THI RD DI VI SI ON
DI L LA RD, P. J.

, GOBEI L and HODGES, 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

Febr uar y 21, 2020



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 9 A1 72 0 . W O M ACK v . THE STATE.

G O B E I L
, J u d g e.

In 1 9 9 9

, Xav ier W o m ack was co n v i ct ed b y a ju ry o f arm ed ro b b ery , an d h e was

g i v en a l i fe s en t en ce. W o ma ck v. S t a t e , 2 73 Ga. Ap p

. 3 0 0

, 3 00 (6 1 4 SE2 d 9 0 9 )

(2 0 0 5). In 2 0 0 5

, we affi rm ed hi s co n v i ct i o n s

. Id

. In 2 0 18

, i n Cas e No

. A 1 8 D0 4 4 4

, we

g ran t ed W o m ack ’ s ap p l i cat i o n fo r d i s cret i o nary ap p eal

. W o m ack n o w ap p eal s fro m

t h e tri al co u rt ’ s d en ial o f wh at we co n s t ru e as an ex trao rd i nary m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al

.

Fo r t h e reas o n s t h at fo ll o w, we affi rm

.

In Decem

b er 1 9 9 5

, X av i er W o m ack

, J ak ei t h Ro b in s o n, an d Leo n To l l et t e

ro b b ed an a r m o r e d Bri n k s t ru ck

, an d To l l et t e s h o t o ne o f t h e g u ard s i n t h e h ead

,

k i l l i n g h i m

. W

o ma ck

, 2 7 3 Ga. Ap p

. at 3 0 1 (1 ). Gu ard s s ho t at To l l et t e, an d W o m ack

an d To l l et t e ret u rn ed fi re as t h ey ran away

. Id

. W o m ack an d Ro b in s o n fl ed t h e s cen e,l eav i ng T o l l et t e b eh i n d t o be ap p reh en d ed b y po l i ce. Id

. W o m ack an d Ro b i n so n were

arres t ed a few d ay s l at er. Id . at 3 0 2 (1 ).

Al l t h ree m en w ere ch arg ed b as e d o n t h e i n ci d en t

. To l l et t e p l ead ed g u i l t y to

s ev eral ch arg es , i n cl u d i ng m al i ce m u rd er, an d he was s en t en ced t o d e a t h aft er a

s en t en ci n g t ri al

. To l l et t e v. S t a t e , 2 80 Ga. 1 0 0, 1 0 0 -1 0 1 (6 2 1 SE2 d 7 4 2 ) (2 0 0 5 ). In

J u n e 1 9 9 8

, Ro b i n s o n al on e was t ri ed fo r m al i ce m u rd er, f e l o ny m u rd er, arm ed

ro b b ery , p o s s es s i o n o f a fi rearm b y a co n v ict ed fel o n , p o s s es s io n o f a fi rearm d u ri n g

t h e co m m i ss i on o f a fel o n y , an d t wo co u n t s o f ag g rav at ed as s au l t

. Ro b i n so n v. S t a t e ,

3 3 4 Ga. Ap p

. 6 4 6

, 6 4 6 (7 8 0 SE2 d 8 6) (2 0 1 5). Th e ju ry acq u it t ed Ro b i n s on o f m al i ce

m u rd er, fel o n y m

u rd er, an d b o t h a g g rav at ed as s au l t ch arg es , b u t co u ld n ot reach a

v erd i ct o n t h e arm ed ro b b ery an d fi rearm

ch arg es . Id

.

Su b s eq uen t l y , i n Sep t em

b er 1 9 9 9

, Ro bi n s on w as re-t ri ed o n t h e arm ed ro b b ery

an d fi rearm ch arg es al o n gs i de W o m ack

, w h o faced ch arg es o f m al i ce m urd er, fel o ny

m u rd er, arm ed ro b b ery , po s s es s i o n o f a fi rearm d uri n g t h e co m

m i ss i o n o f a fel o n y ,

p o s s es s i o n o f a fi r e arm b y a co n v i ct ed fel o n , an d t wo ag g rav at ed as s au l t ch arg es

.

