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Clark v. State

Court of Appeals of Georgia
Jul 13, 1978
247 S.E.2d 221 (Ga. Ct. App. 1978)

Opinion

56075.

SUBMITTED JUNE 28, 1978.

DECIDED JULY 13, 1978.

Drug violation. Fulton Superior Court. Before Judge Shaw.

William L. Auld, for appellant.

Lewis R. Slaton, District Attorney, Joseph J. Drolet, R. David Petersen, Assistant District Attorneys, for appellee.


The appellant was convicted for possession of cocaine and heroin. On appeal he contends that an insufficiency of evidence should have resulted in a directed verdict of acquittal, and that admission of prejudicial evidence and argument should have resulted in a mistrial. We find no error, and affirm.

1. Police officers, entering a room to execute an arrest warrant, observed the appellant and two other men sitting around a low table. On the table were numerous drugs — including heroin and cocaine — worth up to $20,000 on street markets; also present was a variety of drug measuring, weighing, cutting, and packing devices. The appellant was positioned no more than a few inches from the drugs. This evidence authorized a conclusion that the appellant was, at least, in constructive possession of illegal drugs. Lee v. State, 126 Ga. App. 38 ( 189 S.E.2d 872) (1972); Brown v. State, 130 Ga. App. 11, 13 ( 202 S.E.2d 268) (1973).

2. The admission into evidence of a marijuana cigarette found on the appellant's person at the time of his arrest was not objected to as prejudicial; we will not, therefore, consider that argument on appeal.

3. During closing argument, the district attorney referred to the appellant as "this liar." Objection to the comment was sustained, and the appellant's attorney then asked for a mistrial. "The prosecution is permitted to draw deductions from the evidence and these deductions may be illogical, unreasonable or even absurd so long as there is evidence from which such deductions can be made." Abner v. State, 139 Ga. App. 600, 602

( 229 S.E.2d 83) (1976). The appellant, on cross examination, strongly contradicted some of his direct examination testimony. From these contradictions a deduction that he was a "liar" may or may not have been logical or reasonable, but it was certainly authorized by the evidence. No mistrial was required.

Other statements during closing are also addressed in this enumeration. However, as to each of them the appellant's attorney objected, the objection was sustained, and no motion for mistrial followed. We need not decide whether the statements would have required a mistrial, for the failure to grant a mistrial without a timely motion therefor is not error. Purcell v. Hill, 220 Ga. 663 ( 141 S.E.2d 152) (1965); Pritchard v. State, 225 Ga. 690 ( 171 S.E.2d 130) (1969).

Judgment affirmed. Deen, P. J., and Banke, J., concur.

SUBMITTED JUNE 28, 1978 — DECIDED JULY 13, 1978.


Summaries of

Clark v. State

Court of Appeals of Georgia
Jul 13, 1978
247 S.E.2d 221 (Ga. Ct. App. 1978)
Case details for

Clark v. State

Case Details

Full title:CLARK v. THE STATE

Court:Court of Appeals of Georgia

Date published: Jul 13, 1978

Citations

247 S.E.2d 221 (Ga. Ct. App. 1978)
247 S.E.2d 221

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