FI RST DI VI SI ON

DOYLE, C. J.

, A NDREWS and RA

Y, 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

Febr uar y 16, 2017



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 6 A1 95 4 . PERSON v

. THE STATE.

R A Y , J u d g e.

Fo l l owi n g a ju ry t ri al

, L ad ari u s Pers o n was co n v i ct ed o f o n e co u n t each o f

ag g rav at ed as s au l t

, p o s s e s s i o n o f a fi rearm du ri n g t h e co m m is s i o n o f a fel o n y

, an d

p o s s es s i o n o f a fi rearm b y a co n v i ct ed fel o n

. Pers on ap peal s fro m h i s co nv i ct i o n s an d

t h e d en i al o f h i s m o ti o n fo r n ew t ri al

, co n te n d i ng t h at th e tri al co urt erred (1 ) in

ad m i t t i ng t es t i m o n y of a p ri o r d i ffi cu l t y i n v o l v in g a wi t n es s ; an d (2 ) b y co m m en t i n g

o n t h e ev i d en ce at t ri al

. Pers o n al s o co n t en d s t h at h e recei ved i n effect i v e as s i s t an ce

o f co u ns el . Fo r t h e fo l l o w i n g reas o n s , we affi rm

.

“ On ap p eal fro m a cri m i n al co n v i ct i o n

, we v i ew t h e ev i d en ce i n t h e l ig h t m o s t

fav o rab l e t o s u p po rt t h e ju ry ’ s v erd i ct

, an d t h e d efen d an t n o lo n g er en jo y s a

p res u m p t i o n o f i n n o cen ce.” (Ci t at i o n o m i t t ed .) Ha l l v. S t a t e

, 3 35 Ga. Ap p

. 8 9 5

, 8 9 5(7 8 3 SE2 d 4 0 0 ) (2 0 1 6 ). Th e ev i d en ce at t ri al s h o wed t hat o n J an u ary 2 8

, 2 0 1 2

, t h e

v i ct i m

, J arv i s M ead o ws

, h ad ju s t arri v ed at h i s res i d en ce w h e n P e r s o n ’ s g i rl fri en d,

Kawan t i s Hay n es

, ap p ro ach ed M ead o ws an d as k ed h i m fo r g as m o n ey an d a ri d e to

t h e g as st at io n. Hay n es ex pl ai n ed t h at s h e h ad t ak en Pers o n ’ s car wi t h o u t p erm i s s i o n

an d had ru n o u t o f g as o n th e way t o M ead o w’ s res i d en ce. M ead o ws ag reed t o as s i s t

Hay n es

, an d t h e t wo d ro v e t o a g as s t at i o n wi t h a g as co n t ai n er t o pu rch as e s o m e g as

.

M ead o w s t h en t o o k Hay n es b ack t o Pers o n ’ s c a r

. A s M ead o ws was p o u ri n g t h e

c o nt en t s o f t h e g as co n t ai n er i n t o t h e car, Pers o n arri v ed in an o t h er v eh i cl e an d an

arg u m en t b et ween Hay n e s an d Pers on en s u ed

. W h en Pers o n s l ap ped Hay n es

,

M ead o w s cam e t o h er defen s e by p u n ch i n g Pers o n i n t he face. Pers o n t h en p u l l ed o ut

a h an dg u n an d ch as ed M ead o w s d o w n t h e s t reet

.

An ey ewi t n es s

, Bert h a Harri s

, g av e a co ns i s ten t acco u n t o f t h e i n ci d en t

. Harri s

t es t i fi ed t h at s h e was s t an d i n g at h er f r o n t d o o r wh en s h e o b s erv ed t wo m en an d a

wo m an “ s cu ffl i n g ” i n th e s t reet i n fro n t o f her h om e. Harri s fu rt h er t es t i fi ed t h at s h e

o b s erv ed o n e o f t he m en p u ll o u t an o b ject t h at l o o k ed l i k e a h an d g un an d ch as e t h e

o t h er m an an d wo m an d o w n t h e s treet

.

