Barnes v. State

In the Supreme Court of Georgia Decided: January 22, 2019 S18A1629. BARNES v. STATE. BETHEL, Justice. Following his conviction for the murder of Jack Thomas Beasley, Jr., Desmond Barnes appeals the denial of his motion for new trial.1 Barnes argues that he received ineffective assistance when his trial counsel: made an inflammatory statement during cross-examination of one of the State’s witnesses; failed to secure a jury charge on mutual combat; and failed to move to dismiss the jury panel when a potential juror made a prejudicial statement. Barnes further argues that the trial court erred…