FOURTH D I VI SI ON

DI LLA R D, C. J.

, D OYLE, P. J.

, and M ERCI ER, J.

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

Septem ber 14, 2018



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 8 A0 95 6 . THE STATE v . SM ITH.

D I LLA R D , Ch i ef J u d g e.

Di an t e Jerm ai n e Sm i t h was i n d i ct ed o n ch arg es o f ag g rav at ed as s au l t an d

reck l es s co nd u ct

. Sm i t h fi led a m o t io n t o d i s m i s s th e ch arg es o n g ro u n d s o f i m m u n i t y

fro m p ro secu t i on

, wh i ch t h e t ri al co u rt g ran t ed fo l l o wi n g a h eari n g

. Th e St at e ap p eal s

fro m th e d i s m is s al

, arg u i n g t hat t h e t ri al co u r t e rred b y (1 ) h eari n g Sm i t h ’ s m o t i o n

aft er t h e s t art o f t ri al an d (2 ) g ran t i n g th e m o ti o n wh en t h ere was n o e v i d e n ce t h at

Sm it h d efen d ed hi m s el f w i t hi n t h e m ean i n g o f OCGA § 1 6 -3 -2 1

. Fo r t h e reas o n s s et

fo rt h i nf r a , we affi rm

.Vi ewi n g th e reco rd i n t h e l i g h t m o s t fav o rab l e t o t he t ri al co u rt ’ s ru l i n g

, 1 t h e

ev i d en ce s ho w s t h at

, o n t h e d ay i n q u es t i o n

, Sm i t h ret u rn ed t o ex -g i rl fri en d Ras h el l

M errel l ’ s fam il y h o m e. Ras h el l h ad g i v en Sm i t h p erm is s i o n to co m e b y t h e h o u se to

p i ck up so m e o f h is b el o n g i n gs wh i l e h er fam i ly was away

. 2 Up o n h is arri v al

, Sm i th

p ark ed h i s v eh i cl e o n t he s t reet , t o o n e s i d e o f t h e d ri v eway ’ s en tran ce.

Sm i t h h ad b een at t he h om e fo r ap p ro x im at el y twen t y m i n ut es wh en h e h eard

t h e fam i l y ’ s di st i n ct i v el y l o u d u t i l i t y v an n eari n g t h e res i d en ce, an d h e i m m ed i at el y

ex i t ed th e h o u s e an d s t art ed wal k i n g t o ward h i s v eh i c l e. Th e van ap p ro ach ed t h e

h o m e as Sm i t h n eared h i s v eh icl e, an d o n e o f Ras h el l’ s fo u r b ro t h ers

, Di l l on M errel l

,

ex i t ed t h e v an an d ran to ward Sm i t h

, wh o i n t u rn s p ri n t ed t h e rem ai ni n g d i s t an ce to

1 S ee, e.g

. , S i fu en t es v. S t a t e

, 2 9 3 Ga. 44 1

, 4 4 4 (2 ) (7 4 6 SE2 d 1 2 7) (2 0 1 3 ) (“ In

rev i ewi n g t h e den i al o f a m o t io n fo r p ret ri al i m m u n i t y

, we m

us t v i ew t h e ev i d en ce

i n t h e l i g h t m os t fav o rab l e to t h e t ri a l c o u r t ’s ru l i n g an d accep t t h e t ri al co urt ’ s

fi nd i ng s o f fact an d cred ib i l i t y d et erm i n at i o ns i f t h ere is an y ev id en ce t o s u p p o rt

t h em .”); St a te v. Ha l l

, 3 39 Ga. Ap p

. 2 37

, 2 3 8 (7 93 SE2 d 5 2 2 ) (2 0 1 6 ) (“ On ap p eal

fro m t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s gran t o r d en i al o f i m m u n i t y u nd er OCGA § 1 6 -3 -2 4 .2

, we v i ew

t h e ev i d en ce i n t h e l i g ht m o s t fav o rab l e t o t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s ru li n g

. ”).

2 Sm i t h h ad recen t l y b een i n s t ru ct ed by Ras h el l ’ s p aren t s to n ev er ret u rn t o t h e

h o m e.

