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 2

, 2 0 14

S 1 4 A0 3 9 6 . HICKS v . THE S T ATE.

THOMP S O N, Ch ie f Ju stic e

.

Ap p e lla n t La tilia H i c k s

, L e o S a n d e r s

, D a r r i a n P y e

, a n d Lo re n z o Ch a m

b e rs

we re jo in tly in dic te d fo r fe lo n y m u rd e r a n d n u m e ro us o th e r c rim e s re la tin g to

th e sh o o tin g de a th o f Ma y n o n F re e m an. 1 S a n d e rs p le d gu ilty to v o lu n ta ry

m a n sla u g h te r a n d te stifie d a g a in st th e re m a in in g de fe nd an ts, w h o we re t r i e d

to g e th e r. A p p e lla n t a n d Py e w e re fo u n d g u ilty o n a ll c o u nts, a n d C h a m b e rs wa s

fo u n d n o t gu ilty o n a ll c ou nts. 2 In h e r a pp e a l, a p p e lla n t c o nte n ds, a m o ng o th e r

1 I n a pre-trial a

p peal, we addressed whether the trial court erred in suppressing oral and

written statement s made to the p olice by Py e and Chambers. W e affirmed in part and reversed in

part in Py e’s case and affirmed in Chambers’s case. See State v. Py e, 282 Ga. 796 (653 SE2d 450)

(2007).

2 The crimes occurred on J une 27, 2005. On December 2 7

, 2005, appellant was indicted by

a F ulton County g rand jury f or (1) f el o n y m urder based o n conspiracy to commit armed robbery

, conspiracy to c o mmit hijacking a motor vehicle, armed robbery

, h i j a ck i n g a motor vehicle, and

ag g r avated assault with a deadly weapon; (2) ag g ravated assault with a deadly weapon; (3) armed

robbery ; (4) hijacking a motor vehicle; (5) possessio n o f a f i r e arm during the commission of a

felony ; (6) conspiracy to commit a rmed robbery ; and ( 7) conspiracy to commit h ijacking a motor

vehicle. Appellant’s jury trial beg an on March 17, 2008, and on March 26, the jury found appellant

g uilty on all counts. T hat same day

, the trial court sentenced appellant to life with the possibility of

parole for felony murder, to 20 c oncurrent y ears in p rison f or hijacking a motor vehicle, a nd to five

consecutive y ears in p rison for the firearm offense. The court merg ed the r e m a i n i n g verdicts f or

sentencing purposes. Appellant filed a timely motion for new trial, which she amended on J anuary

24, 2012. T hat same day

, the trial court held a hearing on the motion. Appellant filed a premature

notice of appeal on F ebruary 16, 2012, and premature amended notices of a ppeal on J une 6 and 11,th in g s, th a t th e e v id e n c e is in su ffic ie n t to su p p o rt h e r c o nv ic tio n s a n d th a t h e r

tria l c o u n se l pro v id e d in e ffe c ti v e a s s i s t an c e

. F o r th e re a so ns th a t fo llo w, we

a ffirm

.

1

. Vie we d in th e lig h t m o st fa v o ra b le to th e v e rd ic t, th e e v id e n c e sh o w s

th a t a b o u t 4 :0 0 a .m . o n Ju n e 2 7 , 2 0 0 5 , th e v ic tim wa s sh o t o n c e in th e b a c k o f

th e h e a d with a

n AK-4 7 rifle sh ortly a fte r h e dro v e h is fa m ily ’s b lu e F o rd

Ex p e ditio n in to th e driv e wa y o f h is fa m ily ’s h o m e a t 3 7 9 0 Cle arwa te r Driv e in

C o l l e g e P a

rk

, Ge o rg ia

. A fe w d a y s b e fo re

, o n Ju n e 2 3

, 2 00 5

, P y e c a lle d th e

F u lto n Co u n ty P o lic e De p a rtm e n t an d to ld an o ffic e r th a t th e rim s to h is c a r h a d

b e e n sto le n ; th a t so m e frie n d s o f h is h a d se e n a b lu e F o rd Ex p e d itio n with wh a t

lo o k e d lik e h is rim s o n it; a n d th a t his frie n d s fo llo we d th e Ex p e ditio n to a

h o u se a t 3 7 6 0 Cl e a

rwa te r Driv e in C o lle g e P a rk

, Ge o rg ia

. Th a t a d d re ss,

h o we v e r, wa s se v e ra l h ou se s a wa y fro m th e F re e m a n s’ re sid e n c e

. Th e n e x t d a y

,

a p olic e o ffic e r d ro ve b y th a t a d d re ss a n d did n o t se e a b l u e F o rd Ex p e d itio n

th e re , and th e le a d wa s n o t p u rsu e d th e re a fte r.

On Ju n e 26

, 2 00 5

, a

p p e lla n t, wh o liv e d in Flo rid a

, c a m e to Atla n ta to v isit

2012. The trial court denied the motion for new trial, as amended, o n September 2 6, 2013. The case

was docketed in this Court for the J a nuary 2014 term and submitted for decision on the briefs.

2S a n de rs, with wh om sh e h a d b e e n in a lo n g d i s t a n c e re la tio n sh ip fo r se v e ra l

we e k s. Ab o u t 1 1 :0 0 p .m

. th a t n ig h t, sh e a n d S a n de rs m e t P y e and Ch a m b e rs in

th e p ar k i n g lo t o f a sk a tin g rin k

. S an d e rs wa s frie n d s with P y e b u t h a d n o t

p re v io u sly m e t Ch a m

b e rs. Th e v ic tim a n d h is b ro th e r, Do m in iq u e F re e m a n

,

we re a lso a t th e sk a tin g rin k

, h a v in g d riv e n t h e r e w i t h two w o m e n in th e

fa m ily ’s b lu e F o rd Ex p e d itio n. S a n d e rs te stifie d th a t wh ile he wa s ta lk in g with

P y e a n d Ch a m

b e rs a t P y e ’s c a r, P y e p o in te d o u t th e blu e F o r d E x p e d itio n

,

c la im e d th a t th e v e h ic le ’s rim s h a d re c e n tly b e e n sto le n fro m him

, a n d sa id th a t

h e pla n n e d to re c o ve r th e rim s. S a n d e rs sa w an A K-4 7 rifle in th e b a c k se a t o f

P y e ’s c a r. Ac c o rd in g to S a n d e rs, a p p e l la n t wa s n o t with h im a t th a t tim e b u t

wa s in ste a d sta n d in g b y h e r c a r.

Ap p e l l a n t th e n a

p p ro a c h e d th e S UV by h e rse lf a n d b e g a n ta lk in g to

Do m in iq u e F re e m a n

, wh o g a v e h e r h is c e ll p h o n e n u m b e r, a n d th e two a g re e d

to m e e t a t th e 2 0 Gra nd n ig h tc lu b la te r th a t n ig h t. Ap p e lla n t re jo in e d S a n d e rs,

P y e

, an d Ch a m

b e rs, a nd th e y d ro v e in P y e ’s a n d a p p e l l a n t’s c a rs to a h o te l in

Co lle g e Pa rk wh e re a

pp e lla n t a n d S a n d e rs we re sta y in g

. Th e re

, th e AK-4 7 wa s

m o v e d fro m P y e ’s c a r to th e tru n k o f a p p e lla n t’s c a r. S a n d e rs te stifie d th a t h e

d id n ot k n o w h o w th e AK-4 7 g o t in to a p p e lla n t’s c a r, b u t h e a d m itte d th a t h e

3to ld a p o lic e o ffic e r b e fo re tria l th a t P y e to ld h im to o p e n th e tru n k wh e n th e y

we re a t th e h o te l. T h e fo u r th e n d ro ve a p p e lla n t’s c a r to th e 2 0 Gra n d n ig h tc lu b

.

Th e F re e m a n b ro th e rs we re th e re

. A p p e lla n t a p p ro a c h e d th e m a n d th e n le ft with

t h e m an d th e two wo m e n wh o we re w ith th e m in th e b lu e Ex p e d itio n

. Th e y

d ro v e to th e F re e m a n re sid e n c e

, a n d d u rin g th e rid e

, a p p e lla n t to ld Do m in iq u e

th a t th e y sh o u ld h a v e se x a t a h o te l. P y e , Ch a m be rs, a n d S an d e rs a lso le ft th e

n ig h tc l u b

, d r o v e do wn th e stre e t o n wh ic h th e F re e m a n s liv e d, a n d th e n to a

n e a rb y g a s sta tio n

. Ab o u t 2 :0 0 a .m

., a pp e lla n t le ft th e F re e m a n re sid e n c e with

th e b ro th e rs a n d th e two wo m e n

. Th e two wo m e n we re d ro p p e d o ff a t a g a m e

ro o m

, a n d a

p p e l l a n t a n d th e Fre e m a n b ro th e rs dro v e to a h ote l in Un io n City

.

