FI FTH DI VI SI ON

RI CKM A N, C. J.

, M CFA DDEN, P. J.

, and SENI OR A PPELLA TE JUDGE PHI PPS

N O T IC E : M otions for r e c ons i de r a tion m us t be

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M ar ch 9, 2022



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A2 1 A1 38 0 . HOLLEY v . THE STATE.

P H I P P S , Sen i o r Ap p el l at e J u d g e.

A ju ry co n v i ct ed Km es h a Lat es h Ho l l ey o f t wo co un t s of h o m i ci d e b y v eh i cl e

i n th e fi rs t d eg ree an d o n e co u n t each o f reck l es s d ri vi n g

, fai l u re t o ex erci s e d u e care,

an d fai l u re t o s t o p at a s t o p s i g n

. 1 Ho ll ey fi l ed a m o t i o n f o r a n ew t ri al

, wh i ch s h e

s u b s eq u en t l y am en ded

. T h e t ri al co u rt den i ed Ho l l ey ’ s m o t io n

, an d Ho l l ey ap p eal s

.

Sh e arg u es t h at (1 ) t h e ev i d en ce was i n s uffi ci en t t o s u p po rt h er co n v i ct i o n s

, (2 ) t h e

t ri al co u rt erro n eo u s l y a d m i t t ed v i d eo -reco rd ed ev i d en ce, (3 ) t h e co u rt erred by

f a i l i n g t o g i v e a ju ry i n s t ru ct i o n o n “ acci d en t ,” an d (4 ) s h e recei ved i n effect i v e

as s i s tan ce o f co u n s el . Fo r t h e fo l l o wi n g reas o n s, we affi rm Ho l l ey ’ s co n v i ct i o n s

.

1 T h e t ri al co u rt g ran t ed a d i rect ed v erd i ct o n a c h a r g e o f s eri o u s i n ju ry by

v eh icl e.1

. H o l l e y f i rs t as s ert s t h at th e ev id en ce was i n su ffi ci en t t o su p p o rt h er

co n vi ct i o n s . W e d i sag ree.

On ap peal fro m a cri m i n al co nv i ct i o n

, t h e ap p el l at e co u rt v i ews

t h e ev i d en ce i n t h e l i gh t m o s t fav o rab l e t o t h e v erd i ct an d an ap p el l an 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 ce n c e

. Th e ap p el l at e co u rt

d et erm i nes wh et h er t he ev i d en ce i s s u ffi ci en t u n d e r t h e s tan d ard o f

Ja cks o n v. Vi r

g i n i a

, an d d o es n o t wei g h t h e ev i d en c e o r d et erm in e

wi t n es s cred i b il i t y

. An y co n fl ict s or i n co n si st en ci es in t he ev i d en ce are

fo r t h e j u r y to res o l v e. As l o n g as t h ere i s s o m e co m p et en t ev id en ce,

ev en t h o u gh co n trad i ct ed

, t o s u p po rt each fact n eces sary t o m ak e o u t th e

St at e’ s cas e, t h e rev i ewi ng co u rt m u s t u p h o l d t h e ju ry ’ s v erd i ct

.

Ha r ri s v. S t a t e

, 3 6 0 Ga. A p p

. 6 9 5

, 6 9 7 ( 8 5 9 S E2 d 5 8 7 ) (2 0 2 1) (ci t at i o n s an d

p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ); s ee Ja cks o n v. Vi r g in i a

, 4 4 3 U

. S. 3 0 7, 3 1 9 ( I I I ) (B) (9 9 SCt

2 7 8 1 , 6 1 LE2 d 5 6 0 ) (1 9 7 9 ).

Vi ewed i n t hat l i g h t

, t h e ev i d en ce s h o ws t h at Ho l l ey was d ri v i ng wi t h h er t h ree

ch i l d ren wh en t h ey were i n v o l v ed i n a co l l i s i o n wi th an ot h er v eh i cl e d ri v en b y St ev e

Dav i s a n d o ccu p i ed b y h is wi fe. Dav i s an d Ho ll ey ’ s n i n e-y ear-o l d d au g ht er were

k i l l ed i n t h e co l l i s io n

. Ho l l ey

, h er o t h er two ch i l dren

, an d D av i s ’ s wi fe were s ev erel y

i n ju red

.

2Th e co l l is i o n o ccu rred at t h e int ers ect i o n o f Sp ri n g Fl at s an d Co u nt y Li n e Ro ad

i n Do u g h ert y Co u n t y

, a n d a m a p o f t h e co l l i s i o n s i t e was i n tro d u ced as an ex h i b i t

d u ri n g H o l l ey ’ s tri al

. Kei t h B u t t erwo rt h

, a Geo rg i a St at e Pat ro l o ffi cer wh o

s p eci al i zes i n co l li s i o n reco n s t ru ct i o n an d was qu al i fi ed as an ex p ert at t ri al

, t es t i fi ed

t h at h e h ad i nv es t ig at ed m o re t han a th o u s an d acci d en t s

. Du ri n g t h e acci d en t

reco n s t ru ct i o n i n t h i s cas e, Bu t t erwo rt h wal k ed t h ro u g h th e s cen e, m ark ed ro ad way

ev i d en ce (i n cl u di n g g ou g es

, t i re m ark s

, an d fi n al res t i ng p lace o f t h e v eh icl es an d

v i ct i m s ), n o t ed d am ag e t o v eh i cl es an d ro ad s t ru ct u res (i n cl u d i n g a s t o p si g n an d g uy

wi re p o le), p h o t o g rap hed t he s cen e, t o o k m eas urem en t s at t h e s c e n e, s p ok e wi th

fam i l y m em

bers

, i n s p ect ed t h e v eh i cl es at t h e scen e an d at t h e wreck er y ard

, an d

c r e a t ed a d i ag ram o f t he ev i d en ce. Fo ll o wi n g h i s i n v es t i g at i o n

, Bu t t erwo rt h

co n cl u d ed t h at H o ll ey w a s d r i v i n g o n Sp ri n g Fl at s

, wh ich h as s to p s i g n s at t h e

i n t ers ect i o n

, an d Dav i s was d ri v i n g on Co un t y Li n e Ro ad

, w h i ch d o es n o t hav e a s t o p

s i gn at t h e i n t ers ect i o n

. He fu rt h er co n cl u d ed bas ed o n h is i n v es t i g at io n t h at t h e fro nt

o f Ho l l ey ’ s car s t ru ck t h e d ri v er’s s i d e o f Dav i s’ s v eh icl e. Po l i ce an d param ed i cs

were d i s pat ch ed t o t h e scen e at ap p ro xi m at el y 4 : 3 0 p.m

., at wh i ch t im e i t was

d ay l i g h t

, an d th ere were n o weat h er co n d i t i o n s o r an y th in g el s e t hat w o u l d h av e

o b s t ru ct ed o n e’ s v i s i o n at t h e s cen e.

3Dan i el J oi n er, an o t h er G eo rg i a St at e Pat ro l offi cer a lso spe c ia lizi n g i n co l l i s i o n

reco n s t ru ct i o n an d qu al i fi ed as an ex p ert at t ri al

, t es t i f i ed t h at h e u s ed a cras h d at a

ret ri ev al p ro g ram to reco v er b l ack b o x d at a fro m b o t h v e h i cl es i n v o lv ed i n t h e

co l l i s i o n

. J o in er, wh o h ad wo rk ed o n ap p ro xi m at el y 1 ,5 0 0 cras h es

, was cert i fi ed t o

a n a l yz e t h e d at a an d

, at t h e t i m e of t h e t ri al

, h ad an al y zed d at a fro m 3 0-4 0 b l ack

b o x es s i n ce recei v i ng s p eci al i zed cert i fi cat i o n i n b l ack b o x d at a reco v ery

. Veh i cl e

b l ack bo x d at a can i n cl ud e in fo rm at io n s u ch as wh en o r i f b rak es w ere ap p l i ed

,

wh et h er cru i s e co nt ro l was o n

, t h e s p eed o f t h e v eh i cl e, an d an y veh i cl e accel erat i o n.

Acco rd in g t o J o i n er, h i s dat a in terp ret at i o n rev eal ed th at b o t h v eh i cl es were t rav el i n g

i n ex ces s o f 6 0 m il es p er h o u r i m m ed i at el y pri o r t o t he co l l i s i o n

. J o i ner v i s i t ed t h e

s i te an d rev i ewed t h e acci d en t reco n s t ru ct i o n d i ag ram

, an d h e o p in ed b as ed o n h i s

i n v es t i g at i o n t hat Dav i s ’ s tru ck h ad t he ri g ht o f way an d th at H o l l ey fai led t o s t o p h er

v eh icl e at t h e s t o p s i g n . In ad d i t i o n, an o ffi cer wh o res p o n d ed t o t h e s cen e t es t i fi ed

t h at b as ed o n h i s o b s erv at i o n s an d ev i d en ce he reco rd ed at t h e cras h si t e, h e i s s u ed

ci t at i o n s t o Ho l l ey

.

