2 9 6 Ga . 4 93

F INAL COP Y

S 1 4 A1 4 4 2 . NWAKANMA v . THE S TATE.

S 14 A1 4 4 3 . F RANCIS v . THE S T ATE.

B L ACKW EL L , Ju stic e

.

Mira c le Nwa k a n m a a n d Lo u is F ra n c is we re trie d to g e th e r b y a Co b b

Co u n ty ju ry a nd c o n v ic te d o f th e m u rd e r o f Ju stin Bro wn

, a m o n g o th e r c rim e s.

Bo th Nwa k a n m a a n d F ra n c is a pp e a l. N wa k a n m a c o n te n d s on l y t h a t h e wa s

d e n ie d d u e pro c e ss wh e n th e p ro se c u tio n fa ile d to re v e a l a d e a l with a m a te ria l

witn e ss a n d to c o rre c t c ritic a l m issta te m e n ts of fa c t d u rin g t h a t w i tn e ss’s

te stim o n y

. F ra n c is c o n te n ds th a t th e tria l c ou rt e rre d wh e n it fa ile d to se v e r h is

tria l fro m th a t o f h i s c o

- d e fe n d a n ts, w h e n it lim ite d his q u e stio n in g o f

p ro sp e c tiv e ju ro rs a n d re fu se d to strik e o n e o f th e m , wh e n it lim ite d th e sc o p e

o f h is c ro ss-e x a m in a tio n o f a witn e ss fo r th e S ta te

, an d wh e n it a d m itte d c e rta in

e v id e n c e a t tria l. F ra n c is a lso c la im s th a t h e w a s d e n ie d th e e ffe c tiv e a ssista n c eo f c o u n se l

. U p o n ou r re v ie w o f th e re c o rd a n d b rie fs, we se e no e rro r, a n d we

a ffirm

. 1

1 T h e c r im es w ere com m i tted on August 2, 2007. Along with Milton Blackledge,

David Hay es, and Muham m ed A bdus-Salaam

, Nwakanm a and F rancis were indicted on

Decem ber 2 1, 2007, and each was charged with m alice m urder, three counts of f

elony

m urder, one count of conspiracy to com m it arm ed r obbery

, f our counts of aggravated assault,

one count of v iolation of the Georgia Street Gang Te r rorism and Prevention Act, and one

count of u nlawf

ul possession of a f

irearm during the com m ission of a crim e. In addition,

Nwakanm a and Hay es were charged w ith unlawf ul possession o f a f

irearm by a c onvicted

f elon and f elony m urder predicated on unlawf ul possession of a f

irearm by a convicted f

elon.

Francis was also charged with possession of cocaine a n d possession of l ess than one ounce

of m arijuana, but those charges were later put on the dead docket. The prosecution elected

not to proceed with the case against Abdus-Salaam until a subsequent date, and the trial of

the rem a ining f

our co-def

e ndants com m enced on May 4, 2009. The t rial c o u r t directed a

v e rdict of acquittal f

or each def

endant on t he charge of aggravated assault upon C h a r l e s

Ream s

, and the jury returned its verdict on May 20, 2009, f inding each def

e n dant not guilty

of m alice m

urder and guilty on all the other rem aining counts. Nwakanm a a nd Francis each

was sentenced to im

prisonm ent f

o r lif e f or the f elony m urder o f Brow n p r e d i c a t e d on the

aggravated assault upon him

, a concurrent t erm of im prisonm ent f

or ten y ears f

or conspiracy

t o com m it arm ed robbery

, a consecutive t erm of im prisonm ent f

or twenty y e a r s f

o r

aggravated assault upon Scott Keller, a consecutive term of im prisonm ent f

or ten y ears f

or

aggravated assault upo n J o s h W ashington, a concurrent term of im prisonm ent f

o r f if teen

y ears f or violation o f the Georgia Street G ang Terrorism and Prevention Act, and a

consecutive term of im

prisonm e nt f

or f ive y ears f

or unlawf ul possession of a f

i rearm during

the com m ission of a crim e. N waka n ma w a s sentenced to an a dditional concurrent term of

im p risonm ent f

or f i ve y ears f

or unlawf ul possession of a f

irearm b y a convicted f

e lon. The

verdict as to the other counts of f elony m urder was v acated by operation of l aw, Malcolm v.

State, 263 Ga. 369, 371-372 (4) (434 SE2d 479) (1993), and the rem aining aggravated assault

(upon Brown) m erged with the f elony m urder (of B rown). It a p p e a rs f r om the record that

B l ackledge and Hay e s were sentenced in the sam e way as N wakanm a and F ran c i s

, a n d

Abdus-Salaam l at e r p l e d g uilty to reduced charges a nd was sentenced t o a total of thirty

y ears, with f

if teen to b e served in custody

. Nwakanm a tim ely f i led a m otion f

or new trial on

June 9, 2009. On Septem ber 2, 2009, Francis requested leave t o f ile an out-of

-tim e m otion

f or new trial, that request was granted by consent order on Septem ber 4, 2009, and Francis

f iled a m otion f

or new trial on October 5, 2009. Nwakanm a am ended his m otion f or new trial

on January 20, 2012 and again on March 6, 2012. Francis am ended his m otion f or new trial

o n A pril 25, 2012. The trial court denied F rancis’s m otion on May 8, 2013, and h e t i m e l y

21

. Vie we d in th e lig h t m o st fa v o ra ble to th e v e rd ic t, th e e v id e nc e sh o w s

th a t o n th e e v e n in g o f Au g u st 1

, 2 0 07

, Nwa ka n m a

, F ra nc is, Mu h a m m e d Ab d u sS a la a m

, Milto n B l a c k le d g e

, a n d D a v id Ha y e s — a ll m e m b e rs o f a c rim in a l

stre e t g a n g k n o wn a s “ MP R C 3 0 0 ”

— m a d e p la n s to ro b Dy la n Wa t t e c a mp s,

wh o re c e n tly h a d b e e n in v o lv e d in a disp u te with Ab du s-S a la a m o ve r a sa le o f

m a riju an a

. Ea rly o n th e m o rn in g o f Au g u st 2

, Ha y e s g a v e Nwa k a n m a a .3 8 0

c a lib e r p isto l, a n d B la c k le d g e d ro v e Nwa ka n m a

, Fra n c is, a n d A b d u s-S a la a m to

th e g a te d a

p a rtm e nt c o m

p le x in wh ic h Wa tte c a m

p s liv e d

. Ha y e s d ro v e t h e r e

se p a ra te ly in h is p ic k

u p tru c k

, a rra n g e d e n try fo r th e o th e r fo ur m e n th ro u g h a

re sid e n t h e k n e w, p a rk e d h is tru c k a c r o s s t h e stre e t fro m th e e n try g a te

, a n d

wa ite d th e re wh ile th e o th e rs e n te re d th e a p a rtm e n t c o m

p le x

. Afte r p a rk in g ne a r

Wa tte c a m

p s’s a p a rtm e n t, Bl a c k le d g e a n d h is p a sse n ge rs b e g a n to su rv e y th e

a re a o n fo o t. Bl ac k l e d g e a n d Nwa k a n m a we re arm e d with silv e r h a n d g u n s.

