THI RD DI VI SI ON

DOYLE, P. J.

, REESE and BROWN, JJ.

N O T IC E : M otions for r e c ons i de r a tion m us t be

ph y sic a l ly r e ce iv ed i n our c le r k ’s offic e w ithin te n

da y s of the da te of de c is ion to be de e m ed tim e ly file d.

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. ga a ppe a ls .us /r ule s

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H I S

C O U R T. A LL FILIN G S M U ST B E S U B M I TTE D WITH IN

TH E TIM E S S E T B Y

O U R C O U R T R U LE S

.

June 16, 2021



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A2 1 A0 53 1 . HARRIS v . THE STATE.

R E E S E

, J u d g e.

A Ho u s to n Co u nt y g ran d ju ry in d i ct ed Sh al i t a Harri s o n o n e c o u n t each o f

h o m i c i d e b y v eh i cl e i n t h e fi rs t d eg ree, reck les s d ri v i n g

, s peed i n g

, an d dri v i n g t o o

fas t fo r co n d i t i o ns

, an d two co u n t s o f h om i ci de b y v e h i c l e i n t h e seco n d d eg ree in

co n nect io n w i t h a s c h o o l b u s cras h t hat res u lt ed in t h e d eat h o f a s i x -y ear o ld

p as s en g er. 1 Th e ju ry fo u n d Harri s g u i l t y of h o m ici d e b y v eh icl e i n th e fi rs t d eg ree an d

reck l es s dri v i n g. Harri s ap p eal s fro m t h e d en i al o f h er am en d ed m ot i o n fo r n ew t ri al

.

Fo r t h e reas o n s s et fo rt h i n fra, we affi rm

.

1 OCGA §§ 4 0 -6 -1 8 0 ; 4 0 -6 -1 8 1 ; 4 0 -6 -3 9 0 (a); 4 0 -6 -3 9 3 (a), (c); s ee OCGA §

4 0 -6 -1 8 3 (a) (3 ).On ap p eal fro m a cri m in al co nv i ct i o n

, t h e ev i d en ce i s v i ewed i n th e l i g h t m o s t

fav o rab l e to t h e ju ry ’ s verd i ct

, an d we d o n ot wei g h t h e ev i den ce or d et erm i n e

wi t n es s cred i b i l i t y

. 2 So v i ewed

, t h e reco rd s h o ws t h e fo l lo wi n g

. O n J an u ary 2 9

, 2 0 1 8,

Harri s

, a s ch o o l b u s d ri v er fo r Ho u s t o n Co u n t y s ch o ol s

, was d ri v i n g on Fo res t Park

Dri v e as p art o f h er aft ern oo n d ro p -o ff ro u te. Sh e was carry i n g 3 3 el em en t ary s ch o ol

s t ud en t s

, ran gi ng i n ag e fro m pre-k in d erg art en t o fi ft h g rad e, an d on e ad u l t s ch o o l bu s

m o ni t o r. On e s ect i o n o f t h e ro ad wen t d o wn hi l l at a g rad i en t o f ap p ro x im at el y 1 1

. 9

p ercen t

, an d in t h e d o w n hi l l p o rt i o n t h ere w a s a s h arp t u rn t o t h e l eft

. Th e p o s t ed

s p eed l i m i t fo r t h e ro ad w as 2 5 m i l es p er h o u r (“ m p h”), b u t t h e s u g ges t ed s p eed fo r

t h e cu rv e, as d i s p l ay ed o n a y el l o w t raffi c s i g n

, w a s 1 5 m p h

. It was co m

m o n fo r

ch i l d ren t o t h ro w t h ei r h an d s up as t h ey en t ered th i s p art o f t h e ro u t e, “ as i f t h ey were

o n a ro ll er co as t er[,] ” an d y el l “ h an ds u p [; ] ” t h i s d ay was n o d i fferen t

.

