SECOND DI VI SI ON

M I LLER, P. J.

, A NDREWS and BROWN, 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

Jul y 30, 2018



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 8 A1 25 3 . THE STATE v . W ILKERSON.

B R O W N , J u d g e.

A j u ry co n v i ct ed J as o n Ed wi n W i l kers o n o f fi v e co u n t s each o f ag g rav at ed

as s au l t wi t h a d ead l y weap o n an d ag g rav at ed as s au l t w i t h a m o to r v eh i cl e, b ut

acq u it t ed h i m o f t h ree co u n t s o f k i d n ap p i n g

. T h e t ri al co urt sen t en ced h i m

co n secu ti v el y on t h e t en co u n t s o f ag g rav at ed as s au l t t o a t o t al of 6 0 y ears t o s erv e

fo l l o w ed b y 1 4 0 y ears o f p ro b at i o n

. W i l k ers o n fi l ed an am en d ed m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al

as k i n g th e t ri al co u rt t o m od i fy h i s s en t en ce, an d ch al l en gi n g t h e s u ffi ci en cy o f t h e

ev i d en ce t o s up p o rt h i s co n v i ct i o n s

. Th e t ri al co u rt g r a n t ed t h e m o ti o n i n p art

,

red u ci n g W i lk ers o n’ s s en t en ce, an d fi n d i n g i n s u ffi ci en t ev i den ce t o s up p o rt t h ree o f

t h e fi v e co u n t s o f ag g rav at ed as s au l t wi t h a d ead l y weap on

. Th e t ri al co u rt al s o

g ran t ed a n ew tri al u n d er th e g en eral g ro un d s

, fi n d i n g t h at t h e t h ree ag grav a t edas s au l t co n v i ct i o n s were ag ai n s t t h e wei g ht o f t h e ev id en ce an d t h e p ri n c i p l es o f

eq u it y an d ju s t i ce, an d t hat t h ere was i n s u ffi ci en t ev i d en ce t o fi n d W i l k ers on g ui l t y

o f t h o s e t h ree co u n ts

. T h e St at e ap p eal s

. Fo r th e reas on s s et fo rt h b el o w , t h e ap p eal

i s d is m i s s ed i n p art ; t h e co u rt ’ s o rd er i s rev ers ed i n p art

, v acat ed i n p art

, an d t h e

v acat ed p o rt io n o f t h e o rd er i s rem an d ed wi t h d i rect io n

.

Th e ev i d en ce v i ewed i n th e l i g h t m o s t fav o rab l e t o th e ju ry ’ s verd i ct

, s ee S t a t e

v. S ims

, 2 9 6 Ga. 4 6 5 (1 ) (7 6 9 S E 2 d 6 2 ) (2 0 1 5 ), sh o ws t hat o n J u n e 2 4

, 2 0 1 3,

W i lk ers o n ’ s s i s t er an d h er b o y fri en d were ri d i n g i n a car w i t h t he s i st er’ s t h ree y o u n g

ch i l d ren

, ag es t h ree, two

, an d o n e. 1 Th e car was s t o p p ed o n t h e si de o f t h e ro ad wh en

t h e b o y fri en d an d s i s t er s aw W i l k ers o n ri d i n g as a p as s en ger i n a red p i ck -u p t ru ck

t rav e l i n g t o ward s t h em

. Th e t ru ck s t o p p ed an d t h en p l owed i n t o t h e car, p us h i ng i t

i n t o a d it ch an d d es t ro y i ng t wo t i res an d t he d ri v er’ s s i d e d o or. As t h e b o y fri en d t ri ed

t o d ri v e t h e car o u t o f th e d i t ch

, h e an d t he s i s t er no t i ced th e tru ck d ri v e u p b e h i n d

t h em wi t h W i l k ers o n h an g in g o ut t he p as s en g er si d e b ran d i s h i n g a s h o t g u n.

W i lk er s o n p o i nt ed t h e g u n at t h e bo y fri en d an d t o l d h im t o p u l l o ver o r h e wo u ld

“ b l ow h i s b rai n s o u t.” Th e b o y fri en d p u l l e d o v e r an d W il k ers on ex i t ed t h e t ru ck

,

1 Th e two o ld er ch i l d ren were i n t h e b ack s eat an d t he b ab y was o n t h e s i s t er’ s

l ap i n t h e fro n t p as sen ger s eat

.

