FOURTH D I VI SI ON DOYLE, P. J.

, COOM ER and M A R KLE, 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.

http://w w w .ga a ppe a l s .us /r ule s

M ay 8, 2019



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 9 A0 55 2 . SEALS v . THE STATE.

M A R K LE
, J ud g e.

M arcu s Gl en n Seal s ap p eal s fro m t he d en i al of h is m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al

f o l l o w i n g h i s co n v ict i o n fo r ag g rav at ed as s au l t

, b u rg l ary , s t al ki ng , p o s s es s i o n o f a

fi rearm d u ri n g t h e c o m m i s s i o n o f a cri m e, an d cri m i n al d am ag e to p ro p ert y

. On

ap p eal

, h e arg u es t h at h e recei v ed i n effect i v e as s i s t an ce o f t ri al co u n s el d u e to

co u ns el ’ s fai l u re t o ob

ject t o (a) ev i d en ce o f h is p ri o r d i ffi cu l t i es wi t h t h e vi ct i m , an d

(b ) t h e ad m i s s io n o f t ex t m es s ag es . Fo r t h e reas o n s t h at fo l l o w, we affi rm

.

Vi ewi n g t h e ev i d en ce i n t he l i g h t m o s t fav orab l e t o t h e v erd ict

, Ja cks o n v.

Vi r g i n i a , 4 4 3 U. S. 3 0 7 (9 9 SCt 2 7 8 1

, 6 1 LE2 d 5 6 0) (1 9 79 ), t h e reco rd s h o ws t h at t h e

v i ct i m , C. L., an d Seal s h ad b een d at i n g o n an d o ff si n ce 2 0 0 2 or 20 0 3. In 2 0 0 4

, t h ey

were l iv i n g to get h er i n Al ab am a, b u t w ere arg u i n g freq u en t l y , an d wh en C. L. t o ldSeal s t h at s h e was l eav i n g h i m , h e s l ap p ed h er an d s he t h rew a v as e at h i m

. Des p i t e

h i s t em p er, C. L. co n ti n u ed t h e rel at i o n s h i p wi t h Seal s. In earl y 2 0 0 5

, Seal s t ri ed to

at t ack C. L. wh en s h e wen t t o a n i g ht cl ub wi th a fri en d

. W h en C. L

. wen t b ack t o h er

ap art m en t th at n i g h t , s h e d i s co v ered t h at Seal s h ad b ro k en i n t o h er h om e an d t ak en

h er d o g

. Becau s e C. L. w as fri g h t en ed o f Seal s , s h e ca l l e d t h e p o l i ce an d t h ey

es co rt ed h er t o t h e h i g h way s o s h e co ul d leav e. Ho wev er, S e a l s fo l l owed h er an d

fo rced h er car t o t h e s i de o f t he ro ad . C. L. t h en g o t i n t o Seal s ’ s car an d wen t h o m e

wi t h h i m

. Ag ai n , C. L. co n t i n u ed h er rel at i o n s h i p wi t h Seal s , i n cl u d i ng en g ag i n g in

co n sen s ual s ex u al co n t act

. In S e p t em b er 2 0 0 5, Seal s v i s i t ed C. L. u n i n vi ted at h er

wo rk p l ace, an d C. L. cal l ed t he p o l i ce. Th at n i g h t

, C. L. wen t t o a b at t ered wo m an ’ s

s h el t er an d t h en d ro v e t o At l an t a.

Aft er sh e m o v ed t o Geo rg i a, C. L. d i d n o t t el l Seal s wh ere s h e w a s l i v i n g o r

wo rk i n g , an d d i d n o t i n v i t e Seal s t o h er ap art m en t , b u t s h e co n t i n u ed t o s p eak wi th

h i m by p h o n e. T h a t N o vem b er, C. L

. recei v ed a t ex t m es s ag e fro m Seal s ’ s p h o n e

n u m b er wi t h a p i ct u re o f t h e h o u s e s h e h ad s t ay ed i n wh en sh e fi rs t cam e t o At l an t a.

