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

De c id e d: Ap ril 2 0, 2 0 1 5

S 1 5 A0 0 45 . TEP ANCA v . THE S T ATE.

MELTON, Ju stic e

.

F o llo win g a ju ry tria l, Hu g o M. Te p a n c a wa s fo u n d g uilty o f m a lic e

m u rd e r, fe lo n y m

u rd e r, a g g ra v a te d a ssa u lt, a n d p o sse ssio n of a fire a rm d u rin g

th e c o m m issio n o f a f

e l o n y , a l l with re ga rd to th e sh o otin g d e a th o f Jo se

S a n c h e z -Va rg a s. 1 O n a

p p e a l, Te p a n c a c o n te n d s, a m o n g o th e r th in g s, th a t h e ha s

b e e n su b je c te d to m

u tu a lly e x c lu siv e v e rd ic ts a n d th a t h e re c e iv e d in e ffe c tiv e

a ssista n c e fro m

h is first a p p e lla te c ou nse l. F or th e re a so n s se t fo rth b e lo w, we

1 On Ma y 5
, 2 0 0 8
, Te p a n c a w as i n d ic te d in Ha ll Co u n ty fo r m a lic e

m u rd e r, fe lo n y m

u rd e r p re d ic a te d o n a g gra va te d a s s a ult, a g gra v a te d a ssa u lt, a n d
p o s s e s sio n o f a fire a rm d u rin g th e c o m m issio n o f a fe lo n y

. F ollo win g a ju r y tria l
, Te p a n c a wa s fo u n d g u ilty o f a ll c o u n ts, a nd
, o n Ap ril 1 9
, 20 1 0
, h e wa s

se n te nc e d to life im

p riso n m e nt fo r fe lo ny m

u rd e r a n d fiv e c o n se c u tiv e y e a rs fo r p o sse ssio n o f a fire a rm

. Th e tria l c o urt m e rg e d th e v e rd ic ts fo r m a lic e mu r d e r

a n d a g g ra v a te d a ssa u lt fo r p u rp o se s o f se n te n c in g

. On Ap ril 2 1
, 2 0 1 0
, tria l

c o u n se l file d a m o tio n fo r n e w tria l, b u t Te pa n c a o b ta in e d n e w c ou nse l o n Ju n e 2 3
, 2 0 1 0

. T h e tria l c o u rt d e n ie d th e m o tio n fo r n e w tria l on Ma rc h 2 6
, 20 1 2
, a n d Te p a n c a file d a n o tic e o f a pp e a l o n A p ril 2 0
, 2 01 2, a m e n d e d o n O c t o b e r 1 5
, 2 0 1 2

. O n c e th e re c o rd wa s tra n sm itte d to th is Co u rt, Te p a n c a ’s a p p e a l wa s d o c k e te d to th e Ja n u a ry 2 0 1 5 Te rm a n d o ra lly a rg u e d o n Ja n ua ry 5 , 2 0 1 5

.a ffirm

.

1

. Vie we d in th e lig h t m o st fa v o ra b le to th e v e rd ic t, th e re c ord sh o ws th a t,

in Ap ril 2 0 0 8
, T e p a nc a liv e d with Me lissa Go n z a le z -Cla m b ro n , w ith wh o m h e

h a d two c hild re n

. T e pa n c a a n d Go n z a le z -Cla m

b ro n h a v e n e v e r b e e n m a rrie d

. Ap p ro x im a te ly six m o nth s be fo re th e b irth o f h is se c o n d c h ild
, Te p a n c a b e g a n

a se c re t se x u a l r e la tio nsh ip with Alic ia He rn a n d e z ; ho w e v e r, He rn a n d e z to ld

Te p a n c a p rio r to th e m

u rd e r th a t sh e wish e d to sto p se e in g h im

. S a nc h e z -Va rg a s

o fte n d ro v e He rn a n d e z a n d a n u m b e r o f h e r n e ig h b o rs to wo rk fo r a fe e

.

