THI RD DI VI SI ON

DOYLE, P. J.

, REESE and BROWN, 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

.

Nov em ber 1, 2021



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A2 1 A1 10 8 . M O ODY v . THE STATE.

D O Y LE , Pres id in g J u d g e.

Fo l l owi n g t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s d en i al of h i s m o t i o n fo r new t ri al

, Ken y at t a M o o dy

ap p eal s fro m h i s co n vi ct i o n s o f ag g rav at ed as s au l t an d b at t ery

. He co n t en d s t h at (1 )

t h e t ri al co u rt erred b y ad m i t t in g o t her-act ev i d en ce, (2 ) h i s t ri al co u n sel p ro v i d ed

i n effect i v e as s is t an ce b y fai l in g t o ob ject to p ort i on s of t h e St at e’ s cl o s i n g arg u m en t

,

an d (3 ) h i s d u e pro ces s ri g h t s were vi o l at ed w h en t h e tri al co u rt d en i ed hi s req u es t

t o be p h y s i cal l y pres en t fo r t h e h eari n g o n h is m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al

. Fo r t h e fo l l o wi n g

reas on s , we affi rm

.

On ap p eal fro m a cri m i n al co n v i ct i o n

, we v i ew t h e ev i d en ce i n th e

l i gh t m os t fav o rab l e t o t h e v erd i ct

, wi t h t h e d efen d an t n o l o ng er

en jo y in g a p res u m

p t i o n o f i n n o cen ce. W e n ei t h er wei g h t h e ev i d en ce

n o r ju d g e t h e cred i b il i ty o f wi t n es s es

, b u t d e t e r m in e o n l y wh et h er th eev i d en ce was su ffi ci en t fo r a rat i o n al t ri er o f fact t o fi n d t h e d efen d an t

g u i l ty o f t h e ch arg ed o ffen s e b ey o n d a reas o n ab le d o u b t

. 1

So v i ewed

, t h e ev i d en ce at tri al es t ab l is hed t h at i n J an u ary 2 0 1 7

, t h e v i c t i m

was d ri vi n g t o h er h om e w i t h a fri en d wh en s h e n o t i ced t h at an el d erl y n e i g h b o r ’s

fro n t d o o r was “ wi d e o p en

. ” Th i n k i n g t h at s o m et h i n g m ay h av e h ap p en ed t o h er

n ei g h b o r, s h e s t o p p ed h er car an d wen t i n s i d e h i s h om e “ t o ch eck o n h i m ,” w h i l e h er

fri en d st ay ed i n t h e car. As s h e wal k ed acro s s h i s y ard

, s h e n ot i ced an o t h er nei g h b o r,

M o o dy

, wal k i n g d own t h e st reet ; s h e h ad arran g ed fo r M oo d y t o g i ve t h e n ei g h b o r

a ri d e to t h e b an k a few d ay s earl i er. Sh e wen t i ns i d e t he h o u s e an d d et erm i n ed t h at

h er n ei g h b o r was o k ay an d “ ju s t rel ax i n g ” wi t h h i s d o o r o p en

.

T he v i ct i m was s u rp ri s ed wh en M o o d y wal k ed i n to t he ho u s e an d t o l d t h e

n ei g h b o r t h at he “ an d [h i s ] co u si n [are] g o i n g t o co m e an d cl ean y o ur h o u se u p .” Th e

v i ct i m t es t i fi ed t h at wh en M o o d y

wal k ed i n [, t h e nei g h b o r] s ai d wh o i s t h at

, I d o n ’ t kn o w h i m ? Of co urs e

h e k n o ws h i m

, h e t oo k h i m t hat t im e t o t h e b an k

, b u t [h i s ] m em o ry ai n ’ t

g o i n g t o b e li k e t h at t o kn o w t h at p ers o n, h e d o n ’ t kn o w hi m

, h e ju s t

k n o w th at p ers o n to o k h i m t o t h e b an k

. So he t o ld h im t h at

. . . . An d [t he

1 (Ci t at i on an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i tt ed

. ) S mi t h v. S t a t e

, 34 8 G a. Ap p

. 6 4 3

, 6 4 4

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

2n e i g h bo r] l oo k ed at m e an d s ai d I d o n ’ t k no w h im an d I wan t hi m t o

l eav e.

Th e v i ct im t es t i fi ed t hat wh en s h e as k ed M oo d y t o l eav e, t h e “ [n ] ex t t h i ng [s h e] k n ew

[s h e] was o n t h e fl o o r.” W h i l e s h e was d o wn o n t he fl o or, M oo d y “ k ep t s t o m p i n g an d

s t om p i n g

. . . [h er] h ead o n t h at wo o d fl o or.” Sh e t es ti fi ed t h at s h e was s cared an d

afrai d sh e wo u l d d i e. At so m e p o i nt M o od y s t o p p ed

, an d s h e s t um b l ed o ut s i d e an d

as k ed a y o u n g l ad y wi t h a cel l p h o n e i n h er h an d to cal l 9 1 1

. Th e v i ct i m t es t i fi ed t h at

wh en a po li ce o ffi cer arri v ed

, h e refu s ed t o t ak e a s t at em en t b ecau se s h e “ w a s t o o

b el l i g eren t .” Th e v i ct i m wen t t o t h e h os p i t al fi rs t t h i n g t h e n ex t m o rn i n g

, an d h er

i n ju ri es i n cl u d ed a bl o o d y li p

, g u m s

, a n d n o s e; a l o os e to o t h ; s w ol l en li p s an d ey e;

b ru i s es ; a h em at o m a; an d an “ awfu l head ach e.” Sh e l at er id en t i fi ed M o o d y i n a l i n eu p an d at t ri al . Sh e ex p l ai ned t hat s h e refu s ed t o g o t o t he h o s pi t al i n an am b u l an ce

ri gh t aft er t h e i n ci d en t b e c a u s e s h e n eed ed t o p i ck u p h er g ran d d au g h ter fro m d ay

care.

Du ri n g cro s s -ex am i n at i o n

, t h e v i ct i m a c k n o wl ed g ed t h at s h e h ad n o p ri o r

arg u m en t s wi t h M oo d y an d th at sh e was u n aware o f an y pri o r d i ffi cu l t i es b et ween

M o o d y a n d h er n ei g h b or. Sh e ag reed wi t h d efen s e co u n sel ’ s s tat em en t t h at

“ acco rd i n g t o y o u [,] t h i s p ers o n wh o had n o arg um en t wi t h y o u at al l

, n o arg u m en t

3wi t h [t h e n ei g h bo r]

, j u s t co m es i n t o t h e h o us e, p i ck s a fi g h t s an d t h ro ws y o u t o t h e

g ro u nd an d s t o m

p s y o u i n t h e h ead [.] ” Sh e ex p l a i n e d t h at s h e t h o u g ht i t h ap p en ed

b ecau s e “ I d o n ’ t t h i n k h e l i k ed a wo m an t el l i n g h i m t o d o an y t h in g o r t o l eav e. W e

d i d arg u e, n ex t t h i n g I k n ow I was o n t h e . . . wo o d fl o or.”

Th e St at e p l ay ed fo r t h e ju ry a reco rd in g o f a 91 1 cal l p l aced b y t h e el d erl y

n ei g h b o r. In t h e cal l

, t h e n ei g h b o r as k ed fo r a p o l i ce o ffi cer t o co m e t o h i s h o u s e

b ecau s e “ t h ey t o o k a m an to t h e p o l i ce[,]

. . . t h ey arres t ed a m an [,]

. . . an d I n eed to

k n o w wh at t o d o.”

Th e n ei g h b or t es t i fi ed t h at h e h ad a h ard t i m e rem em b eri ng wh at h ad h ap p en ed

b et ween t h e vi ct i m an d M o od y

. Th e n ei g h b o r d i d recal l a m an en t eri n g h i s h o m e, h e

res p o n d ed affi rm at i v el y wh en as k ed wh e t h er t h e m an “ h i t [t h e v i ct im ] o r [d i d ]

an y t h i n g t o h er.” Acco r d i ng t o t h e n ei g h b or, “ [t ] h ere m u s t h av e b een s o m et h i n g

g o i n g o n p rev i o u s l y b et ween t h e t wo t h at I n ev er u n d ers t oo d an d I can n ot

co n tem p l at e, I can n o t m ak e an as s u m p t i on .”

