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

De c id e d: S e p te m b e r 1 2, 2 0 1 6

S 1 6 A0 69 9 . MCCLENDON v

. THE S TATE.

S 1 6 A0 7 0 0 . BURKS v . THE S TATE.

HUNS T EIN, Ju stic e

.

Ap p e lla n ts Jo h n n y Mc Cle n d o n a n d Ma rq u ic e Bu rk s we re trie d jo in tly a n d

c o n v ic te d o f m a lic e m

u rd e r a n d r e l a te d o ffe n se s in c o n n e c tio n w ith th e Ap ril

2 0 0 7 sh o o tin g de a th o f Ch risto p h e r Cra wfo rd

. 1 Bo th m e n n o w a p p e a l. Th o u g h

1 On M a r c h 1 9

, 2 0 1 0

, a Fu l t o n Co un t y g ran d ju ry i n d i ct ed co -d efen d an t s

J o h n ny M cCl en d on

, M arq u i ce Bu rk s

, an d Co urt n ey Fran k li n to g et h er as fo l l o w s :

m al i ce m u rd er (co u n t 1), fel o n y m u rd er p red i cat ed o n ag g rav at ed as s au l t (co u n t 2 ),

fel o n y m u rd er p red icat ed o n p o s s es s i o n o f a fi rearm b y a co n v ict ed fel o n (co u n t 3 ),

ag g rav at ed as s au lt wi t h a d ead l y weap o n (co u n t 4 ), po s s es s i o n of a fi rearm d u ri n g t h e

co m m i s s io n o f a cri m e (co u n t 5 ), an d po s ses s i o n o f a fi rearm b y a co n v i ct ed fel o n

(co u n t 6

- Bu rk s

, co u nt 7

- Fran k l i n

, c o u n t 8

- M cCl en d o n ). Fran k l i n was al s o

ch arg ed wi t h t h ree ad d i t i on al co u nt s o f cri m in al s o l ici t at i o n t o co m m i t m u rd e r o f

St at e’ s wi t n es s es an d o n e co u n t o f co n s p i racy es cap e. Aft er a fi v e d ay jo i n t t ri al in

Ap ri l 2 0 1 0

, th e t h ree co -d efen d an t s w ere co nv i ct ed o f al l ch arg es

. Bo th M cCl en d o n

an d Bu rk s were s en t en ced t o li fe fo r m al ice m u rd er, pl us co n s ecu t i v e s u s p en d ed t i m e

fo r t h e t wo w eap o n s ch arg es

, fo r a t ot al s en t en ce o f li fe p l u s 1 0 y ears su s p en d ed

. Al t h o u g h t h e t ri al co u r t p u rp o rt ed ly m erg ed t h e t wo fel o n y m urd er co u n t s an d t h e

ag g rav at ed as s au l t i n t o A p p el l an t s ’ m al i ce m u rd er co n v i ct i o ns

, as d is cu s s ed in

Di v is i o n 5 b el o w, t h e “ m erg er” o f t h e fel o n y m u rd er co n v i c t i on s was erro r. Each

ap p el l an t t i m el y fi l ed a m ot i o n fo r n ew tri al

, wh i ch were res p ect i v el y am en d ed

, an d,

fo l l o w i n g a j o in t hea r in g o n Au g u s t 1 9, 2 0 1 4

, t he t ri al co u rt d en i ed b o th m o t i o n s

. Each ap p el l an t ti m el y fi l ed a n o t i ce o f ap p eal

, b o t h o f wh i ch were d ock et ed t o t h ewe fin d n o m e rit in a n y o f th e p re -tria l a n d tria l p h as e e n u m e ra tio n s ra ise d b y

Ap p e lla n ts, we a g r e e with Bu rk s th a t th e tria l c o u rt e rre d d u rin g se n te n c in g

wh e n it fa ile d to re c o g n iz e th a t h is fe lo n y m u rd e r v e rd ic ts we re v a c a te d b y

o p e ra tio n o f la w. F u rth e r, a lth o u g h n o t ra ise d b y Mc Cle n d o n

, th e tria l c o u rt’s

p u rp o rte d m e rg e r o f h is fe lo n y m u rd e r ve rd ic ts wa s sim ila rly e r r o n e o u s

. S e e

Hu le tt v. S ta te

, 2 9 6 Ga

. 4 9 (2 ) (7 66 S E2 d 1 ) (2 0 1 4 ) (m e rg e r e r r o r, e v e n if n o t

ra ise d b y th e p a rtie s, m a y b e a d d re sse d b y a pp e lla te c o u rt su a sp o n te ).

Th e re fo re , we m

u st v a c a te th o se a sp e c ts o f th e se n te n c e s.

Vie we d in th e lig h t m o st fa vo ra b le to th e ju ry ’s v e r d i c t

, t h e e v id e n c e

a d d u c e d a t tria l e sta

b lish e d a s fo llo ws. Vic tim Cra wfo rd wa s sh o t a nd k ille d o n

th e e v e n in g o f Ap ril 1 3

, 2 0 0 7

, in a We st Atla n ta ne ig h b o rh o od

. At th e tim e

, c o

d e fe n d a n t F ra n k lin

, a lo c a l p i m p

, w a s o n u n frie n d ly te rm s with Cra w fo rd

, wh ose

“ b a b y m o th e r,” Na ta sh a Hu rst, h a d b e g u n w o rk in g a s a p ro stitu te fo r F ra n k lin

.

