THI RD DI VI SI ON

ELLI NGTON, P. J.

, DI LLA RD and M C FA DDEN, 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 2, 2016



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 5 A1 85 6 . THE STATE v . HARLACHER.

D I LLA R D , J u dg e.

Fo l l owi n g a ph y s i cal al t ercat i o n at a l o cal s p o rt s b ar, t h e St at e ch arg ed Sh awn

Harl ach er, v ia i n d ict m en t

, wi t h o n e co u n t o f cri m i n al at tem pt t o co m m it ag g rav at ed

as s au l t w i th a d ead l y weap o n

. Harl a c h e r fi l ed a m ot i o n fo r a g en eral d em u rrer,

arg u i n g t h at i t i s i m

p o s s i bl e t o at t em

p t t o co m m i t an ag g rav at ed as s au l t

, an d t h u s , t h e

i n d i ct m en t fai led t o al l eg e an y cri m i n al o ffen s e u n d er th e l aws o f t h e St at e o f

Geo rg i a. Th e t ri al co u rt g ran t ed Harl ach er’ s d em u rrer, an d t h e St at e n o w ap p eal s

. Fo r

t h e reas o n s s et fo rt h i n

fr a , we affi rm

.

Th e reco rd

, as al l eg ed b y t h e St at e, s ho ws th at o n Au g u s t 2 4

, 2 0 1 4

, H arl ach er

an d t h e v i ct i m were p at ro n i zi n g a l o cal s po rt s pu b wh en t h ey b ecam e i n vo l v ed i n a

v erb al al t ercat i o n , wh i ch t h en es cal at ed i n t o a ph y s i cal fi g h t

. By al l acco un t s , d u ri n gt h e fi g h t

, t h e v i ct i m b ro k e Harl ach er’ s no s e, an d wh en t he fi g h t was o v er, t he v i ct i m

t u rn ed t o g o back i n t o t h e p ub

. A s t h e v i ct i m wal k ed away , Harl ach er d rew a h an d g u n

an d p o i nt ed i t at t h e v i ct i m ’ s head bu t d i d no t fi re. Th e v i ct i m n ev er s aw Harl ach er’ s

g u n , co n t i n u ed wal k in g away , an d t h e i n ci d en t en d ed wi th o ut an y fu rt h er v i o l en ce.

Su b s eq uen t l y , th e St at e ch arg ed Harl ach er, v ia in d i ct m en t

, w i t h o n e co u n t o f

cri m ina l a tte m

p t to co m m i t ag g rav at ed as s au l t wi t h a d ead l y w eap o n

. Sp eci fi cal l y , t h e

i n d i ct m en t al l eg ed t h at Harl ach er

d i d k n o wi ng l y an d in ten t i o n al l y at t em p t t o co m

m i t th e cr im e o f

Ag g rav at ed A s s au l t wi t h a Dead l y W eap o n , i n vi o l at i o n o f Co d e Sect i o n

1 6 -5 -2 1

. . . i n t h at t h e s ai d accu s ed di d at t em p t to p l ace [t he v ict i m ] i n

reas o n ab l e ap p reh en si o n o f i m m ed i at el y recei vi n g a v i o len t i n ju ry w i t h

a p i s t o l

, a d ead l y weap o n an d an o b ject wh i ch wh en u s ed o ffen s i v el y

ag ai ns t a p ers o n i s l i kel y t o res ul t i n seri o u s b o d i l y i n ju ry , b y p o i n t i n g

s ai d p i s t o l at s ai d [v i ct i m ]

, an act wh ich co n st i tu t es a s ub s tan t i al s tep

t o ward t h e co m

m i s si o n o f s ai d cri m e . . . .