Th e fri en d wh o w as in t h e v i ct i m ’ s car wai t i ng o ut s i d e t h e nei g h bo r’ s h o u s e

d u ri n g th e i n ci d en t t es t i fi ed t h at s h e h eard a n o i s e a f t er t h e v ict i m wen t i n s i d e t h at

s o u n ded “ l i k e fu rn i t u re b ei n g t h ro wn to th e g ro u n d .” W h en t h e v i ct i m cam e o u t o f t h e

h o u s e, “ s h e was s q u at t i ng d o wn

, [an d ] s h e h ad b l o o d co m i n g fro m h er n o s e an d

4m o ut h [,] an d s h e s ai d [M o o d y ] ju m p ed m e, cal l t h e p o l i ce.” Th e fri en d al s o s aw

M o o dy ex i t t h e h o us e, go to hi s car, a n d d ri v e away ; as h e was wal k in g

, M o o dy

s t at ed , “ I t ol d h er I was g o in g t o b eat h er as s .”

A p o l i ce o ffi cer t es t i fi ed t h at th e v ict i m cam e i n t o t h e preci n ct a co u pl e o f day s

aft er th e i n ci d en t an d rep o rt ed t h a t M o o d y had as s au l ted her. Po l i ce p l aced M o o dy

i n a s i x -p ers on p h o t o l i n eu p

, an d t h e vi ct im i den t i fi ed h i m as t h e m an wh o h ad

as s au l t ed h er. W h e n t h e o ffi cer s p o ke wi t h t h e el d erl y n ei g h bo r ab o u t t h e i n ci d en t

,

t h e n ei g h b o r s t at ed th at t h e v i ct i m an d M oo d y cam e in t o h i s h o u s e “ an d t h en t h ey g ot

i n t o a fi g h t .” Th e n ei g h b o r s a i d t h at M o o d y at t ack ed t h e vi ct i m ; h e d i d n o t t el l t h e

o ffi cer t h at t h e v i ct i m at t ack ed M o o d y

. Th e t es t i fy in g o ffi cer h ad n o ex p l an at i o n fo r

wh y t h e res p o n d i n g offi cer d i d n o t co m pl et e a rep ort ; t hi s o ffi cer n o l o n g er wo rk ed

fo r t h e p o l ice d ep art m en t at t h e t i m e o f t h e t ri al

.

Th e St at e p res en t ed t h e t es t i m o n y o f t wo wi tn es s es t o p ro v e a p rev i o us as s au l t

b y M o o d y i n 2 0 1 2

. A p o l i ce o ffi cer t es t i fi ed t h at i n Feb ru ary 2 0 12

, h e recei v ed a

d o m es t ic d is p ut e cal l an d wen t t o t he res i d en ce of M o o dy ’ s m ot h er. Sh e t o l d h i m t h at

h er s o n was an g ry wi th h er ab o u t “ s o m et h in g s h e s ai d ” i n an o t h er l o cat i o n

. W h en

t h ey ret u rn ed ho m e, h e wan t ed s o m e i t em s b ack fro m h er, th ey g o t i n t o an arg u m en t

,

an d “ s he t o l d h i m t o g et o u t o f h er h o u s e.

. . . So h e g o t m ad

. . . an d t h rew h er o n t h e

5fl oo r an d p u n ch ed h er i n t h e face s ev eral t i m es .” Aft er p u nch in g h i s m o t h er, M o o dy

fo rced h er i n t o a ro o m

, t o ok h er cel l p h o ne wh i l e h e p ack ed hi s bag s

, an d t h en l eft

.

Th e po l ice o ffi cer ob s erv ed b lo o d t h ro u g h o u t t h e h o us e an d t he m o t h er’ s t o p l ip

“ h an g i n g d o w n .”

M o o d y’s m o t h er t es ti fi ed t hat s h e co u ld n o t recal l t h e 2 0 12 i n ci d en t wi th

M o o dy

, an d sh e d en i ed t el l i n g t h e p o l i ce t h at h e at t ack ed h er.. Th e St at e ten d ered an d

t h e tri al co u rt ad m it t ed a cert i fi ed co py o f M o o d y ’ s A l f o r d 2 p l ea fo r ag g rav at ed

b at t ery

, ag g rav at ed as s au l t

, ro b b ery b y i n t i m i d at i o n

, fal se i m p r i s o n m en t

, an d

h i n d eri n g an em erg en cy

t el ep ho n e cal l

.

In cl o si n g arg u m en t , M o o d y ’ s t ri al co un s el as s ert ed :

Th ere’ s m ore h ere g o i ng o n t h an m eet s th e ey e. Th ere’ s m o re h ere

g o i n g on t h an wh at we h av e b een t o l d

. Cl earl y we are n o t g et t i n g th e

wh o le s t o ry

h ere, t h ere m

u s t b e m o re t o i t

.

W h o ju s t hau l s o ff

— acco rd i n g t o her, t o s s es h er o n t h e g ro u n d

an d s t art s st o m

pi ng h er o n t h e h ead rep eat ed l y

. No p ro v o cat i o n

, n o

reas o n at al l

. Th at m ak es n o sen s e. Th at d efi es co m m o n s en s e.

. . . Sh e’ s

n o t t el l i ng ev ery t h i n g t h at h ap pen ed t h at d ay

.

2 No r t h Ca r o l i na v. Al

f o r d , 4 0 0 U.S. 2 5 (9 1 SC 1 6 0

, 2 7 LE2 d 1 6 2 ) (1 9 7 0 ).

6So o ffi cers res p o n d ed

, [an d ] decl i ned t o tak e a rep o rt

, ap p aren t l y

d u e t o wh at s h e cal l ed . . . h er o wn h o s t i l i t y

.

In res po n s e, t h e St at e as s ert ed i n i t s cl o s i n g t h at M o od y ’ s m o th er

t o l d h i m n o

, y o u can ’ t b e h ere an y m o re. T h e s am e t h i ng [t he v ict i m ] t o l d

h i m i n 2 01 7

.

Th e sam e ex act th i n g

. He was b ei n g t o l d n o b y s om eb o d y

, ag ai n

,

t h at h e d o es n ’ t hav e res pect fo r. He d o es n’ t h av e r e s p e c t f o r h i s o wn

m am a en o u gh n ot t o b eat h er.

Su rel y s o m e wo m an wh o h e d oes n ’ t real l y k no w. W h at is h e t o

h er? He d oes n ’t h a v e t o res p ect h er. A n d o n t hat day h e d i d n ’ t res pect

h er.

. . .

An d I p res en t t o y o u t h at y o u are g et t i n g t he fu ll s t o ry . An d t hat

t h e fu l l s to ry i s t h at wh en t h i s [d ] efen d an t was t o l d n o an d t o l d he

co u l dn ’ t be s o m ewh ere th at h e t h o u g h t h e h ad au t h o ri ty t o b e t h at he

res o rt ed t o v i o l en ce. Th at ’ s wh at t he ev i d en ce h as s h o wn y o u t o d ay

.

Th e t r i a l c o u rt in st ru ct ed t h e ju ry ab o u t t h e l i m i t ed p u rp o s e o f t h e o t h er-act

ev i d en ce (i nt en t

, m ot i v e, an d id en t i t y ) b o t h b efo re i t was ad m i t t ed d u ri n g t he t ri al an d

i n i ts fi n al ch arg e. It al s o g av e an i n s t ru ct io n o n an Al f o r d p l ea, ex pl ai n i n g t h at i t i s

7“ a p l ea o f g u i l t y i n o n e’ s b es t i n t eres t

. . . [an d th at ] a [c] o u rt m ay accep t th e g ui l t y

p l ea ev en i f t h e D e f

e n d an t i n s i s t s th at h e o r s h e i s in n o cen t

. . . [, b u t i t ] sh o u l d n ot

b e accep ted u n l es s t h ere’ s a fact u al b as is fo r t h e p l ea.”

1

. Ot h er a ct evi den ce

. Mo o dy co n t en d s t hat t h e t ri al co u rt erred by ad m i t t i n g

t h e 2 0 1 2 i n ci den t b et w een hi m an d h i s m o t h er fo r t h e p u rp o s es o f i nt en t

, m o t i v e, an d

i d en t i t y

. W i t h reg ard t o m o t i v e an d i d en t i t y

, M o o d y as s ert s t h at t h e 2 0 1 2 i nci d en t was

n o t rel ev an t

. W h i l e h e co n ced es t h at i t “ w as rel ev an t t o i n t en t ,” h e co n ten d s t h at i t s

p reju d i ci al effect o u t wei g h ed an y p ro b at iv e v al u e o n t h e i s s u e o f i n t en t

.

