THI RD DI VI SI ON

ELLI NGTON, P. J.

, A NDREWS and RI CKM A N, 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

A pr i l 20, 2017



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 7 A0 79 0 . BILL v . THE STATE.

A N D R E W S , J u d g e.

Fo l l owi n g a ju ry t ri al

, J as o n An t h o ny Bi l l was co n vi ct ed o f k i d n ap p i n g,

ag g rav at ed as s au lt

, ag g rav at ed s o d o m y , ag g rav at ed s ex u al b at t ery , rap e, a n d fal s e

i m p ri s o n m en t

. Bi l l ap p eal s , ch al l en g i n g s ev eral ev i den t i ary ru l i n g s, t h e d en i al o f h i s

m o ti o n fo r m i s t ri al

, an d th e t ri al co u rt ’ s ju ry i n s t ru ct i o n s

. Fi n d in g n o erro r, we affi rm

.

Vi ewed fav o rab l y t o t h e ju ry ’ s verd i ct

, s ee Mo o r er v. S t at e , 2 9 0 Ga. Ap p

. 2 1 6

(6 5 9 SE2 d 4 2 2 ) (2 0 0 8), th e ev i d en ce s h o ws t h at t he v i ct i m , wh o was o ri g i n al l y fro m

El Sal v ad o r an d s p eak s n o En g li s h

, l i v ed at t h e s am e Co b b Co u n t y ap art m en t

co m p l ex as Bi ll a nd w o rk ed at a n earb y b ar. Bi l l

, a Co b b Co u n ty Sh eri ff’ s d ep u t y ,

o ccas i o n al l y

v i s i t ed t h e b ar.On t h e ev en i n g o f J u ly 1 4

, 2 0 0 8, Bi l l en t ered t h e b ar wh il e t h e vi ct i m was

wo rk i n g

. He ap p eared an g ry an d d ru n k

, an d t h e b ar’ s o wn er as k ed h i m to l eav e. Bi l l

l eft

, bu t ret u rn ed a sh o rt t i m e l at er wi t h a gu n

. He cal led t h e v i ct im o ver, d i s p l ay ed

h i s b ad g e, an d g rab bed h er arm

. Bi l l t h en p laced h er i n h i s t ru ck an d l o ck ed t he d o o rs

.

At t h at po in t

, t h e v i ct im b el i ev ed s h e was u n d er arres t

. In st ead o f t ak i n g h er to

jai l

, h o wev er, Bi l l d ro v e to h is ap art m en t

, wh ere h e h an d cu ffed t he v i ct i m a n d t o ld

h er t o “ s u ck ” h i s p en i s

. W h en t h e v i ct i m refu sed

, Bi l l p u l l e d o u t h i s g u n , an d s h e

co m p l ied

. He t hen b eat t he v i ct i m wi t h hi s h an d s an d a bel t

, t o re o ff h er cl ot h i n g , an d

t ri ed t o ch o k e her wi t h h er bras s i ere. Bi l l al s o rap ed h er an d p l aced h is fi n g er i n h er

an u s. To p rev en t es cap e, Bi l l b o u n d t h e v i ct i m ’ s h an d s to h e r feet wi th a ro p e an d

g ag ged h er b y s t u ffi ng a s h i rt i n h e r m o u t h

. Ev en tu al l y , h owev er, s h e m an ag ed to

u n t i e t h e ro p e an d ran fro m Bi l l ’ s ap art m e n t

, k n o ck i n g o n n ei g h b o ri n g ap art m en t

d o o rs fo r h el p.

