FOURTH D I VI SI ON

DOYLE, P. J.

, COOM ER and M A R KLE, 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 ber 11, 2019



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 9 A0 89 9 . O’ SHIELDS v . THE STATE.

M A R K LE

, J ud g e.

Fo l l owi n g a ju ry t ri al

, Ro b ert O’ Sh i e l d s w a s co n v i ct ed o f t wo co u n t s o f

h o m i ci d e b y v eh i cl e i n t h e fi rs t d eg ree (OCGA § 4 0-6 -3 9 3 (a)); t wo co u n t s o f DUI

l es s s afe (OCGA § 4 0 -6 -3 9 1 (a)); an d o n e co u nt o f p o s s es s io n o f m et h am p h et am i n e

(OCGA § 1 6 -1 3 -3 0 (a)). 1 He n o w ap p eal s fro m t he t ri al co u rt ’ s d en i al of h i s m o t i o n

fo r n ew t ri al

, as am en d ed

, arg u i n g t h at (1 ) t h e tri al co urt s h ou l d h av e g ran t ed h i s

m o ti o n t o s u p p res s t h e res u l t s o f h i s b l o o d t es t ; (2 ) t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n refu s i n g to

ch arg e t h e ju ry o n a l es s er i n cl u d ed offen s e; an d (3 ) h e recei v ed i neffect i v e as s i s t an ce

o f co u ns el

. Aft er a t h o ro u g h rev i ew o f t h e reco rd

, an d fo r t h e reas o ns t h at fo l l o w, we

1 Th e j u ry acq ui t t ed O’ Sh i el d s o f an ad d i t i on al co u n t of h om i ci d e b y v eh i cl e

b as ed o n reck l es s d ri v i n g an d t he t raffi c o ffen s e o f reck l es s d ri v i n g

. Pri o r t o t ri al

, t h e

St at e al s o n o l l e p ro s s ed an o t h er co un t o f ho m i ci d e by veh i cl e an d o n e co un t o f DUI.affi rm th e d en i al o f t h e m o ti o n t o s u p p res s, b u t we rev ers e t h e d en i al of t he m o t i o n

fo r n ew t ri al , an d rem an d t h e cas e fo r fu rt her p ro ceed i n g s

.

Vi ewi n g t h e ev i d en ce i n t he l i g h t m o s t fav o rab l e t o t h e ve r d ict

, Ja cks o n v.

Vi r g i n i a , 4 4 3 U. S. 3 0 7 (9 9 SCt 2 7 8 1 , 6 1 LE2 d 5 6 0 ) (1 9 79 ), t h e reco rd s h o ws t h at

,

i n t h e e a rl y m o rn i n g h ou rs o f May 2 5

, 20 1 5

, O ’ Sh i el d s rear-en d ed a fi re t ru ck t h at

was s t o p p ed o n t h e e x p r es s way i n Cl ay t on Co un t y d u e t o a p rev i o u s

, u n rel at ed

acci den t . Th e p as s en g er i n O’ Sh i el d s ’ s car was k i l l ed an d O’ Sh i el d s was i nju red i n

t h e acci d en t

. O ’ Sh i el d s was t ak en t o t h e h o sp i t al

, wh ere Geo rg i a St at e Pat ro l t ro o p ers

i n t erv i ewed h i m wh i l e h e was awai t i n g s u rg ery

.

At t he t i m e o f t h e i n t erv i ew, O’ Sh i el d s was ab l e t o an s wer q u e s t i o n s

, was

aware o f t h e acci d en t

, an d as k ed t h e t ro o p ers ab ou t t h e p as s e n g er. He t o l d t h e

t ro o p ers t h at h i s p as s en g er, wh o was a h eav y m an

, h ad co ll ap s ed o n hi m

, an d h e was

t ak i n g t h e p as s en g er t o t h e h o s pi t al wh en t h e acci d en t occu rred

. Al t h o u g h he s eem ed

co g ni zan t

, t h e t ro o p ers n o t iced h e s p o k e wi t h s l u rred s p eech an d had l i k el y recei v ed

p ai n m ed i cat i o n p ri o r t o th e i n t erv i ew. Th e t wo s t at e t ro o p ers i n t erv iewi n g O’ Sh i el d s

b el i ev ed h e m i g h t h av e been u n d er t h e i n fl u en ce at t h e t im e o f th e acci d en t

, an d o n e

o f t h em as k ed h i m fo r co ns en t fo r a b lo o d t es t. O’ Sh i el d s g av e co ns en t

, an d th e b l o o d

2t es t res u l t s w ere p o s i t i v e fo r m et h a m ph et am i n e, am

p h et am i n e, an d al p razo l am

(Xan ax ).

