FOURTH D I VI SI ON

DI LLA R D, C. J.

, RA Y and SELF, 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 12, 2018



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 7 A1 80 4 . CUYLER v

. THE STATE.

D I LLA R D , Ch i ef J u d g e.

W i l l i e Cu y l er ap p eal s hi s co n v i ct i o n s fo r at t em p ted arm ed ro b b ery

, ag g rav at ed

as s au l t

, fi rst- de gr ee b urg l ary

, an d rel at ed weap o n s ch arg es

, arg u i n g t h at t h e t ri al co u rt

erred b y den y in g h i s m o t i on t o s ev er h is t ri al fro m t h at o f a co -d efen d an t

, fai l i n g to

g ran t a m i s tri al o r t o g i v e an ad eq u at e cu rat i v e i n s t ru ct i o n wh en t h e v i ct i m im p ro p erl y

co m m en t ed o n Cu y l er’ s ch aract er, an d fai li n g t o m erg e h i s at t em p t ed arm ed -ro b b ery

an d ag grav at ed -as sau l t co nvic t ions fo r s en t en ci n g p u rp o s es

. He al s o co n ten d s t h at h i s

t ri al co u ns el was i n effect i ve fo r fai l i n g t o m o v e fo r a m i s t ri al wh en t h e St at e

p res en t ed i m

p ro p er ch aract er ev i d en ce an d fai l in g t o cal l cert ai n wi t n es s es t o t es t i fy

i n h i s d efen s e. Fo r t h e reas on s s et fo rt h i n f r a , we affi rm

.Vi ewed i n th e li g h t m o s t fav o rab l e t o th e ju ry ’ s v erd i ct

, 1 t h e reco rd s ho ws t h at

o n Au g u st 21

, 20 1 3

, at ap p ro x i m at el y 1 1 :4 0 p.m

., a p at ro l o ffi cer wi t h t h e Ri ch m o n d

Co u n t y Sh eri ff’ s Dep art m en t res p o n d ed t o a res i d en ce w h ere s h o t s h ad rep o rt ed l y

b een fi red an d o n e pers o n was “ d o wn .” W hen t h e o ffi cer arri v ed

, h e n ot i ced t h at t h e

fro n t d o o r o f t h e ap art m en t h ad b een k i ck ed i n , an d t here was b lo o d o n t h e g ro u n d.

Th e o ffi cer wal k ed in t o t h e ap art m en t

, wh ere he fo u n d Marco Gi l b ert l y i n g o n a s o fa

“ h o l d i n g s o m e g u ns h o t wo u n d s.” Bu t Gi l b ert was “ fu ll y al ert an d co n s ci o us ” an d ab l e

t o t el l t h e o ffi cer wh at h ap p en ed

. Th e o ffi cer ob s erv ed t hat G il bert h ad b een s h o t a

co u pl e of t i m es in h is ab d o m en an d o n ce i n h i s leg

. Sh o rt l y t h ereaf t e r

, G i l b ert was

t ak en t o a h o s p i t al fo r tr eat m en t an d ad di t i o n al o ffi cers arri ved o n t h e s cen e to

i n v es t i g at e. In t h e few m i n u t es b efo re t h e am b u l an ce arri ved

, Gi l b ert t o l d t he o ffi cer

t h at An d re Bro wn was o n e of h i s at t ack ers an d t h e o t h er p erp et rat o r (l at er i d en t i fi ed

as Cu y l er) wen t b y

t h e n i ck n am e “ M ai n -M ai n .” 2

1 S ee, e.g

. , Ha r t

zl er v. S ta t e , 3 3 2 Ga. Ap p . 6 7 4

, 6 7 5 (7 7 4 SE2 d 7 3 8) (2 0 1 5 ).

2 At t ri al

, Gi lb ert i d en ti fi ed Cu y ler an d Bro wn as h i s as s ai l an t s

, an d Cu y l er

co n fi rm ed t h at p eo p l e k n ew h i m as “ M ai n-M ai n.”

2Acco rd i ng t o Gi l b ert

, h e h ad recen t l y m o v ed i n t o th e ap art m en t wi t h a fri en d,

wh o was al s o Cu y l er’ s co u s i n

. Gi l b ert k n ew Cu y l er b ecau s e t h ey p l ay ed p o o l an d h ad

d ri n k s t o g et h er a few t i m es

, b u t Gi l b ert d i d n o t k n o w hi m w el l

. G i l bert h ad

, h o wev er,

k n o wn Bro wn an d h i s fam i ly s in ce ch i ld h o od

. A n d on t h e n ig h t in q u es t i o n, Gi l b ert

was h om e al o n e wat ch i n g a m o v i e wh en he “ h eard a lo u d k i ck at [h i s ] do o r[,] ” wh i ch

cau s ed t h e d oo r t o b eg in co m i n g o ff o f it s h i n ges

. Gi lb ert l o o k ed t o ward t h e do o r an d

s aw Cu y l er s t an di n g i n t he do o rway

. W h en Cu y l er k ick ed t h e d oo r a seco n d t i m e, i t

fl ew op en

, an d Gi l b ert

, wh o at t em p t ed t o ru n away

, h eard g u n sh o ts b ei n g fi red i n s i d e

t h e h om e. Th en

, aft er t h e g u n s h o t s s t op p ed

, Gi l b ert s aw t h at Cu y l er was st il l s t an d i n g

i n t h e d o o rway

, an d h e as k ed Cu y l er, “ t h i s h o w y ’ al l go n na p l ay it

, b ro t her? ” Cu y l er

t h en t o l d Gi l b ert t o “ g i v e i t u p” an d b eg an s h o o ti n g at h i m ag ai n

. 3 Cu y l er ran t o ward

Gi l b ert an d at t em

p t ed t o g rab h i m

, b u t Gi l b ert was ab l e t o es cap e t h ro u g h t h e fro nt

d o o r.

3 Gi l b ert t es t i fi ed t h at h e h ad ap p ro x i m at el y $ 8 0 0 i n h is p o ck et at t h e t i m e o f

t h e at t em p t ed ro b bery

, b ut Cu y l er an d Bro wn d i d n o t s t eal i t

. H e fu rt h er t es t i fi ed t h at

h e h ad s ol d d ru g s i n th e p as t

, s o wh en Cu y l er t o ld h im t o “ g i v e it u p [ ,] ” Gi l b ert

b el i ev ed th at Cu y l er w as d em an d i n g m o n ey

, dru g s

, o r an y ot her v al u ab l e i t em s i n t h e

h o m e.

3Th en Bro w n

, wh o was wai t i n g ju s t o u t s i d e t h e d o or, t ri p p ed Gi l b ert , cau s i n g

h i m t o fal l o n th e gro un d

. Bro wn ju m p ed o n t o p of Gi lb ert

, p o i n t ed a gu n at h i m

, an d

rep eat ed l y at t em

p t ed t o pu l l h i s p an ts d o wn

. Al t h o u g h Gi l b ert was ev en t u al ly ab l e to

s t a n d an d s t art ru n ni ng away

, h e st u m b l ed an d fel l ag ai n. Bro w n fo l l o wed Gi l b ert

,

s t oo d o v er h i m

, s h ot h im twi ce i n t h e st o m ach

, an d t h en ran fro m t h e s cen e. By t h i s

t i m e, Cu y l er h ad al s o fl ed

. In t o t al

, Gi lb ert was s h o t fi v e t im e s d uri n g th e h o m e

i n v as i o n

.

Fo l l owi n g t h e at t ack

, Cu yl er an d Bro wn w ere ch arg ed

, v i a i n d i ct m en t

, wi th

at t em p t ed a r m e d ro b b ery

, ag g rav at ed as s au l t

, fi rs t -d eg ree b u rg l ary

, an d rel at ed

weap o n s ch arg es

. Pri o r t o tri al

, Cu y l er m o v ed t o s ev er h i s t ri al fro m t hat o f Bro wn ’ s

,

b u t aft er a h eari n g o n th e m at t er, t h e m o ti o n w as den i ed

. Su bs eq uen t l y

, Cu y l er an d

Bro w n p ro ceed ed t o a jo i n t ju ry t ri al an d were b o t h co n v i ct ed of al l ch arg ed offen s es

.

Cu y l er th en fi l ed a m o t i o n fo r a n ew t ri al

, wh i ch was d en ied fo l l o wi n g a h eari n g

. Th i s

ap p eal b y Cu y l er fo l lo w s

. 4

4 A rev i ew o f t h i s Co u rt ’ s d o ck et rev eal s t h at Bro wn d o es n ot cu rren t l y h av e

a s ep arat e ap p eal fro m h i s co nv i ct i o ns p en d i n g b efo re th i s Co u rt an d he i s n o t a p art y

t o t hi s ap p eal

.

41

. Cu y l er fi rs t arg u es t h at t he t ri al co u rt erred in d en y i n g hi s m o t i o n fo r a

s ev eran ce b ecau se t h ere was co n fu s io n as t o t h e ev i d en ce an d t h e l aw ap p li cab l e to

each d efen d an t an d h e an d Bro wn h ad an t ag o n i st i c d efen s es

. 5 W e d i s ag ree.

