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

De c id e d: F e b ru a ry 1 , 2 0 1 6

S 1 5 A1 61 8 . S EARS v

. THE S TATE.

NAHMIAS , Ju stic e

.

Ap p e lla n t Ke v in S e a rs wa s c o n v ic te d o f m a lic e m u rd e r fo r th e sh o o tin g

d e a th of Willia m P re sto n Co wa rt a n d a gg ra v a te d a ssa u lt w ith a d e a d ly we a p o n

a g a in st Co wa rt’s fia n c é e

, N a nc y Lo rin da Hillia rd

. Ap p e lla nt wa s a lso c h a rg e d

with sim p le a ssa u lt a g a i n st B rid g e t Co wa rt (Brid g e t), wh o wa s Ap p e lla n t’s

g irlfrie n d a n d Co wa rt’s n ie c e

, b ut th e ju ry a c qu itte d Ap p e lla n t o f th a t c h a rg e

.

Ap p e lla n t c o n te n d s th a t th e e v id e n c e wa s in su ffic ie n t to su pp ort h is c o n v ic tio n s

a n d th a t th e re wa s a fa ta l v a ria n c e b e twe e n th e a lle g a tio n s o f th e in d ic tm e n t a n d

th e p ro o f a t tria l with re sp e c t to th e a g g ra v a te d a ssa u lt c h a rg e . We a ffirm

. 1

1 The crimes occurred shortly after midnig ht on J une 26, 2011. On J uly 26, 2011, a W are

County g r and jury

indicted Appellant for malice murder, felony murder, ag g ravated assault with a

deadly weapon, and simple assault. At a trial on J une 21-22, 2012, the jury acquitted Appellant of

simple assault but found him g uilty of malice murder and ag g ravated a s sault; the verdict form framed

the malice murder and felony murder charg e s as alternatives. On J uly 9

, 2012, the trial court

sentenced Appellant to serve life in prison for the malice murder and 2 0 consecutive y ears for the

ag g r avated assault. On the same day , Appellant filed a motion for new trial. On March 21, 2013,

the court held a hearing

and then summarily

denied the motion.

On March 26, 2013, Appellant filed a notice of appeal. More than a y ear later, the record was

transmitted to this Court. On J uly 10, 2014, the case was docketed here and a docketing n otice was1

. (a ) V i ew e d in th e lig h t m o st fa v o ra b le to th e v e rd ic ts, t h e

e v id e n c e a t tria l sh owe d th e fo llo win g

. On S a tu rd a y n ig h t

, J u n e 2 5

, 2 0 1 1

,

Ap p e lla n t a n d Brid ge t w e nt o u t d rin k in g with Co wa rt a n d Hillia rd

. As th e n ig h t

we n t o n

, th e two c o u p le s sp lit u p , with Brid g e t d riv in g Ap pe lla n t in h e r c a r to

a p arty a t his siste r’s h o u se a n d Co wa rt d riv in g H illia rd in Hillia rd ’s S UV to a

d iffe re n t p a rty

. A p p e lla n t’s siste r la te r a sk e d h im to le a v e h e r h o u se b e c a u se h e

wa s b e in g ro w d y

.

Ap p e lla n t a n d Brid g e t h a d m a d e p la n s with Co wa rt a nd Hillia rd to m e e t

b a c k u p a t a c o n v e n ie nc e sto re

. On th e wa y th e re

, Ap p e lla n t a n d Brid g e t b e g a n

a rg u in g

, b e c a

u se Ap p e lla n t wa n te d to driv e

. Ap p e lla n t, wh o h a d b e e n sm o k in g

m a riju an a th a t e v e n in g in a dd itio n to d rin k in g

, trie d to g ra b th e ste e rin g wh e e l

fro m Brid g e t, a n d sh e pu nc h e d h im h a rd in th e m o uth

. Brid g e t sto p p e d a t th e

sent electronically to Appellant’s attorney

, Alan Tucker, a t Tucker’s e mail address on file with the

Court. Tucker did not submit a b rief on Appellant’s b ehalf. On A u g ust 5, 2014, the Court entered

a n order d irecting Appellant to file a brief on the merits of the case no later than Aug ust 15 a n d

warning that failure to do so could result in dismissal of the appeal. Still no brief was filed, and on

