THI RD DI VI SI ON

ELLI NGTON, P. J.

, DI LLA RD and M C FA DDEN, 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.

http://w w w .ga a ppe a ls .us /r ule s /

Jul y 8, 2015



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 5 A0 07 2 . THE STATE v . REYNOLDS.

D I LLA R D , J u dg e.

A ju ry co nv i ct e d S h a r eef Rey n o l d s o f t wo co un t s o f ag g rav at ed as s au l t

, t wo

co u nt s o f fal se im

p ri s o n m en t

, arm ed ro b b ery , b u rg lary

, t h eft b y t ak in g , p o s s es s i o n o f

a fi rearm d u ri n g t he co m

m i s s i on o f a fel o ny , po s s es s i o n o f m ari j u an a l es s t h an o n e

o u n ce, an d p o s ses s i on o f a fi rearm b y a co n v i ct ed fel o n

. Th e r e aft er, Rey n o l d s

ret ai n ed n ew co u n s el an d fi led a m o t i o n fo r a n ew t ri al

, wh i ch t h e t ri al co urt g ran t ed

b ecau s e i t fo u n d th at h e recei v ed i n effect i ve as si s t a n c e o f co u n sel wh en h i s t ri al

co u ns el i n t en t io nal l y el i ci t ed t es t i m o n y ab o ut hi s p ri o r d ru g co n v i ct i on s

. Th e St at e

ap p eal s , arg u i n g t h at t he t ri al co u rt erred i n g ran t i n g Rey n o l d s a n ew t ri al b ecau s e h i s

co u ns el ’ s d eci si o n t o p res en t ev i d en ce o f h is p ri or co n v ict i o n s was i n fu rt h eran ce o f

a reas on ab l e t ri al s t rat eg y

. W e ag ree, an d fo r t h e reas o n s s et fo rt h i n fr a , rev ers e.In th e cas e s u b j u d i ce , th e ev i den ce sh o w s t h at o n J u l y 2 0, 2 0 0 7 at aro u n d 3 : 0 0

a.m

. , t h e v i ct i m s, t wo fem al e ro o m m at es , were as l eep i n an u p s t ai rs b ed ro o m o f t h ei r

h o m e wh en t wo m en k i ck ed i n t h e b a l c o n y d o o r t o t h e b ed ro o m , p o i n t ed g u n s at

t h em , dem an d ed m o n ey , an d to l d t he vi ct im s t o g i v e t h em “ ev eryt h i ng t hat [t h ey ]

h ad

. ” Th en , o n e of t h e p erp et rat o r s p o i n t e d a g u n at a v i ct i m an d as k ed wh ere s h e

k ep t h er m o ney

. Th e v i c t i m g rab b ed t h e g u n, bu t t h e as s ai lan t p u l l ed i t b ack an d

s t ru ck h er i n t h e face wi t h it

. At s o m e p o i n t, a t h i rd m a n

— l a t e r i d e nt i fi ed as

Rey n o l ds

— arri v ed an d h el d t h e v i ct i m s at g u n po i n t wh i l e t h e o t h er m en ran s ack ed

t h e ho m e. An d wh en o n e o f t h e v i ct i m s b eg an p ray i n g o ut l o ud

, Rey n ol d s t o l d h er

t h at “ h e was t ry in g t o m ak e th i s a ro bb ery , d o n ’ t m ak e i t i n to a h o m i ci d e.” In t h e en d,

t h e p erp et rat o rs s t o l e s ev eral i t em s fro m t h e v i ct i m s , i n cl ud i n g an Xb o x , a co m p u t er,

cl o t h es , a n eck l ace, $ 8 0 0 i n cas h

, an d a car. Im m ed i at el y aft er t h e p erp et rat o rs l eft

,

t h e v i ct i m s cal l ed 9 1 1 t o rep o rt t h e ro b b ery

. A few m in u tes l at er, a p o li ce o ffi cer

arri v ed

, an d t h e v i ct i m s p ro v i ded h i m wi th a d et ai l ed d es cri p t i on o f t h ei r at t ack ers

.