A n 1 1 -y ear-o l d g i rl t es t i fi ed t h at s h e was w at ch i n g t el ev is io n at h e r

g r a n d m o t h er’ s ap art m en t ju s t b efo re m i dn i gh t o n J u l y 1 4

, 2 0 0 8

, wh en s he h e a r d a

k n o ck at t h e d o o r. S h e o p e n ed t h e d o o r an d fo un d t h e v i ct im

, w h o was n ak ed

,

h an dcu ffed

, an d ap p eared t o h av e been b eat en

. Th e g i rl ’ s g ran d m o t h e r g a v e t h e

v i ct i m a ro be, an d t h e p o l i ce were cal l ed

. Al t h o u g h t h e fam i l y co u l d n ot u nd ers t an d

2t h e v i ct i m , wh o w as s p eak i ng in Sp an is h

, s h e p oi n t ed at a m an o n a m o t o rcy cl e t h at

was s l o wl y ci rcl i n g t he co m pl ex

. W h en t h e po l i ce arri v ed

, th e gran d m o t h er’ s

b o y fri en d t o l d th e o ffi cers wh ere t h e m o t o rcy cl e h ad g o ne. Th e p o li ce fo u nd Bi l l n ex t

t o t he m o t o rcy cl e an d p l a c e d h i m u n d er arres t

. Th e v i ct i m s u b s eq u en tl y id en t i fi ed Bi l l

as h er at t ack er.

Bi l l t es t i fi ed at t ri al

, d en y i n g th at h e as s au lt ed t he v ict i m

. He as s ert ed t h at h e

h ad p rev i o u s l y p a i d t h e v i ct i m fo r sex an d t h at al t h o u g h t h ey h ad p l an n ed an o t h er

s ex -fo r-m o n ey en co u n ter fo r J u l y 1 4

, 20 0 8, t h e y o n l y k i ss ed t h at ni g h t

. Th e ju ry ,

h o wev er, f

o u n d h i m gu i l t y o f ki d n ap p i n g , ag g rav at ed as sau l t

, ag g rav at ed s o d o m y ,

ag g rav at ed s ex u al b at t ery , rap e, an d fal s e i m p ri s o n m en t

.

1

. In s ev eral cl ai m s o f erro r, Bi l l arg ues t h at t he t ri al co u rt i m p ro perl y ex cl u d ed

ev i d en ce t h at t h e v i ct i m h ad en g ag ed i n p ro s t i t u t i o n

. Sp eci fi cal l y, h e s o u g h t to

i n t ro d u ce t es ti m o n y t h at (a) aft er th e as s au l t

, s om eo ne had w ri t t en “ ho o k er” o n h er

ap art m en t d o o r, an d (b ) a prev i o u s ro o m m a t e h ad k i ck ed her o u t o f h er res i d en ce

b ecau s e s h e was a p ro s t i t u te an d b ro u g h t t o o m an y m en t o t h e h o m e.

3(a) Pu rs uan t t o f o r m er OCGA § 2 4 -2 -3 (a), t h e rap e s h i el d s t at u t e ap p l i cab l e

at th e t i m e o f t ri al

, 1 ev id en ce rel at i n g t o a v i ct i m ’ s p as t s ex u al beh av i or g en eral l y i s

n o t ad m i ss i b l e i n a rap e t ri al

, ei t h er as d i rect ev i d en ce or o n cro s s -ex am i n at i o n o f t h e

v i ct i m o r o t h er wi t n es s es

. Pas t s ex u al b eh av i or, h owev er, m ay b e ad m i t t ed wh en t h e

t ri al co u rt fi n d s t h at s u ch b eh av i o r “ d i rect l y i n v o lv ed t h e part i ci p at i on o f th e accu s ed

an d

. . . t h at t h e ev i d en ce ex p ect ed t o b e i n t ro du ced s u p p o rt s an i n feren ce t h at t h e

accu s ed co u l d h av e reas o n ab l y b el i ev ed th at t h e co m p l a i n i n g wi tn es s co n s en t ed to

t h e co n d u ct co m

p l ai ned o f i n t h e p ro s ecu ti o n .” Fo rm er OCGA § 2 4 -2 -3 (b ).

Bi l l d oes n o t arg u e th at ev i d en ce o f t h e v i ct i m ’ s p r o st it u t i o n d em o n s t rat es

co n sen t ; i n fact

, h e t es t i fi ed t h at n o s ex u al rel at i o ns oc c u r r e d o n J u l y 1 4

, 2 0 0 8.