On March 1 1

, 2 0 1 5, H arl ach er fi l ed a m o t i o n fo r a d em u rrer, arg u i n g t h at

as s au l t i s an at t em

p t t o co m m it b at t ery an d b ecau s e “ a p ers on can n o t b e co n v i ct ed o f

at t em p t i n g t o co m

m i t a cri m e t h at i s i t s el f an at t em p t t o co m

m i t a cri m e,” t h e

i n d i ct m en t fai l ed t o ch arg e an o ffen s e u n der Geo rg ia l aw. A few week s l at er, t h e t ri al

co u rt h el d a h eari n g o n Harl ach er’ s m o t io n , an d at th e co n cl u si o n o f t h e h eari n g , i t

2g ran t ed t h e d em u rrer an d di s m i s s ed t h e i n d i ct m en t

, r u l i n g t hat Harl ach er co u l d n ot

b e co n v i ct ed o f at t em

p t i ng to co m

m i t ag grav at ed as sau l t b ecau se (1 ) as s au l t i s i t s el f

an at t em p t t o co m m i t a cri m e, an d (2 ) t h e v i ct i m was u n a ware o f t h e at t em p t

. Th i s

ap p eal b y t h e St at e fo l l o ws

. 1

At t h e o u t s et

, we n o te t h at an accu sed m ay c h a l l e n g e t h e s u ffi ci en cy o f an

i n d i c t m en t b y fi l i n g a g en eral o r s p eci al d em u rrer. 2 A g en eral d em

u rrer, as t h e t ri al

co u rt g ran t ed h er e , “ c h a l len g es t h e s u ffi ci en cy o f t h e s u b s t a n ce o f t h e i n d i ct m en t

,

wh ereas a s p eci al d em

u rrer ch al l en g es t h e su ffi ci en cy o f t h e f o r m o f t h e i n d i ct m en t

. ” 3

Bu t an i n d i ct m en t s h al l be d eem ed s u ffi ci en t ly t ech n ical an d co rrec t t o wi t h s t an d a

g en eral d em

u rrer i f “ i t s t at es t h e o ffen s e i n t h e term s an d l an g u ag e o f t h i s Co d e o r s o

1 S ee OCGA § 5 -7 -1 (a) (1 ) (“ An ap peal m ay b e t ak en b y an d o n b eh al f o f t h e St at e o f Geo rg i a fro m th e s u p eri o r co u rt s , s t at e co u rt s

. . . an d su ch o th er co u rt s fro m wh i ch a d i rect ap p eal is a u t h o ri zed t o t h e Co u rt o f Ap p eal s an d t h e Su p rem e Co u rt
i n cri m i n al cas es

. . . [f] ro m an o rd er, deci s i o n , or ju d g m e n t s et t i n g as i d e o r d i s m i s s i n g an y

i n di ct m en t , accu s at i o n . . . o r an y co u n t t h ereo f . . . .”).

2 S ee S ta t e v. Co r hen , 3 0 6 Ga. Ap p . 4 9 5 , 4 9 6 (7 0 0 SE2 d 9 12 ) (2 0 1 0 ).

3 Id

. (p u n ct u at i o n o m i t ted ); s ee a l s o Du n b a r v. S t a t e , 2 0 9 Ga. Ap p. 9 7

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

3p l ai n l y t h at t h e n at u re o f t h e o ffen s e ch arg ed m ay eas i l y b e u n d ers t o o d b y t h e ju ry

. ” 4

M o re fu l ly

ex p l ai ned

,

i f an accu s ed wo ul d b e g u i l t y of t h e cri m e ch arg ed i f t h e fact s as al l eg ed

i n t h e i n d i c t m en t are t ak en as t ru e, t h en t h e i n d i ct m en t i s s uffi ci en t t o

wi t h st an d a g en eral d em

u rrer; h o wev er, i f an accu s ed can ad m i t t o al l o f

t h e fact s ch arg ed i n t he i n d i ct m en t an d st i ll b e i n n ocen t o f a cri m e, t he

i n d i ct m en t i s i n s u ffi ci en t an d i s s u b ject t o a g en eral d em

u rrer. 5

Fu rt h erm o re, t h is Co u rt rev iews a t ri al co u rt ’ s ru l i n g on a g en eral or s p eci al d em u rrer

d e n o vo i n o rd er t o d et erm i n e “ wh et h er t he al leg at i o n s i n t h e i n d ict m en t are l eg al l y

s u ffi ci en t .” 6 It i s wi t h t hes e g u i d i n g p ri n ci p le s i n m i nd th at we n o w ad d res s t h e

St at e’ s cl ai m

o f erro r.

