FI RST DI VI SI ON

BA RNES, P. J.

, M CM I LLI A N and R EESE, 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

M ar ch 6, 2019



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 8 A1 78 2 . TRIPP v . THE STATE.

R E E S E
, J u d g e.

A ju ry fo u n d Ot i s T r i p p , J r., (“ t he Ap pel l an t ”) g u i l t y o f ag grav at ed ch i ld

m o les t at i o n , s ex u al b a t t e r y, ag g rav at ed s ex u al b at t ery , an d t wo co u n t s o f ch i ld

m o les t at i o n

. In t h e t h i rd ap p earan ce o f t h i s cas e b efo re t h i s Co u rt

, t h e Ap p el l an t

ap p eal s t h e d en ial o f h i s m o t i on fo r n ew t ri al

. Prev i o u s l y , t he St at e ap p eal ed t h e t ri al

co u rt ’ s g ran t o f t h e Ap p el lan t ’ s m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al

, wh i ch t hi s Co u rt vacat ed .” 1 W e

rem an d e d fo r th e t ri al co urt t o ad d res s a t hres h o ld ad m i s s i bi l i t y i s su e an d t h en reev al u at e t h e A p pel l an t’ s s ol e rem ai n i n g i n effect i v e as si s t an ce o f co u ns el arg u m en t

. 2

1 See S t a t e v. Tr i

p p , 3 3 4 Ga. Ap p

. XXVIII (No v em b er 1 7, 2 0 1 5 ) (u n p u b l i s h ed ).

2 Tr i p p , Cas e No . A1 5 A 10 0 3 at p . 1 5 (3 ).Up o n rem an d

, t h e t ri al co u rt d en i ed t h e Ap p el l an t ’ s m o t i o n fo r a new tri al

. Th e

Ap p el l an t t h en fi l ed a n ew ap p eal

, an d t h i s Co u rt rem an d ed fo r a s eco n d t i m e fo r t h e

t ri al co u rt t o co m

p l et e t h e reco rd to i n cl u d e th e t ran s cri p t of t he Ap ri l 2 6

, 2 0 1 6

m o ti o n fo r n ew t ri al h eari n g

. Up o n recei pt of t h e t ran s cri p t

, we re-d o ck et ed t h e

i n s t an t ap p eal . Fo r t h e reas o n s s et fo rt h i n fra, we affi rm

.

A d et ai l ed fact u al hi s to ry o f th i s cas e i s fo u n d i n t h e o p i n io n i n t h e fi rs t ap p eal

,

an d th e d o ct ri n e o f t h e l aw o f t h e cas e ap p l i es

. 3 T hu s , a b ri ef s u m m ary an d s u b s eq u en t

p ert i nen t p ro ced u ral h is t o ry fo ll o w.

In J u l y 2 0 0 8

, B. T .’ s s t ep m o th er q u es ti o n ed B. T

., th e 1 2-y ear-o l d dau g h t er o f

t h e Ap p el l an t

, ab ou t t h e s t ep m o t h er’ s su s p i ci on s co n cern i ng t h e Ap p el l an t ’ s

i n t eract i o n s wi t h B. T. 4 W h en B. T.’ s s t ep m o th er “ as k ed B. T. i f [t he A p p el l an t ] h ad

b een to u ch i n g h er, . . . B. T. s ai d y es .” 5

3 See La n g l a n d

s v. S t a t e , 2 8 2 Ga. 1 0 3, 1 0 4 (1 ) (6 4 6 SE2 d 2 5 3 ) (2 0 0 7 ) (Pu rs u an t t o t h e l aw o f t h e cas e ru l e s et fo rt h i n OCGA § 9 -1 1 -6 0 (h ), “ an y ru l i n g by

t h e Su p rem e Co u rt o r t h e Co u rt of Ap p eal s i n a cas e s h al l b e b i n d i n g i n al l

s u b s eq u en t p ro ceed i n g s i n t h at cas e i n t h e l o wer co u rt an d i n t h e Su p rem e Co u rt o r

t h e Co u rt o f Ap p eal s as t h e cas e m ay be. Th e ‘ l aw o f th e cas e’ d o ct ri n e i s n ot

co n fi n ed t o ci v il cas es , b u t ap p l i es al s o t o r u l i n g s m ad e b y ap p el l at e co u rt s in

cri m i n al cas es .”) (ci tat io n an d p u n ct u at io n o m i tt ed ).

4 See Tr i p p , Cas e No . A1 5 A1 0 0 3 at p p. 2 -3

.

5 Id . at p . 3 (p u n ct uat i o n o m i t t ed ).

2Th at s a m e n ig h t

, B. T. un d erwen t b ot h a fo ren si c i n terv i ew an d a p h y s i cal

ex am b y a Sex u al As s au l t Nu rs e Ex am i n er (“ S.A.N.E.”), d u ri n g w h i ch B. T. d i s cl osed

that t h e Ap pel lan t “ w o ul d ‘ F’ [h er]

. ’ ‘ 6 Th e Ap p el l an t “ es s en t i al l y co n f e sse d[ ] ” dur ing

h i s s u b seq u en t in terv i ew wi t h l aw en fo rcem en t

. 7 “ At tr i a l

, B. T.’ s o u t cry an d [t h e

Ap p el l an t ’ s] co n fes s io n were co rro b o rat ed b y t es t i m o n y an d p h o t o grap h i c ev i d en ce

fro m t h e m ed i cal ex am in at i o n b y t h e S.A.N.E. nu rs e, wh i ch fo u n d s ig n i fi can t i n ju ri es

co n si s t en t wi t h p en et rat i o n , t o B. T.’ s g en i t al ia.” 8 D u ri n g t ri al

, h owev er, B. T.

t es t i fi ed fo r th e defen s e an d “ recan t ed h er earl i er s t at em en t s[.] ” 9 B. T. t es t i fi ed t h at

s h e h ad l i ed “ b ecau s e sh e was m ad at h er f a t h e r fo r n o t l et t i n g her s ee h er real

m o th er.” 1 0

Aft er h i s c o n v i ct i o n , t h e Ap p el l an t fi l ed a m o t i o n fo r n ew tri al

, an d t h e t ri al

co u rt gran t ed i t bas ed p r i m a ri l y o n a fi n d i n g t hat h e h ad recei v ed i n effect i v e

6 Tr i p p , Cas e No . A1 5 A 10 0 3 at p . 3

.

7 Id

.

8 Id . at p . 4

.

9 Id

.

1 0 Id

.

