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

De c id e d : Ju n e 2 0

, 2 0 16

S 16 A0 16 6 . ALLABEN v . THE S T ATE.

HUNS T EIN, Ju stic e

.

On re tria l fo llo win g a re v e rsa l of h is o rig in a l c o n v ic tio n s, se e Alla b e n v

.

S ta te

, 2 9 4 Ga

. 3 1 5 (7 5 1 S E2 d 8 0 2 ) (2 0 1 3 ) (“ Alla be n I” ), 1 Ap p e lla n t De n n is

Alla b e n wa s c o n v ic te d of m a lic e m u rd e r in c o n n e c tio n w ith th e stra n g lin g d e a th

o f h is wife

, Ma

ure e n

, a n d h e no w a

p p e a ls h is c on v ic tio n o n n u m e ro u s g ro u n d s.

Th o u g h we c o n c lu d e th a t th e e v id e n c e wa s su ffic ie n t to su sta in h is c o n v ic tio n

,

we a g re e with Ap pe lla n t th a t th e tria l c o u rt fa ile d to p ro p e rly a p p ly th e ru le o f

c o m p le te n e ss a n d e rro n e o u sly d e n ie d Ap p e lla n t’s re q u e st to in stru c t th e ju ry o n

c e rta in le sse r-in c lu d e d o ffe n se s. Ac c o rd in g ly , we re v e rse th e ju d g m e n t o f th e

tria l c o u rt a nd re m a n d th e c a se fo r fu rth e r p ro c e e d in gs. 2

1 A l l ab en I w as l at er o verru l ed i n p art b y St at e v . Sp ri ng er, 2 9 7 Ga. 37 6 (7 7 4

SE2 d 1 0 6) (2 0 1 5).

2 In M ay 2 0 14

, a DeKal b Co u n t y g ran d j u ry in d i ct ed Ap pel l a n t f o r m al i ce

m u rd er an d fel o n y m

u rd er p red i cat ed o n ag g rav at ed as s au lt i n c o n n e c t i on wi t h t h e

s t ran gl i n g d eat h o f h i s wi fe. Fo l l ow i n g a w e e k-l o n g t ri al i n Au g u st 2 0 14

, a ju ry

ret u rn ed gu i l t y v erd i ct s on b o t h co u n t s

, an d t he t ri al co u rt s en t en ced Ap pel l an t t o l i feVie we d in a lig h t m o st fa v o ra b le to th e ju ry ’s v e rd ic t, th e e v id e n c e a t tria l

e sta b lish e d a s fo llo ws. In Ja n u a ry 2 0 1 0

, Ap p e lla nt kille d h is wife

. Th e re a fte r,

h e wra pp e d h e r b o d y in a p a c k in g bla n k e t and p la c e d it in th e b e d o f h is p ic k u p

tru c k; h e th e n u se d th a t tru c k to tra n sp o rt h is c h ild re n to V irg in ia

, th e h o m e sta te

o f h is b ro th e r a

n d siste r-in -l a w

. Du rin g th e trip

, Ap pe lla n t a d m itte d to h is

c h ild re n a n d la te r h is s i s t e r-in -la w th a t h e h a d kille d h is w ife

. Ac c o rd in g to

Ap p e lla n t’s siste r-in -la w, Ap p e lla n t a d m itte d th a t “ h e h a d a c lo th with e th e r o n

it, [wh ic h] h e p u t [] o v e r [th e v ic tim ’s] m ou th

, a n d th e c lo th we nt to o fa r d o wn

h e r th ro a t a n d c h o k e d [h e r] .” Th e siste r-in -la w fu rth e r te stifie d th a t Ap p e lla n t

sta te d th a t h e u se d th e e th e r “ so [th e v ic tim ] c o u ld g o to sle e p ” b e c a u se h e ju st

“ wa n te d to ta lk to h e r.” Afte r d ro p p in g o ff his c h ild re n in V irg in ia

, Ap p e lla n t

re tu rn e d to G e o rg ia a

n d p ro c e e d e d to th e ho m e o f Jo n Ke v in Cra n e

. On c e th e re

,

Ap p e lla n t sta te d th a t h e ne e d e d a n a tto rn e y

, a d m itte d th a t h is wife w a s d e a d in

th e b e d o f h is tru c k

, a n d

, e v e n tu a lly

, su rre n d e re d to a u th oritie s. Th e v ic tim ’s

i m p ri s o n m en t fo r m al i ce m

u rd er; t h e fel o n y m

u rd er v erd i ct was v acat ed b y op erat i o n

o f l a w. Ap p el l an t fi l ed a m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al o n Sep t em b er 1 6

, 2 0 1 4

, wh i ch h e

am en d ed o n M arch 26

, 2 0 1 5. Fo l lo wi n g t wo h eari ng s

, Ap p el la n t ’s m o t i o n was

d en ied o n J u l y 1 6

, 20 1 5

, an d h e fi led h i s no t i ce of ap peal o n Au g u s t 1 3

, 2 0 1 5

. Th i s

ap p eal was d o ck et ed t o t h e J an u ary 2 0 16 t erm o f t h i s Co u rt

, an d o ral arg u m en t was

h eard o n J an u ary

4

, 2 0 16

.