Th e St at e co n t en d s th at th e tri al co urt erred i n g ran t i n g Harl ach er’ s m o t i o n fo r

a gen eral d em

u rrer. Sp eci fi cal l y , t h e St at e arg u es t hat al th o u g h

, u nd er O CGA § 1 6 -5

-

2 0 (a) (1 )

, s i m

p l e as s au l t

—wh i ch i s an es s en ti al el em en t o f an ag grav at ed as s au l t

u n d er OCGA § 1 6 -5 -2 1 (b )— i s an at t em p t ed b at t ery , si m

p l e as sau l t u n d er OCGA §

4 OCGA § 1 7 -7 -5 4 (a); s ee a ls o Co r hen

, 3 06 Ga. Ap p . at 4 9 7

.

5 Co rh en , 3 0 6 Ga. Ap p

. at 4 9 7; see a l s o Lo we v. S t a t e , 2 7 6 Ga. 5 38

, 5 3 9 (2 ) (5 7 9 SE2 d 7 2 8 ) (2 0 0 3 ); Du n ba r , 2 0 9 Ga. Ap p. at 9 8 (2 ).

6 S a l l ee v. S t a t e , 3 2 9 Ga. Ap p

. 6 1 2

, 6 1 6 (2 ) ( 7 6 5 SE2 d 7 5 8 ) (2 0 1 4 ); s ee a l s o Co r h en , 3 0 6 Ga. Ap p . at 4 9 7

.

41 6 -5 -2 0 (a) (2 ) i s n o t an i n ch o at e o ffen s e an d

, t h erefo re, a d efen d an t can b e co n v i ct ed

o f at t em p t i n g t o co m

m i t s u ch an o ffen s e. W e are co n s t rai n ed t o d i s ag ree.

Ou r an al y s i s , of co u rs e, b eg i n s wi t h an ex am i n at io n o f t h e rel ev an t s t at u t es ,

an d t h u s , we n o t e t h at t h e fu n d am en t al ru l es o f s t at u t ory co n s t ru ct i on req u i re u s t o

“ co n s t ru e t h e s t at u te acco rd i n g t o i t s t erm s , t o g iv e wo rd s t h ei r pl ai n an d o rd i n ary

m ean i n g , an d t o av oi d a co ns t ru ct io n t h at m ak es s o m e l an g u ag e m ere s u rp l u s ag e.” 7

Pu t an ot h er way , wh en we co n s i d er t h e m ean i n g o f a s t at u t e, we m u st “ (1 ) p res u m e

t h at t h e Gen eral A s s em

b l y m ean t wh at i t sai d an d s ai d wh at i t m ean t

, an d (2 ) read t h e

s t at u to ry t ex t in i ts m o s t n at ural an d reas o n ab l e w ay , as an o rd i n ary s p eak er o f t h e

En g li s h l an g u ag e wo u l d .” 8 As o u r Su p rem e Co u rt h as ex p l ai ned

,

7 A l g r en v. S t a t e , 3 30 Ga. Ap p

. 1

, 6 ( 3 ) (7 6 4 SE2 d 6 1 1 ) (2 0 1 4 ) (p u n ct u at i o n

o m i t ted ); s ee a l

s o Ma r ti n ez v. S t a t e, 3 2 5 Ga. Ap p

. 2 6 7

, 27 3 (2 ) (7 5 0 S E 2 d 5 0 4 ) (2 0 1 3) (“ [A] s wi t h an y q u es t io n o f s t at ut o ry in t erp ret at i o n , we n eces s ari ly b eg i n o u r

an al y s i s wi t h fam i l iar an d b i n di n g can o n s o f co n s t ru ct i o n. In d eed

