Court Opinion

ID: 9588169
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 23:31:08.509051+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:56:26.160740
License: Public Domain

*525Jordan, Justice,
dissenting. The State made a showing that the witness (1) had been subpoenaed and served prior to the date of the trial, (2) that the witness had previously answered to a subpoena in the same case, (3) that his presence was fully anticipated, (4) that he had not been excused, and (5) "we have done everything we can do to get him here.” This showing, together with the trial court’s knowledge that the witness was subjected to cross examination by defendant’s counsel at the preliminary hearing, authorized the trial court to allow the State to proceed under the provisions of Code § 38-314 relating to deceased or inaccessible witnesses. The fact that a witness is within the State does not preclude a finding of inaccessibility under the Code section. Robinson v. State, 128 Ga. 254, supra, cited in the majority opinion.
Robinson clearly holds that the judgment of the trial court in allowing either party to proceed under this Code section will not be reversed unless a manifest abuse of discretion appears. In my opinion no such showing has been made by the appellant. I would affirm.
I am authorized to state that Justice Nichols concurs in this dissent.