FI RST DI VI SI ON

BA RNES, P. J.

, M ERCI ER and BROWN, JJ.

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

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

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

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

A u gust 6, 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 49 9 . SANCHIOUS v . THE STATE.

B R O W N , J u d g e.

A j u ry fo un d Ch ri s t op h er San ch i o u s g u i l t y o f t h ree co u n t s of ag g rav at ed ch i ld

m o les t at i o n

, t wo co u n t s of ch i l d m o les t at io n

, an d o n e co u nt each o f ag gra v at ed

s o d o m y an d s ex u al b at t ery i n v o l vi n g hi s g i rl fri en d ’ s t we l v e

- y ear-o l d d au g h t er. 1

San ch i ou s ap p eal s h i s co nv i ct i on s an d t h e den i al o f h i s am en d ed m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al

,

ch al l en g i n g th e t ri al co u rt ’ s ad m i s s i on o f s ci en t i fi c rep o rt s an d t es t i m o ny reg ard i n g

t h e an al y s i s of o n e o f t h os e rep o rt s , an d t ri al co u ns el ’ s effect i v en es s . W e affi rm fo r

t h e reas o n s s et fo rt h b el o w.

1 Th e ju ry acq ui t t ed San ch io u s o f o t h er ch arg es o f r a p e, st at ut o ry rap e,

ag g rav at ed s o do m

y

, ag g rav at ed ch i l d m o l es t at i o n

, an d t am p eri n g wi t h ev id en ce. Th e

t ri al co u rt m erg ed t wo o f t h e ag g rav at ed ch i l d m o les t at i o n co u n t s in t o t h e ag g rav at ed

s o d o m y co u nt

, o n e ch il d m o l es t at i o n c o u n t in t o t h e ag g rav at ed ch i l d m o l es t at i o n

co u nt , an d t h e s ex u al b at t ery co u n t i n t o t h e rem ai n i n g ch il d m o l es t at i o n co u n t

.“ Fo l l o wi n g a cri m i n al c o n v i ct io n

, t h e d efen d an t i s n o l on g er p res u m ed

i n n o cen t, an d we v i ew t h e ev i d en ce i n t h e l i g h t m o s t fav o rab le t o s u s t ai n th e v erd i ct .”

(Ci t at i o n o m i t t ed .) Ro b i ns o n v. S t a te

, 3 4 2 Ga. Ap p

. 6 2 4

, 6 2 5 (8 0 5 SE2 d 1 0 3) (2 0 1 7 ).

So v i e we d

, t h e ev i d en ce s h o wed t h at San ch i ou s l i v ed wi t h t h e v i ct i m

, t h e v i ct i m ’ s

m o th er, an d t h e v i ct i m ’ s b ro t h er an d s i s t er. On Oct o b er 1 4, 20 1 4

, t h e vi ct i m was

as l eep i n a b ed ro o m o f h er h o m e o n t o p o f a red co m fo rt er, wh en San ch i o us cam e i n,

p u l l ed do wn t h e v i ct i m ’ s “ n i g ht p an t s ,” an d “ p u t h i s p en i s i n [h er] b u t t .” Sh e fel t

s o m e t h i n g “ g o i n g i n an d o u t o f h er b u t t h o le” an d s ai d h er p an t s s m el led l i k e “ s o u r

m i l k ” w h e n S an ch i o u s was d o n e. Th e vi ct im wen t t o th e b at h ro o m aft erward an d

n o t i ced t h at h er p an t s w ere wet an d t h at “ t h e wet l oo k [ed ] [w] h it e.” Th e vi ct i m was

afrai d to t el l h er m o t her i n p ers o n

, s o s h e w ro t e a n ot e an d l eft i t o n t h e iro n i n g b o ard

t el l i n g h er m o t h er t h at s h e “ can ’t t ak e i t an y m ore” an d t h at San ch i ou s “ need [s ] to

l eav e” becau s e “ h e i s p u t[t ] i ng h i s h an d [s ] o n [h er] t h e wro n g w ay

. . . [an d s h e]

t h i n k [s ] t h at i s cal l ed rap e.” At t h e en d o f th e no t e, t h e v i ct i m wro t e “ h e l p m e”

b ecau s e s h e was s cared i t m i g h t h ap p en ag ai n. Th e m ot h er d i d no t see t h e n o t e u n t i l

l at er th at ev en i n g w hen t he vi ct i m h an d ed i t t o h er. Th e m o t her co n fro nt ed San ch i ou s

a n d h e d e n i ed t o u ch i n g t he v i ct i m

. Th e m ot h er t o o k t h e vi ct i m t o t h e h os p i t al an d

t h en t o p o l ice. Th e m o t h er rep o rt ed t o p o l i ce t h at San ch i o u s “ an al [l y ] p en et rat [ed ] ”

2t h e v i ct i m

, aft er wh i ch t he v i ct i m u n d erwen t a fo ren s i c m ed i cal ex am

. In ad d i t i o n to

an al p en et rat i o n

, t h e v i c t i m t es t i fi ed at t ri al t h at in t h e s u m m er o f t h at s am e y ear,

San ch i ou s l i ck ed h er v ag i n a. Du ri n g t h e fo ren s i c m ed i cal ex am

, t h e v ict i m rep o rt ed

t h e an al p en et rat i o n an d al s o ad v i s ed m ed i cal p ers o n nel th at San ch i o u s p laced h i s

p en is in h er v ag in a an d h er m o u t h

, an d p u t h i s fi n g er i n h er v ag i n a. D u ri n g t h e

fo ren s i c in t erv iew, th e v i ct i m rep o rt ed al l o f t h e ab o v e an d al s o s t at ed th at San ch i ou s

p u t h i s fi n g er d o wn h er p an t s an d t o uch ed h er v ag i n a o u t si d e o f h er u n d erwear. Sh e

al s o rep o rt ed t h at i n Sep t em b er o f t h e s am e y ear, h e p u t h i s p en i s i n h er v ag i n a.

Th e vi ct i m ’ s y o u n g er s i s t er t es t ifi ed at t ri al th at s o m et i m e i n Oct o ber 2 0 1 4

, t h e

v i ct i m t o l d h er t h at San ch i o u s was d o i n g “ s t u ff t o [t h e v ict i m ] wh i l e s he was as l eep ”

o n th e fl o o r o f t h e s i s ter’ s ro o m

. Th e s i s t er st at ed th at th e v i ct i m was s l eep i n g o n t o p

o f a p urp l e co v er an d u n d er a red co v er t h at h ad b een g i v en t o t h e s i s t er b y h er

g o d m o t h er. Th e s is t er n ev er s aw an y t h i n g b ecau s e s he was as l eep an d to l d t h e v i ct i m

t o t el l t h ei r m o t her i m

m ed i at el y an d “ s h e wi l l h an d l e i t .”

