FI FTH DI VI SI ON

DI L LA RD, P. J.

, REESE and BETHEL, 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 l s .us /r ule s

Januar y 31, 2017



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 6 A1 49 5 . ISSA v

. THE STATE.

D I LLA R D , Pres i d i n g J u d g e.

Fo l l owi n g tri al

, a ju ry co n v i ct ed A h m ed Is s a on on e co u nt o f co n s p i racy to

co m m i t arm ed ro b b ery

, on e co u n t o f burg l ary

, fo u r co u n t s o f ag g rav at ed as s au l t

, t h ree

co u nt s o f at t em

pt t o co m m i t arm ed ro b bery

, t h ree co u n ts o f fal se i m p ri s o n m en t

, an d

o n e co u n t o f p o s s es s i o n of a fi rearm d u ri n g th e co m m i s si o n o f a fel o n y

. Is s a ap p eal s

h i s co nv i ct i o n s an d t h e d en i al o f h i s m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al

, ch al l en g i n g t h e s u ffi ci en cy

o f t he ev i d en ce s u pp o rt i n g h i s at t em p t-t o -co m m i t-arm ed -ro b b ery co n vi ct io n s an d

arg u i n g t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n (1 ) d en y i n g hi s m o t i o n fo r s ev eran ce; (2 ) fi n d i n g

t h at t h e ag g rav at ed -as s au l t co u n t s were n o t fat al l y fl awed ; (3 ) im pro p erl y i ns t ru ct i n g

t h e ju ry o n ag g rav at ed as s au l t; (4 ) d en y i ng a m i st ri al wh en a St at e’ s wi t n es s t es t i fi ed

t h at Is sa ex erci s e d h i s ri g h t t o rem ai n s il en t ; (5 ) al l o wi ng th e St at e t o as k l ead i n gq u es ti o n s o n d i rect ex am i n at i o n ; (6 ) fai l i n g t o ap p l y t h e ru l e o f len i t y wh en

s en t en ci n g h i m

as a reci di v i s t o n t h e at t em p t ed -arm ed -ro bb ery co n vi ct io n s; an d (7 )

d en y i n g h i s cl ai m o f i n effect i ve as s i s t an ce of co u n s el

. Fo r t h e reas o n s s et fo rt h i n fr a

,

we affi rm

.

Vi ewed i n t h e li g h t m o s t fav o rab l e to th e ju ry ’ s v erd i ct

, 1 t h e ev i den ce s h o ws

t h at i n No v em

b er of 2 0 0 8

, C. D. was t ak i ng acco u n ti n g co u rs es at a l o cal co ll eg e an d

l i vi n g at a h o m e i n Ro s wel l

, wh i ch h e s hared wi t h h i s o l d er b ro t h er, F. D., wh o was

at t en di n g an o t h er l o cal co ll eg e, an d hi s y o un g er s i s t er M

. D., wh o was i n h i g h s ch o o l

.

On No vem

b er 1 1

, 2 0 0 8

, C. D. arri v ed ho m e l a t e a f t er cl as s es an d wen t s trai g h t to

b ed ; b u t a few h o u rs l at er

, h e w a s s hak en o u t of h i s s l u m b er by a m as k ed i n t ru d er

b ran d i s h i n g a han d g un

. A s t ru g g le i m m ed iat el y en s u ed

, an d t h e g u n fi red

, i n ju ri n g

C. D.’ s fi n g er. Nev ert h el es s

, C. D. v al ian t ly co n ti n u ed t o fi g h t o ff t h e m as k ed

i n t ru der, d u ri n g wh i ch t i m e t h e g u n fi red a s eco n d t i m e

, s t ri k i n g t h e in t ru d er i n t h e

l eg

. Bu t aft er a s eco n d i n t ru d er (wh o was al s o m as k ed ) en tered h i s b e d r o o m

, C

. D

.

d es i s t ed i n h i s effo rt s t o s u bd u e t h e fi rs t i nt ru d er.

Do wn t h e h al l

, C. D.’ s yo u n g e r s i s t er, M

. D., awo k e t o t h e s o un d s o f C. D.

s cream i n g an d g un s ho t s

. Sh e j u m p ed o u t of b ed an d s p ri n t ed t oward C. D.’ s bed ro o m

,

1 S ee, e.g

. , Po wel l

v. S t a te , 3 1 0 Ga. Ap p . 1 4 4 , 1 4 4 (7 1 2 SE2 d 1 3 9 ) (2 0 1 1 ).

2b u t was i m m e d i a t e l y s t o pp ed b y t h e s eco n d i n tru d er wh o o rd ered h er to l i e o n t h e

fl oo r. M ean wh i l e, t he fi rs t (an d n o w wo un d ed ) i n t ru der— wh o was i n a co n s i d erab l e

am o u n t o f p a i n

—

b eg an y el l i n g at t h e s eco n d i n tru d er to s h oo t C. D., b u t M

. D.

b eg ged h i m t o s p are C. D.’ s l i fe. At t h e s am e t i m e, C. D.’ s ol d er b ro t h er, F. D.— wh o

h ad al s o been as l eep i n h i s own b ed ro o m o n th e s am e h al l

— s i m i l arl y awo ke t o t h e

eery s o u n d s o f fi g h t i n g, g u n s h o t s

, an d h i s y ou n ger s is t er’ s s cre a m s

. B u t as F. D.

ex i t ed h is b ed ro om an d ru sh ed t o ward t he d an ger, t h e seco n d arm ed i n t ru der s t o p p ed

h i m an d o rd ered h i m t o l ie o n t h e fl o o r as wel l. Th e t wo i n t ru ders t hen u s ed tel ep h o n e

co rd s t o b i n d t h e h an ds an d feet o f al l t h ree s i b l i ng s an d d rag g ed t h em i nt o t h e h al l

.

On ce t h e s i b l i n g s were t i ed an d l y i n g b o u nd i n t h e h al l

, th e in t ru d ers b eg an

v i o l en t l y k ick i n g an d h i t t i n g t hem wh i le dem an d i n g t o k n o w w h ere “ t h e m o n ey an d

d o p e” were l o cat ed

. Th e s i b l i n g s rep eat ed l y d en i ed h av i ng ei t h er dru g s o r l arg e

am ou n t s o f m o n ey

, bu t t h e in tru d ers d i d n o t b el i ev e t h em u n t i l C. D

. rev eal ed t h at t h e

s afe i n h i s b ed ro o m co n t ai ned o n l y d o cu m en t s

. At th is po i nt

, t h e fi rs t i n t ru der b eg g ed

t h e s eco n d i n t ru d er t o l eav e t h e h o u s e so t h at h e co u l d s eek i m m e d i a t e m e d i cal

t reat m en t fo r h i s wo u n d ed l eg

. Bu t i n s t ead o f d ep art in g

, t he s eco n d i n tru d er d rag g ed

M

. D

. fro m t he h al l i n t o h er b ed ro o m

, s h u t t h e do o r, an d rap ed h er. A few m i n ut es

l at er, t h e s eco n d i n t ru der ceas ed h i s s e x u al as s au lt o f M

. D. at t h e b eh es t o f h i s

3wo u n d ed acco m p l i c e

, w h o co n t i n u ed t o co m p l ai n t h at h e was i n s ev ere p ai n an d

n eed ed t o l eav e.

Su b s eq uen t l y

, t h e t wo i n tru d ers fo rced al l t h ree s i b l i n g s d o wn s t ai rs an d b eg an

l o ad i n g el ect ro n i cs an d o t h er v al u ab l es fro m t h e h o m e i n t o C. D.’ s car, wi t h t h ei r p l an

b ei n g t o t ak e F. D. wi t h t h em an d fo rce h i m

t o wi t h d raw m o n ey

fro m an ATM . Bu t

co i n ci d en t al l y

, as t h e i n t ru d ers h ad n earl y co m p l et ed lo ad i n g C. D .’ s car, fi red ep art m en t veh i cl es arri v ed acro s s t h e s t reet in res p o ns e t o a n ei gh b o r’ s 9 1 1 cal l

ab o ut p o s s i b l e h eart is s u es

. Seei n g t h e fl as hi n g em erg en cy l i g h t s

, an d b el i ev i n g t h at

t h e po l i ce had b een al ert ed to t he h o m e i n vas i o n, t h e t wo i n t ru d ers fl ed o u t t h e b ack

d o o r o f t h e h o m e po s t h as t e an d s cal ed a w o o den fen ce m ark i n g t he b o u n d ary o f t h e

b ack y ard

. Aft er w ai t i n g a few m i n u t es t o m ak e s u re t h at t h e i nt ru d ers had i n d eed l eft

t h e s cen e, t h e s i b l i n g s u n t i ed t h em sel v es an d raced acro s s t h e s t reet t o i nfo rm t h e fi red ep art m en t p ers o n n el ab o u t t h e h o m e i n v as i o n

.

Up o n d et erm i n i ng t hat n o n e o f t h e s i b l i n g s ’ i n ju ri es were l i fe-t h reat en i n g

, t h e

fi re-d ep art m en t p er s o n n el cal l ed t he p o l i ce, wh o arri v ed wi t h i n a few m i n u t es an d

b eg an co ll ect i n g ev i d en ce, i n cl ud i n g b l o o d fro m i ns i d e t h e h o m e an d fro m o n e o f t h e

wo o d en -fen ce s lat s

. Th e s i b l i ng s were t h en t ran s p o rt ed t o a n earb y h o s p i tal wh ere an

4em erg en cy -ro o m p h y s i ci an t reat ed C. D. fo r t h e b u l l et wo u n d t o h is fi n g er an d a cu t

t o t he b ack o f h i s h ead , an d al s o p erfo rm ed a rap e-k i t ex am in at i o n o n M . D.

Becau s e th e s i b l i ng s co u l d n o t i d en t i fy ei t h er o f t h e m as k e d i n t r u d ers

, t h e

p o l i ce d et ect i v e wh o i n t erv i ewed F. D. as k ed i f h e k n ew of an y reas o n s o m eo n e

wo u l d wan t t o b reak i n t o h i s h o m e o r i f he h ad n o t i ced an y th i n g s t ran g e rel at i n g t o

t h ei r h o m e recen t l y

. Up o n co n s i d eri n g th e q u es t i o n

, F. D

. recal l ed t h at s ev eral day s

b efo re th e ho m e i n v as i on

, h e di d

, i n fact

, h av e an o d d en co u n t er wi t h a wo m an wh o m

h e m et o v er t h e s u m

m er b ut h ad n o t s p o k e n wi t h s i n ce t h at t im e. Her n am e was

Des ti n y Fo rres t er, an d t h e two en co u n t ered e a c h o t h er i n a Decat u r n i g h t cl u b o n e

ev en in g b efo re dep ar t i n g fo r Fo rres t er’ s ap art m en t

, w h ere t h ey t h en en g ag ed in

s ex u al rel at i o n s

. Aft er t h at ni gh t

, F. D. wen t o u t wi t h Fo rres t er a few m o re t i m es

, b ut

ceas ed c o n t a c t i n g h er wh en i t ap p eared t h at sh e was n o t i n t eres t ed in d at i n g h i m

.

Th en

, o u t o f t h e b lu e (an d s ev eral n i g h t s befo re th e h o m e in v as i o n ), Fo rres t er s en t F.

D. a t ex t m es s ag e at aro u n d 1 0 : 0 0 p.m

., as ki n g i f sh e co ul d co m e o v er t o h i s h o u s e.

F. D. ag reed

, p ro vi ded h er w i t h d i rect i o n s, an d s he arri v ed an h o u r o r s o l at er. Bu t

i m m ed i at el y u p on en teri ng t h e h o m e, Fo rres t er s eem ed di s t an t an d n ot i n t eres t ed in

h av in g i n t i m at e rel at i o n s

, as F. D. h ad as s u m ed

. In s t ead

, s h e was fo cu sed o n l o o k i n g

aro u n d t he h o m e an d s p en t an i n o r d i n a t e am o u n t o f t i m e co n s t an t l y read i n g an d

5co m

p o s i n g t ex t m es s ag es

. W h en F. D. as k ed wi t h wh o m s h e was t ex t i n g

, Fo rres t er

cl ai m ed t h at i t was her ro o m m at e. Sh o rt ly t h ereaft er, s he as k ed t o s ee t he b ack y ard

an d l eft ab ru p t l y

wh en F. D. refu s ed h er req u es t.

