Drayton v. State

NAHMIAS, Justice.

Appellant Phillip Drayton was found guilty at trial of malice murder and other crimes in connection with the shooting death of Steve Fowler. On appeal, his only contention is that the trial court erred when, during jury deliberations, the court gave a so-called “Allen charge” including the sentence, “It is the law that a unanimous verdict is required” — part of the pattern instruction used in Georgia when a jury reports that it is “hung.” Finding no such error, we affirm.

1. Viewed in the light most favorable to the verdicts, the evidence at trial showed the following. The…