A few week s l at er, s h e recei v ed an o t h er t ex t th reat en in g her a f t e r Seal s ’ s car was

rep o s s es s ed

. Th e tex t m es s ag e cam e fro m t h e p h o n e n um b er C. L. i d en t i fi ed as Seal s ,

an d read

, “ I s u re h o pe th is $ 5 0 0 was wo rt h wh at y o u ’ re ab o ut t o g et d on e t o y o u ,” an d

2“ Bi t ch

, I’ l l g et y ou

. I’ l l nev er fo rg et t h i s s hi t .” C. L. co n t act ed p o l i ce, b u t co n t i n u ed

t o co m m u n i ca t e w i t h Seal s

. Sh e s aw Seal s ag ai n in D ecem b er 2 0 0 5 an d in J an u ary

2 0 0 6

, s t ay in g wi t h h i m d ur i n g a t ri p t o Al ab am a. C. L. ad m it ted t h at s h e an d Seal s

were i n t i m at e, b u t s h e s t at ed t h at sh e di d n o t w a n t t o rees t ab l is h a ro m an t i c

rel at i o n s h i p wi t h h i m

.

On t h e n ig h t of Feb ru ary 1 8

, 2 0 0 6

, C. L

. w en t t o a cl u b wi t h fri en d s

. W h i l e s h e

was t h ere, Seal s cal l ed h er, b u t C. L. to l d h i m s h e co u l d n o t h ear h i m an d wo u l d cal l

h i m l at er. Ho wev er, C. L.’ s p h on e d i ed an d s h e was n ot ab l e t o cal l Seal s b ack

. Th e

fo l l o w i n g m o rn i n g , C. L. was at h o m e wi t h a fo rm er bo y fri en d

, F. S., wh en s h e h eard

s o m eo n e k n o ck at h er ap art m en t d o o r. Im m ed i at el y th ereaft er, Seal s ki ck ed t h e d o o r

i n , en t ered th e ap art m en t, an d s t art ed s h o o t i n g

. C. L. ran i n t o h er b ed ro o m an d h i d o n

t h e fl o or b y h er b ed

. F. S. grab b ed hi s ri fl e an d s tart i n g s h o o t i n g at Seal s, b u t h i s g u n

jam m ed aft er t h e fi rs t s h o t

. F. S. was s h o t i n th e leg an d Seal s was s h o t i n t h e t o rs o

an d arm

. C. L. cal l ed 9 1 1 as Seal s fl ed t h e ap ar t m e n t

. Seal s cal l ed C. L. lat er t h at

ev en in g , s ai d h e was n o t t ry i n g t o h u rt h er an d as k ed i f F. S. was d ead

.

Fo l l owi n g t h i s i n ci den t

, Seal s was i n di ct ed o n t w o co u n t s o f b u rg l ary ; t wo

co u nt s of ag grav at ed as s au l t ; cri m i nal d am ag e t o pro p ert y ; two co u n t s o f p o s s es s i o n

o f a fi rearm d u ri n g co m

m i s si o n o f a cri m e; an d t wo co u n t s o f s t al k i n g

. Pri o r t o t ri al

,

3t h e St at e fi l ed n ot i ce o f i t s in ten t t o i n t ro d u ce Seal s ’ s p ri o r co nv i ct i o ns an d o t h er

cri m es , an d t o seek reci d iv i s t sen t en ci ng

. Al th ou g h d efen s e co u n s el i n i t i al l y res erv ed

h i s o b ject i o n t o ev i d en ce o f p ri o r d i ffi cu l t i es b et ween t h e p art i es , at t h e b eg i n n i n g o f

t ri al , co u n s el s tat ed t h ere was n o o b j ect i o n t o s u ch t es t i m o n y

.

Seal s t e s t i fi ed i n hi s o wn d efen s e, s tat i n g t h at h e an d C. L. were i n a

rel at i o n s h i p , an d th at h e wen t t o C. L.’ s ap art m en t t h at n ig h t b ecau s e h e w as wo rri ed

wh en s h e d i d n o t cal l h i m b ack

. He ad m i t t ed t h at h e wa s a n g r y an d h ad k i ck ed t h e

d o o r i n , b u t h e cl ai m ed h e d i d n o t s t art s h o ot i n g u n t i l F. S. fi red at h i m

. Al t h o u g h h e

d en ied t h at he h ad ev er t h reat en ed C. L., h e ad m i t t ed s en d i n g t h e t ex t m es s ag es

.