3as s i s tan ce o f co u n s el

. 1 1 Th e St at e fi l ed an ap p eal t o t h i s Co u rt

. 1 2 Th i s Co u rt rev ers ed

t h e tri al co urt ’ s ru l i n g o n t wo of t h e t h ree i n effect i v e as s i s t an ce of co u ns el c l a i m s ,

v a c a t e d t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s ord er, an d rem an d ed t h e cas e fo r a d et erm i n at i o n as t o

wh et h er cert ai n ev i d en ce was ad m i ss i b le an d

, i f so , wh et her d e f e n s e c o u n s el was

i n effect i v e b as ed o n h i s fai l u re t o p res en t s uch ev i d en ce, an d t o re-co n s i d er i t s ru l i n g

o n th e g en eral g ro u n d s

. 1 3 On rem an d

, t h e t ri al co u rt co n d u ct ed a n o t h er h eari n g to

ad d res s th es e i s s u es

. On Au g u st 1

, 2 0 1 6

, t he t ri al co u rt en t ered an ord er den y i n g t h e

Ap p el l an t ’ s m o t io n , an d t h i s ap p eal fo l l o wed

.

It is wel l s et t l ed t h at

, t o p rev ai l o n a cl ai m o f i n effect iv e as s i s t an ce o f co u n s el

,

a cri m i n al d efen dan t m u s t sh o w t h at co u n sel ’ s p erf o r m a n ce w as

d efi ci en t an d t hat t h e d efi ci en t p erfo rm an ce s o p reju d i ced t h e cl i en t t hat

t h ere i s a reas o n ab le l ik el i h o od th at

, b u t f o r co u ns el ’ s erro rs , th e

1 1 See Tr i p p , Cas e No . A1 5 A1 0 0 3 at p . 4

.

1 2 See OCGA § 5 -7 -1 (a) (8 ) ( S t at e’ s ri g h t t o ap p eal fro m t h e gran t o f a d efen d an t ’ s m o t io n fo r n ew t ri al ).

1 3 See i d

. at p

. 1 5

, n

. 5

. Th i s Co u rt d id n o t ex pres s an o p i n io n as t o wh et h er t h e

t ri al c o u r t p r op erl y g ran t ed a n ew t ri al b as ed o n g en eral g ro un d s b ecau s e t h e t ri al

co u rt ’ s ori g i n al o rd er was p r e m i s ed on i t s ru l i n g o n t h e Ap p el l an t ’ s i n effect i v e

as s i s tan ce of co u n s el cl ai m s

. Sp eci fi cal l y , t he t ri al co u rt fo u nd t h at t he Ap p el l an t was d en ied t h e effect i v e as s is t an ce o f co u n sel fo r fai l i n g t o ch al l en g e t he St at e’ s ex p ert
wi t n es s an d fai l i n g t o cal l a wi t n es s t o co u n t er t h e t es t i m o n y o f t h e S.A.N.E. n u rs e. W e rev ers ed b ot h o f t h o s e co n cl u s i o n s i n o ur p rev i o u s o p i n i o n

.

4o 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 .[ 1 4 ] Th e c r i m i nal

d efen d an t m

u s t o v erco m e t he s t ro n g pres u m p ti o n t h at t ri al co u n s el ’ s

co n d u ct fal l s wi t h i n t h e b ro ad ran g e o f reas o n ab l e pro fes s i o n al co n d u ct

. [As t h e ap p el l at e co u rt

, we] accep t t h e t ri al co urt ’ s fact u al fi n d i n g s an d

cred ib i l i t y d et erm i n at i on s u n l e s s c l e a r l y e r r o n e o u s , b u t we

i n d ep en d en t l y

ap p ly t h e l eg al p ri n ci p l es t o t h e fact s

. 1 5

Bo t h p ro ng s o f t h e S tr i ckl an d t es t n eed n o t be p ro v en i f t he d efen dan t fai l s t o p ro v e

ei t h er o n e. 1 6 To m eet t h e b u rd en o f p ro v i n g t ri al co u n s el ’ s d efi ci en t p erfo rm an ce an d

res u l ti n g p reju d i ce, “ t he d efen d an t m u s t p res en t co m

p et en t ev i d en ce, wh ich u s u al l y

m e a n s t h at t he at t orn ey at i ss u e m u s t b e cal l ed t o t es t ify an d defen d ag ai n s t a n

1 4 S t r i ckl a n d v. W

a s h in gt o n , 4 6 6 U. S. 66 8 (1 0 4 SCt 2 0 52

, 8 0 L E 2 d 6 7 4 ) (1 9 8 4).

1 5 Ro b i n s o n v. S t at e , 2 7 7 G a

. 7 5

, 7 5 -7 6 (5 8 6 SE2 d 3 13 ) (2 0 0 3 ) (ad d i t i o n al

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

1 6 La j a r a v. S t a t e , 2 6 3 Ga. 4 3 8

, 4 40 (3 ) (4 35 SE2 d 6 0 0 ) (1 9 9 3 ) (“ A l th o u g h t h e Su p rem e Co u r t i n S t r ickl a n d d i scu s s ed t h e perfo rm an ce co m p o n en t pri o r t o t h e

p r e ju d i ce co m

p o n en t

, i t ack n o wl ed g ed t h at a co u rt ad d res s i n g t h e i n effect i v e

as s i s tan ce is s ue is n o t req u i red t o ap p ro ach t h e i n qu i ry in t h at o rd er o r ev en t o ad d res s b o t h co m p o n en t s i f t h e d efen dan t h as m ad e an i n s u ffi ci en t s h o wi n g o n o n e.”) (ci t i n g S t r i ckl a nd , 4 6 6 U. S. at 6 9 7 ).

5as s ert i o n t hat h i s p erfo rm an ce h ad b een d efi ci en t .” 1 7 “ T he l i k el i h o o d o f a d i fferen t

res u l t m u s t b e s u b s t an t i al , n o t ju s t co n cei v ab le.” 1 8

W i t h t h es e g ui di n g pri nci p l es i n m in d

, we t u rn no w t o t h e Ap p el l an t ’ s s p eci fi c

cl ai m s o f erro r.

1

. Th e Ap p el l an t arg u es th at h e recei v ed i n effect iv e as s i s tan ce o f co un s el wh en

t ri al co u n s el “ fu m

b l ed ” h i s at t em

p t t o p res en t t h i rd -p art y perp et rat o r ev i d en ce an d

fai l ed t o o b

ject t o t h e u s e o f l eg s h ack l es at t ri al . W e d i s ag ree.

