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

De c id e d : Ju n e 3 0

, 2 0 1 4

S 1 4 A0 5 5 8 . JOHNS ON v . THE S TATE.

HUNS T EIN, Ju stic e

.

Ap p e lla n t Do n te rriu s Jo h n so n wa s c on v ic te d o f t w o c o u n ts of fe lo n y

m u rd e r a n d re la te d o ffe n se s in c o n n e c tio n with th e b e a tin g d e a th s o f two v ic tim s

in se pa ra te in c id e n ts in 2 0 0 9

. Jo h n so n n o w a p pe a ls, c h a lle n g in g th e su ffic ie n c y

o f th e e vid e n c e

, th e a d m issio n o f h is v id e o t ap e d p o lic e in te rv ie w, a n d th e

p ro p rie ty o f his se n te n c in g

, a n d c o n te n din g th a t h is tria l c o u n se l re n d e re d

in e ffe c tiv e a ssista n c e

. We a gre e th a t Jo hn so n wa s im pro p e rly se n te n c e d o n th e

two fe lo n ie s u n de rly in g h is fe lo n y m u rd e r c o n v ic tio n s a n d th e re fo re v a c a te h is

se n te nc e s o n Co u n ts 2 a nd 5 . In a ll o th e r re sp e c ts, we a ffirm

. 1

1 Th e c r i m es were co m

m i t t ed o n Au g u s t 2 9 an d Sep tem b er 4

, 2 0 09

. J o h n so n

was i nd i ct ed b y a Lo wn d es Co u n t y g ran d ju ry i n Ap ri l 2 0 11 fo r t h e fel on y m u rd er,

ag g rav at ed as sau lt

, an d ro b b ery b y fo r c e o f R o b ert Crawfo rd an d fo r th e fel o ny

m u rd er an d arm ed ro b b ery o f M i ch ael McCas k i l l

. J oh n s o n was al s o i n d i ct ed fo r t h e

ar m e d r o b b ery o f W i l li e M i l l er an d fo r ob s tru ct i on o f a l aw en fo rcem en t o ffi cer.

Fo l l o wi ng a ju ry tri al h el d i n Au g u s t 2 01 1

, J o h ns o n was co n v i c t e d on al l co u n t s

ex cep t t h at fo r t h e arm ed ro b b ery o f M i l l er, w h i ch w as n o l l e p ro ss ed

, an d t h e

o b s t ru ct i on co u n t

, o n wh i ch h e was ac q u i t t ed

. Jo h n s o n was sen t en ced t o l i feOn Au g u st 29

, 2 0 0 9

, Jo h n so n a n d a c c o m p lic e Co re y Sin g le to n

e n c o u n te re d v ic tim Ro b e rt Cra w fo rd sittin g o n th e fro nt sto o p o f th e V a ld o sta

b o a rd in g h o u se in wh ic h h e re sid e d

. Jo h n so n a n d S in g le to n a pp ro a c h e d a n d

b e g a n ta lk i n g to Cra wfo rd

, a n d Sin g le to n a sk e d C ra wfo rd wh e th e r h e wa n te d

to b u y so m e c ra c k c o c a in e

. S in g le to n th e n hit Cra wfo rd in th e fa c e an d d ra g g e d

h im o ff th e st o o p i n t o t he fro n t y a rd

. Jo hn so n b e g an h ittin g a n d k ic k in g

Cra wfo rd

, wh ile S in g le to n we n t th ro u g h Cra w fo rd ’s p o c k e ts, se iz e d h is wa lle t,

a n d we n t th ro ug h its c o n te nts. Jo h n so n a n d S in g le to n th e n ra n a wa y in d iffe re n t

d ire c tio n s. P o lic e re sp o nd in g to th e sc e n e fo u n d Cra wfo rd ly in g fa c e do wn in

th e y a rd

, u n re sp o n siv e

, with a b ra sio n s o n h is h e a d an d fo o tp rin ts o n th e b a c k o f

h is sh irt. A c e ll p h o n e h o ld e r a n d o th e r ite m s a p p e a rin g to h a v e c o m e fro m a

wa lle t we re fo un d c lo se b y

. C ra wfo rd die d twe lv e d a y s la te r fro m c o m p lic a tio n s

o f b lu nt fo rc e h e a d tra u m a

.

