FI FTH DI VI SI ON

M C FA DDEN, C. J.

, M CM ILLI A N, P. J.

, and SENI OR A PPELLA TE JUDGE PHI PPS

N O T IC E : M otions for r e c ons i de r a tion m us t be

ph y sic a l ly r e ce iv ed i n our c le r k ’s offic e w ithin te n

da y s of the da te of de c is ion to be de e m ed tim e ly file d.

http://w w w .ga a ppe a l s .us /r ule s

Septem b er 9, 2019



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 9 A1 20 4 . IRVING v

. THE STATE.

M C F A D D E N , Ch i ef J u d g e.

Aft er a ju ry t ri al

, J o n at h an Qu en t i n Irv i ng was co n v i ct ed of arm ed ro b b ery

, o f

m u lt i p l e co u n t s of ag g rav at ed as s au l t

, of m ak i n g t erro ri s t i c t h reat s

, o f p os s es s i o n o f

a fi rearm d u ri n g t h e co m

m i s s i o n o f a fel o ny

, an d o f th eft b y t ak i ng o f t h e fi rearm u s ed

i n t h e ro b b ery

. He arg u es o n ap p eal t hat t h e tri al co urt erred i n s ev eral e v i d e n ti ary

ru l i n gs

, b u t we fi n d n o rev ers ib l e erro r. He arg u es t hat t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n n ot

ex cl u d i n g o t h er ev i d en ce fo r p u rp o rt ed d i s co v ery v i ol at i o n s b y t h e s tat e, bu t we fi n d

n o s u ch vi o lat i o n s. He arg u es t h at t h e t ri al co urt erred i n d en y i ng h i s m o t i o n to

rem o v e a ju ro r fo r cau s e aft er t he s t art o f t ri al

, b ut we fi n d n o ab u se o f d is cret i o n

. He

arg u es t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred b y ap p l y i n g t h e wro n g st an d ard i n d en y i n g h i s m o t i o n

fo r n ew t ri al

, b u t th e tri al co u rt ’ s o rd er d o es n o t refl ect su ch erro r. Fi n al l y

, h e arg u est h at th e t ri al co urt erred i n fai l in g t o m erg e h i s co n v ict i o n s fo r ag g rav at ed as s au l t wi th

h i s co n v ict i o n s f

o r arm ed ro b b ery fo r s en t en ci n g p u rp o ses

, an d we ag ree. So we

affi rm in p art , v acat e i n p art

, an d rem an d t h e cas e fo r res en t en ci n g

.

1

. Fa ct s

.

Irv i n g w as t ri ed j o i n t l y wi t h a co -d efen d an t

, Ch ri s t o p her A. Bl ack wel l

, an d we

s et fo rt h m an y o f t h e fact s rel ev an t t o t h i s a p p eal i n o u r s ep arat e o p i n i on d eci d i n g

Bl ack wel l ’ s ap p eal

. B l a c k w e l l v. St a t e

,

_

_ Ga. Ap p

.

_

_ (_

_ SE2 d

_ _ ) (Cas e No

.

A1 9 A0 75 8

, d eci d ed J u l y 1

, 2 0 1 9 ). Vi ewed in t h e li g h t m o s t fav o rab l e t o t h e

ju d g m en t , s ee Ga r

z a v. S t a t e , 3 4 7 Ga. Ap p . 3 3 5 (1 ) (8 1 9 SE2 d 4 9 7 ) (2 0 1 8 ),

t h e t ri al ev i d en ce sh o wed t h at [Irv i n g ]

, al on g wi t h s ev eral ot h er p eo p l e,

p l a n n ed an d ex ecu t ed t h e ro b bery o f a b an k i n Carro l l t o n d u ri n g t h e

aft ern o o n o f Ap ri l 2 9

, 2 0 1 3

. Th at d ay

, [Irv i n g

, Bl ack wel l]

, Gi b ran E zel l

,

an d on e o th er m an (wh o was n o t n am ed at t ri al ) d ro ve i n t wo cars fro m

At l an t a t o Carro l l t o n

. Th ere, Ezel l an d t h e o t h e r m a n g o t i n t o on e car

an d dro v e t o t h e b an k

. In s i d e t h e b an k

, Ezel l s h o t a g u n i n t o t he cei l i n g

b efo re p o in t i n g i t at t h e n u m ero u s b an k cu s t o m ers an d em p l oy ees wh o

were p res en t

. Th e o t her m an ju m ped o v er th e t el l er co u n t er an d t o o k

ap p ro x i m at el y $ 1 4

, 0 0 0 in cas h

. Du ri n g t h e ro b bery

, t h e m en d em an d ed

m o n ey

, y el l ed p ro fan i t i es

, an d t h reat en ed t o s h o o t t h e p eo p l e i n s id e th e

b an k

, fri g h t en in g t h e m

. A f t er l eav i n g t he b an k

, th e m en d ro ve t o a

n earb y ro ad

, ab an d o n ed t h ei r car, rejo i n ed [Irv i n g ] an d [Bl ack w el l ]

, an d

ret u rn ed t o At lan t a.

2Bl a ckwel l

, _

_ Ga. Ap p . at

_

_ (1 ).

Th e d ay aft er t he b an k ro b b ery , Irv i n g an d an ot h er m an , Ch ri s Sn el so n

, were

arres t ed aft er a h i g h -s peed ch as e. Irv in g an d Sn el s o n h ad b een trav el i n g i n a Do d g e

Ch arg er, an d wh en t h at ca r cras h ed i n t h e co u rs e o f th e ch as e t h ey fl ed o n fo o t an d

were ap preh en d ed s ev eral h o u rs l at er. Th e g u n u s ed i n t h e b an k ro b b ery was fo u n d

i n t he Do d ge Ch arg er. Th e g u n h ad b een s t o l en earl i er t h at m o n th

.