2h i s car. 3 Bu t Sm it h reach ed h i s veh i cl e fi rs t, g o t in s i d e, an d l o ck ed t h e d o o rs

. Th e t wo

m en h ad a s t rai n ed h i s t o ry

.

Du ri n g h i s t i m e wi t h th e M er r el l fam i l y

, Sm i th h ad b een em p l o y ed b y t h e

fat h er, an d h e h ad wi tn es s ed Di l l o n s h o v e hi s fat h er in ex trem e an ger o v er wo rk

rel at ed di s ag reem en t s

. Di l l o n h ad al s o p rev i o u sl y s h o v ed Sm i t h i n an i n ci d en t y ears

earl ier. Ad d i t i o n al l y

, Sm i th was aware t h at Di l l o n h ad a rep u t at io n fo r b ei n g “ [v ] ery

ag g res s i v e, an g ry

, [an d ] crazy .” An d as a res u l t o f t h i s k n o wl ed ge an d t h es e p ri o r

al t ercat i on s

, Sm it h fel t “ [v ] ery u n s afe” b y Di ll o n ’ s ap pro ach

, feared t hat th e si t u at i o n

“ was g oi n g t o g et u g ly [,] ” an d i n t en d ed t o l eav e.

Bu t aft er Sm i t h en t ered an d l o ck ed h i s v eh icl e, D i l lo n p l an t ed h i m s el f d i rect l y

i n fro n t o f t h e h o o d o f t h e car. Sm it h tri ed to wav e Di l l o n o ff, t e l l i n g h im t h at h e

wi s h e d t o l e av e, b u t Di l l o n refu s ed t o m o v e an d rem ai n ed i n fro n t o f t h e car.

Acco rd in g t o Sm i t h

, Di l l o n ap p eared t o b e “ h o s t i l e[,] ” “ ten s ed u p

, ” “ ex t rem el y

an g ry ,” an d “ p u ffed u p ,” an d h e was cert ai n t h at D i ll o n wo ul d at tack h im i f he ex i t ed

t h e v eh i cl e. M ean wh i l e, acco rd i n g t o Ras h el l

, an o t h er on e o f h er b r o t h e r s

— wi th

3 Th e fam i l y v an was p ark ed o n t h e s am e s i d e of t h e s t reet as Sm i th ’ s v eh i cl e,

s ep arat ed o n l y

b y t h e d ri v eway

.

3wh o m Sm i t h al s o h ad a p rev i o u s p h y s i cal al t ercat i o n

— wa s s tan d i n g n earb y i n t h e

y ard

.

Sm i t h s t art ed h i s veh i cl e an d Di l l o n t hen ju m p ed on t op o f i t s h o o d, g rab b i n g

h o l d o f t h e s p ace bet ween t he h o o d an d wi n ds h i el d

. A t t hi s p oi n t

, Sm i t h pu t t h e car

i n t o g ear, b u t Di l l on s t il l d i d n o t g et o ff t he v eh i cl e, s o Sm i t h p ro ceed ed t o accel erat e.

Sm it h t h en l eft t h e s u b d i v is i o n b y way o f t h e ex i t k no wn t o h i m

, d ri vi n g u p t h e s t reet

i n a l in ear pat h

. In d o in g s o

, Sm i t h m ad e o n l y a few neces s ary t u rn s u n t i l h e reach ed

t h e en d o f t h e s u bd i v i s i o n

, wh ere h e s t op p ed th e v eh i cl e. Di ll o n t h en d i s m o u n t ed

fro m t he h o o d an d an g ri l y p u n ch ed th e d ri v er’ s s i d e wi n d o w b efo re Sm i t h d ro v e

away

.

Sm i t h was s u b s eq u en t l y i n d ict ed o n ch arg es of ag g rav at ed as sau l t an d reck l es s

co n du ct

. Th en

, o n O ct ob er 2 3, 20 1 7

, Sm i t h fi led a m o t i o n t o d i s m i s s t h e i n d i ct m en t

,

co n ten d in g t hat h e was i m m u ne fro m p ro s ecu t i o n a n d en t i t l ed t o t h e d efen s e o f

ju s t ifi cat i o n u nd er OCGA § § 1 6 -3 -2 4 .4 an d 1 6 -3 -2 1

. Fo l l o wi n g a heari n g

, t h e t ri al

co u rt g r an t ed Sm it h ’ s m o t i o n o n Oct o b er 2 7

, 20 1 7, d i s m i s s i n g t he i n d i ct m en t wi th

p reju d i ce. Th i s ap p eal b y t h e St at e fo l l o ws

.

