Court Opinion

ID: 9571547
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 20:32:34.434043+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:30:34.212130
License: Public Domain

Cooper, Judge,
dissenting.
I must respectfully dissent because although there were sharp conflicts in the evidence it was sufficient in my view to support the guilty verdict. The evidence showed that within a three-hour period immediately preceding the accident appellant consumed between four and six beers and smoked marijuana although he maintained that he filled his beer cans with water and only pretended to drink beer and smoked pipe tobacco instead of marijuana. A forensic chemist who performed the analysis on appellant’s blood testified that despite the *650negative test results, appellant could have had a blood alcohol content of .04 grams at the time of the accident. Appellant admitted driving between 65 and 70 mph, the investigating officers smelled the odor of alcohol at the scene of the accident, and one of his passengers testified that immediately prior to the accident appellant was not a safe driver. “ ‘ “It is the function of the jury to determine the credibility of the witnesses, including that of the defendant. The jurors must weigh and resolve any conflicts presented by the evidence. The appellate court must view the evidence in the light most favorable to the jury’s verdict. (Cit.)” [Cit.]’ ” Jacobson v. State, 201 Ga. App. 749, 750 (1) (412 SE2d 859) (1991). Viewed in that light, the evidence was sufficient.
Decided December 4, 1992.
Robert F. Oliver, for appellant.
James E. Cornwell, Jr., Solicitor, for appellee.
I am authorized to state that Presiding Judge McMurray and Judge Andrews join in this dissent.