Th e m ed ical ex am o f t h e v i ct i m co n d u ct ed i n t h e earl y m o r n i n g h o u rs o f

O c t o b er 1 6

, 2 0 1 4

, al on g wi t h t h e ad m i n i s t rat i o n o f a s ex ual as s au l t k i t

, rev e a l e d a

“ h eal ed t ear” t o her h y

m en

, s wel l i ng i n h er v ag in a, an d a recen t ab ras io n

, o r b ru i s i n g

o n t h e cerv i x

, al l co n s i s t en t wi t h “ i n s ert i o n o f a p en is .” Th e ex am al s o rev eal ed a

3recen t i n

ju ry t o t h e v i ct i m ’ s an us

, o n e t ear at t h e t o p an d an o t h er t o ward t h e b o t t o m

,

co n si s t en t wi t h in sert i o n o f a p en i s

. Th e n u rs e w h o co nd u ct ed t h e ex am t es t i fi ed t h at

t h e v i ct i m h ad wh at ap p eared to b e sem in al fl u id in h er an u s

. T he n u rs e h an d ed o v er

t o p o l i ce b o t h t h e s ex u al as sau l t k i t an d t h e v i ct i m ’ s p an t i es

.

So m et i m e a ft er 1 : 0 0 a.m

. o n Oct ob er 1 6

, 2 01 4

, an d fo l l o wi n g t h e m ed i cal

ex am

, o ffi cers acco m

p an i ed t he v i ct i m an d h er m ot h er b ack t o t h ei r h o m e wh ere t h ey

d i s co v ered San ch i o u s as l eep i n t h e m ot h er’ s b ed

. Offi cers reco v ered t w o co m fo rt ers

fro m t h e v i ct i m ’ s s i s t er’ s ro o m

, o n e red an d o n e p u rp l e, as wel l as t h e v i ct i m ’ s n i g ht

p a n t s

, wh i ch w ere warm fro m h av i n g ju s t b een “ ru n t h ro ug h ” t h e d ry er b ecau s e

San ch i ou s h ad b een d o i n g l au n dry

. Po l i ce co l l ect ed a s al iv a s am p le fro m San ch i o u s

,

an d s en t t h e fo l l o wi n g i t em s t o t h e G B I f o r t es t i n g : t he p u rp le co m fo rt er; cu t t i ng s

fro m t h e red co m fo rt er; t h e v i ct i m ’ s p an t ies ; an d t h e s ex u al as s au l t k i t.

A GBI s ero l o g i s t t es t i fi ed t h at t h e v i ct i m ’ s p an t i es t es t ed p o si t iv e fo r s em i n al

fl ui d

, an d t hat a cu t t i ng fro m t h e red co m fo rt er t es t ed p o s i t i v e fo r s p erm an d s em i n al

fl ui d

. Bo t h i t em s w e r e s e n t f o r DNA t es t i n g

. Th e s ero l o g i s t t es t i fi ed t h at i t was

u n l i k el y fo r fl ui d t o b e d et ect ed o n s o m et h i n g t h at h ad b een was h ed

.

A GBI fo ren s i c b i ol o g i s t t es t i fi ed at t ri al ab ou t t h e DNA t es ti n g p erfo rm ed o n

t h e v i ct i m ’ s s ex u al as sau l t k it

, h er p an ti es

, an d t h e cu t t i n gs fro m t he red co m fo rt er.

4Sh e ex pl ai n ed t h at as p art of h er d u t i es at t h e G BI, s he co n du ct s DNA t es t i n g

, b ut

al s o p erf o r m s p eer rev i ews o f DNA t y p i ng an al y s i s rep o rt s

, m ean i n g t h at s h e

“ ex am i n e[s ] al l th e n o tes an d res u l t s i n t h e rep o rt o f an an al y s t

, an d [t h at sh e h as ] to

co m e t o t h e s am e co n cl u si o n s .” Th e p u rp o s e o f peer rev i ew i s “ [t ] o en s ure t h at t h e

a n a l y st h as fo ll o wed p o l i ci es an d pro ced u res

, an d t h at t h e res u l t s are co rrect an d

rel i ab l e” wi t h t h e p eer rev iewer “ act u al l y ev al u at [i n g ] t h e [an al y s t ’ s ] co n cl u s i o n

, o r

t h e st ep s t ak en t o reach t h at co n cl u s i o n .” Th e fo ren s i c b i o lo g i s t t es ti fi ed t h at s h e

p ers o n al l y t es t ed t h e s ex u al as s au l t ki t i n t h i s cas e, bu t th at an o t her an al y s t t es t ed t h e

p an ti es an d red co m fo rt er s u b j ect t o h er p eer rev i ew. T h e s ex u al as s au l t k i t t es t ed

n eg at i v e fo r t h e p res en ce o f m al e D NA, wh i l e t h e c o m fo rt er co nt ai ned t h e DNA

p ro fi les o f t h e v i ct i m an d San ch i o u s

. Th e p an t ies al s o tes t ed p o s i t iv e fo r t h e pres en ce

o f DNA, an d co nt ai n ed t h e DNA pro fi l es of t h ree i n d i vi d u al s

, i n cl u d i ng t h e v i ct i m

,

San ch i ou s

, an d an u n k n o wn p ers o n. On e fract i o n o f t he D N A ex t ract ed fro m t h e

p an ti es cam e f

r o m s p erm

cel ls an d a seco n d cam e fro m no n -s p erm cel l s

. Th e DNA

o f t h e u nk n o wn p ers o n an d th e v i ct i m were b o th lo cat ed i n t h e n on -s p erm cel l s

, wh i l e

San ch i ou s ’ DNA w as fo u nd in t h e “ sp erm fract i o n .” Th e fo ren s ic bi o lo g i s t t es t i fi ed

t h a t “ [t ] h e freq u en cy

, or t h e st at i s t i c, of t he DNA m ark ers s h ared b et ween

. . .