Bas ed o n t h is i n fo rm at i o n

, th e d et ect i v e o b t ai n ed an ord er fo r F o rres t er’ s

m o bi l e-p h o n e reco rd s

, a n d a rev i ew o f t h o s e reco rd s s h o wed t h at t h e p ers o n wi th

wh o m sh e was t ex t i n g o n t h e n i g h t i n q u es t i o n was K en n e t h Tr us t y

. Nex t

, t h e

d et ect i v e i n t erv i ewed Fo rres t er, an d sh e u l t i m at el y ad m i t t ed t h at s h e, h er b o y fri en d

(Dari u s Co o k), an d Tru s t y , wh o was Co o k ’ s ro o m m at e, p l an ned t o ro b F. D. o n t h e

n i g h t sh e wen t t o h is h o m e, b el i ev i n g h i m t o be a d ru g d eal er. In ad d it i on

, Fo rres t er

fu rt her ad m i t t ed t hat s h e s p o k e t o Co o k an d wen t t o h is ap art m en t earl y o n No v em b er

1 2

, 2 0 0 8

, at wh i ch ti m e s he l earn ed t h at Tru st y an d an o t h er m an

, wh o m s h e d i d n ot

k n o w, b ro k e i n t o F. D.’ s h o m e i n an at t em p t t o ro b h i m

, an d t h at t h e o th er m an was

s h o t d u ri n g t h e i nci d en t

. W i th t h i s ad d i t io n al in fo rm at i on

, an d lat er aft er m at ch i n g t h e

b l o o d fo u n d o n o n e of t he wo o d en -fen ce s l at s wi t h a DNA s am pl e al read y i n CODIS, 2

t h e d et ect i v e d et erm i n ed t h at t h e n am e o f Tru s t y ’ s acco m p li ce w as Ah m ed Is s a an d

2 CODIS, th e Co m

b i n ed DNA In d ex i n g Sy s t em

, i s a d at ab as e o f DNA p ro fi l es

l i nk ed am o n g t h e s t at es t h ro u g h t h e Fed eral Bu reau o f In ves t i g at i o n

.

6t h at

, m ere h o u rs fo l l o wi n g t h e h o m e i n v as io n

, Is s a so u g h t an d recei v ed m ed i cal

t reat m en t at Grad y

Ho s p i t al fo r a g u n s h o t wo u n d t o h i s l eg

.

Th ereaft er, t h e St at e ch arg ed T ru s t y

, Is s a, an d Co o k, vi a t h e sam e i n d i ct m en t

,

wi t h o n e co u n t o f co n s p iracy t o co m m i t arm ed ro b b ery

, 3 an d ch arg ed Tru s t y an d Is s a

wi t h o ne co u n t o f b u r g l a r y, 4 o n e co u n t of rap e, 5 fo u r co u n t s o f ag grav at ed as s au l t

, 6

t h ree co un t s o f at t em

p t t o co m m i t arm ed ro b b ery 7 (o n e co u n t as t o each v i ct i m ), t h ree

co u nt s o f k i d n ap p i n g wi t h bo d i l y i n ju ry 8 (o n e co u nt as t o each v i ct i m ), th ree co u n t s

o f fal s e i m

pri s o n m en t 9 (o n e co u n t as to each v ict i m ), t wo co u n t s o f p o s s es s i o n o f a

fi rearm d u ri ng t h e co m

m i ss io n o f a fel on y

, 1 0 an d t wo co u n t s o f po s s es s i o n o f a

fi rearm b y a co n vi ct ed fel on

. 1 1 Is s a fi l ed a m o t i on t o s ev er, w h i ch was d en i ed

, an d t h e

3 S ee OCGA § 1 6 -4 -8

.

4 S ee fo rm er OCGA § 1 6 -7 -1 (a) (2 0 1 1 ).

5 S ee fo rm er OCGA § 1 6 -6 -1 (a) (1 ) (2 0 1 0 ).

6 S ee fo rm er OCGA § 1 6 -5 -2 1 (a) (2 ) (2 0 0 9 ).

7 S ee OCGA § § 1 6-4 -1 ; 1 6 -8 -4 1 (a).

8 S ee fo rm er OCGA § 1 6 -5 -4 0 (a), (b ) (4 ) (2 0 0 8 ).

9 S ee OCGA § 1 6 -5 -4 1 (a).

1 0 S ee OCGA § 1 6 -1 1 -1 0 6 (b ).

1 1 S ee fo rm er OCGA § 1 6 -1 1 -1 3 1 (b ) (2 0 1 1 ).

7cas e t h en p ro ceed ed to a jo in t t ri al o f Tru s t y an d Is s a, 1 2 d u ri ng wh i ch t h e fo reg o i n g

ev i d en ce was ad m i t t ed

. At t h e tri al ’ s co ncl u s i o n

, t h e ju ry co n vi ct ed Is s a o f al l ch arg es

ex cep t t h e rap e an d k i d nap p i n g o ffen s es

. 1 3

Su b s eq uen t l y

, Is s a o b t ai ned n ew co u n s el an d fi l ed a m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al

. Aft er

co n du ct in g a h e a r i n g o n t h e m at t er, t h e t ri al co u rt m erg ed t h e co n s p i racy an d

at t em p t ed -arm ed -ro b b ery co n v i ct i o n s fo r s en t en ci n g, v acat ed b o t h t h e b u rg l ary an d

p o s s es s i o n -o f- a

- f

irearm -d u ri n g -t h e-co m

m i s s i o n -o f-a-fel o n y co n v i ct i o n s

, bu t d en i ed

Is s a’ s m o t i o n i n al l o t h er res p ect s . Th i s ap p eal fo l l o w s.

1

. In h i s i n it i al en u m erat i o n of erro r, Is s a ch al l en g es t h e s uffi ci en cy o f t h e

ev i d en ce s u p p o rt i n g h i s c o n vi ct i o n s g en eral l y an d s p eci fi cal l y arg u es t h at t h e

ev i d en ce was in su ffi ci en t to s up p o rt hi s co n v ict i o n s o n t h e at t em pt ed -arm ed -ro b b ery

ch arg es . W e d i s ag ree.

At t h e o u ts et

, we n o t e t hat wh en a cri m i n al co n vi ct io n i s ap peal ed

, t h e ev i d en ce

m u st b e v i ewed in t he l i g h t m o s t fav o rab le t o t h e v erd i ct

, an d th e ap p el l an t n o l o n g er

1 2 Co o k h ad n o t b een ap p reh en ded at t he t i m e o f t ri al an d , t h u s, was n o t t ri ed

wi t h h is co -d efen d an t s

.

1 3 T he ju ry c o n v i c t e d Tru s t y o f al l ch arg es ex cep t th e k i d nap pi ng ch arg es

rel at i n g t o F. D

. an d C. D. an d t he p o ss es s i o n-o f-a-fi rearm -b y- a-co n v i ct ed -fel o n

ch arg e, wh ich was n o l l e p ro s s ed

. W e affi rm ed h i s co n v i ct i on s i n Cas e N o

. A1 6 A0 7 0 1

i n an u np u b l i s h ed o p i n i o n

.

8en

jo y s a p res um

pt i o n o f i n no cen ce. 1 4 An d i n ev al u at i n g t h e s u ffi ci en cy o f t h e

ev i d en ce, we d o no t wei gh t h e ev i den ce o r d e t e r m i n e wi t n es s cred i b i l i t y b u t o n l y

d eci d e wh et h er “ a rat i o n al t ri er o f fact co u l d h av e fo u n d t h e d efen d an t g u i l t y o f t h e

ch arg ed o ffen s es bey o nd a reas o n ab l e d o ub t .” 1 5 Acco rd in g l y

, t h e j u ry ’ s v erd i ct wi l l

b e u p h el d s o l on g as “ t h ere i s s o m e co m p et en t ev i d en ce, ev en t h o u gh co n t rad i ct ed

,

t o s u p p o rt each fact n eces s ary to m ak e o u t t h e St at e’ s cas e[.] ” 1 6 W it h 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 fi rs t t o Is s a’ s m o re s p eci fi c ch al l en g e.

Un d er OCGA § 1 6 -4 -1

, “ [a] p ers o n co m m i t s th e o ffen s e o f cri m i n al at t em pt

wh en

, wi t h i n t en t t o co m

m i t a sp eci fi c cri m e, h e p erfo rm s an y act w h i ch co n s t i t u t es

a su b s t an t i al s t ep to w ard t he co m m i ss i on o f t h at cri m e.” An d u n d er OCGA § 1 6 -8 -4 1

(a), “ [a] p ers o n co m

m i t s t h e o ff

e n s e o f arm ed ro b b ery

wh en

, wi th i n t en t t o co m m i t

t h eft

, h e o r s h e t ak es p ro p ert y of an o t h er fro m t h e p ers o n o r t h e i m m ed iat e pres en ce

1 4 S ee E n g l i s h v. S ta t e

, 3 0 1 Ga. Ap p

. 8 4 2

, 8 4 2 (6 8 9 SE2 d 1 3 0 ) (2 0 1 0 ); s ee a l s o

Ja cks o n v. Vi r

g i n ia

, 4 4 3 U.S. 3 0 7

, 3 19 (III) (B) (9 9 SCt 2 7 8 1

, 6 1 LE2 d 5 6 0 ) (1 9 7 9 ).

1 5 Jo i n er v. S t a t e

, 2 9 9 Ga. Ap p

. 30 0

, 3 00 (6 8 2 S E2 d 3 8 1 ) (2 0 0 9 ); s ee a l s o

Ja cks o n

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

1 6 Mi l l er v. S t at e

, 2 73 Ga. 8 31

, 8 3 2 (5 4 6 SE2 d 5 2 4 ) (2 0 0 1 ) (p u n ct u at i o n

o m it t ed ).

9o f an o t her b y u s e o f an o ffen si v e weap o n

. . . .” Here, Co un t 8 of th e i n d i ct m en t

ch arg ed Is s a wi t h cri m i n al at t em p t t o co m m i t arm ed ro b b ery , al l eg i n g t hat h e

p erfo rm ed an act w h ich co n s t i t ut ed a su b st an t i a l s tep t o ward th e

co m m i s s i o n of arm ed ro b b ery

, t o wi t : h ol d i n g [C. D.] a t g u n po i n t an d

d em an d i n g m o n e y an d d ru g s

, an d t h en g at h eri n g u p i tem s o f h i s

p ers on al p ro p ert y

an d p l aci n g t h em

i n to t h e v ict i m ’ s car wi t h i n t en t t o

co m m i t th eft an d t ak e p ro p ert y fro m t h e p ers o n an d i m m ed i at e pres en ce

o f [C. D.] b y

u s e o f an o ffen s i v e weap o n . . . .

An d ch an g i n g o n l y t h e n a m es o f t h e v ict i m s

, Co u n t s 9 an d 1 0 ch arg ed Is s a wi th

cri m i n al at t em

pt t o co m m i t arm ed ro b b ery

ag ai n s t F. D. an d M . D., res p ect i v el y

.

Ci t i n g t o t h e s p eci fi c lan g u ag e i n t h e i n d i ct m en t

, Is sa co n t en d s t h at t h e

ev i d en ce was i n s u ffi ci en t t o s u p p o rt h is at t em p t e d

- arm ed -ro b b ery co n v i ct i on s

b ecau s e t h e St at e fai l ed t o p ro v e wh i ch v i ct i m o wn ed wh i ch pro p ert y

. Th i s arg u m en t

i s a n o n s t art er. As we h av e p rev i o u s l y ex p l ai n ed

, ro b b ery i s “ a cri m e ag ai ns t

p o s s es s i o n

, an d i s n o t affect ed b y co n cep t s o f o wn ers h i p .” 1 7 In deed

, t h e g rav am en o f

t h e o ffen s e o f arm ed ro b b ery i s “ t h e t ak i n g o f i t em s fro m t h e p o s s es s i o n o f an o t h er

b y u s e o f an o ffen s i ve weap o n

, an d n o t t h e i d en t i fi cat i o n o f t h e sp eci fi c o wn er o f t h e

1 7 Cr eecy v. S t a t e

, 2 3 5 Ga. 5 4 2

, 54 3 (5 ) (2 2 1 SE2 d 1 7 ) (1 9 7 5 ) ; a c c o r d W ar d

v. S t a t e

, 3 0 4 Ga. Ap p. 5 1 7

, 52 2 (1 ) (a) (6 9 6 SE2 d 4 7 1 ) (2 0 1 0 ); H ar p v. S t at e

, 3 0 2 Ga.

