THI RD DI VI SI ON

M C FA DDEN, C. J.

, D OYLE, P. J.

, and HODGES, 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.

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

.

Januar y 14, 2021



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A2 0 A1 85 4 . ST. GERM AIN v . STATE.

M C F A D D E N , Ch i ef J u d g e.

Aft er a ju ry t ri al

, J u s t i n St

. Germ ai n w as co n v ict ed o f rap e, i n ces t

, two co u n t s

o f ch i l d m o l es tat i o n

, an d t h ree co u n t s o f ag g rav at ed ch i l d m o les t at io n

. St . Germ ai n

ap p eal s

, ch al l en g in g t h e effect i v en es s of hi s t ri al co u n s el ; b u t h e h as fai l ed t o s h o w

t h at co u n s el ’ s p e r f

o rm an ce was b o t h d efi ci en t an d p reju d i ci al

. St

. Germ ai n al s o

cl ai m s t h at t h e t ri al c o u r t e r r e d i n d en y i n g a m o t i o n t o ex cl u de ev i d en ce o f p ri o r

d i ffi cu l t i es d u e t o t he l ack o f n ot i ce fro m t he s t at e; bu t th e co u rt p ro p erl y d en i ed t h e

m o ti o n as no t i ce was no t req u i red an d St

. Germ ai n h as n o t s h o wn p l ai n erro r wi th

reg ard t o an y fu rt her o bject i o n s t h at were n o t rai s ed b el o w

. St

. Germ ai n arg u es t h at

t h e co u rt erred i n d en y i n g a m o t i o n t o co m p el t ran s cri p t i o n o f o p en i n g s t at em en t s an d

cl o s i ng arg u m en t s; b ut h e h as s h o wn n o h arm res u l t i n g fro m t he m is s i n g tran s cri pt s

.St

. Germ ai n’ s fu rt her co nt en t i o n t h at t h e s t at e co m m i t t ed a Br a d

y v io l at i o n t h at was

n o t p res erv ed fo r ap p el l at e rev i ew. W e t h erefo re affi rm t h e co n v i ct i on s

.

1

. In ef f ect i ve a s s i s t a n ce o

f co u n s el

.

St

. Germ ai n cl ai m s t hat h i s t ri al co u n s el was i n effect i v e i n fai l i n g t o cal l t wo

wi t n es s es at t ri al

, i n fai li n g t o cal l ch aract er wi t n es s es at s en ten ci n g

, i n co n ced i n g

g u i l t d u ri n g cl os i ng arg u m en t

, an d i n fai l in g t o o b t ai n a p o l i ce rep o rt

. To prev ai l o n

t h es e cl ai m s

, St

. Germ ai n “ m u s t s h o w bo t h t h at h i s co u n s el ’ s p e r f o rm an ce was

p ro fes s i on al l y d efi ci en t an d t h at

, b u t fo r t h e u n pro fes s i o n al p erfo rm an ce, t h ere i s a

reas on ab l e p ro b ab i l i t y t h at t h e o u t co m e of t h e p ro ceed i n g w o u l d h av e b een di fferen t

.

W e n eed n o t rev iew b o th p art s o f t h i s t es t i f [St

. Germ ai n ] fai l s t o p ro v e on e o f t h em .”

S t r o t h er v. S ta t e

, 3 0 5 Ga. 8 3 8

, 8 4 8 (5 ) (8 2 8 SE2 d 3 2 7 ) (2 0 1 9 ) (ci tat i o n s o m i t t ed ). St

.

Germ ai n h as fai l ed t o s h o w t hat t ri al co u n s el ’ s p erfo rm an ce was b o t h d efi ci en t an d

p reju d i ci al

.

(a) Fa i l u r e t o ca l l

wi t n es s es a t

t r i a l

.

St

. Germ ai n cl ai m s t h at h i s t ri al co u n sel was in effect i v e i n fai l i n g t o cal l a

p s y ch o lo g i s t as an ex p ert wi tn es s an d i n fai li n g t o cal l t h e v i ct i m ’ s m in o r s i s t er as a

wi t n es s t o at t ack t h e v i ct i m ’ s cred i b i l i t y

. Th e cl ai m s are wi t h o u t m eri t

.