An i n v es t i g at i o n of t he b an k ro b bery l ed l aw en fo rcem en t t o arres t E zel l

, wh o

u l t i m at e l y g av e a s t at em en t im pl i cat in g Irv i ng an d

, at t ri al

, d es cri b ed Irv i n g ’ s

i n v o l v em en t i n th e ro b b ery

. Ot h er t ri al ev i d en ce co rro b o rat ed Ezel l ’ s t es t i m o n y

. As

s t at ed ab ov e, t h e g u n u s ed i n t h e ro b b ery was fo u n d i n a car as s oci at ed wi t h Irv i n g.

W h en Irv i n g an d Ezel l were b ei n g hel d i n t h e s am e jai l

, Irv i n g wro t e Ezel l l et t ers

al l u d i n g t o t h e ro b b ery an d th reat en i n g Ezel l n o t t o ad m i t h i s i n v o l v em en t t o l aw

en fo rcem en t

. An d t he fo rm er g i rl fri en d o f Irv i n g ’ s co -d efen dan t, Bl ack wel l, t es t i fi ed

t o so m e o f th e s am e d et ai l s as Ezel l reg ard i n g ev en t s t h at t o o k p l ace i n At l an t a o n t h e

m o rn i n g o f t h e b an k ro b b ery . Sh e al s o co n n ect ed Bl ack wel l t o a Do d g e Ch arg er.

2

. Evi d en t i ar y r u l in g s

.

Irv i n g arg u es t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n s ev eral o f h i s ev i d en t i ary ru l i ng s

d u ri n g t ri al

. W e rev i ew th es e ru l i n g s fo r ab u s e o f d i s cret i o n

. W i ll i a ms v. S t a t e , 3 0 2

3Ga. 4 7 4, 4 7 8 (8 0 7 SE2 d 3 5 0) (2 0 1 7 ). An d i n d oi n g s o

, we f o l l o w o u r Su p rem e

Co u rt ’ s gu i d an ce i n Al ma n z a v. S t a t e

, 3 0 4 Ga. 5 5 3

, 5 56 (2 ) (8 2 0 SE2 d 1 ) (2 0 1 8 ), to

d e t e r m i n e t h e ap p ro p ri at e b o d y o f l aw t o ap p ly

. As d et ai l ed bel o w, we fi n d n o

rev ers i bl e erro r.

(a) Ad mi s s i o n o f evi d en ce o f Ir vi ng ’s a r res t

a f t er t h e h i g h -s p eed ch as e.

Irv i n g arg u es th a t t h e t ri al co u rt erred in ad m i t t i n g ev i d en ce o f h i s “ p ri o r

arres t ,” b y wh i c h h e ap p aren t l y m ean s ev i d en ce o f h i s arres t aft er t h e h ig h -s p eed

ch a s e t h at o ccu rred t h e d ay aft er t he ban k ro b b ery

. He p ri m ari l y as s ert s t h at t h i s

ev i d en ce was i m

p ro p er ch aract er ev i d en ce i n v i o lat i o n o f OCGA § 2 4-4 -4 0 4 (b ). W e

d i s ag ree.

OCGA § 24 -4 -4 0 4 (b ) p ro vi d es t h at “ [e] v i d en c e o f o t h er cri m es

, wro n g s

, o r

act s s h al l n o t b e ad m i s si b le t o p ro v e t h e ch aract er of a p ers o n i n o r d er t o s h o w

co n fo rm i t y t h erewi t h.” Bu t t h es e l i m i t at i o n s “ d o n ot ap pl y t o ‘ in t ri ns i c’ ev i d en ce.

Ev i d en ce i s i n t ri n s i c wh en i t i s (1 ) a n u n c h a r g e d o ffen s e ari s i n g fro m t h e s am e

t ran s act io n o r seri es o f tran s act i o n s as th e ch arg ed o ffen s e; (2 ) n eces s ary t o co m p l et e

t h e s t o ry o f t h e cri m e; or (3 ) i nex t ri cab l y i n t ert wi ned wi t h th e ev id en ce reg ard i n g t h e

ch arg ed o ffen s e.” Cl a r

k v. S t a te

,

_

_ Ga.

__ ,

_

_ (4 ) (8 2 9 SE2 d 30 6 ) (2 0 19 ) (ci t at i on s

an d p un ct u at i o n o m i tt ed ). St at ed an o t h er wa y, ev i d en ce is i n t ri n s ic i f “ it fo rm s an

4i n t eg ral an d nat u ral p art o f th e wi t n es s ’ s acco u n t s o f t h e ci rcu m s t an ces su rro u n d i n g

t h e o ffen s es fo r wh i ch t h e d efen d an t was i n d ict ed

. ” Th o mp s o n v. S t a t e

, 30 2 Ga. 5 3 3,

5 4 3 (III) (B) n . 9 (8 0 7 SE2 d 8 99 ) (2 0 1 7 ) (ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ).

Th e ev i d en ce of Irv i n g ’ s arres t fo l lo wi n g t he h i g h -s p eed ch as e was i n t ri n si c;

i t was b o th n eces s ary t o co m p let e t h e s t o ry o f t h e cri m es an d i n ex t ri cab l y i n tert wi n ed

wi t h t h e ev id en ce reg ard in g t h e ch arg ed o ffen s es

, b ecau se i t es t ab l i sh ed a co n n ect i o n

b et ween Irv in g an d t h e s t ol en g u n u s ed i n t he b an k ro b b e r y. S e e W i l l i a ms v. S t a t e

,

3 4 2 Ga. Ap p

. 5 64

, 5 6 7 (1 ) (8 0 4 SE2 d 6 6 8) (2 01 7 ). So i t was n o t s u b j e c t t o t h e

l i m i tat i on s o f OCGA § 2 4-4 -4 0 4 (b ).

