In th e S u p re m e Co u rt o f Ge o rg ia

De c id e d : Oc to b e r 6

, 2 0 1 4

S 1 4 A0 5 9 7 . MILLER v . THE S TATE.

B ENHAM , Ju stic e

.

Ap p e lla n t Gre g o ry Dway n e Mille r a p p e a ls h is c o n v ic tio n s fo r th e m u rd e r

o f Me lissa Ru sh in g a n d th e c o n c e a l m e n t o f h e r de a th

. 1 Co n stru e d in th e lig h t

m o st fa v o ra

b le to th e v e rd ic t, th e e v id e nc e s h o w s th e vic tim wa s liv in g a t

a p p e lla n t’s a

p a rtm e nt in Ma c o n a t th e tim e s h e w a s k ille d. On th e e v e n in g o f

Au g ust 6

, 2 0 0 8

, a

p p e lla n t, a lo n g with th e v ic tim a n d o n e o f a p pe lla nt’s frie n d s,

Jo se ph Me re d ith

, we n t to Wa l-Ma rt. As th e y we re lo a d in g gro c e rie s in th e c a r

to re tu rn h o m e

, a

p pe lla n t re a c te d an g rily to th e wa y th e v ic tim wa s lo a d in g th e

c a r a nd k no c k e d a p iz z a o u t o f th e wa y

. Af t e r t h e y re tu rn e d to a

pp e lla n t’s

1 The crimes occurred in the late hours of Aug ust 6, 2 008, or the early hours of Aug ust 7,

2008. On November 3, 2009, a B ibb County g rand jury returned an indictment charg ing appellant

with malice murder, felony murder (ag g ravated a ssault), a nd concealment of a death. Appellant was

tried Dece m b e r 6

- 9

, 2010, and a jury found him g uilty on a ll counts. Given the malice murder

conviction, the f

elony murder conviction was vacated as a matter of law, and the trial court sentenced

appellant to life in p rison, plus ten y ears to serve consecutively for the conviction for concealment

of a death. Appellant moved for n ew trial on December 10, 2010, which was amended F ebruary 26,

2013. After two hearing s, the trial court denied appellant’s motion for new trial by order filed

October 14, 2 013. Appellant filed a timely notice of appeal on October 24, 2013, and the case was

docketed in this Court to the April 2014 term for a decision to be made on the briefs.a

p a rtm e nt, th e v ic tim in vite d a m a n sh e h a d p re v io u sly d a te d to th e a pa rtm e n t

fo r th e pu rp o se o f m e e tin g a p p e lla nt so a

p p e lla nt c o u ld ta lk to h im a b o u t

p ro c urin g d ru g s, b u t th a t m a n te stifie d h e wa s u n a b le to d o wh a t a

p p e lla n t wa s

a sk in g h im to d o

. He sp o k e to th e v ic tim by p h o n e a ro u nd 11 :0 0 p

. m

. a s h e wa s

le a v in g th e a

p a rtm e n t c o m

p le x a n d sh e se e m e d to b e fin e a t th a t tim e

.

La te r in th e e v e n in g

, a

p p e ll a n t w a s a t th e a

p a rtm e n t with th e v ic tim

,

Me re dith

, Je rm a in e Willia m s, a n d Alp h on so En glish

. Ap p e lla n t b e g a n a rg u in g

with th e v ic tim a

b o u t th e m a n sh e h a d in v ite d o v e r. He g o t in to a p h y sic a l

sc u ffle with th e v ic tim

, h it h e r with h is h a n d

, a n d h it h e r in th e h e a d with a p la te

so h a rd th a t th e p la te bro k e

. Wh e n th e vic tim fe ll o n to th e c o u c h u p o n b e in g h it

with th e p la te

, a

pp e lla n t to ld h e r to b e qu ie t o r h e wo u ld “ w h o o p he r a ss.”

Wh e n En g lish trie d to g e t a p p e lla n t to sto p h ittin g th e vic tim

, a p pe lla n t c u rse d

En g lish a n d to ld h im to le a v e

. Ap p e lla nt p ic k e d u p a m e ta l ro d d oo r-sto p

a p p a re n tly to h it th e v ic tim

, b u t Me re d ith to o k it o u t o f h is ha n d

. At so m e p o in t,

a p p e lla n t re trie v e d a rifle fro m a n o t he r ro o m a n d p o in te d it a t th e v ic tim

.

Ap p e lla n t a n d th e vic tim we n t i n to th e ro o m a pp e lla n t c a lle d h is o ffic e a n d

Willia m s jo in e d a

p p e l l a n t th e re to sm o ke m a riju a n a la c e d w ith c ra c k c o c a in e

.

Willia m s c a m e b a c k in to th e liv in g ro om

, le a v in g a p p e lla nt a n d th e vic tim in th e

2o ffic e to g e th e r. At so m e p o in t, a p p e lla n t wa s se e n c o m in g o ut o f th e offic e with

b lo o d o n h is h a n d s a nd h old in g a k n ife

. Me re d ith sa w th e v ic tim in th e o ffic e

with h e r th ro a t c u t a n d g a sp in g fo r a ir “ lik e sh e wa s d ro wn in g .”