Aft er Pers o n p u l led o u t t he h an d g u n, M ead o ws ran ab o u t t hree b l ock s t o ward s

h i s h o u s e b efo re ag ai n en co un teri n g Pers o n

, wh o was n o w i n a v eh i cl e. A cco rd i n g

2t o M ead o ws

, Pers on po i n t ed t h e h an d g u n o u t o f th e wi n do w an d s t art ed sh o o t i n g at

h i m , s t ri k i n g h i m

o n ce i n t h e h i p

.

At t ri al

, t h e St at e was al l o wed t o el ici t t es t i m o n y fro m M e a d o w s co n cern i n g

an earl ier i n ci d en t i n wh i ch M ead o w s had i n te r v en ed i n a p h y s i cal al t ercat i o n

b et ween Pers o n an d Hay n es

.

In t h e i n d i ct m en t, Pers o n was ch arg ed wi t h t w o co u n ts o f ag grav at ed as s au l t

,

o n e fo r p o i n ti n g a h an d g u n at M ead o ws (Co u n t 1 ) an d t he o t her fo r l at er s h o o t i n g t h e

h an dg u n at h i m (Co u n t 2 )

. Pers o n was al s o ch arg ed wi t h p o s s es s io n o f a fi rearm

d u ri n g t h e co m

m i s s i o n o f a fel o n y (Co u n t 3) an d p o s s es s i o n o f a fi rearm b y a

co n vi ct ed fel o n (Co u n t 4). Th e t ri al co u rt h ad in i t i al l y b ifu rcat ed t h e p ro ceed i n g s s o

t h at t h e ju ry

wo u l d n o t b e aware t h at Pers on h ad b een ch arg ed wi th p o ss es s i o n o f a

fi rearm b y a co n v ict ed fel on un t i l i t h ad reach ed a v erd i ct o n t h e o t h er co u n t s o f t h e

i n d i ct m en t

. H o wev er, Pers o n ch o s e t o t es t i fy in h i s own d efen s e at t ri al an d

, d u ri n g

h i s t es ti m o n y o n d i rect

, ad m i tt ed t h at h e h ad a p ri o r fel o n y co n v i ct i o n fo r p o s s es s i o n

o f m ari ju an a wi th i n ten t t o di s tri b ut e. At t h e co n cl u s i o n o f Pers on ’ s t e s t i m o n y, t h e

St at e as k ed t h e t ri al co u rt to read t o t h e ju ry Co u n t 4 of t h e i n d i ct m en t

, wh i ch ch arg ed

P e r s o n w i t h p o s s es s i o n o f a fi rearm b y a co n v i ct ed fel o n

. Th e St at e t h en m o v ed t o

ad m i t a cert i fi ed co p y

o f h i s pri o r fel o n y co n v i ct i o n i n t o e v i d en ce fo r t h e p u rp o s es

3o f i m

p each m en t

, as wel l as fo r t h e p u rp o s es o f p ro v i n g Co u nt 4 of t h e i n d i c t m e n t

.

Pers o n ’ s t ri al co u n sel s t at ed t h at h e had n o o b ject i o n t o t h e St at e’ s req u es t s

, an d t h e

t ri al co u rt read Co u n t 4 o f t h e i n d i ct m en t t o t h e ju ry an d ad m i tt ed t h e cert i fi ed co py

o f Pers o n ’ s p ri o r fel o n y

co nv i ct i o n i n t o ev i den ce.

Aft er co n s i d eri n g t h e ab o v e ev i d en ce, t h e j u ry co nv i ct ed Pers o n o f ag g rav at ed

as s au l t fo r p ul l i n g o ut t h e h an d g u n an d p oi n t i n g i t at M e a d o w s

, p o s s es s i o n o f a

fi rearm d u ri n g t h e co m

m i s s i o n o f a fel o n y

, an d p o ss es s i o n o f a fi rearm b y a co n v i ct ed

fel o n

. Th e ju ry fo u n d Pers o n n o t g u i l t y o f t he rem ai n i ng ch arg e o f ag g rav at ed as s au l t

,

wh i ch h ad al l eg ed t h at Pers o n s h o t at M ead o w s wi t h a h an d gu n

. Th i s ap p eal en s u ed

.