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

10i t em

t ak en .” 1 8 Th u s , i f p ro p ert y i s t ak en fro m

“ t h e i m m ed i at e p res en ce o r t he act u al

o r co n s t ru ct i v e p o s s es si o n o f m o re t h an o n e v i c t i m

, t h e d efen d an t m ay b e ch arg ed

wi t h t h e ro bb ery

o f each v i ct i m .” 1 9

As fo r th e i n d i ct m e n t

, t h e g en eral ru l e t h at al l eg at i o n s an d p ro o f m u s t

co rres p o n d i s “ b as ed up o n t he req u i rem ents ( 1 ) t h at t h e accu s ed i s d efi n i t el y i n fo rm ed

o f t h e ch arg es ag ai n st hi m s o h e can p res en t h i s d efen s e an d n ot b e su rp ri s ed b y t h e

ev i d en ce at t ri al

, an d (2 ) th at he i s p ro tect ed ag ai n s t an o t h er p ro s ecu t i o n fo r t h e s am e

o ffen s e.” 2 0 An d h ere, t h e i n d ict m en t s u ffi c i e n t l y al l eg ed t h e el em en t s o f at t em p t ed

arm ed ro b b ery

. In d eed

, t h ere can b e n o reas o n ab l e d o u b t t h at Is s a w as “ s u ffi ci en t l y

i n fo rm ed o f t h e ch arg es ag ai n s t h i m an d al s o p ro t ect ed fro m s u b s eq u en t p ro s ecu t i o n

1 8 Ha m v

. S t a t e

, 3 0 3 Ga. A p p

. 2 3 2

, 23 7 (1 ) (b ) (6 9 2 SE2 d 8 2 8 ) (2 0 1 0 )

(p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ); s ee McKi s i c v

. S t a t e

, 2 38 G a. 6 4 4

, 6 4 6 (2 ) (2 3 4 SE2 d 9 0 8 )

(1 9 7 7) (“ Th e id en t i t y o f t h e p ers o n al l eg ed t o hav e b een ro b bed i s n o t an es s en t i al

el em en t o f t he cri m e an d n eed n o t b e p ro v ed b y d i rect ev id en ce.”) ; Wa r d

, 3 0 4 Ga.

Ap p . at 5 2 2 (1 ) (b ) (s am e).

1 9 Ha r p

, 3 0 2 Ga. Ap p

. at 1 8 (p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ); s ee Gr een v. S t a t e

, 2 6 5 Ga.

Ap p

. 1 2 6

, 1 2 8 (2 ) (5 9 2 SE2 d 9 0 1 ) (2 0 0 4) (“ If t w o v i ct i m s are ro b bed

, t h e d efen d an t

m ay b e ch arg ed wi t h t he ro b b ery o f each v i ct i m

. ”).

2 0 Ha m

, 3 0 3 Ga. Ap p

. at 2 3 7 (1 ) ( b ) ( p u n c t u at i o n o m i t t ed ); a cco r d Vea s ey v.

S t a t e

, 3 2 2 Ga. Ap p

. 5 9 1

, 5 9 4 (1 ) (b ) (7 4 5 SE2 d 8 0 2) (2 0 1 3 ); Gr een v. S ta t e

, 2 9 2 Ga.

4 5 1

, 4 5 2 (7 3 8 SE2 d 5 8 2) (2 0 1 3 ) (“ Th e p u rp os e o f an i n d i ct m en t i s t o i n fo rm t h e

accu s ed o f t h e ch arg es ag ai n s t h i m an d t o p r o t ect t h e accu sed ag ai n s t an o t h er

p ro s ecu ti o n fo r t h e s am e o ffen s e.”).

11fo r t h e sam e cri m e.” 2 1 Ad d i t i o nal l y

, t h e ev i d en ce p res en t ed at t ri al s h o wed t h at t wo

m en

, ul t i m at el y i d en t i fi ed as Tru s t y an d Is s a, b ro k e i n t o t h e v i ct i m s ’ h o m e, h el d al l

t h ree v i ct i m s at g u n p o i n t wh i l e d em an d i n g d ru g s an d m on ey

, an d b eg an l o ad i n g

el ect ro ni cs an d o t h er v al u ab l es fro m t h e h o m e in t o th e v ict i m s ’ v eh i cl e befo re fl eei n g

t h e p rem i s es b as ed o n t h ei r m i s tak en b el i ef th at l aw-en fo rcem en t o ffi cers h ad arri v ed

o n t h e s cen e. Co ns eq u en t ly

, th e ev i d en ce was s u ffi ci en t t o s u p p o rt Is s a’ s t h ree

at t em p t ed -arm ed -ro b b ery

co n v i ct i on s

. 2 2

2 1 Ha m

, 3 03 Ga. Ap p

. at 2 3 7 (1 ) (b ) (p u n ct u at i o n om i t t ed ); a cco r d Vea s ey

, 3 2 2

Ga. Ap p

. at 59 4 (1 ) (b ); s ee Ha l ey v. S t at e

, 2 8 9 Ga. 5 1 5

, 5 29 (3 ) (b ) (7 1 2 SE2 d 8 3 8 )

(2 0 1 1) (h o ld i ng t h at i n d i ct m en t s u ffi ci en tl y i n fo rm ed d efen d an t of t he ch arg e ag ai n s t

h i m s o as t o en ab l e h i m to p rep are a d efen s e, an d t h u s

, t h ere i s n o cl ai m t h at h e was

s u rp ri s ed at t ri al ).

2 2 S ee Nya n e v. St a t e

, 3 0 6 Ga. Ap p

. 59 1

, 59 2 (1 ) (7 0 3 SE2 d 5 3 ) (2 0 1 0 ) (h o l d i n g

t h at ev i den ce de f

e n d an t ap p ro ach ed v i ct i m wi t h a h an d gu n wh il e at t em p t i n g t o o b t ai n

m o ney fro m co nv en i en ce-s to re cas h reg i s t er, b u t fl ed wi t h o u t t ak i n g cas h

, was

s u ffi ci en t t o su p po rt co n v i ct io ns fo r at t e m p t e d arm ed ro bb ery ); s ee a l s o Ha m

, 3 0 3

Ga. A p p

. at 2 3 7 (1 ) (b ) (h o l d i n g t h at ev i d en ce s u p p ort ed t h e d efen d an t ’ s co n v i ct i on s

o n ch arg es o f arm ed ro bb ery o f b o t h v i ct i m s

, d es p i t e n o p ro o f o f wh i ch v i ct i m o wn ed

t h e p ro p ert y

t ak en , wh en ev i den ce s h o w ed th at bo t h v i ct im s “ w ere s u b ject ed t o t h e

ro b b ers ’ ex erci s e o f act u al fo rce b y t he u s e o f an o ffen s iv e weap o n so as t o i nd u ce t h e

rel i n qu i sh m en t o f t h e p ro p ert y ”); Ha r p

, 30 2 Ga. Ap p

. at 1 8 (h o l d i n g t hat ev i d en ce

was s u ffi ci en t to s u pp o rt co n v ict i o n s fo r t w o co u n t s o f arm ed ro b bery w h en m o n ey

was tak en fro m o n e v ict i m ’ s i m m ed i at e pres en ce at g u n p o i n t a n d g i ven t o s eco n d

v i ct i m

, an d s eco n d v i ct i m was t h en fo rc e d t o s u r r e n d er t h e m on ey t o d efen d an t at

g u n p o i n t ).

12Is s a al s o g en eral l y co n t en d s t h at th ere was o nl y s l i g h t ev i den ce co n n ect i n g h i m

t o t he h o m e i nv as i o n at i s s u e, an d t h u s h i s co n v i ct i on s s h o u l d be rev ers ed . Bu t i t i s

wel l -s et tl ed t h at “ ci rcu m s t an ti al ev i d en ce o f i d en ti t y m ay b e s u ffi ci en t to en ab l e a

rat i o nal t ri er o f fact t o f

i n d a d efen d an t g u i l t y b ey on d a reas o n ab l e d o u b t .” 2 3 An d

h av in g rev i e we d t h e en t iret y o f t h e reco rd

, w e co n cl u d e th at t h ere was i n d eed

s u ffi ci en t ev i d en ce t o s u p p o rt h i s rem ai n i n g co n vi ct io n s

. 2 4

2

. Is s a co n t en d s t h at t he t ri al co u rt erred i n d en y i n g h i s p re-t ri al m o t i o n t o s ev er

h i s t ri al fro m t h at o f h is co -d efen d an t

, Tru s t y

, arg u i n g t hat h i s co n v i ct io n s were a

res u l t o f t h e p reju d i ci al s p i l l o ver effect o f ev i d en ce, i n cl u d i n g o t her b ad act s

, ag ai n s t

Tru s t y . Ag ai n , we d i s ag ree.

Th e d eci s i o n o f wh et h er o r n o t t o gran t or d en y a m o ti o n t o s ev er i s wi t h i n t h e

d i s cret i o n o f t h e t ri al co u rt

, 2 5 wh i ch i t s h o u ld ex erci s e b y co n s i d eri n g t he fo l l o wi n g

t h ree fact o rs :

2 3 P a t ch v. S t a t e

, 3 3 7 Ga. Ap p

. 2 3 3, 2 36 -3 7 (1 ) (7 86 SE2 d 8 8 2 ) ( 2 0 1 6 )

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

2 4 S ee Ja cks o n , 4 4 3 U.S. at 3 19 (III) (B).

2 5 Jo n es v. St at e

, 3 1 8 Ga. Ap p

. 26

, 3 6 (5 ) (7 3 3 SE2 d 7 2 ) (2 0 1 2); s ee Ki d wel l

v. St a t e

, 2 6 4 G a. 4 2 7

, 4 3 2 (1 0 ) (4 4 4 SE2 d 7 89 ) (1 9 9 4) (“ Si n ce t h e g ran t o r den i al o f

a m o t io n t o s ev er i s l e f

t i n t h e d i s cret i o n o f t h e t ri al co u rt

, it s ru l i n g wi l l o n l y b e

rev ers ed fo r an ab u se o f d i s cret i o n . . . .”).

13(1 ) wh et h er t he n u m b er o f d e f

en d an t s wi ll creat e co n fu s i o n o f t h e l aw

an d ev id en ce ap pl i cab le t o each d efen d an t ; (2 ) wh et h er t h ere i s a d an g er

t h at ev i d en ce ad m is s i b l e ag ai n s t o n e d efen d an t wi l l b e c o n s i d e red

ag ai ns t an o t h er d es p it e cau t i o n ary i n s t ru ct i o n s t o t h e co n t rary ; an d

, (3 )

wh et h er t h e d efen s es o f t h e co -d efen dan t s are an t ag o n i st i c t o each

o t h er. 2 6

Im p o rt an t l y

, th e b u rd en i s o n t h e d efen d an t req ues t i n g t h e s ev eran ce t o d o m o re t h an

“ rai s e t h e p o ss ib i l i t y t h at a s ep arat e t ri al wo u l d gi v e hi m a b et t er ch an ce o f

acq u it t al .” 2 7 Sp eci fi cal l y

, t o p rev ai l o n a m o t i o n t o sev er, t h e d efen dan t m u s t “ m ak e

a cl ear s h o w i n g o f p reju d i ce an d a co n s eq uen t d en ial o f d u e p ro ces s .” 2 8

Here, t h e n u m

ber o f d efen dan t s (t wo ) was s m al l en o ug h th at t h e d a n g er o f

co n fu s i n g t h e ju ry was m i n i m al

, es p eci al l y as bo t h Is s a an d Tru s t y were ch arg ed wi th

jo i n t ly p art i ci p at i n g in nearl y al l o f t h e o ffen s es ari si ng o u t o f t h e s am e cri m e s ch em e,

2 6 Jo nes

, 3 1 8 Ga. A p p. at 3 6 (5 ) (p u n ct uat i o n o m i t t ed ); a cco r d McCl en d o n v.