F ra n k lin a n d C ra wfo rd o fte n e x c h a ng e d ta u n ts an d th re a ts w h e n t h e y

e n c o u n te re d e a c h o th e r o n th e stre e t.

Ap ri l 2 01 6 t erm o f t h i s Co u rt an d were t hereaft er su b m it t ed fo r d eci s i o n o n t h e b ri efs

. Th i s Co u rt h as al read y affi rm ed Fran k l i n ’ s co n v ict i o n s an d sen t en ces

. See Fran k l in

v . St at e, 2 9 8 Ga. 6 3 6 (7 84 SE2 d 3 5 9 ) (2 0 1 6 ).

2On th e d a y of th e sh oo tin g

, Cra wfo rd a n d o th e rs we re g a th e re d in a n d

a ro u nd th e n e ig h b orh o o d KF C, a n d Fra n k lin wa s d riv in g a ro u n d t h e a r e a

. At

o n e p o in t, Cra wfo rd c h a lle n g e d F ra n k lin to g e t o ut o f h is c a r an d fig h t, to wh ic h

F ra n k lin re p lie d th a t he w o u ld k ill Cra wfo rd “ with th is .4 5 .” La te r in th e d a y

,

Cra wfo rd n o tic e d Na ta lie Cre ws, a p ro stitu te a sso c ia te d with F r a n k lin

, a lo n e

o u tsid e th e KF C a

n d a n n o u n c e d h e wa s g oin g to “ ro b th a t h o .” C ra wfo rd e x ite d

th e re sta u ra n t, a p p ro a c h e d Cre ws, a n d ro b be d h e r o f th e $ 5 sh e ha d o n h e r

p e rso n

.

Cre ws fo u n d F ra n k lin a t a n e arb y ga s sta tio n a n d in fo rm e d h im o f t h e

ro b b e ry

. Fra nk lin m a d e a se rie s o f p h o n e c a l l s

, d u rin g wh ic h h e d isc u sse d

g e ttin g a g u n a n d k illin g C ra wfo rd

. C re ws te stifie d th a t sh e an d F ra nk lin

, wh o

wa s d riv i n g h er b lu e Ch e v y Co b a lt, le ft th e ga s sta tio n an d m e t u p with

Ma rq u ic e “ Qu e e sy ” Bu rk s with wh o m Cre ws’ siste r Te re sa

– a lso a p ro stitu te

wo rk in g fo r F ra n k lin

– h a d h a d a s e x u a l r el a tio n sh ip

. Bu rk s, wh o wa s

a c c o m p a n ie d b y a

n o th e r m a n u n fa m ilia r to C re ws, a rriv e d in a re d Ch e v y Co b a lt

b e lo ng in g to Te re sa

. Afte r th e m e e tin g

, Cre ws te stifie d, sh e a nd F ra n k lin d ro v e

3b a c k t o th e a re a a ro u n d th e KF C, with F ra nk lin ta lk in g o n h is c e ll p h o n e

,

a tte m p tin g to lo c a te Cra wfo rd

.

Witn e sse s Ja rv is Gre e n a n d S h a k e ta Ed wa rd s Ba

, wh o we re a t t h e KF C

th a t d a y

, te stifie d th a t F ra n klin c a lle d th e m a fte r th e ro b be ry to w a rn th e m to

le a v e th e KF C b e c a

use he pla n n e d to c o m e “ sh o w e v e ry b o d y I a in ’t pla y in g .”

Hu rst, wh o wa s a lso p re se n t, te stifie d th a t F ra n k lin sta te d th a t Cra wfo rd wo u ld

“ fe e l th is .4 5” “ sin c e he we n t a n d ro b b e d o n e o f my h o s.” T h e se witn e sse s

u rg e d Cra wfo rd to le a ve th e a re a , b u t h e re fu se d

.

S o m e tim e la te r, Cra wfo rd d e p a rte d th e n e a rb y h om e o f a frie n d a n d wa s

wa lk in g d o wn th e sid e wa lk with H u r s t

. H u rst te stifie d th a t th e y we re

a p p ro a c h e d fro m th e o p p o site d ire c tio n b y a m a le w ith h is fa c e pa rtia lly c o v e re d

b y so m e a rtic le o f c lo th in g

, wh o wa lk e d p a st th e m

, th e n tu rn e d a n d sh o t a t

Cra wfo rd fro m be h in d. G re e n a n d Ba

, wh o we re sta n d in g to g e th e r n e a rb y

, b o th

te stifie d th a t th e y sa w a m a n with h is fa c e p a rtia lly c o v e re d e x it a re d c a r, wa lk

p a st Cra wfo rd a n d Hu rst, tu rn a n d fire a t Cra w fo rd

, a n d re tu rn to th e re d c a r to

fle e

. C ra w fo rd d ie d a t th e sc e n e fro m a g u n sh o t wo u n d to th e b a c k

, wh ic h

tra v e rse d h is h e a rt.

Te re sa Cre ws te stifie d th a t o n th e n ig ht o f th e sh o o tin g

, a fte r p ro stitu tin g

4o n Cle ve la n d Av e n u e

, sh e wa s p ic k e d u p b y F ra n k lin a n d h e r s i s t er N a t a lie

.