On Ap ril 2 0
, 2 0 0 8
, a t a ro u n d 7 :0 0 p .m ., Sa n c h e z -Va rg a s v isite d

He rn an d e z to c o lle c t his d riv in g fe e

. Sa n c he z -Va rg a s a n d He rn a n d e z sp o k e

o u tsid e h e r h o m e , a n d S a n c h e z -Va rg a s re m a in e d in h is tru c k

. Te pa n c a , wh o wa s

v isitin g t h e sa m e c o m

p le x with Go n z a le s-Cla m b ro n , sa w th is c o nv e rsa tio n

ta k in g p la c e , a

p p ro a c h e d Sa n c h e z -Va rg a s’s tru c k
, an d a sk e d S a nc h e z -Va rg a s

wh a t h e wa s d o in g th e re

. Te p a n c a d id n o t p e rso n a lly k n o w S an c h e z -Va rg a s, a n d

h e te stifie d th a t, p rio r to th a t m o m e n t, he d id n ot b el i e v e t h a t He rn an d e z wa s

se x u a lly in v o lv e d with a n y o n e e lse

. S a n ch e z -Va rg a s a n swe re d Te p an c a th a t

wh a t h e wa s d o in g wa s n o n e o f Te p a n c a ’s b u sin e ss. An g e re d
, Te pa n c a p u lle d

o u t a h a n d gu n a n d fire d in to th e g ro u n d

. S a n c h e z -Va rg a s wa s u n a rm e d

.

2He rn a n d e z th e n to ld S a nc he z -Va rg a s to le a ve , w h ic h h e d id

. F o llo win g a b rie f

a lte rc a tio n with Go nz a le s-Cla m b ro n , Te p a n c a dro v e o ff in th e sa m e d ire c tio n

.

Ac c o r d i n g to T e p a nc a , h e a n d S a n c h e z -Va rg a s ha d c o n ta c t a t a tra ffic

lig h t a sh o rt dista nc e a wa y

. Te p a n c a te stifi e d t h a t S an c h e z -Va rg a s th re a te n e d

Te p a n c a th a t h e wo u ld "k ic k h is a ss." Wh e n th e lig ht t u r n e d g re e n , Te p a n c a

d e c id e d to fo llo w Sa n c h e z -Va rg a s, a n d h e tra c k e d h im a ll th e wa y to h is h o m e

.

Te p a n c a te stifie d re pe a te d ly th a t, a t th e tim e th a t h e de c id e d to fo llo w Sa n c he z

Va rg a s, h e wa s n o t m a d

. In ste a d
, Te p a n c a ’s sta te d in te n tio n wa s “ to m a ke th in g s
rig h t.” Ac c o rd in g to Te p a n c a , S a n c h e z -Va rg a s g o t o u t o f h is tru c k
, a n d Te p a n c a

a sk e d h im if th e y c o u ld wo rk th in g s o u t. Te p a n c a te stifie d th a t S a nc h e z -Va rg a s

re p e a te d th e th re a t to k ic k h is a ss, w a lk e d to w a rd Te p a n c a , an d a p p e a re d to

re a c h fo r so m e th in g in h is p o c k e t. T e p a n c a th e n sh o t S a n c h e z -Va rg a s six tim e s,

e v e n wh ile S a n c h e z -Va rg a s wa s a tte m p tin g to ru n a wa y

. T e p a n c a a dm itte d th a t

h e sh o t S a n c h e z -Va rg a s a n d th a t h e n e v e r sa w th e v ic tim with a g u n

.

Th e se fa c ts we re su ffic ie n t to e n a b le th e ju ry to fin d Te p an c a g uilty o f th e

c rim e s fo r wh ic h h e wa s c o nv ic te d b e y o n d a r e a s o n a b le d o u b t. Ja c k so n v

. Virg in ia , 4 4 3 U.S . 3 0 7 (9 9 S Ct 2 7 8 1
, 6 1 LE2 d 5 6 0 ) (1 9 7 9 ).

2

. T e p a nc a c on te n d s th a t, d u rin g se n te nc in g , th e tria l c o u rt e rre d b y

3m e rg in g h is c o n v ic tio n fo r m a lic e m u rd e r in to his c o nv ic tio n fo r fe lo n y m u rd e r.