OCGA § 17 -8 -4 (a) p ro v i d es t h at wh en two o r m o re d efen d an t s are jo in t l y

i n d i ct ed fo r a n o n -cap i tal o ffen s e, “ s u ch d efen d an t s m ay be t ri ed jo i nt l y or s ep arat el y

i n t h e d i s cret i o n o f t h e t r i al co u rt .” An d a t ri al co urt ’ s d eci s io n t o d en y a m o t i o n to

s ev er “ wi l l b e affi rm ed ab s en t an ab u s e o f d i s cret i o n .” 6 N ev er t h e l e s s

, a t ri al co u rt

5 Th e v as t m ajo ri t y o f t h e “ arg u m en t an d ci t at i o n o f au t h o ri t y ” s ect i o n in

Cu y l er’ s ap p el l at e b ri ef p ro v i d es n o ci t at i o n s t o s u p p o rt h i s rep res en t at i o n s o f t h e

reco rd , i n cl u d i n g s o m e i n s t an ces wh en h e p u rp o rt s t o q uo t e t h e t ri al t ran s cri p t . It i s

n o t t h e fu n c t i o n o f t hi s Co u rt t o “ cu l l t h e reco rd o n b eh al f o f a p art y i n search o f

i n s t an ces o f erro r[,] [an d ] [t ] h e b u rd en is u p o n t he p art y al l eg i n g e r r o r t o s h o w i t

affi rm at i v el y i n th e reco rd .” P a t t er s on v. S ta t e

, 3 27 Ga. Ap p

. 6 9 5

, 6 9 6 (1 ) (7 6 1 SE2 d

1 0 1 ) (2 01 4 ) (p un ct u at i on om i t t ed ). N ev ert h el e s s

, gi v en t h e l i m i t ed an d

s t rai g h t fo rward n at ure o f t h e ev i d en ce p res en t ed at t ri al an d t h e ci t at io n s p ro v i d ed by

t h e St at e, we ad dres s t h e s u b s t an ce o f Cu y l er’ s cl ai m s t o th e ex t en t p o s s i bl e. S ee i d.

( n o t i n g t h at t h e d efi ci en ci es i n t h e ap p el l an t ’ s b ri ef wo ul d au t h o ri ze t h i s Co u r t t o

d i s m i s s t he ap p eal

, b u t ad d res si n g t h e m eri t s o f t h e ap p eal t o t he ex t en t p o s s i b l e, as

t h e St at e h ad p ro v i d ed su ffi ci en t ci tat i o n s t o t h e reco rd i n it s b ri ef); Co u rt o f Ap p eal s

Ru l e 25 (c) (2 ) (i ) (“ Each en um erat ed erro r s h al l b e s u p p o rt ed i n t he b ri ef b y s p eci fi c

r e f e r e n ce t o t h e reco rd o r t ran s cri pt

. In t h e ab s en ce o f s p eci fi c referen ce, t h e C o u r t

wi l l n ot s ear ch fo r an d m ay n o t co n s i d er t h at en u m erat io n .”). Ad d i t i o nal l y

, we

cau t i on t h e St at e t h at

, wh en fi l i n g fu t u re b ri efs w i t h t h i s C o u rt

, i t s h o u ld co n s u l t

Co u r t o f A p peal s Ru l es 2 an d 2 4

, wh i ch d et ai l t he fo rm at i n wh i ch ap pel l at e b ri efs

m u st b e p rep ared

.

6 Jo n es v. S t a t e

, 2 77 Ga. Ap p

. 1 8 5

, 1 8 6 (6 2 6 SE2 d 1 4 2) (2 0 0 6 ) ; s ee Ca i n v.

S t a t e

, 23 5 Ga. 1 2 8

, 1 2 8 -2 9 (2 1 8 SE2 d 8 5 6 ) (1 9 7 5 ) (“ Si n ce th e g ran t or d en i al o f a

5s h o u ld s ev er t h e t r i a l s o f co -d efen d an ts w h en ev er it i s “ n eces s ary to ach i ev e a fai r

d et erm i n at i o n o f t h e g ui l t o r i n n o cen ce o f a d efen dan t .” 7 Bu t i n o rd er t o s h o w

en t i t l em en t t o a s ev eran ce, “ t he b u rd en i s o n t h e d efen d an t t o d o m o re t h an rai s e t h e

p o s s i b i l i ty t h at a s ep arat e tri al wo u l d g i v e h i m a b et t er ch an ce o f acq u it t al .” 8 In d eed

,

t o s at i sfy t h i s b u rd en

, a d efen d a n t “ m u st m ak e a cl ear s h o wi n g o f p reju d i ce an d a

co n seq u en t d en i al o f d ue pro ces s .” 9 Fi n al l y

, as o u r Su p rem e Co urt h as ex p l ai n ed

, in

d et erm i n i n g wh et h er t o g ran t a m o t i o n t o s ev er, a t ri al co u rt s h o u l d co n s i der:

m o ti o n t o s ev er is l eft t o t he d i s cret i o n o f t h e t ri al co u rt

, i t s ru l i n g wi l l be o v ert u rn ed

o n l y fo r an ab us e o f d i s cret i o n .”); Avel l a n ed a v. S ta t e

, 2 6 1 Ga. Ap p

. 8 3

, 8 7 ( 5 8 1

SE2 d 7 0 1 ) (2 0 0 3 ) (“ W h et h er t o g ran t o r d en y a s e v e r a n c e s h o u l d b e d eci d ed o n a

cas e-b y -cas e b as i s an d i s an i s s u e t h at i s l eft t o t h e d i s cret i o n o f t h e t ri al co u rt .”).

7 Avel la n ed

a

, 2 6 1 Ga. Ap p

. at 8 7 ; s ee Mo r r i s v. S t at e

, 2 0 4 Ga. A p p

. 43 7

, 4 3 8

(1 ) (4 1 9 SE2 d 73 3 ) (1 9 9 2 ) (“ Des p i t e t h e b en efi t s o f jo i n d er, i t i s cl ear t h at an

accu s ed ’ s ri g h t t o a fai r t ri al t ak es p reced en ce. If t h e co n so l i d at i on o f d efen d an t s at

t ri al h i nd ers a fai r d et erm i n at i o n o f each d efen d an t ’ s g u i l t o r i n n o c e n ce, t h en t h e

d efen d an t s m

u s t b e t ri ed s ep arat el y

. ” (p un ct u at i o n o m it t ed )).

8 Avel l a ned

a

, 26 1 G a. Ap p

. at 8 7 (p u n ct u at i o n o m i tt ed ); acco r d Ca i n

, 2 3 5 Ga.

at 1 2 9

.

9 Avel l a n ed

a

, 2 61 G a. Ap p

. at 8 7 (p u n ct u at io n o m i t t ed ); s ee Gr een v. S t a t e

, 2 7 4

Ga. 6 8 6

, 6 8 8 (2 ) (5 5 8 SE2 d 7 0 7 ) (2 0 0 2 ) (“ It i s i n cu m b en t u p on t h e defen d an t wh o

s eek s a s ev eran ce t o s h o w cl earl y t h at h e wi ll be p reju di ced b y a jo i n t t ri al

, an d i n t h e

ab s en ce o f s u ch a s h o wi ng

, t he t ri al co u rt ’ s d en i al o f a s ev eran ce m o t i o n wi l l n o t b e

d i s t u rb ed .”).

6(1 ) wh et h er t h e n u m b er o f defen d an t s wi l l co n f u s e t h e ju ry as t o th e

ev i d en ce an d t h e l aw ap p l i cab l e t o each d efen d an t ; (2 ) wh et h er, d es p i t e

cau t io n ary in s t ru ct io n s fro m t h e co u rt

, t h ere i s a dan g er t h at ev i d en ce

ad m i s s i b l e ag ai n s t o n e d efen d an t wi l l b e i m p ro p erl y co n s i d ered ag ai n s t

an o t her d efen d an t ; an d (3 ) wh et h er t h e d efen s es o f t h e d efen d an t s are

an t ag o n i s t i c t o each o t h er o r t o each o t h er’ s ri g h t s o f d ue p ro ces s

. 1 0

Beari n g th es e g u id in g p ri n ci p l es i n m i n d , we t u rn n o w t o Cu y l er’ s s p eci fi c cl ai m

.

As t o wh et h er t h e n um

ber o f d efen d an t s i s p o ten t i al l y co nfu s i n g to t h e ju ry as

t o th e ev i d en ce an d th e l aw, o ur Su p rem e Co u rt h as h el d t hat “ [m ] erel y b ecau s e t h r ee

d efen d an t s are t ri ed t o g et h er i s n o t cau s e fo r a s ev eran ce.” 1 1 An d h ere, t h ere were

o n l y t wo d efen d a n t s t r i e d t og et h er, an d Cu y l er fai l s t o ex p l ai n h o w t ry i n g h i m an d

Bro w n t o g et h er c o u l d h av e co n fu s ed t h e ju ry

, es p eci al l y gi v en t h at t h e ju ry h eard

t es t i m o ny reg ard i n g a rel at i v el y b ri ef an d s t rai gh t fo rward at t em p t ed ro b b ery an d t h e

as s au l t o f a s in g l e v i ct im

. 1 2 In d eed

, as t he co -d efen d an t s were al l eg ed t o h av e act ed

1 0 McCl en d

o n v. St a t e

, 2 9 9 Ga. 6 11

, 61 5 (3 ) (7 9 1 SE2 d 69 ) (2 0 1 6 ); a c c or d

S a t t er f i el d v. S ta t e , 2 5 6 Ga. 5 9 3 , 5 9 6 (3 ) (3 51 SE2 d 6 2 5 ) (1 9 8 7 ).

1 1 Gr ee n

, 2 7 4 G a. at 6 88 (2 ) (em ph as i s s u p p l i ed ); s ee Sa t t er fi el d

, 2 5 6 Ga. at

5 9 6 -9 7 (3 ) (affi rm i n g t he t ri al co u rt ’ s d en i al o f d efen d an t s m o t i o n s t o sev er wh en

t h ere were t h ree co -d efen dan t s an d t he t wo w ho s o u g h t a s ev eran ce fai l ed t o s h o w t h e

req u i s i t e p reju di ce t o req u i re rev ers al ).