On S e p te m

b e r 4, 2 0 0 9

, Jo h n so n a nd S in g le t o n m e t a t a b a r, o utsid e o f

i m p ri s o n m en t fo r each o f t h e fel o n y m u rd ers an d t o a 20 -y ear t erm o f i m p ri s o n m en t

fo r each of t h e o t h er t h ree fel o ni es

. J o h n s o n fi l ed a t i m el y m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al o n

Sep tem b er 3 0

, 2 01 1

, wh i ch was s u b s eq uen t l y am en d ed

. Fo l l o wi n g a h eari n g h el d o n

Ap ri l 4

, 2 0 1 3, t h e t ri al co u rt d en i ed t h e m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al o n Sep t em b er 1 6

, 2 0 1 3.

J o h n so n fi l ed h i s no t i ce of ap p eal o n Oct o b er 1 4

, 2 0 1 3

. H i s ap peal was d o ck et ed to

t h e J an uary 2 0 1 4 t erm o f t h is Co u rt an d w as t h ereaft er s u b m i t t ed fo r d eci si o n o n t h e

b ri efs

.

2wh ic h th e y we re a p p ro a c h e d b y v ic tim Mic h a e l Mc Ca sk ill, wh o wa n te d to b u y

c ra c k c o c a in e

. S in g le to n wa lk e d with Mc Ca sk ill be n e a th a n e a r b y o ve rp a ss,

wh ile Jo h n so n a n d se v e ra l o th e r m e n wa ite d fo r a sig n a l fro m S i n g le to n

.

S in g le to n h it Mc Ca sk ill, kn o c k in g him to th e g ro u n d

, an d th e o th e rs ru sh e d to

jo in in

. Jo h n so n stru c k M c Ca sk ill with a p a ir o f b ra ss kn u c k le s, a n d Sin g le to n

we n t th ro u g h t h e v ic tim ’s po c k e ts, wh ile th e o th e rs c on tin u e d h ittin g a n d

k ic k in g h im

. On e o f th e oth e r m e n

, Willie Ro we

, r a n o v e r Mc Ca sk ill’s n e c k

with a b ic y c le

. S in g le to n urin a te d o n th e un c o n sc io u s v ic tim

, a n d th e m e n th e n

fle d

. Wh e n Mc Ca sk ill wa s fo u n d

, h e wa s un c o n sc io u s a nd c ov e re d in an t b ite s,

with se ve re in

ju rie s to h is he a d

, fa c e

, a n d e a r, a n d a b ic y c le tra c k a c ro ss h is

n e c k

. P o lic e fo u n d h is wa lle t n e a rb y

. M c Ca sk ill, w h o su ffe re d an a no x ic b ra in

in ju ry

, d ie d a fte r sp e n d in g se v e ra l m o nth s in a n ursin g h o m e in a v e g e t a tiv e

sta te

.

De te c tiv e s in te rv ie we d S in g le to n

, wh o a d m itte d th a t h e a n d Jo hn so n h a d

b e e n in v o lv e d in th e a tta c k o n Mc C as k i l l a n d th a t R o w e h a d rid d e n a b ic y c le

o v e r h is n e c k

. S in g le to n a l s o i mp l i c a te d Jo hn so n in th e a tta c k o n Cra wfo rd

.

De te c tiv e s th e n we n t to Jo h n so n ’s a u n t’s h o u se in a tte m

p t to in te rv ie w Jo h n so n

,

wh o liv e d with h is a

u n t in te rm itte n tly

. Ale rte d to th e ir arriv a l, Jo h n so n e x ite d

3fro m

th e re a r o f th e h o u se a n d ra n a wa y

. Th e a u n t g a v e c o n se nt to a se a rc h o f

th e ho m e

, a n d th e de te c tiv e s fo u nd a p a ir of b ra ss k n u c k le s u n d e r a c u sh io n o n

th e so fa o n wh ic h Jo h n so n h a d b e e n sle e p in g

. Th e y a lso se iz e d a p a ir o f sh oe s

fro m th a t sa m e ro o m

. On th e b ra ss k n u c kle s wa s b lo o d th a t wa s la te r m a tc h e d

to th a t o f Mc Ca sk ill. Th e sh o e s’ tre a d m a tc h e d th e fo o tp rin t o n t h e b a c k o f

Cra wfo rd ’s sh irt. In a p o st-a rre st p o lic e in te rv ie w

, w h ic h w a s re c o rd e d a n d

p la y e d fo r th e ju ry

, Jo h n so n a d m itte d h is in v o lv e m e nt in th e c rim e s a g a in st b o th

Cra wfo rd a n d Mc C a sk ill.

