Kirkland v. State

• Decision Date: 14 June 1999
• Docket Number: No. S99A0413.,S99A0413.
• Citation: 518 S.E.2d 687,271 Ga. 217
• Court: Georgia Supreme Court
• Parties: KIRKLAND v. The STATE.

518 S.E.2d 687

271 Ga. 217

KIRKLAND v. The STATE.

No. S99A0413.

Supreme Court of Georgia.

June 14, 1999.

James S. Lewis, Atlanta, for appellant.

J. Tom Morgan, District Attorney, Barbara B. Conroy, Assistant District Attorney, Thurbert E. Baker, Attorney General, Paula K. Smith, Senior Assistant Attorney General, Jeanne K. Strickland, Assistant Attorney General, for appellee.

HINES, Justice.

Kenneth Kirkland appeals his convictions for malice murder, felony murder, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. For the reasons that follow, we affirm. ¹

Responding to a shooting report, police found Kenneth Lawson in the front passenger seat of a car, dead from two gunshot wounds in the right shoulder and neck. Kirkland and Lawson, who were friends, were with other friends in front of a house, drinking and doing drugs. Lawson frequently teased Kirkland about his small size, which embarrassed and angered Kirkland. On the evening of the murder, Kirkland became angry when he believed he overheard Lawson, who was seated in a car, speaking to another person and making fun of him. Kirkland went to retrieve his gun. Upon returning, Kirkland showed the gun to Lawson who continued to laugh at him. Kirkland then fired the two fatal shots.

When the police located Kirkland, he surrendered, putting his hands up and saying he "did it" and that he had a good reason. He was taken to the police station, was read his Miranda warnings, waived those rights, and made a statement in which he admitted shooting Lawson.

1. Kirkland's statement was entered into evidence and he testified at trial that he shot Lawson. He contends these confessions were uncorroborated and therefore insufficient to support his convictions. See OCGA § 24-3-53. The statute is satisfied if the confession is corroborated in any particular. Miller v. State, 268 Ga. 1, 2, 485 S.E.2d 752 (1997). Lawson was found dead in a car owned by Truitt, which is the car which Kirkland identified as the place he shot Lawson. Kirkland also stated he fired two shots from a two-shot .38 caliber pistol; medical evidence showed Lawson died from being shot by two bullets that were larger than .32 caliber. Kirkland's statements were sufficiently corroborated to satisfy OCGA § 24-3-53.

Further, the evidence authorized the jury to find Kirkland guilty of the crimes of which he was convicted under the standard set forth in Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 99 S.Ct. 2781, 61 L.Ed.2d 560 (1979).

2. Kirkland contends the court should have struck two prospective jurors for cause. Voir dire of the jury panel was not recorded, but the court permitted Kirkland to perfect the record on the matter. One juror stated that she did not believe anyone should possess a firearm and expressed the opinion that this belief would affect her ability to be fair and impartial, knowing that the defendant had possessed a pistol. The court asked the juror whether she could put aside those feelings and decide the case based on the evidence and the court's instructions, specifically inquiring about the charge relating to possession of a firearm, and the juror responded that she could and would do so.

The second juror at issue emotionally recounted that two acquaintances and relatives of friends had been shot and killed, and that this could affect her ability to be fair and impartial. The court inquired whether she could put aside those feelings and decide the case based on the evidence and the court's instructions, and the juror responded that she could and would do so.

Whether to strike a juror for cause lies within the sound discretion of the trial court. Garland v. State, 263 Ga. 495, 496(1), 435 S.E.2d 431 (1993). Before a juror is to be excused for cause, it must be shown that he or she holds an opinion of the guilt or innocence of the defendant that is so fixed and definite that the juror will be unable to set the opinion aside and decide the case based upon the evidence or the court's charge upon the evidence. Id.; McClain v. State, 267 Ga. 378, 380(1)(a), 477 S.E.2d 814 (1996). A conclusion on an issue of bias is based on findings of demeanor and credibility which are peculiarly in the trial court's province, and those findings are to be given deference. Holmes v. State, 269 Ga. 124, 126(2), 498 S.E.2d 732 (1998).

Neither of the challenged jurors expressed an opinion on Kirkland's guilt or innocence, and upon further questioning both unequivocally testified that they could put aside their feelings and experiences and properly decide the case. The court did not abuse its discretion in refusing to strike the two challenged jurors for cause.

3. During closing argument, the State showed visual aids on which were written the text of expected legal instructions. Prior to argument, Kirkland asked for, and received a continuing objection to this practice, on the ground that it was tantamount to a charge on the law, which is exclusively the province of the court. Unquestionably, the jury is to receive the law from the court, not from counsel. Conklin v. State, 254 Ga. 558, 570(10), 331 S.E.2d 532 (1985). However, counsel have every right to refer to applicable law in argument; it is law that the court will not charge the jury that counsel is prohibited from presenting. Id. at 570-571, 331 S.E.2d 532. See also Minter v. State, 266 Ga. 73, 74(2), 463 S.E.2d 119 (1995); Kinsman v. State, 259 Ga. 89, 92(11), 376 S.E.2d 845 (1989). The practice of "reading the law" has been abolished in Georgia, but "counsel may still discuss, or even argue, during closing arguments the law that will be included in the court's charge." Minter, supra. Kirkland does not contend that the law shown on the visual aids was misstated or different from that which the court charged to the jury. ²

Further, Kirkland fails to show any harm from the practice as the court informed the jury that its instruction on the law was to come from the court. Additionally, the evidence of Kirkland's guilt was overwhelming and it is highly unlikely that the State's action in closing argument contributed to the guilty verdicts, and thus any error associated with the State's argument was harmless. See Carter v. State, 269 Ga. 891, 893(5), 506 S.E.2d 124 (1998).

4. Kirkland raises in this Court, for the first time, a claim of ineffective assistance of trial counsel. He was represented by attorneys of the DeKalb County Public Defender's Office both at trial and on his motion for new trial. Thus, it must be concluded that this issue is being raised at the first practicable moment. See Ryan v. Thomas, 261 Ga. 661, 662, 409 S.E.2d 507 (1991). As this claim has not been addressed by the trial court, the case is remanded for a hearing and determination on the ineffective assistance claim. Russell v. State, 267 Ga. 865, 868(4), 485 S.E.2d 717 (1997). Judgments affirmed and case remanded with direction.

All the Justices concur except FLETCHER, P.J., and SEARS and CARLEY, JJ., who concur specially.

CARLEY, Justice, concurring specially.

Although I agree with Divisions 1, 2, and 4 of the majority opinion, and concur in the ultimate judgment of affirmance and remand, I disagree with the holding in Division 3 that it is only the law which the trial court will not charge to the jury that counsel is prohibited from presenting to the jury in closing argument. Therefore, I concur specially.

It is fundamental that an attorney may not argue to the jury legal principles which differ from those the trial court will charge. However, Georgia case law also prohibits counsel f...