In s t ead

, h e cl ai m s t h at t he p ro s t i t u t i o n ev i d en ce w as rel ev an t t o s h o w t h at s o m eo n e

el s e co u l d h av e b een an g ry at t h e v i ct i m an d cau s ed h er i n j u ri es . Acco rd i n g t o Bi l l

,

“ an y o n e o f t h e m en w h o cam e i n t o co n t act wi th [t h e v i ct i m t h ro u gh h er p ro s t i t u t i o n ]

co u ld h av e b een res p o n si b l e fo r h er p h y s i cal an d / or p s y ch o l o g i cal i n ju ri es

. ”

Bu t ev en i f s u ch ev i d en ce m i g h t b e ad m i s s i b l e u n d er cert ai n ci rcu m s t an ces ,

d e s p i t e th e l im i tat i o n s o f t h e rap e s h i el d st at u t e, th e t ri al co urt fo u n d i t i rrel ev an t

,

1 Bi l l was t ri ed i n Feb ru ary 2 0 1 1

, b efo re G eo rg i a’ s n ew Ev i d en ce Co d e t o o k

effect i n 2 0 1 3 . Th e cu rren t rap e s h i el d s t at u t e i s co d i fi ed at OCGA § 2 4-4 -4 1 2

.

4s p ecu l at i v e, an d h ig h l y p reju di ci al h ere. W e ag ree. Bi l l has p o i nt ed t o n o t h i n g

– o t h er

t h an ran k s p ecu lat i o n – l i n k i n g t h e Ju l y 1 4

, 2 0 0 8 s ex u al as s au l t t o t h e v i ct i m ’ s p ri o r

p ro s t i t u t i o n wi t h ot her m en

. Th ere was n o ev i d en ce th at s h e was prev i o u s l y

t h reat en ed o r p h y s i cal l y i n j u red b y an y o f t h es e i n di v i d u al s

. Si m p ly p ut

, Bi l l h as

d rawn n o n ex u s b et w een h er h i s t o ry o f p ro s t i t u t io n an d t h e as sau l t i n t h i s cas e. Th e

t ri al co u rt

, t h erefo re, p ro p erl y ex cl u d e d t h e ev i d en ce. See Mo o r er , su p ra at 2 1 9 (4 )

(ev i d en ce o f v i ct im ’ s p ri o r p ro s t i t u t i o n n o t rel ev an t t o a g g r av at ed as s au lt ch arg e

w h e r e d e fen d an t “ fai led t o s h o w an y n ex u s wh at so ev er b et ween t h e al l eg ed

p ro s t i t u t i o n an d t h e co n cl u s i o n t h at s o m eo n e el s e co u l d h av e i n fl i c t e d t h e v i ct i m ’ s

i n ju ri es ”); S ta rg el v. S t a t e , 21 0 Ga. Ap p

. 6 1 9, 6 2 2 (5 ) (4 3 6 SE2 d 7 86 ) (1 9 9 3 ) (t ri al

co u rt p ro p erl y ex cl ud ed ev id en ce wh ere o n ly “ po s si b l e rel e v a n c e was p u rel y

s p ecu l at i v e”).

M o reo v er, ev en i f s o m e n ex u s h ad b een s h o wn , ex cl us i o n of t h is ev i d en ce was

h arm l es s

. Al t h o u gh t h e t ri al co u rt refu s ed t o ad m i t c ert ai n p ro s t i t u t i o n -rel at ed

t es t i m o ny , i t al l owed Bi l l t o as s ert th at h e had p rev i o u s l y p ai d t h e v i c t i m f o r s ex

.

E v i d en ce o f her p ro s t i t u t i o n , th erefo re, was b efo re t h e ju ry , an d fu rt h er t e s t i m o n y

reg ard i n g t h i s b eh av i o r wo u l d h av e b een cu m u l at i v e. A cco rd i n gl y , i t s ex cl u s i o n

p ro v id es n o b as i s fo r rev ers al

. See B r o o k s v

. S t a t e , 3 1 3 Ga. Ap p

. 7 8 9

, 79 4 (2 ) (b )

5(7 2 3 SE2 d 2 9 ) ( 2 0 1 2 ) (d efen d an t n o t h arm ed b y ex cl u s io n o f ev i d en ce t h at was

cu m u l at i v e o f d efen d an t ’ s t ri al t es ti m o n y ).