Pu rs uan t to O CGA § 2 4

- 4 -4 04 (b ) (“ Ru le 4 0 4 (b )”), “ [e] v i d en ce o f o t h er

cri m es

, wro n g s

, o r act s s h al l n o t b e ad m is s i b l e t o p ro v e t h e ch aract er o f a pers o n in

o rd er t o s h ow act i o n i n co n fo rm i t y t h erewi th

. ” Ho wev er,

s u ch o t h er[-] act s ev id en ce i s ad m i ss i b l e fo r ot her p u rp o s es

, i n cl u di n g t o

p ro v e i n t e n t

, m ot i v e, an d ab s en ce o f m i s t ak e o r acci d en t. Th e p art y

o fferi n g ev i d en ce u n d er Ru l e 4 0 4 (b ) m u st s h o w t h ree t h in g s : (1 ) t hat

t h e ev i den ce i s rel ev an t t o an i s s u e i n t h e cas e o t h er t h an t h e d efen d an t ’ s

ch aract er; (2 ) t hat t h e p ro b at i v e val u e o f t h e ev i d en ce is n o t su b s t an t i al l y

o u t wei g h ed b y i ts u n d ue p reju d i ce; an d (3 ) th at th ere i s s u ffi ci en t p ro o f

8fo r a ju ry t o fi n d b y a p rep o n d eran ce o f t h e ev i d en ce t h at t h e d efen d an t

co m m i t t ed t h e o t h er act

. 3

“ A tri al co u rt ’ s d eci s io n t o ad m i t o t h er[-] act s ev i den ce wi l l b e ov ert u rn ed o n l y wh ere

t h ere i s a cl ear ab u s e o f d i s cret i o n .” 4 “ R e l e v a n t ev i d en ce” i s t h at wh ich h as “ an y

t en d en cy t o m ak e t h e ex i s ten ce o f an y fact t h at is o f co n s eq u en ce t o t he d et erm i n at i o n

o f t he act i o n m o re p ro b ab l e o r l es s p ro b ab l e t h an i t wo u l d b e wi t h o u t t h e ev i d en ce.” 5

“ Th i s i s a b i n ary

q u es t i o n — ev i d en ce i s ei t h er rel ev an t o r i t i s n ot .” 6

(a) In t en t

. Th e Su p rem e Co u rt of Geo rg i a has “ ex p l ai n ed th at w h ere t h e i n t en t

req u i red fo r t he ch arg ed o ffen s es an d o t h er act s i s t h e s am e, an d in t en t i s at i s s u e, t h e

fi rs t p ro n g o f t h e R u l e 4 0 4 (b ) t es t is s at i s fi ed .” 7 Here, Mo o d y p l aced h i s i n t en t at

i s su e b y p l ead in g no t g u i l t y an d t ak i n g n o affi rm at i v e s t ep s t o rel i ev e t h e St at e o f i t s

3 (Ci t at i o n an d p u n ct uat i o n o m i t t ed .) S t ro n g v. S t a t e

, 3 0 9 Ga. 2 95

, 29 9 (2 ) (a)

(8 4 5 SE2 d 6 5 3 ) (2 0 2 0 ).

4 (Ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at io n o m i t t ed .) Mo t on v. S t a t e

, 3 5 1 Ga. Ap p

. 7 8 9

, 7 9 2

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

5 OCGA § 2 4 -4 -4 0 1.

6 S t r on g , 3 0 9 Ga. at 3 0 1 (2 ) (a).

7 (Ci t at i on an d p un ct u at i on o m i t t ed .) Ca s t il l o-Vel a s q u ez v. S t a t e

, 3 0 5 Ga. 6 4 4,

6 4 7 (2 ) (8 2 7 SE2 d 2 57 ) (2 0 1 9 ).

9b u rd en t o p ro v e in t en t

. 8 In t h i s cas e, t h e St at e ch arg ed h im wi t h ag g rav at ed as s au l t by

u s i n g a m ean s l i k el y t o cau s e s eri o us b o d il y i n ju ry an d b at tery ; i n t h e 20 1 2 i n ci d en t

,

M o o dy w as ch arg ed wi t h ag g rav at ed b at t ery an d ag g rav at ed as s au lt

. Becau s e t h es e

cri m es i n v o l ved t h e s am e s o rt o f i n t en t

, t h ey were rel ev an t t o s h o w M o od y ’ s i n t en t

h ere. 9

Th e Su p rem e Co u rt o f Geo rg i a h as cau t i o n ed t h at wh i l e

o t h er[-] act ev id en ce m a y b e rel ev an t t o p ro v i n g t h e g en eral i n t en t

el em en t o f a ch arg ed cri m e, wh en ap pl i ed t o t h e m a n y vi o l en t cri m es

t h at req u i re o n l y g en eral i n t en t

, [i t ] s h ou l d n o t b e v i ewed b y p ro s ecu t ors

o r t ri al co u rt s a s an o pen i n v i t at i o n t o ad m i t ev i d en ce of m arg i n al l y

s i m i l ar v i ol en t act s t h at i nv o l v e t h e s am e g en er al i n t en t. Becau s e gen eral

i n t en t i s n ot m ean i n g fu l l y d i s p u t ed i n m an y cas es

, wh i l e ev i d en ce t hat

t h e d efen dan t co m

m i t t ed o t h er vi o len t act s i s o ft en q ui t e p reju d i ci al

,

t ri al co u rt s s h o ul d b e es p eci al l y carefu l i n co n d u ct in g t h e O CGA §

2 4 -4 -4 0 3 b al an ci n g i n t h i s co n t ex t. Pro s ecu t o rs an d co u rt s s h o ul d al s o

8 See i d . at 6 4 7 (2 ).

9 See Ho wel l v. S t a t e

, 3 0 7 Ga. 8 6 5

, 8 7 4 (3 ) (8 38 SE2 d 8 3 9) (2 0 2 0) (p ri o r

as s au l t an d bat t ery rel ev an t t o s h o w in t en t in s u b s eq u en t ag g rav at ed as s au l t an d

ag g rav at ed b at t ery cas e); Ol d s v. S t a t e

, 29 9 Ga. 65

, 7 2 (2 ) (7 8 6 SE2 d 6 3 3 ) ( 2 0 1 6 )

(“ ev i d en ce t h at an accu s ed co m m i t ted an i n t en ti on al act g en eral ly i s rel ev an t t o s h o w

. . . t h at t he s am e d efen d an t co m m i t t ed a s i m i l ar act wi t h t h e s am e s o rt o f i n t en t ”).

10b e wary o f th e t em p t at i o n t o u s e ev i d en ce t h at w a s a d m i t t ed s ol el y t o

s h o w i n ten t fo r o t her p u rp o s es , s u ch as t o arg u e i d en t i t y o r m o t iv e. 1 0

Acco rd in g ly

, w e wi l l al s o d et erm i n e w het h er t h e o t h er-act ev i den ce i n t h i s cas e was

p ro p erl y ad m i tt ed fo r i d en t i t y an d m o t i v e.

(b ) Id en t i t y

.

Ev i d en ce o ffered t o p ro v e i d en t i t y m u s t s at i s fy a p a r t i cu l arl y

s t ri n g en t an al y s i s

. W h en ex t ri n si c o ffen s e e v i d en ce i s i n t ro d u ced t o

p ro v e i d en t i ty

, t he l i k en es s o f t h e o ffen s es i s th e cru ci al co n s id erat i o n

.

Th e p h y s i cal s i m il ar i t y m u s t b e s u ch t h at i t m ark s t he o ffen s es as th e

h an d i wo rk o f t he accu s ed

. I n o t h er wo rd s

, th e ev id en ce m u s t

d em o ns trat e a m o d u s o p eran d i

. Th e ex t ri ns i c act m u st b e a “ s i g nat u re”

cri m e, an d t h e d efen d an t m u s t hav e u s ed a m o d u s o p eran di t hat i s

u n i q u el y h i s. Th e s ig n at u re t rai t req u irem en t i s i m p o sed to en s u re t hat

t h e g o v ern m en t i s n o t rel y i n g o n an i n feren ce b as ed o n m ere ch aract er

— t h at a d efen d an t h as a p ro p en s i t y fo r cri m i n al b eh av i o r. Ev i d en ce

can n o t b e u s ed t o pro ve i d en t i t y si m p l y b ecau s e t h e d efen d an t h as at

o t h er t i m es co m

m i t t ed t he s am e co m

m o n p lace v ari et y of cri m i n al act

. 1 1

1 0 (Ci t at i o n an d em

p h as i s o m i t t ed .) Ja cks o n v. S t a te

, 3 0 6 Ga. 6 9, 80 (2 ) (b ) (i i )

n .1 2 (8 2 9 SE2 d 1 4 2 ) (2 0 19 ).

1 1 (Ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) Br o o k s v

. S t a t e

, 2 9 8 Ga. 7 2 2

, 7 2 5 (2 )

(7 8 3 SE2 d 8 9 5 ) (2 0 1 6 ).