(a) Fa i l u r e t o p r es en t evi d en ce o f a n a ll eg ed

t h ir d-p a r ty p er

p et r at o r

.

In o u r p r e v i o u s o p i n io n , we in s tru ct ed t h e t ri al co u rt t o “ d et erm i ne wh et h er

d efen s e co u n s el was i n effect i v e b as ed o n l y o n t h e fai l u re t o p res en t ev i d en ce o f B. T.

i n b ed wi t h t h e s t e p m o t her’ s b ro t h er,” an ad u l t m al e. 1 9 At t h e t i m e o f t ri al

, d efen s e

1 7 Del eva n v. S t a t e , 34 5 Ga. Ap p

. 4 6, 49 -5 0 (1 ) (8 1 1 SE2 d 71 ) (2 01 8 ) (fo o t n o t e

o m it t ed ); s ee Jo nes v. St a t e , 2 7 9 Ga. 8 5 4

, 8 5 5 (2 ) (6 2 2 SE2 d 1 ) (2 0 0 5 ) (Defen d an t
al l eg ed h e recei v ed i n effect iv e as s i s t an ce o f co u n s el

, y et di d n o t cal l h is t ri al co u n s el

t o t es t i fy at t h e h eari n g o n m o ti o n fo r n ew t ri al . To p rev ai l , d efen d an t was req u i red

t o “ reb ut b y cl ear an d co n v i n ci n g ev i d en ce t he s t ro n g p res u m p t i o n t h at h i s at t o rn ey

w a s e f f e c t i v e. Ho wev er,

. . . wi t h o u t [co u ns el ’ s ] t es t i m o n y , i t is ex t rem el y d i ffi cu l t

t o o v erco m e t h i s p res u m

p t i o n.”) (ci t at i o ns an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ).

1 8 Hi l l v. S t a te

, 2 9 1 Ga. 1 6 0

, 1 64 (4 ) (7 2 8 SE2 d 2 25 ) (2 01 2 ) (ci t at i o n an d

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

1 9 Tr i p p , Cas e No

. , A1 5 A1 0 0 3 at p . 1 5 (3 ) (em ph as i s o m i t t ed ).

6co u ns el no t i fi ed th e t ri al co u rt t h a t h e co u l d p res en t t w o o r t h ree wi t n es s es t h at

,

wi t h i n t h e l as t y ear, “ B. T. was s een i n b ed wi t h h er s t ep m ot h er’ s b ro t h er, wh o h ad

en t ered a fi rs t -o ffen d er g ui lt y p l e a t o s t at u t o ry rap e o f s o m eo n e o t h er th an B. T.” 2 0

Up o n t h e St at e’ s m o t i o n t o ex cl u d e t hi s ev i d en ce, t h e t ri al co urt h eard arg u m en t fro m

b o t h p art i e s a n d g ran t ed t h e St at e’ s m o ti o n , s tat i n g th at i t m ay rev i s i t t h e i s s u e i f a

t es t i fy i ng wi t n es s “ o p en ed th e d o o r t o t h e ad m i s s i o n o f s u ch ev i d en ce.” 2 1 T h e t ri al

co u rt d i d n o t al t er i t s ru l in g b ecau s e t h ere was n o d i re c t e v i d e n c e p res en t ed t h at

l i nk ed t h e act i o n s o f t h e s t ep m o t h er’ s b ro t h er t o B. T.’ s i n ju ri es

. 2 2

At t h e m o t io n fo r n ew t ri al h eari ng , t h e A p p el l an t ’ s m o t h e r t e s t i fi ed t h at s h e

wi t n es s ed t h e s t ep m o t h er’ s b ro t h er i n b ed w i t h B. T

. i n t h e week s pri o r t o t h e

Ap p el l an t ’ s arres t

. 2 3 Al t h ou g h d efen s e co u ns el co u l d n o t rem em b er wh y h e d i d n ot

cal l t h e Ap p el lan t ’ s m o th er t o t e s t i f y a t t ri al

, “ [h ] e t h ou g h t sh e m i g h t h av e b een

n erv o u s , d i d n o t wan t to t es t i fy

, o r t h at h er t es t i m o ny m ay n o t h av e b een h el p fu l .” 2 4

2 0 Id . at p. 1 3 (3 ).

2 1 Id

.

2 2 Id . at pp . 1 3 -1 4 (3 ).

2 3 See Tr i p p , Cas e No ., A1 5 A 1 0 0 3 at p . 1 4 (3 ).

2 4 Id . at p. 1 4 (3 ).

7On rem an d

, t h e t ri al co u rt h el d t h at al t h o u g h it w a s “ u n u s u al ” t h at t h e

Ap p el l an t ’ s m ot h er h ad s een B. T. an d t h e s t ep m o t h er’ s b ro t h er i n b ed “ t wi ce i n t h e

week s p ri o r t o t h e arres t o f [t h e Ap p el l an t ]

, [s h e] o ffered n o t es t i m o n y t h at t here was

an y i nap p ro p ri at e ph y s i cal co n t act o f a s ex u al n at ure b et ween [ t h e s t e p m o t h er’ s

b ro t h er] an d [B. T

. ]. ” F u rt h er, t h e tri al co u rt n o ted t h at

, al th o ug h t he Ap p el l an t ’ s

m o th er i n fo rm ed d efen s e co u n s el t h at sh e saw th e t wo i n b ed t o g et h er, s h e was n ot

cal l ed t o t es t i f

y, “ [ d efen se co u n s el ] t es t ifi ed s o m e o f t h e fam i l y m em b ers were

wo rri ed ab o u t tes ti fy in g at t ri al an d t hat [t h e Ap p el l an t ’ s m o th er] h ad b een n erv ou s

ab o ut t es t i fy in g.”

Al s o , t h e t ri al co u rt s t at ed t h at “ i t h a[d ] n ev er b een p res en t ed wi t h an y ev i d en ce

(ei t h er b efo re t ri al

, du ri n g t ri al [,] o r d u ri n g an y o f t h e p os t -t ri al h eari n g s ) t h at [B. T.]

h a[d ] ev er n am ed [t h e st ep m o t h er’ s b ro t h er] o r an y o ne o t h er th an [t h e Ap p el l an t ] as

t o u ch i n g h er i nap p r o p r i a t e l y o r h av i n g an y p h y s i cal co n t act w i t h her o f a s ex u al

n at u re.” Th e t ri al co u rt u l t i m at el y ru l ed t h at t h e Ap p el l an t ’ s m o t h er’ s t es ti m o n y was

i n ad m is s i b le, fi n d i n g t h at ev i d en ce t h at s h e m erel y o b serv ed th e s t ep m ot h er’ s b ro t h er

an d B. T. “ u n d er t h e co v er s o f a b ed t w o t i m es , wi t h ou t m o re, wo u l d b e l eg al l y

8i n s u ffi ci en t [b ecau s e i t ] w as t o o s p ecu l at i v e an d co n ject ural [.] ” 2 5 Th e t ri al co u rt ci t ed

t o Ki d d v. S t a te 2 6 an d Do d

d v. S t a t e 2 7 as au t h ori t y

.