Th e ev i d en ce o f Irv i n g ’ s arres t “ al so m u s t m eet t he b al an ci n g t es t of OCGA §

2 4 -4 -4 0 3[.] ” Cl a rk

, _

_ Ga. at

_

_ (4 ). Un d er th at Co d e s ect i o n, “ [r] el ev an t ev i d en ce

m ay b e ex cl u d ed i f i t s p ro b at i v e v al ue i s s u b s tan t i al l y o ut w ei g h ed b y t h e d an g er o f

u n fai r p reju d i ce, co n fu s i o n o f th e i s s u es

, o r m i s l ead i n g t h e j u ry or b y co ns i d erat i on s

o f u n d u e d el ay

, was t e o f t i m e, o r n eed l es s p res en t at i o n of cu m u l at iv e ev i d en ce.”

OCGA § 2 4 -4 -4 0 3. Al t h o ug h t h e ev i d en ce of Irv i n g ’ s arres t “ m ay h av e i n ci d en t al l y

p l aced (h i s ) ch aract er at i s s u e, i t s p ro b at i v e v al u e was n o t s u b s t an t i al l y o u t wei g h ed

b y t h e d an g er of un fai r p reju d i ce u n d er th es e ci rcu m s t an ces

. Th erefo re, t h e t ri al co u rt

5d i d n o t ab u s e [h i s ] di scret i o n in ad m i t t i n g t h e

. . . ev i d en ce at t ri al .” Fl emi n g v. S t a t e

,

_ _ Ga. _

_ , _

_ (3 ) (a) (8 3 0 SE2 d 1 2 9 ) (2 0 1 9 ) (ci t at i o ns an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ).

In pas si n g, Irv i n g al s o q u es t i o n s wh et h er s o m e o f th e t es t i m o ny i n t h i s cas e

—

p ert ai n i n g t o s t at em en t s m ad e b y Sn el s o n an d b y an an o n y m ou s t i p s t er t o l aw

en fo rcem en t o ffi cers — was h ears ay an d v i o l at e d t he co n fro n t at i o n cl au s e. He

m en t i o n s t hi s i ss u e i n a s i n g l e s en t en ce wi t h i n h i s arg u m en t s up p o rt i n g h is cl ai m t h at

t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n ad m i t t i n g ev i d en ce o f h i s arres t fo l lo wi n g t he h ig h -s p eed

ch as e. Bu t Irv i n g offers n o ci t at i o n i n s u p po rt of t h i s arg u m en t an d n o ex p l an at i o n o f

h o w th e arg u m en t p ert ai ns t o h i s cl ai m o f erro r. It i s no t ap p aren t fro m t h e reco rd t h at

t h e ch al l en g ed tes ti m o n y w a s ev i d en ce o f Irv i n g ’ s arres t

. Bu t ev en i f it co u l d b e

co n st ru ed as s u ch

, t h e t ri al co urt m a d e n o p re-t ri al ru li n g o n Irv i n g ’ s h ears ay an d

co n fro n tat io n cl au se cl ai m s an d Irv i n g d i d n ot o bject t o t h e t es t i m o n y o n t h o s e

g ro u nd s wh en i t was o ffered at t ri al ; i n fact

, hi s t ri al co u n s el el i ci t ed th e t es t i m o ny

ab o ut t h e co m

m en t m ad e b y Sn el s o n

. Irv i n g h as p res en t ed n o arg u m en t or ci t at i o n o f

au t h o ri t y t o s h ow t h at ad m i s s i o n o f t h e t es t i m o n y ab o u t co m m en t s m ad e b y Sn el so n

o r t h e t i p s t er was p l ai n erro r, s ee OCGA § 2 4 -1 -1 03 (d ), an d w e are n o t p ers u ad ed to

rev ers e h i s co n v i ct io n s o n h ears ay o r co n fro n t at io n cl au s e g ro u n ds

.

(b ) Ad mi s s i o n o f evi d en ce o f Bl a ckwel l ’s p ri o r

a r med r o b b er y a rr es t

.

6Irv i n g arg u es t hat th e t ri al co u rt erred i n al lo wi n g t he s t at e t o cro ss -ex am i n e h i s

co -d efen d an t

, Bl ack wel l, ab ou t Bl ack w el l ’ s p ri o r arm ed ro b b ery arres t. In d eci d i n g

Bl ack wel l ’s ap p eal

, we h el d t h at t h e t ri al co u rt ab u s ed h i s d i s cret i o n in t h is ru l i n g.

Bl a ckwel l

, _

_ Ga. Ap p . at

_

_ (2 ) (a). Bu t

ev en wh ere an ab u se of d i s cret i o n i s s h o w n

, t h ere are n o g ro u nd s fo r

re v e r s a l i f t h e erro r d i d no t affect a “ s u b s t an t i al ri g ht ,” an d th u s h arm

,

t h e d efen d an t

. In d et erm ining wh et h er t h e erro r w as h arm l es s

, w e rev i ew

t h e r eco rd d e n o v o an d wei gh t h e ev i d en ce as we wo u l d ex p ect

r eas on ab l e ju ro rs t o h av e d o n e s o

, an d we as ses s w h et h er it i s h i g h l y

p ro b ab l e t h at t h e erro r d i d n o t co n t ri b u te t o t h e v erd i ct

.

Ven tu r in o v. S ta t e

, _

_ Ga. _

_ , _

_ (2 ) (8 3 0 SE2 d 1 10 ) (2 0 1 9) (ci t i n g OCGA § 2 4 -1

-

1 0 3 (a); o t her ci t at i o ns an d p u n ct u at i o n o m it t ed ).