Befo re h e was t ak en i n t o s u rg ery

, O’ Sh i el d s g av e hi s b el on g i n g s t o h o s p i t al

s t aff, i ncl u d i n g a t i n b o x t h at h e t o l d s t aff was “ s p eci al ” an d wh i ch h e in s t ru ct ed t h e

s t aff n o t t o o p en

. Po l i ce l at er det erm i n ed th e co n t en ts o f th e b o x t o b e 5 .0 5 g ram s o f

m et h am p h et am i ne.

In v es t i g at ors o b t ai n ed cras h d at a fro m t h e ai rb ag m o d u l es i n O’ Sh i el d s ’ s car.

Th e d at a s h o wed t h at O’ Sh iel d s h ad b een t rav el i n g 7 6 m i l es p er h o u r s eco n d s b efo re

t h e acci d en t

, an d 7 4 m i l es p er h o u r at i m pact

. Th e p o s t ed s p eed l i m i t was 6 5 m i l es p er

h o u r. Th e d at a al s o s h owed t h at h e h ad ap p l i ed h i s b rak es i n t he s eco nd s l ead i n g to

t h e cras h . A t ro o p er t es t i fi ed t h at m et h am ph et am i n e co u l d s l o w a d ri v er’ s res p o n s e

t i m e.

O’ Sh i el ds req u es ted th at t h e t ri al co u rt i n s t ru ct t h e ju ry o n th e l es s er i n cl u d ed

o ffen s e o f s eco n d d eg ree veh i cu l ar h o m i ci d e b ecau s e t h e p o li ce i n i t ial l y al l eg ed t h at

O’ Sh i el d s h ad b een fo ll o wi ng t o o cl o s el y

. 2 T h e t ri al co u rt d ecl i n ed t o d o s o b as ed o n

2 OCGA § 4 0 -6 -4 9 (a) (2 0 1 5 ) p ro v i d es : “ Th e d ri v er o f a m o t o r v eh i cl e s h al l n ot

fo l l o w an o t h er v eh i cl e m o re cl o s el y t h an i s reas o n ab le a n d p r u d e n t

, h av i n g d u e

reg ard fo r t h e sp eed o f s u ch v eh i cl es an d t h e t raffi c u p o n an d t h e co nd i t i o n o f t h e

h i g h way .”

3t h e m an n er i n wh ich O’ Sh i el d s was i nd i ct ed

. Th e ju ry co n v i ct ed O ’ Sh i el ds o f t wo

co u nt s each o f v eh i cu l ar h o m i ci d e i n t h e fi rs t d eg ree an d DUI l es s s afe b as ed o n t h e

d ru g s, an d o ne co u n t o f p o s s es s i o n o f m et h am p h et am i n e. 3

Th ereaft er, O’ Sh i el ds fi l ed a m o t i o n fo r a n ew t ri al an d an am en d ed m o t i o n fo r

n ew tri al

. As i s rel ev an t t o t h is ap p eal

, O ’ Sh i el d s arg u ed t h at th e t ri al co urt erred in

fai l i n g t o (1 ) s u pp res s t h e r e s u l t s o f h i s b l o o d t es t

, an d (2 ) i n s tru ct t h e ju ry o n t h e

l es s er i ncl u d ed o ffen s e o f h o m i ci d e b y v eh icl e i n t h e s eco nd d eg ree. He fu rt h er

al l eg ed t h at h e recei v ed in effect i v e as si s t an ce of co u n s el wh en t r i a l co u n s el

p rem at u rel y m o ved t o ex cl u d e ev i d en ce, wh ich al ert ed t h e St at e t o i t s fai l u re t o p ro v e

t h e p o ss es s i o n ch arg e.

At a h eari n g o n t h e m ot i o n fo r n ew t ri al

, t ri al co u n s el t es t i fi ed t h at

, p ri o r t o t h e

St at e res t i n g i t s cas e i n c h ief, s h e m o v ed t o ex cl u d e an y ev i d en ce o f t h e

m et h am p h et am i n e b e cau se t h e St at e h ad no t p res en t ed a wi tn es s t o es t ab l i s h

p o s s es s i o n

. Sh e was aware t h a t t h e S t a t e h ad a wi t n es s o n it s l i s t, b u t t h ou g h t t h e

wi t n es s w as n o t g oi ng t o t es t i fy

. Sh e ad m i t t ed

, h o wev er, t h at s h e u n d ers t o o d t h e St at e

3 Th e t ri al co urt m erg ed t h e s eco n d v eh i cu l ar ho m i ci d e co n vi ct io n an d t h e t wo

DUI co n v i ct i o n s i n t o th e v eh i cu l ar h o m i ci d e co n v i ct i o n i n co u n t 1

, a n d s en t en ced

O’ Sh i el d s o n l y f

o r o n e co u n t o f v eh i cu l ar h om i ci d e an d p o s s es s i o n o f

m et h am p h et am i ne.