San ch i ou s an d t h e DNA o b tai n ed

. . . fro m t h e p an t ies an d t h e cu t t i n g reco v ered fro m

5t h e co m fo rt er i s a p p ro x i m at el y o n e i n o n e h u n d red q u ad ri l l i o n i n th e Afri can

Am eri can p o p u l at i o n

, an d o ne i n fi v e h un d red q u ad ri l li o n i n t h e C a u cas i an

p o p u l at i o n .” Th e fo ren s i c b i o l o g i s t co n cl u d ed wi t h “ reas o n ab l e s ci en t i fi c cert ai n t y ”

t h at t h e DNA o b t ai ned fro m t h e p an t i es an d t h e co m fo rt er m at ch ed San ch i o u s o r h i s

i d en t i cal t wi n

, an d t es t i fi ed th at t he an al y s t ’ s “ t es t i n g was d o ne an d fo l l o wed

acco rd i n g to p o l i cy an d p ro ced u re.” T h e t ri al co u rt al l o w ed t h e St at e t o ad m i t i n to

ev i d en ce t h e fo ren s i c b i o l og i s t ’ s DNA rep o rt on th e s ex u al as s au l t k i t (St at e’ s Ex h i b i t

2 2 )

, as wel l as t h e an al y s t ’ s D NA rep o rt o n t h e pan ti es an d t h e co m fo rt er (St at e’ s

Ex h ib i t 2 4 ). On cro s s -ex am i n at i o n

, t h e fo ren s i c bi o l og i s t co n fi rm ed t h at s h e rev iews

t h e p o s s i b i l i t y o f s eco n d ary tran s fer. Defen s e co u ns el al s o q u es ti o n ed t he fo ren s i c

b i o l o g i s t a b o u t t h e n o tes an d d at a co m p il ed b y t h e an al y s t d u ri n g her t es t i n g

, an d

s u b m i t t ed t h os e m at eri al s i n t o ev i d en ce.

S a n c h i o u s tes t i fi ed at t ri al

, d en y i ng t hat h e ev er t ou ch ed t h e v i ct i m

i n ap p ro p ri at el y

. San ch i o u s c o ul d n o t ex p lai n wh y h i s s em en was o n t h e v i ct i m ’ s

p an ti e s

, a n d cl ai m ed t h at t h e red co m fo rt er o n wh i ch h i s s em en was fo u n d was t h e

co m fo rt er u n d er wh i ch h e an d t h e v i ct im ’s m o th er s lep t an d had s ex

. T h e v i ct i m ’ s

m o th er t es ti fi ed t h at t h e red co m fo rt er was n ev er o n h er b ed o r i n h er b ed ro o m

, an d

t h at s h e n ev er h ad sex o n o r u nd er t h e red co m fo rt er; i t was i n t h e v i c t im ’ s s i s t er’ s

6ro o m an d was a g i ft fro m a fri en d

. On cro ss -ex am i n at i o n

, th e m ot h er cl ari fi ed t h at h er

ch i l d ren wo u l d s o m et i m es b ri n g t h e red co m fo rt er i n t o her ro o m

, p l ace i t o n h er b ed

,

l ay o n t h e co m fo rt er, an d t h en t ak e i t o u t o f t h e ro om

, b ut t h e ch i l d ren n ev er l eft t h e

b l an k et i n h er ro o m

p erm an en t l y

.

1

. In t wo rel at ed en u m erat i o ns

, San ch i o u s co n t en d s t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred by

al l o wi n g t h e fo ren s i c bi o l o g i s t t o t es t i fy ab o u t th e DNA t es ti n g p erfo rm ed b y t h e

an al y s t wh o was n o t av ai l ab l e at t ri al

, an d i n ad m i t t in g t he DNA rep o rt p rep ared by

t h e u n av ai l ab l e an al y st

. D u ri n g t ri al

, San ch i o us o b j e c t ed to b o t h o n g ro u n d s o f

h ears ay ; he al l eg es t h e s am e on ap p eal

. “ W e

. . . rev i ew t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s ru l i n g o n t h e

ad m i s s i b i l i t y o f th i s ev i d en ce fo r ab u s e o f d i s cret i on .” Ca r t er v. St a t e

, 3 0 2 Ga. 2 0 0,

2 0 2 (2 ) (8 0 5 SE2 d 8 39 ) (2 0 1 7 ).

(a) Tes t i m o ny

. In Bu l l co mi n g v. New Mexi co

, 5 6 4 U. S. 6 4 7 (1 3 1 SCt 2 7 0 5

, 1 8 0

L E2 d 6 1 0 ) (2 0 1 1 ), t h e Un i ted St at es Su p rem e Co u rt ad d res s ed wh et h er t h e

p ro s e c u t i o n m ay i nt ro d u ce i n t o ev i d en ce a fo ren s i c l ab o rat o ry rep o rt v i a t h e

“ s u rro gat e t es t i m o n y ” o f an an al y s t wh o d i d n ot s ig n t h e cert i fi cat i o n o r p ers o n al l y

c o nd u ct o r o b s erv e t h e p erfo rm an ce of t h e tes t rep o rt ed i n t h e cert ifi ed l ab r e p o r t

p r e p ared b y an o t h er an al y s t

, an d ru l ed th at “ i t m ay n o t b e i n tro d u ced ag ai n s t t h e

accu s ed at t ri al u nl es s t he wi t n e s s w h o m ad e th e s t at em en t is u nav ai l ab l e an d t h e

7accu s ed h as h ad a p ri o r op p o rt u n i t y t o co n fro n t t h at wi t n es s .” Id

. at 6 57 (I) (C). See

al s o Mel en d

ez -Di a z v. M

a s s a ch u s et t

s

, 5 57 U. S. 3 05

, 3 0 7 (I), 3 1 1 (II) (1 2 9 SCt 2 5 2 7,

1 7 4 LE2 d 31 4 ) (2 0 0 9 ) (s w o rn cert i fi cat es o f s t at e cri m e l ab an al y s t s ad m i t t ed i n to

ev i d en ce t o p ro v e t h at m at eri al s ei zed by po l i ce was co n t rab an d were t es t i m o n i al ;

t h u s

, d efen d an t ’ s co n fro nt at i o n ri g h t s were v i o l at ed wh en t h e an al y s t s wh o wro t e t h e

cert ifi cat es d i d no t t es t i fy i n p ers o n at t ri al ). On e y ear l at er, i n a cas e ch al l en g i n g t h e

ad m i s s i b i l i t y o f ex pert t es t i m o n y

, t h e Su p rem e Co u rt o f G e o r g i a reco g n i zed t h e

h o l d i n g i n Bu l lco mi n g

, bu t ru l ed t h at Bu ll co mi n g d oes n o t co m p el t he ex cl u s i o n o f

t es t i m o ny fro m a s u b s ti t ut e wi t n es s wh o “ i s a s u p erv i s o r, r evi ewer

, o r s o m eo n e el s e

wi t h a p ers o n al

, al b ei t l i m i t ed

, co n n ect i o n t o t h e s ci en t i fi c t es t at i s s u e.” (Pu n ct u at i o n

an d ci t at io n o m i t t ed ; em

p h as i s s u pp l i ed .) D i sh a r o o n v. S t a t e

, 29 1 G a. 4 5

, 4 8 (7 2 7

SE2 d 4 6 5 ) (2 0 1 2 ). See al s o Leg er v. S ta t e

, 2 9 1 Ga. 5 8 4

, 5 9 2 (5 ) (7 3 2 SE2 d 5 3 )