2p o i n t ed t h e g u n at t h e b o y fri en d ’ s face, an d t o l d t he s i s t er t o g et t h e k i d s o u t o f t h e

car. 2 W i l k ers o n t h en w en t t o t h e p as s en g er s i d e of t h e car an d go t t h e ch il dren o u t an d

t o o k t h e m b ack t o t h ei r g ran d m o t h er. Th e b o y fri en d an d s i s t er d ro v e th e car t o a

fri en d’ s farm

, cal l ed po l i ce, an d t h en en t ered an d h i d i n a p on d u n ti l t h e p o li ce arri v ed

b ecau s e t h e b o y fri en d was “ s cared as h el l o f al l o f i t.”

At t ri al

, t h e b o y fri en d t es t i fi ed t h at “ t h e gu n s t ay ed p o in t ed at m e. [W i l k ers o n ]

n ev er p oi n ted i t at t h e k i d s .” W h en as k ed i f W i l k ers o n h ad t h e g u n i n h is h an d wh en

t h e k i d s were g et t i ng ou t o f t he car, t h e b o y fri en d t es t i fi ed

, “ [i ] f h e di d

, i t was n ’ t

n ev er p o i n t ed at t h e k i d s

. He n ev er h ad t h e i n t en t o f h u rt i n g t h e ch il d ren at al l .” Th e

s i st er t es t i fi ed t h at W i l k ers o n “ was n ’ t p o i n t in g [t h e g u n ] at u s

, h e was p o i n t i n g i t at

2 Th e b o y fri en d t es t i fi ed t h at W il k ers on b el i ev ed t hat t h e b o y fri en d h ad t ak en

“ the c hildr e n by f

or c e f r o m [t h ei r g ran d m o t h er, W i l k ers o n ’ s m o t h er,] an d m a nha ndle d

h i s m o t h er.

. . . [W i l k ers o n ] d i d wh at an y k i n d o f f a m i l y m an wo u l d d o t o t ry to

p ro t ect h i s n ep h ews

. . . . Al l [W i l k ers o n ] w a s t r yi n g t o d o was g et th e k i d s an d g et

t h em back t o [ t hei r g ran d m o th er] .” At t ri al

, t he b o y fri en d ex p l ai n ed t h at h e d i d n ot

wan t W i l k ers o n p ro s ecu t ed becau s e “ i t was [al l ] a m i s un d ers t an d i ng .” Ev er si n ce t h e

d at e o f t h e i n ci den t

, “ [W i lk ers o n ] h as b een ri g h t t here aro u n d u s, w e’ v e al l s at d o wn

an d a t e d i n n er as a fam i l y .” T h e s i s t er ech o ed t h i s t es t i m o n y

. Acco rd i n g t o t h e

b o y fri en d an d si s t er, t h e ch il d ren l iv e wi th W il k ers on an d h i s m o t her at W i l k ers o n ’ s

h o m e, an d W i l k ers on hel p s t o rai s e t h em b ecau se th e s i st er i s ho m el es s

. At t ri al an d

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

, ev i d en ce was p res en ted t h at (a) t h e s i s t er h ad

cu s t o d y o f t h e ch i l d ren

, b u t t h at t h e Earl y Co u n ty Dep art m en t o f Fam i l y an d Ch i l d ren

Sev ices h ad an “ o p en in v es t i g at i o n i n v o l v i n g t h e [ch i l d ren ] ”; ( b ) t h e s is t er h ad

d i s ap p eared wi t h t h e fat h er o f h er o l d es t ch i l d t h e n i g h t b efo re t he i n ci d en t ; an d (c)

t h e si s t er h ad a d ru g pro bl em an d was i n an ab u s i v e rel at i o n s h i p wi t h t he b o y fri en d.