1

. De sp ite Jo h n so n ’s c o n te n tio n to th e c o n tra ry

, th e e v id e n c e a s

su m m ariz e d a

b o v e w a s su ffic ie nt to e n a ble a ra tio n a l trie r o f fa c t to c o n c lu d e

b e y o n d a re a so n a

b le d o u b t th a t Jo h n so n wa s gu ilty o f th e c r i m e s o f w h ic h h e

wa s c o n v ic te d

. Ja c k so n v

. Virg in ia

, 44 3 U. S

. 3 0 7 (9 9 S Ct 2 7 8 1

, 6 1 LE2 d 5 6 0 )

(1 9 7 9 ). Jo h n so n a sse rts th a t th e S ta te fa ile d to p ro v e th e re q u isite c a u sa tio n

n e c e ssa ry to su sta in e a c h o f h is f e l o n y mu rd e r c o nv ic tio n s. S p e c ific a lly

,

Jo h n so n p o in ts to e vid e n c e th a t v ic tim Cra wfo rd ’s d e a th m a y h a v e re su lte d in

p a rt fro m th e d e c isio n o f h is m e d ic a l te a m n o t to p e rfo rm su rg e ry to m itig a te h is

in ju rie s. As to v ic tim Mc Ca sk ill, Jo hn so n h ig h lig h ts e v id e nc e su g g e stin g th a t

h e re c e iv e d su b sta n d a

rd tre a tm e n t wh ile in th e nu rsin g h o m e . Ho we ve r, e v e n

4c o n stru in g th e e v id e nc e so a s to fin d th a t th e se o th e r fa c to rs c o n trib u te d to th e

v ic tim s’ d e a th s, th e fa c t re m a in s th a t th e v io le n t a tta c k s Jo h n so n p e rp e tra te d

a g a in st b o th v ic tim s c on stitu te d th e pro x im a te c a u se o f b o th o f th e ir d e a th s. S e e

D a v is v

. S ta te

, 2 9 0 Ga

. 7 5 7

, 7 6 0 (4 ) (7 2 5 S E2 d 2 8 0 ) (2 0 12 ) (p r o x i ma t e

c a u sa tio n e s ta

blish e d b y e vid e n c e th a t u n d e rly in g fe lo ny “‘d ire c tly a n d

m a te ria lly c on trib u te d to th e h a p p e n in g o f a su b se q u en t a c c ru in g im m e d ia te

c a u se o f th e d e a th ’” ); se e a lso La rk in v

. S ta te

, 2 4 7 Ga

. 5 86 (1 ) (2 7 8 S E2 d 3 6 5 )

(1 9 8 1 ) (k n ife a tta c k b y d e fe n d a nt wa s pro x im a te c a u se o f v ic tim ’s d e a th

, wh e re

v ic tim d ie d fro m c om

p lic a tio n s of su rg e ry p e rfo rm e d o n k n ife wo u n d ); Wilso n

v

. S t a t e

, 1 9 0 G a

. 8 2 4 (2 ) (1 0 S E2 d 8 6 1 ) (1 9 4 0 ) (a ssa u lt b y d e fe nd a n t wa s

p ro x im a te c a

u se o f v ic tim ’s de a th

, wh e re v ic tim d ie d n in e m o n th s a fte r a ssa u lt

fro m in fe c tio n th a t wa s se c o n d ary to th e wo u n d s su sta in e d in th e a ssa u lt).

2

. Jo h n so n n e x t c o n te n d s th a t h is c on fe ssio n o f in v o lv e m e n t in b o th

c rim e s wa s im

p ro p e rly in d u c e d b y a “ h op e o f b e n e fit.” S e e fo rm e r OCGA § 2 4

-

3 -5 0 (to b e a d m issib le

, a c o n fe ssio n m u st h a v e b e e n m a d e “v o lu n ta rily

, with o u t

b e in g in d u c e d b y a

n o th e r b y th e slig h te st h op e o f be n e fit o r re m ote st fe a r o f

5in

ju ry ” ). 2 F in d in g Jo h n so n ’s sta te m e n t to h a v e b e e n m a d e v o lu n ta rily

, th e tria l

c o u rt re je c te d th is a rg u m e nt a t a p re -tria l Ja c kso n v

. De n n o 3 h e a rin g a n d a g a in

wh e n th e o b

je c tio n wa s re n e we d a t tria l.

