Hardeman v. State

CARLEY, Justice.

Victor Hardeman was tried before a jury and convicted of kidnapping with bodily injury, aggravated battery, false imprisonment, criminal attempt to commit robbery, and burglary. Kidnapping with bodily injury is a capital offense, so defense counsel was entitled to a two-hour closing argument in accordance with OCGA § 17-8-73. However, he did not object when the trial court limited his argument to only one hour. On motion for new trial, several issues were raised, including an ineffectiveness claim based upon Hardeman’s trial attorney’s failure to object to the erroneous…