Yarn v. State

Decision Date11 September 1995
Docket NumberNo. S95G0636,S95G0636
PartiesYARN v. The STATE.
CourtGeorgia Supreme Court

Robert W. Lenzer, Thomas P. Lenzer, Lenzer & Lenzer, Norcross, George L. Kimel, Lawrenceville, for Yarn.

Daniel J. Porter, Dist. Atty., George F. Hutchinson, III, Asst. Dist. Atty., Gwinnett Judicial Circuit, Lawrenceville, for State.

CARLEY, Justice.

Appellant was tried before a jury and found guilty of the sale of cocaine and of the possession of cocaine with intent to distribute. On appeal to the Court of Appeals, he enumerated as error the trial court's failure to give an unrequested charge on the law of circumstantial evidence as set forth in OCGA § 24-4-6. In a whole-court decision, the Court of Appeals found no merit in this enumeration and affirmed the convictions. Yarn v. State, 215 Ga.App. 883, 452 S.E.2d 537 (1994). We granted appellant's petition for certiorari to review that decision.

1. By its terms, OCGA § 24-4-6 relates to when a conviction may be had "on circumstantial evidence...." Nevertheless, Robinson v. State, 261 Ga. 698, 410 S.E.2d 116 (1991) and Mims v. State, 264 Ga. 271, 443 S.E.2d 845 (1994) established the bright-line rule that it is error to fail to give a request to charge on the law of circumstantial evidence as set forth in OCGA § 24-4-6 when the State's case includes both direct and circumstantial evidence. Robinson and Mims were motivated by a desire to avoid the difficult determination of whether the State's case is composed wholly of circumstantial evidence. Although that difficult determination can arise in any case, it does not necessarily follow that the failure to give the charge is error where no request has been made. A defendant is relieved from the necessity of requesting instructions only " 'where the omission is clearly harmful and erroneous as a matter of law in that it fails to provide the jury with the proper guidelines for determining guilt or innocence.' [Cit.]" Kitchen v. State, 263 Ga. 629, 630(1), 436 S.E.2d 645 (1993). It is a rare case that does not include both direct and circumstantial evidence and the omission of a charge on circumstantial evidence as set forth in OCGA § 24-4-6 is not harmful or erroneous as a matter of law where there is some direct evidence and the jury is properly charged on reasonable doubt. Accordingly, when the State's case includes both direct and circumstantial evidence, a defendant is not relieved from the necessity of requesting the charge and, in the absence of such a request, it is not error to fail to give it.

However, Robinson and Mims did not address the long-standing rule that it is error for the trial court to fail to give an appropriate charge on circumstantial evidence, even without request, if the State's case is composed solely of such evidence. Hamilton v. State, 96 Ga. 301, 22 S.E. 528 (1895). See generally Germany v. State, 235 Ga. 836, 842-843(2), 221 S.E.2d 817 (1976). In such a case, the omission of the charge fails to provide the jury with the proper guidelines for determining guilt or innocence and, unless the wholly circumstantial evidence is not doubtful and the charge on reasonable doubt is full and fair, a reversal and retrial is required. Germany v. State, supra at 842-844(2), 221 S.E.2d 817. See also Williams v. State, 239 Ga. 12, 13(2), 235 S.E.2d 504 (1977). The courts of other states have held that this rule is not inconsistent with the rule articulated in Robinson and Mims. Grimmett v. State, 572 P.2d 272, 274 (Okl.Cr.1977); State v. Thompson, 519 S.W.2d 789, 792 (Tenn.1975). We note that essentially the same analysis of this issue is set forth in Division 3 of the plurality opinion of the Court of Appeals. Yarn v. State, supra at 886(3), 452 S.E.2d 537. Accordingly, when the State's case is composed solely of circumstantial evidence, a defendant is relieved from the necessity of requesting a charge on OCGA § 24-4-6 and, even in the absence of such a request, it may be reversible error to fail to give it. Compare Williams, supra and Hamilton, supra with Germany, supra and Toler v. State, 107 Ga. 682, 33 S.E. 629 (1899).

2. Having set forth the applicable rule, we proceed to apply it in this case.

An officer observed appellant drive into a motel parking lot and wait as his passenger, Mark Jackson, entered a motel room and sold cocaine to another officer. When appellant was informed that he was being arrested for his part in the sale of crack cocaine and for possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine and was advised of his rights, he stated that he understood the charges. He then indicated that he knew what the ride was for and why he was going to the motel and that, in return, Jackson was going to give him money for gas and cigarettes.

