Forrest Royal was convicted of felony murder while in the commission of an aggravated assault, kidnapping with bodily injury, and possession of a firearm during the commission of certain crimes in connection with the stabbing death of Jabee W. Johnson, Jr. 1
The evidence at trial, considered in the light most favorable to the verdict, showed that Royal forced at gunpoint Johnson and another man to go to Royal’s house because Royal believed the pair to be responsible for taking a cache of drugs from his home. Viola Daniels and another woman who sold drugs for Royal were waiting at the house when the men arrived. Royal fired his gun into the floor to force Johnson to undress. While undressing, Johnson threw his knife *166 onto a daybed. Daniels picked up the knife. A plastic bag containing drugs fell from Johnson’s underclothing. Johnson and Royal struggled for Royal’s gun. Daniels joined the fray, and urged on by Royal, attempted to force Johnson to let go of the gun. Johnson was stabbed numerous times. He was found clad in his underwear and covered in blood. In route to the hospital, Johnson told paramedics that Royal had stabbed him. Johnson bled to death from approximately 20 stab wounds.
1. Royal contends that his felony murder conviction cannot stand because the evidence was insufficient to prove he committed the charged underlying felony of aggravated assault by stabbing. He maintains that there was no evidence that he wielded the knife, or that he knew Daniels possessed the knife or would use it on Johnson.
Even if Royal did not wield the knife himself and directly inflict the knife wounds, the evidence was sufficient to hold Royal criminally responsible for the fatal stabbing.
Jackson v. Virginia,
2. Royal contends that he was denied the right to a complete examination of a prospective juror on a matter related to the relationship or acquaintance of the juror with the parties or counsel as guaranteed by OCGA § 15-12-133. He claims such right was abridged when a juror on voir dire failed to affirmatively respond to his counsel’s question as to whether or not any juror knew anyone who worked for the district attorney’s office, when in fact, the juror knew the circuit’s chief assistant district attorney, Smith. He urges that the juror’s service injected harmful error into his trial. We disagree.
In order for a defendant to secure a new trial in the situation in which defense counsel lacked an item of information which objectively counsel should have obtained from a juror on voir dire, the defendant must show that the juror on voir dire failed to honestly answer a material question and that a correct response would have been a valid basis for challenge for cause.
Isaacs v. State,
Judgment affirmed.
Notes
The crimes occurred on June 15, 1991. Royal was indicted on February 25, 1992, for malice murder, felony murder while in the commission of an aggravated assault, kidnapping with bodily injury, possession of a firearm during the commission of certain crimes, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. An order of nolle prosequi was entered on the charge of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Royal was tried on September 7-8, 1993, and was acquitted of malice murder and found guilty of the three remaining charges. On October 7, 1993, Royal was sentenced to concurrent terms of life imprisonment for the felony murder and the kidnapping and five consecutive years of incarceration for the firearms charge. A motion for new trial was filed on November 8,1993, and denied on March 28,1995. Royal filed a motion to supplement the record on March 29,1995. Following supplementation of the record, the motion for new trial was denied on April 25,1995. The notice of appeal was filed on May 23, 1995, and the appeal was docketed in this Court on June 13,1995. The case was argued on September 18, 1995.