3t h e car.” W h en as k ed b y t h e St at e t o cl ari fy wh et h er t h e g u n

, wh i ch was p o i n t ed at

t h e car was al so p o i n t ed at t h e o ccu p a n t s o f t h e car, t h e s i s t er res p o n d ed

, “ I d o n ’ t

k n o w

, I g u es s s o i f we’ re i n t h e car.” Acco rd i n g t o t h e s i s t er, wh en s h e h an d ed t h e

b ab y to W i lk ers o n

, h e w as n o t h o ld i n g a g u n

. T h e St at e in t ro d u ced i n t o ev i d en ce t h e

s i st er’ s s t at em en t t o po l i ce fo ll o wi n g t h e i nci d en t

. In th at s tat em en t

, t h e s is t er wro t e

t h at W i l k ers on p o i n t ed t he g un at h er an d at t h e car.

Th e St at e i n d i ct ed W i l k ers o n o n t hi rt een co u nt s

, in cl u d i ng t h ree co u n t s o f

k i d n ap p i n g (Co u n t s 1, 2

, an d 3 ), an d fi v e co u n ts each o f ag g rav at ed as s au l t wi t h a

d ead ly weap o n (Co u n t s 4, 5

, 6

, 7

, an d 8) an d ag g rav at ed as sau l t wi t h a m o t o r v eh i cl e

(Co un t s 9

, 1 0

, 11

, 1 2

, an d 1 3). Co u n t s 6

, 7

, an d 8 al l eg ed t hat “ W il k ers on [m ad e] an

as s au l t u p o n t h e p ers on o f [each ch i ld ]

, w i th a d ead l y weap o n

, t o -wi t : a g u n.”

Fo l l o wi ng a h eari n g

, th e t ri al co u rt g ran ted W i l k ers o n ’ s am en d ed m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al

as t o Co u n ts 6 , 7 , an d 8, fi n d in g as fo ll o w s :

Al t h ou g h t h ere was t es t i m o ny t h at [W i l k ers o n ] p o i n t ed a fi rearm at “ th e

car,” t h ere w as no ev i den ce t h at [W i l kers o n ] ev er p o i n t e d a g u n at

, o r

t h reat en ed

, an y o f t h e ch i l d ren

. No r was t h ere a n y e v i d e n ce t h at th e

ch i l d ren fel t t h reat en ed b y t h e fi rearm

o r were aware i n an y

way t h at a

fi rearm h ad b een p o i n t ed at t h em

. Th e fact t hat a v i ct i m i s u n aware t hat

a fi rearm h as b een p o i nt ed a t t h e v i ct i m precl ud es a co n v i ct io n o f

4ag g rav at ed as s au l t. S ta t e v. Ha rl a ch en

, 3 3 6 Ga. Ap p. 9, 7 8 3 SE2 d 4 1 1

(2 0 1 6 ).

Th e [c] o urt fi n d s t h at t he co n v i ct io n s fo r Co un t s 6

, 7

, an d 8

, are s t ro n g l y

ag ai ns t t h e w e i gh t of t h e ev i d en ce an d t h e pri n ci p l es o f eq ui t y an d

ju s t i ce an d th ere was n o t s u ffi ci en t ev i d en ce t o al l o w a rat i o n al tri er o f

fact to fi n d [W i l k ers o n ] g u i l t y o f t h es e Co u n t s

. OCGA § § 5 -5 -2 0 an d

2 1 ; Ja cks on v. Vi r

g i 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 ).

Th e t ri al co u rt al s o fo un d t h e o r i g i n a l sen t en ce t o b e ex ces s i v e, an d m o d i fi ed it to

s ev en co n cu rren t t erm s o f t w en t y y ears wi t h fi v e t o s erv e. Th e tri al co u rt en t ered an

am en d ed fi n al d i s p o s i t i o n

, m em o ri al i z ing the ne w se nte nc e a nd in di cat in g “ New Tri al

Gran t ed ” as t o Co u nt s 6 , 7 , an d 8

.

1

. Th e St at e arg ues t h at th e t ri al co urt erred i n g ran ti n g th e m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al

o n Co u n t s 6

, 7

, an d 8

, becau se awaren es s i s no t an es s en t i al el em en t o f th e cri m e o f

ag g rav at ed as s au l t an d t h ere w as ev i den ce t h at W i l k ers o n p o i n t e d th e gu n at t h e

ch i l d ren wh en h e p o i n t ed i t at t h e car i n wh i ch t h e ch i l d ren were ri di n g . W e ag ree.

