In th e S u p re m e Co u rt o f Ge o rg ia

De c id e d: Ma y 1 1 , 2 0 1 5

S 15 A0 3 7 0 . Mc LEOD v . THE S TATE.

B ENHAM , Ju stic e

.

Ap p e lla n t Je n n ife r Re n a y Mc Le od w a s c on v ic te d fo r th e mu r d e r s o f

Ha ro ld Re e se

, Jr., a n d Je rry L e e La wre n c e

, a lo n g with re la te d c rim e s. 1 Vie win g

t h e e v id e n c e in th e lig h t m o st fa v o ra b le to th e v e rd ic t, it sh o ws a p p e lla n t

1 The c r imes occurred on Aug ust 26, 2 009. On November 9, 2009, a Crisp County g rand

jury r eturned an indictment charg ing appellant w ith two co u n t s o f malice murder, two counts of

felony murder (ag g ravated a ssault), two counts of kidnapping with bodily injury

, t w o counts of

ag g r avated assault, and arson in the first deg ree. After a jury trial conducted May 23-26, 2011, the

jury returned a verdict of g u ilty on all counts. On May 26, 2011, the trial court sentenced appellant

as f ollows: The trial court sentenced appellant to two life sentences to be served concurrently for the

two malice murder convictions; imprisonment for a term of twenty -five y ears for the k i d n a p p i ng

c o n v i c t i on relating to victim L awrence, to be served consecutively to the life sentences;

imprisonment for a term of twenty -five y ears for the kidnapping conviction relating to victim Reese,

to b e served concurrently with the sentence for kidnapping of victim L awrence; and imprisonment

for a term of twenty y ears for the conviction for arson in the first deg ree, to be served consecutively

with the life sentences for malice murder, and concurrently with the sentences f or kidnapping

. The

remaining counts were merg ed or v acated b y law. Appellant’s trial counsel filed a timely motion f or

new trial on J une 10, 2011. After a hearing on Aug ust 8, 2013, the trial c ourt denied the motion by

order d ated Aug ust 14, 2 013. Appellant filed a timely notice of appeal on September 12, 2013. The

appeal was docketed in this Court on J uly 7, 2014, as case number S14A1582. Appellant filed a

motion in the orig inal appeal to remand to the trial court so that additional c laims of error could be

asserte d

. By o r d er dated J uly 28, 2014, this Court remanded the case to the trial court f or

consideration o f appellant’s claims for ineffective assistance of trial counsel. On Aug ust 19, 2014,

appellant’s appellate counsel filed in the trial court a motion for new trial on remand. After a hearing

on said motion on September 11, 2014, the trial court denied the motion by order dated September

23, 2 014. Appellant filed a timely notice of appeal o n October 9, 2014, a nd the case was docketed

to the J anuary

2015 term of this Court for a decision to be made on the briefs.e ffe c tiv e ly se rv e d a s “ b a it” to e n tic e a p e rso n sh e b e lie v e d to b e a d ru g d e a le r

wh o c a rrie d m o n e y o n h im to c o m e to he r h o m e o n th e p re te x t o f h a v in g a

se x u a l e nc o u n te r. In fa c t, sh e wa s s et tin g h im u p to b e ro b b e d b y h e r two c o

c o n sp ira to r s– h e r liv e -in b o y frie n d Am in De n n is, a nd Am in ’s b ro th e r, Co re y

De n n is.

On th e e v e nin g o f A u g u st 2 5

, 2 0 0 9, a p p e lla n t a n d th e two De n n is b ro th e rs

d ro v e to a g a s sta tio n w h e re th e y n o tic e d R e e se

. Be lie v in g th a t Re e se wa s a

d ru g d e a le r wh o h a d m o n e y

, th e y a gre e d t o r o b h im

. A t th e g a s sta tio n

,

a p p e lla n t sp ok e to Re e se a n d o b ta in e d his p h o n e n u m b e r. Th e trio a g re e d to a

p la n b y wh ic h a

p pe lla n t wo u ld c a ll Re e se to e n tic e h im to c o m e to h e r re sid e n c e

,

a n d wh e n Re e se a rriv e d A m in a n d Co re y wo u ld ro b h im

. Afte r a p p e lla n t c a lle d

Re e se se v e ra l tim e s a n d Re e se sta te d h e wa s c o m in g to a p pe lla n t’s h o m e

, Am in

a n d Co re y h id in t h e b a c k o f th e h o m e

, w h e re Am in wa s a rm e d with a .3 8 0

se m ia u to m a tic pisto l a n d a

. 3 8 sn u b -n ose d re vo lv e r, a n d Co re y wa s a rm e d with

a .2 2 h a n d g u n . On c e Re e se a rriv e d a t th e h o u se , a p p e lla n t sig n a le d Am in a n d

Co re y a n d th e y c a m e o u t fro m th e ir h id in g p la c e a n d su b d u e d Re e se

