FOURTH D I VI SI ON

BA RNES, P. J.

, RA Y, and M CM I LLI A N

, 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 ls .us /r ule s /

June 29, 2015



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 5 A0 67 5 . BUSBY v

. THE STATE.

B A R N E S , Pres i d i n g J ud g e.

A ju ry co n v i ct ed Jo s h Bu s b y o f t w o co u n t s o f ag g rav at ed b at t ery

, ag g rav at ed

as s au l t

, an d cru el t y t o ch il d ren i n t h e fi rs t d eg ree. Fo l l o wi n g t h e d en i al o f h is m o t i o n

fo r n ew t ri al

, h e ap p eal s

, arg u i n g t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n fai li n g t o m erg e t h e t wo

ag g rav at ed b at t ery ch arg es

, an d t h en i n fai li n g to m erg e t h e ag g rav at ed as s au l t ch arg e

i n t o t h e m erg ed b at t ery ch arg es . Fo r t h e reas o n s t h at fo l l o w, we affi rm

.

“ On ap p eal fro m a cri m i n al co n v i c t io n

, a d efen dan t n o l o n g er en jo y s t h e

p res u m p t i o n o f i n n o cen ce, an d t h e ev i d en ce i s v i ewed in t h e li g h t m o s t fav o rab l e to

t h e g u i lt y v erd ict .” (Pu n ct u at i o n an d fo o t n o t e o m it t ed .) Her n a n dez v. S ta t e

, 3 1 7 Ga.

Ap p

. 8 4 5 (7 3 3 SE2 d 3 0) (2 0 12 ). So v i ewed

, t h e ev id en ce sh o ws t h at wh en Bu s b y an d

his gir lfri en d b ro u gh t t hei r 1 1 -week -o l d d au g h t er t o t h e em erg en cy ro o m o n S a tur da y

,

Feb r u a r y 9

, 2 01 2, t h e i n fan t h ad ex t en s i v e b ru i s es al l ov er h er b o d y

, h er sk u l l was

fract u red o n b o t h s i d es

, an d s h e was h av i n g s ei zu res

. A p h y s i ci an wh o was q u al i fi eda s a n ex pert i n as s es s i n g ab u s e an d i n t en t i o n al i n j u ry t o ch il dren t es ti fi ed t h a t t h e

b ab y h ad s u ffered a “ m as si v e h ead i n j u ry ” an d h er b rai n w as b ru i s ed

, bl eed i n g

, an d

s wo ll en

. W h i l e t h e fract u res wo u l d h eal

, t h e i n ju ry t o th e b rai n cau s ed cel l s t o d i e o ff,

an d t h e p h y s i ci an ex p ect ed l on g

- t e r m d efi ci t s, gi v en al l o f t h e bab y ’ s i n ju ri es

,

al t h o u g h s h e co ul d n ot b e t es t ed co g n i ti v el y u n t il s h e g rew o ld er.

Th e sk u l l fract u res were cau s ed by t wo s ep arat e i m p act s or w ere a “ s t o m

p i n g

i n ju ry ,” an d b ru i s in g rev eal ed t h at t h e b ab y h ad b een h it o n t h e head at l eas t s ev en

t i m es

. Th e p hy s ici an t h o ug h t t h e b ab y h ad b een “ b eat en b ad l y ” an d co u l d t h i n k o f n o

acci den t al fo rce t h at wo ul d acco u n t fo r al l o f h er in ju ri es

. It h ad req u i red “ a l o t ” o f

fo rce t o c a u s e t h e s k u ll fract ures

, wh ich co u l d n o t h av e b een cau s ed b y fal l i n g o ff

s o m eo n e’ s l ap , o ut o f a b as si n et , o r ev en d o wn s ev eral s t ai rs

.

A rad i o l o gi s t wh o s aw t h e b ab y at t h e E R t es t i fi ed fo r t h e d efen s e t h at o n e o f

t h e t wo fract u res i n t h e s k u l l s h o wed s o m e h eal i ng an d t h u s h ad o ccu rred fo u r to

s ev en d ay s p rev i o u s l y , b u t ag reed t h at t h e i nju ri es co ul d n o t h av e b een cau s ed b y a

t h ree-fo ot fal l

.