W e rev i ew t h e tri al co u rt ’ s ru l i n g t h at t h ere was i ns u ffi ci en t ev i d en ce t o s u s t ai n

Co u n t s 6

, 7

, an d 8 u n d er t h e s t an d ard es po u sed i n Ja cks o n v. Vi r g i n i a

. See Ba t t en v.

S t a t e , 2 9 5 Ga. 4 42 , 4 4 4 (1 ) (7 6 1 SE2 d 7 0 ) (2 0 1 4 ).

5Th e s t an d ard o f Ja cks o n v. Vi rg i n i a fo r as s es s in g t h e l eg al s u ffi ci en cy

o f t h e ev i den ce i s d i fferen t t h an t h e d i s cret i o n g i ven a t ri al co u rt in an

ev i d en t i ary ch al l en g e b as ed u p o n t he g en eral g ro u n d s

. In d eed

, ev i d en ce

m ay b e les s t h a n o v e rwh el m i n g

, b ut s t i l l s u ffi ci en t t o su s tai n a

co n v i ct i o n. W h en we co n s i d er t h e leg al s uffi ci en cy o f t h e ev id en ce, we

m u s t p u t as i d e an y qu es t io n s ab o u t co n fl i ct i n g ev i d en ce, t h e cred i b i l i t y

o f wi t n es s es

, or t h e wei g h t o f t he ev i d e n ce, l eav i n g t h e res o lu t i o n o f

s u ch t h i ng s to t h e d i s cret i o n o f t h e t ri er o f fact

. In s t ead

, we m u s t v i ew

t h e e v i d en ce i n t h e l i g h t m o s t fav o rab l e t o t h e v erd i ct

, an d we i n q u i r e

o n l y wh et h er an y rat i o n al tri er o f fact m i g h t fi n d b ey on d a reas o n ab l e

d o u b t fro m th at ev i d en ce t h at th e d efen d an t i s g ui l t y o f t h e cri m es o f

wh i ch h e was co n v ict ed

.

(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 t a t e v. Ca sh

, 3 0 2 Ga. 5 87

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

(2 0 1 7).

“ A p ers o n m ay b e fo u n d g u i l t y o f ag g rav at ed as s au l t i f t h e St at e pro v es (1 ) an

as s au l t an d (2 ) ag g rav at io n b y u s e o f an y o b ject

, d ev i ce, o r i ns t ru m en t w h i ch

, wh en

u s ed o ffen s i v el y ag ai n s t a p ers o n

, i s l i kel y to o r act u al l y d o es res u l t i n s eri o u s b o d i l y

i n ju ry .” (Ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t ted .) Pet r o v. St a t e

, 32 7 Ga. Ap p

. 2 5 4, 2 5 7 (1 )

(a) (7 5 8 SE2 d 1 5 2 ) (2 0 1 4 ). See al s o OCGA § 1 6 -5 -2 1 (a) (2 ). “ Th e St at e m ay p ro v e

an as s au l t b y s ho wi n g t h at t h e d efen d an t at t em p t [ed ] t o co m

m i t a v io l en t in

ju ry t o t h e

p ers o n o f an o t h er o r co m m i t [ed ] an act wh i ch p l ace[d ] an o t h er i n reas o n ab l e

6ap 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

. O CGA § 1 6 -5 -2 0 (a).”

(Ci t at i o n an d p u nct u at io n o m i tt ed .) Pet r o , 3 2 7 Ga. Ap p . at 2 5 7 (1 ) (a).

“ Th e i n d i ct m en t o n l y s pec if ie s tha t [ W ilke r s o n] m ad e an ‘ as s au l t ’ wi t h a d ead l y

weap o n , an d s u ch g en eral l an g u ag e s uffi ci en t l y ch arg es an as s au lt b y way o f ei t h er

m an n er co n t a i n e d i n t h e as s au l t s t at u t e.” (Ci tat i o n an d p un ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .)

