FI RST DI VI SI ON

BA RNES, P. J.

, M ERCI ER 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

Septem b er 9, 2019



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 9 A1 47 7 . W ILSON v . THE STATE.

M E R C I E R , J u dg e.

A ju ry fo u n d Sam

uel W i ls o n g u i l t y o f ag g rav at ed as s au lt wi th t h e i n t en t t o rap e

(as a l es s er i n cl u d ed offen s e o f t h e ch arg ed cri m e o f rap e), ag g rav at ed s od o m y an d

fal s e i m pri s o n m en t

. Fo l l o w i n g h i s co n v i ct i o ns

, W i l s o n fi l ed a m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al

,

wh i ch t h e t ri al co u rt d en i ed

. W i l s o n ap p eal s

, c l a i m i n g t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred by

fai l i n g t o g iv e cert ai n ju ry ch arg es

, t h at h i s t ri al co u n s el was i n effect i v e fo r fai l i n g to

req u es t t h o s e ju ry ch arg es

, an d t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred by ad m i t t i n g h e a r s a y an d

b o l s t eri n g t es t i m o n y . Fi n di ng n o erro r, we affi rm

.

Vi ewed i n t h e l i g h t m o s t fav orab l e t o th e v erd i ct

, t h e ev i den ce at t ri al s h o wed

t h e fo l l owi n g

. See Her r i n g to n v. S ta t e , 3 0 0 Ga. 1 4 9 (1 ) (a) (7 9 4 SE2 d 1 4 5 ) (2 0 1 6 ).

On Oct o b er 13

, 2 0 1 4

, t he v i ct i m m et Mal c o m W h it e, wh o m s h e was d at i n g

, an dW i ls o n

, a f

r i e n d o f W hi t e’ s, at t h e Fi v e Po i n ts M A RTA s t at i o n

. Th e t h ree o f t h em

wen t t o Wh i t e ’s ap art m en t

, w h ere t h ey s m o k ed m ari j u an a. Aft er t h ey fi n i s h ed

s m o k i n g, W hi t e an d t h e v i ct i m w en t in t o W h i t e’ s b ed ro o m an d h ad co n s en s ual s ex u al

i n t erco u rs e. A l l t hree s p en t t h e n i g h t at t h e ap art m en t

. W il s o n s lep t i n an o t h er

b ed ro o m

, an d t h e fo ll o wi n g m o rn i n g al l t hree s m o ked m ari ju an a t o get h er. Th ereaft er,

Wh i t e l eft t h e ap art m en t

, t el li n g t h e v i ct i m t h at he n eed ed t o g o to t h e s t o r e

. T h e

v i ct i m st ay ed at t h e ap art m en t an d t o o k a n ap i n W h i t e ’s r o o m

. Sh e awo k e t o fi n d

W i ls o n n ex t t o h er o n t h e b ed

, wat ch i n g a m o vi e. W i l s o n as k ed t h e v i ct i m i f h e co u ld

p erfo rm an o ral s ex act o n h er

. T h e v i c t i m s ai d n o

, ro s e fro m t h e b ed

, grab b ed h er

p u rs e t o m ak e s ure Wi l s o n h a d n o t s t o l en an y t h i ng fro m h er an d as k ed h i m wh ere

W h i t e was

. W i l s on res p o n d ed t h at W h i t e was “ n ot co m i n g b ack ,” t h en h e reach ed fo r

t h e v i ct i m ’ s n eck an d p i n n ed h er t o t h e be d

. W i l s o n t h en g rab b ed h er wri s t s an d

p erfo rm ed o ral s ex o n h er. Th e v i ct i m fo u g h t wi t h W i l s on an d h e t u rn ed h er o v er s o

t h at s he was l y i n g o n h er s t o m ach

. W i l s o n p u ll ed o u t a co n d o m

, wh i ch t he v i ct i m

g rab b ed fro m h i m t h in k i n g t h at h e wo u l d no t co n ti n u e t he s ex ual as sau l t wi t h o u t a

