Court Opinion

ID: 9576949
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 21:30:13.094997+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:19:44.438462
License: Public Domain

Thompson, Justice,
dissenting.
In the absence of a proper objection, we will review an erroneous instruction “where there has been a substantial error in the charge which was harmful as a matter of law. . . .” OCGA § 5-5-24 (c). Under the circumstances of this case, I am compelled to conclude that a portion of the charge was so highly prejudicial as to deprive defendant of a fair trial.
Lucas testified in his own defense that he went to the home of his sister in an effort to get his nephews to return some money which he believed they had taken. He brought with him a shotgun which belonged to another family member and which he had never before used. He denied an intent to assault or to shoot anyone, but believed the gun would show that he “meant business” and that he would get his money back. The house was dark except for a light in the kitchen. He approached Dante’s bedroom and demanded the return of his money. Defendant then heard a voice from behind him in the darkened hallway. He testified that as he attempted to turn around, the gun slipped from his hand, and accidentally discharged. Lucas offered the testimony of a ballistics expert which was consistent with this version of the events.
The trial court instructed the jury that “you should consider with great care and caution the evidence of any statement made by the defendant.” The foregoing instruction is included in a pattern jury charge relating to the law of confessions, based upon OCGA § 24-3-53.9 The only “statement” of the defendant offered into evidence was *518his trial testimony; and in that context, the instruction was obviously erroneous.10
Decided June 12, 1995
Reconsideration denied June 30, 1995.
Ronald J. Scholar, for appellant.
Lewis R. Slaton, District Attorney, Herman L. Sloan, Rebecca A. Keel, Assistant District Attorneys, Michael J. Bowers, Attorney General, Susan V. Boleyn, Senior Assistant Attorney General, Marla-Deen Brooks, Assistant Attorney General, for appellee.
Prior to charging the jury concerning the defendant’s statement, the court gave a general charge on credibility of witnesses, concluding with the jury’s obligation to reconcile conflicts in testimony by crediting the testimony of those witnesses “best entitled to belief.” By subsequently admonishing the jury to consider the defendant’s testimony with “great care and caution,” the court placed the defendant’s testimony in a category requiring greater scrutiny. Thus, the charge prejudiced the accused by cautioning the jury that his testimony is entitled to less weight than that of other witnesses. Where the verdict hinged on the credibility of witnesses, I find that the erroneous charge was harmful as a matter of law, thus mandating reversal of the convictions.

 See 2 Council of Superior Court Judges of Georgia, Suggested Pattern Jury Instruc*518tions, p. 32 (July 1991).

 Compare Day v. State, 193 Ga. App. 179 (2) (387 SE2d 409) (1989) (the charge was not error where the evidence consisted both of defendant’s extrajudicial statement and his in-court testimony, since the jury would have understood to apply the instruction to the proper evidence).