, b in d in g h is

wrists a n d a n k le s with b la c k z ip tie s, a n d p la c in g d u c t ta p e a ro u n d h is m o u th a n d

n e c k

. Wh ile d o in g th is, th e bro th e rs wo re la te x g lo v e s. As a p pe lla n t sa t n e a rb y

,

2th e b ro th e rs to o k a p p ro x im a te ly $ 1 ,5 00 fro m Re e se

, a lo n g with m a riju a na

, a c e ll

p h o ne

, a n d k e y s. Am in we nt to Re e se ’s v e h ic le wh ic h wa s p a rk e d o u tsid e th e

re sid e n c e a nd re m o v e d c e rta in el e ct r o n ic s. Up o n e n te rin g th e v e hic le

, th e y

d isc o v e re d La wre n c e

, wh o wa s so in to x ic a te d th a t he d id n o t re q u ire re stra in t.

Th e two b r o t h e r s p la c e d th e re stra in e d Re e se in th e ba c k se a t o f Re e se ’s

v e h ic le a lo n g with La wre n c e

. Co re y k e p t h is g un a t th e re a d y wh ile Am in d ro v e

Re e s e’ s v e h i c le to a c otto n fie ld

. Ap p e lla nt fo llo we d in h e r o wn v e h ic le a n d

re m a in e d in sid e it. Wh e n th e p a rtie s a rriv e d a t th e fie ld

, La wre n c e go t o u t o f th e

v e h i c le a n d Am in h e ld a g u n to La wre n c e wh ile h e d e m a n d e d m o n e y fr o m

Re e se

. Am in sh o t La wre n c e a n d k ille d h im . Re e se ra n o u t o f h is v e h ic le in to

th e fie ld a nd Am in c h a se d a fte r h im

, wh ile a p p e l l a n t t u r n e d h e r v e h ic le in th e

d ire c tio n o f th e fie ld to pro v id e lig h t fo r th e c h a se

. Am in th e n sh o t Re e se

,

k illin g h im

. Th e two m e n pla c e d La wre n c e ’s bo dy in Re e se ’s v e h ic le

, d ro ve it

i n to th e fie ld

, a

n d se t it on fire

. Th e th re e c o -in d ic te e s th e n d ro v e b a c k t o

a p p e lla n t’s ho u se in h e r c a r, a n d o n th e wa y th e y d isc a rd e d th e

. 3 8 sn u b -n o se d

re v o lv e r b y th ro win g it o n to a c re e k b a n k

. T h e trio sp lit th e m o n e y a n d

m a riju an a

, a n d Am in a

n d C o re y to o k th e re m a in in g we a p on s a n d th e sto le n

e le c tro n ic s to h id e th e m a t th e ir m oth e r’s h o u se

. T h e d a y fo llo win g th e

3m

u rd e rs, C o re y b u rn e d

, a t h i s mo th e r’s h o u se

, th e c lo th e s th e th re e we re

we a rin g o n th e prio r n ig h t a lo n g w ith a g o ld c h a in wh ic h wa s id e n tifie d a s b e in g

sim ila r to o n e Re e se o wn e d. Th e g ro u p a lso b urn e d se ve ra l oth e r ite m s re la tin g

to th e c rim e s in fro nt o f a p p e lla n t’s re sid e n c e

.

Th e v ic tim s’ b o d ie s a nd th e b u rn e d a uto m o b ile we re re c o v e re d fo llo win g

a te le ph o n e c a l l ma d e to 91 1 c o n c e rn in g a bu rn in g a u to m o b ile

. B u lle ts we re

re c o v e re d fro m bo th b o d ie s a n d th e S ta te ’s e x p e rt c o n c lu d e d th e y w e re .3 8

c a lib e r b u lle ts fire d fro m th e sa m e we a p o n

, a re v o lv e r. Ap p e lla n t to ld a frie n d

a b o u t th e se e v en ts a nd th e frie n d in fo rm e d a uth o ritie s. Ba se d o n th e

in fo rm a tio n p r o v i d e d

, th e a u th o ritie s un c o v e re d a d a m a g e d re v o lv e r, e ith e r a

.3 5 7 o r .3 8 sp e c ia l. Th e a u th o ritie s in te rv ie w e d a

p pe lla n t a n d

, a fte r b e in g

in fo rm e d o f h e r rig hts, a

p p e lla n t a d m itte d sh e lu re d Re e se to h e r h o m e fo r th e

p u rp o se o f ro b b e ry

, a nd a lso d isc lo se d th a t sh e

, Am in

, a n d Co re y a ll b u rn e d th e

c lo th e s th e y we re we a rin g fo llo win g th e m u rd e rs. K e y s re c o v e re d fro m a b u rn

p ile in th e fro n t y a rd o f a p p e lla nt’s re sid e n c e fit t h e l o c k s o n Re e se ’s h o m e

,

a n o th e r v e h ic le h e o wn e d, a n d a sto ra g e ro o m h e re n te d

. A se a rc h of th e in te rio r

o f th e re sid e n c e re v e a le d tie s c o n siste n t with th ose fo u n d a t th e c rim e sc e n e a n d

fa ste n e d to Re e se ’s b o d y

.