Th e Ap p el l an t arg u es t hat t h e Ap p el l an t ’ s m o th er’ s t es ti m o n y was ad m i s s i b l e

u n d er t he “ s o u rce of t h e i n j u r y” an al y s i s , as s et fo rt h in Ti d wel l v. S t at e

. 2 8 Th i s

arg u m en t i s u n av ai l i ng

.

Fo rm er O CGA § 2 4 -2 -3 (a), t h e Rap e Sh i el d St at u t e ap p l i cab l e at t he t i m e o f

t ri al

, 2 9 s t at ed i n p art

,

2 5 Th e reco rd s h o ws t h at u p o n rem an d

, th e t ri al co u rt i s su ed an o rd er d en y i n g

t h e Ap p el l an t ’ s m o ti o n fo r new t ri al o n sev eral g ro u nd s

. Sp eci fi cal l y , t h e Ap p el l an t

arg u ed

, i nt er al i a, t h a t t h e t ri al co u rt erred fi nd i n g t h at d efen s e co un s el ’ s fai l u re to

o b ject t o t he Ap p el l an t weari n g l eg s h ack les at t ri al d id n o t am o u n t t o i n effect i v e

as s i s tan ce o f co u n s el ; an d t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n d en y i n g h i s m o t i o n fo r a d i rect ed v erd i ct fo r t h e rem ov al o f a ju ro r fo r m i s co n d u ct

.

2 6 2 5 7 Ga. Ap p . 7 4 4 (5 7 2 SE2 d 8 0 ) (2 0 0 2 ).

2 7 2 9 3 Ga. Ap p . 8 1 6 (6 6 8 SE2 d 3 1 1 ) (2 0 0 8 ).

2 8 3 0 6 Ga. Ap p . 3 0 7 (7 0 1 SE2 d 9 2 0 ) (2 0 1 0 ).

2 9 Th e Ap pel l an t was t ri ed i n Sep t em b er 2 00 9

, b efo re Geo rg i a’ s n ew Ev i d en ce Co d e to o k effect i n 2 0 1 3

. Th e cu rren t Rap e Sh i el d St at u t e i s co d i fi ed at OCGA § 2 4

- 4 -4 1 2. See Al

g r en v. S t a t e , 3 3 0 Ga. Ap p

. 1

, 7 (3 ) (7 6 4 SE2 d 6 1 1 ) (2 0 1 4 ) (“ [T] h e

rev i s io n of t he Geo rg i a Rap e Sh i el d St at u t e i n cl u d ed on l y m in i m al ch an g es an d l eft

t h e f o r m e r v ers i o n o f th e s t at ut e l arg el y u n t o uch ed .”) (fo o t n o t e o m i t t ed ); s ee al s o Da vi s v. St a t e , 3 2 9 G a. Ap p

. 7 97

, 8 03 (3 ) (a), n

. 7 (7 6 4 SE2 d 58 8 ) (2 01 4 ) (“ Effect i v e J an u ary 1 , 2 0 1 3

, t h e Rap e Sh i el d St at u t e i s co d i fi ed at OCGA § 2 4 -4 -4 1 2 .”).

9In an y p ro s ecu t i on fo r a v i o lat i o n of . . . Co d e Sect i o n 1 6 -6 -4

, rel at i n g

t o ag g rav at ed ch i l d m o l es t at i o n ; or Co d e Sect io n 1 6 -6 -2 2 .2

, rel at i n g t o

ag g rav at ed s ex u al b at t ery , ev i d en ce rel at i n g to t h e p as t s ex u al b eh av i o r

o f t h e co m

p l ai ni ng w i t nes s s h al l n o t b e ad m i s s i b l e, ei th er as d i r e c t

ev i d en ce o r o n cro ss -ex am i n at i o n o f t h e c om p l ai n i n g wi t n es s o r o t h er

wi t n es s es , ex cep t as p ro v i d ed i n t h i s Co de s ect i o n. Fo r t h e p u rp o s es o f

t h i s Co d e s ect i o n , ev i d en ce o f p as t s ex u al b eh av i o r in cl ud es , b u t is n o t

l i m i t ed t o , ev i d en ce o f t h e co m p l ai n i n g wi t n es s’ s m ari t al h i s t o ry , m o de

o f d r es s , g en eral rep u t at i o n fo r p ro m i s cu i t y , no n ch as t i t y , o r s ex ual

m o res co n t rary t o t h e co m m u n i t y s t an d ard s

. 3 0

In Ti d wel l

, fo ll o wi n g a ju ry t ri al

, t h e d e f e n d an t was co n vi ct ed o f ch i ld

m o les t at i o n

. 3 1 He ap p eal ed h i s co n vi ct i on s , arg u i n g , i n t er al i a, th at t h e t ri al co u rt

erred in ex cl u d i n g ev i d en ce t h at t h e 1 5 -y ear-o l d v i ct i m h ad been h av i n g s ex wi t h h er

b o y fri en d

, t h ereb y ex p lai n i n g t h e St at e’ s ev i den ce t hat “ t h e v ict i m ’ s h y m en h ad b een

p en et rat ed

. ” 3 2 Th is Co u rt ru l ed t h at t h e ev i d en ce o f t h e ch an g es i n t h e v ict i m ’ s h y m en

were ad m i s s i b l e, u n d er an ex cep t i on t o t h e fo rm er Rap e Sh i el d St at u te, 3 3 b ecau s e t h e

3 0 Tu r n er v. S t a t e , 3 1 2 Ga. Ap p

. 3 1 5, 3 1 7 -3 1 8 (1 ) (7 1 8 SE2 d 5 4 5 ) (2 0 1 1 ) (ci t i n g fo rm er OCGA § 2 4-2 -3 (a)) (p u n ct u at io n o m i tt ed ).

3 1 Ti d wel l , 3 0 6 Ga. Ap p. at 3 07

.

3 2 Id

.

3 3 See fo rm er OCGA § 2 4 -2 -3 (b ).