Sh o rt ly the reaft er, an o ffi cer wi t h t h e Pal m et t o Po li ce Dep art m en t h eard a rad io

al ert t o b e o n t h e l o o k o u t fo r a “ g et away car” co n n ect ed t o a h o m e i n v as io n . Th ree

t o fo u r m i n u t es l at er, t h e off i c e r o b s erv ed a veh i cl e, wi t h t wo m al e o ccu pan t s , t h at

m at ch ed t h e d es cri p t i o n o f t h e s t o l en car. Th e o ffi cer act iv at ed h is fl as h i n g l i g h t s to

2s t op t h e v eh i cl e, b u t i n st ead o f s t o p p i n g , t h e v eh i cl e s l o w ed d o wn an d t h e m en fl ed

fro m t h e car. Th e d ri v er an d p as s en g er s pri n t ed i n o p p o s it e d irect i o n s , an d t he o ffi cer

g av e ch as e t o th e d ri v er. Aft er th e d ri v er— wh o was l at er i d en t i fi ed as M ark

News o m e—

was d et ai n ed

, t he o ffi cer p ro v id ed a d es cri p t i o n of t he p as s en g er t o o t h er

o ffi cers wh o arri v ed o n t h e s cen e, an d ev en tu al l y , o n e o f t h em ap p r e h e n d e d a m an

m at ch i n g t h at des cri p t i o n

. Th e p as s en g er— w h o was lat er i d e n t i fi ed as

Rey n o l ds

— h ad m

u d an d d eb ri s o n h i s cl ot h es , an d was i n p o s s es s i o n o f m ari ju an a.

Du ri n g t h e i n v e s t i g at i on t h at en s u ed

, weap o ns an d i tem s t h at were t ak en fro m t h e

v i ct i m s were fo un d i n s i d e t h e s t o l en car. Ad di t i o n al l y , a l at en t fi n g e r p r i n t

, wh i ch

m at ch ed R e yn o l d s ’s ri g h t t hu m b p ri n t

, was l i ft ed fro m t h e ex t eri o r o f t h e s t o l en car

n ear t he ri g h t fro n t -d oo r h an dl e.

R e yn o l d s an d News o m e were ch arg ed

, v i a i nd i ct m en t, wi t h t wo co u n t s o f

ag g rav at ed as s au l t, t wo co u n t s of fal s e im pri s on m en t

, arm ed ro b bery

, b u rg lary

, t h eft

b y t ak i n g , po s s es s i o n o f a fi rearm du ri n g th e co m m i s s io n o f a fel o n y , p o s s es s i o n o f

m ari ju an a l es s t h an o ne o u n ce, an d p o s s es s i o n o f a fi rearm b y a co n v ict ed fel o n

. An d

aft er a jo i n t t ri al , a ju ry

co n v ict ed t h em

o f al l ch arg es

. 1

1 In a s ep arat e ap p eal

, we affi rm ed News om e’ s co nv i ct i o ns , b ut v acat ed i n p art

,

an d rem an ded fo r res en t en ci ng

.

3Rey n o l d s o b t ai ned n ew co u n sel an d fi l ed a m o ti o n fo r a n e w t ri al

, arg u i n g,

i n t er a l i a , th a t h e r ecei v ed i n effect i v e as s i s tan ce o f co u n s el wh en h i s t ri al co u n s el

p res en t ed ev i d en ce t h at h e h ad t wo p ri o r co nv i ct i o ns fo r i n t en t t o d i s tri b u t e co cai ne.