A p p e lla n t fo rc e d Me re d ith to ob ta in ble a c h a n d p o ur it o ve r a pp e lla n t’ s

h a n d s, a n d a

p p e lla n t to o k a sh o we r. Ap pe lla nt th e n wra p p e d th e v i c t i m u p in

a sh o we r c u rta in a n d c a lle d h is frie n d To m my Ze lln e r, w h o c a m e o ve r.

Ap p e lla n t to ld W illia m s, M e re d ith

, an d Ze lln e r “wh a t h e h a d d o n e

, ” th a t “ h e

h a d to g e t rid o f h e r,” a n d th re a te n e d th e m a n d th e ir fa m ilie s if th e y d id n o t h e lp

h im d isp o se o f th e b o d y

. Willia m s h e lp e d a p p e lla n t m o v e th e b od y d o wn sta irs

a n d in to th e b a c k se a t o f Ze lln e r’s ca r

. A p p e lla n t se nt Me re d ith o ff to fill

a p p e lla n t’s c a r, a lo n g with a p la stic ju g

, with g a so lin e

, a n d th e two c a rs we re to

m e e t u p

. Afte r g e ttin g th e g a so lin e

, Me re d ith sta rte d d riv in g a wa y f r o m th e

sta tio n b u t h a d to pu ll o v e r a n d wa lk b e c a u se th e c a r b ro k e d o w n

. Ap p e lla n t

o b ta i n e d th e ju g o f g a so lin e

, h im se lf. Usin g Ze lln e r’s c a r, Willia m s, Ze lln e r,

a n d a pp e lla n t d ro v e th e b o d y to a se c lu d e d lo c a tio n in Bib b Co u n ty

, pu lle d th e

b o d y fro m th e c a r, a n d th e n a p p e lla n t p ou re d g a so lin e o ve r it a n d se t it o n fire

.

All th re e m e n th e n d ro v e to Atla n ta a nd a p p e lla n t did no t re tu rn to Ma c o n u n til

th e n e x t d a y

.

3In re sp o n se to a 9 1 1 c a ll re p ortin g a fi r e o n t h e sid e o f th e ro a d

, th e

v ic tim ’s b o d y wa s d isc o v e re d w h i le it wa s still e n g ulfe d in fla m e s. Th e

a u th or itie s te stifie d a c o rd ha d b e e n wra pp e d a ro u n d th e v ic tim ’s n e c k wh ic h

th e n ra n d o wn h e r b a c k

to h e r fe e t, wh ic h we re a lso b o u n d to g e th e r. F o re n sic

e v id e n c e sh o we d th e re we re re mn an ts o f m e lte d p la stic o n th e b od y ’s h e a d a n d

n e c k h e ld b y w h a t a

p p e a re d to b e a n e xte n sio n c o rd

. In v e stig a to rs o b se rv e d

b lu n t fo rc e tra u m a to th e fa c e th a t wa s in c o n siste nt w ith d a m a g e d u e to th e fire

.

Th e y d e te rm in e d th e b o d y h a d b e e n d o u se d with a fla m m a b le liq u id

.

Ap p e lla n t’s siste r he a rd ne ws o n th e te le v isio n th a t a b o d y with ta tto o s sim ila r

to th e v ic tim ’s ha d b e e n fo u n d b e sid e a ro a d, a n d th is p ro m p te d th e siste r to v isit

a p p e lla n t’s a

p a rtm e nt. Th e re sh e o b se rv e d h e h a d b e e n c le a nin g a n d n o tic e d th e

stro ng sm e ll o f b le a c h

. S h e a lso n o tic e d a p ie c e o f c arp e t h a d b e e n c u t o u t o f th e

o ffic e flo o r, a

n d wh e n h is siste r q u e stio n e d h i m, a p p e lla nt to ld h e r h e h a d

sp ille d so m e in k o n th e c a rp e t.

On Au g u st 1 1

, 2 0 0 8

, in v e stig a to rs a nd c rim e sc e n e te c h n ic ia n s in sp e c te d

a p p e lla n t’s a

p a rtm e n t a n d n o te d th a t th e v ic tim ’s c lo th e s h a d be e n sta c k e d a s if

th e y we re be in g pa c k e d a

wa y

. Th e y fo u nd c le a nin g ite m s, in c lu d in g b le a c h

, in

th e k itc h e n a n d a b ro ke n p la te in th e tra sh

. Th e c a rp e t in th e offic e a p pe a re d to

4h a v e b e e n re c e n tly c u t

. In v e stig a to rs fo un d a u tility k n ife in th e offic e with a

m issin g b la d e

. Th e y c o lle c te d a n u m b e r o f sa m

p le s th e y b e lie v e d to b e b lo o d

b u t n o n e o f th e sa m

ple s we re a m a tc h fo r th e v ic tim ’s b lo od

. Th e c a u se o f d e a th

wa s d e e m e d to b e a c o m

b in a tio n o f b lu n t fo rc e he a d tra u ma

, sm o th e rin g

, a n d

stra n g u la tio n

. Th e in v e stig a tio n le d a u th o ritie s to Me re d ith a n d Willia m s, b u t

o n ly a fte r a

p pe lla n t wa s a rre ste d d id th e se witn e sse s d isc lo se to th e in v e stig a to rs

a ll th a t h a d tra n sp ire d

.