41

. A p p e lla n t a sse rts th e e v id e n c e w a s in su ffic ie n t to su pp o rt h e r

c o n v ic tio n s fo r th e m

u rd e r, a g g ra v a te d a ssa ult, a n d k id na p p i n g of La wre n c e

b e c a u se sh e wa s un a wa re th a t La w re nc e wa s in th e b a c k se a t o f Re e se ’s v e h ic le

wh e n h e r a c c o m

p lic e s e n te re d it a n d d ro ve o ff. Ap p e ll a n t c l a i ms th a t e v e n

th o u g h sh e fo llo we d th e b ro th e rs in h e r o wn c a r to th e site wh e re th e se c rim e s

we re c o m

m itte d, n o e v id e n c e w a s p r e se nte d th a t sh e k n e w o f La wre n c e ’s

p re se nc e o r k n e w wh a t th e De n n is b ro th e rs we re d o in g to h im a t a n y tim e b e fo re

h e wa s k ille d

. Alth o u g h th e S ta te ’s th e ory wa s th a t a p p e lla n t wa s a p a rty to

th e se c rim e s, a c c ord in g to a pp e lla n t th e e v id e n c e wa s in su ffic ie n t to p ro ve e ith e r

th a t sh e d ire c tly c o m mi tte d th e c rim e s a g a in st La w re n c e

, o r wa s o th e rwise

“ c o n c e rn e d in th e c o m m issio n o f” th e se c rim e s, a s re q u ire d b y OCGA § 1 6 -2

-

2 0 , wh ic h d e fin e s th e c irc u m sta n c e s p u rsu a n t to wh ic h a p e rso n is a

p a rty to a

c rim e

. 2

2 Pursuant to OCGA § 16-2-20:

(a) Every person concerned i n the commission of a crime is a party

thereto and may be charg ed with and convicted of commission of the

crime.

(b) A person is concerned in the commission of a crime only if he:

(1) Directly c ommits the crime;

(2) I n tentionally causes come other p erson to commit the crime under

such circums t a nces that the other person is not g uilty or any crime

either in fact or because of leg a l incapacity ;

(3) I ntentionally

aids or abets in the commission of the crime; or

(4) I ntentionally advises, encourag es, hires, counsels, or procures

5Ac c o rd in g to th e te stim o n y o f Co re y De n n is, La w re n c e e xite d th e v e h ic le

a fte r th e trio a rriv e d a t th e ir d e stin a tio n, an d Am in he ld a g u n to La wre n c e a s h e

d e m a n de d m o n e y fro m Re e se

, a n d th e n k ille d La wre n c e

, in a n a re a ju st o ff th e

sid e o f th e ro a d

. A c c o rd in g to a c ru d e d ra win g Co re y p re p are d a t tria l d u rin g

h is e x a m in a tio n

, th e se e ve n ts o c c u rre d n e a r a p p e lla n t’s v e h ic le

. C o n se qu e n tly

,

a ju ry c o u ld re a so n a

b ly c o n c lu d e fro m th e e vid e n c e th a t a p pe lla n t wa s, in fa c t,

a w ar e o f La wre n c e ’s pre se n c e a n d o f h is b e in g th re a te n e d b y h e r c o

c o n sp ira to rs a t le a st b y th e tim e th e trio a rriv e d a t th e ir d e stin a tio n

. Mo re

im p o rta n tly

, a m

p le e v id e n c e wa s p re se n te d th a t a pp e lla n t c o n sp ire d wit h th e

De n n is b ro th e rs to c o m m it th e fe lo n y o f Re e se ’s a rm e d ro b b e ry

. I t h a s lo n g

b e e n th e la w o f G e org ia th a t “ [a ] ll o f th e pa rtic ip a n ts in a c o n sp ira c y a re

c rim in a lly re sp o n sib le fo r t h e a c t s o f e a c h

, c o m m itte d in th e e x e c u tio n o f th e

c o n sp ira c y

, a n d w h i c h m a y b e sa id to b e a p ro b a b le c o nse q u e nc e o f th e

c o n sp ira c y

, e v e n th o u g h th e p a rtic ula r a c t m a y n o t a c tu a lly h a v e b e e n pa rt o f th e

p la n

. ” Hu

ffma n v

. Sta te

, 2 5 7 Ga

. 3 9 0

, 3 9 1 (2 ) (3 5 9 S E2 d 9 1 0 ) (1 98 7 ). Th is

c rim in a l re sp o n sib ility a lso a p p lie s to c o lla te ra l a c ts o f a c o -c o n sp ira to r, so lo n g

another to commit the crime.