Ro b in s o n , 3 3 4 Ga. Ap p

. at 6 4 6

. Ro b i n s o n s o u gh t t o h a v e h is tri al s ev ered fro m

W o m ack ’ s b u t was u ns u cces s fu l . Id

.

2As d es cri bed b y t h i s Co u rt

, t h e ev i den ce i n th e 1 9 9 9 t ri a l s h o w ed t h at

, o n

Decem b er 2 0

, 1 9 9 5

, W o m ack

, hi s co u s i n Ro b i n s o n , an d a fri en d, To l l et te, w ere s een

t o g et h er i n t h e lo b b y o f a Barn et t Ban k in Co l u m b us , G eo rg i a, as t he b an k was

cl o s i ng fo r t h e d ay

. W

o ma ck

, 2 7 3 Ga. Ap p

. at 30 1 (1 ). Th e n ex t m orn i n g, Ro b i n s o n ’ s

b l u e M u s t an g fo l l o w ed a Bri nk s t ru ck t o a park i n g l o t n ear t h e Barn et t Ban k

. Id

. On e

o f t he Bri n k s g u ard s en t ered a n earb y Su n t ru s t Ban k

, w h i l e t he o t h er g u ard wai t ed in

t h e arm o red t ru ck

. Id

. T o l l et t e wai t ed in fro n t o f t h e Barn et t b an k

, W o m ack wat ch ed

t h e Bri n k s t ru ck fro m acro ss th e st reet

, an d Ro b i n s o n s t a ye d i n t he car. Id

. As t h e

g u ard ret u rn ed t o t h e t ru ck an d o p en ed t he d o o r, To l l et t e ran u p an d sh o t t h e g u ard

fo u r t i m es i n t h e h ead at cl os e ran g e, k il l in g h i m

. Id

. An o t h er b an k g u ard wh o was in

t h e area wi t n es s ed To l let t e m u rd er t h e Bri n k s g u ard . Id

.

Aft er t h e k i ll i n g , t h ere was g u n fi re i n al l d irect i o ns

. W o ma ck

, 2 7 3 Ga. Ap p

. at

3 0 1 (1 ). W i t n es ses saw W o m ack

, acro s s t h e s t reet fro m t h e B r i n k s t r u ck

, sh o o t i n g

t o ward s t h e t ru ck an d th en ru n n i n g away fro m th e s cen e. Id

. Th e o t h er Bri nk s g u ard

an d an o t h er b an k g u ard b eg an s h o o t i n g at To l l et te, wh o was ru n ni n g away w i t h a b ag

o f m o n ey to ward s Ro b in s on ’ s M u s t an g

. Id

. Befo r e T o l l e t t e co u l d reach t h e car,

Ro b i ns o n dro v e awa y, a n d To l l et t e was ap p reh en d ed at t he s cen e. Id

. Cri m e s cen e

i n v es t i g at o rs reco v ered n u m e r o u s s h el l cas i ng s an d s p en t bu l l et s fro m t h e s cen e,

3i n cl u d i n g s ev eral W i n ch es t er W es t ern ni n e m i l l i m et er s h el l cas i n g s i n a p ark i n g l ot

acro s s t h e s t reet fro m

t h e Bri nk s t ru ck

. Id . at 3 01 -3 0 2 (1 ).

Aft er W o m ack a n d Ro b i n s o n l eft t h e scen e, t hey wen t t o Ro b i n s o n ’ s

g i r l fri en d ’ s ap art m en t

, wh i ch w as i n t h e d irect i o n t h at t h e b l u e M u s t an g was s een

t r a v e l i n g wh en i t fl ed

. W o ma ck

, 2 7 3 G a. Ap p

. at 30 2 (1 ). Ro b i n s o n ’ s g i rl fri en d

t es t i fi ed t h at t h e t wo m en were o u t o f b reat h

, “ sh ak en a n d n e r v o u s ” wh en t h ey

arri v ed

. Id

. Ro bi n s o n t o l d h i s g i rl fri en d : “ [W]e j u s t t ri ed t o ro b a Bri n k s tru ck an d

s o m eo n e was sh o t an d [To ll et t e] g o t cau gh t .” I d

. A few m o m en t s l at er, s o m eo n e

k n o ck ed o n t h e ap art m en t d oo r, an d W o m ack ju m p ed u p an d p u l l ed o u t a g u n

. Id

. Th e

m en l eft t h e ap art m en t a s h ort t i m e l at er. Id

.