S eptember 8, 2014, w e d ismissed the appeal for failure to comply with the Court’s order to fi l e a

brief. On F ebruary 5, 2015, Tucker file d a m o tion for o ut-of-time appeal in the trial court on

Appellant’s behalf, claiming that he had not received the docketing notice from this Court because

he had stopped using the e mail a d dress that he provided due to issues with junk mail, spam, and

associated computer viruses. The State d id not o bject to the motion, which the trial court g ranted

on April 1 6, 2015. On May 4

, 2015, Appellant filed a new notice of appeal, and the case was

docketed in this Court for the September 2015 term and submitted for decision on the briefs.

2c o n v e n ie n c e sto re to wa it fo r Co wa rt a n d Hi llia rd

, b u t th e n d e c id e d to ta k e

Ap p e lla n t to th e h o u se wh e re h e liv e d with h is m o th e r. Ap p e lla n t a n d Brid g e t

ro d e in sile n c e to h is h o u se

, e x c e p t fo r wh e n Brid g e t to ld h im th a t sh e wa s g o in g

to c o m e in sid e o n ly to u se th e b a th ro o m a n d th e n le a v e

.

As Co w a rt a n d Hillia rd we re a rriv in g a t th e c on v e n ie n c e sto re

, th e y sa w

Brid ge t sp e e d o u t o f th e p a rk in g lo t in th e dire c tio n o f Ap p e lla n t’s h o u se

.

Co n c e rn e d

, th e y d ro v e to Ap pe lla n t’s h o u se

, wh e re Co wa rt se n t a te x t m e ssa g e

to Brid g e t sa y in g th a t h e wa s o utsid e a n d a lso h on ke d th e h o rn se v e ra l tim e s.

Th e re wa s n o r e s p o n s e

, h o we v e r, a n d th e h o u se wa s d a rk

, so Co wa rt a n d

Hillia rd d e c id e d to d riv e ho m e

. Me a n wh ile

, in sid e th e h o u se

, Ap p e l l a n t a n d

Brid ge t we re a

rg u in g a g a in a n d h a d b e g u n p h y sic a lly fig h tin g

. A p p e lla n t to ld

Brid ge t th a t h e wa s g o in g to k ill h e r, a nd sh e m a na g e d to te x t th e wo rd “ He lp ”

to C o wa rt’s c e llp h o n e

. Co w a rt tu rn e d a ro u n d a n d re tu rn e d to Ap p e lla n t’s

h o u se , arriv in g with in a

fe w m in u te s.

Co wa rt p a rk e d th e S UV in Ap p e lla n t’s d riv e w a y n e x t to Brid ge t’s c a r, le ft

th e ke y s in th e ig n itio n a

n d th e h e a dlig h ts o n

, a n d ra n u p th e fro n t ste p s a n d in to

th e h o use w ith H illia rd

. T h e y c o u ld h e ar Brid g e t sc re a m in g

, a n d th e y fo llo we d

th e sc re a m s to Ap p e lla n t’s b e d r o o m in th e b a c k

, wh e re th e y fo u n d Ap p e lla n t

3a n d Brid g e t fig htin g o n th e b e d

. Co wa rt in te rv e n e d

, a n d Brid g e t g o t u p a n d ra n

p a st h im a n d Hillia rd in to th e h a llwa y

. Ap p e lla n t t r i e d to g e t u p to g o a fte r

Brid ge t, b u t Co wa rt pu sh e d h im b a c k d own o n th e be d

, a n d th e two m e n b e g a n

fig h tin g

. Ap p e lla n t p u t Co wa rt in to a h e a d l o c k an d sta rte d c h o k in g h im

.

Hillia rd wa s a fra id th a t Ap p e l la n t wa s g o in g to c h o k e Co wa rt to de a th

, so sh e

p u n c h e d Ap p e lla n t ha rd in th e fa c e se v e ra l tim e s, kn oc k in g o u t o n e o f h is fro n t

te e th

. At th a t p oin t, Ap p e lla n t re le a se d C o w a rt, wh o g o t u p a n d sa id “le t’s g o .”