(2 0 1 2) (s ci en t is t wh o d i d n o t p ers o n al l y p erfo rm DNA t es t s , b u t s up erv i s ed wo rk er

wh o d i d

, i n t erp ret ed wo rk er’ s res u l t s, an d w ro t e l a b r e p o r t co u l d tes t i fy at t ri al );

Th o ma s v. St a t e

, 3 4 2 Ga. Ap p

. 3 1 0

, 3 1 4 (2 ) (8 03 SE2 d 1 3 1 ) (2 01 7 ) (s eco n d ch em i s t

wh o d i d n o t p ers o n al ly p erfo rm d ru g i d en t i fi cat i on tes t s

, b ut reach ed an i n d ep en d en t

co n cl u s i o n an d i n t erp ret ed p ro ced u res an d an al y s i s p erfo rm ed by fi rs t ch em i s t wh o

was u n av ai l ab le t o t es t i fy at tri al

, co u l d t es ti fy at t ri al ); Es t r a d a v. St a te

, 3 1 9 Ga. Ap p.

87 6 2

, 7 6 5 -7 6 6 (3 ) (7 3 8 SE2 d 3 4 4 ) (2 0 1 3 ) (an al y s t wh o p erfo rm ed l ab t es t i n g w a s

u n av ai l ab l e, b ut s u perv i so r co u l d t es t i fy b ecau se h e had rev i ewed an al y s t ’ s wo rk to

d et erm i n e wh et her it h ad b een p erfo rm ed co rrect ly an d w h e t h er h e ag reed wi t h i t ).

In d eed

, G eo rg ia co u rt s “ h av e co n s i st en t l y h el d t h at the C onf r o n tat i o n Cl au s e d o es n ot

req u i re t h e an al y s t wh o act u al l y co m p l et ed t h e fo ren s i c t e s t in g u s ed ag ai n s t a

d efen d a n t t o t es t i fy at t ri al .” (Ci t at i o n an d pu n ct uat i o n o m i t t ed .) Leg er

, 2 9 1 Ga. at

5 9 2 (5 ).

In t h i s cas e, t h e fo ren s i c b i o l o gi s t t es t i fi ed ab o u t t h e D N A rep ort s h e prep ared

o n th e s ex u al as s au l t k it an d co n fi rm ed t h at s h e p art i ci p at ed i n t h e p rep arat i o n o f t h e

DNA rep o rt o n t he o t h er t es t ed i t em s

, wh i ch was p rep ared b y a s eco n d an al y s t

. As s et

o u t ab o v e, t h e fo ren s i c b i o lo gi s t e x p l a i n ed t h at s h e co n d u ct ed a p eer rev i ew o f t h e

s eco n d an al y s t ’ s rep o rt t o en su re t h at t h e an al y st fo l l owed p o l i ci es an d p ro ced u res

,

ex am i n ed t h e an al y s t ’ s n o t es an d res u l ts

, ev al u at ed t h e s tep s t ak en b y th e s eco n d

an al y s t t o reach h er co ncl u s io n

, an d reach ed an i n d ep en d en t co n cl us i o n. Th e fo ren s i c

b i o l o g i s t ex p l ai n ed h o w a co n cl u s io n was reach ed fo r t h e DNA pro fi l es on th e i t em s

t es t ed

, a n d t e s t i fi ed th at i f s o m et h i ng had b een wro n g wi t h t he an al y s t ’ s n o t es

, t h e

DNA rep o rt wo u l d no t h av e b een rel eas ed

. Du ri n g cro s s ex am i n at i o n

, d efen s e

co u ns el s u b m i t t ed i n t o ev i d e n c e t h e no t es an d d at a rel i ed o n b y t h e an al y s t an d

9fo ren s i c b i o lo gi s t i n reach in g t h ei r i n d ep en den t co n cl u si o n s

, an d q u es t i o n ed t h e

fo ren s i c b i o lo g i s t ab o u t t h o s e m at eri al s. Gi v en t h es e ci rcu m s tan ces , we d o n o t fi n d

t h e fo ren s i c b i ol og i s t ’ s t es t im o ny t o b e t h e so rt o f “ su rro g at e t es t i m o n y ” in ad m i s s i b l e

u n d er B u l l co mi n g . See Th o m a s , 3 4 2 Ga. Ap p. at 3 1 4

.

(b ) Rep o r t

. Bec a u s e t he an al y s t ’ s DNA rep o rt (St at e’ s Ex h i b i t 2 4 ) was

cu m u l at i v e o f th e fo ren s ic b i o l og i s t ’ s p ro p erl y ad m i t t ed t es t i m o n y

, it s ad m i ss i o n was

h arm l es s an d we fi n d n o m eri t i n San ch i o u s ’ ch al l en g e i n t h i s reg ard . See Br o wn v.

S t a t e

, 2 8 8 Ga. 4 04

, 40 8 (3 ) (7 0 3 SE2 d 6 2 4) (2 0 1 0 ) (ad m i s s i o n o f h ears ay i s h arm l es s

wh ere i t i s cu m

u lat i v e o f o t h er p ro p erl y -ad m it t ed ev i den ce); Den n i s v. S t at e

, 1 5 8 Ga.

Ap p . 1 4 2 , 1 4 4 (4 ) (2 7 9 SE2 d 2 7 5 ) (1 9 8 1 ) (s am e).

2

. San ch i o u s co n t en d s t h at h e recei v ed i n effect i v e as s is t an ce o f co u n s el at t ri al

,

as s ert i n g t h at h i s t ri al co u n s el ’ s p erfo rm an ce was defi ci en t i n a n u m b er o f way s

. As

an i n i t i al m at t er, we n ot e t h at San ch i o u s has as s ert ed wh at ap p e a r s t o b e s u b

cat eg o ri es wi t h i n h i s en u m erat io n o f er r or r e ga r di n g in effect i ve as si s t an ce o f co u n s el

.

Th es e s u b cat eg o ri es co n cern t h e t ri al co urt ’ s erro r i n ad m i tt i ng t h e ev id en ce, fai l i n g

t o g iv e a l i m i t i n g i n s t ru ct i o n

, an d s en d i n g t h e DNA rep o rt ou t wi t h t h e ju ry d u ri n g

t h ei r d el i b erat i o n s. A n ex am i n at i on o f h is arg u m en t s wi t h i n each o f t h es e s u b

cat eg o ri es

, h o wev er, s h o w t h at h e at t em p t s t o rel at e each t o i n effect i v e as si s t an ce o f

10co u ns el

. W e wi l l t h erefo re co n s i der th em o n l y i n t h e c o n t ex t o f an i n effect i v e

as s i s tan ce o f co u n s el cl ai m

.