In Bl a ckwel l

,

_

_ Ga. A p p

. at

_

_ (2 ) ( b )

, we d et erm i n ed th at Irv i n g ’ s co

d efen d an t

, Bl ack wel l

, was h arm ed b y t h e i m p ro p er ad m i s s i o n o f ch aract er ev i d en ce

co n cern in g h i s p ri o r arm ed ro b b ery arres t

. B l a ckwel l

,

_ _ Ga. Ap p. at

_

_ (2 ) (b ). W e

n o t ed t h at th e ev id en ce ag ai n s t B l a c k wel l was n o t o v erwh el m i ng an d h el d t h at we

co u ld n o t “ s ay th at i t i s h i g h l y p ro b ab l e t h at t he ad m i s s i o n of t h e e v i d en ce o f

Bl ack wel l ’ s p ri o r arres t fo r arm ed ro bb ery d id no t co n tri b u t e t o t h e ju ry ’ s v erd i ct t h at

h e was g u i lt y

fo r, am on g o t h er cri m es , arm ed ro b bery .” Id . at

_

_ (2 ) (b ).

7Th e s am e can n o t b e s ai d fo r Irv i n g

. Th e ev i d en ce o f Bl ack wel l ’ s pri o r arres t

was l es s p reju d i ci al t o Irv i n g t h an t o Bl ack w el l b ecau s e i t was l es s p ro b at i v e o f

Irv i ng ’ s ch aract er t han i t was of Bl ack wel l ’ s ch aract er. An d t h ere was s i gn i fi can t l y

m o re ev i d en ce o f Irv i n g ’ s g u i l t t h an o f Bl ack wel l ’ s g u i l t

. T h e acco m p l i ce, Ezel l

, was

fam i l i ar wi th Irv i n g an d h ad kn own h i m fo r s ev eral y ears befo re t h e b an k ro b b ery

, s o

t h ere was n o q ues t i o n reg ard i n g h is i d en t i fi cat i on of Irv i ng as o n e o f t h e m en wh o

p l an n ed an d p art i ci p at ed i n t h e ban k ro b b ery

. Cf. Bl a ckwel l

,

_ _ Ga. Ap p

. at

_

_ (2 ) (b )

(Ezel l had n o t k n o wn Bl ack wel l b efo re t h e b an k ro b b e r y, i n i t i al l y was u n ab l e to

i d en t i fy Bl ack wel l in co u rt

, a n d w a s u n s ure wh et h er Irv in g ’ s referen ces t o “ Ch ri s ”

m ean t Bl ack wel l o r an o t h er p ers o n ). Ezel l t es t i fi ed ab o u t Irv i n g’ s effo rt s to rec r u i t

h i m t o ro b t he b an k an d Irv i n g ’ s effo rt s t o p rev en t h i m f r o m c o o p e r at i n g wi t h t h e

s t at e aft er h e was arres t ed

. M o r e o v e r

, t h ere w as ev i d en ce t h at t h e gu n u s ed i n t h e

b an k ro b b ery was i n Irv i n g’ s p o s s es s i o n th e n ex t day

. Gi v en th i s ev i d en ce o f Irv i n g ’ s

g u i l t

, w e co n cl u d e i t i s h i g h ly p ro b ab l e t h at t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s erro r i n ad m i t t i n g

ev i d en c e o f h i s co -d efen d an t ’ s p ri o r arres t d i d n o t co n t ri b u t e t o t h e v erd i ct ag ai n s t

Irv i ng

.

(c) Ad mi s s i o n o f l et t er s

.

8Irv i n g arg ues t h at t he t ri al co u rt erred i n ad m it t i n g i n t o ev i d en ce t h e l et t ers t h at

Ezel l recei v ed fro m

Irv i n g w hi l e t he t wo m en were b ei n g h el d i n t h e s am e jai l . Th e

h an dwri t t en l et t ers were u n s i g n ed

, an d Irv in g arg u es t h at t h e s t at e d i d n ot p ro p erl y

au t h en t i cat e t h em . W e d i s ag ree.

“ Th e req u i rem en t o f au t hen t i cat i o n o r i den t i fi cat i on as a co nd i ti o n p reced en t

t o ad m i s s i b i l it y s h al l b e s at i s fi ed b y ev id en ce su ffi ci en t t o s u p p o rt a fi n d i n g t h at t h e

m at t er i n q u es t i o n is wh at i t s p ro p o n en t cl ai m s .” OCGA § 2 4 -9 -9 0 1 (a). “ Th e [s ] t at e

was req u i red t o p res en t s u ffi ci en t ev i d en c e t o m a k e o u t a p ri m a faci e cas e t h at t h e

p ro ffered ev id en ce is wh at i t ap p ears t o b e. On ce t h at p ri m a faci e cas e i s es t ab l i s h ed

,

t h e ev i d en ce i s ad m i t t ed an d t he u l t i m at e q u es t i o n i s d eci ded by t he ju ry .” Br o wn v.

S t a t e , 3 3 2 Ga. Ap p

. 6 3 5 , 6 3 9 (2 ) (7 7 4 SE2 d 7 0 8 ) (2 0 1 5 ) (ci t at i o n s an d p u n ct u at i o n

o m it t ed ). Acco rd S

mi t h v. S t a t e , 3 0 0 Ga. 5 38 , 5 4 1 (2 ) (b ) (7 9 6 SE2 d 6 6 6 ) (2 0 1 7 ).