In th e m ean t i m e, i n v es t i g at o rs i n terv i ewed To l l et t e. W o ma ck

, 2 7 3 Ga. Ap p

. at

3 0 2 (1 ). Th e d ay aft er t h e ro b b e r y, p o l i c e ex ecu ted a s earch warran t fo r To l l et t e’ s

h o u s e, wh ere W om ack al s o l i ved

. Id

. Po l i ce fo u n d a b o x of n i n e m i l l im et er cart ri d g es

m i s s i n g s ev eral ro u n ds o f am m u n i t i o n , wh i ch were co n s is ten t w i t h fo u r s p en t b u l let s

fo u n d at th e cri m e scen e. Id . Po l i ce al s o fo u nd fi b ers i n W o m ack ’ s h o u se t h at were

co n si s t en t wi t h fi b ers fo u n d i n Ro b i n s o n ’ s M u s tan g

. Id

. Aft er Ro b i n s o n an d W o m ack

were arres t ed

, Ro bi n s o n co n fi d ed i n h i s cel l m at e d et ai l s ab ou t t h e ro b b ery , i n cl u d i n g

ad m i t t i ng t h at h e was t he get away d ri v er. Id

. Ro b i n s o n as ke d h i s cel l m at e t o t el l

4W o m ack t o “ [b ] e s t ro n g.” Id

. at 3 0 3 (1 ). Acco rd i n g t o t h e cel l m at e, W o m ack rep l i ed :

“ [T] h ey ai n ’ t g o t m e, t hey can ’ t i d en t i fy

m e. Th ey

ai n ’ t g o t n ot h in g .” Id

.

At t h e co ncl u s io n of t he 1 9 9 9 t r i a l

, th e ju ry fo u n d Ro b i n s o n g u i l t y of arm ed

ro b b ery , an d acq u i t t ed h i m o f t h e fi rearm ch arg es

. R o b i n s o n , 3 3 4 G a. Ap p

. at 6 4 6

.

Th e ju ry fo u n d W o m ack g u i l t y o f o n l y arm ed ro b bery

, an d acq u it t ed hi m o f al l o t h er

ch arg es

. W

o ma ck

, 2 7 3 Ga. Ap p . at 3 0 0 & n .1

.

Wo m ack ap p eal ed fo l l o wi n g t h e d en i al o f h i s n ew t ri al

, an d we affi rm ed h i s

c o n v i c t i o n

. W

o ma ck

, 2 73 Ga. Ap p. at 30 0

. As rel ev an t h ere, i n hi s d irect ap p eal

,

W o m ack fi rs t as s ert ed t h at th e ev i d en ce w as i n s u ffi ci en t t o su p p o rt h i s co n v i ct i o n.

Id

. at 3 0 0 (1 ). W e di s ag reed

, s t at i n g t h e fact s as reco u n t ed ab o v e, an d fi nd i n g t h at t h e

ev i d en ce was s u ffi ci en t to s u p p o rt t h e ju ry v erd i ct

. Id

. at 3 0 0-3 0 3 (1 ). Seco n d,

W o m ack arg ued t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n a d m i t t i n g , u nd er t h e co -co n s p i rat o r

ex cep t i o n t o th e ru l e ag ainst he a r sa y , the te s ti m o n y o f Ro b in s o n ’ s g i rl fri en d reg ard i n g

Ro b i ns o n ’ s st at em en t s t o h er th at h e an d W o m ack h ad t ri ed t o ro b a Bri nk s tru ck

. Id

.

at 3 0 3 (2 ) (a). W e reject ed W o m ack ’ s arg u m en t

, co n cl u d i n g t h at t h e ev i d en ce

p res en t ed at t ri al was s uffi ci en t to s h o w t h e ex i st en ce o f an o n go i ng co n s p i racy

b et ween W o m ack an d Ro b i n s o n at t he t i m e of Ro b in s o n ’ s s t at em en t to hi s g i rl fri en d.