S a n de rs, P y e a n d Ch a m

b e rs fo llo we d th e bro th e rs’ S UV in a p p e lla n t’s c a r.

Ap p e lla n t a n d Do m i n i q u e e n te re d th e h o te l, wh ile M a y no n d ro ve o ff in th e

S UV. Ce ll p h on e re c o rd s p re se nte d a t tria l re v e a le d th a t a pp e lla n t wa s in

c o m m u nic a tio n with S a n d e rs th ro ug h o u t th is tim e

.

Afte r Ma y n o n le ft th e h o te l, S a n d e rs, P y e a n d C h a m b e rs fo llo we d h im to

a Wa ffle Ho u se n e a

r Ma y n o n ’s h o m e

. Ma y n on sto p p e d t o g e t fo o d, b u t th e

th re e m e n d id n o t. In ste a d

, th e y d ro ve to th e v ic tim ’s ne ig h b o rh o o d a n d p a rk e d

tw o h o u se s a wa y fro m h is ho u se

. S a n d e rs te stifie d th a t, “ fro m th e b e g in n in g

,

4it [wa s] su p p o se d to b e a c o n fro n ta tio n ,” b u t th a t he d id n o t th in k Ma y n o n

wo u ld b e sh o t. Th e m e n e x ite d th e ir c a r a n d wa lk e d to th e F re e m a n re sid e n c e

to wa it fo r Ma y n o n to a rriv e

. Wh e n he d id a n d wa s c on fro nte d b y th e m e n

, h e

ra n

. On e o f th e m e n fire d a sh o t fro m th e AK-4 7

, strik in g Ma y n o n in th e b a c k

o f th e h e a d a nd c a

u sin g h is de a th

, a n d th e n pla c e d th e AK-4 7 i n t h e tru n k o f

a p p e lla n t’s c a r. S e v e ra l n e ig h b o rs of th e F re e m a n s h e ard th e sh o t, wh ic h th e y

sa id o c c u r r e d s h ortly a fte r 4 :0 0 a .m

. P y e to o k Ma y no n’s k e y s a n d d ro v e th e

S UV to a m id d le sc h o ol, wh ile S a n d e rs an d Ch a m b e rs d ro v e a

p p e lla n t’s c a r

b a c k to th e Un io n City h o te l.

Ba c k a t th e h o te l, a

p p e lla n t in itia te d in tim a te c on ta c t with Do m in iq u e

, b u t

th e n sto p p e d it to ta lk on th e p h o n e

. Afte r sp e a k in g o n th e p h o n e a n u m b e r o f

tim e s, a p p e lla nt to ld Do m in iq u e th a t sh e wa s g o in g to g e t ic e

. In ste a d

, ho we ve r,

a p p e l l a n t m e t S a n d e rs a n d C h a m be rs in th e p a rk in g lo t a n d le ft th e h ote l w i t h

th e m

. Sa n d e rs c a lle d P y e a b o u t 5 :0 0 a .m

. to fin d o u t wh e re P y e h a d g o n e

, a n d

th e g ro u p fro m th e h o te l th e n d ro v e to th e m id d le sc ho ol. A fe w m in u te s la te r,

a C ity o f Atla n ta p o lic e o ffic e r wh o wa s re sp o nd in g to a n u n re la te d sile n t a la rm

g o in g o ff a t th e sc h o o l dro v e in to th e sc h o o l pa rk in g lo t. S a n de rs to ld a p p e lla n t

to d riv e a wa y wh ile h e sta y e d with th e S UV, an d P y e a n d Ch a m b e rs fle d th e

5sc e n e o n fo o t. A p p e lla n t th e n p ic k e d u p P y e an d Ch a m b e rs a n d d ro p p e d th e m

o ff with th e g u n a t a n o th e r lo c a tio n

. Me an wh ile

, th e offic e r, wh o te stifie d th a t

it lo o k e d lik e so m e o n e wa s a tte m p t i n g t o t a ke “ so m e wh e e ls” o ff th e F o rd

Ex p e ditio n

, q u e stio n e d S a n d e rs, wh o ga v e th e o ffic e r h i s yo u n g e r b ro th e r’s

n a m e

. Afte r d ro p p in g o ff P y e a n d Ch a m be rs, a pp e lla n t re tu rn e d to th e sc h o o l,

wh e re sh e wa s a lso qu e stio ne d b y th e o ffic e r. F in d in g n o ou tsta nd in g wa rra n ts

o n S a nd e rs o r a

p p e lla nt a n d n o sto le n v e hic le re p o rts fo r e ith e r v e h ic le

, th e

o ffic e r e v e n tu a lly le t th e m le a v e i n a p p e l l an t’s c a r a nd to we d th e S UV. Th e

o ffic e r’s in v e stig a tio n la ste d a b o u t a n ho ur, a n d c e ll p ho ne re c o rd s sh o w th a t

S a n de rs c a lle d P y e a t 6 :2 7 a .m

. Afte r be in g re le a se d b y th e o ffic e r, S a n d e rs a n d

a p p e lla n t c h e c k e d o u t o f th e ir h o te l ro o m in Co lle g e P a rk a n d le ft fo r F lo rid a

.

Th e p o lic e o ffic e r wh o sp o k e with P y e o n Ju n e 2 3 a b o u t h is sto le n rim s

a lso re sp o n d e d t o th e c rim e sc e n e a t th e Fre e m a n h o m e o n Ju n e 2 7

. He

re m e m b e re d P y e ’s c a ll a n d th e Cle a rwa te r Driv e a d d re ss th a t P y e h a d p ro v id e d

a n d to ld th e in v e stig a tin g ho m ic id e o ffic e r a b o u t it. On S e p te m b e r 2 9, 2 0 0 5

,

P y e wa s a rre ste d ; C h a m b e rs wa s a rre ste d o n Oc to b e r 3 ; a n d S a n de rs a n d

a p p e lla n t we re a

rre ste d in F lo rid a in Oc to b e r a n d No v e m b e r 2 0 0 5

, re sp e c tiv e ly

.

At tria l, S a n d e rs d e n ie d th a t a p p e lla n t, wh o m S a n d e r s r e f e r r e d in a p re

6tria l sta te m e nt a s h is “ fu tu re wife ,” k n e w o f o r p artic ip a te d in th e p la n to re c o v e r

P y e ’s rim s. Ho w e v e r, S a n d e rs a d m itte d th a t h e to ld th e p o lic e sh o rtly a fte r h is

a rre st th a t “ sh e wa s in v o lv e d

, k n e w wh a t w a s g oin g o n

, h a d b e e n to ld to g e t in

th e [Ex p e d itio n ], a n d r e p o rt b a c k to [h im ] o n th e [its] lo c a tio n .” On a n o th e r

o c c a sio n

, Sa nd e rs a d m itte d th a t h e h a d to ld p o lic e th a t P y e to ld a p p e lla n t “ to g e t

in th e Ex p e d itio n .”

A p p e l l a n t c o n te n d s th a t th e e v id e n c e is in su ffic ie n t to su p p o rt h e r

c o n v ic tio n s. S h e c o rre c tly sa y s th a t a ll o f th e c rim e s with wh ic h sh e wa s

c h a rg e d

– a gg ra v a te d a ssa u lt with a d e a d ly we a p o n

, a rm e d ro b b e ry

, h ija c k in g

a m o to r ve h ic le

, th e c o n sp ira c y to c o m m it a rm e d ro b b e ry a n d h ija c k in g a m o to r

v e h ic le

, a n d fe lo n y m

u rd e r p re d ic a te d o n th ose offe n se s – re q u ire th e u se o f a

fire a rm

. S e e

, e .g

., O CGA § 1 6 -5 -2 1 (a ) (2 ) (a g g ra v a te d a ssa u lt with a d e a d ly

we a p on ); OCGA § 1 6 -8 -4 1 (a ) (a rm e d r o b b e ry ); O CGA § 1 6 -5 -4 4 .1 (b )

(h ija c k i n g a m o to r ve h ic le ). Ap p e lla nt a rg u e s th a t th e S ta te h a d to p ro v e th a t

sh e p artic ip a te d in th e c rim e s with kn o wle d g e t h a t o ne o f h e r c o -c o nsp ira to rs

h a d a n AK-4 7 a n d th a t th e Sta te fa ile d to o ffe r su ffic ie n t p ro o f o f th a t e le m e n t.