co n do m

, b u t W i l s o n p ro d u c e d a s eco n d co n d o m

. Th e v i ct i m t es ti fi ed t hat W i l so n

wo re t h e s eco n d co n d o m wh i l e rap i n g h er. Th e v i ct i m co n t i n u ed t o fi g h t wi t h W i l so n

t h ro u g h ou t t h e as s au l t an d t ri ed t o m o v e off o f t h e b ed

. W i l s o n ev en t u al l y s t o p p ed t h e

2as s au l t

, an d t h e v ict i m ran fro m t h e ap art m en t

. A s s h e l eft t h e ap art m en t, t h e v i ct i m

real ized t h at s he s t i l l h ad t h e fi rs t co n d o m i n h er h an d

, a n d s h e t h r e w it o v er t h e

ap art m en t b u il d i n g s t ai rwel l i n t o s o m e n earb y b u s h es

.

Th e v ict i m cal l ed a fri e n d

, w h o d ro v e to p i ck h er u p

. T he vi ct i m ’ s fri en d

t es t i fi ed t h at wh en s h e p ick ed t h e v i ct i m u p

, t h e vi ct i m was cry i ng an d seem ed s cared

.

Th e v ict i m ’ s fri en d cal l ed t he p o l i ce an d rep o rt ed wh at h ap pen ed

.

Fo l l owi n g t h e ph o n e cal l

, p o l i ce o ffi cers m et t h e v i ct i m at W hi t e’ s ap art m en t

.

Th e v i ct i m t h en w en t t o Grad y Ho s p i t al fo r a s ex u al as sau l t ex am i nat i on

. H o wev er,

s h e u sed t h e r e s t r o o m p ri or t o t h e ex am i n at i on

. Th e p h y s i ci an wh o co n d uct ed t h e

s ex u al as s au lt ex am tes t i fi ed t h at t h e v ict i m w as “ p ret ty tearfu l ” d u ri n g t h e ex am an d

h e h ad t o s t o p a few ti m es

. He s t at ed t h at t h e ex am d i d n ot rev eal an y o b v i ou s s i gn s

o f p h y s i cal t rau m a, b u t t h e p h y s i ci an n o t ed th at s u ch is “ q u i t e o ft en ” t h e cas e in

s ex u al as s au l t ex am s

.

Th e d et ect i ve i n v es t i g at i n g t h e cas e t es t i fi ed t h at h e o b t ai n ed a s earch warran t

fo r W h it e’ s ap art m en t

. Du ri n g th e s earch o f t h e area o u t s i d e t h e ap art m en t

, a co n d o m

was fo u n d wh ere t h e v i c t i m h ad d es cri b ed t h ro wi n g t he fi rs t co n d o m

, an d t wo

co n do m wrap p ers

, m at ch in g t h e d es cri p t i o n p ro v i d ed b y t h e v i ct i m

, were fo u n d n ex t

3t o t h e b ed

. Th e v i ct im i d en t ifi ed W i l s o n i n a p ho t o g rap h i c l i n e u p an d du ri n g t ri al as

t h e i n d i v i d u al wh o as s au l t ed h er.

Th e St at e cal led W h i t e t o t es t i fy

. H e tes t ifi ed t h at h e d at ed t h e v i ct i m

, b u t t h at

W i ls o n was h is “ b es t fri en d ” an d o n th e m orn i n g of t h e i n c i d e n t h e t o l d W i l s o n “ i f

h e can wo rk hi s m o

j o

, i f h e wan t ed t o h e co u l d try [t h e v i ct im ] u p [.] ” H e s t at ed t h at

h e t o ld W i l s o n t h at he co u ld “ t ry ” t h e v i ct i m becau s e W h i t e “ s h are[s ] ev ery th i n g wi th