5Id

. at 3 0 4 (2 ) (a). Acco rd i n g l y , t h e st at em en t was ad m is s i b l e un d er th e t h en -effect i v e

co -co n sp i rat o r ex cep ti o n t o t h e ru l e ag ai n s t h ears ay

. 1 Id

.

Ro b in s o n al s o ap p eal ed h i s co n vi ct i o n

. R o b i n s o n , 3 3 4 G a. Ap p. at 6 4 6.

Al t h o u g h Ro b in s on ’ s n o t i ce of ap p eal was fi l ed i n 2 0 0 1 fo l l o wi n g t h e d en i al o f h i s

m o t i o n f o r n e w tri al

, we d id n o t d eci d e h is ap p eal u n t i l 2 0 1 5

. 2 Id

. at 6 4 7

. In

Ro b i ns o n ’ s cas e, u si n g th e d o ct ri n es o f co l l at eral es to p pel an d i s s ue p recl u s i o n , we

h el d th at b ecau s e Ro b i n s o n w a s acq u i t t ed o f m al i ce m u rd er, fel on y m

u rd er, an d

ag g rav at ed as s au l t i n h i s fi rs t tri al

, t h e “ on l y rat io n al c o n c l u s i o n fro m th e fi rs t t ri al

i s th at t h e ju ry det erm i n ed t hat Ro b i ns o n was n ot a p art y to t h e cri m es , an d t herefo re,

t h e St at e co u l d n o t pro po u n d th es e t h eo ri es ag ai n s t hi m i n t h e seco n d t ri al fo r arm ed

ro b b ery .” Id

. at 6 5 1-6 52 (2 ). A c c o rd i ng l y , we rev ers ed Ro b i n s o n ’ s arm ed ro b b ery

co n vi ct i o n . Id

.

1 Geo rg i a’ s ev id en ce co d e was s u b s t an t ial l y rev i s ed effect i v e J an u ary 1

, 2 0 1 3.
Ga. Laws 2 01 1, A c t 5 2

, § 2. In W o m ack ’ s ap p eal

, we rel ied u p o n th e p rev i ou s

v ers i on o f t h e co -co n s p irat or ex cep t i o n t o t h e h ears ay ru l e , wh i ch was co d i fi ed at
OCGA § 2 4 -3 -5 (1 9 9 9 ), as W o m ack ’ s t ri al o ccu rred i n 1 9 9 9

. Th e r e v i s e d c o

co n sp i rat o r h ears ay

ex cep t io n i s n o w co d i fi ed at OCGA § 2 4 -8 -8 0 1 (d ) (2 ) (E).

2 Ro b i n s o n ’ s ap peal was fi l ed i n Oct o b er 2 0 0 1 b u t was n ot d o ck et ed wi t h t h i s Co u rt fo r m o re t h an 1 0 y ears , an d we n o t ed t h at “ n o ex p l an at io n fo r t h e ex trem e d el ay
ap p ear[ed ] i n t h e reco rd .” Ro b i n s o n , 3 3 4 Ga. Ap p. at 6 4 7

.

6Fo l l owi n g t h e rev ers al o f Ro b i n so n ’ s co n vi ct i o n , i n Feb ru ary 20 1 7

, W o m ack

fi led an ex t rao rd i n ary m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al

. 3 W o m ack arg u ed t h at

, p u rs u an t t o t h i s

Co u rt ’ s d eci si o n i n Ro b i ns o n , Ro b i n s o n was n o t a co -co ns p i rat o r i n t h e ro b b ery , an d

t h erefo re h i s s t at em en t s t o h i s gi rl fri en d s h o u l d n o t h av e b een ad m i ss i b le v i a t h e co

co n sp i rat o r ex cep t i o n to t h e ru l e ag ai n s t h ears ay

. Fo l l owi n g a h eari n g , th e t ri al co u rt

d en ied W o m ack ’ s m o t i on , ci t in g Un i t ed S t a t es v. Cr a ver o , 5 4 5 F2 d 4 0 6