2b o d y

, c lo t h e d o n l y in a t-sh irt an d u n d e rwe a r, wa s fo u n d fro z e n in th e b e d o f

Ap p e lla n t’s tru c k

.

An a u to p sy re v e a le d th a t th e v ic tim wa s le g a lly in to x ic a te d

, th a t sh e h a d

a h ig h e r-th a n-th e ra

p e u tic le v e l o f Be n a d ry l in h e r sy ste m a t th e ti me o f d e a th

,

a n d th a t e th e r, a n a n e sth e tic

, wa s a lso fo u n d in he r sy ste m

. Ac c o rd in g to t h e

m e d ic a l e x a m in e r, th e v ic tim ’s c h in a nd n e c k a re a e v id e n c e d sig ns o f in ju ry

, a n d

t h e v i c t i m ’ s fa c e sh o we d in n u m e ra b le p e te c h ia l h e m o rrh a ge s, in d ic a tin g th a t th e

b lo o d flo w fro m th e h e a d wa s in te rru p te d

. Th e re wa s n o e v id e n c e th a t sh e h a d

c h o k e d on a fo re ig n o b

je c t, su c h a s a ra g

. F u rth e r, th o ug h th e v ic tim b o re

o b v io u s sig n s o f stra n g ula tio n, th e m e d ic a l e x a m in e r te stifie d th a t th e re we re n o

sig ns of a stru g g le

– i.e

. , n o n e o f th e v ic tim ’s n a ils we re b ro k e n

, sh e h a d n o

sc ra tc he s on h e r th ro a t, a n d sh e h a d no sk in u nd e r h e r n ai l s

. Ba se d o n th e

fo re g o in g

, th e m e dic a l e x a mi n e r o p in e d th a t th e v ic tim wa s p o ssib ly

in c a p a c ita te d prio r to h e r d e a th

.

Th e m e d ic a l e x a m in e r c o n c lu d e d th a t th e v ic tim wa s stra n g le d to d e a th

u sin g a “ c a ro tid sle e p e r h o ld

. ” Wh ile th e p re c ise m e d ic a l b a sis fo r th e v ic tim ’s

d e a th c o u ld h a v e b e e n c a u se d b y e ith e r j u g u la r v e in oc c lu sio n o r th e o v e r

stim u la tio n o f b a ro re c e p to rs in th e c aro tid a rte ry

– o r so m e c o m b in a tio n th e re o f

3– th e m e d ic a l e x a m in e r te stifie d th a t th e e x a c t m e c h a n ism o f th e vic tim ’s d e a th

wa s im m a te ria l to h is c on c lu sio n th a t sh e w a s stra n gle d

. He a lso a g re e d th a t

d e a th is a n e x p e c te d c o n se q u e n c e o f stra n g u la tio n

.

1

. Ap p e lla n t c o n te n d s th a t th e e v id e nc e p re se n te d a t tria l wa s in su ffic ie n t

to su p p o rt h is c o n v ic tio n

. Re ly in g o n te stim on y fro m th e m e d ic a l e x a m in e r th a t

a sle e p e r h o ld

, g e n e ra lly sp e a k in g

, is u n lik e ly to c a u se d e a th

, Ap p e lla n t a rg ue s

th a t th e S ta te fa ile d to e x c lu d e a ll re a so n a b le h y p oth e se s e x c e p t th a t o f h is g u ilt,

n a m el y

, t h a t h e u se d th e sle e p e r h o ld o n ly to su b d u e th e vic tim a n d d id n o t

in te nd to k ill h e r. Th is a rg u m e n t is with o u t m e rit.

As a n in itia l m a tte r, a

p p e lla te c o u rt d e c isio ns in th is S ta te su g g e st th a t th e

p ro se c u tio n is o n ly re q u ire d to e x c lu d e a ll re a so na b le h y p oth e se s e x c e p t th a t o f

g u ilt wh e re its c a se is ba se d e x c lu siv e ly o n c irc u m sta ntia l e v id e n c e

. S e e Da n ie ls

v

. Sta te

, 29 8 Ga

. 1 2 0

, 1 2 2 (1 ) (7 7 9 S E2 d 6 4 0 ) (2 0 15 )(“ [P ] u rsu a n t to b oth fo rm e r

OCGA § 2 4 -4 -6 . . . a

n d c u rre n t OCGA § 24 -1 4 -6

, in o rd e r to c o n v ic t Da n ie ls

b a se d so le ly u p o n c irc u m sta n tia l e v id e n c e

, th e fa c ts p r o v e n a t tria l h a d to b e

c o n siste n t with th e h y

p o th e sis of h i s g u i l t a n d e x c lu d e e v e ry o th e r re a so n a b le

4h y

p oth e si s

. ”)