Aft er a h eari n g , t he t ri al co u rt g ran t ed Rey n o l d s’ s m o t i on , fi n d i n g th at

, i n s t ea d o f

p res en t i n g ev i d en ce o f Rey n o l d s ’ s co n v ict i o n s , effect i v e co u n s el wo u l d h av e

o b ject ed t o t h e ad m i s s i o n o f t h o s e co nv i c t i o n s i n t h e ev en t t h at t h e St at e s o u g ht to

ad m i t t h em

. Th e c o u r t fu rt h er n ot ed t h at

, i f t he St at e h ad at t em p t ed t o in t ro d uce

Rey n o l ds ’ s p ri o r co n v i ct i o n s t o i m p e a ch h im

, t h e co n v ict i o n s wo u l d h av e b een

i n ad m is s i b l e b ecau s e t h e St at e d id n o t h av e cert i fi ed co p i es

. In s u m , t h e co u rt

co n cl u d ed t h at

, h av i n g h eard t h e ev i d en ce i n t h e cas e an d ju d g ed t he cred i b i l i t y o f t h e

wi t n es s es , th ere was a pro bab i l i t y o f a d i fferen t res u l t i f t h e co n vi ct i o n s h ad n o t b een

i n t ro du ced . Th i s ap p eal b y t h e St at e fo ll o ws

. 2

In i t s so le en u m er a t i o n o f e rro r, t h e St at e arg ues t h at th e t ri al co u rt erred in

g ran t i n g Rey n o l d s’ s m o t i o n fo r a n ew t ri al b ecau s e h i s t ri al co u ns el ’ s d eci s i o n to

p res en t ev i d en ce o f hi s p ri o r co n v i ct i o ns was i n fu rt h eran ce o f a reas o n ab l e t ri al

s t rat eg y. S peci fi cal ly

, t h e St at e co n t en d s t h at co u n s el ’ s reas o n ab l e s t rat eg y was to

2 See OCGA § 5 -7 -2 (c) ( “ [ T ]h e g r a n t i n g o f a m ot i o n fo r n ew t ri al o r an

ex t rao rd i n ary

m o ti o n fo r n ew t ri al s h al l b e co n s i d ered a fi n al o rd er.”).

4p o rt ray Rey n ol d s as a dru g d eal er t o s u p p o rt t he defen s e’ s t heo ry t h at h i s fi n g erp ri nt

was fo u nd o n t h e st o l en car b ecau s e h e s o l d d ru g s t o so m eo n e d ri v i n g t h e s am e car,

n o t b ecau s e h e was i n v o l v ed i n t h e arm ed ro b b ery . W e ag ree.

A t t h e o u t s et

, we n ot e t h at

, wh i l e th e fi rs t g ran t o f a n ew t ri al o n g en eral

g ro u nd s is rev i ewed fo r ab u se o f d is cret i o n , 3 t h i s Co u rt rev iews “ d e n o vo t h e t ri al

co u rt ’s f i r s t g ran t o f a n ew t ri al o n a s peci al g ro u n d i n v o l v i n g a qu es t io n o f l aw.” 4

An d h ere, t h e t ri al co u rt g ran t ed Rey n o l d s a n ew t ri al o n a s p e ci al g ro u n d, n am el y

t h at defen s e co un s el ’ s defi ci en ci es were s o s eri o u s t h at t hey dep ri v ed Rey n o ld s o f h i s

3 S t a t e v. Ja mes , 2 92 Ga. 4 4 0

, 4 4 1 (1 ) (7 3 8 SE2 d 6 0 1) (2 0 13 ); OCGA § 5 -5 -5 0 (“ Th e fi rs t g ran t o f a new t ri al s h al l n o t be d i st u rb ed b y an ap p el l at e co u rt u n l es s t h e

ap p el l an t s h o ws th at t he ju d g e ab u s ed h i s d i scret i o n i n g ran t i n g i t an d t h at t h e l aw

an d fact s req u i re t h e v erd i ct n o t wi t h s t an d i n g t h e ju d g m en t o f t h e p res i d i n g ju d g e.”).

4 Ja mes , 2 9 2 Ga. at 4 4 1 (1 ); a cco r d S t a te v. Kel l y , 2 90 G a. 2 9

, 3 0 -3 1 (7 1 8 SE2 d

2 3 2 ) (2 0 1 1 ); O’Nea l v. S t at e , 2 8 5 Ga. 3 6 1

, 3 6 3 (6 7 7 SE2 d 9 0) (2 00 9 ); see OCGA §

5 -5 -2 5 (“ In al l m o t i on s fo r a n ew t ri al o n ot h er g ro u n d s n o t p ro v i ded fo r i n t h i s Co de,

t h e p res i d i n g ju d g e m

u s t ex erci s e s o u n d l eg al d i s cret i o n i n g ran t i n g o r refu s i n g t h e

s am e acco rd i n g t o t he p ro v is i o n s o f t h e co m m o n l aw an d p ract i ce o f t h e co u rt s .”).