Brid ge t ra n o u t o f th e h o u se , fo llo we d b y Hillia rd a n d th e n Co wa rt.

Ap p e lla n t g ot u p

, g ra

b b e d h is d e e r r i f

le

, a n d c h a se d a fte r th e m

. Wh e n

Ap p e lla n t re a c he d th e f

r on t p o rc h

, Brid g e t wa s in h e r c a r a nd h a d sta rte d

b a c k in g o u t o f th e driv e w ay

, Co wa rt wa s g e ttin g in to th e d riv e r’s se a t o f th e

S UV, a n d Hillia rd h a d h e r h a n d o n th e ha n d le of th e fro n t p a sse n g e r-sid e d o o r.

Hillia rd sa w Ap p e lla n t e x it th e h o u se

, sto p o n th e fro n t ste p s, a n d p oin t th e rifle

to wa rd s h e r a

n d Co wa rt. S h e t h e n h e a rd Ap p e lla nt fire a sin gle sh o t a n d

d ro p p e d to th e g ro u nd be sid e th e S UV to a v o id b e in g h it. Wh ile o n th e g ro u n d

,

Hillia rd c o u ld se e Ap p e lla n t’s fe e t, a n d sh e wa tc h e d a s h e wa lk e d qu ic k ly to th e

d riv e r’s sid e o f th e S UV a n d u se d th e b o lt-a c tio n rifle to fire fo u r sh o ts th ro u g h

th e o p e n d o o r in to Co wa rt, k illin g h im

. Afte r th e la st sh ot wa s fire d

, Ap p e lla n t

4wa lk e d u p to Co wa rt a n d b e g a n p u n c h in g Co wa rt in th e fa c e with h is rig h t h a n d

wh ile h old in g th e rifle to h is sid e with h is le ft h a n d

.

Ap p e lla n t th e n wa lk e d a ro u n d to th e re a r o f th e S U V. J u s t th e n

,

Ap p e lla n t’s m oth e r p u lle d h e r c a r in to t h e d r iv e wa y a n d p a rk e d a lo n g th e

d riv e r’s sid e of th e SUV. Ap p e lla n t ju m p e d u p o n th e h o o d o f h e r c a r, b e g a n

h ittin g th e win dsh ie ld

, a n d th e n k n o c k e d o u t th e fro n t d riv e r-sid e d o o r win d o w.

Wh ile A p p e l l a nt wa s a tta c k in g h is m o th e r’s c a r, Hillia rd g o t u p

, sa w Co wa rt

slu m p e d o v e r th e s t e e rin g wh e e l in th e SUV, a nd ra n to th e tra ile r b e h in d

Ap p e lla n t’s h o u se to g e t h e lp

. Ap p e lla n t c a lm e d d o wn

, to o k his rifle in sid e th e

h o u se a n d la id it on h is m oth e r’s b e d

, c a m e b a c k o utsid e

, a nd le a n e d u p a g a in st

th e b a c k o f h is m o th e r’s c a r.

Two n e ig h b o rs a wa k e n e d b y th e g un fire ha d to ld th e ir wiv e s to c a ll 9 1 1 ;

th e y c a lle d a c ro ss th e stre e t to Ap p e lla n t to se e if th e y c o u ld c he c k o n th e m a n

in th e S UV. A p p e lla n t sa id th a t wo u ld b e o k a y a n d t h at h e n o lo n g e r h a d th e

rifle

. T he two m e n wa lk e d a c ro s s t h e stre e t a n d in tro d uc e d th e m se lv e s to

Ap p e lla n t, wh o a

p p e a re d to b e c a lm . Ap p e lla nt re p e a te d ly sa id th a t th e re wa s

n o n e e d to c h e c k o n Co wa rt be c a u se h e wa s d e a d , an d th a t Ap p e lla n t h a d sh o t

h im with a rifle

.