1

. Ap p e lla n t a sse rts th a t, b u t fo r h is sta te m e n t to th e p o lic e

, th e e v id e n c e

w a s v a g u e

, a m

big u o u s, a n d c o nflic tin g

, a t b e st, a n d th a t th e o nly two o t h e r

m a jo r witn e sse s, Me re dith a n d Willia m s, a d m itte d to a t le a st p a rtic ip a tin g in th e

c o n c e a lin g o f a d e a th

, p e rju ry in swo rn sta te m e n ts to p o lic e

, a n d ob stru c tio n o f

la w e n fo rc e m e n t. Co n se q u e n tly

, a p p e lla n t c o n te n ds th e e v id e n c e wa s

in su ffic ie n t to su pp o rt a c o n v ic tio n p u rsu a n t to th e sta n d a rd se t fo rth in J a c k so n

v

. Virg in ia

, 4 4 2 U.S

. 3 0 7 (9 9 S Ct 2 7 8 1, 6 1 L E2 d 5 6 0 ) (1 9 7 9 ). R e so lv in g

e v id e n tia ry c o n flic ts a n d in c o n siste n c ie s, h o we v e r, a s we ll a s a sse ssin g witn e ss

c re d ib ility

, a

re th e p ro v in c e o f th e fa c t fin d e r, n o t th is Co u rt. Ha mp to n v

. S ta te

,

2 7 2 Ga

. 2 8 4

, 2 8 5 (1 ) (5 2 7 S E2 d 87 2 ) (2 0 0 0 ). F u r t h e r, wh e n re v ie win g th e

su ffic ie n c y o f th e e v id e n c e

, th is Co u rt c o n sid e rs th e e v id e n c e in th e lig h t m o st

5fa v o ra

ble t o t h e v e rd ic t. S e e Ba rg e v

. Sta te

, 2 9 4 Ga

. 56 7

, 5 6 8 (1 ) (7 5 5 S E2 d

1 6 6 ) (2 01 4 ).

Th e tria l c o urt in stru c te d th e ju r y th a t th e te stim o n y o f a n a c c o m p lic e

,

a lo n e

, is n o t su ffic ie n t to wa rra n t a c o n v ic tio n

, a nd a lso th a t wh e th e r a witn e ss

in th e c a se wa s a n a c c o m p lic e is a n issu e fo r ju ry d e te rm in a tio n

. F ro m th e

e v id e n c e

, th e ju ry wa s e ntitle d to fin d th e se witn e sse s we re n ot a c c o m p lic e s in

th e c o n c e a lm e n t o f t h e v i c tim ’s d e a th o r a n y o th e r c rim in a l a c ts b u t we re

c o e rc e d b y fe a r o f h a rm o r d e a th to do a p p e lla n t ’ s b i d d i n g with re sp e c t to

d isp o sin g of th e bo d y

. S e e K e lly v

. S ta te

, 27 0 Ga

. 52 3

, 5 2 5 (2 ) (5 1 1 S E2 d 1 6 9 )

(1 9 9 9 ). Co n se q ue n tly

, th is is no t a c a s e i n wh ic h th e e v id e n c e o f th a t c rim e

c o n s i ste d so le ly o f th e un c o rro b o ra te d te stim o n y of a c c o m p lic e s an d w a s

th e re fo r in su ffic ie n t to c o n v ic t. Id

. In a n y e v e nt, a c c o m p lic e s c a n c orro b o ra te

e a c h o th e r. S e e J

on e s v

. S ta te

, 2 3 5 Ga

. 10 3 (3 ) (2 18 S E2 d 8 9 9 ) (1 9 7 5 ); S k ip pe r

v

. S ta te

, 3 1 4 Ga

. Ap p. 8 7 0

, 8 7 2 (7 2 6 S E2 d 1 2 7 ) (2 01 2 ). P u rsu a n t to th e

sta n d a rd se t fo rth in J

a c k so n v

. Virg in ia

, su p ra

, th e e vid e n c e a d d u c e d a t tria l a n d

su m m ariz e d a

b o ve wa s su ffic ie n t t o a

u th o riz e a ra tio na l trie r o f fa c t to fin d

a p p e lla n t g u ilty b e y o n d a re a so n a b le d o u b t o f th e c rim e s fo r wh ic h h e wa s

c o n v ic te d

.

62

. Ap p e lla nt a sse rts h is a p p o in te d tria l c o u n se l p ro v id e d c o n stitu tio n a lly

in e ffe c tiv e a ssista n c e o f c o u n se l fo r se v e ra l re a so n s a nd th a t h e is th u s e n title d

to a n e w tria l. F o r th e re a so n s d isc u sse d be lo w, we fin d t h at a pp e lla n t’s

a sse rtio n s o f e rro r c a

n n o t b e su sta in e d b e c a

use th e y d o n o t m e e t b oth p ro n g s o f

th e te st se t fo rth in S tric k

la n d v

. W ash in g to n

, 4 6 6 U.S

. 6 6 8

, 6 8 7 (III) (1 0 4 S Ct

2 0 5 2, 8 0 LE2 d 6 7 4 ) (1 9 8 4 ). 2

(a ) (i) With re sp e c t to tria l p re pa ra tio n a n d th e c a llin g o f witn e sse s,