In o rd er t o s u cceed o n t h i s cl ai m , San ch io u s

m u s t p ro v e b o t h t hat h is t ri al co u n sel ’ s p erfo rm an ce was d efi ci en t an d

t h at th ere i s a reas o n ab l e p ro b ab il i ty t h at t he t ri al res u lt wo u l d h av e b een

d i fferen t if no t fo r t h e d efi ci en t perfo rm an ce. S t r i ckl an d v. W as h i ng t o n

,

4 6 6 U. S. 6 6 8 (1 0 4 SCT 20 5 2

, 8 0 LE2 d 6 7 4 ) (1 9 8 4 ). If an ap p el l an t fai l s

t o m eet h is b u rd en o f p ro v i n g ei t h er p ro n g of t he S tr ickl a n d t es t

, th e

rev i ewi ng co u rt d o es n o t h av e t o ex am i n e th e o th er p ro n g

. Id

. at 6 9 7

(IV). In rev i ewi n g t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s d eci si o n

, we accep t t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s

fact u al fi n d i n g s an d cred i b i l i t y d et erm i n at io ns u n l es s cl earl y erro n eo us

,

b u t we i nd ep en d en t l y

ap p l y t h e l eg al p ri nci p l es t o t h e fact s

.

( C i t a t i o n s an d p u nct u at io n o m i t t ed .) Ba u gh v. S t a te

, 2 9 3 Ga. 52

, 54 (2 ) (7 4 3 SE2 d

4 0 7 ) (2 01 3 ). “ Th ere i s a s t ro n g p res u m p t io n t h at t he p erfo rm an ce of t ri al co u n s el fal l s

wi t h i n t he wi d e ran g e o f reas o nab l e pro fes s i o n al as s i s t an ce. Th e reas on ab l en es s o f

t h e co n du ct i s v i ewed at t he t i m e o f t ri al an d un d er t h e ci rcu m s t an ces o f t h e c a s e .”

(Ci t at i o n

, p u n ct u at i o n

, an d fo o tn o t e o m i t t ed .) W a l ker v. St a te

, 3 2 9 Ga. Ap p

. 3 6 9

, 3 7 3

(3 ) (7 6 5 SE2 d 5 9 9 ) (2 0 1 4 ). “ M o reo ver, a t act i cal o r s t rat eg i c d eci s i o n m ad e by

co u ns el can n o t fo rm a b as i s fo r i n effect i v e as s i s t an ce o f co u n s el un l es s i t was s o

p at en t l y u n reas o n ab l e t h at n o co m p et en t at to rn ey wo u l d h a v e ch o s en it .” (Ci t at i o n

11an d p u n ct u at i o n o m it t ed .) McNa i r v. S t a t e

, 29 6 Ga. 18 1

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

(2 0 1 4).

(a) San ch i o u s fi rs t as s ert s t h at h i s t ri al co u ns el w a s i n e f f e c t i ve fo r fai l i n g to

art i cu l at e al l o f t h e ap p l i cab l e o b ject i o n s to t h e ad m is s i o n of t h e fo ren s ic b i o l o g i st ’ s

t es t i m o ny an d t h e an al y s t ’ s D NA rep o rt ( St at e’ s Ex hi b it 2 4 ). In t h i s reg ard

, San ch i ou s

arg u es t h at t h e rep o rt an d t h e t es t i m o n y co n st i tu t ed i n ad m i s s ib le h ears ay an d v i o l at ed

h i s ri g h t o f co n fro n tat i o n b ecau s e th e fo ren s ic b i o lo g i s t d i d n ot act u al ly co n d u ct t h e

DNA t es t i n g o n t h e p an t i es an d t h e co m fo rt er. San ch i o u s ’ cl ai m o f in effect i v en es s in

t h i s reg ard fai l s fo r s ev eral reas o n s

.

Fi rs t

, as s et o u t ab o v e, tri al co u n s el d i d o b ject o n g ro u nd s o f hears ay

. Th u s

,

San ch i ou s ’ cl ai m th at t ri al co un s el was i neffect i v e fo r fai l i n g to ob ject o n t h i s g ro u n d

fai l s

. Seco n d

, as ex p l ai n ed i n Di v i s i o n 1

, su p ra, t h e ev i d e n c e w as n o t in ad m i s s i b l e

“ s u rro gat e t es t i m o n y

. ” See D i s h a r o on

, 2 9 1 Ga. at 4 8

. It fo ll o ws t h en

, t h at San ch i o u s ’

co n fro n tat io n ri g h t s were n o t v i o l at ed

. Th erefo re, t ri al co u n sel ’ s fai lu re t o o b ject o n

t h i s g ro u n d d i d n o t am ou n t t o i neffect i ve as s i s t an ce of co u n s el

. See Na j i v. S t a t e

, 3 0 0

Ga. 6 5 9

, 66 4 (3 ) (7 9 7 SE2 d 9 1 6 ) (2 0 1 7 ) (wh ere t es ti m o n y was ru l ed ad m i s s i b l e, “ t ri al

co u ns el ’ s fai l u re t o m ak e a m eri t les s o bject i o n can n o t co ns t i t u t e e v i d en ce o f

i n effect i v e as s is t an ce”) (ci t at io n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ).

12Th i rd

, t ri a l c o u n s el s p eci fi cal l y t es t i fi ed th at h e s t rat eg i cal l y ch o s e t o al l o w

ad m i s s i o n o f t he rep ort

, wai v i n g an y o b ject io n t o i t g oi n g o u t w i t h t h e ju ry d u ri n g

d el i b erat i o n s

, b ecau s e i t s up p o rt ed h i s t h eo ry o f DNA t ran s fer. Du ri n g t h e m o t i o n fo r

n ew t ri al h eari ng , t h e St at e q u es t i o n ed t ri al co u n sel ab o u t t hi s s t rat eg y as fo l l o ws :

[St at e] : Go i n g i n t o t h i s t ri al y o u d i d h av e a s t rat eg y

, co rrect ?

[Co u n s el ] : Yes

. [St at e] : Di d p art o f t h at st rat eg y i n vo l ve t h e in fo rm at io n t hat t h ere were t h ree

DNA p ro fi l es o n t h e u n d erwear?

[Co u n s el ] : Yes

. [St at e] : An d d id p art o f t h at s t rat eg y i n v ol v e s u gg es t in g t h at t h ere m ay b e

an o t her reas o n fo r t h os e t h ree DNA p ro fi l es t o b e o n ev i d en ce?