Th e s t at e p res en t ed ev i d e n c e s u ffi ci en t t o m ak e o u t a p ri m a faci e cas e t h at

Irv i ng wro t e t h e l et t ers

. Ezel l t es t i fi ed t h at he b el i ev ed Irv in g h ad w ri t t en t h e l et t ers

b ecau s e h e reco g n i zed Irv i n g ’ s h an d wri t i n g an d b ecau s e t h e co nt en t o f t h e l et t ers an d

t h e ci rcu m s t an ces s u rro u n d i n g h i s recei p t o f t h em i n t he jai l i n d i cat ed t o h i m t h at t h ey

were fro m Irv i ng

. Th e au t h en t ici t y o f a d o cu m en t m ay

b e es t ab l is hed

, am o n g o t h er

way s

, by “ [t ] es t i m o n y

o f a wi t n es s wi t h k n o w l ed g e t h at a m at ter is wh at i t cl ai m ed

9t o b e,” OCGA § 2 4 -9 -9 0 1 (b ) (1 ), b y “ [n ] o nex p ert o p i n i o n as t o t h e g en u i n en es s o f

h an dwri t i n g

, b as ed u p o n fam i l i ari t y n o t acq u ired fo r p u rp o s es o f t h e l i t i g at i o n,”

OCGA § 2 4 -9 -9 01 (b ) (2 ), an d b y “ [ a ]p p earan ce, co n t en t s

, s u bs t an ce, i n t ern al

p at t ern s

, o r o t h er d is t i n c t i v e ch aract eri s t ics

, t ak en i n co n ju n ct i o n wi th

ci rcu m s t an ces

. ” OCGA § 2 4 -9 -9 0 1 (b ) (4 ). See S mi t h

, 3 0 0 G a. at 5 4 0-5 4 1 (2 ) (b ).

Gi v en Ezel l ’ s t es t i m o n y

, t h e t ri al co u rt d id n o t ab u s e h i s d i s cret i o n i n ad m i t t i n g t h e

l et t ers i n t o ev i d en ce. Id . at 5 4 1 (2 ) (b ).

3

. Al l eg ed

d i s co ver y vi o l a t i o n s

.

Irv i n g arg u es t h at t h e t ri al co u rt s h o ul d ha v e e x c lu d ed cert ai n ev i d en ce b ecau s e

t h e s t at e v i o l at ed r e q u i rem en t s t o p ro v i d e t h e ev i d en ce to hi m u n d er G eo rg i a’ s

s t at u to ry reci p ro cal d i s co v ery ru les an d Br a dy v. Ma r yl a nd

, 3 7 3 U. S. 83 (8 3 SCt

1 1 9 4

, 1 0 LE2 d 21 5 ) (1 9 63 ). He as sert s t hat t wo cat eg o ri es of ev i d en ce s ho u l d h av e

b een ex cl u d ed : t h e t e s t im o n y o f Bl ack wel l ’ s fo rm er g i rl fri en d

, b ecau s e t h e s t at e

fai l ed t o p ro v i d e h i m a reco rd i n g of t h at wi t n es s ’ s en t i re in t erv i ew wi t h l aw

en fo rcem en t ; an d ev id en ce o f a b en c h w a r r a n t ag ai n s t Irv i n g

, becau s e th e s t at e d id

n o t p ro v i d e i t t o hi m u n t i l aft er t h e t ri al h ad b eg u n

. As d et ai l ed b el o w, we fi n d n o

erro r i n t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s ru l i n g s o n t h i s ev i d en ce.

(a) S t a t u t o r

y r eci p r o ca l d i s co ver y r u l es

.

10Un d er Geo rg i a’ s s tat u t o ry r eci p ro cal d i s co v ery ru l es

, O CGA § § 17 -1 6 -1 et

s eq ., t h e s t at e can face s an ct i on s , i n cl u d i n g t h e ex cl u s i o n o f ev i d en ce, fo r fai l i n g to

p ro v id e t h e d efen d an t wi th acces s t o ev i d en ce i n i ts p o s s es s i o n, cu st o d y

, o r co n t ro l

.

Am o n g o t her th i n g s

, t h e reci p ro c a l d i s c o v ery ru l es req u i re p ro d u ct i o n o f cert ai n

wi t n es s s t at em en t s

, OCGA § 1 7 -1 6 -7

, an d cert ai n d o cu m en t s, OCGA § 1 7-1 6 -4 (a)

(3 ) (A). To o b t ai n t h e h ars h san ct i o n o f ex cl u s i o n o f ev i d en ce, Irv in g m us t sh o w t h at

t h e s t at e v i o lat ed t h es e ru l es i n b ad fai t h

. Cu s h en b er r y v. S t a t e

, 3 0 0 G a. 1 90

, 1 9 4 (2 )

(a) (7 9 4 SE2 d 16 5 ) (2 01 6 ); Cl a y v. S t at e

, 2 90 Ga

. 8 2 2

, 84 1 (5 ) (b ) (7 2 4 SE2 d 6 2 0 )

(2 0 1 2). W e rev i ew t h e t r i a l c o u rt ’ s ru l i n g o n t h e i s s u e fo r ab u s e o f d i s cret i o n

. See

Jo n es v. St a t e

, 2 90 Ga. 5 7 6

, 5 7 8 (2 ) (7 2 2 SE2 d 8 5 3 ) (2 0 1 2). W e fi n d no s u ch ab u s e,

b ecau s e t h e reco rd d o es no t co m p el a fi n d in g b y th e t ri al co u rt t h at t h e s t at e fai l ed to

p ro m p t ly p ro v i d e Irv i n g wi t h ev i d en ce th at w as in it s p o s ses s i o n

, cu st od y

, or co n t ro l

.

See g en eral l y OCGA § 17 -1 6 -1 (1 ) (i t em is wi t h i n p os s es si o n

, cu s t o d y

, o r co n t ro l o f

s t at e wh en i t “ i s wi t h i n t h e p o s s es s i o n

, cu s to dy

, o r co n t ro l o f t h e p ro secu t i n g at t o rn ey

o r an y l aw en fo rcem en t ag en cy i n v ol v ed i n t h e i n v es t i g at i o n o f t h e cas e b ei n g

p ro s ecu ted ”).