41

. W e fi rs t ad d res s t h e St at e’ s arg u m en t t hat t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n h eari n g an d

r u l i n g u p o n Sm i t h ’ s m o t io n t o d i s m i ss aft er a ju ry was s t ru ck an d

, t h us

, aft er t h e

b eg in n i n g o f t ri al

. 4 W e d i s ag ree.

OCGA § 1 6 -3 -2 4

. 2 p ro v id es

, i n rel ev an t p art

, t h at “ [a] p ers o n wh o us es t h reat s

o r fo rce in acco rd an ce wi t h [OCGA § ] 1 6 -3 -2 1

. . . s hal l b e i m m u n e f r o m c r i m i n al

p ro s ecu ti o n t h erefo r

. . . .” An d i n Fa i r v. S ta t e

, 5 t h e Su p rem e C o u r t o f Geo rg i a

d et erm i n ed t h at t h i s Co u rt h ad co rrect l y co ns t ru ed an d ap p li ed O CGA § 1 6 -3 -2 4

. 2

4 Un d er OCGA § 5 -7 -1

, t h e St at e m ay ap p eal fro m a t ri al co u rt ’ s d i s m i s s al o f

“ an y co u nt ” o f an i n d i ct m en t

, wh i ch i ncl u d es d i s m is s al s aft er a t ri al co u rt co n cl u d es

t h at an accu s ed i s i m

m u n e fro m p ro s ecu t i o n o n th e g ro u n d s o f s el f-d efen s e. S ee S t a t e

v. Y a p o

, 2 9 6 Ga. Ap p

. 15 8

, 1 5 8 -5 9 (1 ) (6 7 4 SE2 d 4 4 ) (2 0 0 9 ) (h ol d i n g th at St at e h ad

a ri g h t t o ap p eal t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s fi n d i n g t h at d efen d an t was im m un e fro m p ro s ecu t i o n

o n g ro u n d s o f sel f-d efen s e b ecau s e t ri al co u rt ’ s ru l in g was effect i v el y a d i s m i s s al o f

t h e b at t ery co u n t s ); s ee a l s o OCGA § 5 -7 -1 (a) (1 ) (“ An ap p eal 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 t h e su p eri o r co urt s

, s t at e co urt s

, an d ju v en i l e

co u rt s an d s u ch o t h er co u rt s fro m w h i ch a d i rect ap p eal i s au t ho ri zed t o t h e Co u rt o f

A p p eal s o r t h e Su p rem e Co u rt i n cri m i n al cas es an d ad ju d i cat i o n o f d el i n q u e n c y

cas es i n t h e fo l l o w i n g i n s t an c e s :

. . . F ro m an o rd er, d eci s io n, o r ju d g m en 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 io n, or a p et i t io n al l eg i n g t h at a ch i l d h as

co m m i t t ed a d el in q u en t act , o r an y co u n t t hereo f[.] ”).

5 2 8 4 Ga. 1 6 5 (6 6 4 SE2 d 2 2 7 ) (2 0 0 8 ).

5i n a p rev i o u s d eci s i o n

, 6 co n cl u d in g t h at a t ri al co u rt m u s t ru le p r e-t r ia l o n a

d efen d an t ’ s m o t io n t hat as s ert s en t i t l em en t t o i m m u n i t y

. 7

Here, i n g ran ti ng Sm it h ’ s m o t i o n

, th e t ri al co u rt ex p l ai ned t h at t he m o t i o n h ad

b een fi led “

ju s t p ri o r to t h e j u ry b ei n g s t ru ck ” o n t h e f i r s t d a y o f t r ial

, an d t h at t h e

h eari n g o n t h e m o t i on was co nd u ct ed t h e fo l l o wi ng day

, Oct ob er 2 4

, 20 1 7

, “ aft er t h e

ju ry was s t ru ck d u e t o t h e St at e’ s wi t n es s

, o b s erv er Ras h el l Lee M errel l (‘ Merrel l’ ),

6 I d

. a t 1 6 6 (1 ) (ci t i ng an d d i s cu s si n g wi t h ap p ro v al t h e co n st ru ct i o n a n d

ap p li cat io n o f OCGA § 1 6 -3 -2 4 .2 i n Bo g g s v. S t at e

, 2 6 1 Ga

. A p p

. 10 4

, 1 0 6 (5 8 1

SE2 d 7 2 2) (2 0 0 3)).

