2 9 6 Ga . 3 96

F INAL COP Y

S 1 4 A1 4 1 1 . RIVERS v . THE S TATE.

THOMP S O N, Ch ie f Ju stic e

.

Ap p e lla n t Mic h a e l R iv e rs wa s c on vic te d o f fe lo n y m u rd e r in c on n e c tio n

with th e d e a t h o f Do n a ld Ta n k s III a n d po sse ssio n o f c o c a in e with in te n t to

d istrib u te a nd se n te n c e d to life im p riso n m e nt. 1 H e a

p p e a ls o n se v e ra l g ro u n d s

fro m th e tria l c ou rt’s d e n ia l o f h is m o tio n fo r n e w tria l, a n d fo r th e re a so n s th a t

fo llo w, we a ffirm

.

1

. Vie we d in th e lig h t m o st fa vo ra b le to th e v e rd ic t, th e ju ry wa s

a u t h o r i z e d t o fin d th a t on Ju n e 1 0

, 2 0 0 8

, th e v ic tim a n d h is frie n d s, Ma rc u s

Cla rk

, D i n a C a n a d a , Jo se p h Mo o re , a nd Ge o rg e Su lliv a n we re re tu rn in g to

Mo o re ’s h o u se a fte r a n e v e n in g ou t. C la rk a rriv e d first, so h e p a rk e d h is v e h ic le

1 The crim es were com m itted on June 10, 2008. Appellant was indicted on April 7, 2009, and charged with m alic e m urder, f elony m u rder, aggravated assault, aggravated battery

, and possession of cocain e w i t h the i ntent to distribute. His trial com m enced on March 2, 2010, and the jury r eturned its verdict on M arch 11, 2 010, f inding appellant guilty

o f all charges except m alice m urder. Appellant was sentenced on March 22, 2010, t o im p risonm ent f

or lif e f or f elony m urder and a consecutive term of im prisonm ent f

or 30 y ears f or the p ossess i o n c ount. T he r em aining counts m erged with the f e l ony m urder count. Appellant f

i led a m otion f

or new trial on March 18, 2010, which was am ended on July 18, 2011, and denied b y the t rial court on J uly 31, 2013. A notice o f a p peal was f

iled on August 19, 2013. The case was docketed in this Court f or the Septem

ber 2014 term and subm itted

f or decision on the brief

s.in a d riv e wa y a c ro ss th e s t r ee t to w a it fo r his frie n d s. Ap pe lla n t, wh o wa s

se llin g c o c a in e o n th e stre e t c o rn e r with se v e ra l ot h er i n d iv id u a ls, a sk e d h is

c o u sin

, Ge rry P e rry m on d

, to se e wh o wa s in Cla rk ’s v e hic le

. P e rry m o n d wa lk e d

u p to a n d a ro u n d C la rk ’s v e h i c l e , c a u sin g Cla rk to b e c o m e c on c e rn e d fo r h is

sa fe ty

. Cla rk c a lle d h is frie n d s to se e wh e re th e y we re , a n d wh e n th e y a rriv e d

,

Cla rk p oin te d o u t P e rry m on d.

S u lliv a n a n d P e rry m on d th e n e x c h an g e d wo rd s in th e stre e t. A s th e ir

v e rb a l a lte rc a tio n tu rn e d ph y sic a l, C a n a d a , wh o liv e d with Mo o re , a sk e d th e m

to sto p a n d we n t to ta lk to th e m a n in th e g ro u p o n th e stre e t wh o m sh e k n e w to

b e th e ir le a d e r. S h e a sk e d th a t in div id u a l n o t to in v o lv e o th e rs in th e fig h t a n d

n o t to e sc a la te th e situ a tio n

. By th a t tim e , th e a lte rc a tio n b e twe e n P e r r y mo n d

a n d S u lliv a n h a d e n d e d

, a nd Su lliv a n wa s wa lk in g b a c k to w a rd M o ore ’s h o u se

.

Ap p e lla n t, wh o h a d b e e n sta n d in g so m e d ista n c e fro m th e sc e ne , a p p ro a c h e d

Ta n k s, wh o wa s sta nd in g be h in d C a n a d a , a n d pu nc h e d him in th e fa c e , c a u sin g

Ta n k s to fa ll a

n d h it h is he a d o n a c o n c re te ste p

. Ta n k s re m a in e d in a c o m a fo r

se v e ra l we e ks, e m e rg in g fro m th e c o m a o n ly a fe w d a y s b e fo re h is d e a th

. Th e

m e d ic a l e xa m in e r d e te r mi n e d t h e c a u se o f d e a th w a s d e la y e d e ffe c ts o f b lu n t

fo rc e tra um a

to th e h e a d , a

n d m o re sp e c ific a lly , a

b lo o d c lo t th a t d e v e lo p e d in

2Ta n k s’ le g s th a t u ltim a te ly tra v e le d to h is lu n gs, c uttin g o ff o x y ge n to h is b ra in

.

Ap p e lla n t a d m itte d un d e r o a th a t a p re lim in a ry h e a rin g th a t h e wa s se llin g

c o c a in e o n th e n ig h t o f th e c rim e s a nd th a t h e h it Ta n k s. At tria l

, h is d e fe nse

w a s t h a t Ta n k s stru c k h im first a n d h e h it Ta n k s in se lf-d e fe n se

. P e rry mo n d

te stifie d a t tria l th a t h e a n d a p pe lla n t we re o n th e stre e t se llin g c ra c k c o c a in e th e

n ig h t o f th e c rim e s.