Acco rd i ng to tes t i m o n y at t ri al

, Harri s h ad p re v i o u s l y d ri ven t h e b us o n t h i s

s t ret ch o f ro ad wi t h ou t i s s u e. Ho wev er, t h e b u s m o n i t o r tes t ifi ed t h at o n t h i s d ay t h e

b u s ’ s fro n t wh eel s l eft t h e ro ad a s i t e n t ered th e cu rv e, an d Harri s was un ab l e to

reg ai n co n t ro l

. Th e b u s left t h e ro ad

, s t ru ck n earb y t rees an d a d i rt em b an k m en t

, an d

2 Ja cks o n v. Vi r

g i n i a

, 4 4 3 U. S. 3 0 7

, 3 19 (III) (B) (9 9 SCt 2 7 8 1

, 6 1 LE2 d 5 6 0 )

(1 9 7 9); Ra n ki n v. S t at e , 2 78 Ga. 7 0 4 , 7 0 5 (6 0 6 SE2 d 2 6 9 ) (2 0 04 ).

2fl ip p ed o ver o n i t s ri g h t s id e. Si x -y ear-o l d A. H

. , wh o w as s i t t i n g b eh in d Harri s an d

n ear t h e ai s l e, was eject ed fro m t h e b u s d u ri ng t h e cras h an d s u ffered fat al i n ju ri es

.

A. H. was t ran s p o rt ed t o t h e h o s p i t al

, b ut u l t i m at el y d i e d fro m t h e t rau m a s h e

s u s t ai n ed d u ri n g t h e cras h

.

At t ri al

, Harri s’ s b r o t h e r t es t i fi ed t h at h e h ad s p o k en wi t h h er ju s t aft er t h e

cras h, an d t h at s h e h ad s t at ed “ I was g o i n g t o o fas t .” Ad d i t i o nal l y

, a s t u d en t wh o ro d e

o n t he b u s t h at d ay st at ed t h at al t h o u g h i t d i d n o t feel “ m u ch fas t er t h an t h e p rev i ou s

t i m es [,] ” i t d i d feel fas t th at d ay

.

Bo t h t h e St at e an d H arri s o ffered ex p ert tes t im o n y reg ard i n g k e y d et ai l s

s u rro u n d i n g th e cras h

. Th e St at e’ s ex p ert t e s t i f i e d t h at t h e s p eed at wh i ch a s ch o ol

b u s co u l d s afel y n av i g at e th e cu rv e o n t h e r o a d w a s b et ween 1 7 an d 2 0 m p h

. He

t es t i fi ed t h at at th e t i m e t h e b u s l eft t h e ro ad

, h o wev er, it was t rav el in g b et ween 2 9

an d 3 5 m p h

. He co n cl u d ed th at “ t h e b u s had t o [h av e b een ] t rav el i n g at l eas t 2 4 .5 1 6

[m p h ] t o co v er t he d i s t an ce fro m t h e ro ad way ex i t p o i n t t o th e fi rs t m ajo r im p act .” In

c on t ras t, Harri s’ s ex p ert t es t i fi ed t h at h e b el i ev ed t h e b us was t rav el i n g ap pr oxim a te l y

1 7 .7 5 m p h wh en i t en tered t h e cu rv e, an d ap p ro x i m at el y 2 4 m p h wh en i t l eft t h e ro ad

.

Th e t ri a l c o u rt g ran t ed Harri s ’ s m o t i o n fo r d i rect ed verd i ct on v eh i cu l ar

h o m i ci d e i n th e s eco n d d eg re e an d t h e u n d erl y in g o ffen se o f d ri v i n g t o o fas t fo r

3co n di t i o n s

. Th e ju ry fo u n d Harri s g u i l t y o f h o m i ci d e b y v eh i cl e i n t h e fi rs t d eg ree an d

reck l es s d ri v i n g

, an d no t g u i l ty o f h o m i ci d e b y v eh i cl e i n t h e s eco n d deg ree an d

s p eed i n g

. Im

m ed i at el y aft er t h e t ri al

, Harri s ’ s co u n s e l s p o k e wi t h t wo ju ro rs an d

l e arn ed t h at s om e o f th e ju ro rs h ad o bt ai ned ex t ra-ju di ci al i n fo rm at i o n ab o u t t h e

d i fferen c e i n s e veri t y o f th e ch arg es d u ri ng d el i b erat i o n s

. Al l o f t h e ju ro rs t es t i fi ed

at t h e h eari n g on H a r r i s ’ s am en d ed m o ti o n fo r new t ri al

, an d s om e co n fi rm ed t h ey

h ad rev i ewed o r h ad b een to l d ab o u t d i fferen ces i n s ev eri ty o f th e ch arg es faci n g

Harri s

. Th e t ri al co urt d en i ed Harri s ’ s am en d ed m o t i o n fo r n ew t r i a l, an d s h e

s u b s eq u en t l y

ap p eal ed

.