Wa tte c a m

p s wa s h a v in g a pa rty in h is th i r d -flo o r a pa rtm e n t, and wh e n o n e o f

h is g u e sts le ft, sh e sa w th e m e n s ta n d in g a ro u n d a n d re c o gn iz e d N wa k a n m a

.

f iled a notice o f a

ppeal on May 17, 2013. The trial court denied Nwakanm a’s m o tion on July

17, 2013, and he tim ely f

iled a n otice of appeal o n July 24, 2013. The cases were docketed

in this Court f

or the S eptem

ber 2014 term

. Nwakanm a’s case w as argued on Septem ber 22,

2014, and Francis’s case was subm itted f or decision on the brief

s.

3Th e fo u r m e n de c id e d to g o fo rwa rd with th e ir p la n

, an d Nwa k a n m a g a v e

Ha y e s’s g un to F ra n c is.

As th e fo u r m e n we re pre p a rin g to e n te r th e a p a rtm e n t, a n o th e r g ue st c a m e

o u t, an d Bla c k le d g e h it h im in th e fa c e . Th e fo u r m e n th e n ra n d o wn th e sta irs

a n d th ro ug h th e pa rk in g lo t, p u rsu e d b y Wa tte c a m p s a nd se v e ra l o f h is g u e sts.

Bro w n

, S c o tt Ke lle r, a n d Jo sh Wa sh in g to n, wh o h a d ju st p a r k e d an d we re

wa lk in g to th e p a rty

, h e a rd Wa tte c a m p s y e ll “ g e t th e m ,” a n d b e g an to c h a se th e

fo u r m e n

. B la c k le d g e a n d F ra n c is th e n fire d se v e ra l sh o ts, o n e o f wh ic h fa ta lly

wo u nd e d Bro wn i n th e c h e st. Nwa k a n m a

, Fra n c is, B la c k le d g e

, a n d Ab d u sS a la am c lim

b e d o v e r th e a

p a rtm e n t c o m

p le x fe n c e a n d h u rrie d in to Ha y e s’s

tru c k. Bo t h F ra n c is a

n d Bla c k le d ge c la im e d to h a v e sh o t B ro w n

, an d Ha y e s

d ro v e e v e ry o n e to Ab d u s-S a la a m ’s a p a rtm e n t. S ix m a tc h in g

. 3 8 0 c a lib e r sh e ll

c a sin gs a n d t h r e e .3 80 c a lib e r p ro

je c tile s, in c lu d in g th e o n e th a t e n te re d Bro wn ’s

c h e st, we re re c ov e re d

. All o f th e sh e ll c a sin g s c a m e fro m th e sa m e g u n, a n d two

o f th e pro je c tile s, in c lu d in g th e o n e th a t k ille d B ro w n

, we re fire d fro m th e sa m e

p isto l. Fra n c is a

n d Bla c k le dg e a d mi t t ed t o b e in g pre se n t a t th e a pa rtm e n t

c o m p le x d u rin g th e s h o o tin g

, a n d wh ile in ja il, F ra n c is c o n fe sse d h is

4in v o lv e m e n t to a no th e r in m a te

. A b d u s-S a la a m c o n fe sse d his ro le in th e c rim e s

to p o lic e a n d te stifie d a t tria l.

Ne ith e r Nwa k a n m a n o r F ra nc is d isp u te s th e le g a l su ffic ie n c y o f th e

e v id e n c e

. We n e v e rth e le ss h a v e in d e p e n de n tly re v ie we d th e e v id e n c e to a sse ss

wh e th e r it is su ffi c i e n t to su sta in th e ir c o n v ic tio n s. Up o n th a t re v ie w, we

c o n c lu d e th a t th e e v id e n c e a d d u c e d a t tria l wa s su ffic ie n t to a u th o riz e a ra tio n a l

trie r o f fa c t to fin d b e y o n d a re a so n a b le d o u b t th a t Nwa k an m a a n d F ra n c is we re

g u i l t y o f th e c rim e s o f w h ic h th e y w e re c o n v ic te d

. Ja c k so n v

. Virg in ia

, 4 4 3

U. S

. 3 0 7 , 3 1 9 (III) (B) (9 9 S Ct 2 7 8 1 , 6 1 LE2 d 5 6 0) (1 9 7 9 ).

2

. We n o w c o n sid e r N w a k a nm a ’s c o n te n tio n th a t th e p ro se c u tio n fa ile d

to re v e a l a d e a l b e twe e n t h e S t a t e a n d Ab du s-S a la a m a n d fa ile d to c o rre c t

c ritic a l m issta te m e n ts o f fa c t a b o u t t h e e x i ste n c e o f a d e a l d u rin g Ab d u sS a la a m ’s te stim o n y

. It is se ttle d th a t th e Sta te h a s “ a d u ty to re v e a l a n y

a g re e m e n t, e v e n a n in fo rm a l o n e

, with a wi t n e ss c o n c e rn in g c rim in a l c h a rg e s

p e n d in g a g a in st th a t witn e ss, a n d a f a i lu re to d isc lo se su c h a n a g re e m e n t

c o n stitu te s a v io la tio n o f th e d u e p r o c e ss re qu ire m e n ts of Bra d y v

. Ma ry la n d

,

3 7 3 U. S

. 8 3 (8 3 S C 1 1 94

, 1 0 LE2 d 2 15 ) (1 9 6 3).” W im e s v

. S ta te

, 2 93 G a

. 3 6 1

,

3 6 2 (2 ) (7 4 4 S E2 d 7 8 7 ) (2 0 13 ). S e e a lso Gig lio v

. Un ite d S ta te s, 4 0 5 U. S

. 1 5 0

,

51 5 4 -1 5 5 (9 2 SCt 76 3, 3 1 L E 2 d 1 0 4 ) (1 9 7 2 ). In a d d itio n

, th e S ta te m a y n o t

k n o w in g ly u se a w itn e ss’s fa l s e t e s t i m o n y th a t h e re c e iv e d n o p ro m ise o f

c o n sid e r a t i o n in e x c h a n g e fo r h is te stim o ny

, a n d th e p ro se c uto r’s fa ilu re to

c o rre c t su c h te stim o n y th a t h e k n o ws to b e fa lse d e n ie s th e d e fe n d an t h is rig h t

to d u e p ro c e ss o f la w. N a pu e v

. Illin o is, 3 6 0 U. S

. 26 4, 2 6 9-2 7 0 (7 9 S Ct 1 1 7 3

,

3 LE2 d 1 21 7 ) (1 9 5 9 ); S m ith v

. Za nt, 2 5 0 Ga

. 6 4 5

, 6 51 (3 ) ( 3 0 1 SE2 d 3 2 )

(1 9 8 3 ).