[W il s o n ] ” an d t h at t h ey h ad “ s h ared ” fem al e part n ers b efo re. W h i t e t es t i fi ed t h at h e

t h en l eft t h e ap art m en t an d wen t t o w o rk

. Lat er th at ev en i n g

, W i l s o n co n t act ed W h i t e

an d t o l d h i m th at “ h e t ri ed [t he v i ct i m ] u p an d s h e was n ’ t g o in g fo r i t

, an d s h e h ad g ot

u p s et at h i m

. . . . Sh e s ai d t h at he h ad rap ed h er[.] ” W i l s o n t o l d W hi t e t h at h e d i d n ot

rap e th e v i ct im b u t th at h e t ri ed t o p erfo rm o ral s ex o n h er, t h e vi ct i m “ g o t m ad ,” t h ey

“ g o t i n t o a t u s s l e,” an d “ h e d i d n ’ t l et h er l eav e.” W h i t e t es t i fi ed t h at he d i d n o t wan t

t o s ee h i s b es t fri en d g o t o j ai l an d t h at h e b el iev e d W i l s o n ’ s acco u n t. W hi t e s t at ed

t h at h e w as t es t i fy i n g b ecau se h e was u n d er s u b p o en a an d t h e St at e h ad n o t p ro m i s ed

h i m an y l en i en cy reg ard i n g h is p en d i n g cri m i n al i n d i ct m en t s fo r fo rg ery an d t h eft by

recei v i ng s t o l en p ro p ert y

.

1

. W i l s o n cl ai m s t h at t he t ri al co u rt erred b y fai li n g to p ro v i d e a j u ry i ns t ru ct i o n

reg ard i n g l en i en cy g ran t ed t o wi t n es s e s i n ex ch an g e fo r t es t im o n y an d a ju ry

4i n s t ru ct i o n reg ard i n g acco m p l i c e t es t i m o n y

. Becau se W i l so n ad m i t t ed l y fai l ed to

req u es t t h es e ch arg es o r rai s e t h es e o b ject i o n s at t ri al

,

h i s cl ai m [s are] rev i ewed o n ap p eal o n l y fo r p l ai n erro r, m ean i n g th at we

wi l l rev ers e t h e t ri al co u rt o n l y i f t h e i n s t r u c t i o n al erro r[s were] n o t

affi rm at iv el y wai v ed

, [were] o b vi o u s b ey o n d reas o n ab l e di s p ut e, l i k el y

affect ed t h e o u tco m e o f t h e p ro ceed i ng s

, an d s e r i o us l y affect ed th e

fai rn es s , i n t eg ri ty , o r p u b l i c rep u t at i o n o f ju d i ci al p ro ceed i n g s

.

Her ri n gt o n

, su pra at 1 51 (2 ) (ci t at i o n an d p u nct u at i o n o m i t t ed ); s ee OCGA § 1 7 -8 -5 8

(b ) (fai l u re t o o b

ject t o t h e fai l u re t o ch arg e t h e ju ry p recl u d es ap p el lat e rev i ew u n l es s

t h e ch arg e co n s ti t u t es p l ai n erro r); Sh a w v. S t a t e

, 2 9 2 G a. 8 7 1

, 8 7 2 -8 7 3 (2 ) (7 4 2

SE2 d 7 0 7) (2 0 1 3).

(a) W il s o n co m

p l ai n s t h at t h e t ri al co u rt d id n o t i n s t ru ct t h e ju ry reg ard i n g

l en i en cy t h at co u l d hav e b een g ran t ed t o W hi t e i n ex ch an g e fo r h i s t es t i m o n y

.

Sp eci fi cal l y

, he cl ai m s t h at t h e tri al co u rt sh o ul d h av e g i ven t he fo l l o wi n g ch arg e, s u a

s p o n te: “ In as s es s i n g t h e cred i b i l it y o f a w i t n es s

, y o u m ay co n s i d er an y p o s s i b l e

m o ti v e in t es t i fy i n g

, i f s h o wn

. In t hat reg ard y ou are au t h ori zed t o co n s i d e r an y

p o s s i b l e p en d i ng p ro s ecu t i o ns

, n eg o t i at ed p leas

, g ran ts o f i m m u n i t y o r l en i en cy , o r

s i m i l ar m at t ers

. Yo u al o ne s h al l d eci d e t h e b el iev ab i l i t y of t h e wi t n es s es .” Su g g es t ed

Pat t ern J u ry

In st ru ct io ns , Vo l . II: Cri m i nal Cas es (2 0 1 9 ), § 1 .3 1 .8 0

.