Ot h er ev i d en ce es t ab li s h ed t h at t h e b ab y h ad b een b o rn p rem at u rel y an d

r e m a i n ed i n t h e h os p i t al fo r ab o u t t w o m o nt h s

. Aft er sh e was rel eas ed

, Bu s b y

, t h e

b ab y

, an d t h e bab y ’ s m ot her l i v e d w i t h t he m at ern al gran d p aren ts fo r t wo o r t h ree

2week s

, an d o n Feb ru ary 1

, 2 0 1 3

, t h ey m o v ed t o a ren t al RV o r t rav el t rai l er t h at was

p ark ed i n t h ei r l an d lad y ’ s b ack y ard

. Th e m at ern al g ran d m o t h er t es t ifi ed t h at b efo re

t h e Feb ru ary 1 m o v e, t h e b ab y had n o i n ju ri es

, b ru i ses

, m ark s

, or cu ts

, b u t wh en s h e

s aw t h e b ab y a few day s l at er, t h e b ab y h ad a “ b l o o d b ru i s e” aro u n d h er ey e, t h at was

“ real d ark red .” Bu sb y s ai d t h e b ab y ’ s 1 8 -m o n t h -o l d b ro t h er h ad “ g ot ah o l d t o h er,”

an d t h at h e h ad g i v en t h e b oy a wh i p p i n g fo r i t

. Th e m o t h er’ s si s t er tes t if i e d t h at

wh en s h e wen t t o p i ck u p t he b ab y fro m t h e b ack ro om l at er t h at s am e d ay , s h e h ad

a b l ack ey e. W h en t h e s i s t er as k ed wh at h ap p en ed

, t h e o n l y ex p l an at i o n s he g o t was

fro m Bu s b y

, wh o s ai d

, “ W e l eft [t he bab y ] b ack t here, [b ec a u s e ] w e d i d n ’ t wan t

p eo pl e t o t h i n k we were ab u si n g o u r k i d s .”

Th e b ab y ’ s m ot her, wh o was i n d i ct ed o n t h e s am e ch arg es as Bu s b y b u t p l ed

g u i l t y t o t wo co u n t s o f cru el ty t o ch i l d ren i n t h e s eco n d deg ree, o n e fo r fai l i n g t o s eek

p ro m p t m ed i cal at t en t io n an d an o t h er fo r al l o wi n g t h e ch i l d t o d ev el op s ev ere d i ap er

ras h

. Sh e t es t i fi ed t h at s he h ad b een t ak i n g n ar c o ti c m ed i cat i o n s fo r ch ro n i c h eal th

i s su es an d t h at wh en s h e b ecam e p reg n an t u n ex p ect ed l y h er o b st et ri ci an s en t h er to

a m et h ad on e cl i ni c fo r t reat m en t

. Aft er t h e b ab y was b o rn

, s he t es t i fi ed

, s he was s t i l l

i n a l o t o f p ai n , an d Bu s by i n t eract ed m ore wi t h t h e ch il d ren t han s he d i d , al t h o u g h

t h ey arg u ed d ai l y

. Sh e wo k e t o t h e b ab y cry i n g a few day s aft er t h ey m o v ed t o t h e

3t rav el t rai l er, an d fo u n d Bu s b y h o l d in g t h e b ab y

. Bu s b y s ai d

, “ Lo o k wh at he d o n e,”

t al k i n g ab o u t t h ei r so n

, an d th e m ot h er s aw r e d m a r k s o n t h e b ab y ’ s fo reh ead an d

ey es

. Sh e t ho u g h t t hei r s on had fl u n g h i s p aci fi er at t h e b ab y o r s o m et h i n g an d d i d n ot

s u s p ect t h at Bu s by

h ad d o n e an y t hi n g

.

