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

De c id e d : Ju n e 1 6 , 2 0 1 4

S 14 A0 1 1 1 . OLIP HANT v . THE S TATE.

HUNS T EIN, Ju stic e

.

Ap p e lla n t Ma rc u s Ty ro n e Olip h a n t wa s c o n v ic te d o f m a lic e m u rd e r a n d

1 5 o t h e r o f

fe n se s in c o n n e c tio n with a Ju ly 20 06 a rm e d ro b b e ry a n d sh o o tin g

a t a m o b ile ho m e p a rk in Ca rro llto n

, Ge o rg ia

. O l i p h a n t no w c h a lle n g e s h is

c o n v ic tio n s a n d se nte n c e s, c la im in g th a t th e e v id e nc e wa s in su ffic ie n t o n

p a rtic u la r c o u n ts; th a t tria l c o u n se l re nd e re d in e ffe c tiv e a ssista nc e ; th a t th e tria l

c o u rt im p o se d a n ille ga l se n te n c e o n o n e c ou nt; a n d th a t th e tria l c o u rt fa ile d to

m e rg e o r v a c a te c e rta in c o n v ic tio n s fo r se n te n c in g pu rp o se s. Th o u g h we fin d

th a t th e e v id e n c e wa s s u ffic ie n t a n d th a t tria l c o u n se l d id no t re n de r d e fic ie n t

p e rfo rm a n c e

, w e a g re e th a t Olip h a n t wa s i m p r o p e rly se n te n c e d in v a rio u s

re sp e c ts, a n d we th e re fo re v a c a te c e rta in o f h is se n te n c e s, a s se t fo rth in g re a te r

sp e c ific ity b e lo w. 1

1 Th e cri m es o ccu rred o n J u l y 1 9 , 2 0 0 6 . In Oct o b er 2 0 0 6 , a Carro ll Co u n t y

g ran d ju ry h an ded d o wn a m u l t i -co u n t i nd i ct m en t ag ai n s t Ol i p h an t an d ei g h tVie we d in th e lig h t m ost fa v o ra b le to th e j u ry ’s v e rd ic ts, th e e v id e n c e

a d d u c e d a t tria l e sta b lish e d a s fo llo ws. On th e e v e n in g of Ju ly 1 9

, 2 0 0 6

, a g ro u p

o f y o u n g m e n a tta c k e d a n d ro b b e d Pe d ro Esp in o sa a t g u n p oin t ou tsid e h is tra ile r

in th e Eliz a

be th Villa g e Mo b ile Ho m e P a rk in Ca rro llto n

. Th e a ssa ila n ts

a p p ro a c h e d P e d ro

, wh o wa s sittin g o u tsid e h is tra ile r, a n d o n e o f th e m a sk e d fo r

a c ig a re tte

. P e d ro ro se a nd w a lk e d to wa rd h is tra ile r to re trie v e a c ig a re tte fro m

o t h ers , ch arg i ng al l n i n e co -i n d i ct ees wi th t h e m al i ce m u rd er, fel o n y

m u rd er, an d

ag g rav at ed as s au l t o f Pao l a Verg ara Cab an as ; o n e co u n t o f arm ed ro bb ery an d

t h ree co u n t s o f ag g rav at ed as s au l t ag ai n s t Ped ro Es pi n o s a; o n e co u n t each o f

ag g rav at ed as s au l t an d fi rs t d eg ree ch i l d cru el t y as ag ai n s t Sab ri n a, Pab l o , an d

Val eri e M o n s i v ai s; t h eft b y recei v in g ; an d p o s ses s i o n o f a g u n d u ri n g t h e

co m m i s s io n o f a cri m e. Ol ip h an t an d s ev en o f t h e o t h er ei g h t m en were al s o

ch arg ed w i t h p o s s es s i o n o f a p is t o l b y a p ers o n u n d er t h e ag e o f 1 8 . At t h e

co n cl u s i o n o f a ju ry

t ri al h el d Oct o ber 2 3-2 5 , 2 00 7 , Ol ip h an t was co n v ict ed o n 1 6