5W h i t e sp ec if ic al l y t es t i fi ed t h at h e was n o t pro m i s ed an y len i en cy reg ard i n g h i s

tw o p en d i n g cri m i nal i nd i ct m en t s

. Ad d i t i o n al ly

, th e d et ect i v e t es t i fi ed t h at W hite w a s

n o t p r o m i s e d an y

l en i en cy in ex ch an g e fo r h is tes t im o n y at W i l s o n ’ s t ri al

, an d t h at

W h i t e’ s pen di ng cri m in al p ro s ecu t i o n was no t d i s cu s s ed at al l

. As t h ere was n o

ev i d en ce t h at W h i t e t es t i fi ed i n ex ch an g e fo r i m m u n i t y o r l en i en cy

, t h e t ri al co u rt d id

n o t err b y n o t g i v i n g th e ch arg e. See Hu n ter v. S t a t e

, 2 8 1 Ga. 6 9 3

, 6 9 5 -6 9 6 (4 ) (6 4 2

SE2 d 6 6 8) (2 0 0 7).

(b ) W i ls o n cl ai m s th at W h i t e was an acco m p l i ce an d as s u ch t h e t ri al co u rt

erred b y n o t ch arg i n g t he ju ry o n acco m p l i ce t es t i m o n y

. W i l s o n cl ai m s t h at t h e

fo l l o w i n g u n req u es t ed ch arg e s h o u l d h av e b een g i v en :

An ex cep t i o n t o [t he si n gl e wi t n es s ] ru l e i s m ad e i n t h e cas e o f (s p eci fy

fel o n y ch arg e), wh ere t he wi t n es s is an acco m p l i ce. Th e t es ti m o n y o f th e

acco m p l i ce al o ne i s n ot s u ffi c i e n t t o warran t a co n vi ct i o n

. T he

acco m p l i ce’ s t es t im o n y m

u st b e s u p p o r t ed b y o th er ev i d en ce o f s o m e

t y p e, an d t h at ev i d en ce m

u s t b e s u ch as wo u l d l ead to t h e i n feren ce o f

t h e g u il t o f t h e accu s ed i n d ep en d en t o f t h e t es t i m on y o f t h e acco m p l i ce.

I t i s n o t req u i red t h at s up p o rt i n g ev id en ce be s u ffi ci en t t o warra n t a

co n v i ct i o n o r t hat th e t es ti m o n y o f t h e acco m pl i ce be s u p p o rt ed i n ev ery

m at eri al p art i cu lar.

Su g g es t ed Pat t ern J u ry

In s tru ct i o n s , Vo l . II: Cri m i n al Cas es (2 0 1 9 ), § 1 .3 1 .9 2

.

6“ It i s erro r t o fai l t o g i v e a ju ry i n s t ru ct i o n o n acco m p l i ce li ab i l i t y wh ere t h ere

i s s l i g h t ev i d en ce s u p p o rt i n g a fi n d i n g t hat a wi t n es s was an acco m p l i ce.” W a l t er v.