Du ri n g d efen se co u n s el ’ s cro s s -ex am i n at i o n o f C

. L., co u ns el as k ed ab o ut

i n co n s i s t en ci es i n h er t es t i m o n y reg ard i n g h er rel at i o ns h ip wi t h Seal s an d wh at s h e

t o l d p o l i ce t h e d ay

o f t h e s h o o t i n g

.

Th e ju ry co nv i ct ed Seal s o n al l co u n ts . Seal s fi l ed a m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al an d

an am en d ed m o ti o n , arg u i n g , as i s rel ev an t t o t h i s ap p eal

, t h at tri al c o u n s el was

i n effect i v e i n fai l in g to o b ject to (a) ev i d en ce o f p ri o r di ffi cu lt i es b et ween Seal s an d

t h e v i ct im

, an d (b ) t es ti m on y reg ard i n g t h reat en i n g t ex t m es s ag es Seal s al l eg ed l y s en t

t o t h e v i ct i m

. Th e t ri al co u rt d en i ed t h e m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al

, as am en d ed

. Seal s n o w

ap p eal s , rai s i n g t wo cl ai m s o f i n effect i v e as s i s t an ce o f co u n s el

.

4To s u cceed o n a cl ai m t h at co u ns el was co n s t i t u t i o n a ll y i n effect i v e,

[Seal s ] m us t s h o w b o t h t h at h i s at t o rn ey ’ s p erfo rm an ce was d efi ci en t

,

an d t h at h e was p reju di ced as a res u l t

. Un d er th e fi rs t p ro n g o f t h i s t es t

,

co u n s el ’ s p erfo rm an ce wi l l b e fo u nd d efi ci en t o n l y if i t was o bject i v el y

u n reas o n ab l e u n der t he ci rcu m s t an ces an d i n l i g h t o f p rev ai l i n g

p ro fes s io nal n orm s

. An d u n d er t h e s eco n d p ro ng , p reju d i ce i s

d em o ns trat ed o n l y wh ere t h ere i s a rea s o n ab l e p ro b ab il i ty t h at

, ab s en t

co u n s e l ’s e r r o rs , t h e res u l t o f t h e t ri al w o u l d h av e b een d i fferen t

. A

“ reas o n ab l e p ro b ab i l i t y ” i s d efi n ed as a p ro b ab i l it y s u ffi ci en t t o

u n d erm in e co n fi d en ce i n t h e o u tco m e. Fai lu re to sat i sfy ei t h er p ro n g o f

t h e

. . . t es t i s s u ffi ci en t t o d efeat a cl ai m o f i n effect i v e as s i st an ce, an d

i t i s n ot i n cu m

b en t u p o n t h is Co u rt t o ex am in e t h e o t h e r p ro n g

. An d

al t h o u g h b o t h t h e p erfo rm a n c e a n d preju d ice co m p o n en t s o f an

i n effect iv en es s in qu i ry i n v o l v e m i xed qu es t i o ns o f law an d fact

, a t ri al

co u rt ’ s fact u al fi n d i n g s m ad e i n t h e co u rs e o f d eci di n g an i n e f f e ct iv e

as s i s t an ce o f co u n s el cl a i m wi l l b e affi rm ed b y t h e rev i ewi n g co u rt

u n l es s cl earl y erro n eo us

. (Ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at io n o m i t t ed .) Gr een v.

S t a t e , 3 0 2 G a. 8 1 6

, 8 17 -8 1 8 (2 ) (8 0 9 SE2 d 7 38 ) (2 0 18 ). Befo re t urn i n g

t o Seal s ’ s cl ai m s o f erro r, we n o t e t hat t h e t ri al i n t h is cas e o ccu rred i n

2 0 0 7

, an d th u s t h e p ri o r v ers i o n o f ou r Ev i d en ce Co d e ap p l i es

. See

Ar b eg a s t v. S t at e , 3 3 2 G a. Ap p

. 4 14

, 4 1 6 (2 ) (a) (7 7 3 SE2 d 2 8 3) (2 0 15 ).

1

. In h i s fi rs t en um erat i o n o f erro r, Seal s arg u es t hat he recei v ed i n effec t i v e

as s i s tan ce o f co un s el d u e t o co u n s el ’ s fai l u re t o o b j ect t o t he ad m i s s io n o f ev i d en ce

5o f p ri o r d i ffi cu l t ies

, an d t h e ev id en ce was i nad m is si b l e becau s e th e t ri al co u rt fai l ed

t o co n du ct t h e req u i red an al y s i s b efo re al lo w i n g t he ev i d en ce. W e d i s ag ree.