1

. Pers o n co n t en d s t h a t th e t ri al co u rt erred i n ad m i t ti n g t he ev i d en ce o f t h e

p ri o r d i ffi cu l t y b et ween Pers o n an d Hay n es

. Sp eci fi cal ly

, h e arg ues t h at Hay n es was

n o t t h e al l eg ed vi ct i m o f t h e ag g rav at ed as s au l t offen ses fo r wh i c h Pers o n s t o o d

ch arg ed an d

, t h u s, t h at t h e St at e was req u i red t o p ro v i d e reas on ab l e n ot i ce o f i t s

i n t en t i o n t o i n t ro d u ce ev i d en ce o f t h e p ri o r d i ffi cu l t y p u rs u an t to O CGA § 2 4 -4 -4 0 4

(b ). W e fi n d h i s arg u m en t t o b e u n av ai l i n g.

Pu rs uan t t o OCGA § 2 4 -4 -4 0 4 (b ),

[e] v i d en ce o f o t h er cri m es

, wro n g s

, o r act s s h a l l n o t b e ad m i s s i bl e t o

p ro v e t h e ch aract er o f a p ers o n i n o rd er to s h o w act io n i n c o n fo rm i t y

4t h erewi th

. It m ay

, h o wev er, b e ad m i s s ib l e fo r o t h er p urp o s es

, i n cl ud i n g

,

b u t n o t l im i t ed t o

, p ro o f o f m o t i v e, o p port u n i t y

, i nt en t

, p rep arat i o n

, p l an

,

k n o wl ed g e, id en t i t y

, o r ab s en ce o f m is t ak e or acci d en t

. Th e p ro s ecu t i o n

i n a cri m i nal p ro ceed in g s h al l pro v i d e reas o n ab l e n o ti ce t o t h e defen s e

i n ad v an ce o f tri al

, u n l es s p r e t ri al n o t i ce i s ex cu s ed b y t h e co u rt u p o n

g o o d cau s e s h o wn

, o f t he g en eral n at u re o f an y s u ch ev i d en ce i t i nt en d s

t o i n t ro d u ce at t ri al

. No t i ce s ha l l n o t b e r eq u i r ed wh en th e evi d en ce o f

p r i o r c r i m es

, wr o n g

s

, o r a ct s i s o f f er ed t o p r o ve t h e ci r cu ms t a nces

i mmed i a t el

y s u r r o u n d i n g t h e ch a r

g ed cr i me

, mo t i ve

, o r p ri o r d i ffi cu l t i es

b et ween t he accu s ed an d t h e al l eg ed v i ct i m

.

( E m p h a s i s s u p p l ied .) It i s wel l s et t led t h at “ [a] t ri al co u rt ’ s deci s i o n t o ad m i t o t h er

act s ev id en ce wi l l b e o v ert u rn ed o n l y wh ere t h ere i s a cl ear ab u se of d i s cret i o n.”

(Ci t at i o n an d p u nct u at io n o m i tt ed .) Gr een v. S t a t e , 3 3 9 Ga. Ap p

. 26 3

, 2 6 5 (1 ) (7 9 3

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

On t h e m o rn i n g o f tri al

, t h e St at e m ad e a m o t i o n t o al lo w t h e i n tro d u ct i o n o f

t h e p ri o r d i ffi cu l t y i n w h ich M ead o ws o b s e r v e d P ers o n p h y s i cal l y at t ack Hay n es

,

cau s i n g M ead o w s t o co m e t o Hay n es ’ s d efen s e. Th e St at e s o u g h t t o i n tro d u ce s u ch

ev i d en ce t o s h o w Pers o n ’ s i nt en t an d m ot i ve, arg u i ng t h at t h e p ri o r d i ffi cu l t y b et ween

P ers o n an d H ay n es “ i s wh at s et t h e s t ag e” fo r t h e cri m e ag ai n s t M ead o w s a n d t h e

res u l ti n g ch arg es fo r wh i ch Pers o n was o n t ri al

. Ov er Pers o n ’s ob ject io n

, t h e t ri al

co u rt al l o wed t es t i m o n y co n cern i n g t h e p ri o r d i ffi cu l t y to b e ad m i t t ed i n t o ev i d en ce.

