Although indicted for aggravated assault, appellant was found guilty of simple battery. He now appeals from the judgment entered on that jury verdict.
1. Appellant’s enumeration of error concerning the general grounds is without merit. There was evidence that appellant used his fists and feet to strike the victim, breaking his cheekbone. Appellant himself admitted that he intentionally punched the victim in the nose. There was sufficient evidence for a rational trier of fact to find appellant guilty of simple battery beyond a reasonable doubt. OCGA § 16-5-23.
2. Appellant maintains that venue was not sufficiently proven. “[A] 11 criminal cases shall be tried in the county where the crime was committed ...” Ga. Const. 1983, Art. VI, Sec. II, Par. VI. Four witnesses stated that the incident occurred in Carroll County, and this evidence was in no way refuted. “In the absence of a denial that the crime was committed in [Carroll] County, there is no conflict with the direct testimony that the crime was committed in that county.” Taylor v. State,
3. At appellant’s request, the trial court instructed the jury on the law of simple battery. Appellant now raises the giving of that charge as error. However, there was no error in giving the charge inasmuch as there was evidence that authorized the jury to find appellant guilty of simple battery. See Clarke v. State,
4. Appellant next asserts that the indictment failed to allege the essential elements of simple battery, specifically that there was physical contact with or harm to the victim. We reiterate that appellant
5. Appellant’s remaining enumerations concern the content of the trial court’s instructions to the jury. It was not error to refuse to charge the jury on reasonable doubt or the State’s burden of proof in the words requested by appellant when the jury was otherwise adequately instructed on thosé principles of law. See Henderson v. State,
6. Appellant’s final enumeration of error concerns a portion of the jury charge dealing with the definition of “serious bodily injury,” an element of aggravated assault. Since appellant was not convicted of aggravated assault, but rather of an included offense, the alleged error can only be harmless. Chancellor v. State,
Judgment affirmed.
