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

De c id e d: Ma y 2 3 , 2 0 16

S 16 A 0 0 0 3 . CHELEY v . THE S TATE.

B L ACKW EL L , Ju stic e

.

S h a n q u la la n d a li Ch e le y wa s trie d b y a Ch a th a m Co u n ty ju ry

, an d h e wa s

c o n v ic te d o f m

u rd e r a n d o th e r c rim e s in c o n n e c tio n with th e k illin g o f Am b e r

De Lo a c h

. F ollo win g th e d e n ia l o f h is m o tio n f o r n ew tria l, Ch e le y a

p p e a ls,

c o n te n d in g th a t th e tria l c o u rt e rre d w h e n it de n ie d h is m o tio n to su p p re ss

sta te m e n ts th a t h e g a v e to la w e n fo rc e m e nt offic e rs, wh e n it d e n ie d h is m o tio n

to e x c lu d e o r re d a c t a tria l e x h ib it, wh e n it lim ite d h is c ro ss-e x a m in a tio n o f two

ja ilh ou se in fo rm a n ts wh o te stifie d fo r th e p ro se c u tio n

, a n d wh e n it fa ile d to

re b u ke th e p ro se c utin g a tto rn e y fo r a n a l le ge d ly im p ro p e r c lo sin g a rg u m e n t.

Up o n o ur re v ie w o f th e re c o rd a nd b rie fs, we se e n o e rro r, a n d we a ffirm

. 1

1 Cheley killed DeLoach on Septem ber 30, 2012. Cheley was i ndicted on January 9,

2013, reindicted on May

20, 2013, and ultim a tely

charged with m alice m

urder, two counts

of f elony m u rder (prem ised o n rape and aggravated assault), rape, aggravated assault, arson,

and possession of

cocaine. His trial began on Decem ber 16, 2013, and the j ury returned its

verdict f our day s later, f

i nding Cheley g u i l t y of all t he c rim es with w hich he was charged,

except rape and f

elony m urder prem ised on rape. Cheley was sentenced to i m p risonm ent f

or

lif e f or m alice m

u r d e r and im

prisonm ent f

or a consecutive term of f if teen y ears f

or1

. 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 t h e S av a n n a h F ire De p a rtm e n t re sp o n d e d a ro u n d 6 :4 5 o n th e m o rn in g o f

S e p te m b e r 3 0

, 2 0 1 2 to a re p o rt o f a v e h ic le e ng ulfe d in fla m e s. Th e y fo u n d

De Lo a c h ’s c a r, w h ic h h a d b e e n se t a fire in te ntio n a lly

, usin g g a so lin e a s a n

a c c e le ra nt. In sid e th e tru n k o f th e c a r, fire fig h te rs fo u n d D e Lo a c h ’s b o d y

. Th e

m e d ic a l e xa m in e r la te r d e te rm in e d th a t De Lo a c h h a d b e e n se x ua lly a ssa u lte d

a n d stra n g le d to d e a th

, p rio r to h e r b o d y b e i n g p u t i n to th e tru nk

. At a ga s

sta tio n n e a r th e lo c a tio n a t wh ic h D e Lo a c h ’s c a r a n d b o dy we re f o u n d

,

in v e stig a to rs disc o v e re d a v id e o su rv e illa n c e re c o rd in g

, w h ic h d e p ic te d a m a n

a rriv in g a t th e ga s sta tio n o n fo ot a n d p u rc h a sin g a lig h te r a n d a c o n ta in e r o f

g a so lin e , a ll a ro u n d 6 :1 5 o n th e m o rn in g o f S e p te m b e r 3 0

.

Th a t vid e o re c o r d i n g le d th e in v e stig a to rs to Ch e le y

, wh o m th e y

in te rv ie we d o n Oc to b e r 4. C h e le y a g re e d to g iv e a sta te m e n t to th e in v e stig a to rs,

possession of c ocaine. At f irst, Cheley also w as sentenced f or arson, but the t rial court later

vacated that conviction and sentence upon a f inding that t he indictm ent had a def e c t that was

f atal to the arson charge. The verdict as to f elony m urder was vacated a s a m atter of law, and

the aggravated assault m erged with t he m alice m urder. See M alcolm v. State, 263 Ga. 369,

371-374 (4), (5) (434 SE2d 4 79) (1993). Cheley tim ely f i led a m otion f

or new trial on

January 15, 2014, and he am e nded his m otion on Septem b er 15, 2014. The trial court denied

the m otion on March 4, 2 015, and Cheley tim ely f iled a notice of appeal o n A pril 1, 2015.