S t a t e

, 3 0 4 Ga. 7 6 0, 7 6 6 (3 ) (b ) (8 2 2 SE2 d 2 6 6 ) (2 0 18 ) (ci t at io n o m i t t ed ). A wi t n es s

i s an acco m

p l i ce i f he, in rel ev an t p art

, “ [i ] nt en t i o n al l y ai d s o r ab et s i n t h e

co m m i s s io n o f t h e cri m e; o r [i ] n t en t i o n al ly ad v i s es [o r] en co u rag es

. . . an o t h er to

co m m i t t h e cri m e.” OCGA § 1 6 -2 -2 0 (b ); s ee W a l ter

, s u p r a

. “ M e re p res en ce o r

ap p ro v al o f a cri m i nal act i s n o t s u ffi ci en t t o ren d er o n e a p art y t o t h e cri m e, an d a

co n vi ct i o n as a p art y

t o a cri m e req u i res p ro o f t h at t h e d efen d an t s h ared a co m m o n

cri m i n al in t en t wi t h t he p ri n ci p al p erp et rat o r o f t h e cri m e.” W alte r

, s u p ra (ci t at i o n an d

p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ). Cri m i n a l i n t en t “ m ay b e i n ferred fro m t h at p ers o n ’ s co n d u ct

b efo re, d u ri n g , an d aft er t h e co m m i s s io n o f t h e cri m e.” Id . (ci tat i o n o m i t t ed ).

W i l s o n arg ues t h at W h i t e w a s an acco m p l i ce b ecau s e h e t o l d hi m “ i f h e can

wo rk h i s m o

jo , i f h e wan t ed t o h e co u l d t ry [t h e v i ct i m ] .” Th erefo re, W i l s o n cl ai m s

t h at t h e t ri al co u rt co m

m i t t ed p l ai n erro r b y fai l i n g t o i n s t ru ct t h e ju ry t hat acco m p l i ce

t es t i m o ny m

u s t b e co rro b o rat ed

, g i v en t h at t h e co urt in s t ru ct ed th e j u r y t h at “ [t ] h e

t es t i m o ny o f a s i ng l e wi t n es s

, if b el i ev ed

, i s s u ffi ci en t to es t ab l i s h a fact [.] ” Bu t W h i t e

d i d n o t tes t ify th at h e en co u rag ed W i l s o n t o as s au l t t he vi ct i m ; rat her h e t es ti fi ed t h at

i f W i l s o n co u l d “ wo rk hi s m o jo ” h e co u l d “ t ry ” t h e v ict i m an d t h at h e an d W il s o n h ad

7“ s h ared ” s ex u al p art n ers i n t h e p as t

. Ad d i t i o nal l y

, W hi te was n o t p res en t d uri n g t h e

co m m i s s io n o f t h e cri m e, an d h e t es ti fi ed at t ri al t h at h e di d n o t bel i ev e t h at W i l so n

h ad as s au l ted t h e v i ct i m

. W i l so n po i n t s t o n o ev i d en ce t h at W h i te k new t h at W i l so n

was p l an n i n g on as s au l t i n g t h e v i ct i m

, an d h e fai l s t o c it e p reced en t req u i ri n g an

acco m pl i ce-co rro b o rat i o n i n s t ru ct i o n un d er ci rcu m s t an ces s i m i lar t o t h o s e p res en t ed

h ere. See W

a l t er

, s u p ra at 7 6 6 -7 6 7 (3 ) (b ). “ A n erro r i s p l ai n i f i t i s cl ear o r o b v i ou s

u n d er cu rren t l aw. An erro r can n o t b e p l ai n wh ere th ere i s n o co n tro l l i n g au t h o ri t y o n

p o i n t .” Id

. (ci t at i o n an d p un ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ). As s u ch

, w e can n o t co n cl u d e t h at t h e

t ri al co u rt co m

m i t t ed ob v i o u s erro r i n fai li ng t o i ns t ru ct th e ju ry o n t h e n eed fo r

co rro b o rat io n o f acco m

p l i ce tes t i m o n y

. See i d

. (t h e tri al co u rt ’ s fai l u re t o g i v e a ju ry

ch arg e o n acco m

pl ice t es ti m o n y w as n o t p l ai n erro r ev en wh en t h e al l eg ed

acco m pl i ce d ro v e t h e d efen d an t s t o t h e cri m e s cen e, s o m e o f wh o m sh e k n ew were

arm ed

, wh en s he d i d n o t kn o w wh at t h e d efen d an t s w ere pl an n i n g ) ; s e e g en eral l y

Her ri n gt o n , s u p ra.

