Stephens v. State , 261 Ga. 467 ( 1991 )

Hunt, Justice.

Stephens was convicted of the sale of cocaine and was sentenced to life in prison under OCGA § 16-13-30 (d), which mandates a life sentence for a second conviction of selling cocaine.¹ On appeal Stephens contends the trial court erred by restricting defense counsel’s voir dire; the court erred by closing the courtroom during the testimony of an informant; the court erred by allowing the state to introduce evidence of Stephens’ prior conviction for the sale of cocaine; the court erred by failing to grant a mistrial when the informant referred to Stephens as a junkie; the court erred in allowing the jury, after it had started its deliberations, to rehear a tape recording without cautionary instructions; and § 16-13-30 (d) is unconstitutional in that the life sentence it mandates constitutes cruel and unusual punishment. For the reasons set forth in Division 6, we reverse.

1. The evidence showed that Stephens sold cocaine worth about $50 to an informant, Tim Allison, who was working with Officer Mark McGinnis, a narcotics agent. We conclude the evidence was sufficient for a rational trier of fact to have found Stephens guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U. S. 307 (99 SC 2781, 61 LE2d 560) (1979).

2. In his first enumeration of error, Stephens contends the trial court erred by restricting his voir dire. We find no error. Baxter v. State, 254 Ga. 538, 543 (7) (331 SE2d 561) (1985).

3. Stephens enumerates as error the trial court’s refusal to grant a mistrial following an allegedly prejudicial statement made by Allison. We find no abuse of discretion. Lewis v. State, 255 Ga. 681, 683 (2b) (341 SE2d 434) (1986).

4. Stephens contends the trial court erred by allowing the jury to rehear a tape recording of a conversation between Stephens, Allison, and McGinnis without giving cautionary instructions that the jury should not place any more or less emphasis on the tape than on other evidence presented at trial. We find no error. First, Stephens did not request a cautionary instruction. Moreover, whether to permit the replaying of a portion of testimony is within the discretion of the trial court, and the court is not required to give a cautionary instruction. See Lee v. State, 259 Ga. 230, 232 (4) (378 SE2d 855) (1989); Pontoon v. State, 177 Ga. App. 868 (1) (341 SE2d 505) (1986). We find no abuse of discretion in the instant case.

5. Stephens also contends § 16-13-30 (d) is unconstitutional in that the mandatory life sentence constitutes cruel and unusual punishment. Stephens acknowledges we recently have held that the life sentence mandated by § 16-13-30 (d) does not constitute cruel and unusual punishment under the Fourteenth and Eighth Amendments to the United States Constitution, Grant v. State, 258 Ga. 299, 300 (2) (368 SE2d 737) (1988). However, he argues that, under Art. I, Sec. I, Par. XVII of the 1983 Georgia Constitution, § 16-13-30 (d) constitutes cruel and unusual punishment because it does not allow the trial court to consider a rehabilitative sentence.

We disagree with Stephens’ argument. The reasons for holding that § 16-13-30 (d) does not constitute cruel and unusual punishment under the Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution, see Grant, supra, 258 Ga. at 300, apply with equal force to Stephens’ attack on the constitutionality of § 16-13-30 under the Georgia Constitution. Accordingly, we decline to hold the mandatory life sentence of § 16-13-30 (d) constitutes cruel and unusual punishment under Art. I, Sec. I, Par. XVII of the 1983 Georgia Constitution.

6. Stephens contends the trial court erred by permitting the state to introduce a certified copy of his prior conviction for the sale of cocaine. The state did not offer any evidence of the commission of the sale, but instead relied solely on the certified copy of the prior conviction.

We agree with Stephens that the introduction of a certified copy of his prior conviction of the sale of cocaine was error. At a pre-trial hearing pursuant to Uniform Superior Court Rule 31.3 (B) on the admissibility of evidence of the prior crime, the prosecutor demonstrated the similarity between the prior conviction and the crime for which the defendant was being tried by “stating in his place” the relevant facts of the prior conviction. The trial court’s finding of sufficient similarity based on the prosecutor’s statement of what he expected to show at trial was proper.² Hall v. State, 181 Ga. App. 92, 93 (1b) (351 SE2d 236) (1986). However, the state’s establishment of a prima facie case of similarity does not satisfy its obligation to present proof on that issue at trial. Here no such proof was made. Only the conviction itself was offered.