The case was docketed in this Court f or t h e J a n u a ry 2 016 term and subm itted f or decision

on the brief

s.

2a n d a t first, h e c la im e d t h a t h e h a d b e e n a t a c lu b fo r m ost o f th e n ig h t in

q u e stio n a n d th a t h e h a d g o n e stra ig h t h o m e

. H e e ve n tu a lly a d m itte d

, ho we ve r,

th a t h is c a r h a d ru n ou t o f g a s a n d th a t h e h a d wa lk e d to th e g a s sta tio n n e a r th e

c rim e sc e n e to bu y a lig h te r a n d g a so lin e

. Wh e n h is in te rv ie w c o n c lu de d

, Ch e le y

wa s a rre ste d on a n u n re la te d c h a rg e

, a n d in t h e c o u r s e of th a t a rre st, o ffic e rs

fo u n d th a t Ch e l e y h a d c o c a in e o n h is pe rso n

. Ch e le y g a ve a se c o nd sta te m e n t

to in ve stig a to rs o n Oc to b e r 1 8

, a n d in th a t sta te m e n t, h e a dm itte d th a t h e h a d se x

with De Lo a c h o n th e nig h t in q u e stio n

, b u t h e m a in ta in e d th a t it w a s c o n se n su a l.

F o re n sic in v e stig a to rs la te r m a tc h e d Ch e le y ’s DNA to b io lo g ic m a te ria l

fo u n d o n a v a g in a l swa b ta k e n f r o m De Lo a c h ’s b o d y

. In v e stig a to rs a lso

m a tc h e d De L o a c h ’s DNA to b lo o d fo u n d in Ch e le y ’s h o m e

. H is g irlfrie n d

c o n firm e d th a t Ch e le y wa s, in fa c t, th e m a n d e p ic te d in th e g a s sta tio n v id e o

su rv e illa n ce re c o rd in g

, a n d sh e id e n tifie d th e blu e a n d ta n c o m fo rte r in wh ic h

De Lo a c h ’s b o d y h a d b e e n wra pp e d a s on e th a t b e lo n ge d to Ch el e y

. T o

c o rro b o ra te th a t id e n tific a tio n

, h is g irlfri e n d su p plie d in v e stig a to rs with a

p illo wc a se th a t m a tc h e d th e c o m fo rte r.

At tria l, Ch e le y d i d no t d isp u te th a t h e h a d b e e n with De Lo a c h o n th e

n ig h t o f h e r k illin g

, b u t h e m a in ta in e d

— m o stly b y re fe re n c e to h is Oc to b e r 1 8

3sta te m e n t

— th a t sh e wa s a liv e wh e n h e la st sa w h e r an d th a t s he m ust h a v e

b e e n kille d b y so m e o n e e lse

. Th e ju ry re je c te d th a t e x p la n a tio n

, a n d o n a p p e a l,

Ch e le y do e s n o t a sse rt th a t th e e v id e n c e is in su ffic ie n t to su sta in h is c o n v ic tio n s.

We ne v e rth e le ss h a v e c o n sid e re d th e su ffic ie n c y o f th e e v id e n c e

, a n d w e

c o n c lu d e th a t it wa s le ga lly 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 bt th a t Ch e le y wa s g u ilty o f th e c rim e s o f wh ic h h e wa s

c o n v ic te d . S e e Ja c k so n v

. Virg in ia

, 4 4 3 U. S

. 3 0 7, 3 19 (III) (B) (9 9 S Ct 2 7 8 1

,

6 1 LE2 d 5 6 0 ) (1 97 9).

2

. Ch e le y file d a p r e tria l m o tio n to su p pre ss th e sta te m e n ts th a t h e g a v e

to in v e stig a t o rs o n Oc to b e r 4 a n d Oc to b e r 1 8

, a sse rtin g th a t b o th sta te m e n ts

we re e lic ite d b y c u sto d ia l in te rro g a tio n s th a t fo llo we d h is in v o c a tio n o f h is rig h t

to re m a in sile n t. Fo llo win g a Ja c k so n -De n n o he a rin g

, 2 th e tria l c o urt fo u n d th a t

Ch e le y fa ile d to u n e q u iv o c a lly a sse rt h is rig h t to re m a in sile n t, a n d it d e n ie d h is

m o tio n. Ch e le y n o w e nu m e ra te s th e d e n ia l of h is mo t i o n to su p p re ss a s e rro r.