5By th is p oin t, Brid g e t h a d c o m e ba c k an d p a rk e d he r c a r a c ro ss th e stre e t

fro m Ap p e lla n t’s ho u se

. S h e wa s y e ll i n g

, “ O h

, my Go d ; h e ’s b e e n sh o t; h e ’s

b e e n sh o t,” a n d Ap p e lla n t wa s y e llin g a c ro ss th e stre e t to he r, “ th is is y o u r fa u lt;

th is is a ll y o u r d a mn fa u lt . . . . I to ld y o u if y o u c a lle d h im I wa s g o in g to k ill

th e m * * * * * f* * * * * .” Wh e n sh e riff’s d e p u tie s a rriv e d a t th e sc e n e a sh o rt tim e

la te r, Ap p e lla n t a d m itte d th a t h e sh o t Co wa rt.

An a u to p sy re ve a le d th a t Co wa rt ha d b ru isin g o n h is h e a d an d fo u r

g u n sh o t w o u n d s to h is h e a d

, n e c k

, le ft arm

, a n d c h e st, e a c h o f wh ic h w o u ld h a v e

b e e n fa ta l a n d o n e o f wh ic h stru c k h im in th e h e a rt an d c a u se d h is d e a th

im m e d ia te ly

. A fire a r ms e x a m in e r c o n firm e d th a t p ro je c tile s re m o v e d fro m

Co wa rt’s b o dy a n d fo ur sh e ll c a sin g s fo u nd o n th e g ro un d be sid e th e S U V we re

fire d fro m Ap p e lla n t’s rifle

, wh ic h wa s re c o v e re d fro m h is m o th e r’s b e d ro o m

.

(b ) Ap pe lla n t c o n te n d s th a t th e e v id e n c e wa s le g a lly in su ffic ie n t

to su p po rt h is c o n v ic tio n fo r m a lic e m urd e r a n d sh o we d th a t h e wa s g u ilty o n ly

o f v o lu n ta ry m a nsla u g h te r. Wh e n v i e w e d in th e lig h t m o st fa v ora ble to th e

v e rd ic t, th e e v id e n c e pre se n te d a t tria l a n d su m m a riz e d a b o v e a u th o riz e d th e

ju ry to fin d th a t a fte r Co wa rt h e lp e d Brid ge t e sc a p e h e r fig h t with Ap p e lla n t a n d

trie d to le a v e w ith h e r, Ap p e lla n t b e g a n fig h tin g w ith Co wa rt, p u ttin g h im in a

6h e a d lo c k a n d c h ok in g him u n t i l H i l l i a rd pu n c h e d Ap p e lla n t in th e fa c e to g e t

h im to re le a se Co wa rt. C o wa rt im m e d ia te ly g ot up

, sa id “le t’s g o ,” ra n o u t o f

th e h o u se b e h in d Brid g e t a n d Hillia rd

, a n d g o t in to th e d riv e r’s se a t o f Hillia rd ’s

S UV to le a v e

. In ste a d o f a llo win g Co wa rt a n d th e two wo m e n to d riv e a wa y

,

Ap p e lla n t g o t u p fro m h is b e d

, g ra b b e d h is d e e r rifle

, a nd c h a se d a fte r th e m

,

sto pp in g o n h is fro n t ste p s to fire a sh o t to w a rd s th e S UV. He th e n we n t d o wn

th e sta irs a n d a ro u n d to th e driv e r’s si d e o f th e SUV, wh e re h e u se d his b o lta c tio n rifle to fire fo u r sh o ts in to Co w a rt fro m c lo se ra n g e

, k illin g h im

. Ba se d

o n th is e v id e n c e

, th e ju ry

, wh ic h wa s p ro p e rly in stru c te d o n m a lic e m urd e r a n d

v o lu n ta ry m a n sla u g h te r, w a s e n title d to re je c t A p p e lla n t’s c la im th a t wh e n h e

k ille d Co wa rt, h e wa s “ a c t[in g ] so le ly a s th e r es u l t o f a su d d e n

, v io le n t, a n d

irre sistib le p a ssio n re su ltin g fro m se rio u s p ro vo c a tio n su ffic ie n t to e x c ite su c h

p a ssio n in a re a so n a

b le p e rso n

. ” OCGA § 16 -5

- 2 ( a ). S e e

, e .g

., W ig fa ll v

.

