SECOND DI VI SI ON

M I LLER, P. J.

, DOYLE and REESE, 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

October 27, 2017



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 7 A1 08 2 . ROSS v . THE STATE. D0 -0 3 7 C

D O Y LE , J u d g e.

Aft er a ju ry tri al

, Dean dre Ro s s was fo u n d g u i l t y o f t wo co u n ts o f ag g rav at ed

as s au l t 1 an d t wo co u n t s o f p os s es s i o n o f a fi rearm d u ri n g t h e co m m is si o n o f a fel o n y 2

s t em m i n g fro m a dru g t ran s act io n t u rn ed ro b b ery

. Ro s s fi l ed a m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al

,

wh i ch h e l at er am en d ed

. Aft er a h eari n g

, t h e t r i a l co u rt d en i ed th e m ot i o n

, an d t h i s

ap p eal fo l l o wed

. . Ro s s arg u es t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred b y fai l i n g t o i n st ru ct t h e ju ry

t h at acco m

p li ce t es t i m on y m

u s t b e s u p p o rt ed b y co rro b o rat i n g ev id en ce p u rs u an t to

OCGA § 2 4 -1 4 -8 . Fo r t h e reas o n s t h at fo l l o w , we rev ers e.

1 OCGA § 1 6 -5 -2 1 (a) (2 ).

2 OCGA § 1 6 -1 1-1 06 (b ) (1 ).Vi ewed i n fav o r o f th e v erd i ct

, 3 th e reco rd s h o ws t h at Ro s s, Ch arl es Ho l m es

,

an d Kel v i n Du k es were i n d i ct ed t o g et h er b as e d o n a sh o ot i n g t h at o ccu rred d u ri n g

an al l eg ed at t em

p t ed d ru g b uy at t h e ap art m en t of M y ro n Gl en n

. 4 Gl en n t es ti fi ed t h at

an i n d i v i d u al h e k n ew o n ly as “ Ki n fo l k” s et u p l arg e m ari ju an a p urch as es at Gl en n ’ s

ap art m en t fo r wh i ch Gl en n w as p ai d a s m al l fee. To faci l i t at e th i s p art i cu l ar s al e,

Gl en n cal l ed Ho l m es an d t o l d h i m t o bri n g o ver t wo p o u n d s o f m ar i j u an a t o s el l to

Ki n fo l k

. Ki n fo l k l a t e r a r r i v ed at Gl en n ’ s ap art m en t wi t h Du k es

, b u t t h e t wo l eft to

o b t ai n cas h t o b u y t h e m a ri ju an a an d t o pi ck u p Ro s s

, wh o su p po s ed l y had ei g ht

p o u n d s o f m ari

ju an a t o s el l t o Ki n fo l k an d Du k es al o n g wi t h t h e two p o un d s t h ey

were g o i ng t o b uy

fro m Ho l m es

.

W h en Ho lm es arri v ed at Gl en n ’ s ap art m en t

, G l e n n cal l ed Ki n fo l k t o l et h i m

k n o w t h at t h e t wo p o u n d s o f m ari ju an a h ad arri v ed

. Ki n fo l k t o l d Gl en n t h at h e h ad

3 See Hu f f v. S t a t e

, 3 0 0 Ga. 80 7 (7 9 6 SE2 d 6 8 8 ) (2 0 1 7 )

. S e e a l s o Ja cks o n v.

Vi r g i n i a , 4 4 3 U. S. 3 0 7 , 3 1 9 (III) (B) (9 9 SCt 2 7 8 1 , 6 1 LE2 d 5 6 0 ) (1 9 7 9 ).

4 Ro s s was ch arg ed wi t h ag g rav at ed as s au l t ag ai ns t Ho lm es an d Gl en n

. Ho l m es

was ch arg ed wi th t wo co u nt s o f ag g rav at ed as s au l t a g ai n st Ro s s an d Du k es

, o n e

co u nt o f 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 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 m ari j u an a wi t h i n t en t t o di s tri b u t e; h e p l ead ed g u i l t y i m m ed i at el y p ri o r t o t ri al to

t h e t wo p o s s es s i o n ch arg es

. Ho l m es t es t i fi ed o n b eh al f o f t h e St at e i n t he i ns t an t cas e.