On a p pe a l, we m

u st a c c e p t th e fa c tu a l fin d in g s a n d c re d ib ility de te rm in a tio n s

o f th e tria l c o urt u n le ss c le a rly e rro n e o u s, se e Brig ht v

. S ta te

, 2 6 5 Ga

. 2 6 5

, 2 8 0

2 See Jackson v. Denno, 378 U. S. 368 (84 SCt 1774, 12 LE2d 908) (1964).

4(5 ) (b ) (4 5 5 S E2 d 3 7 ) (1 9 9 5 ), a n d a c c e p tin g th o se fin d in g s a n d de te rm in a tio n s

in th is c a se , we se e n o e rro r in th e d e n ia l o f th e m o tio n to su p p re ss.

On Oc to be r 4

, C h e le y

— w h o h a d b e e n id e n tifie d a s th e m a n wh o wa s

se e n p u rc ha sin g g a so lin e a n d a lig h te r ne a r th e lo c a tio n a t wh ic h De Lo a c h ’s

b o d y wa s fo u n d in a c a r e n g u lfe d in fla m e s

— a g re e d to sp e a k with

in v e stig a to rs a n d wa s b ro u gh t to a po lic e sta tio n

. Th e re

, in ve stig a to rs a d v ise d

Ch e le y o f h is Mi r a n d a rig h ts, 3 a n d Ch e le y a c k no wle d g e d th a t h e u nd e rsto o d

th e m

. Afte r a n swe rin g a nu m b e r o f q ue stio ns a

bo u t h is wh e re a

b o u t s o n th e

e v en in g o f S e p te m

b e r 2 9

— a n d a fte r a dm ittin g th a t h e h a d wa lk e d to th e g a s

sta tio n an d fille d a c o n ta in e r with g a so lin e — Ch e le y w a s to ld th a t “p e o p le ”

a l r e a dy h a d id e n tifie d h im a s h a v in g b e e n in v o lv e d in th e e v e n ts a b o u t wh ic h

th e in v e stig a to rs h a d b e e n a sk in g h im

, “u p to th e p o in t wh e re [h e ] we nt to g e t

g a s.” Ch e le y th e n c o m

pla in e d th a t th e in v e stig a to rs h a d n ot re v e a le d th e su b je c t

o f th e ir in v e stig a tio n

. O n e of th e in v e stig a to rs re p lie d : “ I’m g o n n a g e t to a ll o f

th a t w h e n y ou c o m

p le te ly fin ish te llin g th e

. . . .” Ch e le y c u t h im o ff, ho we ve r,

a n d sa id : “ I’m c o m

p le te ly fin ish e d .” Th e in ve stig a to rs th e n a sk e d Ch e le y a b o u t

3 See Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U. S. 436 (86 SCt 1602, 16 LE2d 694) (1966).

5h is a c tiv itie s a fte r le a v in g th e g a s sta tio n

, a n d Ch e le y an swe re d th e ir q u e stio n s

with ou t a p p a re n t h e sita tio n

. Th e in v e stig a to rs e v e n tu a lly to ld Ch e le y th a t th e y

we re in v e stig a tin g a

h om ic id e

.

In c on te x t, Ch e le y ’s sta te m e n t th a t h e wa s “ c o m p le te ly fin ish e d ” wa s n o t

a n u n e q u iv o c a l a sse rtio n o f h is rig h t to re m a in sile n t

. T o th e c o n tra ry

, a

re a so na b le la w e n fo rc e m e n t o ffic e r wo u ld h a v e un d e rs t o o d C h e le y to m e a n o n ly

th a t he h a d lo st p a tie n c e with th e re p e a te d a n d c o n tin u e d q u e stio n s a bo u t wh a t

h e h a d d o n e be

fo r e b u y i n g g a so lin e a n d th a t h e wa n te d to k n o w w h a t th e

in v e stig a to rs we re in v e stig a tin g

. S e e P e re z v. S ta te

, 2 8 3 Ga

. 1 9 6

, 1 9 8 (6 5 7 S E2 d

8 4 6 ) (2 0 0 8) (“ [A] su sp e c t m ust a rtic u la te h is d e sire to c u t o ff q u e stio n in g with

su ffic ie n t c la rity th a t a re a so n a b le p olic e o f

f i c er in th e c irc u m sta n c e s wo u ld

u n d e rsta n d th e sta te m e n t to b e a n a sse rtio n o f th e r i g h t to re m a in sile n t.”