As t o t h e wi t n es s i n t e r v i ew, t h e reco rd do es n o t co m p el a fi nd i n g t h at a

reco rd i n g o f t h e en t ire i n t erv i ew ev er ex i s t ed

. In s t ead

, t h e reco rd s h o ws t h at t h e s t at e

11p ro v id ed Irv i n g wi th a reco rd i n g o f a b ri ef p o rt i o n o f t h e w i t nes s ’ s i n t erv i ew an d

rep res en t ed to t he t ri al co u rt th at n o o t h er p o rt io n o f t h at i n t erv i ew was reco rd ed

,

a p p a r e n t ly d u e t o an eq u i p m en t m al fu nct i on

. Th e tri al co u rt accep t ed t h e s t at e ’s

rep res en t at i o n. A l t ho u g h Irv i n g arg u es t h at th e t ri al co u rt s h ou l d n ot h av e cred i t ed

t h e rep res en t at i on

, “ i n t h e ab s en ce o f an y t h i n g b u t s p e cu l at i on t o t he co n t rary

, we

can n ot s ay t h at th e co u rt ’ s fi n d i n g t h at t h ere was n o [reco rd i n g o f th e en ti re wi t n es s

i n t erv i ew] i s cl earl y erro n eo u s .” DeVa u g h n v. S t a te

, 29 6 G a. 47 5

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

7 0 ) (2 0 1 5 ).

As t o Irv i n g ’ s b en ch warran t

, t h e s t at e rep res en ted t h at i t h ad o b t ai n ed t h at

d o cu m en t fro m pu b l i c reco r d s a f t e r t h e t ri al h ad b eg u n. Pret erm i tt i n g w h et h er t h e

reci pro cal di s co very ru l es ap p ly to th i s d o cu m en t at al l, s ee G o n z al es v. S t a t e

, 2 8 6

Ga. A p p

. 8 2 1

, 8 24 (2 ) (6 50 SE2 d 4 01 ) (2 0 07 ) (p h y s i c a l p reced en t o nl y ) (“ t h e

Cri m i n al Pro ced u re Di s co v ery Act was n o t i n t en d ed t o p ro v i d e s a n c t i o n s fo r t h e

fai l u re t o p ro v i d e p ub l i c i n fo rm at i o n to wh i ch [ap p el l an t ] al read y h ad acces s ”),

OCGA § 1 7 -1 6 -4 (c) p ro vi des t h at

[i ] f

. . . d u ri n g tri al a p art y d i s co vers ad d i t i o nal ev i d en ce or m at eri al

p rev io us l y req u es t ed o r o rd ered wh i ch i s s u b ject t o d i s co v ery o r

i n s p ect i o n u n d er th is art i cl e, s u ch p art y s h al l p ro m pt l y n o t ify t h e o t h er

12p art y of t h e ex i s ten c e o f t h e ad d i t i o nal ev id en ce o r m at eri al an d m ak e

t h i s ad d it i o n al ev i den ce o r m at eri al av ai lab l e as p ro v i d ed in t h i s art i cl e.

Th e reco rd s h o ws t h at t h e s t at e p res en t ed a co p y o f th e b en ch warran t t o Irv i n g ’ s t ri al

co u ns el an d th e co urt o n t h e s am e d ay t h at i t o b t ai n ed t he do cu m en t fro m t h e p u b l i c

reco rd s

. Th e t ri al co u rt g av e Irv i n g’ s co u n s el t h e o p po rt u ni t y t o rev i ew t he do cu m en t

o v ern i g h t . Un d er th es e ci rcu m s t an ces , t h e t ri al co urt d i d n ot ab u s e h i s d i s cret i o n i n

fi nd i ng t h at t h e s t at ut ory req u i rem en t s w e r e m et an d i n d ecl i n i n g t o ex cl u d e t h e

e v i d e n ce. See Cu s h en b er r y

, 3 0 0 Ga. at 1 93 -1 9 4 (2 ) (a); Go gg i n s v. S t a t e

, 3 3 0 Ga

.

Ap p

. 35 0

, 35 5 (2 ) (7 6 7 SE2 d 7 5 3 ) (2 0 1 4 ); Ma l l o ry v. S t a t e

, 3 0 6 Ga. Ap p

. 68 4

, 6 8 6

-

6 8 7 (1 ) (7 0 3 SE2 d 1 2 0) (2 01 0 ). W e fi n d n o m eri t i n Irv i n g’ s s ug g es t i on t h at t h e s t at e

s h o u ld h av e real i zed t h e rel ev an ce o f t he b en ch warran t ev id en ce an d o b t ai n ed t h at

ev i d en ce earl i er, b e c a u s e t h e st at e was n o t req ui red t o affi rm at i v el y seek o u t t h e

ev i d en ce. See Jo h n s o n v. S t a te

, 2 4 4 Ga. 2 9 5, 29 8 (7 ) (2 60 SE2 d 2 3) (1 9 7 9); Ja cks o n

v. S t a t e , 1 4 5 Ga. Ap p . 5 2 6, 5 27 (1 ) (2 4 4 SE2 d 4 9 ) (1 9 78 ).

(b ) Br a d y r ul e.

Al t h ou g h Irv i ng as sert s a v i o l at i o n o f t he B ra d y ru l e i n h is ap p el l at e b ri efs h e

o ffers no arg u m en t s ep arat e fr om his a r g um e nt fo r s tat u t o ry d i sco v ery v i ol at io n s

. An d

we fi n d n o Br a d

y v i o l at i o n.