S ta te

, 2 74 Ga

. 6 7 2

, 6 7 2 -6 7 3 (5 5 8 S E2 d 3 8 9 ) (2 0 0 2 ) (h o ld in g th a t th e ju ry wa s

a u th oriz e d to fin d th e d e fe n d a n t g u ilty o f m a lic e m urd e r ra th e r th a n v o lu n ta ry

m a n sla u g h te r wh e re th e v ic tim m a d e u nwa n te d se x u a l a d v an c e s to wa rd th e

d e fe n d a n t’s m o th e r, re fu se d to le a v e a fte r b e in g a sk e d

, a n d c u rse d a t a n d h it th e

d e fe n d a n t with a m e ta l c h a ir, a n d th e d e fe n d a n t th e n g ot a g un fro m h e r p u rse

,

7we n t ou tsid e

, a nd sh o t a n d k ille d th e v ic tim a s he wa s wa lk in g a wa y ); Ba ld win

v

. S ta te

, 2 6 3 Ga

. 5 24

, 5 2 6 (4 3 5 S E2 d 92 6 ) (1 9 9 3 ) (a ffirm in g th e ju ry ’s v e rd ic t

o f m a lic e m

u rd e r in ste a d of v o lu n ta ry m a n sla u g h te r wh e re th e e v id e n c e “ wo u ld

a u th oriz e a fin d in g th a t, a fte r e n g a g in g in a v e rb a l a n d p h y sic a l a lte rc a tio n with

t h e v ic tim

, a

p p e lla n t pu lle d a g u n a n d sh o t th e v ic tim a s h e w a s a tte m p tin g t o

fle e ” ).

Th e e vid e n c e a lso su p p o rte d a fin d in g th a t th e re wa s “ a n in te rv a l b e twe e n

th e p ro v o c a tio n [i.e

., th e fig h t in th e b e d ro o m ] a n d th e killin g su ffic ie n t fo r th e

v o ic e o f re a so n a n d h u m a n ity t o b e he a rd ,” in wh ic h c a se th e v o lu n ta ry

m a n sla u g h te r sta tu te in stru c ts th a t “ th e k illin g sh a ll b e a ttrib ute d to d e lib e ra te

re v e n g e a n d b e p u n ish e d a s m u rd e r.” OCGA § 1 6-5 -2 (a ). S e e

, e

. g

., Lo we v

.

S ta te

, 2 6 7 Ga

. 4 1 0

, 41 1 (4 7 8 S E 2 d 7 6 2 ) (1 9 9 6 ) (h old in g th a t “ th e ju ry wa s

a u th oriz e d t o f

in d th a t [th e d e fe n d a n t’s] fa ta l sh o o tin g of th e u n a rm e d v ic tim

wa s no t th e re su lt o f su d d e n a n d irre sistib le h e a t o f p a ssio n

, b u t wa s a d e lib e ra te

a c t of re v e n g e c om m itte d a fte r a su ffi c i e n t ‘c o o lin g o ff’ p e rio d

, ” wh e re th e

v ic tim c o n fro nte d th e d e fe n d a n t an d a n in itia l e x c ha n g e o f w o rd s e sc a la te d in to

a fist fig h t, th e d e fe n d a nt b ro ke a wa y a n d fle d

, a n d th e v ic tim c h a se d and c a u g h t

th e d e fe n d a n t a n d re su m e d h ittin g h im b e fo re b e gin nin g to re tre a t to wa rd a n

8a wa itin g c a r, a nd th e d e fe n d a n t, wh ose g irlfrie n d ha n d e d h im a g u n

