Court Opinion

ID: 9569220
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 20:11:36.878528+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:50:31.507395
License: Public Domain

Fletcher, Justice,
concurring.
In Williams v. State, 261 Ga. 640 (409 SE2d 649) (1991), we held that in order for the state to introduce independent act evidence it must make three affirmative showings to the court in a Rule 31.3 (B) hearing with regard to each independent act or offense it wished to introduce at trial. I write solely for the purpose of making it clear that the state made all three of these affirmative showings, and, because of such showings, we affirm the trial court’s order in Division 1.
First, the state must show that it intends to introduce the evidence for an appropriate purpose which has been deemed to be an exception to the general rule of inadmissibility and not for the purpose of raising an improper inference with regard to the accused’s character. Second, the state must show sufficient evidence to establish that the accused committed the independent act. Third, the state must show there is a sufficient connection or similarity between the independent act and the crime charged such that proof of the former tends to prove the latter. The state must show “that each of these three showings has been satisfactorily made” as to each independent act it wishes to introduce into evidence. (Emphasis supplied.) Williams, 261 Ga. at 642.
The state presents these independent acts for the proper purpose of showing identity, course of conduct and scheme. As the majority noted, at the Rule 31.3 (B) hearing, the state made a sufficient showing that the accused committed the independent acts and that there was a sufficient similarity between the acts and the crime charged such that proof of the former tended to prove the latter. Since the state has made the three affirmative showings required under Williams, I would affirm.
*31Thomas J. Charron, District Attorney, Frank R. Cox, Russell J. Parker, Debra H. Bernes, Nancy I. Jordan, Assistant District Attorneys, Michael J. Bowers, Attorney General, Paige M. Reese, Staff Attorney, for appellee.