S t a t e , 2 9 9 Ga. 6 11 , 6 1 5 (3 ) (7 9 1 SE2 d 6 9 ) (2 0 1 6 ).

2 7 Jo n es

, 3 1 8 Ga. Ap p

. at 3 6 (5 ) (p u n ct u at i on o m i t t ed ); s ee Ki d wel l

, 2 6 4 Ga. at

4 3 2 (1 0 ) (“ Th e b u rd en i s o n t he d efen d an t req u es t i n g t h e s ev eran ce t o “ m ak e a cl ear

s h o wi n g o f p reju d i ce . . . .”).

2 8 Jo n es , 3 1 8 Ga. Ap p

. at 3 6 (5 )

. (p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ); s ee Ki d wel l , 2 6 4 Ga.

at 4 3 2 (1 0 ).

14i .e.

, t h e h o m e i n v as i o n

. 2 9 Ad d i t i o n al l y

, b ot h Is s a an d T ru s ty d en i ed ev er en t eri n g t h e

v i ct i m s ’ h o m e; an d al t h o u g h T ru s t y t es t i fi ed at t ri al

, h e d i d n o t i m p l i cat e Is sa i n d o i n g

s o . Th u s , t h ei r d efen s es were n o t an t ag o n i s t i c t o o n e an o t h er. 3 0 An d wh i l e t h e St at e

p res en t ed ev i d en ce o f o t h er s i m i l ar b ad act s co m m i t t ed b y Tru s t y

, befo re i t d i d s o

, t h e

t ri al co u rt ex p l i ci t l y i n s tru ct ed t h e ju ry t h at s u ch ev i d en ce “ p ert ai n s t o M r. Tru s t y

o n l y an d n o t t o t he ot her accu s ed ,” an d t h at “ [t ] h i s ev i d en ce m ay b e co n s id ered b y t h e

ju ry fo r t he s o le i s s u e or p u rp o s e ag ai n st t he p art y fo r w h i ch t h e ev i d en ce i s l i m i t ed

an d n o t fo r an y o t h er p urp os e.” 3 1 Fi n al l y

, a s fo r t h e al leg ed s p i l l o v er effect o f t h e

ev i d en ce g en eral l y

, “ t h e m ere fact t hat t h e ev i d en ce ag ai n st [Tru s t y ] m i g h t h av e b een

2 9 S ee McCl en d

o n

, 2 9 9 G a. at 6 1 5 (3 ) (h o l d i n g t h a t t ri al co u rt di d n o t ab u s e

d i s cret i o n i n d en y i ng m o t i on t o s ev er b ecau s e t r i a l o f t h ree d efen d an t s wo u l d n ot

creat e co n fu s io n ) Jo n es

, 3 1 8 G a. Ap p

. at 36 (5 ) (h o l d in g t h at t ri al co u rt d i d n o t ab u s e

d i s cret i o n i n d en y i n g m o t i o n t o s ev er g i v en t hat t ri al o f o n ly t wo d efen d an t s wo u ld

n o t creat e co n fu s i o n ).

3 0 S ee McCl en d

o n

, 2 9 9 G a. at 6 1 5 ( 3 ) (h o ld i ng th at t ri al co u rt di d n o t ab u s e

d i s cret i o n in d en y i n g m o ti o n t o s ev er b ecau s e co -d efen d an t s ’ defen s es were n ot

an t ag o n is t i c); Jo n es , 3 1 8 Ga. Ap p . at 3 6 (5 ) (s am e).

3 1 See W hi t e v. S ta t e

, 3 15 Ga. A p p

. 5 4

, 6 2 (7 ) (7 2 6 SE2 d 5 4 8 ) (2 0 1 2) (h o l d i n g

t h at s im ila

r

- tr a nsa c t ion e vide nc e a ga inst c o- defen dan t d i d n o t req u i re s ev eran ce g i v en

t h at t ri al co u rt i n s t ru ct ed ju ry t h at s u ch ev i d en ce o n l y

p ert ai n ed t o co -d efen d an t ).

15s t ro n g er t h an t h e ev i d en ce ag ai n s t [Is s a] do es n ot m an d at e s ev eran ce.” 3 2 Gi v en t h es e

p art i cu l ar ci rcu m s t an ces

, t h e t ri al co u rt d i d n o t ab u se i t s d i scret i o n in den y i n g Is s a’ s

m o ti o n t o s ev er.

3

. Is sa al s o co n ten d s t h at t h e t ri al co urt erred i n ru l i n g t h a t t h e a g grav at ed

as s au l t co u n t s i n t h e i n d i ct m en t were n o t fat al l y fl awed . Yet ag ai n , we d i s ag ree.

As n o t ed s u

pr a

, t h e p u rp o s e o f an i n d ict m en t i s “ t o en a b l e t h e d e f en d an t to

p rep are h i s d efen s e i n t el l ig en t l y an d t o p ro t ect h i m fro m do u b l e jeo p ard y .” 3 3 An d an

i n d i ct m en t i s t ech n i cal l y co rrect an d s u ffi ci en t i f i t “ s tat es t h e offen s e in t h e t erm s an d

l an g u ag e o f t he Co de o r i n l an g u ag e s o p l ai n th at ju ro rs un d ers tan d t h e n at u re o f t h e

ch arg ed offen s e.” 3 4 Co n s eq u en t l y , t h e t ru e t es t o f t h e s uffi ci en cy o f an i n di ct m en t

i s n o t wh et h er i t co u l d h av e b een m ad e m o re d efi ni t e an d cert ai n

, b u t

wh et h er i t co n tai n s t h e el em en t s o f t h e o ffen s e i n t en d ed t o b e ch arg ed

,

3 2 W h i te v. St at e

, 2 8 1 Ga. 2 7 6

, 2 8 0 (3 ) (6 3 7 SE2 d 6 4 5 ) (2 0 06 ); s ee W h i t e

, 3 1 5

Ga. Ap p

. at 6 3 (7 ) (n o t i n g t h at i t i s n o t en o u g h fo r t he d efen d an t t o s h o w t h at s h e

wo u l d h av e a b et t er ch an ce of acq u i t t al at a s ep arat e t ri al o r t h at t h e ev i den ce ag ai n s t

a co -d efen dan t is s t ro n g er, rat h er t h e d efen d an t m u s t s ho w cl earl y th at a jo i n t t ri al

p reju d i ced h er d efen s e, res u l t i n g i n a d en i al o f d u e p ro ces s ).

3 3 S t a t e v. A u s t i n

, 29 7 Ga. Ap p

. 4 78

, 4 7 8 (6 7 7 SE2 d 7 0 6) (2 00 9 ) (p u n ct u at i o n

o m it t ed ); a cco rd Ha m

, 3 0 3 Ga. Ap p. at 23 7 (1 ) (b ); S ee Gr een

, 2 9 2 Ga. at 4 5 2 (“ Th e

p u rp os e o f an in d i ct m en t i s t o i n fo rm t h e accu s ed o f t h e ch arg es ag ai n s t h i m an d t o

p ro t ect t h e accu sed ag ai ns t an o t h er p ro s ecu ti o n fo r t he s am e o ffen s e.”).

3 4 Au s t in , 2 9 7 Ga. Ap p . at 4 7 8

.

16an d s u ffi ci en t l y ap p ri s es t h e d efen d an t o f wh at h e m u st be p rep ared t o

m eet

, an d

, i n cas e an y o t h er p ro ceed in g s are t ak e n ag ai n s t hi m fo r a

s i m i l ar o ffen s e, wh et her t h e reco rd s h ows wi t h accu racy t o wh at ex t en t

h e m ay p l ead a fo rm er acq u i t t al o r co n v i ct i o n

. 3 5

In t h i s m at t er, Co u n t 4 o f t h e in d i ct m en t ch arg ed Is sa wi t h ag g rav at ed as s au l t

wi t h a d ead l y weap o n, al l eg in g t h at h e “ d i d u n l awfu l l y co m m i t an as s au l t u p o n t h e

p ers o n o f [C. D.] by s h o o t i n g h i m wi t h a h an d g u n

, a d ead ly weap on

. . . .” Co u n t s 5

t h ro u g h 7 al s o ch arg ed h i m wi t h ag g rav at ed as s au l t wi th a d ead l y weap o n u p o n each

o f t h e t h ree v i ct i m s

, al l eg i n g t h a t h e “ d i d u n lawfu l ly co m m i t an as s au l t u p o n t h e

p ers o n of [t h e v i ct i m ] by p o i n t i n g at [t h e v ict i m ] wi t h a han d g u n, a d ead ly weap o n.”

Al l fo u r co u n t s es s en t ial l y fo l l o w t h e l an g u ag e o f fo rm er OCGA § 1 6

- 5

- 2 1 (a) (2 ),

wh i ch p ro v i d ed t h a t a p ers on co m m i ts ag g rav at ed as s au l t w h en h e as sau l t s “ [w] i th

a d ead l y weap o n o r wi t h an y o b j e c t

, d e v ice, o r i n st ru m en t w h i ch

, wh en u s ed

o ffen s i v el y a g a i n s t a pers o n

, i s l i k el y t o o r act u al ly d o es res u lt i n s eri o us b o d i l y

3 5 Id

. at 47 8 -7 9 (p u nct u at i o n o m it t ed ).

17i n

ju ry .” 3 6 An d an i n d i ct m en t t h at i s “s u b s t a n t i a ll y i n t h e l an g u ag e of th e Co d e i s

s u ffi ci en t i n fo rm an d s u b s tan ce.” 3 7

Is s a, n ev ert h el es s

, arg u es t h at t h e ag grav at ed -as s au lt co un t s ch arg ed n o cri m e

at a l l an d were, t h us

, v oi d

, b ecau s e t h ey fai l ed t o al l eg e t h e el em en t s o f s i m p l e

as s au l t

, i .e.

, th at h e at t em p t ed t o co m

m i t a v i o l en t in

ju ry t o th e p ers o n o f an o t h er o r

t h at h e co m

m i t ted an act wh i ch p l aced an o th er i n reas o n a b l e ap preh en s i o n o f

i m m ed i at el y re c e i v i n g a v io l en t i n ju ry

. 3 8 Bu t t h i s co n t en t i o n l ack s m eri t

. As t h e

Su p rem e Co u rt of Geo rg i a h as ex p l ai n ed

, “ [i ] t i s n o t n eces s ary t h at an i n d i ct m en t

ch arg i n g a d efen d an t wi th ag grav at ed as s au l t s p eci fy t h e m an n er in wh i ch t he s i m p l e

as s au l t was co m

m i t t ed

, b u t i t m

u s t s et fo rt h t h e ag g rav at i n g as p ect .” 3 9 Acco rd i n g l y

,

b ecau s e t h e in d i ct m en t “ u s ed t h e l a n g uag e o f th e s t at u te, in cl ud ed t h e es s en t i al

3 6 S ee fo rm er OCGA § 1 6 -5 -2 1 (a) (2 ) (2 0 0 9).

3 7 Au s t in , 2 9 7 Ga. Ap p . at 4 8 0 (p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ); s ee a l s o S t a t e v. W

ya t t

, 2 9 5 Ga. 2 5 7

, 2 6 0 (2 ) (7 5 9 SE2 d 5 0 0 ) (2 0 1 4 ) (n o t i n g t h at “ an i nd i ct m en t co u ch ed in

t h e l an g u ag e o f th e s tat u t e al leg ed t o h av e b een v i o l at ed ” i s no t s ub ject t o a g en eral

d em u rrer” (p u n ct u at i o n o m i tt ed )).

3 8 S ee OCGA § 1 6 -5 -2 0 (a).