11“ Th e i n feren ce o f i den t i t y fl o wi n g fro m

t h e o th er cri m e ‘ m

u s t b e ex t rem el y

s t ro n g ’

an d ‘ b ear s u ch p ecu l iar, u n i q u e, o r b i zarre s i m i l ari t ies as t o m ark t h em as t h e

h an di wo rk o f t h e s am e i nd i v i d u al .’ ” 1 2

In t h i s cas e, “ t h e two cri m es

, th o ug h s im i l ar, were n o t s u ffi ci en tl y u n co m m o n

s o as to co n s t i tu te a s i g n at u re cri m e, [an d ] th e p ri or cri m es were n o t ad m i s s i b l e u n d er

Ru l e 4 0 4 (b ) t o p ro ve id en t i t y .” 1 3 Acco rd in g l y

, t h e t ri al co u rt erred b y ad m it t i n g t h e

o t h er-act ev i d en ce fo r t h e p u rp o s e o f s h owi n g i d en t i t y

.

(c) Mo t ive

. As t h e Su p re m e Co urt o f Geo rg i a h as ex p l ai n ed

, “ [t ] o p ro p erl y

s h o w m o ti v e, t he ex t ri n s ic ev i d en ce m u s t be l o g i cal ly rel ev an t an d n eces s ary t o p ro v e

s o m et h in g o t h er t h an t h e accu sed ’ s p ro p en s i t y t o co m m i t t h e cri m e ch arg ed .” 1 4 “ To

ru l e o t herwi se wo u l d m ak e al l p ri o r ro b b eri es ad m i ss i b l e in an y ro bb ery cas e, al l p ri o r

m u rd ers ad m i s s i bl e i n an y m u rd er cas e, an d s o o n

. ” 1 5 Acco rding ly

, th e Su p rem e Co u rt

o f Geo rg i a h as reject ed t h e fo l l o wi n g arg u m en t s fo r ad m i s s ib i l i t y o f o t h er act s to

1 2 (Ci t at io n s an d fo o t no t es o m it t ed .) Amey v. S t a t e

, 3 3 1 G a. Ap p

. 2 4 4

, 2 5 0 (1 )

(a) (7 70 SE2 d 3 21 ) (2 0 1 5 ).

1 3 Mo o n v. S t a t e

, _

__ Ga. _

_ _ , _

_ _ (3 ) (c) (i i i ) (8 6 0 SE2 d 5 1 9 ) (2 0 2 1 ).

1 4 (Ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) S t r o n g

, 3 0 9 Ga. at 3 1 2 (2 ) (d ) (2 ).

1 5 (Ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) Br oo ks , 2 9 8 Ga. at 7 2 6 (2 ).

12s h o w m ot i v e as t h ey were “ cl as s i c i m p ro p er p ro p en s i t y

arg u m en t [s ] ”: “ ev i d en ce o f

[d efen d an t ’ s ] ot her v i o l en t act s was rel ev an t to s h ow t h at h e ‘ b el i ev ed i t accep t ab l e

t o en g ag e i n g u n v io l en ce t o s o l v e d i s p u t es ’ ” 1 6 ; “ ev i d en ce o f Ap pel l ant’ s o t her v i o l en t

a c t s w a s rel ev an t t o s h o w t h at h i s ‘ m o ti v e i s t o co n t ro l o t h er p eo p le’ wi t h v i o l e n c e

— ‘ wh en ev er a p ers o n d o es n ’ t su b m it t o h i s co n t ro l

, h e react s wi t h vi o l en ce’ ” 1 7 ; an d

“ t h e fact t h at Ap p el l a n t co m m i t t ed o t h er v i o len t cri m es ag ai n s t wo m en s h o wed h i s

‘ in cl i n at i o n’ t o u se v io l en ce t o o b t ai n m o ney an d s ex

. ” 1 8

Here, t h e St at e as sert s t h at t h e t ri al co u rt p ro p erl y ad m i t t ed t h e o t h er-act

ev i d en ce t o s h o w m o t i v e becau s e i t s h o wed t h at wh en M o o d y i s “ as k ed to l eav e a

l o cat io n by an ol d er wo m an

, [h e] co n s i d ers t h at s u ffi ci en t p ro v ocat i o n t o s tri k e t h at

wo m an i n t h e face rep eat ed l y

. . . .” Th i s i s t h e cl as s i c p ro p en s i t y arg um en t u s ed “ to

p ro v e t he ch aract er o f a p ers o n i n o rd er t o s ho w act i o n i n co n fo rm i t y t h erewi t h ” t h at

1 6 Mo o n

, _

__ Ga. at

_

_ _ (3 ) (c) (i i ).

1 7 S t r o n g , 3 0 9 Ga. at 3 1 2 (3 ) (d ) (2 ).

1 8 Ki r b y v. S ta te , 3 0 4 Ga. 4 7 2, 4 8 7 (4 ) (b ) (8 1 9 SE2 d 4 6 8 ) (2 0 18 ).

13i s n ot p erm i t t e d b y Ru l e 4 0 4 (b ). Th erefo re, t h e t ri al co u rt erred b y ad m i t t i n g s u ch

ev i d en ce fo r t h e p u rp o s e o f m o t i v e. 1 9

W h i l e t h e St at e rel i es u p o n S ma r t v. S t a t e

, 2 0 an d Ch a mb er s v. St a t e

, 2 1 t o as s ert

t h at t h e o t her-act ev i d en ce co u l d b e ad m i t ted fo r m o t iv e, t h es e cas es are

d i s t i n gu i sh ab l e. In t hes e cas es

, t h e o t h er-act ev i d en ce was u s ed t o s h o w t h at t h e

d efen d a n t “ u s ed v i o l en ce t o co n t ro l [h i s wi fe,] ” 2 2 o r “ res o rt ed t o vi o l en ce t o as s ert

co n tro l ov er h i s f

e m a l e p art n ers .” 2 3 As t h e Su p rem e Co u rt o f Geo rg i a i n t i m at ed in

S t r o n g

, th e u se o f p ri o r act s t o s h ow t h at “ d o m es t i c v i o l en ce m ay b e m o t i v at ed b y a

d efen d an t ’ s d es i re t o co n t ro l h i s i nt i m at e p art n er wi t h t h reat s an d as s au l ts [,] ” i s n ot

ap p ro p ri at e wh en t h e ch arg ed cri m e d o es n o t i n v o l v e i n t i m at e p art n ers

. 2 4

(d ) P r ej u d i ce

. Hav i n g co n cl u d ed

, h o wev er, th at t h e t ri al co u rt p ro p erl y

ad m i t t ed t h e o th er-act ev i den ce fo r t h e p u rp o s e o f i nt en t

, we n o w t u rn t o wh et h er i t

1 9 See Mo o n

, Ga. at

_

__ (3 ) (c) (i i ); St ro n g

, 3 0 9 Ga. at 31 2 (3 ) (d ) (2 ); Ki r b y v.

S t a t e , 3 0 4 Ga. 4 72 , 4 8 7 (4 ) (b ) (8 1 9 SE2 d 4 68 ) (2 0 1 8 )

.

2 0 2 9 9 Ga. 4 1 4 (7 8 8 SE2 d 4 42 ) (2 0 1 6 ).

2 1 3 5 1 Ga. Ap p . 7 7 1 (8 3 3 SE2 d 1 5 5 ) (2 0 1 9 ).

2 2 S ma rt , 2 9 9 Ga. at 4 1 8 (2 ) (a).

2 3 Ch a mb er

s

, 3 5 1 Ga. Ap p . at 7 7 8 (2 ).

2 4 S t r o n g , 3 0 9 Ga. at 3 1 2 (2 ) (d ) (2 ) n .1 9

.

14s h o u l d h a v e b een ex cl u d ed u n d er OCGA § 2 4 -4 -4 0 3 (“ Ru l e 40 3 ”) b ecau s e “ i t s

p ro b at i v e v al u e [wa] s s u b st an t i al l y o u t wei g h ed by t h e d an ger o f u n fai r p reju d i ce[.] ” 2 5

“ To det erm i n e w h et h er rel e v an t ev i d en ce i s m o re p ro b at i v e t h an p reju d i ci al

, o u r

Su p r e m e C o u rt h as ex p lai n ed t h at

, g en eral l y sp eak i n g

, t he g reat er t h e t en d en cy to

m ak e t h e ex i s t e n c e o f a fact m o re o r l es s pro b ab l e, t h e g reat er t h e pro b at i v e

v al u e.” 2 6 An d

, “ t h e ex t en t t o wh i ch ev i d en ce t en d s t o m ak e th e ex i s t en ce o f a fact

m o re o r l es s p ro b ab le dep en ds s i g n i fi can tl y o n t h e q u al i t y o f t h e ev id en ce an d t h e

s t ren gt h o f i t s l o g i cal co n n ect i o n to t h e fact fo r wh i ch i t i s o ffered .” 2 7 Th e Ru l e 4 0 3

an al y s i s “ req u ires a co m

m o n s en s e as s es s m en t o f al l t h e ci rcu m s t an ces su rro u n d i n g

t h e ex t ri n s i c act an d t h e ch arg ed o ffen s e” i n c l u d i n g “ th e pro s ecu t ori al n eed fo r t h e

ex t ri ns i c ev i d en ce, t he o v eral l s i m i l ari t y b et ween t h e ex t ri n s i c a ct an d t h e ch arg ed

o ffen s e, an d t h e t em

p o ral rem o t e n e s s o f th e ot h er act .” 2 8 “ [W hen ] rev iewi n g i s s u es

u n d e r Ru l e 4 0 3

, we l o ok at t he ev id en ce in a l ig h t m o s t fav orab l e t o i t s ad m i s s i o n,

2 5 (Ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) Id . at 3 01 (2 ) (a).