[P] ri o r d i ffi cu l t i es b et ween t h e p art i es are n o t i n dep en d en t act s o r

o ccu rren ces , b u t are co n n ect ed act s o r o ccu rren ces ari s i n g fro m th e

rel at io ns h ip b et w een t h e s a m e p e o p l e i n v o lv ed i n t h e p ro secu t i o n an d

are rel at ed an d co n n ec t e d b y s u ch n ex us

. Ev i den ce o f a d efen d an t ’ s

p ri o r act t o w ard t h e s am e vi ct i m , wh et her an as s au l t

, a q uarrel

, o r a

t h reat

, i s ad m i s s i b l e as ev i d en ce of th e rel at i o ns h ip b et w een t h e v i ct i m

an d th e d efen d an t an d m ay s h o w t h e d efen d an t ’ s m o t i v e, i n t en t, an d

b e n t o f m i nd i n co m

m it t i n g t h e act ag ai n s t t h e v i ct im wh ich res u l t s i n

t h e ch arg es fo r wh i ch t h e d efen d an t i s b ei n g p ro s ecu t ed

.

(Ci t at i o n o m i t t ed

. ) Ap

p l i n g v. S t at e , 2 4 6 Ga. Ap p

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

“ Ev i d en ce o f p ri o r d i ffi cu l t i es bet ween t h e p art i es i s ad m i s s i b l e i f t here i s a ‘ l o g i cal

,

p ro b at i v e co n n ect i o n ’ b et ween t h e d i ffi cu l t i es an d t h e cri m es ch arg ed .” (Ci t at i o n

o m it t ed .) Cu n ni ng h a m v

. S t a t e , 2 4 3 Ga. Ap p

. 77 0

, 7 7 1 (1 ) (5 3 3 SE2 d 7 3 5 ) (2 0 0 0 );

s ee al so W

a l l v. S t a t e , 2 6 9 Ga. 5 0 6 , 5 0 8-5 0 9 (2 ) (5 0 0 SE2 d 9 0 4) (1 99 8 ). W h ere t h e

d efen d an t cl ai m s s el f-d efen s e, ev id en ce o f pri o r d i ffi cu l t i es i s rel ev an t an d

ad m i s s i b l e. S

p ea r ma n v. S t a te , 2 6 7 Ga. 6 0 0 , 6 0 1 (2 ) (4 8 1 SE2 d 8 1 4 ) (1 9 9 7).

Here

, t h e v i ct im t es t i fi ed t o t h e co n t en ti o u s n at ure o f h er rel at i o n sh i p wi th

Seal s an d p ri o r t h reat s h e h ad m ad e. In h i s o wn t es t i m o ny , Seal s ad m i t t ed t h at t h e t wo

6fo u g ht

, an d t h at h e s en t t h e m es s ag es

. He fu rt h er cl ai m ed t hat h e fi red h i s g u n i n s el f

d efen s e. Th u s , t h e tes t i m o n y ab o u t t he p ri o r d i ffi cu l t i es b et ween C. L. an d Seal s was

rel ev an t t o s h o w Seal s ’ s m o t i v e, i n t en t

, an d b en t o f m i n d

. 1 S p ea r ma n , 26 7 Ga. at 6 0 1

(2 ); Ap pl i n g , 2 46 Ga. Ap p

. at 5 5 6

. T h erefo re, t h e ev id en ce was ad m i s s i b l e, an d t ri al

co u ns el ’ s fai l u re to o b

ject t o i t was n o t d efi ci en t p erfo rm an ce. No t ab l y , co u n s el d id

n o t t es t i fy at t h e h ea ri n g o n t h e m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al as t o h i s fai lu re t o o b ject

, an d

t h erefo re, we p res u m e t h e d eci si o n was s t rat eg i c. Tyn er v. S t a te

, 3 1 3 Ga. Ap p . 5 5 7,

5 6 5 (6 ) (c) (7 2 2 SE2 d 1 7 7) (2 01 2 ). Seal s h as fai l ed t o o v erco m e t hi s p res u m p t i o n

.

