This evidence was sufficient for the jury to conclude that the pain suffered by the children was cruel and excessive. See Keller v. State, 221 Ga.App. 846, 847(1), 473 S.E.2d 194 (1996) (evidence sufficient to show cruel or excessive physical and mental pain where defendant and victim were inside bathroom, mother heard several blows and crying from inside bathroom and entered to observe defendant with belt in his hand about to swing it at the victim, and victim had bruises caused by a large flexible object that curved around the inside of his legs); Keith v. State, 219 Ga.App. 903, 904, 467 S.E.2d 222 (1996) (evidence sufficient of child cruelty where child was hit in the face with plastic cord because he left it in yard after being told by defendant to pick it up); see also, Bunn, supra, 307 Ga.App. at 383(1)(a), 705 S.E.2d 180 (evidence that after the defendant touched them inappropriately, one victim's grades dropped and she became more aggressive towards her sibling, and that another victim felt sad, was sufficient to support jury's finding that defendant's acts caused cruel and excessive mental pain); Keith v. State, 279 Ga.App. 819, 82

Brownlow v. State, 248 Ga. App. 366, 368 (2) (a) ( 544 SE2d 472) (2001).Keller v. State, 221 Ga. App. 846, 848 (2) ( 473 SE2d 194) (1996).Lupoe v. State, 284 Ga. 576, 579 (3) (f) ( 669 SE2d 133) (2008).

Trial counsel was not ineffective in this regard. See Keller v. State, 221 Ga. App. 846, 848 (3) ( 473 SE2d 194) (1996) (violation of the sequestration rule goes to the weight and credibility of the witness' testimony, not her competence to testify). (f) Kelley claims the combined effects of trial counsel's errors should be considered together as one issue with regard to whether Kelley was prejudiced.

Phillips v. State, 251 Ga. App. 179, 181(5) (S.E.2d) (2001).Keller v. State, 221 Ga. App. 846 (3) ( 473 S.E.2d 194) (1996).

Violations of the rule of sequestration go to the witness's credibility, not to competency to testify. Keller v. State, 221 Ga. App. 846, 848 (3) ( 473 S.E.2d 194) (1996). The trial court charged the jury on credibility and, during rebuttal, Hardegree cross-examined the victim about her presence in the courtroom during Hardegree's testimony.