5Si x t h A m en d m en t 5 ri g h t t o effect i v e as s i s t an ce of co u n s el

. 6 An d th e d et erm i n at i o n o f

wh et h er Rey n o l d s recei v ed effect i v e a ssista nc e of c ounse l “ invo l v es a m i x ed q u es t i o n

o f l aw an d fact

, wh i ch req u i res t h e Co urt t o em p l o y t w o d ifferen t s t an d ard s o f

rev i ew.” 7 Acco rd in g l y , we rev i ew d e no vo th e t r i a l c o u rt ’ s d eci s i o n as t o an y

q u es ti o n s o f l aw, wh i l e ap pl y i ng t h e cl earl y -erro n eo u s s tan d ard o f rev i ew to t h e t ri al

co u rt ’ s fact u al fi n d in g s an d cred i b i l it y d et erm i n at i o n s

. 8

Sp eci fi cal l y , in ev al u at in g cl ai m s of i n effect iv e as s i st an ce o f co u n s el

, we ap p l y

t h e t wo -p ro n g ed t es t es tab l i s hed i n S tr i ck l a n d v

. W a s hi ng t on

. 9 Un d er t h i s t es t

, t h e

5 S ee U.S. Co n s t

. am en d

. VI (“ I n a l l c r i m i n al p ro secu t i o n s , t h e accu s ed s h al l

en jo y th e ri g h t t o

. . . h av e t h e As s i s t an ce of Co u n s el fo r h i s d efen ce.”); Geo rg i a Co n s t

. Art

. 1

, § 1

, ¶ XIV (“ Ev ery p ers o n ch arg ed w i t h an o ffen s e ag ai ns t t h e l aws o f

t h i s s t at e s h al l h av e t h e p ri vi leg e an d b en efi t o f co u n sel . . . .”).

6 S ee S ta t e v. S

hel t o n , 3 29 Ga. A p p . 5 8 2 , 5 8 3 (7 6 5 SE2 d 7 32 ) (2 0 1 4 ) (n o t i n g

t h at t h e t ri al co u rt gran t ed a m o t io n fo r a n e w t ri al b as ed on t h e s p eci al g ro u n d o f

i n effect i v e as s i s t an ce o f c o u n s el ); Lo we v. S t a te

, 2 4 1 Ga. Ap p

. 33 5

, 3 3 8 (3 ) (5 2 6

SE2 d 6 3 4 ) (1 9 9 9 ) (ch aract eri zi n g a m o t i o n fo r a n ew t ri al bas ed o n i n effect i v e

as s i s tan ce o f co u n s el as on e b as ed o n a s p eci al g ro u n d ); Ivo ry v. S t a t e , 2 3 4 G a. Ap p. 8 5 8 , 8 6 1 (4 ) (5 0 8 SE2 d 4 21 ) (1 9 9 8 ) (s am e).

7 S h el t o n , 3 2 9 Ga. Ap p . at 5 8 3

.

8 S ee S ug g s v. S t a t e , 2 72 Ga. 8 5 , 8 8 (4 ) (5 2 6 SE2 d 3 4 7 ) (2 0 0 0 ); S h el t o n , 3 2 9

Ga. Ap p

. at 5 8 3 ; S t a t e v. W a kef i el d

, 3 2 4 Ga. Ap p

. 5 8 7

, 5 8 7 -8 8 (7 5 1 SE2 d 1 9 9 ) (2 0 1 3).