Un d e r Ge o rg ia la w

, o n ly v olu n ta ry in c rim in a tin g sta te m e n ts a re

a d m issib le a g a in st th e a c c u se d a t tria l, a n d th e Sta te ha s th e b u rd e n

o f p ro v in g th e v o lu n ta rin e ss o f a c o nfe ssio n b y a p re p on de ra n c e o f

th e e v id e n c e

. [F o rm e r] OC G A § 2 4

– 3

– 5 0 re q u ire s th a t a n

a d m issib le c o n fe ssio n m

u st h a v e b e e n m a d e v o lu nta r i l y

, with o u t

b e in g in du c e d b y a n o th e r b y th e slig h te st h o p e o f be n e f i t o r

re m o te st fe a r o f in

ju ry . Th e p ro m ise o f a

b e n e fit th a t will re n de r a

c o n fe ssio n in v olu n ta ry u n d e r [fo rm e r] OCGA § 2 4

– 3

– 5 0 mu st

re la te to th e c ha rg e o r se n te n c e fa c in g th e su sp e c t.

(Cita tio n s a n d p u n c tu a tio n o m itte d .) F o ste r v. S ta te

, 2 8 3 Ga

. 4 8 4

, 4 8 5 (2 ) (6 6 0

S E2 d 5 2 1 ) (2 00 8 ). W h e t h e r a sta te m e nt wa s m a d e v o lu n ta rily is to b e

d e te rm in e d b y a sse ssin g th e to ta lity o f th e c irc u m sta nc e s. Ve rg a ra v

. Sta te

, 2 8 3

Ga

. 17 5 (1 ) (6 5 7 S E2 d 8 63 ) ( 2 0 0 8 ). “ W h e re th e fa c ts su rro u n d in g a p o lic e

in te rv ie w a re u n d isp u te d be c a u se th e re c ord e d in te rv ie w is p a rt o f th e a p p e lla te

re c o rd

, o u r re vie w o f th e tria l c o u rt' s a dm issib ility ru lin g is d e n o v o .” Wilso n

v . S ta te , 2 9 3 Ga

. 5 0 8, 5 1 0 (2 ) (7 48 S E2 d 3 8 5) (2 0 1 3 ).

2 Un d er t h e n ew Geo rg i a Ev i den ce Co d e, effect i v e fo r t ri a l s h e l d o n o r aft er

J an u ary 1 , 2 0 1 3

, t h is l an g u ag e i s n o w co d i fi ed at OCGA § 2 4 -8 -8 2 4

.

3 J ack s o n v . Den no , 3 7 8 U.S. 3 6 8 (8 4 SC 1 7 7 4 , 1 2 LE2 d 9 0 8 ) (1 9 6 4 ).

6On th e d a y o f h is a rre st o n S e p te m b e r 1 1

, 2 0 0 9, Jo hn so n w a s in te rv ie we d

b y Va ld o sta p o lic e d e te c tiv e S te v e n Th o m p so n

. Th e re c o rd in g o f th e in te rv ie w

re fle c ts th a t th e d e te c tiv e a d v ise d Jo h n so n o f h i s Mira n d a 4 rig h ts, wh ic h Jo h n so n

t h e n kn o win g ly a n d v o lu nta rily wa iv e d, a s re fle c te d o n a sig n e d wa iv e r f o r m.

Th e in te rv ie w b e g a n with De te c tiv e Th o m p so n te l l i n g Jo h n so n h e wa n te d to

h e a r h is sid e of th e sto ry re g a rd in g se v e ra l re c e n t a tta c ks, th a t h e h a d a lre a d y

sp o k e n with Co re y S in gle to n a n d Willie Ro we

, a nd th a t o n e o f th e v ic tim s h a d

d ie d

. Jo h n so n in itia l l y d e n i e d a n y in v o lv e m e n t in th e a tta c k s. Afte r Jo h n so n

a d m i t t e d t o own in g b ra ss k n u c k le s, De te c tiv e Th o m p so n to ld Jo h n so n th a t a p a ir

o f b ra ss k n u c k le s h a d b e e n se iz e d fro m h is a u n t’s ho m e a n d th a t a v ic tim ’s DNA

h a d be e n fo u n d o n th e m ; h e a lso fa lse ly c la im e d th a t Jo h n so n ’s DNA wa s

d e te c te d o n th e m

. D e te c tiv e Th o m p so n th e n w a rn e d Jo h n so n n o t to lie an d d e n y

h is p re se n c e a t th e a tta c k s b e c a u se th e re wa s e vid e n c e h e w as t h e r e

, sa id h e

wa n te d to h e a r Jo hn so n ’s v e rsio n o f e v e n ts, an d fu rth e r wa r n e d : “I c a n g e t u p

a n d wa lk o u t th is d oo r a n d se n d y o u r a * * t o th e c o u n ty ja il a n d c h an g e th is

c h a rg e fro m a g g ra va te d a ssa u lt to a f* * in g m u rd e r c h a rg e

. ” Jo hn so n th e n b e g a n

4 M i ran d a v . Ari zo n a, 3 8 4 U.S. 4 3 6 (8 6 SC 1 6 0 2

, 1 6 LE2 d 6 94 ) (1 9 6 6 ).