Wh e n th e ju ry re tu rn s g u ilty v e rd ic ts o n b o th fe lo ny m u rd e r a n d

m a lic e m u rd e r c h a rg e s in c o n n e c tio n with th e d e a th of o n e p e rso n , it is th e fe lo n y m

u rd e r c o n v ic tio n , no t th e m a lic e m u rd e r c o n v ic tio n th a t is “ sim

p ly su rp lu sa g e ” (Bid d y v

. S ta te , 25 3 Ga

. 2 8 9 (2 ) (3 1 9 S E2 d 8 4 2 ) (1 9 8 4 )) a n d s t a n d s v a c a te d b y o p e ra tio n of la w

. Wa d e

v

. S ta te , 2 5 8 Ga

. 3 2 4 (2 ) (3 6 8 S E2 d 4 8 2 ) (1 9 8 8 ). S in c e [Te p a n c a ’s]

se n te n c e o f life im

p riso n m e n t is a

p p ro p ria te fo r b o th fe lo n y m u rd e r

a n d m a lic e m

u rd e r (OCGA § 1 6

– 5

– 1 (d )), a p p e lla nt h a s su ffe re d n o h a rm fro m th e tr i a l c o u rt' s a c tio n in v a c a tin g th e m a lic e m u rd e r

c o n v ic tio n a n d re ta in in g th e fe lo n y m urd e r c o n v ic tio n

.

Willia m s v . S ta te , 2 7 0 Ga . 1 2 5 , 1 26 -1 2 7 (4 ) (5 0 8 S E2 d 4 1 5 ) (1 9 9 8 ).

3

. T e p a n c a c o n te n d s th a t, b e c a u se th e ju ry fo u n d h im g uilty o f m a lic e

m u rd e r b u t ac q u itte d h im o f th e le sse r in c lu d e d o ffe n se o f v o lu n ta ry

m a n sla u g h te r, h e re c e iv e d m u tu a lly e x c lu s i v e ve rd ic ts wh ic h a re v o id

.

S p e c ific a lly
, Te p a n c a a rg u e s th a t, b y r e t u r n in g a g u ilty v e rd ic t o n m a lic e

m u rd e r, th e j u ry fo un d th a t th e S ta te pro v e d th a t Te pa n c a a c te d with o u t

p ro v o c a tio n , b u t b y re tu rn in g a n o t g u i l t y v e rd ic t re g a rd in g th e c h a rg e o f

v o lu n ta ry m a n sla u g hte r, th e ju ry n e c e ssa rily fo u n d th a t th e Sta te fa ile d to p ro v e

th e la c k o f p ro vo c a tio n b e y o nd a re a so n a b le d o ub t.

Ve rd ic ts a re m

u tu a lly e x c lu siv e “wh e re a g uilty v e rd ic t o n o n e

c o u n t lo g ic a lly e x c lu d e s a f i n d in g o f g u ilt o n th e o th e r. ” Ja c k so n

v

. S ta te , 2 7 6 Ga

. 4 0 8
, 4 1 0 (2 ) (5 7 7 S E2 d 5 7 0 ) (2 0 0 3), c itin g Un ite d S ta te s v

. P o we ll, 4 6 9 U.S

. 57
, 69
, n

. 8 (1 0 5 S Ct 4 71
, 8 3 LE2 d 4 6 1 )

4(1 9 8 4 ). Th us, th e ru le a g a in st m u tu a lly e x c lu siv e v e rd ic ts a p p lie s to

m u ltip le gu ilty v e rd ic ts wh ic h c a n no t b e lo g ic a lly re c o n c ile d ; th e

ru le is no t im

p lic a te d wh e r e , a s h e re , ve rd ic ts o f g u ilty a n d n o t g u ilty a re re tu rn e d

. Du m a s v

. S ta te , 26 6 Ga

. 7 9 7 (2 ) (4 7 1 S E2 d 5 0 8 ) (1 9 9 6 ).