Co n tra ry to a

p p e lla n t’s c o n te n tio n, th e re is so m e e v id e n c e b y wh ic h th e

ju ry c o u ld in fe r th a t a

p p e lla n t k n e w o f th e rifle

. S a n d e rs’s p rio r in c on sis te n t

7sta te m e n ts we re th a t a p p e lla n t h a d k n o wle d g e o f “ wh a t wa s g o in g o n [a n d ] h a d

b e e n to ld to g e t in th e [Ex p e d itio n ] a n d re p ort b a c k to [S a n d e r s ] o n [its]

lo c a tio n .” F urth e r, a

p p e lla n t d id g e t in th e Ex p e ditio n ; sh e to ld Do m in iq u e th a t

sh e wa n te d to h a v e se x with h im e v e n th o u g h sh e wa s d a tin g Sa n de rs, th e re b y

iso la tin g th e v ic tim a n d m a k in g it e a sie r fo r h e r c o nfe d e ra te s to ta k e b a c k th e

rim s; th e rifle wa s m o v e d fro m P y e ’s c a r to th e tru n k o f h e r c a r a t t h e h o te l in

wh ic h sh e wa s sta y in g ; a n d sh e h e lp e d P y e a n d Ch a m b e rs e sc a p e with th e rifle

a fte r th e p o lic e o ffic e r a rriv e d a t th e m id d le sc h oo l. We n e e d n o t d e c id e

wh e th e r th is a n d oth e r e v id e n c e is su ffic ie n t to p ro v e b e y o n d a re a so n a b le d o u b t

th a t sh e k n e w o f th e rifle

, b e c a u se a p p e lla n t is wro n g th a t sh e h a d to h a v e

k n o w le d g e o f th e we a

p o n to b e c o n v ic te d o f th e c h arg e d c rim e s.

[A] c rim in a l c o n sp ira c y is a p a rtn e rsh ip in c rim e

, a n d

. . . th e re is in

e a c h c o nsp ira c y a jo in t o r m u tu a l a g e n c y fo r th e p ro se c utio n o f a

c o m m o n p la n

. T h u s, if two o r m o re p e rso ns e n te r in to a c o n sp ira c y

,

a n y a c t d o n e b y a n y o f th e m pu rsu a n t to th e a g re e m e n t is, in

c o n te m p la tio n o f la w, th e a c t o f e a c h of th e m a n d th e y a re jo in tly

re sp on sib le th e re fo r. T h i s me a n s th a t e ve ry th in g sa id

, writte n, o r

d o n e by a n y o f th e c o n sp ira to rs in e x e c u tio n o r fu rth e ra n c e o f t h e

c o m m o n p u rp o se is d e e m e d to h a v e b e e n sa id

, d o n e

, or writte n b y

e a c h o f th e m

. . . . An d th is jo in t re sp o nsib ility e x te n d s n o t o n ly to

wh a t is d o n e b y a n y o f th e c o ns p i r a to rs p u rsu a n t to th e o rig in a l

a g re e m e n t b u t a lso to c o lla te ra l a c ts in c id e n t to a n d g ro win g o u t o f

th e orig in a l p u rp o se [, so lo n g a s]

. . . th e y ar e a na tu ra l a n d

p ro b a ble c on se q ue n c e o f th e c on sp ira c y

.

8Ev e rritt v . S ta te , 2 7 7 Ga . 4 5 7 , 4 59 (5 8 8 S E2 d 6 9 1 ) (2 0 0 3 ) (c ita tio n s o m itte d;

e m p h a sis in o rig in a l). An d a c o lla te ra l c rim e is a n a tu ra l a n d p ro b a b le

c o n se q u e n c e o f th e o rig in a l p u rp o s e o f t h e c o n sp ira c y if th a t c rim e is a

re a so na b ly fo re se e a

b le c o n se q u e n c e o f th e o rig in a l c o n sp ira c y . S e e id

. Th u s,

we h a v e h e ld th a t:

Wh e re two o r m o re p e rso ns c o n sp ire to ro b a n o t h e r wh o is

e m p lo y e d in a b u ild in g

, a n d o n e o f th e c o n sp ira to rs k e e p s wa tc h o r

g u a rd a t a c o n v e n i e n t d ista n c e wh ile th e oth e rs e n te r th e bu ild in g

a n d

, in f u r t h e ra n c e o f th e c o m m o n d e sig n to ro b, k ill th e p e rso n

in te n d e d to b e ro b b e d

, su c h k illin g is a p ro b a b le c o nse q u e n c e o f th e

u n la wfu l d e sig n to ro b

, a n d a ll th e c o n sp ira to rs a re g u ilty o f m u rd e r,

in c lu d in g t h e o n e o n g u a rd

. It is no t n e c e ssa ry th a t th e c rim e o f

m u rd e r sh o u ld b e a p a

rt o f th e o rig in a l d e sig n ; b u t it is e n o u g h if it

b e o n e o f th e in c id e n ta l p ro b a b le c o n se q u e n c e s o f th e e x e c u tio n o f

th e ir d e sig n

, a n d sh ou ld a p pe a r a t th e m om e n t to on e o f th e

p a rtic ip a n ts to b e e x p e die n t fo r th e c o m m o n p u rp o se

. Th e in te n t o f

th e a c tu a l sla y e r is im

p u ta ble to h is c o c o nsp ira to rs.

Bu rk e v

. S ta te

, 2 3 4 G a

. 5 1 2

, 5 1 3 (2 1 6 S E2 d 8 1 2 ) (1 9 7 5 ) (c ita tio n s a n d in te rn a l

p u n c tu a tio n o m itte d ), o v e rru le d o n o th e r g ro u n ds by Hu tc hin s v

. S ta te

, 2 8 4 Ga

.

3 9 5

, 3 9 6 -3 9 7 (6 67 S E2 d 58 9 ) (2 0 0 8 ). Re ly in g o n th e se prin c ip le s, th is Co urt

h a s re je c te d th e a rg u m e n t th a t a c o -c o nsp ira to r to a ro b b e ry m u st k n o w th a t h is

fe llo w c on sp ira to r h a s a g u n b e f o re h e c a n b e fo un d g u ilty o f fe lo n y m u rd e r

b a se d o n a rm e d ro b b e ry

. S e e W i llia m s v. S ta te

, 2 7 6 Ga

. 38 4

, 38 6 (5 7 8 S E2 d

98 5 8 ) (2 0 0 3 ) (h o ld in g th a t th e d e fe n da n t’s k n o wle dg e o f w h e t h e r h is c o

c o n sp ira to r h a d a g un “ wa s n o t a n e c e s s ar y c o m p on e n t o f h is g u ilt fo r a rm e d

ro b b e ry a n d

, c o n se q u e n tly

, fo r fe lo n y m u rd e r” a n d th a t “ [a ] ll th a t th e S ta te wa s

re q u ire d to p ro v e wa s th a t Ap p e lla n t wa s a m e m be r o f a c o n sp ira c y to ro b th e

sto re a n d th a t [h is c o -c o n sp ira to r’s] u se o f t h e we a po n wa s na tu ra lly o r

n e c e ssa rily d o n e in fu rth e ra n c e o f th a t c rim e ” ). 3

He re

, th e tria l c o u rt c h a rg e d th e ju ry o n th e se p rin c ip le s, 4 in c lu d in g

3 T he Un ite d S ta te s Su p re m e Co u r t r e c e n tly h e ld th a t, u n de r th e fe d e ra l

a id in g a n d a

b e ttin g sta tu te

, se e 1 8 US C § 2

, a pe rso n m a y b e c on v ic te d o f a id in g

a n d a b e ttin g th e fe d e ra l c rim e o f u sin g or c a rry in g a fire a rm in c on n e c tio n with

a dru g tra ffic k in g c rim e

, se e 1 8 US C § 9 2 4 (c ), o n ly if h e h a d a d v a n c e

k n o w le d g e th a t a c o -d e fe n d a n t wo u ld u se or c a rry a fire a rm

. S e e Ro se m o n d v

. Un ite d S ta te s, U. S

. , (1 3 4 S Ct 1 24 0

, 1 24 8-1 2 5 0

, 1 8 8 LE2 d 2 4 8

, 2 6 1 -2 6 3 ) (2 0 1 4 ). Th a t c a se a ro se u n d e r fe de ra l la w a nd th u s d o e s n ot c o n tro l

h e re

. F u rth e r, th e S u p re m e Co u rt e x p lic itly sa id th a t, be c a use “ n o o n e c o n te n d s

th a t a § 9 2 4 (c ) v io la tio n is a n a tu ra l a n d p ro ba b le c o n se q u e n c e o f sim

p le d ru g

tra ffic k in g [,] [w] e . . . e x p re ss n o v ie w o n th e issu e .” Id

. a t 1 2 4 8 n

. 7

. At le a st

o n e fe d e ra l c o u rt h a s sa id th a t Ro se m o nd ’s a d v a n c e k n o wle d g e re qu ire m e n t to

c o n v ic t so m e o n e fo r a id in g a n d a b e ttin g a § 9 2 4 (c ) v io la tio n d o es n o t a p p ly

wh e n th e g ov e rn m e n t se e k s to c o nv ic t u n d e r t h e a lte rn a te th e o ry th a t a

c o n sp ira to r c a n b e liab le fo r h is c o -c on sp ira to r’s re a so n a b ly fo re se e a

b le u se o f

a fire a rm d u rin g a d ru g tra ffic k in g c rim e

. S e e Un ite d S ta te s v

. Yo u n g

, F e d

. Ap p x.