5M ead o ws t es ti fi ed th at

, t wo o r t h ree m o n th s b efo re t h e i n ci den t i n qu es t i o n

, h e

o b s erv ed Pers o n grab b i n g H ay n es “ l i k e h e’ s fi x in g t o ch o ke h er.” W h en M ead o ws

i n t erv en ed i n t h at al t ercat i o n , Pers o n rel en t ed an d l eft t h e s cen e. W i t h reg ard t o t h e

i n ci d en t fo r wh i ch Pers on was o n t ri al

, M ead o w s t es t i fi ed th at Pers o n p h y s i cal l y

as s au l t ed Hay n es an d M ead o ws i n terv en ed ag ai n

, o n l y t h i s t i m e Pers o n p u l l ed o u t a

h an dg u n

.

Fo r th ere t o b e a p ro b at i v e co n n ect i o n b et ween th e p ri o r d iffi cu l t [y ] an d

t h e p res en t cas e, t h ere m u s t b e s o m e l i n k o f as s o ci at i o n

, s o m et h i n g

wh i ch d raws t o g et her t h e p reced i n g an d su b seq u en t act s

, s o m et h i n g

wh i ch g iv es co l o r o f cau s e an d effect t o t h e t ran s act i o n, an d s h ed s l i g h t

u p o n t h e m o t i ve o f t he p art i es

.

(C i t a t i o n an d pu n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) S h ep p a r d v. S t a t e

, 2 6 7 Ga. 27 6

, 2 7 9 (3 ) (4 7 6

SE2 d 7 6 0) (1 9 9 6).

Al t h ou g h Pers o n i s co rrect t hat Hay n es i s n o t th e v i ct im of t h e c r i m es fo r

wh i ch Pers o n s t o o d t ri al i n t hi s cas e, t h e p ri o r d i ffi cu l t y t h at t he t ri al co u rt ad m i t t ed

i n t o ev id en ce di d n o t i n v o lv e o n l y Pers o n an d H a yn es

. T h e p ri o r d iffi cu l t y al s o

i n v o l v ed M ead o ws

, wh o fel t co m p el l ed t o co n fro nt Pers o n du ri n g b o t h al tercat i on s

b et ween Pers o n an d Hay n es

. See S h ep p ar d

, s u p ra at 2 7 7-2 7 9 (3 ) ( t e stim o ny r e ga r ding

d efen d an t ’ s p ri o r d iffi cu l ti es wi t h a wi t n es s was ad m i ss i b le b ecau s e t h e v i ct i m was

6i n v o l v ed i n so m e o f t h o se p ri o r d i ffi cu l t i es an d t h e ci rcu m s t an ces l ead in g u p t o t h e

ch arg ed cri m e s tem m ed fro m t h e d efen d an t ’ s p ri o r d i ffi cu l t i es wi t h t h e w i t n es s ).

Th u s, M ead o ws ’ s act s o f i n t erv en i n g i n b o th o f t h e p h y s i cal al t ercat i on s b et we e n

Pers o n an d Hay n es was ad m is s i b le t o s h ow t h e ci rcu m s t an ces s u rro u n d i n g t h e

ch arg ed cri m es an d t he s t at e o f feel in g s b et ween Pers o n an d M ead o w s t h a t ex i s t ed

at t h e ti m e o f th e cri m es in t hi s cas e. Fu rt h erm o re, ev i d en ce o f t h e p ri o r d i ffi cu l t y

“ d raw[s ] t o g et h er t h e p reced in g an d s u b s eq uen t act s an d g i v e[s ] co l o r o f cau s e an d

effect t o t h e t ran s act i o n,” sh ed d i n g l i g h t u p o n t h e m o t iv e o f t h e p art i es

. (Ci t at i o n an d

p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed

. ) Id

. at 2 79 (3 ). W i t h o u t s h o wi n g Pers o n ’ s p rev i o us p h y s i cal

ab u se o f Hay n es

, t h e St at e wo u ld h av e b een u n ab l e to ad eq u at el y ex pl ai n M ead o w s ’ s

d eci s i o n t o i n t erv en e i n t h e s u b s eq u en t al t ercat i o n bet ween Pers o n an d Hay n es or to

d em o n s t r a t e t h e lev el of h os t i l i t y t h at ex i st ed b et ween Pers o n an d M ead ows at t h e

t i m e o f t h e p hy s ical co nfro n t at i on wh i ch res ul ted i n t h e ch arg es fo r wh ich Pers o n was

p ro s ecu ted . Id

.