Ch an d a Bo y d

, t he au n t o f t wo o f Ho l l ey ’ s ch i l d ren

, t es t i fi ed t h at aft er t h e

co l l i s i o n

, h er m o t h er s h o wed h er a v i d eo p o s t ed o n Ho l l ey ’ s Faceb o o k acco u n t

. Bo y d

u s ed h er cel l p ho ne t o reco rd t h e F a c e b o o k v i d eo fro m her m o t h er’ s p h on e. Th e

4reco rd i n g m ad e b y Bo y d was ad m i t t ed b y t h e t ri al co u rt an d pl ay ed fo r th e ju ry

. Th e

s ev en -an d -a-h al f-m i n u t e v i d eo m em o ri al i zed t h e ev en t s i m m e dia te ly pri o r t o

, d u ri n g,

an d fo ll o wi n g th e co l l i s i on

. Du ri n g t h e vi d eo

, Ho l l ey an d h er t h ree ch i l d ren are s een

i n t h e car w h i l e H o l l ey i s d ri v i n g an d p res um ab l y h o l di n g th e p h o n e. T h e p h o n e

cap t u r e s v i d e o o f Ho l l ey fro m b ot h s i d es

. T h e g ro u p wi s h es ev ery o n e a h ap py

Th an k s g i v i n g as t h e ph o n e p an s t h e car, an d Ho l l ey t wi ce co m

m en ts t h at t h e g ro u p

i s “ o n t h e ro ad .” T h e g ro u p co n t i n u es t al k i n g wh il e m u s i c is p l ay i n g

, an d t h e p h o n e

co n t i n u e s t o p an t h e car, t hen a s cream i s h eard

, an d t h e p h o n e b eg i n s fi l m i n g t h e

i n t eri o r ro o f o f t h e car wh i le t h e occu pan t s are s i l en t

. T he p h o n e twi ce reco rd s

s o m eo n e as k in g ab o u t i nju ri es

. Lat er, o ne o f t h e b oy s b eg i n s c r yi n g an d as k i n g fo r

h i s m o m

, an d fi n al l y s o m eo n e l ean s i n t h e car an d as k s i f ev ery o n e i s o k ay b efo re t h e

v i d eo s t o p s

.

Bas ed o n th es e fact s

, t he ju ry fo u n d Ho l l ey

g u i l t y o f t wo co u n ts o f h o m i ci d e

b y v eh i cl e i n th e fi rs t deg ree an d o n e co u n t each o f reck l es s dri v i n g

, f a i l u r e t o

ex erci s e d ue care, an d fai l u re t o s t op at a s to p si g n

. H o l l e y a r g ues th at t h e St at e

“ f a i l ed t o p ro v e b ey o n d a reas o n ab l e d o u b t t h at [s h e] d ro v e h er v eh i cl e in r e c k l e s s

d i s reg ard fo r t h e safet y o f p ers o n s o r p ro p ert y

, fai l i n g t o yi e l d t h e ri g h t o f way an d

cau s i n g t h e d eat h s o f Dav i s o r [ h er d au g h t er] .” A cco rd i n g t o Ho l l ey

, Bu t t erwo rt h

5o ffered “ p u rely c o n cl u s o ry ” t es t i m o n y reg ard i n g h er fau lt

, an d n o ev i d en ce s u p p o rt ed

t h e ex p ert ’ s o p i n io n

. Th i s as s ert i o n

, ho wev er, fai l s t o reco gn i ze B u t t e r w o rt h ’ s

t es t i m o ny t h at h e h ad in v es t i g at ed m o re t h an a t ho u s a n d a cci d en t s an d

, d u ri n g t h e

co u rs e o f t h e acci d en t re c o n s t r u c t i o n i n t h i s cas e, h e (i ) p ers o n al l y i n sp ect ed t h e

v eh icl es , (i i ) o b s erv ed an d m eas u red g o u ges an d t i re m ark s i n t h e ro ad way , as wel l

as t h e p l acem en t o f th e veh i cl es an d v i ct i m s

, (i i i ) no t ed d am ag e to a s t op s i g n an d g uy

wi re p o l e, an d ( i v ) r eq u es t ed d at a an al y s i s o f t he v eh i cl es ’ b l ack b o x es

, wh i ch

rev eal ed t h at b ot h v eh i cl es were t rav el i n g i n ex ces s o f 6 0 m i l es p er h o u r at t h e t i m e

o f t he co l li s i on

. Th i s ev i d en ce w as s u ffi ci en t t o s u p p o rt Bu tt er w or th ’ s co ncl u s i o n t h at

Ho l ley was d ri v i n g o n Sp ri ng Fl at s an d fai l ed t o s t o p h er v eh i cl e at t h e d es i g n at ed

s t op s i g n

, s tri ki n g t he d ri v er’ s s i d e o f Dav i s ’ s v eh i cl e. Acco rd i ng l y

, co n t rary to

Ho l ley ’ s as s ert i o n

, t h e ev i d en ce was su ffi ci en t fo r a rat i o nal t ri er o f fact t o fi n d t h at

Ho l ley fai l ed t o st o p at a s t op s i g n

, t h u s fai l i n g t o y i el d t he ri g h t o f way

. See OCGA

§ 4 0-6 -7 2 (fai l u re t o s to p o r y i el d ).

Fu rt herm o re, al l o f t h e ch arg es b ro u gh t ag ai n s t Ho l l ey were b as ed o n Ho l l ey ’ s

o p erat i o n o f h er m o to r v eh icl e wh i l e fai l in g t o y i el d t h e ri g ht o f w a y an d u s i n g a

m o bi l e d ev i ce to t he p o i n t t hat sh e w as d i s t ract ed

. No t o n l y d i d t h e ev i den ce d et ai l ed

ab o ve au t h o ri ze t he ju ry t o fi n d Ho l l ey gu i l t y o f t h e ch arg ed offen s es bas ed o n h er

6fai l u re t o y i el d t h e ri g h t o f way

, b u t t h e v id eo reco rd i n g i n t ro d u ced i nt o ev i d en ce an d

p l ay ed fo r t h e ju ry p erm i t t ed t he ju ry to i n fer t h at Ho l l ey fai l ed t o ex erci se d u e care

an d reck l es s l y d i s reg ard ed t he s afet y o f h er p as s en g e r s an d o t h ers o n t h e ro ad by

u s i n g a m o b i l e d ev i ce an d n o t p a yi n g at t en ti o n to t h e ro ad i n fro n t o f h er wh i l e

t rav el i n g i n ex ces s o f 60 m i l es p er h ou r. See OCGA § § 4 0 -6 -2 4 1 (fai l u re t o ex erci s e

d u e care), 4 0 -6 -3 9 0 (reck l es s d ri v i n g ), 4 0 -6 -3 9 3 (h om i ci d e b y v eh icl e). Acco rd i n g l y

,

h er co n v i ct i o n s a r e s u p p o rt ed b y th e ev id en ce, an d t h e t ri al co u rt d i d n o t err in

d en y i n g h er m o ti o n fo r a n ew t ri al o n t h i s g ro u n d

.

2

. Ho l l ey n ex t as s ert s t hat t he t ri al co u rt erred i n ad m it t in g

, ov er h er o b ject i o n,

t h e Faceb o o k v i d eo reco rd ed b y Bo y d an d p u rp o rt ed l y p os t ed b y Ho l l ey

. A cco rd i n g

t o Ho l ley

, t h e v i d eo s h own t o t he ju ry was “ a v i deo (o n Bo y d ’ s ph o ne)

. . . o f a v i d eo

(o n Bo y d’ s m o t h er’ s p ho n e)

. . . o f a v i d eo (o n a Faceb o o k p ag e),” an d i t s h o u l d h av e

b een ex cl u d ed b ecau s e t h e St at e fai led t o au t h en t i cat e i t

. 2 Th is en u m erat i o n o f erro r

l ack s m eri t.

“ Un d er Geo rg i a’ s Ev i d en ce Co d e, au t h en t i cat i o n o f ev i den ce m ay b e ach i ev ed

t h ro u g h a n y o f a v ari et y o f m ean s s o l o n g as t h ere is ev i d en ce s u ffi ci en t t o s u p p o rt

a fi nd i n g t h at th e m at t er in q u es t i o n i s w h at i t s p ro p o nen t cl ai m s .” In t ema n n v. S t a t e

,

2 Ho l l ey d o es n ot as s ert an y

h ears ay ch al l en g es t o t h e reco rd i n g

.

73 5 8 Ga. Ap p

. 4 8 8, 4 9 4 (1 ) (8 5 5 SE2 d 6 6 6 ) (2 0 21 ) (ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ).

See O CGA § 2 4 -9 -9 0 1 (a), (b ). Au th en t i cat i o n m ay b e ach i ev ed t h ro u g h “ [t ] es t i m o ny

o f a wi t n es s wi t h k n o wl ed g e t h at a m at t er i s w h at i t i s cl ai m ed t o b e.” OCGA § 2 4 -9

-

9 0 1 (b ) (1 ). “ Do cu m en t s fro m el ect ro n i c s o u rces s u ch as t h e pri n t o u ts fro m a web si t e

l i ke Faceb o o k are s u bject t o t h e s am e ru l es o f au t h en ti cat i o n as o t h er m o re t rad i t i o n al

d o cu m en t ary

ev i d en ce an d m ay b e au t h en t i cat ed t h ro u g h ci rcu m s tan t ial ev i d en ce.”

Ha wki n s v. S t a te

, 3 0 4 G a. 2 9 9

, 3 0 4 (4 ) (a) (8 1 8 SE2 d 5 1 3 ) (2 0 1 8) (ci t at i o n an d

p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ). “ On ce t h e p art y seek i n g t o a u t h en t i cat e ev i den ce p res en t s a

p ri m a faci e cas e t hat t h e ev id en ce i s wh at i t p u rp o rt s t o b e, t h e ev i d en ce i s p ro p erl y

ad m i t t ed

, l e av i n g t h e u l t i m at e q u es t i o n o f au th en t i ci t y t o b e d eci d ed b y th e ju ry .”