1 2 S ee, e.g

. , Bu tl er v. S ta t e

, 2 9 0 Ga. 4 12

, 41 3 (2 ) (7 2 1 SE2 d 8 7 6 ) ( 2 0 1 2 )

(h o l d i n g t h at s ev eran ce o f t h e co -d efen d an t s ’ t ri al s was n o t warran ted wh en “ [t ] h ere

7i n co n cert t o co m m i t t h e s am e cri m es o n a s i ng l e o ccas i o n

, an d th e ev i d en ce an d l aw

ap p li cab l e to each d efen d an t w as es s en t i al l y th e s am e, it i s u n l i k el y t hat t ry i n g t h em

t o g et h er co n fu sed t h e ju ry

. 1 3

As t o wh et h er ev i d en ce ag ai n s t o ne d efen d an t i s ad m i ss i b le ag ai n s t t h e o t h er,

Cu y l er m ai n t ai n s t hat h e was en t i t l ed t o a s ev eran ce b ecau s e t h e S t at e p res en t ed

ev i d en ce t h at Bro wn co m m i t t ed an o t h er ro b b ery

t wo m o n t h s p ri o r t o th e at t em p t ed

ro b b ery o f Gi l b ert

. Sp eci fi cal l y

, Cu y l er co n t en ds th at th ere was a d an ger t h at t h e ju ry

wo u l d i m p ro p erl y co n s i d er ev i d en ce of th at recen t

, s im i l ar ro b b ery ag ai n st h i m

. Bu t

were o n l y t wo d efen d an t s

. . ., t h e l aw ap pl i cab l e t o each defen d an t was su b s t an t i al l y

t h e s am e, an d th e ev i d en ce at t ri al s h o wed t h at [a] p pe l l a n t an d [h i s co -d efen d an t ]

act ed t o g et h er i n co m

m i t t i n g t h e jo i n t l y i n d i ct ed cri m es ” (p u n ct u at i o n o m it t ed )); Ra y

v. S ta t e

, 3 3 8 Ga. Ap p

. 8 22

, 8 2 9 (2 ) (7 9 2 SE2 d 4 2 1) (2 0 1 6 ) (h o l d i n g th at s ev eran ce

o f t h e co -d efen d an ts ’ t ri al s was n o t n eces s ary g i v en t h at

, i nt er al i a

, ev i d en ce s h o wed

t h at al l o f t h e d efen d a n t s p l ay ed a ro l e i n a s i n g l e ro b b ery

, n o t s ep arat e, u n rel at ed

o ffen s es t h at m i g h t “ m

u d d y t h e ev i d en ce” as t o a s in g l e d efen d an t ’ s o ffen s es ).

1 3 S ee, e.g

. , McCl en d

o n

, 2 9 9 Ga. at 61 5 (3 ) (affi rm i n g t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s d en i al

o f a d efen d an t’ s m o t i o n fo r a s ev eran ce, ex p l ai n i n g t h at

, i n t er a l i a

, t h ere was n o

i n d i cat i o n t h at t h e ju ry co n fu s ed th e ev i den ce or t h e l aw ap p l i c ab l e to t h e co

d efen d an t s as al l t h ree d efen d an t s were l arg el y ch arg ed wi t h t h e s am e o ffen s es t h at

s t em m ed fro m t h e s am e ev i d en ce an d fact pat t ern ); Da n i el v. St a t e

, 2 8 5 G a. 4 0 6

, 4 0 9

(3 ) (d ) (6 7 7 SE2 d 1 2 0 ) (2 0 0 9 ) (h o l d in g t h at t here was no d an ger t h at t he ju ry wo u ld

b e co n fu s ed b y t he ev id en ce b ecau s e t h ere were o n l y two d efen d an t s act i n g i n co n cert

an d t h e ev i d en ce was no t s uch t h at i t wo u l d co n fu s e th e j u r y as t o t h ei r i n d i v i d u al

p art i ci p at i o n i n t h e cri m es ).

8t h e m ere fact t h at t h e cas e ag ai n s t Bro wn was s t ro n ger t han t h e cas e ag ai n s t Cu y l er

d i d n o t n eces s i t at e a s ep arat e t ri al

. 1 4 M o reo v er, t he tri al co u rt g a v e l i m i t i n g

i n s t ru ct i o n s t o t h e ju ry t h at m i ti g at ed an y ch an ce i t wo u l d co n v ict ei t her d efen d an t

b as ed o n ev i d en ce ag ai n s t o r as s o ci at i o n wi th t h e o t h er. In d eed

, ju s t p ri or t o t h e St at e

p res en t i ng s i m i l ar-t ran s act io n ev i d en ce ag ai n s t Bro wn

, t h e co u rt i ns t ru ct ed t h at

“ [s ] o m et i m es t h e ev i d en ce i s ad m it t ed fo r a l i m it ed p u rp o s e o r ag ai n s t s o m e p art i es

an d n o t o t h ers

. Su ch ev i d en ce m ay b e co n s i d ered b y y o u

, t h e ju ry

, fo r th e s o l e i s s u e

o r p u rp o se ag ai n s t t h at p art y fo r wh i ch t he e v i d e n c e i s l i m i t ed an d no t fo r o t h er

p u rp os es .” Th e co u rt wen t on t o ex p lai n t h at t he St at e wo ul d b e p res en t in g ev i d en ce

o f o th er act s al leg ed l y co m m i t t ed b y Br o wn

, an d s u ch ev i den ce co u l d be co n s i d ered

s o l el y as t o t h e i s su es o f Br o wn ’s m o t i v e, i n t en t, an d p l an

.

Ad d it i on al l y

, aft er each wi t n es s wh o tes t if ie d r e ga r ding Bro wn ’ s pri o r cri m i n al

act s

, Cu y l er’ s at t o rn ey cro ss -ex am i n ed t h e wi t n es s b ri efl y on l y to co n fi rm t h at Cu y l er

h ad no in v o l v em en t i n t h o s e p ri o r i n ci d en t s o r t h at th e wi tn es s d i d no t k n o w Cu y l er.

1 4 See Kel le

y v

. S t a t e

, 2 48 Ga. 1 3 3

, 13 6 (3 ) (2 81 SE2 d 5 8 9 ) (1 9 8 1 ); s ee a l s o

Ma r t i n v

. S t at e

, 1 6 2 Ga. Ap p

. 7 0 3

, 70 4 (2 ) (2 92 SE2 d 8 64 ) (1 9 8 2 ) (“ Th e m ere fact

t h at t es t i m o n y as t o o n e o f t wo co [-] d efen d an t s i s s tro n g er t h an th at l i n k in g t h e o t h er

t o th e cri m e d o es n o t d em an d a fi n d i n g t h at t h e d en i al o f a m o t i on t o s ev er i s an ab u s e

o f d i s cret i o n .”).

9Fo l l o wi ng t h e p res en t at i o n o f t h es e wi t n es s es

, th e co u rt as k ed t h e St at e an d t h e

d efen d an t s wh et h er i t s ho u l d g i v e t h e li m i t i n g i n s t ru ct i o n ag ai n

, an d al l p art i es ag reed

t h at t h e co urt s h ou l d wai t t o rep eat t h e i n st ru ct i o n d u ri n g t h e ju ry ch arg es at t h e en d

o f t ri al

, w h i ch i t d i d

. 1 5 G i v en t h at q u al i fi ed ju ro rs u n d er o at h are p res u m ed t o fo l l o w

a tri al co u rt ’ s i n s t ru ct i o n s

, 1 6 t h ere was v ery l i tt l e, if an y

, d an ger t h at t h e ju ry

co n si d ered t h e ev i d en ce s o lel y rel at ed t o Bro wn ’ s p ri o r act s ag ai n s t Cu y l er. 1 7

Las t ly

, Cu y l er h as n o t s h o wn t h at h i s an d Bro wn ’ s d efen s es were an t ag o n i s t i c,

as t hey bo t h pres en t ed al i b i wi t n es s es an d tes t i fi ed i n t h ei r o wn defen s e t h at t h ey d id

n o t p art i ci p at e in t h e ro b b ery a t a l l

. S u ch d efen ses are n ot m u t u al l y ex cl u s i v e. 1 8

1 5 In ad d it i on t o re i t e r at i n g i t s p rev i ou s i n s t ru ct i o n s th at cert ai n ev i d en ce

p res en t ed b y t h e St at e o f o t her cri m es al l eg ed l y co m m it t ed b y Bro wn s h o u l d o n l y b e

co n si d ered as t o Bro wn ’ s m o t i v e i n t en t, an d p l an

, th e co u rt ch arg ed t h e ju ry t wi ce

t h at i t m u s t co n s i d er t h e ch arg es ag ai n s t each d efen d an t i n d i vi d u al l y an d s ep arat el y

.

1 6 S e e H o l m e s v

. S t a t e

, 2 7 3 Ga. 6 44

, 6 4 8 (5 ) (c) (5 4 3 SE2 d 6 8 8 ) (2 0 0 1 )

(“ Qu al i fi ed ju ro rs un d er o at h are p res u m e d t o fo l lo w t h e i n s t ru ct i o n s o f t h e t ri al

co u rt .” (p u nct u at i o n o m i t t ed )).

1 7 S ee Bi l l in gs v. S ta te

, 2 9 3 Ga. 9 9

, 1 0 5 -0 6 (6 ) (7 4 5 SE2 d 5 8 3 ) (2 0 1 3 )

(reject i ng an ap p el l an t ’ s arg u m en t t h at h e was en t i tl ed t o a s ev eran ce o f h is t ri al fro m

t h at o f h is co -d efen d an t’ s wh en

, i n t er a l i a

, s i m i l ar-t ran s act i o n ev i d en ce rel at ed t o t h e

co -d efen d an t d i d n o t d irect l y i m p l i cat e t h e ap p el l an t an d t h e t ri al co u rt g a v e a n

ap p ro p ri at e l i m i ti ng i n st ru ct i on ).