. 3 S e e a lso S a in e v

. S ta te

, 1 70 Ga

. Ap p

. 6 1 0

, 6 1 1 (1 ) (3 1 7 S E2 d

6 5 0 ) (1 98 4 ) (“ [T] he stric tu re s o f [fo rm e r O CGA] § 2 4 -4 -6 a re a p p lic a b le o n ly

wh e n th e S ta te ’s c a se c o n sists so le ly o f c irc u m sta n tia l e v id e n c e .” ). He re th e re

wa s sig n ific a n t dire c t e v id e n c e

, in c lu d in g d e fe n d a n t’s n um e ro u s a dm issio n s,

th a t h e k ille d h is wife

. Se e S t u b b s v

. S ta te

, 2 6 5 Ga

. 8 8 3

, 8 85 (2 ) (4 63 S E2 d

6 8 6 ) (1 9 9 5 ) (“ D i r ec t e vid e n c e is th a t wh ic h is c o n siste n t with e ith e r th e

p r o p o s e d c o n c lu sio n or its o p p o site ; c irc u m sta n tia l e v id e nc e is th a t wh ic h is

c o n siste n t with b o th th e p ro po se d c o n c lu sio n a n d its o p p o site .” ) ( emp h a sis in

o rig in a l). To th e e x te n t th a t OCGA § 2 4 -1 4 -6 a p p lie s,

q u e stio n s a s to th e re a so n a b le ne ss o f h y

p o th e se s a re g e ne ra lly to b e

d e c id e d b y th e ju ry wh ic h h e a rd th e e v id e n c e a n d wh e re th e ju ry is

a u th o riz e d to f

i n d th a t th e e v id e n c e

, th o u g h c irc u m sta n tia l, wa s

su ffic ie nt to e x c lu d e e v e ry re a so n a b le h y p o th e sis sa v e th a t o f g u ilt,

th a t fin d in g will n o t b e d istu rb e d u n le ss th e v e rd ic t o f g u ilty is

in su p p o rta b le a s a

m a tte r o f la w.

Ro b b in s v . S ta te , 2 6 9 Ga

. 5 0 0, 5 0 1 (1 ) (4 99 S E2 d 3 2 3) (1 9 9 8 ).

Wh ile th e ju ry h e a rd te stim o n y fro m th e m e dic a l e x a m in e r th a t a sle e p e r

h o ld d o e s n o t u su a lly re su lt in d e a th

, th e m e d ic a l e x a m in e r wa s u ne q u iv o c a l th a t

3 Ap p el l an t was t ri ed aft er t h e effect i v e d at e o f Geo rg i a’ s n ew ev id en ce co de,

an d

, t h us , OCGA § 2 4 -1 4 -6 ap p l i es h ere.

5th e u se o f a sle e p e r h o ld o n a n in d iv id u a l m a y

– a n d in th is c a se d id

– re su lt in

d e a th

. Th e m e re fa c t th a t th e ju ry h e ard te stim o n y th a t a sle e p e r h old do e s n o t

u su a lly re su lt in d e a th d id n o t p re v e n t th e ju ry fro m c o n c lu d in g th a t Ap p e lla n t

u tiliz e d th is m a n e u v e r w ith in te n t to e ffe c tu a te his wife ’s de a th

. Mo re o v e r, th e

ju ry h e a rd e v id e n c e th a t th e v ic tim : wa s o n ly p a rtia lly c lo th e d ; sh o we d n o sig n s

o f ha v in g d e fe n d e d h e rse lf; a n d wa s a ffe c te d b y su b s t an c e s th a t c o u ld h a v e

re n d e re d h e r in c a

p a c ita te d p rio r to h e r d e a th

. Th e ju ry a lso h e a rd te stim o n y th a t

Ap p e lla n t u tiliz e d a sle e p e r h o ld lo n g e no ug h t o k i l l th e v ic tim an d le a v e

in n u m e ra b le h e m o rrh a g e s o n h e r fa c e

.

Ac c o rd in g ly

, th e e v id e n c e wa s su ffic ie n t to e n a ble a ra tio n a l trie r o f fa c t

to fin d A p p e l l a n t g u ilty b e y o n d a re a so n a b le do u b t o f m a lic e m

u rd e r. S e e

Ja c k so n v . Virg in ia

, 4 4 3 U. S . 3 0 7 (9 9 S Ct 2 78 1, 6 1 LEd 2 d 5 60 ) (1 9 7 9 ).

2

. Du rin g th e S ta te ’s c a se -in -c h ie f, Cra n e te stifie d o n d ire c t e x a m in a tio n

c o n c e rn in g v a

rio u s p o rtio n s o f h is e x te n siv e p o s t

- in c id e n t c o n v e rsa tio n with

Ap p e lla n t. Nam e ly , Cra

n e te stifie d th a t Ap p e lla n t u n e xp e c te d lya rriv e d a t h is

h o u se in th e e a rly m o rn in g h o u rs o f Ja n u a ry 5, 2 0 1 0

, an d c la im e d to n e e d a n

a tto rn e y b e c a

u se h e h a d his d e a d wife in th e b e d of h is tru c k. Du rin g c ro sse x a m in a tio n

, h o w e v e r, th e tria l c o u rt p ro h ib ite d th e d e fe n se fro m e lic itin g

6te stim o n y f

r o m C ra n e th a t, du rin g th is le n g th y c o n v e rsa tio n, A p p e lla n t sta te d

t h a t h i s w ife h a d be e n u n fa ith fu l a n d “ th a t he d id n ’t m e a n fo r [h e r d e a t h ] t o

h a p p e n

, th a t h e lo v e d h e r so m u c h a n d [h e r d e a th ] wa s n o t w h a t h e wa n te d .”