a p p e lla n t c o m

p la i n s th a t h is tria l c ou n se l fa ile d to u se a ny o f th e witn e sse s h e

id e n tifie d to c o u n se l, th a t c o u n se l ra re ly m e t with h im

, a n d wo uld n o t liste n to

h is c o nc e rn s a

b o u t h is d e fe n se

. At th e m o tio n fo r n e w tria l h e a rin g

, ho we ve r,

a p p e lla n t’s tria l c o u nse l te stifie d th a t h e m e t with a p pe lla n t a n u m

be r of tim e s,

p ro v id e d a

p p e lla n t with in fo rm a tio n ga th e re d d u rin g d isc o v e ry

, a n d th a t h e

in v e stig a te d witn e sse s id e n t i f i e d b y a p p e l l a n t b u t c o n c lu d e d n o n e o f th e m wo u ld

b e h e lp fu l to th e c a se a n d o n e wo u l d h a v e b e e n h a rm fu l to c a ll. “ A stro n g

p re su m p tio n e x ists th a t c o u n se l’ s co n d u c t fa lls with in th e b ro a d ra n g e o f

p ro fe ssio n a l c o n d uc t.

. . . [T] h e tria l c o u r t w a s e n title d to b e lie v e c o u n se l’s

2 “To prevail on a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel, an appellant must prove both

deficient performance of counsel a nd prejudice from the deficient p erformance.” Bell v

. State

, 294

Ga. 443, 445 (754 SE2d 327) (2014) (citing Strickland v. W ashington

, supra.)

7te stim o n y h e c o n s u lte d w ith h is c lie n t o v e r a pp e lla n t’s te stim o n y th a t h e d id

n o t[.] ” Co g

gin s v . S ta te , 2 7 5 Ga . 4 7 9 , 4 81 -4 8 2 (3 ) (5 6 9 S E2 d 5 0 5 ) (2 0 0 2 ).

F u r t h e r

, a p p e l l a n t p r e s e n t e d n o e v id e n c e wh a tso e v e r re g a r d i n g t h e i d e n t i t y

o f th e witn e sse s h e c la im s sh o u ld h a ve be e n c a lle d or w h a t th e ir te stim o n y

wo u ld h a v e b e e n

. De c id in g wh ic h witn e sse s to c a ll is a m a tte r o f tria l stra te g y

a n d ta c tic s, a n d b e c a

u se a p p e lla n t fa ile d to sh o w th a t th e s tra te g ic d e c isio n s

m a d e b y h i s c o u n se l with re sp e c t to witn e sse s we re so p a te n tly u nre a so n a b le

th a t n o c o m

p e te n t a tto rn e y wo u ld h a v e c h o se n th e m , th e tria l c o u rt d id n o t e rr

in f i n d i n g tria l c o u n se l’s p e rfo rm a n c e in th is re g a rd wa s n o t c o n stitu tio n a lly

d e fic ie n t. S e e W

a sh in g to n v . S

ta te , 2 9 4 Ga . 5 60 , 5 6 5-5 6 6 (3 ) (7 5 5 SE2 d 1 6 0 )

(2 0 1 4 ).

(i i ) O n e o f a

p p e lla nt’s c o m

p la in ts re g a rd in g c o u n se l’s fa ilu re to c a ll

w i t n e sse s re la te s to h is a sse rtio n th a t c o u n se l wro n g ly fa ile d to p re se n t t h e

te stim o n y o f a DNA e x p e rt. A p p e lla n t, h o we v e r, h a s fa ile d to d e m on stra te h o w

tria l c o un se l’s fa ilu re to p re se n t th e te stim o n y o f a DNA e xp e rt c re a te d p re ju d ic e

p u rsu a n t to th e two -p ro n ge d t e s t s e t fo rth in S tric k la n d b e c a u se th e S ta te ’s

witn e sse s e sta b lish e d th e a b se n c e o f th e v ic tim ’s b lo o d a t a pp e lla n t’s a

p a rtm e n t.

Co u n se l is n o t in e ffe c tiv e fo r fa ilin g to c a ll a n e x p e rt w itn e ss wh o se te stim o n y

8wo u ld h a v e b e e n c u m u la tiv e o f o th e r e v id e n c e p re se nte d in th e tria l. S e e Bry a n t

v

. S ta te

, 2 9 3 Ga

. 7 5 4 (2 ) (7 4 9 S E2 d 6 97 ) (2 01 3 ); W e sle y v

. S ta te

, 2 8 6 Ga

. 3 5 5

(3 ) (h ) (6 8 9 S E2 d 2 8 0 ) (2 0 10 ).