Th e m o th er’ s co u s i n t es t i fi ed t h at t h e b ab y h ad t h ree b ru i s es o n h er fo reh ead

t h e n ex t d ay

, T h u rs d ay

, an d t h e co rn ers o f h er ey es w ere red

, an d was t o l d t h a t t h e

b ab y ’ s b ro th er h ad go u g ed th e bab y ’ s ey es wh i l e t ry i n g t o l i ft h er o u t o f h er cri b

. Th e

n ex t d ay

, Fri d ay

, t h e bru is es w ere l ig h t er an d t h e m ot h er s ai d t h e b ab y was o k ay an d

d i d n o t need t o be l o o k ed at

, b u t t h e co u s i n t o ok a p i ct u re o f t h e b a b y becau s e s h e

was n o t co n vi nced t h at t h e b ro t h er h ad cau s ed t h e i n ju ri es

, an d “ i n cas e an y t h i n g

fu rt h er h ap p en ed

, t h ere [wo u l d b e] s o m e so rt o f ev i d en ce t h at i t was no t t h e fi rs t

t i m e[,] th at i t h ad h ap p en ed b efo re.” Bu s b y as k ed t h e co u s i n t o d el et e th e p h o t o

, b ut

i n s t e a d s h e s h o wed h i m a co p y i n b l ack an d wh it e t h at d i d n o t s h o w t h e m ark s as

m u ch

.

Th e fo l l o w i n g d ay

, Sat u rd ay

, t h e co u s i n to o k t h e b a b y h o m e wi t h h er an d

d i s co v ered t h at t h e b a b y’s h e ad was s wo l l en an d “ h er ey es were lo ck ed t o t h e

o p p o s i t e s i d e.” Sh e cal l ed t h e m o t h er an d to l d her s h e n eed ed t o co m e t ak e t h e b ab y

t o t h e h o sp i t al ri g h t away b e c a u s e s o m et h in g was wro n g, s o Bu s b y an d t he m o t h er

4ret ri ev ed t h e b ab y fro m t he co us i n

. Bu s b y p ut th e b ab y i n t h e car an d s a i d h e was

“ g o i n g to h au l as s t h ere” t o t h e h o s p i t al

, b u t w h en t h e co us i n cal l ed t h e h o s p i t al

, t h e

b ab y w as n o t t h ere, s o s h e d ro v e t o t h e cam p er t o fi n d t h e b ab y l y i n g o n th e b ed wi th

an i ce b ag o n h er h ead

.

Th e m o th er was “ d i s t rau g h t ” an d cry in g t ha t th e b ab y n eed ed t o g o t o t h e

h o s p it al

, b u t Bu s b y k ep t th e b ab y i n h is arm s an d k ep t s ay in g s h e wa s g o i n g t o b e

o k ay

. Th en t h e b a b y

t h rew u p

, an d t h e co u s i n t o l d Bu s b y t h at i f h e d id n o t t ak e t h e

b ab y to th e h o sp i tal he wo u l d b e d eal i n g w i t h a m u r d e r cas e, no t ju s t a ch i l d ab u s e

cas e. W hen t h e co u s i n t h reat en ed t o cal l 9 1 1

, Bu s b y fi n al l y “ go t m ad ,” p u t t h e b ab y

i n t h e car, an d dro v e her an d t h e m o t h er t o t h e h o s p i t al

. Th e co us i n fo l l o wed cl o s el y

b eh in d

, an d wh en t h ey pu l l ed up t o t h e h o s p i t al

, t h e co u s in g rab b ed t h e bab y an d t o o k

h er in s i d e wh i l e Bu s b y an d t he m o t h er arg u ed ab o u t wh et h er Bu s b y was co m i n g

i n s i d e o r n o t

.

Bu s b y

, wh o w as 2 4

, tes t i fi ed t h at b o th h e an d t h e b ab y ’ s m ot h e r h a d b een

ad d ict ed t o n arco t i cs an d h ad d eci d ed to g o t o a m et h ad o n e cl i n i c fo r t reat m en t ab o ut

a m o n t h b efo re t h e b ab y was b o rn

. Th ey h ad t o p ay a fee, s p eak t o a co u n s el o r

week l y

, at t en d cl as s es

, an d g o t o t h e c l i n i c d ai l y fo r t h at d ay ’ s d o s e o f m et h ad o ne.