2[T] h e d eci s i o n wh et h er t o p res en t a n e x p e r t wi t n es s

, l i k e o t h er

d eci si o n s ab ou t wh i ch d efen se wi t n es ses t o cal l

, i s a m at t er of t ri al

s t rat eg y t hat

, i f reas o n ab l e, wi l l n ot su s t ai n a cl ai m o f i n effect iv e

as s i s t an ce. A n d f

o r a d efen d an t t o es t ab l i s h t h at a st rat eg ic d eci s i o n

co n s t i t ut es d efi ci en t p erf o r m a nce, a defen d an t m u s t s h o w t h at n o

co m p et en t a t t o rn ey

, u n d er s i m i l ar ci rcu m s t an ces

, wo u l d h av e m ad e i t

.

S u l l i va n v. S t a te, 30 8 G a. 50 8, 5 1 2 (2 ) (b ) (8 4 2 SE2 d 5) (2 0 2 0 ) (ci t at io n s a n d

p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ). Here, t ri al co u n s el t es t i fi ed at t h e m o ti o n fo r new t ri al h eari n g

t h at h e d eci d ed n o t to cal l t h e ps y ch o l o g i s t

, w h o h ad ex am i n ed St

. Germ ai n

, t o t es t i fy

b ecau s e h e s p o k e t o t he p s y ch o l o g i s t aft er t h e ex am i n at i o n an d “ th ere was s t u ff t h ere

t h at was no t co m

p l [i ] m en tary [ab o u t St

. G erm ai n ] t h at d i d n ’ t m ak e i t i n to t he rep o rt

.

An d I d i d n ’ t wan t a ch an ce fo r th at s t u ff t o co m e ou t

. . . . I m ad e t h e d eci s io n I d i d n ’ t

wan t a p s y ch ol o g i s t t al ki n g ab o u t wh at I h ad

— was t o l d t h at t h ey h ad fo un d i n t h ei r

t es t i n g an d i n t h ei r ex am i n at i o n .” Gi v en co u ns el ’ s reas o n ab l e ex p l an at i o n t h at h e d id

n o t wan t t o ri s k t h e po s s i b i l i ty o f h arm f u l tes t i m on y fro m t h e p s y ch o l o g i s t

, St

.

Germ ai n “ h a s f

ai l ed t o d em o n s t rat e t h at co u n s el ’ s d eci s i o n n o t t o [cal l t h e

p s y ch o lo g i s t as ] an ex p ert was co n s t i t u t i o nal l y d efi ci en t

. ” Ho r to n v. S ta t e

,

_ _ _ Ga.

_ _ _ (5 ) (b ) (8 4 9 SE2 d 3 8 2) (2 02 0 ).

As fo r th e vi ct i m ’ s m i n o r s i s t er, St

. G erm ai n co n t en d s t h at co u n s el s h o u l d h av e

cal l ed her as a wi tn es s t o as k her ab o u t her s t at em en t d u ri n g a fo ren s i c i n t erv i ew t h at

3s h e an d her m o t h er d o n o t t el l t h e v i ct i m t h i n g s b ecau s e th e vi ct im can n o t k eep t h i ng s

t o h ers el f. Bu t it i s u n cl ear fro m St

. Germ ai n ’ s bri ef h o w s u ch t es ti m o n y wo u l d h av e

u n d erm i n ed t h e v ict i m ’ s cred i b i l i t y s i n ce i t d i d n o t p ert ai n t o t h e v i ct i m ’ s

t ru t h fu l n es s

. M o reo v er, at t he m o t i o n fo r new t ri al h eari ng

, co u n s el t es t i fi ed t h at h e

p ro b ab l y wo ul d h av e p res en t ed t es t i m o ny fro m a wi tn es s wh o act u al l y sai d t h e v i ct i m

was a l i ar, b u t h e wo u ld n o t au t o m at i cal ly h av e i n t ro d u ced t h e p ro p o s ed t es t i m o ny

fro m t he v i ct i m ’ s s i s t er b ecau s e s u ch a d eci s i o n d ep en ds o n a l l t he ci rcu m s t an ces

,

i n cl u d i n g t h e d i ffi cu l t y

o f co n t ro l l i n g a ch i l d wi t n es s at t ri al

. St

. Germ ai n h as m ad e

n o s h o wi n g t h at t h e d eci s io n n o t t o cal l t h e v i ct i m ’ s m i no r s is t er as a wi t n es s was s o

u n reas o nab l e t h at it am o u n t ed t o d efi ci en t p erfo rm an ce. See W a l ker v. S t at e

, 3 0 1 Ga.