10ev i d en ce was rel ev an t t o an i s s ue o t her th an co ns en t

. 3 4 Ho wev er, t h e Su prem e Co u rt

o f Geo rg i a recen t l y h el d t h at “ cas es p u rp o rt in g t o al lo w a rel ev an ce ex cep t i o n t o t h e

Rap e Sh i el d St at u t e fo r th e ad m i s s io n i n t o ev id en ce o f a co m p l ai n i ng wi t n es s ’ s p as t

s ex u al b eh av i o r b ey o n d t h at co n t ai n ed in [t h e St at u t e] a r e h e r e b y o v erru led t o t h e

ex t en t t h at t h ey

d o s o .” 3 5

It i s wel l s et t led t h a t

, f o r a cri m i nal defen d an t t o i n tro d u ce ev i d en ce to

i m p l i cat e a t h i rd p art y

fo r a cri m e fo r wh i ch t h e d efen d an t i s b ei n g t ri ed

,

t h e p ro ffered ev id en ce m u s t rai s e a reas on ab le i n feren ce o f th e

d efen d an t ’ s i n n o cen ce an d i t m u s t d i rect l y co nn ect t h e o t h er p ers on w i t h

t h e co rp u s d el i ct i o r s h o w t h at t he ot h er p ers o n h as recen t l y co m m i t ted

a cri m e o f t h e s am e o r s i m i l ar n at u re.

. . . Ev i d en ce t h at m erel y cas t s a

b are s u s p i ci o n on an o t h er o r rai s es a co nject u ral i n fer e n c e a s t o th e

co m m i s s i o n of t h e cri m e b y an o t h er i s n o t ad m i s s i b l e. 3 6

3 4 See Ti d wel l , 3 0 6 Ga. Ap p . at 3 1 2 -3 1 3 (5 ).

3 5 W h i t e v. St at e ,

_

_ Ga.

__ (2 ) (_

_ SE2 d

_ _ ) (Cas e N o

. S1 8 G0 3 6 5 at pp

. 1 3 -1 4 (2 )) (Feb ru ary 4

, 2 0 1 9 ) (ci t i n g OCGA § 2 4 -4 -4 1 2 ( b ) ) (Sp eci fi cal ly o v erru l ed

Ti d wel l , 3 0 6 Ga. Ap p . at 3 0 7 (5 )) (fo o t n o t e o m it t ed ).

3 6 Do d d v. S t a t e , 2 9 3 Ga. Ap p

. 8 16

, 81 9 (1 ) (6 6 8 SE2 d 3 1 1 ) (2 00 8 ) (ci t at i on s

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

11Ho w ev er, i n t hi s cas e, B. T. n ev er i d en ti fi ed an y o n e, o t h er t h an t h e A p p el lan t

, wh o

h ad t o u ch ed h er i n a s e xu al n at u re. 3 7 Im p o rt an t l y , ev en if t h e Ap p el l an t ’ s m o t h er

t es t i fi ed t h at s h e s aw B. T

. i n b ed wi t h t h e s t ep m o t h er’ s b ro t h er, b ecau se sh e d i d n ot

wi t n es s an y s ex u al act i v i t y bet ween t h e t wo , her t es t i m o n y wo u l d h a v e b e e n

i n s u ffi ci en t t o s h o w act ual s ex u al ab u s e b y a th i rd p art y

. 3 8 In s t ead

, t h e A p p e l l an t ’ s

m o th er’ s t es ti m o n y was s p ecu l at i v e as t o t h e st ep m o t h er’ s b ro t h er’ s i nt eract i o n s wi th

B. T. 3 9

3 7 See W

h i t e ,

_ _ Ga. at

_ _ (2 ), n

. 8 (Fo r t ri al s t h at beg an b efo re t h e J an u ary 1,

2 0 1 3 am en d m en t t o t h e Rap e Sh i el d St at u te, “ [t ] o t h e ex ten t t h at [p ri o r ch i ld

m o les t at i o n ] cas es an d t h ei r p ro g en y can be read t o s u p p ort th e erro n eo u s p ro p o s i t i o n

t h at ev i d en ce o f a v i ct i m ’ s p as t s ex u al b eh av i o r co u l d b e ad m i s s ib l e u nd er th e Rap e Sh i el d St at u t e if rel ev an t t o an is s u e o t h er th an co n s en t

, th ey are h ereb y ov erru l ed .”) (ci t at i o n s o m i t t ed ).

3 8 See Ki d d

, 2 5 7 Ga. A p p. at 7 4 5 (2 ) (b ) (“ [A] t h i rd -p art y co n v i ct i o n fo r ch i ld

m o les t at i o n i s n o t d i rect ev i d en ce o f an al t ern at i v e ex p lan at i on fo r t h e v i ct i m ’ s cl ai m s

o f ch il d m o l es t at i o n [, an d i t d o es n o t ] l es s en [t h e defen d an t ’ s ] cu l pab i l i t y wi t h reg ard

t o [t he m i n o r v i ct i m ’ s ] as s ert io n s ag ai ns t hi m

. . . . It is wel l es t ab l i s h ed t h at ev i d en ce

o f a p ri o r u n rel at ed m o l es t at i o n g en eral l y i s n o t ad m i s s i b l e.”) (p u n ct u at i o n an d

fo o t n o t e o m i tt ed ).

3 9 See D o dd

, 2 9 3 Ga. Ap p

. a t 8 1 9 (1 ) (Affi rm ed t ri al co u rt ’ s ex cl u s i o n o f an al l eg ed th i rd -p art y p erp et rat o r’ s cri m i n al co n v ict i on s s o u g h t b y d efen d an t to
i m p l i cat e h i m fo r t h e co m

m is s i o n o f t h e ch il d m o l es tat i o n cri m es fo r wh i ch d efen d an t

was b ei n g t ri ed

. ); Ki d

d

, 2 57 Ga. Ap p

. at 7 4 5 (2 ) (b ) (Defen d an t fai l ed t o es t ab l i s h a fo u n dat i o n fo r ad m i s s i on of a n ei g h b o r’ s t h ird -p art y co n v i ct io n fo r ch i l d m o l es t at i o n

ag ai n s t a d i fferen t v i ct i m t o s h o w t h e n ei g hb o r’ s i n teract i o n s wi th t h e m i n o r v i ct i m .).

