Gee v. State, 55898

• Decision Date: 03 July 1978
• Docket Number: No. 55898,55898
• Citation: 146 Ga.App. 528,246 S.E.2d 720
• Parties: GEE et al. v. The STATE.
• Court: Georgia Court of Appeals

Page 720

246 S.E.2d 720

146 Ga.App. 528

GEE et al. v. The STATE.

No. 55898.

Court of Appeals of Georgia.

Submitted June 7, 1978.

Decided July 3, 1978.

Loggins & Murray, Hulon Murray, Gainesville, for appellants.

Jeff C. Wayne, Dist. Atty., James H. Whitmer, Asst. Dist. Atty., for appellee.

McMURRAY, Judge.

Defendants were indicted for and convicted of the offense of motor vehicle theft. Defendants appeal, contending that the circumstantial evidence presented by the state is not sufficient to support the verdict and that the trial court erred in the charge on flight. Held:

1. "To warrant a conviction on circumstantial evidence, the proved facts shall not only be consistent with guilt but shall exclude every other reasonable hypothesis save that of guilt of the accused. Code § 38-109. Such evidence need not exclude Every inference or hypothesis except guilt of an accused, but only Reasonable inferences and hypotheses, so as to justify the inference, beyond a reasonable doubt, of guilt. Rogers v. State, 139 Ga.App. 656, 659, 229 S.E.2d 132. 'Questions as to reasonableness are generally to be decided by the jury which heard the evidence and where the jury is authorized to find the evidence, though circumstantial, was sufficient to exclude every reasonable hypothesis save that of guilt, the appellate court will not disturb that finding, unless the verdict of guilty is unsupportable as a matter of law.' Harris v. State, 236 Ga. 242, 245, 223 S.E.2d 643." Parker v. State, 142 Ga.App. 396, 397, 236 S.E.2d 141, 142.

Here, the state has shown that defendants were at Clark's home on the Saturday night that Clark's pickup truck was stolen. The following day defendant Gee was recognized as the passenger in defendant Davis' automobile at the deserted location where tires from the stolen truck were found lying beside the road. Soon thereafter Davis' automobile was found parked and locked. Examination of defendant Davis' automobile revealed a citizens' band antenna taken from the truck. Also found in defendant Davis' car were pieces of tallow such as found on the tires and on the truck due to Clark's work in and around rendering plants. Both defendants admitted to an officer they were together for a considerable period of time during that weekend, finally going to Florida. The state's evidence is sufficient to support the verdict.

2. Defendants contend that the charge on flight was erroneous in that the charge included prohibited expressions of opinion by...