(P u n c tu a tio n a nd e m

ph a sis o m itte d .) S he p h e rd v

. S ta te , 2 8 0 G a

. 2 4 5
, 2 4 8 (1 )

(6 2 6 S E2 d 9 6 ) (2 00 6 )

. W h a t T e p a nc a is a c tu a lly a rg u in g is th a t his v e rd ic ts

we re in c o n sist en t , no t m u tu a lly e x c lu siv e

. Th e in c on siste n t v e rd ic t ru le
,

h o we v e r, h a s b e e n a

b o lish e d in c rim in a l c a se s fo r qu ite so m e tim e

. S e e Mila m

v

. S ta te , 2 5 5 Ga

. 5 60 (2 ) (3 4 1 S E2 d 2 1 6 ) (1 9 8 6 ). Th e re fo re , Te p a n c a ’s

a rg u m e n t u ltim a te ly la c k s m e rit.

4

. T e p a nc a c o n te n d s th a t th e tria l c o u rt e rre d by fa ilin g to c h arg e th e ju ry

th a t e ith e r a du lte ry o r se x u a l je a lo u sy b e twe e n n o n-m arrie d p e rso ns m a y se rv e

a s p ro v oc a tio n fo r v o lu n ta ry m a n sla u g h te r. We d isa g re e

.

A re q u e ste d “

ju ry in stru c tio n mu s t b e a d ju ste d to th e e v id e nc e a n d

e m b o d y a c o rre c t, a

p plic a b le
, a n d c o m

p le te sta te me n t o f la w .” (Cita tio n s a n d

p u n c tu a tio n o m itte d .) Ro p e r v. S ta te , 28 1 Ga

. 8 78
, 8 8 0 (6 4 4 S E2 d 12 0) (2 0 0 7 ).

Un d e r th is sta n d a rd
, a ju ry in stru c tio n re g a rd in g p ro v o c a tio n fo rm e d b y e ith e r

a d u lte ry o r se x u a l je a lo u sy wa s u n wa rra n te d

. Ac c ord in g to th e fa c ts o f th is c a se ,

th e re wa s no a d u lte ry a t a ll. “ A m a rrie d p e rso n c o m m its th e offe nse o f a d u lte ry

5wh e n he v o lu n ta rily h a s se x ua l in te rc o urse with a p e rso n o th e r th a n h is sp o u se .”

OCGA § 1 6 -6 -1 9

. In th is c a se , n o n e o f th e p a rtie s we re m a rrie d ; th e re fo re , n o

in stru c tio n re ga rd in g a d u lte ry a s a p ro v o c a tio n fo r v olu n ta ry m an sla u g h te r wa s

wa rra n te d

. Lik e wise
, th e e v id e n c e in d ic a te d th a t Te p a n c a wa s n o t p ro v o k e d b y

se x u a l je a lo u sy a t th e tim e h e sh o t S a n c h e z -Va rg a s. Te p a nc a te stifie d th a t, a t th e

tim e o f th e s h o o tin g, h e wa s n o t m a d a t S a nc h e z -Va rg a s a n d
, in ste a d
, h e wa s

o n l y try in g to ta lk p e a c e fu lly with h im

. He fu rth e r te stifie d th a t h e sh o t a t

S a n c h e z -Va rg a s b e c a

u se h e wa s a fra id th a t S a n c h e z -Va rg a s c o u ld h a v e b e e n

re a c h in g fo r a w e a

p o n. As a re su lt, u n de r Te pa n c a ’s o w n v e rsio n o f th e fa c ts,

th e in stru c tio n o n se x u a l je a lo u sy wo u ld h a v e b e e n im p ro p e r. In a n y e v e n t,

Te p a n c a ’s se x u a l je a lo u sy wa s b a se d wh o lly o n su p p o sitio n , a n d, e v e n if

He rn a n d e z h a d to ld h im th a t sh e h a d g o n e o u t with S a n c h e z -Va rg a s, it wo u ld

n o t be “ su ffic ie n t to e x c ite su d d e n , v io le n t, a n d irre sistib le p a ssio n in a

re a so na b le p e rso n , OCGA § 1 6

– 5

– 2 .” Ma y w e a th e r v

. S ta te , 2 5 4 Ga . 6 6 0 , 6 6 1

(3 ) (3 3 3 S E2 d 5 9 7 ) (1 9 8 5 ).