W h e n sh e a n d he r siste r p a rte d fro m F ra n k lin

, Te re sa te stifie d

, h e in str u c t e d

th e m to “la y lo w .” W h e n th e siste rs su b se q u e n tly we n t to re trie v e Te re sa ’s c a r

fro m Bu rk s, h e to ld th e m a bo u t th e sh o o tin g and re m a rk e d th a t, h a d h e k n o wn

th a t th e ro b b e ry h e wa s a v e n g in g in v o lv e d a m e re fiv e d o lla rs, h e wo u ld n e v e r

h a v e a g re e d to it. B o th siste rs id e n tifie d Bu rk s a s t h e p e r so n th e y k n e w a s

“ Qu e e sy .”

S e v e ra l m o n th s a fte r th e sh o o tin g

, Gre e n c o n ta c te d Atla n ta P o lic e

De p a rtm e n t h o m ic id e d e te c tiv e A.C. S m ith with in fo rm a tio n re g a rd in g th e c a se

.

Gre e n

, wh o a t th e tim e wa s in ja il o n u n re la t e d d r u g c h arg e s, te stifie d a t tria l

th a t h e h a d b e e n a

p p ro a c h e d b y a n o th e r ja il in m a te

, wh o a d m itte d th a t h e

, a lo n g

with Bu rk s, a t F ra n k lin ’s b e h e st, h a d sh o t Cra wfo rd in re ta lia tio n fo r th e ro b b e ry

o f F ra n k lin ’s pro stitu te

. Th e re a fte r, Gre e n id e n tifie d Jo h n n y M c Cle n d o n fro m

a p h oto g ra

p h ic lin e up a s th e p e rso n w h o h a d m a d e th is ja ilh o u se sta te m e n t.

Witn e ss Ba a lso id e n tifie d Mc Cle n d on fro m a ph oto lin e u p a s h a v in g b e e n th e

sh o o te r, n o tin g th a t sh e re c o g n iz e d h im b y h is d istin c tiv e e y e s.

Th e S ta te a lso a d d u c e d e v id e n c e o f c o m m un ic a tio n s b e twe e n c e ll p h o n e s,

5o n e re g iste re d to F ra nk lin a n d th e o th e r to Bu rk s’ g irlfrie n d

, sp a n n in g th e d a y

o f th e sh o o tin g

, e n d in g ju st m in u t e s a fte r th e sh o o tin g w a s re p o rte d to p o lic e ;

th e se c o m m

u n i c a tio n s we re tra n sm itte d fro m th e c e ll to we r c o v e rin g th e v ic in ity

o f th e c rim e sc e n e

. Fra nk lin ’s c e ll ph o n e w a s d isc o n n e c te d th e da y a fte r th e

sh o o tin g

.

In a d ditio n

, th e S ta te p re se n te d e v i d e n c e th a t bo th F ra n k lin a n d

Mc Cle nd o n h a d m a d e th re a ts to Gre e n a fte r le a rn i n g h e wa s c o o p e ra tin g with

in v e stig a to rs. Th e S ta te a lso offe re d re c o rd in g s o f p h o n e c a lls m a de by F ra n k lin

fro m ja il in wh ic h h e issu e d d ire c tiv e s to k ill Na ta lie Cre ws a n d Gre e n b e c a use

th e y h a d g iv e n sta te m e n ts to p o lic e in c u lp a tin g h im in Cra wfo rd ’s m

u rd e r.

1

. Th o u g h n o t ra ise d b y e ith e r Ap p e lla n t, w e fin d th a t th e e vid e n c e a s

su m m ariz e d a

b o v e w a s su ffic i e n t to e n a b le a ra tio n a l trie r o f fa c t to c o n c lu d e

b e y o n d a re a so n a

b le d o u b t th a t b o th Mc Cle n d o n a n d Bu rk s we re g u ilty o f th e

c rim e s fo r wh ic h th e y we 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 (9 9

S Ct 2 7 81 , 6 1 L E2 d 5 6 0 ) (1 9 7 9 ).

Ca se No . S 1 6

A0 6 99

2

. Mc Cle n d o n c o n te n d s th a t h is tria l c o u n se l re n d e re d in e ffe c tiv e

a ssista n c e fo r fa ilin g to m o v e fo r a m istria l d u rin g c lo sin g a rg u m e nt a fte r Bu rk s’

6a tto r n e y im

p e rm issib ly c o m m e n te d o n Mc Cle n d o n ’s rig h t n ot to te stify

. We

d isa g re e

.

To e sta b lish in e ffe c tiv e a ssista n c e of c o u n se l, a d e fe n d a n t m u st sh o w th a t

h is c o u n se l’s p e rfo rm a n c e wa s p ro fe ssio n a lly d e f i cie n t an d th a t, b ut fo r su c h

d e fic ie n t p e rfo rm a n c e

, th e re is a re a so n a b le p ro b a b ility th a t th e re su lt o f th e tria l

wo u ld h a v e b e e n d iffe re n t. S e e S tric k la n d v

. Wa sh in gto n

, 4 6 6 U. S

. 6 6 8 (1 0 4

S Ct 2 0 52

, 8 0 LE2 d 6 7 4 ) (1 9 8 4 ). If th e d e fe n d a n t fa ils to sa tisfy e ith e r p ro n g o f

th e S tric k la n d te st, th is C o u rt is no t re q u ire d to e x a m in e th e oth e r. S e e Gre e n

v

. S ta te

, 2 91 Ga

. 5 7 9 (2 ) (7 3 1 S E2 d 3 59 ) (2 0 1 2 ). Alth o u g h th e tria l c o urt fa ile d

to m a k e a ny sp e c ific fa c tu a l fin d in g s re g a rd in g M c Cle n d o n ’s in e f fe c tiv e n e ss

c la im , “ [r] e m a n d is n o t m a n d a te d if we c a n de te rm in e fro m th e re c ord th a t th e

d e f e n d a n t c a nn o t e sta blish in e ffe c tiv e a ssista n c e o f c o u n se l u n d e r th e t w o

- p r o n g

te st se t fo rth in S tric k la nd

. ” (Cita tio n s o m itte d .) Ru iz v. S ta te

, 2 8 6 Ga

. 1 4 6

, 1 4 9

(2 ) (b ) (6 8 6 S E2 d 2 5 3 ) (2 0 09 ).