Du k es w as ch arg ed wi t h two co u n t s o f ag grav at ed as s au l t ag ai n s t Ho l m es an d Gl en n,

s i x co u n t s o f fo rg ery

, an d t wo co u nt s o f p o s ses s i o n o f a fi rearm d u ri n g t h e

co m m i s s io n o f a fel o n y , an d h e was fo u n d g u i l t y o n al l co u nt s

.

2b een h el d u p wai t i n g o n an o t h er p ers on

, b u t t h at Du k es an d Ro s s wo u l d b e b ack o v er

t o co m p l et e th e t ran sact i o n w i t h Ho l m es

. Gl en n t es t i fi ed t h at Ho l m es was i n t h e

k i t ch en

, an d Gl en n lo o k ed o u t t h e wi n d o w, w h ere h e s aw Du kes an d Ro s s p u l l u p in

a b l ack car. Du k es cam e u p t o t h e ap art m en t t o ch eck an d m ak e su re ev ery t h i n g was

o k ay

, t h en wen t back d o w n t o th e car, an d Gl en n s at o n t h e co u ch i n t h e l i vi n g ro o m

.

Gl en n was n o t an ti ci p at i n g t h at an y o f hi s fam i l y wo u l d b e at h o m e, b u t hi s s t ep s o n,

R. S., cam e i n t h ro u g h th e d o o r, an d G l en n cl o s ed R. S. i n h i s bed ro o m b efo re Du k es

an d Ro s s ret u rn ed

.

Gl en n t es t i fi ed t h at Ro s s cam e b ack u p t o t h e ap art m en t ag ai n

, an d th en wen t

d o wn t o t h e car ag ai n

, an d Gl en n d ou b l e ch eck ed t h at h i s s t ep so n ’ s d o o r was cl o s ed

.

Gl en n t es t i fi ed t h at at t h is po in t

, Ro s s “ b u st ed i n t h e d oo r wi t h t wo rev o l v ers i n m y

face an d was l ik e ‘ Get d own

, g et d own

, get d o w n .” 5 Gl en n t es t i fi ed t h at Du k es al s o

en t ered t h e ap art m en t

, p u ll ed o u t h i s g u n

, an d w al k ed t o ward Ho l m es i n t h e k i t ch en

.

Gl en n g o t o n t h e g ro u n d

, Ro s s an d D u k es s wi t ch ed p o si t i o n s s o Ro s s wen t t o ward

t h e ki t ch en an d Ho l m es

, an d Du k es cam e t o ward h i m

. A s R o s s w a l k ed t o ward t h e

k i t ch en , Gl en n h eard h i m s ay “ wh o a, wh o a, h ey , h ey ,” an d t h en g u n fi re eru p t ed

.

5 On t he d ay o f t h e i n ci den t

, Gl en n t o l d p o l ice t h at Ro s s en tered th e ap art m en t

wi t h a s i n g l e weap on

.

3Gl en n t es t i fi e d t h a t w h en t h e g u n fi re s u bs i d ed

, h e g o t u p t o l o o k fo r R. S.,

Du k es ju m

p ed o u t of a wi n d o w, an d Ro s s s t ag g ered o u t t he d oo r of t h e a p art m en t ;

H o l m e s al s o ex i t ed t hro ug h t h e ap art m en t d oo r, an d G l en n ran d o wn th e st ep s p a s t

Ho l m es t o t ry an d fi nd R. S. Gl en n t es ti fi ed t h at wh i le h e was l o o k in g fo r R. S., h i s

n ei g h b o rs t o l d h im th at Ro ss was t ry i n g t o l eav e i n t h e b l ack car, s o Gl en n t o o k t h e

car k ey s an d p u l l ed Ro s s fro m t h e car. Gl en n al s o s aw Du k es l y i n g o n t h e g ro u n d

m o ti o n les s u n dern eat h t h e ap art m en t wi n d o w. Gl en n d en i ed o wn i n g a w e ap o n b ut

ad m i t t ed t h at h e h ad n i n e m i l l i m et er am m u n i t i o n i n h i s h o m e. Gl en n w as n o t s h ot

d u ri n g t h e i n ci d en t

.