Th o mp so n v. S t at e

, 2 7 7 Ga. Ap p

. 3 2 3, 3 2 4 (1 ) (6 2 6 SE2 d 8 2 5 ) (2 0 0 6 ). Acco rd i n g l y

,

t h e St at e co u l d h a v e p ro v ed t h e ch arg ed cri m e wi t h ev i d en ce t h at W i lk ers o n ei t h er

u s ed t h e g u n i n a n a t t emp t t o vi o l en t l y i n ju r e t h e ch i l dr en o r t h at h e u s ed it t o p l ace

t h e ch i l d ren i n fear of b ei n g v i o l en t l y in ju red

. See Tu cker v. S t a t e

, 2 45 G a. Ap p

. 5 5 1,

5 5 3 (1 ) (5 3 8 SE2 d 4 58 ) (2 0 0 0 ).

Rel y i n g o n Ha r l a ch en

, s u p ra, the t ri al co u rt fo u n d no ev i d en ce t h at th e ch i l d ren

were aware t h at a fi rearm h ad been po i n ted at t hem

. Th u s

, t h e t ri al co u rt reas o n ed t h at

W i lk ers o n co u l d n ot b e co n vi ct ed o f ag g rav at ed as s au l t

. Bu t

, t he l aw i s cl ear t h at

“ [w] h ere t h e ‘ as sau lt ’ at i s s u e co n s is t s o f an at t em p t t o co m m i t a vi ol en t in

ju ry t o t h e

p ers o n o f an o t her, awaren es s o n t h e p art o f t h e v i ct im is n o t an es s en t i al el em en t o f

t h e cri m e.” Go

f o r t h v. S ta t e

, 2 71 Ga. 7 00

, 70 1 (3 ) (5 2 3 SE2 d 8 68 ) (1 9 9 9 ). See al s o

Ti l l er v. S t a te

, 26 7 Ga. 8 8 8, 8 9 0 (4 ) (4 85 SE2 d 7 2 0 ) (1 99 7 ), o v erru l e d o n o t h er

g ro u nd s b y Du n a ga n v. S t at e

, 26 9 Ga. 5 9 0

, 5 93

, n

. 3 (5 0 2 SE2 d 7 2 6 ) (1 9 9 8); S u t t o n

7v. S t a t e

, 2 4 5 Ga. 1 9 2

, 1 9 3 (1 ) (2 6 4 SE2 d 1 84 ) (1 9 8 0 ); Br o wn v. S t a t e

, 2 0 0 Ga. Ap p.

5 3 7 (1 ) (4 0 8 SE2 d 8 3 6 ) (1 9 9 1 ). Here, t h e St at e ch arg ed an as s au lt b y way o f ei t h er

m an n er co n t ai ned i n t he as s au l t s t at u t e. A cco rd i n g l y, t h e c h i l d ren ’ s awaren es s i s

i m m at eri al ; i t i s en ou g h t h at W i l k ers o n’ s s i s t er co n fi rm ed t h at W i l k ers o n

i n t en t i o n al l y p o i n ted t h e s h o tg u n at t h e v eh i cl e i n wh i ch t he ch il d ren were ri d i n g in

an effo rt t o g et t h e b oy fri en d an d s i st er t o s t o p t h e v eh i cl e. See, e.g

., Ve a l v. S t a t e

,

2 4 2 Ga. Ap p

. 87 3

, 8 7 4 (1 ) (a) (5 3 1 SE2 d 4 2 2 ) (2 0 0 0 ) (ev i d en ce t h e d efen d an t fi red

i n d i r e c t i o n o f trai l er s u ffi ci en t t o su p p o rt ag g rav at ed as s au l t co nv i ct i o n s as to

o ccu pan t s of t rai l er, t w o o f wh o m were sl eep i n g ); Ti ll er

, 2 6 7 Ga. at 8 9 0 (ev i d en ce t h e

d efen d an t fi red a gu n i n t o an o ccu p i ed bu i l d i ng w i t h t h e i n ten t t o h arm s om eo n e h e

m i s t ak en l y b el i ev ed t o b e i ns i d e s u ffi ci en t to s u p p o rt ag g rav at ed as s au l t co n v i ct i on s

as t o o t h er u nk n o w n i n h ab i t an t s ev en i n t h e ab s en ce o f i n j u ry an d i n t h e ab s en ce o f

ev i d en ce t h e v i ct i m s were in r eas o n ab l e ap p reh en s i o n o f b ei n g i n ju red ). Acco rd i n g l y

,

we rev ers e t he t ri al co u rt ’ s ru l i n g t h at t h e ev i d en ce was in su ffi ci en t t o s u s t ai n

W i lk ers o n ’ s co n v i ct i o n s fo r Co u n t s 6 , 7

, an d 8

.