At a p re tria l h e a rin g in th is c a se , b oth th e p ro se c u to r a n d Ab d us-S a la a m

c o n firm e d th a t Ab d u s-S a la a m h a d n o ple a a g re e m e n t o r d e a l with th e S ta te b u t

th a t h e n e v e rth e le ss wo u ld wa iv e h is F ifth A m e n d m e n t rig h ts a n d te stify a g a in st

h is c o-d e fe nd a nts. At tria l, Ab d u s-S a la a m t estifie d th a t th e re wa s n o p le a

b a rg a in o r d e a l fo r his te stim o n y

, th a t h e d id n o t u n d e rsta n d a n y fu tu re d e a l to

d e p e n d o n h o w h e te stifie d

, th a t h e d id n ot e xp e c t to g a in a n y b e n e fit o r le n ie n c y

fro m h is te stim o ny , a

n d th a t h e d e c id e d to te stify to c le a r h is c o n sc ie n c e wh e n

h is c o -d e fe n d a nts wo u ld n o t a d m it wh a t th e y h a d d o n e

. In a n e ffo rt to sh o w th a t

Ab d us-S a la a m d id h a v e a d e a l wh e n h e te stifie d

, Nwa ka n m a p o i n ts to th e

p ro se c u to r’s te stim o n y a t th e h e a rin g o n th e m otio n fo r n e w tria l th a t th e la wy e r

fo r A b d u s-S a la a m c o n tin u a lly a sk e d fo r re d u c e d c h a rg e s a nd a le sse r se n te n c e

6in e x c h an ge fo r h is te stim o n y a n d th a t th e p r o s ec u t or sa id h e w o u ld k e e p a n

o p e n m in d to wa rd fu tu re d isc u ssio n s. B u t t h i s te stim o ny did n o t su g g e st th e

e x iste nc e o f e ve n a n in fo rm a l a g re e m e nt. S e e Klin e c t v

. Sta te

, 2 6 9 Ga

. 5 7 0

, 5 7 2

(2 ) (5 0 1 S E 2 d 8 1 0 ) (1 9 9 8 ). An d th e p ro se c u to r in d ic a te d th a t th e re wa s n o

sp e c ific a gr ee me n t to d isc uss a p o ssib le p le a a fte r c o m p le tio n o f th e c o

d e fe n d a n ts’ tria l. S e e i d

. “ [ N ]o t e v e ry th in g sa id to a witn e ss o r to his la wy e r

m u st b e d isc lo se d

. . . . S o m e p ro m ise s, a g r e e me n t s

, o r u n d e rsta n d in g s d o n o t

n e e d to b e d isc lo se d

, b e c a u se th e y a re to o a m

b ig u o u s, or to o lo ose o r are o f to o

m a rg in a l a b e ne fit to th e witn e ss to c o u n t.” Ta rv e r v

. H o p p e r, 1 6 9 F 3 d 7 1 0

, 7 1 7

(C) (1 1 th Cir. 1 9 9 9 ).

Ab d u s-S a la a m ’s la wy e r te stifie d th a t th e o n ly p le a o ffe r h e h a d re c e iv e d

— fo r a se n te n c e o f 2 5 y e a rs — h a d b e e n re je c te d b e fo re th e c o -d e fe n d a n ts’

tria l, th a t th e re wa s n o d e a l, th a t th e re we re n o sp e c ific c o n v e rsa tio n s with th e

p ro se c u tio n a

b o u t h ow th e re so lu tio n o f Ab d u s-S a la a m ’s c a se wo u ld b e

a d d re sse d fu rth e r a fte r his te stim o n y

, a n d th a t th e la w y e r h a d g iv e n Ab d u sS a la a m th e a d m itte d ly risk y a d v i ce to te stify “ b lin d ly ,” sim p ly ho p in g fo r a

b e tte r o ffe r a fte r th e c o-d e fe n d a n ts’ tria l. A b du s-S a la a m ’s te stim o n y o n m o tio n

fo r n e w tria l g e n e r a l l y w a s c o n siste n t with th a t o f h is la w y e r. Th a t Ab d u s7S a la a m

“ o r h is c o u n se l h e ld a h o p e th a t te stify in g in [th e c o -d e fe nd an ts’] tria l

wo u ld b e n e fit h im

la te r d o e s n o t sh o w an a gre e m e n t.” Klin e c t, 2 69 Ga . a t 5 7 2

(2 ) (c ita tio n o m itte d ). S e e a lso Ta rv e r, 1 6 9 F 3d a t 71 7 (C) (“ Th e sim p le b e lie f

b y a d e fe n se a tto rn e y th a t h is c lie n t m a y b e in a b e tte r po sitio n to n e g o tia te a

re d u c e d p e n a lty sh o u l d h e te stify a g a in st a c od e fe n d a n t is n ot a n a g re e m e n t

with in th e p u rv i e w o f G i glio .” (Cita tio n o m itte d .)); Hu d so n v

. S ta te

, 2 7 7 Ga

.

5 8 1

, 5 8 6 (5 ) (5 9 1 S E 2 d 8 0 7 ) (2 0 0 4 ) (“ Th a t [th e witn e ss] m a y h a ve e x p e c te d

h e lp fo r h is c oo pe ra tio n d o e s n o t e sta b lish th a t a d e a l o r a g re e me n t w a s m a d e

b e twe e n h im a n d th e S ta te .” (Cita tio n om itte d .)). An d “ th e re is n o e v id e n c e th a t

th e p ro se c u to r e nc ou ra g e d [Ab d u s-S a la a m ] o r [h is] c o u n se l to b e lie v e th a t [h e ]

wo u ld

, in fa c t, b e n e fit fro m te stify in g a g a in st [Nwa k a nm a ] .” Va rn e r v. S ta te

,

2 9 7 Ga

. A pp

. 7 9 9

, 8 0 2 (1 ) (a ) (6 78 S E2 d 5 1 5 ) (2 0 0 9 ). Th e fa c t th a t a fte r th e c o

d e fe n d a n ts’ tria l Ab d us-S a la a m e n te re d a p le a a g re e m e n t do e s n o t itse lf

e sta b lish th e e x iste n c e o f a d e a l. S e e Wim e s, 2 93 Ga . a t 3 63 (2 ).