7b a c k

p e d a lin g

, first a d m ittin g h is p re se n c e du rin g th e a tta c k s, a n d u ltim a te ly

a d m ittin g h is p a rtic ip a tio n a n d r ec o u n tin g th e e v e n ts le a d in g to b o th a ssa u lts.

Jo h n so n c o n te nd s th a t De te c tiv e Th o m p so n ’s sta te m e n ts im

p lie d th a t, if

Jo h n so n d id n o t c o n fe ss, h e w o u ld b e c h a rg e d with m u rd e r

, a n d t h a t su c h a n

im p lic a tio n a m ou n te d t o a n im p ro p e r h o p e o f be n e fit, i.e

., th e p ro m ise o f a

lig h te r p un ish m e nt if Jo h n so n d id c o n fe ss. We d isa g re e wi t h th is

c h a ra c te riz a tio n

. De te c tiv e T ho m p so n ’s sta te m e n t th a t Jo hn so n c o u ld b e

c h ar g e d w i t h m

u rd e r w a s a tru e sta te m e n t th a t e m p h a siz e d th e gra v ity o f th e

situ a tio n Jo h n so n fa c e d

. S e e S o sn ia k v

. Sta te

, 2 8 7 Ga

. 2 7 9

, 2 88 -2 8 9 (1 ) (C)

(6 9 5 SE2 d 6 0 4) (2 0 1 0 ) (o ffic e r’s re m a rk th a t p ro se c u to r wa s “ lo o k in g a t a d e a th

p e n a lty c a se ” wa s m e re ly a n e x p la na tio n of th e se rio u sn e ss o f d e fe n d a n t’s

situ a tio n ); P re s t o n v

. S t a te

, 2 8 2 Ga

. 21 0

, 2 1 2 (2 ) (6 4 7 SE2 d 2 60 ) (2 0 0 7 )

(o ffic e r’s sta te m e n ts re g a rd in g p e n a ltie s fo r m u rd e r a n d fa c t th a t c h a rg in g

d e c isio n s a re in fo rm e d b y re c o m m e n d a tio n s fro m p olic e d id n o t o ffe r “ h o p e o f

b e n e fit” b u t ra th e r m e re ly e x p la in e d th e se rio u sn e ss o f d e fe n d a n t’s situ a tio n ).

Th e a d m o n itio n n o t to lie w a s n o t i mp r o p e r, a s it is we ll e sta b lish e d th a t

e x h o rta tio ns to te ll th e tru th d o n o t c o n stitu te th e g iv in g o f a h o p e o f b e n e fit th a t

re n d e rs a c o n fe ssio n in vo lu n ta ry

. Ma n g ru m v

. S ta te

, 2 8 5 Ga

. 6 76 (2 ) (6 8 1 S E2 d

81 3 0 ) (2 0 0 9 ) ; S t a t e v

. Ro b e rts, 2 7 3 Ga

. 51 4 (3 ) (5 4 3 S E2 d 7 25 ) (2 0 0 1 ),

o v e rru le d on o th e r g ro u n d s by Ve rg a ra v

. S ta te

, 2 83 Ga

. 1 7 5 (1 ) (6 5 7 S E2 d 8 6 3 )

(2 0 1 0 ). At n o tim e d id De te c tiv e Th o m p so n in d ic a te th a t a c o n fe ssio n wo u ld

re su lt in le sse r c h a rg e s; ra th e r, h e m e re ly su g g e ste d th a t Jo hn so n wo u ld b e w e ll

se rv e d b y o ffe rin g h is v e rsio n o f e v e n ts a s a m e a ns o f ju stify in g o r m itig a tin g

h is ro le in th e a ssa u lts. S e e P ittm a n v. S ta te

, 2 7 7 Ga

. 4 7 5 ( 2 ) ( 5 92 S E2 d 7 2 )

