THI RD DI VI SI ON

M I LLER, P. J.

, M CFA DDEN and M CM I LLI A N, JJ.

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

ph y sic a l ly r e ce iv ed i n our c le r k ’s offic e w ithin te n

da y s of the da te of de c is ion to be de e m ed tim e ly file d.

http://w w w .ga a ppe a l s .us /r ule s

October 5, 2016



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 6 A1 04 7 . HARRIS v . THE STATE.

M C M ILLI A N , J u dg e.

B r a n d o n T au ru s Harri s was ch arg ed wi t h ag g rav at ed s o do m y

, ag g rav at e d

s ex u al b at t ery , an d fam i l y v i o l en ce b at tery u n d er OCGA § 1 6-5 -2 3

. 1 (f) (2 ). A ju ry

f o u n d h i m g u i l t y o f fam i l y v i o l en ce b at t ery b u t acq u i t t ed h i m o f t he s ex o ffen s e

ch arg es

. He ap p eal s fo l l o wi n g t h e d en i al o f h i s m o t i o n f o r n e w t ri al

, as am en d ed

,

arg u i n g i n h i s s o l e en u m erat i o n o f erro r th at t he t ri al co u rt i m p ro p erl y ad m i t t ed

ev i d en ce o f h i s p ri o r co n v i ct io n s fo r fam i l y v i o l en ce b at t ery an d s i m p le b at t ery

.

Fi n d in g n o erro r, we affi rm

.

Co n st ru ed t o s u p p o rt t h e ju ry ’ s v erd i ct

, 1 t he ev i d en ce sh o ws t h at at th e t i m e o f

t h e o ffen s e i n Au g u s t 20 1 2

, Harri s, h i s g i rl fri en d

, an d h er ch i l d were l i v i n g i n t h e

1 Ja cks o n v. Vi r

gi n i a , 4 4 3 U.S. 3 0 7 (9 9 SCt 2 7 8 1 , 6 1 LE2 d 5 6 0 ) (1 9 7 9 ).h o m e o f t h e g i rl fri en d’ s au n t an d h er t hen 2 0 -y ear-o l d d au g h t er, wh o i s th e v i ct i m in

t h i s cas e. A few week s a f t e r H a r r i s an d h is g i rl fri en d m o ved i n

, t h ey g o t i n t o an

a r g u m e n t an d s ep arat el y l eft t he h o m e. Lat er t hat ev en i n g

, Harri s cal l ed t h e v i ct i m

an d h er m o t h er, wh o s ai d t hat Harri s co u l d co m e b a c k t o t h e h o u s e. T h e v i ct i m

t es t i fi ed t h at s he was t al ki n g o n a cel l p h o n e i n t he l i v i n g ro om wh en Harri s arri v ed

b ack at t he ho u s e a n d th at h e wen t i n to h er b ed ro o m

. Sh e fo l l o wed h i m i n t o t h e

b ed ro o m an d t hey t al k ed b ri efl y

, b u t t h en t h e v i ct i m ’ s m o t h er cam e i n t o t h e ro o m an d

t h e v i ct i m l eft

. Aft er t h e v i ct i m ’ s m o t h er t al k ed to Harri s fo r a few m i n u t es

, s h e wen t

b ack to h er o wn b ed ro o m . Th e v i ct i m t h en wen t b ack i n to h er b ed ro o m

.

T h e v i ct i m t es t i fi ed t hat Harri s h ad b ro ug h t t w o b o t t l es o f l iq u o r wi t h h i m

, an d

h e kep t en co urag i n g h er t o d ri n k s o m e o f th e al co h o l s o s he t o ok a few s i p s

