Court Opinion

ID: 4668134
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-03-16 07:04:34.697868+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:03:01.215940
License: Public Domain

FIFTH DIVISION
                                 REESE, P. J.,
                             MARKLE and COLVIN, JJ.

                     NOTICE: Motions for reconsideration must be
                     physically received in our clerk’s office within ten
                     days of the date of decision to be deemed timely filed.
                                https://www.gaappeals.us/rules

                     DEADLINES ARE NO LONGER TOLLED IN THIS
                     COURT. ALL FILINGS MUST BE SUBMITTED WITHIN
                     THE TIMES SET BY OUR COURT RULES.

                                                                      March 11, 2021

In the Court of Appeals of Georgia
 A20A1675. GREEN v. THE STATE.

       MARKLE, Judge.

       Following a jury trial, Adrian Bassill Green, Sr. was convicted of rape (OCGA

§ 16-6-1 (a) (1)), incest (OCGA § 16-6-22 (a) (1)), and aggravated child molestation

(OCGA § 16-6-4 (c)). He appeals from the trial court’s denial of his motion for new

trial, challenging the sufficiency of the evidence and contending (1) the trial court

erred by (a) disallowing his proposed voir dire questions; (b) finding that he had

waived his right to be present at bench conferences; (c) disallowing crime lab reports

to go back with the jury during deliberations; (d) commenting on the victim’s sexual

history prior to sentencing; and (e) informing the jury of his prior statutory rape

charge and failing to issue a timely limiting instruction; and (2) trial counsel rendered

ineffective assistance by failing to (a) hire experts to assist in the investigation of the
case; (b) preserve his right to be present at bench conferences; and (c) object to

testimony regarding the victim’s sexual history. Finding no error, we affirm.

      Viewed in the light most favorable to the verdict, Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U. S.

307 (99 SCt 2781, 61 LE2d 560) (1979), the record shows that Green’s then-fifteen-

year-old biological daughter was sleeping at his house when he got into bed with her.

Green forced her to kiss him, proceeded to remove both of their clothes, and then put

his mouth on her vagina, put his penis in her mouth, and forced his penis inside her

vagina although she resisted and told him it hurt. Afterward, Green told the victim to

take a shower, which she did, and told her not to tell anyone because he would go to

prison.

      The victim texted her mother to pick her up. Once inside her mother’s car, the

victim disclosed that Green had raped her, and the mother called the police and took

the victim to the hospital. The victim spoke to the police at the hospital, and her

statement was consistent with the events recounted above. A nurse conducted a

sexual assault examination, and collected swabs for DNA testing. A forensic

interview was also conducted on the victim.1

      1
        The forensic interview was recorded, admitted into evidence at trial, and
played for the jury.

                                          2
      Thereafter, Green was arrested and charged with rape, incest, and aggravated

child molestation. The police obtained buccal swabs from Green for DNA testing.

And the State filed its notice of intent to present evidence of Green’s prior statutory

rape conviction under OCGA § 24-4-414.

      At trial, the victim’s testimony was consistent with her police statement. The

nurse who conducted the sexual assault examination testified that the victim

complained of vaginal pain on arrival, and the examination revealed that she had

suffered a vaginal tear, which the nurse referred to as a “mounting injury” caused by

the entry of a penis into the vagina. The nurse further testified that the victim

disclosed that her boyfriend had digitally penetrated her a couple of days prior to the

incident at issue here. And the therapist who conducted the forensic interview

testified that the victim’s responses were consistent with those of a child who had

been sexually abused.

      The forensic biologist who tested the swabs testified that the DNA obtained

from the victim’s vaginal cervical swab contained an allele that did not match the

victim and had male DNA. Based on these results, the biologist recommended further

testing. Additional testing showed that the DNA obtained from the victim’s vaginal

cervical swabs matched the haplotype of Green or any of his paternal male relatives,

                                          3
and that this haplotype is not expected to occur more frequently than 1 out of every

2,083 in the African American male population or 1 out of every 2,488 male

Caucasians.

      Green testified and generally denied the accusations against him, claiming that

the victim had fabricated them. Green admitted that he had previously pled guilty to

the statutory rape of a fifteen-year-old.

      The jury returned a guilty verdict on all counts. Green filed a motion for new

trial, raising all the issues now raised on appeal. Following a hearing, the trial court

denied the motion, and this appeal followed.