T h e re c ord sh o w s th a t, d u rin g c lo sin g a rg u m e n ts, c o u n se l f o r c o

d e fe n d a n t Bu rk s m a d e th e fo llo win g sta te m e n t:

Th e n e x t th in g th a t ha

p p e n s in th is in v e stig a tio n is J a r v is Gre e n

c a lls th e d e te c tiv e o n S e p te m b e r 2 7 th a n d te lls h im th a t he is in th e

7ja il c e ll with Jo h n n y M c Cle n d o n a n d th a t my c lie n t is t h e d r i v e r

b u t th e p olic e th in k it is h is g irlfrie n d

. I wo u ld h a ve lo v e d to c ro sse x a m in e Mr. Mc Cle n d o n o n th a t sta te m e n t, wh e th e r h e m a d e th a t

sta te m e n t, wh a t h e m e a n t b y th a t sta te m e n t, if h e sa id th a t

sta te m e n t a t a ll.

Tria l c o u n se l o b

je c te d, a rg u in g th a t Bu rk s’ a tto rn e y h a d c o m me n t e d o n

Mc Cle nd o n ’s rig h t to re m a in sile n t; h o we v e r, c o u n se l d id n o t m o v e fo r a

m istria l a t th is tim e

. At th e m o tio n fo r n e w tria l he a rin g, tria l c ou nse l te stifie d

th a t h e m a d e a ta c tic a l d e c isio n n o t to m o ve fo r a m istria l du rin g c lo sin g

a rg u m e n t. S pe c ific a ll y

, c o u n s e l re c a lle d th a t th e S ta te ’s k e y witn e ss, Ja rv is

Gre e n

, wa s in c u sto d y a t th e tim e

, a nd c o u n s e l d i d n o t wa nt to risk a le ss

e ffe c tiv e se c o nd c ro ss-e x a m in a tio n o f Gre e n if h e we re re le a se d fro m c u sto d y

p rio r to a n e w tria l.

Th o ug h th e tria l c o u rt fa ile d to m a k e sp e c ific fin d in g s o f fa c t with re sp e c t

to th is c la im

, it is e v id e n t fro m th e re c o rd th a t tria l c o u n se l’s stra te g ic d e c isio n

re g a rd in g a m istria l wa s n o t o b je c t i v e l y u nre a so n a

b le

. To p ro v e d e fic ie n t

p e rfo rm a n c e

, on e m

u st sh o w th a t h is a tto rn e y “ p e rfo rm e d a t tria l in a n

o b je c tiv e ly u n re a so n a

b le wa y c o n sid e rin g a ll th e c irc u m sta n c e s a n d in th e lig h t

o f p re v a ilin g p ro fe ssio n a l n o rm s.” Ro m e r v . S ta te , 2 9 3 Ga . 3 3 9 , 3 4 4 (3 ) (7 4 5

S E2 d 6 3 7 ) (2 0 1 3 ). “ A c ou rt c o n sid e rin g a c la im o f in e ffe c tiv e a ssista n c e m u st

8a

p p ly a ‘stro n g p re su m

p tio n ’ th a t c o u n se l’s re p re se n ta tio n wa s with in th e ‘wid e

ra n g e ’ o f re a so na

b le p ro fe ssio n a l a ssista n c e .” (Cita tio n o m itte d ). Ha rrin g to n

v

. Ric h te r, 5 6 2 U.S

. 86

, 1 0 4 (IV) (1 31 S Ct 7 7 0

, 1 78 LEd 2 d 6 2 4 ) (2 0 1 1 ). T o

o v e rc o m e th a t pre su m

p tio n

, Mc Cle n d on m

u st sh o w th a t no re a so n a

b le c o u n se l

wo u ld h a v e fa ile d to m o v e fo r a m istria l. S e e

, e .g

., Jo n e s v

. S ta te

, 29 2 Ga

. 5 9 3

(7 ) (d ) (7 4 0 S E2 d 14 7 ) (2 0 1 3 ); Ha rtsfie ld v

. S ta te

, 2 9 4 Ga

. 8 8 3

, 8 8 8 (3 ) (b ) (7 5 7

S E2 d 90 ) (2 0 1 4 ) ( “ T h e p ro p e r a sse ssm e n t is ‘a n in q u iry in to th e o b je c tiv e

re a so na b le n e ss o f c o u n se l’s p e rfo rm a n c e

, no t c o u n s el ’s su b je c tiv e sta te o f

m in d

. ’” (c itin g Ha rrin g to n

, 5 6 2 U.S

. a t 1 1 0 )). He r e

, Mc Cle nd on h a s fa ile d to

e sta b lish th a t tria l c o u n se l’s stra te gic d e c i s i o n n o t to m o v e fo r a m istria l wa s

d e fic ie n t p e rfo rm a n c e

. Ac c o rd in g ly

, h is in e ffe c tiv e n e ss c la im is with o u t m e rit.