13Un d er t h e ru l e i n Br a d y v. Ma r yl a n d

, “ t h e s u p p res s i o n b y t he p ro s ecu t i o n o f

ev i d en ce fav o rab le to an accu s ed u p o n req ues t v io l at es d u e p r o c e s s wh ere t h e

ev i d en ce i s m at eri al ei t h er to g u i l t o r t o p un i s h m en t irres p ect i v e o f th e g o o d fai t h o r

b ad fai t h o f t h e p ro secu t io n .” 3 73 U. S. at 8 7

. T o d em o n s t rat e a v io lat i on o f t h i s ru l e,

Irv i ng h ad t h e “ b urd en of s h o wi n g t h at (1 ) t h e [s ] t at e po s ses s ed i nfo rm at i o n fav o rab l e

t o [h i m ] ; (2 ) [h e] d i d n o t p o s s es s t h e ev i d en ce n o r co ul d h e o b t a i n i t wi t h d u e

d i l i g en ce; (3 ) t h e p ro s ecu t io n s u p p res s ed t h e ev i d en ce; an d (4 ) a reas o n ab l e

p r o b a b i l i t y ex i s t s t h at t h e o u t co m e o f th e t ri al wo u l d h av e b een di fferen t h ad t h e

ev i d en ce b een d i s cl o s ed .” W a t ki n s v. S t a t e

, 2 7 6 G a. 5 7 8, 5 8 3 ( 4 ) (5 8 1 SE2 d 2 3 )

(2 0 0 3). As d i s cu s s ed ab o v e in co n n ect i o n wi t h t h e s t at u t o r y c l a i m s

, Irv in g h as n ot

s h o wn t hat t h e s t at e s u p p res s ed ev i d en c e i n i t s p o s s es s i o n

. He al s o o ffers n o

ex p lan at i o n

, o r su p p o rt i ng ci t at i o n t o au t h o ri ty

, fo r h ow ei t h er cat eg o ry o f ch al l en g ed

ev i d en ce was fav o rab l e t o hi m

, an d m e r e s pecu l at i o n as to t h e ex cu lp at o ry o r

i m p each i n g n at u re o f t h e ev i d en ce i s i n s u ffi ci en t

. See Veg a v. St a t e

, 28 5 G a. 3 2

, 3 3

-

3 4 (2 ) (6 7 3 SE2 d 2 2 3 ) (2 0 0 9 ); S t a t e v. Br o wn

, 33 3 Ga. Ap p

. 64 3

, 6 5 1 (2 ) n

. 1 9 (7 7 7

SE2 d 2 7 ) (2 0 1 5 ). So h e h as n o t s h o wn erro r b y t h e t ri al co u rt

.

4

. Mo t i o n t o d i s mi s s j u r or

.

14Irv i n g arg u es t hat t h e t ri al co u rt erred in den y i n g h i s m o t i o n to rem o v e a ju ro r

fo r cau s e d u ri n g th e co u rs e o f t h e t ri al aft er th at ju ro r as k ed a b ai l iff wh et h er Irv i n g

an d h i s co -d efen d an t

, Bl ack wel l

, were in jai l an d ex p res s ed a co n cern fo r her s afet y

.

Bu t wh en sh e w as q u es t i on ed ab o u t t h at co n cern b y t he t ri al co u rt an d co u n s el

, t h e

ju ro r s t at ed th at s he u n d ers t o o d t h e p res u m p t i o n o f i n n ocen ce, t h at s h e h ad n o t y et

m ad e u p h er m i n d ab ou t t h e cas e, th at s he w o u l d n o t reach a d eci s io n ab o u t t h e cas e

u n t i l s h e h eard al l o f t h e ev i d en ce an d t h e ch arg e o f t h e co u rt

, an d t h at s h e rem ai n ed

f a i r an d i m

p art i al

. T h e tri al co u rt ci t ed t h es e as s ert i on s fro m t h e ju ro r in d en y i n g

Irv i ng ’ s m ot i on

.

W h et h er t o di sm i s s th e ju r o r a n d r e p l ace h er wi t h an al t ern at e was a m at t er

wi t h i n t he tri al co u rt ’ s d i s cret i o n

. Pr i n ce v. S t a t e

, 2 77 G a. 2 3 0

, 2 3 6 (4 ) (5 8 7 SE2 d

6 3 7 ) (2 0 0 3 ). See g en eral l y OCGA § 1 5 -1 2 -1 7 2 ( a u t h o r i zi n g t ri al co urt t o rep l ace

ju ro r wh o h ad b eco m e i n cap aci t at ed fo r

, a m o n g o t h er reas o n s

, in ab i l i t y t o p erfo rm

d u t y ). Gi v en t h e ju ro r’ s u n eq u i v o cal s tat em en t s th at s h e co u l d co n si der t h e ev i d en ce

p r e s e n t ed an d t h e l aw as ch arg ed t o reach h er deci s i o n i n t h e cas e an d t h a t h e r

ex p res s ed co n cern s fo r s afet y di d n o t affect h er ab i l it y t o b e fai r an d i m p art i al

, t h e

t ri al co urt d i d no t a b u s e h i s d i s cret io n i n ret ai n i n g t h e ju ro r. See Pr in ce

, s u p ra;

Mu r r a y v. S t a t e

, 3 2 8 Ga. Ap p . 1 9 2 , 1 9 5-1 9 6 (4 ) (7 6 1 SE2 d 5 9 0 ) (2 0 1 4).

155

. Ru l i n g o n mo t i o n f

o r n ew t ri a l

.