Th e b ab y was b orn p rem at u rel y w i t h a m e t h ad o n e ad d ict i o n

, wh i ch t h e p h y s i ci an

5ex p lai n ed had cau s ed s o m e feed i n g an d g ro w i n g i s s u es b u t d id n ot co n t ri b u t e t o t h e

l at er i n ju ri es

. On ce t he b ab y was rel eas ed fro m t he h o s p i t al

, th e t h ree s t ay ed wi t h t h e

m o th er’ s p aren t s u nt i l t hey fo un d th e cam per t o ren t

. Th ey w en t to t h e m et h ad o n e

cl i n i c d ai l y wi t h th e m o th er’ s c o u s i n an d h er h u s b an d

, t hen at e b reak fas t at t h e

co u si n ’ s h o u s e, an d t h en ret u rn ed t o t h e cam p er an d wat ch ed t el ev i s i o n

.

On W ed n es d ay m o r n i n g

, Bu s b y s ai d h e an d t h e m ot h er h eard a s cream an d

fo u n d th ei r s o n wi t h hi s han d aro u n d t he bab y ’ s “ ey e area.” W h en t h ey s aw m ark s o r

b ru i s es

, t h ey “ g o t s cared ” an d t o o k t h e ch i l d r e n t o t h e m o t her’ s p aren ts ’ h o u s e an d

ex p lai n ed wh at had h ap p en ed

. T h e m o t h er’ s m o t h er t o l d t h em t o tak e t h e bab y t o t h e

h o s p it al i f t h i n g s g o t wo rs e. T h en at 6: 0 0 a.m

. Sat u rd ay

, Bu s b y s ai d

, h e o p en ed t h e

cam p er do or wh i l e ho l d i n g t h e bab y an d d ro p p ed h er d o wn t h e s t ai rs wh en h e t u rn ed

t o g rab h i s s o n

. He ex am i n ed h er an d sh e was cry i n g b u t i t di d no t l o o k l i k e an y t h i n g

h ad “ p o p p ed ,” s o h e d id n o t t el l t h e m o th er wh at h ad h ap p en ed

, h e s ai d

. He t es t i fi ed

t h at as t h e d ay wen t o n, t h e m ark s o n t h e b ab y becam e m o re v is i b l e, an d wh en h e

p i ck ed t h e b ab y u p f

r o m t h e co u s i n ’ s h o u s e, h e an d t h e m o t h er b o t h deci d ed n ot to

t ak e h er t o t h e h os p i t al fo r reas o n s h e co u l d n o t art i cu l at e, ex cep t t o say t h at h e h ad

b een u n der t h e i n fl u en ce o f m et h ad o n e. W h en h e d i d fi nal l y t ak e h er t o t h e h o s p i t al

,

h e d i d no t t el l t h em

h e h ad d ro p p ed h er o u t o f t h e fro n t d o o r o f t h e cam p er.

61

. Al t h o u g h Bu sb y d o es n o t ch al len g e t he s u ffi ci en cy o f t h e ev i d en ce, we fi n d

t h at t h e ev i den ce as s um m ari zed ab o v e was s u ffi ci en t t o en ab l e a rat io n al t ri er o f fact

t o co n cl u d e b ey o n d a reas on ab l e d o u b t t h at h e was g ui l t y o f t h e cri m es o f wh i ch h e

w a s c o n vi ct ed

. Ja cks o n v. Vi r g i n i a

, 44 3 U. S. 3 0 7 (9 9 SCt 2 7 8 1, 6 1 L E 2 d 5 6 0 )

(1 9 7 9).

2

. Bu s by arg u es t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred in fai l i n g t o m e r g e Co un t s On e an d

Two

, b o t h of wh i ch ch arg ed h im wi t h ag grav at ed b at t ery u n d er t h e Fam i l y Vi o l en ce

Act

. Th e St at e res p o n d s by fi rs t as s ert i n g t h at Bu s by wai v ed h i s ri g ht t o arg u e m erg er

as h e co n ced ed as t ri al t hat n on e o f t h e co u n ts m erg ed , an d t h en b y co n t en d i n g t h at

i t h ad i n t ro d uced am

pl e ev i d en ce t h at t h e b a b y’s i n ju ri es w ere s us t ai n ed as a res u l t

o f s ep arat e at t ack s

.