, , 20 1 4 U.S

. Ap p

. LEXIS 63 22

, 1 5 -1 7 (2 d C ir. N.Y. Ap r. 4, 2 0 1 4 ).

4 Th e tria l c ou rt c h a rg e d , a m o n g o th e r th in gs, th a t:

B e fore a person may be h eld r esponsible for any act done in furtherance of a

conspiracy that was not part of the o rig inal ag reement; that is, any act that is incident

to and g rew out of the orig inal purpose of the ag reement, y ou must find that the act

10re a so na

b le fo re se e a

bility

, a n d v ie win g th e e v id e nc e in th e lig h t m o st fa v o ra b le

to th e v e rd ic t, we c on c lu d e th a t it wa s su ffic ie n t to a u th o riz e a ra tio n a l ju ry to

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

b le d o u b t th a t a

pp e lla n t c o n sp ire d t o r o b t h e F re e m a n

b ro th e rs a n d th a t m

urd e r wa s a re a so na

b l y fo re se e a

b le c o n se q u e n c e o f th e

c o n sp ira c y

. Th e ju ry wa s au th o riz e d to fin d th a t P y e ’s c o n sp ira to rs k n e w th a t

h e wa s u p se t b y th e lo ss o f h is rim s a n d th a t th e p urp o se o f se p a ra tin g th e two

b ro th e rs wa s so th a t P y e

, S a n d e rs, a n d Ch a m b e rs c o u ld c o nfro n t o n e b ro th e r b y

h im se lf to o b ta in th e rim s. Th e ju ry w a s a lso a u th o riz e d to fin d th a t th e

c o n sp ira to rs m

u st h a v e b e e n a wa re o f th e p ro sp e c t th a t, w h e re v e r th e v i c t i m

sto pp e d a fte r h e le ft a

p p e lla n t a n d Do m in iq u e a t th e h o te l, it wo u ld n o t b e in a

p la c e h id d e n fro m v ie w; th a t to o b ta in th e rim s, th e c o n sp ira to rs wo u ld ste a l th e

F o rd E x p e d itio n

, a s th e y wo u ld n o t ru n th e risk

, e v e n la te a t n ig h t, o f re m o v in g

fo u r wh e e ls fro m th e S U V in a p la c e wh e re th e y c o u ld b e e a sily disc ov e re d ; o f

th e p ro sp e c t th a t th e v ic tim wo u ld n o t wi l l in g ly h a nd ov e r th e k e y s to th e

fa m ily ’s c a r; of th e pro sp e c t th a t a n oth e r m e m b e r o f th e c o n sp ira c y wo u ld ta k e

a we a p o n to th e c o n fro n ta tio n ; a n d o f th e pro sp e c t th a t d e a dly fo rc e wo u ld b e

was a natural and probable consequence of the conspiracy

. That is, the incidental act

must have been reasonably foreseeable to the defendants.

11u se d to o b ta in th e c a r.

Th e e v id e n c e wa s th u s su ffic i e n t t o au t h o riz e th e ju ry to fin d a p p e lla n t

g u ilty b e y o n d a re a so na

b le d o u b t o f th e c rim e s o f wh ic h sh e w a s c o n v ic te d a n d

se n te nc e d

. S e e Ja c k so n v

. Virg in ia

, 4 4 3 U .S

. 30 7, 31 9 (9 9 SCt 2 7 8 1

, 6 1 LE2 d

5 6 0 ) (1 9 7 9 ); OCGA § 1 6 -2 -2 0 (p a rtie s to a c rim e ); Willia m s, 2 76 Ga

. a t 3 8 6

.

2

. Du rin g ju ry d e lib e ra tio n s, th e ju ry se n t th e c o u rt a no te

, sa y in g th a t it

h a d “ re a c h e d a u n a

n im o u s v e rd ic t o n a ll b u t th re e c o u n ts, 3

, 4

, a n d 6 fo r o n e

d e fe n d a n t,” 5 a n d a sk in g th e c o u rt two q u e stio n s:

(1 ) Wo u ld a d e fe n d a n t h av e t o b e a wa re o f a we a po ns [sic ]

p re se n c e b e fo re a c ri m e i s c o m m itte d to c o n vic t th e d e fe nd an t o f

p o sse ssio n o f a

fire a rm ?

(2 ) Du rin g th e c o m m issi o n o f a fe lo n y wh e n d o e s a fe lo n y

b e g in a n d wh e n d o e s a fe lo n y e nd ?

Afte r so m e d isc u ssio n, in wh ic h th e S ta te an d a p p e lla n t to ld th e tria l c o urt

th a t it sh ou ld n o t a n swe r th e se c o n d q ue stio n an d th e Sta te o b je c te d to

a n swe rin g th e first qu e stio n

, th e tria l c o u rt sta te d th a t it wo u ld n o t a n swe r e ith e r

o n e

. Ap p e lla n t’s tria l c o u n se l th e n s ai d

, “ I th in k y o u h a ve to le a ve [b o th

5 If th e d isse n t is c o rre c t th a t th e ju ry w a s re f er r i n g t o a

p p e lla nt in th is

sta te m e n t, se e d isse n t a t 3

, th a t m e a n s t h at th e ju ry h a d re a c h e d a u n a n im o u s

v e rd ic t o f g u ilty a g a in st a p p e lla n t o n fe lo n y m

u rd e r a n d h ija c k in g a m o to r

v e h ic le

.

12q u e stio n s] a lo n e

. ” T h e tria l c o u rt th e n to ld th e p artie s, “I th in k th a t’ s t h e b e st

th in g to d o .”

Ap p e lla n t n o w c on te n d s th a t th e tria l c o u rt e rre d in n ot c h a rg in g th e ju ry

in re sp o n se to th e first q u e stio n

. 6 Ho we ve r, b e c a use a p p e lla nt e xp re ssly to ld th e

tria l c o u rt th a t it sh o u ld n o t a n swe r th e q u e stio n , a p p e lla n t

in v ite d th e a lle g e d e rro r, a nd it th e re fo re pro v id e s n o b as is fo r

re v e rsa l. S e e Ba rn e s v

. S ta te

, 2 6 9 Ga

. 34 5

, 3 5 6 (4 9 6 S E2 d 6 7 4 )

(1 9 9 8 ). S e e a lso Ch e dd e rsin g h v

. S ta te

, 2 9 0 Ga

. 6 8 0

, 68 2-6 8 4 (7 2 4

S E2 d 3 6 6 ) (2 0 1 2 ) (e xp la in in g th a t a ffirm a tiv e wa iv e r, a s o p p o se d

to m e re fo rfe itu re b y fa ilin g to o b je c t, p re v e n ts a fin d in g o f “ p la in

e rro r” u n d e r OCGA § 1 7 -8 -5 8 (b )).

S h a nk v

. S ta te

, 2 9 0 G a

. 84 4

, 8 4 5-8 4 6 (7 2 5 S E2 d 2 46 ) (2 0 1 2). Ac c o rd La k e v

.

S ta te

, 29 3 Ga

. 5 6

, 5 7 (7 4 3 S E2 d 4 1 4 ) (2 0 1 3 ) (h o ld in g t h a t

, b e c a u se th e

d e fe n d a n t to ld th e tria l c o urt th a t it sh o u ld n o t re c h a rg e th e ju ry in re sp o n se to

its re q u e st, th e d e fe n d a n t h a d “ wa iv e d re v ie w o f th is issu e o n a pp e a l” ); Un ite d

S ta te s v

. F u lfo rd

, 2 6 7 F 3 d 1 2 4 1

, 1 2 4 7 (1 1 th C ir. 2 0 0 1) (h old in g th a t a

d e fe n d a n t’s e x plic it a g re e m e n t with a p r o p o se d ju ry in stru c tio n c on stitu te d

6 A lth o u g h th e ju ry sp e c ific a lly lim ite d th e q ue stio n to th e fir e a rm

p o sse ssio n offe n se

, Co u n t 6

, th e d isse nt a pp e ar s t o a ssu m e th a t th e ju ry wa s

d ire c tin g th e q u e stio n to th e a g g ra v a te d a ssa ult a n d a rm e d ro b b e ry c o u n ts,

Co u n ts 3 a n d 4

. F o r p u rp o se s o f t h i s o p i n i o n

, we a ssu m e th e ju ry wa s a sk in g

a b o u t a ll c o un ts.