Citin g th e te stim o n y o f th e p ro se c u to r ( a s c o rro bo ra te d b y Ab d u sS a la a m ’s la wy e r) th a t n o d e a l o r o ffe r wa s e x te n d e d to Ab d u s

- S a l a a m in

e x c h a ng e fo r h is te stim o ny

, th e tria l c ou rt fo u n d th a t Nwa k an m a h a d “ fa ile d to

sh o w e v id e n c e o f a ny d e a l.” Th is fin d in g wa s n o t c le a rly e rro n e o u s, b ut ra th e r

8“ wa s a

u th o r i z e d

, a n d th e re wa s no d u e p ro c e ss v io la tio n .” Klin e c t, 26 9 Ga

. a t

5 7 2 (2 ) (c ita tio n o m itte d ). S e e a lso Wim e s, 29 3 Ga

. a t 3 6 3 (2 ); P e ra lta v

. S ta te

,

2 7 6 Ga

. 2 1 8

, 2 1 9 (2 ) (5 7 6 S E2 d 8 5 3 ) (2 0 0 3 ) (“ Th e tria l c o u rt’s fin d in g s o f fa c t

o n m o tio n fo r n e w tria l a re up h e ld u n le s s c l e a r l y e rro n e ou s.” (Cita tio n s

o m itte d .)). Be c a

u se th e e v id e nc e re fu te s Nwa k a n m a ’ s c la im th a t th e re wa s a d e a l

b e twe e n Ab d u s-S a la a m a n d th e S ta te

, th e re is lik e w ise n o fa c tu a l ba sis fo r

Nwa k an m a ’s c la im th a t Ab d u s-S a l a a m’s te stim o ny a b o u t h is m otiv a tio n fo r

te stify in g wa s fa lse

. S e e Va rn e r, 2 9 7 Ga

. Ap p

. a t 8 0 2 (1 ) (b ). To th e e x te n t th a t

Nwa k an m a is a rg u in g th a t th e S ta te e n g a g e d i n mi s co n d u c t b y e lic itin g th a t

te stim o n y a n d m a k in g a rg u m e n ts a bo u t it to th e ju ry

, th e re is “ n o r e a s o n to

c o n c lu d e th a t [Ab du s-S a la a m ’s] c h a ra c te riz a tio n o f [h is] su b je c tiv e m o tiv a tio n

wa s fa lse o r th a t th e p ro se c u to r k n e w it to b e un tru e .” Id

. In d e e d

, th e p ro se c u to r

te stifie d th a t, “ [i] f y o u ’re a sk in g wh a t [Ab d u s-S a la a m ] wa s th in k in g

, I d o n’t

k n o w th a t I c o u ld a

n swe r th a t q u e stio n

. B u t a ll I c an te ll y o u is

. . . [w] e to ld h im

th e re w a s n o p l e a o f

f e r a n d th a t it wa s im

p o rta n t fo r him to te ll th e tru th .” In

a d d itio n

, a ll o f th e c o -d e fe n d a n ts e x te n siv e ly c ro ss-e x a m in e d Ab d us-S a la a m

a b o u t his m o tiv a tio n s. Un d e r t h e s e c irc um sta n c e s, th e re wa s n o du e p ro c e ss

v io la tio n . S e e Va

rn e r, 2 9 7 Ga . Ap p . a t 8 0 3 (1 ) (b ).

93

. We tu rn n e x t to F ra n c is’s c o n te n tio n th a t th e tria l c ou rt e r r e d w h e n it

d e n ie d h is p re tria l m o tio n to se v e r h is tria l fro m th a t o f h is c o -d e fe n d a n ts. Wh e n

se v e ra l d e fe nd a

n ts a re in d ic te d to ge th e r fo r a c a p ita l c rim e

, b u t t h e S t a t e d oe s

n o t se e k th e d e a th p e n a lty

, wh e th e r th e d e fe n d a n ts a re to b e trie d to g e th e r o r

se p a ra te ly is a m a tte r c o m m itte d to th e so u n d d isc re tio n o f th e tria l c o u rt. OCGA

§ 1 7-8 -4 (a ). “ In ru lin g o n a se v e ra n c e m o tio n, th e c o u rt sh o uld c o n sid e r: (1 ) th e

lik e lih o o d o f c o n fu sio n o f th e e v id e n c e a n d la w; (2 ) th e po ssib ility th a t e v id e n c e

a g a in st o n e d e fe n d a

n t m a y b e c o n sid e re d a g a in st th e o th e r d e fe n d a nt; a n d (3 ) th e

p re se nc e o r a

b se n c e o f a nta g o n istic d e fe n se s.” Hic k s v

. S ta te

, 2 9 5 Ga

. 2 6 8

, 2 7 8

(4 ) (7 5 9 SE2 d 5 0 9 ) (2 0 1 4 ) (c ita tio n o m itte d ). An d “ th e b u rd e n is o n th e

d e fe n d a n t re q u e stin g th e se v e ra n c e to d o m o re th a n ra ise th e po ssib ilit y th a t a

se p a ra te tria l wo u ld g iv e h im a b e tte r c h a n c e o f a c q u itta l. H e m u st m a k e a c le a r

sh o win g th a t a jo in t tria l w o u ld le a d to pre ju d ic e a n d a c on se q u e n t d e nia l o f d u e

p ro c e ss.” Th o m a s v

. S ta te

, 2 9 3 G a

. 8 2 9

, 8 3 0 -8 3 1 (2 ) (7 5 0 S E2 d 2 9 7 ) (2 0 1 3 )

(c ita tio n a nd pu n c tu a tio n o m itte d ). In th is c a se

, we c o n c lu d e th a t F ra n c is ha s

m a d e n o “ c le a r sh o win g o f p re ju d ic e an d a c o nse q u e n t d e n ia l o f du e pro c e ss.”

Id . (p u n c tu a tio n o m itte d ).

1 0F ra n c is a rg u e s th a t h e wa s p re ju dic e d b y a

jo in t tria l b e c a

u s e o f th e risk

o f c o n fu sio n wh e n ju ro rs h a v e to k e e p u p with e v id e n c e a g a in st m u ltip le

d e fe n d a n ts o n a n e ig h te e n -c o u n t in d ic tm e nt. T h e r e w a s little lik e lih o o d of a c tu a l

ju ro r c o n fu sio n in th is c a se

, h o we v e r, b e c a u se o n ly fo u r d e fe n da n ts we re trie d

a n d th e la w a nd e v id e n c e th a t a p p lie d to e a c h of th e m we re su b sta n tia lly th e

sa m e

. S e e Hic k s, 2 9 5 Ga

. a t 2 7 8 (4 ). Th e y we re jo in tly trie d fo r a lm o st th e sa m e

o f f e n s e s

, wh ic h in v o lv e d th e sa m e witn e sse s, w h o se c re d ib ility th e c o

d e fe n d a n ts jo in tly a tta c k e d, a n d th e S ta te ’s e v id e n c e in d i c a t e d t ha t th e y a c te d

in c o n c e rt. S e e Flo u rn o y v

. S ta te

, 2 9 4 G a

. 7 4 1

, 7 48 (5 ) (7 5 5 S E2 d 7 7 7 ) (2 0 1 4);

M o o n v

. S ta te

, 2 8 8 Ga

. 5 0 8

, 5 1 0 (2 ) (7 0 5 SE2 d 6 4 9 ) (2 0 1 1 ). In a d d i t i o n

, t h e

tria l c o u rt pro p e rly in stru c te d th e ju ry th a t it wa s to in d e p e n de n tly de te rm in e th e

g u ilt o r i n n o c e n ce o f e a c h d e fe n d a n t a s to e a c h c o u n t, a nd th e c o u rt p ro v id e d

s e p ar a te v e rd ic t fo rm s fo r e a c h d e fe n d a nt in o rd e r to a v o id th e po te n tia l f o r

c o n fu sio n

. S e e Griffin v . S ta te , 2 9 2 Ga . 3 2 1, 3 26 (7 ) (7 37 S E2 d 6 8 2) (2 0 1 3 ).