, i n co n s i d eri n g t h e

m ean i n g o f a s t at u t e, ou r ch arg e as an ap p el l at e co u rt i s t o ‘ p res u m e t hat t h e Gen eral

As s em b l y m ean t wh at i t s ai d an d s ai d wh at i t m ean t .’ An d t o ward t h at en d

, we m u s t
affo rd th e s t at u t o ry t ex t i t s p l ai n an d o rd i n ary m ean i ng , co ns i d er t he t ex t co n t ex t u al l y ,

an d read t h e t ex t ‘ i n i t s m o s t n at u ral a n d reas o nab l e way , as an o rd i n ary s p eak er o f

t h e En g l is h l an g u ag e w o ul d.’ In s u m , wh ere th e l an g u ag e o f a st at ut e i s p l ai n an d

s u s cep t i b l e o f o nl y o ne n at u ral an d reas o n ab le co n s t ru ct io n , ‘ co u rt s m u s t co n s t ru e t h e

s t at u te acco rd i ng l y .’ “ ) (ci t at i o n s an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ).

8 Al g r en , 3 3 0 Ga. Ap p

. at 6 -7 (3 ) (fo o t no t e an d pu n ct uat i on o m i tt ed ); s ee a l s o Fed

. Dep

. In s

. Co r

p

. v. Lo u d

er mi l k, 2 9 5 G a

. 5 7 9

, 58 8 (2 ) (7 61 SE2 d 3 32 ) (2 0 1 4 );

Dea l v. Co l ema n, 2 94 Ga. 1 7 0

, 1 72 (1 ) (a) (7 5 1 SE2 d 3 3 7 ) (2 0 1 3 ).

5[i ] n ou r s earch fo r t h e m ean i n g o f a p art i cu l ar s t a t u t o ry p ro v i s i o n, we

l o o k n o t on l y t o t he wo rd s o f t hat p ro v i s io n , b u t we co n si der i t s l eg al

co n t ex t as wel l

. Aft er al l

, co n t ex t i s t he p ri m ary d et erm i n an t o f m ean i n g

. Fo r co n t ex t, w e m ay l o ok t o t h e o t h er p ro v is i o n o f t he s am e s t at u t e, th e

s t r u c t u re an d hi st o ry o f t h e wh o l e s t at u t e, an d t h e o t h er

l aw— co n s ti t ut i o n al

, s t at u t o ry , an d co m m o n l aw al i k e— t hat fo rm s th e

l eg al b ack g ro u n d o f t h e s t at u t o ry p ro v i s i o n i n q ues t i o n

. 9

Th i s i s wh at we m ean wh en we s peak o f d is cern i n g “ t h e i n t en t o f t he l eg i s l at u re,” 1 0

as t h at “ i n t en t ” i s refl ect ed i n th e rel ev an t s t at u to ry t ex t an d i t s co nt ex t u al back d ro p

. 1 1

Tu rn i n g t o t h e s t at u t o ry p ro v i s i o n s at i ss u e, t h e St at e ch arg ed Harl ach er wi th

cri m i n al at t em

p t t o co m m i t ag g rav at ed as s au l t b y al l eg i n g t h at h e at t em p t ed t o p l ace

t h e v i ct i m

i n ap p reh en si o n o f recei v in g a v io len t i n ju ry wi t h a p i s t o l

. Un der fo rm er

OCGA § 1 6 -5 -2 1 (b ) (2 ), “ [a] p ers o n co m m i t s t he o ffen s e o f ag grav at ed as s au l t wh en

h e o r s h e as s au l t s

. . . [w] it h a d ead l y weap o n o r wi t h an y o b ject

, d ev i ce, o r

i n s t ru m en t wh i ch

, wh en us ed o ffen s i v el y ag ai ns t a p ers o n , i s l i kel y t o o r act u al l y d o es

9 Lo ud er mi l k, 2 95 Ga. at 5 8 8 (2 ) (p u nct u at i o n o m i t t ed ); s ee a l so Ma y v. S t a t e, 2 9 5 Ga. 3 8 8

, 3 9 1-3 9 2 (7 6 1 SE2 d 3 8 ) (2 0 14 ); Ma rt i n ez

, 3 2 5 Ga. Ap p . at 2 7 3 (2 ).