It is universally recognized . . . that “[t]he general rule is, that, on a prosecution for a particular crime, evidence which in any manner shows or tends to show that the accused has committed another crime wholly independent from that for which he is on trial, even though it be a crime of the same sort, is irrelevant and inadmissible.” [Cits.]

Bacon v. State, 209 Ga. 261, 262 (71 SE2d 615) (1952). However, for limited purposes such evidence may be admitted if two conditions are met:

“First, there must be evidence that the defendant was in fact the perpetrator of the independent crime. Second, there must be sufficient similarity or connection between the independent crime and the offense charged, that proof of the former tends to prove the latter. [Cit.]”

State v. Johnson, 246 Ga. 654, 655 (1) (272 SE2d 321) (1980). Therefore, in this case, there must be some evidence to establish between the independent crime and the crime on trial such similarity to and logical connection with each other so that proof of the independent crime tends to . establish, by evidence of identity, bent of mind, or intent, the commission of the crime for which Stephens is on trial. Faison v. State, 199 Ga. App. 447 (405 SE2d 277) (1991); State v. Johnson, supra at 657 (Justice Hill, dissenting); Bacon v. State, supra.³

Since we cannot say the erroneous admission of the prior conviction was harmless, Stephens’ conviction in this case must be reversed.

7. We agree with Stephens’ contention that the trial court erred by closing the trial to the general public, because the court failed to follow the specific requirements for closure set forth in R. W. Page Corp. v. Lumpkin, 249 Ga. 576 (292 SE2d 815) (1982). In Lumpkin we held:

[a] motion for closure shall receive no consideration by a trial court unless it is in writing, has been served upon the opposing party, has been filed with the clerk of the court and posted on the case docket ... for at least one twenty-four hour period in advance of the time when the motion will be heard, and unless it alleges grounds for relief with that degree of particularity required under [OCGA § 9-11-7 (b) (1)]. The motion must be supported at the hearing by the movant by evidence constituting “clear and convincing proof” that no means available other than closure of the hearing will serve to protect the right of the movant. The hearing on the motion shall be open, reported and transcribed.

Id. at 580.

At the start of the trial, counsel for Tim Allison, who was scheduled to testify against Stephens, requested that the trial court close the courtroom except to the press. Counsel stated he was prepared to show the public’s presence would place Allison in “imminent danger, bodily harm, or serious consequences.” He also contended that the defendant’s right to a public trial is not violated if the press is present but the general public is excluded. Counsel for Stephens objected to any exclusion of the general public. The trial court stated

[w]here the courtroom is closed to the general public but otherwise open to the press and bar the defense is not necessarily deprived of a public trial, and given the circumstances of this case and expressed fear of possible harm to the witness the Court will grant [Allison’s counsel’s] request for closure.

Allison’s counsel never presented any evidence of the possible harm to his client, and the court did not make written findings of fact and conclusions of law. In sum, the trial court failed to follow the requirements of Lumpkin. Contrary to the state’s argument, the requirements outlined in Lumpkin do apply to the situation in this case, where the court excludes the general public but permits the news media to remain, and are not limited to the situation presented in Lumpkin, where the trial court excludes the general public and the news media. We hesitate to view as harmless the failure to follow the requirements of Lumpkin. The trial court, on retrial, is directed to follow those requirements in considering whether the trial should be closed to the general public.

Judgment reversed.

All the Justices concur, except Bell, J., who dissents.

1 The crime occurred on September 5, 1989. Stephens was indicted on November 7, 1989. The jury returned its verdict of guilty on April 13, 1990. Stephens filed a notice of appeal to the Court of Appeals on April 19, 1990. The court reporter certified the transcript on August 15, 1990, and the appeal was docketed in the Court of Appeals on August 31,1990. The Court of Appeals transferred the case to this Court on November 26, 1990. The appeal was docketed in this Court on November 28, 1990. The appeal was orally argued on January 17, 1991.

2 Had the state presented evidence of similarity in this case during trial, as it did in the 31.3 (B) hearing, the only question concerning a challenge as to similarity would be whether the trial court’s finding was clearly erroneous.

3 See Pope v. State, 178 Ga. App. 148, 149 (3) (342 SE2d 330) (1986) in which the Court of Appeals held that certified copies of guilty pleas, indictments or sentences related to prior crimes are admissible only if they pertain to crimes concerning which testimony has been admitted and a foundation laid.