Ho l m es t es t i fi ed t h at h e r eg ul arl y p u rch as ed m ari j u an a fo r h i s o wn u s e fro m

Gl en n

, h e d en i ed ev er s el li n g m ari ju an a, an d h e ad m i t t ed h e w as p res en t d uri n g t h e

t i m e o f t h e s h o o ti n g t o m ak e a p u rch as e al o n g wi t h an o t h er i n d i v i d ual k n own t o h i m

as “ Gl i t t er Pi ece.” 6 Ho l m es t es t i fi ed th at wh en h e an d Pi ece en t ered Gl en n ’ s

ap art m en t

, Du k es was al read y t h ere, s i t ti n g o n t h e s o fa, an d Gl en n was s t an d i n g u p;

Gl en n ’ s s t ep s o n arri ved an d wen t s t rai g h t t o h i s b ed ro o m

. Ho l m es t es t i fi ed t h at h e

wen t t o t he k i t ch en

, an d Ro ss en t ered t h e ap art m en t

, q u i ck l y l o ok ed aro u nd

, an d t h en

6 Ho l m es t es t i fi ed t h at h i s g i rl fri en d, Ti ffan y S t o r y, rem ai n ed i n Ho l m es ’ s

v eh icl e wh i l e Ho lm es an d Pi ece wen t u p t o Gl en n ’ s ap art m en t.

4ex i t ed aft er s ay i n g s o m et h i n g ab o u t g o i n g to t h e car t o g et t h e m o ney

. H o l m es

t es t i fi ed t h at Ro ss qu i ck l y ret urn ed

, l o o k ed aro u n d

, an d b r a n d i s h e d a s i n gl e, s m al l

cal i ber rev o l ver, t el li ng H o lm es t o g et o n th e fl o o r. Ho l m es g ot t o t h e fl o or, an d Ro ss

t u r n ed t o t h e l i v in g ro o m ; Ho l m es t o o k t he o p p o rt un i t y t o tak e o u t h is o wn Tau ru s

n i n e m i l l i m et er han d g un an d g et u p

, b ut as h e d id s o

, Ro s s fi red o n e s h o t at h i m

b efo re Ho l m es s h o t Ro s s m u l t i p l e t i m es i n t h e ch es t

. W hi l e he was fi ri n g at Ro s s

,

Ho l m es al s o h eard g u n fi re co m i n g fro m t h e l i v i n g ro om

, b ut h e was n o t s u re i f i t was

Gl en n

, Pi ece, o r Du k es ; h e di d n o t s ee Du k es wi t h a weap o n b ut d id s ee G l en n wi th

o n e. Ho lm e s s a w Du k es g o o u t t h e w i n d ow, b u t h e was no t cl ear as t o wh et h er t h e

m an was p u s h ed

, j u m

p ed

, o r fel l aft er b ei n g s h o t

. Aft er s u s t ai n i n g gu n s h o t wo u n d s

,

Ho l m es ev en t ual l y m ad e h i s way o ut of t h e ap art m en t an d ran d own wi t h Pi ece t o h i s

car, wh ich St o ry w as d ri v i n g ; t h e tri o l eft t h e co m p lex an d d r o v e o ff. Th ey wen t to

a g as st at i o n

, wh ere o n ly Ho l m es rem ai n ed an d cal l ed p o li ce. A ft er b ei n g as k ed h o w

h e s u s t ai ned h i s wo u nd s

, Ho lm es s ai d t h at h e was s h o t d u ri n g an at t em pt ed ro b b ery

as h e wal k ed d o w n t h e s t reet

.

R. S. t es t i fi ed t h at wh en h e arri v ed at t h e ap art m en t

, t h ere was s o m eo n e t h ere

i n ad d i t i o n t o G l en n

, wh o was in t h e k i t ch en

. A few m i n u t es l at er, R. S. h eard y el l i n g

5an d t he w o rd s “ g et d o wn ” an d t h en h eard g u ns h ot s

, at wh i ch p o i n t h e ju m p ed o u t o f

h i s b ed ro o m

wi n d o w.