9 4 6 6 U.S. 6 6 8 (1 0 4 SCt 20 5 2

, 8 0 LE2 d 6 7 4) (1 9 8 4 ); s ee a ls o As h m id v. S t a t e , 3 1 6 Ga. Ap p . 5 5 0 , 5 5 6 (3 ) (7 30 SE2 d 3 7 ) (2 0 1 2 ).

6ap p el l an t fi rs t m u s t s h ow th at co u n s el ’ s perfo rm an ce was d efi ci en t an d, seco n d

, t h at

h e was preju d i ced b y co u ns el ’ s d efi ci en t p erfo rm an ce. 1 0 M o reo v er, t h ere i s a “ s t ro n g

p res u m p t i o n ” t hat tri al co u n se l ’s p erfo rm an ce fal l s wi t h i n t he w i de ran g e o f

reas on ab l e p ro fes si o nal as s i st an ce, an d t h at “ an y ch al l en g ed act i on b y t ri al co u n s el

m i g h t be co ns i dered so u n d t ri al s t rat eg y .” 1 1 In ap p l y i n g t he s eco n d p ro n g , t h e

q u es ti o n i s wh et her “ t here ex i s t s a reas o n ab l e p ro b ab i l i t y t h at

, b ut fo r h i s co u n sel ’ s

erro rs , t h e ju ry wo u l d h av e had reas o n ab l e do u bt reg ard i ng ap p el lan t ’ s g u i l t

, t h at i s ,

b u t fo r co u n s el ’ s u n pro fes s i o n al erro rs , t h e res u l t o f t h e p ro ceed i n g wo u l d h av e b een

d i fferen t.” 1 2 W h il e th i s b u rd en i s n o t i m p os s i b l e t o carry , i t is “ a h eav y o ne.” 1 3 W i th

t h es e g u i d i n g p ri n ci p l es i n m i n d , we t u rn n o w t o t h e St at e’ s s peci fi c cl ai m o f erro r.

At t h e o u t s et

, we n o t e t h a t Rey n o l d s t es t i fi ed i n hi s o wn d efen s e an d d en i ed

an y i n vo l v em en t in t he ro b bery

. Bu t Rey n o l d s ad m i t t ed t h at h e wa s f o u nd t o b e in

1 0 As h mi d

, 31 6 Ga. Ap p

. at 5 5 6 (3 ); see a l s o S t r i ckl a n d

, 4 6 6 U.S. at 6 8 7 (III).

1 1 A s h m i d

, 3 1 6 Ga. Ap p. at 5 5 6 (3 ) (p u n ct uat i o n o m i t t ed ); s ee a l s o S t r i ckl a n d

, 4 6 6 U.S. at 6 89 (III) (A).

1 2 As h mi d

, 3 1 6 Ga. Ap p

. at 5 5 6 (3 ) (p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ); S t r i ckl an d

, 4 6 6 U.S.

at 6 9 4 (III) (B).

1 3 W il l i a ms v. S t a te

, 2 9 2 Ga. 84 4

, 84 7 (3 ) ( 7 4 2 S E 2d 4 4 5 ) (2 0 1 3 ); s ee Mi ll er v. S t a t e , 2 9 6 Ga. 9 , 1 2 (4 ) (7 64 SE2 d 8 2 3) (2 01 4 ) (s am e).

7p o s s es s i o n o f l es s t h an o n e ou n ce o f m ari ju an a. A n d as to a p o ss i b le ex p l an at i o n fo r

wh y h i s t h u m

b p ri n t wa s f

o u n d o n t h e s t o l en car, Rey n o l d s t es t i fi ed t h at

, t wo day s

b efo re t h e ro b b ery , h e s ol d d ru g s t o an acq u ai n t an ce w h o was dri v i n g t h e s am e car.

Rey n o l ds fu rt h er t es t i fi ed t h at

, d u ri n g t h i s t ran s act i o n , h e l ean ed i n t o th e p as s en g ers i de wi n d o w, an d t h a t h e “ p ro b ab ly t o u ch ed [t h e] car m o re t h an o n ce.” Th en , t h e

fo l l o w i n g ex ch an g e b et ween Rey n o l ds an d h i s co u ns el o ccu rred :

Q. Hav e y o u ev er b een i n t ro u b l e wi t h t h e l aw b efo re . . . ?

A. Yes

. I g o t a l ot o f p os s es s i o n wi t h in t en t ch arg es

. I g o t t w o of t h em ,

t wo p o s ses s i o n wi t h t h e i n t en t t o d el iv er co cai n e.