. Th e

v i ct i m s ai d t h at at s o m e p o in t Harri s s tart ed t el l in g h er he h ad al w ay s wan ted t o b e

wi t h h er i n st ead o f h i s g irl fri en d “ an d s tu ff l i k e t h at .” Sh e res p o n d ed t h at s h e h ad a

b o y fri en d an d at fi rs t ju s t l au g h ed i t o ff, ex p l ai n in g t h at h e h ad al w ay s b een t h e “ fl i rt y

t y p e.” S h e s a i d t hey t al ked o f o t h er m at t ers fo r a b i t

, b u t t h en h e b eg an t el l i n g h er

ag ai n t h at h e wan t ed t o b e wi t h h er. Th e v ict i m t es t i fi ed t hat Harri s becam e s ex u al l y

ag g res s i v e, g rab b i n g h er v ag in a t h ro u g h h er p an ts an d p u t t in g h i s o t h er h an d o n t h e

b ack of her h ead t o t ry an d m ak e h er k i s s h i m

. Th e vi ct im s ai d s h e k ep t t el l i ng Harri s

2t o st o p an d t ri ed t o pu s h h i m away

, b ut h e p u t h i s han d i n s i de h er p an t s an d i ns i d e h er

v ag in a. Sh e s ai d t hat he al s o g rab b ed t h e b ack o f h er n eck an d p u s h ed h er h ead d o wn

t o ward h is p en i s

, at t em

pt in g t o p u s h i t i nt o h er m ou t h

. Th e v i ct i m t es t i fi ed t h at s h e

co n ti n u ed t o s t ru g g l e an d p u l l away , an d Harri s g rab b ed h er b y t h e h ai r an d s t art ed

h i t t i n g h er i n t h e face wi t h h i s fi s t s

. Th e v i ct i m tes t i fi ed t h at s h e was s cream i n g an d

t el l i n g h i m

t o s t o p an d was fi n al l y ab l e t o p u s h h i m away an d ru n o u t o f t h e ro o m

.

Th e v i ct i m tes ti fi ed t hat s h e t h en ran t h ro u g h h er m o t h er’ s b ed ro o m an d i n to

a b at h ro o m . Th e v i ct im

s ai d s h e t o o k a bat h an d t h at s h e was at t em p t i n g t o t ex t h er

b o y fri en d

, b ut he di d n o t t ex t h er b ack

. Sh e t es t i fi ed t h at sh e g o t o u t o f th e b at h an d

re-d res sed , an d t h en s h e s l owl y wal k ed b ack an d p eek ed i n t o t h e d o o r o f h er ro o m

,

wh ere s h e s aw Harri s s l eep i n g on h er b ed

. Th e v i ct i m t h en wal k ed o u t s i d e an d cal l ed

h er s i s t er-i n -l aw an d t h en t h e p o l i ce, wh o cam e t o h e r h o m e

. Th e vi ct i m was

ex am i n ed at t he h o m e b y p a ram ed i cs

, an d p i ct u res t ak en at t h e s cen e s h o wi n g

b ru i s i n g an d s wel l i n g t o t h e v i ct i m ’ s face an d a sp l i t i n s i d e h er lo wer l i p were

i n t ro du ced at t ri al

.

Pri o r t o t ri al

, t h e S t a t e g a v e n o t i ce t h at it i n t en d ed t o i n t ro d u ce ev i d en ce

s h o wi n g Harri s h ad co m

m i t t ed an o t h er act o f fam i l y v i o l en ce b at t ery an d a s i m p l e

b at t ery in 2 0 0 9 ag ai n st h i s es tran g e d w i fe an d h er s i s t er, res p ect i v el y

. Th e St at e

3arg u ed th at t he ev i d en ce w as perm i s s i b l e t o s h o w m o t i v e, s peci fi cal l y t h at Harri s u s es

p h y s i cal v i o l en ce t o co n t ro l wo m en wh o h av e d en i ed h im so m et h i n g h e wan t s

. Th e

t ri al co u rt ru l ed th at t h e ev i d en ce was ad m i s s i b l e fo r t h at p u rp o s e, an d aft er t h e t ri al

co u rt g av e t h e ju ry l i m i t i ng i n s t ru ct i o n s

, t h e t wo v i ct i m s b o th t es ti fi ed at t ri al

.