W h en p o li ce res po n d ed

, Du k es was l y i n g i n t h e bu s h es u n d ern eat h t h e wi n d o w

fro m wh i ch h e fel l

. Du k es s u ffered ap p ro x i m at el y t en gu n s h o t w o u n d s

— ei g ht to

h i s fro n t an d at l eas t t wo in h i s b a c k

— a n d co u n t erfei t m o n ey was fo u n d n ear an d

i n t h e b u s h es wh ere h e was fo un d as wel l as in h i s p o ck et s wh en h e was t ak en t o t h e

h o s p it al fo r t reat m en t. Ro ss s u ffered n u m ero u s g u n s h o t wo u n ds t o th e l eg s an d o n e

t o th e h ead

, b u t h e was n ot s h ot i n t h e ch es t

. No res i d u e t es t was p erfo rm ed o n Du k es

o r Ro s s ; n o fi n g erp ri n t s were d is co v ered o n t h e fi rearm s fro m t he s cen e. Ov er $ 2 ,0 0 0

i n l eg al U. S. cu rren cy was fo u n d i n Ho l m es ’ s cl ot h in g at t h e h o s p i t al

.

Ap p ro x im at el y

ei g h t o u n ces o f m ari

ju an a w as fo un d at t h e s cen e. Bl o o d was

fo u n d o n t h e ex teri or lan d i n g

, st ai rs

, s i d ewal k

, p av em en t

, an d in s i d e th e ap art m en t ;

t h e b l o od o n t he l an d i n g w as m at ch ed t o Ro s s, a n d b l o o d f ro m D u k es an d Ho l m es

was d i s co v ered el s ewh ere as wel l as b l o o d fro m an u n k n o wn in d i v i du al

. A fi rearm s

ex p ert t es t i fi ed th at b as ed on t h e n i n e-m i ll i m et er s h el l cas i n g s reco v ered fro m t h e

s cen e, t wo di fferen t m a k e s o f n i n e-m i l l i m et er h an d g u n were fi red d u ri n g t h e

al t ercat i on

. N o 9 -m i l l i m et er h an d g u n s were reco v ered fro m th e s cen e

, b u t t wo

weap o n s

— a Ru g er 22 -cal i b er rev o l v er an d a Sm i t h & W es s o n 3 2 -cal i ber rev o l v er

6were reco v ered an d l i n k ed t o t h e s h o o t i n g ; n o p ro ject i l es fro m

t ho s e weap on s were

fo u n d on t h e s cen e ex cep t i n t h e wea p o n s t h em s el v es

. Th e fi rearm s ex p ert al s o

t es t i fi ed t h at a 4 0 -cal ib er weap on n o t fo u n d at t h e s cen e was u s ed t o fi re at leas t o n e

9 -m i l l i m et er cas in g reco v ered fro m t h e s cen e. A s earch o f Ro s s ’ s v eh i cl e u n co v ered

h i s wal l et

, Ro s s ’ s i d e n t i fi cat i o n

, co u n t erfei t U .S. cu rren cy

, an d Du k es ’ s wal l et

. No

m ari ju an a, weap o n s

, o r am m

u n i t i o n was d i s co vered i n Ro ss ’s v e h i cl e. Sev eral 9 1 1

cal l s were pres en t ed t o t he ju ry

, i n cl u d i n g o n e fro m a wo m an wh o sai d s h e was o n t h e

p h o n e wi t h an i n d i v id u al n am ed “ D ” wh en s he h eard g u n s h o t wo u n d s an d was cu t o ff

fro m t h e cal l, an d o n e p u rp o rt ed l y fro m Ro s s , s t at i n g t h at h e was b ei n g s h o t

.

In i t s ch arg e t o t h e ju ry , t h e t ri al co urt s t at ed t h at “ [t ] he t es t i m o n y o f a s i n g l e

wi t n es s i f b el i ev ed is s u ffi ci en t t o es t ab l i s h a fact

. Gen eral l y

, t h ere i s n o l eg al

req u i rem en t of co rro b o rat i on o f a wi t n es s

, p r o v i d e d y ou fi n d t h e ev id en ce t o b e

s u f f i c i e n t

. ” It i s u n di sp u ted t hat t h e t ri al co u rt d i d n ot ch arg e th e ju ry t h at t h e

