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Hannah v. State

Court of Appeals of Georgia
Oct 3, 1973
201 S.E.2d 339 (Ga. Ct. App. 1973)

Opinion

48615.

SUBMITTED SEPTEMBER 12, 1973.

DECIDED OCTOBER 3, 1973.

Burglary. Walker Superior Court. Before Judge Coker.

J. Donald Bennett, for appellant.

Earl B. Self, District Attorney, Wm. Ralph Hill, Jr., for appellee.


The defendant appeals from a burglary conviction supported by the following facts: Someone had burglarized the home of the prosecutor, who very shortly thereafter located his television set and other equipment in a woods behind his house. Police came immediately on call and set up a watch. When one Parrish carried the television to an automobile being driven by the defendant, the defendant "pulled off fast because cars were pulling in to try to block him off." One of the police cars then rammed Hannah's car, Parrish jumped and ran but was later caught, and Hannah was apprehended at once. The circumstances are sufficient to support an inference that Hannah was attempting to flee the police car because of guilty knowledge. His presence as driver of the automobile and attempt to take off rapidly when Parrish appeared with the stolen property authorized a charge on conspiracy "as a deduction from acts and conduct, which discloses a common design on [the confederates'] part to act together for the accomplishment of an unlawful purpose." Chappell v. State, 209 Ga. 701 (1) ( 75 S.E.2d 417). Flight is a circumstance to be considered by the jury, although not enough of itself to establish guilt. Martin v. State, 98 Ga. App. 136 ( 105 S.E.2d 250). If, however, the jury believed the flight was occasioned by the defendant's knowledge that the television was stolen, then, the theft having been proven and possession in the defendant's car having been proven, these circumstances would sufficiently establish scienter to authorize the conviction if they also believed the theft was pursuant to a common plan or design. Cf. Dutton v. State, 228 Ga. 850 (5) ( 188 S.E.2d 794).

Judgment affirmed. Bell, C. J., and Quillian, J., concur.

SUBMITTED SEPTEMBER 12, 1973 — DECIDED OCTOBER 3, 1973.


Summaries of

Hannah v. State

Court of Appeals of Georgia
Oct 3, 1973
201 S.E.2d 339 (Ga. Ct. App. 1973)
Case details for

Hannah v. State

Case Details

Full title:HANNAH v. THE STATE

Court:Court of Appeals of Georgia

Date published: Oct 3, 1973

Citations

201 S.E.2d 339 (Ga. Ct. App. 1973)
201 S.E.2d 339

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