Padgett v. State, 53538

• Decision Date: 05 April 1977
• Docket Number: No. 53538,No. 2,53538,2
• Citation: 235 S.E.2d 545,142 Ga.App. 139
• Parties: Marilyn PADGETT et al. v. The STATE
• Court: Georgia Court of Appeals

Page 545

235 S.E.2d 545

142 Ga.App. 139

Marilyn PADGETT et al. v. The STATE.

No. 53538.

Court of Appeals of Georgia, Division No. 2.

April 5, 1977.

Rehearing Denied April 29, 1977.

John R. Calhoun, George M. Hubbard, III, Savannah, for appellants.

Andrew J. Ryan, Jr., Dist. Atty., Robert M. Hitch, III, Asst. Dist. Atty., Savannah, for appellee.

SHULMAN, Judge.

Appellants were convicted of prostitution and pimping in a joint trial. Certain offenses took place on different dates. The trial court denied motions for severance and also denied motions on the same ground at the trial. Motions for new trial were filed based on alleged error by the trial court and abuse of its discretion in refusing severance and contending that it was prejudicial to appellants to be tried at the same time as other related crimes and defendants. Appellants appeal the denial of such motions.

The Supreme Court in Caim v. State, 235 Ga. 128, 129, 218 S.E.2d 856, 857 held: "The relevant American Bar Association Minimum Standards relating to joinder and severance provide that the court should grant a severance before or during the trial whenever it appears 'necessary to achieve a fair determination of the guilt or innocence of a defendant.' ABA Standards, § 2.3(b). It is thus evident that the trial judge must exercise his discretion in contemplation of the facts of each particular case. Tillman v. United States, 406 F.2d 930 (5th Cir. 1969). But the burden is on the defendant requesting the severance to do more than raise the possibility that a separate trial would give him a better chance of acquittal. Tillman v. United States, supra. He must make a clear showing of prejudice and a consequent denial of due process. Smith v. United States, 385 F.2d 34 (5th Cir. 1967); Milam v. United States, 322 F.2d 104 (5th Cir. 1963), cert. den., 377 U.S. 911, 84 S.Ct. 1174, 12 L.Ed.2d 181 (1964).

"Some of the considerations for the court in exercising its discretion have emerged from the cases considering motions to sever: 1. Will the number of defendants create confusion of the evidence and law applicable to each individual defendant? 2. Is there a danger that evidence admissible against one defendant will be considered against another despite the admonitory precaution of the court? 3. Are the defenses of the defendants antagonistic to each other or to each other's rights? See, People v. Maestas, 183 Colo. 378, 517 P.2d 461 (1973)." See also Stovall v. State, 236 Ga. 840, 225 S.E.2d 292.

In the case of Dingler v. State, 233 Ga. 462, 211 S.E.2d 752, provisions of the ABA Standards on joinder of offenses were set forth and were held to be a definitive statement of the Georgia law and were adopted by our Supreme Court. The court in the Dingler case also stated: "The Criminal Code of Georgia has one provision on this subject: 'If the...