1 8 S ee, e.g

. , Den n

y v. S t at e

, 2 8 1 Ga. 1 1 4

, 1 1 6 (1 ) (6 3 6 SE2 d 5 0 0 ) (2 0 0 6) (n o t i n g

t h at co -d efen dan t s ’ defen s es were n o t an t ag o n i s t i c t o each o t h er b ecau s e b o t h d en i ed

10Fu rt h erm o re, Bro w n n ev er m ad e an y i n cri m i n at in g s t ate m e n ts im plic a ting C uy le r th at

were pres en t ed at t ri al

. 1 9 Un d er t h es e p art icu l ar ci rcu m s t an ces

, t h e t ri al co urt d i d n ot

a b us e i t s d is cret io n in d en y in g Cu y l er’ s req ues t fo r a s ev eran ce b ecau s e h e d i d n o t

m eet h i s b u rd en o f s h o wi n g t h e req u i s i t e p reju d i ce s u ffi ci en t t o warran t a s ev eran ce

o f t h e jo i n t p ro s ecu t i o n

. 2 0

b ei n g at th e cri m e s cen e); Ma rt i n

, 1 6 2 Ga. A p p

. at 7 04 (2 ) (n o t i ng t h at th e d efen d an t

s eek i n g a s ev eran ce’ s d efen s e w as n o t an t ag o n i s t i c to t hat o f h is co -d efen dan t wh en

b o t h d efen d an t s cl ai m ed t h at t h ey were n o t p res en t at an d d i d n o t p a r t i c i p at e i n a

ro b b ery ).

1 9 S ee, e.g

. , Da ni el , 2 8 5 Ga. at 4 0 8 (3 ) (b ) (h o ld i ng t h at t h e t ri al co u rt d i d n ot

ab u se i t s d i s cret i o n i n d en y i n g a s ev eran ce wh en

, in t er a l i a

, t h ere was n o t es t i m o ny

o r s t at em en t t o po l i ce b y o n e c o

- defen d an t t h at d irect l y im p l i cat ed t h e ot h er co

d efen d an t , wh o was s eek i n g a s ev eran ce, i n t h e cri m e).

2 0 S ee G r een

, 2 7 4 Ga. at 6 8 8 (2 ) (h o l d i n g t h at a t ri al co u rt d i d n o t ab u s e i t s

d i s cret i o n i n d en y i n g a m o t i o n t o s e v er a d efen d an t ’ s t ri al fro m t h at o f h i s t wo co

d efen d an t s wh en t h e r e was n o t h i n g in t h e reco rd t o s u g g es t th at t ry in g th e t h ree

d efen d an t s to g et her co n fu s ed t h e ju ry

, t h ere was n o l i k el i h oo d t h at ev i d en ce

s u b m i t t ed ag ai n s t o n e defen d a n t w o u l d be im p ro p erl y co ns i d ered ag ai n s t a co

d efen d an t , an d t h e ap p el l an t m ad e n o at t em p t t o ex p l ai n h o w an t ag o n i st ic d efen s es

o f h i s co -d efen d an t s p reju d i ced h i s d u e pro ces s ri g h ts ); R a y

, 3 3 8 Ga. Ap p

. at 8 2 9 (2 )

(h o l d i n g t h at sev eran ce o f jo i n t p ro s ecu ti o n was n o t w ar r a n t e d wh en t h ere was

ev i d en ce t h at th e co -d efen d an t s al l p l ay ed a ro le i n a s i n g l e r o b b ery

, an d t h ey al l

cl ai m ed t o h av e h ad n o i n v o lv em en t i n t h e cri m e).

112

. Cu y l er n ex t arg u es t h at t h e tri al co u rt erred wh en it fai l ed t o g ran t a m i s t ri al

o r g i v e an ad eq u at e cu rat iv e i n s t ru ct i o n t o t h e j u r y aft er th e v i ct i m im p ro p erl y

t es t i fi ed as t o h i s ch aract er. Th i s cl ai m i s l ik ewi s e wi t h o u t m eri t

.

W h et h er t o g ran t a m i s t ri al b as ed o n im p ro p er ch aract er ev i d en ce i s wi t h i n t h e

d i s cret i o n o f t h e t ri al ju d g e. 2 1 As a g en eral m at t er, t h e ch aract er o f t h e d efen d an t

s h o u ld n o t co m e i n to ev i d en c e “ u n l e s s h e ch o o s es to pu t h i s ch aract er i n i s s u e an d

wh en p reju d i ci a l m at t er is i m pro p erl y p l aced b efo re th e ju ry

, [an d] a m i s t ri al i s

ap p ro p ri at e i f i t i s es s en t i al t o t h e p res e rv at i o n o f th e d efen d an t’ s ri g h t t o a fai r

t ri al .” 2 2 M o reo ver, i n rev iewi n g t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s d eci si o n

, an ap p el l at e co u rt “ m ay

c o n s i d e r t h e n at u re o f t h e s tat em en t

, t h e o t h er ev i d en ce i n t h e cas e, an d t h e co u r t ’s

an d co u n s el ’ s act i on i n d eal in g wi t h t h e i m p ro pri et y

. ” 2 3 Fu rt h erm o re, we al s o

co n si d er ad d i t i o n al fact s l i ke wh et h er “ t h e r e f e ren ce t o t h e i m

p ro per ch aract er

2 1 S ee S i m s v. S t at e , 2 6 8 Ga. 3 8 1 , 3 8 2 (2 ) (4 8 9 SE2 d 8 0 9 ) (1 9 9 7 ).

2 2 S ma l lwo o d v. S ta t e

, 3 3 4 Ga. Ap p

. 2 2 4

, 2 2 5 ( 1 ) ( 7 7 9 SE2 d 1 ) (2 0 1 5 )

(p u n ct u at i o n o m it t ed ); s ee S mi t h v. S ta t e

, 2 8 8 Ga. 3 48

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

(2 0 1 0) (“ W h en a p reju d i ci al m at t er is i m pro p erl y p l aced befo re th e ju ry

, a m i s t ri al i s

ap p ro p ri at e i f it i s es s en t i al to t h e p res erv at i o n o f t h e d efen dan t ’ s ri g ht t o a fai r t ri al .”

(p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed )).

2 3 S i ms , 2 6 8 Ga. at 3 82 (2 ); a cco r d Jo n es v. S t a t e

, 2 5 1 Ga. Ap p

. 2 85 , 2 8 7 (2 )

(a) (5 54 SE2 d 2 38 ) (2 0 0 1 ).

12ev i d en ce i s i so lat ed an d b ri ef, wh et h er t h e ju ry ’ s ex p o s ure was rep eat ed o r ex t en s i ve,

an d w h et h er th e i n tro d u ct i o n o f t h e o b j e c t i o n ab l e ev id en ce was i n ad v ert en t o r

wh et h er i t was d el i b erat el y el i ci t ed b y

t h e St at e.” 2 4

Here, Cu y l er co m

p l a i n s t h at t wo s t at em en t s m ad e b y Gi l b ert d u ri n g h i s

t es t i m o ny i m

p ro p erl y co m

m en t ed o n hi s ch aract er, b ut he co n ced es t h at t h e St at e d id

n o t i n t en t i o n al l y so l ici t ei t h er s t at em en t . Th e fi rs t s t at em en t was Gi l bert ’ s res p o n s e

wh en t h e St at e as k ed hi m t o i d en t i fy Cu y ler i n t h e co urt ro om an d d es cri b e hi s cl o t h es

.

Sp eci fi cal l y , Gi l b ert t es t i fi ed

,

Cu y l er[ ] i s t he g u y t h at ’ s o n d efen s e w i t h

. . . t h e oran g e an d b l u e s h irt

,

t h e d i fferen t co l o red sh i rt o n wi t h t he l o w h ai rcu t n o w. He u s ed t o h av e

. . . l i k e a Fro

, an Afro an d st u ff b efo re. I g u es s h e w e n t t h ro u g h th e

s y s t em

— b een i n t he s y s t em fo r d o i n g hi s ch ai n [-] gan g t i m e o r wh at ev er.

Cu y l er’ s t ri al co u ns el i m m ed i at el y o b

ject ed

, a r g u i ng th at t h i s tes t i m o n y p l aced h i s

cl i en t’ s ch aract er in t o ev i den ce. Bu t fo l l o wi n g a ben ch co n feren ce, t h e co u rt m erel y

i n s t ru ct ed G i l b e r t t o co nt i n u e t es t ify i ng wi t h o u t co m m en t in g o n t h e reas o n wh y

Cu y l er’ s h ai rs t y l e m ay hav e ch an ged

. Th e b en ch co n feren ce was n ot t ran s cri b ed

,

h o wev er, an d i t i s u n cl ear wh et h er Cu y l er’ s co u ns el m o v ed fo r a m i s t ri al at t h i s t i m e

2 4 S ma l l wo o d

, 3 3 4 Ga. Ap p

. at 2 2 5 -2 6 (1 ) ( p u n ct u at i on o m i t t ed ); a cco r d

Ja cks o n v. S ta te , 3 2 1 Ga. Ap p

. 6 0 7 , 6 1 0 (1 ) (7 39 SE2 d 8 6 ) (2 0 1 3 ).

13o r i n st ead req u es t ed a cu rat iv e i n s t ru ct i o n

. 2 5 An d i n t h e ab s en ce o f an y req u es t fo r a

m i s t ri al

, t h e t ri al co u rt was “ req u i red t o act su a sp o nt e o n l y i f t h ere was a m an i fes t

n eces s i t y fo r a m i s t ri al ,” 2 6 wh i ch “ req u i res u rg en t ci rcu m s tan ces .” 2 7 M o reo v er, t o t h e

ex t en t Cu y l er arg ues t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n fai l i n g t o g ran t a m i s t ri al s u a s p o n t e

b as ed s o l el y o n t h e v i ct i m ’ s v ag u e an d u n s o li ci ted s u gg es t io n t h at Cu y l er m ay h av e

b een i n carcerat ed fo r s o m e un sp eci fi ed reas o n p ri or t o t ri al

, we d is ag ree t h at s u ch

t es t i m o ny n eces si t at es a m i st ri al

. 2 8

2 5 Wh e n Cu y l er’ s co u n s el o b ject ed

, sh e i n d icat ed t h at s h e wo ul d “ m ak e a

m o ti o n at a s i d eb ar,” b ut t h e t ri al t ran s cri p t d o es n o t rev eal wh et h er s h e d i d s o.