4co u ld s t i ll ad d wi tn es s es at t h at p o i n t i n t h e tri al

. Th e t ri al co u rt d en ied t he m o t i o n fo r

n ew t ri al

, as am en d ed , an d t h i s ap p eal fo l l o wed

.

1

. O’ Sh i el d s arg ues t h at t h e t ri al co urt erred b y refu s i n g t o s up p res s t h e res u l t s

o f t h e b lo o d t es t becau s e t h e St at e fai led t o m eet i t s b u rd en t o p ro v e t h at h e g av e

co n sen t

. He ex p l ai n s t h at h e was n o t read t h e i m p l ied co n s en t n o t i ce, h e was co n fu s ed

an d u n d er t h e i n fl u en ce o f p ai n m ed i cat i o n wh en h e was as k ed fo r co n s en t

, h e d i d n ot

s i gn a wri t t en co n s en t fo rm

, an d t h e tro o p er wh o t es ti fi e d ab o u t o b tai n i n g co n s en t

was m erel y a wi t n es s t o t h e in t erv i ew an d was n o t t h e o ffi cer wh o act u al l y req u es t ed

co n sen t

. 4 W e are n o t p ers u ad ed

.

A s u s p ect ’ s ri g h t u n d e r t h e Fo urt h Am en d m en t t o b e free o f

u n reas o n ab l e search es an d s ei zu res ap p l i es to t h e co m p el l ed wi th d rawal

o f b l o od , an d t h e ex t ract i o n o f b l o o d i s a s earch wi t h in t he m ean i n g o f

t h e Geo rg i a C o n s t i t u t i o n

. In g en eral

, s earch es are o f t wo t y p es : t h o s e

co n d u ct ed w i t h a s earch warran t or t ho s e u nd ert ak en wi t h o u t o n e, an d

s earch es co n d u ct ed o u t s id e t h e ju di ci al pro ces s are p er s e u n reas o n ab l e

u n d er t he Fo u rt h A m en d m en t

, s u b ject on l y t o a few s peci fi cal l y

es t ab l i sh ed an d wel l -d el i n eat ed ex cep t i o ns

.

4 W e n o t e th at th e Su p rem e Co u rt o f Geo rg i a h as recen t l y h el d t h at t h e i m p l i ed

co n sen t s t at u t e v i o l at es th e ri g h t ag ai n s t s e l f-i n cri m i n at i o n an d d o es n o t am o u nt to

a c t u al co n s en t

. See El li o t t v. S t a t e

, 3 0 5 G a. 1 7 9, 2 2 2 -2 2 3 (IV) (E) (8 2 4 SE2 d 2 6 5 )

(2 0 1 9). Becau s e O ’ Sh i el d s was n ot g i v e n t h e i m p l i ed co n s en t n o t i ce, we need n ot

co n si d er t h e effect El l io tt h as o n t h i s cas e.

5(Ci t at i o n s o m i t t ed .) W i l l i a ms v. S t a t e

, 2 9 6 G a. 8 1 7

, 8 1 9 (7 7 1 SE2 d 3 7 3 ) (2 0 15 ). “ [I] t

i s w el l s et t l ed i n th e co n t ex t o f a DUI b l o o d d raw t h at a v a l i d co n s en t t o a s earch

el i m i n at es th e n eed fo r ei t h er pro b ab l e cau s e o r a search warran t .” (Ci t at i o n o m i t t ed .)

Id

. at 8 2 1

. An d

, wh ere t h e St at e p oi n t s t o co n sen t as th e b as i s fo r t he search

, “ t h e

St at e h as t h e b u rd en o f p ro v in g t h at t h e accu s ed a c ted freel y an d v o lu n t ari l y u n d er

t h e t o t al i t y

o f t h e ci rcu m s t an ces .” (Ci t at io n s o m i t ted .) Id

.

Sp eci fi cal l y

, u n der Geo rg i a l aw, v o l u n t ari n es s m u s t refl ect an ex erci s e

o f free w i l l, no t m erel y a s ub m i s si o n t o o r acq u i es cen ce i n t h e ex p res s

o r i m p l i ed as s ert i o n o f au t h o ri t y

. Co ns eq u en t l y

, t h e v o l u n t ari n es s o f

co n s en t t o s earch is m eas u red b y ev al u at i n g t he t o t al i t y o f th e

ci rcu m s t an ces

, wh i ch in cl u d es fact o rs s u ch as pro l o n g ed qu es t i o n i n g ;

t h e u s e o f p h y s i cal p u n i sh m en t ; t h e accu s ed ’ s ag e, l ev el o f ed u cat i o n

,

i n t el l i g en ce, len g t h of d et en t i o n

, an d ad vi s em e nt of c onstitutiona l r ight s ;

an d t h e p s y ch o l o g i cal i m p act o f t h es e fact o rs o n t h e accu s ed

.