2

. W i l k ers o n co nt en d s t h at t he St at e fai l s t o en u m erat e as erro r th e t ri al co u rt

r e v e r s al o f Co u nt s 6

, 7, an d 8 o n t h e g en eral g ro u n d s

. On t he co n t rary

, gi v en t h e

wo rd i n g o f t h i s p o rt i o n o f t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s o rd er, we fi n d t h a t t h e S t at e i m p l i ci t l y

8ch al l en g es t hi s ru l i n g i n it s cl ai m t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n f i n d i n g t h e ev i d en ce

i n s u ffi ci en t t o s u s t ai n th e t h ree co nv i ct i o n s.

“ It h as l o n g b een t h e ru le i n t h i s s t at e t h at th e t ri al ju d g e i s v es ted wi t h t h e

s t ro n g es t o f d i s cret i o n s t o rev iew t h e cas e an d t o s e t t h e v e r d i ct as i d e i f h e i s n ot

s at i s fi ed wi t h i t

. ” (Ci t at i on s an d p u n ct u at i on o m i t t ed .) Ma nu el v. S ta t e

, 28 9 Ga. 3 8 3,

3 8 6 (7 11 SE2 d 6 7 6 ) (2 0 1 1). See al s o OCGA § § 5 -5 -2 0 an d 5 -5 -2 1 . “ Th es e s t at u t es

affo rd t h e t ri al co u rt b ro ad d i scret io n t o s i t as a ‘ t h i rt een t h j u ro r’ an d wei g h t h e

ev i d en ce o n a m o t io n fo r n ew t ri al al l eg i ng t h e s e g e n eral g ro u n ds .” (Ci t at i o n an d

p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) Ch o is n et v. S t a t e

, 2 9 2 Ga. 8 6 0

, 86 1 (7 4 2 SE2 d 4 76 ) (2 0 1 3 ). W e

rev i ew a t ri al co u rt ’ s ru l i n g u n d er OCGA §§ 5 -5 -2 0 an d 5 -5 -2 1 fo r an ab u s e o f

d i s cret i o n ; OCGA § 5 -5 -5 0 p ro v i d es t h at “ [t ] h e fi rs t gran t o f a n ew t ri al s h al l n o t b e

d i s t u rb ed b y an ap p el lat e co urt un l es s th e ap p el l an t s ho ws th at t h e [t ri al co u rt ] ab u s ed

[i ts ] d i scret i o n i n g ran t i n g i t an d t h at t h e l aw an d fact s req u i r e t h e v erd i ct

n o t wi t h s t an d i n g t h e ju d g m en t o f t h e p res i di n g ju dg e.” Bu t

, “ [t ] h e co urt ’ s d i s cret i o n

s h o u ld be ex erci s ed wi t h cau t i on

, an d th e po wer t o g ran t a n ew t ri al o n t h i s g ro u n d

s h o u ld b e i n v o k ed o n ly i n ex cep t i o n a l cas es i n wh i ch t h e ev i den ce p rep o n d erat es

h eav il y ag ai n s t t h e v erd ict .” ( C i t a t i on an d p un ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) S t a te v. Rei d

, 3 3 1

Ga. Ap p . 2 7 5 , 2 7 8 (7 7 0 SE2 d 6 6 5 ) (2 0 1 5 ).

9In Ch oi sn et

, s up ra, t h e d efen dan t m o v ed fo r a n ew t ri al as s ert i ng t h e g en eral

g ro u nd s

. 2 9 2 Ga. at 8 6 1. Th e t ri al co urt rev i ewed t h e ev i d en ce u n d e r J acks o n v.