(Cita tio n o m itte d )). S e e a lso We a v e r v. S ta te

, 2 8 8 Ga

. 5 4 0

, 5 4 4 (4 ) (7 0 5 S E2 d

6 2 7 ) (2 0 1 1) (v ie we d in c on te x t o f th e in te rro g a t i o n

, e v e n sta te m e n t “ I d o n’t

wa n t to sa y n o th in g” wa s re a so n a b ly un d e rsto o d a s a p a rt o f th e “ giv e -a n d -ta k e ”

o f in te rro g a tio n , ra th e r th a n a n in v o c a tio n o f th e rig h t to re m a in sile n t).

La te r in h is Oc to be r 4 in te rv ie w, Ch e le y a pp e a re d to b e c o m e fru stra te d b y

e ffo rts to c a st d o u b t o n h is sto ry th a t h e h a d g o n e stra ig h t h om e a fte r le a v in g th e

6g a s s t a t io n

. Ch e le y m a de se v e ra l re m a rk s in q uic k su c c e ssio n a b o u t h a v in g

“ n o th in g e lse to sa y ” a n d b ei n g “ d o n e .” Ev e n a ssu m in g th a t th e se re m a rk s

a m o u n t to a n un e q u iv o c a l a sse rtio n o f t h e rig h t to re m a in sile n t, th e re wa s n o

e rro r in th e re fu sa l o f th e tria l c o u rt to su pp re ss sta te m e n ts th a t C h e l e y ma d e

fo llo win g th e a sse rtio n

. Th e re c o rd sh o ws th a t, a fte r Ch e le y m a d e th e re m a rk s

a b o u t b e in g “ d o n e ” a n d h a v in g “ no th in g e lse to sa y ,” i n v e s t ig a to rs p e rm itte d

h im to m a k e a te le p h o n e c a ll, th e y to ld h im th a t th e y ha d p u t a n e n v e lo p e in h is

p o c k e t th a t h e wo u l d h a v e wh e n he we n t to th e ja il, an d th e y a nswe re d h is

q u e stio n s a

b o u t wh y h e wa s be in g a rre ste d. No n e o f th e se a c tio n s we re

re a so na b ly lik e ly to e lic it a n in c rim in a tin g re sp o n se , an d n on e d id . S e e Rh o d e

Isla n d v

. In n is, 4 4 6 U. S

. 2 9 1

, 2 9 9 (2 ) (A) (1 00 S C t 1 6 8 2

, 6 4 LE2 d 2 9 7 ) (1 9 8 0 )

(“ Mira n d a sa fe g u a rd s c o m e in to p la y wh e n e v e r a p e rso n in c usto d y is su b je c te d

to e ith e r e x p re ss q u e stio n in g o r its fu nc tio n a l e q u iv a le n t,” m e a n in g “[a ] p ra c tic e

th a t th e p o lic e sh ou ld k n o w is re a s o n a b l y lik e ly to e vo ke a n in c rim in a tin g

re sp o n se fro m

a su sp e c t” ).

Two we e ks la te r, o n O c to b e r 1 8

, Ch e le y a sk e d fo r th e o p po rtu nity to g iv e

a se c on d sta te m e n t, a nd h e wa s b ro u g ht to th e p o lic e sta tio n fro m th e ja il. Th e

in v e stig a to rs a g a i n a d v ise d Ch e le y of h is Mira n d a rig h ts, a n d h e a g a in

7a c k n o wle d g e d th a t he u n d e rsto o d th ose rig h ts. Ch e le y re p e a te d th e c la im s th a t

h e h a d m a d e o n Oc to b e r 4 : th a t h e ha d ru n o ut of g a s an d w a l k e d t o t h e ga s

sta tio n to fill a c o n ta in e r with g a so lin e a n d b u y a lig h te r so th a t h e c o u ld sm o k e

.

At o n e p o in t, Ch e le y sa id th a t h e wa s “d o n e ta lk in g ” a n d h a d “ n o m o re to sa y ,”

a n d th e re c o rd sh o w s th a t th e in v e stig a to rs th e n sto pp e d a sk in g q u e stio n s a b o u t

h is c a se

, th e y an swe re d a n u m b e r o f q u e stio n s th a t C h e le y p o se d

, a n d th e y

a llo w e d Ch e le y to le a v e th e in te rro ga tio n ro o m to sm o k e a c ig a re tte

. No n e o f

th e se a c tio n s we re re a so n a b ly li k el y t o e vo k e a n in c rim in a tin g re sp o n se

, a n d

Ch e le y d id n o t m a k e a ny sta te m e n ts th a t sh o u ld h a v e b e e n su p p re sse d p rio r to

th is sm o k e b re a k

.