(Ci t at i o n s an d p un ct u at i on o m it t ed .) S t a t e v. Bo wma n , 3 3 7 Ga. Ap p

. 31 3

, 3 1 7 (7 8 7

SE2 d 2 84 ) (2 0 1 6 ). Ot h er fact ors rel ev an t t o t h e is s u e o f co n s en t i n cl u d e a l ack o f fear,

i n t i m i d at i o n

, o r t h reat s t o o bt ai n t h e co n s en t ; t h e s u s p ect ’ s affi rm at i v e res po n s e t o t h e

req u es t ; an d t h e fai l u re t o o b ject t o t h e tes t o r ch an g e o n e’ s m i n d aft er gi v i n g co n s en t

.

Ma cMa s t er v. S t a t e

, 3 4 4 G a. Ap p

. 2 2 2

, 2 2 6 -2 2 7 (1 ) (a) (8 0 9 SE2 d 4 7 8) (2 0 1 8 ). W h en

rev i ewi n g t h e den i al o f a m o t i on t o su p p res s

, we m ay co n s i der al l o f t h e tes t i m o ny

6p res en t ed at b o t h t h e s u p p res s i on h eari n g an d t he t ri al

. Li n d sey v. S t a t e

, 2 8 7 Ga. Ap p.

4 1 2 (6 51 SE2 d 5 3 1 ) (2 0 0 7 ).

Here, O’ Sh iel d s m o v ed t o s u pp res s t h e b l o o d tes t res u l ts o n t h e g ro un d t h at t h e

St at e h ad n o t s h o w n t hat he h ad g i v en v al i d co n sen t . At a h eari n g , t h e s t at e t ro o p er

wh o s p ok e wi t h O’ Sh iel d s at t h e h o s p i t a l tes t i fi ed t h at he as k ed fo r an d recei v ed

co n sen t fo r t h e b l o o d t es t

. T h e t ro op er tes t ifi ed t hat O’ Sh i el ds ap p eared t o be u n d er

t h e i n fl u en ce an d “ k i n d o f o u t o f i t ,” wh i ch l ed h im to r e q u e s t t h e t es t

, b u t t h at

O’ Sh i el d s u n d ers t o o d t h e req u es t an d g av e co h eren t an d accu rat e an s wers t o t h e

t ro o p er’ s o t h er q u es t i o n s. A d d i t i o n al ly

, t h e t ro o p er d i d n o t m ak e an y p ro m i s e s o r

t h reat s i n o rd er t o o bt ai n O’ Sh i el ds ’ s co n s en t

. T h e t ro o p er fu rt h er ex p l ai n ed t h at h e

d i d n o t read O ’ Sh i el d s t h e i m p l i e d c o n s en t l aw b efo re req u es t i n g co n sen t b ecau s e

O’ Sh i el d s was n o t u n d er arres t.

Th e t ri al co u rt d en i ed t he m o t i o n wi th o ut ex p l an at i o n o r an y fact u al fi n d i n g s

. 5

“ Th e t ri al co u rt

, h o wev er, i s n o t req u i red t o m ak e ex p res s fi n di n g s o f fact aft er a

h eari n g o n a m o ti o n t o s u p p res s

. In su ch a cas e, we n ev e r t h e l e s s co ns t ru e t h e

5 T h e v ol un t ari n es s o f O’ Sh i e l d s ’ s co n s en t was t h e o n l y arg u m en t m ad e in

s u p p ort o f t h e m o t i o n to s up p res s t h e res u l t s o f t h e b lo o d t es t

. Th u s

, t h e t ri al co urt ’ s

fai l u re t o m ak e s peci fi c fact u al fi n di n g s d oes n o t req u ire rem an d; as t h ere w a s n o

o t h er b as i s fo r th e m o t i o n, t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s d en i al o f t h e m o t i o n i m p l i ci t l y co n cl u d es

t h at t h e co ns en t was v o l u nt ary

.

7ev i d en ce m o s t fav o rab l y t o u p ho l d t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s ju d g m en t

. ” (Ci tat i o n s o m i t t ed .)

S t a t e v. Br o g a n , 3 4 0 Ga. Ap p . 2 3 2 , 2 3 4 (7 9 7 SE2 d 1 4 9 ) (2 0 1 7 ).

Co n st ru i n g t h at ev i d en ce i n t h i s cas e m o st fav o rab l y t o u p h o l d t he tri al co urt ’ s

d en ial o f t h e m o t i o n t o s u p p res s

, we m u s t co n cl ud e t h at O’ Sh i e l d s ’s co n s en t was

v o l u n t ary

. Th e t ro o p er’ s t es t i m o n y es t ab li s hed t h at O’Sh i el d s w as aware o f t h e

acci den t

, u n d ers t o o d t h e req u es t fo r co n s en t, an d g av e co n s i s t en t a n d ap p ro p ri at e

res p o n s es t o t h e t ro o p er’ s q u es t i o n s

. M o reo v er, t h ere w as n o ev i d en ce o r t es t i m o ny

t h at O’ Sh i el d s was t h reat en ed or i n ti m i d at ed i n to g i vi n g co n s en t o r t h at h e ch an g ed

h i s m i n d aft er i n i t i al l y g i v i ng co n s en t

.