7 Id

. (“ Becau s e we are o f t h e o p i n i o n t h at th e C o u rt o f Ap p eal s co rrect l y

co n st ru ed an d ap p l ied O CGA § 1 6 -3 -2 4.2 i n B o g g s

, we h o l d th at t h e t ri al co u rt erred

i n refu s i n g t o ru le p re-t ri al o n t h e d efen d an t s ’ m o t io n s

, an d we t h erefo re rem an d fo r

a p re-t ri al d et erm i n at i o n o f wh et h er t h e d efen d an t s are en t it l ed t o i m m u ni t y fro m

p ro s ecu ti o n u n d er OCGA § 1 6 -3 -2 4 .2 .”); see al s o Bo gg s v. S t at e

, 2 6 1 Ga. Ap p

. 1 0 4,

1 0 6 (5 8 1 SE2 d 7 2 2 ) ( 2 0 0 3 ) (“ Acco rd i n g t o Bl ack ’ s Law Di ct i o n ary

, on e wh o i s

i m m u ne i s ex em

p t o r free fro m d u t y o r p en al ty

, a n d p r o s e cu t i on i s d efi n ed as ‘ a

cri m i n al act i o n ; a p ro ceed i ng i n s t i t u t ed an d carri ed o n b y d u e co u rs e o f l aw, b efo re

a co m p et en t t ri b un al

, fo r t he p u rp o s e o f det erm in in g t h e g u i l t o r i n n o cen ce o f a

p ers o n ch arg ed wi t h cri m e.’ Th erefo re, b y th e p l ai n m ean i n g o f t h es e t erm s an d t h e

o t h er l an g u ag e i n t h e s t at ut e, t h e s t at ut e m u s t be co n s t ru ed to b ar cri m i n al

p ro ceed in g s ag ai n s t p ers on s wh o u s e fo rce u n d er t h e ci rcu m s tan ces s et fo rt h in

OCGA § 1 6 -3 -2 3 o r § 1 6 -3 -2 4

. Fu rt h er, as t h e s t at u te p ro vi d es t h at s u ch pers o n ‘ s h al l

b e i m m u n e fro m cri m i n al p ro s ecu t i o n ,’ t h e deci s i on as t o wh et h er a p ers o n i s i m m u n e

u n d er OCGA § 1 6 -3 -2 4 .2 m u st b e d et erm i n ed b y t h e t ri al co u rt b efo re t h e t ri al o f t h at

p ers o n co m

m en ces .” (p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed )).

6n o t b ei n g av ai l ab l e b efo re t he j u r y w as s t ru ck .” T h e co u rt wen t o n t o n o t e t h at

“ M errel l an d Sm i t h t es t i fi ed ” an d t h at “ [n ] o p h y si cal ev i d en ce was t en d ered b y ei t h er

p art y d u ri n g t h i s h eari n g .”

Th e St at e co n ced es on ap p eal t h at i t d id n o t ob ject t o t h i s p ro ced ure in t h e t ri al

co u rt an d t h at

, t h erefo re, t h i s en u m erat i o n o f erro r h as b een w ai v ed

. Nev ert h el es s

, t h e

St at e u rg es u s t o rev ers e b y fi n d i n g p l a i n e r r o r

. 8 An d i n o rd er t o d em o n s t rat e p l ai n

erro r, each o f t he fo l l o w i n g fo u r p ro n g s m u s t ex i s t :

Fi rs t

, th e r e m

u s t b e an erro r o r defect

— s o m e s o rt o f d ev i at io n fro m a

l eg a l ru le— t hat h as no t b een i n t en ti o n al l y rel i n q ui s h ed o r ab an d o n ed