Ni ch ol s o n v. S ta t e

, 3 0 7 G a. 4 6 6

, 4 7 5 (5 ) (8 3 7 SE2 d 3 6 2) (2 01 9 ); acco rd In t ema n n

,

3 5 8 Ga. Ap p

. at 49 5 (1 ). Th i s Co u rt rev i ews a t ri al co u rt ’ s d eci s i o n t o a d m i t o r

ex cl u d e ev id en ce fo r a cl ear ab u s e o f d i s cret i o n

. In t ema n n

, 3 5 8 Ga. Ap p. at 4 9 5 (1 );

acco rd Ha wki n s

, 3 0 4 Ga. at 3 0 3 -3 0 4 (4 ).

Here, Bo y d t es t i fi ed at t ri al t h at s h e k n ew Ho l l ey s h ared i n fo rm at i o n o n

Faceb o ok an d t h at s h e was fam i l i ar wi t h Ho l l ey ’ s Faceb o ok p os t s becau s e, al t h o u g h

Bo y d d i d n o t h av e h er o wn Faceb o o k acco u n t

, s h e u sed h er m ot h er’ s acco un t t o k eep

u p wi t h h er fam i l y

. Acco rd i n g t o Bo y d

, t he v i d eo sh e reco rd ed was p o s t ed o n

8Ho l ley ’ s Faceb o o k acco u n t

, an d s h e r e c o g n i zed t h e p eo p l e i n t h e vi d eo

. Bo y d

i d en t i fi ed t h o s e peo p l e at t ri al as Ho ll ey an d h er t h ree ch i l d ren

. Bo y d al s o i d en t i fi ed

a p ict u re o f h er n i n e-y ear-o l d ni ece (wh o was k il l ed i n t h e co l l i s i o n ) t o co rro b o rat e

t h e v i deo i d en t i fi cat i on

. In ad d i t i o n

, Bo y d t es ti fi ed t h at th e St at e’ s ex h i b i t, wh i ch s h e

i n i t i al ed aft er v i ewi n g i t wi t h t h e i n v es t i g at o r, was an accu rat e, u n al t ered d ep i ct i o n

o f t h e vi d eo s h e s aw o n h er m o t h er’ s p h o n e an d t he ex act v i d eo s h e reco rd ed fro m

Faceb o ok an d g av e t o a n o ffi cer. Bas ed o n t h is t es t i m on y

, t h e t ri al co u rt was

au t h o ri zed t o fi n d t h at t h e St at e es t ab l i s h ed a p ri m a faci e cas e t h at t h e reco rd ed v i d eo

accu rat el y refl ect ed t h e co n t en ts o f t h e v i d eo po s ted o n Ho l l ey ’ s Faceb oo k acco u n t

.

See In t ema n n , 3 5 8 Ga. Ap p . at 4 9 5-4 9 6 (1 ); s ee al s o OCGA § 2 4 -9 -9 01 (b ) (1 ).

On appe a l, H olle y as s ert s t h at t h e v i d eo w as n o t p ro p erl y au t h en t icat ed b ecau s e

Bo y d fai l ed to t es ti fy ab ou t an y d i s t i n ct i v e ch aract eri s t i cs o f t h e Faceb o o k acco u n t

,

i n cl u d i n g b i o g rap h i cal i n f o r m a t i o n

, an IP ad d res s

, a p h o ne n u m b er, o r o t h er

i n fo rm at i o n i d en t i fy i n g t h e Faceb o o k acco u n t as b el o n g i ng t o Ho l ley

. H o wev er,

al t h o u g h OCGA § 2 4 -9 -9 0 1 (b ) (4 ) perm i t s au t h en t i cat i on t h ro u g h “ [ a ]p p earan ce,

co n ten t s

, s u bs t an ce, i n t ern al p at t ern s

, o r o t h e r d i s t in ct iv e ch aract eri s t i cs

, t ak en in

co n j u n ct i o n wi th ci rcu m s t an ces [,] ” t he St at e i n t h i s cas e p res en t ed am p l e

ci rcu m s t an t i al ev i d en ce, s et fo rt h ab o v e, to au th en t i cat e th e v i d eo u n d er OCGA § 2 4

-

99 -9 0 1 (b ) (1 )

– “ [t ] es t i m o n y o f a wi tn es s wi t h k n o wl ed ge t h at a m at t er i s wh at i t i s

cl ai m ed t o b e[.] ” “ Su ffi ce i t t o s ay

, t h e St at e was n o t l i m i t ed t o au t h en ti cat i n g t h e

[v i d eo ] t h ro ug h [Ho l l ey ’ s ] p referred m et h o d.” Jo h n s o n v

. S t at e

, 3 4 8 Ga. Ap p

. 6 6 7,

6 7 6 (1 ) (b ) (8 2 4 SE2 d 5 6 1 ) (2 0 1 9 ). A cco rd i n gl y

, t h e t ri al co urt d i d n o t ab u s e i t s

d i s cret i o n b y ad m it t in g t h e reco r d e d v i d e o i nt o ev i den ce at t ri al an d leav i n g t h e

u l t i m at e q u es t i o n o f i t s au t h en t i ci t y t o b e d eci ded b y t he ju ry

. See Ni ch o ls o n

, 3 0 7 Ga.

at 4 7 5 (5 ); Ha wki n s , 3 0 4 G a. at 3 0 4 (4 ) (a).

3

. Ho l l ey co n t en d s t h at th e t ri al co u rt erred i n ref u s i n g t o g i v e her req u es t ed

ju ry ch arg e o n acci den t

. “ W h i l e ap p el l at e rev i ew o f t h e ju ry ch arg e is d e n o v o

, we

rev i ew t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s refu s al t o g i v e a req u es ted ch arg e fo r an ab u s e o f d i s cret i o n.”

Ha r ri s

, 36 0 Ga. Ap p

. at 6 9 7 -6 9 8 (ci t at i o n s an d p u n ct u at i on o m i tt ed ). Pret erm i t t i n g

wh et h er Ho l ley fai l ed t o o b ject t o t h e co u rt ’ s refu s al t o g i v e h er req u es t ed acci d en t

i n s t ru ct i o n

, t h e ev i d en ce i n t h is cas e d i d n o t au t ho ri ze a ch arg e o n a cci d en t

, an d

Ho l ley

, t h er e fo re, h as fai led t o s h o w an y erro r i n t h e co u rt ’ s refu s al t o g i v e t h e

req u es t ed ch arg e.

Th i s Co urt rep eat ed l y h as n o t ed t h a t “ fi rs t -d eg ree v eh i cu l ar h o m i ci d e an d

reck l es s dri v in g ch arg es are st ri ct l i ab il i ty o ffen s es

. . . , m ean i n g t h at t h ey can b e

co m m i t t ed wi t h o u t a cu l p ab l e m en t al s t at e.” Mi tch el l v. S t a t e

, 3 5 5 Ga. Ap p

. 7

, 1 0 -1 1

10(2 ) (8 4 2 SE2 d 3 2 2 ) (2 0 2 0) (ci t at i o n an d p u n ct uat i on o m i t ted ); S mi th v. St a t e

, 3 1 9 Ga.

Ap p

. 1 6 4

, 1 6 4

, 1 7 2 (7 ) (a) (7 3 5 SE2 d 15 3 ) (2 0 1 2 ); acco rd Ha r ri s

, 3 6 0 Ga. Ap p

. at

7 0 1 (3 ). In o t h er wo rd s

, “ s t ri ct l i a b i l i t y [t raffi c] o ffen s es

. . . [m ay ] b e v i o l at ed

wi t h o u t m en s rea o r g u il ty k no wl ed g e,” an d “ th ere i s n o req u i rem en t t o pro v e m en t al

fau l t o r m en s rea” t o es t ab l i s h s u ch o ffen s es

. Ho ff er v. S t at e

, 1 9 2 G a. Ap p. 3 7 8

, 3 8 0

(1 ) (3 84 SE2 d 9 02 ) (1 9 8 9 ). Th at b ei n g s ai d , al t h o u g h s t ri ct l i ab i l i t y t raffi c o ffen s es

“ d o n o t req u i re t he s p eci fi c i n t en t o r wro ng fu l p u rp o s e t h at i s an el em en t o f o t h er

cri m es

, . . . t h ey d o req u i re t h e d efen d an t t o h av e v o lu n tari l y co m m i t t ed t h e act t h at

t h e s t at u t e p ro h i b i t s, wh i ch t y p i cal l y i n v o lv es d ri v i n g at a p art i cu lar ti m e an d p l ace

. . . o r i n a p art i cu l ar way .” S t a t e v. Og i l vi e

, 2 9 2 Ga. 6

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

(ci t at i o n s o m i t t ed ). As t hi s Co u rt rec e n t l y c l ari fi ed

, “ i n t en t i n th e co nt ex t o f t raffi c

o ffen s es

, s u ch a s r eckl es s d r ivi n g

, . . . req u i res [o n l y ] t h at t h e S t a t e p r o v e g en er al

cri m i n al i n t en t

, wh i ch i s s i m p l y t h e i n t en t t o d o th e act wh ich res u l t s i n t h e vi o l at i o n

o f th e l aw, an d n ot t h e i n t en t t o co m m i t t he cri m e i t s el f.” Ha r r i s

, 3 6 0 Ga. A p p

. at 7 0 1

(3 ) (ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i tt ed ; em p h a s i s i n o ri g in al an d s u p p l i ed ).