F ra n c is a lso a rg ue s th a t h e wa s p re ju d ic e d b y t h e a dm issio n o f sim ila r

tra n sa c tio n e vid e n c e a g a in st h is c o

- d e f e n d a n ts. Bu t su c h e vid e n c e d id n o t

d ire c tly im

p lic a te Fra n c is, a n d th e t r i a l c o u rt ga v e a p pro p ria te lim itin g

in s t r u c tio n s, in d ic a tin g th a t th e sim ila r tra n sa c tio n e v id e n c e c o u ld b e c o n sid e re d

1 1o n ly a s to e a c h c o -d e fe n d a n t a g a in st wh o m it w a s a d m itte d

. S e e Bi llin g s v

.

S ta te , 2 9 3 Ga . 9 9, 1 05 (6 ) (7 4 5 S E2 d 5 8 3 ) (2 0 1 3 ); Mo o n, 2 8 8 Ga . a t 5 1 0 (2 ).

F in a lly

, F ra nc is a s s e rts, with o u t a n y e x p la n a tio n

, th a t h e a nd h is c o

d e fe n d a n ts p re se n te d a n ta go n istic d e fe n se s. F ra n c is an d h is c o -d e fe n d a n ts,

h o we v e r, d id n ot p re se n t a n y e v id e n c e

, an d th e ir d e fe n se s we re

, f o r t h e m o st

p a rt, c o n siste n t, in c lu d in g, fo r in sta n c e

, th e ir a tta c ks o n th e c re d ib ility o f Ab d u sS a la a m a n d o th e r p ro se c u tio n witn e sse s. S e e Th o m a s, 2 9 3 Ga

. a t 8 3 1 (2 ). Ev e n

to th e e x te n t th a t Fra n c is a n d h is c o -d e fe n d a n ts u rg e d diffe rin g de fe n se s, h e ha s

c o m p le te ly fa ile d to sh o w a ny sp e c ific p re ju dic e su c h th a t th e jo in t tria l d e n ie d

h im du e p ro c e ss. 2 S e e id . a t 8 3 2 (2 ); F lo u rn o y , 2 9 4 Ga . a t 7 4 8 (5 ).

4

. F ra nc is a lso c la im s th a t th e tria l c o u rt e rre d w h e n it re fu se d to a llo w h is

la wy e r to a sk p ro sp e c tiv e ju r o r s th e fo llo win g qu e stio n : “ Giv e n th a t th e re a re

fo u r d e fe n d a n ts o n tria l in th is c a se

, d o a n y o f y o u th in k t h a t y ou m ig h t b e

u n a b le to c o n sid e r a n d a

p p ly th e e v id e n c e se p a ra te ly to e a c h d e fe n d a n t? ” Ab o u t

th e p ro p e r sc o p e o f v o ir d ire

, we m u st ke e p in m in d th a t “ th e sin g le pu rp o se fo r

2 Our r eview of t h e record has revealed no such harm

. W e note that n one of the

co-def endants testif

ied, Blackledge was the only one of them who m ade a statem ent, and the

trial court excluded any m ention of Francis f rom Blackledge ’ s s tatem ent. See G rif f in, 292

Ga. at 326 (7); Satterf

ield v. State, 256 Ga. 593, 596-597 (3) (351 SE2d 625) (1987).

1 2v o ir d ire is th e a sc e rta in m e n t o f th e im p a rtia lity o f ju ro r s, th e ir a b ility to tre a t

th e c a u se o n th e m e rits with o b je c tiv ity a n d fre e d om fro m b ia s a n d p rio r

in c lin a tio n .” Ale x a n d e r v

. S ta te

, 2 9 4 Ga

. 3 4 5, 3 4 6 -3 4 7 (2 ) (7 5 1 S E2 d 4 0 8 )

(2 0 1 3 ) (c ita tio n a n d p u n c tu a tio n om itte d ). “ A tria l c o u rt is v e ste d w ith a b ro a d

d isc re tio n to lim it th e sc o p e o f v o ir d ire with re g a rd to a b stra c t o r te c hn ic a l le g a l

m a tte rs.” S ta rk s v. S ta te

, 2 8 3 Ga

. 1 6 4

, 16 7 (5 ) (6 5 6 S E2 d 5 1 8 ) (2 0 0 8 ) (c ita tio n

o m itte d ). S e e a lso Ale x a

n d e r, 2 9 4 Ga

. a t 3 4 7 (2 ) (“ Qu e stio n s o f a te c hn ic a l le g a l

n a tu re a n d q ue stio ns th a t c a ll fo r p re ju d g m e n t a r e i mp ro p e r in a v o ir d ire

e x a m in a tio n .” (Cita tio n o m itte d .)). F ra n c is’s q ue stio n a b o u t c o n sid e rin g a n d

a p p ly in g th e e v id e n c e se pa ra te ly to e a c h c o -d e fe nd an t wa s “ o f a te c h n ic a l le g a l

n a tu re a s [it w a s a ] su b

je c t[ ] of th e in stru c tio n b y th e c o u rt a t th e c o n c lu sio n o f

th e tria l. [S e e Div isio n 3 , su p ra .] ” Wa lla c e v . S ta te , 2 4 8 Ga . 2 5 5 , 2 5 9 (2 ) (2 8 2

S E2 d 3 2 5 ) (1 9 8 1 ) (wh e re th e c o u rt a t a tria l o n a sp e c ia l p le a o f in sa n ity

su sta in e d o b

je c tio ns to qu e stio n s a sk in g e a c h ju r o r “ w h e th e r h e wo u ld fo llo w

a c ha rg e o f th e c o u rt a s to m e n ta l c om p e te n c y a n d wh e th e r th e ju ro r c o u ld se t

a sid e a n y e v id e n c e wh ic h m ig h t b e e lic ite d p e rta in in g to g u ilt o r in n oc e n c e o f

th e a c tu a l c h a rg e s ” )

. A c c o rd in g ly

, we fin d n o a b use o f th e tria l c o u rt’s b ro a d

d isc re tio n to lim it th e sc o p e o f v o ir d ire

.

1 35

. F r a n c is fu rth e r c on te n d s th a t th e tria l c o u rt e rre d wh e n it re fu se d to

strik e a p ro sp e c tiv e ju ro r wh o sta te d th a t h e wa s a fra id th a t h e c ou ld n ot b e fa ir

a n d im p a rtia l in a c a se wh e re th e re wa s a n a lle g a tio n o f g a n g a c tiv ity

. By

a g re e m e n t o f a ll p a r tie s, th e c o u rt re po rte r wa s n o t p re se n t to ta k e d o wn v oir

d ire

. Th e c o u rt re p o rte r d id a p p e a r fro m tim e to time t o t a k e d o wn c e rta in

p o rtio n s o f th e p ro c e e d in g d e a lin g with c h a lle n g e s to c e rta in ju ro rs

, b u t a fu ll

re c o rd o f th e vo ir d ire a s to th e p ro sp e c tiv e ju ro r a b ou t wh o m F ra n c is c o m

p la in s

d o e s n o t e xist. “If c o u n se l ra ise issu e s on a p pe a l re la tin g to v oir d ire

, th e y a lso

m u st tra nsc rib e th e v o ir d ire in o rd e r fo r th e re to b e a n a p p e lla te re v ie w

, a s a n

a p p e lla n t c a rrie s th e bu rd e n o f sh o w in g e rro r b y th e re c o rd .” Bry a n t v. S ta te

,

2 7 0 Ga . 2 66 , 2 7 2 (4 ), n . 1 8 (5 0 7 S E2 d 4 51 ) (1 9 9 8 ) (c ita tio n o m itte d ).