4 8 2

, 4 9 1 (4 ) (c) (8 0 1 SE2 d 80 4 ) (2 0 1 7 ) (“ [D] eci s i o n s as t o wh at wi t n es s es an d o t h er

ev i d en ce t o p res en t are m at ters o f t ri al s trat eg y an d are i neffect i v e o n l y i f [t h ey are]

u n reas o nab l e o n es t h at n o co m p et en t at t o rn ey

wo u l d m ak e.”).

(b ) Fa i l u r e t o ca l l

ch a r a ct er

wi t nes s es a t s en t en ci n g.

St

. Germ ai n co n t en ds t h at h i s t ri al co u n s el w as i n effect i v e i n fai l i n g to cal l h i s

p a r en ts

, s i s t er, an d fri en d s as ch aract er wi t n es s es at t h e s en t en ci n g h eari n g

. Wi t h

reg ard t o fri en d s

, St

. Germ ai n h as n o t i d en t ifi ed an y part i cu l ar wi t n es s es o r i n d i cat ed

s p eci fi cal l y wh at tes t im o n y t h ey co u l d h av e g i v en

, an d h e m ad e n o s uch p ro ffer at t h e

4m o ti o n fo r n ew t ri al h eari n g. “ [A] t a m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al h eari n g

, ei t h er t h e u n cal l ed

wi t n es s m

u s t t es t i fy o r t h e d efen d an t m u s t in t ro d u ce a leg al l y reco gn i zed s ub s t i t u t e

fo r t h e u n cal l ed wi t n es s ’ s t es ti m o n y

. W it h o u t hav i n g m ad e s u ch an ev i d en ti ary

s h o wi n g at t h e h eari n g

, [St

. Germ ai n ] can n o t d em o n s t rat e p reju d i ce on h i s cl ai m t h at

co u ns el was i n effect i v e.” Pr i ce v. S t a t e

, 3 0 5 Ga. 6 0 8

, 6 1 4 (4 ) (8 25 SE2 d 1 7 8 ) (2 0 1 9 )

(ci t at i o n s an d pu n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ). See al s o Po l k v. S t at e

, 2 7 5 Ga. Ap p

. 4 6 7

, 4 7 0

-

4 7 1 (3 ) (6 2 0 SE2 d 8 5 7 ) (2 0 0 5 ) (wh ere d efen d an t o ffers n o ev i d en ce as t o i den t i t y o f

u n cal l ed wi t n es s es an d m ak es n o p ro ffer as to t h ei r p u rp o rt ed t es t i m o n y

, we can n ot

fi nd t h at co u n s el ’ s p erfo rm an ce was d efi ci en t o r p reju di ci al ).

As fo r t h e p aren t s an d s i s t er, al t ho u g h t h ey t es ti fi ed at t he m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al

h eari n g ab o u t St

. Germ ai n ’ s g o o d ch aract er, tri al c o unse l w a s n e v e r a s ked s peci fi cal l y

ab o ut th o s e t h ree wi tn es s es an d w h y h e d i d n o t cal l t h em t o tes t ify at sen t en ci n g.

Rat h er, t h e m o t i o n h eari n g t ran s cri p t rev eal s t h at wh en co u n s el was as k ed if h e h ad

b een g i ven a l i s t o f p o t en t i al ch aract er wi tn es s es fo r t h e s en t en ci n g h eari n g

, co u n s el

d i d n o t s ay t h at h e had been g i v en s u ch a li s t fo r s en t en ci n g

. In st ead

, h e t es t i fi ed t h at

h e h ad b een g iv en a l i s t o f wi t n es s es fo r tri al

, b u t t h at m o s t o f t h em ei t h er wo u l d n ot

s h o w u p fo r t ri al o r h ad n o t h in g h el p fu l t o s ay

, s o h e o n l y u s ed o n e o r t wo o f t h em as

wi t n es s es at t ri al

. An d wh i l e c o u n s el was th en as k ed i f “ s om e t y pe o f t es t i m o n y ”