6a s su c h c o lla te ra l a c ts a r e r e a s o n a

b ly fo re se e a

ble a s a n e c e ssa ry o r n a tu ra l

c o n se q u e n c e of t h e c o n sp ira c y

. S e e Ev e rritt v

. S ta te

, 2 7 7 Ga

. 4 5 7

, 4 5 9 (5 8 8

S E2 d 6 9 1 ) (2 00 3 ) (q u o tin g Pin k e rto n v

. U n ite d S ta te s

, 3 2 8 U .S

. 64 0

, 64 7 -6 4 8

(6 6 S Ct 1 1 8 0

, 9 0 L E2 d 1 4 8 9 ) (1 9 4 6 ) a n d h o ld in g th a t p ursu a nt to th e fa c ts

u n d e r c o n sid e ra tio n

, th e m u rd e r, m o n th s la te r, o f a c o -c o n sp ira t o r b y a n o th e r c o

c o n sp ira to r to c o v e r u p th e c rim e wa s n o t re a so na b ly fo re se e a

b le a s a n e c e ssa ry

,

p ro b a b le c o n se q u e n c e o f a c o n sp ira c y to c o mm it arso n ). “ Ev e n if [a pp e lla nt]

d id no t h a v e th e sp e c ific in te n t th a t [La wre n c e ] b e k ille d

, th e c rim e s wh ic h [sh e ]

d id in te n d we re d a n g e ro u s o n e s; b y th e ir a tte n d a nt c irc u m sta n c e s, th e y c re a te d

a fo re se e a b le risk o f de a th .” Pa rk

s v

. S ta te

, 2 7 2 Ga

. 35 3, 3 5 4 (5 2 9 S E2 d 1 2 7 )

(2 0 0 0 ).

A c om m o n c rim in a l in te n t m u st b e p ro v e n in o rd e r to e sta b lish a

d e fe n d a n t is a p a rty to a c rim e

. S e e J o rd a n v

. S ta te

, 27 2 Ga

. 3 9 5, 3 9 6 (1 ) (5 3 0

S E2 d 19 2 ) (2 0 0 0 ). S h a re d c rim in a l in te n t, ho w e v e r, “ m a y b e in fe rre d fro m th e

d e fe n d a n t’s c o n d u c t b e fo re

, d u rin g

, an d a fte r th e c rim e .” (Cita tio n a n d

p u n c tu a tio n o m itte d .) T

h o m a s v

. S ta te

, 2 96 Ga

. 4 8 5

, 4 88 (1 ) (7 6 9 S E2 d 8 2 )

(2 0 1 5 ). He re

, th e u n d isp ute d e v id e n c e e sta b lish e d th a t a pp e lla n t pa rtic ip a te d in

p la n nin g Re e se ’s r o b b e ry

, d ro v e th e g e t-a w a y v e hic le so sh e a n d h e r

7a c c o m

p lic e s c o u ld le a v e th e sc e n e o f th e m u rd e rs, and a ssiste d in d e stro y in g th e

m u rd e r we a

p o n a n d o th e r e v id e n c e re le v an t to th e c rim e s. F ro m a pp e lla n t’s

c o n d u c t, a ju ry c o u ld fin d a p p e lla n t sh a re d a c o m m o n c rim in a l in te n t with th e

a c tu a l p e rp e tra to r o f La wre n c e ’s m u rd e r. S e e id

. Su f

f i c ie n t e v id e n c e wa s

p re se nte d fro m w h ic h a ra tio n a l trie r o f fa c t c o u ld fin d a p p e l l a n t g u ilty o f

La wre n c e ’s m

u rd e r a n d th e o th e r c rim e s c h arg e d in v o l v i n g La wre n c e b e y o n d

a re a so n ab le d o u b t. S e e J ac k so n v

. Virg in ia

, 4 4 3 U.S

. 3 0 7 (9 9 SCt 27 8 1

, 6 1

LE2 d 5 60 ) (1 97 9).

2

. A p pe lla n t a lso a sse rts th e e v id e n c e wa s in su ffic ie n t to su p p o rt h e r

c o n v ic tio n s fo r th e m

u rd e r, a g g ra v a te d a ssa u lt, a n d k id n a p pin g o f Re e se . S h e

c la im s th e e v id e n c e su p p o r t s o n ly th e c o n c lu sio n th a t sh e p artic ip a te d in th e

p la n to ro b Re e se

, b u t th a t th e e v id e n c e fa ils to e sta blish sh e wa s in v o lv e d in a

p la n to k id n a

p

, a ssa ult, a nd m

u rd e r h im

. As a p a r t ic ip a n t in th e sc he m e to

c o m m it th e a rm e d ro b b e ry

, h o we v e r, a pp e lla n t m a y b e fo u n d c rim in a lly

re sp o n sib le fo r th e a c ts o f e a c h o f h e r c o -c on sp ira t o r s th a t we re c o m m itte d in