2 6 (Ci t at i o n s an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) Ch a mb er s , 3 5 1 Ga. Ap p. at 7 7 8 (2 ).

2 7 Ol d s , 2 9 9 Ga. at 7 5 (2 ).

2 8 (Ci t at io n s an d p u n ct u at i on o m i t t ed .) Jer n i g a n v. S t a t e

, 3 57 Ga. Ap p

. 4 1 5,

4 2 2 -4 2 3 (2 ) (a) (i i) (8 4 8 SE2 d 7 0 7 ) (2 0 2 0 ).

15m ax i m i zi n g i ts p ro b at i ve v al u e an d m i n im izi n g i ts u n d u e p reju d ici al i m p act .” 2 9

M o reo v er, “ wh en o t her-act s ev i d en ce is i nt ro d u ced t o p ro v e i n t en t a s o p p o s e d to

i d en t i t y a l es s er d eg ree o f s i m i l ari t y b et w een th e ch arg ed cri m e an d t h e ex t ri n s i c

ev i d en ce i s req u i red .” 3 0

W e reco g n i ze t h at t h e ex cl u s i o n o f ev i d en ce u n d er Ru l e 4 0 3 (b ) “ i s an

ex t rao rd i n ary rem ed y wh i ch s h o u ld b e us ed o n l y s p ari n gl y .” 3 1 Nev ert h el es s , i n t h i s

cas e, th e t ri al co u rt ab us ed i t s d i s cret i o n b y co n cl u di n g t h at t h e p ro bat i v e v al u e o f

M o o dy ’ s p ri o r co n v i ct i o n s fo r t h e p u rp os e o f p r o v i n g i nt en t was n o t su b s t an t i al l y

o u t wei gh ed b y

u n fai r p reju d i ce.

Th ere are s o m e si m i l ari t i es b et ween t h e t wo in ci d en ts

, an d t h e fi rs t i s n o t t o o

t em p o ral l y rem o t e t o b e pro bat i v e. Mo re i m p o rt an tl y

, h o wev e r

, t h ere was n o

s u b s t an t i al pr ose c utor ia l ne e d f o r the oth er-act s ev i d en ce. Th e i n s t an t cri m es i n v o l v ed

g en eral in t en t, an d n ei t h er p art y al l eg ed t h at M oo d y ’ s act i o n s ag ai n s t th e vi ct i m were

2 9 (Ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) G r een v. S t a t e

, 3 52 Ga. Ap p

. 2 8 4

, 2 9 1

(2 ) (e) (8 3 4 SE2 d 3 7 8) (2 01 9 ).

3 0 (Ci t at i on

, p u nct u at io n, fo o t n o t e an d em p h as i s o m i t t ed .) Jer ni

g a n

, 3 5 7 Ga.

Ap p

. at 4 2 4 (2 ) (a) (i i ). See Bu r g es s v. S ta t e

, 3 4 9 Ga. Ap p

. 6 3 5

, 6 4 2 (3 ) (8 2 4 SE2 d

9 9 ) (2 0 1 9 ), o v erru l ed o n o t h er g ro u n d s

, H i l l v. S t a t e

, 3 60 Ga. A p p

. 1 4 3

, 1 4 6

, n .4 (8 6 0

SE2 d 8 9 3) (2 0 2 1).

3 1 (Ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) Ol ds , 2 9 9 Ga. at 7 0 (2 ).

16u n i n t en t i on al

. 3 2 T hu s

, th e p ro b at i v e v al u e o f t h e ev i d en ce o f t h e 2 0 12 at t ack o n h i s

m o th er t o p ro v e M o o d y ’ s i n t en t i n t h e ch arg ed cri m es was m i n i m al

. 3 3 An d “ [o ] n t h e

o t h er s id e o f t h e OCGA § 24 -4 -4 0 3 b al an ce, i t i s u n d o u b t e dl y p reju d i ci al t o b e

l ab el ed ” a m an wi t h n o res pect fo r wo m en

, i n cl u d i ng hi s o wn m o th er, wh o b eat s t h em

wh en as k ed t o l eav e. 3 4 “ In s u m

, t h e u n fai r p reju d i ce fro m t h e o t h e r a c t ev i d en ce

cl earl y an d s u b s t an ti al l y o u t wei g h ed i t s m in i m al p ro b at iv e v al u e, an d t he tri al co u rt

t h erefo re ab u s ed i t s d i s cret io n b y ad m i t t i n g t h e ev i d en ce.” 3 5

3 2 See Ja c k

s o n

, 30 6 Ga. at 7 8 -7 9 (2 ) (b ) (i i ) (ex p l ai n i ng t h at “ ‘ i f t h e St at e’ s

t h res ho l d t o p ro v e i n t en t as an el em en t o f a cri m e is rel at i v el y lo w, as i t l i k el y i s wh en

t h e ch arg ed cri m e i s o ne o f g en eral i n t en t

, t h en t h e p ro b a t i v e v a l u e o f t he ex t ri n s i c

act ev i d en ce w o ul d n eces s ari l y b e m i n i m al .”), q uo t i n g Jo n es v. S t a t e

, 30 1 Ga. 5 4 4,

5 4 8 ( 8 0 2 S E2 d 2 34 ) (2 01 7 ). See al s o Ki r b y

, 3 0 4 Ga. at 4 8 6 (h o l di n g t h at a p ri o r

ag g rav at ed as s au l t h ad m i n i m al p ro b at iv e v al ue as t o i nt en t b ecau s e t h ere was s can t

n eed fo r ex t ri n s i c ev i d en ce t o s h o w t h at t he d efen d an t i n t en t i o n a l l y s t ab b ed t h e

v i ct i m

, wh o h ad b een s t ab b ed m u l t i p l e t i m es ); Un it ed S t a t es v. S a n Ma r t i n

, 5 0 5 F2 d

9 1 8

, 9 23 (5 t h Ci r. 19 7 4 ) (“ Pri or c r i m e s i n v o lv in g d el i b erat e an d carefu l l y

p rem ed i t at ed i n t en t

— s u ch as frau d an d fo rg ery

— are far m o re li k el y t o h av e

p ro b at i v e v al u e wi t h res p ect t o l at er act s t h an p ri o r cri m es in v ol v i n g a q u i ck l y an d

s p o n tan eo u s l y

fo rm ed i n t en t

—

s u ch as as s au lt

. ”) (p u n ct uat i o n o m i t ted ).

3 3 See i d . at 7 9 (2 ) (b ) (i i ).

3 4 Id

.

3 5 Id . at 80 (2 ) (b ) (i i ).

17(e) Ha r m

. “ No t al l t ri al erro rs req u i re rev ers al

, h o w ev er; a d efen d an t i s en t i t l ed

t o a fai r t ri al b u t n o t a p erfect o n e, fo r t h ere are n o p erfect tri al s .” 3 6 Th erefo re, h av i n g

co n cl u d ed t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred b y ad m i t t i n g t h e o t h er-act ev i d en ce, w e m u s t n o w

d et erm i n e wh et h er i t en t i t l es M o o d y t o a n ew t ri al o r was h arm l es s erro r.

Th e te s t fo r d et erm i n i n g n on co n s t i t u t io n al h arm l es s erro r i s

wh et h er i t is h i g h l y p ro b ab l e t h at t h e e r ro r d i d n o t co n t ri b ut e t o th e

v erd ict

. In d et erm in in g wh et h er t ri al co u rt erro r w as h arm l es s

, we

‘ rev i ew t h e reco rd d e n o v o

, an d w e we i g h t h e ev i d en ce as we w o u l d

ex p ect reas on ab l e ju ro rs t o h av e d o n e s o as op p o s ed t o v iewi n g i t al l i n

t h e l i g h t m o s t fav o rab le t o t h e ju ry ’ s v erd i ct

. 3 7

Do i ng s o h ere, “ we co ncl u d e t h at it i s h i g h l y p ro b ab l e t h at t h e tri al co u rt ’ s erro r in

ad m i t t i ng [ev i d e n c e o f t h e 2 0 12 i n ci d en t b et ween M o o dy an d h i s m o t h er] d i d n ot

co n tri b u t e t o t h e ju ry ’ s g u i lt y v erd i ct .” 3 8

Th e ev i d en ce t hat M o o dy co m m i t t ed ag g rav at ed as s au l t an d b at t ery ag ai n s t t h e

v i ct i m w as o v erwh el m i n g

. M o o d y d i d n o t t es t i fy

, l eav i n g co m p l et el y u nreb u t t ed : (1 )

t es t i m o ny b y t he n ei g h b o r, t h e v i ct i m

, an d h er fri en d wai t i ng i n t h e car t h at M o o dy

3 6 (Pu n ct u at i o n o m i t ted .) P e o p l e s v

. St a t e

, 2 9 5 Ga. 4 4

, 55 (4 ) (c) (7 5 7 SE2 d

6 4 6 ) (2 0 1 4 ).