o f t h e 1 7 co u n ts fo r wh i ch h e was i n d ict ed ; t he t h eft b y recei v i n g co u n t was n o ll e

p ro s s ed . He was s en t en ced t o t wo co n cu rren t l i fe t erm s fo r m al ice m u rd er an d

fel o n y m u rd er, res p ect i v el y

, p lu s a co n s ecu t i v e l i fe t erm fo r arm ed ro b b ery ; a

co n cu rren t 2 0 -y ear t erm

fo r t h e ag g rav at ed as s au l t o f Pao l a Cab an as ; t wo

co n cu rren t 2 0 -y ear t erm s fo r t h e t wo ag g rav at ed as s au l t s o n Ped ro Es p i n o s a; fi v e

co n secu ti v e 2 0 -y ear t erm s fo r t h e rem ai ni ng fi v e ag g rav at ed as s au lt co u n ts ; o n e

co n secu ti v e an d t wo co n cu rren t 2 0-y ear t erm s fo r t h e ch i ld cru el t y co un t s ; an d t wo

co n secu ti v e fi ve-y ear t erm s fo r each o f t h e fi rearm p o s s es s i o n co u n t s . In t o t al

, Ol i p h an t was s en ten ced t o t wo co n s ecu t i v e l i fe t erm s p lu s 1 3 0 y ears t o s erv e.

Ol i p h an t fi l ed a m o ti o n fo r n ew t ri al i n No v em b er 2 00 7 , an d n o fu rt h er act i o n was

t ak en i n t h e cas e u n t i l n ew ap pel l at e co u n s el en t ered an ap p earan ce i n Feb ru ary

2 0 1 0 . Th e n ew t ri al m o t i o n was am en d ed an d s u p p l em en t ed o n t h ree o ccas i o n s

,

an d

, fo ll o wi n g a h eari n g o n J u l y 2 , 2 0 1 3, t he m o t i o n was d en i ed o n J ul y 1 8 , 2 0 1 3

. Ol i p h an t fi l ed a t i m el y

n o t i ce o f ap p eal o n Au gu s t 1 6 , 2 0 1 3 . Th e cas e was

d o ck et ed t o t he J an u ary

2 0 14 t erm

o f t h is Co u rt an d was t h ereaft er s u b m it ted fo r

d eci s i o n o n t h e b ri efs

.

2in sid e

, wh e n h e wa s g ra bb e d fro m b e h in d an d p u t in a c h o k e h o ld

. S o m e o f th e

m e n b e g a n be a tin g h im

, o n e o f th e o th e rs stu c k a gu n in his m o u th

, a n d a n o th e r

h e ld a gu n to h is te m

p le

, a s th e y d e m an d e d th a t P e d ro g i v e t h em h i s m o n e y

.

Wh e n P e d ro re sp o n d e d th a t h e h a d n o n e

, th e m e n frisk e d h im a n d to ok h is c e ll

p h o n e fro m

h is p o c ke t. At th e tim e

, Esp in o sa ’s b ro th e r, Jo rg e

, wa s in sid e t h e

tra ile r with h is w i f

e

, P a o la Ca

b a n a s, a n d th re e c h ild re n wh o m th e y we re

b a b y sittin g

. Re sp o n d in g to th e n o ise o u tsid e

, Jo rg e o p e n e d th e d o o r, sa w wh a t

w a s h a p p e n in g

, a n d sh u t th e d o o r. Th e m e n th re w P e dro a sid e

, o n e fire d two

sh o ts a t h im

, a n d th e m e n b e ga n firin g a t th e tra ile r, th e n fle d

. On e of th e sh o ts

stru c k Jo rg e in th e a rm

, a no th e r h it a n d k ille d Pa o la

, an d a th ird tra v e rse d b o th

le g s o f o n e o f th e c h ild re n

, 1 0-y e a r-o ld S a brin a Mo n siv a is. Afte r th e m e n h a d

ru n a wa y

, o n e re tu rn e d brie fly a n d sh ot a t P e d ro a g a in

, strik in g h im in th e le g

.