Ab o u t 3 0 m in u te s la te r, Ch e le y re tu rn e d to th e in te rro g a ti o n r o o m

. On e

o f th e in ve stig a to rs te stifie d th a t Ch e le y h a d to ld th e m d u rin g his sm o k e b re a k

th a t he wa nte d to c o n tin u e h is sta te m e n t, a n d

— a lth o u g h th e tria l c o u rt wo u ld

h a v e b e e n e n title d to b e lie v e th e d et e c tiv e ’s te stim o n y with ou t a d d itio n a l

e v id e n tia ry su p po rt

— a tra n sc rip t of th e in te rv ie w sh ows th a t Ch e le y re su m e d

th e in te rro g a tio n b y a sk in g th e in v e stig a to rs a b ou t th e ir “ th e o ry ” o f th e c a se

, h e

th a n ke d th e m fo r “ n o t b e in g a * * h o le s,” a n d he d id n o t disp u te th e in v e stig a to rs

wh e n th e y re p e a te d ly no te d th a t h e h a d to ld th e m du rin g h is sm ok e b re a k th a t

8h e wa n te d to c o n tin u e to ta lk with th e m

. T he se a c tio n s d e m o n stra te d th a t Ch e le y

in itia te d th e f

u r t h e r d ia lo g u e with th e d e te c tiv e s a n d th a t h e d id n o t in te n d to

e x e rc ise h is rig h t to re m a in sile n t. S e e La rry v . S ta te , 2 6 6 Ga . 2 8 4 , 2 8 6 (2 ) (a )

(4 6 6 S E 2 d 8 5 0 ) (1 9 9 6).

Afte r ta l k i n g b rie fly a

b o u t th e in v e stig a to rs’ “ th e o ry

, ” th e d isc u ssio n

m o v e d o n to fa m ily

, a n d th e d e te c tiv e s offe re d to b rin g Ch e le y ’s m o th e r to th e

sta tio n to ta lk to h im

. Afte r Ch e le y c o n fi r me d th a t h e wo u ld lik e to ta lk to h is

m o th e r, th e d e te c tiv e s a sk e d h o w h is m oth e r c ou ld b e c o n ta c te d

. An d wh ile th e y

wa ite d fo r Ch e le y ’s m o th e r to b e c o n ta c te d

, th e y c o n tin ue d to ta lk with Ch e le y

,

b u t n o t a b o u t th e c a se

. In ste a d

, Ch e le y a nd th e in ve stig a to rs ta lk e d a b ou t fa m ily

,

b a sk e tb a ll, a

n d lu nc h

. Afte r it wa s d e te rm in e d th a t Ch e le y ’ s mo t h e r wa s n o t

a v a ilable

, th e in v e stig a to rs to ld C h e le y th a t th e y wo uld a rra n ge a v isit, th e y

c o n tin u e d to m a ke sm a ll ta lk a n d e a t lu n c h, a n d Ch e le y re p e a te d ly sa id th a t h e

wo u ld c o n tin ue ta lk in g a

b o u t th e c a se la te r. Th e in ve stig a to rs to ld Ch e le y th a t

th e y h a d “ n o p ro b le m ” with him ta lk in g to h is m o th e r, th e y d isc usse d wh e th e r

h e a lso wo u ld lik e to se e h is c h ild re n

, a n d th e y c on tin u e d e a tin g lu nc h with o u t

a sk in g h im a

b o u t th e c a se

. Ch e le y th e n to o k a no th e r sm ok e b r ea k with o u t

m a k in g a n y in c rim in a tin g sta te m e n ts.

9Ab o u t 3 5 m in u te s la te r, Ch e l ey r e tu rn e d to th e in te rro g a tio n ro o m to

c o n tin u e h is sta te m e n t. He a c k n o wle d g e d th a t h e re m e m b e re d a n d u nd e rsto o d

h is rig h ts, a n d h e sa id th a t he d id “ n o t a t a ll” m in d ta lk in g to th e in v e stig a to rs.