13in v ite d e rro r). M o re o v e r, e v e n a p p ly in g p la in e rro r re v ie w, re v e rsa l is n o t

wa rra n te d

. Be c a u s e t h e tria l c o u rt a d e qu a te ly in stru c te d th e ju ry re g a rd in g

a p p e lla n t’s liab ility a s a c o n sp ira to r fo r o th e r c rim e s c o m m itte d b y h e r p a rtn e rs

in c rim e

, we c a n n o t c o n c lu d e th a t th e tria l c o u rt’s e rro r, if a ny , in d e c lin in g to

a n swe r th e ju ry ’s q u e stio n “ lik e ly a ffe c te d th e o u tc o m e o f th e p ro c e e d in g s” a n d

“ se rio u sly a ffe c te d th e fa irn e ss, in te g rity

, or p u b lic re p uta tio n” o f t h e tria l.

In m a n v

. S ta te , 2 9 4 Ga . 6 5 0 , 6 5 5 ( S E 2 d ) (2 0 1 4).

3

. Ap p e lla n t c o n te n d s th a t sh e re c e iv e d in e ffe c tiv e a ssista n c e o f t r ia l

c o u n se l. To p re va il o n th is c la im

, a p p e lla n t m

u st sh o w th a t h e r c o u n s e l

p e rfo rm e d d e fic ie n tly a nd th a t, b u t f o r th e d e fic ie n c y

, th e re is a re a so n a b le

p ro b a b ility th a t th e ou tc o m e o f th e tria l w o uld h a v e b e e n m o re fa v o ra b le to he r.

S e e S tric k la n d v

. Wa sh in g to n

, 4 66 U.S

. 6 6 8, 6 8 7

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

, 8 0 LE2 d

6 7 4 ) (1 98 4 ). “Th is b u rd e n

, a lth o u g h n o t im p o ssib le to c a rry

, is a he a v y o n e .”

Yo u ng v. S ta te

, 29 2 Ga

. 44 3

, 4 4 5 (7 3 8 S E2 d 5 7 5 ) (2 0 1 3 ), a n d a pp e lla n t h a s n o t

c a rrie d it h e re

.

(a ) Ap p e lla n t c la im s th a t tria l c o un se l wa s in e ffe c tiv e in fa ilin g to

a d e q u a te ly stre ss th e d e f e n se th a t sh e c o u ld n ot b e c o nv ic te d o f a n y o f th e

c rim e s with wh ic h sh e wa s c h a rg e d u nle ss th e S ta te p ro v e d th a t sh e k n e w th a t

14h e r fe llo w c o n sp ira to rs p o sse sse d a we a p on

. T h is in e ffe c tiv e n e ss c la im h a s n o

fo u n d a tio n

, b e c a u s e

, a s e xp la in e d a bo ve

, a p p e lla n t c o u ld b e c o n v ic te d o f th e

c rim e s in q u e stio n e ve n if sh e d id n o t k n ow a b o u t th e we a

p on

. Th u s, th is c la im

is with ou t m e rit.

(b ) At tria l, a

p pe lla n t pu rsu e d th e de fe n se th a t sh e d id n o t c o nsp ire with

P y e

, Ch a m

b e rs, a n d S a nd e rs to c o m m it a n y c rim e

. Th e d isse nt no w a sse rts th a t

tria l c o u n se l wa s in e ffe c tiv e in p u rsu in g t h i s d e fe n se a n d in n o t p u rsu in g a

d iffe re n t o n e – th a t a

p p e lla nt c o n sp ire d to c o m m it th e c rim e o f th e ft b y ta k in g

,

wh ic h

, a c c o rd in g to th e d isse n t, c o u ld n o t b e a b as i s fo r h e r c o n v ic tio n s.

Alth ou g h a

p pe lla n t a sse rte d o th e r c la im s o f in e ffe c tiv e a ssista n c e o f tria l

c o u n se l in h e r m otio n fo r n e w tria l, th is sp e c ific c la im wa s n o t a sse rte d in th a t

m o tio n, an d a t th e h e a

rin g o n th e m o tio n , a

pp e lla n t d id n o t m e n tio n a n y c la im

o f in e ffe c tiv e a ssista n c e o f tria l c o u n se l. Th u s, th e c la im is n ot p ro p e rly b e fo re

u s. Se e Be n so n v. S ta te

, 2 9 4 Ga

. 61 8

, 6 2 2 (7 5 4 S E2 d 2 3 ) (2 01 4); Jo n e s v

. S ta te

,

2 9 4 Ga . 5 0 1, 5 0 3 (7 55 S E2 d 1 3 1 ) (2 0 1 4 ).

Mo re ov e r, e v e n i f t h e c l a im we re p ro p e rly b e fo re u s, it la c ks m e rit.

“ ‘Ju d ic ia l sc ru tin y o f c o u n s e l ’ s p e r f o r m a n c e m u s t b e h ig h ly d e fe re n tia l.’” We lls

v

. S ta te

, Ga

. , ( S E2 d ) 2 0 1 4 Ga

. LEXIS 34 8

, *7 (Ca se No

.

15S 1 4 A0 4 9 1

, d e c id e d Ma y 5

, 2 0 1 4 ) (c ita tio n o m itte d ). F o r th is re a so n

, “ th e la w

re c o g n iz e s a ‘stro n g p re su m p tio n ’ th a t c o u n se l p e rfo rm e d re a so n a b ly , an d th e

d e fe n d a n t b e a rs th e b u rd e n o f o v e rc o m in g th is pre su m p tio n

. ” I d

. (c ita tio n

o m itte d ). “‘In p a rtic u la r, de c isio n s re g a rd in g tria l ta c tic s an d stra te gy 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 ly if th e y w e re so pa te n tly u nre a so n a b le

th a t n o c o m

p e te n t a tto rn e y wo u ld h a ve fo llo we d su c h a c o u rse .’” Id . (c ita tio n

o m itte d ). Mo re o v e r, th e re a re

“ c o u n tle ss w a y s to p ro v id e e ffe c tiv e a ssista n c e in a n y giv e n c a se

. Ev e n th e b e st c rim in a l d e fe n se a tto rn e y s wo u ld n o t de fe n d a

p a rtic u la r c lie n t in th e sa m e wa y .” Ra re a re th e situ a tio n s in wh ic h

th e “ wid e la titu d e c o u n se l m u st h a v e in m a k in g ta c tic a l d e c isio n s”

will b e lim ite d to a n y o n e te c h n iq u e o r a p p ro a c h

.

Ha rrin g to n v

. Ric h te r, 5 6 2 U .S

. , (1 3 1 SCt 7 7 0

, 7 8 8 -7 8 9, 1 7 8 LE2 d 6 2 4

,

6 4 3 ) (2 0 1 1 ) (c ita tio n o m itte d ). An d

, a s we h a v e e xp la in e d

, wh e n

, a s h e re

, “ ‘tria l

c o u n se l do e s n o t te stify a t th e m o tio n fo r n e w tria l h e a rin g a b o u t [a ] su b

je c t, it

is e x tre m e ly d iffic u lt to o v er c o m e ’ th e p re su m p tio n th a t h is c o n d u c t wa s

re a so na b le .” S h a w v

. S ta te

, 2 9 2 G a

. 8 7 1 (7 4 2 S E2 d 7 0 7 ) (2 01 3) (c ita tio n

o m itte d ). 7

7 A p p e lla nt’s tria l c o u n se l d ie d b e fo re th e he a rin g o n h e r m o tio n fo r n e w

tria l, b u t th a t “d o e s n o t re l ie v e th e p e titio ne r o f h is ‘h e a vy b u rd e n ’ o f p ro v in g

in e ffe c tiv e a ssista n c e .” S c ho fie ld v

. Me d e rs, 2 8 0 G a

. 8 6 5

, 8 6 7 n.2 (6 3 2 S E2 d

16He re , tria l c o u n se l’s d e fe n se wa s th a t a p pe lla n t d id n o t h a v e a n y m o tiv e

to e n te r in to a c on sp ira c y to ta k e th e r i ms

, sin c e sh e d id n o t k no w Py e a n d

Ch a m be rs a n d did n o t h a v e a n y in te re st in o b ta in in g P y e ’s rim s; th a t S a n d e rs,

wh o m th e e v id e n c e sh o we d h a d a p rio r c rim in a l re c o rd a n d h a d lie d to th e p o lic e

in th is c a se

, wa s n o t a c re d ib le witn e ss a n d h a d p u t a pp e lla n t in a p o sitio n to b e

a n un fo rtu na te v ic tim o f c irc u m sta n c e on th e n ig h t o f th e c rim e s; th a t

Do m in iq u e F re e m a

n a n d a p pe lla n t h a d se e n e a c h o th e r a t th e sk a tin g rin k b e fo re

th e n ig h t o f th e c rim e s, th u s e x p la in in g wh y th e y sp o k e to e a c h o t he r a n d g o t

to g e th e r o n th e nig h t of th e c rim e s; a n d th a t, if a p pe lla n t wa s g u ilty o f th e

c o n sp ira c y th a t th e S ta te a lle g e d

, sh e wo u ld n o t h a v e d riv e n b a c k to th e m id d le

sc h o o l, k n o w in g th a t th e p o lic e o ffic e r wa s th e re sp e a k in g with Sa n de rs ab o u t

th e F o rd Ex p e d itio n a n d k n o w in g th a t th e o ffic e r wo u ld , a s h e d id

, a sk fo r h e r

id e n tific a tio n a nd ru n th e ta g s on h e r c ar. I n lig h t o f th e se c irc u m sta n c e s, we

c a n n o t c on c lu d e th a t tria l c ou n se l’s stra te gy wa s “ so p a te n tly u n re a so n a b le th a t

n o c o m pe 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 rse .” We lls v

. S ta te

,

Ga

. a t , 2 01 4 Ga . LEXIS 3 4 8 , * 7

.