On ap p e al fro m a cri m i n al co n vi ct i o n

, [t he ap p el l at e co u rt ]

v i ew [ s ] t h e e v i d en ce i n t h e l i g h t m o s t fav o rab l e t o t h e v erd i ct an d an

ap p el l an t n o l o ng er en

jo y s t h e p res u m

p t i o n o f i n no cen ce. [Th e ap p el l at e

co u rt ] d et erm i n es wh et h er t h e ev i d en ce is s uffi ci en t u n der t h e s t an dard

o f Ja cks o n v. Vi r

g i n i a

, 3 an d d o es no t wei g h t h e ev i d e n ce o r d et erm in e

wi t n es s cred i b il i t y

. An y co n fl ict s or in co n s i st en ci es i n t h e ev i d en ce are

fo r t h e ju ry t o res o l v e. A s l o ng as th ere i s so m e co m p et en t ev i d e n c e,

ev en t h o u g h co n t rad ict ed

, t o s u p p o rt each fact neces s ary t o m ak e o u t th e

St at e’ s cas e, [t h e rev i ewi n g co urt ] m us t u p h o l d t h e ju ry ’ s v erd i ct

. 4

3 4 4 3 U.S. 3 07

.

4 Ra n ki n , 2 78 Ga. at 70 5 (ad d i t i o n al ci t at io n s o m i t t ed ).

4Ad d i t i o n al l y

, “ m o t io n s fo r n ew t ri al b ecau se o f i m p ro p er co n d u ct o f ju ro rs are

ad d res s ed t o t h e s o u n d d i s cret i o n o f t h e t ri al ju d g e. Un l es s t h ere i s an ab u s e o f

d i s cret i o n

, t h e ap p el l at e co u rt wi l l n o t u p s et th e t ri al ju d g e’ s d et erm i n at i o n .” 5 W h i l e

“ [a] p p el l at e rev iew o f th e ju ry ch arg e is d e n o vo [,]” 6 “ [ w ]e rev i ew t h e t ri al co urt ’ s

refu sal t o g i v e a req u es ted ch arg e fo r an ab u s e o f d i s cret i o n .” 7

W i t h t h es e g u i di n g p ri n ci p l es i n m i n d

, we n o w t urn t o Harri s ’ s cl ai m s o f erro r.

1

. Harri s arg u es t h at t h e t ri al co u rt ab u s ed it s d i s cret i o n i n d en y i n g h er m o t i o n

fo r n ew t ri al b ecau s e s o m e ju ro rs res earch ed d et ai l s reg ard i n g t h e s e n t en ci n g

g u i d el i n es an d t he di fferen ces in t h e ch arg es

. Sp eci fi cal l y

, s h e co n t en d s th at b ecau s e

s o m e ju ro rs learn ed o f th e d i fferen ce b et ween f i r s t an d s eco n d deg ree v eh i cu l ar

h o m i ci d e, t h e t ri al co u rt s ho u l d h av e g ran t ed h er a n ew t ri al

.

W h en i rreg ul ar j u ro r co n d uct i s sh o w n

, t h ere i s a p res u m p t i o n o f

p r e j u d i ce t o t h e d efen d an t

, an d th e p ro s ecu ti o n carri es t h e b u rd e n o f

es t ab l i sh i ng b ey on d a reas o n ab le d o ub t t h at n o harm o ccu rred

. To u p s et

5 G a i n es v. S ta te

, 2 7 4 Ga. Ap p

. 5 7 5 (6 18 SE2 d 1 9 7 ) (2 0 0 5 ) (ci t at i o n an d

p u n ct u at i o n o m it t ed ).

6 Jo r d a n v. S ta t e , 3 2 2 Ga. Ap p . 2 5 2 , 2 5 5 (4 ) (a) (7 44 SE2 d 4 4 7) (2 01 3 ).

7 Jo n es v. St a t e

, 3 5 2 Ga. Ap p

. 3 8 0

, 3 8 6 (2 ) (a) (8 34 SE2 d 8 81 ) (2 0 1 9 )

(p u n ct u at i o n an d fo o t n o t e o m i t t ed ).

