen t act s .” OCGA § 1 6 -6 -5 (a).

Here, ev i d en ce th a t R e i d i n s t ru ct ed T

. T. t o m o v e fro m t h e co u ch t o t h e fl o o r

s o t h at he co u l d m o les t h e r es t ab l is h ed t h e s l i g h t m o v em en t n eces s ary t o p ro v e

as p o rt at io n

. See H

i c k s v

. S ta t e

, 2 5 4 Ga. A p p

. 8 1 4

, 8 16 (3 ) (5 6 3 SE2 d 8 9 7) (2 0 0 2 )

(v i ct im ’ s t es ti m o n y t hat defen d an t “ k ep t o n t ry i n g t o pu l l [h er] t o ward s h i m ” s at i s fi ed

as p o rt at io n el em en t ); Ci mi l d o r o v. St a t e

, 2 5 9 Ga. 7 88

, 7 89 (1 ) (3 8 7 SE2 d 3 3 5 ) (1 9 9 0 )

(as p o rt at i o n s h own wh e r e d e f e n dan t was i n a t o o l s h ed wi t h t h e v i ct i m an d h e

p ers u ad ed h er t o l i e d o wn on a b o ard s o t h at h e co u l d m o l es t h er). “ An d [R e i d ’ s ]

act i on s were s u ffi ci en t to es t ab l i s h t h at h e act ed wi th t h e req u i s i t e i n t en t at t h e t i m e

6h e en t i ced ” T .T. t o m o v e fro m t h e co u ch t o t h e fl oo r. Al l i s o n v. St a t e

, 3 56 Ga. Ap p.

2 5 6

, 2 63 (2 ) (b ) (8 4 6 SE2 d 2 22 ) (2 0 2 0 ) (“ [T] he ev i d en ce au t h ori zed t h e ju ry t o fi n d

t h at [d efen dan t ] en t i ced th e

. . . v i ct i m t o her m o th er’ s b ed ro o m wi t h t he in ten t i o n to

en g ag e i n ch i l d m o l es t at i o n as es t ab l i s h ed b y h i s s u bs eq u en t a ct of p l aci n g t h e

v i ct i m ’ s h an d o n h i s p en i s .”).

Hav i n g rev iewed t h e reco rd

, we co n cl u d e t h at t h e ev i d en ce re c o u n t ed ab o v e

was su ffi ci en t t o a u t h o r i z e a rat i o n al ju ry t o fi n d Rei d g u il ty bey o n d a reas o n ab l e

d o u b t o f t h e c r i m es of wh i ch he w as co n v i ct ed

. See Ja cks o n

, 4 43 U. S. at 3 1 9 (III)

(B); Bect o n v. S ta te

, 35 8 Ga. Ap p

. 3 2 1

, 3 2 7 (3 ) (a) (8 5 3 SE2 d 1 2 5 ) (2 02 0 ) (ev i d en ce

s u ffi ci en t t o s u p po r t co n v i ct i o n fo r ag g rav at ed ch il d m o l es t at i o n wh ere v i ct i m

t es t i fi ed t h at sh e en gag ed i n o ral s ex wi t h d efen d an t ). Acco rd i n g ly

, t h i s en u m erat i o n

p res en t s n o cau s e fo r rev ers al

.

2 . Rei d n ex t arg u es t h at t h e t ri al co u rt co m m it t ed rev ers i b le erro r b y d en y i n g

h i s req ues t t o ch arg e t h e j u r y o n t h e d efen s e o f al i b i

. Th e i nd i ct m en t i n th i s cas e

al l eg ed t h at t he cri m es o f wh ich Rei d was co n vi ct ed o ccu rred “ b et w een t h e 1 s t d ay

o f J u n e, 2 0 1 2

, an d t h e 3 0 t h d ay o f J u n e, 2 0 1 2

, t h e ex act d at e o f t h e o f fen s e b ei n g

u n k n o wn t o t h e G ran d J u ry .” At t ri al

, Rei d p res en t ed t h e t es t i m o n y o f h i s b ro t h er in

an at tem p t t o es t ab l i s h an al i b i d efen s e. Rei d ’ s b ro t h er t es t i fi ed t h at Rei d t rav el ed to