Nev ert h el es s

, ev en i f co u n s el h ad m o v ed fo r a m i s tri al at t h i s t i m e, th e t ri al co u rt d id

n o t ab u s e i t s d i s cret i o n i n d en y i n g t h e m o t i on as t o Gi l b ert ’ s “ ch ai n g an g” co m m en t

fo r t h e reas o n s s et fo rt h i n f ra

. S ee i n f r a n o t e 2 8 & acco m

p an y i ng t ex t

.

2 6 Go n z al ez v. S t at e

, 31 0 Ga. Ap p

. 3 4 8

, 3 5 0 (7 1 4 SE2 d 13 ) (2 01 1 ); a cco r d Co x

v. S t a t e , 2 9 3 Ga. Ap p . 9 8

, 1 0 2 (3 ) (6 6 6 SE2 d 3 7 9 ) (2 0 08 ).

2 7 Go n z al ez

, 3 10 Ga. Ap p

. at 3 5 0 (2 ); a cco rd Co x

, 2 9 3 Ga. Ap p. at 1 02 (3 ); s ee

i d

. (“ [A] t ri al co urt ’ s d eci s i on wh et h er to g ran t a m i s t ri al b as ed u p on m an i fes t

n eces s i t y i s en ti tl ed t o g reat d eferen ce.”).

2 8 S ee La n i er v. S t a t e

, 2 8 8 Ga. 1 0 9

, 1 1 0 (2 ) (7 0 2 SE2 d 1 4 1 ) (2 0 1 0 ) (ex p l ai n i n g

t h at n ei t h er “ a p as s in g referen ce t o a d efen d an t ’ s cri m i n al reco rd ” n o r a

“ n o n r e s p o n s i v e an s wer t h at i m p act s n eg at i v el y o n a d efen d an t ’ s ch aract er”

i m p ro p erl y p laces h i s ch aract er at i s s u e); Bi l l i n g s v. St a t e

, 3 08 Ga. A p p

. 2 4 8, 2 5 3 (4 )

(7 0 7 SE2 d 1 7 7 ) (2 0 1 1 ) (s am e).

14Th e s eco nd s tat em en t Cu y l er cl ai m s warran t ed a m is t ri al was m ad e b y Gi l b ert

i n res po n s e t o a q ues ti o n ab o ut wh et h er h e was fam i l iar wi t h a p art i cu l ar car d ri v en

b y Bro wn ’ s g i rl fri en d . Sp eci fi cal l y , Gi l b ert t es ti fi ed

,

Yeah

, I s een t h e car

. I u s ed t he car al l t he t i m e. L i k e I s ay

, t h ey

s t ay ed

— w e al l s t ay ed i n t h e s am e n ei gh b o rh o o d s an d s t u ff l i k e t hat

t o g et h er, an d p ret t y m

u ch t h e s am e car t hat o t h er cri m es w ere co m m i t ted

i n

, yo u k n ow. Li k e I s ai d W i l l i e Cu y l er i s m y ho m eb o y ’ s b es t fri en d

.

Ev ery th i n g W i l l i e Cu y l er u s ed t o t el l m y h o m eb o y ab ou t t h e t h i n g s t hat

[Bro wn ] an d W i l l i e Cu y l er u s ed t o d o t o g et h er, li k e o th er ro bb eri es an d

s t uff l ik e t h at

. . . .

Im m ed i at el y fo l l o wi n g t h i s tes ti m o n y

, b o t h Bro wn an d Cu y l er o b ject ed

, an d Cu y l er’ s

co u ns el s p eci fi cal ly arg u ed t h at t h i s s t at em en t

, co up l ed wi t h th e earl i er “ ch ai n g an g ”

co m m en t, i m p ro p erl y pl aced Cu y l er’ s ch aract er i n ev i d en ce. Bu t n ei t her d efen d an t

m o ved fo r a m i s t ri al at t h i s t i m e. In res po n s e, t h e co u rt s t a t e d t w i c e t h at i t wo u ld

o v erru l e t h e o b

ject io n s

, b u t t h at i t wo u l d i n s t ru ct th e j u ry t o d i sreg ard t h e

o b ject i on ab l e tes t im o n y

. An d wh i l e Cu y l er cl ai m s t h at t h e tri al co u rt d i d n o t d i rect l y

ad d res s th e ju ry in m ak i n g t h i s ru l i n g o r o t h erwi s e en s u re t h at t h e j u ry “ o b serv ed ” t h e

i n s t ru ct i o n

, t h e co urt s t at ed m o re t h an o n ce i n t h e j ur y’s p r es en ce t h at t he t es t i m o ny

ju s t g i ven b y

Gi l b ert s h o ul d be d i s reg ard ed

. Cu y ler’ s arg u m en t a s t o h o w t h e co u rt

15p h ras ed th e i n s t r u c t i o n ap pears t o be b as ed p u rel y o n sem an t i cs

, rat h er t h an an y

s u b s t an t i ve l eg al au t h o ri t y

.

Th e n

, a t t h e cl o se of th e St at e’ s cas e, Cu y l er’ s co un s el m o v ed fo r a m i s t ri al

b as ed s o l el y o n Gi l b ert ’ s “ ch ai n g an g” co m m en t

, w hi ch s u g ges t ed t h at Cu y l er h ad

b e e n in carcerat ed

, arg ui n g ag ai n th at it i m pro p erl y p l aced Cu y l er’ s ch aract er i n t o

ev i d en ce. Th e t ri al co urt d en i ed t h e m o t io n

, an d as p rev i o us l y e x p l a i n e d

, d i d n ot

ab u se i t s d i s cret i o n i n d o i n g s o becau s e a p as s i n g referen ce t o a d efen d an t ’ s p rev i ou s

i n carcer a t i o n d o es n o t n eces s i t at e a m i s tri al

. 2 9 Fu rt herm ore, al t ho u g h t h e St at e

req u es t ed t hat th e co u rt gi v e a cau t i o n ary in st ru ct i o n t o t h e ju ry ab ou t t h e s t at em en t

,

Cu y l er’ s c o u n s e l o b

j ect ed o n t h e bas i s t h at g i v in g s u ch an i n st ru ct i o n at t h at t i m e

wo u l d p l ace u n d ue em

p h as i s on i t

. 3 0 An d wh en

, as h ere, co u n s el s trat eg i cal l y refu s es

a t ri al co urt ’ s p ro ffer o f a cu rat i v e i n s t ru ct io n

, t h e co u rt ’ s fai l u re t o g ran t a m i s t ri al

i s n o t an ab u se o f d i s cret i o n

. 3 1 In s u m

, t h e t ri al co u rt d i d n o t a b u s e i t s d i scret i o n in

2 9 S ee s u p r a n o t e 2 8

.

3 0 S ee Hi n el y v. S t a t e

, 2 7 5 Ga. 7 7 7

, 7 8 2 (2 ) (d ) (5 7 3 SE2 d 6 6 ) (2 0 0 2) (h o l d i n g

t h a t i t was reas o n ab l e t ri al s t rat eg y fo r d efen se co u n s el t o d ecl i n e a cu rat i v e

i n s t ru ct i o n reg ard i n g a referen ce t o t h e d efe n d an t ’ s pri o r i n carcerat i o n o n t h e b as i s

t h at i t wo u ld p lace u n d u e em p h as i s o n t he t es t im on y ).

3 1 See Ki t ch en s v. S ta te

, 28 9 Ga. 2 42

, 2 4 6 (4 ) (7 1 0 SE2 d 5 5 1 ) (2 01 1 ); s ee a l s o

Ea s tep v. S t a t e , 1 7 0 Ga. Ap p

. 4 0 1 , 4 0 3 (3 ) (a) (3 1 7 SE2 d 2 5 9 ) (1 9 8 4 ) (h o l d i n g t h at

16fai l i n g t o g ran t a m i s t ri al bas ed o n t h e wi t n es s s t at em en t s d et ai l ed s u pr a b ecau s e, in

each cas e, G i lb ert m erel y pro vi ded b ri ef, i so l at ed

, an d u n s o l i ci t ed t es t i m o n y t h at m ay

h av e n eg at i v el y

i m p act ed Cu y ler’ s ch aract er. 3 2

3

. Cu y l er al s o arg ues t h at h i s co un s el was i n effect iv e fo r fai l i n g t o m o v e fo r

a m i s t ri al b as ed o n cert ai n t es t i m o n y o f t h e v i ct i m an d fo r fai l i n g t o i n v es t i g at e an d

s u b p oen a ad d i t i o nal wi t n es s es fo r t ri al . Ag ai n , we d i s ag ree.

In ev al u at i n g cl ai m s o f i n effect i v e as si s t an ce o f co u n sel

, we a p p l y t h e two

p ro n ged t es t es t ab l is h ed i n S t r i ckl a n d v. W a s h i n gt o n

, 3 3 “ wh i ch req ui res [a d efen d an t ]

t o s h o w t h at h i s t ri al co u n s el ’ s p erfo rm an ce was d efi ci en t an d t h at t he d efi c i e n t

a d efen dan t wh o d ecl i n ed t h e co u rt ’ s o ffer to gi v e a cu rat i v e i n s t ru ct i o n t o d i s reg ard

a w i tn es s’ s o u t b urs t co u l d n o t co m p l ai n o n ap p eal t h at n o s u ch i n s t ru ct i on was g i v en

,

as “ i n d u ced erro r i s i m

p erm i s s i b l e”).