1 0 S t a t e v. Mu s sma n

, 2 8 9 Ga. 5 86

, 5 8 8 (1 ) (7 1 3 SE2 d 82 2 ) (2 0 1 1 ) (p u n ct u at i o n

o m it t ed ).

1 1 S ee Lo u d er mi l k, 2 9 5 Ga. at 5 8 8 (2 ); Ma

y, 2 95 Ga. at 3 9 1 -9 2 ; Al

g r en , 3 3 0 Ga. Ap p . at 7 (3 ); Ma r t in ez

, 3 25 Ga. Ap p . at 2 7 3

.

6res u l t i n s eri o u s bo d i l y i n j u r y

. . . . ” 1 2 An d un d er O CGA § 1 6 -4 -1

, “ [a] p ers o n

co m m i t s th e o ffen s e o f cri m in al at t em p t wh en , wi t h i n t en t t o co m m i t a s p eci fi c cri m e,

h e p erfo rm s an y act wh ich co n s t i t u t es a s ub s tan t ial s t e p t o w ard th e co m m i s s i o n o f

t h at cri m e.”

W i t h reg ard t o as s au l t

, OCGA § 1 6 -5 -2 0 (a) ( 1 ) p ro vi d es t h at “ [a] p ers o n

co m m i t s t h e o ffen s e o f s i m

p l e as s au l t wh en h e o r s h e

. . . [a] t t e m p t s t o co m

m i t a

v i o l en t i n ju ry t o t h e p ers o n o f an o t h e r

. . . . ” Th u s, u nd er th e pl ai n l an g u ag e o f t h i s

s t at u to ry p ro v i s i o n , s i m

pl e as s au l t i s , i n es s en ce, an at t em p t ed b at t ery wi t h t h e fo cu s

o n t h e i nt en t i on o f t he p erp et rat o r t o i n ju re t h e vi ct im

. 1 3 An d as H arl ach er arg u es an d

t h e St at e co n ced es , “ [w] e k n o w o f n o l aw au t h ori zi n g t h e co n v i ct io n fo r an at t em pt

t o co m m i t a cri m e wh i ch i t s el f i s a p art i cu l ar t y p e o f at t em

p t t o co m m i t a cri m e.” 1 4

In s t ark co n t ras t, O CGA § 16 -5 -2 0 (a) (2 ) p ro v id e s t h at “ [a] pers o n co m m i t s

t h e o ffen s e o f s i m

p l e a s s a ul t wh en he o r s h e

. . . [c] o m m i ts an act w h i ch p l aces

1 2 S ee fo rm er OCGA § 16 -5 -2 1 (b ) (2 ) (2 0 1 4 ). In 2 0 1 5

, s u b s e c t i o n (m ) was

s l ig h t ly m o d i fi ed

, b u t t h at m o d i fi cat io n b ears no rel ev an ce t o t h i s ap p eal

. S ee Ga. L.

2 0 1 5 , p . 4 2 2 , § 5 -1 9

.

1 3 See Ma yn o r v. S t a t e , 2 5 7 Ga. A p p

. 1 5 1

, 15 4 (5 70 SE2 d 4 2 8 ) (2 0 0 2 ) (n o t i n g

t h at s i m p l e as s au l t i s an at t em

p t ed b at t ery u n d er O CGA § 1 6 -5 -2 0 (a) (1 ) t h at fo cu s es

o n t h e i n t en t i o n o f t h e p erp et rat o r t o i nju re t h e v i ct im ).