Ap p e lla n t a rg ue s o n a

p p e a l, a s h e did b e lo w, th a t th is te stim o n y wa s a d m issib le

u n d e r th e ru le o f c o m

p le te n e ss. We a g re e

.

“ Wh e n a n a d m issio n is g iv e n in e v id e n c e b y o n e p a rty

, it sh a ll b e th e rig h t

o f th e o th e r p a rty to h a v e th e w h o le a d m issio n a n d a ll th e c o nv e rsa tio n

c o n n e c te d th e re with a d m itte d in to e v id e n c e .” OCGA § 2 4 -8 -8 2 2

. Th is “ ru le o f

c o m p le te n e ss” is a “ u n iv e rsa l ru le

, [a p p lic a b le ] in b o th c iv il a n d c rim in a l c a se s,

th a t, if p a rt of a c o n v e rsa tio n is in tro d u c e d

, a ll th a t is sa id i n t h e s a me

c o n v e rsa tio n wh ic h is re le v a n t to th e issu e sh o u ld b e a dm itte d .” We st v

. S ta te

,

2 0 0 Ga . 5 66 , 5 6 9 (1 ) (3 7 S E2 d 7 9 9 ) (1 9 4 6 ). 4 With re sp e c t to c rim in a l c a se s,

[w] h e re a p a rt o f a c o n v e rsa tio n

, wh ic h a m o u n ts to an in c rim in a to ry

a d m issio n

, is a dm itte d in e v id e n c e , it is th e rig ht o f th e a c c use d to

b rin g o u t o th e r p o rtio n s o f th e sa m e c on v e rsa tio n

, e v e n th o u g h it is

4 Be c a u se Ap pe lla n t’s tria l wa s h e ld a fte r Ja n u a ry 1

, 2 0 1 3

, Ge o rg ia ’s n e w

Ev id e nc e Co d e is a

p p lic a b le

. S e e Ga

. L

. 2 0 1 1

, p

. 9 9 § 1

. We n o te

, ho we ve r,

th a t th e “ ru le o f c o m

p le te n e ss” wa s c a rrie d fo rwa rd in to th e n e w e v id e nc e c o d e

with ou t c h a n g e , id . a t p . 1 3 3 § 2 , an d o u r d e c isio n s in te rp re tin g th a t p ro v isio n

r e ma i n g o o d la w. S e e Bra d sh a w v

. S ta te

, 2 9 6 G a

. 6 5 0 (2 ) (7 6 9 S E2 d 8 9 2 )

(2 0 1 5 ).

7se lf-se rv in g in its n a tu re

, o r e x c ulp a to ry

, in th a t it ju stifie s, e x c use s,

o r m itig a te s th e a c t.

Id . a t 5 6 9. Ho we v e r, OCGA § 2 4 -8 -8 22 “ d oe s n o t m a k e a d m issib le p a rts o f a

sta te m e n t th a t a re irre le v a n t t o t h e c a se a n d to th e p arts o f th e sta te m e n t

in tro d u c e d in to e v id e n c e by th e o p p o sin g pa rty .” We stb ro o k v

. S ta te

, 2 9 1 Ga

.

6 0

, 62 (2 ) (7 2 7 S E2 d 4 7 3 ) (2 0 1 2 ). We re v ie w th e tria l c ou rt’s ru li n g h e r e fo r

a b u se o f d isc re tio n

. S e e P h illip s v

. S ta te

, 2 8 9 Ga

. A p p

. 2 8 1 (2 ) (6 5 6 S E2 d 9 0 5 )

(2 0 0 8 ).

Th e tria l c o u rt c o n c lu d e d th a t th e e x c lu d e d p ortio n o f C ra n e ’s

c o n v e rsa tio n with Ap p e lla n t “ wa s n o t n e c e ssa ry to e x p la in ” Cra n e ’s te stim o n y

o n d i r e c t e x a m in a tio n. Th is c o n c lu sio n is pro b le m a tic fo r two re a so n s. F irst,

th e tria l c o u rt’s ru lin g wa s b a se d la rg e ly o n th e na rro w te stim o ny e lic ite d b y th e

S ta te o n d ire c t e x a mi n a tio n

, ra th e r th a n th e su b sta n c e o f Cra n e ’s e n tire

c o n v e rsa tio n w ith Ap pe lla n t. 5 S e c on d, th e S ta te ’s e xa m in a tio n o f Cra ne wa s n o t

p a rtic u la rly n a

rro w; in fa c t, th e S ta te b ro a dly a sk e d Cra n e wh e th e r “ Ap p e lla n t

5 Un d er t h i s reas o n i n g

, a p art y co u l d al way s av o i d t h e ap p l i c at i on o f OCGA

§ 2 4 -8 -8 2 2 b y craft i n g i ts q u es t i o n i n g i n s u ch a way as to el i ci t o n l y cert ai n fav o rab l e

p o rt i on s o f a co n v ers at i o n an d t h en arg u e th at o t h er p o rt i o n s are n o t rel ev an t t o t h e

wi t n es s 's n arro wl y

fo cu sed t es ti m o n y

.