(b ) Ap p e lla nt a lso a sse rts his co u n se l p ro v id e d in e ffe c tiv e a ssista n c e

wh e n he fa ile d to w ith dra w fro m re p re se n tin g h im

, so th a t ne w c o u n se l c o u ld

b e a p p o in te d

, wh e n a n e th ic a l c o n flic t of in te re st a ro se wh ic h c a u se d c o u n se l to

p r e s e n t a p p e lla n t’s te stim o n y in a n arra tiv e fo rm a t a s o p po se d to q u e stio n in g

h im

. Wh e n a

p p e lla n t e le c te d to ta k e th e sta nd

, tria l c o u n se l in fo rm e d th e c o urt

o u tsid e th e p re se n c e o f t h e ju ry th a t a n e th ic a l issu e p re v e n te d h im fro m

q u e stio n in g a

p p e lla n t. An e x p a rte h e a rin g wa s c o n d uc te d

, a n d wh e n a sk e d

,

tria l c o u n se l d isc lo se d th a t th e e th ic a l issu e w a s th e p o te n tia l v io la tio n o f Ru le

3 .3 o f th e Ge o rg ia Ru le s o f P ro fe ssio n a l Co n d u c t. Th a t ru le p ro h ib its a la wy e r

fro m o ffe rin g e v id e n c e th e la wy e r k n o ws to b e fa lse

. 3 Co u n se l a lso c o n firm e d

th a t h e h a d e x pla in e d to a p p e lla n t th e r e q u i r e me n t fo r a witn e ss to te stify

tru th fu lly a

n d th a t h e h a d c o u n se le d a p p e lla n t a g a in st ta k in g th e sta n d. Afte r a

b re a k in th e p ro c e e d in g s d u rin g wh ic h a p p e lla n t’s tria l c o u n se l c o n su lte d with

3 Rule 3.3 (a) (4) states that “[ a ] lawy er shall not k n owing ly

. . . o ffer ev i d en c e t h at the

l a w y er k n ows to be false.” Subsection (c) further provides that “[ a] lawy er may refuse to offer

evidence that the lawy

er reasonably

believes is false.”

9le g a l c o u n se l a b o u t th e m a tte r, c o u n se l r e p o r t e d b a c k to th e tria l c o u rt th a t h e

b e lie v e d th e o n ly wa y to re so lv e th e e th ic a l d ile m m a wa s to p e rm it a p p e lla n t to

te stify in th e n a rra tiv e

. Th e tria l c o urt, a g a in d u rin g a n e x p arte he a rin g

,

e x p la in e d to a

p p e lla n t th a t g iv e n c o u n se l’s e th ic a l c o n c e rn s, if a p p e lla nt e le c te d

to te stify

, h is c o u n se l w o u ld a sk c e rta in p re lim in a ry q u e stio n s a n d th e n h e wo u ld

b e p e rm itte d to te stify in th e n a rra tiv e

. T h e tria l c o u rt fu rth e r e x p l a i n e d th e

p ro c e d u re th a t wo u ld b e fo llo we d if h is te stim o n y wa s p re se n te d to th e ju ry in

n a rra tiv e fo rm with o u t th e b e n e f i t o f qu e stio n in g by h is c o u nse l. Ap p e lla n t

e le c te d to te stify a n d h is te stim o n y wa s p re se n te d in th is fa sh io n.

Ap p e lla n t no w a sse rts th a t wh e n th e tria l c o urt p e rm itte d h im to te stify in

th e n a rra tiv e

, th is e ffe c tiv e ly p e rm itte d h is tria l c o u n se l to with d ra w fro m

re p re se n tin g h im

, l e a

v i n g h i m w i t

h o u t c o u n s e l

, t h u s e s t a b l i s h i n g c o n stitu tio n a lly

in e ffe c tiv e a ssista n c e o f c o u n se l. He fu rth e r a sse rts th a t p ursu a nt to Ru le 1 .7 o f

th e G e o rg ia Ru le s o f Pro fe ssio n a l Co n du c t, wh e n a n a tto rn e y d e te rm in e s th a t h is

d u ty to a th ird p a rty , su c h a s th e c o u rt, is in c o n flic t with h is d u ty to re p re se n t

th e c lie n t, th e a tto rn e y sh a ll n o t c o n tin u e to r e p re se n t th e c lie n t. 4 Ap p e lla n t

4 Rule 1.7 (a) of the Georg ia Rules of Professional Conduct provides, in pertinent part:

A lawy er shall not represent or c ontinue to represent a client if there is a sig nificant

10a rg u e s th a t imm e d ia te with d ra wa l wa s th e o nly a p pro p ria te a c tio n fo r tria l

c o u n se l so th a t a m istria l c o u l d b e g ra nte d a nd n e w c o u n se l a p p o in te d to

re p re se n t h im

a t a n e w tria l.

Be c a u se c o u n se l is p re c lu d e d fro m a ssistin g th e c lie n t in p re se n tin g fa lse

e v id e n c e

, in e ffe c tiv e a ssista n c e of c o u n se l is n o t sh o w n b y tria l c o u n se l’s ta k in g

ste p s to a v o id vio la tin g th is e th ic a l d u ty

. S e e Nix v

. W h ite sid e

, 47 5 U.S

. 1 5 7

,

1 6 8 -1 7 1 (II) (C) (1 0 6 S C t 9 8 8 , 8 9 LE2 d 1 23 ) (1 9 8 6 ). Alth o u g h o th e r o p tio n s

fo r a v o id in g v io la tin g th is d u ty e x ist, c o u rts th a t h a v e e x a m in e d th e issu e h a v e

o v e rwh e lm in g ly e n do rse d th e op tio n o f p e rm ittin g a c rim in a l de fe n d a n t t o

te stify in th e n a r ra tiv e

, a fte r c o u n se l h a s a tte m p te d to d issu a d e th e d e fe n d a n t

fro m pe rju ry

. S e e F

o ste r v

. S mith

, 2 0 1 4 WL 1 2 3 0 5 5 1 * 1 4 (W.D. Mic h .) (Ma rc h

2 5 , 2 01 4 ) a n d c a se s c ite d th e re in

.