Acco rd in g ly

, “ t h e St at e m eet s i t s b u rd en o f p ro o f a s t o cri m i n al i n t en t i n s t ri ct

l i ab i l i t y t raffi c o ffen s es i f it es t ab l i s h es b ey o n d a reas o n ab l e d ou b t t h at t h e d efen d an t

v o l u n t ari l y co m

m i tt ed t h e act t h at th e s t at ut e p ro h i b it s

. ” S mi t h

, 3 1 9 Ga. A p p

. at 1 7 3

11(7 ) (a). See Ho f f er

, 1 9 2 Ga. Ap p

. a t 3 7 9

- 3 8 0 (1 ) (co n cl ud i n g t h at t he St at e d i d n ot

h av e t o p ro v e t h at t h e d efen d an t “ i n t en t i o n al ly d ro v e t h ro u gh a red li g h t

, o r ev en t h at

[t he d efen d an t ] k new th at t h e l i g h t was red

, ” b u t rat her o n l y h ad t o p ro v e t h at t h e

d efen d an t d ro v e h i s car t h ro u g h t h e i n t ers ect i on an d t hat h e in t en d ed t o d ri v e h i s car

t h ro u g h t h e i n t ers ect i o n at a po i n t i n t i m e wh en t h e l ig h t faci n g t h e d efen dan t ’ s l an e

o f t rav el was red ).

Reck l es s d ri v i n g l i k ewi se d oes n o t req ui re pro o f t h at a d efen d an t i n t en d ed to

v i o l at e t h e l aw or a p en al st at u te b u t rat h er req u i res m erel y pro o f t h at t h e d efen d an t

i n t en d ed t o co m

m i t t h e act t h at i s p ro h i b i t ed b y t h e s t at u t e, al b ei t u nd er a g i v en s et

o f ci rcu m s t an ces t h at ren d er t h e a c t r e c k l es s (i .e., cri m i nal l y n eg l i g en t ). See S mi t h

,

3 1 9 Ga. Ap p

. at 1 7 3 (7 ) (a) (“ [T] o p r o v e th e o ffen se of reck l es s d ri v i ng

, t h e St at e

m u st s ho w [o n l y ] t h at t h e d efen d an t co m m i t t ed a s p eci fi ed act ev i d en ci n g a reck l es s

d i s reg ard fo r t h e s afet y of p ers on s o r p ro p ert y .”). In fact

, o n m o re t h an o n e o ccas i o n,

t h i s Co u rt h as co n cl u d ed t h a t “ a ch arg e o n acci d en t i s n o t au t h ori zed wh en t h e

‘ acci d en t ’ occu rs as t h e d efen dan t i s d ri v i n g reck l es s l y ,” Dr yd en v. S t a t e

, 3 1 6 Ga.

Ap p

. 7 0

, 7 7 (6 ) (7 2 8 SE2 d 2 4 5) ( 2 0 1 2 ) ; acco rd La ud er b a ck v. S t a t e

, 3 2 0 Ga. Ap p.

6 4 9

, 6 5 2 (3 ) (7 40 SE2 d 3 77 ) (2 0 1 3 ) (i n v o l v i n g co n vi ct i o n fo r reck l es s d ri v i n g ),

b ecau s e a reck l es s d ri v in g o ffen s e co n cern s “ t h e d efen dan t ’ s co n d i t i o n w h i l e d ri v i n g

12an d n o t

. . . an y t raffi c m i s h a p t h a t o c c u r red wh i le h e was o p erat i n g t h e m o t o r

v eh icl e.” Da vi s v. S t a t e

, 3 01 Ga. Ap p

. 4 84

, 4 87 (2 ) (6 87 SE2 d 8 5 4 ) (2 0 0 9 ) (ci t at i on s

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

In s u m m ary

, b ecau s e fi rs t -d eg ree v eh i cu l ar ho m ici d e an d reck les s dri v i n g are

s t ri ct l i ab i l it y o ffen s es : (1 ) n o “ cu l p a b l e m e n t al s t at e” need be p ro v en

, s ee Og i l vi e

,

2 9 2 Ga. at 8 -9 (2 ) (a); (2 ) t h e “ cri m i n al i n t en t” req u i rem en t refers t o o n l y a “ g en eral

cri m i n al in t en t ” t o co m

m i t t h e u n d erl y i ng p ro h i b i t ed act

, no t an i n ten t t o p ro d u ce t h e

res u l t, s ee, e.g

., H

a rr is

, 3 6 0 Ga. Ap p

. at 7 01 (3 ); an d (3 ) “ cri m i n al n eg l i g en ce” refers

s i m p l y t o t he p res en ce o f a set o f ci rcu m s tan ces t h at ren der th e u n d erl y i n g act i o n s a

“ reck l es s d i s reg ard fo r t he s afet y o f pers on s o r p ro pert y ,” s ee S mi t h

, 3 1 9 Ga. Ap p

. at

1 7 3 (7 ) (a); acco r d OCGA § 4 0 -6 -3 90 (a). W a l d en v. St a t e cl ari fi es t h e p ro o f

n eces s ary t o d em o n s t rat e cri m i n al neg l i g en ce i n th e co n tex t o f t raffi c o ffen s es : “ Th e

v i o l at i o n o f [a] s afet y s t a t u t e r eg u l at i n g t h e u s e o f h i g h way s ” co ns t i t u t es cri m i n al

n eg li g en ce wh ere i t i s “ i n t e n t i o n al

, wi l fu l, o r wan t o n

, ” o r w h ere t h e u n i nt en t i o n al

v i o l at i o n i s acco m

p a n i e d b y “ reck l es s n es s o r carel es s n es s of s u ch ch aract er as to

s h o w a d i s reg ard of co ns eq u en ces o r a h eed l es s i n d i fferen ce fo r t h e s afet y an d ri g h t s

o f o th ers wh o m ig h t reas o nab l y b e ex p ect ed t o b e i n ju red t h ereb y .” 2 7 3 Ga. Ap p

. 7 0 7,

137 1 1 (1 ) (6 1 6 SE2 d 4 6 2 ) (2 0 0 5 ) (ci t at i o n an d pu n ct uat i o n o m i t t ed ); s ee al s o S mi t h v.

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

. 7 7 , 7 9 (2 ) (5 1 4 SE2 d 7 10 ) (1 9 9 9 ).

Here, Ho ll ey was co n v i ct ed b o t h o f reck l es s d ri v in g an d o f fi rs t -d eg ree

v eh icu l ar h o m i ci d e p red i cat ed o n reck l es s d ri vi n g

, s o t h e i n t en t req u ired fo r reck l es s

d ri v i ng i m

p act s bo t h co n v i ct i o n s

. T h e o ffen s e o f reck les s d ri v i n g req u i res p ro o f t h at

(a) t h e d e f

en d an t was d ri v i n g (b ) “ i n reck l es s d i s reg ard fo r t h e s afet y o f p ers o n s o r

p ro p ert y .” O CG A § 4 0

- 6 -3 90 (a). Th u s

, t o p ro v e t h e offen s e o f reck l es s d ri v i n g as

ch arg ed i n t h e i n d i ct m en t

, t h e St at e was req u i r e d to s h o w t hat Ho l l ey co m m i t t ed a

p ro h ib i t ed act as a l l eg ed i n th e i n d i ct m en t

– ei t h er fai l i n g t o y i el d t he ri g h t o f way

wh i le d ri v i n g (reg ard l es s o f wh et h er Ho l ley i nt en d ed t o fai l t o y i el d t h e ri g h t o f way )

o r us i n g a m o bi l e dev i ce t o t he p o in t o f d i s t ract i o n wh i l e d r i v i n g ( reg ard l es s o f

wh et h er Ho l l ey i n t en d ed t o b e d i s t ract ed ) 3

– ev id en ci n g a reck l es s d i sreg ard fo r t h e

s afet y o f p ers o n s or p ro p ert y

. Th ere is n o need t o es t ab l i s h th at Ho l l ey “ i n t en d ed ” to

3 Al t h o u g h th e i n d ict m en t ch arg ed Ho l l ey wi t h reck l es s d ri v i n g b y “ fai l [ i n g ]

t o y i e l d t h e ri g h t o f way a n d u s [i n g ] a m o bi l e d ev i ce t o t h e po i n t t h at s h e was

d i s t ract ed ” (em

p h as i s s u p p li ed ), t h e St at e w as req u ired t o p ro ve o n l y th at t h e o ffen s e

w a s co m m it t ed i n ei t her o f t h e s ep arat e w ay s l i s t ed i n t h e i n d i ct m en t

. Th o m p s o n v

. S t a t e

, 3 5 8 Ga. A p p. 5 5 3

, 5 5 6 (1 ) (8 5 5 SE2 d 7 5 6 ) (2 0 21 ); acco rd Ch yn owet h v. S t a t e

, 3 3 1 Ga. Ap p

. 12 3

, 1 2 5 (1 ) (7 6 8 S E 2 d 5 36 ) (2 01 5 ) (“ It i s s u ffi ci en t fo r t h e St at e to

s h o w t hat a cri m e was co m m i t t ed in an y o ne o f t h e s ep ara t e w a ys l i s t e d i n t h e

i n d i ct m en t

, ev en i f t h e i n di ct m en t u s es t h e co n ju n ct i v e rat h er t h an d i s

ju n ct i v e fo rm .”)

(ci t at i o n an d p u nct u at io n o m i t ted ).

14d ri v e “ cri m i nal l y n eg l i gen t l y ” o r ev en t h at Ho l l ey “ i n ten d ed ” t o fai l t o y i el d t h e ri g ht

o f way

, b eco m e d is t ract ed b y h er m o b i l e d ev i ce, or p u t o t h ers o r t h ei r p ro p ert y at ri s k.