Th e fact t h at O ’ Sh i el d s m ay h av e b een u n der t h e in fl u en ce of d ru g s at t h e t i m e

wo u l d n o t au t o m at ical l y n eg at e h i s co n sen t

. Ma cMa s t er

, 3 4 4 Ga. Ap p. at 22 7 (1 ) (a);

s ee al so S t a t e v. Dep ol , 3 3 6 Ga. Ap p . 1 9 1 , 2 00 (7 84 SE2 d 5 1 ) (2 0 1 6 ). No r d o es t h e

ab s en ce o f t h e i m

p l i e d co n s en t n o ti ce ch an g e t h e o ut co m e. E v en as s u m i n g t h at t h e

t ro o p ers s h o u ld h av e g i v en O’ Sh i el d s t h e i m pl i ed co n s en t n o t i ce, s u ch n o t i ce d o es

n o t eq u at e wi th v o l u n t ary co n s en t

. See W i ll i ams

, 2 9 6 Ga. a t 8 2 1

- 8 2 2 ; s ee al s o

Ma cMa s t e r

, 3 44 G a. Ap p

. at 2 26 -2 2 7 (1 ) (a) (reco g ni zi n g t h at an affi rm at i v e res p o n s e

t o th e im pl i ed co n s en t n o ti ce d o es n o t au t o m at i cal l y m ean act u al v o lu n t ary co n s en t

t o a b l o o d t es t ).

8“ [I] n t h e ab s en ce of ev i d en ce o f re c o r d d ema n d i n g a fi n d i n g co n t rary t o t h e

j u d g e’ s d et erm i nat i o n ,” we wi l l n o t rev ers e t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s ru l i n g. (Em p h as is i n

o ri g i nal

. ) Bo wma n

, 3 3 7 Ga. Ap p

. at 3 1 8

. M o reo v er, we pres u m e t h e t ri al co u rt k n ew

t h e l aw an d “ fai t h fu l ly an d l awfu l ly p erfo rm [ed ] t h e d u t i es d ev o l v [ed ] u p o n h i m by

l aw. [W e] w i l l n o t p res u m e t h e t ri al co u rt co m m i t t e d e rro r wh ere t h at fact d o es n ot

affi rm at i v el y ap p ear.” Ma t t h ews v. S t a t e

, 2 9 4 Ga. Ap p

. 8 3 6

, 8 4 1 -8 4 2 (4 ) (6 7 0 SE2 d

5 2 0 ) (2 0 0 8 ). Acco rd i n g ly

, v i ewi n g th e ev i d en ce m o s t fav o r a b l y t o t h e t ri al co urt ’ s

o rd er, as req u i red b y ou r s t an d ard o f rev i e w

, w e m u s t co n cl u d e t hat t h e t ri al co u rt

p ro p erl y d en i ed t he m o ti o n t o s u p p res s

.

2

. O’ Sh i el d s al s o arg u es t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n fai l i n g t o g iv e h i s req u es t ed

i n s t r u ct i o n o n t h e l es s er i n cl ud ed o ffen s e o f t h e v eh i cu l ar h o m i ci de ch arg e. He

co n ten d s t h at t h ere was ev id en ce of o t h er t raffi c o ffen s es t h at t h e ju ry co u l d h av e

fo u n d to b e t h e ca u s e o f t h e acci d en t an d

, t h erefo re, t h e al tern at i v e ch arg e was

warran t ed . W e are co n s t rai n ed t o ag ree.

Un d er Geo rg i a l aw, o n e c o m m it s t h e o ffen s e o f v eh i cu l ar h o m i ci de i n

t h e fi rs t d eg ree [u n d er OCGA § 4 0 -6 -3 9 3 (a)] wh en h e o r s h e, wi t h o u t

m al i c e a f o r et h o ug h t

, cau s es th e d eat h o f an o t h er p ers on t hro u g h th e

v i o l at i o n o f cer t a i n s p eci fi ed t raffi c l aws

, i ncl u d i n g [reck l es s d ri v i n g

an d ] DUI. Th e offen s e o f v e h i c u l ar h om i ci de i n t h e s eco n d d eg ree i s

co m m i t t ed wh en o n e, wi t h o u t an i n t en t i on t o d o s o

, cau s es t h e d eat h o f

9an o t her p ers o n b y v i o l at i n g an y

o t h er Ti tl e 4 0 t raffi c l aw n o t s p eci fi ed

i n OCGA § 4 0-6 -3 9 3 (a). Becau s e t h e d i ff e r e n c e b et ween fi rs t an d

s eco nd d eg ree v eh icu l ar h o m i ci d e i s t h e cu lp ab i l i t y o f t h e p red i cat e

t raffi c o ffen s e, s eco n d d eg ree v eh i cu l ar h om i ci d e i s co n s i d ered a l es s er

i n cl u d ed o ffen se o f fi rs t d eg ree v eh i cu l ar h o m i ci d e.