3 9 Ch a s e v. S ta t e

, 2 77 Ga. 6 3 6

, 63 8 (1 ) ( 5 9 2 S E 2 d 6 5 6 ) (2 0 0 4 ); a cco r d S t a t e

v. W ya t t , 2 9 5 Ga. 2 5 7, 2 6 1 (2 ) (a) (7 5 9 SE2 d 5 0 0 ) (2 0 1 4 ).

18el em en t s o f t h e o ffen se, an d was s u ffi ci en t l y d efi n i t e t o ad v i s e [Is s a] o f wh at h e m u s t

b e p rep ared t o co n fro n t , i t was n o t v o i d .” 4 0

4

. In a rel at ed en u m erat io n o f erro r, Is s a co n t en d s t h at th e t ri al co u rt erred by

i m p ro p erl y i n s t ru ct in g t h e ju ry o n ag g rav at ed as s au l t, arg u i n g t h at t he co urt fai l ed to

al s o i n s t ru ct th e ju ry

as t o t h e el em en t s o f s i m p l e as s au lt

. Ho wev er, t h i s co n t en t i o n

i s b el i ed b y

t he reco rd an d , t h u s , l ack s m eri t

.

In i t i al l y

, i t is i m

p o rt an t t o n o t e th at Is s a d id no t o b ject to an y po rt i o n of t h e t ri al

co u rt ’ s ju ry ch arg es

, an d un d er OCGA § 1 7

- 8

- 5 8

, “ [a] n y p art y w h o ob ject s t o an y

p o rt i on o f t h e ch arg e t o t h e j u ry o r t h e fai l u re to ch arg e t h e ju ry s hal l in fo rm t h e co u rt

o f t h e s peci fi c o b

j ect io n an d t h e g ro u n d s fo r su ch o bject i o n b efo re t h e ju ry ret i res to

d el i b erat e.” 4 1 Th e fai l u re to s o ob ject p recl u d es “ ap p el lat e rev i ew o f su ch p o rt i o n o f

t h e ju ry ch arg e, u nl es s s u ch p o rt i o n o f t h e ju ry ch arg e co ns t i t u tes p l ai n erro r wh i ch

affect s th e s u b st an t ial ri gh t s o f t h e p art ies .” 4 2 In s u ch cas es

, as t h e Su p rem e Co u rt o f

4 0 Jo h n s o n v. S t a t e

, 2 86 G a. 4 3 2

, 4 34 (6 8 7 SE2 d 8 33 ) (2 01 0 ); see Au s t i n

, 2 9 7

Ga. Ap p

. at 4 8 0 (h o l d i n g t h at an i n d i ct m en t t h at i s s u b s t an t i al l y in th e lan g u ag e o f t h e

Co d e i s s u ffi ci en t i n fo rm an d s u b s t an ce).

4 1 OCGA § 1 7 -8 -5 8 (a).

4 2 OCGA § 1 7 -8 -5 8 (b ); s ee a l so Al vel o v. S t a t e

, 2 9 0 Ga. 6 09

, 6 1 4 (5 ) (7 2 4

SE2 d 3 7 7 ) (2 0 1 2 ) (h o ld i n g t h at OCGA § 1 7 -8 -5 8 (b ) req u i res an ap p el l at e co u rt to

rev i ew fo r p l ai n erro r a n a l l e g ed ju ry -i n s tru ct i o n erro r t o wh i ch n o o bject i o n was

19Geo rg i a h as ex p lai n ed

, “ t he p ro p er i n q u i ry is w h et h er t h e i ns t ru ct i o n was erro n eo u s

,

wh et h er i t w a s o bv i o u sl y s o, an d wh et her i t l i k el y affect ed t h e o u t co m e o f t h e

p ro ceed in g s .” 4 3 Co n s eq uen t l y, b ecau se Is s a fai l ed t o o b ject wh at s oev er t o t h e ju ry

ch arg es , o u r rev iew i s l i m i t ed t o co n s i d erat i o n i n t h i s reg ard

. 4 4

It i s

, o f co u rs e, wel l es tab l i s h ed t h at “ t h e ch arg e t o th e ju ry i s to b e t ak en as a

wh o l e an d n ot o u t o f co n t ex t wh en m ak i n g d et erm in at i o n s as t o i t s co rrect n es s .” 4 5

An d i n t h i s m at ter, t h e t ri al co u rt p ro v id ed t h e ju ry wi t h t h e f o l l o w i n g i ns t ru ct i o n

p ert ai n i n g t o ag grav at ed as sau lt :

Th e o ffen s es ch arg ed i n Co u n t s IV, V, VI, an d VII are ag g rav at ed

as s au l t

, an d t h ey wi l l ap p l y t o al l o f t h o s e fo ur ch arg es in t h e i n d i ct m en t

rai s ed at t ri al ); W

heel er v. S t a t e , 3 2 7 Ga. Ap p . 3 1 3 , 3 1 8 (3 ) (7 5 8 SE2 d 8 4 0 ) (2 0 1 4 )

(s am e).

4 3 Al vel o

, 2 9 0 Ga. at 61 5 (5 ) (p u n ct uat i o n o m i t ted ); a cco r d W h eel er , 3 2 7 Ga.

Ap p . at 3 1 8 (3 ).

4 4 S ee O CGA § 17 -8

- 5 8 ( b ) ; s ee a l so S t a t e v. A l va r ez

, 2 9 9 Ga. 2 1 3

, 2 1 4 (1 )

(7 9 0 SE2 d 6 6 ) (2 0 1 6 ) (n o t i ng t h at wh en tri al co un s el fai ls t o o b ject to a ju ry ch arg e,

ap p el l at e co u rt s m

u s t rev i ew t h e i s s u e u n der t h e p l ai n-erro r d o ct ri ne); W h eel er

, 3 2 7

Ga. Ap p

. at 3 1 8 (3 ); Ki n g v. S t a t e

, 3 1 7 Ga. Ap p

. 8 34

, 8 3 6

- 3 7 ( 1 ) (7 3 3 SE2 d 2 1 )

(2 0 1 2).

4 5 M i n o r v. S t a t e

, 3 2 8 G a. Ap p

. 12 8

, 1 3 2 (2 ) (a) (7 6 1 SE2 d 5 3 8) (2 0 1 4 )

(p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ); s ee Dr ayt o n v. S t a te

, 2 9 7 Ga. 7 4 3

, 7 4 8-4 9 (2 ) (b ) (7 7 8 SE2 d

1 7 9 ) (2 0 1 5 ) (ex p l ai ni n g t h at b efo re a ju ry ch arg e wi l l b e co n s i d ered rev ers i b l e erro r,

i t m u s t b e co n s i d ered i n t he co n t ex t o f t h e ju ry i n s tru ct i on s as a wh o l e).

20a n d w i l l be t he s am e defi n i t i o n o f t he cri m e ch arg ed b u t d i ffe r e n t

al l eg ed vi ct i m s

.

Ge o r g i a l aw pro v i des a p ers o n co m m i t s t h e o ffen s e o f ag g rav at ed

as s au l t wh en t h at p ers o n as s au l t s an o t h er p ers o n wi t h a d ead l y weap o n

.

To co n s t i tu te s u ch an as s au l t act u al i nju ry t o t h e al l eg ed v i ct im n eed n o t

b e s h o w n

. It i s on l y neces s ary t h at t h e ev i den ce s h o w b ey o n d a

reas o n ab l e d o u b t t h at a d efen d an t at t em p t ed t o cau s e v i o len t i nju ry t o

t h e al l eg ed v i ct i m [s i c] u n d er t h e i n ten t i o n o f c o m m it ti n g an act t hat

p l aced t he v i ct i m

wi t h in reas o n ab l e fear o f recei v i n g a v i o l en t i n ju ry

.

Th e St at e m

u s t al s o p ro v e as a m at eri al fact o f ag g rav at ed as s au lt i n t h i s

cas e t h at t h e as s au l t w as m ad e wi t h a d ead l y weap o n . A fi rearm

, wh en

u s ed as s u ch , i s a d ead l y

weap o n as a m at ter o f l aw.

As p rev i o u s l y no t ed

, Is s a arg u es t hat t h e tri al co u rt erred b y fai l i n g to i n s t ru ct

t h e ju ry o n s i m

p l e as s au l t as bei n g p art o f t he o ffen s e of ag g rav at ed as s au l t

. Bu t t h e

t ran s cri p t cl earl y

s h o ws t h at t h e co u rt i n s t ru ct ed t h e ju ry as t o b o t h fo rm s o f s i m

p l e

a s s au l t i n i t s ag g rav at ed -as s au l t i n s tru ct i on

. In do i ng s o

, rat h er t h an u s i n g t h e

d i s ju nct iv e “ o r” b et ween t h e t wo d efi n i t i o n s

, t h e co u rt s eem ed t o co m b i ne t h e t wo

d efi n i t i o n s

. Bu t ev en as su m i n g t h at t h e s eem i n g l y in co rrect wo rd “ u n d er” was n o t a

t ran s cri p t i o n e r r o r, i t was at wo rs t a s l ip o f t h e t on g ue. An d t he g en eral ru l e i s t h at

“ t h e ex is t en ce o f a m ere v erb al i n accu racy i n a j u r y i n s t ru ct i o n

, res u l t in g fro m a

21p al p ab l e ‘ s l i p o f t h e t o n gu e’ an d wh i ch co u l d n o t h a v e m i s l e d o r co n fu s ed t h e ju ry

wi l l n o t p ro v i d e a b as i s fo r rev ers al o f a d efen d an t ’ s co n v i ct i on .” 4 6 Fu rt h erm o re, in

ad d it i o n t o t h e ch arg e q u o t ed ab o ve, t h e t ri al co u rt h ad earl i er i n s tru ct ed t he ju ry i n

i t s ch arg es t h at “ [t ] h e bu rd en o f p ro o f res t s u p o n t h e St at e t o p ro ve ev ery m at e r i a l

al l eg at i o n o f t he i n di ct m en t an d ev ery es sen t i al el em en t o f t h e cri m e ch arg ed b ey o n d

a reas o n ab l e d o u b t .” Th e co u rt al s o p ro v id ed t h e ju ry wi t h a co p y o f t h e i n d i ct m en t

fo r rev i ew d u ri n g i t s del i b erat i o n s

. Gi ven th es e i n s tru ct i o n s as a w h o l e, t h e t ri al

co u rt ’ s ag g rav at ed -as s au lt i n s t ru ct i o n d id n o t co n s t i t u te p l ai n erro r. 4 7

5

. Is s a al s o co n t en d s th at t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n d en y in g a m i s t ri al aft er a

St at e’ s w i t n e s s t es ti fi ed t h at Is s a ex erci sed h i s ri g h t t o rem ai n s i l en t u p o n b ei n g

arres t ed an d af

t e r t h e St at e’ s p ro s ecu t o r referen ced Is sa’ s fai l u re t o t es t i fy d u ri n g

cl o s i ng arg u m en t s . Ag ai n

, we d i s ag ree.

4 6 Gr een v. S t a te

, 2 9 1 Ga. 2 8 7

, 2 9 4 (8 ) (a) (7 2 8 SE2 d 66 8 ) (2 0 1 2 ) (p u n ct u at i o n

o m it t ed ); a cco r d Ma d i s o n v. S t at e

, 3 2 9 Ga. Ap p

. 8 5 6

, 8 6 5 (2 ) (7 6 6 SE2 d 8 5 6 ) (2 0 1 4 );

W i l l ia ms v. S ta t e , 3 0 3 Ga. Ap p . 2 2 2 , 2 3 0-3 1 (6 ) (6 9 2 SE2 d 8 2 0 ) (2 0 1 0 ).

4 7 See Fl o u r n o

y v. S ta t e

, 2 9 4 Ga. 7 4 1

, 74 3 -4 4 (2 ) (7 5 5 SE2 d 7 7 7 ) (2 0 1 4 )

(h o l d i n g t h at ev en wh en a ju ry i n s t ru ct i o n i s d efect i v e, s u ch a d efect i s cu red wh en

t h e co u rt p ro v i des t he ju ry w i t h t h e i n d i ct m en t an d i n s t ru ct s ju ro rs t h at t he b u rd en o f

p ro o f res t s u p on t h e St at e t o p ro v e ev ery m at eri al al l eg at i o n o f t h e i n d i ct m en t an d

ev ery es s en t ial el em en t o f t he cri m e ch arg ed b ey o n d a reas o n ab l e d o u b t ); W h eel er

, 3 2 7 Ga. Ap p . at 3 19 -2 0 (3 ) (s am e).