As s t at ed p rev i o us l y

, “ t h e St at e m eet s i t s b urd en o f p ro of as t o cri m i n al i n t en t i n s t ri ct

l i ab i l i t y t raffi c o ffen s es i f it es t ab l i s h es b ey o n d a reas o n ab l e d ou b t t h at t h e d efen d an t

v o l u n t ari l y co m

m i tt ed t h e act t h at th e s t at ut e p ro h i b it s

. ” S mi t h

, 3 1 9 Ga. A p p

. at 1 7 3

(7 ) (a). Acco rd i n g l y

, cri m in al n eg l i g en ce was es tab l i s h ed i n t h i s cas e wh en t h e ju ry

d et erm i n ed t h at Ho l l ey fai l ed to y i el d th e ri g h t o f way wh i l e d ri v i n g h er car, d ro v e

h er car wh i l e l iv e-s t ream in g a v i d eo fro m h er p h o n e (wh i ch i m p ed ed h er ab i l i ty to

p ay at t en t i o n t o t h e ro ad i n fro n t o f h er), o r b o t h

.

Tu rn i n g t o t h e acci den t d efen s e, OCGA § 1 6 -2 -2 p ro v i d es t h at “ [a] p ers o n s h al l

n o t b e fo u nd g u il t y o f an y cri m e co m m i t t e d b y m i s fo rt u ne o r acci den t wh ere i t

s at i s fa c t o ri l y ap p ears t h ere was n o cri m i n al s ch em e o r u n d ert ak i n g

, i n t en t i o n

, o r

cri m i n al n eg l i g en ce.”

Th i s acci d en t d e fen s e ap p li es wh ere t h e ev i d en ce n eg at es th e

d efen d an t ’ s cri m i n al in t en t

, wh at ev er t h at in ten t el em en t i s fo r t h e cri m e

at i s s u e. Acco rd i n gl y

, a ju ry ch arg e on th e d efen s e o f acci d en t t o a s t ri ct

l i ab i l i t y t raffi c o ffe n s e i s av ai lab l e on l y wh ere t h ere i s ev id en ce,

h o wev er s l i g h t

, t h at t h e d efen dan t d i d n o t v o lu n t ari l y co m m i t th e

p ro h i b it ed act

.

15Og i lvi e

, 2 9 2 Ga. at 9 (2 ) (b ); acco rd Ha rr i s

, 36 0 Ga. Ap p

. at 6 9 6, 7 0 1 (3 ) (i nv o l v i n g

co n vi ct i o n s fo r fi rs t -d eg ree v eh i cu lar h o m i ci d e an d reck les s d ri v i n g ); Mi tch el l

, 3 5 5

Ga

. A p p

. at 10 -1 1 (2 ) (s am e). “ Th e d efen s e m u st b e bas ed o n ev i d en ce t h at t h e

pr o h i b i ted act was co m

m i t ted i nv o l u n tari l y

, fo r ex am pl e, b ecau se o f an u n fo res ee a ble

p h y s i cal ai l m en t o r ex t ern al fo rce.” Mi t ch el l

, 3 5 5 Ga. Ap p

. at 1 1 (2 ) (ci t at i o n s an d

p u n ct u at i o n o m i tt ed ). Th u s, fo r pu rp o ses o f a j u ry in s t ru ct i o n o n acci d en t

, t h e

“ acci d en t ” d o e s n o t r e f

e r to t h e co l li s io n o r t o H o l l ey ’ s fai l u re t o y i el d an d / o r

d i s t ract ed d ri vi ng t h at res u l t ed i n th e co l l i s i on

, b u t rat h er refers to Ho l l ey ’ s

u n d erl y i n g act i o n s t hat p reced e d a n d cau s ed h er fai lu re t o y i el d an d / or di s t ract ed

d ri v i ng t hat res u l t ed i n t h e c o l l i s i o n

. See Og i lvi e

, 2 9 2 Ga. at 1 0 (2 ) (c) (wh ere

d efen d an t -d ri v e r h i t a p e d e s tri an i n a cro s s wal k

, s h e was n o t en ti t l ed t o rel y o n t h e

d efen s e o f acci d en t b ecau s e

– al t h o u g h th ere w as ev i d en ce t h at t h e p ed es tri an ju m p ed

o u t i n fro n t o f t h e car

– t h ere w as n o ev i d en ce t h at t h e d efen d an t d ro v e h er car i n to

t h e cro s s wal k i n v o lu n t ari l y ).

Here, Ho l ley d o es n o t i d en t i fy an y ev id en ce t h at wo u l d s u p p o rt a fi nd i n g t h at

ei t h er ( 1 ) s h e in v o l u nt ari ly d ro v e h er car th ro u gh t he i n t ers ect i o n wh i l e fai l i n g to

y i el d an d / o r wh i l e l i ve-s t ream i n g v i d eo o r (2 ) an ex t ern al fo rce o r ph y s i cal ai l m en t

cau s ed h er t o co m

m i t th o s e a ct s ; s h e s i m

p l y m ak es co n cl us o ry s t at em en t s t h at h er

16d efen s e at t ri al w as b as ed o n acci den t

. 4 “ Becau s e th ere was n o ev i d en ce

d em o n s t rat i n g t hat th e p ro h i b i ted act [s were] co m m i t t ed i n v o l u n t ari ly

, fo r ex am p l e,

b ecau s e of an u n fo res eeab l e p h y s i cal ai l m en t o r ex t ern al fo rce, th e t ri al co u rt d i d n ot

ab u s e i t s d i s cret i on [b y refu s in g t o g i v e a ch arg e o n t h e d efen s e o f acci d en t ]

. ” 5

Ha r ri s

, 3 6 0 Ga. Ap p. at 7 0 1 (3 ) (ci t at i o n an d p un ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ); acco rd M i t ch el l

,

3 5 5 Ga. Ap p . at 1 1 (2 ); Dr yd en , 3 1 6 Ga. Ap p . at 7 7 (6 ).

4

. In her fi n al en u m erat i o n o f e r r o r

, Ho ll ey as s ert s t h at h er t ri al co u n s el

p ro v id ed i n effect i ve as s i s tan ce b y fai l in g t o (a) o b ject t o th e co u rt ’ s refu s al t o ch arg e

4 To t h e ex t en t t hat Ho l l ey s u g g es t s t h at s h e “ acci d en tal l y ” fai l ed to y i el d

, an d,

as a res u l t

, “ acci d en t al l y ” co l l i d ed wi t h D av i s ’ s v eh i cl e, an y s u ch cl ai m is b es i d e t h e

p o i n t fo r p u rp o s es o f t h e ju ry i n s t ru ct i o n o n “ acci den t ” as a d efen s e. Th at Ho l l ey d id

n o t i n t en d t o fai l t o y i el d i s i rrel ev an t

, s o l on g as (a) s h e i n t en ti o n al l y d ro ve h er car

i n a m an n er th at t o o k h er i n t o t h e i nt ers ect i on (b ) u n d er ci rcu m s t an ces i n wh i ch t h e

l aw req u i red her t o y i el d t o an o t h er veh i cl e. See Og i l vi e

, 2 9 2 Ga. at 8 -1 0 (2 ) (a)-(c);

Ho f fer , 1 9 2 Ga. Ap p. at 3 7 9-3 81 (1 )-(2 ).

5 Wh i l e t h e e v i d en ce h ere d i d n o t “ m an d at e” a fi nd i n g o f reck l es s d i s reg ard

(wh ich was fo r t h e j u ry t o d eci d e), t h at is i m m at eri al

. F o r t h e reas o n s d i s cu s s ed

a b o v e, Ho ll ey was en t i tl ed t o a ju ry ch arg e o n acci d en t o n l y i f th ere was s o m e

ev i d en c e fro m wh i ch t h e ju ry co u l d fi n d t h at s h e u n i n ten t i o n al l y or in v o l u n t ari l y

co m m i t t ed t h e u n d erl y i ng p ro h i b it ed act i o n s

, reg ard l e s s o f wh et h er t h o se act i on s

co n st i t u t ed “ reck l es s d is reg a r d f o r t h e s afet y o f p ers o n s o r p ro p ert y ” u n d er t h e

ci rcu m s t an ces an d reg ard l es s o f wh et h er Ho l l ey “ i n t en d ed ” h er u n derl y i ng act i o n s to

b e in “ reck l es s d i s reg ard fo r t h e s afet y o f p ers o n s o r p ro pert y ” u n d er t h e

ci rcu m s t an ces

. See, e.g

., Og i lvi e

, 2 9 2 Ga. at 1 0 (2 ) (c); Mi tch el l

, 3 5 5 Ga. Ap p

. at 1 1

(2 ).

17t h e j u ry o n acci d en t

, (b ) p ro p erl y arg u e t he defen s e t h eo ry t o t h e ju ry

, an d (c) o b t ai n

t h e res u lt o f a bl o o d al co h ol tes t p erfo rm ed on Dav i s

, t h e d ri ver o f t h e o t h er v eh i cl e

i n v o l v ed i n t h e co l li s i o n

. Th e t ri al co u rt fo u n d t h at Ho l l ey h ad no t m et h er b u rd en o f

es t ab l i s h in g in effect i v e as s i s t an ce. W e co n cl ud e t h at t h e t ri al co u rt d id n o t er r in

d en y i n g Ho l l ey ’ s m o t i o n fo r a n ew t ri al on t h i s g ro u nd

. See Hu l et t v. S t at e

, 2 9 6 Ga.

4 9 , 6 0 (5 ) (7 6 6 SE2 d 1 ) (2 0 1 4 ) (an i neffect i v e-as s i s t an ce cl ai m i s a m ix ed q u es t i o n

o f l aw an d fact

, an d we accep t t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s fact u a l f i n d i n gs u n l es s cl earl y

erro neo u s b ut i nd ep en d en t l y ap p l y t he l aw to t h o se fact s ); s ee al s o St r i ckl a n d v.

W a s h i n g t o n , 4 6 6 U. S. 6 6 8 , 6 9 8 (IV) (1 0 4 SCt 2 0 52 , 8 0 LE2 d 6 7 4 ) (1 9 8 4 ).