Be c a u se vo ir d ire a n d ju ry se le c tio n we re n o t tra n sc rib e d in th is c a se

, th e re

is no c o n te m

p o ra n e ou s re c o rd a s to wh e th e r F ra n c is o r a n y o f h is c o -d e fe n d a n ts

e x e rc ise d a pe re m

p to ry strik e as t o t h e p ro sp e c tiv e ju ro r wh o m F ra n c is

c h a lle ng e d

. A n d a lth o u g h th is p ro sp e c tiv e ju r o r d id n ot se rv e on th e ju ry

, we

h a v e n o t lo c a te d in th e re c o rd a n y e v id e n c e o f h o w, wh e n, o r b y wh o m h e wa s

stru c k fro m th e p a n e l. It is tru e th a t d e fe n d a n ts are no t re q uire d to e x h a u st th e ir

p e re m p to ry strik e s a s a c o n d itio n o f e sta b lish in g ha rm

. S e e S to lte v

. F a g a n

, 2 9 1

1 4Ga

. 4 7 7, 4 7 8 (1 ) (7 31 S E2 d 6 5 3 ) (2 0 1 2 ); Ha rris v . S ta te , 2 5 5 Ga

. 4 6 4

, 4 6 5 (2 )

(3 3 9 S E2 d 7 1 2 ) (1 9 8 6 ). Bu t if th e p ro sp e c tiv e ju ro r is re m ov e d with ou t a n y use

o f p e re m p to ry strik e s b y th e d e fe n se

, a s w h e re th e S ta te e x e rc ise s a p e re m p to ry

strik e to re m o ve th e ju ro r, a n y e rro r in th e tria l c o u rt’s re fu sa l to strik e th e ju ro r

fo r c a u se is h a rm le ss b e c a

u se th e re m o v a l o f th e ju ro r d id n o t c ost th e d e fe nse

a n y p e re m

p to r y s t r i k e

. P yb u rn v

. S ta te

, 1 75 Ga

. Ap p

. 1 5 8

, 1 5 9 (3 ) (3 3 2 S E2 d

8 9 9 ) (1 9 8 5 ). S e e a lso Je n k in s v

. Sta te

, 26 9 Ga

. 2 8 2

, 2 91 (1 3 ) (4 9 8 S E2 d 5 0 2 )

(1 9 9 8 ) (e v e n if v o ir d ire a llo we d a p ro sp e c tiv e ju ro r to p r e j u d g e th e c a se

, th e

e rro r wa s “ h a rm le ss b e c a

u se th e S ta te u se d o n e o f its p e re m pto ry c ha lle n g e s to

re m o v e th is ju ro r” ). B e c a u se F ra nc is h a s n ot sh o wn fro m th e re c o r d t h a t th e

p ro sp e c tiv e ju ro r wh om he c h a lle n ge d wa s s t r u c k fro m th e p an e l th ro u g h th e

e x e rc ise o f a p e re m

p to ry strik e b y th e d e fe n se ra th e r th a n th e S ta te

, F ra n c is ha s

fa ile d to e sta b lish a n y h a rm fro m th e tria l c o u rt’s re fu sa l to strik e th a t ju ro r fo r

c a u se

.

Mo re ov e r, e ve n if th e p ro sp e c tiv e ju ro r a t issu e wa s stru c k b y th e d e fe n se

,

F ra n c is ha s n o t sh o wn th a t th e tria l c o u rt e rre d

, a s ou r r ev i e w is lim ite d to th e

p o rtio n s o f v o ir d i re th a t w e re tra n sc rib e d

. S e e Va ld e z v. S ta te

, 3 1 0 Ga

. Ap p

.

2 7 4

, 2 7 8 (2 ) (7 12 S E2 d 6 5 6 ) (2 0 1 1 ). Th e re le v a n t p o rtio n o f v o ir d ire th a t wa s

1 5tra n sc rib e d

— wh ic h in d ic a te s th a t th e ju ro r’s e a rlie r re sp o n se s we re n o t

tra n sc rib e d

— sh o ws o n ly th a t th e ju ro r wa s “ wo rrie d ” a n d “ a f r a id ” th a t h e

c o u ld n o t b e fa ir a

n d im pa rtia l a s a re su lt o f th e a lle ga tio n o f g a n g a c tiv ity

.

No th in g in th e se tra n sc rib e d re sp o n se s c o m p e lle d a fin d in g th a t h e h a d fo rm e d

a n o p in io n o f F ra n c is’s g u ilt o r in n o c e n c e th a t wa s so fix e d a nd d e fin ite th a t h e

wo u ld b e un a

ble t o s et th a t op in io n a sid e a n d to d e c id e th e c a se b a se d o n th e

e v id e n c e a n d th e c ou rt’s in stru c tio n s. S e e Co rz a v

. S ta te

, 2 7 3 Ga

. 1 6 4

, 16 6 -1 6 7

(3 ) (5 3 9 S E2 d 1 4 9 ) (2 0 0 0 ). In th e a b se n c e o f a fu ll tra n sc rip t se ttin g fo rth a ll o f

th e p ro sp e c tiv e ju ro r’s sp e c ific vo ir d ire re sp o n se s, we c a n no t sa y th a t th e tria l

c o u rt a b u se d i t s d isc re tio n in re fu sin g to e x c u se th e ju ro r fo r c a u se

. S e e id .;

Va ld e z , 3 1 0 Ga . Ap p

. a t 2 7 9 (2 ).