(2 0 0 4 ) (o ffic e r’s su gg e stio ns th a t d e fe nd an t h a d n o t in te n d e d to k ill v ic tim d id

n o t o ffe r im

p ro p e r h o pe of b e n e fit). Cf. Ca n ty v. S ta te

, 28 6 G a

. 60 8 (6 9 0 S E2 d

6 0 9 ) (2 0 1 0 ) ( c o n f

e s sio n wa s in d u c e d b y im p ro p e r h o p e o f b e n e fit wh e re

d e fe n d a n t c o n fe sse d o n ly a fte r b e in g to ld th a t a dm ittin g to m u ltip le c h a rg e s a t

o n c e c o uld re su lt in a sh orte r se n te n c e ). F in a lly

, th e d e te c tiv e ’s fa lse c la im th a t

Jo h n so n ’s DNA wa s fo u n d o n th e bra ss k n u c k le s d o e s no t a ffe c t th e

a d m issib ility of th e c o n fe ssio n

, a s d e c e p tio n b y in te rro g a tin g o ffic e rs do e s n o t

re n d e r a c o n fe ssio n in vo lu n ta ry un le ss it is “ c a lc u la te d t o p r o c u re a n u n tru e

sta te m e n t.” (Cita tio n a nd p u n c tu a t i o n o m itte d.) De Yo u n g v. S ta te

, 2 6 8 Ga

.

7 8 0

, 7 8 9 (8 ) (4 9 3 S E2 d 1 5 7 ) (1 9 9 7 )

. W e th e re fo re c o n c lu d e th a t Jo h n so n ’s

sta te m e n t wa s v o lu n ta rily g iv e n a nd p ro p e rly a d m itte d a t tria l.

3

. Jo h n so n n e x t c on te n d s th a t h is tr i al c o u n se l re n d e re d in e ffe c tiv e

9a ssista n c e

. To e sta b lish in e ffe c tiv e a ssista n c e o f c ou nse l, a d e fe n d a n t m u st

sh o w th a t h is tria l c o u n se l’s p e rfo rm a n c e wa s p ro fe ssio n a lly d e fic ie nt a n d th a t

b u t fo r su c h d e fic ie n t p e rfo rm a nc e th e re is a re a so n a b le p r o b a b ility th a t th e

re su lt o f th e tria l wo u ld h a v e b e e n d iffe re n t. S tric k la n d v

. Wa sh in g to n

, 4 6 6 U.

S

. 6 6 8

, 69 5 (1 0 4 S Ct 2 0 5 2

, 80 LE2 d 6 7 4 ) (1 98 4 ); We sle y v

. S ta te

, 2 8 6 Ga

. 3 5 5

(3 ) (6 8 9 S E2 d 2 8 0 ) (2 0 1 0 ). To p ro v e d e fic ie n t p e rfo rm a n c e

, o n e m ust sh o w

th a t h is a tto rn e y “ p e rfo rm e d a t tria l in a n o bje c tiv e ly u n r e a s o n a b le wa y

c o n sid e rin g a ll th e c irc u m sta n c e s a n d in th e lig h t o f p re v a ilin g p r o f es s io n a l

n o rm s.” Ro m e r v

. S ta te

, 2 9 3 Ga

. 33 9

, 3 44 (3 ) (7 4 5 S E2 d 6 3 7 ) (2 0 1 3 ). Co u rts

re v ie win g in e f

f e c t i v e n e s s c l a i m s m

u st a pp ly a stro n g p re su m

p tio n th a t c o u n se l’s

c o n d u c t fe ll with in th e wid e ra n g e o f re a so n a ble p ro fe ssio n a l p e rfo rm a n c e

. Id

.

Th u s, d e c isio n s re g a

rd in g tr i a l ta c tic s a n d stra te g y m a y fo rm th e b a sis fo r a n

in e ffe c tiv e n e ss c la im o n l y if th e y we re so p a te n tly u n re 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 fo llo we d su c h a c o u r s e

. I d

. If th e d e fe n d a n t

fa ils to sa tisfy e ith e r th e “d e fic ie nt p e rfo rm an c e ” or th e “ p re ju d ic e ” pro n g o f th e

S tric k la n d te st, th is Co u rt is n o t re q u i r ed to e x a m in e th e o th e r. S e e Gre e n v

.

S ta te , 2 9 1 Ga . 5 79 (2 ) (7 3 1 S E2 d 3 5 9 ) (2 0 1 2 ).