Th is e v id e n c e wa s su ffic ie n t to e n a b le a ra tio n a l trie r o f fa c t to fin d

a p p e lla n t g uilty b e y o n d a re a so n a ble do u b t o f th e c rim e s of wh ic h h e wa s

c o n v ic te d

. Ja c k so n v

. V i r g in ia

, 4 4 3 U. S

. 3 0 7 (9 9 S Ct 2 7 81

, 6 1 LE2 d 5 6 0 )

(1 9 7 9 ). Alth o u g h a

p p e lla n t a rg u e s th e tria l c o u rt sh o u ld h a v e dism isse d th e

c o u n t o f th e in d ic tm e nt c h a rg in g h im with p o sse ssio n o f c oc a in e with th e in te n t

to d istrib u te

, we fin d th e e vid e n c e p re se n te d a t tria l, in c lu din g a p pe lla n t’s swo rn

a d m issio n s a t a pre -tria l he a rin g a n d P e rry m o nd ’s c o rro b o ra tin g te stim on y , wa s

su ffic ie n t to e sta b lish b e y o n d a re a so n a b le d o u b t t h a t a

p p e lla n t wa s se llin g

c o c a in e on th e n ig h t of Ju n e 1 0

, 2 0 08

. 2 S e e Bu rg v. Sta te

, 2 9 8 Ga

. Ap p

. 2 1 4

,

2 We find no merit in appellant’s arg ument that the absence of a transcript of the preliminary hearing during which h e admitted that he was selling cocaine on the nig ht of J une 10, 2008, renders

evidence of his statement inadmissible under the Confrontation Clause. The constitutional rig ht to
confront witnesses has no application where w hat is offered ag a inst a criminal d e f e n d a n t is the

defendant’s own statement and h e has the opportunity to confront and cross-ex amine the witness throug h whom this statement is p r e s e n ted. See U. S. Const. Amend. V I (g iving accused the rig ht

32 1 6 -2 1 7 (6 7 9 S E2 d 7 80 ) (2 0 0 9 ). S e e a lso Ch a nc e y v

. S ta te

, 2 5 6 Ga

. 4 1 5

, 4 2 1

-

4 2 2 (3 4 9 S E2 d 7 1 7 ) (1 9 8 6 ) (S ta te m a y re ly o n c irc um sta n tia l e vid e n c e to p ro v e

a su b sta n c e is a n ille g a l d ru g ). Mo re o v e r, b e c a u se a p p e lla nt’s p re -tria l

a d m issio n s w e re d ire c t e v id e n c e o f h is g u ilt o f th e p o sse ssio n c h a rg e , th e S ta te ’s

c a se wa s n o t ba se d so le ly o n c irc u m sta n tia l e vid e n c e

. S e e R o d rig u e z -No v a v

.

S ta te

, 2 9 5 Ga

. 8 6 8 (7 6 3 S E2 d 6 9 8 ) (2 01 4); B ro w n v

. S t at e , 2 9 1 Ga

. 7 5 0

, 7 5 2

(7 3 3 SE2 d 3 0 0 ) ( 2 0 1 2) (a c c use d ’s o wn te stim o ny m ay be use d to c orro b o ra te

a n a c c o m p lic e ’s te stim o n y

a g a in st h im ).

2

. Ap p e lla n t c o n te n d s th e tria l c o u rt e rre d b y re fu sin g to strik e

p ro sp e c tiv e J u r o r N u m

b e r 2 0 fo r c a

u se a fte r Ju ro r 2 0 in d ic a te d h e h a d stro n g

o p in io n s a

b o u t ill e g al n a rc o tic s. “ Th e d e c isio n to strik e a p o te n tia l ju ro r fo r

c a u se lie s with in th e so u n d disc re tio n o f th e tria l c o u rt a n d will n o t b e se t a sid e

a b se nt so m e m a n ife st a

b u se of th a t d isc re tio n .” Ab d u lla h v

. S ta te

, 2 8 4 Ga

. 3 9 9

,

4 0 0 (2 ) (6 6 7 S E2 d 5 8 4 ) (2 0 0 8 )

. T h e r e is n o m a nife st a b u se o f disc re tio n

“ u n le ss it is sh o wn th a t th e ju ro r’s o p in io n ‘is so fix e d a nd d e fin ite th a t (h e o r

sh e ) will b e u n a

b le to se t th e o p in io n a sid e a n d d e c id e th e c a se b a se d u p o n th e

e v id e n c e ’ a nd th e tria l c o urt’s in stru c tio n s.” (F o o tn o te o m itte d .) Mille r v

. S ta te

,

to be confronted with the witnesses ag ainst him).

42 7 5 Ga . 7 30 , 7 3 6 (5 ) (5 7 1 S E2 d 7 8 8 ) (2 0 0 2 ).

Th e re c o rd in th is c a se d e m on stra te s th a t a lth o u g h Ju ro r 2 0 in d ic a te d h is

stro ng d islik e fo r ille ga l n a rc o tic s, h e a lso sta te d h e wo u ld b e a b l e t o r e a c h a

v e rd ic t b a se d o n th e e v id e nc e p re se n te d a t tria l an d th e la w on wh i ch t h e t ria l

c o u rt in stru c te d h im

, th a t he c o u ld re tu rn a n o t g u ilty v e rd ic t if th e Sta te d id n o t

c a rry its b u rd e n a t tria l, a n d th a t h e c o u ld try to se t h i s e mo t io n s a sid e a n d

d e c id e th e c a se o n its m e rits. Un d e r th e se c irc u m sta n c e s, we c a n n ot sa y th e tria l

c o u rt a b use d its d isc re tio n b y f

i n d in g th a t Ju ro r Nu m

b e r 2 0 ' s o p in io n wa s so

fix e d a n d d e fin ite th a t h e c o u ld n o t de c id e t h e c a se b a se d on th e e v id e n c e

in tro d u c e d a t tria l. Ac c o rd in g ly

, th e tria l c o u rt d id no t e rr b y re fu sin g to e x c use

th is ju ro r fo r c a

u se

. Se e He a d v

. S ta te

, 2 7 6 Ga

. 1 3 1, 1 3 3 (2 ) (5 75 SE2 d 8 8 3 )

(2 0 0 3 ).