Th e o n ly c l e a r l y e sta b lish e d S u pre m e C o u rt la w in th is a re a is

e sta b lish e d b y N

i x : d e fe n se c o u n se l d oe s n o t a c t in e ffe c tiv e ly fo r

re fu sin g to p r ese n t k n o wn o r su sp e c te d p e rju ry by th e c lie n t.

Be y o n d th a t, th e Co u rt h a s n o t p re sc rib e d c le a r g u id e lin e s.

Id . a t * 1 5.

risk that the lawy er’s own interests or the lawy e r’s duties to another client, a f ormer

client, or a third person will materially and adversely affect the representation of the

client . . . .

11Tria l c o u n se l te stifie d a t th e m o tio n fo r n e w tria l h e a rin g th a t h e b e lie v e d

th e o n ly wa y to re so lv e th e c o n flic t th a t a ro se b e twe e n h is d uty to th e c lie n t a n d

h is d u tyto th e c o u rt wa s to p e rm it a p p e lla n t to te stify in th e n a rra tiv e b e c a use

h e did no t th in k

th a t a sk in g to with d ra w a s c o u n se l w a s a n o p tio n a t th a t p o in t

in th e tria l. Ap p e lla n t h a s n o t e sta b lish e d th a t th e tria l c o u r t w o u l d h a v e

p e rm itte d c o u n se l to with d ra w m id -tria l a n d th e n g ra n te d a mi s tria l so th a t h e

c o u ld b e re p re se n t e d b y n e w ly a p p o in te d c o u n se l a t a n e w tria l. In fa c t,

a p p e lla n t su b m itte d h is p ro se writte n re q u e st fo r a p p o in tm e n t o f ne w c o u n se l

d ire c tly to th e tria l ju d g e

, wh o d e n ie d th a t m o ti o n

. We a g re e with th e

c o n c lu sio n o f th e tria l c o u rt in its o rd e r de n y in g a ne w tria l th a t e v e n a ssu m in g

a m otio n fo r m istria l w o u ld h a v e b e e n g ra n te d a n d n e w tria l c o u n se l a p p o in te d

,

su c h a n a p p ro a c h wo u ld lik e ly h a v e b e g u n a n e n d le ss c y c le o f c o n tin u a n c e s a n d

m o tio ns to with d ra w b y ne wly a pp o in te d c o u n se l, or e lse m a y ha v e e n c o u ra g e d

a p p e lla n t to ke e p h is in te n t to c o m m it p e rju ry to h im se lf, th u s fa c ilita tin g fa lse

te stim o n y a t tria l. S e e P e op le v

. J o h n so n

, 6 2 Ca l. Ap p

. 4 th 6 0 8

, 6 2 3 (3 ) (7 2 Ca l.

Rp tr. 2 d 8 0 5 ) (1 99 8 ).

F u rth e r, with re sp e c t to th e a sse rtio n th a t tria l c o u n se l wa s fa c e d with a

c o n flic t o f in te re st th a t re q u ire d h im to with d ra w, we n o te th a t “[i] n e v e ry c a se

,

12a n a tto rn e y ’s lo y a lty to t h e c lie n t is te m p e re d b y th e ru le s o f p ro fe ssio n a l

re sp o n sib ility

. Th a t d iv id e d lo y a lty

, h o we v e r, is n o t t h e ty p e o f c o n flic t o f

in te re st t h at rise s to th e p re su m ptio n o f a p re

ju d ic e .” S ta te v

. Mc

Do w e ll

, 2 7 2

Wis. 2 d 4 8 8

, ¶ 6 1 (6 8 1 NW2 d 5 0 0 ) (2 0 04 ). Ev e n a ssu m in g

, with o u t d e c id in g

,

th a t tria l c ou n se l sh o uld h a v e so u g h t le a v e t o w i t h d ra w a nd a m istria l p rio r to

p re se ntin g h is t e s t im o ny in a n a rra tiv e fo rm a t, a p p e lla n t fa ile d to e sta b lish

p re ju d ic e b y th a t fa ilu re

. “ [A] t a m in im u m th e a t t o r n e y ’s first d u ty wh e n

c o n fro n te d with a p ro p osa l fo r p e rju rio u s te stim o n y is to a tte m p t to d issu a d e th e

c lie n t fro m th e u n la w fu l c ou rse o f c o n d u c t.” Nix

, su p ra

, 4 7 5 U.S

. a t 1 6 9

. 5 Th e

re c o rd re fle c ts th is d u ty w a s m e t. B e c a u se a p p e lla n t h a s fa ile d to m e e t th e

p re ju d ic e p ro n g o f th e S tric k la n d te st, h e h a s fa ile d to e sta b lish in e ffe c tiv e

a ssista n c e o f c o u n se l with r e s p e c t to tria l c o u n se l’s e le c tio n to p re se n t

5 See also Comment (6) of Rule 3.3 of the Georg ia Rules of Professional Conduct:

I f a lawy er knows that the c lient intends to testify falsely o r wa n t s t h e lawy er to

introduce false evidence, the l a w y e r should seek to persuade the client that the

evidence should not be offered. I f the persuasion is ineffectiv e and the lawy er

continues to represent the client, the lawy er may refuse to offer the f alse e v i d e nce.

