Wright v. State
291 Ga. 869
| Ga. | 2012Background
- Wright, Simmons, and May went to Ray’s home with intent to rob him around March 21, 2006.
- Wright and Simmons kicked in the door; Wright shot Ray, and Wright shot him again after Ray was wounded.
- The trio rummaged the home, stealing money and marijuana, and Ray died from a gunshot to the chest after four total shots.
- The evidence supported a rational jury’s finding of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt on all charged offenses.
- Wright appealed alleging ineffective assistance of trial counsel and admission of improper testimony; the trial court’s rulings were upheld.
- Wright was indicted for malice murder, felony murder, armed robbery, and burglary; severance issues and subsequent convictions followed a multi-trial process.
Issues
| Issue | Plaintiff's Argument | Defendant's Argument | Held |
|---|---|---|---|
| Was trial counsel ineffective for voir dire handling regarding a probation officer? | Wright | State | No deficient performance; juror could be struck per peremptory strike. |
| Was trial counsel ineffective for failing to object to inadmissible character evidence? | Wright | State | No ineffective assistance; strategy to attack credibility was reasonable. |
| Were hearsay and bolstering statements properly admitted and harmless? | Wright | State | Admittevidence found harmless or waived; no reversible error. |
Key Cases Cited
- Strickland v. Washington, 466 U. S. 668 (U.S. 1984) (standard for ineffective assistance of counsel)
- Robinson v. State, 277 Ga. 75 (Ga. 2003) (accept factual findings; independently apply legal principles)
- Washington v. State, 276 Ga. 655 (Ga. 2003) (trial tactics; credibility attacks as strategy)
- Fuller v. State, 277 Ga. 505 (Ga. 2004) (procedural framework for Strickland review)
- Devega v. State, 286 Ga. 448 (Ga. 2010) (waiver for double-hearsay objections)