22It i s ax i o m at i c t h at a d efen d an t’ s “ ex erci s e of h i s ri g h ts t o rem ai n s il en t an d to

b e rep res en t ed b y co u n s el i s n o t t o b e u s ed as ev id en ce ag ai ns t h i m .” 4 8 Th at s ai d

, an

i m p ro p er co m

m en t o n th es e ri gh t s “ d o es n o t neces s ari l y req ui re rev ers al .” 4 9 In fact

,

t h e g ran t o r d en i al o f a m i s tri al i s wi t h in t h e t ri al co urt ’ s s o u n d d is cret i o n , an d “ t h e

ap p el l at e co urt w i l l no t i n t erfere wi t h t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s ex erci s e o f t h a t d i s cret i o n

u n l es s i t i s cl ear t h at a m i s t ri al was es s en t i al t o p res erv e t h e ri g h t t o a fai r t ri al .” 5 0

In t h i s m at t er, d u ri n g it s d i rect ex am i n at i o n of th e lead p ol i ce det ect i v e, t h e

St at e’ s p ro s ecu t o r reco u n t ed t h e d et ect i ve’ s i n ve stiga tio n t h at l ead to hi m d i sco v eri n g

t h at Is s a s u s t ai n ed a g u n sh o t w o u n d o n t h e ni g ht i n q u es t io n an d th en as k ed

, “ W h at

was y o u r n ex t s t ep ? ” Th e d et ect i v e res p o n ded

, “ I h ad prev i ou s l y

, b efo re t ak i n g

4 8 Jef f er s o n v. S ta t e

, 3 1 2 Ga. Ap p

. 8 4 2

, 8 5 2 (6 ) (7 2 0 SE2 d 1 8 4 ) (2 0 1 1 ); s ee

W h i ta ker v. S t at e

, 2 8 3 G a. 5 2 1

, 5 2 4 (3 ) (6 6 1 SE2 d 5 5 7 ) (2 0 0 8) (n o t i n g t hat t h e fact

t h at a d efen d an t h as ex erci s ed t h e ri g h t t o rem ai n s i len t i s n o t to b e u s ed ag ai n s t t h e

d efen d an t at t ri al ).

4 9 Jef f er s o n

, 3 12 Ga. Ap p

. at 8 5 2 (6 ); s ee W h i t a ker

, 2 8 3 Ga. at 5 24 (3 ) (n o t i n g

t h at [a] n i m

p ro p er co m

m en t o n t h e d efen d an t ’ s s i l en ce d o es n o t n eces sari l y req u i re

a rev ers al ).

5 0 W h i t a ker , 2 8 3 Ga. at 5 2 4 (3 ) (p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ); s ee Jef f er s on , 3 1 2 Ga.

Ap p

. at 8 5 2-5 3 (6 ) (ex p l ai n i n g t h at “ [t ] h e g ran t o r d en i al o f a m i s t ri al i s wi t h i n t h e

t ri al co u rt ’ s s o u nd d i s cret io n

, an d t h e ap pel l at e co u rt wi l l n o t i n t erfere wi t h t h e t ri al

co u rt ’ s ex erci s e o f t h a t d i s c r e ti o n u n l es s i t i s cl ear th at a m i s t ri al was es s en t i al to

p res erv e t h e ri g h t t o a fai r t ri al .” (p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed )).

23p h o t o s fo r A h m e d I s s a

, I h ad t ak en warran t s o u t fo r h i m fo r t h e i nci d en t at [t h e

v i ct i m s ’ ho m e]

. An d o n ce h e was arre s t e d

, h e refu s ed t o t al k t o u s

, b u t I al s o h ad a

— ” At t h i s p o i nt

, Is s a’ s co u n s el i m m ed i at el y o b

ject ed an d m o v ed fo r a m i s t ri al

. Bu t

aft er a l en g t h y

d is cu s s i o n o u t s i d e t h e p res en ce o f t h e ju ry

, t h e t ri al co u rt fo u n d t h at

t h e d et ect i v e’ s rem a r k w a s n o t p ro m p t ed b y th e St at e p ro s ecu t o r’ s q u es t i o n an d,

t h erefo re, d en i ed Is s a’ s m o t i o n

. O n c e th e ju ry ret u rn ed

, t h e co urt g av e a cu rat i v e

i n s t ru ct i o n

, d i rect i n g t h e ju ry t o i g n ore t h e det ect i ve’ s l as t res p on s e. A n d fo l l o wi n g

a ju ro r’ s qu es t io n reg ard i n g wh i c h r em ark t o i g n o re, th e co urt cl ari fi ed an d

co n fi rm ed

, v i a a s h o w o f h an ds an d g en eral v erb al ag reem en t, t h at t h e ju ry wo u l d n ot

co n st ru e t h e co m

m en t ag ai ns t t h e accu s ed

.

Is s a arg ues t h at th e t ri al co u rt erred in refu s in g t o g ran t a m i s t ri al b as ed o n t h e

l ead d et ect i v e’ s t es t i m o n y

. Bu t t es t im o n y ab o u t t h e d efen d an t rem ai ni ng s i l en t i s n ot

d eem ed t o b e p reju d i ci al i f “ i t i s m ad e d u ri n g a n arrat iv e o n t h e p art o f t h e au t h o ri ti es

o f a co u rs e o f ev en t s an d ap p aren t l y was n o t in t en d ed t o

, n o r d i d i t h av e th e effect o f,

b ei n g p ro b at i v e o n t he g u i lt or i n n o cen ce o f t h e d e f e n d a n t

. ” 5 1 Rat h er, t o warran t a

5 1 W h i t a ker

, 2 8 3 Ga. at 5 2 4 (3 ) (p u n ct uat i o n o m i t t ed ); s ee Pa rks v. S t a t e

, 2 8 1

Ga. Ap p . 6 7 9 , 6 8 1 (2 ) (6 3 7 SE2 d 4 6 ) (2 0 0 6 ) (h o l d i n g t h at co m m en t o n d efen d an t ’ s

s i len ce was n o t rev ers i b l e erro r b ecau s e, i n t er a l i a

, i t d i d n o t h av e t he effect o f b ei n g

p ro b at i v e o n g u il t o r i nn o cen ce).

24rev ers al o f a d e f e n d a n t ’ s co n v i ct i o n

, “ t he ev i d en ce o f th e el ect io n t o rem ai n s i l en t

m u st p o i n t d i rect l y at t h e s u b s t an ce of t h e d efen d an t ’ s d efe n s e o r o t h erwi s e

s u b s t an t i al l y p reju d i ce t h e d efen d an t i n t h e ey es o f t he ju ry .” 5 2 A n d h ere, t h e

d et ect i v e’ s rem ark was no t di rect ed t o an y p art i cu l ar s t at em en t o r d efen s e o ffered by

I s s a

, b u t was in s t ead m ad e du ri n g t h e det ect i ve’ s ex p l an at i o n o f th e co u rs e o f hi s

i n v es t i g at i o n

. Fu rt h erm o re, t h ere i s n o i n d i cat io n t h at t h e rem ark h ad t h e effect o f

b ei n g p ro b at i v e o n t h e i s s ue o f g u i lt o r i n no cen ce, an d th e t ri al co u rt p ro m p t l y g av e

a cu rat i v e i n st ru ct io n t o t h e ju ry

. Un d er th es e p art icu l ar ci rcu m s t an ces

, t h e co u rt d id

n o t ab us e i t s d i s cret i o n i n refu s i n g t o g ran t a m i s tri al

. 5 3

Nev ert h el es s

, Is s a arg u es t h at t h e p reju di ci al effect o f t h e d et ect i v e’ s co m m en t

w as co m p o u n ded d u ri n g t h e St at e’ s cl o s i n g arg u m en t, wh en t h e p ro s ecu t o r was

at t ack i n g t h e acco u n t Is s a al l eg ed l y pro v i ded h o s p i t al st af f t o e x p l ai n hi s g u n s h ot

wo u n d

. Sp eci fi cal l y , t h e p ro s ecu t or arg u ed :

5 2 W h i t a ker

, 2 8 3 Ga. at 5 2 4 (3 ) (p un ct u at io n o m i t t ed ); s ee Pa r ks

, 2 8 1 Ga. Ap p.

at 6 8 1 (2 ) (s am e).

5 3 See Wh i t a k

e r

, 2 8 3 Ga. at 5 2 4 (3 ) (h o l d i n g t h at tri al co u rt d i d n o t ab u s e i t s

d i s cret i o n in d en y i n g a m i st ri al an d i n st ead g iv i n g a cu rat i v e i n s t ru ct i on wh en an

i m p r o p er co m

m en t o n a d efen d an t ’ s s i l en ce was n o t di rect ed t o an y p art i cu l a r

s t at em en t o r d efen s e o ffered b y t h e d efen dan t

, was m ad e d u r i n g t h e wi t n es s ’ s

ex p lan at i o n o f t he co u rs e o f ev en t s

, an d d i d n o t h av e t h e effect o f bei n g p ro b at i v e o n

t h e i s s ue o f g u il t o r i nn o cen ce); Jef f er s on , 3 1 2 Ga. Ap p . at 8 5 3 (6 ) (s am e).

25If h e co ul d tel l a s t o ry t o t h e d o c t o r ’ s t o p ro t ect h i s o wn s k in

, th at ’ s

ex act l y w h a t h e’ s go i n g t o d o n o w. He k n ows t h e ch arg es t h at he’ s

f aci n g are real ly s eri o u s

, s o h e’ s g oi n g t o co m e u p wi t h a st o ry

. We l l

,

act u al l y h e d i d n ’ t ev en co m e u p w i th a s to ry

, as far as y o u k n o w. Al l

y o u k n o w i s th at t h e d efen s e at t o rn ey

, M r. Sh ep p ard

, g av e y o u a t heo ry

.

Is s a’ s co u n s el o b

j e c t e d

, cl ai m i n g t hat t h e p ro s ecu to r was m ak i n g an i m p ro p er

co m m en t ab o ut Is s a’ s d eci si o n n o t t o t es t i fy

, b ut t h e t ri al co u rt d i s ag reed t h at t h e

co m m en t co u l d b e co n s tru ed i n s u ch a way an d o v erru led t h e o b

ject i o n

.

Is s a arg u es t h at t he t ri al co u rt erred i n o v erru l i n g h i s o b ject i o n t o t h i s p art o f

t h e St at e p ro s ecu t o r’ s cl os i ng arg u m en t

. Bu t i n d et erm i n i n g wh et h er a p ro s ecu t o r h as

i m p ro p erl y co m m en t ed o n an accu s ed fai l ure t o t es t ify

,

we m u s t ev al u at e wh et h er t he p ro s e c u t o r’ s m an ifes t i n t en t i o n w as t o

co m m en t o n t h e accu s ed ’ s fai l u re to tes t ify o r wh et her t h e rem ark was

o f s u ch a ch aract er th at a ju ry wo u l d n at u ral l y an d n eces s ari ly t ak e i t t o

b e a co m m en t o n t h e accu s ed ’ s fai l u re t o t es t i fy

. 5 4

Im p o rt an t l y

, it i s no t i m

perm is s i b l e fo r th e St at e t o “ co m m en t on t h e g en eral fai l u re

o f t h e d efen s e t o p ro d u ce an y ev i d en ce, si nce co u n s el fo r t h e St at e m ay ar g u e t h a t

5 4 Jen n in gs v. S t a t e

, 2 8 2 Ga. 6 79

, 6 8 1 -8 2 (4 ) (6 53 SE2 d 1 7 ) (2 0 0 7 )

(p u n ct u at i o n o m i tt ed ); a cco r d Di n g l er v. S t a t e

, 2 9 3 Ga. Ap p

. 2 7

, 3 1 (3 ) (6 6 6 SE2 d

4 4 1 ) (2 0 0 8 ).