(Ci t at i o n s an d p u nct u at i on o m it t ed .) S mi t h v. S t a t e

, 3 4 2 Ga. Ap p

. 70 5

, 7 0 7 (1 ) (8 0 5

SE2 d 4 6 0) (2 0 1 7) (p hy s i cal p reced en t o n l y ); s ee al s o Ot u wa v. S t at e , 3 1 9 Ga. Ap p.

3 3 9

, 3 4 1 -3 4 2 (2 ) (7 34 SE2 d 2 73 ) (2 0 1 2 ); Br o wn v. S ta t e

, 2 8 7 Ga. Ap p

. 7 5 5

, 7 5 7 (6 5 2

SE2 d 6 3 1) (2 0 0 7).

A w ri t t en req u es t to ch arg e a les s e r i n c l u d ed o ffen s e m us t al way s be

g i v en i f t h ere i s a n y ev i d en ce t h at t h e d efen d an t i s g u il t y o f th e l es s er

i n cl u d ed offen s e. Acco rd i n g l y

, a wri t t en req u es t t o i n s t ru ct t h e ju ry o n

s eco nd d eg ree v eh i cu l ar h o m i ci d e m us t b e g iv en in a cas e ch arg i n g fi rs t

d eg ree v eh i cu lar h o m i ci d e i f t h ere i s an y ev id en ce sh o wi n g t h at a l es s

cu l p ab l e traffi c o ffen s e cau s ed t h e fat al co l l is i on

. Sp eci fi cal ly

, w h e r e

s o m e ev id en ce sh o ws th at t h e d efen dan t co m m i t t ed an act o f fo l l owi n g

t o o cl o s el y

, a t raffi c v i o l at i o n o t h er t h an t h e m ore cu l p ab l e of f e n s e o f

DUI, an d t h at su ch m ay h av e cau s ed t h e co l l i s i o n an d res u l t i n g deat h

,

t h e fact t hat t h e d efen d an t m ay h av e al s o co m m i t t ed a DUI d o es n o t

d em a n d a f

i n d i n g t h at th e DUI was th e s o l e p ro x i m at e cau s e of th e

co l l i s i o n an d o f t h e v ict i m ’ s d eat h

. In deed

, b ecau s e t h e St at e m u s t p ro ve

t h a t t h e m o re cu l p ab l e t raffi c o ffen s e cau s ed t h e d eat h

, a ju ry co u l d

b el i ev e t h at a d efen d an t w a s g u i l ty o f DUI b u t t h at t h e DUI d i d n o t

cau s e t h e p art i cu l ar d eat h

. In s tead

, a ju ry m ig h t co ncl u d e t h at s o m e

10o t h er t r affi c o ffen s e cau s ed a p art i cu l ar v i ct i m ’ s d eat h

. Un d er s u ch

ci rcu m s t an ces

, t h ere is n o ev i den t i ary o r l eg al im p ed i m en t t o t h e ret u rn

o f a verd i ct o f g u i l t as to DUI an d a v erd ict o f g u i l t as t o s eco n d d eg ree

v e h i cu l ar h o m i ci d e. T h e t ri al co u rt errs i n refu s i n g t o g i v e ap p el l a n t ’s

req u es t to ch arg e o n s eco n d d eg ree v eh i cu l ar h o m i ci d e.

(Ci t at i o n s an d p u nct u at i o n om i t t ed .) B r o wn

, 2 8 7 Ga. Ap p. at 7 5 7 -7 5 8. Im p o rt an t l y

,

t h e d efen d an t need n o t b e ch arg ed wi t h t h e l es s cu l p ab l e t raffi c offen se t o b e en t i t l ed

t o an i n s tru ct i o n on t h e l es s er i n c l u d e d o f f e n s e. Lef l er v. S t a t e

, 2 10 Ga. Ap p

. 6 0 9,

6 1 0 -6 1 1 (2 ) (4 3 6 SE2 d 7 7 7 ) (1 9 9 3 ).

T he e vide n c e he re sh o wed t h at O’ Sh iel d s t es ted p o sitive f or m e tha m phe ta m ine

,

am ph et am i n e, an d al p razo l am aft er th e acci d en t

. Th e t es t i m o n y al s o s h owed t h at

, at

t h e t i m e o f t h e acci d en t

, O’ Sh i el d s was t rav el in g 7 4 m il es per h o u r i n a 6 5-m i l e-p erh o u r zo n e an d t h at h e h ad hi s fo o t o n t h e b rak e. A d d i ti o n al l y

, t h ere w as ev i den ce t h at

t h e s t at e t ro op er in it i al l y o b t ai n ed arres t warran t s f o r O ’ Sh i el d s aft er t h e cras h fo r

DUI, v eh i cu l ar h o m i ci d e, an d fo l l o wi n g t o o cl os el y

.