3 2 S ee Hi n el y

, 27 5 Ga. at 7 8 2 (2 ) ( d ) ( e x p l ai n i n g

, i n cas e i n wh i ch t h ere was

b ri ef t es t i m o n y s u g g es t i n g t h at t h e d efen d an t h ad b een i n carcerat ed

, th at

, ev en i f h i s

co u ns el h ad m o ved fo r a m i s t ri al

, n o m i s t ri a l w o ul d h av e b een g ran t ed b ecau s e “ a

n o n res p on s i v e an swer t h at i m p act s n eg at i vel y o n a defen d an t ’ s ch aract er d o es n ot

i m p ro p erl y p l ace t h e d efen d an t ’ s ch aract er i n is su e” (p u n ct u at io n o m i t t ed )); Ha n s l ey

v. S t a t e

, 2 6 7 Ga. 4 8

, 49 (3 ) (4 7 2 SE2 d 3 05 ) (1 9 9 6 ) (h o l d i n g t h at t h e t ri al co u rt d i d n ot

a b u s e i ts b ro ad d i s cret i o n i n d en y i n g t h e defen d an t ’ s m o t i o n fo r a m i s t ri a l a f t e r a

St at e w i t nes s v o l u n t eered

, in a n o n res p o ns i v e an swer, t h at t h e wi t n es s h ad s een t h e

d efen d an t “ p u ll [t h e m

u rd er weap o n] o n on e of t h e wi t n es s ’ s fri en d s”); su p r a n o t e 2 4

& acco m p an y i n g t ex t

.

3 3 4 6 6 U.S. 6 6 8 (1 0 4 SCt 2 0 5 2

, 8 0 LE2 d 6 7 4 ) (1 9 84 ); see a l s o As h mi d v. S t a t e

, 3 1 6 Ga. Ap p . 5 5 0 , 5 5 6 (3 ) (7 30 SE2 d 3 7 ) (2 0 1 2 ).

17p erfo rm an ce s o p reju d i ced [h i m ] t h a t t h e r e i s a reas o n ab le l ik el i h o o d t h at

, b u t fo r

co u ns el ’ s erro rs

, t he o u t co m e o f t h e t ri al wo u l d h av e b een d i fferen t .” 3 4 Ad d it i o n al l y

,

t h ere i s a st ro n g p res u m

p t i o n t h at t ri al co u n s el ’ s co nd u ct “ fal l s wi t h i n t h e bro ad ran g e

o f reas o n ab l e p ro fes si o nal co nd u ct

, an d a cri m in al d efen d an t m u s t o v erco m e t h i s

p res u m p t i o n .” 3 5 An d wh en

, as h ere, t ri al co u n s el d o e s n o t t e s t ify at t he m o t i o n fo r

n ew tri al h eari ng

, “ it i s ex t rem el y d iffi cu l t t o o v erco m e t h is p res u m p t i o n .” 3 6 Las t l y

,

u n l es s cl earl y erro neo u s

, t hi s Co u rt wi l l “ u p h o l d a t ri al co u rt ’ s fact ual d et erm i n at i on s

wi t h res pect to cl ai m s o f i n effect i v e as s i s t an ce o f co u n sel ; h o wev er, a t ri al co urt ’ s

l eg al co n cl u s i o n s i n t h i s reg ard are rev iewed d e n o vo .” 3 7

3 4 Ho wa r d v. S t at e

, 3 4 0 Ga. Ap p

. 1 3 3

, 1 3 9 ( 3 ) (7 9 6 SE2 d 75 7 ) (2 0 1 7 )

(p u n ct u at i o n o m i t ted ); s ee S t r i ckl a n d

, 4 6 6 U.S. at 6 8 7 (III); As h mi d

, 3 1 6 Ga. Ap p

. at

5 5 6 (3 ).

3 5 Ho w a r d

, 3 4 0 Ga. A p p. at 1 3 9 (3 ); a cco r d Ch a p m a n v. S t a t e

, 27 3 Ga. 3 4 8,

3 5 0 (2 ) (5 4 1 SE2 d 63 4 ) (2 0 0 1 ) ; s e e C a mmer v. W

a l ker

, 2 9 0 Ga. 2 5 1, 2 55 (1 ) (7 1 9

SE2 d 4 3 7 ) (2 01 1 ) (“ A cl ai m o f i n effect iv e as si s tan ce o f co un s el i s ju d g ed b y wh et h er

co u ns el ren d e r e d r e as on ab l y effect i v e as si st an ce, no t b y a s t an d ard o f erro rl es s

co u ns el o r b y

h i nd s i g h t .” (p u n ct u at i o n o m i tt ed )).

3 6 W il s on v. S t at e

, 2 7 7 Ga. 1 9 5

, 2 0 0 (2 ) (5 8 6 SE2 d 6 6 9 ) ( 2 0 0 3 ) (p u n ct u at i o n

o m it t ed ).

3 7 Ho wa rd

, 3 4 0 Ga. Ap p

. at 1 3 9 (3 ) (p u nct u at i o n o m i t t ed ); a cco r d S o wel l v.

S t a t e , 3 2 7 Ga. Ap p

. 5 3 2 , 5 3 9 (4 ) (7 5 9 SE2 d 6 0 2 ) (2 0 14 ).

18( a ) F a i l u r e t o Mo ve f

o r a Mi st r i a l

. In a cl ai m rel at ed t o t h e prev i o u s

en u m erat i o n o f erro r, Cu y ler arg u es t h at h e recei ved i n effect iv e as si s t an ce o f co u n s el

b e c a u s e h i s co u n sel fai l ed t o m o v e fo r a m i s t ri al bas ed on G i l bert ’ s t es t i m o n y t h at

Cu y l er h ad b een “ i n t h e s y s t em ” o r do i ng “ ch ai n [-] g an g t i m e.” Th i s cl ai m i s b el i ed

b y t h e r eco rd

. As p rev i ou s l y ex p lai n ed

, Cu y l er’ s co u n sel ob ject ed w h en t h i s

t es t i m o ny was i n i t i al l y gi ven

, i n d i cat i n g t h at s h e wo u l d m ak e a m ot io n i n a s i d eb ar,

b u t th e s i d eb ar w as n o t t ran s cri b ed

. N ev ert h el es s, at t h e cl o s e o f t h e St at e’ s cas e,

Cu yl e r ’s t r i al co u n sel m o v ed fo r m i st ri al b as ed s o l el y o n t h e co m p l ai n ed o f

t e s t i m on y

. Th u s

, Cu y ler i s s i m p l y i n co rrect t h at h i s co u n s el fai l ed t o m ov e f o r a

m i s t ri al o n t h at b as i s

. An d to t h e ex t en t Cu y l er arg u es t h at h i s co u n s el s h ou l d h av e

m o ved f o r m i s t r i al o n t h e reco rd i m m ed i at el y aft er t h e “ ch ai n g an g ” co m m en t was

m ad e, an y su ch m o t io n wo u l d h av e b een den i ed fo r t he reas o n s d i scu s s ed i n Di v i s i o n

2

, su p r a

. As we h av e rep eat ed l y ex p l ai n ed

, “ [t ] h e fai l ure t o m ak e a m eri t l es s m o t i o n

o r o b j e c t i o n d oes n o t pro vi d e a b as i s u p o n wh i ch to fi n d i n effect i v e as s i s t an ce o f

co u ns el .” 3 8

(b ) Fa i l u r e t o Ca l l Wi t n es s es

. Cu y l er fu rt her co n t en d s t h at h i s co u n s el was

i n effect i v e fo r fai li n g t o i n v e s t i g at e an d su b p o en a s ev eral wi t n es s es fo r t ri al

. Bu t

3 8 Jo h n s o n v. Th e S t a t e , 3 4 0 Ga. Ap p . 4 2 9 , 4 3 6 (4 ) (7 9 7 SE2 d 6 6 6) (2 0 1 7).

19d u ri n g h is tri al

, Cu y l er p res en ted an al i b i d efen s e t h at h e co u ld n o t h av e co m m i t t ed

t h e ch arg ed o ffen s es b e c a u s e h e was at a cl u b cel eb rat in g a fri en d ’ s b i rt h d ay t h e

en t i re n ig h t. In d eed

, Cu y l er t es t i fi ed i n s u p p o rt o f t h i s al ib i

, an d h i s co u ns el p res en t ed

fi ve o t h er wi t n es s es t o t e s t i f y a s t o h i s wh ereab o u t s o n t h e ev en i n g i n q u es t i o n

, 3 9

i n cl u d i n g h i s m o t h er, h i s u n cl e, h i s u n cl e’ s g irl fri en d, an d t wo fri en d s, al l o f wh o m

were p res en t at t h e cl u b

, ex cep t Cu y l er’ s m o th er. In ad d i t i o n t o t h e wi tn es s t es t i m o n y

,

t h e d efen s e p res e n t ed t h e j u ry wi t h at l eas t on e p i ct u re o f Cu y l er at t h e ev en t

. If

b el i ev ed

, t h e m

u lt i p l e d efen s e wi t n es s es es tab l is h ed t h at Cu y l er wen t to th e cl u b wi th

h i s u n cl e an d h i s u n cl e’ s g irl fri en d b et ween 8 : 00 an d 9 : 0 0 p

. m

. an d l eft at

ap p ro x i m at el y 1 : 1 5 a.m

. 4 0

Nev ert h el es s

, Cu y l er n o w arg u es t h at h i s co u ns el was i n effect i v e fo r fai l i n g to

s u b p oen a an d cal l fi v e a d d i t io n a l wi tn es s es t o t es t ify as t o h is p r e s en ce at t h e

b i rt h day p art y

. Bu t at t h e m ot i o n -fo r-n ew-t ri al h eari n g , Cu y l er p res en t ed t es t i m o ny

3 9 Al t h o ug h t h e res p o n di n g o ffi cer referred t o t h e d at e o f t h e at t ack as Au g u s t

2 0

, 2 0 13

, an d d efen s e wi t n es s es rep eat ed l y referen ced t h e d at e o f t h e b irt h day p art y

as Au g u s t 2 1

, 2 01 3

, i t ap p e a r s e v i d en t fro m t he t ran s cri p t as a wh o l e t hat al l o f t h e

wi t n es s es were t es t ify i ng reg ard i n g th e s am e d at e. Bo t h d at es m ay h av e b een

referen ced b ecau s e t h e rel ev an t ev en t s o ccu rred b o t h b efo re an d aft er m i d n i g h t

.