(a) As Bu s b y co rrect l y arg u es i n h is rep l y b ri ef, al t h o u g h h i s t r i a l co u n s el

s t at ed at s en t en ci n g t h at th e co u n t s d o n o t m erg e, t h e i s s u e i s n o t p recl u d ed fro m

ap p el l at e rev i ew. A d efen d an t m ay n o t b e l eg al l y co n v ict ed o f a cri m e t h at i s i n cl u d ed

a s a m at t er o f l aw o r fact i n an o t h er cri m e fo r wh i ch t h e defen d an t al s o s t a n d s

co n vi ct ed

. OCGA § 1 6 -1 -7 (a). “ [A] ju d g m en t o f s en t en ce i s v oi d wh ere i t i m p o s es

an i l l eg al s en t en ce, i .e., a s en t en ce t h at t h e l aw d oes n o t al lo w, an d

... t h e i l l eg al i t y

o f s u ch a ju d gm en t i s n o t a wai v ab l e i s s u e.” (Ci tat i o n o m i t t ed .) Hu l et t v. S t a t e , 2 9 6

7Ga. 4 9

, 5 4 (2 ) (7 6 6 SE2 d 1 ) (2 0 1 4 ) (s en t en ce i n wh i ch t ri al co u rt erro n eo u s l y m erg ed

co n vi ct i o n s v acat ed ev en th o u g h n ei t h er p art y ap p eal ed sen t en ci n g erro rs ). See al s o

W el l s v. S t at e

, 2 9 4 Ga. A p p

. 2 7 7

, 2 7 9 (1 ) (6 6 8 SE2 d 8 8 1 ) (2 0 0 8) (“ [F] o l l o wi n g a

t ri al

, co n v i ct i o n s an d sen t en ces fo r o ffen s es w h i ch are i ncl u d ed i n o t h ers are v o i d an d

m ay n o t be wai v ed b y f

a i l u r e t o rai s e t h e is s u e at tri al .”). Th erefo re Bu s b y h as n ot

wai v ed h i s ri g h t t o rai se t h i s i s s u e o n ap p eal fo r fai l in g t o rai se i t i n t he t ri al co u rt

.

( b ) A s t o t h e m eri ts o f Bu s b y ’ s m erg er cl ai m

, g en eral l y

, i f “ on e co u rs e o f

co n du ct v i o l at es o n e cri m i n al s t at u t e i n s ev eral w ay s d es cri b ed i n t h e s t at u t e, a

d efen d an t i s g u i l t y of on l y o n e cri m e.” (Ci t at i o n s o m i t t ed .) S pea r s v. S t at e

, 2 9 6 Ga.

5 9 8

, 6 0 1 -6 0 2 (2 ) (7 6 9 SE2 d 33 7 ) (2 0 15 ). Th e q u es t i o n

, t h en

, i s w h et h er Bu s by

co m m i t t ed m u lt i p l e act s fo r wh i ch m

u l t i p l e s en t en ces m ay

b e i m p o s ed

.

Th e q u e s t io n o f m

u lt i p l e p u n i s h m en t s (as o p po s ed t o m u l t i pl e

p ro s ecu t i on s ) fo r t h e s am e cri m i n al co n d uct is ad d res s ed u n d er th e

ru b ri c o f s u b s t an t i v e d o u b l e jeo p ard y

. W h et h er m u l t ip l e p un i s hm en t i s

p erm i s s ib l e req u i res ex am i n at i o n o f t h e l eg is l at iv e i n t en t u n d erl y i n g th e

cri m i n al s t at u t e. It i s fo r t h e l e g i s l at u re t o d et erm i n e t o wh at ex t en t

c e rt ai n cri m i n al co n d uct h as dem on s t rat ed m o re s eri o u s c r im ina l inte r e st

an d d am ag ed s o ci et y an d to wh at ex t en t i t sh o ul d b e p u n i s h ed

.