6

. F ra nc is a lso c on te n ds t h a t th e tria l c o urt e rre d wh e n it fo rb id c ro sse x a m in a tio n o f Ab d u s-S a la a m a b o u t w h e th e r th e p ro se c u to r h a d in stru c te d h im

to “ te stify a ga in st” th e c o -d e fe n d a n ts. “ [D] e fe n se c o u n se l is e n title d to a

re a so na b le c ro ss-e x a m in a tio n o n th e re l e v an t issu e o f wh e th e r a witn e ss

e n te rta in e d a n y b e lie f o f p e r s o n a l be n e fit fro m te stify in g fa v ora b ly fo r th e

p ro se c u tio n .” Ma n le y v. S ta te

, 2 8 7 G a

. 3 3 8

, 3 4 0 (2 ) (6 9 8 S E2 d 3 0 1 ) (2 0 1 0 )

(c i t at io n a n d p u n c tu a tio n o m itte d). Bu t “th e e x te n t o f c ro ss-e xa m in a tio n with

1 6re sp e c t to a

n a p p ro p ria te su bje c t o f in q u iry is with in th e so u n d d isc re tio n o f th e

tria l c o u rt, so lo n g a s th e c ou rt d o e s n o t c ut o ff a ll in q u iry o n a su b je c t th a t th e

d e fe n se is e n title d to c ro ss-e x a m in e o n

. ” B ro c k m a n v

. S ta te

, 29 2 Ga

. 7 0 7

, 7 2 5

(1 1 ) (7 3 9 S E2 d 3 32 ) (2 01 3 ) (c ita tio n a n d p u n c tu a tio n o m itte d ). As we h a v e

re p e a t e d l y e x p la in e d, tria l c ou rts re ta in wid e la titu d e to im po se re a so n a

b le lim its

o n c ro ss-e x a m in a tio n “ b a se d o n c o n c e rn s a b o u t, a m o n g o th e r th in g s,

h a ra ssm e n t, p re

ju d ic e

, c o n fu sio n o f th e issu e s, th e witn e ss’ sa fe ty

, o r

in te rro g a tio n th a t is re p e titiv e o r o n ly m a rg in a lly re le v an t.” Ma n le y

, 2 8 7 Ga

. a t

3 4 0 (2 ) (c ita tio n a n d p u n c tu a tio n o m itte d ).

In th is c a se

, Ha y e s’s la w y e r a sk e d Ab d u s-S a la a m : “ [I] sn ’t it tru e

, sir, th a t

y o u r la st tim e in c o u rt, th e d istric t a tto rn e y in fo rm e d y o u to te stify a g a in st th e se

p e o p le ; c o rre c t? ” Afte r Ab du s-S a la a m a n swe re d “ Y e s,” Ha y e s’s la wy e r a sk e d

wh e th e r th e p ro se c u to r “ to ld y o u to te stify a ga in st Da v id Ha y e s.” At th a t p o in t,

th e p ro se c u to r o b

je c te d

, th e ju ry wa s e x c u se d

, th e o b je c tio n wa s su sta in e d

, a n d

F ra n c is’s la w y e r jo in e d H a y e s’s o p p o sitio n to th e S ta te ’s o bje c tio n

. Th e c ro sse x a m in a tio n a t issu e w a s re fe rrin g to a p re tria l h e a rin g in wh ic h Ab d us-S a la a m

wa iv e d h is F ifth Am e n d m e nt rig h ts a nd wa s a sk e d b y th e p ro se c u to r wh e th e r h e

u n d e rsto o d th a t, b y su c h wa iv e r, h e “ c o u ld be c a lle d a s a witn e ss fo r th e S ta te

1 7to te stify a ga in st th e se fo u r” c o -d e fe n d a n ts. S o th e re c o rd sh o ws th a t th e

p ro se c u to r n e ith e r in stru c te d Ab d u s-S a la a m to te stify a ga in st th e c o -d e fe n d a n ts

n o r im p lie d th a t h e sh o u ld n o t t e stify fu lly and tru th fu lly

. An d th e p h ra se

“ te stify a g a in st ” wa s a n a p p ro p ria te a n d c o n c ise wa y to re fe r to th e te stim o n y

o f a witn e ss c a lle d by th e S ta te

. S e e U. S. Co n st., Am e n d

. VI (“ In a ll c rim in a l

p ro se c u tio n s, th e a c c u s e d s h a ll e njo y th e rig h t

. . . to b e c o n fro nte d with th e

witn e sse s te stify in g a g a in st h im

. . . . ” (Em p h a sis su pp lie d .)); Ga

. Co n st. o f

1 9 8 3, Art. I, S e c

. I, P a r. XIV (“ Ev e ry p e rso n c h a rg e d with a n o ffe n se a g a in st th e

la ws of th is sta te

. . . sh a ll b e c o n fro n te d with th e witn e sse s te stify in g a g a in st

su c h p e rso n

. ” (Em

p h a sis su pp lie d .)). Ac c ord in g ly

, it a p p e a rs th a t th e c ro sse x a m in a tio n of Ab d u s-S a la a m c a rrie d with it th e p o te ntia l fo r c o n fu sin g o r

m a rg in a lly re le v a n t te stim o n y a n d th a t th e tria l c o u rt th e re fo re d id n o t a b u se its

d isc re tio n to im

p ose re a so n a

b le lim its o n c ro ss-e x a m in a tio n with o u t c u ttin g o ff

a ll in q u iry in to th e a

p p ro p ria te su b

je c t o f wh e th e r Ab d u s-S a la a m h a d a n y b e lie f

th a t h e wo u ld

p e rso n a lly b e n e fit fro m

te stify in g fo r th e S ta te

.

Mo re ov e r, a n y e rro r in lim itin g th e sc op e o f c ro ss-e x a m i n a tio n wa s

h a rm le ss. Th e o rig in a l qu e stio n o f wh e t h e r th e p ro se c u to r in fo rm e d Ab d u sS a la a m th a t h e sh o u ld te stify a g a in st th e c o-d e fe n d a nts w a s an swe re d

1 8a ffirm a ti v el y

, th e ju ry did n o t h e a r th e tria l c o u rt su sta in th e p ro se c u to r’s

o b je c tio n

, a n d th e c o u rt n e v e r in stru c te d th e ju ry to d isre g a rd Ab d u s-S a la a m ’s

a ffirm a tiv e a n swe r. S e e F re e m a n v

. S t a t e

, 2 3 0 Ga

. 8 5

, 8 6 (1 ) (1 9 5 S E2 d 4 1 6 )

(1 9 7 3 ) (“ e v e n if th e e x c lu sio n o f th e a nswe r o f th e w itn e ss o n th e o b je c tio n o f

th e sta te wa s e rro r, it wa s re n d e re d h a rm le ss by th e su b se q u e n t a d m i s s i o n o f

te stim o n y to th e su bsta n tia l e ffe c t a s th a t so u g h t to b e e lic ite d b y th e q u e stio n

o b je c te d to ” ); Th o ma s v

. Sta te

, 1 9 9 Ga

. Ap p

. 49

, 5 1 -5 2 (8 ) (4 0 4 S E2 d 3 1 5 )

(1 9 9 1 ) (“ n o h a rm

in n o t a llo win g th e witn e ss to a n swe r th e q u e stio n sin c e sh e

te stifie d a lm o st imm e d ia te ly a fte rwa rd s” in a w a y th a t an swe re d th e p ro h ib ite d

q u e stio n ). In a d ditio n

, a s we ha v e a lre a d y n o te d in Div isio n 2

, su p ra

, a ll fo u r c o

d e fe n d a n ts we re p e rm itte d to e x te n siv e ly c ro ss-e x a m in e A b du s-S a la a m a b o u t

h is tru th fu ln e ss a n d h is m o tiv a tio n fo r te stify in g

. S e e Yo u n g e r v. S ta te

, 2 8 8 Ga

.

1 9 5

, 1 9 9 -2 0 0 (3 ) (7 0 2 S E2 d 1 8 3 ) (2 0 1 0); Ma n le y , 2 8 7 Ga

. a t 3 4 3 (2 ).