7New J ers ey o n J u n e 1 4

, 2 0 1 2

, an d

, t h e n e x t d ay

, w as arres ted th ere an d jai l ed u n t i l

b ei n g b o n d ed o u t earl y t h e n ex t w eek

. Rei d ’ s b r o t h e r f u rt h er t es t i fi ed t h at Rei d

ret u rn ed t o Geo rg i a i n l at e Ju n e o r earl y J u l y b u t i n d i cat ed t h at h e was “ n o t t o o s u re

o f t h e ex act d at e” o f Rei d ’ s ret u rn

. Aft er ex t en s i v e co n su l t at i on wi t h b o t h Rei d an d

t h e St at e du ri n g t h e ch arg e co nferen ce, t h e t ri al co u rt d en i ed Rei d ’ s req u es t t o ch arg e

o n al i b i

, ex p l ai n i n g t h at Rei d h ad n o t pres en t ed ev id en ce “ fro m wh i ch i t co u ld

reas on ab l y b e i n ferred th at i t w as im p o s si b l e fo r h im t o h av e co m m i t t ed t h e

o ffen s e[s ] .” Th e t ri al co u rt ’ s reas o n i n g was s o un d

.

“ A req u es t ed ju ry ch arg e m u s t b e l eg al

, ap t

, an d p re c i s el y ad ju st ed t o s o m e

p ri n ci p l e i n v o l ved i n t h e cas e an d b e au t h o ri zed b y t h e ev id en ce. If an y p o rt i o n o f t h e

req u es t t o ch arg e fai l s i n t h e s e req ui rem en t s

, d en i al o f t h e req u es t is p ro p er.”

(Ci t at i o n an d p u n ct uat i o n om it t ed .) Ma r t i n ez v. S t a t e

, 3 0 6 Ga. Ap p

. 5 12

, 5 27 (7 ) (7 0 2

SE2 d 7 4 7 ) (2 0 1 0 ). “ Th e d efen s e o f al i b i in v o l v es t h e im po s si b i l i t y o f t he accu s ed ’ s

p res en ce at t h e s cen e o f t he o ffen s e at t h e t i m e o f i ts co m m i s s i o n

. Th e ran g e o f t h e

ev i d en ce i n res p ect t o t i m e an d p l ace m u s t b e s uch as reas on ab ly t o ex cl u d e t h e

p o s s i b i l i ty o f p res en ce.” OCGA § 1 6 -3 -4 0. Th e t es t i m o n y o f Rei d’ s b ro t h er

es t ab l i s h ed

, at b es t

, t h at Rei d was o u t o f th e s t at e fro m J u n e 1 4 th ro u gh th e en d o f t h e

m o nt h

. Th ere was n o ev i d en ce s h o wi n g

, ho wev er, t hat Rei d was n ot i n Geo rg i a fro m

8J u n e 1 t o J u n e 13

, 2 0 1 2. Th u s, b ecau s e t h e ev i d en ce s up p ort i n g Rei d’ s al ib i d efen s e

d i d “ n o t s h o w th e i m

p o s s i b i l i t y o f [h is ] p res en ce at t he cri m e scen e d u ri n g t h e cri m e’ s

co m m i s s io n

, t h e fai lu re of t h e co u rt t o ch arg e t h e law o f al i b i is n o t erro r.” 2 (Ci t at i o n

an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) F o s t er v. S t a t e , 2 8 6 Ga. Ap p . 2 5 0

, 2 5 6 (3 ) (c) (6 4 9 SE2 d

3 2 2 ) (2 0 0 7 ).

3

. Rei d al s o co n t en d s t h at t ri al co u n s el ren d ered co n s t it u t i o n al l y i n effect i v e

as s i s tan ce b y fai l i ng t o o b ject to t h e ad m i s s io n o f cert ai n ev i den ce an d b y fai l i n g to

fi le a s p eci al d em

urrer t o t h e i n d i ct m en t t o req u i re t h e St at e t o al l eg e s p eci fi c d at es

o n wh i ch t h e ch arg ed cri m es w ere co m m i t ted

, wh i ch wo u l d hav e b et t er faci li t at ed t h e

p res en t at i o n of h i s al i b i d e f en s e. Ho wev er, th e reco rd s h o ws t h at t h es e cl ai m s o f

i n effect i v e as s i s tan ce were n o t rai s ed in Rei d ’ s am en d ed m o ti on fo r n ew t ri al

. 3 “ [A]

2 Co nt rary t o Rei d ’ s as s ert i o n o n ap p eal

, al ib i w as n o t h i s s o le defen s e at t ri al

. W h en t h e t ri al co u rt as ked t ri al co u ns el w het h er al i b i w as Rei d ’ s s ol e d efen s e d u ri n g

t h e ch arg e co n feren ce, t ri al co u n s el res p o n d ed

, “ [T] h at i s o ur d efen s e, Yo u r Ho n o r,

i s t h at h e was n o t

– o r t h at p a r t o f i t is t h at h e w as n o t i n t h e St at e o f Geo rg i a d u ri n g

t h i s t i m e.” (Em

p h as i s s u p p l i ed .) R ei d ’ s d efen s e al s o s o u g h t t o u n derm i n e t h e

cred i b i l i t y

o f t h e v i ct i m

an d t h e o t her wi t n es s es fo r t h e St at e.