Olip h a n t, wh o wa s 1 7 y e a rs o ld a t th e tim e o f th e c rim e s, a d m itte d to

h a v in g a c c o m

p a n ie d se v e ra l frie n d s to E liz a b e th Villa g e o n th e n ig ht o f Ju ly 1 9

.

In a p o lic e in te rv ie w c o n d uc te d two d a y s a fte r th e c rim e s, Olip h a n t to ld

in v e stig a to rs th a t, o n th a t n ig h t, h e wa s sittin g in a c a r p ark e d a t E liz a b e th

Villa g e with Ch a d e Ac k e y

, Co d y Bu c h a n a n

, a n d R a n d a ll La y e

. Olip h a n t

re c e iv e d a p h o n e c a ll o n Ac k e y ’s c e ll p h on e fro m Ae riu s P o tts, wh o wa n te d to

3b o rr o w O l i p h a nt’s gu n. P o tts a n d a c c o m p lic e s La Bry a n Ly tle

, 2 Ch risto p h e r

Co le m an

, D e on ta Ho lla n d

, a n d Va rio n S h e ll h a d de c id e d to ro b so m e o n e th a t

n ig h t, a nd th e y a rra n g e d to m e e t Olip h a n t’s g ro u p a t Eliz a b e th Villa ge

. Th e two

g ro u p s m e t u p

, a n d Olip h a n t g a v e P o tts h is n in e m illim e te r p isto l. Eig h t o f th e

n in e m e n, se ve ra l o f wh om we re a rm e d with g un s, th e n p ro c e e d e d to wa lk

th ro u g h th e tra ile r p a rk

, wh ile th e n in th re m a in e d i n h i s c a r. Afte r a n

u n su c c e ssfu l a tte m

p t to e nte r a p a rtic u la r tra ile r, th e y c a m e u p o n P e d ro

, a n d th e

a tta c k u n fo ld e d . All n in e m e n fle d a fte r th e sh o o tin g.

La te r th a t e v e n in g, Co le m a n d ro v e Olip ha n t, P o tts, a n d A c k e y o u t o f

Ca rro llto n to so m e u n fa m ilia r fa rm la n d

, wh e re P otts disp o se d o f Olip h a n t’s

p isto l an d a se c o n d g u n use d in th e c rim e s by flin g in g th e m o ut o f th e c a r

win do w. In v e stig a to rs e v e n tu a lly re c o v e re d bo th of th e se g u n s, a s w e ll a s a

.3 8 0 c a lib e r se m i-a u to m a tic h a n d g u n

, wh ic h Co le m a n a dm itte d to u sin g in th e

c rim e s. F o u r c a rtrid g e c a se s a n d a b u lle t fo u n d a t th e sc e n e

, a s we ll a s th e b u lle t

re c o v e re d fro m P a ola ’s bo d y

, we re m a tc h e d b y fire a rm s e x p e rts w ith Olip h a n t’s

n in e m illim e te r p isto l a n d Co le m a n ’s .3 8 0 c a lib e r g u n

.

2 W e h av e p rev i o u s ly

affi rm ed t h e co n v ict i on s an d s en t en ces o f Ly t l e, wh o

was t ri ed s ep arat el y

fro m Ol ip h an t . See Ly t l e v . St at e, 2 9 0 Ga. 1 7 7 (7 1 8 SE2 d

2 9 6 ) (2 0 1 1 ).

41

. Th e e v id e nc e a s su m m a riz e d a b o ve wa s su ffic ie n t to e n a ble a ra tio n a l

trie r o f fa c t to c o nc lu d e be y o n d a re a so n a b le d o u b t th a t O lip h a n t 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 . 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 56 0) (1 9 7 9 ). Wh ile th e re is no e v id e n c e th a t Olip h a n t fire d

a n y o f th e w e a p o n s u s ed in th e sh oo tin g

, th e re wa s e v id e n c e th a t Olip h a n t

su p p lie d o n e o f th e we a

p o n s u se d in th e c rim e s with th e k n o wle dg e th a t it wa s

to b e u se d to c o m m it a rm e d ro b b e ry ; wa s p re se n t d u rin g th e c om m issio n o f th e

c rim e s; fle d th e sc e n e im m e dia te ly th e re a fte r; a n d a c c o m p a n ie d se v e r a l o f h is

a c c o m p lic e s to d isp o se o f two of th e we a p o ns u se d in th e c rim e s. Th u s, th e re

wa s a m p le e v id e nc e to in c u lp a te Olip ha n t a s a p a rty to th e c rim e s. S e e OCGA