26ev i d en ce s h o wi n g g ui l t h as n ot b een reb u t t ed o r co n t rad ict ed .” 5 5 Here, t h e St at e

p ro s ecu to r’ s co m

m en t s were n o t d i rect ed at Is s a’ s d eci si on n o t t o t e s t i fy

, b u t were

i n s t ead d i rect ed at t h e d efen s e’ s fai l u re to ad eq u at el y ex p l ai n t h e St at e’ s ev i d en ce. 5 6

Acco rd in g ly

, ag ai n

, t h e t ri al co u rt d i d n ot ab u se i t s d i s cret i o n i n d en y i n g a m i s t ri al

.

6

. Is s a fu rt h er co n ten d s t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n al lo wi n g t h e St at e t o as k i t s

o wn wi t n es s l ead in g q u es t i on s . On ce ag ai n , we d i s ag ree.

Du ri n g t h e St at e’ s cas e, i t cal l ed Des ti n y Fo rres t er as a w i t n e s s

. Th e St at e’ s

p ro s ecu to r i m

m ed i at el y as k ed Fo r res t er, “ Yo u d o n’ t wan t t o b e h ere, d o y o u? ”

Fo rres t er res p o n d ed

, “ No

, I do n ’t wan t t o .” Th en

, wi t h t h e v ery n ex t q u es t i o n

, t h e

p ro s ecu to r as k ed Fo rres t er i f sh e was afrai d o f t h e d efen d an t s

, an d s h e res p o n d ed

affi rm at i v el y

. O v er t h e co urs e o f t he n ex t few m i n u t es of t h e d i rect ex am i n at i o n

, t h e

p ro s ecu to r as k ed Fo rres t er sev eral le a di n g q u es t i o n s

, an d Tru s t y ’ s co u n s el ev en t u al l y

5 5 Di n g ler v. S t a t e

, 2 9 3 Ga

. A p p

. 2 7

, 3 1 (3 ) (6 6 6 SE2 d 44 1 ) (2 0 0 8 )

(p u n ct u at i o n o m i tt ed ); s ee Po n d er v. S t at e

, 2 6 8 Ga. 5 4 4

, 5 4 5 (2 ) ( 4 9 1 SE2 d 3 6 3 )

(1 9 9 7) (h o l d i n g t hat i t was p erm i s s i b l e fo r p ro s ecu t o r t o c o m m e n t o n t h e g en eral

fai l u re o f t he d efen s e t o p ro d u ce an y ev i d en ce).

5 6 S e e Po n d er

, 2 6 8 Ga. at 5 4 5 (2 ) (fi n d i n g t h at p ro s ecu t o r’ s co m m en t t h a t

d efen d an t fai l ed t o o ffer ev id en ce i n h i s o wn d efen s e, was n o t a n i nap p ro p ri at e

co m m en t o n d efen d an t ’ s f

ai l u re t o t es t i fy bu t was d irect ed at d efen s e co u ns el ’ s fai l u re

t o ex p lai n t h e St at e’ s ev i d en ce.); Di n gl er , 2 9 3 Ga. Ap p . at 3 1 (3 ) (s am e).

27o b

ject ed

. Bu t t h e tri al co u rt ov erru l ed th e o b ject i on

, s t at i n g “ Th e w i t nes s has al read y

t es t i fi ed s h e d on ’ t wan t t o b e h ere, so I wi l l g iv e h er s om e l eeway an d l et h er l ead .”

Is s a arg u es th at al lo wi n g t h e St at e t o as k l ead i n g q u es t i o ns o f i t s o wn wi t n es s

co n st i t u t ed rev ers i bl e erro r. Bu t a tri al co u rt h as d i s cret i o n t o p erm i t l ead i n g

q u es ti o n s o n d i rect ex am i n at io n wh en “ a wi tn es s i s rel u ct an t, h o s t i l e, or o v erl y

n erv o u s

. ” 5 7 M oreo v er, i t wo u l d b e a rare cas e i n wh i ch “ t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s ex erci s e o f

d i s cret i o n o n t hi s i ss ue wo u l d warran t rev ers al .” 5 8 An d h ere, at t he v er y s t art o f t h e

d i rect ex am i n at i o n, Fo rres t er t es t i fi ed t h at s h e d i d n o t w an t t o tes t ify an d th at s h e was

afrai d o f th e d efen d an t s

, t h u s d em o n s t rat i n g b o t h rel uct an ce an d n erv o u s n es s

.

Acco rd in g ly

, t h e t ri al co u rt d i d n o t ab u s e i t s d i s cret i on i n al l o wi n g th e St at e to

co n du ct i t s d i rect ex am i n at io n o f Fo rres t er wi t h l ead in g q ues t i o n s. 5 9

5 7 Cu l l er v. St a t e

, 2 7 7 Ga. 7 1 7

, 7 2 1 (5 ) (5 9 4 SE2 d 6 31 ) (2 0 04 ); a cco r d S p en cer

v

. S t a t e

, 3 2 8 Ga. Ap p

. 1

, 5 (3 ) (7 6 1 SE2 d 4 6 4) (2 0 1 4 ); s ee OCGA § 24 -6 -6 1 1 (c)

(“ W h en a p art y cal l s a h o s t i l e wi t n es s

, an ad v ers e p art y

, o r a wi t n es s id en t i fi ed wi th

an ad vers e p art y , i n t erro gat i o n m ay b e b y l ead i ng q u es t i o n s .”).

5 8 F u g a t e v. S ta t e

, 2 6 3 Ga. 2 6 0

, 2 6 5 (1 0 ) (4 3 1 SE2 d 1 0 4 ) (1 9 9 3 ); a cco r d

S p en cer

, 3 28 Ga. Ap p

. at 5 (3 ).

5 9 S e e F u g a t e

, 2 6 3 G a. at 2 65 (1 0 ) (h o l d i ng t h at t h e St at e co u l d as k l ead i n g

q u es ti o n s o f i t s wi t n es s

, a co -d efen dan t wh o h ad en t ered a pl ea, aft er wi t n es s i n i t i al l y

refu sed t o an s wer q u es t io n s i n v i o l at i o n o f her p l ea ag re e m e n t ) ; S p en cer

, 3 2 8 Ga.

Ap p . at 5 (3 ) (s am e).

287

. Is s a n e x t c o n t e n d s th at t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n fai l i n g t o ap p l y th e ru l e o f

l en i t y w h en s en t en ci ng h i m as a reci d i v i s t o n t h e at t em pt ed -arm ed -ro b b ery

co n vi ct i o n s

. Sp eci fi cal l y

, Is s a a r g u e s t h at h i s s en t en ce o n t h es e co nv i ct i o n s i s v o id

b ecau s e th ere i s an am

b ig u i t y b et w een t h e reci d i v i s t s t at u te, t h e arm ed -ro b b ery

s t at u te, an d t h e cri m i n al -at tem pt s t at u t e. Yet ag ai n , we d i s ag ree.

W e fi rs t n o t e, as o ur Su p rem e Co u rt h as ex p l ai n ed

, th at th e ru l e o f l en i t y fi nd s

i t s ro o ts i n t h e v ag uen es s d o ct ri n e, “ wh i ch req u i res fai r warn i ng as t o wh at co n d u ct

i s p ro s cri b ed .” 6 0 M o re p reci sel y

, t h e ru l e of l en i t y “ en s u res t h at i f an d wh en an

am bi g ui t y ex i s ts i n o n e or m o re s t at u t es

, s u ch t hat t h e l aw ex act s v ary i n g d eg rees o f

p u n i s hm en t fo r t he s am e offen s e, t h e am b ig ui t y wi l l b e res o lv ed in fav o r o f a

d efen d an t

, wh o wi l l t h en recei v e t h e l es s er p u n is h m en t.” 6 1 N e v ert h el es s

, i f aft er

ap p l y i n g t h e t rad i t i o n al can o n s o f s t at u t o ry co ns t ru ct i o n “ t he rel ev an t t ex t rem ai n s

u n am b i g u o u s , t h e ru l e o f l en i t y wi l l n o t ap p l y .” 6 2

6 0 McNa i r v. S t a te

, 2 9 3 Ga. 2 8 2

, 2 8 3 (7 4 5 SE2 d 6 4 6) (2 0 1 3 ) ( p u n c t u at i o n

o m it t ed ); a cco r d Go r d

o n v. S t a t e , 3 3 4 Ga. Ap p . 6 3 3, 6 3 4 (7 8 0 SE2 d 3 76 ) (2 0 1 5 ).

6 1 Go r d o n

, 3 3 4 Ga. A p p. at 6 3 4 (p un ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ); s ee McNa i r

, 2 9 3 Ga. at

2 8 3 (n o t i n g t h at t h e ru l e o f l en i t y p ro v i d es t h at s t at u t o ry a m b i g u i t y i s res o l v ed in

fav o r o f t h e d efen d an t , wh o wi l l t h en recei v e t h e l es s er p u ni s h m en t ).

6 2 Go r d o n

, 3 34 G a. Ap p

. at 6 3 4 -3 5 ; s ee M cNa i r

, 2 9 3 G a

. a t 2 8 4 (s t at i n g t h at

t h e ru l e o f l en i t y

d o es n o t ap pl y

wh en t h e s t at u t o ry

p ro v i s i o ns are u n am

b i g u o u s ).

29Tu rn i n g n o w t o t h e s t at u t es at i s s u e, OCGA § 1 7 -1 0 -7 (a), i n p art , p ro v i d es :

. . . an y pers on wh o , aft er h av i n g b een co n v i ct ed o f a fel on y o ffen s e i n

t h i s s t at e o r h av in g b een co n v i ct ed u nd er t h e l aws o f an y ot her s t at e o r

o f t h e Un i t ed St at es o f a c ri m e wh i ch if co m m it t ed wi t h in t h is s t at e

wo u ld b e a fel on y an d s en t en ced t o co n fi n em en t i n a p en al i n s t i t u t i o n

,

co m m i t s a fel o n y p u ni sh ab l e b y co n fi n em en t in a p en al i n s t i t u t io n sh al l

b e s en ten ced t o u n d erg o t h e l o n g es t p eri o d o f t i m e p res cri b ed fo r th e

p u n i s h m en t o f t h e s u b s eq u en t o f fen se o f w h i ch h e o r s h e st an d s

co n v i ct ed

, pro v id ed t h at

, u n l es s o t h erwi s e p ro v i d ed b y l aw, t h e t ri al

ju d g e m ay

, i n h is o r h er d i scret i o n

, p ro b at e o r s u sp en d t h e m a x i m u m

s en t en ce p res cri b ed fo r t h e o ffen s e.

Un d er OCGA § 1 6 -8 -4 1 (b ), “ [a] p ers o n co n v i ct ed o f t h e o ffen s e o f arm ed ro b b ery

s h al l be p u n i s h ed b y d eat h or i m p ri s o n m en t fo r l i fe o r b y

i m p ri s o n m en t fo r n o t l es s

t h an ten n or m o re t h an 2 0 ye a r s

. ” An d un d er OCGA § 1 6 -4 -6 (a), “ [a] p ers o n

co n vi ct ed o f t h e o ffen se o f cri m i n al at t em p t t o co m m i t a cri m e p u ni s h ab l e b y d eat h

o r by l ife i m

p ri s o n m en t s h al l b e p u n i s h ed b y i m p ri s on m en t fo r n o t l es s t han o n e y ear

n o r m o re t h an 3 0 y ears .”

In t h i s m at ter, aft er t h e ju ry ren d ered i t s v erd i ct

, t h e St at e in t ro d u ced ev i d en ce

t h a t I s s a h ad p rev i o u sl y b een co n v i ct ed o f fel on y offen s es

. Th e t ri al co u rt t h en

i m p o s ed sep arat e s en t en ces o f 3 0 y ears fo r each o f t he t h ree at t em p ted- a r m e d-ro b b ery

co n vi ct i o n s

.