Bas ed o n t h e ev i d en ce o f M ead ows ’ s i n terv en t i o n in t h e t wo al tercat i on s

b et ween Pers o n an d Hay n es

, a ju r y w o u ld b e au t ho ri zed t o co n cl u de t h at Pers o n ’ s

act i on s t o ward M ead o w s was m o t i v at ed b y h i s d es ire to ret al i at e ag ai n s t M e a d o ws

fo r co n t i n u i n g t o i n terv en e i n Pers o n ’ s p hy s i cal ab u s e o f Hay n es

. Th u s, t h e t ri al co u rt

7was au t h o ri zed t o fi n d th at t h e p ri o r d i ffi cu lt y was rel ev an t t o s h o w m o t i v e, wh i ch i s

“ t h e reas on t h at n ud g es t h e wi l l an d p ro d s t h e m i n d t o i n du l g e t h e cri m in al i n t en t .”

(Ci t at i o n an d p u nct u at io n o m it ted .) An t h o n y v. S t at e

, 2 9 8 Ga. 8 2 7

, 8 3 2 (4 ) (7 8 5 SE2 d

2 7 7 ) (2 0 1 6 ).

Las t ly

, as t h e p ri o r d i ffi cu l t y was o ffered t o pro v e t h e ci rcu m s t an ces

i m m ed i at el y s u rro un d i n g t h e ch arg ed cri m e an d t h e m o t i v e

, th e St at e was n ot

req u i red t o p ro v id e n o t i ce i n ad v an ce o f t ri al o f it s i n t en t to i n tro d u ce s u ch ev i d en ce.

See OCGA § 2 4 -4 -4 04 (b ).

Bas ed o n t he g ro u n d s as s ert ed b y Pers o n o n ap p eal

, we co n cl u de th at 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 ad m i t t i n g ev i d en ce o f t h e p ri o r d iffi cu l t y

.

2

. Th e m o re i n t eres t i n g is s u es in th i s cas e su rro u n d Pers o n ’ s deci s i o n o n d i rect

ex am i n at i o n t o ad m it t h at h e h ad p rev i o u sl y been co nv i ct ed o f a f e l o n y, s u ch

co n vi ct i o n wh ich was t h e p red i cat e fo r t h e c h a r ge o f p o s s es s io n o f a fi rearm b y a

co n vi ct ed fel on (Co u n t 4 ). Th e t ri al co u rt had b i fu rcat ed t h e p ro ceed i n g s s o t h at t h e

ju ry wo u l d n o t b e aware o f Pers o n ’ s co n v ict i o n u nt il i t h ad p as s ed ju d g m en t o n t h e

o t h er ch arg es

.

(a) Fo ll o wi n g Pers o n ’ s t es t i m o n y o n d i rect

, t h e St at e m o v ed t o ad m i t a cert i fi ed

co p y o f h i s co n v i ct i o n i n t o ev i den ce fo r t h e p u rp o s es o f i m p each m en t

, as w el l as fo r

8t h e p u rp o s es o f pro vi n g t h e o ffen s e o f p o s s es s io n o f a fi rearm b y a co n v i ct ed fel o n

i n Co u n t 4 o f t he i n di ct m en t

. W h en d efen s e co u n s el s t at ed t h at he h ad no o b ject i o n,

t h e t ri al co u rt ru l ed t h at t h e ce r t i f i e d c o p y of t h e co n vi ct io n wo u l d b e ad m i t t ed “ in

reg ard t o each o ne of t h e el em en t s t h at [t h e pro s ecu t in g at t o rn ey ] ju s t s t at ed .” Pers o n

n o w co n ten d s t h at t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s s t at em en t was an i m p ro p er co m

m en t o n t h e

ev i d en ce an d an ex p res s i o n o f o p i n i o n as t o Pers o n ’ s g u i lt . W e d i s ag ree.

