Hollis v. State, A89A0029

• Decision Date: 27 April 1989
• Docket Number: No. A89A0029,A89A0029
• Citation: 191 Ga.App. 525,382 S.E.2d 145
• Parties: HOLLIS v. The STATE.
• Court: Georgia Court of Appeals

Page 145

382 S.E.2d 145

191 Ga.App. 525

HOLLIS v. The STATE.

No. A89A0029.

Court of Appeals of Georgia.

April 27, 1989.

Rehearing Denied May 11, 1989.

Scott Walters, Jr., East Point, for appellant.

Lewis R. Slaton, Dist. Atty., Joseph J. Drolet, Carole E. Wall, Asst. Dist. Attys., for appellee.

McMURRAY, Presiding Judge.

Defendant filed this appeal after being convicted of robbery. Held :

1. Defendant first contends that there was an improper communication between the deputy sheriff, who was apparently acting as a bailiff, and the jury. During jury deliberations, Deputy Sheriff McIver gave to the court a note containing two questions by the jury. The note read as follows: "[D]escribe the difference between acquital [sic] & not guilty[.] Why were there no finger prints[?]"

After the jury returned its verdict and before sentencing, the following colloquy transpired: "[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: Your honor, we need to perfect the record. THE COURT: Go ahead. [STATE'S ATTORNEY]: Your Honor, defense counsel yesterday and I were called back into your chambers, and Court's exhibit 'A' was given to you by Sheriff McIver which contains two questions, describe the difference between acquittal and not guilty and why were there no fingerprints. Your answers which both defense counsel and I agreed to, number one was the same, meaning acquittal and not guilty are the same, and that you could not answer number two, they would have to rely on the evidence. [DEFENSE COUNSEL]: I think, though, that the record should reflect that the sheriff was instructed--, apparently the sheriff went back and gave the message to the jury as opposed to the court or a written answer. [STATE'S ATTORNEY]: Yes, sir. THE COURT: Sure, that was understood. [DEFENSE COUNSEL]: Of course, I didn't know what procedure the court was going to use on that. But definitely we were agreed on the answers. THE COURT: Thank you." From this record, defendant argues that it was inappropriate for the deputy sheriff to convey the message to the jury.

"A bailiff is to make no communication to a jury and is not to allow any other communication with them, except by leave of court. OCGA § 15-12-140 (Code Ann. § 59-717); Battle v. State, 234 Ga. 637 (217 SE2d 255) (1975). '(W)here a communication from the bailiff to the jury is shown, the burden is on the state to rebut by proof the presumption of harm.' Id. at 639 ; accord Wellmaker v. State, 124 Ga.App. 37 (183 SE2d 62) (1971)." Mercer v. State, 169 Ga.App. 723, 728(6), 729, 314 S.E.2d 729. However, where the bailiff's communication with the jury is by leave of court, there is no presumption of harm absent a showing that the trial court abused its discretion in directing the bailiff. Recoba v. State, 179 Ga.App. 31, 32(3), 345 S.E.2d 81.

In the case sub judice, Deputy Sheriff McIver's contact with the jury was at the direction of the trial court, " 'which is precisely when the bailiff is authorized to communicate with the jury. (Cit.)' Williams v. Douglas County School Dist., 168 Ga.App. 368(1) (309 SE2d 386) (1983)." Recoba v. State, 179 Ga.App. 31, 32(3), 345 S.E.2d 81, supra. Consequently, there remained no presumption of misconduct. Nonetheless, Deputy Sheriff McIver's communication with the jury was, in effect, a supplemental charge which should have been made in open court in the presence of defendant and his counsel. See Berryhill v. State, 235 Ga. 549, 554(12), 221 S.E.2d 185. However, " ' "[i]n considering the right of the accused to be present at every stage of the trial, and to have his counsel present, we must not lose sight of the further principle, equally well established, that a new trial will not be granted on account of an error which manifestly caused no injury to the accused. It would be trifling with justice to set aside a verdict clearly and strongly supported by the evidence, solely on the ground that such an error had been committed by the trial judge. To warrant such action by a reviewing court, it must be manifest that the error was prejudicial in character." (Cit.)' Stewart v. State, [165 Ga.App. 428, 430(2) (300 SE2d 331) ]." Recoba v. State, 179 Ga.App. 31, 32(3), 33, 345 S.E.2d 81, supra.

Under the circumstances of the case sub judice, we find no harmful error since there is nothing in the record to indicate that a timely objection was made to the trial court's procedure in responding to the jury's question; since both the State's attorney and defense counsel agreed as to what the response would be; and since the response was of a character which was unlikely to undermine the integrity of the jury's choice of verdict. See Nelson v. Smith, 228 Ga. 117, 118(2), 184 S.E.2d 150; Berryhill v. State, 235 Ga. 549, 554(12), 221 S.E.2d 185, supra, and Recoba v. State, 179 Ga.App. 31, 33(3), 34, 345 S.E.2d 81, supra.

2. In his second and third enumerations of error, defendant contends the trial court erred in permitting the testimony of a State's witness, Ms. Spence Williams.

(a) Defendant first argues that Ms. Williams' testimony should have been excluded because the State failed to accurately provide him with the witness' address as is required by Rule 30.3 of the Uniform Rules for the Superior Courts.

"Upon request of defense counsel, the district attorney shall furnish to defense counsel as an officer of the court, in confidence, the addresses and telephone numbers of the state's witnesses to the extent such are within the knowledge of the district attorney, unless for good cause the judge allows an exception to this requirement, in which event defense counsel shall be afforded an opportunity to interview such witnesses prior to the witness being called to testify." (Emphasis supplied.) Rule 30.3 of the Uniform Rules for the Superior Courts. 253 Ga. 801, 853. The purpose of this rule and "of OCGA § 17-7-110, under which the state generally must furnish a list of witnesses upon demand, is to insure that an accused is not confronted at trial with testimony of witnesses whom he has not had an opportunity to interview prior to trial. Bryant v. State, 174 Ga.App. 522 (330 SE2d 743) (1985)." Kickery v. State, 185 Ga.App. 274, 276(1), 363 S.E.2d 805.

In the case sub judice, the State's attorney stated that she provided defense counsel with the only address she had for Ms. Williams before trial. The State's attorney further stated that the address she provided defense counsel was the same address the State used to subpoena Ms. Williams for trial. Under these circumstances, we find no violation of Rule 30.3 of the Uniform Rules for the Superior Courts, supra, since the assistant district attorney provided defense counsel with the only address she had for Ms. Williams. However, assuming the contrary, we find no error in allowing Ms. Williams' testimony since the trial court provided defense counsel with an opportunity to interview Ms. Williams prior to the witness' testimony. White v. State, 253 Ga. 106, 109, 317 S.E.2d 196.

(b) Next, defendant contends Ms. Williams' testimony should have been excluded because the State's attorney prevented his attorney from conducting an effective interview of Ms. Williams prior to the witness' testimony.

The record shows that the State's attorney attended Ms. Williams during the interview period provided to defense counsel by the trial judge and that the State's attorney informed Ms. Williams that "if she wanted to talk to [defense counsel], she could, [but] if she didn't want to, she didn't have to." Ms....