30On ap p eal , Is s a arg u es t h at t h e i n terp l ay b et ween t h e t h ree fo reg o in g s t at u t es

creat ed an am

b i g u it y t hat ren d ers h i s s en t en ce vo i d

. Bu t o n l y a few y ears ag o

, t h i s

C o u r t h e l d “ th at th e co n s t ru ct io n o f OCGA § 1 7 -1 0 -7 (a) as ap p l i ed t o th e arm ed

ro b b ery s t at u t e i s cl ear: t h e l on g es t peri o d o f t i m e p res cri b ed fo r pu n is h m en t of arm ed

ro b b ery i s l ife i m

pri so n m en t .” 6 3 An d we fu rt h e r co n cl u d ed t h at t h ere was “ n o

am bi g ui t y i n t h e ap pl i cat io n o f OCGA § 1 7 -1 0 -7 (a) t o t h e s en t en ci n g p ro v i s i o n s in

t h e arm ed ro b b ery s tat u t e.” 6 4 Si m i l arl y

, h ere, t h ere i s n o am b i g u i ty i n t he ap p l i cat i o n

o f O C G A § 1 7 -1 0 -7 (a) t o t h e s en t en ci n g pro v i s i on fo r at tem pt ed arm ed ro b b ery

,

wh i ch

— u n d er OCGA § 1 6 -4 -6 (a)— carri es a m ax i m u m s en t en ce o f 3 0 y ears g i v en

t h e fa c t t h at a co m

pl et ed arm ed ro b b ery carri es a m ax i m u m s en t en ce o f l i fe

i m p ri s o n m en t

. 6 5 In l i g ht o f t h es e ci rcu m s t an ces

, t h e s en t en ce i m p o s ed b y t h e t ri al

6 3 Ma ck v. S t a t e

, 3 2 3 Ga. Ap p

. 8 2 1

, 8 2 3 (7 4 8 SE2 d 2 9 9 ) (2 0 13 ); s ee W o r l ey v.

S t a t e

, 2 6 5 Ga. 25 1

, 25 2 (1 ) (“ Th e arm ed ro b b ery s t at ut e cl earl y s p eci fi es t h at a p ers o n

co n vi ct ed o f arm ed ro b b ery can b e s en t en ced t o p ri s on fo r li fe

. . . .”); Les ter v. S t a t e

, 3 0 9 Ga. Ap p

. 1

, 5 (2 ) (7 1 0 SE2 d 1 6 1 ) (2 01 1 ) (co n cl u d i n g t h at l i fe i m p ri s o n m en t was

t h e l o n g es t au t h ori zed p un i s h m en t fo r a co n v i ct i o n o f arm ed ro b b ery ).

6 4 Ma ck

, 3 2 3 Ga. Ap p

. at 8 2 3 ; s ee a ls o W o rl ey

, 2 6 5 Ga. at 2 53 (2 ) (h o l d i n g t h at

t h e arm ed ro b b ery s tat u t e can b e reco n ci led wi t h OCGA § 17 -1 0 -1 an d i t s s en t en ci n g

p ro v is i o n i s n o t u n co n st i t ut i o n al l y v o i d fo r v ag uen es s ).

6 5 S ee OCGA § 1 6 -8 -4 1 (b ).

31co u rt fo r Is s a’ s at t em p t ed -arm ed -ro b b ery co n v i ct i o n s fal l s wi t h i n t h e s t at u t o ry ran g e

an d i s n ot v o i d

.

8

. Fi n al l y

, Is s a co n t en d s t h at t h e t ri al co urt erred i n d en y i ng h i s cl ai m o f

i n effect i v e as s is t an ce o f co u n s el . On ce ag ai n , we d i s ag ree.

In o rd er t o p rev ai l o n h i s cl ai m o f i n effect i v e as s i s t an ce o f co u n sel

, we ap p l y

t h e t wo -p ro n g ed t es t es t ab l i s hed i n S t r i ckl a n d v. W a s h i n g t o n

, 6 6 w h i ch req u i res Is s a

t o dem o ns t rat e t h a t h i s t ri al co u n s el ’ s p erfo rm an ce was “ d efi ci en t an d t h at t h e

d efi ci en t p erfo rm an ce s o p reju di ced [h i m ] t h at t h ere i s a reas o n ab l e l i k el i h oo d t h at

,

b u t fo r co u n s el ’ s erro rs

, t h e o ut co m e o f t he t ri al wo u l d hav e b een d i fferen t .” 6 7 In

a d d i t i o n, t h ere i s a s tro n g p res u m p t i o n t h at t ri al co u n sel ’ s co n d uct fal ls w i t h i n t h e

b ro ad ran g e o f reas o n ab le p ro fes s i o nal c o n d u c t

, an d a cri m i n al d efen d an t m u s t

o v erco m e t h i s p res u m

p t i o n

. 6 8 Un l es s cl earl y erro n eo u s

, t h is Co u rt “ wi l l up h o l d a t ri al

6 6 4 6 6 U.S. 6 6 8, 6 8 7 (III) (1 04 SCt 2 0 5 2 , 8 0 LE2 d 6 7 4) (1 98 4 ).

6 7 Ch a p ma n v

. S t a te

, 2 7 3 Ga. 3 4 8

, 3 4 9 -5 0 (2 ) (5 41 SE2 d 6 34 ) (2 0 0 1 ); s ee

S t r i c k l a n d

, 4 6 6 U.S. at 6 87 (III); As h mi d v. S t a t e

, 3 1 6 G a. Ap p

. 5 5 0

, 5 56 (3 ) (7 3 0

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

6 8 Ch a p m a n

, 2 73 G a. at 3 5 0 (2 ); s ee Ca mmer v. W al ker

, 2 9 0 Ga. 2 5 1

, 2 5 5 (1 )

(7 1 9 S E 2 d 4 3 7) (2 0 1 1 ) (“ A cl ai m o f i n effect i ve as s i s t an ce o f co u n s el i s ju d g ed by

wh et h er co u n s el ren dered reas o n ab l y e f f e c t i ve as s i s tan ce, no t b y a s t an d ard o f

erro rl es s co u n s el o r b y

h i n d s ig h t .” (p u nct u at i o n o m i t t ed )).

32co u rt ’ s fact u al det erm in at i o ns wi t h res p ect to cl ai m s o f i n effect i v e as s i s t an ce o f

c o u n s el ; h o wev er, a t ri al co u rt ’ s leg al co n cl u s i o n s i n t h i s reg ard are rev i ewed d e

n o vo

. ” 6 9 Beari n g th es e g u i di ng p ri n ci p l es i n m i n d

, w e t u r n n o w t o Is s a’ s s p eci fi c

cl ai m

.

Faced wi t h t es t i m o n y fro m al l t h ree v i ct i m s t h at o n e of th e p erp et rat o rs

s u ffered a g u n s h o t wo u n d t o t he l eg d u ri n g t h e h o m e i n vas i o n

, t e s t i m o n y fro m an

em erg en cy -ro o m p h y s i ci an t h at h e t reat ed Is s a fo r a g u n sh o t wo u n d t o t h e l eg s ev eral

h o u rs aft er t h e h o m e in v as i o n

, an d Is s a’ s b l o od fo un d o n a wo o den fen ce s l at i n t h e

b ack y ard o f th e s u b

ject h o m e, Is s a’ s co u n s el arg u ed i n h is cl os i n g t h at h i s cl i en t wen t

wi t h o th ers t o t h e v i ct i m s ’ h o m e b u t ab an d o n ed t h e ro b bery p l an

, was t h en s h o t by

o n e o f t h e o t h er p erp et rat o rs

, an d rem ai ned i n t he b ack y ard fo r s o m e t i m e aft er b ei n g

wo u n d e d

. A n d i n a fu rt her effo rt t o ex p l ai n wh y al l t h ree v ict i m s t es ti fi ed t h at t h e

p erp et rat o r wh o s t ru g gl ed wi t h C. D. w as s h o t

, Is s a’ s co un s el p o si t ed t h at t hi s

u n k n o wn p erp et rat o r fak ed b ei n g wo u n d ed aft er t h e g u n fi red d u ri ng t h e s tru g g l e an d

co n ti n u ed t h i s ch arad e wh i l e i n t h e h o m e, k n o wi n g t h at d o i ng s o wo u ld i m p l i cat e a

wo u n d ed Is s a s t il l wai t i ng i n t h e b ack y ard

.

6 9 S o wel l v. S t a t e , 3 2 7 Ga. Ap p . 5 3 2 , 5 3 9 (4 ) (7 5 9 SE2 d 6 0 2 ) (2 0 14 ).

33Is s a n ow co n ten d s

, as h e d i d i n h is m o ti o n fo r n ew t ri al

, t h at h i s t ri al co u n sel ’ s

arg u m en t d u ri n g cl o s i n g was s o ab s u rd t h at i t am o u n t ed t o in effect i ve as s i s t an ce. Bu t

d u ri n g t h e h eari n g o n Is s a’ s m o t i o n fo r new t ri al

, hi s t ri al co u n s el t es t i fi ed t h at in

l i gh t o f th e s tro ng

— al b ei t ci rcu m s t an t i al

— ev i d en ce ag a i n s t h i s cl i en t, h e b el i ev ed

t h at h i s th eo ry o f a t h i rd p erp et rat o r, wh o fak ed b ei n g sh o t aft er t h e st ru gg l e wi t h C.

D., di s t an ced Is s a fro m th e eg reg i o u s cri m es t h at o ccu rred i ns i d e t he vi ct i m s ’ h o m e

an d b es t ex p lai n ed wh y Is sa’ s b l o o d was fo u n d o u t s i d e o n t h e fen ce b u t was n ot

co n cl u s i v el y m at ch ed wi t h an y of t he b l o o d fo u n d in s i d e t h e h o m e

. A n d t h i s i s

ex act l y t h e k i n d o f s t rat eg i c d eci s i o n t h at

, g en eral l y

, can n o t an d wi l l n o t “ s erv e as t h e

b as i s fo r an in effect i v e as s i s t an ce cl ai m .” 7 0 I n d e e d

, a s t rat eg y t h at “ p res en t s

al t er n a t i v e d efen s e t h eo ri es

— al l o f wh i ch are b et ter fo r t h e d efen d an t t h an t h e

p ro s ecu ti o n t heo ry o f t h e cas e— g en eral l y fal l s wi th i n t h e 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 .” 7 1 An d co u n s el ’ s reas on ed ex p l a na tion f or his st rat eg y h ere was

7 0 Ma u r er v. S t a t e

, 3 2 0 Ga. Ap p

. 58 5

, 5 9 5 (6 ) (g ) (7 4 0 SE2 d 31 8 ) (2 01 3 )

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

7 1 S t a t e v. Mo b l ey

, 2 9 6 Ga. 8 76 , 8 8 1 (7 7 0 SE2 d 1 ) (2 0 1 5 ).

34“ n o t s o u n s o u n d t hat n o reas o n ab l e l awy er wo ul d h av e p u rs u ed i t .” 7 2 Th u s

, t h e t ri al

co u rt d i d n o t err i n d en y i n g Is s a’ s cl ai m o f i n effect iv e as s is t an ce o f co u n s el

.

Fo r al l t h e fo reg o i n g reas o n s

, we affi rm Is s a’ s co n vi ct i o n s an d t h e d en i al o f h i s

m o ti o n fo r n ew t ri al

.

Ju d g men t a f f i r m ed . Rees e a nd

Bet h el , JJ., co n cu r

.

7 2 M a u r er

, 3 2 0 Ga. Ap p

. at 5 9 5 (6 ) (g ); s ee Mo b l ey

, 2 9 6 Ga. at 88 1 (h o l d i n g

t h at tri al co u ns el d id no t ren d er i n effect i ve as s i s t an ce b y p o s i t i n g m u t u al co m

b at

d efen s e as an al t e r n a t i v e i n m u rd er cas e, ev en i f d o i n g s o m ig ht hav e i m p ai red

p ri n ci p al d efen s e o f ju s t i fi cat i o n ); St a t e v. Reyn ol d s

, 3 32 Ga. Ap p

. 8 1 8

, 8 2 2 -2 3 (7 7 5

SE2 d 1 8 7 ) (2 0 1 5 ) (h o l d in g t h at t ri al co u n sel ’ s s t rat eg y o f ex pl ai n i n g t h at d efen d an t

was at th e s cen e of cri m e t o d eal d ru gs rat h er t h an co m m i t ro bb ery was n ot

u n reas o nab l e).

35