In o rd er t o es t ab l i s h t h at her t ri al co un s el was co n st it u t i o n al l y i n effect i ve,

Ho l le y m u s t s h o w t h at h er at t o rn ey ’ s p erfo rm an ce was d efi ci en t an d t h at s h e was

p reju d i ced b y th e d efi ci en t p erfo rm an ce. S t r ickl a nd

, 4 6 6 U.S. at 6 8 7 (III). “ Un d er t h e

f i r s t p ro n g o f t h i s t es t, co u ns el ’ s p erfo rm an ce w i l l b e fo u nd d efi ci en t on l y i f i t w a s

o b ject i v el y u nreas o nab l e un d er t h e ci rcu m s t an ces an d in l i g ht o f p rev ai l i n g

p ro fes s i on al no rm s .” Ma n n er v. S t a t e

, 3 0 2 Ga. 8 7 7

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

“ Th i s req u i res a d ef

e n d a n t t o o v erco m e t h e s t ro n g p res um p t i on t h at co u n sel ’ s

p e r f o r m a n ce fel l wi t h in a wi d e ran g e o f reas o n ab l e p ro fes s i o n al co nd u ct

, an d t h at

co u ns el ’ s d eci s i o n s were m ad e i n t h e ex erci se o f reas o nab l e pro fes s i o n al j u d g m en t .”

18Mo r r i s v. S t a te

, 3 0 3 Ga. 1 9 2

, 2 0 1 (VI) (8 1 1 SE2 d 3 21 ) (2 0 1 8 ) ( c i t at i o n an d

p u n ct u at i o n o m i tt ed ). To sat i sfy t h e s e c o n d p ro n g

, t h ere m u s t b e a reas o n ab l e

p r o b ab i l i t y t h at

, ab s en t co un sel ’ s erro rs

, t h e o ut co m e o f t h e t ri al wo u l d h av e b een

d i fferen t. Ma n n er

, 30 2 Ga. at 8 8 1 -8 8 2 (II). Ho ll ey m u s t s a t i s fy b o t h p ro ng s o f t h e

S t r i ckl a nd t es t

, a n d i f s h e i s u n ab le t o s at i s fy on e, we need n o t ex am i ne t h e o t h er.

Mo r r i s , 3 0 3 Ga. at 2 0 1 (VI).

(a) Ho l l ey fi rs t arg u es t h at h er t ri al co un s el was in effect i v e by fai li n g t o o b ject

t o t h e c o u r t ’s refu s al to ch arg e t h e ju ry o n acci d en t. Ho wev er, as we co n cl u d ed in

Di v is i o n 3

, t he t ri al co urt p ro p erl y refu sed t o gi v e Ho l ley ’ s req u es ted ju ry ch arg e o n

acci den t

. Co n s eq u en tl y

, Ho l l ey can n o t sh o w t h at h er tri al co u n s el ’ s fai lu re t o o b ject

t o t h e co u rt ’ s r e f

u s a l t o s o ch arg e fel l o u t s i d e t h e ran g e o f reas on ab l e p ro fes s i o n al

co n du ct

. See Newma n v. S ta t e

, 3 0 9 Ga. 1 71

, 1 7 8 -1 8 0 (2 ) (c), (e) (8 4 4 SE2 d 7 7 5 )

(2 0 2 0) (fai l u re t o m ak e a m eri t l es s o b ject io n w i l l n o t s u p p o rt a fi n di n g o f i n effect i v e

as s i s tan ce). Acco rd i n g l y

, H o l l ey fai l ed t o d em o n s t rat e t h at h er t ri al c o u n s el was

i n effect i v e o n t h i s g ro u n d

.

(b ) Ho l l ey n ex t as s e r t s t h a t h er t ri al co u n s el was i n effect iv e b y fai l i n g to

p ro p erl y arg u e t h e defen s e t h eo ry t o t h e ju ry

. Sp eci fi cal ly

, Ho l l ey m ai nt ai ns t h at h er

t ri al co un s el s h o u l d h av e arg u ed i n cl o s in g t h at t h e ev i d en ce d i d n o t s u p p o rt a fi n d i n g

19t h at s h e was d r i v i n g o n t h e ro ad wi t h t h e s t o p s i g n

, th at s h e ran t h e st o p s i g n

, an d

t h at

, co n s eq u en tl y

, s h e cau s ed t h e c o l l i s i o n

. In d eed

, t ri al co un s el t es t i fi ed at t h e

m o ti o n fo r a n ew t ri al h eari n g t h at t h e d efen s e t h eo ry o f t he cas e

was t h at t h ere was n o t a cl ear, fi rs t -h an d reco l lect i o n o f al l o f t h e ev en t s

t h at w o u l d hav e o ccu rred at t h e i nt ers ect i o n

. An d t h ere was no t real l y a

– t h ere [were] n o t h i rd -p art y wi t n es s es wh o were pres en t t o ob s erv e th e

co l l i s i o n

. Th ere was n o vi d eo fo o tag e o f t h e i n t ers ect i o n i t sel f s h owi n g

t h e res p ect i v e p o s i ti o n s o f th e v eh i cl es o r t h e lack

, as s u ch

. W e were

s ay i n g t h at t h e St at e h ad g en eral l y fai led t o carry i ts b urd en i n term s o f

p ro v i n g ex act l y w h ich v eh i cl e was t rav el in g i n wh i ch d i rect io n an d wh at

t h e ex act ci r cu m s t an ces were fo r b ot h v eh i cl es at th e t i m e o f th e

co l l i s i o n

.

Co n t rary t o Ho l ley ’ s arg u m en t

, h o wev er, th e t ri al tran s cri p t s h o ws t h at h er t ri al

co u ns el , i n fact

, d i d p res en t t h e d efen se t h eo ry i n h i s cl o s i n g arg u m en t.

Du ri n g h i s cl o s in g arg u m en t

, t ri al c o u n s e l e xp l ai n ed t h at t h e St at e h ad t h e

b u rd en t o p ro v e b ey o n d a reas o n ab l e d o u b t t h e d i rect io n s Ho l l ey an d Dav i s were

t rav el i n g an d t h a t Ho l ley was t h e in d i v i d u al wh o ran t h e s t o p s i g n

. Sp eci fi cal l y

, h e

arg u ed t h at t h e p art i es d is p ut ed t h e d i rect i o n s i n wh i ch t he v eh i cl es were t rav el i n g,

n o o n e act u al l y o b s erv ed t h e co l l i s io n an d t es t i fi ed ab o u t w hat h ap p en ed wh en t h e

cars m et i n t h e i n t ers ect i o n

, an d t h ere was n o v i d eo s u rv ei l l an ce o f t h e co l l is i o n

. He

20as s ert ed th at ev en Dav i s ’ s wi fe, w h o w a s i n v o l v ed i n t h e co l l i s i o n an d t es t i fi ed at

t ri al

, co u l d n ot s ay wh at o ccu rred

. In ad d i t i on

, t ri al co un s el rem i n ded th e ju ry t h at o n e

o f t h e acci d en t reco n s t ru ct i o n ex p ert s wh o g av e an o p i n i o n a b o u t t h e v eh i cl es ’

d i r e c t i o n s o f t rav el d i d n o t t es t i fy ab o u t an y co n vers at i on s h e had wi t h i nd i v i d u a l s

i n v o l v ed i n t h e co l l i s i o n

. He al s o d i s cu ss ed ev id en ce t hat t h e St at e di d n o t i n t ro d u ce,

s u ch as a m ap o f wh ere t h e p art i es were d ri vi n g t o an d fro m

.

Al t h ou g h t ri al co u n s el t es t i fi ed at t h e m o t i o n fo r a n ew t ri al h eari n g t hat h e d id

n o t recal l o r s peci fi cal l y m en t i o n d u ri n g h i s c l o s i n g arg u m en t t h e s i n g l e s t at em en t

m ad e b y Dav i s ’ s wi fe wh en s he t es t i fi ed t h a t h e r v eh i cl e was t rav el i ng o n Sp ri n g

Fl at s Ro ad

, t h e ro ad wi th t h e s t o p s i g n

, t ri al co u n s el p res en ted Ho ll ey ’ s d efen s e

t h eo ry d u ri n g cl o s i n g arg u m en t

, an d “ a cl o si n g arg u m en t i s t o b e j u d ged i n t h e

co n tex t in wh i ch i t i s m ad e.” An t h o n y v. St a te

, 3 1 1 Ga. 2 9 3

, 2 98 (4 ) (8 5 7 SE2 d 6 8 2 )

(2 0 2 1) (ci t at i o n an d p u nct u at io n o m i t t ed ). “ W i t h res pe c t to c losi n g arg um en t

, d efen s e

co u ns el i s p erm i t t ed wi d e l at i t u d e an d is no t i neffe ct i v e s i m p l y b ecau se an o t h er

at t o rn ey m i g h t h av e u s e d d i fferen t l an g uag e o r p laced a d i fferen t em p h as i s o n t h e

ev i d en ce.” Id

. (ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ); acco rd Ha r r i s v. S ta t e

, 3 4 5 Ga.