Fi rs t

, Ha r r i s ’ wi fe, fro m wh o m h e had b een es t ran g ed fo r a n u m b er o f y ears

,

t es t i fi ed t h at i n 2 00 9

, w h il e s h e an d Harri s were s t i l l l i v i n g in th e s am e h o u s eh o l d,

s h e an d H arri s s tart ed arg u i n g wh en s h e refu s ed to g o t o a fas t fo o d res t au ran t t o g et

h i m s o m et h i n g t o eat

. Th e arg u m en t es cal at ed an d s h e d eci d ed t o l eav e s o s h e s t art ed

g at h eri n g u p h er b el o n gi n g s

. Harri s s t art ed p un ch in g h er in t h e b ack o f t h e head

, an d

s h e cu rl ed u p ag ai n st th e wal l wi t h h er b ack t o h i m to pro t ect h ers el f. Sh e k ep t y el l i n g

at h i m t o s t o p , an d h e q u i t h i tt i n g h er an d s h e l eft t h e h o us e.

Harri s ’ wi fe l at er ret u rn ed t o t h e ho u s e wi th h er s i s t er t o g et crat es fo r h er d o g s

.

Harri s wo u l d n o t l et t h em in t h e h o u s e an d s t art ed y el li n g an d p o k i n g hi s s i st er-i n -l aw

i n t h e face an d p u ll i n g h er h ai r an d t wi s t i n g h er arm

. So m eo ne cal l ed t h e p o l i ce, an d

Harri s was s u b s eq u en t l y ch arg ed wi t h an d en t ered g ui l t y p l eas t o o ne co un t o f fam i l y

v i o l en ce b at t ery an d o n e co u n t o f m i s d em ean or b at t ery b as ed o n t h es e i n ci d en t s

.

Harri s n o w arg u es t h e tri al co u rt erred i n ad m i t ti n g t h i s ev i d en ce t o s h o w h i s

m o ti v e b ecau s e t h e o t h er act s ev i d en ce was n o t rel ev an t fo r t h at pu rp o s e an d ev en i f

4i t was

, t h e pro b at i v e v al u e o f t h e ev i den ce was s u b s t an t ial l y o u t wei g h ed b y it s u n d u e

p reju d i ce.

Harri s was t ri ed aft er t h e effect i v e d at e o f th e new Ev i d e n c e C o d e a n d t hu s

OCGA § § 2 4 -4 -4 0 3 an d 2 4 -4 -4 0 4 g o v e r n t h e ad m i ss i o n o f t h i s ev i d en ce. OCGA §

2 4 -4 -4 0 4 (b ) p ro v i d es :

Ev i d en ce o f ot h er cri m es

, wro n g s, o r act s s h al l n o t b e a d m i s s i b l e t o

p ro v e t h e c h a r act er o f a p ers o n i n o rd er t o s h o w act i o n in co n fo rm i t y

t h erewi th

. It m ay

, h o wev er, b e ad m i s s ib l e fo r o t h er p urp o s es

, i n cl ud i n g

,

b u t n o t l im i t e d t o

, p ro o f of m o t i v e, o p p o rt u n i t y

, i nt en t

, p rep arat i o n

, p l an

,

k n o wl ed g e, i d en t i t y , o r ab s en ce o f m i st ak e o r acci den t

.

H o w e v e r, u nd er OCGA § 2 4 -4 -4 0 3

, ev en rel ev an t ev i d en ce o ffered fo r a p ro p e r

p u rp os e m ay b e ex cl ud ed “ i f i t s p ro b at i v e val u e is s u bs t an t i a l l y ou t w ei g h ed b y t h e

d an ger o f u n fai r preju d ice, co n fu s i o n o f t h e i s su es

, o r m i s l ead i n g t h e ju ry o r by

co n si d erat io n s o f u nd u e d el ay

, was t e o f t i m e, or n eed l es s p res en t at i o n o f cu m u l at i v e

ev i d en ce.” Id .; S t at e v. Jo nes , 2 9 7 Ga. 1 56 , 1 5 8 (1 ) (7 7 3 SE2 d 1 7 0 ) (2 0 1 5).