[Co u n s el ] : Yes

. [St at e] : In fact

, d i d t h at s t rat eg y as s u m e t hat t h ere was s o m e ex cu l p at o ry n at u re

t o t h e fact t h at t h ere were t h ree DNA p ro fi l es o n t h at ev i d en ce?

[Co u n s el ] : Yes

. [St at e] : Ok ay

. D i d so m e o f t he fact s t h at

— d i d th at t h eo ry t h at t h ere were t h e

t h ree DNA p ro fi l es t en d i n g t o ex o n erat e t h i s d efen d an t, was t h at p art o f t h e

reas o n t hat y o u d eci d ed t h at t h e ju ry s h o u l d s ee t h e rep o rt s ?

[Co u n s el ] : Yes

. [St at e] : Is t hat wh y y o u i n fact , y ou rat h er t h an t h e St at e[,] were t he fi rs t t o

s u g g es t t h e rep o rt s g o b ack t o t h e ju ry ?

[Co u n s el ] : Yes

. [St at e] : So i t was act u al ly a s t rat eg ic d eci si on o n y ou r p art t o d o t hat ?

[Co u n s el ] : Yes

.

. . .

[St at e] : An d i n fact y o u wan t ed Ex h i b i t s 2 2 t h ro u gh 2 4 t o b ack wi t h t h e ju ry

b ecau s e t hey

ad v an ced y o u r t ran sfer t heo ry an d y o ur t heo ry o f t h e t hree, t h e

t h ree DNA p ro fi l es ?

[Co u n s el ] : Co rrect

. [St at e] : So t h at was act u al l y p art o f y o u r t ri al s trat eg y t o al l o w t h at ?

13[Co u n s el ] : Yes

.

[St at e] : Ok ay

. So wh il e y o u wo u l d p refer t h at n o DNA ev i d en ce cam e i n

, o nce

t h e [c] ou rt ov erru led y o ur o b ject i o n i t was h el p fu l fo r t h e ju ro rs t o vi ew t h at

, i n y o u r o p i n i o n ?

[Co u n s el ] : Yes

. [St at e] : A nd i n fact

, y o u d i d g et m u l t i p le acq u i t t al s o n t h i s cas e as wel l ; i s t h at

co rrect ?

[Co u n s el ] : Co rrect

. [St at e] : Th e d efen d an t was act u al l y acq u i t t ed o f fi v e co u n t s ; i s t h at co rrect ?

[Co u n s el ] : Co rrect

.

“ Tri al t act i cs an d s t rat eg y

, n o m at t er h o w m i s t ak en i n h i n d s i g ht

, are al m o s t n ev er

ad eq uat e g ro un d s fo r fi n d i ng t r i a l c o u n sel i n effect i ve u n l es s t h ey are so p at en t l y

u n r e a s o n ab l e t h at n o co m p et en t at t o rn ey wo ul d hav e ch o s en t h em .” (Ci t at i o n an d

p u n ct u at i o n om i tt ed .) McNa i r

, 2 9 6 Ga. at 1 8 4 (2 ) (b ). Here, San ch i o u s h as n o t s h o wn

t h at t ri al co u n sel ’ s d eci si o n wi t h reg ard t o t h e DNA ev i den ce was p at e n t l y

u n reas o nab l e an d a d eci s i on t h at n o co m p et en t at to rn ey wo u l d h av e m ad e. In fact

, o n

ap p eal

— an d d u ri n g t h e m o t io n fo r n ew t ri al h eari n g

— San ch i o u s fu rt h er ad v an ces

t ri al co un s el ’ s DNA t ran s fer s t ra t e g y b y s u g ges t i n g t h at co u ns el s ho u l d hav e h i red

an ex pert t o ex p l ai n DNA tran s fer. See in fra, Di v i si o n 2 (d ). Fu rt her, t h e ad m i s s i o n

o f t h e ev i d en ce co u l d n o t h av e creat ed a reas o nab l e p ro bab i l i t y t h at t he o u t co m e o f

t h e t ri al wo u l d h av e b een d ifferen t i n l ig h t o f t he v i ct i m ’ s t es t i m o n y at t ri al an d t h e

m ed i cal ev id en ce o f t h e v ict i m ’ s i n ju ri es wh i ch were co n s i s ten t wi th h er v ers i o n o f

14ev en ts

. W e fi n d no m eri t in San ch io u s ’ cl ai m t h at co u n sel was i n effect i v e fo r fai l i n g

t o art i cu l at e al l o f t he ap p l i cab l e o b ject i o n s t o t h e ad m i s s i o n o f t h e fo ren s i c

b i o l o g i s t ’ s t es t i m o n y

an d t h e an al y s t ’ s DNA rep o rt

.

In a rel at ed al l eg at io n, San ch i o u s cl ai m s t h at h i s t ri al co u n sel was i n effect i v e

fo r fai l i n g to p o i n t o ut t o t h e t ri al co u rt t h at t h e fact s an d d at a u n d erl y i n g t he rep o rt

s h o u ld h av e b een ex cl ud ed b y t h e b al an ci n g t es t o f OCGA § 2 4-7 -7 0 3 b ecau s e t h ei r

p ro b at i v e v al u e was s u b s t an t i al l y o u t wei gh ed b y t h ei r p reju di ci al effect

. W e fi n d t h i s

arg u m en t m eri t les s b ecau s e i t fl i es i n t he face of t ri al co u n s el ’ s t ri al s trat eg y

. As s et

o u t ab o v e, t ri al co u n s el ten d ered t h e n o tes an d d at a u n d erl y i ng t h e rep o rt d u ri n g h i s

cro s s ex am i n at i o n of t he fo ren s i c b i o l o g i s t a n d a l s o t es t i fi ed d u ri n g t h e m ot i o n fo r

n ew tri al h eari n g t h at h e m ad e t h e s t rat eg i c deci s i o n t o s en d t h e d ocu m en t s b ack wi th

t h e ju ry b ecau s e th ey h el ped t o ad van ce San ch i o u s’ t h eo ry o f t h e c a s e

, i .e., DNA

t ran s fer. “ [A] s a m at t er o f l aw, s t rat e g i c d eci s i o n s d o n o t am o u n t t o i n effect i v e

as s i s tan ce o f co u ns el .” S a n d er s v. S t a t e

, 2 5 3 Ga. Ap p

. 3 80

, 38 1 (5 5 9 SE2 d 1 2 2 )

(2 0 0 2).