3

. Th e Sta te pre se n te d e v i d e n c e a t tria l o f two sta te m e nts m a d e b y

a p p e lla n t to p o lic e

. I n t h e first, m a d e a fe w we e k s a fte r th e a ssa u lt on Ta n k s,

a p p e lla n t to ld a p o lic e o ffic e r wh o w a s c a nv a ssin g th e stre e ts fo r p o ssib le

witn e sse s th a t h e wa s n o t pre se n t a t th e tim e Ta n k s wa s a ssa u lte d a n d he d id n o t

k n o w w h o h it h im

. Th e se c o n d sta te m e n t w a s m a d e a fte r a p p e lla n t le a rn e d th a t

d e te c tiv e s wa n te d to ta lk to h im a n d t h a t a d e t e c tiv e to ld P e rry m o n d th a t

5a

p p e lla n t sh o u ld c o n ta c t p o lic e or h e c ou ld b e c h a rg e d w ith m u rd e r. On h is o wn

in itia tiv e , a

p p e lla n t th e n we n t t o th e p o lic e sta tio n , wh e re he a dm itte d h e wa s

p re se nt a t t h e tim e o f th e a ssa u lt b u t c o n tin u e d to a sse rt th a t h e d id n o t k n o w

wh o h it Ta n k s. Ap pe lla n t wa s n o t p la c e d u n d e r a rre st a t an y p oin t d u rin g th e

g iv in g o f e ith e r sta te m e n t, a n d a t th e e n d o f th e in te rv ie w a t th e p o lic e sta tio n ,

h e wa s a llo we d to g o h o m e

. Th e tria l c o u rt a d m itte d a pp e lla n t’s sta te m e n ts o v e r

a d e fe n se o b

je c tio n , fin d in g th e y we re m a d e v o lu n ta rily

. Ap p e lla nt c o n te n d s th e

d e te c tiv e ’s c o m

m e n t to P e rry m o n d su gg e ste d th a t a p p e lla n t wo u ld b e c h a rg e d

with m urd e r u n le ss h e ta lk e d with p o lic e , th er eb y r e n d e rin g h is sta te m e n ts

in a d m issib le a t tria l be c a u se th e y we re g iv e n o u t o f fe a r an d wi t h th e h o p e o f

le n ie n c y

. 3

Un d e r fo rm e r OCGA § 2 4 -3 -5 0

, 4 fo r a c on fe ssio n to b e a d m issib le

, it m u st

h a v e b e e n m a d e vo lu n ta rily

, with o u t b e in g in d u c e d b y a n o th e r b y th e slig h te st

h o p e o f b e n e fit o r re m ote st fe a r o f in ju ry

.

Un d e r Ge o rg ia la w , o n ly v olu n ta ry in c rim in a tin g sta te m e n ts a re

3 Appellant did not contend in the trial court and does not contend on appeal that his

statem ents were m ade in violation of Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U. S. 436 (86 SCt 1602, 16 LE2d 694) (1966).

4 Under the n ew E v idence Code, effective J anuary 1, 2013, this lang uag e is codified at OCGA § 24-8-824.

6a d m issib le a g a in st th e a c c u se d a t tria l, a n d th e Sta te ha s th e b u rd e n

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

th e e v id e n c e

. S ta te v

. Ritte r, 2 6 8 Ga

. 1 0 8 (1 ) (4 8 5 S E2 d 4 9 2 ) (1 9 9 7 ).

. . .“ Th e p ro m ise o f a b e n e fit th a t will re n d e r a c on fe ssio n in v o lu n ta r y u n d e r OCGA § 2 4 -3 -5 0 m u st re la te to th e c h a rg e o r

se n te n c e fa c in g th e su sp e c t.” Wh ite v

. S ta te

, 26 6 Ga

. 1 3 4 (3 ) (4 6 5

S E2 d 2 7 7 ) (1 9 9 6 ). Ge n e ra lly

, th e “ ho pe o f b e n e fit” to wh ic h th e

sta tu te r e f

e rs h a s b e e n c o n stru e d a s a ho pe o f lig h te r p u n ish m e n t. [Cits.]

F o ste r v

. S ta te

, 2 8 3 G a

. 4 8 4

, 4 8 5 (6 6 0 SE2 d 5 21 ) (2 00 8). Wh e th e r a sta te m e n t

w a s m a d e vo lu n ta rily is d e te rm in e d b y a sse ssin g th e to ta lity o f th e

c irc u m sta n c e s. Ve rg a ra v . S ta te , 2 8 3 Ga . 1 7 5 (1 ) (6 5 7 S E2 d 8 6 3 ) (2 0 0 8 ).

Co n tra ry to a

p p e lla n t’s a sse rtio n , we fin d n o e v id e n c e in th e re c o rd th a t

d e te c tiv e s th re a te n e d a

p p e lla nt with in

ju ry if h e d id n o t m a k e a sta te m e nt o r th a t

h e w a s g iv e n a n y p ro m ise of le n ie n c y if h e did

. Ap p e lla n t’s pe rso n a l b e lie f th a t

ta lk in g t o d ete c tiv e s wo u ld g a in h im fa v o r fro m th e S ta te d o e s n o t re n d e r h is

sta te m e n ts in vo lu n ta ry u n d e r fo rm e r OCGA § 2 4 -3 -5 0

, se e Ev a n s v

. S ta te

, 2 7 7

Ga

. 51

, 5 2-5 3 (2 ) (5 8 6 SE2 d 3 2 6 ) ( 2 0 0 3 ), a n d th e de te c tiv e ’s sta te m e n t to

P e rry m on d a

b o u t a p o te n tia l m

u rd e r c h a r g e wa s n ot a th re a t o f in ju ry in th e

e v e n t a p p e lla n t c h ose n o t to sp e a k to po lic e b u t w a s a n a c c ura te d e sc rip tio n o f

th e se rio u sn e ss o f th e c rim e s a n d th e situ a tio n a p p e lla n t fa c e d

. Se e Jo h n so n v

.