5a ju ry verd i ct

, t h e m i s co n d u ct m u st h av e b een s o p reju di ci al th at th e

v erd ict i s d eem ed i nh eren t l y l ack i n g i n d u e p ro ces s. 8

Here, al l 1 2 j u ro rs t es t i fi ed at t h e m o t io n -fo r-n ew-t ri al h eari n g, b u t p u rs u an t

t o OCGA § 2 4-6 -6 0 6 (b ), d i d n o t s p eak t o t h e s p eci fi cs o f t hei r d el ib erat i o n s

. 9 So m e

ju ro rs tes t i fi ed t h at th ey di d n o t k n o w ab o u t t h e d i fferen t s en t en ci n g p o ss i b i l i t i es fo r

t h e ch arg es

, o t h ers tes ti fi ed t hat t h ey l earn ed o f t h e d i fferen ce b et ween t h e fi rs t an d

s eco n d d eg ree ch arg es d u ri n g d el i berat io n s fro m o t h er ju ro rs

, wh il e s o m e ad m i t t ed

t h at t h ey h ad p ers o n al l y s earch ed o n l i n e fo r t h e d i fferen ce i n s ev eri t y o f t he ch arg es

.

Ho wev er, i n co n t ras t t o th e cas es rel i ed o n b y Harri s

, 1 0 t h e ex t ra-ju d i ci al i n fo rm at i o n

8 Fu l l er v. S t a t e

, 3 1 3 Ga. Ap p

. 7 5 9

, 7 6 2 (2 ) (7 2 2 SE2 d 4 5 3) (2 0 1 2 ) (ci t at i on s

an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ).

9 See Beck v. S t a t e

, 3 1 0 Ga. 4 9 1

, 4 9 5 (1 ) (8 5 2 SE2 d 5 35 ) (2 0 2 0) (“ A l t h o u g h

a ju ro r m ay t es t ify t o an y f a c t s b e a r i n g u p o n t h e q u es t i o n o f th e ex i s t en ce o f an y

ex t ran eo u s i n fl u en ce, t h e co u rt m ay no t i nq u i re i n t o th e s u b j ect i ve effect o f s u ch

i n fo rm at i o n o n t h e p art i cu l ar ju ro rs .”) (ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i on o m i t ted ).

1 0 Ll o yd v. S ta te

, 3 3 9 Ga. Ap p. 1

, 9 -1 0 (3 ) (7 9 2 SE2 d 4 4 5 ) ( 2 0 1 6) (p h y s i cal

p reced en t o n l y ) (rev ers i ng co n v i ct io n s b ecau s e t h e S t at e d i d n o t o v erco m e t h e

p res u m p t i o n o f p reju d i ce wh en a ju ro r as k ed a p o l i ce o ffi cer d u r i n g d e l i b erat i on s

ab o ut t h e co n cep t o f “ s t an d y ou r g ro u n d ” i n a m u rd er t ri al ); Ch a mb er

s v. S t a t e

, 3 2 1

Ga. Ap p

. 5 1 2

, 5 2 1 (1 ) (7 39 SE2 d 5 13 ) (2 0 1 3 ) (p h y s i cal preced en t o n ly ) (h o l d i n g t h at

t h e St at e d i d n o t o v erco m e t h e p res u m p t i o n of preju d ice wh en a ju ro r u sed “ h er o wn

In t ern et res earch t o di s p en s e w i t h t h e [d efen d an t ’ s affi rm at i ve] d efen s e o f h ab i t at i o n [

] ”).

6o b t ai n ed b y s o m e o f th e ju ro rs i n t h i s cas e h ad t o d o wi t h t h e d i fferen ce i n t h e

s e v eri t y o f t h e cri m es as o pp o s ed t o t h e u nd erl y i n g s u b s tan t i v e l aw o r ev i d en ce. 1 1

Th erefo re, t h e m i s co n d u ct h ere was n o t “ s o i n h eren t ly preju d ici al as t o req u i re a n ew

t r i al [.] ” 1 2 Acco rd i n gl y

, t h e t ri al co u rt di d n o t ab u s e i t s d i s cret i o n as “ t h e [ju ro r s ’]

act i on s

, wh il e i m

p ro p er, were n ot s o p reju d i ci al as t o h a v e c o n t ri b u ted t o t h e

co n vi ct i o n , an d were h arm l es s b ey o n d a reas o n ab l e d o u b t .” 1 3

2

. Harri s n ex t arg u es t h at t h e ev i d en ce wa s n o t s u ffi ci en t t o s u pp o rt h er

co n vi ct i o n s fo r reck l es s d ri vi n g an d h o m i ci de b y v eh i cl e i n t h e fi rs t d eg ree.