1 4 Po r t er v. S t a t e , 1 2 4 Ga. Ap p . 2 8 5 , 2 8 6 (1 8 3 SE2 d 6 3 1 ) (1 9 7 1 ).

7an o th er i n reas o nab l e ap p reh en s i o n o f i m m ed i at el y recei v i n g a v i o l en t i n

ju ry

. . . .”

Acco rd in g ly

, th e fo cu s o f a reas o n ab l e ap p reh en s i o n o f h arm t y p e o f si m pl e as s au l t

,

u n d er OCGA § 16 -5 -2 0 (a) (2 ), i s “ o n t h e ap p reh en s i o n o f t h e vi ct im .” 1 5

G i v e n t hes e d i fferen ces i n t he el em en t s o f t h e res p ect i v e o ffen ses , an d m o re

s p eci fi cal l y t h e fact t h at u nl ik e OCGA § 1 6 -5 -2 0 (a) (1 ), t h e p lai n m ean in g o f OCGA

§ 1 6

- 5 -2 0 (a) (2 ) do es n o t in cl u d e “ at t em p t” as an el em en t of t h e o ffen se, i t w o u l d

i n d eed s eem feas i b l e t o co nv i ct an accu sed of at t em p t i ng a reas on ab l e-ap p reh en s i o n

o f-h arm t y

p e o f as sau lt

. 1 6 Ho wev er, as t he St at e co n ced es , t h e fact t h at t h e v i ct i m was

u n awar e t h a t Harl ach er ai m ed a h an d g u n at h i m p recl u d es a co n vi ct i o n o f a

co mp l et ed ag g rav at ed as s au l t u n d er OCGA § § 1 6 -5 -2 1 (b ) (2 ) an d 1 6 -5 -2 0 (a) (2 ). 1 7

1 5 Ma yn o r , 2 5 7 Ga. Ap p . at 1 5 4

.

1 6 S ee St a t e v. Go d

s ey , 1 2 7 P3 d 1 1

, 1 5 (B) (W as h

. Ap p

. 2 0 0 6) (h ol d i n g t h a t

“ [b ] ecau se t he ‘ ap p reh en s i o n ’ ty p e o f as s au l t l ack s an at t em p t el em en t

, i t is feas i b l e

t o co nv i ct s o m eo n e o f at t em p t i ng an as s au l t b y s u ch m ean s ”); La mb v. S t a t e , 6 1 3 A2 d

4 0 2 , 4 1 9 -2 0 (M d

. Ap p

. 19 9 2 ) (n o t i n g t hat t h ere m ay n ot be an at t em

p ted as s au l t o f

t h e at t em pt ed -b at t ery v ari et y becau s e t h at t y p e o f as sau l t i s al read y i n ch o at e an d t h ere

m ay n o t b e an at t em

p t e d at t em

p t

, b u t wh en t h e as s au l t “ is of t h e i n ten t -t o -fri g h t en

v ari et y , t h ere i s n o reas o n w h at s o ev er wh y t h ere can n ot b e an at t em p t t o co m m i t i t ”).

1 7 S ee Per ez v. S t a te

, 2 8 1 Ga. 1 7 5

, 17 7 (2 ) (6 3 7 SE2 d 3 0 (2 00 6 ) (h o l d i n g t h at

t h e ev i d en ce was i n s u ffi ci en t t o fi nd d efen d an t g u i l t y o f ag g rav at ed as s au l t b ecau s e

t h ere was n o ev i d en ce t h at t h e u n co n sci o u s v i ct i m was i n ap p reh en s i o n o f b ei n g i n ju red ); Mo n t

f o r d v. S t a t e , 2 5 4 Ga. Ap p

. 5 2 4

, 5 2 7 (1 ) (b ) (5 6 4 SE2 d 2 1 6) (2 0 0 2 ) (h o l d i n g t h at b ecau s e t h ere was n o ev i den ce t h at p o li ce o ffi cer s aw d efen dan t ’ s car