Th is is p a rtic u la rly tru e

, g i v e n th a t th e th e o ry pro p o se d b y th e disse n t

–

3 6 9 ) (2 00 6 ) (c ita tio n o m itte d ).

17th a t a

p pe lla n t a c tu a lly c on sp ire d with Py e

, C h a mb e rs, a n d S an d e rs to c o m m it

a th e ft b y ta k in g o n c e th e v ic tim p a rk e d th e c a r a nd e n te re d h is h o u se – wo u ld

h a v e re qu ire d th e ju ry to b e lie v e th a t, a lth o ug h P y e

, C h a m be rs, a n d S a n d e rs

d isc u sse d with a

p pe lla n t a d e ta ile d p la n o f h av i n g a p pe lla n t se e k to h a v e se x

with Do m in iq u e a t a h ote l to a t t emp t to g e t rid o f th e o th e r two wo m e n in th e

c a r, o f th e n h o p in g th a t th e v ic tim wo u ld re tu rn h o m e

, o f th e n wa itin g u n til h e

e n te re d th e h o u se to ta k e th e wh e e ls o ff t h e c a r

, a n d o f th e n re tu rn in g to th e

h o te l to p ic k u p a

p p e lla n t, th e y d id n o t sh a re th a t th e p la n “ fro m th e b e g in n in g ,”

a s S a n d e rs te stifie d, wa s to c o n fro n t th e v ic tim o r th a t th e th re e m e n h a d a g u n

.

An d

, su c h a d e fe n se a lso wo u ld ha v e re qu ire d tria l c ou nse l to c o n v in c e th e ju ry

th a t th e c o n sp ira to rs wo u ld h a v e a g re e d to a p la n th a t wo u ld h a v e fo rc e d th e m

to re m o v e fo u r wh e e ls fro m th e F o rd Ex p e d itio n in th e F re e m an s’ d riv e wa y

, a

p u b lic p la c e wh e re th e y m ig h t b e d isc o v e re d e v e n e a r l y in th e m o rn in g

. Th e

th e ft-b y -ta k in g p la n a lso wo u ld h a v e b e e n h a rd to re c o n c ile with th e fa c t th a t th e

c o n sp ira to rs h a d n o wa y to k n o w if th e v ic tim wo u ld in fa c t re tu rn h o m e a fte r

le a v in g a p p e lla n t a n d Do m in iq u e a t a h ote l.

F o r th e se re a so n s, tria l c o un se l d id n o t p e rfo rm de fic ie n tly in p u rsu in g th e

c h o se n d e fe n se stra te g y

, a nd th is c la im o f in e ffe c tiv e a ssista n c e o f c o u n se l la c k s

18m e rit.

4

. Ap pe lla n t c o n te n d s th a t th e tria l c o u rt e rre d b y re fu s i n g t o se v e r h e r

tria l fro m th o se o f th e o th e r de fe n d a nts. Ev e n a ssu m in g a p p e lla n t p re se rv e d th is

issu e fo r a

p pe a l, 8 it is with o u t m e rit.

In a m u rd e r c a se wh e re t h e d e at h p e n a lty is n o t so u g h t, th e tria l

c o u rt h a s b ro a d d isc re tio n to g ra n t o r d e n y a m o tio n fo r se v e ra n c e

. In ru lin g o n a se v e ra n c e m o tio n

, th e c o u rt sh o u ld c o n sid e r: (1 ) th e

lik e lih o o d o f c o n fu sio n o f th e e v id e n c e a n d la w; (2 ) th e p o ssib ility

th a t e vid e n c e a g a in st o n e d e fe n d a n t m a y b e c o n sid e re d a g a in st th e

o th e r d e f e n d a n t; a n d (3 ) th e p re se n c e o r a

b se n c e o f a n ta g o n istic

d e fe n se s.

Billin g s v

. S ta te

, 2 9 3 Ga

. 9 9

, 1 0 5 (7 4 5 SE2 d 5 8 3 ) ( 2 0 1 3 ) (c ita tio n o m itte d ).

He re

, b e c a

u se th e re we re o n ly th re e de fe nd an ts a n d th e la w a n d e v id e n c e

a p p lic a b le to e a c h d e fe n d a nt we re su b sta n t i a l l y th e sa m e

, th e re wa s little

lik e lih o o d o f ju ry c o n fu sio n

. S e e Gla ss v

. S ta te

, 2 8 9 Ga

. 70 6

, 7 0 8 (7 1 5 S E2 d

8 5 ) (2 0 1 1 ) (h old in g th a t “ ‘[m ] e re ly b e c a u se th re e d e fe n d a nts are trie d to g e th e r

is n o t c a u se fo r a se v e ra n c e ’” (c ita tio n o m itte d )); Mo o n v

. S ta te , 2 88 Ga . 5 0 8

,

5 1 0 (7 0 5 S E2 d 6 4 9 ) (2 0 1 1 ) (h o ld in g th a t “ th e re wa s n o lik e lih o o d o f c o n fu sio n

8 T he re co r d s h o ws th a t b e fo re tria l, th e tria l c o u rt d e n ie d a m o tio n b y

Ch a m be rs to se v e r his tria l fro m th a t o f h is c o -d e fe n da n ts. Afte r th e ju ry wa s

se le c te d, Ch a m

b e rs o bje c te d to th e d e nia l o f h is m o tio n

, a n d a p p e lla n t jo in e d in

th a t o b je c tio n . Ap p e lla n t, h o we ve r, n e v e r file d a m otio n to se v e r.

19b y th e ju ry a s to th e e v id e n c e a n d th e la w b e c a u se th e re w er e o n l y t wo

d e fe n d a n ts ‘wh o we re jo in tly in d ic te d fo r th e sa m e o ffe n se s, wh ic h in v o lv e d th e

sa m e witn e sse s, a n d th e e v id e n c e in dic a te d th a t th e y a c te d in c o n c e rt’” (c ita tio n

o m itte d )). Also

, th e fa c t th a t th e ju ry re a c h e d a d iffe re nt v e rd ic t a s to Ch a m b e rs

th a n it d id with re g a rd to a p p e lla n t a n d P y e in d ic a te s th a t it wa s no t c on fu se d b y

th e e v id e n c e a n d l a

w. S e e Th o rp e v

. S ta te

, 2 8 5 Ga

. 6 04

, 6 0 9 (6 7 8 S E2 d 9 1 3 )

(2 0 0 9 ) (“ Th e re is lik e wise n o in d ic a tio n th a t th e ju ry c o n fu se d th e e vid e n c e o r

la w; a ll th re e d e fe n d a n t s we re c ha rg e d with id e n tic a l c rim e s, a nd th e ju ry

, in

re a c h in g d iffe re n t v e rd ic ts a s to e a c h c o -d e fe n da n t, p ro ve d itse lf a m p ly c a p a b le

o f d istin g u ish in g th e e v id e n c e re le v a n t to e a c h .” ). F u rth e rm o re

, a n y c o n fu sio n

re p re se n te d b y th e ju ry ’s q u e stio n re g a rd in g wh e th e r so m e on e h a d to b e a wa re

o f a we a p o n b e fo re sh e c o uld be fo u nd g u i l t y o f p o sse ssio n a fire a rm wo u ld

h a v e a p p lie d e q u a lly to a se p a ra te tria l, a n d Hic k s p o in ts to n o e v id e n c e th a t wa s

a d m issib le a g a in st o n e of h e r c o -d e fe n d a n ts th a t wa s n o t a lso a d m issib le a g a in st

h e r. S e e Mo o n

, 28 8 Ga

. a t 5 1 0 ( h o ld in g th a t a c o -c o n sp ira to r’s sta te m e n ts

wo u ld h a v e b e e n a d m issib le a g a in st th e d e fe n da n t in a se p a ra te tria l); 9 Ad a m s

9 Fo rm e r OCGA § 2 4-3-5, which was in effect at the time o f appellant’s trial, provided:

“After the fact of conspiracy is proved, the declarations by any one of the conspirators during the

pendency of the criminal project shall be admissible ag ainst all.” Under the new Georg ia Evidence

20v

. S ta te

, 2 8 3 Ga

. 29 8

, 3 0 0 (6 5 8 S E2 d 6 27 ) (2 0 0 8 ) (h o ld in g th a t th e a c ts o f a c o

c o n sp ira to r c o m

m itte d d urin g th e c o nsp ira c y we re ad mi s sib le a g a in st th e

d e fe n d a n t).