S ta te

, 2 9 5 Ga

. 42 1 (2 ) (7 6 1 S E 2 d 13 ) (2 01 4) (d e te c tiv e ’s sta te m e n t t h a t

7d e fe n d a n t c o uld b e c h a rg e d with m u rd e r wa s a tru e sta te m e n t e m p h a siz in g

g ra v ity o f th e situ a tio n th e d e fe n d a n t fa c e d ); P re sto n v . S ta te

, 2 8 2 Ga . 2 1 0 (2 )

(6 4 7 SE2 d 2 6 0 ) (2 0 0 7 ) (o ffic e r’s d i s c u s s i o n a b o u t p u n ish m e n t wa s no m o re

th a n e x p la n a tio n of th e s e r io u sn e ss o f d e fe n da n t’s situ a tio n ). Un d e r th e se

c irc u m sta n c e s, th e tria l c o u rt’s ru lin g th a t a p p e lla nt’s sta te m e n ts we re

v o lu n ta rily m a d e wa s n o t e rro n e o u s.

4

. Ap p e lla n t c o n te n d s th e tria l c o u rt e rre d by a llo w in g th e S ta te to p re se n t

a s sim ila r tra n sa c tio n e v i d e n c e th e te stim o n y o f Sin a P o lk

, a p p e lla nt’s fo rm e r

g irlfrie n d

, re g a rd in g a p rio r in c id e n t in wh ic h a pp e lla n t w a s se llin g d ru g s a n d

h it h e r in th e fa c e d u rin g a n a rg u m e n t. Un d e r Ge o rg ia la w a p p lic a ble a t th e tim e

o f a p p e lla n t’s tria l, 5 e v id e n c e o f a sim ila r tra n sa c tio n m a y b e a dm itte d i f t h e

S ta te sh o ws th a t

( 1 ) i t se e k s to in tro d u c e th e e v id e n c e n o t to ra ise a n im p r o p e r i n f e re n c e a s to th e a c c u se d ’s c h a ra c te r, b u t fo r so m e a p p ro p ria te

p u rp o se wh ic h h a s b e e n d e e m e d to b e a n e x c e p tio n to th e g e n e ra l

ru le o f in a d m issib ility ; (2 ) th e re is su ffic ie n t e v id e n c e to e sta b lish

th a t th e a c c u se d c o m m itte d th e in d e p e n d e n t o ffe n se or a c t; a n d (3 )

th e re is a su ffic ie n t c o n n e c tio n o r sim ila rity b e twe e n th e in d e p e n d e n t o ffe n se o r a c t a n d th e c rim e c h arg e d s o th a t p ro o f o f

5 B ecause appellant w as tried before J anuary 1, 2013, Georg ia’s old Evidence Code applies

in his appeal. Under the n ew Evidence Code, admissibility of this categ ory of evidence is g overned by OCGA § 24-4-404 (b).

8th e fo rm e r te n d s to p ro v e th e la tte r.

(Cita tio n a n d p u n c tu a tio n o m itte d .) Ma tth e ws v

. S ta te

, 2 9 4 G a

. 5 0, 5 2 (7 5 1

S E2 d 7 8 ) ( 2 0 1 3 ). In e v a lu a tin g th e tria l c o u rt’s ru lin g , we a c c e p t its fa c tu a l

fin d in g s u n le ss c l e a rly e rro n e o u s a n d re v ie w its d e c isio n to a d m it th e sim ila r

tra n sa c tio n e v id e n c e un d e r th e a b u se o f d isc re tio n sta n d a rd

. R e e d v

. Sta te

, 2 9 1

Ga . 1 0 (3 ) (7 2 7 S E2 d 1 1 2 ) (2 0 1 2 ).

Th e S ta te o ffe re d e v id e n c e o f a pp e lla n t’s a ssa u lt o n P o lk a n d h is prio r sa le

o f d ru gs fo r th e p u rp o se o f sh o win g a p p e lla n t’s c ou rse o f c o n d uc t a nd b e n t o f

m in d an d o ffe re d P o lk ’s id e n tific a tio n o f a p p e lla n t a s e vid e n c e th a t h e

c o m m itte d th e prio r o ffe n se s. T he tria l c o u rt fo u n d th e p rio r in c id e n t

su ffic ie n tly sim ila r b e c a

use in b o th in sta nc e s a

p p e lla nt wa s in v olv e d with a n d

se llin g d ru g s a

n d use d h is fists to re so lv e a disp u te

. Alth o u g h th e v ic tim o f th e

p rio r a ssa u lt wa s k n o w n to a p p e lla n t a n d in th is c a se th e v ic tim wa s a stra n ge r,

wh e n d e te rm in in g wh e th e r e vid e n c e o f a sim ila r tra n sa c tio n is a d m issib le “ ‘th e

p ro p e r fo c u s is u p o n th e sim ila ritie s b e t w e e n th e in c id e n ts a n d no t up o n th e

d iffe re n c e s.’ [Cit.] ” Da n ie ls v

. S ta te

, 2 8 1 Ga

. 2 2 6

, 22 8 (6 3 7 S E2 d 40 3) (2 0 0 6 ).

Vie we d in th is m a n n e r, we fi n d no a b u se o f d isc re tio n in th e tria l c o u rt’s

d e c isio n to a d m it P o lk ’s te stim o n y a t tria l.

95

. Du rin g tria l, Ge o rg e S u lliv a n te stifie d th a t he wa s n ot th e a g g re sso r in

h is a l t e rc a tio n with P e rry m on d

. Ap p e lla n t so u g h t o n c ro ss-e x a m in a tio n to

im p e a c h S u lliv a n b y o ffe rin g e v id e n c e o f S u lliv a n’s 1 9 9 5 first o ffe n d e r p le a to

a c h arg e o f a g g ra v a te d a ssa u lt. Th e tria l c o urt ru le d th e first o ffe n d e r ple a c o u ld

n o t b e u se d a s im

p e a c h m e n t e v id e n c e , an d a p p e lla nt c ha lle n g e s th is ru lin g

.