Un d er OCGA § 4 0 -6 -3 9 0 (a), “ [a] n y p ers o n wh o dri v es an y v eh i cl e i n reck l es s

d i s reg ard fo r th e s afet y o f p ers o n s o r p ro p ert y c o m m i t s t h e o ffen s e o f reck l es s

d ri v i ng .” Ad d i t io n al l y

, “ [t ] h e o f f e n s e o f reck l es s d ri vi n g m ay b e co m m i t t ed i n a

v arie ty o f w a y s

, an d wh et h er a d efen d an t’ s m an n er of d ri v i ng u n d er t h e ci rcu m s t an ces

1 1 See B u r ney v. S t a t e

, 3 0 9 Ga. 2 7 3

, 2 9 3 (5 ) (8 45 SE2 d 6 2 5 ) (2 0 2 0 ) ([T] h e t y p es

o f m i sco n d u ct t h at co u l d i n ju re a d efen d an t ’ s d u e p ro ces s ri g ht s i n cl u de “ m ak i n g an

u n au th o ri zed v i s i t t o t he cri m e s cen e an d th en p res en t i ng t h e fi n d i n g s t o t h e ju ry

p an el ; p ri v at el y di s cu s si n g t h e defen d an t ’ s g ui l t p ri o r t o d el i b erat i o n s i n v io l at i o n o f

t h e co u rt ’ s i n s t ru ctions; or im pro p erl y acces s i n g ou t s i d e n ews s o u rces .”) (ci t at i o n an d

p u n ct u at i o n o m it t ed ).

1 2 W o o d r u f f v. S t a t e

, 3 3 9 Ga

. A p p

. 7 0 7, 70 9 (3 ) (7 9 2 SE2 d 4 71 ) (2 0 1 6 )

(ci t at i o n s an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ).

1 3 Id . at 71 0 (ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ).

7d em o n s t rat ed a reck l es s d i s reg ard fo r t h e s afet y o f o t h ers i s a q u es t i o n t h at is res erv ed

fo r t h e ju ry .” 1 4

Un d er OCGA § 4 0-6 -3 9 3 (a),

[a] n y p ers o n wh o, wi th o u t m al i ce afo ret ho u g ht

, cau s es t h e d e a t h o f

an o t her p ers o n t h ro u g h t h e v i o l at i o n o f s u b s ect i on (a) o f Co d e Sect i o n

4 0 -6 -1 6 3

, Co de Sect i on 40 -6 -3 9 0 o r 40 -6 -3 9 1

, o r s u b sect i on (a) o f Co de

Sect io n 4 0 -6 -3 9 5 co m

m i t s th e o ffen s e o f h o m i ci d e b y v eh i cl e i n t h e fi rs t

d eg ree[.]

Here, Harri s w as ch arg ed wi t h reck l es s dri v i n g fo r en t eri n g a cu rv e at a s p eed

t h at d id n o t al l o w h er t o m ai n t ai n co n t ro l o f t h e s ch oo l b u s w h i l e carry in g s t u d en t s

.

At tri al

, t h e St at e p res en t ed ev i d en ce s h o wi ng t h at Harri s h ad s tat ed sh o rt l y aft er t h e

co l l i s i o n “ I was g oi ng t o o fas t [,] ” an d o n e o f t h e st ud en t pas s en gers t es t i fi ed t h at t h e

b u s fel t fas t t h at d ay

. Ad d i t i o nal l y

, t h e St at e’ s ex p ert o pi n ed t h at t h e s p eed at wh i ch

a s ch o ol b u s co u l d s afel y n av i g at e t h e cu rv e was b et ween ap pro x i m at el y 1 7 an d 2 0

m p h, wh i l e t h e b u s i n t h is cas e was t rav el i ng b et ween ap p ro x im at el y 2 9 an d 3 5 m p h

wh en i t left t he ro ad

. A t t ri al

, th e St at e’ s ex p ert co n fi rm ed i t was h i s “ i m p res s i o n t h at

t h e [b u s ] was g o i n g t o o fas t[.] ” Al t h o u g h Harri s ’ s ex p ert d i s ag reed wi t h t h i s

co n cl u s i o n

, “ [i ] t was fo r t h e ju ry t o d et erm i ne t h e cred ib i l i t y o f w i t nes s es