      1. Green first argues that the evidence was insufficient to support his

convictions because the DNA evidence was inconclusive.2 We are not persuaded.

      2
        Green also argues that trial counsel was ineffective for failing to move for
directed verdict on this ground. However, he did not enumerate this issue as error.
See Carcamo v. State, 348 Ga. App. 383, 392 (2), n. 6 (823 SE2d 68) (2019) (“an
appealing party may not use its brief to expand its enumeration of errors by arguing
the incorrectness of a trial court ruling not mentioned in the enumeration of the
errors.”) (citations and punctuation omitted). Even so, because the evidence was
sufficient to support Green’s convictions, “any motion for directed verdict would
have failed, and trial counsel’s failure to make such a motion thus did not constitute
deficient performance.” (Citation and punctuation omitted.) Blount v. State, 303 Ga.
608, 613 (2) (f) (814 SE2d 372) (2018); see also Owens v. State, 324 Ga. App. 198,
202 (1) (b) (749 SE2d 783) (2013) (where evidence is sufficient to support the
convictions, a claim for ineffective assistance based on a failure to move for directed
verdict fails as a matter of law).

                                            4
      On appellate review of a criminal conviction, we view the evidence in
      the light most favorable to the jury’s verdict, and the defendant no
      longer enjoys the presumption of innocence. We do not weigh the
      evidence or judge the credibility of witnesses, but determine only if the
      evidence was sufficient for a rational trier of fact to find the defendant
      guilty of the offenses charged beyond a reasonable doubt.

(Citation omitted.) Davis v. State, ___ Ga. App. ___ (1) (848 SE2d 173, 176 (1))

(2020).

      Pursuant to OCGA § 16-6-1 (a) (1), “[a] person commits the offense of rape

when he has carnal knowledge of . . . [a] female forcibly and against her will[.]”

Carnal knowledge is defined as “any penetration of the female sex organ by the male

sex organ.” Id.

      Incest is committed when a person engages in sexual intercourse with another

person whom he knows he is related to by blood or marriage as father and child.

OCGA § 16-6-22 (a) (1).

      A person commits aggravated child molestation by engaging in an immoral or

indecent act involving sodomy with a child under the age of 16 years with the intent

to arouse or satisfy the sexual desires of either himself or the child. OCGA § 16-6-4

                                          5
(a) (1), (c). Sodomy includes performing or submitting to any sexual act involving the

sex organs of one person and the mouth of another. OCGA § 16-6-2 (a) (1).

       Here, the victim is Green’s biological daughter and she was 15 years old at the

time of the assault. She testified that Green got into her bed, put his mouth on her

vagina, put his penis in her mouth, and forcibly penetrated her vagina with his penis

after she refused to consent to the act. This evidence is sufficient to satisfy the

elements of the above charges. OCGA §§ 16-6-1 (a) (1); 16-6-22 (a) (1); 16-6-4 (a)

(1), (c); see also Tinson v. State, 337 Ga. App. 83, 85 (1) (785 SE2d 914) (2016)

(“Georgia law does not require corroboration of a sexual crime victim’s testimony.”);

OCGA § 24-14-8 (“The testimony of a single witness is generally sufficient to

establish a fact.”).

       Nevertheless, Green contends that the evidence was insufficient because the

DNA results were too broad to identify him as the assailant beyond a reasonable

doubt. However, our review of the record reveals that Green’s trial counsel engaged

in a thorough and sifting cross-examination of the forensic biologist to explore the

limitations of the DNA results. Essentially, Green asks us to reweigh the evidence,

which we may not do. Davis, ___ Ga. App. at ___ (1) (848 SE2d at 176 (1)). Rather,

it was for “the jury to resolve conflicts in the evidence and to determine the credibility

                                            6
of witnesses, and the resolution of such conflicts adversely to the defendant does not

render the evidence insufficient.” (Citation and punctuation omitted.) Jones v. State,

304 Ga. 320, 323 (2) (818 SE2d 499) (2018); see also Pruitt v. State, 349 Ga. App.

101, 105 (825 SE2d 490) (2019) (“As long as there is some competent evidence, even

though contradicted, to support each fact necessary to make out the State’s case, the

jury’s verdict will be upheld.”) (citation omitted).