3 7 (Ci t at i o n s an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) Id

.

3 8 Id

.

18an d t h e v i ct i m were i n t h e n ei g h b o r’ s h om e at th e s am e t i m e; (2 ) t h at aft er t he v i ct i m

en t ered t h e n ei g hb o r’ s h o u se, h er fri en d wai t in g i n t h e car h eard wh at s o un d ed l i k e

fu rn i tu re b ei n g th ro wn aro u n d, s aw t h e v i ct i m ’ s m o u t h an d n os e bl eed i n g

, an d s aw

M o o dy ex i t t he n ei g hb o r’ s h o u s e, g et i n t o h i s car, an d l e a ve t h e s cen e; t h at M o o dy

ex cl ai m ed t o t h e f

r i e n d as h e wal k ed t o h i s car, “ I t o l d h er I w as g o i n g t o b eat h er

as s ”; (3 ) t h e vi ct i m ’ s t es t i m o n y t h at s h e an d M oo d y arg u ed

, an d t h e n ex t t h i n g s h e

k n ew s h e was o n th e g ro u n d wi t h M o o d y co n t i n u o u s l y

“ s t o m pi n g an d s t o m

p i n g

. . .

[h er] h e a d o n t h a t wo o d fl o o r”; an d (4 ) t h at t h e v i ct i m wen t t o t h e h o sp i t al t h e

fo l l o w i n g m o rn i ng fo r h er b l o o d y l ip

, g u m s, an d n o s e; a l oo s e t o o th ; s wo l l en l i p s an d

ey e; b ru i ses ; an d a b ad h ead ach e.

As t o t h e p o t en ti al h arm fu l effect o f t h e o t h e r-act ev i d en ce, t h e t ri al co u rt

i n s t ru ct ed t h e ju ry bo t h b efo re t h e ad m i s s i o n o f t h e ev i den ce an d i n t h e g en eral ju ry

ch arg e at t h e cl o s e o f t h e ev i d en ce t h at th e o t h er-act ev i d en ce co u l d b e co n s i d ered

o n l y fo r l i m i t ed pu rp o s es an d t h at Mo o d y was on l y o n t ri al fo r t h e o ffen s es ch arg ed

i n th i s cas e. 3 9 Th e ju ry was ad v i s ed o f t h e n at u re o f M o o d y ’ s p ri o r Al f o rd p l ea, was

i n s t ru ct ed t h at t h e arg u m en t o f co u ns el was n o t ev i d en ce, an d w as aware th at M o o dy

h ad b een s en t en ced to 1 8 m o n t h s i n p ri so n

, wh i ch m ak es it “ l es s l i k el y t h at t h e ju ry

3 9 See Ho wel l , 3 07 Ga. at 8 7 5 (3 ).

19wo u l d h av e wan t ed t o p u ni sh h i m fo r hi s p as t co nd u ct rat h er t han t h e ch arg ed

cri m es .” 4 0 Fi nal l y

, M o o d y ’ s m o t h er t es t i fi ed at t ri al t h at sh e an d M o o d y “ d on ’ t arg ue”

an d t hat s h e d i d n o t recal l t h e pri o r i n ci d en t ; s h e d en i ed t el l i n g p o li ce th at h er s o n h ad

at t ack ed h er.

Co n s i d eri ng t h e t ri al reco r d a s a wh o l e, an d w ei g h i n g th e

ev i d en ce as we b el iev e t h at reas o n ab l e ju ro rs wo u l d, we are co nv i n ced

t h at t h e ju ry i n t h i s cas e wo u l d h av e fo u n d [M o o dy ] g u il t y of th e s am e

cri m es h ad t h e

. . . ev id en ce [o f h is 2 0 1 2 as s au l t o n h i s m o t h er] n ot b een

erro n eo us l y ad m i t t ed

. M o reo v er, co m p ared t o t h e o v erwh el m i n g o t h er

ev i d e nce o f [M o o d y ’ s ] g u i l t

, we d o n o t v i ew t h e [2 01 2 ] ev id en ce as

p art i cu l arl y co m

p el li n g o r p reju d i ci al

. W e t h erefo re co n cl u de t h at i t i s

h i g h l y p ro b ab l e th at t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s erro r i n ad m i t t i n g t h e i n d ep en d en t

o ffen s e ev i d en ce di d n o t affect t he ju ry ’ s v erd i ct

, an d a n ew t ri al is n o t

req u ired

. 4 1

2

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

. M oo d y al s o co n ten d s th at h i s t ri al co u n s el p ro v i d ed

i n effect i v e as s i s t an ce b y fai li n g t o o b ject to p o rt io n s o f t h e St at e’ s cl o s in g arg u m en t

.

W e fi n d n o b as i s fo r rev ers al

.

Du ri n g cl o s in g a r gum e n t s, w he n a ddr e s sing M oody ’ s a c ti o n s ag ai n s t t h e v i ct i m

an d ag ai n s t h i s m o t h er, t h e St at e arg u ed t h at M o od y “ d o es n’ t l i k e b ei ng to l d n o ” an d

4 0 Id . at 87 5 -8 7 6 (3 ).

4 1 Peo p les , 2 9 5 Ga. at 5 8 (4 ) (c). See al s o Ho wel l , 3 0 7 Ga. at 8 75 -8 7 6 (3 ).

20t h at “ h e’ s v io len t t o ward p eo p l e h e t h i n k s are w eak .” M o o d y co n t en d s t h at t ri al

co u ns el ’ s fai l u re t o o b

ject t o t h es e s t at em en ts co n s ti t ut ed i n effect i v e as si st an ce.

To p rev ai l o n t h i s cl ai m

, M o o d y m u s t d em o n s t rat e t h at

h i s co u n s el ’ s p erfo rm an ce was pro fes s i on al l y d efi ci en t an d t h at h e w as

p reju d i ced b y t h e defi ci en t p erfo rm an ce. If an ap p el lan t i s u nab l e t o

s at i s f y o n e p ro n g o f t h e S t r i ckl a n d v. W a s h i n g t o n 4 2 t es t

, i t i s n o t

i n cu m b en t u p o n [an ap p el l at e c] o u rt t o ex am i n e t h e o t her p ro n g

.

To p ro v e d e f

i ci en t p erfo rm an ce, [M oo d y ] m us t s h o w t h at h is l awy er

p erfo rm ed at t ri al i n an o b ject i vel y u n reas o n ab l e way co n s i d eri n g al l th e

ci rcu m s t an ces an d i n t he l i g h t o f p rev ai li n g p ro fes s io n al n orm s. . . .

To s at i s fy t h e p reju d i ce p ro n g

, [M oo d y ] m u s t d em o n st rat e a reas o n ab l e

p ro b ab i l i t y t hat

, i n t h e ab s en ce o f co u n s el ’ s defi ci en t p erfo rm an ce, th e

res u lt o f t h e t ri al wo u l d hav e b een d ifferen t . As [t h e Su p rem e Co urt o f

Geo rg i a h as ] s ai d b efo re, s at i s fact i o n o f t h is t es t i s a d i ffi cu l t en d eav o r.

Si m p l y b ecau s e a d efen d an t h as s h o wn t hat h is t ri al co un s el p erfo rm ed

d efi ci en t l y d o es n o t l ead t o an au to m at i c c o n c l u s io n t h at h e w as

p reju d i ced by co u n se l ’s d efi ci en t p erfo rm an ce. An ap p el l an t b ears th e

b u rd en o f s at i s fy i n g bo t h p ro n g s o f t h e S t r i ckl a n d t es t

. 4 3

4 2 4 6 6 U. S. 6 6 8 , 6 8 7 , 6 9 4 (1 0 4 SCt 2 05 2 , 8 0 LE2 d 6 7 4 ) (1 9 84 ).

4 3 (Ci t at i o n s an d p u nct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) D a vi s v. S t a t e

, 3 0 6 Ga. 14 0

, 1 4 3 -1 4 4 (3 )

(8 2 9 SE2 d 3 2 1 ) (2 0 1 9 ).

