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Sempo v. State

Court of Appeals of Georgia
Sep 26, 1983
308 S.E.2d 433 (Ga. Ct. App. 1983)

Opinion

66818.

DECIDED SEPTEMBER 26, 1983.

Armed robbery. Fulton Superior Court. Before Judge Williams.

Susan E. Teaster, Michael H. Lane, for appellant.

Lewis R. Slaton, District Attorney, Joseph J. Drolet, Wendy L. Shoob, Assistant District Attorneys, for appellee.


The defendant appeals his conviction for armed robbery. Held:

1. It was not error to deny the defendant's motion for severance. "The defendant seeking severance must do more than raise the possibility that a separate trial would give him a better chance of acquittal. He must make a clear showing of prejudice and a consequent denial of due process." Murphy v. State, 246 Ga. 626, 629 (2) ( 273 S.E.2d 2).

2. It is contended that the trial judge committed error in admitting into evidence certain knives which were found in a search of defendant's car. At the time the State sought to introduce the evidence, counsel for defendant objected on the ground that no proper foundation had been laid and there was an improper chain of custody.

It is now argued that the knives were not material to the issues and were introduced solely to prejudice the jury towards the defendant. Under similar circumstances in that a defendant argued a different basis on appeal from that urged at trial, we held in Smith v. State, 153 Ga. App. 862, 865 (5) ( 267 S.E.2d 289) the error enumerated was nonmeritorious for two reasons: "First, the error argued on appeal is not the error asserted at trial and presents nothing for review as purported error may not be raised for the first time on appeal. Velkey v. Grimes, 214 Ga. 420, 421 ( 105 S.E.2d 224). Secondly, the basis argued at trial was not enumerated as error and must be considered abandoned on appeal. Kingston v. State, 127 Ga. App. 660, 661 ( 194 S.E.2d 675)."

Moreover, even if proper objection was made, "[i]t is well settled that all of the circumstances connected with an accused's arrest, including any items taken from his person, are admissible as evidence at trial, even those that establish the commission of another criminal offense." Reese v. State, 145 Ga. App. 453, 457 (4) ( 243 S.E.2d 650). The Supreme Court has held: "The rule is applicable to weapons found on the accused at the time of arrest . . . and to those found in his automobile. . . ." Bixby v. State, 234 Ga. 812, 814 (1) ( 218 S.E.2d 609).

3. The "Allen" charge given by the trial judge was in substantially the same language approved by the Supreme Court in Spaulding v. State, 232 Ga. 411, 413 (4) ( 207 S.E.2d 43) and was not error for the reason assigned.

Judgment affirmed. Sognier and Pope, JJ., concur.

DECIDED SEPTEMBER 26, 1983.


Summaries of

Sempo v. State

Court of Appeals of Georgia
Sep 26, 1983
308 S.E.2d 433 (Ga. Ct. App. 1983)
Case details for

Sempo v. State

Case Details

Full title:SEMPO v. THE STATE

Court:Court of Appeals of Georgia

Date published: Sep 26, 1983

Citations

308 S.E.2d 433 (Ga. Ct. App. 1983)
308 S.E.2d 433

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