5m i g h t hav e hel p e d a t s en t en ci n g

, h e was n ev er s p eci fi cal l y as k ed ab o u t u s i n g

ch aract er t es t i m o n y o f St

. Germ ai n ’ s p aren t s o r s i s t er an d w h y h e h ad deci d ed n o t to

cal l t h em as wi t n es s es d u ri n g th e s en t en ci n g h eari n g

. “ [B] ecau s e [St

. Germ ai n ] d id

n o t as k hi s t ri al co u n s el an y q ues t io n s at t h e m o ti o n fo r n ew t ri al h eari n g ab o u t t h e

reas on s wh y [h e] d e c i d e d [n ot t o cal l t h e p aren t s an d s i s ter] t o t es t i fy

, we p res u m e

t h at an y reas o n rel at i n g t o t r i al co un s el ’ s [d eci s i o n] was st rat eg ic an d w o u l d n ot

am ou n t t o i n effect i v e as s i s t an ce.” Newma n v. St a t e

, 3 0 9 G a

. 1 7 1

, 1 75 -1 7 6 (2 ) (a)

(8 4 4 SE2 d 7 7 5 ) ( 2 0 2 0 ). See al s o Ba l l a r d v. S t a t e

, 2 8 1 Ga. 2 3 2

, 2 3 4 (2 ) (6 3 7 SE2 d

4 0 1 ) (2 0 06 ) (n o in effect i v e as s i s t an ce wh e r e d efen d an t d id n o t q u es ti o n at t o rn ey

reg ard i n g reas o n s fo r a d eci si o n t h at m ay b e p res u m ed t o b e st rat eg i c); Dyer v. S t a t e

,

2 7 8 Ga. 6 5 6

, 6 6 0 (7 ) (6 0 4 SE2 d 7 5 6 ) (2 0 0 4 ) (s am e).

(c) Co n ced i n g g u i l t d

u r i n g cl o s i n g

.

St

. Germ ai n arg u es t hat hi s t ri al co u n s el was in effect i v e b ecau s e h e co n ced ed

t h at St

. Germ ai n was g u il t y d u ri ng cl o s i ng arg u m en t

. Bu t t h ere was n o s u ch

co n ces si o n o f g u i l t by co u n s el

. Rat h er, as es t ab li s hed by St

. Germ ai n ’ s own wi t n es s es

at t h e m o t i o n fo r new tri a l h e a r i n g

, t ri al co un s el arg u ed du ri n g h is cl o s i n g t h at t h e

s t at e h ad n o t p ro v ed g u il t b ey o n d a reas o n ab l e d ou b t

, b u t h e fu rt h er n o t ed t h at ev en

i f t he ju ro rs fo u nd g u i l t o n cert ai n offen s es

, t h ey d i d n o t h av e t o f i n d g u i l t o n al l

6c h arg es

. As co u n s el ex p l ai n ed at t h e m o t i o n heari n g

, h e s i m p l y wan t ed t o g i v e t h e

ju ro rs o p ti o n s an d d i rect t h em away fro m a v erd i ct carry i ng m u l t ip l e l ife s en t en ces

.

Fu rt h erm o re, ev en i f co u n sel h ad n o t m erel y s o u g h t to cl ari fy t h e v erd i ct o p t i o n s an d

h ad act ual l y co n ced ed g u i l t o n s o m e ch arg es i n o rd er t o av o i d m o re s eri ou s

co n vi ct i o n s

, St

. G erm ai n s t il l “ h as n o t rai s ed a co n vi n c i ng cl ai m o f d efi ci en t

p erfo rm an ce[ s i nce i ] t i s n o t o bject i v el y u n reas o nab l e to co n ced e g u i l t o n a l es s er

o ffen s e i n an effo rt t o av o i d co n v i ct i o n o n a m ore s eri o u s ch arg e.” Pa yn e v. S t a t e

, 3 3 8

Ga. A p p

. 6 7 7

, 68 3 (2 ) (7 9 1 SE2 d 4 5 1 ) (2 0 1 6). See al so Fa vo r s v. S ta t e

, 29 6 Ga. 8 4 2,

8 4 6 -8 4 7 (4 ) (a) (7 7 0 SE2 d 8 5 5 ) (2 0 1 5 ) (co u n sel n ot in effect i v e i n co n ced i ng g u i l t o n

ag g rav at ed as s au l t i n o rd er t o av o i d m u rd er co n v i ct i o n ).