7

. F ra n c is a sse rts th a t a n o te b o ok a dm itte d in to e v id e n c e wa s irre le v a n t

a n d p re ju d ic ia l a n d a m o u n te d to in a d m issib le h e a rsa y

. Bu t h is “ fa ilu re to ra ise

a n o bje c tio n a t tria l o n h e a r s a y g ro u n d s p re c lu d e s o u r c on sid e ra tio n o f h is

h e a rsa y o b

je c tio n.” Jo h n so n v

. S ta te

, 29 4 Ga

. 86

, 8 8 (2 ) (7 5 0 S E2 d 3 4 7 ) (2 0 1 3 )

(c ita tio n o m itte d ). S e e a lso Ed wa rd s v . S ta te , 2 8 2 Ga . 2 59

, 2 6 0 (4 ) (6 4 6 S E2 d

1 96 6 3 ) (2 0 0 7 ). Th e n ote b o ok w a s re c o v e re d fro m a b e d ro o m in Nwa k a n m a ’s

h o m e an d c o n ta in e d h a nd w ritte n a n d prin te d m a te ria l re fe rrin g to g an g s, a s w e ll

a s c o p ie s o f sc h o ol re c o rd s b e a rin g Nwa k a n m a ’s n a m e

. Alth o u gh th e n o te b o o k

d o e s no t sp e c ific a lly m e n t i o n t h e g a n g to wh ic h th e c o -d e fe n d a nts a lle g e d ly

b e lo ng e d

, a d e te c tiv e te stifie d th a t su c h a n o te b o o k is k no wn a s a “ g a n g b ib le ”

o r “ b o o k o f k no wle d g e ,” th a t it c o n ta in s g a ng sy m b ols, sa y in g s, an d sig n s, th a t

it id e n tifie s th e g a n g ’s e n e m ie s, a n d th a t th e re a re h ybrid g a n g s in th e a re a with

m e m b e rs wh o b rin g with th e m in flu e n c e s fro m o t h e r tra d itio na l g a n g s.

Ac c o rd in g ly

, th e n o te b o o k wa s re le v an t to th e c o u n t o f th e in d ic tm e n t a lle g in g

th a t th e d e f

e n d a n t s w e re m e m

b e rs o f a c rim in a l stre e t g a n g. S e e Sifu e n te s v

.

S ta te

, 2 93 Ga

. 4 4 1

, 4 4 5 (3 ) (7 4 6 S E2 d 1 2 7 ) (2 0 1 3 ). An d th e tria l c o urt d id n o t

a b u se its d isc re tio n wh e n it fo u n d th a t a n y p re ju d ic ia l e ffe c t o f th e e v id e n c e wa s

o u twe ig h e d b y its p ro b a tiv e v a lu e

. Se e id .; Wo rn u m v

. S ta te

, 2 8 5 Ga

. 1 6 8

, 1 6 9

(2 ) (6 7 4 S E2 d 8 7 6 ) (2 0 0 9). Th e fa c t th a t t h e n ote b o o k d o e s n o t sp e c ific a lly

n a m e th e c o -d e fe n d a nts’ a lle g e d g a n g g o e s to its e v id e n tia ry we ig h t an d d oe s

n o t re n d e r it in a d m issib le . S e e S ifu e n te s, 2 9 3 Ga . a t 4 4 5 (3 ).

8

. La st, w e tu rn to F ra n c is’s c on te n ti o n t h at h is tria l la wy e rs we re

in e ffe c tiv e b e c a

u se th e y fa ile d to o b

je c t to th e p ro se c u to r’s d isp a ra g in g re m a rk s

2 0a

b o u t th e m d urin g c lo sin g a rg u m e n t. Alth o u g h Fra n c is’s a m e n d e d m o tio n fo r

n e w tria l a sse rte d th a t th e p ro se c u to r in h is c lo sin g arg u m e n t im p ro p e rly

d e n ig ra te d F ra n c is’s la wy e rs, t h e o n ly in e ffe c tiv e ne ss c la im s ra ise d in th e

m o tio n we re th a t th e la wy e rs fa ile d to h a v e th e e n tire v o ir d ire re c o rd e d a n d th a t

th e c lo sin g a rg um e n t o n b e ha lf of F ra n c is im p a ire d h is d e fe nse

. At th e h e a rin g

o n th e m o tio n fo r n e w tria l, o n e o f F ra n c is’s la wy e rs te stifie d bu t wa s n o t

q u e s t io ne d a

b o u t th e p ro se c u to r’s c lo sin g a rg u m e n t, on ly a b ou t c lo sin g

a rg u m e n t fo r th e d e fe n se

, a n d F ra n c is’s a

p p e lla te la wy e r pre se n te d n o arg u m e n t

a b o u t t h e fa ilu re to o b

je c t to th e p ro se c uto r’s c lo sin g a rg u m e nt. In its o rd e r

d e n y in g th e m otio n fo r n e w tria l, th e tria l c o urt u n su rp risin gly sa id n o th in g

a b o u t th e in e ffe c tiv e ne ss c la im n o w ra ise d o n a pp e a l. Be c a

u se F ra n c is d id n o t

ra ise th is c la im in h is a m e n d e d m o tio n fo r n e w tria l o r a t th e h e a rin g a n d d id n o t

o b ta in a ru lin g o n it b y th e tria l c o u rt, h e d id n o t p re se rv e th e c la im fo r re v ie w

o n a p p e a l. S e e Jo n e s v

. S ta te

, 2 9 4 G a

. 5 0 1

, 5 03 (2 ) (7 5 5 S E2 d 1 3 1 ) (2 0 1 4);

Co wa rt v . S ta te , 2 9 4 Ga

. 3 3 3 , 3 3 7 -3 3 8 (3 ) (7 5 1 S E2 d 3 9 9 ) (2 0 13 ).

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

2 1De c id e d Ja n u a ry 2 0 , 2 0 1 5

– Re c o n sid e ra tio n d e n ie d F e b ru a ry 1 6 , 2 0 1 5

.

Mu rd e r. Co bb S u p e rio r Co u rt. Be fo re Ju d g e In g ra m

.

Bria n S te e l, fo r a

p p e lla n t (c a se n o . S 1 4 A1 4 4 2 ).

Ed win J. Wilso n , fo r a

p p e lla n t (c a se n o . S 1 4 A1 4 4 3 ).

D. Vic to r Re y n old s, Distric t Atto rn e y

, Je sse D. Ev an s, Be n ja m in M. F irst,

Am e lia G. P ra y

, Assista n t Distric t Atto rn e y s, S a m u e l S

. Ole n s, A tto rn e y

Ge n e ra l, P a tric ia B. A tta wa y B u rto n

, De p u ty Atto rn e y Ge n e ra l, P a ula K

. S m ith

,

S e n io r Assista n t Atto rn e y Ge n e ra l, Ja so n M. R e a

, Assista n t Atto rn e y Ge n e ra l,

fo r a p p e lle e

.

2 2