At th e n e w tria l h e a rin g

, Jo h n so n ’s tria l c o un se l te stifie d th a t th e d e fe nse

10stra te g y go in g in to tria l w a s fo r Jo h n so n to ta k e th e sta n d a n d te stify th a t h e h a d

b e e n a t h o m e wh e n th e c rim e s we re c o m m itte d

, th a t h e k n e w th e de ta ils o f th e

c rim e s o n ly fro m h a v in g h e a rd a b o u t th e m fro m frie n d s, a n d th a t his c on fe ssio n

wa s c o e rc e d o u t o f fe a r. Co u n se l te stifie d th a t h e h a d n um e ro u s d isc u ss i o n s

with Jo h n so n a

b o u t th is stra te g y a n d p re p a re d h im e x te n siv e ly fo r h is tria l

te stim o n y

. A t t r i a l, h o we v e r, o n c e th e p ro se c utio n h a d p re se n te d its c a se

,

Jo h n so n wa s to o sh a k e n a nd ne rv o u s to te stify

, a n d th u s, u n e x p e c te dly

, e le c te d

n o t to te stify

.

Jo h n so n no w fa u lts tria l c o u n se l fo r v a rio us a lle g e d sh o rtc o m in g s. F irst,

h e c ite s th e f

a ilu re to p re se nt a n y w itn e sse s on Jo h nso n ’s b e h a lf, in c lu d in g a n

a lle g e d a lib i w itn e ss. Th e te stim o n y fro m th e n e w tria l h e arin g re fle c ts th a t

c o u n se l m a d e re a s o n a

b le a tte m p ts, with o u t su c c e ss, to lo c a te th e un n a m e d

a lle g e d a lib i witn e ss. In a d d itio n

, c o u n se l h a d in te n d e d a nd w a s pre pa re d to c a ll

Jo h n so n ’s siste rs a s c h a ra c te r witn e sse s, a s we ll a s Jo h n so n’s a u n t. Ho we ve r,

wh e n Jo h n so n o pte d n o t to te stify

, c o u n se l d e c id e d n o t to c a ll a n y witn e sse s,

b e lie vin g c ha ra c te r witn e sse s w o u ld b e u n h e lp fu l a n d fe a rin g p o ssib le

in c o nsiste nc ie s in th e a

u nt’s te stim o n y

. In so fa r a s c o u n se l’s c o n d uc t re g a rd in g

th e se issu e s w a s d i l i g e n t a n d h is d e c isio n s we re re a so na b le in lig h t o f th e

11c irc u m sta n c e s, Jo h n so n h a s fa ile d to sh o w d e fic ie n t p e rfo rm a n c e in th is re g ard

.

Jo h n so n n e x t c o n te nd s th a t tria l c o u n se l re n d e re d in e ffe c tiv e a ssista n c e in

fa ilin g to o b

je c t wh e n o n e o f th e d e te c tiv e s o n th e c a se te stifie d t o s t a te m e n ts

m a d e b y Jo h n so n ’s a

u n t c o n firm in g th a t Jo hn so n h a d b e e n l i v in g a t h e r h om e

a n d sle e p in g o n th e so fa wh e re th e b ra ss k n u c k le s we re fo u n d

. Ev e n a ssu m in g

a rg u e n d o th a t th e fa ilu re to o b je c t c o n stitu te d d e fic ie n t p e rfo rm a n c e

, Jo h n so n

c a n n o t e sta b lish p re

ju dic e

, in so fa r a s th e o ffic e r te stifie d th a t, wh e n h e a rriv e d

a t th e a un t’s h o u se

, h e sa w Jo h n so n sittin g o n th e so fa b e fo re Jo h n so n

, u p o n

se e in g th e o ffic e r, e xite d th ro u g h th e re ar o f th e h o u se a n d fle d

. Be c a u se th e re

wa s a d m issib le e v id e n c e e sta b lish in g Jo h n s o n ’ s p r e se n c e in th e ro o m o f h is

a u n t’s h o m e wh e re th e bra ss k n u c k le s an d s h o e s l i nk e d with th e c rim e s we re

fo u n d

, th e h e a

rsa y te stim o n y o n th is p o in t wa s c u m u la tiv e a n d its a dm issio n d id

n o t in re a so n a

b le p ro b a b ility a ffe c t th e o utc o m e o f th e tria l.

Jo h n so n a lso fa u lts tria l c o u n se l fo r fa i l i n g to e lic it te stim o n y re g a rd in g

th e siz e o f th e sh o e s fo u n d a t Jo h n so n ’s a u n t’s ho use

, in fu rth e ra n c e o f a th e ory

th a t th e sh o e s fo u n d wo u ld n o t h a v e f i t Jo hn so n ’s fe e t a n d th u s we re n o t h is.