. . . , as wel l

1 4 Ba u t i s t a v. S ta t e , 3 0 5 Ga. Ap p. 2 1 0, 2 1 2 (1 ) (6 9 9 SE2 d 3 9 2) (2 01 0 ).

8as t h e wei g h t to b e acco rd ed t h e ex p ert

. . . t es t i m o ny .” 1 5 Ad d it i o n al l y

,

“ [ci rcu m st an ti al ] ev i den ce need n o t ex cl u d e ev ery in feren ce o r h y p ot h es is ex cep t t h e

g u i l t o f t h e accu s ed , b u t o n ly reas o nab l e i n feren ces an d h y p o t h es es , s o as t o ju s t i fy

t h e i n f e ren ce bey o n d a reas on ab l e d o u b t

, o f gu i l t .” 1 6 In l i g ht o f t h e fo reg o i n g

, t h e

ev i d en ce p res en t ed at tri al w as s u ffi ci e n t f o r a r eas o n ab l e ju ry

t o fi nd Harri s g ui l t y

o f reck l es s d ri v i ng

.

Reg ard i n g H arri s ’ s co n v i ct i o n fo r fi rs t d eg ree v eh i cu l ar h o m ici d e, b o t h p art i es

s t ip u l at ed th at A. H.’ s d eat h was “ cau s ed b y m ul ti p l e trau m at i c i nju ri es s u s tai n ed as

a res u l t o f t he b u s wreck .” Fu rt h er, o n e co m m i ts fi rs t d eg ree v eh i cu l ar h o m ici d e i f s h e

cau s es t h e d eat h o f an o t h er p ers o n t hro u g h reck l es s d ri v in g

. 1 7 Th u s

, b ecau s e t h e

ev i d en ce was su ffi ci en t t o s u p p ort Harri s ’ s co n v i ct i o n fo r reck l es s d ri v i n g

, wh i ch l ed

1 5 Ha mi l t o n v. S t a t e

, 2 8 1 Ga. 5 01

, 5 0 2 (1 ) (6 4 0 SE2 d 2 8 ) (2 0 0 7 ) (ci t at i on s

o m it t ed ).

1 6 Eva n s -Gl od

o ws ki v. S t a t e

, 3 3 5 Ga. Ap p

. 4 8 4, 4 8 7 (1 ) (7 8 1 SE2 d 5 9 1 ) (2 0 1 6 )

(ci t at i o n an d p u nct u at io n o m i t ted ).

1 7 OCGA § § 4 0-6 -3 9 3 (a); 4 0 -6 -3 9 0 (a); see W a l d en v. S t a t e

, 2 7 3 Ga. Ap p

. 7 0 7

(6 1 6 S E2 d 4 6 2 ) (2 0 0 5 ) (“ Becau s e we fi n d t h ere was am p l e ev i d en ce th at [t h e

d efen d an t ] reck l es s l y d ro v e t h e [v eh i cl e] i n v i o l at io n o f OCGA § 4 0 -6 -3 9 0

, w e affi rm

t h e co n v ict i o n fo r fi rs t d eg ree v eh i cu l ar ho m i ci d e b as ed o n t h e p red i cat e v i ol at i o n o f

reck l es s d ri v i n g.”).

9t o A. H .’ s d eat h

, a reas o n ab l e ju ry co u l d h av e fo u n d h er gu i l t y o f ho m i ci d e b y v eh i cl e

i n t he fi rs t d eg ree. 1 8

3

. Harri s arg u es th at t h e tri al co u rt erred wh en i t ch arg ed t he ju ry

. Sp eci fi cal l y

,

s h e as s ert s t h at t h e co u rt co m m it t ed p l ai n erro r i n m is s t at i ng t h e d efi n i t io n o f a cri m e

an d o m i t ti n g t h e i n t en t el em en t

, an d t h at t h e co urt ab u s ed i ts d i s cret io n b y refu s i n g

t o g i v e a ch arg e o n cri m i n al n eg l i g en ce an d o n t h e d efen s e o f acci den t

.