8sa [id ] a n

y th in g a b o u t Ma u re e n

, h is wife ,” a n d q u e stio n e d Cra ne a t le n g th a b o u t

h is c o n v e rsa tio n with Ap pe lla n t.

Th e d e fe n s e ’ s p r o f

fe r o f Cra n e ’s e x p e c te d te stim o n y d e m on stra te s th a t th e

re m a in d e r o f th e c o n v e rsa tio n b e twe e n th e two m e n wa s, in fa c t, re le v a n t to b o th

Cra n e ’s d ire c t te stim o n y a n d th e c h a rg e s fo r wh ic h Ap p e lla n t wa s o n tria l.

S p e c ific a lly , it e x p la in e d b o th th e im p e tu s fo r Ap p e lla n t’s a c tio n s to wa rd s h is

wife a s we ll a s h is in te nt a t th e tim e o f t h e i n c i d e n t

. S e e OCGA § 24 -4 -4 0 1

(“ [T] he te rm ‘re le v a n t e v id e n c e ’ m e a n s e vid e n c e h a v in g a ny te n d e n c y to m a k e

th e e xiste n c e of a n y fa c t th a t is o f c o n se q u e n c e to th e d e te rm in a tio n o f th e a c tio n

m o re p r o b a b l e o r le ss p ro b a b le th a n it wo u ld be with o u t th e e v id e n c e .” ).

In d e e d

, Ap p e lla n t’s in te n t with re sp e c t to th e u se o f th e e th e r an d sle e p e r h o ld

– wh e th e r h e in te n d e d to k il l h i s w ife o r m e re ly su b du e h e r

– wa s th e c e n tra l,

a n d p e rh a p s o nly d isp u te d issu e a t tria l, a n d e v id e n c e o n th a t p o in t wa s sp a rse

.

F u rth e r, th e e x c lu d e d po rtio n o f Cra n e ’s te stim o ny su p p o rte d Ap p e lla n t’s

d e fe n se th a t th e v ic tim ’s d e a th w a s u n in te n tio n a l. In lig h t o f t h e sig n ific a n t

q u e stio n o f in te nt h e re

, th e e x c lu sio n o f th is te stim o n y wa s n o t h a rm le ss th o u g h

it re pre se n te d o n ly a sm a ll p o rtio n of C ra n e ’s te stim o n y

. Ac c o rd in g ly

, th e tria l

c o u rt a b u se d its d isc re tio n wh e n it e x c lu d e d Cra n e ’s te stim o n y

, an d th is ru lin g

9c o n stitu te s re v e rsib le e rro r. 6

3 . Th o u g h we h a v e re v e rse d Ap p e lla n t’s m u rd e r c on vic tio n, th e re a re a

n u m be r o f re m a in in g e n u m e ra tio n s o f e rro r th a t a re lik e ly to o c c u r on re tria l;

th e re fo re , we w ill a dd re ss th e m

.

(a ) Ap p e lla n t c o n te n d s th a t th e tria l c o u rt e rre d b y re fu sin g to in stru c t th e

ju ry o n sim

p le b a tte ry

, se e OCGA § 1 6 -5 -2 3 (a ), a n d re c kle ss c o n d u c t, se e § 1 6

-

5 -6 0 (b ), a s le sse r-in c lu de d o ffe n se s o f m a lic e m urd e r. We a g re e

.

“ A writte n re q u e st to c h a rg e a le sse r in c lu d e d o ffe n se m u st a lwa y s b e

g iv e n if th e re is a n y e v id e n c e th a t th e de fe n d a n t is g uilty of th e le sse r in c lu d e d

o ffe n se .” (Cita tio n a n d p u nc tu a tio n o m itte d ). Ro g e rs v. S ta te

, 2 8 9 Ga

. 6 7 5

, 6 7 7

(2 ) (7 1 5 S E2 d 6 8) (2 0 1 1 ). Th e c rim e o f sim p le b a tte ry is a c c o m

p lish e d wh e n

a n in d iv id u a l “ [ i ]n te n tio n a lly m a k e s ph y sic a l c o n ta c t o f a n in su ltin g o r

p ro v o k in g n a tu re with th e p e rso n of an o th e r” o r “ [i] nte n tio n a lly c a u se s p h y sic a l

h a rm to a n o th e r.” OCGA § 1 6 -5 -2 3 (a ). With re sp e c t to th e o ffe n se o f re c k le ss

6 W i t h t h e rev ers al o f A p pel l an t ’ s m al i ce m u rd er co n vi ct i o n

, t h e fel o ny m u rd er

co u nt i s n o l o n g er v acat ed b y o p erat io n o f l aw. Ho wev er, b ecau s e t h e fel o n y m u rd er

co u nt h ere was p rem i s ed o n ag g rav at ed as s au l t wi t h i n ten t t o i n j u r e

, s ee G u y s e v.