(d ) Po l i ce r ep or t

.

St

. Germ ai n en u m erat es t h at t ri al co u n s el was i n effect i v e i n fai l in g t o o b t ai n

a po l i ce rep o rt

. As an i n i t i al m at t er, we n o t e t h at wh il e t ri al co u n sel v ery wel l m ay n ot

h av e o b t ai n ed t h e rep o rt

, St

. Germ ai n h as fai l ed t o m ak e s u ch a s h o wi n g b y h i s reco rd

ci t at i o n s

. See Co u rt o f Ap peal s Ru le 2 5

. In s up p o rt o f t h i s en um erat io n, St

. Germ ai n

ci t es t o a s i n g l e p ag e o f t h e m ot i o n fo r new t ri al h eari ng t ran s cri p t

. Bu t t h at tran s cri pt

p ag e sh o ws t h at wh en co u n s el was as k ed i f h e ev er go t a co p y of t h e r e p o r t

, h e

res p o n d ed

, “ Th ere m i g h t h av e b e e n a few p ag es

, b u t I can ’ t t el l y o u y es o r n o.”

7Co u n s el t h en ack n o wl ed g ed th at i f th e rep o rt was no t i n h i s fi l e, i t wo u l d b e fa i r to

s ay th at h e h ad n o t recei v ed i t

. Bu t t h ere was n o fu rt h er q u es t i o n in g o f co u n s el o r

o t h e r e v i d en ce p res en t ed t o es t ab l i s h wh et h er o r n ot t h e rep o rt was i n h i s fi l e. W e

n o t e t hat i n arg u i n g an ot h er en u m erat i o n o f erro r, St

. Germ ai n ci t es t o an o t h er p ag e

o f t he h eari n g tran s cri p t t o s u pp o rt h i s s t at em en t t h at ap p el l at e co u n s el recei v ed t ri al

co u ns el ’ s fi l e an d i t d i d n o t co n t ai n a co p y o f t h e rep o rt

. Bu t t h at t ran scri p t p ag e d o es

n o t s h o w t h o s e al leg ed fact s an d i n s t ead s h ows o n l y t h at t ri al co u n s el g av e h i s fi l e to

an at t o rn ey

o t h er t h an ap p el l at e co u ns el ; t h ere i s n o t h i n g o n t h at p ag e s h o wi n g t h at

t ri al co u n s el ’ s fi l e d i d n o t co n t ai n t h e rep o rt

. It i s n o t t h i s co u rt ’ s d ut y t o cu l l t h e

reco rd o n b e h al f o f t h e ap p el l an t i n s earch of erro r, an d b as ed o n t h e p art s o f t h e

reco rd ci ted b y St

. G erm ai n , h e h as fai l ed t o carry h i s b u rd en o f p ro v i n g t h e fact u al

p rem i s e o f h i s en u m erat ed erro r. See Ki n g v. S t a t e

, 3 0 0 Ga. 1 8 0

, 1 82 (2 ) (7 9 4 SE2 d

1 1 0 ) (2 0 16 ) (“ Th e ap pel l an t bears t h e b urd en o f p ro v i n g erro r b y t h e ap p el l at e

reco rd .”).

Nev ert h el es s

, ev en i f we accep t fo r t h e s ak e o f a r g u m e nt t hat t ri al co u n s el

fai l ed to o b t ai n a co py o f th e p o l i ce rep o rt

, St

. Germ ai n s t i l l h as n ot s h o wn p reju d i ce

fro m s u ch fai l u re. Th e p o l ice rep o rt was fro m a co u n t y wh i ch h ad s u s p e n d e d i t s

i n v es t i g at i o n o f St

. G erm ai n p e n d i n g n ew i n fo rm at i o n, n o t fro m t h e co u n t y t h at

8p ro s ecu ted t h e i n s t an t cas e. In t h e rep o rt

, as St

. Germ ai n n o t es

, t he o f f i c e r wh o

p rep ared i t o pi ned t hat St

. Germ ai n h ad few, i f an y

, o p po rt u ni ti es to h av e ab u s ed t h e

v i ct i m i n t h at co u n t y

. Bu t St

. Germ ai n fai l ed t o p res en t t es ti m o n y fro m t h e o ffi cer at

t h e m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al h eari n g

, s o th ere w as n o ex p lan at i on fro m t h e o ffi cer ab o ut

t h at o p i n i o n o r ab o u t t h e res t o f t h e r e p o r t

, wh i ch reci t ed am p l e ev i d en ce o f St

.