3 In h i s am en d ed m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al

, Rei d rai s ed a s i n g l e cl ai m o f i n effect i v e

as s i s tan ce, wh i ch was p rem i s ed o n t ri al co u ns el ’ s d eci s i o n t o rel y o n an al ib i d efen s e.

R ei d arg u ed t hat t ri al co u n s el p erfo rm ed d efi ci en t l y i n t h i s reg ard b ecau s e t h e

p u rp ort ed al i bi co vered on l y ab o u t hal f o f t h e t i m e p eri o d d uri n g w h i ch t h e ch arg ed

cri m es occu rred

, as al leg ed i n t h e i n di ct m en t

, d es p i t e “ th e l aw i n Geo rg i a as t o al i bi

[b ei n g ] s o cl ear in i ts req ui rem en t t h at t h e al i b i ev i d en ce co v er t h e en t i ret y o f t h e t i m e

9d efen d an t h as an o b l i gat i o n t o rai s e al l al l eg at i o n s o f i n effect i v e as s i st an ce a t t h e

earl ies t p ract i cab l e m o m en t .” Du n n v. S ta t e

, 2 91 G a. 5 5 1

, 5 5 3-5 5 4 (4 ) (b ) (7 3 2 SE2 d

5 2 4 ) (2 0 1 2 ). Becau s e Rei d

, wh o was rep res en t ed b y n ew co u n sel fo l l o wi n g h i s

co n vi ct i o n s

, h ad t h e o p po rt u n i t y t o rai s e t h es e cl ai m s at t h e m ot i o n fo r n ew t ri al s t ag e

b u t fai l ed t o d o so

, h e i s b arred fro m as s ert i n g t h em fo r t h e fi rs t t i m e o n ap p eal

. See

Mi l l s v. S t a t e , 3 19 Ga. Ap p . 1 3 1 , 1 3 7 (2 ) (7 3 5 SE2 d 1 3 4 ) (2 0 1 2 ) (“ W h ere t h e i s s u e

o f t ri al co u n s el ’ s effect i v en es s h as been rai s ed on m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al

, an y cl ai m s o f

i n effect i v e as s is t an ce b y t ri al co u n s el n o t rai s ed at t hat t im e are wai v ed

. Su ch cl ai m s

u n as sert ed at th e t ri al l ev el a r e p r o c ed u ral l y b arred .”) (ci t at i o n an d pu n ct u at i o n

o m it t ed ).

4

. Fi n al l y

, rel y i n g o n o u r Su p rem e Co u rt ’ s d eci s io n i n S t a te v. La n e

, 3 0 8 Ga.

1 0

, 1 7 (1 ) (8 3 8 SE2 d 8 0 8) (2 0 20 ), Rei d as s ert s t h at t h e cu m u l at i v e p reju di ce wro u g ht

b y t h e in s u ffi ci en cy o f t h e ev i d en ce, t h e t ri al co u rt ’s f a i l u r e t o ch arg e t h e ju ry o n

al i b i

, an d t ri al co u n s el ’ s i n effect i v en es s en t it l es h i m t o a n ew t ri al

. Ho w ev er, b ecau s e

we co n cl u d ed t h at Rei d ’ s s in g l e cl ai m o f t ri al co u rt erro r l ack s m eri t an d h i s

i n effect i v e as s is t an ce cl ai m s are n ot p ro p erl y b efo re u s

, th ere i s n o erro r fro m wh i ch

p reju d i ce co u l d accu m

u l at e, an d

, t h erefo re, La n e do es n o t ap p l y

. See W o o ds v. S t a t e

,

fram e d u ri ng wh i ch t h e ch arg ed cri m e i s al l eg ed t o h av e t ak en p l ace.”

10C a s e N o

. S2 1A0 8 6 2

,

_ _ G a.

__ (III) (1 ) n .7 (_

_ SE2 d

_ _ ) (Au g

. 2 4

, 2 02 1 ) ( L a n e

“ an n o u nced a n ew ru l e reg ard in g t h e cu m u lat i ve effect o f a co m

b i n at i on o f cert ai n

t ri al co u rt erro rs an d d efi ci en ci es o f co u n sel .”) (em p h as i s o m i tt ed ). Th i s cl ai m t hu s

fai l s , an d t h e v erd i ct o f t h e ju ry s h al l s t an d

.

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

, P. J., a n d

Ho d g es , J., co n cu r

.

11