(b ) San ch i o u s nex t as sert s t h at h is t ri a l co u n sel was in effect i v e fo r fai l i n g to

req u es t a l i m i t i n g i n s t ru ct i o n ex p l ai n i n g t o t h e j u ry t h at t h e t es t im o n y an d t h e rep o rt

co u ld no t b e rel i ed u p o n as s u b s t an t i v e ev id en ce. Becau se th e ev i d en ce was n ot

15i n ad m is s i b le, h o wev er, a l i m i t i ng i n s t ru ct i o n was n ot req u i red

. See Ki t ch en s v. S t a t e

,

2 3 5 Ga. Ap p

. 34 9

, 3 5 2 (1 ) (5 0 9 SE2 d 3 91 ) (1 9 9 8 ) (b ecau s e co

- c o n sp i rat o rs ’

s t at em en t s were ad m i s s i bl e u nd er h ears ay ex cep t i o n an d d irect l y rel ev an t t o ch arg es

fo r wh i ch d efen d an t s were o n t ri al

, l i m i t i n g i n st ru ct io n was n o t n eces s ary ). It fo l l o ws

t h at “ tri al co u n s el can n o t b e fau l t ed fo r n o t req u es ti ng a ju ry ch arg e wh ich was n ot

au t h o ri zed .” M

o o r e v. S t a t e

, 2 7 8 Ga. 3 9 7

, 4 0 0 (2 ) (b ) (6 0 3 SE2 d 2 2 8 ) (2 0 0 4 ). In an y

ev en t, we n o t e t hat t h e t ri al co u rt ch arg ed t h e ju ry t h at i t was “ n o t req u i red t o accep t

t h e tes t i m o n y of an y wi t n es s

, ex p ert o r o t h erwi s e. T h e t es t i m o n y o f an ex pert

, l i k e

t h at o f al l wi t n es s es

, i s t o b e g i v en o n l y s u ch wei g h t an d cred it as y o u th i n k i t i s

p ro p erl y en t i tl ed t o recei v e.”

(c) San ch i o us nex t as s ert s t h at h i s t ri al co u n s el was i n effect iv e fo r al l o wi n g t h e

DNA rep o rt t o go b ack wi t h t h e ju ry an d ag reei n g t o wai v e an y co n t i n u i n g wi t n es s

o b ject i on

. San ch i ou s co n ten d s t h at s in ce t h e rep o rt was in ad m i s s i bl e, t h e ju ry s h o u ld

n o t h av e b een p erm i t t ed t o co n s i d er i t d u ri n g del i b erat io n s. A cco rd i n g t o San ch i o u s

,

b y wai v i n g t h e co nt i n u i n g wi t n es s o b ject i on

, t ri al co u n s el un i nt e n t i o n a l l y an d

i n effect i v el y wai v ed h i s p rev i ou s h ears ay ob ject i o n

. A s ru led ab o v e, h o wev er, t h e

rep o rt was cu m

u l at i v e o f t h e fo ren s i c b i ol o g i s t ’ s tes t im o n y

. Bu t

, ev en i f i t was n o t

,

16as ex p l ai n ed i n Di vi s io n 2 (a), s up ra, t ri al co u n s el ’ s d eci s i o n i n t h i s reg ard co ns t i t u t ed

reas on ab l e t ri al s t rat eg y , an d t h erefo re, was n o t i n effect i v e as s i s t an ce.

(d ) San ch i o u s las t as s ert s t h at h i s t ri al co u ns el was i n effect i v e fo r fai l i n g t o cal l

a DNA ex p ert t o t es t i fy ab o u t D NA tran s fer, San ch i o u s ’ s o le d efen s e. “ Th e d eci s i o n

o n wh et h er t o cal l an ex p ert wi t n es s i s o n e o f t ri a l s t r a t eg y

, an d we wi l l n o t fi n d

i n effect i v en es s i f co u n s el ’ s s t rat eg y an d t act i cs were re a s o n a b l e at t h e t i m e.”

Bh a ra d i a v. S t at e , 2 8 2 Ga. Ap p. 5 5 6 , 5 5 9 (6 ) (a) (6 39 SE2 d 5 4 5 ) (2 0 0 6 ).

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

, San ch i o u s cal l ed an ex p ert in fo ren s i c

DNA an al y s i s to t es t if

y. T h e e x p e rt t es ti fi ed t h at i t i s p os s i bl e fo r D NA an d b o d i l y

fl ui d s t o be t ran sferred fro m o n e i t em of cl o th i n g t o an o th er. As fo r wh et h er b o d i l y

fl ui d s an d DNA can b e t ran s ferred i n t he was h i n g m ach i n e, t h e ex p ert t es t i fi ed t h at

“ s t u di es h av e s ho wn t h at s p erm at o zo a can b e p ick ed u p on i tem s t h at were o t h erwi s e

cl ean .” W h i l e t h e ex p ert o p in ed t h at i t i s p o ss i b l e t h at t h e s ero l o g i cal fi n d i ng s o n t h e

co m fo rt er co u ld h av e res ul t ed fro m t h e t ran s fer of S a n ch i o u s’ s em i nal fl u i d fro m

a n o t h er art i cl e o f cl o th i n g

, t he ex p ert co n ced ed t h at i t w as al so p o s s i b l e t h a t

San ch i ou s ’ s em in al fl u i d o n t he v i ct i m ’ s p an ti es res u lt ed fro m “ t h e w ay t h at t h e

v i ct i m s ai d i t was d o n e.” Th e ex p ert t es t i fi ed th at t h ere w as a sm al l am o u n t o f s em i n al

fl ui d o n t h e u n d erwear, an d “ v ery l i t t l e s p erm ” o n t h e co m fo rt er. Th e ex p ert t es t i fi ed

17t h at b as ed o n wh at sh e h ad b een t o l d b y ap pel l at e co u n s e l a b o u t t h e l au n d ry i n t h e

v i c t i m ’s h o u s e, i t i s p o ss i b l e t h at t h e v ict i m p ut o n t h e m o t h er’ s d i rt y u n d erwe a r

wh i ch wo u l d ex p lai n t h e t h ree DNA p ro fi l es i d en t i fi ed o n t h e v i ct i m ’ s p an t i es

.