Q. No w, l et ’ s s l ow d o wn an d m ak e s u re t he ju ry u n ders t an d s ex act l y

wh at y o u are s ay i ng , o k ay ?

A. I was s el l i ng crack i n Del aware, an d I go t l o ck ed u p t w i ce fo r s el l i n g

crack

.

Q. So y o u g o t arres t ed two d i fferen t t i m es i n Del aware fo r s el li n g crack

co cai n e?

A. Yes , Si r.

8Lat e r , d u r i n g h is cl o s i n g arg u m en t

, defen s e co u n s el em p h as i zed Rey n o l d s ’ s

t es t i m o ny t h at hi s t hu m b cam e i n t o co n t act wi t h t he s to l en car d u ri n g a d ru g

t ran s act io n an d rem in ded t h e ju ry t h at “ [h e] was s el li n g d ru g s, [h e] was s el l i n g

m ari ju an a, [h e] s o l d co cai n e b ack i n Del aware.”

As p rev i o u s l y n o t ed

, t he St at e co nt en d s t h at Rey n o l d s ’ s co u n s el was n ot

i n eff e c t i ve b ecau s e it was a reas o n ab l e tri al st rat eg y fo r d efen s e co u n s el t o p o rt ray

h i m as a d ru g d eal er i n an effo rt t o s h ow t hat h is t h u m b p ri n t was fo u n d o n t h e car d u e

t o a d ru g t ran sact i o n , n o t as a res u l t o f h i s in v o l v em en t i n t he ro b b ery

. In t h i s reg ard

,

t h e Su prem e Co u rt o f Geo rg i a h as h el d t hat m at ters o f tri al s t rat eg y an d t act i cs “ d o

n o t am o u n t t o d efi ci en t p e r f o r m an ce u n l es s t h ey are so u nreas o n ab le t h at n o

co m p et en t at t o rn ey w o ul d h av e m ad e t h em u n der s im il ar ci rcu m s t an ces .” 1 4 An d h ere,

Rey n o l ds ’ s t ri al co u n s el d i d n ot t es t i fy at t h e m o ti o n-fo r-n ew-t ri al h eari ng , 1 5 wh i ch

1 4 Mi l l er , 2 9 6 Ga. at 1 2 (4 ) (a) (p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ); s ee a l s o W a s h i n g t o n v. S t a t e , 2 9 4 Ga. 5 60 , 5 6 6 (3 ) (7 5 5 SE2 d 1 6 0 ) (2 0 1 4 ) (s am e).

1 5 Rey n o l ds di d n o t s u b p o en a h i s t ri al co un s el t o t es ti fy at th e h eari n g , b u t h i s

n ew co u n s el m ad e s ev eral u n s ucces s fu l at t em p t s t o co nt act hi s t ri al co un s el

, wh o n o l o n g er res i d ed i n Geo rg i a.

9m ak es i t “ e x t rem el y di ffi cu l t t o o v erco m e th e p res u m pt i o n t h at co u ns el ’ s co n d u ct

res u l ted fro m

reas o n ab l e t ri al s t rat eg y .” 1 6

In Hen d er so n v. S t a t e , 1 7 t h e Su p rem e Co ur t of Geo rg i a h el d

, u n d er s i m i l ar

fact ual ci rcu m s t an ces , t h at a d efen d an t ’ s tri al co u n sel was n o t i n effect i ve fo r el i ci t i n g

t es t i m o ny t h at p o rt ray ed h i s cl i en t as a d ru g d eal er b ecau s e i t w as a reas o n ab l e t ri al

s t rat eg y t o el i ci t s u ch t es t im o n y t o s h o w t h at t h e d efen d an t was p res en t at t h e s cen e

o f an arm ed ro b b ery to s el l d ru g s , n ot t o co m m i t a p re-p l an n ed ro b b ery