Geo rg i a co u rt s e m

p l o y a t hree-p art tes t t o d et erm i ne t h e ad m i s s i b i l i t y o f

ev i d en ce o f o t h er act s u n d er t hes e co de s ect io n s

. B r ad s h a w v. S ta t e

, 29 6 Ga. 6 5 0

, 6 5 6

(3 ) (7 6 9 SE2 d 8 9 2 ) (2 0 1 5 ); Jo n es

, 2 97 Ga. at 1 5 8 (1 ). T o be ad m i ss i b le, t h e St at e

m u st sh o w t h at : (1 ) t h e ex t ri ns i c o r o t h er act s ev i d en ce is rel ev an t t o an i s s u e o t h er

5t h an a d efen d an t’ s ch aract er (OCGA § 2 4 -4 -4 0 4 (b )); (2 ) t h e p ro bat i v e v al u e o f t h e

o t h er act s ev i d en ce i s n o t su b st an t i al l y o ut wei g h ed b y i t s u n fai r p reju d i ce (OCGA §

2 4 -4 -4 0 3); an d (3 ) t h ere i s s u ffi ci en t p ro o f s o t hat t h e ju ry co ul d fi nd t h at t h e

d efen d an t co m

m i t t ed t h e o t h er act

. 2 Jo n es

, 2 9 7 Ga. 1 5 8 -5 9 (1 ); Br a d sh a w

, 2 9 6 Ga.

at 6 5 6 ( 3 ) ; Wi l

s o n v. S t at e

, 33 6 Ga. Ap p. 6 0

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

Rel ev an ce u n d er t h e fi rs t p ro n g o f t h e t es t i s d et erm i n ed b y referen ce t o OCGA § 2 4

-

4 -4 0 1, wh i ch d eem s ev i d en ce rel ev an t i f i t h as “ an y ten d en cy to m ak e t h e ex i s t en ce

o f an y fact t h at i s o f co n s eq u en ce t o t h e d et erm i n at i o n o f t h e act i o n m o re p ro b ab l e

o r l es s pro bab l e t h an i t wo ul d b e wi t h o ut t h e ev i d en ce.” Id

. Ho wev er, wh i l e “ Ru l e

4 0 4 (b ) ex p l i ci t l y reco g n i zes t h e rel ev an ce of ot h er act s ev i den ce o ffered fo r a

p erm i s s i b l e p u rp o s e[, i t ] at t h e s am e t i m e, p ro h ib i t s t h e ad m i s s i o n o f s u ch ev i d en ce

wh en i t is o ffered s o l el

y fo r th e i m

perm i s s i b l e p urp o s e o f s h owi n g a d efen d an t ’ s b ad

ch aract er o r p ro p en si t y to co m m i t a cri m e.” (Em

p h as i s in o ri g i n a l

. ) J

o n es

, 2 9 7 Ga.

at 1 5 9 (2 ). W e rev i ew t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s d eci s i o n t o ad m i t o t h er act s ev i d en ce fo r a cl ear

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

. Br a d sh a w v. S t at e , 2 9 6 Ga. at 6 56

.

2 Harri s, wh o en t ered g ui l t y p l eas t o t he p ri o r o ffen s es

, m ak es no co n t en t i o n

t h at t h e St at e fai l ed t o p ro v e t h at h e co m m it t ed t h e cri m es

.

6Here, at t h e u rg i ng o f t he St at e, t he tri al co u rt ad m i tt ed th e o t h er act s ev i d en ce

t o s u p p ort Harri s’ m o ti v e i n as s au l t i n g t h e v i ct i m

. “ Ev i d en ce o f an o th er cri m e m ay

b e ad m i tt ed ‘ to s h o w t h e d efen dan t ’ s m o t iv e fo r co m m i t t i n g t h e cri m e wi t h w h i ch h e

i s ch arg ed

, b u t n o t t o d em on s t rat e “ a p ro p en s i t y t o act in acco rd an ce wi t h t h e

ch aract er i nd icat ed b y t h at [o t h er cri m e o r] co n d u ct

. ’ Un i t ed S t a t es v. Cu n n i n g h a m

,

1 0 3 F3 d 5 5 3

, 5 5 6 (7 t h Ci r. 1 9 9 6 ).” Amey v. S t a te

, 3 3 1 Ga. A p p

. 2 4 4

, 2 50 (1 ) (a) (7 7 0

SE2 d 3 2 1 ) (2 0 15 ). Ou r Su p rem e Co urt h as d efi n ed m o t i v e “ as t h e reas o n th at n u d g es