5

. Te p a n c a c o n te n d s th a t th e tria l c o u rt e rre d b y d e n y in g h is re q u e st to

c h a rg e th e ju ry re g a rd in g th e la w of mu t u a l c o m b a t a s a b a sis fo r fin d in g

Te p a n c a c o m m itte d o n l y v o l u n t a r y m a n s l a ug h te r. As d isc u sse d a

b o v e , ho we ve r,

6Te p a n c a ’s o wn te stim o n y wa s th a t h e d id no t wa n t to fig h t S an c he z -Va rg a s. So
,

e v e n if th e re we r e e v i d e n c e th a t S an c h e z -Va rg a s wa n te d to fig h t, th e re is n o

e v id e n c e th a t Te p a nc a w a nte d to fig h t a lso

. As su c h
, “ th e e v id e n c e d id n o t

wa rra n t su c h in stru c tio n s sin c e [Te p a n c a ] te stifie d h e a c te d in se lf-d e fe n se in th e
fig h t an d d id n o t in te n d to k ill th e v ic tim

. ” Ru ffin v

. S ta te , 2 9 6 Ga

. 2 6 2
, 2 6 4 (2 )

(a ) (7 6 5 S E2 d 9 13 ) (2 0 1 4 ). Mo re ov e r, “[t] h e u nla wfu l k illin g o f o n e wh o ha s

g iv e n th e sla y e r no p ro v oc a tio n o th e r th a n th e u se o f wo rd s, th re a ts, m e n a c e s,

o r c o nte m

p tu o u s g e stu re s, c a n n o t, in th i s S t a te , b e g ra d e d to v o lu n ta ry

m a n sla u g h te r, u n d e r th e d o c trin e o f m u tu a l c o m b a t.” (Ci tat i o n an d pu n ct u at i o n

o m it t ed .) J o y ner v

. St at e, 2 08 G a. 4 3 5
, 4 4 0 (4 ) (6 7 SE2 d 2 2 1 ) (1 9 5 1 ). Un d e r e ith e r

o f th e se p re c e p ts, th e t r i a l c o u rt d id n o t e rr b y re fu sin g to c h a rg e th e ju ry

re g a rd in g m

utu a l c o m b a t.

6

. Te p a n c a c o n te n d s t h a t h e re c e iv e d in e ffe c tiv e a ssista n c e b e c a u se h is

first a pp e lla te c o u nse l a

b a n d o n e d h is c a se a fte r b e in g a p p o in te d

. S p e c ific a lly
,

Te p a n c a c o m

p la in s th a t first a

p p e lla te c o u n se l fa ile d to file a n a m e n d e d m o tio n

fo r n e w tria l o r su b m it a n y a r g u m e n t o r e v id e n c e in su p p o rt o f th e e x istin g

m o tio n file d b y tria l c o u n se l. In a d d itio n, a p pe lla te c o un se l wa iv e d a h e arin g o n

th e m o tio n fo r n e w tria l, a n d Te p a n c a m a in ta in s th a t a p p e lla te c ou n se l d e la y e d

7t h is a

p p e a l b y fa ilin g to e n su re th e tim e ly tra n sm itta l o f th e re c o rd

. T e p a n c a

a rg u e s th a t, p u rsu a n t to Un ite d S ta te s v

. Cro n ic
, 46 6 U.S

. 6 4 8 (1 0 4 S Ct 2 0 3 9
,

8 0 LE 2 d 6 5 7 ) (1 9 8 4), p re ju d ic e m u st b e p re su m e d in h is c a se d u e to a

c o n stru c tiv e d e n ia l o f c o u n se l. Ho we v e r,

fo r th e Cro n ic “ c o n stru c tiv e d e n ia l o f c o u n se l” e x c e p tio n to a p p ly
, th e “ a tto rn e y ' s fa ilu re m

u st b e c o m

p le te a nd m

u st o c c u r th ro u g h o u t th e p ro c e e d in g a n d no t m e re ly a t sp e c ific p o in ts.” T urp in v