      And, although Green testified and denied the victim’s accusations, the jury was

under no obligation to believe him. See Battle v. State, 305 Ga. 268, 271 (1) (b) (824

SE2d 335) (2019) (jury may reject a defendant’s self-serving testimony). To the

contrary, because there was other evidence of Green’s guilt, including the testimony

of the nurse and the forensic interviewer, as well as Green’s admission that he had

previously been convicted of statutory rape, the jury was entitled to reject his

testimony as false and treat it as substantive evidence of his own guilt. See Daughtie

v. State, 297 Ga. 261, 263-264 (2) (773 SE2d 263) (2015). Accordingly, we find that

the evidence was sufficient to support Green’s convictions.

      2. Green next contends that the trial court erred by disallowing two of his

proposed voir dire questions because those questions would have exposed the jurors’

bias. We conclude that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in this regard.

                                           7
       “The limits a court may place on voir dire questions lie largely within the sound

discretion of the court, and we will not interfere with the exercise of that discretion

unless it is manifestly abused.” Lester v. State, 343 Ga. App. 618, 620 (1) (807 SE2d

922) (2017).

       Here, the trial court approved all of Green’s proposed voir dire questions, but

two:

       Does anyone believe that when a child molestation allegation is made
       by a child or teenager, that it must be true?

       Does anyone believe that a child or teenager could never fabricate an
       allegation of child molestation?

       OCGA § 15-12-133 controls the scope of permissible juror voir dire

examinations:

       In the examination, the counsel for either party shall have the right to
       inquire of the individual prospective jurors examined touching any
       matter or thing which would illustrate any interest of the prospective
       juror in the case, including any opinion as to which party ought to
       prevail, . . . [and] any fact or circumstance indicating any inclination,
       leaning, or bias which the prospective juror might have respecting the
       subject matter of the action or the counsel or parties thereto[.]

                                           8
      “Voir dire should allow both parties an opportunity to ascertain the ability of

the prospective jurors to decide the case on its merits, with objectivity and freedom

from bias and prior inclination.” (Citation omitted.) Lester, 343 Ga. App. at 620 (1).

However, “no question should require a response from a juror that might amount to

a prejudgment of the case.” Id.; see also Uniform Superior Court Rule 10.1.

      Here, the questions Green requested went directly to the credibility of the

victim, and thus to Green’s defense that the accusations against him were fabricated.

In essence, these questions were designed to determine whether the jurors would

accept his defense, and thus impermissibly sought to elicit a prejudgment of the case.

As such, the trial court was well within its discretion to reject them. See Lester, 343

Ga. App. at 620-621 (1); USCR 10.1.

      Moreover, the trial court excused two jurors who indicated they were biased

against Green. And during voir dire, Green was permitted to explore whether

individual jurors had any personal bias with respect to sex crimes committed against

children. Thus, the omission of the above two questions did not prevent Green from

exposing juror bias related to sex crimes against children in general, and any possible

error was harmless. See Slack v. State, 354 Ga. App. 727, 730-731 (1) (841 SE2d

                                          9
231) (2020). Accordingly, the trial court did not abuse its discretion in disallowing

the questions.

      3. Green contends that the trial court erred by finding that he acquiesced in the

waiver of his presence at bench conferences during voir dire. We disagree.

      Embodied within the constitutional right to the courts is a criminal
      defendant’s right to be present and see and hear all the proceedings
      which are had against him on the trial before the Court. Violations of
      this due process right are presumed prejudicial, and, absent a waiver by
      the defendant, require a new trial. . . . The right to be present attaches at
      any stage of a criminal proceeding that is critical to its outcome if the
      defendant’s presence would contribute to the fairness of the procedure.
      Thus, a “critical stage” of a criminal proceeding is defined as one in
      which the defendant’s rights may be lost, defenses waived, privileges
      claimed or waived, or one in which the outcome of the case is
      substantially affected in some other way. Proceedings during which the
      jury is selected or modified, for example, are a critical stage at which the
      right to be present attaches.

(Citations and punctuation omitted.) Brewner v. State, 302 Ga. 6, 9-10 (II) (804 SE2d

94) (2017).

      Here, the trial court held a bench conference at which three prospective jurors

were called up in turn to be questioned by the court, the State, and Green’s trial

counsel, and each juror was dismissed thereafter and immediately exited the

                                           10
courtroom. It is undisputed that Green was not present at the bench conference, and

the State concedes Green had a right to be present at this critical stage of the

proceedings. Brewner, 302 Ga. at 10 (II); see also Bernier v. State, 354 Ga. App. 339,

349 (4) (840 SE2d 748) (2020). Our inquiry does not end, however, with the

impropriety of Green’s exclusion from this bench conference. We next consider

whether Green waived his right to be present.