(b ) Bi l l cl ai m s t h at th e t ri al co u rt erred in p rev en t i ng h i m fro m i m p each i n g t h e

vic t im w it h t h e p ro s t i tu t i o n -rel at ed ev i d en ce. Acco rd i n g to Bi l l

, t h e v i ct i m o p en ed the

d o o r to cro s s -ex am i n at i on “ co n cern i n g [h er] p ri o r act s of p ro st it u t i o n ” wh en s h e

d en ied h av i n g s ex w i t h h im b efo re J u l y 1 4

, 2 0 08

. It i s t ru e t h at ev i d en ce o f p ri o r

s ex u al b eh av i or m ay b e ad m i s s i b l e t o i m p each a v i ct i m ’ s co n t rad i ct o ry t ri al

t es t i m o ny

. See Ti d

wel l v. S t a t e , 3 0 6 Ga. Ap p

. 3 0 7, 3 1 1 (5 ) (7 01 SE2 d 9 2 0 ) (2 0 1 0 ).

Th e “ i m pea c h m e n t ” ev i d en ce ci t ed by Bi l l, h o w ev er, d o es n o t rel at e t o h i s p ri o r

c o n t a ct wi t h t h e vi ct i m

. It i n v o l v ed g en eral al l eg at i o n s t h at s h e had en g ag e d i n

p ro s t i t u t i o n

. Bi l l has n ot ci t ed us t o an y pl ace in t h e reco rd wh ere t h e v i ct i m d en i ed

b ei n g a p ro s t it u t e; s h e s i m p l y s t at ed t h at s h e h ad n o t h ad s ex u al rel at i o n s wi t h h i m

.

T h e g en eral p ro s t i t u t i o n ev i d en ce, t h erefo re, d i d n o t co n t rad i ct o r i m p each t h e

v i ct i m ’ s t es t i m o n y , an d Bi l l w as n o t en t i t l ed t o cro s s-ex am in e h er o n i t

. See i d .; s ee

al s o fo rm er OCGA § 2 4 -9 -8 2 (“ A w i t nes s m ay be i m p each ed b y d i s p ro vi n g t h e fact s

t es t i fi ed t o b y

h im .”).

(c) Fi n al l y , Bi l l arg u es th at p o rt i o n s o f t h e p ro s t i t u t i o n -rel at ed ev i d en ce d i d n ot

d i rect l y i n v o l v e s ex u al beh av io r an d t h u s fel l o u t s i d e o f t h e r ap e s h i el d s t at u t e. As

6d i s cu s s ed ab o v e, h o wev er, t he t ri al co u rt p ro perl y co n cl ud ed th at t h e ev id en ce was

s p ecu l at i v e, i rrel ev an t

, an d su b ject t o ex cl u s i o n. A l th o u g h Bi l l cl ai m s t h at t h i s ru l i n g

unduly r e str ic ted h i s cro s s -ex am i n at i o n o f t h e St at e’ s w i t nes s es , a t ri al co u rt “ ret ai n [ s]

b ro ad di s cret io n t o i m

p o s e reas o n ab l e l i m i ts o n cro s s -ex am i n at i o n t o av o id

ha r a ss m en t

, p reju di ce, co n fu s io n , rep et i ti o n, o r i rrel ev an t ev i d enc e

. ” Sande rs v

. State

,

2 9 0 Ga. 4 4 5

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

2

. Bi l l co nt en d s t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred in ex cl u di n g ev i den ce th at t h e v i ct i m

h ad p rev i o u s l y fi l ed a “ fal s e” s ex u al as s au l t rep o rt o n beh al f o f a ro o m m at e, wh o was

al l eg ed l y rap ed b y her b o y fri en d . Befo re t ri al

, th e St at e m ov ed i n l im i n e t o ex cl u d e

ev i d en ce o f t h i s rep o rt

. Arg u i n g t h at t h e rap e rep ort was “ fal s e” b ecau se t h e b o y fri en d

was o n ly co nv ict ed o f b at t ery , Bi l l as s ert ed t h at t h e rep ort w as ad m i ss i b l e t o s h o w

t h at t h e v i ct i m had a h i s t o ry o f fab ri cat i ng s ex u al as s au l t al l eg at i o n s