I f o nly a portion of a witness' s testimony will be false, the lawy er m a y c a l l t he

witness to testify but may not elicit from the w itness the testimony that the lawy er

knows is false.

13a

p p e lla n t’s te stim o n y in n a rra tiv e fo rm

, g iv e n th e c irc u m sta n c e s p re se n t in th is

c a se

.

3

. (a ) Bo th Willia m s a n d M e re dith re fe rre d in th e ir te st i m o n y to

a p p e lla n t’s in c a rc e ra tio n in th e c o n te x t o f e x p la in in g wh y th e y in itia lly fa ile d

to m a k e tru th fu l sta te m e n ts to in v e stig a to rs, sta tin g th a t th e y fe lt sa fe r sp e a k in g

to th e a u th oritie s o n c e th e y k n e w a p p e lla n t wa s in j a i l

. Ev e n th o u g h n o

o b je c tio n wa s ra ise d to th is te stim o n y

, a p p e lla n t a sse rts t h is te stim o n y

im p ro p e rly p la c e d h is c h a ra c te r in to e v id e n c e a n d th e tria l c o u rt e rre d b y fa ilin g

to a c t su a sp o n te to g iv e c u ra tiv e in stru c tio n s. In su p p o rt o f h i s as s e rtio n th a t

c u ra tiv e in stru c tio n s w e re re q u ire d

, a p p e lla n t c ite s to c a se s in wh ic h th is Co urt

h a s fo u n d n o e rro r in th e tria l c o u rt’s fa ilu re to g ra n t a m o tio n fo r m istria l wh e re

th e tria l c o u rt oth e rwise ga v e c u ra tiv e in stru c tio n s. S e e Cu lle r v

. S ta te

, 2 7 7 Ga

.

7 1 7 (3 ) (5 9 4 S E2 d 6 3 1) (2 0 0 4 ); C a rru th e rs v

. S ta te

, 2 7 2 Ga

. 3 0 6 (8 ) (5 2 8 S E2 d

2 1 7 ) (2 0 0 0 ), re v ’d o n o th e r g ro u n d s, V e r g ara v

. S ta te

, 2 8 3 Ga

. 1 75

, 1 7 7 (1 )

(6 5 7 SE2 d 8 6 3 ) (2 0 0 8 ). In th o se c a se s, ho we v e r, th e c o u r t ’ s re m e d ia l

in stru c tio n s we re g iv e n in r e s p o n s e to an ob je c tio n ra ise d b y th e d e fe n d a n t.

Wh e n n o o b

je c tio n t o t e s t im o n y is ra ise d a t tria l, th e issu e is wa iv e d a n d th e

e rro r, if a n y

, is n o t p re se rv e d fo r a p p e a l. Se e Ma rtin v

. Sta te

, 2 8 1 Ga

. 7 7 8

, 7 7 9

-

147 9 0 (2 ) (6 4 2 S E2 d 8 3 7 ) (2 0 0 7 ). F u rth e r, n o re v e rsib le e rro r wa s c re a te d b y th e

tria l c o u rt’s fa ilu re

, su a sp o n te

, to g iv e a c u ra tiv e in stru c tio n to th is te stim o n y

.

F a ilu re to g iv e a n u n re q u e ste d c u r a t i v e in stru c tio n d o e s n o t c re a te re v e rsib le

e rro r. S e e H

a m i l t o n v

. Sta te

, 2 7 4 Ga

. 5 8 2

, 58 4 (4 ) (5 5 5 S E2 d 7 01 ) (2 0 0 1 )

(h o ld in g th a t e v e n wh e re a n o b je c tio n is ra ise d

, n o re v e rsib le e rro r is c re a te d b y

th e tria l c o u rt’s fa ilu re to g iv e a n u n re q ue ste d c u ra tiv e i n s t r u ct i o n o r o th e r

re m e d ia l re lie f). F in a lly

, a p p e lla n t fa ile d to d e m o nstra te he wa s h a rm e d b y th e

tria l c o u rt’s fa ilu re to issu e

, su a sp o n te

, c u ra tiv e in stru c tio n s in re sp on se to th e

witn e sse s’ re fe re n c e s to a p pe lla n t’s in c a rc e ra tio n . “ [A] p a ssin g re fe re n c e to a

d e fe n d a n t’s re c o rd d o e s n o t p la c e h is c ha ra c te r in e v id e nc e .” J o h n so n v

. S ta te

,

2 5 6 G a

. 6 0 4 (2 ) (3 5 1 SE2 d 6 23 ) (1 98 7). Lik e wise

, p a ssin g re fe re n c e s t o

a p p e lla n t’s in c a

rc e ra tio n d id n o t p la c e h is c h a ra c te r in to e v id e n c e

, p a rtic u la rly

sin c e a ju ry c o u ld re a so n a b l y a s s u me th a t a d e fe n d a n t c ha rg e d with m u rd e r

wo u ld b e a rre ste d fo r th e c rim e

.