. Cu rtis, 2 7 8 Ga

. 6 9 8
, 69 9 (6 0 6 S E2 d 2 4 4 ) (2 00 4) (Cita tio n a n d p u n c tu a tio n

o m itte d .). [Te p a n c a ’s] a sse rtio n th a t h is [a p pe lla te c o u n se l

a b a n d o n e d h im a t th e m o tio n fo r ne w tria l sta g e ] d o e s n ot m e e t th is strin g e n t sta n d a rd

. We th e re fo re e v a l u a te [Te p a n c a ’s] in e ffe c tiv e

a ssista n c e c la im s u n d e r th e u su a l S tric k la n d [v

. W a sh in g to n , 4 6 6 U.S

. 66 8 (1 04 S Ct 2 0 52
, 8 0 L E2 d 6 7 4 ) (1 9 8 4 )] d e fic ie n t p e rfo rm a nc e a n d re su ltin g p re ju d ic e te st.

Ch a rle sto n v . S ta te , 2 9 2 Ga . 6 7 8 , 6 8 2 -6 8 3 (4 ) (a ) (7 43 S E2 d 1 ) (2 0 1 3 ).

In th is c a se , it m

u st b e n o te d th a t in e ffe c tiv e a ssista n c e o f c ou nse l is b e in g

ra ise d fo r th e first tim e

. Wh e re a c la im of in e ffe c tiv e a ssista n c e o f c o un se l ha s

p ro p e rly b e e n ra ise d fo r th e first tim e o n a p p e a l, th is c o urt h a s e x pla in e d th a t

c la im s o f in e ffe c tiv e a ssista n c e o f a p p e lla te c o u n se l wh ic h a r e p re m ise d o n oth e r c la im s th a t a re n o t p r o ce d u ra lly b a rre d m a y b e

ra ise d o n a

p p e a l b y n e w a

pp e lla te c o u n se l. [Cit.] Assu m in g th a t Ap p e lla n t' s c la im o f in e ffe c tiv e [first] a p p e lla te c o u n se l is p ro pe rly

ra ise d b e c a

u se it is pre m ise d o n a c la im n o t p ro c e du ra lly b a rre d , a

re m a n d to th e tria l c o u rt fo r a n e v id e n t i a r y h e a rin g wo uld b e

n e c e ssa ry u n le ss we c a n “ d e te rm in e fro m t h e re c o rd th a t th e two -p ro n g te st fo r in e ffe c tiv e n e ss c a nn ot b e m e t. [Cits.] ” [Cit.]

8Ro g e rs v

. Sta te , 2 9 0 Ga

. 40 1
, 4 0 9 (5 ) (7 2 1 S E2 d 86 4) (2 0 1 2 ), o v e rru le d o n o th e r

g ro u n d s b y S ta te v

. S im s,

– Ga

. – (Ca se N o

. S 1 4 A1 6 5 7, de c id e d F e b ru a ry 2
,

2 0 1 5). He re , h o we ve r, Te p a n c a h a s m a d e n o sp e c ific c la im s a s to h o w a p p e lla te

c o u n se l wa s in e ffe c tiv e

. In ste a d
, h e g e n e ra lly a rg u e s th a t a p p e lla te c o u n se l

sh o u ld h a v e file d a n a m e n d e d mo tio n fo r n e w tria l, b u t h e g iv e s th is C o u rt n o

in d ic a tio n o f w h a t m ig h t ha v e b e e n ra ise d in th a t m o tio n

. In e sse n c e , he le a ve s

th is Co u rt to e n g a g e in a g u e ssin g g a m e a s to h o w a p pe lla te c o u n se l’s

re p re se n ta tio n , o r ra th e r la c k th e re o f, m ig h t h a v e a m o u n te d to in e ffe c tiv e

a ssista n c e

. Un d e r th e se c irc u m sta n c e s, Te p a n c a h a s fa ile d to sh o w e v e n a

p o ssib ility o f in e ffe c tiv e a ssista n c e , a n d th e re is n o n e e d fo r a h e a rin g o n

re m a n d

.

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

9