. He fu rt h er

arg u ed t h at s h e was m o ti v at ed t o fi l e fal s e rep ort s b ecau s e: ( a ) s he w as try i n g to

s ecu re a s p eci al v is a av ai l ab l e fo r cri m e v ict i m s ; an d (b ) s he wan t ed t o o b t ai n m o n ey

b y s u i n g t h e ap art m en t co m p l ex an d Co b b Co u n t y

fo r fai l i n g t o p ro t ect h er.

Th e t ri al co u rt co n cl u d ed t h at Bi l l h ad n ot d em o n st rat ed a reas o n ab l e

p ro b ab i l i t y o f fal s i t y w i t h res p ect t o t h e pri o r rep o rt i n v o l v in g t h e v i ct i m ’ s ro o m m at e,

ren d eri n g i t i n ad m i s si b le. S e e C l emen t s v. S t a t e , 2 7 9 Ga. A p p

. 7 7 3

, 7 74 (2 ) (6 3 2

7SE2 d 7 02 ) (2 0 06 ) (“ Befo re ev i den ce o f p rev i o u s fal s e al l eg at i o ns o f s ex u al ab u s e can

b e ad m it t ed

, t h e t r i a l co u rt m u s t d et erm i n e o u t s i d e t he ju ry ’ s p res en ce t h at a

reas on ab l e p ro b ab i l i t y o f fal si t y ex i s ts .”). Aft er fu rt her d i s cu s s i o n , h o w ev er, Bi l l ’ s

co u ns el m ad e t h e fo l l o wi n g p ro p o s i t i o n :

W h at ab o ut t h i s ? W h at i f w e j u st d on ’ t ev en

– wh at i f we d o n’ t ev en

t e n d e r [ t h e rep o rt ] as a p ri o r fal s e cl ai m ? M erel y , t h at it i s w h at it i s

. An d t h e cl ai m s were m ad e, an d t h e res u l t s were w hat t h ey were.

Becau s e, real l y , t h e co re reas o n t h at we offer i t i s , as I sai d

, t o s h o w

–
i t ’ s p art o f h er m ot i v e t o fab ri cat e. It ’ s p art o f t h i s l aws u i t t h at i s co m i n g

i n t o t h i s t ri al

, an d i t ’ s d i rect ly rel at ed t o t h at

. I cert ai n l y am n o t g o i n g t o

t el l t h e ju ry t h at i t was fal s e, b ecau s e I was n ’ t t here. I d o n ’ t k n ow.

Th e t ri al co u rt s t at ed t h a t i t wo u l d al l o w t h e rep o rt t o “ b e[] t en dered i n t h at

fas h i o n

. ” Th e reco rd fu rt h er s h o ws th at ev i den ce reg ard i n g t h e p ri o r s ex ual as s au l t

rep o rt

, t he v ict i m ’ s ci v i l l aws u i t ag ai n s t v ari o u s d efen dan t s , an d h er effo rt s t o o b t ai n

a s p eci al v i s a was i n t ro d u ced at t ri al

, fo rm i ng t h e b as i s fo r a k ey d efen s e arg u m e n t

– t h at t h e v i ct i m

fab ri cat ed t h e as s au l t al leg at i on s ag ai n s t Bi l l

. Des p i t e Bi l l ’ s cl ai m

t o t h e co n t rary , t h erefo re, t h e tri al co u rt ad m i t ted ev id en ce of t h e p ri o r rep o rt

. An d

t o t h e ex t en t t h e defen s e was l i m i ted i n l ab el i n g t h e p ri o r rep o rt as “ fal s e,” t h at

l i m i tat i on was su g g es t ed an d ag reed t o b y d e f e n s e co u n s el