Becau s e Harri s d i d n o t o b ject t o t h e j u ry ch arg e at tri al b efo re d el i b erat i o n s

, we

rev i ew t h e co urt ’ s c h a r g e o n t h e d efi n i t i o n o f a cri m e fo r pl ai n erro r. 1 9 W h en

rev i ewi n g f

o r p l ai n erro r, t o s u m

m ari ze i t “ s u cci n ct l y i n t he co n t ex t o f OCGA §

1 7 -8 -5 8 (b ), t h e p ro p er i n q ui ry i s wh et h er t h e i n s t ru ct i o n was erro n eo us , wh et h er i t

was o bv i o u s l y

s o

, an d wh et h er i t l i k el y affect ed t h e o u tco m e o f t h e p ro ceed i n g s .” 2 0

Ad d i t i o n al l y

, “ wh en co n s i d eri n g wh et h er erro r ex i st s i n th e i n s t ru ct i o n s t o t h e ju ry

,

[t he rev i ewi n g co u rt ] co n s i ders t h e i n s tru ct i on s as a wh o l e.” 2 1

1 8 See Ba ut is t a

, 3 05 Ga. Ap p . at 2 12 (1 ).

1 9 S t a t e v. Kel l

y

, 2 9 0 G a. 2 9

, 3 2 -3 3 (2 ) (a) (7 18 SE2 d 2 32 ) (2 0 1 1 ); s ee OCGA

§ 1 7-8 -5 8 (b ).

2 0 Kel l y , 2 9 0 Ga. at 3 3 (2 ) (a) (ci t at i on an d p u nct u at i o n o m i t t ed ).

2 1 Ja cks o n v. S t at e

, 3 0 6 Ga. 6 9

, 82 (3 ) (8 29 SE2 d 1 4 2 ) ( 20 1 9 ) (ci t at i o n an d

p u n ct u at i o n o m it t ed ).

10Here, wh en t h e t ri al co u rt i n s t ru ct ed t h e ju ry on t h e m ean i n g o f a cri m e, i t d id

n o t referen ce i n t en t. Ho wev er, t h e co u rt p ro v i d ed a t h o ro u g h i n s t ru ct i on o n t h e

el em en t o f i nt en t i m

m ed i at el y aft er i t s ch arg e d efi n i n g a cri m e. M o reo ver, i n t en t i n

t h e co n t ex t o f t raffi c o ffen s es

, s u ch as reck l es s d ri vi n g

, o nl y req u ires t h at t h e S t a t e

p ro v e “ g en er a l cri m i n al i n t en t

, wh i ch i s s i m p l y t h e i n t en t t o d o t h e act wh i ch res u l t s

i n th e v io l at i o n o f t h e l aw, an d n o t t h e i n t en t t o co m m i t t h e cri m e i ts el f.” 2 2 Th u s

, ev en

as s u m in g arg u en d o t h at t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s o m i s s i on o f i n t e n t fro m it s ch arg e was an

erro r o r d efect n o t s u b

j ect t o reas o n ab l e d i sp u te, Harri s “ h as n o t sh o w n t h at t h e t ri al

co u rt ’ s m i s t ak e i n read i n g t h e ch arg e affect ed [h er] s u bs t an ti al ri g h t s i n s u c h a

m an n er as t o affect t h e o u t co m e o f t h e t ri al c o u r t p r o ceed i ng s [,] ” an d t h erefo re d id

n o t co ns t i t u t e p lai n erro r. 2 3

Harri s al s o cl ai m s t h at t h e t ri al co u rt ab u s ed i t s d i s cret i o n wh e n i t refu s ed to

i n s t ru ct th e ju ry o n th e d efen s e o f acci den t an d o n cri m i n al n eg l ig en ce. Ho wev er, “ a

ju ry ch arg e o n t h e d efen s e o f acci d en t t o a s t ri ct l i ab i li t y t raffi c o ffen s e i s av ai l ab l e

o n l y wh ere t h ere i s ev i d en ce, h o wev er s l i g h t , t h at t h e d efen d an t d i d n o t v o l u n t ari l y

2 2 S t a t e v. Og i l vi e

, 2 9 2 G a. 6

, 8 ( 2 ) ( a) (7 3 4 SE2 d 5 0 ) (2 01 2 ) (ci tat i o n s an d

p u n ct u at i o n o m it t ed ).