Ap p . 8 0

, 8 1 (1 ) (b ) (8 1 2 SE2 d 3 4 2 ) (2 01 8 ) (“ [T] h e fact t h at an ot h er at t o rn ey m i g ht

h av e m ad e a di fferen t cl o s in g arg u m en t do es n o t s h o w i n effect i ve ne ss .”) (ci t at i o n an d

21p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ). In th is cas e, “ [t ] ri al co un s el ’ s arg um en t was i n fu rt h eran ce o f

t h e tri al s t rat eg y an d fel l wi t h i n t h e b ro ad ran g e o f reas on ab l e p ro fes s i o n al co n d u ct

,

an d [i t

, t herefo re,] was n o t d efi ci en t.” W a l l a ce v. S t a t e

, 3 4 1 G a

. A p p

. 57 6

, 5 8 0 (2 )

(8 0 2 SE2 d 3 4 ) (2 0 1 7 ). Th e t ri al co u rt d id n ot err i n d en y in g Ho l l ey ’ s i neffect i v en es s

cl ai m o n t h i s g ro u n d

.

(c) Fi n al l y

, Ho l l ey co n t en d s t h at h er t ri al co un s el was i n effect i v e b y fai l i n g to

o b t ai n an d i n t ro d u ce i n t o ev i d en ce t h e res u l t o f a b l o o d a l c o h o l tes t p erfo rm ed o n

Dav is , t h e d ri v er o f t h e o t h er v eh i cl e i n v o l v ed i n t h e co l l is i on

.

At t he m o t i o n fo r a new t ri al h e a r i n g

, t h e fi rs t o ffi cer wh o res p o nd ed t o t h e

co l l i s i o n t es t i fi ed ab o u t a cras h rep ort t h a t h e p rep ared

. Th e rep ort n o t ed t h at l aw

en fo r c e m e n t d i d n o t s u s p ect d ru g o r al co ho l u s e b y Dav is

, b ut a b l o o d al co h o l tes t

was g iv en an d t h e res ul t was pen d i n g as o f t h e d at e o f th e rep o rt

. Th e o ffi cer t es t i fi ed

t h at h e d i d n o t h av e t h e res u l t o f t h e t es t an d d i d n o t k n o w wh at h ap p en ed wi t h t h e

t es t

. Ho wev er, h e fu rt her t es t i fi ed t h at th e b l o od t es t res u l t wo u l d n ot h av e ch an g ed

h i s o p i n i o n t h at Dav i s d i d n o t h i n g t o cau s e t h e co ll i si o n

.

Ho l l ey al s o cal l ed a co u nt y co ro n er t o t es t i fy at t h e h eari n g o n h er m o t i o n fo r

a n ew t ri al

. Acco rd i n g t o t h e co ro n er, h e drew b l oo d fro m D av i s ’ s b o dy f o r a

t o x i co l o g y t es t

, as i n d i cat ed o n h i s rep o rt

, b u t he d i d n ot k n o w t h e res u l t o f t h e t es t

.

22Ho l ley

d i d n o t q u es t i o n h er t ri al co un s el at t h e m o t i o n fo r a n ew t ri al h eari n g ab o ut

h i s at t em p t s t o o b t ai n t h e res u l t o f Dav i s ’ s b l o od al co h o l t es t o r wh y h e wo u l d n ot

h av e d o n e s o

.

Ho l l ey ’ s cl ai m i n t h i s reg ard fai l s fo r t wo reas o n s. Fi rs t

, we d o n o t ag ree wi th

h er ch aract eri zat i o n o f t h i s ev i d en ce as “ e xtr e m e l y r e le va nt. ” Th e ev i d en ce s h o ws t h at

Dav is d i d n o t h i n g t o cau s e th e co l l i s i o n

, reg ard l es s o f h i s b lo od al co h ol l ev el

. Ev en

t h e offi cer w h o res p o n ded t o th e s cen e t es t i fi ed at t h e m o t i o n fo r a n ew t ri al h eari n g

t h at Dav i s ’ s b l o od t es t res ul t wo u l d n o t h av e ch an g ed h i s o p in i o n reg ard i ng fau l t fo r

t h e co l l i s i o n

.

In ad d i t i o n

, al th o u g h Ho l l ey s p ecu l at es t h at Dav i s ’ s b lo o d al co ho l t es t res u l t

wo u l d h av e h el p ed h er cas e, s h e fai l ed t o i n t ro d u ce o r p ro ffer t h e res u l t o f t h e t es t at

t h e m o t i o n fo r a n ew t ri al h eari n g

.

Th e fai l u re o f t ri al co u n s el to em p l o y ev i den ce can no t b e d eem ed t o be

p reju d i ci al i n t h e ab s en ce o f a s h o wi n g t h at s u ch ev i d en ce wo u l d h av e

b een rel ev an t an d fav o rab l e t o t h e d efen d an t . Becau s e ap p el l an t fai led

t o m ak e an y p ro ffer o f t h e [b l o o d al co h o l t es t res u l t ]

, i t i s i m p os s i b l e fo r

ap p el l an t t o s h o w t h ere i s a r e a s o n a b l e p ro b ab i l i t y t h e res u lt s o f th e

p ro ceed i n g s wo u l d h av e b een d i fferen t

.

23W

o o d s v. St a t e

, 2 7 5 Ga. 8 4 4

, 8 5 0 (3 ) (d ) (5 7 3 SE2 d 3 9 4) (2 0 0 2 ) (ci t at i o n an d

p u n ct u at i o n om i t t ed ). “ Th u s, ev en i f t ri al co u n s el act ed d efi ci en t l y in t h i s reg ard

– an

i s su e we d o no t d eci d e

– [Ho l l ey ] can no t s h o w p reju d i ce fro m t ri al co u n sel ’ s fai l u re

t o o b t ai n t h e [t es t res u l t ]

. ” W a l l a ce v. S t a t e

, 3 03 Ga. 3 4

, 4 2 (4 ) (8 1 0 SE2 d 9 3 ) (2 0 1 8 )

(fai l u re to t en d er t el ep h o n e reco rd s p recl u d ed cl ai m th at tri al co u n sel was i n effect i v e

b y m ak i ng in ad eq u at e effo rt s t o o b t ai n t h e reco rd s fo r po s si bl e i m p each m en t ); acco rd

W o o d s

, 2 7 5 Ga. at 8 4 9 -8 5 0 (3 ) (d ) (fai l u re to t en d er v i d eo t ap e i n t o ev i d en ce

p recl u d ed cl ai m t h at t ri al co u ns el was i n effe c t i v e by fai l i ng t o us e th e v i d eo as

ex cu lp at o ry ev i d en ce). Acco rd i n gl y

, th e t ri al co u rt di d no t err i n d en y i n g Ho l l ey ’ s

i n effect i v en es s cl ai m

o n t hi s g ro u n d

.

Ju d g men t a f f i r med

. Ri ckma n, C. J., co n cu r s a n d McFa d

d en

, P

. J., s

p eci a l l y

co n cu r s

.

24

# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A2 1 A1 38 0 . HOLLEY v .THE STATE.

M C F A D D E N , Pres id i n g J u d g e, co n cu rri n g s p eci al l y

.

I ag ree th at t h e tri al co u r t ’s r e fu s al t o ch arg e o n acci d en t was n o t rev ers i b l e

erro r. Bu t I reach t h at co n cl u s i o n b y a d i fferen t ro u t e. I wo u l d h ol d t h at

, u n d er t h es e

ci rcu m s t an ces

, veh i c u l a r h o m i ci d e an d reck l es s d ri v in g are n o t s t ri ct l i ab i l i t y

o ffen s es

. So t h e acci d en t d efen se i s n o t cat eg o ri cal l y u n av ai l ab l e. Bu t t he fact s b efo re

u s can no t s u s t ai n an acci d en t d efen s e.

It i s t ru e t hat t h e d efen s e o f acci d en t i s n o t av ai lab l e fo r s t ri ct l i ab i l i t y offen s es

.

An d i t i s t ru e, as th e m ajo ri t y co rrect l y h o l d s

, t h at o u r Su p rem e Co urt h as h el d t h at

b ecau s e v i o l at io n s o f t h e U n ifo rm R u l e s o f t h e Ro ad are d efi n ed b y s t at u t e as

m i s d em ean o r cri m es

, s ee OCGA § 4 0 -6 -1

, t h ey m us t co nt ai n al l o f t h e req u i si t e

el em en t s o f a cri m e s p eci fi ed b y OCGA § 1 6-2

- 1 ( a )

, i n cl u d i n g i n ten t io n

. S t a t e v.

Og i lvi e

, 2 9 2 G a

. 6, 8 (2 ) (a) (7 3 4 SE2 d 5 0) (2 0 1 2 ). It i s al s o t ru e t h at t h e Un i fo rmRu l es o f t h e Ro ad m ak e i t a “ m i s d em ean o r fo r an y p ers o n t o d o an y act fo rb i d d en o r

fai l to p erfo rm an y act req u i red i n t h i s ch a p t e r

. ” O C G A § 4 0-6 -1

. So “ u n l es s t h e

p a r t i cu l a r p r o vi s io n i n d i ca tes o t h er wi s e, t h e t raffi c o ffen s es d efi n ed i n Ch ap t er 6 ’ s

Ru l es o f t h e Ro ad are ‘ s t ri ct li ab i l i t y ’ o ffen s es

, m ean in g th at t h ey can b e co m m i t t ed

wi t h o u t a c u l p ab l e m en tal s t at e.” Og i lvi e

, s u p ra (em p h as i s s u p p l i ed ; fo o t n o t e

o m it t ed ).

In o t h er wo rd s

, t h e req u i si t e in t en t fo r s t ri ct li ab il i ty is n o t “ s peci fi c i n t en t ,” fo r

ex am p l e th at t h e d efen d an t “ in ten t i o n al l y d ro ve t h ro u g h a red l i g h t

, o r ev en t h at [h e]

k n ew t h at t h e l i g h t was red .” Og i l vi e

, 2 9 2 Ga. at 8 (2 ) (a), q uo t i n g Ho f f er v. St a t e

, 1 9 2

Ga.Ap p

. 3 78 , 3 7 9 -3 8 0 (3 8 4 SE2 d 9 0 2 ) (1 9 8 9 ) (p u nct u at i o n ad d ed b y Og i l vi e ). It i s

o n l y g en eral cr i m i n a l i n t en t, wh i ch i s “ s i m p l y th e i n t en t to d o t h e act wh ich res u l t s

i n t he v i o l at i o n o f t he l aw, an d n o t t h e i n ten t t o co m m i t t h e cri m e i t s el f.” Id . a 8 (2 )

(a) (ci t at io n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t ted ).