Vi r g i n i a an d d en ied t h e m o t i o n

, co n cl u d i n g “ t h at [i t ] w a s m o re t h an s u ffi ci en t to

al l o w a rat i o nal t ri er o f fact t o fi n d [d efen d an t ] g u i l t y b ey o n d a reas on ab l e do u b t b ut

m en t al l y i l l o f t h e o ffen se ch arg ed .” Id

. Th e defen d an t ap p eal ed a n d o u r S u p rem e

Co u rt v acat ed t h e ru l i n g an d rem an d ed t h e cas e fo r co n s i d erat i o n o f t h e m o ti o n u n d er

t h e p ro p er l eg al s t an d ard

, fi n d i n g t h at “ a t ri al co urt d oes no t fu l fi ll i t s d u t y t o ex erci s e

i t s d i scret i o n w h en i t ap pl i es t h e s t an d ard s e t o u t i n Ja cks o n v. Vi r g i n i a t o t h e

s t at u to ry g ro u n d s fo r n ew t ri al

. ” Id

. See al s o W i g g i n s v. S t a t e

, 33 0 Ga. Ap p

. 2 0 5

, 2 1 1

(c) (7 67 SE2 d 7 98 ) (2 0 1 4 ).

Th e t ri al co urt h ere si m i l arl y ap p l i ed t h e s t an d ard s et o u t i n Ja cks o n v. Vi r g i n ia

wh en i t g ran t ed W i lk ers o n’ s m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al u n d er t h e g en eral g ro u n d s

, wh i l e

s i m u l t an eo u s l y t rack i n g t h e l an g u ag e o f OCGA § § 5 -5 -2 0 an d 5-5 -2 1

, wh i ch ad o p t s

t h e d i s cret i o n ary

s t an d ard . By s o ru l i n g, t h e t ri al co u rt co n fl at ed t h e l eg al i s s u es

.

[T] h e u s e o f th e p h ras e “ s u ffi ci en t ev i d en ce

, ” w hi ch ech o es t h e ap p el l at e

s t an dard o f Ja cks on v. V

i r g i n i a

, . . . d en o t es t h at t he tri al co u rt fai l ed t o

ap p l y i t s d is cret i o n

, as t he d et erm i n at io n i f t h ere i s s u ffi ci en t ev i d en ce

t o s u p po rt th e v erd ict i s a m at t er o f l aw, n o t d i s c r e t i o n

. . . . [T] he

s u ffi ci en cy o f t h e ev i d en c e st an d ard an d t h e d i scret i o n ary s t an dard

g i v en t o t h e t ri al co u rt p urs u an t t o OCGA § 5 -5 -2 1 ad d res s t wo d i s t i nct

10l eg al i s s u es

, il l us t rat ed b y t h e fact t h at t h e d o u b l e jeo p ard y cl au s e

ap p l ies wh en a co u rt fi nd s th e ev i d en ce i ns u ffi c i e n t

, b ut no t w h en a

co u rt h o l d s t hat t h e v erd i ct was ag ai n s t t h e wei g ht o f t h e ev i d en ce.

(Ci t at i o n s an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) Ma n u el , 2 8 9 Ga. at 3 8 6 -3 8 7 (2 ).

Gi v en t h e wo rd i n g o f t h e t ri al co urt ’ s o rd er an d i t s fi n d i n g wi t h reg ard t o t h e

s u ffi ci en cy o f t he ev id en c e as d i s cu s s ed i n Di v is i on 1

, su p ra, we are u n ab l e to

d et erm i n e wh ich s t an d ard t he t ri al co u rt ap p li ed to it s ru li ng u nd er t h e g en eral

g ro u nd s

. Acco rd i n g l y

, we v acat e t h i s ru l i n g an d rem an d t h e cas e t o th e t ri al co u rt fo r

reco n s i d erat i on o f t he g en eral g ro u n d s i n l ig h t o f t h i s o p i n io n

.

3

. T h e St at e ch al l en g es th e t ri al co urt ’ s m o d i fi cat i o n o f W il k ers o n ’ s s en t en ce

co n ten d i n g t h a t t he o ri g i n al s en t en ce i m po s ed b y t h e ju d g e p res i d i n g o v er t h e t ri al

was “ wi th i n t h e m i n i m

u m an d m ax i m

u m s en t en ces p res cri b ed b y l aw” u n d er OCGA

§ 1 7 -1 0 -1 (a) (1 ). W i lk ers o n co n t en d s th at t h e S t a t e h a s no ri g h t t o ap p eal t h e

s en t en ce m o d i fi cat i o n b ecau s e i t i s n o t en u m erat ed as an “ ap p eal ab le i s s u e” u n d er

OCGA § 5 -7 -1 . W e ag ree.