Ty p i ca l ly

, t h e q u es t i o n is wh et h er t h e s am e co nd u ct m ay be p u ni s h ed

u n d er d ifferen t cri m i n al s t at u t es

. In t h at s it uat i o n

, it i s ap p ro pri at e t o

ap p l y t h e “ req u ired ev i d en ce” t es t

. Ho wev er, a di fferen t q u es ti o n i s

8p r e s en t ed h ere: wh et h er a co u rs e o f co n du ct can res u l t i n m u lt i p l e

v i o l at i o n s o f t he sam e s t at u t e. Th e U n i t ed St at es Su p rem e Co u rt h as

h el d t h at t h i s qu es t i o n re q ui res a d et erm i n at i o n o f t h e “ u n it o f

p ro s ecu t i on ,” or t h e p reci s e act o r co n du ct t h at i s b ei ng cri m i n a l ized

u n d er th e s t at u te. Acco rd i n gl y

, t h e st art i n g p o i n t m u st b e t h e st at ut e

i t sel f.

(Ci t at i o n

, p u n ct u at i o n

, an d fo o t n ot es o m i t t ed

. ) S t a t e v. Ma r l o we

, 2 7 7 Ga. 3 8 3,

3 8 3 -3 8 4 (1 ) (5 8 9 SE2 d 6 9 ) (2 0 0 3 ).

Pu rs uan t t o OCGA § 1 6 -5 -2 4 (a), “ [a] p ers o n co m m i t s t h e o ffen s e o f

ag g rav at ed b a t t e r y wh en h e o r s h e m al ici o u s ly cau s es b o d i l y h arm t o an o t h er by

d ep ri v i n g h i m o r her o f a m em b er o f h is or h er b o d y

, b y ren d eri n g a m em

b er o f h i s

o r her bo d y u s el es s

, o r by s eri o us l y d i s fi g u ri n g hi s or h er b o d y o r a m em b er t h ereo f.”

Bas ed on t h e p l ai n l an g u ag e o f t h e s t at u t e, t h e a c t o r co n d uct t h at i s p ro h i b i t ed by

OCGA § 1 6 -5 -2 4 (a) i s “ m al i ci o u s l y c a u s in g b o di l y h arm t o an o t h er.” Th u s

, u n d er

t h e fact s o f t h is cas e, each act cau s in g m al i ci o u s b o d i l y h arm t o t h e b ab y fo rm s a

“ u n i t o f p ro s ecu t i o n ” u n d er OCGA § 1 6 -5 -2 4 (a). See No s r at i f a r d v. S t a t e

, 3 2 0 Ga.

Ap p

. 5 6 4, 5 7 1 (2 ) (7 4 0 SE2 d 2 90 ) (2 0 1 3) (each u n au t h o ri zed act o f t ex t i n g v i ct i m in

v i o l at i o n o f co n di t i o n o f b o n d o rd er i s s ep arat e act o f ag g rav at ed s t al k i n g ).

9Bu s b y was ch arg ed i n Co u n t On e w i t h m al i ci o u s ly cau s i n g bo d il y harm t o t h e

b ab y by ren d eri n g h er s k u l l u s el es s an d was ch arg ed in Co u n t Two wi t h m al i ci o u s l y

cau s i n g b o d i l y

h arm t o t h e b ab y b y s eri o u s l y d i s fi g u ri ng h er h ead

. If t here were n o

ev i d en ce t h at t h e b at t ery o ccu rred i n a m an n er o th er t h an i n a s i n g le t ran sact io n

, wi th

n o “ d el i b erat e i n t er v a l ” s e p a rat i n g an y o f t h e b lo ws

, o n l y a s i n g l e v erd i ct fo r

ag g rav at ed b at t ery co u l d st an d

, an d t h es e two o ffen s es wo u l d m er g e a s a m at t er o f

l aw. Co m p are Jef f r ey v

. S t a t e

, 2 9 6 Ga. 7 1 3

, 7 1 7 -7 1 8 (3 ) (7 7 0 SE2 d 58 5 ) (2 0 1 5 )

