Court Opinion

ID: 9591444
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 00:04:25.438829+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:19:31.870713
License: Public Domain

Hill, Chief Justice,
concurring specially.
I concur specially in Division 2 of the majority opinion based upon my understanding that, to be consistent with McCrary v. State, 254 Ga. 382 (2a) (329 SE2d 473) (1985), the state may reindict the defendant only for malice murder, or felony murder with the underlying felony being aggravated assault, or both. Where a person murders another by suffocation, as alleged in the original indictment, he assaults “with intent to murder” within the meaning of OCGA § 16-5-21 (a) (aggravated assault). 1
On the other hand, in my view the defendant may not be re-indicted for felony murder with the underlying felony being child molestation, or kidnapping. McCrary v. State, supra, Division 2b. Based upon this understanding, I concur specially in Division 2 of the majority opinion.

 I conclude that the defendant can be reindicted for malice and felony murder because, in my view, he could have been convicted on the original indictment for felony murder with the underlying felony being aggravated assault.