      [T]he right to be present belongs to the defendant, and he is free to
      relinquish it if he so chooses. The right to be present is waived if the
      defendant personally waives it in court; if counsel waives it at the
      defendant’s express direction; if counsel waives it in open court while
      the defendant is present; or if counsel waives it and the defendant
      subsequently acquiesces in the waiver. As our precedents explain,
      acquiescence, which is a tacit consent to acts or conditions, may occur
      when counsel makes no objection and a defendant remains silent after
      he or she is made aware of the proceedings occurring in his or her
      absence. Acquiescence implies a knowledge of those things which are
      acquiesced in, as one can not acquiesce in a wrong while ignorant that
      it has been committed.

(Citations and punctuation omitted.) Burney v. State, 299 Ga. 813, 820 (3) (b) (792

SE2d 354) (2016). Although Green bears the burden of showing he was denied the

right to be present at the bench conference, the State bears the burden to show he

                                         11
waived that right. Pruitt v. State, 354 Ga. App. 73, 76 (2) (840 SE2d 597) (2020). Our

analysis of whether Green acquiesced in the waiver of his right to be present is fact-

intensive, and the trial court’s findings of fact are upheld unless clearly erroneous.

Champ v. State, No. S20A1552, ___ Ga. ___ (2) (c), 2021 WL 536261, at *7 (2) (c)

(___ SE2d ___) (2021).

      We conclude the State has met its burden. Here, Green had been present in the

courtroom while the trial court asked the jurors the qualifying questions set forth in

OCGA § 15-12-64 (a), and was therefore able to observe three jurors raise their hands

to indicate that they could not be impartial in their consideration of his case. He was

then able to observe the trial court calling these jurors to the bench for further

questioning, and each juror departing the courtroom thereafter. Moreover, at the new

trial hearing, Green’s trial counsel testified that it was his practice to inform Green

of what was said during any bench conferences outside of his presence, and that

Green approved every juror that was seated. By then remaining silent, Green

acquiesced in the waiver of his right to be present at the bench conferences. See

Fordham v. State, 352 Ga. App. 520, 523-524 (1) (835 SE2d 360) (2019) (defendant

acquiesced in his exclusion from bench conferences where he was present during jury

selection, observed potential jurors indicate that they could not remain impartial and

                                          12
their subsequent dismissal after further questioning by the court and counsel at the

bench); see also Bernier, 354 Ga. App. at 349-350 (4) (defendant acquiesced to the

waiver of his presence at bench conferences where he “saw jurors being questioned

and on two occasions excused, and voiced no objection”); Bagwell v. State, 329 Ga.

App. 122, 125 (1) (764 SE2d 149) (2014).3 The trial court did not err in so finding.

      4. Green next argues that the trial court erred by disallowing the crime lab

reports to go back with the jury during deliberations. We disagree.

      At the outset, we note that Green failed to object to the trial court’s ruling on

this issue. Our review is thus limited to plain error review. See Rainwater v. State,

300 Ga. 800, 802 (2) (797 SE2d 889) (2017). To show plain error, Green must

establish “that the error was not affirmatively waived; that it was obvious beyond

reasonable dispute; that it likely affected the outcome of the proceedings; and that it

seriously affected the fairness, integrity, or public reputation of the proceedings.”

      3
         Green’s reliance on Gillespie v. State, 333 Ga. App. 565 (774 SE2d 255)
(2015) (physical precedent only), is misplaced as it is factually distinguishable. In
Gillespie, we found that the defendant could not have acquiesced in the waiver of his
right to be present at bench conferences where, unlike the case at hand, the trial court
had not dismissed the challenged juror immediately following the bench conference
and trial counsel did not recall informing the defendant of what had occurred during
bench conferences. Id. at 568-569 (1) (a). Moreover, Gillespie is physical precedent
only, and is therefore not binding on our decision here. Court of Appeals Rule 33.2
(a) (2).

                                          13
Howard v. State, 307 Ga. 12, 15 (2) (834 SE2d 11) (2019). “Satisfying all four prongs

of this standard is difficult, as it should be.” (Citation and punctuation omitted.) State

v. Kelly, 290 Ga. 29, 33 (2) (a) (718 SE2d 232) (2011); OCGA § 24-1-103 (d).