“ Ap p eal s b y th e St at e i n cri m i nal cas es are co n s t ru ed s t ri ct l y ag ai n s t t h e St at e

an d t h e St at e m ay n o t ap p eal an y is s ue i n a cri m i n al cas e, wh et h er by d i rect o r

d i s cret i o n ary ap p eal

, u n l es s th at i ss u e i s l i st ed i n O CGA § 5 -7 -1 .” (Ci tat i o n s an d

11p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) S ta te v. Ca s h

, 2 9 8 G a. 9 0

, 9 1 ( 1 ) ( a) (7 79 SE2 d 6 0 3 ) (2 0 1 5 ).

See al s o S t at e v. La n d

-O-S u n Da i r i es , In c ., 2 0 4 Ga. Ap p

. 4 8 5

, 4 8 6 (4 19 SE2 d 7 4 3 )

(1 9 9 2). Th e g ran t o f a req u es t t o m o d ify a s en t en ce i s n o t o n e o f t h e i s s ues l i s t ed in

OCGA § 5 -7 -1 as an i s s u e ap p eal ab l e b y t h e St at e. T he fact th a t t h e t r i a l co u rt

i n cl u d ed t h e s en t en ce m o d i fi cat i o n i n i t s o rd er g ran t i n g W i l kers o n ’ s m ot i o n fo r n ew

t ri al d o es n o t ren d er th e is s u e d i rect ly ap peal ab l e as i t h as l o n g b een es t ab l i s h ed t h at

al l eg ed i rreg ul ar i t i e s i n a sen t en ce d o n o t au th o ri ze t h e g ran t o f a n ew t ri al

. See

W i l s o n v. S t a t e

, 84 Ga. Ap p

. 7 0 3

, 7 0 8 (5 ) (6 7 SE2 d 1 6 4 ) (1 9 5 1 ). Cf. S t a t e v. Ha s s o n

,

3 3 4 G a. A p p

. 1

, 3 (1 ) (7 78 SE2 d 1 5 ) (2 0 1 5 ) (“ [t ] h ere i s n o m ag i c i n n o m en cl a t u r e

,

an d we ju d g e pl ead i ng s, m o t i o n s an d o rd ers n o t by t h ei r n am e b u t b y

t h ei r fu n ct i o n

an d su b s t an ce, b ei n g al way s m i n d fu l t o co ns t ru e s u ch d o cu m e n t s in a m an n er

co m p at i b l e wi t h t h e b es t i n t eres t s o f ju s t i ce”) (ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ). Th e

St at e’ s ap p eal o f t h e m o d i fi ed s en t en ces i m p o s ed o n Co u n ts 4 , 5 , 9 , 1 0 , 1 1 , 1 2 , an d

1 3 i s t h erefo re d i s m i s s ed fo r l ack o f ju ri sd i ct i o n

.

Fo r t h e reas o n s o u tl i n ed ab ov e, we rev ers e t h e t ri al co u r t ’s r u l i n g as t o t h e

s u ffi ci en cy o f t h e ev i den ce o n Co u n t s 6

, 7

, an d 8

. W e v acat e i t s ru li ng o n t h e g en eral

g ro u nd s as ap p l i ed t o t h o s e co un t s an d rem an d t h e cas e fo r t h e t r i a l c o u r t t o

reco n s i d er

– ut i l i zi n g t h e co rrect l eg al s t an dard

– w h e t h e r a n ew t ri al i s warran t ed

12u n d er t h e g en eral g ro u nd s as t o Co u n t s 6

, 7

, an d 8

. W e d i s m i s s fo r lack o f j u ri s d i ct i o n

t h e St at e’ s ap p eal o f t h e m o d i fi ed s en t en ces i m po s ed o n Co u n t s 4

, 5

, 9

, 1 0

, 1 1

, 1 2,

an d 1 3

.

Ju d

g men t r ever

s ed i n p a r t a nd va ca t ed i n p a rt

, a nd ca s e r ema n d

ed wi th

d i r ect i o n. Ap

p ea l d i s mi s s ed

i n p a r t. Mi ll er

, P. J., a nd

An d r ews , J., co ncu r

.

13