. 1 8 Th u s , o u r

Su p rem e Co u rt co n cl u d ed t h at t h e d efen d an t had “ fai l ed t o o v erc o m e t he s t ro n g

p res u m p t i o n t h at co un s el ’ s co n d u ct fal l s w it hi n t he b ro ad ran ge o f reas o n ab l e

p ro fes s i on al co n d u ct

. ” 1 9

S i m i l a r l y, i n E i n g l et t v. S t a t e , 2 0 w e h el d t h at t ri al co u n s el ’ s s t rat eg y o f

at t em p t i n g t o p o rt ray h i s cl ien t as a d ru g ad di ct

, rat h er t h an as an arm ed ro b b er, was

1 6 B r o wn v. S t a t e , 2 8 8 G a

. 9 0 2

, 9 08 (5 ) (7 0 8 SE2 d 2 9 4 ) (2 0 1 1 ) (p u n ct u at i o n

o m it t ed ); s ee a l

s o Lewi s v. S t a t e , 3 02 Ga. A p p

. 50 6

, 5 0 9 (b ) (6 9 1 SE2 d 33 6 ) (2 0 1 0 ) (p res u m i n g t h at a d efen s e co u n s el ’ s d eci s i o n n o t t o cal l a wi t n es s was a m at t er o f t ri al

s t rat eg y b ecau s e co u ns el d i d n o t t es ti fy at t h e m o t i o n -fo r-n ew-t ri al h eari n g ).

1 7 2 8 5 Ga. 2 4 0 (6 7 5 SE2 d 2 8) (2 0 0 9 ).

1 8 Id

. at 24 2 -4 3 (2 ) (b ).

1 9 Id

. (p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ).

2 0 2 8 3 Ga. Ap p . 4 9 7 (6 4 2 SE2 d 1 6 0 ) (2 0 0 7 ).

10a reas o nab le t r i a l s trat eg y

. 2 1 In Ei n g l et t

, th e defen d an t was t ri ed fo r b urg l ary an d

arm ed ro bb ery , an d t wo ey ewi t n es s es i d en t ifi ed h i m as b ei n g at t h e res i d en ce wh ere

t h e cri m es al l eg ed ly t o ok p l ace. 2 2 Th e d efen s e p res en t ed t es t i m on y t hat th e v i ct i m was

a d r u g d eal er, wh o h ad pu rch as ed d ru g s fro m t h e d efen d an t o n s ev eral occas i o n s

. 2 3

On cro s s-ex am i n at i o n , t h e St at e p r e s e n t ed ev i d en ce o f t he d efen d an t’ s p ri o r d ru g

rel at ed offen s es , a n d d efen s e co u n s el d i d n o t o b ject

. 2 4 Un d er t h es e p art i cu l ar

ci rcu m s t an ces , we h el d th at t ri al co u n s el was n ot i n effect i v e fo r d ecl i n i n g t o o b ject

t o th e ad m i s s i o n o f t h e d efen d an t ’ s p ri o r d ru g co n v i ct i o n s wh en hi s co un s el ’ s s t rat eg y

was t o s h o w t h at h i s cl i en t “ h ad a l o n g h i s to ry o f d ru g p ro b l em s

. ” 2 5

Here, as i n Ei n g l et t an d Hen d er s o n , we s i m

p l y can n o t s ay t h at t ri al co u n sel ’ s

s t rat eg y

— el i ci t i n g tes ti m on y reg ard i n g Rey n ol d s ’ s h i s t o ry o f d ru g -rel at ed o ffen s es

i n an a t t e m

p t t o ex cu l pat e h im fro m t h e m o re s eri o u s ch arg es rel at ed t o t h e arm ed

ro b b ery

— was s o u nreas o n ab l e t h at n o c o mp et en t a t t o r ney wo u l d h av e p u rs u ed i t

2 1 Id

. at 49 9 (2 ).

2 2 Id

. at 49 7

.