Pu rs uan t to OCGA § 1 7 -8 -5 7

, a ju d g e i s n o t al l o wed t o ex p res s o r i n ti m at e to

t h e ju ry an o p i ni on as t o wh et her a fact at i s su e h as o r h as n o t b een pro v ed o r as t o t h e

d efen d an t ’ s g ui lt

. On ap p eal

, we rev i ew al l eg ed v i o l at i o n s o f t h e s t a t u t e un d er t h e

p l ai n erro r s t an d ard

, ev en i f t h e a g g r i e v ed p art y fai l s t o o b j ect at t ri al

. See S t a t e v.

Ga r dn er , 2 8 6 G a. 6 3 3 , 6 3 4 (6 90 SE2 d 1 64 ) (2 0 1 0).

Aft er o ur rev i ew o f t h e c o l l o q u y b et w een t h e tri al co u rt an d co u n s el

, we

co n cl u d e t h at t h e t ri al co u r t d i d n o t ex p res s o r i n ti m at e i t s o pi n i o n w i t h reg ard to

Pers o n ’ s g u i l t or m ak e a s tat em en t wi t h res p ect t o wh at h ad b een p ro v en

. Rat h er, t h e

t ri al co urt was an n o un ci n g i t s ru l i n g o n t h e ad m is s i b i li t y o f t h e ev id en ce an d t h e

p u rp os es fo r wh ich t he ju ry co u l d co n si d er i t

. OCGA § 1 7 -8 -5 7 “ d o es n o t g en eral l y

e x t e n d t o co l l o q u i es b et ween t h e ju d g e an d co u n s el reg ard i n g t he ad m i s s i b i l i t y o f

ev i d en ce[,]

. . . [an d] rem ark s o f a ju d g e as s i g n i n g a reas o n fo r h i s ru l in g are n ei t h er

9an ex p res s i o n o f o p in i o n n o r a co m m en t o n t h e ev i den ce.” (Ci t at i o n an d pu n ct u at i o n

o m it t ed .) Pya t t v. St a t e

, 2 9 8 Ga. 7 4 2

, 7 4 7 (3 ) (7 8 4 SE2 d 7 5 9 ) (2 01 6 ). Acco rd Gr a ves

v. S t a t e

, 3 2 2 Ga. Ap p. 2 4

, 2 7 (1 ) (7 4 3 SE2 d 5 82 ) (2 01 3 ) (“ Pert i n en t rem ark s m ad e by

a t ri al co u rt i n di scu ss i n g t he ad m i s s i b i l i t y o f ev i d en ce or ex p lai n in g i t s ru l i n g s d o n ot

co n st i t u t e p ro h i b i t ed ex p res s i o n s o f o p i n io n ”) (ci tat i o n s an d p u n ct uat i o n o m i t t ed ).

Fu rt herm o re, an y p ercei v ed am b i gu i t y i n t h e t ri al co urt ’ s ru li n g w as res o l v ed

b y t h e t ri al co u rt i n i t s ch arg e t o t h e ju ry

, wh erei n i t i ns t ru ct ed t h e ju ry

, i n p ert i n en t

p art , as fo l l o ws :

[b ] y n o ru l i ng o r co m

m en t t h at t h e [c] o u rt h as m ad e d u ri ng t he p ro g res s

o f t h e tri al h as th e [c] ou rt i n t en d ed t o ex p res s an y o p in i o n u p o n th e fact s

o f t h i s cas e, u p on th e cred i b i l i t y o f t h e wi t n es ses

, up o n t h e ev id en ce, o r

u p o n t h e g u i lt o r i n no cen ce of t h e [d ] efen d an t . Yo u r v erd i ct s h o u l d b e

a t ru e verd i ct b as ed u p o n y o ur o p i ni o n o f th e ev id en ce acco rd i n g to th e

l aw g i v en t o y o u i n t h is ch arg e.

Fo r t h e ab o v e reas o n s , Pers o n ’ s arg u m en t p ro v i d es n o b as is fo r rev ers al

.

(b ) Pers on al s o co n t en d s t h at h i s t ri al co u ns el was i n effect i v e fo r fai l i n g to

req u es t t h e t ri al co u r t t o g i v e a l i m it i n g i ns t ru ct i o n to t h e ju ry aft er hi s p ri o r

co n vi ct i o n was ad m i tt ed i n to ev i d en ce. Ag ai n

, we d i s ag ree.