      Pretermitting whether the trial court erred by disallowing the DNA reports to

go back with the jury during its deliberations, Green cannot show that this decision

likely affected the outcome of the proceedings. This is particularly so because neither

report was markedly favorable to the defense. Moreover, the forensic biologist was

thoroughly examined and cross-examined on these results. And the jury was able to

hear the victim’s testimony, which remained consistent throughout the investigation,

as well as Green’s prior conviction, and the testimony of the nurse and the forensic

interviewer. In light of this overwhelming evidence of guilt, Green has failed to show

plain error. See Rainwater, 300 Ga. at 804 (2); Crankshaw v. State, 336 Ga. App. 700,

701 (2) (786 SE2d 245) (2016).

      5. Green contends the trial court abused its discretion by commenting on the

victim’s virginity prior to sentencing and by allowing such testimony at trial. These

arguments are unavailing.

      (a) Trial court’s comment at sentencing.

                                           14
      At the sentencing hearing, the trial court made the following comment: “And

now [Green’s] daughter is forever going to live the rest of her life with that taken

away from her, her virginity, her dignity, and her father.” Green did not object to this

statement, and the trial court then sentenced him to life without parole on the rape

count, thirty years’ imprisonment to run concurrent on the incest count, and a life

sentence to run concurrent on the aggravated child molestation count.

      By failing to object, Green waived this issue on appeal. See Lanham v. State,

345 Ga. App. 657, 666 (2) (813 SE2d 184) (2018) (defendant waived issue on appeal

by failing to object to prosecutor’s statements regarding a prior conviction during

sentencing). Nevertheless, because each sentence was within the statutory range of

punishment, and given the severity of the crimes, he cannot show he was harmed by

the trial court’s statement, even if it was made in error. See Jones v. State, 343 Ga.

App. 180, 186 (7) (806 SE2d 631) (2017) (“Unless affirmative evidence shows

otherwise, the trial court is presumed to have exercised its discretion in imposing a

sentence.”) (citation and punctuation omitted); Ellicott v. State, 320 Ga. App. 729,

735-736 (4) (740 SE2d 716) (2013) (defendant could not show trial court’s comments

at sentencing harmed him where sentence was in the permissible statutory range); see

also OCGA § 16-6-1 (b); OCGA § 16-6-22 (b); OCGA § 16-6-4 (d) (1).

                                          15
      (b) Testimony at trial.

      To the extent Green contends that the trial court erred by admitting evidence

of the victim’s virginity at trial, our review is again limited to plain error because he

failed to raise a timely objection to this testimony. White v. State, 305 Ga. 111, 120

(3) (823 SE2d 794) (2019); OCGA § 24-1-103 (d).

      The victim testified that, after Green undressed her, he asked her if she was a

virgin and if she wanted him to be the one who took her virginity. And this statement

was also recounted by the investigating officer. Notably, the State did not specifically

elicit this testimony from either witness. Nevertheless, the State concedes that this

evidence of the victim’s past sexual behavior violated the Rape Shield Statute. White,

305 Ga. at 118 (1); OCGA § 24-4-412 (a).

      Even so, Green cannot show plain error because the admission of this evidence

did not likely affect the outcome of his trial. White, 305 Ga. at 120 (3). Importantly,

the prejudicial effect of the references to the victim’s virginity was mitigated by later

testimony that she had engaged in some sexual contact with her boyfriend days before

the assault. Moreover, in closing argument, Green sought to portray the victim as a

liar, who fabricated the accusations in order to cover up the fact that she had

consensual sexual intercourse with her boyfriend and was afraid of getting pregnant.

                                           16
In this light, the testimony regarding the victim’s virginity merely went to her

credibility in general. Moreover, the evidence of Green’s guilt was overwhelming

regardless of this testimony. Green thus cannot show that the trial court plainly erred

by admitting evidence of the victim’s past sexual behavior. Id. at 123-124 (3);

Crankshaw, 336 Ga. App. at 701 (2).

      6. Green claims the trial court erred by impermissibly informing the jury of his

prior criminal history before it had been put in evidence, and by giving an untimely

limiting instruction. Green fails to show how he was harmed even if the trial court

erred in this respect.