We fin d no a

b u s e o f th e tria l c o u rt’s d isc re tio n in p ro h ib itin g a p p e lla n t

fro m im pe a c h in g S u lliv a n w ith th e first o f f e n de r p le a

. B e c a

use first o ffe n d e r

sta tu s is n o t c o n sid e re d a n a d ju d ic a tio n o f g u ilt, a first o ffe nd e r p le a c a n n o t b e

u se d to im

pe a c h a witn e ss o n g e n e ra l c re d ib ility g ro u nd s. S e e S a nd e rs v

. S ta te

,

2 9 0 Ga

. 4 45 (2 ) (7 2 1 S E 2 d 8 3 4 ) (2 01 2 ); Ma tth e w s v

. S ta te

, 2 6 8 Ga

. 7 9 8 (4 )

(4 9 3 SE2 d 1 3 6 ) (1 9 9 7 ). A first offe n d e r p le a m a y b e u se d to d e m o n stra te a

witn e ss’ b ia s o r m o tiv e to te stify in fa v o r o f th e S ta te wh ile th e o ffe n d e r re m a in s

u n d e r th a t se n te n c e , se e id .; h o we v e r, a pp e lla n t m a d e n o a rg u m e n t th a t

S u lliv a n ’s p le a wa s b e in g o ffe re d fo r th a t p u rp ose , a n d h is se n te n c e h a d lo n g

a g o e x p ire d

. An d

, e ve n a ssu m in g, a s a p p e lla n t a rg u e s, th a t a first o ffe n d e r p le a

m a y b e u se d a g a in st a witn e ss in a c rim in a l c a se to disp ro v e o r c on tra d ic t fa c ts

to wh ic h th e wit n e ss te stifie s, se e Ma tth e ws, su p ra a t 80 2, n

. 2

, in a sm u c h a s

S u lliv a n wa s n o t t h e v ic tim o f th e c h arg e d c rim e s a n d P e rry m o n d wa s n o t th e

10d e fe n d a n t, e v id e nc e o f S u lliv a n ’s p rio r a c t o f v io le nc e a g a in st a th ird p a rty wa s

n o t a d m issib le u n d e r Ch a

n d le r v

. S ta te

, 2 6 1 Ga

. 4 02

, 4 0 7 (3 ) (b ) (4 05 S E2 d 6 6 9 )

(1 9 9 1 ), a n d

, q u ite sim

ply

, wa s no t p e rtin e n t to th e c ritic a l fa c t i n q u e s t i o n in

a p p e lla n t’s ju stific a tio n d e fe nse , wh e th e r ap pe lla n t’s a c tio n in st r i k i n g T a nk s

wa s ju stifie d

.

6

. Du rin g c ro s s

- e x a

m i n a t i o n o f d e fe n se witn e ss Vic k y La rk in

, a pp e lla n t’s

g irlfrie n d

, th e p ro se c u to r a sk e d wh e th e r La rk in h a d “ pu t m o n e y o n ” a pp e lla n t’s

p riso n a c c o u n t wh ile h e wa s a wa itin g tria l an d w h e t h er o n th e n ig h t o f th e

c rim e s sh e h a d two b la c k e y e s. De fe n se c o u n s e l o b je c te d a n d m a de m

u ltip le

m o tio ns fo r a m istria l, a rg u in g th a t th e S ta te ’s q u e stio n s im p e rm issib ly p la c e d

a p p e lla n t’s c h a ra c te r in to e v id e n c e

. Co u n se l a lso a sk e d th e tria l c o u rt to p o ll th e

ju ry fo r p o ssib le p re

ju dic e

. A p p e lla n t e n u m e ra te s a s e rro r th e d e n ia l o f th e se

m o tio ns.

It is pro p e r fo r th e S ta te wh e n c ro ss-e xa m in in g a de fe n se witn e ss to b rin g

o u t th e re la tio n sh ip b e twe e n th e witn e ss a n d th e a c c u se d fo r th e p u rp o se o f

sh o win g b ia s o r to sh o w th e p ro b a b ility th a t th e witn e ss is te stify in g o u t o f fe a r

o r u n d e r d u re ss. S e e Bu rre ll v

. S ta te

, 2 9 3 Ga

. Ap p

. 54 0

, 5 4 1 -5 4 2 (1 ) (6 67 S E2 d

3 9 4 ) (2 0 0 8 ). Th e S t a t e ’s q u e stio n s we re p ro pe rly in te n d e d to e sta b lish th e

11c lo se , p e rso n a l re la tio n sh ip be twe e n La rk in a n d a p p e lla n t a n d to sh o w th a t sh e

m a y h a v e be e n te stify in g ou t of fe ar o r in tim id a tio n

. In c o n d u c tin g su c h a c ro sse x a m in a tio n , th e S ta te d id n o t p la c e a p p e lla n t’s c h a ra c te r in issu e in th e se nse

th a t th e e v id e n c e m

ust b e p ro sc rib e d

, e ve n th o u g h th e e v id e n c e m a y h a v e

in c id e n ta lly d on e so

. Id

. a t 5 4 1

. S im ila rly

, e v id e n c e th a t a n a c c u se d h a s b e e n

c o n fin e d in ja il in c o n n e c tio n with th e c a se a t issu e d o e s n ot p la c e h is c h a ra c te r

in e v id e n c e

. Willia m s v

. Sta te

, 24 2 Ga

. 7 5 7

, 7 5 8 (2 ) (2 5 1 S E 2 d 2 5 4) (1 9 7 8);

W a l k e r v

. S ta te

, 2 5 9 Ga

. Ap p

. 8 3

, 8 4-8 5 (1 ) (5 7 6 S E2 d 6 2 ) (2 0 0 3 )

.

Ac c o rd in g ly

, th e c ha lle n g e d q u e stio n s d id n o t i mp ro p e rly p la c e a pp e lla n t’s

c h a ra c te r in issu e , a n d a

p p e lla n t wa s n ot e n title d to a m istria l. S e e S ta n l e y v

.