Here, H o l ley was ch arg ed u n d er a p ro vi s i o n of t h e Un i fo rm Ru l es of t h e Ro ad

.

So s h e was ch arg ed wi t h a s t ri ct l i a b i l i t y o f fen s e an d n o t en t i tl ed t o an acci d en t

d efen s e “ u n l es s t h e p a rt i c u l a r p r o vi s i o n i nd i ca tes o t h er wi se [.] ” Id

. (em p h as i s

s u p p li ed ). Sh e was ch arg ed w i t h h o m i ci d e b y v eh i cl e i n t h e fi rs t d eg ree u n d er OCGA

2§ 4 0 -6 -3 9 3 (a) “ th ro u g h a v i ol at i o n o f OCGA § 40 -6 -3 9 0

, Reck l es s Dri v i n g .” OCGA

§ 4 0-6 -3 9 3 (a) p ro vi des :

An y p ers o n wh o

, wi t h o u t m al i ce afo ret h o u g h t

, c a u s e s t h e d eat h o f

an o t her p ers on t h ro u g h t h e v i o l at i o n o f su b sect i o n (a) o f Co d e Sect i o n

4 0 -6 -1 6 3

, Co d e Sect i o n s 4 0 -6 -3 9 0 t h ro u g h 4 0 -6 -3 9 1

, o r s ub s ect i o n (a)

o f Co d e Sect i o n 4 0 -6 -3 9 5 co m m i ts t h e o ffen s e o f h o m i ci d e b y v eh i cl e

i n t h e fi rs t d eg ree a n d

, u p o n co n v ict i o n t hereo f, s h al l b e p u n i s h ed b y

i m p ri s o n m en t fo r n o t l es s t h an t h ree y ears n o r m o re t h an 1 5 y ears

.

OCGA § 4 0 -6 -3 9 0 (a), t h e reck les s d ri v i n g s t at u t e, p ro v i d es : “ An y p ers on w h o d ri v es

an y v eh i cl e i n reck l es s di s r e g a r d fo r t h e s afet y of p ers o ns o r p ro p ert y co m m i t s t h e

o ffen s e o f reck l es s d ri v i ng .”

Og i l vi e p ro v i d es ad d it i o n al g u i d an ce i n o u r i n qu i ry i n to wh et h er OCGA § 4 0

-

6

- 3 9 0 (a) s et s o u t a s tri ct li ab i l i t y o ffen se o r p ro v i des o t h erwi s e. In a fo o t n o t e i t

p ro v id es ex am

p l es of o ffen ses i n t h e Un i fo rm Ru l es o f t h e Ro ad t h at “ are n o t s t ri ct

l i ab i l i t y offen s es bu t co n t ai n a s p eci fi c i n t en t o r fau l t el em en t .” O n e o f th o s e

—

ag g res s i v e d ri vi n g —

i s p art i cu l arl y

i n s t ru ct i v e.

So m e o ffen s es s et fo rt h i n Ch ap t er 6 are n o t s t r i ct l i ab i l i t y

o ffen s es b u t co n t ai n a sp eci fi c i n t en t or fau l t el em en t

. See, e.g

., OCGA

§ 4 0

– 6

– 1 0 (c) (“ A n y p ers o n wh o kn o wi n g ly m ak es a fal s e s t at em en t o r

cert i fi cat i on u n d er Co d e Sect i o n 4 0

– 5 –7 1 o r th i s Co d e sect i o n s h al l be

g u i l ty o f a m i s d em ean o r....”); OCGA § 4 0

– 6– 3 9 7 (a) (“ A p ers o n

3co m

m i t s t h e o ffen s e o f ag g res s i v e d ri v i n g w h en h e or s h e o p erat es an y

m o t o r v eh i cl e wi t h th e in t en t t o an n o y

, h aras s

, m ol es t

, i n ti m i d at e, i nju re,

o r o b s t ru ct an o th er pers on ....”). W e d o n o t ad d res s t h o s e o ffen s es in t h i s

o p i n i o n

.

Og i lvi e , 2 9 2 Ga. at 9 , n . 2

.

Un d er t h e pl ai n l an g u ag e o f t h e reck l es s d ri v i n g s t at ut e, l i k e t h e ag g res s i v e

d ri v i ng st at u t e, n o act i s s p eci fi ed

. On l y a sp eci fi c i n ten t of reck l es s n es s i s s p eci fi ed

b y t h e s t at u t e.

So co n t rary t o t h e ho l d i n g i n t h e m ajo ri t y o p i n i o n

, t h e reck les s d ri v in g an d t h e

fi rs t -d eg ree v eh i cu l ar h o m i ci d e p rem i s ed o n reck l es s d ri v i ng in t h is cas e are n o t s t ri ct

l i ab i l i t y offen s es becau se t h ey req u i re pro o f of t h e s p eci fi c in t e n t o f r eck l es s n es s

,

rat h er t h an ju st a g en eral cri m in al i n t en t

. Co n s eq uen t l y

, as t o t h o se o ffen s es

, I d i s s en t

fro m th e m ajo ri t y ’ s reas o n i n g t h at Ho l l ey was n o t en t i t l ed t o a ju ry ch arg e o n acci d en t

b ecau s e t h ey

were s t ri ct l i ab i l i ty

o ffen s es

.

Nev ert h el es s

, I ag ree wi t h t h e m ajo ri t y ’ s u l t i m at e h o l d ing tha t H olle y h as fai l ed

t o s h ow rev ers i b l e erro r b as ed o n th e t ri al co u rt ’ s refu s al t o gi ve a ju ry ch arg e o n t h e

d efen s e o f acci d en t

. Becau s e s h e d i d n o t p ro perl y p res erv e t h e i s s u e b el o w, we m u s t

an a l yz e t h i s is s u e u n d er t h e pl ai n erro r s t an d ard

. Th e req u es t was d i s cu s s ed at t h e

ch arg e co n feren ce, t h e t ri al co u rt ru l ed t h at an acci d en t ch arg e was n o t ap p ro p ri at e,

4an d Ho l ley d i d n o t o b ject t o t h at ru l i n g

. Fo l l o wi n g t h e co u rt ’ s fi n al ch arg e t o t h e ju ry

,

t h e co u rt as k ed i f th e r e were an y o b ject i o n s t o t h e ch arg e as g i v en

, an d Ho l l ey ’ s

co u ns el res p o n d ed

, “ N o

, y o ur honor

. ” U nde r the se c ir c um s tan ces ,”[b ] ecau s e [Ho l l ey ]

fai l ed t o o b

ject i n t h e t ri al co u rt

, t h i s [c] ou rt ca n o n l y r ev i ew h er cl ai m fo r p l ai n

erro r.” No r r i s v. S t at e

, 3 0 9 Ga. 1 1

, 1 3 (2 ) (8 4 3 SE2 d 8 37 ) (2 0 2 0 ). A cco rd Th o ma s v.

S t a t e

, 2 9 7 G a. 7 5 0

, 7 5 2-7 53 (2 ) (7 7 6 SE2 d 1 6 8 ) (2 0 1 5 ) (fai l u re t o o b ject t o refu s al

t o g i v e req u es t ed acci d en t ch arg e s u b ject t o p l ai n erro r rev i ew); Ro u en v. S t a t e

, 3 1 2

Ga. Ap p . 8 , 9 -1 1 (2 ) (7 1 7 SE2 d 5 1 9 ) (2 01 1 ) (s am e).

Un d er p l ai n erro r rev i ew, “ we m ay rev ers e o n l y

i f t he i n s t ru ct i o nal erro r was

n o t affi rm at i v el y wai v ed by t h e d efen d an t

, was o b v i o u s b ey o nd reas on ab le d i s p u t e,

l i kel y affect ed t h e o u t co m e o f t h e p ro ceed i ng s

, an d s eri o u s l y affe c t e d th e fai rn es s

,

i n t eg ri t y

, o r p ub l i c rep u t at i o n o f ju d i ci al p ro ceed in g s

. ” No rr i s

, s u p ra (ci t at i o n an d

p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ). Becau s e al l o f t h es e fact o rs h av e n ot b een m et i n th i s cas e, t h e

t ri al co u rt ’ s refu s al t o gi v e t h e req u es ted ch arg e o n acci d en t was n o t p l ai n erro r.

A n “ acci d en t d efen s e [u n d er OCGA § 1 6-2 -2 ] ap p l i es wh ere t h e ev i d e n c e

n eg at es t h e d efen d an t’ s cri m i n al i nt en t

, wh at ev er th at i n t en t el em en t i s fo r th e cri m e

at i s s u e.” Og i l vi e

, s up ra at 9 (2 ) (b ). Here, Ho l l ey h as fai l ed t o p o i n t t o an y ev i d en ce

n eg at i n g h er cri m i n al i n t en t o f reck l es s n es s

. “ T h e t ri al co u rt th erefo re was n ot

5req u i red t o g i v e an acci d en t i n s t ru ct i o n [.] ” Id

. at 1 1 -1 2 (2 ) (e). So t h ere h as b een n o

s h o wi n g o f p l ai n erro r m an d at in g a rev ers al o f t h e ju d g m en t b el o w.

6