12“ [A] s a g en eral ru l e, m at t ers o f reas o n ab l e tri al s trat eg y an d t act i cs d o n o t

am ou n t t o i n effect i v e as s i s t an ce o f co u n s el .” 4 0 D efen se co u n s el t es ti fi ed at t h e m o t i o n

f o r n ew t ri al h eari ng t hat

, “ [t h e A p p el lan t ’ s] paren t s were real ly n erv o u s ab o u t

t es t i fy i ng , . . . t he i m

p res s i o n I t h i n k I h ad

, . . . o ne of t h em di dn ’ t wan t to t es t i fy

, t h ey

were afrai d t o t es t i fy .” Defen s e co u n s el fu rt h er av erred t h at “ aft er t h e t ap es cam e o ut

[, t h e Ap p el l an t ’ s fat h er] had s ai d s o m e t h i n g s h e p ro b ab l y di d n’ t n eed to s ay t o h i s

s o n o n t he p h o n e [

, ] I w a s real l y l eary ab ou t u s i n g t h e fam i l y m em b ers [.] ” Defen s e

co u ns el al s o t es t i fi ed t h at t h e t ap ed j ai l co n ver s a t i o n s were “ s o m ewh at

i n cri m i nat i n g

. ” T h e ab o v e t es t i m on y s h o w s t h at d efen s e co u n s el m ad e a s t rat eg i c

ch o ice n o t t o cal l t h e Ap p el l an t ’ s p aren t s t o tes t ify

, reas o n i n g t h at th ey were n erv ou s

an d afrai d an d h e th o u g ht t h at so m e o f t h e t ap ed jai l co n v ers at i o n s were u n fav o rab l e

t o t he Ap p el l an t ’ s d efen s e.

Bas ed o n t h e s p ecu l at i ve t es ti m o n y o f t h e A p p el l an t ’ s m o t h er as t o t h e

i n t eract i o n s b et ween B. T

. an d th e s t ep m o t h er’ s b ro th er, as wel l as t h e t ri al co u n sel ’ s

s t rat eg i c d eci s i o n n o t t o cal l v ari o u s fam i ly m em b ers to t es t i fy d u ri n g t ri al

, we

co n cl u d e t hat th e Ap p el l an t h as n o t s h o wn t h ere is reas o n ab l e l i k el i h o o d t h at t h e

4 0 W h o r t o n v. S t a t e , 31 8 Ga. Ap p

. 8 85

, 8 9 2 (4 ) (b ) (7 3 5 SE2 d 7 ) (2 0 1 2 ) (p u n ct u at i o n an d fo o t n o t e o m i t t ed ).

13o u t co m e o f t h e t ri al wo u l d h av e b e e n d i fferen t i f t ri al co u n s el h ad o ffered t h e

t es t i m o ny o f t h e Ap p el l an t ’ s m o t h er. 4 1

(b ) Fa i l u r e t o ob

j ect t o t he u s e o

f l eg s ha ckl es

.

Th e Ap p el l an t al s o co n t en d s t h at h e recei v ed i n effect i ve as s i s t an ce o f co u n s el

b ecau s e d efen s e co un s el d i d n o t o b ject to t h e u s e o f l eg s h ack l es d u ri n g tri al

. W e fi n d

n o rev ers i b l e erro r.

“ W h ere, as here, t h e i s s u e i s t h e i n effect i v e as s i s tan ce o f t ri al co u n sel in fai l i n g

t o o b ject t o s ecu ri t y m eas u res , [t h e d efen d an t] i s en t it l ed t o rel i ef o nl y i f h e can s h o w

t h at t h ere i s a reas on ab l e p ro b ab i l i ty t h at t h e s ecu ri t y m eas u res affect ed th e o u t co m e

o f t h e t ri al .” 4 2 O n rem an d

, t he t ri al co u rt i s s u ed a n ew ord er d en y in g t h e Ap p el l an t ’ s

m o ti o n fo r a n ew t ri al , s tat i n g i n p art

,

[t ] h e re were secu ri ty reas o n s o u t l i n ed b y t h e s h eri ff’ s d ep art m en t fo r

h av i ng [t h e Ap p el l an t ] i n an k l e res t rai n t s d u ri n g t h e t ri al

. Th e ju ry w as

4 1 See R o u s e v. St a t e , 2 9 0 Ga. Ap p

. 7 4 0

, 7 4 4-7 4 5 (3 ) (a) (6 60 SE2 d 4 7 6 ) (2 0 0 8 ) (Defen s e co u n sel ’ s ex p l an at i o n t h at h e d i d n o t cal l t h e d efen d an t ’ s p aren t s to t es t i fy

i n a m u l ti -co u n t ch i ld m o l es t at io n cas e b ecau s e, i nt er al i a, h e d i d n o t fi n d th em t o b e

p ers u as i v e wi t n es s es

. ); s ee al s o S a rr a t t v. S ta t e , 2 9 9 Ga. Ap p

. 5 6 8

, 57 0 (2 ) (a) (6 8 3

SE2 d 1 0 ) (2 0 09 ) (“ Th e d et erm i n at io n as t o wh i ch d efen s e wi t n es ses wi l l be cal l ed i s

a m at t er o f t ri al s t rat eg y

an d t act i cs .”) (p u n ct u at i o n an d fo o t n o t e o m i tt ed ).

4 2 Da vi s v. S t a t e , 3 0 9 Ga. Ap p. 8 3 1, 8 34 (2 ) ( 7 1 1 SE2 d 32 4 ) (2 0 1 1 ) (ci t at i o n

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

14co m

p let el y u n aware o f t h es e s ecu ri t y m eas u res

. Al l t ab l e s i n th e

co u rt ro om h a v e t a b l e to fl o o r o p aq u e d rap es

. Th e wi t n es s b o x h as an

o p aq u e v an i t y p an el

. No o n e s eat ed at an y co u n s el t ab le o r o n t h e

wi t n e s s s t an d can b e ob s erv ed b el o w t h e m i d -ch es t/ t ors o area. [Th e Ap p el l an t ] was n ev er m o v ed i n , o u t [,] o r aro u n d t h e c o u rt ro o m wh en

an y ju ro rs were p res en t

.

Pri o r t o t ri al an d o u t s i d e t h e p res en ce o f t h e ju ry , t he fo l l owi n g co l l o qu y en s u ed :

[COURT] : [Th e Ap p el l an t ] i s weari n g l eg res t rai n t s

. [APPELLANT] : Yes , s i r.
[COURT] : [Th e Ap p el l an t] i s weari n g l eg res t rai n t s as w e d o i n al l

fel o n y t ri al s i n t h i s co u rt ro o m wh ere a pers o n i s b ro ug h t fro m t h e jai l fo r

s ecu ri t y reas on s

. [APPELLANT] : Yes , s i r.