St at e, 2 8 6 Ga. 57 4 (2 ) (6 9 0 SE2 d 4 0 6 ) (2 0 1 0 ), t h at v erd i ct m u s t al s o b e rev ers ed d u e

t o t he ex cl ud ed t es t i m on y

.

1 0c o n d u c t,

[a ] p e rso n wh o c a

u se s b o d ily h a rm to o r e n da n g e rs th e b o d ily sa fe ty

o f a n o th e r p e rso n b y c o n sc io u sly d isre g a rd i n g a su b sta n tia l a n d

u n ju stifia b le risk th a t h is a c t o r o missio n will c a u se h arm o r

e n d a n g e r th e sa fe ty of th e o th e r p e rso n a n d th e d isre g a rd c on stitu te s

a g ro ss d e v ia tio n fr o m th e sta n d a rd o f c a re wh ic h a re a so na b le

p e rso n wo uld e x e rc ise in th e situ a tio n is g uilty o f a m isd e m e a n or.

OCGA § 1 6 -5 -6 0 (b ). He re

, th e m e d ic a l e x a m in e r te stifie d th a t th e p u rp o se o f

a sle e p e r h o ld is to su b d u e a n in div id ua l, y e t th e risk of d e a th a sso c ia te d with

it is sig nific a

n t e n o u g h th a t ma n y p o lic e ju risd ic tio n s a ro u n d th e n a tio n h a v e

p ro h ib ite d su c h a ma n eu v e r. Th e ju ry a lso he a rd e vid e n c e th a t, in a d d itio n to

h e r d e a th

, th e v ic tim wa s le ft with b ru ise s a n d h e m o rrh a g e s on h e r n e c k a n d

fa c e

. We fin d th is e v id e n c e t o b e s u ffic ie n t to wa rra nt in stru c tio n s o n b o th

sim p le b a tte ry a n d re c k le ss c o n d u c t a s le sse r-in c lu d e d offe n se s o f m a lic e

m u rd e r.

(b ) Ap p e lla n t a lso c o n te n d s th a t th e tria l c o u rt e rre d in fa ilin g to in stru c t

th e ju ry on sim

p le a ssa ult, se e OCGA § 1 6 -5 -2 0

, a n d re c k le ss c on d u c t a s le sse rin c lu de d o ffe nse s o f fe lo n y m u rd e r. F o r th e re a so n s d isc u sse d a b o v e

, we a gre e

th a t th e ju ry sh ou ld h a v e b e e n i n s tru c te d o n re c k le ss c on du c t a s a le sse rin c lu de d o ffe n se o f fe lo n y m u rd e r. S e e Re in h a rd t v

. S ta te

, 26 3 Ga

. 1 13

, 1 1 3

-

1 11 1 4 (2 ) (4 2 8 S E2 d 3 3 3 ) (1 9 9 3 ), o v e rru le d o n o th e r g ro u n d s, Ve rg a ra v. S ta te

,

2 8 3 G a

. 1 7 5

, 1 7 7 (6 5 7 S E 2 d 8 6 3 ) (2 0 0 8 ). We a lso a gre e th a t A p p e l la n t wa s

e n title d to a n in stru c tio n o n sim p le a ssa u lt.

S im p le a ssa u lt is a c c o m

p lish e d wh e n a n in d iv id u a l “ a tte m pts to c o m m it

a vio le n t in

ju ry t o th e p e rso n of a n o th e r” or “ c o m m its a n a c t wh ic h p la c e s

a n o th e r in re a so n a

b le a p p re h e n sio n o f im m e d ia te ly re c e iv in g a v io le n t in ju ry .”

OCGA § 1 6 -5 -2 0 (a ) (1 ) a nd (2 ). Th e e v id e n c e a t tria l sh o we d th a t Ap p e lla n t

u tiliz e d th e sle e p e r ho ld to e ith e r su b d u e o r k ill h is wife ; e ith e r wa y

, th e re wa s

e v id e n c e a

u th o riz in g t h e ju ry to c o n sid e r w h e th e r Ap p e lla n t “a tte m p te d to

c o m m it a v io le n t in

ju ry ” o n h is wife o r p la c e d h e r “ in re a so n a b le a p p re h e n sio n

o f im m e d ia te ly re c e iv in g a vio le n t in ju ry .” Ac c o rd in g ly

, Ap p e lla n t wa s e n title d

to a n in stru c tio n o n OCGA § 1 6 -5 -2 0 (a ) (1 ) a n d (2 ).