W e hav e co ns i st en t ly h el d t h at

, wh ere t h ere i s so m e ev i d en ce

– n o m at t er h o w

s l ig h t

– t h at t here co u l d be an o t h er t raffi c v i o lat i o n t h at cau s e d t h e acci d en t

, t h e

d e f e n d an t i s en t i t led t o a ju ry i n s t ru ct i on o n t h e l es s er i n cl u d ed o ffen s e o f s eco n d

11d eg ree veh i cu lar h o m i ci de. 6 See, e.g

., S mi t h

, 3 4 2 Ga. A p p

. at 7 0 8 -7 0 9 ( 1 ) ; B r o w n

,

2 8 7 Ga. Ap p . at 7 57 -7 5 9 ; Lef l er , 2 1 0 Ga. Ap p

. at 6 10 -6 1 1 (2 ); H a yl es v. S t a t e , 1 8 0

Ga. A p p

. 8 6 0

, 8 6 1 -8 6 2 (3 ) (3 5 0 SE2 d 7 9 3 ) (1 9 8 6). Becau se t here was s o m e

t es t i m o ny h ere th at O’ Sh i el d s was s peed i n g an d fo l l o wi ng t oo cl o s el y at t h e t i m e o f

t h e acci d en t

, th e ju r y c o u l d h av e fo u n d t h es e les s cu l p ab le o ffen s es cau s ed t h e

acci den t

, rat h er t h a n t h e DUI. As a res u lt

, th e t ri al co u rt erred i n d en y i n g t h e

req u es t ed ju ry

i n s t ru ct i o n o n t h e l es ser i ncl u d ed o ffen s e.

Th e St at e arg u es

, h o wev er, t h at an y erro r i n t h i s reg ard i s h arm l es s. W e are n ot

p ers u ad ed

. A l t h o u g h t h e ju ry acq u i t t ed O’ Sh i el d s of v eh icu l ar h om i ci d e bas ed o n

reck l es s d ri v i n g

, w e can n o t s ay t h at t h e ju ry al s o wo u l d h av e reject ed t he l es s er

i n cl u d ed o ffen s e o f veh i cu l ar h o m i ci d e b as ed o n s p eed i n g o r fo l lo wi n g t o o cl o s el y

h ad i t b een s o ch arg ed

. M o reo v er, t o th e ex ten t t h at i t m i g h t b e i n co n s i s t en t fo r t h e

ju ry t o acq u i t O’ Sh i el d s o f v eh i cu l ar ho m i ci d e b as ed on reck les s d ri v i n g b u t fi n d h i m

g u i l t y o f v e h i cu l ar ho m i ci d e i n t h e s eco nd d eg ree b as ed o n s p eed i n g

, we h av e

6 T h o s e cas es i n wh i ch we h av e co n cl u d ed t h at n o s u ch i n s t ru ct i o n w a s

req u i red are d i s t i n gu i s h ab l e. See Tu rn er

, 3 42 G a. Ap p

. at 8 8 5 -8 8 6 (2 ) (i n s t ru ct i o n n ot

warran t ed w h ere t h ere w as n o ev i d en ce t h at les s er t raffi c o ffen s e was th e cau s e o f t h e

acci den t ); Ot u wa

, 3 19 G a. Ap p

. at 3 4 2 -3 4 3 (2 ) (i n cas e i n vo l v i n g m ul t i p l e co u n t s o f

fi rs t d eg ree v eh i cu l ar h om i ci d e, t ri al co u rt i n s t ru ct ed ju ry as t o s eco n d d eg ree o ffen s e

wi t h reg ard t o s o m e o f t h e co u n t s

, an d ju ry fo u nd d e f e n d a n t g u i l ty o f fi rs t d eg ree

ch arg e d es p i t e i n s t ru ct i o n o n l es s er i n cl u d ed ).

12ex p li ci t l y reject ed ch al l en ges t o i n co n s i s t en t v erd i ct s. Bl evi n s v. S t a t e

, 3 4 3 G a. Ap p.