3

. Mc Cle n d on fu rth e r a rg u e s th a t th e t r ia l c o u rt e rre d in de n y in g h is

m o tio n to se v e r h is tria l fro m th a t o f h is two c o

- d e f e n d a n ts. In n o n -d e a th

p e n a lty c a se s, “ a tria l c o u rt h a s th e d isc re tio n to gra n t o r d e ny a se v e ra n c e in a

jo in t tria l.” Ba lla rd v

. S ta te

, 2 9 7 Ga

. 2 4 8

, 2 5 5 (8 ) (7 73 S E2 d 2 54 ) (2 01 5 ). S e e

a lso OCGA § 1 7 -8 -4

. Th e th re e f a c t o r s a tria l c ou rt sh o u ld c o n sid e r wh e n

d e te rm in in g wh e th e r to g ra n t o r d e ny a m o tio n to se ve r a re :

91 ) wh e th e r th e nu m b e r o f d e fe nd a n ts will c o n fu se th e ju ry a s to th e

e v id e nc e a n d th e la w a

p plic a b l e to e a c h d e fe n d an t; 2 ) w h e th e r,

d e sp ite c a u tio n a ry in stru c tio n s fro m th e c o u rt, th e re is a d a ng e r th a t

e v id e nc e a d m issib le a g a in st on e d e fe n d a nt will be im p ro pe rly

c o n sid e re d a g a in st a n o th e r d e fe n d a nt; a n d 3 ) wh e th e r th e d e fe n se s

o f th e d ef e n d a n ts a re a n ta g o n istic to e a c h o th e r o r to e a c h o th e r’s

rig h ts o f d u e p ro c e ss.

Gre e n v

. S t a t e

, 2 7 4 Ga

. 6 8 6

, 6 8 7 -6 8 8 (2 ) (5 5 8 S E2 d 7 0 7 ) (2 0 0 2 ). “ It is

in c u m b e n t u p o n th e d e fe n d a n t wh o se e k s a se v e ra n c e t o s h o w c le arly th a t h e

will b e p re

ju d ic e d b y a jo in t tria l, a n d in th e a bse n c e o f su c h a sh owin g

, th e tria l

c o u rt’s d e n ia l o f a se v e ra n c e m o tio n will n o t b e d istu rb e d .” Id . a t 6 8 8

.

Mc Cle n d on h a s fa ile d m a k e t h e r e q u ire d sh o w in g o f p re ju d ic e

. F irst,

th e re is n o in d ic a tio n th a t th e ju ry c o n fu se d th e e v id e n c e o r th e la w a p p lic a b le

to Mc Cle n d o n a n d h is c o -d e fe n d a n t a s a ll th re e d e fe n d a nts we re la rg e ly c h a rg e d

with th e sa m e o ffe n se s th a t ste m m e d fro m th e sa m e e v id e n c e a n d fa c t p a tte rn

.

F u rth e r, th e ju ry w a s in stru c te d o n m e re a sso c ia tio n

, m e re p re se n c e

, a n d p a rtie s

to a c rim e a nd th e ju ry re tu rn e d a se pa ra te v e rd ic t fo r e a c h d e fe n d a n t p u rsu a n t

to th e tria l c o u rt’s in stru c tio n . Ne x t, c o n tra ry to Mc Cle nd o n ’s a sse rtio n s, it is

h ig h ly u n lik e ly th a t th e e v id e n c e a d m itt e d a g a in st h is c o -d e fe n da n ts wa s

im p ro p e rly c o n sid e re d a g a in s t h im

, e sp e c ia lly sin c e th e re wa s o v e rwh e lm in g

e v id e n c e th a t th e d e fe n d a n ts k n e w on e a n o th e r a n d a c te d in c o n c e rt to m u rd e r

10th e v ic tim

. F in a lly

, Mc Cle n d o n d o e s n ot arg ue

, no r d oe s th e re c o rd sh o w, th a t

t h e d e fe n se s o f th e c o -d e fe nd a n ts we re an ta g o n istic

. B a se d on th e fo re g o i n g

,

th e tria l c o u rt d id n o t a

bu se its d isc re tio n in d e n y in g Mc C l e n d o n ’ s m o tio n to

se v e r.

Ca se No . S 1 6 A0 7 00

4

. Bu rk s c o n te n d s th a t th e tria l c o u rt e rre d b y a dm ittin g t h e h e a r s a y

sta te m e n ts o f c o-d e fe n d a n t Mc C l e n d o n a t tria l in v io la tio n o f h is S ix th

A me n d m e n t rig ht to c on fro n ta tio n

. P rio r to tria l, Bu rk s m o ve d in lim in e to

p re v e n t Gre e n fro m te stify in g re g a rd in g h is ja ilh o u s e c o n v e rsa tio n with

Mc Cle nd o n

. T h e tria l c o u rt d e n ie d Bu rk s’ m o tio n

. Gre e n te stifie d a t tria l, a n d

Mc Cle nd o n d id n ot. Bu rk s n o w c la im s th a t th e a d m issio n o f M c C l e n d o n ’s

in c u lp a to ry sta te m e n ts wa s e rro r b e c a u se

, h e sa y s, th e S ta te fa ile d to sh o w th e

e x iste nc e o f a c o nsp ira c y a n d b e c a u se th e Sta te fa ile d to e sta b lish th e re q u ire d

in d ic ia o f re liab ility in v io la tio n o f th e Co n fro n ta tio n Cla u se

. We d isa g re e

.