t h e wi l l an d p ro d s t h e m i n d t o i nd u l g e t h e cri m in al i n ten t .” (Ci t at io n an d pu n ct u at i o n

o m it t ed .) B r a d

s ha w v. S t a t e

, 2 9 6 Ga. at 6 5 7

. “ [T] o be ad m it t ed t o p ro v e m o t i ve,

ex t ri ns i c ev i d en ce m

u s t b e ‘ l o g i cal l y rel ev an t an d n eces s ary t o p ro v e s o m et h in g o t h er

t h an th e accu s ed ’ s p ro p en si t y t o co m m i t t h e cri m e ch arg ed .’ Pau l S. M i l i ch Geo rg i a

Ru l es of E v i den ce § 1 1 .3

, p

. 2 4 4 (2 0 1 4 ).” Br o o ks v. S t a t e

, 2 9 8 Ga. 7 2 2

, 7 26 (2 ) (7 8 3

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

We fi n d n o ab u s e o f d i s cret i o n in t h e ad m is s i o n of th e o t h er act s e v i d e n c e

u n d er t h e fact s o f t h i s cas e. Al t h o u g h m o t i v e was n o t an el em en t o f th e ch a r g e d

o ffen s e, t h e o t her act s ev i d en ce was rel ev an t t o s h ed l i gh t o n wh y Harri s react ed as

h e d i d wh en t h e vi ct i m d i d n o t acq u i es ce to h i s s ex u al ad v an ces

. Th e v i ct i m t es t i fi ed

t h at Harri s h i t h er aft er s he wo u l d n o t l et h i m fo rce h is p en i s i n t o h er m o ut h an d wh i l e

7s h e was s t ru g g l in g t o g et u p an d away fro m h i m

. Si m i l a r l y, hi s w i fe t es ti fi ed t h at

Harri s beg an h i t ti ng her wh i l e s h e was at t em p t i n g t o p ack h er t hi n gs an d l eav e aft er

s h e h ad refu s ed t o acced e t o h i s wi s h es

, an d h er s i s t er t es t i fi ed t hat h e st ru ck o u t at

h er p h y s i cal l y wh i l e sh e was at t em p t i n g t o en t er t h e p rem i s es t o ret ri ev e s o m et h i n g

fo r h er s i s t er. T h u s

, t h e o th er act s ev id en ce s h o w ed Harri s’ wi l l i ng n es s t o u s e

p h y s i cal v i o l en ce ag ai n s t fem al e v i ct im s wh o m h e k new i n an at t em p t t o i n t i m i d at e

t h em o r b en d t h em t o h i s wi l l wh en t h ey d i d n o t acced e t o h i s d em an d s o r were

o t h erwi s e act i n g ag ai n st h i s wi s h es . Acco rd i n g l y , t he ev i d en ce was rel ev an t fo r t h e

p erm i s s i b l e p u rp o s e of s h o wi n g t h e i m p et u s b eh in d Harri s ’ act i on of p u n ch i n g t h e

v i ct i m i n t h e face wh en s h e d i d no t wi l l i n gl y ag ree t o b e h i s s ex u al p art ner. See S ma r t

v. S t a t e

,

_ _ _ Ga.

_ _ _ (7 8 8 SE2 d 4 4 2 ) (2 0 1 6 ) (ev i d en ce o f act s o f d o m es t i c v i o l en ce

co m m i t t ed ag ai n st ap p el lan t ’ s ex -wi fe ad m i s s i b l e t o s h ow t h at co n t ro l was t h e

i m p et u s b eh i n d ap pel l an t’ s vi o l en t b eh av i o r i n tri al fo r m al i ce m u rd er b as ed o n

b e at i n g d eat h o f h i s t h en w i fe); An t h o ny v. S t a t e

, 2 9 8 Ga. 8 2 7

, 83 2 ( 4 ) ( 7 8 5 S E2 d

2 7 7 ) (2 01 6 ) (ev i d en ce o f o t h er act s s uch as cu t t i n g h i s wi fe’ s t i res a n d t h r e a t e n i n g

v i ct i m wi t h a g u n ad m i s s i b l e in t ri al fo r m u rd er b ecau s e i t s h o wed “ ap p el l an t ’ s d es i re