t es t i m o ny o f an acco m

p l i ce m u s t b e co rro b o rat ed b y

o t h er ev i d en ce. 7

7 See Su g g es t e d P a t t e rn J u ry In s t ru ct i o n s

, Vo l

. II: Cri m i nal Cas es (2 0 1 4 ), §

1

. 3 1 .9 2 (ch arg i n g t h e ju ry t h at acco m pl i ce t es t i m o n y m

us t b e co rro b o rat ed w i t h

ev i d en ce, ev en s l i g h t

, fro m so m e o t h er so u rce, t h at t he d et erm i n at i o n o f wh e t h e r a

wi t n es s i s an acco m

p li ce i s a m at t er fo r t h e j u r y, an d t h at t h e det erm in at i o n o f

wh et h er t h e ev i d en ce i s s u ffi ci en t t o co rro b o rat e t h e acco m p l i ce i s fo r t he ju ry ).

7In h is s o l e en u m e r a t i o n o f erro r o n ap p eal

, Ro s s arg u es th at t h e t ri al co u rt

co m m i t t ed p l ai n erro r by fai l i n g t o in s tru ct t h e ju ry o n t h e n eces s it y of co rro b o rat i o n

o f acco m pl i ce t es t i m o n y as req u i red b y O CGA § 2 4 -1 4 -8

. Ro s s co n t en d s t h at t h e o n l y

t es t i m o ny co n n ect i ng h i m an d Du k es t o t h e al l eg ed co u nt s o f ag g rav at ed as s au l t cam e

fro m Gl en n an d Ho l m es

, b ot h i n d i v i d u al s wh o co u l d h av e b een co n s id ered b y t h e ju ry

t o b e Ro s s ’ s an d Du k es ’ s acco m p l i ces i n t h e co m

m on cri m i n al en t erp ri s e o f t h e d ru g

s al e at G l en n ’ s h o m e. 8

“ [I] t i s erro r fo r a t ri al co u rt t o refu se to gi v e a req ues t ed i n s tru ct i o n o n

acco m pl i ce co rro b o rat i o n

, [b u t b ecau s e Ro s s ] d i d n o t req u es t s u ch a ju ry i n s t ru ct i o n,

rev ers al d ep en d s on w h et h er h e can m eet t h e p lai n erro r t es t .” 9 Th i s t es t req u i res t h e

fo l l o w i n g :

8 Se e S e l v i d

g e v. St a t e

, 2 5 2 Ga. 2 4 3

, 2 4 4 -2 54 (2 ) (3 1 3 SE2 d 84 ) (1 98 4 ) (“ In

cas es [ i n w h i c h co n s p i rat o rs ] hav e act ed p u rs u an t t o a co m m o n cri m i n al en t erp ri s e

an d o ne o r b o t h are t es t i fy i n g ag ai n s t t h e ot h er, t h e op p o rt u n i t y a n d m o t i v es fo r

p erju ry wh i ch p res en t t h em s el v es are es s en t i al ly th e s am e as t h os e i n c r i m i n al

p ro s ecutions involving th e t rad i t i o n al fo rm s o f acco m p l i ces

, an d t h e t es t i m o ny s h o u ld

b e affo rd ed t h e s am e m eas u re o f d i s t ru s t .”).

9 (Ci t at i on s an d p u n ct u at i o n om i t ted .) Lyma n v. S t a t e

, 3 0 1 Ga. 3 1 2, 3 1 6 (2 )

(8 0 0 SE2 d 3 3 3 ) (2 0 17 ), qu o t i n g Ha mm v. S t a t e

, 2 9 4 G a. 7 9 1

, 7 9 5 (2 ) (7 5 6 SE2 d 5 0 7 )

(2 0 1 4) (o v erru l i ng pri o r cas es th at h el d i t was n ot erro r fo r t h e t ri al co u rt to refu se to

g i v e t h e acco m

pl i ce co rro b o rat i o n i n s tru ct i o n i f t h e St at e p res en t s i n d ep en d en t

co rro b o rat in g ev i d en ce b ecau s e s u ffi ci en cy o f t h e ev i d en ce i s a d i s t in ct i n q ui ry t o t h e

n eces s i t y o f t h e ju ry

i n s t ru ct i o n t o p ro p erl y g u i d e t h e ju ry ).