F i n a lly

, a lth o u g h a

p p e lla n t a nd h e r c o -d e fe n d a n ts d id h a ve a n ta g o n isti c

d e fe n se s, “ [t] h a t a lo n e

. . . is in su ffic ie n t to re q uire se v e ra n c e

, b e c a u se ‘u n le ss

th e re is a sh o win g o f r e s u l tin g p re ju d ic e

, a n ta g o n istic d e fe nse s d o n o t

a u t o ma t i c a lly re q u ire a se v e ra n c e .’” He rb e rt v

. Sta te

, 2 88 Ga

. 8 4 3, 8 4 5 (7 0 8

S E2 d 26 0 ) (2 0 1 1 ) (c ita tio n o m itte d ). Ap p e lla n t a rg u e s th a t sh e wa s p re ju d ic e d

b y th e jo in t tria l b e c a

u se th e e v id e n c e a g a in st h e r wa s w e a ke r th a n th e e v id e n c e

a g a in st h e r c o -d e fe n d a n ts. “ Ho we v e r, it is no t e n ou gh fo r th e d e fe n d a n t to sh o w

th a t he wo u ld h a v e a b e tte r c h a n c e of a c q u itta l a t a se p a ra te tria l or t h a t th e

e v id e n c e a g a in st a c o -d e fe n d a n t is stro n g e r. Th e d e fe n d a n t m u st sh o w c le a rly

th a t a jo in t tria l p re

ju d ic e d h is d e fe n se

, re su ltin g in a d e n ia l o f d u e pro c e ss.” Id

.

(c ita tio n s o m itte d ). Ap p e lla n t h a s fa ile d to m a k e th a t sh owin g

.

Ju d g m e n t a ffirm e d

. All th e Ju stic e s c o n c u r

, e x c e pt Be n h a m an d Hu n ste in

,

JJ., wh o d isse n t.

Code, which became eff ec t ive J anuary 1, 2013, the admission of co-conspirator statements is

g overned by

OCGA § 24-8-801 (d) (2) (E).

21S1 4 A0 3 9 6 . HICKS v

. THE S TATE

B ENHAM , Ju stic e , d isse n tin g

.

I wo u l d r e v e rse b e c a

u se I c on c lu d e th e tria l c o u rt e rre d in d e n y in g

a p p e lla n t’s m otio n fo r n e w tria l o n th e g ro u nd o f in e ffe c tiv e a ssista n c e o f tria l

c o u n se l. F irst, I fin d in e ffe c tiv e a ssista nc e a s a re su l t o f tria l c o u n se l’s

a ffirm a tiv e wa iv e r o f a le g a l rig h t to h a v e th e tria l c o u rt re c h a rg e th e ju ry i n

re sp o n se to th e ju ry ’s q u e stio n : “ W o u ld a d e fe n d a n t h a v e to b e a wa re o f a

we a p on s p re se n c e be fo re a c rim e is c o m m itte d to c o nv ic t th e d e fe n d a n t o f

p o s s e s s i o n o f a fire a rm ? ” In th e c ou rse o f d isc ussin g ho w to re sp o n d to th is

q u e stio n

, th e c o u rt, th e pro se c u to r, a n d de f e n d a n ts’ c o u n se l re a c h e d a n

a g re e m e n t th a t th e q u e stio n c a lle d fo r a fa c tu a l c o n c lu sio n th a t sh o u l d n o t b e

a n swe re d

. In fa c t, th e q u e stio n d id n o t c a ll fo r a fa c tu a l c o n c l u s i o n b u t mu st

re a so na b l y b e vie we d a s a q u e stio n re ga rd in g a p o in t o f la w, i.e

., th e

c i rc um sta n c e s p u rsu a n t to w h ic h a d e fe n d a n t m a y b e d e e m e d c u lp a ble fo r th e

a c ts of o th e r p a rtie s to a c rim e o r th e a c ts o f th e d e fe n d a nt’s c o -c o n sp ira to rs in

fu rth e ra n c e of th e c o n sp ira c y

. Th e qu e stio n th u s c a lle d fo r a re c h a rg e o n th is

issu e

.“ A tria l c o u rt h a s a d u ty to re c h arg e th e ju ry o n issu e s fo r wh ic h th e ju ry

re q u e sts a re c h a rg e

, a n d th e tria l c o u rt c o m m its re v e rsib le e rro r if it fa ils to d o

so .” Di l l v

. S t a t e

, 2 7 7 Ga

. 1 5 0

, 1 5 1 (2 ) (5 8 7 S E2 d 5 6 ) (2 0 0 3 ). S e e a lso

Ed wa rd s v

. S ta te

, 23 3 G a

. 6 2 5

, 6 2 6 (2 2 S E2 d 80 2 ) (1 9 7 5 ); G lisso n v

. Glisso n

,

2 6 8 Ga

. 1 6 4

, 16 5 (4 8 6 S E2 d 1 6 7 ) (1 9 9 7 ). Th a t th e ju ry wa s a de q u a te ly

in stru c te d re g a rd in g a

p p e lla n t’s liab ility a s a c o n s p i r a to r fo r th e c rim e s

c o m m itte d b y h e r c o d e fe n d a n ts d o e s n o t re lie ve th e tria l c o urt fro m th e d u ty to

re c h a rg e in th is c a se

. To h o ld o th e rwise wo u ld e v isc e ra te th e we ll-e sta b lish e d

ru le th a t a tria l c o u rt h a s a d u ty to re c h a rg e wh e n th e ju ry so re qu e sts. Th e tria l

c o u rt’s fa ilu re to re c h a rg e th e ju ry on a n e sse n tia l e le m e n t o f t h e c rim e s fo r

wh ic h a p p e lla n t wa s trie d wo u ld b e re v e rsib le b u t fo r tria l c o u n se l’s in te n tio n a l

wa iv e r o f th e e rro r.

“ Th e n e c e ssity th a t th e ju ry c le a rly un d e rsta n d th e la w in o rd e r to re n d e r

a la wfu lly a rriv e d -a t v e rd ic t re n d e rs it im p e ra tiv e th a t p e rtin e n t p o in ts o f la w b e

re p e a te d o r c la rifie d o r b o th

, to se t th e ju ry o n th e rig h t c o u rse in th e e v e n t o f

q u e stio n s.” Glisso n

, su pra

, 2 6 8 Ga . a t 1 68

. In c lu d e d with th e ju ry ’s q u e stio n

in th is c a se wa s a sta te m e n t th a t th e ju ry still h a d n o t re a c he d a ve rd ic t a s to o n e

o f th e d e fe n da n ts o n c e rta in c o u n ts o f th e in d ic tm e n t, n a m e ly a g g ra v a te d a ssa u lt

2with a d e a d ly we a p o n

, a rm e d ro b b e ry

, a n d p o sse ssio n o f a fire a rm wh ile in th e

c o m m issio n o f th e fe lo n y o f a g g ra v a te d a ssa u lt. S in c e a p p e lla n t wa s th e o n ly

d e fe n d a n t fo r wh o m th e re wa s n o d i r e c t ev id e nc e of kn owle d g e th a t th e o th e r

d e fe n d a n ts we re in p o sse ssio n o f a fire a rm

, it is o b v io u s th e ju ry wa s re fe rrin g

to a p p e lla n t. Giv e n th e fa c ts o f t h is c a se

, a ra tio na l ju ry c o u ld h a v e fo u n d

a p p e lla n t p o sse sse d th e in te n t to jo in in a c o n sp ira c y to c o m m it th e ft b y ta k in g

o f th e v ic tim ’s wh e e l rim s, b u t n o t to jo in in a c o n sp ira c y to c om m it a n y o f th e

o th e r fe lo n ie s th a t in v o lv e d p o sse ssio n o f a fire a rm

, b e c a u se n o e v i d e n c e wa s

p re se nte d th a t sh e w a s a w a re o f th e rifle p rio r to th e c om m issio n o f th e c rim e s. 1