th e e x e c u tio n o f th e p la n wh ic h m a y b e c o n sid e re d th e p ro b a b le c o n se qu e n c e o f

th e c o n sp ira c y

, e v e n if sh e d id n o t sp e c ific a lly in te nd fo r Re e se to b e p h y sic a lly

h a rm e d

. S e e Hu

ffma n, su p ra

, 2 5 7 G a

. a t 39 1 (2 ). Ag a in

, b e c a u se th e c rim e s sh e

8d id in te nd to c o m m it with h e r c o -c o n sp ira to rs we re d a n g e ro u s o ne s, th e y c re a te d

th e fo re se e a

b le risk o f Re e se ’s d e a th

. S e e Pa rk s

, su p ra

, 27 2 Ga

. a t 3 5 4

. Ag a in

,

a p p e lla n t’s sh a re d c rim in a l in te n t with h e r c o-c on sp ira to rs m a y b e in fe rre d b y

h e r c o n d u c t be fo re

, d u rin g

, a n d a fte r th e c rim e s. S e e T h o ma s

, su p ra

. Su ffic ie n t

e v id e n c e wa s p re se n te d fro m wh ic h a ra tio n a l trie r o f fa c t c o u ld fin d a p p e lla n t

g u ilty b e y on d a re a so n a

b le d o u b t o f a ll th e c rim e s a g a in st Re e se fo r wh ic h sh e

wa s trie d a n d c on v ic te d , in c lu d in g m u rd e r. S e e J

a c k so n v . Virg in ia , su p ra

.

3

. Ap pe lla n t wa s c h a rg e d w ith a n d c o n v ic te d o f arso n in th e first d e gre e

with re sp e c t to th e b urn in g o f Re e se ’s v e hic le

. Th e v a rio u s wa y s in wh ic h a rso n

in th e first d e g re e o f a v e hic le m ay b e c o m m itte d a re se t fo rth in OCGA § 1 6 -7

-

6 0 (a ) (2 ) th ro u gh (5 ), a n d a p p e lla n t a sse rts h e r c o n v ic tio n m u st be re v e rse d o n

t h e g ro u n d th a t th e in d ic tm e nt wa s d e fe c tiv e b e c a u se it fa ile d to a lle g e a l l t h e

re q u ire d e le m e n ts o f th e c rim e

. In fa c t, it wa s ne ith e r a lle g e d in th e in d ic tm e n t

n o r p ro ve n a t tria l th a t th e v e h ic le w a s a “ stru c tu re

. . . d e sig n e d fo r u se a s a

d we llin g ” th a t wa s d a m a g e d with o u t th e c on se n t o f th e o wn e r o r a ny h o ld e r o f

a se c u rity in te re st, a s se t fo rth in su b se c tio n (a ) (2 ); th a t th e v e hic le wa s in su re d

a g a in st lo ss o r da m a g e b y fire o r e x p lo siv e an d th a t it wa s d a m a g e d with o u t th e

c o n se n t o f b o th th e in su re r a n d th e in su re d

, a s se t fo rth in su b se c tio n (a ) (3 ); th a t

9th e v e h ic le wa s d a m a ge d b y fire with th e in te nt to d e fe a t th e in te re sts o r rig h ts

o f a sp o use o r c o -o wn e r, a s se t fo rth in su b se c tio n (a ) (4 ); o r th a t th e v e h ic le wa s

d a m a g e d b y fire u n d e r su c h c irc u m sta n c e s th a t is w a s “ re a so n a bly fo re se e a

b le

th a t h u m a n life m ig h t b e e n d a n g e re d

, ” a s se t fo rth in su b se c tio n (a ) (5 ). Th e

S ta te c o n c e d e s th a t th e in dic tm e n t wa s d e fe c tiv e

.

It is th is Co urt’s p ra c tic e in m u rd e r c a se s to re v ie w t h e re c o rd fo r th e

su ffic ie n c y of th e e v id e n c e fo r e a c h c rim e o f wh ic h th e a p p e lla n t wa s c o n v ic te d

,

p u rsu a n t to th e sta nd a

rd se t fo rth in J

a c k so n v

. Virg in ia

. S e e Re d

d in g v

. S ta te

,

2 9 6 G a

. 4 7 1

, 47 2 (1 ) (7 6 9 S E2 d 6 7 ) (2 0 1 5 ). S in c e th e e v id e n c e a t tria l d id n o t

p ro v e a n y o f th e m e th o d s in wh ic h th e c r i m e o f a rso n in th e first d e g re e o f a

v e h ic le m a y b e c o m m itte d

, th e e v id e n c e wa s in su ffic ie n t to su sta in th e

c o n v ic tio n a n d it m

ust b e re v e rse d a n d th e se n te n c e fo r th is c on vic tio n v a c a te d

.