t o t ak e rev en g e an d t o p ro v o k e co n fro nt at i o n in res p on s e to h i s w i fe’ s affai r wi t h t h e

v i ct i m ”); Br ad

s h aw

, 2 9 6 Ga. at 6 5 7 ( ev i d en ce o f an ot h er m urd er co m

m i t t ed s ix

8m o nt h s b efo re ch arg ed m u rd er rel e va

nt to pr ove m otive b ecau s e i t s h o wed ap p el l an t ’ s

wi l l i ng n es s t o u se v i o l en ce i n res p on s e t o ch eat i n g o n a d ru g d eal ); cf. Br o o ks , 2 9 8

Ga. at 7 2 6-2 7 (fact t h at t h e accu s ed h ad co m m i t t ed th e s am e t y

p e o f cri m e i n t h e p as t

d i d n o t

, w i t h o ut m o re, p ro v e h i s m o t iv e t o co m m i t t h e s am e ty

p e o f cri m e ag ai n wh en

earl ier cri m e was u n rel at ed an d u n n eces s ary t o p ro v e wh y s ev en y ears l at er ap p el l an t

co m m i t t ed t h e cri m e fo r wh i ch h e was o n t ri al ); Amey v. S t a t e

, 3 3 1 Ga. Ap p . at 2 5 0

(1 ) (b ) (s am e).

Hav i n g det erm i n ed t h at t h e ev i d en ce was rel ev an t

, w e m u s t al s o co n s i d er

wh et h er th e ev i d en ce s h o u l d h av e b een ex cl u d ed u n d er Ru l e 40 3

, wh i ch

, am o n g o t h er

t h i n g s

, p ro v id es fo r t h e ex cl u s i o n o f rel ev an t ev i d en ce “ i f i t s p ro b at i ve v al u e i s

s u b s t an t i al l y o u twei g h ed by t h e d an ger o f u n fai r preju d ice.

. . .” OCGA § 2 4 -4 -4 0 3.

Th e Su p r e m e C o urt h as ex p lai n ed t h at “ [t ] he ap p l i cat i o n o f t h e Ru l e 4 0 3 t es t is a

m at t er co m

m i t t ed pri n ci p al l y t o t h e d i s cret io n of t h e t ri al co u rt s ,” b u t i t h as al s o

fo u n d t hat “ t h e ex cl u s io n o f ev i d en ce u n d er Ru l e 40 3 i s an ex t rao rd i n ary rem ed y

[t hat ] s h ou l d b e u s ed o n l y s p ari n g l y. ” ( Ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) Ol d s v.

S t a t e

, 2 9 9 G a. 6 5

, 7 0 (2 ) (7 8 6 SE2 d 6 3 3 ) (2 0 1 6 ). See al so Ho o d v. S t at e

, 29 9 Ga. 9 5,

1 0 3 (4 ) (7 8 6 SE2 d 6 4 8 ) (2 0 1 6 ) (“ Th e m ajo r fu n ct i on o f Ru l e 40 3 is t o ex cl u d e m at t er

9o f s can t o r cu m ul at i v e p ro b at i v e f

o r c e

, d r a g g ed i n b y t he h eel s fo r t h e s ak e o f i t s

p reju d i ci al effect .”) (ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m it t ed ).

In d et erm in i n g wh et h er rel ev an t ev i d en ce i s m o re p ro b at i v e t h an p reju d i ci al

,

o u r Su p rem e Co u rt h as ex p l ai ned t h at “ [g ] en eral l y s p eak in g

, t h e g reat er t h e t en d en cy

t o m ak e t h e ex is t en ce o f a fact m o re o r l es s p ro b ab l e, t h e great er t he p ro b at i v e v al u e.”