W h en t ri al co un sel t es t i fi ed at t h e m o ti on fo r n ew t ri al heari n g

, h e ex p l ai n ed

h i s defen s e t h eo ry o f t ran s ferred DNA, an d co n fi rm ed t h at h e was aware o f t h e

p o s s i b i l i ty t h at sem en can r e m a i n o n a n art i cl e o f cl o th i ng ev en aft er it h as b een

was hed an d / or t hat i t can t ran s fer t o o t h er art icl es o f cl o t hi n g . Tri al co u n s el d i d n ot

co n si d er h i ri n g an ex p ert b ecau s e h e s u cceed i n g i n get t i n g s ev eral o f t h e St at e’ s

wi t n es s es to ad m it on cro s s ex am i n at i o n t hat t ran s fer was a p o s s i b i l i t y. H e fu rt h er

ex p lai n ed t h at : “ In m

y t h i n k i n g I g ues s t h e t h eo ry of t ran s fer i s s o b as ic t h at I wo u ld

n o t n eed an ex p ert t o det erm i n e an d ex p l ai n [i t ]

. I d o n ’ t kn o w w h at t he ex p ert wo u ld

h av e ad d ed to t h at t h at I co ul d n o t h av e g ot t en ou t ei t h er th ro u gh wi t n es s t es t i m o ny

o r t h ro u g h th e ex p ert s t h at were t h ere.” He al so as k ed t h e d ef e n d a n t a b o u t t h e

p o s s i b i l i ty

o f t ran s fer d u ri n g d irect ex am i n at i o n an d was o t h erwi s e ab l e t o ad v an ce

t h e t h eo ry wh en t h e m o t h er ad m i t t ed t h at t h e c h i l d r e n s om et i m es b ro u g h t t h e

co m fo rt er i n t o h er ro o m an d l ay i t o n h er b ed

. W h i l e h e arg u ed i n c l o s i n g t h at t h e

DNA t ran s ferred fro m t h e co m fo rt er aft er i t was i n t h e m o t h er’ s b e d r o o m t o t h e

ch i l d ren ’ s b ed ro o m

, co u n sel ex p l ai n ed t h at h e co u l d n o t “ ex p l ai n away ” t h e m o t h er’ s

18t es t i m o ny t h at t h e co m fo rt er was n ev er i n th e b ed wh en s he had s ex wi t h San ch i o u s

.

At t h e co n cl u si o n o f h i s t es t i m o n y

, t ri al co u n s el n ot ed th a t a f t e r l i s t en i n g t o t h e

t es t i m o ny o f t h e pro ffered DNA ex p ert

, h e d i d n ot b el i ev e an ex p ert wo u l d h av e m ad e

m u ch o f a d i fferen ce at t ri al

.

Th e reco rd sh o w s t h at t ri al co u n s el q u es t i o n ed t h e fo ren s i c b i o l o gi s t ab o u t t h e

p o s s i b i l i ty o f DNA t ran sfer, an d co n fi rm ed wi th t h e GBI s ero l o gi s t th at t h e r e i s n o

t es t t o d et erm i n e “ h o w

, wh en o r wh ere” t he s em i n al fl u i d o r s em en was p l aced o n t h e

ev i d en ce b ei n g t es t ed

. He al s o i m p l i ed fro m q u es t io n i n g o f t he v i ct i m ’ s m ot h er t h at

DNA co u l d h av e tran s ferred fro m t h e b ed wh ere s h e h ad s ex wi t h San ch i o u s t o t h e

red co m fo rt er t h at h er ch i l d ren s o m et i m es l ai d on t h e b ed

. Fi n al l y

, San ch i o u s h i m s el f

t es t i fi ed t h at h e an d t h e vi ct i m ’ s m o t h er h ad s ex i n m an y ro o m s o f t h e h om e, t h at t h e

red co m fo rt er cam e fro m t h e bed o n wh i ch h e s l ep t wi t h t h e v i ct i m ’ s m o t her, an d t h at

t h e fam i l y h ad been wi t h o u t a was h i n g m ach in e fo r t h ree week s an d t h at cl o t h es h ad

p i l ed up as a res u l t

. In t h i s cas e, t h e t heo ry o f DNA tran sfer was effect iv el y d rawn o ut

i n t h e cro s s -ex am i n at i o n o f t h e wi t n es s es an d in t h e q u es t i o n i n g o f San ch i o u s

, an d

d u ri n g cl o s i n g arg um en t s acco rd i n g t o t ri al co u n sel ’ s t es t i m o n y d u ri n g t h e m o t i o n fo r

n ew tri a l

. C o n si s ten t wi th t h e fo ren si c b i ol o g i s t’ s t es t i m o ny at t ri al

, t h e ex p ert

co n fi rm ed t h at t ran s fer was a p os s i b i l i t y

, bu t co n ced ed t h e u l t i m at e co ncl u s i o n

, t h at

19San ch i ou s ’ DNA was p res en t o n t h e v ict i m ’ s p an t i es b ecau s e San ch i ou s ejacu l at ed

a f t er an al l y p en et rat i n g t h e v i ct i m

. Becau s e San ch i o us h as fai l ed t o s h o w t h at t h e

p ro ffered ex p ert ’ s t es t i m o n y was an y d i fferen t o r m o re fav o rab l e t h an t he t es t i m o ny

d efen s e co u n s el el ici t ed fro m t h e wi t nes s es at t ri al

, h e can n o t es t ab l i s h t h at h i s

d efen s e was p reju d i ced b y co u ns el ’ s fai lu re t o cal l t h e ex pert

. Acco rd i n g l y

, h i s cl ai m

o f i n effect i v e as si s t an ce fai l s

. See, e.g

., S t r i pl i n g v. S t a t e

, 3 04 Ga. 1 3 1

, 1 3 9 (3 ) (8 1 6

SE2 d 66 3 ) (2 0 1 8 ); Co b b v

. S t a t e

, 3 4 8 Ga. Ap p

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

(2 0 1 8) (fai l u re t o cal l ex p ert wi t n es s n o t d efi ci en t p erfo rm an ce w h ere t ri al co u n s el

o b t ai n ed o n cro s s -ex am i n at i o n i n fo rm at i o n s i m i l ar t o t hat p ro ffered b y t h e ex p ert ). 2

Ju d g men t a f f i r m ed . Ba r nes , P. J., a n d

Mer ci er , J., co n cu r

.

2 In reach i n g o ur co n cl u s i o n t h at San ch i o u s ’ tri al co u n s el d i d n o t ren d er

i n effect i v e as s i st an ce, we n ot e fu rt h er t h at h is acq u it t al o n t h e ch arg es o f rap e,

s t at u to ry rap e, ag g rav at ed s od o m y

, ag g rav at ed ch i l d m ol es t at i o n

, an d t am p eri n g wi th

e v i den ce “ i s a rel ev an t fact o r wh i ch s t ro n gl y s u p p ort s t h e co n cl u s i o n t h at t h e

as s i s tan ce ren d ered by t h e at t o rn ey fel l wi t h i n t h at bro a d r a n g e o f reas o n ab l y

effect i v e as s i s tan ce.” (Ci t at i on s an d p u n ct u at i on o m i t t ed .) Mo on v. S t a t e

, 2 8 8 Ga.

5 0 8 , 5 1 6 (9 ) (7 0 5 SE2 d 6 49 ) (2 0 1 1 ).

20