21Pret erm it t i n g wh et her t ri al co u n sel p erfo rm ed d efi ci en t l y b y n o t o b ject i n g to

t h e St at e’ s cl o s i ng arg u m en t

,

[M o od y ] has fa i l e d t o sh o w a reas o n ab l e li k el i h o od t h at

, ab s en t th e

fai l u re o f h i s l awy er t o o b ject t o th e p ro s ecu ti n g at t o rn ey ’ s s t at em en t s

,

t h e o u tco m e o f t h e t ri al w o u l d h av e b een di fferen t

. N o t o n l y d i d th e

St at e p res en t s ub s t an t i al ev i d en ce o f [M o o dy ’ s ] gu i l t

, . . . t h e t ri al co u rt

al s o i n s t ru ct ed t h e j u ry t h at cl o s i n g arg u m en t s were n o t ev id en ce.

Acco rd i ng l y , t h i s cl ai m

fai l s

. 4 4

3

. A bs en ce f

r om mo t io n f

o r n ew t r i a l h ea r i n g

. Fi n al l y

, M o o dy al l eg es t h at h i s

d u e pro ces s ri g ht s were v i o l at ed wh en t h e t ri al co urt d en i ed hi s req u es t t o b e

p h y s i cal l y

p res en t fo r t h e h eari n g o n h is m ot i o n fo r n ew t ri al

. W e d i s ag ree.

M o o d y fi led a m o t i o n to b e p h y s i cal l y p res en t at t h e m o t i o n fo r n e w t r i a l

h eari n g

. 4 5 Fo l l o wi n g a h e a r i n g

, t h e t ri al co urt en t ered an o rd er d en y i n g M o o d y ’ s

4 4 (Ci t at io n s an d p u nct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) La n e v. S t a t e

,

_ _ _ Ga.

_ _ _ ,

_ __ (2 ) (b )

(Cas e No . S2 1 A1 0 29 ; d eci d ed Oct . 5 , 2 0 2 1 ).

4 5 At t h e ti m e t he m o t i o n was fi l ed

, a s tat ewi d e ju d i ci al em erg en cy o rd er was

i n effect

. See Co

p el a n d v. Co

p el a n d

,

__

_ Ga.

__ _ ,

_ __ n .3 (“ On M arch 1 4

, 2 0 2 0

,

p u rs u an t t o OCGA § 38 -3 -6 2 an d ci t i n g t h e p ub l i c h eal t h em erg en cy p res en ted b y t h e

COVID-1 9 p an dem i c, Geo rg ia S u p r e m e Co u rt Ch i ef J u st i ce Haro l d M el t on i s s u ed

an o rd er decl ari ng a s t at ewi d e ju d i ci al em erg en cy

. Am o ng o th er th i n gs

, t h e ju d i ci al

em erg en cy d ecl arat i o n s u sp en d ed

, t ol l ed

, ex t en ded an d o t h erwi s e g ran t ed rel i ef fro m

an y d ead l i n es o r ti m e s ch ed u l es i n ci v i l an d cri m i nal cas es

. Th e o rd e r was s et to

ex p ire o n Ap ri l 1 3

, 20 2 0

, b u t was ex t en d ed s ev eral ti m es

. . . . Th e ju di ci al em erg en cy

o rd ers

. . . m ay a l s o b e v i ewed at t h e Geo rg i a Su prem e Co urt ’ s web s i t e,

22m o ti o n t o b e p h y s ical l y p res en t

, b u t p ro v i d ed hi m t h e op p o rt u n i t y to at t en d an d t es t i fy

v i a v i d eo co n feren ce. M o o d y t es t i fi ed vi a v i d eo co n feren ce at t h e m o ti o n fo r n ew t ri al

h eari n g o n v ari o u s i s s u es , i n cl u d i n g h i s i n teract i o n s an d co m m u n i cat i o n s wi t h t ri al

co u ns el

. He n ow arg u es t h a t t h e t r i a l co u rt ’ s d en i al o f h i s m o ti o n t o b e p h y s i cal l y

p res en t m an d at es t h at h e recei ve a n ew t ri al

.

In Geo rg i a, t h e co n s t it u t i o nal ri g h t o f o n e accu s ed o f a fel on y t o

b e p res en t d uri n g t h e co u rs e o f h is t ri al do es n o t ex t en d to p o st -v erd i ct

p r o ced u res s u ch as a m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al

. Rat h er, d ue pro ces s aff o r d s

h i m t h e ri gh t t o b e p res en t at su ch a heari n g o n l y i f h i s p res en ce w o u l d

co n t ri b u t e t o t h e fai rn es s o f t h e p ro ced u re. [If] t h e d efen d an t’ s t es t i m o n y

wo u ld d o n o t h i n g t o s up p o rt h i s cl ai m s of erro r, t h en du e p ro ces s d o es

n o t req u i re h is p res en ce. 4 6

“ M oreo v er, a d e f

e n d a n t m u s t s h o w t h at h arm as wel l as erro r res u l t ed fro m t h e

ex cl u s i o n o f t es ti m on y

at t h e n ew t ri al h eari n g

. ” 4 7

www.g as u p rem e.u s .”).

4 6 (Ci t at i o n s an d p u n ct u at i o n o m it t ed .) Ma n t o o th v. S t a t e

, 3 03 Ga. Ap p . 3 3 0,

3 3 6 (2 ) (6 9 3 SE2 d 58 7 ) (2 0 1 0 ), q u o t i n g W a l l a ce v. St a t e

, 2 9 4 Ga. Ap p. 15 9

, 1 6 1 (2 )

(6 6 9 SE2 d 4 00 ) (2 0 0 8 ); Fl o r es cu v. S t a t e

, 2 7 6 Ga. Ap p

. 2 6 4, 2 6 7 (1 ) (c) (6 2 3 SE2 d

1 4 7 ) (2 0 0 5 ).

4 7 Ba r l ow v. S t at e , 3 2 7 Ga. Ap p . 7 1 9, 7 2 8 (5 ) (7 6 1 SE2 d 1 2 0) (2 01 4 ).

23Here, M o od y ’ s arg u m en ts were t h at th e tri al co u rt erred b y ad m i tt i ng t h e p ri o ract ev i d en ce an d t h at t ri al co u n s el was in effect i v e fo r fai l i n g t o o b ject t o t h e St at e’ s

cl o s i ng arg u m en t ; h e d i d n o t t es t i fy o n ei t h er o f th es e s u b ject s at t h e heari ng

. M o o dy

h as fai l ed t o s h o w h o w h i s t es t i m on y at t h e m o t io n fo r n ew t ri al h eari n g m ad e

p h y s i cal l y i n p ers o n

, as o p p o s ed t o v i a v i d eo co n feren ce, w o u ld s u p p o rt t h o s e

arg u m en t s o r o t h erwi s e “ co n t r i b u t e t o t h e fai rn es s o f th e p ro ced u re,” 4 8 n o r h as h e

d em o n s t rat ed t h a t n o t bei n g p erm it t ed t o t es t i fy i n p ers o n was h arm fu l

. 4 9 Th u s

,

M o o dy has n o t s h o wn rev ers i b l e erro r.

Ju d g men t a f f i r m ed . Rees e, J., co n cu r

s . Br o wn , J., d i s s en t

s

.

4 8 (Pu n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) Ma n t o o t h , 3 0 3 Ga. Ap p

. at 3 3 6 (2 ).

4 9 See Ba rl o w , 3 2 7 Ga. Ap p . at 7 2 8 -7 2 9 (5 ).

24

# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

B R O W N , J u d g e, d i s s en t i n g

.

I ag ree t h at t h e t ri al co urt erred b y ad m i t ti n g o th er-act ev i d en ce fo r t h e p u rp o s e

o f s h o wi ng m o t iv e an d i d en t i t y an d t h at t h e pro b at i v e v al u e o f t h i s ev i d en ce fo r t h e

p u rp os e o f i n t en t was s u b s t an t i al ly o u t wei g h ed by t he d an g er o f u nfai r p reju d i ce i n

t h i s cas e. I re s p e c t f

u l ly d i s s en t b ecau s e I can n o t s ay t h at t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s erro r in

ad m i t t i ng ev i d en ce th at M o o d y p rev i o us l y h ad b eat en u p h i s m o th er “ d i d n ot

co n tri b u t e t o t h e ju ry ’ s g u i l t y v erd i ct s o n t h e ch arg ed cri m es ,” wh i ch al s o i n v o l v ed

t h e as s au l t o f a wo m an

, p art i cu larl y wh en t he St at e’ s at t o rn ey h am m ered an i m p ro p er

p ro p en s it y arg u m en t du ri n g h er cl o s i n g an d t h e t ri al co u rt i m p ro p erl y in s t ru ct ed t h eju ry

t h at i t co u l d u s e t h e o t h er-act ev i d en ce as p ro o f o f m o t i v e. Hea r d v. S t a t e , 3 0 9

Ga. 7 6 , 9 5 (3 ) (g ) (8 4 4 SE2 d 7 9 1 ) (2 0 2 0 ).