(h o l d i n g t h at fo ur ag g rav at ed as s au l t ch arg es b a s e d o n a s i n gl e s h oo t i n g i n ci d en t

m erg ed i n t o o n e, ab s en t ev id e n c e t h a t t h e s ho t s were fi red b et ween d el i b erat e

i n t erv al s ). 1

1 To ex p l ai n i t s h o l d i n g i n Jef f r ey

, t h e Su p rem e Co u rt i n cl u d ed th e fo l l o wi n g

el u ci dat io n :

See Co l ema n v. S t at e

, 2 8 6 Ga. 2 9 1

, 2 9 5 (3 ) (6 8 7 S E 2 d 4 2 7 ) (2 0 0 9 )

(“ [w] h en a v i ct i m su ffers m u l t ip l e w o u n d s i n fl i ct ed i n q u i ck su cces s i o n

,

each i n fl i ct i o n of i n

j u ry d o es n o t co n s t i t u t e a s ep arat e as s au l t ”). Cf.

Th o m a s v

. S t a te

, 2 92 Ga. 4 29 (5 ) (7 3 8 SE2 d 5 7 1 ) (2 0 13 ) (ag g rav at ed

as s au l t wi t h in t en t to ro b d o es n o t m erg e in t o ag g rav at ed as s au l t wi t h a

d ead l y weap o n

, b ecau s e each req u i res p ro o f o f an el em en t t h at th e o t h er

d o es n o t

, s ee OCGA § 1 6 -5 -2 1 (b ) (1 ), (2 )); Jo n es v. S t at e

, 2 8 5 Ga. Ap p

.

1 1 4 (1 ) (6 45 SE2 d 60 2) (2 0 0 7 ) (ag g rav at ed as s au l t wi t h a kn i fe t hat

o ccu rred d o wn s t ai rs at t h e v ict i m ’ s h o u s e di d n o t m erg e wi t h ag g rav at ed

10Ho wev er, t h e ev i d en ce i n t h i s cas e was s u ffi ci en t fo r a ju ry t o d et erm i n e t h at

t h e b ab y was b at t ered m o r e t h an o n ce, i n s ep arat e i n ci d en t s

. Th e ex p ert p h y s i ci an

t es t i fi ed t h at aft er t he b l o w to t h e b ab y ’ s h ead t h at fract ured h er s ku l l an d cau s ed h er

b rai n t o s w el l

, th e b ab y wo u l d n o t h av e act ed n o rm al l y

, an d b o t h paren t s t es t i fi ed t h at

t h e b a b y was act i n g n o rm al l y u nt i l t h e d ay t h ey fi n al l y t o o k h er t o t h e ER.

Ad d i t i o n al l y

, t h e ex p ert t es t ifi ed t h at th e s wel l i n g cau s ed p erm an en t d am ag e t o t h e

b ab y ’ s b rai n

, t h u s p e r m an en t ly ren d eri n g s om e b rai n cel l s u s el es s

. Th e m at ern al

g ran d m o t h er t es t i fi ed th at s h e saw m ark s o n t h e b ab y ’ s fo reh ead a few d ay s b efo re

s h e was tak en t o t h e ER, an d t h e co u s i n t o o k p h ot og rap h s o f t h e dam ag e t o t h e b ab y ’ s

face t h e day b efo re s h e was t ak en t o t h e ER. Ev en Bu s b y t es ti fi ed t h at t h e m a r k s

ap p eared b efo re h e d r o p ped t h e b ab y ou t t h e fro n t d o o r o n t o t h e g ro u n d

. Th i s

ev i d en ce i s cl earl y s u ffi ci en t fo r a ju ry t o d et erm i n e b ey o n d a reas o n ab l e d o u b t t h at

t h e b at t eri es o ccu rred o n s ep arat e o ccas i o ns rat her t h an d u ri n g a s i n g l e t ran s act i o n,

an d t h erefo re t h e o ffen s es d o n o t m erg e as a m at t er o f l aw.

as s au l t wi t h a g u n t hat o ccu rred u ps t ai rs ).

Jef f rey

, 2 9 6 Ga. at 7 2 8 (3 ).