,

i .e., affi rm at i v el y w ai v ed

, b y t h e ap p el lan t

. Seco n d, t h e l eg al erro r m u s t

b e cl ear o r o bv io u s

, rat h er t h an su b j ect t o reas o n ab l e d i sp u te. Th i rd

, th e

erro r m u s t hav e affect ed t h e ap p el l an t ’ s s u b s t an t i al ri g h t s

, wh i ch in th e

o rd i nary cas e m ean s he m u s t d em o n st rat e t h at it affect ed t h e o ut co m e o f

t h e t ri al co u rt p ro ceed i n gs

. Fo u rt h an d fi n al l y

, i f t h e ab o v e t hree p ro n g s

are s at i sfi ed

, t h e ap p el l at e co u rt h as t h e d i s cre t i o n t o rem ed y th e

erro r— d i s cret io n wh i ch ou g h t to be ex erci s ed o n l y i f t h e erro r s eri o us l y

affect s t h e fai rn es s, i n t eg ri t y or p u b li c rep u t at i o n o f ju d i ci al

p ro ceed i n g s

. 9

8 S ee OCGA § 2 4 -1 -1 0 3 (d ) (“ No t h i ng i n t h i s Co d e s ect i o n s h al l p rec l u d e a

co u rt fro m t ak i n g n o t i ce o f p l ai n erro rs affect i n g s ub s tan t i al ri g h t s al t h o u g h s u ch

erro rs were n o t b ro ug h t t o t h e at t en t i o n o f t he co u rt .”).

9 S t a t e v. Ni ch o l

s o n

, 3 21 Ga. Ap p. 3 1 4

, 31 7 (1 ) (7 3 9 SE2 d 1 4 5 ) ( 2 0 1 3 )

(q u o ti n g S t a t e v. Kel l

y , 2 9 0 Ga. 2 9 , 3 3 (2 ) (a) (7 18 SE2 d 2 3 2) (2 01 1 )).

7In t h i s cas e, as s u m in g wi t h o u t d eci d i n g t h at t h e S tat e s at is fi es th e fi rs t t wo

p ro n gs

, i t can n o t d em on s trat e t h e t h i rd p ro n g— i .e.

, t h at i t s s u b s t an t i al ri gh t s were

affect ed

. In d eed

, as t he t ri al co u rt ex p lai n ed i n it s o rd er, t h e h eari n g was co n d u ct ed

“ aft er t h e ju ry was s t ru ck d ue t o t h e S t a t e’s wi t n es s

. . . n o t b ei n g av ai l ab l e b efo re t h e

ju ry was s t ru ck .” 1 0 If an y t h i n g

, t h e St at e b en efi t t ed fro m t h e cas e p ro ceed in g as i t d i d,

an d it can n o t n o w co m

p lai n ab o u t t h e t i m i n g o f th e heari n g o n Sm it h ’ s m o ti o n

, wh i ch

was fi l ed b efo re th e j u ry was s t ru ck

. A cco rd i n gl y

, t h i s en u m erat i o n of erro r i s wi t h o ut

m eri t

.

2

. N ex t

, t h e St at e arg ues t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n g ran t in g th e m ot i o n wh en

t h ere was n o ev i d en ce Sm i t h d efen d ed h im s el f by u s in g t h reat s o r fo rce wi t h i n t h e

m ean i n g o f OCGA § 1 6-3 -2 1 . Ag ai n , we d i s ag ree.

As ex p l ai n e d s u

p r a

, OCGA § 16 -3 -2 4.2 p ro vi d es t h at “ [a] p ers o n wh o u s es

t h r e a t s o r fo rce i n acco rd an ce wi th [OCGA § ] 1 6 -3 -2 1

. . . s h al l b e i m m u n e fro m

cri m i n al pro secu t i o n t h erefo r

. . . . ” An d i t i s wel l es t ab l i s h ed t h at a d efen d an t “ b ears

t h e b u rd en o f d em on s t rat i n g en t i t l em en t to i m m u n i t y fro m p ro s ecu t i on u n d er OCGA

1 0 (Em p has is s u pp l i ed .)