Alth ou g h Ch e le y m a d e se v e ra l c o m m e n ts a bo ut w a n tin g to “ re st” a nd g o b a c k

to th e ja il, h e a lso sa id th a t h e wa s b e in g tre a te d fa irly

, th a t h e wa s p la n n in g to

c o n tin u e ta lk in g to th e i n v e s t i g a to rs la te r, a n d th a t h e wa n te d to “ te ll [th e m ]

e v e ry th in g .” Se e Rid le y v

. S ta te , 2 9 0 Ga . 7 9 8, 8 01 (4 ) (7 25 S E2 d 2 2 3) (2 0 1 2 )

(re p e a te d sta te m e n ts to “ ta k e m e o n to ja il” we re n o t u n e q u iv oc a l a n d

u n a m b ig u o u s in v o c a tio n o f rig h t to sile n c e ). W h e n t he in v e stig a to r to wh o m

Ch e le y h a d p ro m ise d to ta lk re tu rn e d to th e i n t e r r o g a tio n ro o m

, Ch e le y

sp o n ta n e o usly sa id th a t “ e v er y t h in g th a t we b e e n ta lk in g a b o u t, it’s b e e n a ll

w i l l in gly ,” a n d he th e n a d m itte d fo r th e first tim e th a t h e

, in d e e d

, h a d c o n t a c t

with De Lo a c h on th e n ig h t a n d m o rn in g o f h e r m

u rd e r, c la im in g th a t h e h a d se x

with h e r in e x c h a n g e fo r d ru g s. Wh e n Ch e le y so on th e re a fte r sa id th a t h e wa n te d

a la wy e r, th e in v e stig a to rs sto p p e d q u e stio n in g h im a n d c o n c lu de d th e

in te rro g a tio n . Hav in g re vie we d th e e ntire ty o f th e tra n sc rip t o f th e Oc to b e r 1 8

1 0in te rro g a tio n , we fin d th a t th e tria l c o u rt d id n o t e rr wh e n it fo u n d th a t Ch e le y

d id n o t u n a m

b ig u o u sly a n d u n e q u iv oc a lly in v o k e h is rig h t to re m a in sile n t. 4

3

. Ch e le y 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 d e n ie d h is m o tio n

to e ith e r e x c lu d e o r re d a c t a p ro se c u tio n e x hib it. T h e e x h ib it a t issu e wa s o n e o f

se v e ra l p h o to g ra

p h s th a t d e p ic t e d t h e c o n te n ts o f th e tru n k o f De Lo a c h ’s c a r,

a n d it sh o w e d n u m e ro u s ite m s fo un d in th e tru nk

, in c lu d in g De Lo a c h ’s b o d y

wra p p e d in a c om fo rte r, a g a so lin e -so a k e d t o w e l, se v e ra l a rtic le s o f c lo th in g

,

a n d a p h o to g ra

p h o f a n u n id e n tifie d y o un g girl sittin g in a fie ld

. A c c o rd in g to

Ch e le y

, th e p ro b a tiv e v a lu e o f th is e x hib it

— a t le a st th e po rtio n sh o win g th e

p h o to g ra p h o f th e g irl

— wa s “ su b sta n tia lly o u twe ig he d b y th e d a n g e r o f u n fa ir

p re ju d ic e .” OCGA § 2 4 -4 -4 03

. Wh e n th e tria l c o u rt c o n sid e re d th e a d m issib ility

o f th e e x h ib it, a fire in v e stig a to r te stifie d th a t th e e x h ib it sh o we d h o w n u m e ro u s

4 W e note that, even if

it were o therwise, Cheley has not shown that he was harm ed

by the trial court’s ref

usal to suppress his O c t ober 18 statem ent. That statem ent was barely

noted a t trial by the State, but it was crucial to Cheley ’s def ense ( especially given that DNA

evidence established that he had sex with DeLoach just prior to her death) b ecause i t allowed

him to present his story

— that he had sex with DeLoach in exchange f or drugs but did not

kill her — without having to testif y . In his closing argum e nt, C heley relied on the October

18 statem ent (as w ell as consiste nt testim ony provided by a jailhouse inf orm ant and the

results of a d

rug te s t conducted in connection with DeLoach’s autopsy ) to im ply that

DeLoach was i nvolved in risky behaviors and that any one could have k illed her a f ter she and

Cheley w ent their s eparate way s. In response, the St a t e h a d t o m inim ize the October 18

statem ent and argue that the only evidence that DeLoach had sex with Cheley in exchange

f or drugs was Cheley ’s self -serving October 18 statem ent.