, th e n ra n

a fte r a n d c o n fro n te d th e u n a rm e d v ic tim

, sh o t h im in th e a rm

, sto o d o v e r h im a s

h e ple a d e d fo r h is life

, a n d sh o t h im in th e a b d o m e n

, k illin g him ). Ac c o rd in gly

,

th e e v id e nc e wa s le g a lly su ffic ie n t to s u pp ort Ap p e lla n t’s m a lic e m u rd e r

c o n v ic tio n

. S e e Ja c kso n v

. V irg in ia

, 4 4 3 U.S

. 30 7

, 31 9 (9 9 S Ct 2 7 8 1

, 6 1 LE2 d

5 6 0 ) (1 9 7 9 ); M c Na ir v. S ta te

, 2 9 6 Ga

. 1 8 1

, 1 8 2 (7 6 6 S E 2 d 4 5 ) (2 01 4) (h o ld in g

th a t wh e t h e r t h e e v id e n c e su p p o rts a v e rd ic t o f m a lic e m u rd e r a s o p p o se d to

v o lu n ta ry m a

n sla u g h te r is a ju ry q u e stio n ). S e e a lso Ve g a v

. S ta te

, 2 8 5 Ga

. 3 2

,

3 3 (6 7 3 S E2 d 2 2 3 ) (2 0 0 9 ) (“ ‘It wa s fo r th e ju ry to de te rm in e th e c re d ib ility o f

th e witn e sse s a n d to re so lv e a n y c o n flic ts o r in c o n siste nc ie s in th e e v id e n c e .’”

(c ita tio n o m itte d )).

(c ) Ap pe lla n t a lso c o n te n d s th a t th e e v id e n c e wa s in su ffic ie n t to

su p p o rt h is c o n v ic tio n fo r t h e a g g ra v a te d a ssa u lt o f Hillia rd

. Th e tria l c o urt

p ro p e rly in stru c te d th e ju ry th a t a p e rso n c o m m its a g g ra v a te d a ssa ult wh e n h e

“ a ssa ults a n o th e r p e rso n with a d e a dly we a p on

, ” th a t a p e rso n h a s c o m m itte d a n

a ssa u lt if h e “ in te n tio n a lly c o m m itte d a n a c t th a t p la c e d th e a lle g e d vic tim in th e

re a so na b le fe a r o f im m e d ia te ly re c e iv in g a v io le n t in ju ry ,” a nd th a t “ [a ] fire a rm

,

wh e n u se d a s su c h

, is a d e a d ly we a p o n a s a m a tte r o f la w.” S e e OCGA § § 1 6 -5

-

92 0 (a ) (2 ), 16 -5 -2 1 (b ) (2 ); F u tc h v

. S ta te

, 28 6 Ga

. 37 8

, 3 8 1 -3 8 2 (6 87 S E2 d 8 0 5 )

(2 0 1 0 ). Ap p e lla n t d o e s n o t ta k e issu e w ith th e se le g a l p rin c ip le s. In ste a d

, h e

c la im s th a t th e e v id e n c e sh o we d th a t Hillia rd d id n o t se e h im sh o o t a t h e r a n d

th a t sh e d id n o t k n o w w h e re h e wa s sh o o tin g o r a im in g, b e c a u se a fte r th e first

sh o t, sh e w a s h id in g u n d er t h e S UV a n d c ou ld n o t se e a n y th in g b u t h is fe e t.

Ho we ve r, th e e v id e nc e v ie we d in th e lig ht m o st fa v o ra b le to th e v e rd ic t sh o we d

th a t Hillia rd sa w Ap p e lla n t po in tin g th e rifle in h e r v ic in ity

, th a t h e fire d th e g u n

in th a t d ire c tio n

, a

n d th a t sh e he a rd th e sh o t a n d fe ll to th e g ro u nd to a v o id b e in g

sh o t a t a g a in

. Mo re o v e r, Hillia rd te stifie d th a t sh e wa s “ sc are d ” a n d “fe a rfu l o f

b e in g sh o t

. . . o r stru c k ” wh e n sh e wa s ly in g o n th e g ro u nd ne x t to S UV a n d

Ap p e lla n t wa s firin g in to th e v e h ic le

.