To p rev ai l o n a cl ai m o f i n effect i v e as s i s t an ce o f t ri al co u n s el

, ap p el l an t

m u s t sh ow co u n s el ’ s perfo r m a n c e was d efi ci en t an d t h at t h e d efi ci en t

10p erfo rm an ce p reju di ced h i m to t h e p o i n t t h at a r e a s o n a b l e p ro bab i l i t y

ex i s ts t h at

, b ut fo r co u n s el ’ s erro rs

, th e o u t co m e o f t h e t ri al wo ul d h av e

b een d ifferen t

. Th e fai l u re t o s h o w ei t h er pro n g i s fat al t o ap p el lan t ’ s

i n effect iv en es s cl ai m

.

(Ci t at i o n s o m i t t ed .) Ma s s ey v. S t a te

, 3 0 6 Ga. A p p

. 18 0

, 1 84 (4 ) (7 0 2 SE2 d 3 4 )

(2 0 1 0).

W h ere a d efen dan t i s o n t ri al fo r t h e o ffen s e o f p o s s es s i o n o f a fi rearm b y a

co n vi ct ed fel o n

, a long w i th othe r unr el at ed cri m in al o ffen s es

, an d t he St at e i nt ro d u ces

t h e d efen d an t ’ s p ri o r co nv i ct i o n fo r t h e p u rp os e o f p ro v i n g t h e d efen d an t ’ s s t at u s as

a co nv i ct ed fel o n

, t h e t ri al co u rt m u s t, u p o n req ues t

, i n s t ru ct t h e j u ro rs n o t t o co n s i d er

ev i d en ce o f t h e d efen d an t ’ s p ri o r fel o ny co n v i ct i o n i n d eci d in g h i s g u i l t or i nn o cen ce

o f an y o f t h e ch arg es o t h er t h an t h e p o s s es s i o n o f a fi rearm b y a co n v ict ed fel o n

ch arg e. See Ba r n et t v. S t a t e , 2 15 Ga. Ap p . 4 6 , 4 7 (2 ) (4 4 9 SE2 d 6 51 ) (1 9 9 4).

In th i s cas e, h o wev er, i t w as Pers o n hi m s el f, n ot t h e St at e, wh o fi rs t al ert ed t h e

ju ry t o h is p ri or fel o n y co n v i ct i o n

. T h e cert i fi ed co p y o f hi s co n v ict i o n t h at was

ad m i t t ed was m erel y cu m u lat i v e o f t h e e v i d en ce t h at Pers o n i n t ro d u ced

. Ev en

as s u m in g t h at t ri al co u n s e l was d efi ci en t i n fai l i ng t o req ues t a li m i ti n g i ns t ru ct i o n

aft er t h e St at e i n t ro d u ced t h e cert i fi ed co p y o f h i s co n vi ct io n

, Pers o n h as n ot

11es t ab l i s h ed t h at h e w as p reju d i ced b y t ri al co u n s el ’ s p erfo rm an ce. 1 Gi v e n t h e

t es t i m o ny fro m M ead o ws an d t h e ey ewi t n es s , Bert h a Harri s

, as wel l as t he fact t h at

P e r s o n h a d hi m sel f fi rs t to l d t h e ju ry ab o ut h i s co n v ict i o n

, we co n cl u d e t h at i t i s

h i g h l y p ro b ab l e t h at an y fai l u re t o req u es t a l i m i t i n g in s t ru ct i o n wh en t h e St at e

i n t ro du ced t h e cert i fi ed co py o f t h e co n vi ct i on d i d n o t co n t ri b ut e t o t h e g u i l t y v erd i ct

.

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

An d r ews , J., co ncu r

.

1 W e n o t e t h at an arg u m en t co u l d b e m ad e t h at t ri al co u ns el was d efi ci en t b y

s o l i ci t i n g t es t m o n y fro m Pears on o n d i rect reg ard i ng h i s p ri or co n v i ct i o n. H o wev er,

s u ch al l eg ed erro r was n ei t h er arg u ed b el o w no r rai s ed as erro r i n t h i s ap p eal

, an d we

wi l l n o t co ns id er t h e s am e.

12