5 3 9

, 5 50 (4 ) (8 0 8 SE2 d 7 4 0 ) (2 0 1 7 ). As we ex pl ai n ed

, we “ do n o t k n o w an d s h o u ld

n o t s p ecu l at e on w h y a ju ry co n v i ct ed o n o n e o ffen s e a n d n o t an o t h er; t he v erd i ct

co u ld b e t he res u l t of m i s t ak e, co m p ro m i s e, o r l en i t y ex erci s e d i n f a v o r o f t h e

d efen d an t .” Bl evi n s v. S t a t e

, 3 4 3 Ga. Ap p

. 5 3 9

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

Th erefo re, we can n o t fi n d t h at t h e erro r in fai l i n g t o i n s t ru ct th e j u ry on t h e l es s er

i n cl u d ed o ffen s e was harm l es s

, 7 an d we are l eft t o co n cl u d e t h at th e t ri al co u rt erred

i n d en y i n g t h e m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al o n t h is g ro u n d

. 8 Becau s e t h e ev id en ce reco u n t ed

7 T h e St at e’ s rel i an ce o n Bu r n ey v. S t a t e

, 2 3 7 Ga. Ap p

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

(1 9 9 9), i s m i s p l aced

. In t h at cas e, we h el d t h at t he d efen d an t was no t p reju d i ced by

t h e fai l ure t o gi v e a l es ser i n c lu d ed o ffen s e i n s t ru ct i o n fo r hi s k id n ap pi n g ch arg e

b ecau s e t h ere was n o ev i d en ce t o s u pp o rt i t

. Id

. at 76 6 (2 ). In co n t ras t h ere, t h ere was

ev i d en ce t o s u pp o rt t h e l es s er i n cl u d ed ch arg e. Ad di t i o n al l y

, S h o ckl ey v. S ta t e

, 2 5 6

Ga. Ap p. 8 9 2 (5 7 0 SE2 d 6 7 ) (2 0 0 2 ), do es no t al t er t h e o ut co m e. In t h at cas e, t h e

d efen d an t was o n t ri al fo r DUI, an d h e req u es t ed a ju ry in s t ru ct i o n o n reck l es s

d r i v i n g

. Id

. at 8 9 5 (3 ). W e co n cl u ded t hat t here was n o erro r i n t h e fai l ure t o g i v e

s u ch an in s t ru ct i o n b ecau s e reck l es s d ri v i n g was n o t a l es s er i n cl u d ed o ffen s e o f DUI

a s a m a t t er of l aw o r as a m at t er o f fact

. Id

. In t h e i n st an t cas e, h owev er, s e c o n d

d e g ree v eh i cu l ar h o m i ci d e i s a l es s er i ncl u d ed o ffen s e o f fi rs t d eg ree v eh i cu l a r

h o m i ci d e as a m at t er of law, an d t h ere w ere fact s ad d u ced at t ri al t o s u p p o r t t h e

ch arg e.

8 Th e St at e al s o co n t en d s t h at an y erro r i n fai l i n g t o g i v e t h e ju ry ch arg e o n t h e

l es s er i n cl u d ed o ffen s es i s m o ot b ecau s e t h e co n v i ct i o n s m erg ed at s en t en ci n g

. See

Ver g a r a v. S t a t e

, 2 8 7 Ga. 1 9 4

, 1 9 6 (1 ) (b ) (6 9 5 SE2 d 2 1 5 ) ( 2 0 1 0 ). Bu t O’ Sh i el d s

wo u l d s t il l b e en t i tl ed t o th e l es s er i n cl u d e d offen s e ch arg e wi t h res p ect t o t h e

v eh icu l ar h o m i ci d e co n vi ct i o n t h at t h e o t h ers m erg ed i n t o

.

13ab o ve was s u ff i c i e n t t o s u p p o rt t h e co n v ict i o n s

, t h e St at e m ay ret ry O’ Sh i el d s i f i t

ch o os es

. S

ha h v. S ta te , 3 0 0 Ga. 1 4

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

3

. Fi nal l y

, O’ Sh i el d s co n t en d s t h at h e recei ved i n ef f e c tive a s sista

n c e of c ounsel

wh en t ri al co u n sel m ov ed to ex cl u d e ev i d en ce reg ard i n g t h e p o s s es s i o n co u n t b efo re

t h e St at e h ad res t ed i t s cas e, wh i ch al ert ed t h e St at e t o i t s fai lu re t o p ro v e p o s s es s i o n

an d en ab led it t o ad d w it nes ses t o es t ab l is h t h i s ch arg e. In l i g h t o f o u r co n cl u s i o n t h at

a n ew t ri al i s req u i red , we n eed n o t reach t h i s en u m erat i o n o f erro r.

Fo r t h e fo reg o i n g reas o n s

, we affi rm t he d en i al o f t h e m o t i o n t o s u p p res s

,

rev ers e t h e d en i al o f t h e m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al b as ed o n erro n eo us ju ry i ns t ru ct i o n s

,

an d rem an d t h e cas e fo r fu rt h er p ro ceed i n g s

.

Ju d g men t a f f i r med i n p a r t ; r ever

s ed i n p ar t ; a n d ca se r ema n d ed

. Do yl e, P. J.,

a n d Co o mer

, J., co n cu r

.

14