. Th i s cl ai m o f erro r,

t h erefo re, p ro v id es no b as i s fo r rev ers al

. See Go r m a n v. St a te

, 3 1 8 Ga. Ap p

. 5 3 5

, 5 4 0

8(4 ) (7 3 4 SE2 d 26 3 ) (2 0 1 2 ) (“ On e can n o t co m p lai n o f a res u l t h e pro cu red o r ai d ed in

cau s i n g , an d i n d u ced erro r i s n o t an ap p ro p r i a t e b as i s fo r cl ai m i n g preju d i ce.”)

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

3

. Nex t

, Bi ll a r g u e s th at t h e St at e i m p ro p erl y cal l ed t h e v i ct i m as a reb u t t al

wi t n es s t o b o l s t er her p ri o r t es t i m o n y

. Aft er t h e d efe n s e res t ed i t s cas e, t h e

p ro s ecu ti o n b ri efl y re-cal l ed t h e v i ct i m to as k h er wh et h er s h e h ad : (a) en g a g ed in

s ex u al rel at i o n s w i t h Bi l l b efo re J u l y 1 4

, 2 00 8 ; (b ) v i s i t ed h i s ap art m en t p ri o r t o J u l y

1 4

, 2 0 0 8 ; (c) v o l un tari ly en t ered h i s ap ar t m e n t o n J u l y 14

, 2 0 08 ; an d (d ) ag reed to

h av e sex wi t h hi m fo r m o n ey o n t h at d at e. To each q u es t i on , t h e v i ct i m rep l ied

, “ n o.”

Acco rd in g t o Bi l l

, t hi s t e s t i m o n y d i d n ot co n s ti t ut e reb u t t al b ecau s e it “ was n ot

o ffered t o refu te o r ex p l ai n an y o f t h e Defen dan t ’ s ev id en ce.”

“ A t ri al co u rt ’ s ru l i n g s co n cern i n g t h e s co p e o f reb u t t al t es t i m o ny are s u b ject

t o rev iew o n ly fo r an ab u s e o f d i s cret i o n .” Ga l va n v. St a t e , 33 0 Ga. Ap p

. 5 8 9, 5 9 4 (2 )

(7 6 8 SE2 d 7 7 3 ) (2 0 1 5 ). In th is cas e, t h e t ri al co u rt co n cl u ded t h at t h e St at e re-cal l ed

t h e v i ct im t o reb u t ev i d en ce p res en t ed b y t h e defen s e, in cl u d i n g tes t im o n y fro m Bi l l

t h at h e h ad p rev i o u s l y had s ex wi t h t h e v ict i m an d t h a t s h e wi l l i n g l y cam e t o h i s

a p a r t m en t o n J u ly 14

, 2 0 0 8

, t o en gag e i n s ex fo r m on ey

. W e fi n d n o erro r. A tri al

co u rt m ay “ al l ow rel ev an t ev i d e n c e d u ri n g reb u t t al ev en i f s u ch ev i den ce t en d s to

9b o l s t er th e St at e’ s cas e m o re t h an t o d i rect l y i m p each d efen s e ev i d en c e

. ” Id

.

(p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t e d )

. Th e t ri al co u rt d id n o t ab u s e i t s d i scret i o n i n p erm i t t i n g t h e

v i ct i m ’ s reb u t t al t es t i m o n y . See i d

.

4

. Ev i d en ce at tri al s h o wed t h at Bi l l

, an Iraq W ar v et eran , h ad a d ri n k i n g

p ro b lem

. To h el p ex p l ai n h i s al co h o l u se, Bi l l s o ug h t t o i n t ro d u ce t es t i m o n y t h at h i s

b es t fri en d h ad b een k il l ed i n Iraq

. Th e t r i al co u rt ex cl u d ed t he ev i d en ce, an d Bi l l

ch al l en g es t h is ru l i n g o n ap p eal

, as s ert i n g t h at th e t ri al co u rt erred i n l i m i t i n g rel ev an t

t es t i m o ny

.