8Fi rs t

, t h ere m u s t b e an erro r o r d efect

— s o m e s o rt o f d ev i at io n fro m a

l eg al ru le

— t h at h as n o t b een i n t en t io n al l y rel i n q u is hed o r ab an d o n ed

,

i .e., affi rm at i v el y w ai v ed

, b y t h e ap p el l an t

. Seco n d

, th e l eg al erro r m u s t

b e cl ear o r o b v i o u s

, rat h er t h an s u b ject t o reas o n ab l e d i sp u te. Th i rd

, th e

erro r m u s t h av e affect ed t h e ap p el l an t’ s s u b s t an t i al ri g h t s

, wh i ch i n th e

o rd i nary cas e m ean s h e m u s t d em o n s t rat e t hat it affect ed t h e o u t co m e o f

t h e t ri al co u rt p ro ceed i n gs

. Fo u rt h an d fi n al l y

, i f t h e ab ov e t h ree p ro n g s

are s at i s fi ed

, t h e a p p el l at e co u rt h as t h e d i s cret i o n t o rem ed y t he erro r

— d i s c r e t i o n wh i ch o u gh t to b e ex erci s ed on l y i f t h e erro r s eri o us l y

affect s t h e fai rn es s, i n t eg ri t y or p u b li c rep u t at i o n o f ju d i ci al

p ro ceed i n g s

. 1 0

As an i n it i al m at t er, th ere was so m e ev i den ce fro m wh i c h t h e j u ry co u ld

d et erm i n e t h at Du k es an d Ro ss were acco m pl ices o f Gl en n an d Ho l m es

. 1 1 Th ere was

n o affi rm at i v e wai v er of t h e acco m p l ice co rro b o rat i o n req u i rem en t b y Ro s s

, an d t h e

fai l u re t o g i ve t h e ch arg e i n th i s cas e “ w as cl ear erro r n o t s u b ject t o reas o n ab l e

d i s p u t e.” 1 2 “ Th e t ri al co u rt ’ s i n s t ru ct i o n s d ev i at ed fro m a l eg al ru l e

. . . [i n OCGA 2 4

-

1 0 (Pu n ct u at i o n an d em

p h as i s o m i t t ed .) Lyma n

, 30 1 Ga. at 3 1 6 -3 1 7 (2 ), q u o t i n g

Ch ed d er s i ng h v. S t a t e , 2 9 0 Ga. 6 8 0 , 6 8 3 (2 ) (7 2 4 SE2 d 3 66 ) (2 0 1 2 ).

1 1 See, e.g

, Lyma n , 3 0 1 G a. at 3 1 6 -3 1 7 (2 ); Fi s h er v. S t a te

, 2 9 9 G a. 4 7 8

, 4 8 5

(2 ) (a) (7 8 8 SE2 d 7 5 7) (2 01 6 ); S el vi d g e , 2 5 2 Ga. at 2 44 -2 5 4 (2 ).

1 2 S t a n b u ry v. S ta t e

, 2 9 9 Ga. 1 2 5

, 12 9 (2 ) (7 8 6 SE2 d 6 7 2) ( 2 0 1 6 ). See al s o

Lyma n , 3 0 1 Ga. at 3 1 7 (2 ), ci t i n g Ha mm , 2 9 4 Ga. at 7 9 6 (2 ).

91 4 -8

, ] wh i ch un eq u iv ocal ly req u i re[s ] co rro b o rat i o n o f a cco m p l i ce t es t i m o n y in

fel o n y cas es . . . . Th erefo re, t h e fi rs t t wo p ro n g s o f t h e [p l ai n erro r] t es t are m et .” 1 3

