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Rowell v. State

Court of Appeals of Georgia
Sep 17, 1985
176 Ga. App. 309 (Ga. Ct. App. 1985)

Opinion

70894.

DECIDED SEPTEMBER 18, 1985. REHEARING DENIED OCTOBER 2, 1985.

Armed robbery, etc. Glynn Superior Court. Before Judge Taylor.

Elsie Higgs Griner, Galen P. Alderman, for appellant.

Glenn Thomas, Jr., District Attorney, James A. Chamberlin, Jr., Assistant District Attorney, for appellee.


Defendant appeals his conviction of two counts of armed robbery and one count of entering an automobile (with intent to commit a theft therein). Held:

1. Defendant's first two enumerations of error are not supported in his brief by citation of authority or argument. Therefore, they are deemed to have been abandoned. Rule 15 (c) (2) of the Rules of the Court of Appeals of the State of Georgia.

2. The State introduced into evidence a jacket "similar" to the jacket worn by the robber. The jacket was found near the abandoned getaway vehicle. A package of Kool cigarettes was found in the pocket of the jacket. Defendant testified that he did not smoke Kool cigarettes. Following a recess the State was permitted to reopen rebuttal and introduced evidence which it announced was newly discovered. The State presented testimony that during defendant's incarceration prior to trial, he had purchased from the jail commissary "87 packs of Kools, 14 packs of Newports, 2 packs of Marlboro and 1 pack of Pall Malls."

Defendant moved to strike the testimony of the jail commissary officer and when this motion was denied, moved for mistrial. Defendant complains that the list of witnesses supplied on demand pursuant to OCGA § 17-7-110 did not include the commissary officer. Defendant also questions the State's announcement that the evidence was newly discovered. "Whether or not the evidence was newly discovered, the proper remedy by defense counsel would have been a motion for continuance and not to exclude the testimony. [Cits.] It is not error to allow a witness to testify whose name was not on the list of witnesses where that witness is called in rebuttal. [Cits.]" Savage v. State, 152 Ga. App. 392, 394 (4) ( 263 S.E.2d 218). See also Hudgins v. State, 153 Ga. App. 603 (4) ( 266 S.E.2d 284); Gibby v. State, 166 Ga. App. 413, 414 (2) ( 304 S.E.2d 518); and Gibbons v. State, 248 Ga. 858, 865 ( 286 S.E.2d 717). This enumeration is without merit.

3. Defendant enumerates as error the refusal of the trial court to give his requested charge on identification. "No longer is it necessary for the court to charge the exact language of the requested charge when the pertinent principles are covered. See Ennis v. State, 249 Ga. 222 (3), 223 ( 290 S.E.2d 50); McCarty v. State, 157 Ga. App. 336 (2), 337 ( 277 S.E.2d 259). As the legal principles covered in the request to charge were given we find no merit in this complaint." Eidson v. State, 167 Ga. App. 184, 185 (2) ( 305 S.E.2d 787). The trial court's charge on identity, taken from the Pattern Jury Instructions promulgated by the Council of Superior Court Judges, Criminal Jury Instructions I-31, p. 44, fairly and substantially covered the matter of the written request, therefore, it is not error to fail to give the instruction in the exact language of the request. LaPan v. State, 167 Ga. App. 250, 252 (2) ( 305 S.E.2d 858).

"Also, the trial court is not required to charge the jury on identification when, as in this case, the judge stressed the necessity for the offense charged to be proved beyond a reasonable doubt. Knight v. State, 133 Ga. App. 808 ( 212 S.E.2d 464) (1975); Heard v. State, 141 Ga. App. 666 ( 234 S.E.2d 83) (1977)." Sapp v. State, 155 Ga. App. 485, 486 (2) ( 271 S.E.2d 19). This enumeration is without merit.

4. The State's evidence shows that the defendant robbed both of the victims at gunpoint. From one of the victims defendant took her car keys which he used to enter her vehicle and take her wallet containing about $280. Defendant was identified by the victims and by a motel security guard.

We have carefully reviewed the trial transcript and record and find that a rational trier of fact reasonably could find the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt of the offenses charged. See Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307 (99 SC 2781, 61 L.Ed.2d 560); Allen v. State, 175 Ga. App. 108 ( 332 S.E.2d 321).

Judgment affirmed. Banke, C. J., and Benham, J., concur.

DECIDED SEPTEMBER 18, 1985 — REHEARING DENIED OCTOBER 2, 1985 — CERT. APPLIED FOR.


Summaries of

Rowell v. State

Court of Appeals of Georgia
Sep 17, 1985
176 Ga. App. 309 (Ga. Ct. App. 1985)
Case details for

Rowell v. State

Case Details

Full title:ROWELL v. THE STATE

Court:Court of Appeals of Georgia

Date published: Sep 17, 1985

Citations

176 Ga. App. 309 (Ga. Ct. App. 1985)
335 S.E.2d 689

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