4

. Ap p e lla n t a sse rts h e r tria l c o u n se l wa s in e ffe c tiv e b e c a u se h e fa ile d to

m o v e to su p p re ss th e se a rc h a n d se iz u re o f d a m a g in g e v id e n c e fro m h e r c a r.

Th e se a rc h wa rra n t a t issu e a u th o r iz e d th e se a rc h o f th e re sid e n c e wh e re

a p p e lla n t liv e d with a c c o m p lic e Am in De n n is a n d wh e re a c c o mp l i c e Co re y

De n n is wa s sta y in g a t th e tim e o f th e se e v e n ts. It a lso a u th o riz e d th e se a rc h o f

two a u to m o b ile s, on e o f wh ic h b e lo n g e d to a p p e lla nt. T he wa rra n t w a s issu e d

10in re lia n c e u p o n a n a ffid a vit file d b y o n e o f th e in ve stig a tin g o ffic e rs wh ic h

p ro v id e d t h e a d dre ss o f th e re sid e n c e a n d a de sc rip tio n o f it, a lo n g with

id e n tify in g d e sc rip to rs o f th e two v e h ic le s. Th e a ffid a v it se t fo rth th e re a so n s

fo r b e lie v in g re le v a nt e v id e n c e o f th e se c rim e s w o u ld b e fo u n d a t th e p re m ise s,

in c lu din g th e fa c t th a t a c o u sin o f th e two D e n n is b ro th e rs h a d in fo rm e d a fe llo w

o ffic e r th a t th e b ro th e rs c o nfe sse d to h e r th e y h a d c om m itte d th e c rim e s, th a t th e

in fo rm a n t id e n tifie d wh e re th e y liv e d

, an d t h a t th e su sp e c ts h a d b e e n a rre ste d

a t th a t a dd re ss e a rlie r in th e da y th e a ffid a v it wa s p re se nte d to th e m a g istra te

.

Be c a u se

, h o we v e r, th e a ffid a v it d id no t in d ic a te he r v e hic le wa s o n th e pre m ise s

to be se a rc h e d

, a n d d id n o t d e sc rib e a c o n n e c tio n b e twe e n h e r o r h e r v e h ic le a n d

th e c rim e s, a

p p e lla n t a rg u e s th e a ffid a v it wa s in su ffic ie n t to su pp ort a s e a r c h

wa rra n t fo r th e se a rc h of h e r v e h ic le

. Ac c o rd in g to a pp e lla n t, th e e v id e n c e

sh o ws sh e wa s n o t e v e n a su s p e c t a t th e tim e of th e se a rc h sin c e th e o ffic e r to

wh o m sh e g a v e a n o n -c u sto d ia l sta te m e n t te stifie d a t tria l th a t h e wa s n o t su re

,

a t th e tim e h e c o m m e n c e d ta k in g h e r sta te m e n t se v e ra l d a y s a fte r th e se a rc h

, if

th e re wa s g o in g to b e e n ou g h e v i d e n c e t o a rre st h e r a t th a t p o in t. In ste a d

,

a p p e lla n t a sse rt s, sh e wa s a rre ste d on ly a fte r b e in g q u e stio n e d a b o u t e v id e n c e

se iz e d fro m

h e r c a r.

11“ Wh e n tria l c o u n se l’s fa ilu re to file a m otio n to su p p re ss is th e b a sis fo r

a c la im o f in e ffe c tiv e a ssista n c e

, th e d e fe n d a nt m u st m a k e a stro ng sh owin g th a t

th e d a m a g in g e v id e n c e wo u ld h a v e be e n su p p r e s s e d h a d c o u nse l m a d e th e

m o tio n.” Ric h a rd

so n v

. Sta te

, 2 7 6 Ga

. 5 4 8

, 5 53 (3 ) (5 80 S E2 d 2 2 4 ) (2 0 0 3 ). No

su c h sh o wi n g w a s m a d e in th is c a se

. A p p e lla n t d o e s n o t c h a lle n g e th e

su ffic ie n c y o f th e a ffid a v it to su pp ort th e se a rc h wa rra n t fo r h e r re sid e n c e

, a n d

m a k e s n o c la im th a t h e r v e h ic le wa s n o t p a rk e d with in th e c u rtila g e o f th e h o m e

.