§ 16 -2 -2 0 (p e rso n s “ c o nc e rn e d in th e c o m m issio n o f a c rim e

, ” b y w a y o f

in te ntio n a lly a id in g a

n d a b e ttin g o r in te n tio n a lly a d v i s i n g

, e n c o u ra g in g o r

c o u n se lin g a n o th e r to c o m m it su c h c rim e

, m a y b e c h a rg e d with a n d c o n v ic te d

o f c om m issio n of th e c rim e ); se e a lso Ha sse l v

. S ta te

,

_ _ Ga

.

_ _ (1 ) (7 5 5 S E2 d

1 3 4 ) (2 01 4 ).

In a d d itio n

, we re

je c t Olip h a n t’s a rg u m e n t th a t h is first-d e g re e c ru e lty to

c h ild re n c on v ic tio ns c a

n n o t b e s u s t a i n e d b e c a

u s e t h e re w a s in su ffic ie n t e v id e n c e

o f in te n t. OCGA § 1 6 -5 -7 0 (b ) d e fin e s first-d e g re e c h ild c ru e lty a s “ m a lic io u sly

5c a

u s[in g ] a c h ild un de r th e a g e o f 1 8 c ru e l o r e x c e ssiv e p h y sic a l o r m e n ta l p a in .”

Co n tra ry to Olip ha n t’s a sse rtio n , th e sta tu te d o e s n ot re q u ire e v id e n c e th a t th e

d e fe n d a n t h a d a n y sp e c ific a wa re n e ss o f a c h ild ’s pre se n c e wh e n c o m m ittin g th e

a c t in q u e stio n

. Ra th e r, th e sta tu te re qu ire s o n ly th a t th e d e fe n d a n t c o m m it a n

a c t w ith m a lic e a n d

, in so d o in g

, c a u se a c h ild th e re q u isite pa in

. Re g a rd in g th e

in te nt c om

p o ne n t, we h a v e sta te d th a t

it m u st b e e sta b lish e d th a t th e m e n ta l sta te o f th e d e fe n d a nt h a s th e

a b se n c e o f a ll e le m e n ts o f ju stific a tio n o r e x c u se a n d th e p re se n c e

o f a n a c tu a l in te n t to c a

u se th e p artic ula r h a rm

, o r [th a t] th e re is th e

wa n to n a n d wilfu l d o in g of a n a c t with an a wa re n e ss of a p la in a n d

stro n g lik e lih o o d th a t su c h h arm m ig h t re su lt.

Ba n ta v

. S ta te

, 2 8 2 Ga

. 3 9 2

, 3 9 7 (5 ) (6 5 1 S E2 d 2 1 ) (2 0 0 7 ). He re

, Olip h a n t wa s

a n a c c o m p lic e in th e m a lic e m

u rd e r o f P a ola

, w h ic h wa s witn e sse d b y a ll th re e

c h ild re n

, wh o we re u n d e r h e r c a re a t th e tim e

. All th re e c h ild re n te stifie d a t tria l

to th e ir frig h t a n d a n g st du rin g a n d im m e d ia te ly a fte r th e sh oo tin g

. Th e

e v id e n c e wa s th u s su ffic ie n t to su sta in th e first-d e g re e c h ild c ru e lty c o n v ic tio n s.

2

. Olip ha n t n e x t c on te n d s h is tria l c o un se l re n d e re d in e ffe c tiv e a ssista n c e

b y fa ilin g to o b

je c t to th e a d m issio n o f p re ju d ic ia l e vid e nc e o n two o c c a sio n s.