, 4 1 8 -4 1 9

(VI) (5 th Ci r. 1 9 7 6 )

, w h i c h h el d t h at a p rev i o u s o r s ub s eq u en t acq u i tt al o f a co

co n sp i rat o r d o es n o t affect t h e ad m i s si b il i t y o f h i s o r her h ears ay s t at em en t s i n t h e

t ri al o f a co -d efen dan t

, as t h e g o v ern m en t ’s bu rd en o f p ro v i n g t he co n s p i racy i s

i n d ep en den t o f an d l ower t h an t h e b u rd en o f p ro v in g t h e co -co n s p i rat o r’ s g u i l t

.

W o m ack fi led an ap p l i cat i o n fo r di s cret i o n ary ap p eal

, wh i ch we g ran t ed

. See

Cas e No

. A1 8 D0 4 4 4 (g ran t ed M ay 2 1

, 20 1 8 ). He t h en f i l e d t h e i n s t an t ap p eal

.

3 W o m ack ’ s m o t io n w as l ab el ed an “ Ex t rao rd i n ary M o t i o n to Set As i d e Defen d an t ’ s Co n v i ct i on Bas ed o n Rev ers al of Co -Defen d an t ’s Co n vi ct i o n [.] ”

Ho wev er, “ [a] m ot io n to set as i d e t h e j u d g m en t an d s en t en ce is n o t an ap p ro p ri at e

rem ed y i n a cri m in al cas e[.] ” Bi s h o p v. S t a t e , 11 7 Ga. Ap p

. 9 3

, 93 (1 ) (1 5 9 SE2 d 4 7 7 ) (1 9 6 8). M o reo v er, o n ap p eal

, W o m ack ex p l i ci t l y seek s a n ew tri al

. Acco rd i n g l y , we

c o n s t ru e h i s m ot i o n as an ex t rao rd i n ary m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al

. See OCGA § 5

- 5

- 4 1 ; Bo wen v. S t a t e , 14 4 Ga. A p p. 3 29

, 3 3 3 (2 4 1 SE2 d 4 3 1 ) (1 9 7 7 ) (“ [T] h ere i s n o m ag i c i n n o m en cl at ure, an d i n cl as s i fy i n g pl ead i n g s we wi ll co n s t ru e t h em t o s erv e t h e b es t i n t eres t s o f t h e p l ead er ju d g in g t h e p l ead i ng b y i t s fu n ct i o n rat h er t h an b y i t s n am e.”) (ci t at i o n an d p u nct u at io n o m i t ted ).

7W o m ack arg u es t h at b ecau s e t h is Co u rt fo u nd th at Ro b i n s o n w as n o t a co -co n s p i rat o r

i n Ro b i n so n , 3 3 4 G a

. A p p

. at 6 5 1 -6 5 2 (2 ), h i s co n v ict i o n m u s t b e rev ers ed

, as

R o b i n so n ’ s g i rl fri en d ’ s t es t i m on y ab o u t wh at Ro bi n s on t o l d h er aft er th e ro b b e r y

d o es n o t q u al i fy u nd er t he co -co n s p i r at o r ex cep t i o n t o t h e ru l e ag ai ns t h ears ay

.

Acco rd in g ly , W om ack arg u es , h e i s en t i t l ed t o a n ew t ri al

. W e d i s ag ree.

W e rev i ew a t ri al co u rt ’ s deci s i o n t o d en y an ex t rao rd in ary m o t i on fo r n ew t ri al

fo r an ab u se of di s cret i o n

. S ta t e v. Hi l l

, 2 9 5 Ga. 7 16

, 7 1 8 (7 63 SE2 d 6 7 5 ) ( 2 0 1 4 )

.