(c ) Ap p e lla nt a lso c o n te n d s th a t th e t r i a l co u rt e rre d wh e n it re fu se d to

in stru c t th e ju ry on in v o lu n t a r y ma n s la u g h te r o n th e g ro u nd s th a t h e wa s

p re v io u sly a c qu itte d o f th a t o ffe n se in h is first tria l. We a g re e

.

“ No p e rso n sh a ll b e p u t in je o pa rd y o f life o r lib e rty m o re th a n o n c e fo r

th e sa m e o ffe n se e x c e p t wh e n a n e w tria l h a s b e e n g ra n te d a fte r c on vic tio n o r

i n c ase o f m istria l.” Ga

. Co nst. o f 1 9 8 3

, Art. I, Se c

. I, P a r. X VIII. S e e a l s o

1 2Willia m s v

. S ta te

, 2 8 8 Ga

. 7

, 8 (2 ) (7 0 0 S E2 d 5 6 4 ) (2 0 1 0 ) (“ [A] c o n v ic tio n o r

v e rd ic t o f a c q u itta l is a n a b so lu te ba r to a su b se q u e nt p ro se c u tio n fo r th e sa m e

o ffe n se .” ). Do u b le je op a rd y p ro te c tio n s, h o we v e r, m ay b e wa iv e d

. S e e Un ite d

S ta te s v

. Willia m s, 5 2 7 F 3 d 1 2 35 (II) (A) (1 1 th Cir. 2 0 0 8 ). Se e a lso Ho o k s v

.

S ta te

, 1 3 8 G a

. A p p

. 53 9

, 5 3 9 (3 ) (2 2 6 S E2 d 7 6 5 ) (1 9 76 ) (“ A p le a o f fo rm e r

je o p ard y is a p e rso n a l p riv ile g e a n d m a y b e wa iv e d .” ) He r e

, Ap p e lla n t

a ffirm a tiv e ly wa iv e d h is rig h t to c la im fo rm e r je o p a rd y a n d

, th u s, th e tria l c o urt

e rre d wh e n it c on c lu d e d th a t d o u b le je o p a rd y b a rre d in v olu nta ry m a nsla u g h te r

a s a le sse r-in c lu d e d o ffe n se in Ap p e lla n t’s se c o n d tria l. Fu rth e r, th e e v id e n c e

a s d isc u sse d a

b o ve wa s su ffic ie n t to a

u th o riz e th e ju ry to c o n sid e r in v o lu n ta ry

m a n sla u g h te r a s a

le sse r-in c lu d e d o ffe nse . S e e OCGA § 1 6-5 -3 (a ) a n d (b ).

(d ) Ap p e lla n t a sse rts th a t th e tria l c o u rt e rre d in fa ilin g to in stru c t th e ju ry

o n a d e fin itio n o f th e te rm “ a b a n do ne d a n d m a lig n an t h e a rt.” S e e O CGA § 1 6

-

5 -1 (b ). S pe c ific a lly , Ap p e lla n t re q u e ste d th e fo llo w in g c ha rg e :

Ma lic e c a n b e im

p lie d fro m re c k le ss d isre g a rd fo r h u m a n li f e. To

i mp ly th e m a lic e e le m e n t of m a lic e m u rd e r, y ou m

u st fin d

e x tre m e ly n e g lig e n t c o n d u c t, wh ic h c re a te s wh a t a re a so n a b le m a n

wo u ld re a liz e to b e n o t o n ly an u n ju stifia b le b u t a lso a v e ry h ig h

d e g re e o f risk o f d e a th o r se rio u s b o d ily in ju ry to a n o th e r.

We fin d n o e rro r.

1 3“ In re v ie win g a c h a lle n g e to th e tria l c o u rt’s ju ry in stru c tio n, we vie w th e

c h a rg e a s a wh o le to d e te rm in e wh e th e r th e ju ry wa s fu lly a n d fa irly in stru c te d

o n th e la w o f th e c a se .” (Cita tio n s o m itte d .) S h iv e rs v

. Sta te

, 28 6 Ga

. 4 2 2

, 4 2 3

(2 ) (6 8 8 S E2 d 6 2 2 ) (2 01 0 ). “ A tria l c o u rt’s re fu sa l to g iv e a ju ry c h a rg e in th e

e x a c t la n g u a g e re q u e ste d b y a d e fe n d an t is n o t e rro r if th e c h a rg e g iv e n b y th e

tria l c o urt su b sta n tia lly c o v e rs th e a p p lic a b le p rin c ip le s o f la w.” Ke ita v

. S ta te

,

2 8 5 Ga

. 7 6 7

, 7 7 1 (4 ) (6 8 4 S E2 d 2 3 3 ) (2 0 0 9 ). Wh ile th e tria l c o u rt did n o t use