To e sta blish in e ffe c tiv e a ssista n c e o f c o u n se l, a d e fe n d a n t m u st sh o w th a t h i s

6tria l c ou n se l’s pe rfo rm a n c e w a s p ro fe ssio n a lly d e fic ie n t a n d th a t b u t f o r su c h

d e fic ie n t p e rfo rm a n c e th e re is a re a so n a ble p ro b a b ility th a t th e re su lt o f th e tria l

wo u ld h a v e b e e n d iffe re nt. S tric k la n d v

. Wa sh in g to n, 4 66 U

. S

. 6 6 8

, 6 9 5 (1 0 4

S Ct 2 0 5 2

, 8 0 L E 2 d 67 4 ) (1 9 8 4 ); We sle y v

. S ta te

, 2 8 6 G a

. 3 5 5 (3 ) (6 8 9 S E2 d

2 8 0 ) (2 0 1 0 ). If th e d e fe n d a n t fa ils to sa tisfy e ith e r th e “ d e fic ie n t p e rfo rm a n c e ”

o r th e “ p re

ju d ic e ” pro n g o f th e S tric k la n d te st, th is Co u r t i s n o t re qu ire d to

e x a m in e th e o th e r. Se e Gre e n v

. S ta te

, 2 9 1 Ga

. 5 7 9 (2 ) (7 3 1 S E2 d 3 5 9 ) (2 0 1 2 ).

(a ) F irst, Olip h a nt c o n te n d s th a t tria l c o u n se l sh o u ld h a v e ob je c t e d a n d

m o v e d to re d a c t a p o rtio n o f h is v id e o ta p e d p o lic e in te rv ie w, in wh ic h o n e o f th e

o ffic e rs e x p la in e d wh y h e c o u ld b e c h a r g e d a s a p a rty to th e c rim e

. Olip h a n t

c la im s th e o ffic e r’s sta te m e n ts c o n stitu te d an im pro p e r o p in io n o n th e u ltim a te

issu e o f Olip ha n t’s g u ilt a s a n a c c o m p lic e

. We d isa g r e e

, b e c a u se he re

, th e

o ffic e r wa s c le a rly no t offe rin g o p in io n te stim o n y o n th e u ltim a te issu e b u t wa s

m e re ly in fo rm in g Olip h a n t a s to th e p ro b a ble c a u se fo r his a r r est. Co u n se l’s

fa ilu re to o b

je c t to th is b rie f p o rtio n o f th e in te rv ie w d o e s n o t c o n stitu te

d e fic ie n t p e rfo rm a n c e

. S e e W e s l e y v

. Sta te

, 2 8 6 Ga

. a t 3 56 (fa ilu re to m a k e

m e ritle ss o b

je c tio n d o e s n o t c o n stitu te d e fic ie n t p e rfo rm a nc e ).

(b ) Ne x t, Olip h a

n t c o n te n d s th a t tria l c ou nse l sh o u ld h a v e ob je c te d wh e n

7th e p ro se c u to r a d d u c e d te stim o n y th a t th e City o f Ca rro llto n P o lic e De p a rtm e n t,

wh ic h in v e stig a te d th e c a se

, wa s a “ c e r t i f i e d p o lic e d e p a rtm e nt” th a t h a d

re c e n tly re c e iv e d a n a

wa rd fo r h a vin g th e m o st tra in in g h o u rs pe r o ffic e r o f a ll

th e Sta te ’s p o lic e de p a rtm e n ts. Ev e n a ssu m in g

, a s Olip ha n t a r g u e s

, th a t tria l

c o u n se l sh o uld h a v e o b

je c te d to th is te stim o n y a s im p ro p e rly b olste rin g th e

c r e d ib ility o f se v e ra l Ca rro llto n p o lic e o ffic e rs wh o te stifie d a t tria l, we fin d

little p ro b a

b ility th a t th is te stim o n y

, sp a nn in g le ss th an two o f th e m o re th a n 3 0 0

p a g e s o f tria l te stim o n y i n t h i s c a se

, h a d a n y e ffe c t o n th e re su lt o f th e tria l.

Th e re b e in g n o p re

ju d ic e , Olip h a n t’s in e ffe c tiv e n e ss c la im fa ils.