      Prior to trial, the State filed its notice of intent to present evidence of Green’s

previous statutory rape conviction. Green requested a limiting instruction to be given

when the evidence was presented and during the final jury charge. On direct

examination, the victim’s mother testified that she was aware of previous allegations

against Green involving “inappropriate activities” with a fifteen-year-old.4 Her

      4
         To the extent Green now claims this testimony was inadmissible hearsay, he
does not separately enumerate this claim as error, and offers no argument or legal
authority in support of this conclusive statement. We thus deem this claim abandoned.
Cooper v. State, No. A20A1946, ___ Ga. App. ___, 2021 WL 285960, at *1 (___
SE2d___) (2021); Carcamo, 348 Ga. App. at 392 (2), n. 6; Court of Appeals Rule 25
(c) (2).

                                          17
examination continued and, at its conclusion, the trial court issued a limiting

instruction with regard to this testimony. In doing so, the trial court referenced

Green’s prior statutory rape charge that had not yet been entered into evidence. The

trial court issued the limiting instruction again in its final charge to the jury.

       Green fails to show how he was harmed by the timing of the trial court’s

limiting instruction or by its reference to statutory rape because he later admitted to

pleading guilty to this charge in his own testimony. See Castillo v. State, 309 Ga.

App. 555, 557 (710 SE2d 703) (2011) (“It is well settled that harm as well as error

must be shown to warrant reversal.”) (citation and punctuation omitted). Accordingly,

the trial court did not err in this regard.

       7. Green next contends that trial counsel rendered ineffective assistance in

several respects. We address each claim in turn, and conclude that he has failed to

meet his burden to show ineffective assistance of counsel.

       To succeed on a claim that counsel was constitutionally ineffective, [the
       defendant] must show both that his attorney’s performance was
       deficient, and that he was prejudiced as a result. Strickland v.
       Washington, 466 U. S. 668, 687 (III) (104 SCt. 2052, 80 LE.2d 674)
       (1984). Under the first prong of this test, counsel’s performance will be
       found deficient only if it was objectively unreasonable under the
       circumstances and in light of prevailing professional norms. And under

                                              18
      the second prong, prejudice is demonstrated only where there is a
      reasonable probability that, absent counsel’s errors, the result of the trial
      would have been different. A “reasonable probability” is defined as a
      probability sufficient to undermine confidence in the outcome. Failure
      to satisfy either prong of the Strickland test is sufficient to defeat a claim
      of ineffective assistance, and it is not incumbent upon this Court to
      examine the other prong. And although both the performance and
      prejudice components of an ineffectiveness inquiry involve mixed
      questions of law and fact, a trial court’s factual findings made in the
      course of deciding an ineffective assistance of counsel claim will be
      affirmed by the reviewing court unless clearly erroneous.

(Citations and punctuation omitted.) Green v. State, 302 Ga. 816, 817-818 (2) (809

SE2d 738) (2018).

      (a) Green first argues that trial counsel was ineffective for failing to consult or

hire experts in DNA testing, sexual assault examinations or general gynecology, and

forensic interview techniques, and to seek independent testing of the DNA samples.

We disagree.

      “An appellate court evaluates counsel’s performance from counsel’s

perspective at the time of trial. As a general rule, matters of reasonable tactics and

strategy, whether wise or unwise, do not amount to ineffective assistance of counsel.”

                                           19
(Citation omitted.) Reyes-Castro v. State, 352 Ga. App. 48, 67 (4) (833 SE2d 735)

(2019). And, “mere speculation on the defendant’s part is insufficient to establish

Strickland prejudice.” Pierce v. State, 286 Ga. 194, 198 (4) (686 SE2d 656) (2009).

      (i) Failure to hire a DNA expert.

      At the new trial hearing, Green called an opposing expert in DNA analysis,

who opined that the test used to match Green’s haplotype identified a fairly large

population because that DNA profile originates from multiple past generations and

expands exponentially over time. The expert further testified that the crime lab should

have conducted serological testing to look for the presence of sperm and also tested

the victim’s clothing for the presence of sperm and/or DNA.

      We first note that Green’s counsel explored the purported deficiencies in the

haplotype results at trial during the cross-examination of the forensic biologist.