Co u n se l te stifie d th a t h e h a d in te n d e d to e x p lo re th is th e o ry wh e n Jo h n so n

te stifie d ; d id n o t wa n t to “ tip o ff” th e S ta te to th is a sp e c t o f th e d e fe n se d u rin g

12its c a s e in c h ie f; a n d wa s th e n p re v e n te d fro m pu rsu in g th is d e fe nse wh e n

Jo h n so n d e c id e d n o t to te stify

. W e f in d th a t c o u n se l’s stra te g y in th is re g a rd

wa s re a so n a

b le ; fu rth e r, e v e n with e v id e nc e th a t th e sh o e s d id n o t fit Jo h n so n

,

th e fa c t th a t th e sh o e s we re in Jo h n so n’s p o sse ssio n n o n e th e le ss lin k e d h im to

th e c rim e s, a n d th u s, p a rtic u la rly in lig h t o f a ll th e o th e r in c u lp a to ry e vid e n c e

,

th e re wa s n o p re

ju d ic e fro m

th e fa ilu re to e lic it th is p a rtic u la r e v id e nc e

.

We fin d n o de fic ie n t p e rfo rm a n c e o r pre ju d ic e in c ou n se l’s fa ilu re to

re ta in a n e x pe rt witn e ss o n fa lse c o n fe ssio n s, g iv e n c ou nse l’s in te n d e d stra te g y

o f c a llin g Jo h n so n h im se lf to te stify th a t h e wa s c o e rc e d in to c o n fe ssin g

, a n d

Jo h n so n ’s fa ilu re to m a k e a ny p ro ffe r a s to wh a t te stim o n y su c h a n e xp e rt m ig h t

h a v e g iv e n

. Lik e wise

, th e re wa s n o d e fic ie n c y o r p re ju d ic e in c o u nse l’s fa ilu re

to a dd u c e e x p e rt te stim on y re g a rd in g th e c a u se of d e a th o f e ith e r v i c t im ; a s

Jo h n so n ’s c o u n se l a c k n o w le d g e d a t th e m o tio n fo r n e w tria l h e a rin g

, tria l

c o u n se l c o n d uc te d a th oro u g h c ro ss e x a m in a tio n of b o th m e d ic a l e xa m in e rs

re g a rd in g th e po ssib le c a

use s o f d e a th o f e a c h v ic tim

, fo c u sin g o n th e d e c isio n

n o t to p e rfo rm su rg e ry o n Cra wfo rd a n d th e su b sta n d a rd tre a tm e n t re n d e re d to

Mc Ca sk ill a t th e n u rsin g h o m e a s fa c to rs in th e d e a th s. In a d ditio n

, c o n tra ry to

Jo h n so n ’s c on te n tio n

, c o u n se l d id n o t re nd e r in e ffe c tiv e a ssista nc e in fa ilin g to

13re q u e st a sp e c ific ju ry in stru c tio n o n th e re q uire d ne x u s b e twe e n a d e fe n d a n t’s

a c t a n d th e v ic tim ’s d e a th ; c o u n se l re a so n a b ly be lie v e d th a t th e m e d ic a l

e x a m in e rs’ c ro ss-e x a m in a tio n s, to g e th e r w ith th e tria l c o u rt’s c h arg e o n fe lo n y

m u rd e r, we re su ffic ie n t to h ig h lig h t th e issu e o f c a usa tio n.

4

. Jo h n so n c o n t e n d s, a n d th e S ta te a g re e s, th a t th e tria l c o u rt e rre d in

fa ilin g to m e rg e Co u n t 2 (a gg ra v a te d a ssa u lt o f Cra wfo rd ) in to Co u n t 1 (fe lo n y

m u rd e r p r ed i c a t e d o n th a t a g g ra v a te d a ssa u lt) a n d Co u n t 5 (a rm e d ro b b e ry o f

Mc Ca sk ill) in to Co u n t 4 (fe lo n y m u rd e r p re d ic a te d o n th a t arm e d ro b be ry ). S e e

S u m ra ll v

. S ta te

, 2 6 4 Ga

. 1 4 8 ( 2 ) ( 4 4 2 SE2 d 24 6 ) (1 9 9 4 ). Ac c o rd in gly

,

Jo h n so n ’s c o n v ic tio n s a n d se n te n c e s o n Co u n ts 2 a n d 5 m u st b e v a c a te d

.

Ju d g m e n t a ffirm e d in p a rt a n d v a c a te d in p a rt. All th e Ju stic e s c o n c u r.

14