2

. In rel at ed en u m erat ed erro rs

, W il so n co m p l ai ns th at h e d i d n o t recei v e

effect i v e rep res en t at i o n at t ri al b ecau s e h i s co u n s el d i d n o t req u es t t h e len i en cy an d

acco m pl i ce ju ry ch arg es . “ In o rd er t o p rev ai l o n a cl ai m o f i n effect i v e as s i st an ce o f

t ri al co un s el

, [W il s on ] m

u st s ho w bo t h t h at co un s el ’ s p erfo rm an ce was d efi ci en t

, an d

8t h at t h e d efi ci en t p erfo rm an ce was p reju d i ci al t o h i s d efen s e.” Hu nt er , s u p ra at 6 9 6

(6 ) (ci t at i o ns o m i tt ed ). As d i s cu s s ed i n Di v i s i o n 1

, t h e l en i en cy an d acco m p l i ce ju ry

ch arg es w ere n o t warran t ed b y t h e ev id en ce. As s u ch

, W i l s o n fai l ed t o m eet h i s

b u rd en t o s h o w t h at t ri al co u n s el ’ s fai l u re t o req u e s t t h e i n s t ru ct i o n s was d efi ci en t

p erfo rm an ce. See i d

.

3. W i l so n cl ai m s t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred in ad m i t t i ng h ears ay an d bo l s t eri n g

t es t i m o ny t h ro u g h t hree wi t n es s es : t h e p h y s i ci an

, t h e d et ect i v e, an d th e v i ct i m ’ s

fri en d. T h e t h ree wi t n es s es al l t es t i fi ed an d rep eat ed wh at t h e v i ct i m t o l d t h em

reg ard i n g th e as s au lt in t h e i m m ed i at e aft erm at h. 1 “ W e rev i ew t h e ad m i s s i o n o f

ev i d en ce fo r an ab u s e o f di s cret i o n .” Ad ki n s v. S t a t e , 3 0 1 Ga. 1 5 3

, 1 5 8 (3 ) (a) (8 0 0

SE2 d 3 4 1) (2 0 1 7) (ci t at i o n o m i t t ed ).

(a) “ Th e cred i b i l i ty o f a wi t n es s s h al l b e a m at t er t o be d et erm i n ed b y t h e t ri er

o f fact [.] ” OCGA § 2 4 -6 -6 2 0

. “ A wi t n es s

, ev en an ex p ert

, can n e v e r b o l s t er t h e

cred i b i l i t y o f an o th er wi t n es s as t o wh et h er t h e wi t n es s i s t el l i n g t he t ru t h

. ” Ad ki n s

,

1 Th e wi t n es s es t es t i fi ed wi t h d i fferi n g d eg rees o f s p eci fi ci t y reg ard i n g t h e

as s au l t

. Th e p h y s i ci an st at ed th at t h e v ict i m t o ld hi m t h at s h e h ad co n s en su al s ex wi th

“ a fri en d o r ex -b o y fri en d ,” t h en a d i fferen t fri en d “ p erfo rm ed o ral s ex o n h er an d t h en

rap ed h er[.] ” Th e d et ect i v e t es t i fi ed t h at th e vi ct i m h ad reco un t ed t h e ev en t s i n d et ai l

, wh i ch cl o s el y m i rro red t he v i ct i m ’ s t ri al t es t i m o n y

. Th e v i c t i m ’s fri en d m erel y

t es t i fi ed t h at t he vi ct i m t o l d h er t h at “ t h e p ers o n t h a t w a s t h ere wi t h h er fo rced

h i m s el f u p o n h er.”