A) Co nsp ira c

y Cla im

In h is p re -tria l m o tio n, Bu rk s re lie d u p o n fo rm e r OCGA § 2 4 -3 -5 2 2 to

2 F o rm e r O CGA § 2 4

- 3 -5 2 sta te s, in re le v a n t p a rt, a s fo llo w s: “ Th e

co n fes s i o n o f o n e jo i n t o ffen d er o r co n s p irat o r m ad e aft er t h e en t erp ri s e i s en d ed s h al l

11a rg u e th a t Mc Cle n d o n ’s ja ilh o u se sta te m e n ts w e re in a d m issib l e b e c a u se th e y

we re m a d e a fte r th e c rim in a l e n te rp rise h a d e n d e d

. Ho w e v e r

, B u r k s d id n o t

a rg u e e ith e r p rio r to or d u rin g tria l th a t th e sta te m e nts we re in a d m issib le b e c a use

a c o n sp ira c y d id n o t e x ist a t th e tim e th e y we re m a d e

, no r d id Bu rk s c ite to a n y

le g a l a u th o rity to su p p ort th is p o sitio n

. No w, o n a p p e a l, Bu rk s a rg u e s th a t th e

sta te m e n ts we re in a dm issib le b e c a u se th e S ta te fa ile d to p ro v e th e e x iste n c e o f

a c on sp ira c y p u rsu a n t to fo rm e r OCGA § 2 4 -3 -5 3

.

Be c a u se Bu rk s ra ise s a n issu e on a p pe a l th a t wa s no t p r e s e n t e d o r ru le d

u p o n b y th e tria l c o u rt, h is a rg u m e n t is n o t p re se rv e d fo r re v ie w b y th is Co u rt.

S e e Hig u e ra -He rn a n d e z v . S ta te

, 2 8 9 Ga

. 5 5 3

, 5 55 (2 ) (7 14 S E2 d 2 3 6) (2 0 1 1 )

(Cita tio n o m itte d .) (“ S ta n da rd p ra c tic e in Ge o rg ia h a s lo n g re q u ire d a

p a rty to

m a k e a n d o b ta in a ru lin g on a n o b je c tio n to e v id e nc e in th e tria l c ou rt, b e fo re o r

a s th e e v id e n c e is a d m itte d

, in o rd e r to p re se rv e th e o bje c tio n fo r a p p e a l, a n d

sta n d a rd p ra c tic e a lso a llo ws p a rtie s to ra ise on a p p e a l o n ly th e sa m e o b

je c tio n s

th a t we re p ro p e rly p re se rv e d b e lo w.” ). Mo re o v e r, prio r to tria l, Bu rk s a rg u e d

b e ad m i s si b l e o nl y ag ai ns t h im s el f.” B e cau s e t h i s co de s ect i o n was i n effect at t h e

t i m e of Ap p el l an t s ’ t ri al

, an d was rel i ed u po n b y Bu rk s in h i s p r e

- t r i al m o t i o n in

l i m i ne, we an al y ze h i s cl ai m u n d er t he fo rm er co d e s ect io n.

3 “ Aft er t he f

a c t o f a co n s p i racy i s p ro v ed

, t he decl arat i o n s b y o n e o f t h e

co n sp i rat o rs du ri n g t he pen d en cy o f t h e cri m i n al p ro ject s h al l b e ad m i s si b l e ag ai n s t

al l .”

12th a t th e sta te m e n ts we re in a d m issib le b e c a u se th e e n te rp rise h a d e n de d b e fo re

th e c o n v e rsa tio n to o k p la c e ; th is a ss e r t i o n ac k no w le d g e s th e e x iste n c e o f a

c o n sp ira c y a t th e tim e th e sta te m e n ts we re m a d e

. S e e F ra n k lin v

. S ta te

, 2 9 8 Ga

.

6 3 6

, 63 9 ( 2 ) (7 8 4 S E2 d 35 9) (2 0 1 6 ) (“ F or pu rp o se s o f th e [c o-c o n sp ira to r]

h e a rsa y e x c e p tio n

, a c o n sp ira c y is d e e m e d to e n d u re s o lo n g a s th e p a rtie s

th e re to a tte m

p t to c o n c e a l e ith e r th e c rim e itse lf o r th e id e n tity o f th e

p e rp e tra to rs.” ). S e e a l s o Y o u n g v

. S ta te

, 2 91 Ga

. 6 2 7 (3 ) (7 32 S E2 d 2 6 9 )

(2 0 1 2 ); Alle n v

. Sta te

, 2 8 8 G a

. 2 6 3 (4 ) (7 02 S E2 d 8 69 ) (2 0 1 0 ).

Co n se q u e n tia lly

, th is c la im is n o t p re se rv e d fo r a p p e lla te re vie w.

B) In d ic ia o

f Re lia b ility

Bu rk s a lso a rg u e s, a s h e d id b e lo w, th a t th e tria l c o u rt e rre d in a d m ittin g

Gre e n ’s h e a rsa y te stim o n y b e c a u se th e S ta te fa ile d to sh ow th e re q u ire d in d ic ia

o f re liab ility a s e sta blish e d in Co p e la n d v . S ta te

, 2 6 6 Ga

. 6 6 4 (4 6 9 S E2 d 6 7 2 )

(1 9 9 6 ), a n d Du tto n v

. E v a n s, 4 0 0 U

. S

. 7 4 ( 9 1 SCt 2 10

, 2 7 LE2 d 2 1 3 ) (1 9 7 0 ),

th e re fo re v io la tin g h is S ix th Am e n d me nt rig h t to c o n fro n ta tio n

. T he S ta te

,

h o we v e r, a rg u e s th a t, in lig h t o f t h e de c isio n b y th e U n ite d Sta te s Su p re m e

Co u r t i n Wh orto n v

. Bo c k tin g

, 5 4 9 U. S

. 4 06 (1 2 7 S Ct 1 1 7 3, 1 67 LE2 d 1 )

13(2 0 0 7 ), th e “ in d ic ia o f re liab ility ” te st e sta b lish e d in C o pe la n d is n o lo ng e r g o o d

la w. We a g re e with th e S ta te

.