4 0 As p rev i o u sl y n o t ed

, t h e p o l i ce o ffi cer res p o n d ed t o G i l ber t ’s a p art m en t

aro u n d 11 :4 0 p .m

. o n t he ni gh t i n q u es t i o n

, an d th u s, t h e d efen se co n t en d ed t h at

Cu y l er was at t h e b i rt h d ay p art y wh en t h e ch arg ed o ffen s es o ccu rred

.

20o f o nl y a s i n gl e p o t en t i al wi t n es s

, wh o t es t i fi ed t h at h e w as n o t s u bp o en aed fo r t ri al

,

b u t t h at h e k n ew t h at Cu y l er was at t h e p art y u n t il at l eas t 1 1 :4 0 p .m

. o r 1 1: 5 0 p .m

.

T h i s t e s t i m o n y

, h o w ev er, i s es s en t i al l y t h e s am e as t h at o f t h e o t h er wi t n es s es wh o

t es t i fi ed at t ri al

, an d a t ri al co un s el ’ s fai l u re t o p res en t cu m u l at i v e ev i d en ce d o es n ot

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

. 4 1 Las t l y

, as to Cu y l er’ s gen eral arg u m en t

t h at t h ere were fi v e ad d i ti on al u n n am ed al i b i wi t n es s es wh o h i s t ri al co u n sel s h o u ld

h av e s u b p o en aed

, h i s fai l u re t o p res en t a pro ffer at t h e m o t i o n -fo r-n ew-t ri al h eari n g

as t o h o w t h os e wi t n es s es wo u l d h av e t es ti fi ed i s fat al t o h i s cl ai m

. 4 2

4

. Fi n al l y

, Cu y l er arg u es t h at t h e t ri al co urt erred b y fai l i n g t o m erg e h i s

co n vi ct i o n s fo r at t em

p t ed arm ed ro b b ery an d ag g rav at ed as s au l t fo r s en t e n c i n g

p u rp os es . On ce ag ai n , we d is ag ree.

4 1 S ee Jef f er i es v. St a t e

, 2 6 7 Ga. Ap p

. 6 9 4

, 6 9 7-9 8 (1 ) (6 0 0 SE2 d 7 5 3 ) (2 0 0 4 )

(h o l d i n g t h at co u n s el w as n o t i neffect i v e fo r fai li ng t o s u b p oen a t wo al i b i wi t n es s es

wh en t h ei r t es t i m o n y wo ul d h av e b een cu m u l at i v e of t hat of o t h er wi t n es s es ) ; Jo r d a n

v. S t a t e

, 2 3 0 Ga. A p p

. 3 4 4

, 3 4 5 (c) (4 9 6 SE2 d 4 8 6 ) (1 9 9 8 ) (reject i n g a d efen d an t ’ s

c l ai m t hat h i s t ri al co u ns el was i n effect iv e fo r fai li ng t o s u b p oen a a n um b er o f

ch aract er wi tn es s es wh o se t es t i m o ny wo u l d h av e b een cu m ul at i v e t es t i m on y t h at was

p res en t ed at t ri al ).

4 2 S ee Newb y v. S t at e

, 3 3 8 Ga

. A p p

. 58 8

, 5 94 (3 ) (c) (7 9 1 SE2 d 9 2 ) (2 0 1 6 )

(h o l d i n g t h at t h e d efen d an t fai l ed t o es t ab l i s h th at h is co u ns el was i n effect i v e fo r

fai l i n g t o cal l cert ai n u n n am ed wi t n es s es t o t es t i fy w h en h e p res en t ed n o p ro ffer as

t o ho w th ey wo u l d hav e t es t i fi ed ); Bo yki n s -W h it e v. S ta t e

, 3 0 5 Ga. Ap p

. 8 2 7

, 8 2 9 (1 )

(7 0 1 SE2 d 2 2 1 ) (2 0 1 0 ) (s am e).

21Th e qu es t i o n o f wh et her o ffen s es m erg e is

, o f co u rs e, “ a l eg al q u es t i o n t h at we

rev i ew d e n o v o .” 4 3 An d o u r Su p rem e Co u rt h as ex p l ai n ed t h at wh en “ th e sam e act o r

t ran s act io n co n st i t u t es a v i o l at i o n of t wo d i st i n ct s t at u to ry p ro v i s i o ns , t h e t es t t o b e

ap p li ed t o d et erm i n e wh et h er th e r e a r e t w o o ffen s es or o n ly o n e, i s wh et h er each

p ro v is i o n req u ires p ro o f o f a fact wh i ch t h e ot h er d o es no t .” 4 4 Fu rt h erm o re, a s i n g l e

act m ay b e an o ffen s e ag ai n s t t wo s t at u t es ; “ an d i f each s t at u te req u i res p ro o f o f an

ad d it i o n al fact wh i ch t h e o t h er do es n o t

, an acq ui t tal o r co n v i ct io n u n der ei th er s t at u t e

d o es n o t ex em

pt t h e defen d an t fro m p ro s ecu t i o n an d p u n i s h m en t u nd er t h e o t h er.” 4 5

An d h ere, al t ho u g h t h e at t em p t ed arm ed ro b b ery s tat u t o ry p ro v i s i on req u i red p ro o f

o f a su b s t an t i al s t ep of a t ak in g

, wh i ch was n o t a req ui red s ho wi n g u n d e r t h e

ap p li cab l e ag g rav at ed as s au l t p ro vi s io n

, “ t he l at t er p ro vi s i o n di d n o t req u ire p ro o f o f

4 3 Mo r ri s v. S t at e , 3 4 0 Ga. Ap p . 2 9 5 , 3 1 2 (7 ) (7 9 7 SE2 d 2 0 7 ) (2 0 1 7 ).

4 4 Ol i ph a n t v. St a t e

, 2 95 Ga. 5 9 7

, 6 0 2 ( 4 ) ( b ) ( 7 5 9 SE2 d 8 2 1 ) (2 0 1 4 )

(p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ); s ee Dr i n ka r d v. W al ker

, 2 81 G a

. 2 1 1

, 2 1 5 (6 3 6 SE2 d 5 3 0 )

(2 0 0 6) (“ Un d er t h e ‘ req u i red ev i d en ce’ t es t

, . . . [t ] h e ap p l i cab le ru le i s 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 v i o l at i o n o f t wo d i s t i 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 n e wh 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 p ro v i s i o n req ui res p ro o f o f a fact wh i ch t h e o t h er d o e s n o t

. ” (p u n ct u at i o n

o m it t ed )).

4 5 Dr i n ka r d

, 2 8 1 Ga. at 2 1 5 (p u n ct u at i o n o m i tt ed ); a cco rd S o u t h wel l v. S t a t e

, 3 2 0 Ga. Ap p . 7 6 3 , 7 6 4 (1 ) (7 40 SE2 d 7 2 5 ) (2 0 1 3).

22an y fact t h at w a s n o t al s o req u i red to p ro v e th e at tem pt ed arm ed ro b b ery .” 4 6

Si g n ifi can tl y

, t h ou g h

, “ [wh en ] o n e cri m e i s co m p let ed b efo re t he o t h er b eg i n s

, t h ere

i s n o m erg er.” 4 7

In t h i s cas e, Co u n t 1 o f t h e i n d i ct m en t ch arg ed Cu y l er an d Bro wn wi th

at t em p t ed arm ed ro b b ery

, 4 8 i n t h at o n Au g u s t 2 0

, 20 1 3, wi t h t h e in t e n t t o co m m i t

arm ed ro b b ery , t h ey

k n o wi n g l y an d i n t en t i o n al l y p erfo rm [ed ] an act wh i ch co n st i t u t ed a

s u b s t an t i al s tep t owar d t h e co m m i s s i o n o f s ai d cri m e, t o -wi t : d id w i t h

4 6 Ga r l a n d v. S t a te

, 3 11 Ga. Ap p

. 7

, 1 3 (7 1 4 SE2 d 70 7 ) ( 2 0 1 1 ) ( fo o t n o t es

o m it t ed ); s ee Reed v. S t a t e

, 31 8 Ga. Ap p

. 4 1 2

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

(ex p l ai n i n g t h at “ wh en co nv i ct i o ns fo r ag grav at ed as s au l t an d at t em p t ed arm ed

ro b b ery m e r g e as a m at t er o f fact

, t h e ag g rav at ed as sau l t co n v i ct io n is t h e l es s er

o ffen s e an d s h o u l d b e m erg ed i n t o t h e at t em p t ed arm ed ro b bery co nv i ct i o n”).