S ta te

, 2 5 0 G a

. 3 (2 ) (2 9 5 S E2 d 3 1 5) (1 9 8 2 ) (a pp ly in g a b u se o f disc re tio n

sta n d a rd o f re v ie w to tria l c o urt’s d e n ia l o f m o tio n fo r m istria l). It fo llo ws th a t

th e tria l c o u rt d id n o t a b u se its d isc re tio n b y re fu sin g t o p o l l t h e ju ry to

d e te rm in e wh e th e r a d m issio n o f th is e v id e n c e m a y h a v e p re ju d ic e d a p p e lla n t.

7

. No r d o w e fin d th e tria l c o u rt e rre d b y a llo win g two witn e sse s to te stify

o r su gg e st th ro ug h th e ir te stim o n y th a t a p p e lla n t wa s a d ru g d e a le r. Th e first

witn e ss, Ca n a d a , m e n tio n e d g e n e ra lly th a t sh e k n e w th e p e o p le sta n d in g o n th e

stre e t c o rn e r we r e d r u g d e a le rs. Th is c o m m e n t o c c u rre d a s p art o f h e r

12e x p la n a tio n fo r wh y sh e fe lt it wa s im po rta n t to k e e p th e a rg u m e n t o n th e stre e t

fro m e sc a la tin g

. Th e se c o n d w itn e ss, P e rry m o n d

, w a s a llo w e d to te stify th a t th e

v ic tim h a d “ b ro u g h t h im se lf o n to th e d e a le r sid e o f th e [n e ig h b o rh o o d ] ” wh e re

h e (P e rry m o n d ), a

p p e lla nt, a n d o th e r in div id u a ls we re sta n din g

. T h is e vid e n c e ,

a d m issib le to p ro v e th e c irc u m sta n c e s su rro u n d in g th e a ssa u lt on Ta n k s a n d to

c o u n te r a p p e lla n t’s c la im th a t h e a c te d in se lf-d e fe n se , wa s a d m issib le e v e n

th o u g h i t m a y h a v e in c id e nta lly p la c e d a p pe lla n t’s c h ara c te r in to issu e

. S e e

S p e e d v. S ta te

, 2 7 0 Ga

. 6 8 8

, 6 9 1 (8 ) (5 1 2 SE2 d 8 96 ) (1 9 99 ) (re le v a n t e v id e n c e

th a t d e fe n d a n t w a s a

d ru g d e a le r d id n o t b e c om e in a dm issib le sim p ly b e c a u se

it in c id e nta lly p la c e d d e fe n d a n t’s c h ara c te r in to e v id e n c e ). Mo re o v e r, e v e n

a ssu m in g a d m issio n of th is te stim o n y wa s e rro r, it wa s h a rm le ss. Ev id e n c e th a t

a p p e lla n t wa s a d ru g d e a le r w a s m e re ly c u m u la tiv e o f o t

h e r a dm issib le e vid e n c e ,

in c lu din g a

p p e lla n t’s a d m issio n th a t h e wa s se llin g d ru g s o n th e n ig h t o f th e

c rim e s a n d th e te stim o n y o f Isra la h Riv e rs, a p p e lla n t’s siste r, th a t a p p e lla n t

re g u la rly so ld d ru g s o n th e c o rn e r wh e re T an k s wa s a tta c k e d

. S e e Va u g h n s v

.

S t at e , 2 7 4 Ga

. 1 3

, 1 5 (3 ) (5 4 9 S E2 d 8 6 ) (2 0 0 1 ) (a dm issio n of im p ro p e r

te stim o n y is h a rm le ss e rro r wh e re te stim o ny is c u m u la tiv e o f oth e r a d m issib le

e v id e n c e ).

138

. B e c a use th e S ta te p ro v id e d th e re q u i r ed n o tic e o f its in te n t to use

a p p e lla n t’s p rio r c o n v ic tio n s in th e e ve n t h e te stifie d a t tria l a n d th e tria l c o urt

fo u n d th e v a lu e of th is e v id e n c e su b sta n tia lly o utwe ig he d it s p o t e n tia l

p r ej u dic ia l e ffe c t, th e tria l c o u rt d id n o t e rr b y fin din g a p p e lla n t’s p r i o r

c o n v ic tio n s w o u ld b e a d m issib le a t tria l. S e e fo rm e r OCGA § 2 4 -9 -8 4 .1 (a ) (1 ).

9

. Ap p e lla n t a

rg u e s th e tria l c o urt e rre d b y a llo win g th e S ta te to p re se n t

h is siste r Isra la h ’s vid e o ta p e d sta te m e n t a s a p rio r in c o n siste n t sta te m e n t.

S p e c ific a lly

, h e m a in ta in s th a t th e v id e o ta p e wa s a d m itte d with ou t a p ro p e r

fo u n d a tio n h a v in g b e e n la id a n d in v io la tio n o f h is rig h t to c o nfro n t witn e sse s.

We fin d n o e rro r.

I n Ge o rg ia

, th e prio r in c o n siste n t sta te m e n t o f a witn e ss wh o ta k e s t h e

sta n d a n d is su b

je c t to c ro ss-e x a m in a tio n is a dm issi b l e b o t h to im p e a c h th e

witn e ss a n d a s su b sta ntiv e e v id e n c e

. G ib b o n s v . S ta te , 2 48 Ga

. 8 5 8

, 8 6 2 (2 8 6

S E2 d 7 1 7 ) (1 9 8 2 ). S e e a lso fo rm e r OCGA § 2 4

- 9

- 8 3

. 6 He re , Isra la h ’s

v id e ota p e d sta te m e n t wa s a d m itte d a t tria l a fte r sh e d e n ie d h a v in g m a de c e rta in

o f th e sta te m e n ts a

n d c la im e d s h e c o u ld n ot re m e m be r th e d e ta ils o f wh a t sh e

6 OCGA § 24-9-83, i n e f f e c t at the tim e of appellant’s trial, w as repealed ef f ective January 1, 2013. The use of prior inconsistent statem ents f or the purpose of im

peachm ent
is now codif

ied at OCGA § 24-6-613 (b).