“ T h e t h i rd p ro n g o f t h e

. . . p l ai n erro r t es t req u i res t h at th e erro r m u s t h a v e

affect ed t h e ap pel l an t’ s s u b s t an t i al ri g h t s

, w h i ch i n t he o rd i n ary cas e m ean s h e m u s t

d em o n s t rat e t h at i t affect ed t h e o u t co m e o f t h e t ri al co u rt p ro ceed in g s .” 1 4 Ro s s arg u es

t h a t i f t h e pro p er j u ry in s tru ct i on h ad b een g i v en

, h e wo u ld h av e b een acq u i t t e d o f

ag g rav at ed as s au l t b ecau s e t h e o n l y ev i d en ce s h o w i n g t h at h e o r Du k es b ran d i s h ed

o r fi red weap on s was t h e t es t i m o n i es o f Gl en n an d H o lm es

. W e ag ree. Ho l m es

ad m i t t ed h e fi red on Ro s s u si n g a 9 -m i l l i m et er weap on an d cl ai m ed Gl en n was fi ri n g

at t he o t h er i n d i v i du al s ; wh i l e Gl en n d en i ed hav i n g a weap o n, h e ad m i t t ed to

p o s s es s i n g 9 -m i l l i m et er am m un i t i o n an d i n v es t i g at o rs d i s co v ered evide nc e o f at l eas t

t wo 9 -m i l l i m et er weap o ns b ei n g u s ed at th e al t ercat i on

. Nei t h er G l e n n n o r Ho l m es

cl ai m ed th at Ro s s or Du k es b ran d i s h ed 9-m i l l i m e t e r weap o n s

, an d n o fo ren s i cs

,

t es t i m o ny

, o r reco rd s l in k ed ei t h er Du k es o r Ro ss t o t h e weap o ns o u t si d e o f Gl en n ’ s

an d H o l m es ’ s t es ti m o n i es

. M o reo v er, Ro s s an d D u k es b o t h s u s tai n ed nu m ero u s

g u n s ho t w o u nd s each wh i l e Gl en n was u n i n ju red an d Ho l m es w as s h ot o n ce; b as ed

1 3 (Ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) S t a nb u r y , 2 99 Ga. at 1 3 0 (2 ).

1 4 (Pu n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) Id ., q u o t in g Ch ed d er s i n gh , 2 90 Ga. at 6 8 5 (2 ).

10o n an al y si s of t h e rev o l v ers

, i t d i d n o t ap p ear t h at ei th er h ad b een fi red d u ri n g t h e

al t ercat i on . Ad d i ti o nal l y , Gl en n m ai n t ai n ed h e d i d n o t s el l m ari ju an a, wh i ch was at

o d d s w i t h Ho lm es ’ s t es t im o ny

. A n d w h il e Gl en n t es t i fi ed t h at n o o ne el s e was

i n v o l v ed i n t h e s ho o t i n g as i d e f r o m h i m s el f, Ho l m es

, Du kes an d Ro s s

, Ho l m es

t es t i fi ed th at h i s fri en d Pi ece w as t h ere an d co u l d al s o h av e fi red a weap on

. Ho l m es

al s o tes t i fi ed t hat D u kes was s i t t i n g o n t h e so fa wi t h G l en n wh en Ho l m es an d Pi ece

arri v ed befo re Ro s s s h o wed u p al o n e, wh i ch d es cri p t io n w a s co nt rary t o Gl en n ’ s

t es t i m o n y t h a t Du k es an d Ro s s cam e i n to g et h er aft er H o l m es was al read y p res en t

.

Fi n al l y

, al t h o u g h Ho l m es co n t e n d e d t h a t h e was t h ere o n l y t o p u rch as e a s m al l

am ou n t o f m ari

ju an a, i n v e s t i g at o rs fo u n d $ 2 ,0 0 0 i n hi s p ers o n al effect s at t h e

h o s p it al

.

Th e St at e arg u es t hat t he acco m pl i ce in s t ru ct i o n was u n neces s ary b ecau s e

as s u m in g t h at b o t h G len n an d Ho l m es were acco m p l i ces

, wh en “ m o re t h an o n e

acco m pl i ce t es t i fi es at tri al

, t h e t es t i m o n y o f o n e acco m p l i ce m ay b e co rro b o rat ed by

t h e t es t i m o n y of th e o t h ers .” 1 5 W h i l e i t i s t ru e t h at t h e t es t i m o n y o f m o r e t h a n o n e

1 5 (Pu n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) Ra mi r ez v. St a t e

, 2 9 4 Ga. 4 4 0

, 4 4 2 (7 54 SE2 d 3 2 5 )

(2 0 1 4) (ad d res s i n g s u ffi ci en cy o f ev i d en ce b as ed o n t h e t es t i m o n y o f m o re t h an o n e

acco m pl i ce), ci t i n g Ha n i

f a v. St a t e

, 2 6 9 Ga. 7 9 7, 8 0 8 -8 0 9 (7 ) (5 0 5 SE2 d 7 3 1) (1 9 9 8 )

(s am e). See al so Cl a r

k v. S t a t e

, 2 96 G a

. 5 4 3

, 5 4 7 (1 ) (d ) (7 6 9 SE2 d 3 76 ) (2 0 1 5 )

(s am e).