Ol d s

, 2 9 9 Ga. at 7 5 (2 ). An d “ t h e ex ten t to w h i ch ev id en ce t en d s to m ak e t h e

ex i s t en ce o f a fact m ore o r l es s p ro b ab l e d ep en d s s i gn i fi can t l y o n t h e q u al i t y

o f t h e

ev i d en ce an d t h e s t ren g t h o f i t s l o g i cal co n n ect i o n t o t h e fact fo r wh ich i t i s o ffered ”;

“ h o w m u ch it ad d s

. . . to t h e o t h er p ro o f av ai lab l e t o es t ab l i s h t h e fact fo r wh i ch i t

i s o ffered ”; an d “ t h e n eed fo r t he ev i d en ce.” Id . at 7 5-7 6 (2 ).

Here, t h e p h y s i cal ev i d en ce l eft l i t tl e d o u b t t h at t h e v ict i m h ad s u ffered an

i n ju r y t o h er face, t h e on l y q u es t i o n b ei n g h o w sh e s u s t ai n ed t he i n ju ri es

. T h e o n l y

d i rect p ro o f t h at H arri s i n fl i ct ed t h e v i ct i m ’ s i n ju ri es cam e fro m h er t es t i m o n y

, wh i ch

Harri s s ou g h t t o d i s cred it b y p o i n t i n g o u t t h at n o o n e t es t i fi ed t h at s h e d i d n o t h av e

t h es e i n ju ri es p ri o r to h er al l eg ed al t ercat i on wi t h Harri s an d th at s h e co ul d h av e b een

i n ju red b y o t h er m ean s s uch as fo rcefu l l y b i ti n g h er l i p o r s l i p p i n g i n a b at h t u b

. Th u s

,

t h e o t h er act s ev i d en ce t h at Harri s res o rt ed t o v i o l en ce t o ward o t h er w o m en wh o d id

n o t acced e t o h i s d em an d s was n eed ed by t he St at e t o co u nt er Harri s ’ d efen s e an d to

10s u p p ort i t s cas e t h at Harri s i n ten t i o n al l y h i t t h e vi ct i m i n t h e face aft er sh e refu s ed h i s

s ex u al ad v an ces

. Th i s ev i den ce ad d ed s i g n i f i can t l y to t h e o th er p ro o f u s ed to

es t ab l i s h t hat H arri s hi t th e v i ct i m

. See An t h o ny

, 2 9 8 G a

. a t 8 3 3 (4 ) (o t h er act s

ev i d en ce n eed t o co u n ter ap p el l an t ’ s t es t i m on y at t ri al an d th eo ry o f s el f-d efen s e o n

wh i ch h e rel i ed ). Al th o u g h th e ev i den ce was p reju d i ci al

, “ as al m o s t a l l e v i d en ce

p res en t ed b y t h e St at e wi l l b e,” we ag ree wi t h t h e t ri al co u rt t h at o n b al an ce an y s u ch

p reju d i ce d i d n o t s u b s tan t i al ly o u t wei g h t he p ro b at i ve v al u e o f t h e ev i d en ce i n t h i s

cas e. S ma r t

,

_ _ _ G a. at

_ _ _ (2 ) (b ). See al s o Un it ed St a t es v. Ki n g

, 7 1 3 F2 d 62 7

, 6 3 1

(III) (1 1 t h Ci r. 1 9 8 3 ) (“ [I] n a cri m i nal tri al rel ev an t ev i den ce i s i nh eren t l y p reju d i ci al ;

i t i s o n l y wh en u n fai r p reju d i ce s u b s t an t i al ly o u t wei g h s p ro b at i ve v al ue t h at [Fed eral

Ru l e 4 0 3 ] p erm it s ex cl u s i o n

. ”) (em p h as i s o m i t t ed ).

Acco rd i ng l y

, t he t ri al co u rt d i d n ot ab u se it s d i s cret i o n i n ad m i tt i n g t h e o t h er

act s ev i d en ce, an d Harri s i s no t en t i t l ed t o a n ew t ri al o n t hi s b as i s

. See Jo n es

, 2 9 7

Ga. at 1 5 9 (1 ) (Ap p el lat e co urt s wi l l ov ert u rn a t ri al co u rt ’ s d eci s i o n t o ad m i t

ev i d en ce o f o t h er act s “ on l y w here t h ere i s a cl ear ab us e o f d is cret i o n .”).

Ju d g men t a f f i r m ed . Mi l l er

, P. J., a n d

McFa d d en , J., co n cu r

.

11