T h e r e i s “ a s i gn ifi can t d i fferen ce i n co n s i d erat i o n o f a m o t i on fo r n ew t ri al an d an

ex t rao rd i n a r y m o t i on fo r n ew t ri al ; ex t rao rd i n ary m o t i o ns fo r n ew tri al are n ot

fav o red

, an d a s t ri ct er ru l e i s ap p l i ed t o an ex t rao rd i n ary m o t i o n fo r a n ew t ri al b as ed

o n t h e g ro u n d o f n e w l y a v a i l ab l e ev i den ce t h an t o an ord i n ary m ot i o n o n t h at

g ro u nd .” Id . (ci t at i o n an d p u nct u at i o n o m it t ed ).

Un d e r t h e co -co n s pi rat o r h ears ay ex cep t i on as it ap p eared at th e t i m e o f

W o m ack ’ s t ri al ,”[a] ft er t h e fact o f co n s p i racy is p ro ved

, th e d ecl arat i o ns b y an y o n e

o f t h e co n s p i rat o rs d u ri n g t h e p en d en cy o f th e cri m i n al p ro ject s h al l be ad m i s s i b l e

ag ai n s t al l .” OCGA § 2 4 -3 -5 (1 9 9 9 ). “ Th e co -co n s p irat o r h ears ay ex cep t i o n p erm i t s

a d m i s s i o n o f th e h ears ay s tat em en t o f a co -co n s pi rat o r, m ad e i n t h e co u rs e o f t h e

co n sp i racy , so l o ng as a p ri m a faci e c a s e o f co n s p i racy h as b een es t ab l i s h ed ap art

8fro m t h e hears ay s t at em en t it s el f.” F r a n kl i n v. St a t e , 2 9 8 G a. 6 3 6

, 6 3 9 (2 ) (7 8 4 SE2 d

3 5 9 ) (2 0 16 ) (p u n ct u at i on o m i t t ed ). “ Su ch i n d e p e n d e n t pri m a faci e ev i d en ce of a

co n sp i racy n eed n o t be ad d u ced p ri o r t o t h e ad m i ss i o n of th e hears ay s t at em en t at

t ri al

, s o l o n g as s u ffi ci en t ev i d e n c e t h ereo f i s pres en t ed p ri or to t h e cl o s e o f

ev i d en ce.” Id

. “ Th e q u es t i on o f t h e ex i s t en ce o f a co n s p i racy i s u l t i m at el y fo r t h e ju ry

t o d et erm i ne[.] ” Lewi s v. S t a t e , 3 1 1 G a. A pp

. 54

, 5 7 (2 ) (7 1 4 SE2 d 73 2 ) (2 0 1 1 )

(ci t at i o n an d p u nct u at io n o m i t ted ).

Th e r e cl earl y was i n d ep en d en t p ri m a faci e ev id en ce at t ri al o f a co n s p i racy

b et ween W o m ack an d Ro b in so n

. Th e t wo m en w ere s een t o g et her at t h e b an k t h e d ay

b e f o r e t h e ro b b ery , an d ag ai n at t h e s cen e o f th e ro b b ery , an d Ro b i n s o n d r o v e

Wo m a c k away fro m t h e cri m e s cen e. At t h e t im e w h en Ro b i n s o n m ad e t h e

i n cri m i nat i n g h ears ay s t at em en t s t o h i s g irl fri en d i n h er ap art m en t

, t h e two m en were

s t il l at t em p t i n g t o av o i d d et ect i o n , s o t h e co n s p i racy en du red

. See Fr a n kl i n , 2 9 8 Ga.

at 6 3 9 (2 ) (“ Fo r p u rp o s es o f t he h ears ay ex cep t i o n , a co n sp i racy i s deem ed t o en d u re

s o l o ng as t h e part ies t h eret o at t em p t t o co nceal ei t h er t h e cri m e i t s el f o r t he i d en t i t y

o f th e p erp et rat o rs .”). Acco rd i n g l y , th e ju ry ’ s fi n d i n g t h at a co n s p i racy ex i s t ed

b et ween t h e t wo m en was s u p po rt ed b y i n d ep en d en t p ri m a faci e ev i d en ce.