M o reo v er, co n t rary t o Seal s ’ s arg u m en t

, th e tri al co u rt was n o t req u i red t o h o ld

an y p re-t ri al h eari n g o r m ak e s p eci fi c fi nd i ng s befo re ad m i t t i n g ev i den ce o f p ri o r

d i ffi cu l t i es

. See Gr a h a m v. S ta t e , 2 7 4 Ga. 6 9 6, 6 9 8 (2 ) (5 5 8 SE2 d 3 9 5 ) (2 0 02 ) (p ret ri al h eari n g an d fact u al fi n d i n g s n ot req u i red b efo re ad m i tt i ng ev i d en ce o f p ri o r

d i ffi cu l t i es ); W

a l l

, 26 9 Ga. at 5 09 (2 ) (o v erru l in g p reced en t req ui ri ng s u ch fi n d i n g s ).

On t hes e fact s , Seal s h a s n o t s h o w n th at h e recei v ed i n effect iv e as s i st an ce o f

co u ns el

. 2

1 W e n o t e t h at t h e t ri al co u rt g av e t h e j u ry a l i m i t i n g i n st ru ct i o n reg ard i n g t h e

u s e o f s u ch ev id en ce.

2 T o t h e ex t en t t hat Seal s arg u es th at t r i a l c o u n s el was d efi ci en t i n fai l i n g to
i n v es t i g at e t h e cas e an d in t erv i ew al l t h e wi t n es s es b efo re t ri al

, he d i d n o t en u m erat e

72

. Seal s n ex t a r g u e s th at h e recei v ed in effect i v e as s i s tan ce o f co un s el wh en

t ri al co u n s el f

a i l e d t o o b

ject t o t h e o ffi cer’ s t es ti m o n y reg ard i n g t h e t ex t m es s ag es

b ecau s e th ere w as n o ev id en ce t h at Seal s sen t t h e m es s ag es , an d t he ad m i s s i o n o f t h e

t es t i m o ny v i o l at ed t h e b es t ev id en ce ru l e. W e d is cern n o erro r.

At t h e h eari ng o n t h e m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al

, co u n s el t es t i fi ed th at h e d i d n o t h i re

an y ex pert s o r s eek t o o b t ai n ev i d en ce fro m Seal s ’ s wi rel es s carri er, an d i n st ead t h at

h e tri ed t o m ak e t h e j u r y a w a re o f i n co ns i s ten ci es i n C. L.’ s t es ti m o n y becau s e t h e

en t i re cas e cam e d o wn t o cred i b i l i t y . He fu rt h er ex p l ai ned t h at t h e d efen se’ s t h eo ry

was t h at Seal s act ed i n s el f d efen s e.

“ T h e d eci s i o n o f wh et h er t o i n t erp o se cert ai n o b j ect i o n s is a m at t er o f t r i a l

s t rat eg y an d t act i cs

. Erro rs i n ju d g m en t an d t act ical erro rs d o n o t co n st i t u t e d en i al o f

effect i v e as s i s t an ce o f co u n s el .” (Ci t at i o n s an d p u n ct u at io n o m i t ted .) Ab er n a t h y v.

t h i s gro un d as an erro r, an d h e d i d n o t rai s e t h i s as an al l eg at i on of i n effect i v e

as s i s tan ce of co u n s e l i n h i s m ot i o n fo r n ew tri al

. Th u s , w e d o n ot ad d res s i t

. See

Tu cker v. S t at e , 2 9 9 Ga. A p p

. 2 7 8

, 2 8 0 (2 ) (6 8 3 SE2 d 35 6 ) (2 0 0 9 ); McGl o ckl i n v. S t a t e , 2 9 2 Ga. Ap p

. 1 6 2, 1 6 3 (6 6 4 SE2 d 5 5 2) (2 0 0 8 ) (d efen d a n t m u s t rai s e al l

i n effect i v e as s i s t an ce of co u ns el cl ai m s as s o o n as p ract icab l e an d th e fa i l u r e t o d o

s o wai v es th e cl ai m ). M o reo ver, t o th e ex ten t t h at Seal s cl ai m s erro r b ecau s e t h ere

was n o co rro b o rat i on o f t h e p ri or d i ffi cu l t ies

, Seal s tes t i fi ed t h at h e o ft en fo u g h t wi th

t h e v i ct i m an d t h at h e sen t th e t ex t m es sag es

. T h u s , i t was fo r t he ju ry t o a s s es s t h e cred i b i l i t y o f t h e tes ti m o n i es

. Gi ven s v. S t at e , 2 7 3 Ga. 81 8

, 8 1 9 (1 ) (5 4 6 SE2 d 5 0 9 ) (2 0 0 1) (“ res ol v i n g ev id en t i ary co n fl i ct s an d i n co n s i s t en c i es , an d as s es s i n g wi t n es s cred i b i l i t y , are t he p ro v in ce o f t h e fact fi n d er”).

