From Casetext: Smarter Legal Research

Phillips v. State

Court of Appeals of Georgia
Sep 2, 1980
155 Ga. App. 509 (Ga. Ct. App. 1980)

Opinion

59956.

SUBMITTED MAY 6, 1980.

DECIDED SEPTEMBER 2, 1980.

Aggravated assault. Troup Superior Court. Before Judge Jackson.

Joseph H. Phillips, pro se. William F. Lee, Jr., District Attorney, Marc E. Acree, Assistant District Attorney, for appellee.


One of Phillips' enumerations of error on this appeal pro se is that it was reversible error for the trial court to allow cross-examination of a state witness to proceed during appellant's absence, thus depriving him of his constitutional right to be present at all stages of the proceeding and confront the witnesses against him. We agree.

After sending the defendant (appellant) out of the courtroom, defense counsel waived defendant's presence during cross-examination of his (defendant's) wife, who was a principal state witness against him. When defendant returned to the courtroom after completion of the cross-examination the prosecutor stated: "The defendant requested that he be sequestered." The court then stated: "In fact, it was requested by the defense's attorney." The record fails to show that the waiver was made in the presence of the accused or by his express authority, or that he subsequently acquiesced in such waiver, as required. Wilson v. State, 212 Ga. 73, 78 ( 90 S.E.2d 557) (1955). See also Miller v. State, 13 Ga. App. 440, 442 (2) ( 79 S.E. 232) (1913). Hence, it was error to overrule this ground of the motion for new trial. Wilson v. State, supra.

Judgment reversed. Deen, C. J., and Birdsong, J., concur.

SUBMITTED MAY 6, 1980 — DECIDED SEPTEMBER 2, 1980 — CERT. APPLIED FOR.


Summaries of

Phillips v. State

Court of Appeals of Georgia
Sep 2, 1980
155 Ga. App. 509 (Ga. Ct. App. 1980)
Case details for

Phillips v. State

Case Details

Full title:PHILLIPS v. THE STATE

Court:Court of Appeals of Georgia

Date published: Sep 2, 1980

Citations

155 Ga. App. 509 (Ga. Ct. App. 1980)
271 S.E.2d 656

Citing Cases

State v. Phillips

DECIDED MARCH 3, 1981. Certiorari to the Court of Appeals of Georgia — 155 Ga. App. 509 ( 271 S.E.2d 656)…

Phillips v. State

We reversed the judgment on the ground that it was error to allow cross-examination of the key prosecution…