9Th e sp eci fi c q u es t i on o f wh et h er a su b seq u en t acq u i t tal o f t h e co -co n s p i rat o r

wh o m ad e t h e hears ay s t at em en ts ret ro act i v el y affect s a co -d efen d an t ’ s tri al i s a

m at t er o f fi rs t i m

p res s io n f

o r t h i s Co u rt

. Ho w ev er, we fi n d th e El ev en t h Ci rcu i t ’ s

h o l d i n g o n t hi s i s su e p er s u as i v e. Per ez v. St a t e , 2 8 3 Ga. 1 9 6

, 1 9 8 (6 5 7 SE2 d 8 4 6 )

(2 0 0 8) (“ Th e d eci s i on s o f th e El ev en t h Ci rcu i t are n o t b in d in g o n t h i s Co u rt

, b u t t h ey

are p ers u as i v e au t h ori t y .”). T h e El ev en t h Ci rcu i t

, fo l lo wi n g t h e Fi ft h Ci rcuit, h as h el d

t h at “ t he ad m i s s io n of t es t i m o ny u n der t h e co -co n sp i rat o r e x c e p t i o n t o t h e h ears ay

ru l e i s n o t ren d ered ret ro act i v el y i m p ro p er b y s u bs eq u en t acq u i tt al o f t h e al l eg ed

c o

- co ns p i rat o r.” Un i t ed S t a t es v. Her n a n dez -Mi r a n d a , 78 F3 d 5 1 2

, 5 1 3 (1 1 t h C i r

.

1 9 9 6 ) (p un ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ), q uo t i n g Cr a ver o , 5 45 F2 d at 4 1 9

. 4 Th u s , we co n cl u d e

4 Th e h o l di ng i n Cr a ver o w a s b a s ed o n t h e reas o n i n g t h at t h e g o v ern m en t ’ s b u rd en o f p ro v i n g t he co n s pi r a c y fo r p u rp o s es o f th e h ears ay ex cep t i o n i s i n d ep en den t o f an d l o wer t h an i t s b u rd en o f p ro vi n g t h e co -co n s p i rat o r’ s g u i l t

. Cr a ver o , 5 4 5 F2 d at 4 1 9

. Th u s , t h e ev i den ce s u p p ort i ng t h e ad m i ss i o n o f co

co n sp i rat o r h ears ay ev id en ce m u s t b e co n si d ered s ep arat el y fro m t h e i s s ue o f t h e co

co n sp i rat o r’ s g u i l t o r i n n o cen ce. Id

. At l eas t t wo o t h er Ci rcu i t Co u rt s hav e ex p l i ci t l y ad o p t ed t h is h o l d i n g fro m Cr a ver o

. See Un i t ed S t a t e s v

. Ca r r o l l

, 8 6 0 F2 d 5 0 0

, 5 0 6 (1 s t Ci r. 1 98 8 ); Un i t ed
S t a t es v. A n t h o n , 64 8 F2 d 6 6 9

, 6 7 8 (1 0 t h Ci r. 1 9 8 1 ). A n d sev eral o t h er Ci rcu i t Co u rt s h av e s im i l arl y h el d t h at a co -co n s p i rat o r n eed n o t b e co nv i ct e d o f an y co n s p i racy

o ffen s e fo r h i s s t at em en t s t o b e ad m i s s i bl e u n d er th e co -co n s pi rat o r h ears ay

ex cep t i o n

. See Un i t ed S ta t es v. S t a n ch i ch

, 5 5 0 F2 d 1 2 9 4

, 1 2 99 -1 3 0 0 (2 d Ci r. 1 9 7 7 );

Un i ted S t a t es v. Gi l

, 6 0 4 F2 d 5 4 6

, 54 9 (7 th Ci r. 1 9 79 ); U n i t ed S t a t es v. Ba s s , 4 7 2 F2 d

2 0 7

, 2 1 3 -2 1 4 (8 t h Ci r. 1 9 7 3 ); Un i t ed S t a t es v. Per a lt a , 9 4 1 F2 d 1 0 03

, 1 0 0 6 -1 0 0 7 (9 th
Ci r. 1 9 91 ).