2 3 Fo r t e v. S t a t e , 3 0 2 Ga. 7 2 6 , 7 2 9 (2 ) (8 0 8 SE2 d 6 5 8 ) (2 0 17 ).

11co m

m i t t he p ro h i b i t ed act .” 2 4 Here, t h ere was ev id en ce o f t h e b u s ’ s s p eed an d o f t h e

ro ad ’ s feat u res

, b u t t h e tri al co urt fo u n d t h ere was n o ev id en ce p res en t ed rel at ed to

an acci d en t d efen s e. Becau s e t h ere w as n o ev id en ce d em o ns t rat in g t h at “ t h e

pr o h i b i ted act was co m

m i t ted i nv o l u n tari l y

, fo r ex am pl e, b ecau se o f an u n fo res ee a ble

p h y s i cal ai l m en t o r ex t ern al fo rce[,] ” 2 5 t h e t ri al co u rt d id n o t ab u s e i t s d is cret i o n

. 2 6

As i t rel at es t o Harri s ’ s arg u m en t reg ard i n g cri m i n al n eg l i g en ce,

W he n [ r ev i ewi n g ] a refu s al t o g i v e a req u es t ed i n st ru ct io n

, [t h e ap pel l a te

co u rt ] m u s t l o o k t o t h e ju ry ch arg e as a wh o l e, an d i f th e ju ry ch arg e as

a wh o l e a c c u rat el y an d fu l l y ap p ri s ed t h e ju ry o f th e law t o b e ap p l ied

i n i t s d el i b erat i o ns

, t h en t h e refu s al t o g i v e an ad d i t i o n al i n s tru ct i on

,

ev en i f t h at ad d it i o n al i n s t ru ct i o n were accu rat e, do es n o t a m o u nt t o

erro r. 2 7

M o reo v er, “ [w] here a ch arg e as a wh o l e s ub s t an t i al l y p res en t s i s s u es i n s u ch a way

as i s no t l i k el y t o co n fu s e t h e ju ry ev en t ho u g h a p o rt i o n of t h e ch arg e m ay n o t b e as

cl ear an d p reci s e as co u l d be d es i red

, a rev i ewi n g co u rt w i l l n o t d i s t u r b a v erd i ct

2 4 Og i l vi e , 2 92 Ga. at 7 (2 ) (b ).

2 5 Id

.

2 6 Jo n es , 3 5 2 Ga. Ap p

. at 3 8 6 (2 ) (a).

2 7 Ha r r i s o n v. S t a te , 3 0 9 Ga. Ap p . 4 5 4 , 4 57 (2 ) (a) (7 1 1 SE2 d 3 5 ) (2 0 1 1 ).

12am

pl y au t h o ri zed b y t h e ev i d en ce.” 2 8 Th erefo re, ev en as s u m i n g arg u en d o t h at a

ch arg e o f cri m i n al n eg l i g en ce wo u l d h av e b een p ro per, g i v en th e to t a l i t y o f t h e

i n s t ru ct i o n p ro v i d ed

, wh i c h i n cl u d ed ch arg es o n t h e d efi n i ti o n o f a cri m e, i n t en t

,

reas on ab l e d o u b t

, t h e el em en t s o f t h e cri m es ch arg ed , an d ci rcu m st an t i al an d d i rect

ev i d en ce, t h e t ri al co urt ’ s ch arg e was an accu rat e ap p rai s al o f t h e l aw. T h u s

, t h e t ri al

co u rt d i d n o t ab u s e i t s d is cret i o n i n refu s i ng t o ch arg e o n cri m i nal n eg l i g en ce.

Ju d g men t a f f i r m ed . Do yl e, P. J., a n d

Br o wn

, J., co n cu r

.

2 8 Da n i el s v. St a t e

, 31 0 Ga. A p p

. 5 6 2

, 5 6 5 (2 ) (7 1 4 SE2 d 9 1) (2 0 1 1) (ci t at i o n

an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ).

13