Th e m a jo rity is c o rre c t th a t a c o -c o n sp ira to r to a ro bb e ry ma y b e fo u n d

g u ilty o f fe lo ny m

u rd e r b a se d o n a rm e d ro bb e ry e v e n with o u t k n o wle d g e th a t

h e r fe llo w c o n sp ira to rs h a d a g u n wh e n th e c o -c o n sp i r a t o r h a d th e in te n t to

c o m m it ro b b e ry

. S e e W

illia ms v

. S ta te

, 2 7 6 Ga

. 3 8 4

, 38 6 (4 ) (5 7 8 S E2 d 8 5 8 )

(2 0 0 3 ). Bu t W

illia ms a n d o th e r c a se s in wh ic h th is ru le h a s b e e n a p p lie d

in v o lv e th e d e fe n d a n t’s in te nt to e n g a ge in a c o n sp ira c y to c o m m it ro b b e ry

,

1 Th a t a p p e lla n t p ic ke d u p P y e a n d C h a m b e rs, a nd h e lp e d th e m fle e with

th e rifle a fte r a p o lic e o ffic e r a rriv e d a t th e sc ho ol pa rk in g lo t w h e re th e y we re

a p p a re n tly try in g to re m ov e th e rim s fro m th e v ic tim ’s v e h ic le

, m ay b e e v id e n c e

th a t sh e w a s a n a c c e sso ry a fte r th e fa c t, b u t sh e wa s n ot c h arg e d with th a t c rim e

.

3wh ic h b y de fin itio n re q u ire s ta k in g p ro p e rty fro m a no th e r p e rso n b y fo rc e o r

in tim id a tio n

. S e e OCGA § 1 6 -8 -4 0 ; se e

, e .g

., C ra wfo rd v

. S ta te

, 2 1 0 Ga

. Ap p

.

3 6 (4 3 5 S E2 d 6 4 ) (1 9 9 3 ). F o r th a t re a so n

, “a d e fe n d a n t c a n b e c o n v ic te d o f

a rm e d ro b b e ry e v e n th o u g h h e m ig h t no t ha v e h a d k n o wle d g e th a t h is

a c c o m p lic e wa s g o in g to u se a we a p o n to pe rp e tra te it, so lo n g a s it c a n b e fo u n d

th a t u se o f th e we a

p o n b y th e a c c o m

p lic e wa s n a tu ra lly o r n e c e ssa rily d o n e in

fu rth e ra n c e o f th e c on sp ira c y to c o m m it th e ro b b e ry e v e n th o u g h n o t p a rt o f th e

o rig in a l a g re e m e n t.” Cra wfo rd

, su p ra

, a t 3 8 (1 ). In th is c a se , b y c o n tra st, n o

e v id e n c e wa s p re se n te d th a t a p p e lla n t k n o w in g ly jo in e d in a c o nsp ira c y to ro b

th e vic tim b y c o n fro n tin g h im o r to h ija c k his c a r. In ste a d

, th e e v i d e n c e wa s

c o n siste n t with th e c o n c lu sio n th a t a p p e lla n t a gre e d to h e lp he r frie n d s o b t a i n

a c c e ss to th e ve h ic le to re c la im rim s th a t h a d b e e n sto le n fro m h e r frie n d s, a n d

th a t sh e d id th is b y o c c u p y in g th e v ic tim ’s bro th e r so th a t h e g o t rid o f th e o th e r

two wo m e n in th e c a r, a n d b y th e n g e ttin g th e v ic tim to g o h o m e fo r th e e v e n in g

a n d p a rk th e c a r so th a t th e o th e rs c o u ld re c la im th e rim s. Th e e v id e n c e sh o w s

th a t a s so o n a s sh e k n e w th e v i c t i m h a d le ft to g o h o m e

, sh e c a lle d S a n d e rs.

Ac c o rd in g ly

, u n lik e in W

illia ms

, a ju ry c o u ld h a v e fo u n d a p p e lla n t wa s, a t m o st,

a c o n sp ira to r to th e ft w ith o u t fin din g th a t h e r a c c o m p lic e s’ u se o f a fire arm wa s

4n a tu ra lly o r n e c e ssa rily d o n e in fu rth e ra n c e o f th a t c on sp ira c y

.

F o r t h a t re a so n

, a

p p e lla n t is e n title d to a n e w tria l o n th e g ro u n d o f

in e ffe c tiv e a s s i s t a nc e o f tria l c o u n se l. Th e m a jo rity c o n c lu d e s th a t a

p p e lla n t

c o u ld b e c o n v ic te d o f th e c rim e s in qu e stio n e v e n if sh e did n o t k n o w a b o u t th e

we a p on a n d th a t, a c c o rd in g ly

, h e r c la im o f in e ffe c tiv e a ssista n ce is with o u t

m e rit. Bu t a c om m o n c rim in a l in te n t is re q u ire d to e sta b lish th a t a d e fe n d a n t is

a p a rty to a c ri me

. S e e J ord a n v

. Sta te

, 2 72 Ga

. 3 9 5

, 3 9 6 (5 3 0 SE2 d 1 9 2 )

( 2 00 0 ). P u rsu a nt to th e sp e c ific fa c ts o f th is c a se

, with n o e v id e n c e th a t

a p p e lla n t in te n d e d to e n g a g e in a c o n sp ira c y to ro b th e v ic tim b y fo rc e o r

in tim id a tio n

, it wa s, a s in Glisso n

, “ im p e ra tiv e th a t p e rtin e nt p o in ts o f la w b e

r e p e a t e d o r c la rifie d o r bo th

, to se t th e ju ry on th e rig h t c o u rse ” sin c e th e j u r y

ra ise d a qu e stio n th a t we n t to th e h e art o f h e r c u lp a bility fo r th e c rim e s c h a rg e d

.

I c o n c lu d e tria l c o un se l e rre d by c o n se n tin g to th e tria l c o u r t ’s re fu sa l to

re c h a rg e o n th e se im

p o rta n t issu e s a nd t h e r e b y wa iv in g a p p e lla n t’s rig h t to

a sse rt th is e rro r o n a

p p e a l.

F u rth e r, I a g re e with a

p p e lla n t th a t h e r tria l c o u n se l wa s in e ffe c tiv e in th a t

th e re c ord sh o w s h e d id n o t a d e q u a te ly p re p a re h e r d e fe n se

. Tria l c o un se l fa ile d

to su b m it re q u e sts to c h a rg e th a t we re ta ilo re d to th e fa c ts o f th is c a se

, in c lu d in g

5a c h a rg e o n th e ft by ta k in g

. Th e o n ly d e fe n se p re se n te d b y tria l c o u n se l wa s th a t

a p p e lla n t wa s n o t k n o win g ly in v o lv e d i n a n y ma n n e r in a c rim in a l e n te rp rise

with h er c o -d e fe n d a n ts. G iv e n th e we ig h t o f th e e v id e n c e th a t a p p e lla n t d id

p a rtic ip a te in so m e c rim in a l e n te rp rise b y m an ip u la tin g th e vic tim ’ s a c tiv itie s

a n d k e e p in g th e o th e r c o n sp ira to rs in fo rm e d o f th e lo c a tio n o f th e v e h ic le a n d

its o c c u pa n ts, tria l c o u n se l p e rfo rm e d de fic ie n tly b y re ly in g so le ly o n th is

d e f e n s e. In my o p in io n

, e ffe c tiv e c o u n se l w o uld h a v e p re se n te d a m o re

e ffe c tiv e d e fe n se a n d a m o re c o m p e llin g c lo sin g a rg u m e n t b y u rg in g th a t if th e

ju ry d id fin d a

p p e lla n t wa s in v o lv e d in a c o n sp ira c y to c o m m it a c rim e in th is

c a se

, th e y c o u ld fin d fro m th e e v id e n c e th a t a p p e lla nt wa s n o t in v o lv e d in a

c o n sp ira c y to c o m m it a r me d r o b b e ry b u t p a rtic ip a te d

, if a t a ll, o n ly with th e

in te nt to c o m m it th e le sse r offe n se o f th e ft. Ap ply in g th e sta nd a rd se t fo rth in

S tric k la n d v

. W

a sh in g to n

, I c o n c lu de th e fa c ts d e m o n stra te a p p e l la n t’s tria l

c o u n s e l p e rfo rm e d d e fic ie n tly a n d a re a so na b le p ro b a b ility e x ists th a t, b u t fo r

th e se d e fic ie n c ie s, th e ou tc om e o f th e tria l wo u ld h a v e b e e n m o re fa v o ra b le to

th e a p p e lla n t.

I a m a u th o riz e d to sta te th a t Ju stic e Hu n ste in jo in s in th is d isse n t.

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