9s u p ra (ci t at i o n s o m it t ed ). “ W h en a wi t n es s ’ s s tat em en t d oes no t d i rect l y ad d res s t h e

c red i b i l i t y

o f an ot h er wi t n es s, h o wev er, t h ere i s n o i m p ro p er b o l s t eri n g

. An d wh e n

we ev al u at e wh et h er tes t im o n y co n s t i t u t es im p ro p er b o l s t eri n g

, we co n s i d er t h e

d i s p u t ed t es t i m o n y i n co n t ex t .” Br o wn v. S t a t e

, 3 02 G a. 4 5 4

, 4 6 0 -4 61 (2 ) (b ) (8 0 7

SE2 d 3 6 9 ) (2 0 1 7 ) (ci t at io n s o m i t t e d )

. H e r e

, n o ne o f t h e t h ree wi t n es s es o p i n ed o r

s p o k e d i rect l y ab o u t t h e v i ct i m ’ s t ru t h fu l n es s. In s t ead t h ey reco u nt ed wh at th e v i ct i m

h ad t o l d t h em

. Th i s t y

p e o f t es t i m o n y d o es n ot co n s t i t ut e i m p ro per b o ls t eri n g

. See

g en eral l y Ab n ey v. S t at e

,

_ _ _ _ G a.

_ _ _ _ _ , 1 3 (3 ) (b ) (Cas e No

. S1 9 A0 7 4 1 ) (d eci d ed

Au g u s t 5 , 2 0 1 9 ).

(b ) “ [A] n o u t -o f-co u rt s t at em en t m ad e b y a wi t n es s i s n o t hears ay i f t h e wi t n es s

t es t i fi es at t h e t i m e o f t ri al o r h eari n g

, is s u b ject t o cro s s -ex am i n at i o n co n cern i n g t h e

s t at em en t

, an d t h e s tat em en t i s ad m i s si b l e as a p ri o r co n s i s t en t s t at em en t u n d er

OCGA § 2 4 -6 -6 1 3 .” B r o wn

, s u p ra at 4 5 8 (2 ) (a); O CGA § 2 4 -8 -8 0 1 (d ) (1 ) (A). “ [A]

wi t n es s ’ s p ri o r co n si s t en t s t at em en t i s ad m i s s i b l e o n l y wh en

. . . t h e v eraci t y o f a

wi t n es s ’ s t ri al t es t i m o n y h as b een p l aced i n is s u e at tri al [.] ” Di ma u r o v. S t a t e

, 3 4 1

Ga. Ap p

. 7 1 0

, 7 2 5 (5 ) (8 0 1 SE2 d 5 5 8 ) (2 01 7 ) (ci t at i o n o m it t ed ). W h i le a p ri o r

co n si s t en t s t at em en t can be ad m i tt ed t o reh a b i l i t a t e a wi t n es s i f i t lo g i cal l y reb u t s

“ a n y at tack o n a wi t n es s ’ s cred i b i l i t y ,” i t can n o t b e ad m i t t ed “ fo r at t ack s u p o n [h er]

10c h aract er fo r t ru t h fu l n es s o r ev i d en ce o f [h er] p ri o r co n vi ct i o n s .” W a l ter s v. S t a t e

,

3 3 5 Ga. Ap p

. 1 2

, 1 4 (7 8 0 SE2 d 7 2 0 ) (2 0 1 5). Here, t h e v i ct i m t es t i fi ed at t ri al an d was

s u b ject t o -cro s s ex am i n at i on

. See Br o wn

, s u p ra. An d

, f o r r e a s o n s t h at fo l l o w, h er

p ri o r co n s i s t en t s t at em en t s were ad m i s s i b le.

A rev i ew o f t h e reco rd rev eal s t h at p art o f W i l s o n ’ s tri al s t rat eg y was to

d i s cred i t t h e v i ct i m b y at tack i n g h er m em o ry of t h e as s au l t

. In hi s o p en in g arg u m en t

,

W i ls o n cl ai m ed t h at t h e v i ct i m co u l d n o t rem em ber wh at h ad h ap p en ed b ecau s e s h e

h ad s m o k e d m ari

ju an a. D u ri n g h i s cro s s-ex am in at i o n o f t he vi ct i m

, W i l s o n ’ s t ri al

co u ns el rep eat ed l y as k ed ab o u t h er us e o f m ari ju an a p ri o r t o th e as s au l t, an d t h e affect

o f m ari ju an a o n h er m em o ry

.