As we e x p la in e d in c o -d e fe n d a n t F ra n k lin ’s a p p e a l, “ th e Du tto n pa ra d ig m

is n o lo n g e r a

p p lic a b le in lig h t o f Cra wfo rd v

. Wa sh in g to n

, 5 4 1 U.S

. 3 6

, 6 8 -6 9

(1 2 4 S C t 1 3 5 4

, 1 5 8 LE2 d 17 7) (2 0 0 4 ), wh ic h h e ld th a t th e Co n fro nta tio n Cla use

a p p lie s o n ly to o u t-o f-c o u rt sta te m e n ts th a t a re te s timo nia l in n a tu re .”

(Em p h a sis a d d e d .) F ra n k lin , 2 9 8 Ga . a t 6 4 0 . Ac c ord in g ly , ju st a s in F ra n k lin

,

we will a sse ss th e a lle g e d Co nfro n ta tio n Cla use v io la tio n p u rsu a n t to Cra wfo rd

a n d its p ro g e n y

.

In Cra wfo rd

, th e Un ite d S ta te s S u p re m e Co u rt o v e rtu rn e d th e “ in d ic ia o f

re liability ” te st a s la id o u t in Oh io v . Ro b e rts, 4 4 8 U. S . 5 6 (1 0 0 S Ct 2 5 3 1 , 6 5

LE2 d 5 97 ) (1 9 8 0 ), h o ld in g th a t a Co n fro n ta tio n Cla u se v io la tio n o c c u rs wh e n

a d e c la ra n t is u na v a ilable to b e c a lle d a s a witn e ss, wa s no t p re v io usly su b je c t

to c ro ss-e x a m in a tio n

, a nd wh e n th e sta te me n t s to be in tro du c e d a t tria l a re

“ te stim o n ia l” 4 in n a tu re

. S e e a lso Ja c kso n v

. S ta t e

, 2 9 1 G a

. 2 2

, 24 (2 ) (7 2 7

S E2 d 1 0 6 ) (2 0 1 2 ) (“ Th e C o n fro n ta tio n Cla u se im p o se s a n a

b so lu te b a r to

4 “ A s t at em en t i s t es t i m o n i al i f i t s p ri m ary p u rp o s e was t o es t ab l i s h ev i d en ce

t h at co u l d b e u s ed i n a fu tu re p ro s ecu t io n .” (Ci tat i on s o m i tt ed ). Fran k l i n, 2 9 8 Ga.

at 6 4 0

.

14a d m ittin g o u t-o f-c o u rt sta te m e nts in e v id e n c e wh e n th e y a re te stim o n ia l in

n a tu re

, an d wh e n th e d e fe nd a n t d o e s n o t h a v e a n o p p o rtu n ity to c ro ss-e x a m in e

th e d e c la ra n t.” ). In oth e r wo rd s, “ [u ] n d e r Ro b e rts, a n ou t-o f-c o urt

n o n te stim o n ia l sta te m e n t n o t su b je c t to prio r c ro ss-e x a m in a tio n c o u ld n o t b e

a d m itte d with o u t a ju d ic ia l d e te rm in a tio n re g a rd in g re liability .” Wh o rto n

, 5 4 9

U.S

. a t 4 2 0

. Ho w e v e r

, u n d e r Cra wfo rd

, “ th e Co n fro n ta tio n Cla u se h a s n o

a p p lic a tio n to su c h sta te m e n ts a n d th e re fo re p e rm its th e ir a d m issio n e v e n if th e y

la c k in d ic ia o f re liab ility .” W h o rto n

, 5 4 9 U.S

. a t 4 20

. T h u s, th e q u e stio n o f

wh e th e r h e a rsa y e v id e n c e v io la te s th e Co n fro n ta tio n Cla u se tu rn s, n ot o n i n d i c ia

o f re liab ility , b u t ra th e r o n wh e th e r th e h e a rsa y sta te m e nt is te stim on ia l.

Re ly in g o n Un ite d S ta te s S u p re m e Co u rt p re c e d e n t, th is Co u rt h a s h e ld

th a t sta te m e n ts p r o p e rly a d m itte d p u rsu a nt to th e c o -c o nsp ira to r h e a rsa y

e x c e p tio n d o n o t q u a lify a s “ te stim o n i a l ” sta te m e n ts wh ic h im p lic a te S ix th

Am e n dm e n t pro te c tio n s. S e e Mc Kin n e y v

. S ta te

, 2 8 1 Ga

. 9 2

, 9 5 (4 ) (6 3 5 S E2 d

1 5 3 ) (2 0 0 6 ) (“ S ta te m e n ts a d m issib le p u rsu a n t to th e h e a rsa y e x c e p tio n

p e rm ittin g th e use of sta te m e n t s m a d e in fu rth e ra n c e of a c o n sp ira c y a re n o t

‘te stim o n ia l’

. . . Ac c ord in g ly

, th e h o ld in g in Cra wfo rd is n o t a p plic a b le to th e

15a d m issio n o f th e sta te m e n ts o f th e c o -c o n sp ira to rs m a de d u rin g th e p e n d e n c y o f

th e c o n sp ira c y .” ) (c ita tio n s o m itte d ); Fa v o rs v

. S ta te

, 2 96 Ga

. 8 42 (2 ) (7 7 0 S E2 d

8 5 5 ) (2 01 5 ); Billin g s v . S ta te , 2 9 3 Ga . 9 9 (4 ) (7 4 5 S E2 d 5 8 3 ) (2 0 1 3 ).