Ap p e lla n t’s re q u e ste d in stru c tio n

, th e c o u rt d id in stru c t th e ju r y o n m u rd e r,

m a lic e

, a n d m o tiv e u sin g th e pa tte rn in stru c tio n s, wh ic h su b sta n tia lly a d d re sse d

th e sa m e le g a l p rin c ip le

. We h a v e p re v io u sly re c o g n iz e d th a t th es e p a tte rn

in stru c tio n s

– wh ic h d o n o t in c lu d e a d e fin itio n o f th e ph ra se “ a b a n do n e d a n d

m a lig n a n t h e a rt”

– a c c u ra te ly sta te th e la w. Se e Du k e s v

. S ta te

, 2 90 Ga

. 4 8 6 (2 )

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

, th e tria l c o u rt d id n o t e rr w h e n it re fu se d

to g iv e th e re qu e ste d in stru c tio n

. 7

(e ) Ap pe lla n t fa u lts th e tria l c o urt fo r fa ilin g to in stru c t th e ju ry o n a

d e fin itio n o f th e wo rd “ lik e ly ” a s u se d in OCGA § 1 6-5 -2 1 ( b ) ( 2 )

. W e

7 W e do n o t ad d res s Ap p el l an t ’ s cl ai m reg ard i n g t h e ju ry ’ s s u b s eq u en t

q u es ti o n , b ecau se s u ch a q u es t i o n m ay n o t b e p o sed o n ret ri al

.

1 4d isa g re e

. “ A ‘tria l c o u rt is n o t re q u ire d to in stru c t on th e m e a n in g o f a ll wo rd s

u se d in th e c h a r g e

, p a rtic u la rly wo rd s of c o m m o n u n d e rsta n d in g .’” (Cita tio n s

o m itte d .) Mc Kib b e n s v

. S ta te

, 2 9 3 Ga

. 8 4 3

, 85 4 (7 ) (7 5 0 S E 2 d 3 1 4 ) (2 0 1 3 ).

We a g re e with th e tria l c o urt th a t “ lik e ly ” is a wo rd o f c o m m o n u n d e rsta n d in g

,

a n d , th u s, th e tria l c o u rt wa s n o t re q u ire d to d e fin e th e wo rd fo r th e ju ry

.

(f) F in a lly

, Ap p e lla n t c o n te n d s th a t th e tria l c o u rt e rro n e ou sly a d m itte d

two p o st-in c isio n a

u to p sy p h o to s e v e n th ou gh th e m e d ic a l e x a m in e r sta te d th a t

e ith e r p h o to wo u ld “su ffic ie n tly ” e x p la in th e v ic tim ’s in ju ry

. Th is a rg u m e n t is

with ou t m e rit.

Wh ile th e m e d ic a l e x a m in e r sta te d th a t e ith e r p h o to wo u ld b e “ su ffic ie n t”

to e x p la in th e v ic tim ’s in

ju rie s to th e ju ry

, h e a lso e x p la in e d th a t th e two p h o to s

p ro v id e d d iffe re n t p e rsp e c tiv e s of th e in ju ry

. As th e m e dic a l e x a m in e r te stifie d

a t tria l, o n e p h o to p ro v id e d a n “ o v e rv ie w” o f th e a n a to m ic a l stru c tu re a t issu e

,

wh ile th e o th e r, wh ic h is a c lo se u p

, d e ta ils in j u r ie s disc o v e re d d u rin g th e

a u to psy

. Th e m e d ic a l e x a m in e r u tiliz e d b o th p h o to s to d isc u ss th e n a tu re o f th e

v ic tim ’s in

ju rie s, wh ic h we re th e su b je c t o f in te n se a n d le n g th y q u e stio n in g b y

b o th p a rtie s. Co nse q u e n tly

, th e p h o to s we re re le v a n t u n d e r OCGA § 2 4 -4 -4 0 1

,

a n d we re n o t m o re p re

ju dic ia l th a n p ro b a tiv e

. S e e OCGA § 2 4

- 4

- 4 0 3

.

1 5Ac c o rd in g ly

, tria l c o u rt’s d e c isio n to a d m it b oth p ho to s wa s so u n d

. S e e Da ile y

v

. S ta te

, 2 9 7 Ga . 4 4 2

, 4 4 4 (7 7 4 S E2 d 6 7 2 ) (2 0 1 5 ) (a ffirm in g th e a d m issio n o f

a u to psy p h o to s o ve r a O CGA § 2 4 -4 -4 0 3 ob je c tio n

, e x pla in in g th a t su c h p h o to s

a re re le va nt wh e n u se d b y th e m e d ic a l e x a m in e r to sh o w in te rn a l in ju rie s th a t

c a u se d th e vic tim ’s d e a th

, e v e n i f t h e de fe nd an t d id n o t d isp u te th e c a u se o f

d e a th ).

F o r t h e fo re g o in g re a so n s, Ap pe lla n t’s c on vic tio n fo r m a lic e m u rd e r is

re v e rse d

, a n d th is c a se is re m a n d e d fo r p ro c e e d in g s c o n siste n t with th is o p in io n

.

Ju d g m e n t re ve rse d a n d c a se re m a n de d . All th e Ju stic e s c on c u r.

1 6