11acco m

pl i ce can s erv e as s uffi ci en t ev i d en ce o f t h e co m m i s s io n of a cri m e, t h e cas es

ci t ed b y t h e d efen s e d o n ot ad d res s t h e fai l u re o f t h e t ri al co u rt t o p ro v i d e t h e

n eces s ary i n s t ru ct i o n t o t h e ju r y p ri o r to i t s d el ib erat i o n s

. In t hi s i n st an ce, t h e t ri al

co u rt ’ s i n s t ru ct i o n t o t h e ju ry t h at t h e t es t im on y

o f a si ng l e wi t n es s co u l d s u p p o rt a

fact l eft o p en t h e p o s si b i li ty t hat t h e ju ry bel i ev ed ei t h er Gl en n ’ s t es t i m o ny as Ro s s ’ s

acco m pl i ce o r Ho l m es ’ s tes t i m o n y

, d i sb el i ev ed t h e o t h er w i t nes s es ’ t es t i m o ny

en t i rel y

, an d t h erefo re, co n v i c t e d h i m b as ed s ol el y o n t h e tes t i m on y o f o n e

acco m pl i ce. 1 6 M o reo v er, b e c a u s e t h e on l y t es t i m o n y co nn ect i n g Ro ss t o t h e

co m m i s s io n o f ag g rav at ed as s au l t ag ai n s t ei t h er Gl en n o r Ho l m es o r t o t h e p o s s es s i o n

o f fi rearm s d u ri n g t h e co m m i s s i o n o f fel o n i es wa s t h e t es t i m o n y o f Gl en n an d

Ho l m es , i t can n o t b e s ai d t h at rev ers al i s n o t req u i red i n t hi s i n s t an ce.

Ju d g men t r ever

s ed

. Rees e, J., co n cu r

s. Mi ll er

, P. J., co n cu r

s i n j u d g men t o n l y

.

1 6 See F i s h e r

, 29 9 Ga. at 4 8 7 -4 8 9 (2 ) (b ); S ta n bu r y

, 2 9 9 Ga. at 13 0 -1 3 1 (2 );

Bu r ns v. S t a t e

,

_

_ G a

. Ap p

.

_

_ (1 ) (Cas e No

. A1 7 A0 3 3 3 ; d eci d ed J u n

. 27

, 2 0 1 7 ).

Co m p are wi t h Lyma n

, 3 0 1 Ga. at 3 1 8 -3 1 9 (2 ) (fai l u re t o g i v e i n s t ru ct i o n was

h arm l es s g i v en m

u l t i p l e n o n -acco m

p l i ce s o u rces l i n ki n g d efen d an t t o th e cri m e);

Hu f f

, 3 0 0 Ga. at 8 1 0 -8 1 2 (2 ) (ex p l ai n i n g t h at t h e t ri al co urt ’ s fai l ure t o i ns t ru ct t h e

ju ry o n acco m

p l i ce co rro b o rat i o n was n o t p l ai n erro r b ecau s e t h e t ri al co u rt al s o

fai l ed t o ch arg e th e j u r y t h a t “ t h e t es t im on y o f a s i n g l e wi t n es s, if b el i ev ed

, i s

g en eral l y s u ff

i c i e n t t o es t ab l i s h a fact ”); Ha mm

, 29 4 Ga. at 7 9 6-7 9 8 (2 ) (fai l u re to

i n s t ru ct was h arm l es s b ecau s e t wo i n d ep en d en t , n o n -acco m p l i ce s o u rces l in k ed t h e

d efen d an t t o t h e k i l l i ng ).

12