Following a jury trial, Eric Artis was convicted on three counts of robbery by intimidation1 and four counts of aggravated assault.2 He appeals his convictions and the denial of his motion for new trial, arguing that the trial court erred in i admitting prejudicial evidence, ii expressing its opinion on the ultimate issue of guilt, iii refusing the jury’s request for an explanation of legal terms contained in a trial exhibit, iv failing to find that the jury rendered an inconsistent verdict, and v failing to find that he received ineffective assistance of counsel. For the reasons set forth below, we affirm. Viewed in the light most favorable to the verdict, Davis v. State ,3 the evidence shows that in the early morning hours of May 27, 2007, four men left a local nightclub and were walking along Buford Highway back to the apartment that they shared as roommates. As the four roommates passed by another apartment complex, Akeem Smith and Artis got out of a vehicle that had just pulled up and parked in the entrance driveway to that complex. Upon exiting the vehicle, Smith pointed a handgun at the four men, and both he and Artis demanded that the men give them their money. Smith and Artis then began searching the men’s wallets and pockets, while Theron Poe, who was driving the vehicle, exited from the driver’s seat and waited.
As the robbery was taking place, a police officer, who was driving by on his way to respond to a domestic disturbance call, noticed the four men, Smith, and Artis congregating in front of the driveway to the apartment complex and thought that the scene looked suspicious. Consequently, the officer stopped his vehicle and started backing up toward the apartment complex. As he did, the four men who were being robbed began frantically pointing at Smith and Artis. Upon seeing the officer, Smith began running toward some nearby houses. Artis and Poe tried to jump back into their vehicle, but the officer, who had now drawn his weapon, ordered them to stop. At the same time, the officer called for backup and reported that Smith had fled the scene. As a result, Smith was quickly caught and arrested. After securing Artis and Poe, the officer found two of the victims’ wallets and a victim’s cell phone at the scene. A search of the suspects’ vehicle after it had been impounded uncovered a firearm that had been placed between the center console and the front passenger seat.