8§ 1 6-3 -2 4 .2 b y a p rep o n d eran ce o f t h e ev i d en ce.” 1 1 F i n a l l y, wh en we rev i ew a t ri al

co u rt ’ s ru l i n g o n s u ch a m o t i o n

, w e m u st v iew t he ev 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 ru l i n g

, a n d t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s fi nd i n g s o f fact an d cred i b i l i t y

d et erm i n at i o n s m

u s t be accep t ed i f th ere i s an y ev i d en ce t o s up p o rt t h em

. 1 2 W i t h t h es e

g u i d i n g p ri n ci p l es i n m i n d , we wi l l n o w co n s i d er t h e St at e’ s arg u m en t

.

Here, Sm i t h cl ai m ed t h at h e u s ed t h reat s o r fo rce i n acco rd an ce wi t h OCGA §

1 6 -3 -2 1

, an d t h e t ri al co u rt ag reed

. OCGA § 1 6 -3 -2 1 p ro vi d es

, i n rel ev an t p art

, t h at

[a] p ers o n i s ju st i fi ed i n t h reat en i n g o r us i n g fo rce ag ai n s t an o th er wh en

an d t o t he ex t en t t h at h e o r s he reas o n ab l y b e l i e v e s t hat s uch th reat o r

fo rce i s n eces s ary t o d efen d h im s el f o r h ers el f o r a t h ird p ers o n ag ai n s t

s u ch o t h er’ s i m m i n en t u s e o f u n lawfu l fo rce; h owev er, ex cep t as

p ro v i d ed i n [OCGA §] 1 6 -3 -2 3

, a p ers o n i s ju s t ifi ed i n u s i n g fo rce

wh i ch i s i n t en ded or l ik el y to cau s e d eat h or g reat bo d i l y h arm o n l y i f

h e o r s h e reas o nab l y bel i ev es th at s uch fo rce is n eces s ary to p rev e n t

d eat h o r g reat b od i l y

i n ju ry t o hi m s el f o r h ers el f o r a t h i rd p ers o n o r t o

p rev en t t he co m

m i ss io n o f a fo rci b le fel o n y

. 1 3

1 1 S t a t e v. Og u n s u

yi

, 3 0 1 Ga. 2 8 1

, 2 8 3 (8 0 0 SE2 d 5 42 ) (2 0 1 7 ); a cco r d An t h o n y

v. S t a t e , 2 9 8 Ga. 8 2 7 , 8 2 9 (2 ) (7 8 5 SE2 d 2 7 7 ) (2 0 16 ).

1 2 Og u ns u yi , 3 0 1 Ga. at 2 8 3 ; An t h o ny , 2 9 8 Ga. at 8 2 9 (2 ).

1 3 OCGA § 1 6 -3 -2 1 (a).

9Th e St at e m ai n t ai ns t h at Sm i t h fai l ed t o m eet h i s b u rd en o f p ro o f b ecau s e h e

“ n ev er t es t i fi ed t h at he had u s ed an y fo rce ag ai n s t Di l l on ,” ap p aren t l y t ak i n g i s s u e

wi t h Sm i t h ’ s t es t i m o n y t h at h e d i d n o t wi s h Di l l o n h a r m a n d o n l y wan t ed t o l eav e,

an d wi t h t h e tes ti m o n y reg ard i n g (an d t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s fi n d i ng ) t h at Sm i t h d ro v e t h e

v eh icl e aft er Di l l o n ju m

p ed o n i t an d d i d s o at a n o rm al

, s afe s p eed

. L i k ewi s e, t h e

St at e al s o co n t en d s t h ere was n o ev i d en ce t o s u p po rt a fi n d i n g t h at an y u s e o f fo rce

b y Sm i th was n eces s ary t o defen d h i m s el f.