3

. We a g re e with Olip h a n t th a t th e tria l c o urt im pro p e rly se nte n c e d h im

t o a f e l o n y -le v e l se n te n c e o f fiv e y e a rs o n h is c o n v ic tio n fo r m isd e m e a n o r

p o sse ssio n o f a p isto l b y a p e rso n u n d e r th e a ge o f 1 8. S e e OCGA § 1 6-1 1 -1 3 2

(b ) (first c o n v ic tio n th e re u n d e r is m isd e m e ano r pu n ish a b le b y im p riso n m e n t fo r

n o t m o re th a n 1 2 m o n th s). Olip ha n t’s se n te n c e o n C o un t 1 7 o f th e in d ic tm e n t

mu s t, th e re fo re

, b e v a c a te d a n d th e c a se re m a n d e d fo r re se n te n c in g o n t h i s

c o u n t.

4

. We a lso a g re e with Olip h a n t’s c o n te n tio n s r eg a r d in g th e m e rg e r o f

c e rta in o f h is c o n v ic tio n s.

(a ) Olip h a n t wa s c o n v ic te d o f a nd se n te n c e d fo r th e m a lic e m u rd e r,

8fe lo ny m

u rd e r, a n d a g g ra v a te d a ssa u lt o f P a ola

. Giv e n th e m a lic e m u rd e r

c o n v ic tio n

, th e fe lo n y m u rd e r c o n v ic tio n sh o u ld h a v e sto o d v a c a te d b y

o p e ra tio n o f la w, a n d th e tria l c o u rt th u s e rre d in im po sin g a se p a ra te se n te n c e

o n th e fe lo n y m

u rd e r c o u n t. Se e L u c k y v

. S ta te

, 2 8 6 Ga

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

(2 0 1 0 ) (wh e n ju ry re tu rn s g u i l t y v e rd ic ts o n m a lic e and fe lo n y m u rd e r a s to

sa m e v ic tim

, fe lo n y m

urd e r c o n v ic tio n is “ su rp lu sa g e ” a n d sta n d s v a c a te d b y

o p e ra tio n o f la w). In a d ditio n

, th e a g g ra v a te d as s a u l t o n Pa ola

, p re dic a te d o n

th e sa m e sh o o tin g th a t c a u s e d h e r d e a th

, sh o u ld ha v e m e rg e d, a s a le sse r

in c lu de d o ffe n se

, in to th e m a lic e m u rd e r c o n v ic tio n

. Id

. a t 48 1 ; se e a lso Ve rg a ra

v

. S ta te

, 2 8 7 Ga

. 1 9 4 (1 ) (b ) (6 9 5 SE2 d 2 1 5 ) (2 0 1 0 ). Ac c o rd in g ly

, Olip h a n t’s

c o n v ic tio n s a nd se n te n c e s o n Co un t 2 (fe lo n y m u rd e r) a n d C o un t 3 (a g g ra v a te d

a ssa u lt a g a in st P a o la ) m

u st b e v a c a te d

.

(b ) Olip h a n t wa s a lso c o n v ic te d o f a n d se n te n c e d o n fo ur d iffe re n t c o u n ts

a s to P e d ro : o n e fo r a r me d ro b b e ry (Co u n t 4) a n d th re e fo r a g g ra v a te d a ssa u lt

(Co un ts 5

, 6

, a n d 1 1 ). Co u n t 5 a lle g e d a g g ra v a te d a ssa u lt by pu ttin g a h a n d g u n

in P e d ro ’s m o u th ; Co u n t 6 a lle g e d a g g ra v a te d a ssa ult b y sh oo tin g P e d ro with

a h a n d g un ; a n d Co u n t 11 a lle g e d a g g ra v a te d a ssa u lt with in te n t to ro b b y

p o in tin g a h a

n d gu n a t Pe dro a n d d e m a n din g m o n e y

. Olip ha n t c o n te n d s th a t th e

a g g ra v a te d a ssa u lts c h a rg e d in Co u n ts 5 an d 1 1 sh o u ld m e rg e in to th e a rm e d

9ro b b e ry c o n v ic tio n . We a g re e

.