Ev e n if a pp e lla nt’s v e h ic le h a d n o t b e e n id e n t i f i ed i n th e a ffid a v it, u p o n

o b ta in in g a w a rra n t to s e a r c h h e r re sid e n c e

, th e a u th o ritie s wo uld h a v e b e e n

a u th oriz e d to se a rc h a

n y v e hic le s fo u n d w ith in th e c u rtila g e

. “Ve h ic le s p a rk e d

with in th e c u rtila g e o f a d we llin g to b e se a rc h e d p ursu a n t to a wa rra n t m a y a lso

b e se a rc he d p u rsu a n t to th a t wa rra nt.” (Cita tio n an d p u n c tu a tio n o m itte d .) S o lis

v

. Sta te

, 2 6 8 G a

. Ap p

. 4 9 3, 4 9 8 -4 9 9 (1 ) (c ) (6 02 SE2 d 1 6 6 ) (2 0 04 ). S e e a lso

Bra nn a n v

. S ta te

, 2 7 5 Ga

. 7 0

, 7 3 ( 2 ) (b ) (5 6 1 S E2 d 4 1 4 ) (2 0 0 2 ); Bro o k s v

.

S ta te

, 2 3 7 Ga

. A p p

. 5 4 6

, 5 4 8 (2 ) ( 5 1 5 S E 2 d 8 5 1 ) (1 9 9 9 ). Be c a use a p p e lla n t

fa ile d to sh o w a m o tio n to su p p re ss wo u ld ha v e b e e n g ra n te d

, sh e ha s fa ile d to

e sta b lish p re

ju d ic e b y c o u n se l’s fa ilu re to file su c h a m o tio n a n d th u s h a s fa ile d

to e sta b lish in e ffe c tiv e a ssista n c e o f c o un se l on th is g ro u nd

. S e e R ic h a rd s o n

,

12su p ra , 2 7 6 Ga . a t 5 5 3 (3 ).

5

. At t r i a l, th e De n n is b ro th e rs’ m o th e r, Eliz a b e th De n n is, te stifie d

a p p e lla n t c o n fe sse d to he r th a t sh e wa s p re se n t wh e n th e v ic tim s we re sh o t, a n d

th a t a p pe lla n t to ld h e r th e trio h a d ta k e n $ 9 0 0 fro m Re e se a lo ng with e le c tro n ic

e q u ip m e n t fro m h is v e h ic le

. Ge o rg ia Bu re a u o f In v e stig a tio n Ag e n t Mic h a e l

Bro ok s te stifie d h e in te rv ie we d a p p e lla n t p rio r to h er a r r est, a t wh ic h tim e

a p p e lla n t to ld h im th e De n n is b ro th e rs h a d b e e n a ng ry o v e r th e fa c t th a t th e y h a d

re c o v e re d “ n o th in g b u t 2 0s” a n d la te r in th e in te rv ie w “ o n ly 2 0 so m e th in g ” fro m

Re e se

, a n d th a t th e y h a d ne v e r sh o wn h e r th e sto le n m on e y o r sh a re d it with he r.

Ag e n t B ro o k s a lso in te rv ie w e d M s. De n nis, a nd th e p ro se c u to r a sk e d th e a g e n t

wh e th e r, with re sp e c t to th e a m o u n t o f m o n e y sto le n fro m Re e se

, a p pe lla n t h a d

to ld Ms. De n n is “ a d iffe re n t sto ry

, $ 9 43 ? ” T h e a g e n t a n swe re d: “ $ 9 2 6 m a y b e .”

Ap p e lla n t a sse rts in e ffe c tiv e a ssista n c e o f c o u n se l a s a re su lt o f tria l c o u n se l’s

fa ilu r e t o ob

je c t to th is te stim o n y a s in a d m issib le he a rsa y th a t wa s in tro d u c e d

to im p ro p e rly b o lste r th e te stim o n y o f M s. De n n is a n d to a tta c k a pp e lla n t’s

c re d ib ility o n a m a te ria l p o in t o f h e r sta te m e n t to th e a u th o ritie s. 3

3 At the h e a

ring on appellant’s motion for new trial, appellant’s trial counsel testified it did

not occur to h im to object on the g round of improper bolstering and that he had no strateg ic reason

for allowing that testimony to come into evidence.

13“ A witn e ss’s prio r c o n siste n t sta te m e n t is a d m issib le if th e v e ra c ity o f th e

witn e ss’s tria l te stim o n y h a s be e n p la c e d in issu e a t tria l, th e witn e ss is p re se n t

a t tria l, a n d th e witn e ss is a v a ilab le fo r c ro ss-e x a m in a tio n

. [Cits.] A witn e ss’s

v e ra c ity is p la c e d in issu e if a ffirm a tiv e c h a rg e s o f re c e n t fa b ric a tio n

, im

p ro p e r

in flu e n c e

, o r im

p ro p e r m o tiv e a r e r a ise d du rin g c ro ss e x a m in a tio n .” (Cita tio n

a n d p u n c tu a tio n o m itte d .) Kid d v

. S ta te

, 2 92 Ga

. 2 59

, 2 60 (2 ) (7 36 S E 2 d 3 7 7 )