4 7 Cu l b r ea t h v. S t a te

, 3 28 Ga. A p p

. 1 5 3

, 1 57 (2 ) (b ) (i i ) (7 6 1 SE2 d 5 5 7 ) (2 0 1 4 );

s ee Hen d er s on v. S t a t e

, 2 85 Ga. 2 4 0

, 2 4 4 (4 ) (6 7 5 SE2 d 2 8 ) (2 0 0 9 ) (h o l d i n g t h at

co n vi ct i o n s fo r ag g rav at ed as s au l t an d arm ed ro bb ery d i d n o t m erg e fo r s en t en ci n g

p u rp o s e s w h e n t h e ag g rav at ed as s au l t was co m p l et ed o u t si de o f a h o m e b efo re t h e

arm ed ro b b ery

b eg an i n s i de t h e h o m e).

4 8 See OCGA § 1 6 -4 -1 (“ A p ers o n co m m i t s t he o ff

e n se o f cri m i n al at t em

pt

wh en

, wi t h i n t en t t o co m

m i t a s p eci fi c cri m e, h e p erfo rm s an y act w h i ch co n s t i t u t es

a s u b s t an t i al s tep t o ward t h e co m m is s io n o f t hat cri m e.”); OCGA § 1 6-8 -4 1 (a) (“ A

p ers o n co m

m i t s t h e o ffen se o f arm ed ro b b ery wh en , wi t h i n t en t t o co m m i t t h eft , h e

o r s h e t ak es p ro p ert y o f an o t h er fro m t h e p ers o n or t h e i m m ed i at e p res en ce o f an o t h er

b y u s e o f an o ffen s i v e w eap o n

, o r an y rep l i c a

, a r t i c l e, o r d ev ice h av i n g t h e

ap p earan ce o f s u ch weap o n .”).

23i n t en t to co m m i t a th eft fo rce o p en a d o or t o a res id en ce

. . . , d i d y el l

“ Gi v e i t u p ,” d id fi re m

u lt i p l e s ho t s fro m an u n k n o wn t y pe o f h an d g u n

at

. . . Gi l b ert a n d d i d s e a rch t h e p an ts o f

. . . Gi l b ert

, co n t rary to th e

l aws o f [t h is ] St at e, t h e g o o d o rd er, p eace[,] an d d i gn i t y t h ereo f.

Si m i l arl y

, Co un t 2 o f t h e in di ct m en t ch arg ed Cu y ler an d Bro wn wi t h ag g rav at ed

as s au l t

, 4 9 i n t h at o n Au g u s t 2 0

, 2 0 1 3

, t h e y “ d i d m ak e an as s au l t u po n t h e p ers o n o f

. . . Gi l b e r t

, wi t h u n k n o wn t y p e h an d g u n s

, d ead ly weap o n s

, b y fi ri ng t h e u n k n o wn

t y p e o f h an d g u n s at

. . . G i l bert m u l t i p le t i m es s t ri k i n g h i m

, co n t rary t o t h e l aws o f

[t hi s ] St at e, co n t rary t o t h e g o o d o rd er, p eace[,] an d d ig n i t y t h ereo f.”

Co n si s t en t wi t h th e i n d i ct m en t

, t h e ev i d en ce s h owed t hat t h e at t em p t ed arm ed

ro b b ery b eg an wh en Cu y ler k i ck ed d o w n Gi l b ert ’ s d o or, en t ered h i s h o m e w i t h a

fi rearm

, an d d em an d ed t h at he “ g i v e it u p .” An d th e at t em p t t o ro b Gi l b ert at gu n p o i nt

co n ti n u ed u n t il Bro wn t ri p p ed h i m o u t s id e t h e h o m e, p oi n t ed a g u n at h i m

, a n d

at t em p t ed t o p u ll do wn hi s p an t s

, p res u m ab l y i n an effo rt t o s t eal m o ney

. Bu t t h en

,

Gi l b ert es cap ed

, an d n o l o n g er ev i d en ci ng an y at t em p t t o ro b h im , Bro wn fo l l o wed

4 9 S ee OCGA § 16 -5 -2 1 (a) (2 ) (2 0 06 ) (“ A p ers o n co m m i t s t h e offen s e o f

ag g rav at ed as s au l t wh en h e o r sh e as s au l ts [,]

. . . [w] i t h a d ead l y w eap o n or wi t h an y

o b ject

, dev i ce, o r i n st ru m en t wh i ch

, wh en u sed offen si vel y ag ai n s t a p ers o n

, i s l i k el y

t o o r act u al l y

d o es res u l t i n s eri o u s b o d i l y i nju ry .”).

24h i m

, s h ot h i m t wi ce i n t h e s t o m ach

, an d fl ed

. 5 0 Un d er t h es e p art i cu l ar ci rcu m s t an ces

,

t h e fi n al s h o t s fi red at Gi l b ert co n s t i tu t ed an ag g rav at ed as s au l t t h at b eg an a f t er t h e

at t em p t ed arm ed ro b b ery en d e d

, a n d t h e t ri al co u rt d id n o t err i n fai l i n g t o m erg e

t h o s e co n v i ct i o n s

. 5 1

5 0 Al th ou g h Bro wn

, n o t Cu y l er, sh o t Gi l b ert ju s t b efo re th ey fl ed

, o u r Su p rem e

Co u rt has h el d t h at “ ev i d en ce o f a d efen d an t ’ s co n d u ct p ri o r t o

, d u ri ng

, an d aft er t h e

co m m i s s io n o f a cri m i n al act wi l l au t h ori ze t h e d efen d an t’ s co nv i ct i o n fo r

co m m i s s io n of t h e cri m i n a l a c t i f a ju ry co ul d in fer fro m t h e co nd u ct t h at t h e

d efen d an t in t en ti o n al l y en co u rag ed t he c o m m i s s io n o f t h e cri m i n al act .” Bo l d en v.

S t a t e

, 2 7 8 Ga. 4 5 9

, 4 61 (1 ) (6 0 4 SE2 d 1 3 3 ) (2 0 0 4) (p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ); s ee OCGA

§ 1 6 -2 -2 0 (a) (“ Ev ery p ers o n co n cern ed i n th e c o m m i s s i o n o f a cri m e i s a p art y

t h eret o an d m ay b e ch arg ed wi th an d co n v ict ed o f co m m i s s i o n o f t he cri m e.”).

5 1 S e e T h o ma s v. St at e

, 2 8 9 Ga. 8 7 7

, 8 8 0 -8 1 (3 ) (7 1 7 SE2 d 1 87 ) (2 0 1 1 )

(h o l d i n g t h at a c o n v ict i o n fo r arm ed ro b bery t h at res u l t ed fro m a “ h o ld u p ” i n o n e

ro o m d i d n o t m erg e w i t h a co nv i ct i o n fo r ag g rav at ed as s au l t t h at res u l t ed fro m t h e

d efen d an t ’ s act i o n o f fo rci n g a s h o tg u n d own t h e v i ct i m ’ s t h ro at l at er i n an o t h er ro o m

d i d n o t m erg e fo r s en t en ci n g p u rp o ses ); Cu l b rea t h

, 3 2 8 Ga. Ap p

. at 1 5 7 (2 ) (b ) (i i )

(h o l d i n g th at co n v i ct io n s fo r at t em p t ed arm ed ro bb ery an d ag g rav at ed as s au l t d i d n ot

m erg e b ecau s e t h e at t em pt ed ro b b ery o f t h e v i ct i m o ccu rred d o wn st ai rs wh en t h e

d efen d an t p o i n t ed a g u n at t h e v i ct i m an d dem an d ed m o n ey

, wh i l e t h e ag g rav at ed

as s au l t o ccu rred u p s t ai rs wh en t h e d efen dan t s h o t at t h e v i ct i m ); S t u b bs v. S t a t e

, 2 9 3

G a

. A p p

. 69 2

, 6 94 (2 ) (6 6 7 SE2 d 90 5 ) (2 0 0 8 ) (h o l di n g t h at an at t em p t ed a r m e d

ro b b ery was co m

p l et e w hen t h e d efen d an t p o i n t ed a gu n at t h e v i ct im an d d em an d ed

m o ney

, an d t h e d efen d an t co m m i t ted a s ep arat e ag g rav at ed as s au l t

, w h i ch d i d n ot

m e r g e wi t h t h e p ri o r o ffen s e, wh en

, aft er t h e v i ct im refu sed t o g i v e h im m o n e y, h e

i m m ed i at el y st ru ck t h e v i ct im i n t he face wi th t he gu n ju s t b efo re fl eei n g t h e s cen e).

Cf

. Cu r t i s v. S t a t e

, 33 0 Ga. Ap p

. 8 3 9

, 8 4 6 (2 ) (7 6 9 SE2 d 5 80 ) (2 0 1 5) (h ol d i n g t h at

co n vi ct i o n s fo r ag g rav at ed as s au l t an d arm ed ro b b ery m erg ed wh en th e v i ct i m was

“ s t i l l b ei n g p i s t o l w hi p p ed ” wh en t h e p erp et rat o rs as k ed “ w h at y o u g o t” an d t o o k h i s

wal l et ); Cr o wl ey v. S t a t e

, 3 1 5 Ga. A p p

. 7 5 5

, 7 5 7 -5 8 (2 ), 7 5 9 (3 ) (7 2 8 SE2 d 2 8 2 )

25Fo r al l t h es e reas o n s , we affi rm Cu y l er’ s co n v i ct i on s

.

Ju d g men t a f f i r m ed . Ra y a n d S el f , JJ., co n cu r

.

(2 0 1 2 ) ( h o l d i n g t h at co n v i ct i o n s fo r ag g rav at ed as sau l t an d arm ed ro b b ery m erg ed

wh en o n e p erp et rat o r p o i n t ed a g u n at t h e v ict i m

, y el l ed at h i m t o “ g i v e t h e s

— t u p,”

h i t t he v i ct i m o n t h e s i d e o f t h e h ead w i t h th e gu n

, an d kep t y el li n g wh i l e t h e o t h er

p erp et rat o r t oo k i t em s fro m t h e v i ct i m aft er wh i ch t h e p erp et rat o rs fl ed ).

26