Court Opinion

ID: 9571411
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 20:31:37.406582+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:30:24.989361
License: Public Domain

Cooper, Judge,
dissenting.
I agree with the majority that the trial court erred in ruling that appellant’s request for an independent blood test was unclear and untimely. Because I do not agree that the record presents a question of fact for trial court determination with respect to withdrawal of that request, however, I would reverse the trial court’s denial of appellant’s motion to suppress rather than remand for further consideration of withdrawal.
The only evidence in the record even suggesting withdrawal of appellant’s request is his failure to repeat his request for an independent blood test; Officer Cox’s statement that appellant asked Cox to perform a second breath test; and Officer Cox’s conclusion, after his initial recollection that appellant never requested a blood test was belied by the videotape, that appellant must have “changed his mind.” The conflicting evidence regarding the second breath test discussed by the majority does not create an issue of fact as to withdrawal requiring remand because in my view, the evidence described above — even if we assume appellant requested a second breath test — is insufficient as a matter of law to support a finding that appellant’s unequivocal and unambiguous request for an independent blood test was withdrawn. Cf. State v. Hughes, 181 Ga. App. 464, 466 (352 SE2d 643) (1987) (burden is on State to demonstrate strict compliance with statutory requirements if it wishes to rely on intoximeter test); Munda v. State, 172 Ga. App. 857, 858 (1) (324 SE2d 799) (1984) (it *654is “ ‘the statutory mandate of the General Assembly that the use of such tests in criminal trials shall be subject to the strictest protections. . . .’ [Cit.]”). Once an accused invokes his right to an independent blood test by making a clear request for it, as appellant did in this case, a withdrawal of the request or waiver of the right should not be inferred from the accused’s failure to repeat the request or other circumstantial evidence; the withdrawal must be as clear as the request. Compare Duffee v. State, 184 Ga. App. 247 (1) (361 SE2d 239) (1987) (testimony of jailer that accused voluntarily withdrew his request for additional test after conferring with his sister was sufficient to support trial court’s finding that accused voluntarily abandoned his right to additional test).
Decided December 7, 1992.
Barbara M. Lassiter, for appellant.
Patrick H. Head, Solicitor, Clifford L. Granger, Jr., Diane M. Busch, Assistant Solicitors, for appellee.
Accordingly, I would hold that the trial court erred in denying appellant’s motion to suppress and in considering the results of the intoximeter test. Moreover, immediately before deciding appellant’s guilt, the trial court twice stated that the case was a close one. I therefore would conclude that the trial court’s error in considering the results of the State’s breath test was not harmless and would reverse the judgment in this case.
I am authorized to state that Presiding Judge McMurray and Judge Pope join in this dissent.