2 3 Id

. at 49 7 -9 8

.

2 4 Id . at 49 9 (2 ).

2 5 Id

.

11u n d er s i m i l ar ci rcu m s t an ces

. 2 6 An d wh i l e we d efer t o t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s cred i b i l i t y

d et erm i n at i o n s an d fi nd i n g s o f fact u n l es s t h ey are cl earl y erro n eo us , 2 7 n o t es t i m o ny

o r o th er ev i d en ce was p res en t ed at t h e m o t i o n -fo r-n e w

- t r i a l h eari n g t h at req u i red

fi nd i ng s o f fact o r cred ib i l i t y d et erm i n at i o n s

. Th u s , t h e t ri al co u rt n eces s ari l y

d et erm i n ed

, as t o t h e d efi ci en cy p ro n g o f S t r i ckl a n d

, t h at t ri al co u n s el ’ s ch o s en t ri al

s t rat eg y was d efi ci e n t a s a m at t er o f law, an d we o we n o d eferen ce t o t h at

co n cl u s i o n

. 2 8

W e ack n o wl ed g e t h at

, i n ev al u at in g wh et h er Rey n o l d s ’s w as p reju di ced by

co u ns el ’ s al l eg ed l y d efi ci en t co n d u ct u n der t h e s eco n d pro n g of St r i ckl a n d

, t h e t ri al

co u rt n o t ed t h at it had co n s i d ered t h e ev i d en ce pres en t ed at t ri al an d ju d g ed t h e

cred i b i l i t y o f t h e wi t n es s es

. Bu t as o u r Su p rem e Co u rt h as ex p l ai n e d

, t h e f ai l u re to

s at i s fy ei t h er p ro ng o f t h e S t r ick l a n d tes t wi l l “ d efeat an i n effect i v e as si s t an ce o f

2 6 S ee W as h in g t o n , 29 4 Ga. at 5 6 6 (3 ) (h o l di n g t h at m at t ers o f t ri al st rat eg y an d

t act ics d o n o t am o u nt t o defi ci en t p erfo rm an ce u n l es s t h ey are “ s o u n reas o n ab l e t h at

n o co m pet en t at t o rn ey wo u ld h av e m ad e t h em u n d er s i m i l ar ci rcu m s tan ces ”); Mi l l er , 2 9 6 Ga. at 1 2 (4 ) (a) (s am e).

2 7 S ee s u p r a fo o tn o t e 8

.

2 8 S ee S u gg s , 2 7 2 Ga. at 8 8 (4 ) (ex p l ai n i ng t h at

, i n t h e co n t ex t o f an i neffect i v eas s i s tan ce-o f-co un s el cl ai m , ap p el l at e co u rt s “ o we n o d eferen ce t o t h e t ri al co urt ’ s l eg al co n cl u s i o n s ”).

12co u ns el cl ai m

. ” 2 9 An d b ecau s e Rey n o l d s fai l ed to s h o w t h at h i s co u n s el ’ s t ri al

s t rat eg y w as d efi ci en t as a m at t er o f l aw, we co n cl u d e t h at t he t ri al co u rt erred in

g ran t i n g Rey n o ld s’ s m o ti o n fo r a n ew t ri al

.

Fo r al l o f t h e fo reg o i n g reas o n s , we rev ers e.

Ju d g men t r ever sed . El li ng t o n , P. J., a n d McFa d d en , J., co n cu r

.

2 9 B a r ker v. Ba r ro w , 29 0 Ga. 7 1 1

, 7 1 2 (7 2 3 SE2 d 9 05 ) (2 01 2 ); s ee Fr eema n

v

. S t a t e , 2 7 8 Ga. 3 4 9

, 3 5 2 (2 ) (c) (6 0 3 SE2 d 2 1 4 ) (2 0 0 4 ) ( Th e “ fai lu re t o s a t i s f y ei t h er p ro n g o f t h e t e s t f

o r in effect i v e as s i st an ce of co u ns el i s fat al t o t h e cl ai m o f

i n effect i v en es s .”).

13