Co n trary t o t h e St at e’ s as s ert i o n s o n ap p eal

, t h ere is am p le ev i d en ce t o s u p p o rt

t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s co n cl us i o n s

. A ft er h eari n g t h e t es t i m o n y pres en t ed b y Sm i t h a n d

Ras hel l, t h e t r i a l co u rt accep t ed Sm i th ’ s d es cri p t i o n o f th e en co u n t er (as d et ai l ed

s u p r a ) o v er t hat p ro v i d ed b y Ras h el l , wh o t es t ifi ed t h at Di l lo n d i d n o t h av e t i m e t o

m o ve o ut o f th e v eh i cl e’ s p at h

. Ras h el l al s o t es t i fi ed th at s h e was “ n ot say i ng [Sm it h ]

h i t Di l lo n ” b u t t h at wh en Sm i t h ’ s car “ t o o k o ff, Di ll o n en d ed up o n t h e car b ecau s e

h e d i dn ’ t h av e ti m e t o m o v e t o ei t her si d e” an d t h us “ fel l o v er t h e car[.] ” Sh e

e x pl i ci t l y d en i ed t h at Sm i t h “ d ro v e i nt o h i m an d was l i k e t ry i n g t o k i ll h i m o r

an y t h i n g ,” an d al s o d en i ed t h at Sm i t h swerv ed th e v eh i cl e as h e d ro v e off wi t h Di l l o n

o n t o p

, t es t i fy i n g t h at s h e o n ly s aw t h e v eh i cl e d ri v e s trai g h t

.

10Th e t ri al co u rt co n cl u d ed t h at Di ll o n ju m p ed o nt o t h e h o o d o f t h e v eh icl e aft er

Sm it h s t art ed i t (b ut p ri o r t o accel erat i o n ), an d d i sco u n t ed Ras h el l ’ s tes t i m on y t o t h e

co n trary

, d et erm i n i n g th at h er co n t en t i o n t h at “ Di ll o n h ad n o wh ere t o g o an d d i d n ot

h av e t i m e t o m ov e [was ] n o t b o rn e o u t b y t h e e vi den ce.” Th en

, b as ed u p o n b o th

Sm it h an d Ras hel l ’ s t es t i m o n y

, t h e co u rt co ncl u d ed t h at Sm it h d ro ve at a n orm al

, s afe

s p eed ; t h at h e d i d n o t s werv e; an d t h at t h ere was n o d an g er o f Di l l o n b ei n g t h ro wn

fro m th e h oo d

. A c c o r d i n gl y

, t h e co u rt al s o d et erm i n ed th ere w as n o ev i d en ce t h e

v eh icl e was us ed i n a way l i kel y t o cau s e d eat h o r g reat bo d i l y h arm

. 1 4 In s t ead

, t h e

co u rt fo u n d t h at Di l l o n w as an d rem ai n ed t h e i n i t i al ag g res s o r an d th at Sm i t h u s ed

h i s v eh i cl e t o p ro t ect h i m sel f i n t h e m an n er t h at h e reas o n ab ly b el i ev ed n eces s ary

. 1 5

1 4 S ee Pa yn e v. S t a te

, 1 95 Ga. Ap p

. 5 2 3, 5 25 (4 ) (3 9 4 SE2 d 7 8 1) (1 9 9 0 ) (“ An

au t o m ob i l e i s n o t p er s e a d ead l y weap on

, bu t m ay b eco m e o n e d ep en di n g up o n t h e

m an n er an d m ean s o f t he veh i cl e’ s u s e.” (p u n ct u at i o n o m i t ted )); Myer s v. S t a t e

, 3 1 1

Ga. A p p. 6 68

, 6 7 0 & n .1 1 (2 ) (7 1 6 SE2 d 77 2 ) (2 01 1 ) (s am e); s ee a l so W hi t e v. S t a t e

, 2 8 7 Ga. 7 1 3, 7 2 4 n.7 (4 ) (c) (6 9 9 SE2 d 2 9 1) (2 01 0 ) (n o t in g t h at “ [w] h en t h e w eap on s

i n v o l v ed are n o t d ead l y weap o n s p er s e

, wh et h er t h e weap o n s u s ed b y th e co m b at an t s

co n st i t u t e d ead l y w eap o n s i s fo r t h e ju ry t o d et erm i n e” an d ci ti n g t o S i mmo n s v. S t a t e

, 1 7 2 Ga. Ap p

. 6 9 5

, 6 9 6 ( 1 ) (3 2 4 SE2 d 54 6 ) (1 98 4 ), fo r t he p ro p o s i t i o n t h at

,

“ d ep en d i n g o n t he m an n er an d m ean s o f t h e u s e of a m o to r v eh icl e, ju ry co u ld d eci d e

i t w as a d ead l y

weap o n”).