14to ld de te c tiv e s re g a rd in g a p p e lla n t’s c o m

m e n ts a fte r th e c ri me s

. A p ro p e r

fo u n d a tio n w a s la id fo r a d m issio n o f Isra la h ’s sta te m e n t th ro ug h h e r te stim o n y

th a t th e vid e o re c o rd in g wa s a fa ir a n d a c c ura te re pre se n ta tio n o f h e r sta te m e n t

th a t h a d n ot be e n a lte re d in a n y wa y

. 7 Mo re o v e r, it is c le a r fro m th e re c o rd th a t

a p p e lla n t h a d

, a

n d to ok a d v a n ta g e o f, th e op p o rtu n ity to c ro ss-e x a m in e Isra la h

a b o u t h e r sta te m e n t, h e r m e m o ry lo ss, a n d re a so n s fo r h e r p o ssib le bia s a g a in st

a p p e l l a n t

. A c c o rd in g ly

, it w a s n o t e rro r to a d m it th is e v id e n c e a t tria l. S e e

Un ite d S ta te s v

. Owe ns, 4 84 U

. S

. 5 5 4

, 5 5 9 (1 0 8 S Ct 83 8, 9 8 LE2 d 9 5 1 ) (1 9 8 8 )

(S ix th Am e n d m e n t rig h t t o co n f r o n ta tio n is sa tisfie d if a d e fe n d a n t is g iv e n

o p p ortu n ity to c ro ss-e x a m in e a fo rg e tfu l witn e ss a b o u t “ [h e r] b ia s, [h e r] la c k o f

c a re a n d a tte n tiv e n e ss, [h e r] p o or e y e sig h t, a nd e v e n

. . . th e v e ry fa c t th a t [s] h e

h a s a b a d m e m o ry ” ); Ho lid a y v

. S ta te

, 2 72 Ga

. 7 7 9 (2 ) (5 3 4 S E2 d 4 11 ) (2 0 0 0 )

(tria l c o u rt d id no t e rr by a d m ittin g prio r in c o n siste n t sta te m e n ts o f witn e sse s

wh o we re a v a ilable fo r c ro ss-e x a m in a tio n a n d d e nie d or c o uld n o t re m e m b e r

g iv in g de ta ils to p o lic e o f wh a t th e y sa w ). S e e a lso Bro wn v. S ta te

, 2 66 Ga

. 7 2 3

7 The p rosecutor asked Isralah on direct exam ination whether the State’s videotape

f airly and accurately represented what she told detectives. She stated, “W ell, som e of it,

y es.” She adm itted, however, that the videotape f airly and accurately represented her

statem ent to p olice and h a d not been a l t ered in any way , but she e x plained that she “lef t

som ething out of her statem ent.”

15(2 ) (4 7 0 S E2 d 6 5 2 ) (1 9 9 6 ).

1 0

. Ap p e lla n t c o n te n d s th e tria l c o urt e rre d b y d e n y in g h is m o tio n fo r a

d ire c t e d v e r d i c t b e c a

u se th e S ta te fa ile d to m e e t its b u rd e n o f p ro v in g th a t

a p p e lla n t’s a c t o f h ittin g Ta n k s wa s th e p ro x i m a te c a u se of h is d e a th

. “ In a

c rim in a l c a s e , p ro x im a te c a u se e x ists wh e n th e a c c u se d ’s ‘a c t o r o m issio n

p la y e d a su b sta n tia l p a rt in b rin g in g a b ou t or a c tu a lly c a u s i n g th e (v ic tim ’s)

i n ju ry or d a m a g e a n d

. . . th e in ju ry o r d a m a g e wa s e ith e r a d ire c t re su lt o r a

re a so na b ly p ro b a b le c o n se q u e n c e o f th e a c t o r o m issio n .’ [Cits.] ” (P u n c tu a tio n

o mi t t e d

. ) Sk a g g s v

. S ta te

, 2 7 8 Ga

. 1 9

, 1 9-2 0 (5 9 6 SE2 d 1 5 9 ) (2 0 0 4 ). T h e

re c o rd e v id e n c e d e m o n stra te s th a t a p p e lla n t h i t T a n k s in th e h e a d

, c a u sin g

Ta n k s to fa ll a n d strik e h is h e a d o n a c o n c re t e ste p

. Th e fa ll in flic te d u p o n

Ta n k s se v e re b lu nt fo rc e tra u m a to h is b ra in an d h e a d a n d c a u se d h im to re m a in

in a c o m a fo r se v e ra l we e k s be fo re h is u ltim a te d e a th fro m a b lo o d c lo t wh ic h

wa s c a u se d b y h is p ro lo n g e d im m o b ility a fte r th e fa ll. Th e re fo re , a p p e lla n t wa s

n o t e ntitle d to a d ire c te d v e rd ic t b e c a use th e re wa s e v id e n c e a

u th o riz in g a ju ry

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

b le d o u b t t h a t Ta nk s’ fa ll a nd re su ltin g in ju rie s we re

e ith e r th e d ire c t re su lt or re a so n a b ly p ro b a b le c o nse q u e n c e o f a

p p e lla n t’s a c t o f

strik in g th e v ic tim

. S e e Sta n se ll v

. S ta te

, 2 7 0 Ga

. 1 47

, 1 4 8 (1 ) (5 10 S E2 d 2 9 2 )

16(1 9 9 8 ) (a

p p ly in g Ja c k so n v

. Virg in ia sta n d a rd o f re v ie w to d e n ia l o f m o tio n fo r

d ire c te d v e rd ic t o f a c q u itta l).