Germ ai n ’ s g u i lt in t h i s cas e. Am o n g ot h er th i n g s

, t h e rep o rt s t at ed t hat t he v i ct i m h ad

g i v en a v al id o u tcry ab o ut t h e ab u s e i n t h at o t h er co u n t y

, i t ex p l ai n ed h o w t h ere were

t wo m o n t h s w h en St

. Germ ai n act u al l y co u l d h av e co m m i t t ed t h e ab u se t h ere, an d i t

n o t ed t h at t h e vas t m ajo ri t y o f t h e s ex u al ab u s e h ad o ccu rred in t h e co u n t y i n v o l v ed

i n t h e i ns t an t cas e an d an o t h e r c o u n t y

. Mo reo v er, t h e rep o rt i n cl u ded len g t h y an d

d et ai led s t at em en ts ab o u t t h e v ict i m ’ s fo ren s i c i nt erv i ew des cri b i n g t he ab u s e b y St

.

Germ ai n i n t h is cas e, d et ai l ed d es cri p t io n s of t h e v i ct i m ’ s ou t cri es t o h er m o t h er an d

s i st er, an d a n o tat i o n th at a d et ect i v e i n t h e i n s tan t cas e had s p ok en wi t h St

. Germ ai n

an d h e h ad n ei t her ad m i t t ed n o r d en i ed t h e s ex u al ab u s e al l eg at i o n s

. Gi v en t h at t h e

rep o rt co nt ai n ed m

ul ti p l e an d d et ai l ed d es cri p t i o ns o f t h e al l eg ed ab u s e i n t h i s cas e

an d t h at t h e r e w a s no t es t i m o n y fro m t h e o ffi cer ab o u t t he rep o rt o r t h e d eci s i o n to

s u s p en d t h e i n v es ti g at i o n, we co n cl u de t h at St

. Germ ai n “ h as fai l ed to s h o w su ffi ci en t

9p reju d i ce res u l ti n g fro m c ounse l’ s [ pur por te d] f ai l u re to [o b t ai n th e rep o rt ] .” Ci s n er o s

v. S t a t e , 2 9 9 Ga. 8 4 1 , 8 5 3 (3 ) (b ) (7 9 2 SE2 d 3 2 6 ) (2 0 1 6).

2

. Pr i o r d i f fi cu l t i es

.

St

. Germ ai n fi l ed a m o t i o n i n l i m i n e t o ex cl ud e ev i d en ce of p ri o r d i ffi cu l ti es

b et ween h i m an d t h e v ict i m o n t h e b as i s t h at t h e s tat e h ad fai l ed t o g iv e n o t i ce o f s u ch

ev i d en ce. Aft er a h eari n g, t he t ri al co u rt co rrect l y d en i ed t h e m o ti o n

. OCGA § 2 4 -4

-

4 0 4 (b ) ex p res s l y p ro v i des t h at “ [n ] o t ice s hal l n o t b e req u i red wh en t h e ev i d en ce o f

p r i o r c r i m e s

, wro n g s

, o r act s i s o ffered t o p ro v e

. . . p ri o r d i ffi cu l t i es bet ween t h e

accu s ed an d t h e al l eg ed v ict i m .”

To t he ex ten t St

. Germ ai n h as rai s ed o t h er arg u m en ts o n ap p eal t h at were n ot

rai s ed at t ri al

, h e h as fai led to cl ai m o r s h o w p l ai n erro r. See Lo p ez v. St a t e

, 3 5 5 Ga.

Ap p

. 3 1 9, 3 2 2-3 2 3 (2 ) (8 4 4 SE2 d 1 9 5 ) (2 0 2 0 ) (h o l d i n g th at it was n o t p l ai n erro r fo r

t h e t ri al co u rt t o ad m i t pri or d i ffi cu l t i es ev id en ce) ; Mu l l in s v. S ta t e

, 2 98 Ga. Ap p.

