Court Opinion

ID: 9589376
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 23:43:54.651999+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:01:01.773886
License: Public Domain

Sognier, Judge,
dissenting.
I respectfully dissent to the reversal of this case as to Count II. The crime laboratory report stated: “Results: The white tablet is positive for methaqualone, Schedule II.” The Assistant D. A. testified “I told you [defense counsel] verbally in my office several weeks ago that they found one tablet on Mr. Luck and I had a verbal from the Crime Lab that it was positive for methaqualone.” Also, “All right, we did not have until late yesterday afternoon a copy of the Crime Lab report. And we have not as of this time received a copy from the Crime Lab. The only copy I have is a copy contained in a police report turned over to me yesterday afternoon by Mitch Williams, that’s the only copy I have and that’s the reason, Mr. Perry, you were not served with a copy of it since we did not have it in our possession.
“Q. You received it yesterday afternoon?
“A. Late yesterday afternoon, yes, sir. I would say it was shortly before 5:00.” The record shows a copy of the written report was then turned over to the defendant’s attorney the next morning.
I can see no prejudice resulting to the defendant by the District Attorney’s acts in this instance. Certainly the overriding purpose of Code Ann. § 27-1303 is to timely furnish the defendant the contents of such reports so he might adequately prepare for trial. This was done. Absent a showing of prejudice, I see no harmful error. Under Blackmon v. State, 158 Ga. App. 665, 666-667 (281 SE2d 634) (1981), we held a similar omission if error to be harmless. I would affirm such holding, not overrule it.
I am authorized to state that Judge Banke joins in this dissent.