W e d i s ag ree. Ev i d en ce reg ard i ng t he d eat h o f Bi l l ’ s fri en d s h ed n o l i g h t o n t h e

J u l y 1 4

, 2 0 0 8 a s s au l t o r t he fact t h at Bi l l h ad an al co h o l pro b l em an d w as d ri n k i n g

t h at n i g h t

. Th e t ri al co u rt d i d n o t ab us e i t s d i s cret i o n i n f i n d i n g s u ch ev i d en ce

i rrel ev an t

. See Ch a mb er

s v. S t a t e , 3 08 Ga. Ap p

. 74 8

, 75 1 (1 ) (7 0 8 SE2 d 6 51 ) (2 0 1 1 )

(ap p l y i ng ab u se o f d i s cret i o n s t an d ard ); fo rm er OC G A § 2 4-2 -1 (“ Ev id en ce m u s t

rel at e to t h e q u es t i o n s b ei n g t ri ed b y th e ju ry an d b ear u p o n t h em ei t he r d i rect l y o r

i n d i re c t l y. I r rel ev an t m at t er sh o u l d b e ex cl u d ed .”). M o reo v er, Bi l l t es t i fi ed t h at h e

s erv ed t wo t o u rs o f d u ty

i n Iraq an d b eg an d ri n k i n g m o re h eav i l y wh en h e ret u rn ed

fro m h i s s eco n d t o u r, rai s i n g a l i n k b et ween h i s m i l i t ary s erv ice an d h i s al co h o l u s e.

Gi v en t h i s ev i d en ce, w e fi n d i t h i g h l y p r o b a b l e t h at t h e t ri al co urt ’ s d eci s i o n to

10ex cl u d e ad d i t i on al t es t i m o n y reg ard i n g Bi l l ’ s war ex p eri en ce d i d n ot co n t ri b u t e t o t h e

v erd i ct

. Ev en if t h e t ri al co urt erred i n ex cl u d i n g th e t e s t i m o n y , t h erefo re, t h e erro r

was h arm l es s

. See McW

i l l i a ms v. S t a t e , 2 8 0 Ga. 7 2 4

, 7 2 7 (4 ) (6 32 SE2 d 1 2 7 ) (2 0 0 6 ).

5

. Th e t ri al co u rt p erm i tt ed t h e St at e, o v er o b j ect i o n , t o cro s s -ex am i n e Bi l l

ab o ut h i s fai l ure t o o ffer ev i d en ce co rro bo rat i ng h i s cl ai m t h at h e h ad co m m u n i cat ed

wi t h th e v i ct i m v i a cel l p h on e p ri o r t o J u l y 1 4

, 2 0 0 8

. W h en Bi l l res p o n d ed t h at h e h ad

h o p ed t h e St at e w o ul d p res en t s u ch ev i d en ce, t h e p ro s ecu t o r ret o rt ed : “ I d i dn ’ t k n o w

b ef o r e t od ay , o r b efo re y es t erd ay , t h at y o u an d [t h e v ict i m ] h ad so m e p ri o r

rel at i o n s h i p .” Defen s e co u n s el o b ject ed an d m o v ed fo r a m i s tri al

, as s ert i n g t h at t h e

p ro s ecu to r h ad i m

p ro p erl y t es t i fi ed an d co m

m en t ed on Bi l l’ s ri g h t t o rem ai n s i l en t

.

Al t h o u g h t he t ri al co u rt d en i ed t h e m o t i o n fo r m is t ri al

, i t s u st ai n ed t h e ob ject i o n an d

g av e t h e fo l l o wi n g cu rat i v e i n s t ru ct i o n t o t h e ju ry :

Lad i es an d g en t lem en , I s u s t ai n ed an o bject i o n b y t h e Defen s e, an d I’ l l

i n s t ru ct y ou t h at th e St at e s h o u l d n o t co m m en t o n ev i d en ce o r o n wh at

i t k n o ws o r d o es n o t k n o w fro m th e ev i d en ce. An d s o I’ l l as k yo u t o

d i s reg ard t h e l as t q u es t i o n t h at was as k ed b y t h e St at e.