3 6 8

, 3 7 1 ( 1 ) (b ) (6 8 0 SE2 d 4 7 4 ) (2 0 0 9 ) (“ [P] lai n erro r i s t h at wh i ch i s s o cl earl y

erro neo u s as t o res u l t i n a l i k el i h o o d o f a grav e m is carri ag e o f ju st ice o r wh i ch

s eri ou s l y affect s t h e fai rn es s

, i n t eg ri t y o r p ub l i c rep ut at i o n o f a j u d ici al p ro ceed i n g.

No [s u ch ] ex cep ti o n al ci rcu m s tan ces are p res en t ed h ere.”) (ci tat i on an d pu n ct u at i o n

o m it t ed ).

103

. Mo t i o n t o co mp el t r a n s cr i p t i o n

.

Th e t ri al co u rt g ran t ed St

. Germ ai n ’ s p ret ri al m o t io n t o reco rd al l pro ceed i n g s

.

Th e co u rt rep ort er s u b s eq u en t l y reco rd ed

, b u t d i d n ot tran s cri b e, t h e o p en i n g

s t at em en t s an d cl o s i n g arg u m en t s o f t h e at t o rn ey s . Aft er t he t ri al

, St

. Germ ai n fi l ed

a m o t i o n t o co m

p el t h e co u rt rep o rt er t o t ran s cri b e t he o pen in g s tat em en t s an d cl o s i n g

arg u m en t s

, b u t t he t ri al co u rt d en i ed t h e m o ti o n. St

. Germ ai n co m p l ai n s t h e t ri al co u rt

erred i n d en y i n g t h at m o t i o n

.

W i t h reg ard t o t h e o p en i n g s t at em en ts

, St

. Germ ai n h as m ad e no cl ai m t h at an y

erro r o ccu rred d u ri n g t h os e s t at em en t s

. In d eed

, h e s t at es i n h i s b ri ef o nl y th at h e h as

cl ai m ed t h at an erro r o ccu rred d u ri n g cl o s i n g arg u m en ts

. As t h ere i s no al l eg at i o n t h at

erro r o ccu rred d uri ng t h e o p en i n g s t at em en t s

, St

. Germ ai n h as n o t s h o wn t h at h e h as

s u ffered an y h arm fro m t h e ab sen ce o f a t ran s cri pt o f t ho s e s t a t e m e n t s

. “ Fai l u re to

t ran s cri b e i s n o t h arm fu l p er s e; rat h er, t h e d efen d an t as ap p el l an t m u s t d em o n s t rat e

t o t hi s co urt h arm res u lt i n g fro m t h e fai l u re t o t ran scri b e.” R u t l ed g e v. S ta t e

, 2 4 5 Ga.

7 6 8 , 7 7 3 (4 ) (2 6 7 SE2 d 1 99 ) (1 9 8 0 ).

As fo r th e cl o si n g arg u m en t s

, t he o n l y al l eg ed erro r t h at St

. Germ ai n h as

i d en t i fi ed i s t h e arg u m en t o f co u n s el d is cu s s ed ab ov e i n Di v s io n 1 ( c ). Bu t as

ex p lai n ed i n t h at d i v i si o n an d as co n ced ed b y ap p el l at e co u n s el at t h e m o t io n fo r n ew

11t ri al h ear i n g

, S t

. Germ ai n was ab l e t o es t ab l i s h a reco rd o f co u n s el ’ s al l eg ed l y

i m p ro p er cl o s i n g arg u m en t t hro u g h t he t es t i m o n y o f wi tn es s es at t h at h eari n g

. So

ag ai n , t h ere h as b een n o s h o wi n g o f h arm d u e t o t h e l ack o f a t ran s cri pt

. “ Si n ce t h e

[ab s en ce o f a t ran s cri p t ] al o n e d o es n o t d em o n s t rat e h a rm fu l erro r, we deem [t h i s ]

en u m erat i o n o f erro r t o b e wi t h o u t m eri t .” Ta yl o r v. S ta te

, 17 2 Ga. A p p

. 8 2 7, 8 2 9 (4 )

(3 2 4 SE2 d 7 8 8 ) (1 9 8 4 ). See al so Co o p er v. S t a t e

, 1 63 Ga. A p p

. 4 8 2 (1 ) (2 9 5 SE2 d

1 6 1 ) (1 9 8 2 ) (ap p el l an t fai l ed t o s h o w h arm o r preju d ice fro m a b s e n c e o f fu l l

t ran s cri p t o f p ro ceed i n gs ).