1 1ite m s in th e tru n k we re a rra n g e d in m u ltip l e l ay e r s o n a n d a ro u n d De Lo a c h ’s

b o d y (a n d o n to p of th e g a so lin e

- s o a k e d to we l) in a n a tte m p t to su sta in a fire

.

Th e in v e stig a to r a lso te stifie d th a t th e w a y in wh ic h D e Lo a c h ’s bo d y wa s

wra p p e d (a n d th e fa c t th a t th e tru n k wa s c lo se d a fte r th e fire wa s lit) a c tu a lly

p re v e n te d m o st o f h e r b o d y fro m b e in g se v e re ly b u rn e d

. An d th e e x hib it a t issu e

wa s o f p a rtic u la r im

p o rta n c e be c a

u se it sh o we d h o w De Lo a c h ’s bo d y wa s

lo c a te d in re la tio n to b o th th e g a so lin e -so a k e d to we l an d th e bo tto m of th e tru n k

.

Mo re ov e r, th e e x h ib it p re se n te d little d a n g e r o f p r e j u d i c e

. Th e p h o to g ra

p h

o f th e g irl wa s o n e o f ma n y ite m s fo u n d on an d a ro u n d De L o a c h ’s bo d y

. Th e

ju ry h e ard n o te stim o n y a b o u t th e p h oto g ra

p h o f th e girl

— m

u c h le ss a b o u t th e

g irl’s id e n tity

— a n d n o th in g in th e re c ord su g g e sts th a t th e a tte n tio n o f th e ju ry

wa s d ra wn in a n y wa y to th e p h o to g ra p h of th e g irl. 5 An d a lth o u g h it m ig h t b e

u n u su a l to f

i n d su c h a p h oto g ra

p h in th e tru n k o f a c a r, De Lo a c h ’s twin siste r

te stifie d th a t th e y we re m o v in g th e we e k e n d th a t De L o a c h wa s k ille d, so (to th e

e x te n t th a t th e ju ry ga v e a ny c o n sid e ra tio n a t a ll a s to wh y so m a n y ite m s we re

5 C heley speculates that the jury would have inf erred that t he p hotograph de p i c t e d

DeLoach as a y oung girl, b ut this strikes us as unlikely

. N um e r ous photographs o f DeLoach

(both in lif

e and af ter she was killed) were presented to the jury

, and they showed her with

blond hair. The girl depicted in the photograph contained in the trunk appears to have brown

hair.

1 2fo u n d in th e tru n k o f De Lo a c h ’s c a r), th e y lik e ly wo u ld h a v e c o n c lu de d th a t

th e y we re re la te d to th e m o v e a n d h a d n o th in g to d o with th e c rim e s o th e r th a n

th a t th e y we re u se d i n a n at t e mp t to b u rn De Lo a c h ’s b o d y

. Th e tria l c o u rt d id

n o t a b u se its c o n sid e ra

ble d isc re tio n wh e n it d e te rm in e d th a t t h e e x h ib it’s

p o te ntia l fo r p re

ju dic e d id n o t su b sta n tia lly o u twe ig h its p ro b a tiv e v a lu e

. S e e

,

e .g ., Mo ss v

. S ta te

, _

_ _ Ga

. _

_ _ (5 ) (b ) (7 8 3 S E 2 d 6 52 ) (2 01 6).

4

. Ch e le y a lso a rg u e s th a t th e tria l c o u rt e rre d wh e n it p ro h ib ite d him fro m

c ro ss-e x a m in in g two ja ilh o u s e i n fo rm a n ts a b o u t th e c h a rg e s a n d p o te n tia l

se n te nc e s th a t th e y fa c e d b e fo re g iv in g te stim o n y in th is c a se f o r th e

p ro se c u tio n

. Bu t it wa s e sta b lish e d a t tria l th a t n e ith e r o f th e in fo rm a n ts h a d

e n te re d in to a n y a g re e m e n t with th e S ta te

. An d w h e re a witn e ss h a s n o t o b ta in e d

su c h a “d e a l,” th e d e fe nd a n t h a s “ bro a d sc o pe in e x po sin g th e p o te n tia l b ia s in

th e witn e ss’s te stim o n y

, [b u t h e ] m a y no t b rin g o u t th e p o te n tia l p e n a ltie s fa c e d

b y t h e witn e ss. Ja c k so n v

. S ta te

, 2 9 4 Ga

. 3 4

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

,

o v e r r u l e d o n o th e r g ro u n d s b y Ha m m v

. Sta te

, 2 9 4 Ga

. 7 9 1 (7 5 6 S E 2 d 5 0 7 )

(2 0 1 4 ).