Th u s

, wh i l e W i l s o n d i d n o t cal l t h e v i ct i m a “ l i ar,” h e n ev ert h el es s at t ack ed h er

cred i b i l i t y b y s u g g es t i ng t h at h er acco u n t of t he ev en t s was n o t b el i ev ab l e d u e t o h er

u s e o f m ari

ju an a. See W

a l t er s

, s u p ra at 17

. Becau s e th e v i ct i m ’ s cred i b i l i t y was

at t ack ed

, h er p ri o r co ns i st en t st at em en t s t o t h e p h y s ici an

, t h e d et ect i v e an d h er fri en d

were ad m i ss i b l e i f t h e y “ l o g i cal l y reb u t ted ” th e at tack

. See W a l t er s

, s u p ra at 1 7

(ci t i n g OCGA § 2 4 -6 -6 1 3 (c)). Th e v i c ti m ’ s t hree p ri o r s tat em en t s, g i v en wi t h in

h o u rs o f t h e as s au l t

, t h at W i l s o n p erfo rm ed n o n -co n s en s u al o ral s ex o n h er an d t h en

rap ed her l o g i cal l y

reb u tt ed W i l s o n ’ s cl ai m s t h at t h e v i ct i m ’ s m ari ju an a u s e h ad s o

11cl o u d ed h er m em o ry t h at s h e co u l d no t rem em ber wh at h ap pen ed

. See g en eral l y i d .;

Un i ted St a t es v. Eva n s

, 7 5 4 Fed

. Ap p x

. 8 9 8

, 9 0 2 -9 0 3 (II) (B) (1 1 t h Ci r. 2 0 1 8 )

(d efen d an t at t ack ed t h e v i ct i m ’ s c r e d i b i l i t y b y

, i n t er al i a, fo cu s in g o n th e v i ct i m ’ s

al l eg ed i n ab i l it y t o rem em b er d e t a i l s b a sed o n h i s m en t al an d d ru g i s s ues ; p ri o r

co n si s t en t s t at em en ts were th erefo re ad m is s i b l e t o s h o w co ns i s t en cy in t h e v i ct i m ’ s

m em o ri es o f th e ev en t ). 2 Th u s

, th e t ri al co u rt d i d n o t ab u s e i t s d i scret i o n i n ad m i t t i n g

t h e t es t i m o n y o f t h e p h y s i ci an

, t h e d et ect i v e an d t h e v i ct i m ’ s fri en d reg ard i n g t h e

v i ct i m ’ s p ri o r co n si s t en t s t at em en t s . See W a l t er s , s u p ra at 1 7

.

Ju d g men t a f f i r m ed . Ba r nes , P. J., a n d

Br o wn , J., co ncu r

.

2 As m an y p ro v i s i o n s o f Geo rg i a’ s Ev i d en ce Co de w er e b o r r o wed fro m t h e

Fed eral Ru l es o f Ev i d en ce, i n cl u d in g t h e h ears ay p ro v i si o n s , wh en we co n s i d er t h e

m ean i n g o f t h es e pro vi s io ns

, we m ay l o o k t o d eci s i o n s o f th e fed eral ap p el l at e co u rt s

co n st ru i n g an d ap p l y i n g t h e Fed eral Ru l es

, es p eci al l y t h e deci s i o n s o f t h e Un i t ed

St at es Su p rem e Co u rt an d t h e El ev en t h Ci rcu i t

. See Bo l l i n g v. St at e

, 3 00 G a. 6 9 4

, 6 9 8

(2 ) (7 9 7 SE2 d 8 7 2 ) (2 0 1 7 ); O l ds v. S t a t e

, 2 99 Ga. 6 5

, 6 9 (2 ) (7 8 6 SE2 d 6 3 3 ) (2 0 1 6 ).

12