8S t a t e , 2 9 9 Ga. Ap p

. 8 9 7

, 9 0 3 ( 3 ) ( a) (6 85 SE2 d 73 4 ) (2 0 0 9 ). Mo reo v er, co u n sel ’ s

p erfo rm an ce can n o t b e d efi ci en t fo r t h e fai l u re t o m ak e a m eri t les s ob ject io n

. W

es l ey

v. S t a t e , 2 8 6 Ga. 3 5 5 , 3 5 6 (3 ) (a) (6 8 9 SE2 d 2 8 0 ) (2 0 1 0 ).

On t h i s reco rd

, Seal s can n o t s h o w t h at co u n sel ’ s p erfo rm an ce was d efi ci en t

.

Fi rs t

, t o th e ex t en t t h at Seal s co n t en d s t here was n o fo u n d at io n t o es t ab l i s h t h e t ex t

m es s ag es cam e fro m hi m , Seal s ad m i t t ed i n h i s t es t i m o n y t h at h e sen t t he m es s ag es ,

an d h e ad m i t ted t h e t es t i m o n y reg ard i n g t h e co n t en t o f t h o se m es s ag es was co rrect

.

Ad d i t i o n al l y , C. L. t es t i fi ed th at t h e m es sag e s cam e fro m a n u m b er s h e reco g n i zed

as Seal s ’ s n u m

b er. Fi n al l y , a d et ect i v e t es t i fi ed t h at h e v i ewed t h e m es s ag es an d h ad

wri t ten d own t he co n ten t

. Th i s ev i d en ce w as s u ffi ci en t t o es t ab l i sh t h at Seal s s en t t h e

m es s ag es

. Cf. Ca r t er v. S t a t e , 3 0 2 Ga. 6 8 5

, 6 9 0 (4 ) (8 0 8 SE2 d 7 0 4 ) (2 0 17 ) (i n cas e

d eci d ed un d er t h e Ol d Ev id en ce Co de, th ere was n o erro r i n ad m i s s i o n o f t ex t

m es s ag es wh ere rec i p i e n t t es t i fi ed t h at s h e was i n v o l v ed w i t h t h e d efen d an t

, h ad

s av e d h i s n u m

b er i n h er co n t act s , an d t h e m es s ag es i n cl u ded i n fo rm at i o n t h at

i d en t i fi ed h i m as t h e s en d er); s ee al s o Br o wn v. S t at e , 2 6 6 Ga. 7 23

, 7 2 5 (3 ) (4 7 0 SE2 d

6 5 2 ) (1 9 9 6 ) (“ Geo rg i a l aw req u i res t h at t here be a s u ffi ci en t b as i s fo r a wi t n es s to

i d en t i fy a p ers o n wi t h wh o m h e s p ok e o v er t he tel ep h o ne, b efo re t es t i fy i n g as t o t h e

co n ten t s o f t he co n v ers at i o n

. ”). Becau s e t h e r e w a s a s uffi ci en t fo u nd at i o n t o ad m i t

9t h e ev i d en ce, an y o b ject i o n t o i t wo u l d h av e b een m eri t l e s s , an d co u n sel ’ s

p erfo rm an ce was n o t d efi ci en t. W es l ey , 2 8 6 Ga. at 3 56 (3 ) (a).

Tu rn i n g t o Seal s ’ s cl ai m t h at t h e tes t i m on y ab o u t t h e co n t en t o f th e m es s ag es

v i o l at ed t h e b es t ev i d en ce ru l e, Seal s ag ai n fai l s t o s h o w t h at he recei v ed i n effect i v e

as s i s tan ce o f co u n s el

.