1 1

. On m o tio n fo r n e w tria l, a p p e lla n t a sse rte d a c la im o f i n ef f e c t i v e

a ssista n c e o f c o u n se l. To p re v a il o n a c la im o f in e ffe c tiv e ne ss, a p p e lla n t m

u st

sh o w b o th th a t c o un se l’s pe rfo rm an c e wa s d e fic ie n t a n d th a t th e d e fic ie n t

p e rfo rm a n c e wa s p re

ju d ic ia l to h is d e fe n se

. S tric kla n d v

. Wa sh in g to n, 4 6 6 U.

S

. 6 6 8 (1 0 4 S C t 2 0 5 2

, 8 0 LE2 d 6 74 ) (1 9 8 4 ); S m ith v

. F ra nc is, 2 5 3 Ga

. 7 8 2

, 7 8 3

( 3 2 5 S E2 d 3 62 ) (1 9 8 5 ). “ [W] e a c c e p t th e tria l c o urt’s fa c tu a l fin d in g s a n d

c re d ib ility d e te rm in a tio n s u n le ss c le a rly e rro n e o u s, b u t we in d e p e n de n tly a p p ly

th e le g a l p rin c ip le s to th e fa c ts.” S u g g s v

. S ta te

, 2 7 2 Ga

. 85

, 8 8 (4 ) (5 2 6 S E2 d

3 4 7 ) (2 00 0 ).

(a ) Ap p e l l a n t a sse rts h is c ou n se l p e rfo rm e d d e fic ie n tly b y a dv isin g h im

n o t to te stify a t tria l. Th e re c o rd sh o ws th a t a lth ou gh a p p e lla n t’s c o u n se l, Em ily

Gilb e rt, a d v ise d a

p p e lla nt n o t to te stify

, h e e le c te d to ta k e th e sta n d

. Ap p e lla n t

c h a n g e d h is m in d

, h owe ve r, b e fo re g iv in g an y te stim o ny , a fte r c o n s u l ta tio n with

a n o th e r a tto rn e y wh o to ld a p p e lla n t h e a g re e d it wo uld n o t b e in a p p e lla n t’s b e st

in te re st to ta k e th e sta n d . Th e tria l c o u rt th e n a d v ise d a pp e lla n t o f his rig h t to

te stify a t tria l a n d c o n firm e d o n th e re c o rd th a t a p p e lla n t u n d e rsto o d th e d e c isio n

17wa s h is to m a k e a n d th a t a pp e lla n t p e rso n a lly d e c id e d n o t to te stify

. Se e Ha rris

v

. S ta te

, 2 7 9 Ga

. 30 4 (3 ) (e ) (6 1 2 S E2 d 78 9 ) (2 0 0 5). Ha v in g b e e n in fo rm e d th a t

h e , an d n o t h i s a tto rn e y , m a ke s th e u ltim a te d e c isio n wh e th e r to te stify o n h is

o wn b e h a lf, a

p p e lla nt c a n n o t c o m

pla in a b ou t h is e le c tio n to fo llo w h is c o u n se l’s

ta c tic a l a d v ic e

. Se e Da v e n p o rt v

. S ta te

, 2 83 Ga

. 1 7 1

, 1 7 4-1 7 5 (5 ) (6 5 6 S E2 d

8 4 4 ) (2 0 0 8 ); Do c to r v

. S ta te

, 2 7 5 G a

. 6 1 2 (5 ) (d ) (5 7 1 S E2 d 34 7) (2 0 0 2 ),

o v e rru le d o n o th e r g ro un d s, Jo n e s v

. S ta te

, 2 7 9 Ga

. 8 5 4

, 8 5 8 (3 ) (6 2 2 SE2 d 1 )

(2 0 0 5 ). Ac c o rd in g ly

, we fin d n o e r r o r in th e d e nia l o f a p p e lla n t’s c la im o f

in e ffe c tiv e a ssista n c e o n th is g ro u n d

.

(b ) Ap p e lla n t’s c la im th a t c o u n se l w a s in e ffe c tiv e by fa ilin g to re q u e st a

s p ee d y tria l wa s n o t ra ise d in h is m o tio n fo r ne w tria l, a n d th e re fo re , h a s n o t

b e e n p re se rv e d fo r a

p p e a l. Jo n e s v

. S ta te

, 2 9 4 Ga

. 5 0 1

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

(2 0 1 4 ). Ev e n if it h a d be e n ra ise d

, a p p e lla nt ca n n o t pre va il o n th is c la im

b e c a u se h e fa ile d to p ro v e b o th th a t c o u n se l’s d e c isio n n o t to re q u e st a sp e e d y

tria l w a s a n y th in g o th e r th a n re a so n a b le tria l stra te gy a nd th a t h e wa s p re ju d ic e d

b y c o u n se l’s d e c isio n n o t to se e k a sp e e d y tria l. S e e Wa tso n v

. S ta te

, 2 7 5 Ga

.

Ap p

. 1 7 4 , 1 7 7 (6 2 0 S E2 d 1 7 6) (2 00 5 ).

1 2

. To th e e x te n t a

p p e lla n t a rg u e s h e wa s e n title d to a n e w tria l b e c a use

18o f a n a c c u m

u la tio n of a lle g e d e rro rs, Ge org ia d o e s n o t re c og n iz e th e c u m u la tiv e

e rro r ru le . Brid g e s v . S ta te , 2 6 8 Ga . 7 0 0 (9 ) (4 9 2 S E2 d 8 7 7 ) (1 9 97 ).

Ju d g m e n t a ffirm e d . All th e Ju stic e s c o nc u r.

19De c id e d Ja n u a ry 2 0 , 2 0 1 5

.

Mu rd e r. F u lto n S u p e rio r Co u rt. Be fo re Ju d g e Ca m p b e ll.

Jo h n D. Ra sn ic k , fo r a

pp e lla n t.

P a u l L. Ho wa rd

, Jr., D istric t Atto rn e y , P a ig e Re e se Wh ita k e r, M a r c A.

Ma llo n , Assista nt D istric t Atto rn e y s, S a m u e l S

. O l e n s, Atto rn e y Ge n e ra l,

P a tric ia B. Atta

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fo r a p p e lle e

.

20