W h en q u es t io n ed at t h e m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al h eari n g ab o u t t h e u s e o f l e g s h a c k l es ,

t ri al co u n s el t es ti fi ed t h at h e d i d n o t

b el i ev e [t h e Ap p el l an t ] was ev er s een b y t h e ju ry t o h av e l eg s h ack l es ,

s o I t h o u g h t t h e p ro t ect i o n was ad eq u at e b ecau s e

. . . t h ere w as n o way

t h at y o u were g o i ng t o s ee t h ro u g h t h os e cu rt ai ns

. Th ey wen t al l t h e way

t o t h e fl oo r an d

. . . wh at ev e r c o l o r m at eri al t h ey were, I co u l dn ’ t s ee

t h ro ug h i t

. So

, I di d n ’ t t h i n k t h at m y cl i en t was b ei n g p reju di ced b y

h av i ng l eg s h ack l es o n b ecau s e o f t h e s afeg u ard s t h at were p u t i n p l ace.

15Tri al co u ns el fu rt h er tes ti fi ed t h at h e d i d n o t h ear an y “ l o ud cl an g i n g o f an y k i n d t h at

was n ot i ceab le” d uri ng t h e fi v e-d ay t ri al

. Al s o , t ri al co u ns el t es t i fi ed th at h e s p o k e to

t h e Ap pel l an t at l en g t h ab o u t w h e t h e r h e wan ted to t es t i fy

, t h at t he Ap p el l an t was

“ i n ti m id at ed by t h e i d ea o f t es t i fy i n g [,] ” an d t h at “ h e defi n i t el y d i d no t wan t t o t es ti fy

,

t h ere was n o d o u b t ab o ut t h at . It was n o t b ecau s e o f t h e l eg s h ack les .”

Th e Ap p el l an t h as n o t sh o wn t h at h ad h e n o t wo rn th e l eg res t rai n ts

, t here was

a reas o n ab le p ro b ab i l i t y t hat t h e o u t co m e of t h i s t ri al wo u ld h a v e b e en d ifferen t

. 4 3

Th e t ri al co u rt d i d n ot err i n d en y in g t h i s cl ai m o f erro r. 4 4

2

. Th e A p p e l l a n t as s ert s t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n d en y i n g a m is t ri al aft er

rem o v in g a ju ro r fo r m i s co n d u ct . W e d is ag ree.

OCGA § 1 5 -1 2 -1 7 2 s t at es i n p art

,

If at an y t i m e, w h et h er b efo re o r aft er fi n al s u b m i s s i o n of t h e cas e

t o th e j u ry , a ju ro r d ies

, b eco m es i l l

, up o n o t h er g o o d cau s e s h o w n to th e

co u rt i s fo un d t o b e u n ab le t o perfo rm h i s d ut y , o r i s d is ch arg ed fo r o t h er

l eg al cau s e, t h e fi rs t al t ern at e ju ro r s hal l t ak e th e p l ace o f t h e fi rs t ju ro r

b eco m i n g in cap aci tat ed

. Fu rt h er rep l acem en t s s h al l b e m ad e in s i m i l ar

4 3 S c h a f f v. S t a te

, 2 7 5 Ga. A p p

. 6 42

, 6 4 3 (2 ) (a) (6 2 1 SE2 d 5 9 5 ) (2 0 0 5 ) ( “ F a i l u re t o rai s e a m eri tl es s o b ject i o n can n o t co n s ti t u t e i n effect iv e as s i st an ce o f

co u ns el .”) (ci t at io n s an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ).

4 4 Id

.

16n u m eri cal s eq u en ce pro v i d ed t h e al t ern at e ju ro rs h a v e n o t b een

d i s ch arg ed

. An al t ern at e ju ro r t ak i n g t h e p l ace o f an y i n cap aci t at ed ju ro r

s h al l t h ereaft er b e d eem ed t o b e a m em b er of t h e j u ry o f 1 2 a n d sh al l

h av e fu l l p o wer t o t ak e p art i n t h e d el ib erat i o n s o f t h e ju ry an d th e

fi nd in g o f t h e v erd i ct

.

Fu rt h erm o re, a t ri al co u rt h as t he d i s cret i o n t o rep l ace a ju ro r:

Th ere i s a p r e s u m

p t i o n o f p reju di ce t o t h e d efen d an t wh en an

i rreg u l ari t y

i n t h e co n d u ct o f a ju ro r i s s ho wn an d t h e b urd en i s o n th e

p ro s ecu t i on to p ro v e b ey o n d a reas o n ab l e d o u b t t h at n o h arm h as

o ccu rred

. Ho wev er, we h av e al s o reco g ni zed t h at s om e i rreg u l ari t i es are

i n co ns eq u en ti al

. Th e d eci s i o n wh et h er to rem o v e a j u ro r fro m a p an el

l i es wi t h in t h e s o u n d di s cret i on o f th e t ri al co urt an d w i l l n ot be

o v ert u rn ed ab s en t an ab u s e o f t h at d i scret i o n

. 4 5

Here, th e tri al co u rt recei v ed n o t i fi cat i o n at th e en d o f th e t h i rd d ay of t ri al t h at

a ju ro r h a d m ad e co m

m en t s t o o th er ju ro rs co ncern i n g t h e cas e t hat s ug g es t ed t h e

ju ro r h ad a l r e a d y c o n cl u d ed t h at t h e Ap p el l an t was g u i l t y

. Th e n ex t d ay b efo re

reco m m en ci n g t he t ri al

, t h e t ri al co u rt q u es t io n ed each ju ro r an d th e t wo al t ern at es

ab o ut t h e co m

m en t s , o ut s id e o f t h e p res en ce o f th e o th er rem ai ni n g ju ro rs

. Aft er t h e

q u es ti o n i n g , t h e t ri al co u rt rem ov ed o n e ju ro r fo r m ak in g “ n eg at iv e co m m en t s [,] ” an d

4 5 To l b er t v. S t a t e , 3 00 G a. Ap p. 5 1

, 53 (2 ) (6 8 4 SE2 d 1 2 0 ) (2 00 9 ) (ci t at i o n an d

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

17rep l aced h i m wi t h an al t ern at e j u ro r. Defen s e co u n s el m o v ed fo r a m i s t ri al

, wh i ch t h e

t ri al co u rt d en i ed

. Aft er rem an d b y t h i s Co u rt

, t he t ri al co urt i s s u ed an o rd er d en y i n g

t h e Ap pel l an t’ s m o t i o n fo r n ew t r i al o n t h is g ro u nd s tat i n g , t h at t h e t ri al co u rt h ad

“ [recei v ed ] n o q u es t i o n ab l e res p o n s es [fro m t h e rem ai n i n g ju ro rs an d h ad ] al l o wed

t h e t ri al t o co n ti n u e.”