Irv i n g so u g h t a n ew t ri al

, am o n g ot h er reas o n s, b as ed o n t h e g en eral g ro u nd s

em bo d i ed i n OCGA § § 5 -5 -2 0 (v erd i ct co nt rary t o ev i d en ce) an d 5 -5 -2 1 (v erd i ct

ag ai n s t wei g h t o f ev i d en ce). He arg u es t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n d en y i n g h i s m o t i o n

fo r n ew t ri al b ecau s e t h e t ri al co u rt “ fai l ed t o ex erci s e [h i s ] d i s cret i on an d wei g h t h e

ev i d en ce i n ru l in g o n t he m eri t s o f t h e cl ai m s ,” as a t ri al co u rt h as th e du t y t o d o wh en

faced wi t h a m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al b as ed o n t h e g en eral g ro u nd s

. Per d u e v. S t a t e

, 2 9 8

Ga

. 8 4 1, 8 4 3 (2 ) (7 8 5 SE2 d 2 9 1 ) (2 0 1 6). In hi s o rd er den y i n g t h e m ot i o n, t h e t ri al

co u rt ack n o wl ed g ed Irv i n g’ s ge ne r a l- gr ounds a r gum e nts a nd h el d : “ Aft er h av i n g read

an d co n s i d ered Defen d an t ’ s Am en d ed M ot i o n fo r New t ri al

, al l arg u m en t an d

ev i d en ce o f t h e reco rd

, an d t h e ap p l i cab l e l aw, t h e Co u rt DENI ES t h e m ot io n o n each

an d ev ery g ro u n d .” “

No t h i n g i n th i s o r d e r i n d icat es t h at t h e t ri al co u rt fai l ed to

p erfo r m [ h i s ] d ut y t o ex erci s e [h i s ] d i s cret i o n an d wei g h t h e ev i den ce i n [h i s ]

co n si d erat io n o f t he g en eral g ro u n ds

. Th e co urt di d n o t s t at e th e in co rrect s t an d ard

i n [h i s ] o rd er, an d n o t h i n g in t he reco rd i n d i cat es t h at t h e co urt was u n aware o f [h i s ]

res p o n s i b i l i t y .” Bu t t

s v. S ta t e

, 29 7 Ga. 7 6 6

, 7 7 2 (3 ) (7 7 8 SE2 d 2 0 5) (2 0 1 5 ) (ci t at i o n

an d pu n ct u at i o n om i t t ed ). Al th ou g h t h e t ri al co u rt d i d n o t ex p l ai n h i s reas o n i n g i n t h e

16o rd er, Irv i n g po i n t s t o no au t h o ri t y req u i ri ng t h e t ri al co u rt t o d o s o

, an d we k n o w o f

n o n e. Th i s cl ai m

o f erro r i s m eri t l es s . See Bu t t s , s up ra.

6

. Mer g er

.

Irv i n g 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 m erg e h i s ag g rav at ed as s au l t

co n vi ct i o n s wi th h i s arm ed ro b b ery co n v i ct io n fo r p u rp o s es o f s en ten ci n g

. Th e s t at e,

t o i t s cred i t

, co n ced es t h i s erro r as t o o n e o f t h e ag g rav at ed as sau l t co n v i ct i o n s an d

o ffers n o arg u m en t in res p o n s e t o t h i s cl ai m o f erro r as to t h e ot h er ag g rav at ed as s au l t

co n vi ct i o n s

. W e ag ree wi t h Irv i n g t h at al l o f t h e ag g rav at ed as s au l t co n v i ct i on s

s h o u ld m erg e i nt o th e arm ed r o b b e ry co n vi ct i o n

. Al l o f t he ag g rav at ed as s au l t

co n vi ct i o n s were b as ed o n Irv i n g ’ s co m m i s si on o f an as s au l t w i t h a d ead l y weap o n,

[a] n d as t o wh et h er ag g rav at ed as sau l t wi t h a d ead l y weap on m e rg es

wi t h arm ed ro b bery

, [o u r] Su p r e m e Co u rt h as h el d t h at ag g rav at ed

as s au l t wi t h a d ead l y weap o n d o es n ot req u ire p ro of o f a fact t hat arm ed

ro b b ery d o es n o t

. In deed

, t h e Su prem e Co u rt has co n cl u ded t h at th e

as s au l t req u i rem en t o f ag g rav at ed as s au l t i s t h e eq ui v al en t o f t h e u se o f

an o ffen s i v e weap on o f arm ed ro b b ery, a n d t h at t h e dead l y weap o n

req u irem en t o f t h i s fo rm o f ag g rav at ed a s s a u l t i s th e eq u i v al en t o f th e

o ffen s i v e weap o n req u i rem en t o f arm ed ro b b ery

. Th u s

, t h ere is n o

el em en t o f ag g rav at ed as s au l t wi t h a d ead ly weap o n t h at i s n o t co n t ai n ed

i n arm ed ro b b ery

.

17Mo r r i s v. S t a te

, 34 0 Ga. Ap p

. 2 9 5

, 31 3 -3 14 (7 ) (7 9 7 SE2 d 2 07 ) (2 01 7 ) (ci t at i o n s an d

p u n ct u at i o n om i t t ed ). See OCGA § 16 -5 -2 1 (b ) (2 ) (d es cri b in g o ffen s e o f ag g rav at ed

as s au l t wi t h a d ead l y weap o n ); OCGA § 1 6-8 -4 1 (a) (d e s c ri b i n g o ffen s e o f arm ed

ro b b ery ). So al l o f Irv i n g ’ s co n v i ct i on s fo r ag grav at e d a s s a u l t s h o u l d h av e m erg ed

wi t h h i s co n v i ct i o n fo r arm ed ro b b ery

. M o r r i s

, s u p ra. Hi s “ co n vi ct i o n [s] an d s en t en ce

f o r a g g rav at ed as s au l t m

u s t b e v acat ed an d t h e cas e rem an d ed t o t h e t ri al c o u r t f o r

res en t en ci n g .” Id . at 3 14 (7 ).

Ju d g men t a f f i r med in p a r t a n d va ca t ed i n p a r t

, a n d ca s e rema n ded wi th

d i r ect i o n. McMi l l i a n , P.J., a n d S en i o r Ap p el l a t e Ju d

g e Her b er t

E. Ph i p p s , co n cu r

.

18