“ Th e p u rp o s e o f t h e b es t ev i den ce ru l e i s t o p rev en t i n accu racy an d frau d wh en

at t em p t i n g t o p ro v e t h e co n t en t s o f a wri t i n g .” (Ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .)

Pi er ce v. S t a t e , 3 0 2 Ga. 3 8 9, 3 97 (2 ) (b ) (8 0 7 SE2 d 4 2 5 ) (2 0 17 ).

Here, Seal s can n o t s h o w t h at h e w as p reju di ced b y co u n s el ’ s fai l u re t o o b ject

t o t h e o ffi cer’ s t es t i m o n y reg ard i ng t he m es s ag es o n b es t ev id en ce g ro u n d s

. Seal s

fai l ed to d em on s t rat e t h at t h e St at e wo u l d h av e b een u n ab l e to i n tro d u ce t h e o ri g i n al

t es t m es s ag es o r ex pl ai n t hei r ab s en ce. OCGA § 2 4-5 -4 (2 0 1 2), re p e a l ed b y Ga. L.

2 0 1 1

, p

. 9 9

, § 2 (effect i v e Jan

. 1, 2 0 1 3 ) (“ T h e b es t ev i d en ce wh i ch ex i s t s o f a wri t i n g

s o u g ht t o b e p ro ved s h al l b e p ro d u ced

, u nl es s it s ab s en ce s h al l b e s a t i s f a ct o ri l y

acco u n t ed fo r.”). Th u s , h e h as fai l ed t o s h ow “ a reas o n ab l e p ro b ab il i ty t h at

, b u t fo r

co u ns el ’ s fai l u re t o as s ert

. . . b es t ev i d en ce ru l e o b j ect i on [s ]

, t h e t ri al ’ s res ul t wo u ld

h av e b een d i fferen t .” (Ci t at i on s an d p u nct u at i o n o m i t ted .) S mi t h v. S t a t e , 3 1 7 Ga.

Ap p

. 8 0 1

, 8 0 6 (3 ) (c) (7 3 2 SE2 d 8 4 0 ) (2 0 1 2 ); Ga r r et t v. St a te

, 2 8 5 Ga. Ap p

. 2 8 2

, 2 8 7

10(5 ) (c) (6 4 5 SE2 d 7 18 ) (2 0 0 7 ) (“ Pret erm i t t i n g wh et h er a bes t ev i d en ce ob ject i o n h ad

m eri t

, . . . Garret t d i d no t sh o w t h at if t r i a l c o u ns el h ad m ad e a b es t ev i d en ce

o b ject i on t h at t h e St at e co u l d no t h av e i n t ro d u ced t h e o ri g in al wri t i ng o r s at i s fact o ri l y

acco u n t ed fo r i t s ab s en ce.”).

M o reo v er, al t h o u gh Seal s co n t en ds t h at t he o u t c o m e o f h i s t ri al wo u l d h av e

b een d ifferen t h ad co u nse l object ed t o th e o ffi cer’ s tes t im on y ab o u t t h e t ex t m es s ag es ,

t h e b as i s o f h i s arg u m en t is t h at t h e St at e’ s cas e w as “ weak .” Bu t b o th C. L. an d F.

S. t e s t i f i ed co n si s ten t l y t h at Seal s k i ck ed i n t h e ap art m en t do o r an d fi red fi rs t

. Th e

ju ry cred it ed t h i s t es t im o n y o v er Seal s ’ s tes t im on y th at h e act ed i n s el f-d efen s e, an d

i t was w i t h i n t h ei r pro vi nce t o d o s o

. Fel d ma n v. S t a t e , 2 8 2 Ga. A p p

. 3 90

, 39 1 (6 3 8

SE2 d 8 2 2 ) (2 0 0 6). Co n t rary t o S e a l s ’ s arg um en t

, t h e ev i d en ce ag ai n st h i m was n ot

“ weak

, ” an d h e h as n o t s h o w n p r e j u d i ce fro m co u n sel ’ s fai l ure t o o b j ect t o t h e

o ffi cer’ s t es t i m o n y

. Acco rd i n g l y , Seal s h as n o t m et h i s b u rd en t o s h o w h e recei v ed

i n effect i v e as s i s t an ce o f co u n s el

, an d we affi rm t h e d en i al o f h i s m ot i o n fo r n ew t ri al

.

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

Co o mer , J., co n cu r

.

11