Th is e v id e n c e wa s c le a rly su ffic ie n t to su p po rt a ju ry fin d in g th a t

Ap p e lla n t in te n t i o n a lly p la c e d Hillia rd in re a so n a b le a p pre h e n sio n o f

im m e d ia te ly re c e iv in g a vio le n t in ju ry f ro m a d e a d ly we a

p o n

. Se e Tille r v

.

S ta te

, 2 6 7 Ga

. 8 8 8

, 8 9 0 (4 8 5 S E2 d 7 2 0 ) (1 9 9 7 ) ( u p h o ld in g a n a g g ra v a te d

a ssa u lt c o n v ic tio n wh e re “ th e ju ry wa s a uth o riz e d to fin d th a t [th e vic tim ] wa s

p la c e d in re a so n a

b l e a p p re he n sio n o f im m e d ia te ly re c e iv in g a v io le n t in ju ry

,

s in c e h e h e a rd th e sh o t a n d fe ll to th e g ro u n d to a v o id b e in g sh o t a t a g a in ” )

,

1 0o v e r r u l ed o n o th e r gro u n d s b y Du n a g a n v

. S ta te

, 2 6 9 Ga

. 5 9 0

, 5 9 3 n .3 (5 0 2

S E2 d 7 2 6 ) (1 9 9 8 ). Th us, th e e v id e n c e w a s l e g a lly su ffic ie n t to su p p o rt th e

a g g ra v a te d a ssa u lt c o n v ic tio n

. S e e Ja c k so n, 4 4 3 U.S

. a t 3 1 9; V e g a

, 2 85 Ga

. a t

3 3

.

2

. F in a lly

, Ap p e lla n t a rg ue s th a t th e re wa s a fa ta l v a ria n c e b e twe e n th e

a lle g a tio n s of th e in d ic tm e n t a n d th e p ro o f a t tria l with re sp e c t to th e a g g ra v a te d

a ssa u lt c h a r g e

, be c a

u se th e in d ic tm e n t a lle g e d th a t h e disc h a rg e d h is rifle

“ se v e ra l tim e s in to a n d t o w a rd a v e h ic le th a t [Hillia rd ] wa s a tte m p tin g to g e t

in to ,” b u t, Ap p e lla n t a sse rts, th e re w a s n o e v id e nc e a t tria l th a t Hillia rd wa s

a tte m p tin g to e nte r he r S UV wh e n th e sh o ts we re fire d

. Ap p e lla n t’s d e sc rip tio n

o f th e e v id e nc e is in c o rre c t, h o we v e r, b e c a u se Hillia rd te stifie d th a t sh e h a d h e r

h a n d o n th e d o o r h a n d le o f th e S UV a n d “ h a d ju st lifte d [th e h an d le ] u p ” wh e n

Ap p e lla n t fire d th e first sh o t fro m h is fro nt ste ps. Th u s, th e fa c tu a l p re m ise fo r

Ap p e lla n t’s a rg u m e nt is fa u lty

.

In a n y e ve n t, “Ge o rg ia c o u r t s n o lo n g e r e m p lo y a n o v e rly te c h n ic a l

a p p lic a tio n o f th e fa ta l v a ria n c e ru le

, fo c u sin g in ste a d o n m a te ria lity .” Ha le y v

.

S ta te

, 2 8 9 Ga

. 5 1 5

, 5 2 9 (7 1 2 SE2 d 8 3 8) (2 0 1 1 ) (c ita tio n a nd p u n c tu a tio n

o m itte d ). Th e a lle g a tio n s o f th e in d ic tm e n t su ffic ie n tly in fo rm e d Ap p e lla n t o f

1 1th e a g g ra v a te d a ssa u lt c h a rg e a g a in st him so a s to e n a b le h i m to p re p a re a

d e fe n se ; th e re is n o c la im th a t h e wa s su rp rise d b y th e p ro o f a t tria l; a n d th e re

is n o d a n g e r th a t he c ou ld b e p ro se c u te d a g a in fo r th e sa m e o ffe n se

.

Ac c o rd in g ly , a

n y v a ria n c e wa s n o t fa ta l to h is c o n v ic tio n . S e e id

.

Ju d g m e n t a ffirm e d . All th e Ju stic e s c o nc u r.

1 2