Goodson v. State, 305 Ga. 246

On Oct. 14, 2012, Douglas Goodson shot and killed his cousin Rodney Worley after a neighborhood dispute about target shooting; Worley had complained to police about the noise earlier that evening.
Witnesses saw both men initially armed with long guns, then trade insults; Worley showed he was unarmed and stepped into the street.
Goodson produced a Glock .45, fired an entire magazine at Worley from 8–10 feet, reloaded, and fired a second full magazine while Worley was falling/lying on the ground; autopsy showed multiple wounds including shots to the back and back of the head.
Police found no firearm on Worley; only mace and a pocket knife. Evidence supported that Worley was shot while retreating and was shot in the back.
Goodson was indicted for malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault, and possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony; jury acquitted on malice murder but convicted on the remaining counts; sentenced to life plus consecutive five years.
On appeal Goodson argued (1) evidence was insufficient and he acted in self-defense/justification, and (2) trial counsel rendered ineffective assistance (failed to call a mental-state expert, withdrew voluntary manslaughter instruction, failed to pursue pretrial immunity). Court affirmed.

Issue	Goodson's Argument	State's Argument	Held
Sufficiency of evidence / Self-defense	Evidence insufficient; Worley reached for a gun and was known to carry a pistol so shooting was reasonable self-defense	Evidence showed Worley was unarmed, shot while retreating or incapacitated; jury could reject justification	Conviction affirmed; evidence sufficient and jury could reject self-defense
Presentation of expert on state of mind	Trial counsel ineffective for not presenting OCGA §16-3-21(d) expert testimony	Counsel investigated expert, decided testimony/report would harm defense; strategic choice	No ineffective assistance: strategic decision, no deficient performance or prejudice shown
Withdrawal of voluntary manslaughter instruction	Counsel ineffective for withdrawing lesser-included instruction	Counsel consulted Goodson and pursued an all-or-nothing strategy; request withdrawn at defendant's direction	No ineffective assistance: strategic choice after consultation; reasonable trial strategy
Failure to seek pretrial immunity (OCGA §16-3-24.2)	Counsel ineffective for not moving for immunity	Counsel saw no legal basis; evidence (excessive shots, shots to back) made immunity unlikely	No ineffective assistance: defendant cannot show motion would likely have succeeded or that prejudice resulted

Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307 (establishes standard for sufficiency of the evidence review)
Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668 (two-prong test for ineffective assistance of counsel)
Jimmerson v. State, 289 Ga. 364 (continued use of force after threat ends negates self-defense)
Batten v. State, 295 Ga. 442 (viewing evidence in light most favorable to the verdict)
Davis v. State, 290 Ga. 584 (strategic decisions by counsel fall within wide range of reasonable professional conduct)
Blackwell v. State, 302 Ga. 820 (permissibility of an "all or nothing" defense strategy)
Lowe v. State, 298 Ga. 810 (burden for pretrial immunity under OCGA §16-3-24.2)
Holt v. Ebinger, 303 Ga. 804 (prejudice inquiry where proposed pretrial relief likely would be denied)