The testimony that appellant drove Jackson to the motel where the drug sale took place is direct evidence. Roura v. State, 214 Ga.App. 43, 50-51(2), 447 S.E.2d 52 (1994); Truman v. State, 144 Ga.App. 461, 462(3), 241 S.E.2d 579 (1978). Moreover, appellant's post-arrest statement shows that he understood the true purpose of Jackson's trip before giving him a ride. Appellant did not offer his statement as exculpatory evidence and did not set forth any facts or circumstances which showed excuse or justification. Thus, appellant's statement is not a mere incriminating admission, but is a confession. Robinson v. State, 232 Ga. 123, 126(2), 205 S.E.2d 210 (1974); Ryals v. State, 193 Ga.App. 68, 69(2), 387 S.E.2d 33 (1989). As such, the statement constituted direct evidence.

Therefore, the State's case is composed of both direct and circumstantial evidence and the failure to give the unrequested charge on the law of circumstantial evidence as set forth in OCGA § 24-4-6 is not error. Ryals v. State, supra at 69(2), 387 S.E.2d 33. See also Patterson v. State, 258 Ga. 592, 593(1), 372 S.E.2d 809 (1988); Whittington v. State, 252 Ga. 168, 176(7), 313 S.E.2d 73 (1984).

Judgments affirmed.

All the Justices concur, except FLETCHER, P.J., who dissents.

FLETCHER, Presiding Justice, dissenting.

In Robinson v. State, 1 we held that a trial court must give a charge on the law of circumstantial evidence when the state's case depends in whole or part on circumstantial evidence and the defendant requests the charge. I would adopt the same rule in this case where the defendant failed to request the charge.

1. We adopted the bright-line rule in Robinson because of the difficulty in determining whether the jury relied solely on direct evidence or based part of its verdict on circumstantial evidence. 2 For the same reason, I would make the charge mandatory in every case, whether the defendant requests it or...

To continue reading

Request your trial
29 cases
  • Miles v. State
    • United States
    • United States Court of Appeals (Georgia)
    • January 18, 2022
    ...in the charge which was harmful as a matter of law, regardless of whether objection was made hereunder or not"). See Yarn v. State , 265 Ga. 787 (1), 462 S.E.2d 359 (1995) (noting "long-standing rule that it is error for the trial court to fail to give an appropriate charge on circumstantia......
  • Rogers v. State
    • United States
    • United States Court of Appeals (Georgia)
    • November 28, 2000
    ...evidence. In the absence of a request to charge on circumstantial evidence, it is not error to fail to give it. Yarn v. State, 265 Ga. 787(1), 462 S.E.2d 359 (1995). Whether [the victim's] testimony was impeached was a jury question, and even if the jury determined that he had been impeache......
  • Powell v. State
    • United States
    • Supreme Court of Georgia
    • October 21, 2019
    ...evidence only if requested by the defendant. See Sumlin v. State , 283 Ga. 264, 267 (3), 658 S.E.2d 596 (2008) ; Yarn v. State , 265 Ga. 787, 787 (1), 462 S.E.2d 359 (1995). Appellant does not show that he requested a charge on circumstantial evidence. Accordingly, the trial court’s failure......
  • Moses v. State, No. A03A2118
    • United States
    • United States Court of Appeals (Georgia)
    • January 16, 2004
    ...Foster were consolidated for review and affirmed in Anderson v. State, 261 Ga.App. 456, 582 S.E.2d 575 (2003). 2. E.g., Yarn v. State, 265 Ga. 787, 462 S.E.2d 359 (1995); Burks v. State, 246 Ga.App. 22, 538 S.E.2d 769 (2000); Newsome v. State, 217 Ga. App. 379, 457 S.E.2d 232 ...
  • Request a trial to view additional results
1 books & journal articles
  • A Better Orientation for Jury Instructions - Charles M. Cork, Iii
    • United States
    • Mercer University School of Law Mercer Law Reviews No. 54-1, September 2002
    • Invalid date
    ...151 (1998). If the case is based wholly on circumstantial evidence, the instruction must be given even without request. Yarn v. State, 265 Ga. 787, 788, 462 S.E.2d 359, 360 (1995). 224. Mims v. State, 264 Ga. 271, 272 n.2, 274, 443 S.E.2d 845, 847, 848 (1994) (Hunt, J., concurring). Concurr......

VLEX uses login cookies to provide you with a better browsing experience. If you click on 'Accept' or continue browsing this site we consider that you accept our cookie policy. ACCEPT