(b ) In th e c o u rse o f d e sc rib in g th e e ve n ts o f th e n ig h t in q u e stio n a n d th e

a p p e lla n t’s w o rd s a n d a c tio n s, Willia m s te stifie d a b o u t h o w a

p p e lla nt re v e a le d

to him a n d Me re d ith wh a t h a d h a p p e n e d a n d wh a t h e de m a n d e d th e y d o to a ssist

h im

. Willia m s sta te d th a t a p p e lla n t d e c la re d “ th is w a sn ’t h is first

. . . .” Be fo re

15h e c ou ld fin ish th e se nte n c e

, a p p e lla n t’s c o u n se l o b

je c te d

. P u r su a n t to a

d isc u ssio n o u tsid e th e p re se n c e of th e ju ry

, a p pe lla n t’s c o u n se l m o v e d fo r

m istri a l

, w h i c h wa s d e n ie d

. In ste a d

, th e tria l c o u rt in stru c te d th e ju ry to

d isre g a rd th e witn e ss’s la st se n te n c e

, w h i c h w a s i n c o m p le te

, a n d in stru c te d th e m

n o t to sp e c u la te a s to wh a t th e witn e ss wa s a b ou t to s ay o r wh a t h e m e a n t.

Ap p e lla n t’s re n e we d m o tio n fo r m istria l wa s d e n ie d

. W e r e je c t a pp e lla n t’s

a sse rtio n th a t th e tria l c o u rt e rre d b y d e n y in g h is m o tio n fo r m istria l a s a re su lt

o f th is te stim o n y b e c a

u se th e te stim o n y im

p ro p e rly re fe re n c e d p rio r b a d a c ts b y

th e a p p e lla n t a n d th u s im

p ro pe rly p la c e d h is c h a ra c te r in to e v id e n c e

. We a gre e

with th e tria l co u rt’s c on c lu sio n th a t e v e n if th e ju ry a ssu m e d th e witn e ss wa s

a b o u t to te stify th a t a

pp e lla n t sa id “ th is w a s n o t h is first ro d e o,” th e ju ry h a d n o

wa y to k n o w wh a t wa s in te n d e d b y su c h a sta te m e n t a s th e y h a d n o k n o wle d g e

o f th e a p p e lla n t’s p rio r c rim in a l re c o rd

.

“ Wh e th e r to g ra n t a m istria l b a se d o n imp r o p e r c h ara c te r e vid e n c e is

with in th e d isc re tio n of th e tria l c ou r t

. [ Ci t .] We h a v e h e ld th a t c u ra tiv e

in stru c tio n s a re a n a d e q u a te r e me d y wh e n a witn e ss in a d ve rte n tly re fe rs to a

d e fe n d a n t’s p rio r c o n v ic tio n s o r c rim in a l a c ts.” Bu nn e ll v

. S ta te

, 2 9 2 Ga

. 2 5 3

,

2 5 7 (4 ) (7 3 5 S E2 d 2 8 1 ) (2 0 13 ). In th is c a se

, th e in c o m p le te se n te n c e utte re d b y

16th e w i t n e ss wa s no t in re sp o n se to a n im p ro p e r q u e stio n a

b o u t p rio r a c ts.

F u rth e r, th e witn e ss d id n o t a c t u a l l y t e stify to a n y p rio r c rim in a l a c ts b y th e

a p p e lla n t o r to a n y ad m issio n o f su c h a c ts by th e a p p e lla n t. Cu ra tiv e

in stru c tio n s w e re g iv e n

. Co n se q u e n tly

, th e tria l c ou rt d id n o t c o m m it re v e rsib le

e rro r b y d e n y in g a

p p e lla n t’s m otio n fo r m istria l.

4

. Wh e th e r th e tria l c o u rt e rre d in d e n y in g a p p e lla nt’s m o tio n to e x c lu d e

h is c u sto d ia l sta te m e nt to p o lic e o n th e g ro un d th a t it wa s n o t vo lu n ta rily m a d e

u n d e r th e to ta lity o f th e c irc um sta n c e s is m oo t sin c e th e sta te m e n t w as n e v e r

e n te re d in to e v id e nc e

. Ac c o rd L a wle r v

. S ta te

, 2 7 6 G a

. 2 2 9

, 2 3 3 (4 ) (d ) (5 7 6

S E2 d 8 4 1 ) (2 0 0 3 ) (h o ld in g th e a rg u m e n t th a t th e p o lic e im pro p e rly se iz e d

le g a lly p riv ile g e d d o c u m e n ts wa s m o o t wh e n n o su c h d o c um e n ts we re a d m itte d

a t tria l). Th e re c o rd re fle c ts th a t a p p e lla n t e v e n with d re w h is re q u e st to c h arg e

o n th e v o lu n ta rin e ss o f th e c usto d ia l sta te m e n t, a c kn o wle d g in g th e c h a rg e wa s

u n n e c e ssa ry sin c e c o u n se l d id n o t re c a ll th e S ta te a sk in g a bo ut th a t sta te m e n t.

Ju d g m e n t a ffirm e d . All th e Ju stic e s c o nc u r.

17