11(c) Fi n al l y

, Bu s b y arg ues t h at t h e t ri al co u rt err e d i n f a il i n g t o m erg e Co u nt

Th ree, ag g rav at ed as sau lt w i t h i n t en t to m u rd er, i n t o t h e ag g r a v a t ed b at t ery

co n vi ct i o n s

. Co u n t Th ree ch arg ed Bu s b y wi t h t h e o ffen s e o f ag g rav at ed as s au l t o f t h e

b ab y wi th t h e i n t en t t o m

u rd er h er (al s o al l eg i n g t h e o ffen s e w as co m m i t t ed b et ween

p aren t s an d c h i l d

, wh i ch un d er OCGA § 1 6 -5 -2 1 (k ) rai s es t h e m i n i m u m s en t en ce

fro m o n e y ear t o t h ree).

W h en th e s am e act o r t ran s act io n vi o l at es t wo s t at u t es

, we ap pl y t h e “ req u i red

ev i d en ce” t es t ad op t ed in Dr i nka r d v. W al ker

, 2 8 1 Ga. 2 1 1

, 21 7 ( 6 3 6 S E 2 d 5 3 0 )

(2 0 0 6 )

, t o d et erm i n e wh et h er o n e cri m e is i n cl u d ed i n t h e o th er u n d er OCGA §

1 6 -1 -6 (1 ). “ Un d er t h e ‘ req u i red ev id en ce’ t es t

... t h e ap p l i cab l e ru l e is t h at wh ere t h e

s am e act o r t ran s act i o n co ns t i tu t es a vi o l at i o n of t w o d is ti n ct s t at u t o ry p ro v i s i o n s

, t h e

t es t t o b e ap p l i ed t o d et erm i ne w h et h er t h ere are t wo o ffen s es o r o n l y o n e, i s wh et h er

each pro v i s i o n req u i res p ro o f o f a fact wh i ch t h e o t h er d o es n o t.” (Pu n ct uat i o n an d

fo o t n o t e o m i tt ed ). Id . at 2 1 5

.

Bu s b y arg u es t h at t h e o n l y d i s t i n ct i o n b et ween th e ag g rav at ed b at t ery o ffen s es

an d t h e ag g rav at ed as s au l t o ffen s e i s hi s m en s rea, t h e i n t en t t o m u rd er, an d t h at h i s

i n t en t was n o t an ad d i t i o n al “ fact ,” b ut rat h er an i nferen ce t h e ju ry m u s t d raw fro m

t h e ev i den ce. Co n s i s ten t wi t h hi s p r e v i o u s en u m erat i o n, h e co n t en d s t h at th e St at e

12fai l ed t o es t ab li s h t h at h e co m m i t t ed m u l ti p l e cri m i n al act s an d arg u ed t h at t h e s am e

i n ju ri es were u s ed t o p ro v e b o t h t h e as s au l t an d t h e bat t ery

. W e di s ag ree.

“ [A] g grav at ed as sau lt w i t h in t en t t o m u rd er req u i red p ro o f o f a fact

— t h e i n t en t t o

k i l l

— t h at ag g rav at ed [b at t ery ] d i d n o t

, an d ag g rav at ed [b at tery ] req ui red p ro o f o f

a fact

— [t h e b ab y ’ s s k u l l was ren d ered us el es s an d t h e b ab y ’ s face was d i s fi g u red ]

— t hat ag g rav at ed as s au l t w i t h i n t en t t o m urd er d i d no t

. ” Gi

p s o n v. S ta te

,

_

_ _ Ga.

Ap p

.

__ _ (7 ) (b ) (Ca s e No

. A1 5 A0 15 5

, d eci ded M ay 6

, 2 0 1 5 ) (p h y s i cal p reced en t

o n l y ).

Th e t ri al co u rt d i d n o t err i n s en ten ci n g Bu s by s ep arat el y fo r ag g rav at ed as s au l t

wi t h i n t en t t o m

urd er, as wel l as t wo co un t s o f ag grav at ed b at t ery

.

J u d g m e n t a f f i r med

. McMi l l i a n

, J., co n cu r s

. R a y, J., co n cu rs i n Di vi s i o n s 1,

2 (a ) a n d 2 (b ) a nd i n t h e j ud

g men t

.

13