(2 0 1 3 ). I n t h e d ire c t e x a m in a tio n o f Ms. De nn is, th e pro se c uto r in tro d u c e d

te stim o n y th a t sh e h a d b e e n c rim in a lly c h a rg e d with c o n c e a lin g a n d ta m p e rin g

with e v id e n c e th a t h a d b e e n le ft a t h e r ho m e b y h e r so ns, a n d th a t th o se c h a rg e s

we re la te r d ism isse d

. Th e p ro se c u to r a sk e d Ms. De n n is if a ny p ro m ise s o r

th re a ts h a d be e n m a d e to h e r re ga rd in g h e r te stim o n y a t a p p e lla n t’s tria l. Ev e n

th o u g h a p p e lla n t’s c o u n se l a lso c ro ss-e x a m in e d Ms. D e n n i s a bo ut th is issu e

,

a p p e lla n t a sse rts th e a g e n t’s te stim on y a b o u t M s

. De n n is’s prio r c o n siste n t

sta te m e n t is n o t a d m issib le u n d e r th e W o o d a rd e x c e p tio n to h e a rsa y b e c a u se

,

h e re

, im p ro p e r m o tiv e o r in flu e n c e wa s first ra ise d in d ire c t e x a m in a tio n

, n o t o n

c ro ss-e x a m in a tio n

. R e ly in g u p o n B a u g h v

. S ta te 4

, a p pe lla nt a rg u e s th a t sin c e

th e a g e n t’s te stim o n y r e g a rd in g Ms. De n n is’s prio r c o n siste n t sta te m e n t wa s

4 276 Ga. 736 (2) (585 SE2d 616) (2003).

14in a d m issib le h e a rsa y in tro d u c e d o n ly to b o lste r th e witn e ss’s te stim o ny a n d to

a tta c k a p p e lla n t’s c re d ib ility

, th e issu e is w h e th e r te stim o n y re g a rd in g th e p rio r

c o n siste n t sta te m e n t wo u ld h a v e b e e n d e e m e d in a d m issib le if tim e ly ra ise d b y

tria l c o u n se l. A c c o rd in g to a p p e lla nt, c o u n se l’s fa ilu re to o b je c t to th is

te stim o n y d e m o n s t

r a t e s i n e f f e c t i v e a s s i s t a

n c e o f c o u n se l sin c e th e te stim o n y wa s

in a d m issib le a n d wo u ld h a ve b e e n e x c lu d e d

.

Ev e n a ssu m in g

, with o u t d e c id in g

, th a t th e p rio r in c o n siste n t sta te m e nt a t

issu e in th is c a se wo u ld h a v e b e e n e x cl u d e d if a p p e lla n t’s tria l c o u n se l h a d

o b j e c te d

, a n d th a t tria l c o u n se l’s fa ilu re to ob je c t d e m o n stra te d d e fi c i e n t

p e rfo rm a n c e

, a

p p e lla n t h a s fa ile d to d e m o n stra te c o n stitu tio n a lly in e ffe c tiv e

a ssista n c e o f c o u n se l. In Ba u g h

, th is Co u rt h e l d th a t th e e rro ne o u s a d m issio n

o f a witn e ss’s p rio r c on siste n t sta te m e n t “ is re v e rsib le e rro r if it a p p e a rs lik e ly

th a t th e h e a rsa y c o n trib ute d to th e gu ilty v e rd ic t.” (Cita tio n a n d p u n c tu a tio n

o m itte d .) Ba u g h v

. S ta te

, 2 7 6 Ga

. 7 3 6

, 7 3 9 (2 ) (2 0 0 3). S im ila rly

, fo r p u rp o se s

o f e sta b lish in g in e ffe c tiv e a ssista n c e of c ou n se l, a p p e lla nt m

u st d e m o n stra te

p re ju d ic e fro m th e a lle g e d d e fic ie n t p e rfo rm a n c e of c o u nse l, in th a t bu t fo r th e

d e fic ie n t p e rfo r ma n c e

, a re a so n a ble pro b a bility e x ists th a t th e o u tc o m e o f th e

tria l wo u ld h a v e b e e n diffe re n t. S e e S tric k la n d W a sh in g to n

, 46 6 U.S

. 66 8

, 6 8 7

15(III) (1 0 4 S Ct 2 0 5 2

, 80 LE2 d 6 7 4 ) (1 9 84 ). Ap pe lla n t h a s fa ile d to m a k e su c h

a sh owin g

. G iv e n th e su b sta n tia l e v id e n c e of a p p e lla nt’s g u ilt pre se n te d a t tria l,

it is n o t re a so n a

ble to c o n c lu d e th a t th e e x c lu sio n o f th is e v id e n c e wo u ld h a v e

re su lte d in a

d iffe re n t o u tc o m e

.

Ju d g m e n t a ffirm e d in p a rt a n d re v e rse d a n d v a c a t e d i n p a rt. All th e

Ju stic e s c o n c ur.

16