He re , Ch e le y wa s p e rm itte d to in qu ire bro a d lyo f b oth in fo rm a n ts a b o u t

p o te ntia l b ia s. He a sk e d th e first in f o r ma n t a b o u t his p le a a nd th e fa c t th a t h e

1 3wa s in c a rc e ra te d a nd wa itin g to b e se nte n c e d

, a nd th e in fo rm a n t a c k n o wle d g e d

th a t he h o p e d h i s t e stim o n y a g a in st Ch e le y w o u ld g iv e h im “ a b e n e fit fo r

. . .

se n te nc in g .” Ch e le y a sk e d th e se c o n d in fo rm a n t a b ou t his prio r c o n v ic tio n s, h is

in c a rc e ra tio n

, a n d th e fa c t th a t

— a t th e tim e h e first re p o rte d Ch e le y ’s ja ilh o use

c o n fe ssio n — h e h a d a d d itio n a l p e n d in g c h a r g e s th a t h a d sin c e b e e n d e a d

d o c k e te d

, a n d C h ele y wa s a b le to in q u ire a

bo u t th e in fo rm a n t’s m o tiv e to

p r o v id e a sta te m e n t a g a in st Ch e le y in o rd e r to “ g e t a b e n e fit in [h is] p e n d in g

c h a rg e s.” T he tria l c o u r t c h a rg e d th e ju ry th a t it c o u ld c on sid e r “ a ny p o ssib le

m o tiv e ” th a t a witn e ss m a

y h a v e f o r t e stify in g

, in c lu d in g “ p e n din g p ro se c u tio n s,

n e g o tia te d p le a s, o r sim ila r m a tte rs.” A n d Ch e le y e ve n a rg u e d in h is c lo sin g th a t

o n e o f th e in fo rm a n ts wa s u sin g h is te stim o n y “ to ge t o u t o f ja il fre e .” Ch e le y

w a s a b le to e x a m in e wh e th e r th e in fo rm a n ts ha d a m o tiv e to fa b ric a te th e ir

te stim o n y in o rd e r to c u rry fa v o r with th e S ta te

, a nd “ [t] he m e re fa c t th a t

[Ch e le y ] wa s un a

b le to a sk [th e in fo rm a n ts] to c o nje c tu re a b o u t p o ssib le

p u n ish m e n t

. . . d id no t a m o u n t to a n a b u se o f th e tria l c o u rt' s d isc re tio n .” Ho d o

v . S ta te , 2 7 2 Ga

. 2 7 2, 2 7 5 (4 ) (5 28 S E2 d 2 5 0) (2 0 0 0 ).

5

. F in a l l y

, C h e le y c o n te n d s th a t th e tria l c o urt sh o u ld h a ve re bu k e d th e

p ro se c u tin g a tto rn e y a fte r sh e sa id in he r c lo sin g a r g u me n t t h a t o ne o f th e

1 4ja ilh ou se in fo rm a n ts m a y h a v e a

p p e a re d n e rv o u s b e c a

use “ e v e ry b o d y ’s h e a rd

th e sa y in g

. . . ‘sn itc he s g e t stitc h e s.’” E v e n a ssu m in g th a t th is a rg u m e n t wa s

im p ro p e r u n d e r OCGA § 1 7 -8 -7 5, it is we ll-e sta b lish e d th a t a tria l c o u rt h a s n o

d u ty to re b u ke a p ro se c u to r u n d e r th a t sta tu te u n le ss sp e c ific a lly re q u e ste d b y

th e d e fe n d a n t. S e e

, e .g

., Wo o d h a m v

. S ta te

, 2 6 3 Ga

. 5 8 0

, 5 80 (1 ) (a ) (4 3 9 S E2 d

4 7 1 ) (1 9 9 3). He re

, th e tria l c o u rt su sta in e d Ch e le y ’s o b je c tio n to th e arg u m e n t

a t issu e

, a n d C h e le y d id no t re q u e st a re b u k e (o r a n y o th e r c o rre c tiv e a c tio n )

a fte r h is o b

je c tio n wa s su sta in e d

. As a re su lt, th e tria l c ou r t h a d n o d u ty to

re b u ke th e p ro se c u tin g a tto rn e y . Id

.

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

1 5