[W] h e re th e sa m e a c t o r tra n sa c tio n c o n stitu te s a v io la tio n o f two

d istin c t sta tu to ry pro v isio n s, t h e te st to b e a p p lie d to d e te rm in e

wh e th e r th e re a re two o ffe n s e s or o n ly o n e

, is wh e th e r e a c h

p ro v isio n re q u ire s p ro o f o f a fa c t wh ic h th e o th e r d o e s n o t.

(Cita tio n a n d p u n c tu a tio n o m itte d.) Drin k a rd v

. Wa lk e r, 2 81 Ga

. 2 1 1

, 2 1 5 (6 3 6

S E2 d 5 3 0 ) (2 0 0 6 ). Un d e r th is te st, th e c o nv ic tio n o n Co u n t 11

, a g g ra v a te d

a ssa u lt with in te n t to ro b, c le a rly sh ou ld h a v e m e r g ed i n t o th e a rm e d ro b b e ry

c o n v ic ti o n

. S e e Lu c ky v

. Sta te

, 2 8 6 Ga

. a t 4 8 1 -4 8 2 (c o m pa rin g e le m e n ts o f

a rm e d ro b b e ry with th o se o f a g g ra va te d a ssa u lt w ith in te n t to ro b a n d

c o nc lu d in g th a t th e la tte r wa s a le sse r in c lu d e d o ffe n se o f th e fo rm e r )

. A s t o

Co u n t 5

, th e sa m e re su lt o b ta in s, b e c a u se th e a gg ra v a te d a ssa ult with a d e a d ly

we a p on a s a lle ge d h e re (i.e

., b y p u ttin g a g u n in P e d ro ’s m o u th ) d o e s no t re q u ire

p ro o f o f a n y fa c t in a d d itio n to th o se n e c e ssa ry to p ro v e th e a rm e d ro b b e ry

. S e e

Bra d le y v

. S ta te

, 2 9 2 Ga

. 6 0 7 (1 ) (c ) (7 4 0 S E2 d 1 0 0 ) (2 0 1 3 ); Lo ng v. S ta te

, 2 8 7

Ga . 8 86 (2 ) (7 0 0 S E2 d 3 9 9 ) (2 0 1 0 ).

S t i l l in ta c t, h o we v e r, a re th e c on vic tio n a n d se n te n c e o n th e a g g ra v a te d

a ssa u lt in Co u n t 6

, wh ic h c h a rg e d O lip h a n t with a g g ra v a te d a ssa u lt b y sh o o tin g

P e d ro

. Th e e vid e n c e sh o we d th a t, a fte r th e a rm e d ro b b e ry a n d in itia l sh o o tin g

,

10th e a ssa ila n ts ra n a wa y

, bu t o n e th e n re tu rn e d brie fly an d sh o t P e dro in th e le g

.

Be c a u se th is su b se q u e nt sh o o tin g oc c u rre d a fte r th e in itia l c rim in a l tra n sa c tio n

wa s c o m p le te d, th e a g gra v a te d a ssa u lt c o n v ic tio n arisin g th e re fro m d o e s n o t

m e rg e with th e o th e r c o n v ic tio n s. Th o m a s v. S ta te

, 2 8 9 Ga

. 8 7 7

, 8 8 0 (3 ) (7 1 7

S E2 d 18 7 ) (2 0 1 1 ) ( d e c lin in g to m e rg e a gg ra v a te d a ssa u lt with a rm e d ro b b e ry

wh e re th e a ssa u lt wa s c o m m itte d a fte r th e a rm e d ro b b e ry ha d b e e n c o m p le te d ).

F o r th e fo re g o in g re a so n s, th e c o n v ic tio n s a n d se n te n c e s o n Co u n ts 2

, 3

,

5

, a nd 1 1 m

u st b e v a c a te d

, a n d Olip h a n t’s se n te n c e on Co u n t 1 7 m ust a lso b e

v a c a te d . In a ll o th e r re sp e c ts, th e ju dg m e n t is a ffirm e d

.

Ju d g m e n t a ffirm e d in p a rt a n d v a c a te d in p a rt a nd c a se re m a n de d fo r

re se n te n c in g. All th e Ju stic e s c o n c u r.

11