4

. Br a d y vi o la ti o n

.

St

. Germ ai n co m

pl ai n s t h at t h e p ro s ecu to r i n t h is cas e co m m i t t ed a Br a d

y

v i o l at i o n b y fai l i n g t o g iv e h i m a co py o f t h e o th er co u n t y ’ s p o li ce rep o rt d i s cu s s ed

ab o ve i n D i v i s i o n 1 (d ) b ecau s e i t sh o wed t h at t h e o t h er co u nt y h ad su s p en d ed i t s

i n v es t i g at i o n

. Bu t as was es t ab l is h ed at t h e m ot i o n fo r n ew t r i a l h e a r i n g

, St

.

Germ ai n ’ s at t o rn ey k n ew t h at t h e o t h er co u n t y had su s p en d ed i t s cas e p ri o r t o t h e t ri al

i n t he i n s t an t cas e.

Th e ev i den ce at t h e h eari n g

, t h erefo re, s u p p o rt s a fi n d in g t h at [St

. Germ ai n ] was o n n o t i ce of t h e in fo rm at i o n h e no w cl ai m s was wi th h el d

b y t h e pro secu t i o n b efo re t h e tri al co n cl u d ed

. Yet he rai s ed n o o b ject i o n

an d m ad e n o cl ai m at t ri al t h at t h e St at e h ad v i o l at ed Br a d y v. Ma r yl a n d

, 3 7 3 U.S. 8 3 (8 3 SCt 1 1 9 4

, 1 0 LEd 2 d 2 1 5) (1 9 6 3), by w i t hh o l d i n g

12ex cu l p at o ry i n fo rm at i o n

. Acco rd i n g l y

, t h e t ri al co urt c o u l d h av e

co n cl u d ed t h at Sm i t h wai v ed h is ri g ht t o rai s e t h i s i s s u e.

S mi th v. S t a t e

, 3 0 9 G a

. A p p

. 2 4 1

, 2 4 2 -2 4 3 (1 ) (7 0 9 SE2 d 8 2 3 ) (2 01 1 ). Becau s e St

.

Germ ai n “ fai l ed t o m ak e an y o b ject i o n o n t h i s g ro u n d at t ri al [, h e] d i d n ot p ro p erl y

p res erv e t h i s arg u m en t fo r ap p eal .” Nel s o n v. S t a t e

, 27 9 Ga. Ap p. 8 59

, 86 4 (2 ) (6 3 2

SE2 d 7 4 9) (2 0 0 6) (fi n d i ng wai v er o f Br a d y v io l at i o n cl ai m ).

5

. Cu mu l a t i ve er r o r

.

“ Geo rg i a co urt s co n s i d eri n g w h et h er a cri m i n al defen d an t i s en t i t l ed t o a n ew

t ri al sh o u l d c o n s i der co ll ect i v el y t h e p reju d ici al effect o f t ri al co u rt erro rs an d an y

d efi ci en t p erfo rm an ce b y co u ns el

— at l eas t w h ere t h o se erro rs b y t h e co u rt an d

co u ns el i nv o l v e ev id en t i ary i s s u es .” S t a t e v. La n e

, 3 0 8 Ga. 1 0

, 1 4 (1 ) (8 3 8 SE2 d 8 0 8 )

(2 0 2 0). W e h av e co n s i d ered co l l e c t i v el y an y al l eg ed erro rs b y t h e t ri al co u rt an d

d efi ci en t p erfo rm an ce by t r i a l c o u n sel an d we co n cl u d e t h at t he cu m u l at i v e

p reju d i ci al effect o f s u c h e r r o r s

, i f an y

, d o es n o t req u i re a new t ri al

. See Da vi s v.

S t a t e

,

_ _ _ Ga. Ap p

.

_

__ (3 ) (e) (8 4 8 SE2 d 1 7 3 ) (2 0 2 0 ) (fi nd i ng n o cu m u l at iv e erro r).

Ju d g men t a f f i r m ed . Do yl e, P. J., a n d

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

.

13