1 5 Th e t r i a l c o u rt al s o no t ed t hat “ a d i fferen t pi ct u re o f t h e al t ercat i o n m i g ht

h av e em erg ed if Di ll o n o r [t h e ot h er b ro t h er]

, bo t h l i s t ed o n t h e St at e’ s tri al wi t n es s

l i st

, h ad tes t ifi ed .” (Fo o t no te o m i t t ed ). Bu t t ho s e wi t n es s es were n o t cal l ed b y t h e

St at e t o t es t i fy at t h e h eari n g

, an d th e co urt reco g ni zed t h a t i t w as “ co n fi n ed t o t h e

11An d b ecau s e t h ere i s ev i d en ce t o s up p o rt t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s co n cl u si o n s, we affi rm

. 1 6

Ju d g men t a f f i r m ed . Do yl e, P. J., a n d

Mer ci er , J., co n cu r

.

ev i d en ce as p res en t ed .”

1 6 S ee S t a t e v. Gr een

, 2 8 9 Ga. 8 0 2

, 80 4 (1 ) (7 16 SE2 d 1 9 4 ) (2 0 1 1 ) (affi rm i n g

t ri al co u rt ’ s fi n d i n g th at c r im ina l de f e n d an t was im

m un e fro m pro s ecu t io n o n g ro u nd s

o f ju s t i fi cat i o n wh en ev i d en ce s u p p o rt ed t ri al co u rt ’ s fi n di n g t h at cri m i n al d efen d an t

“ h el d o n t o [a] kn i fe fo r ‘ p ro t ect i o n’ an d to ‘ s care’ ” hi s at t ack er, t h e v i ct i m

, an d t h at

cri m i n al d efen d an t “ was

, at t h e v ery l eas t

, sh o w i n g a t h reat o f fo rce t o [t h e v i ct i m ]

i n d i rect res p o n se t o an i m m i n en t v io l en t at t ack ” fro m t he v i ct i m ); S t a t e v. Co o

p er

, 3 2 4 Ga. Ap p

. 3 2

, 3 3 -3 4 (1 ) (7 4 9 SE2 d 3 5 ) (2 0 1 3 ) (affi rm i n g t ri al co u rt ’ s fi n d i n g t h at

cri m i n al d efen dan t s w ere i m m u n e fro m p ro s ecu t i o n o n g ro un d s o f j u s t i fi cat i o n wh en

u n co nt ro v ert ed ev i den ce s up p o rt ed t ri al co u rt ’ s fi n d i n g th at cr i m i n al d efen d an t s

“ reas o nab l y bel i ev ed t h at th ere was a d an g er o f im m in en t d eat h o r g reat b o di l y i n ju ry

t o o n e or m o re of t h ei r g ro u p an d t h at t h e fo rc e t h ey u sed was n eces sary to d efen d

t h em s el v es fro m a vi o l e n t at tack ”). Cf

. Nel s o n v. S t a te

, 2 8 3 Ga. 1 1 9, 12 0 (1 ) (6 5 7

SE2 d 2 0 1) (2 0 0 8) (h o l d in g th at “ ju ry was au th o ri zed t o co n cl u d e th at ap p el l an t u s ed

ex ces s i v e fo rce wh en h e s h o t th e vi ct i m i n res p o n s e t o t he v i ct i m h av in g p u n ch ed

h i m ”); In t h e In t er es t o

f Q. M. L.

, 2 57 Ga. A pp

. 22

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

(affi rm i n g t ri al co u rt ’ s fi n d i ng t h at ju v en i l e u sed ex ces s ive f or c e by sta

bb i n g u n arm ed

v i ct i m

, at t em

p t i n g t o co n t i n u e t o s t ab v i ct i m

, an d y el li ng t h at s he wi s h ed t o k i l l

v i ct i m , an d , t h u s , t h at ju v en i l e was n o t en ti t led t o d efen s e o f ju st i fi cat i o n ).

12