He re

, th e sta te m e n ts m a d e b y Mc C le n d o n an d te stifie d to b y Gre e n we re

n o t te stim o n ia l a n d th e re fo re d id n o t v io la te th e C o n fro n ta tio n Cla use

. F u rth e r,

w e a g r e e with th e S ta te th a t th e “ in d ic ia o f re liab ility te st” e sta b lish e d b y th is

Co u rt in Co p e la n d is no lo n g e r g o o d la w. We th e re fo re d isa p p ro v e o f Co p e la n d

a n d its p ro g e n y in th is re g a rd

.

5

. Lik e Mc Cle n d o n

, Bu rk s a rg u e s th a t th e tria l c o u rt a b u se d its

d isc re tio n b y fa ilin g to se ve r h is tria l fro m h is c o -d e fe n d a n ts. F o r th e re a so n s

d i s c u sse d in S e c tio n 3

, su p ra

, we d isa g re e

. Co n se q u e ntly

, th is c la im h a s n o

m e rit.

S

e n te n c in g o f Bo th De fe n d a n ts

6

. F in a lly

, Bu rk s h a s a lle g e d t h at t h e t r i a l c o u r t e rre d d urin g se n te n c in g

b y m e rg in g h is two fe lo n y m u rd e r c o n v i ct i o n s in to h is m a lic e m u rd e r c h arg e

in ste a d o f v a c a tin g th e m

. Wh ile th e e v id e n c e wa s su ffic ie n t to su sta in Bu rk s’

c o n v i c t i o n s, we d o fin d e rro r in h is se n te n c e s, a s we ll a s Mc Cle n d o n ’s

se n te nc e s.

16As n o te d in fo o tn o te 1 , su p ra

, Bu rk s a n d Mc Cle n d o n we re fo u n d g u ilty

o f m a lic e m

u rd e r, fe lo n y m

u r d e r p r e dic a te d on a g g ra v a te d a ssa u lt, fe lo n y

m u rd e r p re d ic a te d o n p o sse ssio n o f a fire a rm b y a c o n v ic te d fe lo n, a g g ra v a te d

a ssa u lt, p o sse ssio n o f a fire a r m d u r in g th e c o m m issio n o f a c rim e

, a n d

p o sse ssio n of a fire a rm b y a c on v ic te d fe lo n

. Th e tria l c o u rt se n te n c e d b o th m e n

to life im p riso n m e n t fo r th e m a lic e m urd e r c o n v ic tio n

, fiv e y e a rs su sp e n d e d fo r

p o sse ssio n o f a fire a

rm d u rin g th e c o m m issio n o f a c rim e to ru n c o nse c u tiv e ly

to m a lic e m

u rd e r, a n d a n o th e r fiv e y e a rs su sp e n d e d fo r p o sse ssio n o f a fire a rm

b y a c o nv ic te d fe lo n to ru n c o n se c u tiv e ly to th e o th e r w e a p on s c h arg e

, fo r a to ta l

se n te nc e o f l i f

e p l u s te n y e a rs su sp e n de d

. Th e tria l c o urt th e n p urp o rte d ly

m e rg e d th e Ap p e lla n ts’ fe lo n y m u rd e r c o u n ts a n d a g g ra v a te d a ssa u lt c h a rg e s

in to th e ir re sp e c tiv e m a lic e m u rd e r c o n v ic tio n s. Ho we v e r, th e fe lo n y m u rd e r

c o u n ts d id n o t “m e rg e ” b u t we re v a c a te d b y o p e ra tio n of la w. S e e F a v o rs, 2 9 6

Ga

. a t 8 4 7 -8 4 8 (h o ld in g th a t fe lo n y mu r d e r ve rd ic ts d id n o t “ m e rg e ” in to a

m a lic e m u rd e r ve rd ic t, b u t we re in ste a d va c a t e d b y o p e ra tio n o f la w ); Hu rt v

.

S ta te

, 2 9 8 Ga

. 5 1 (7 7 9 S E2 d 31 3 ) (2 0 1 5 ). Ac c o rd in g ly

, we va c a te b o th Bu rk s’

a n d M c Cle n d o n’s fe lo ny m u r d e r co n v ic tio n s. We d o no te th a t th e tria l c o urt

17p ro p e rly m e rg e d b o th Ap p e lla n ts’ a g g ra v a te d a ssa u lt c ha rg e s in to th e ir m a lic e

m u rd e r c o n v ic tio n s. Se e F a v o rs, 2 9 6 G a

. a t 84 8; Hu le tt v

. S ta te

, 2 9 6 Ga

. 4 9 (2 )

(7 6 6 S E 2 d 1 ) (2 0 1 4 ).

Ju d g m e n ts a ffirm e d in p a rt a n d v a c a te d in p a rt. All th e Ju stic e s c o n c u r.

18