Moreover, at the new trial hearing, trial counsel testified that the weakness of the

DNA evidence was favorable to Green’s defense, and he used the deficiencies to

Green’s advantage during closing argument. As such, trial counsel made a strategic

decision to proceed with the perceptibly favorable testimony of the State’s forensic

biologist at trial, and Green thus cannot show that the failure to hire additional

forensic experts to contest the DNA results was patently unreasonable. See

                                          20
Reyes-Castro, 352 Ga. App. at 67-68 (4) (trial counsel made a reasonable strategic

decision by not calling witnesses at trial that would have no benefit to the defense);

see also Lawton v. State, 340 Ga. App. 903, 905 (2) (798 SE2d 264) (2017) (trial

counsel’s decision not to call an expert, but to instead attack the opinion of the State’s

expert on cross-examination was not unreasonable).

      (ii) Failure to perform independent testing.

      Green cannot show that the verdict would have been affected had trial counsel

sought independent testing of the DNA samples and the victim’s clothes. First, the

results of any such testing are entirely speculative. Second, as noted by Green’s trial

counsel at the new trial hearing, the results of these tests may have been adverse to

Green. As such, he cannot show that he was prejudiced in this regard. See Pierce, 286

Ga. at 198 (4).

      (iii) Failure to hire other experts.

      Nor can Green show that he was prejudiced by trial counsel’s failure to hire

experts in sexual assault testing, gynecology, or forensic interviewing techniques.

      “To show prejudice on a claim that trial counsel failed to adequately investigate

the case, [Green] had to at least make a proffer as to what additional investigation

would have uncovered, and not merely speculate that such information exists and

                                             21
would have made a difference.” (Citation and punctuation omitted.) Lupoe v. State,

300 Ga. 233, 241 (2) (b) (794 SE2d 67) (2016). But Green made no such proffer with

respect to these categories of experts at the new trial hearing. As such, he cannot

show that the verdict would have been different, and thus cannot satisfy the prejudice

prong of Strickland. Lupoe, 300 Ga. at 241 (2) (b); see also Colbert v. State, 345 Ga.

App. 554, 556-557 (2) (813 SE2d 777) (2018); Madge v. State, 245 Ga. App. 848,

851 (3) (a) (538 SE2d 907) (2000) (“Absent a proffer of what the testimony of his

expert would have been at trial, [defendant] cannot show that there is a reasonable

probability that the outcome of the trial would have been different had his counsel

taken the suggested course.”).

      (b) Green next claims that trial counsel was ineffective for failing to preserve

his right to be present at bench conferences during jury selection and at trial.

Specifically, he claims that his presence at those during jury selection “would have

changed the composition of the jury and thus the outcome of the case.” Even

assuming trial counsel was deficient in this respect, Green cannot show he was

prejudiced as a result.

      Green did not testify at the new trial hearing and thus did not share what

information he could have offered to his trial counsel at any bench conference. As

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such, this claim is purely speculative, and “[m]ere speculation will not support a

claim of ineffective assistance of counsel.” (Citation omitted.) Ramirez v. State, 345

Ga. App. 611, 622 (3) (c) (814 SE2d 751) (2018); Pierce, 286 Ga. at 198 (4).

      (c) Green further claims that trial counsel was ineffective for failing to object

to or seek a mistrial following the testimony regarding the victim’s virginity. Again,

he cannot meet his burden to show he was prejudiced by this alleged deficiency.

      In Division 5 (b), supra, we determined that Green failed to show that this

evidence likely affected the outcome of the trial under a plain error review.

Accordingly, he cannot show that trial court’s failure to object to this evidence

affected the verdict. See Lupoe, 300 Ga. at 243-244 (4), (5) (defendant could not

establish plain error or ineffective assistance of counsel where purported inadmissible

hearsay did not affect the outcome of the trial); Bozzie v. State, 302 Ga. 704, 711 (4)

(b) (808 SE2d 671) (2017) (“The prejudice step of the plain-error standard is

equivalent to the prejudice prong for an ineffective assistance of counsel claim.”).

Accordingly, Green has not met his burden to show trial counsel rendered ineffective

assistance.

      8. Finally, Green claims that he is entitled to a new trial based on the

cumulative errors of the trial court and trial counsel. However, “his cumulative error

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argument fails because there are no errors to cumulate.” Lynn v. State, ___ Ga. ___

(852 SE2d 843, 846, 853 (4) (c) (iii), n. 5) (2020); Crider v. State, 356 Ga. App. 36,

50 (4) (846 SE2d 205) (2020) (where there is no error, there cannot be cumulative

error).

          For all of these reasons, the trial court properly denied Green’s motion for new

trial, and we affirm.

          Judgment affirmed. Reese, P. J., and Colvin, J., concur.

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