Bi l l n o w cl ai m s th at t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n d en y i n g h i s m o t i on fo r m i s tri al

. Th e

reco rd s h o ws , ho wev er, t h at h e d i d n o t o b ject t o t h e cu rat i v e i n s t ru ct io n o r ren ew h i s

m o ti o n aft er t h e t ri al co u rt g av e i t

. “ It i s wel l s et tl ed t hat wh ere a d efen d an t o b j ect s

11an d m o ves fo r m i s t ri al an d t he t ri al co u rt d en ies t h e m o t i o n b u t t ak es s o m e co rrect i v e

act i on , i f t h e d efen dan t i s d i s s at i s fi ed wi t h t h at act i o n , h e m us t ren ew th e o b

ject i o n

o r m o t i o n .” Ga i n es v. S t a te

, 3 3 9 Ga. Ap p

. 52 7

, 5 2 9 (2 ) (7 92 SE2 d 4 6 6 ) (2 0 1 6 )

(p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ). Th i s cl ai m o f erro r, t h erefo re, h as b een wai v ed

. See i d .;

Ma u l d i n v. S t a t e , 3 1 3 Ga. Ap p . 2 2 8 , 2 3 4 (3 ) (a) (7 2 1 SE2 d 1 8 2 ) (2 0 1 1 ).

6

. Fi n al ly

, Bi l l arg u es t h at t h e t ri al co u rt im pro p erl y co m

m en t ed o n t h e

ev i d en ce b y

ch arg i n g t h e ju ry t h at “ [v ] ag i nal o r an al trau m a an d p h y s i cal i n ju ry are

n o t co n st i t uen t el em en t s o f t h e cri m i n al o ffen s e o f rap e o r ag g rav at ed s ex u al b at t ery .”

Th e ci t ed ch arg e, h o wev er, d i d n o t co m m en t o n t h e ev i d en ce p ro d u ced at t ri al

.

Rat h er, i t accu rat el y s t at ed t h at p h y s i cal h arm i s n ot n ee d ed t o es t ab li s h rap e o r

ag g rav at ed s ex u al b at tery

. See S ki p p er v. S t a t e , 2 5 7 Ga. 8 0 2

, 8 04 (1 ) (b ) (3 6 4 SE2 d

8 3 5 ) (1 9 8 8 ) (“ Ot h er t han t h e p en et rat i o n of t h e fem al e s ex o rg an b y t h e m al e s ex

o rg an , th e i n fl i ct i on o f p h y s i cal i n ju ry i s n o t an el em en t of t h e offen se o f rap e.”); Lee

v. S t a te

, 3 0 6 Ga. Ap p

. 14 4

, 1 45 (1 ) (7 0 1 SE2 d 5 8 2) (2 0 1 0 ) (p h y s i cal i nju ry n eed n ot

b e s h own t o p ro v e ag g rav at ed s ex u al b at t ery ).

“ Th e o n l y req u i rem en t reg ard i n g ju ry ch arg es i s t h at t h e ch arg es , as g i v en ,

were co rrect s tat em en ts o f t h e l aw an d

, as a wh o le, wo u l d no t m i s lead a ju ry o f

o rd i n ary i n t el l i g en ce.” S i m s v

. S t a t e , 2 9 6 Ga. Ap p

. 4 6 1

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

12(2 0 0 9) (p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ). Th e co u rt ’ s ch arg e co rrect l y s t at ed t h e l aw an d was n ot

m i s l ead i n g

. Acco rd in g l y , t h e t ri al co u rt d i d n o t err i n g iv i n g t h e i n s t ru ct i o n

. See i d .;

Co r b i n v. S t at e , 3 05 Ga. Ap p . 7 6 8

, 7 7 1 (2 ) (7 0 0 SE2 d 8 6 8 ) (2 0 10 ).

Ju d g men t a f f i r m ed . El l i n g t o n , P. J., a n d Ri ckma n , J., co n cu r

.

13