It i s u n d i sp u t ed t h a t b o t h p art i es ag reed wi t h t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s d eci s i o n to

q u es ti o n each of t h e ju ro rs i n di v i d u al l y , u n d er o at h

, an d to al l o w each o f t h e p art i es

“ l i m i t ed o p p o rt u n i t y ” t o q u es t io n t h e ju ro rs

. T h e t ri al co urt q u es t i o n ed each ju ro r as

t o wh et h er h e o r s h e had hear d t h e r em ark s , an d wh et h er h e o r s h e p o s s es s ed a

p reco n cep t i o n o f gu i l t

, i nn o cen ce, o r b i as t o ward t h e Ap p el l an t

. Aft er i d en t ify i n g t h e

ju ro r wh o m ad e t he rem ark s at i s s u e, t h e t ri al co u rt p ro m pt l y rem o v ed hi m

. Th e t ri al

co u rt ru l ed

, h o wev er, t h at a m i s t ri al was n o t req u i red b ecau s e t h e j u ro r’ s co m m en t s

“ [d id n o t ] g o t o t h e m eri t s o f t he cas e, t h e b el i ev ab i l i t y o f t h e wi t n es s es , t h e wei g ht

an d cred it t o g iv e t he wi t n es s es , t h e ev i d en ce o r an y t h in g el s e.”

Bas ed on t h e fo reg o in g, t h e t ri al co u rt d i d n o t ab u se i t s d is cret i o n i n d en y i n g

t h e Ap p el l an t ’ s m o t i on fo r m i s t ri al o n t h e b as i s o f ju ro r m i s co n d uct

. 4 6

4 6 See To l b er t , 3 0 0 Ga. Ap p

. at 5 4 -5 5 (2 ).

183

. Th e Ap p el l an t as s ert s t h at t h e t ri al co u rt ab us ed i t s d i s cret i o n i n den y i n g a

n ew t ri al o n g en eral g ro u n ds . W e d i s ag ree.

It is wel l s et t l ed t h at

,

[e] v en wh en t h e ev i d en ce i s l eg al ly s u ffi ci en t t o s u s t ai n a co nv i ct i o n , a

t ri al ju d g e m ay gran t a n ew t ri al i f t h e v erd ict o f t h e ju ry i s co n t rary t o

t h e p ri n ci pl es of ju s t i ce an d eq u i t y ,[ 4 7 ] o r i f t h e v erd ict i s d eci d ed l y an d

s t ro n g l y ag ai n s t th e wei g h t o f t h e ev i d en ce.[ 4 8 ] W h en p ro perl y rai s ed i n

a t i m el y m o t i o n , th es e g ro u n d s fo r a n ew t ri al

— co m m o n l y kn o w n as

t h e g en eral gro un d s

— req u i re t he t ri al ju dg e t o e x erci s e a b ro ad

d i s cret i o n t o s i t as a “ t h i rt een t h ju ro r.” 4 9

Fu rt h er,

[i ] n ex erci s in g t h at d i s cret i o n , t he tri al j u d ge m u st co n s i d er s o m e o f th e

t h i n gs t h at [h e] can n o t wh en as s es s i n g t h e l eg al s uf f i ci en cy o f th e

ev i d en ce, i n cl ud i n g an y c o n fl i ct s i n t he ev i d en ce, th e cred i b i l i t y o f

wi t n es s es , an d t h e wei g ht o f t h e ev i d en ce. Al th o ug h t h e di s cret i on o f a

t ri al ju dg e t o award a n ew t ri al on t h e gen eral g ro u n d s i s n o t bo u nd l es s

. . . i t n ev ert h el es s i s , g en eral l y s p eak i n g , a s u b st an t i al d i s cret i o n

. 5 0

4 7 See OCGA § 5-5 -2 0

.

4 8 See OCGA § 5-5 -2 1

.

4 9 Al l en v. St a t e , 2 9 6 Ga. 7 3 8

, 7 4 0 ( 2 ) ( 7 7 0 SE2 d 6 2 5 ) (2 0 1 5 ) (ci t at i o n an d

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

5 0 Id . (ci t at i o ns an d p u n ct u at i o n o m it t ed ).

19Here, t h e t ri al co u rt reci t ed t h at i t h ad

rev i ewed t h e en t i re reco rd an d an al y ze[d t h e] g en eral g ro u n d i s s u es i n

co n n ect i o n wi th OCGA § 5 -5 -2 0

, OCGA § 5 -5 -2 1[,] an d OCGA § 5-5

-

2 5

. Ad d i t i o n al l y , [t h e j ud g e h ad ] rev i ewed an d wei g h ed t h e ev i d en ce

an d th e reco rd s i t t i n g as a [1 3 t h ju ro r] an d h a[d ] ex erci s ed d i s cret i o n i n

t h e rev i ew an d c o n s i d erat i o n o f wh et her t o g ran t a n ew t ri al o n th e

g en eral g ro u n d s

.

Th e reco rd sh o w s t h at t h e t ri al co u rt u s ed t he ap p ro p ri at e d i s cret i o n ary

s t an d ard i n co ns i d eri n g t h e Ap p el l an t ’ s m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al o n th e g en eral g ro u n d s

. 5 1

In l i g h t o f o u r an al y s i s i n Di v is i o n s 1 an d 2, s u p ra, as wel l as i n o u r prev i o us d eci s i o n

i n t h i s cas e, we co ncl u d e t hat t h e t ri al co u rt di d n o t ab u s e i t s d is cret i o n i n d en y i n g t h e

Ap p el l an t ’ s m o t io n fo r n ew t ri al o n t h e g en eral g ro u n d s

.

Ju d g men t a f f i r m ed . Ba r nes , P. J., a n d

McMi l l ia n , J., co n cu r

.

5 1 See g en eral l y S t a t e v. H o l mes , 3 0 4 G a. 5 2 4

, 5 3 2 (3 ) (8 2 0 SE2 d 2 6 ) (2 0 1 8 ) (v acat i ng t h e g r a n t o f t h e m o t io n fo r n ew tri al an d rem an d i n g fo r t he t ri al co u rt to

co n si d er t h e d efen d an t ’ s m o t i o n o n g en e r a l g ro un d s , ap p l y in g t he “ ap p ro p ri at e d i s cret i o n ary

s t an d ard [ ] ”).

20