8An d al t h o u g h w e fi n d p ers u as iv e t he St at e’ s l o g i c (as d i ct at ed b y th e p l ai n m ean i n g

o f t h e rel ev an t t ex t ) t h at a v i ct i m ’ s l ack o f awaren es s o f a reas on ab l e-ap p reh en s i o n

o f-h arm t y

p e o f as s au l t s ho u l d n o t p recl u d e a co n v i ct i o n o f an a t t emp t t o d o s o wh en ,

as h ere, Harl ach er to ok s u b s t an t i al s t ep s to ward co m m i t t i n g s u c h a cri m e, 1 8 we are

n o n et h el es s co n st rai n ed b y p reced en t th at seem in g l y d i ct at es ot h erwi s e. 1 9 In d eed

, t h e

Su p rem e Co urt o f Geo rg i a has p rev i o us l y ex p l ai n ed t h at i f a “ v ict i m i s n o t p l aced in

reas on ab l e ap p reh en s i o n o f i m m ed i at e v i o l en t i n

ju ry b y t h e p oi n ti n g o f [a] fi rearm ,

o n l y t h e m i s dem ean or of p o i n t i n g a fi rearm

. . . h as b een co m m i t t e d

. ” 2 0 Th u s ,

ap p ro ach i n g , t h e ev id en ce was i n s u ffi ci en t t o es t ab li s h t hat o ffi cer w as i n reas o n ab l e

ap p reh en s i o n o f i m

m ed i at el y recei v i n g a v io l en t i n ju ry w h en d efen d an t co l l i d ed wi th

o ffi cer’ s veh icl e s o as t o p ro v e req u i s i t e ap p reh en s i o n el em en t o f ag g rav at ed as s au l t ).

1 8 S ee OCGA § 1 6 -4 -1 ; s ee g en er a ll y An t h on y v. S t a t e , 2 7 6 Ga. Ap p. 10 7

, 1 0 8 (1 ) (6 2 2 SE2 d 4 5 0 ) (2 0 0 5 ) (n o ti n g t h at “ th e p res en ce o f a g u n wo ul d n o rm al l y p l ace

a v i ct im i n reas on ab l e ap p reh en s i o n o f b ei n g i n j u red v i o l en t l y ” (p u n ct u at i o n

o m it t ed )).

1 9 S ee G A

. C O N S T

. art

. VI, § VI, ¶ V I ( “ T h e d eci s i o n s o f t h e Su p rem e Co u rt

s h al l b i n d al l o th er co urt s as p reced en t s .”); S t a t e v. S mi t h

, 30 8 G a. Ap p

. 3 4 5

, 3 5 2 (7 0 7 SE2 d 5 60 ) (2 0 1 1 ) (“ [T] h e d o ct ri n e o f s tare d eci si s p ro hi b i t s th i s C o u r t fro m i g n o ri n g t h e v al id p reced en t o f a h i g h er co u rt .”).

2 0 Rh o d es v. S t a t e , 2 5 7 Ga. 3 6 8

, 3 70 (5 ) (3 5 9 SE2 d 6 7 0 ) (1 9 87 ) (em p h as i s ad d ed ); s ee a l

s o Ma n z a n o v. S t at e , 2 8 2 Ga. 5 5 7

, 5 5 8-5 5 9 (2 ) (6 5 1 SE2 d 6 61 ) (2 0 0 7 ) (s am e); O CGA § 1 6-1 1-1 02 (“ A p ers o n i s g u i l t y of a m i s d em ean o r wh en h e i n t en t i o n al l y an d wi t h o u t l eg al ju s t i fi cat io n p o i n t s o r ai m s a g u n o r p i s t o l at an o t h er, wh et h er t h e g u n o r p i s to l i s l oad ed o r u n l o ad ed .”).