“ In d et erm i n i n g wh et h er t ri al co u rt erro r was h arm l es s

, we rev i ew t h e reco rd

d e n o v o an d wei g h t h e ev id en ce as we w o u l d ex p ect reas o n ab l e j u ro rs t o h av e d o n e

s o .” (Ci t at i on an d p u nct u at i o n o m it t ed .) Hea r d

, 30 9 G a. at 9 0 (3 ) (g ). In t h i s cas e, t h e

St at e ch arg ed M oo d y wi t h fel o n y ag g rav at ed as s au l t “ b y s t ri k i n g [t h e v i ct i m ] ab o ut

t h e h ead wi t h [t h e] accu s ed ’ s feet

, a m ean s l i k el y t o cau s e s eri o u s b o d i l y i n ju ry wh en

u s ed o ffen s iv el y ag ai n st a p ers o n ” an d m i s d em ean o r b at t ery fo r “ i n t en t i o n al l y

cau s [i n g ] s u b s t an ti al p h y s i cal h arm o r v is i bl e bo d i l y h arm [t o th e v i ct im ]

. ” 1 W h i l e

t h e m ajo ri t y p o i nt s t o o t h er ev i d en ce s h o wi n g t h at M o o dy co m m i tt ed an as sau l t

, t h e

v i ct i m i s t h e o nl

y wi t n es s wh o t es t i fi ed t h at M oo d y u sed h i s feet d u ri n g th e as s au l t

as al l eg ed i n t h e in d i ct m en t

. 2 A ju ry i s n o t o b l i g at ed t o b el i ev e t h e v i ct i m ’ s t es t i m o n y

,

1 Th e tri al co u rt m erg ed t h e b at t ery co u n t i n t o th e ag g rav at ed as s au l t co u n t at

s en t en ci n g

.

2 Th e e l d e r l y n ei g h b o r, wh o was t h e o n l y ey ewi t n es s

, had a h ard t i m e

rem em b eri n g t h e i n ci d en t , s t at in g wh en as k ed ab o u t i t fo r t h e fi rs t t i m e at t ri al :

Th at i s wh ere I d w el l o n t h i s v i v i d l y f o r q u i t e a b it n o w. I d o n ’ t kn o w

wh i ch cam e fi rs t, t h e eg g o r t h e ch i ck en co m es fi rs t

. T h ere w as

s o m eb o dy t h at I n e v e r s a w b efo re an d I d id n ’ t k n o w t h e es s en ce o f i t

. Yo u k n o w, t al k ed t o m e o u t s i d e. An d I t h i n k m y d oo r was o p en b ecau s e

I d i d n ’ t cl o s e m

y d o o r, b u t I can ’ t r e m e m b e r w h et h er i t was eg g o r

2s ee S

co t t v. S t a t e

, 3 0 7 Ga. 3 7, 4 1 (1 ) (b ) (8 3 4 SE2 d 8 8) (2 0 1 9), an d M o o d y ’ s d efen s e

s t rat eg y was o n e o f qu es t i o n i ng t h e cred i b i l i t y o f t h e v i c t im an d as sert i n g t h at h e

co m m i t t ed m i s d em ean o r b at t ery rat h er t h an fel o n y

ag grav at ed as s au l t

. Hi s at t o rn ey

arg u ed i n cl o s i n g t h at t h e v ict i m ’ s s t o ry was in co m

p l et e an d d efi ed co m

m o n s en s e,

t h at t h e res p o n di n g p o l i ce o ffi cer refu s ed to t ak e h er st at em en t becau s e s h e was t o o

ch i ck en co m e fi rs t.

As k ed if h e rem em

b ered wh at h ap p en ed wh en t he m an cam e in t o h i s h o u s e, h e s t at ed

,

“ On ce ag ai n

, I rep eat m

y sel f. W h et h er t h e ch i ck en o r th e eg g co m es fi rs t, I d i d n ot

k n o w

— I can no t reco l l ect ex act l y

, b u t I w as t h ere an d s o m eb o d y el s e was t h e r e

. ”

As k ed i f h e k n ew wh et h er s o m et h i n g h ap p en ed t o t h e v i ct im , h e rep l i ed :

Li k e I s ai d

, wh et h er t h e ch ick en o r th e eg g co m es fi rs t, y o u k n o w, I

—

t h at ’ s on e way I can ex p res s m y s el f th i s

— I m et t h em in d iv i du al l y

, y o u

k n o w, i t ju s t h ap p en ed

. Th e i n d i v i d u al co m e an d l i ke I sai d t h e ch i ck en

o r t h e eg g

, I co u l d n o t rem em b er ex act l y , b u t i n t hat o rd er t h at ’ s wh y I

l eft d o or o p en b ecau s e I, y o u k n o w, an d t h ere was s om et h i n g g o i n g o n

b et ween t h em

. It w as a s i t u at io n o r s o m et h in g

, I do n ’ t kn o w, I can n o t

s p ecu l at e o n t h at

.

W h en as ked i f h e s aw s o m eo ne h i t t h e v ict i m

, h e sai d “ [t ] h ere w a s an al t ercat i o n

g o i n g o n i n m

y l i v i n g ro o m wi t h t h i s ch i ck en o r t h e eg g g o i n g o n t h at m ak e [s i c] m e

unc om f or tab l e.” In a fo l l ow-u p q u es t i o n

, h e ag reed t h at h e w as u n co m fo rt ab l e “ [w] i th

t h e al t ercat i o n g o i n g o n

. . . in s i d e i n t h e l i v in g ro o m b et ween t h e ch i ck en an d t h e

eg g

. . . . ” W h en as k ed i f h e saw “ an y b o dy h i t [t h e v i ct im ] o r do an y t h i n g to [h er,] ” h e

rep l i ed : “ Yes

. I d o n o t s p eci fi cal l y s ee

— I m ean

, y o u k n o w, c a n ’t r e c o l l ect

, b u t I

k n o w t he al t ercat io n was b eco m i n g s o u n b earab l e fo r m e pers o n al ly .” H e n e v e r

ex p li ci t l y i d en ti fi ed M o o d y as t h e m an wh o h it t h e v ict i m a n d n e v e r s t at ed t h at

s o m eo n e k i ck ed t he v i ct i m i n t h e h ead

.

3b el l i g eren t

, t h at h er i n j u ri es d i d n o t m at ch h er as sert i o n t h at M o o d y h ad s t o m p ed o n

h er h ead n u m ero u s t i m es , t h at i f h e h ad s t o m ped o n h er h ead , s h e wo u l d h av e g o n e

t o t h e h os p i t al an d n o t g o n e h o m e t o s l eep as i t co u l d h av e been d an g ero u s

, an d

s u g g es t ed th at p erh ap s M o od y ju s t p u s h ed o r k n o ck ed h er t o t h e fl o o r wi t h o u t an y

rep eat ed s t o m

p i ng as t hi s wo u l d b e m o re co n s is t en t wi t h h er i n ju ri es

.

In m y v iew, ad m i ss i o n of t h e ev i d en ce t hat M oo d y prev i o us l y h ad b eat en h i s

o wn m ot h er w o ul d h av e an o u t s i ze effect o n a reas o n ab l e j u r y’ s ev al u at i o n o f t h e

v i ct i m ’ s cred i b i l i t y on th e i s s u e o f wh et h er M o o dy s t ru ck h er in th e h ead wi t h h i s feet

as al l eg ed in t he i n d ict m en t

. It i s p reci s el y t h e k i n d o f “ p art icu l arl y co m pel l i n g o r

p reju d i ci a l ” o t her-act ev i d en ce wh i ch req u i res a fi n d i n g o f h arm

. Peo p l es v. S t a t e

,

2 9 5 Ga. 4 4

, 5 8 (4 ) (c) (7 5 7 SE2 d 6 4 6 ) (2 0 1 4 ). See al s o Hi l l v. S t a t e

, 3 1 0 Ga. Ap p.

6 9 5

, 6 99 (2 ) (7 1 3 SE2 d 8 9 1 ) (2 0 1 1 ) (“ we can n o t s ay t h at th e ev i d en ce o f

. . . g u i l t

w a s o v e rwh el m in g

, gi v en th at t h e cas e t u rn ed s ol el y o n th 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 ”) (p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ; em ph as i s s u p pl ied ). I wo u ld

t h erefo re g ran t M o o d y a n ew t ri al u n t ai nt ed b y t h e i m p ro p er ad m i s si o n o f t h e o t h eract ev i d en ce.

4