Opinion ID: 1110731
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: exclusion of the handwritten statement of roger johnson.

Text: ¶ 19. This assignment of error is not properly before the Court. There is no indication in the record that Flora ever attempted to put into evidence the statement allegedly written by Roger Johnson. However, even if he had attempted to put the statement into evidence, its exclusion by the trial court would not have been error, as explained in Issue II, supra. ¶ 20. In support of his argument, Flora relies on Green v. Georgia, 442 U.S. 95, 99 S.Ct. 2150, 60 L.Ed.2d 738 (1979), in which the United States Supreme Court found a violation of the Due Process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment when a Georgia trial court excluded exculpatory evidence based upon a hearsay objection at the sentencing phase of a capital murder case. Flora's reliance is misplaced, however, because Green differs in numerous significant ways. ¶ 21. The exculpatory evidence in Green was testimony from a witness with personal knowledge of what was told to him by Green's co-defendant. Further the exculpatory evidence was being presented at the sentencing phase, not the trial phase. The co-defendant had claimed he killed the victim while Green was out running an errand. The co-defendant had already been convicted and sentenced to death, and the testimony of the same witness was allowed at the co-defendant's trial. See also Moore v. State, 240 Ga. 807, 243 S.E.2d 1, 4 (1978). ¶ 22. In contrast, this is a non-capital case, and the statement which Flora sought to have admitted had no indicia of trustworthiness. Flora argues: [h]ad the trial court taken exemplars as requested and had the documents been authenticated, it would [have been] up to the jury to decide the weight and credibility of the evidence. However, the fact remains that the statement was not authenticated and thus, could not be admitted into evidence. ¶ 23. Because Flora never attempted to put the statement into evidence, this issue is not properly before this Court, and thus is procedurally barred. However, if Flora had attempted to put the statement in at trial, it would have been proper to find it inadmissible. This assignment of error is without merit.