9reg ard l es s o f t h e m eri t s o f t h e St at e’ s p os i t i o n, o u r Su p rem e Co u rt —b y i m p l i cat i o n

at t he v ery

l eas t

— ap p ears t o h av e fo recl o s ed t h e arg um en t t h at t h e v i ct i m ’ s l ack o f

a reas o n ab l e ap p reh en s i o n o f i m m ed iat el y recei v i n g a vi o l en t in j u ry can n ev ert h el es s

res u l t i n a co nv i ct io n fo r at t em p t ed ag g rav at ed as s au l t

. 2 1 Acco rd i n g l y , u n t i l s u ch t i m e

as t h e Su p rem e Co u rt o f Geo rg i a cl ari fi es t h e ex t en t o f it s h o l d in g i n Rh o d es , we are

o b l i g ed t o ru le t h at t h e t ri al co u rt d i d n ot err i n g ran ti n g H arl ach er’ s g en eral

d em u rrer.

Ju d g men t a f f i r med

. El l in g t o n

, P. J., co n cu r s

. McFa dd

en

, J., co n cu r

s sp eci a l l y

.

2 1 S ee s u p r a n o t e 2 0

.

10A1 5 A1 85 6 . THE STATE v . HARLACHER.

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

.

I co n cu r i n t h e ju d g m en t an d i n al l o f i t s an al y s i s

– ex cep t t h e t ex t s u p p o rt ed

b y fo o t no t es 1 0 an d 1 1. Th at t ex t

, wh i ch I tak e t o b e i n ci den t al t o t h e m ajo ri t y ’ s

an al y s i s, u nd ert ak e s t o ex p l ai n “ wh at we m ean wh en we s p eak o f d i s cern i n g ‘ t h e

i n t en t o f t h e l eg i s lat u re.’ ”

“ In al l i n t erp ret at io n s o f s t at u t es ,” we are c h arg ed to “ l o ok di l i g en t l y fo r t h e

i n t en t i o n o f t he Gen eral A s s em b l y , k eep i n g i n v i ew at al l t i m es th e o l d l aw, t h e ev i l

,

an d t h e rem ed y .” OCGA § 1 -3 -1 (a). T h e m ajo ri ty d o es n ot ci t e § 1 -3 -1 (a), b u t as I

u n d ers t an d t h e tex t s u p p o rt ed b y th o se fo ot n o t es , i t p u rp o rt s to au t h o r i t a t i v el y

co n st ru e an d co n fi n e t h e p ri n ci p l e s et o u t i n t h at s t at u t e.Bu t th at p ri n ci p l e w as i n o u r fi rs t o ffi ci al Co d e, w as p art o f o ur l aw l o n g b efo re

t h at

, an d can b e t raced b ack t o Bl ack s t o n e’ s Co m m en t ari es o n t he Laws o f E n g l an d.

See Ever et t v. Pl a n ter

s’ Ba n k

, 6 1 Ga. 3 8 , 4 1 (1 8 7 8); Fo rma n v. Tr o u p , 3 0 Ga. 4 9 6,

4 9 8 (1 8 6 0 ); B o o t h v. W

il l ia ms , 2 Ga. 2 5 2

, 2 5 4 (1 8 4 7 ); s e e a l s o Per s o ns v. Hi g h t

, 4

Ga. 4 7 4 , 5 0 1 (1 8 4 8 ) (W arn er, J ., d i s s en ti n g ).

No d o u b t m

u ch of wh at h as been wri t t en o v er th e cen t u ri es i n t h e h un d red s o f

Geo rg i a ap p el l at e d eci s i o n s ci t i n g t h at p ri n ci p l e can fai rl y b e r e c o n c i l ed wi t h wh at

t h e m ajo ri t y wri t es t o d ay

. Bu t I am n o t prep ared t o d ecl are t h at al l o f i t can

. No r am

I p rep ared t o b ro ad ly d i s ap p ro v e o f an y an d al l o f t h o s e o p in i o n s t h a t can n o t b e s o

reco n ci l ed

– es p eci al l y

as m an y o f t h em are o p i n io n s o f o u r Su p rem e Co u rt

.

2