10t h at th e co u rt d i d n o t err i n a d m i t t i n g Ro b i n s o n ’ s g irl fri en d’ s t es t i m o n y ab o ut

s t at em en t s m ad e b y Ro bi n s o n

. T h e fact t h at Ro b i ns o n’ s co n v i ct i o n s u b s eq u en t l y was

rev ers ed b as ed o n t h e d o ct ri n es o f i s s u e p recl u si o n an d co l l at eral es to p p el d o es n ot

n eg at e t h e ev i d en ce p res en t ed at W o m ack ’ s t ri al es t ab l i s h i n g th at a co n s p i racy

ex i s t ed fo r p u rp o s es o f th e h ears ay ex cep t i o n

. Acc o r d i n g l y, t h e t ri al co u rt d i d n ot

ab u se i t s d i s cret i o n i n d en y i n g W o m ack ’ s ex t rao rd i n ary m ot i o n fo r n ew t ri al

.

Pret erm it t i n g wh et h er t h e h ears ay s t at em en t s were ad m i s s i b l e, an y erro r i n t h e

ad m i s s i o n o f t he co n tes ted h ears ay ev i d en ce w as harm les s as i t was cu m u l at i v e o f

o t h er p ro p erl y -ad m i t t ed ev i d en c e o f arm ed ro b b ery

. See Ha tch er v. St a t e , 3 2 0 Ga.

Ap p

. 3 6 6

, 3 7 4 (2 ) (7 3 9 SE2 d 80 5 ) (2 0 1 3 ) (ev en if h ears ay s t at em en t s were

erro neo u s l y ad m i tt ed

, erro r w as h arm les s b ey o n d a reas on ab l e d o u b t wh ere s u ch

s t at em en t s were cu m

ul at i v e o f p ro p erl y ad m it t ed ev i d en ce). At l eas t o n e wi t n es s s aw

W o m ack s h o o ti n g at t he Bri n k s t ru ck fr o m a c r o s s th e s t reet an d fl eei n g t he s cen e.

W o ma ck

, 2 7 3 Ga. Ap p

. at 3 0 1 (1 ). Sp en t b u ll et s reco v ered fro m t he p l a c e w h e re

W o m ack was s een d uri n g t h e ro b b ery m at ch ed b u l l et s fo u n d at W o m ack ’ s h o m e. Id

.

at 3 01 -3 0 2 (1 ). W o m ack m ad e i n cri m i n at in g st at em en t s t o an i n m at e i n d i cat i n g t h at

h e was in v o l v ed wi t h Ro b i ns o n i n t h e arm ed ro b bery

. Id

. at 3 0 3 (1 ). Fi n a l l y,

Ro b i ns o n ’ s g irl fri en d

, wi t h ou t referen ci n g wh at Ro b i n s o n t o l d h er, al s o t es t i fi ed t h at

11t h e Ro b in s o n an d W o m ack were t o g et h er s h ort l y aft er t h e ro b b ery an d ap p eared o ut

o f b r e at h, n erv o u s , an d s h ak en , an d t h ey react ed v i ol en t l y t o a k n o ck o n t h e d o o r

.

Acco rd in g ly

, t here was s u ffi ci en t ev i d en ce t o co n v i ct W o m ack wi t h o u t rel i an ce o n

an y h ears ay t es t im o n y , an d i t s ad m i s s i o n , ev en i f i n erro r, was h arm l es s

. A s a res u l t

,

t h e t ri al co u rt was wel l wi t h i n i t s d is cret i on t o d en y W o m ack ’ s ex t rao rd in ary m o t i o n

fo r n ew t ri al o n t h i s b as i s . Acco rd i n g l y , we affi rm t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s o rd er.

Ju d g men t a f f i r m ed . Di l l ar d

, P. J., a n d

Ho d g es
, J., co n cu r

.

12