Wilson v. State

The privilege against self-incrimination is that of the person under examination as a witness.

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Webster Wilson and two co-defendants were tried before a jury, which found Wilson guilty of felony murder, two counts of aggravated assault, two counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime, and theft by receiving stolen property. The trial court entered judgments of conviction and sentenced Wilson to life imprisonment for felony murder, and to consecutive terms of imprisonment of 20 years for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, 10 years for theft by receiving, and five years for each weapons count. The other aggravated assault verdict was merged into the aggravated assault with a deadly weapon conviction. Wilson appeals after the denial of a motion for new trial. 1. Construed most strongly in support of the verdicts, the evidence shows that during an attempted robbery, Wilson hit one victim on the head with a gun, and co-defendant Michael Thorpe shot and killed the other victim. A detailed account of the evidence presented at trial is set forth in our recent opinion affirming Thorpe’s convictions. Thorpe v. State , 285 Ga. 604 678 SE2d 913 2009. The evidence was sufficient for a rational trier of fact to find Wilson guilty beyond a reasonable doubt of the crimes for which he was convicted. Jackson v. Virginia , 443 U. S. 307 99 SC 2781, 61 LE2d 560 1979.

2. Wilson contends that the trial court committed two errors with regard to the testimony of State witness Rashawn Seabrook. Prior to trial, Seabrook gave a recorded statement to police about incriminating statements made by the co-defendants. At trial, he claimed that his prior statement had been fabricated under pressure from the police, and that he wanted to “plead the Fifth” to avoid incriminating himself for making a false statement. The trial court declined to act on the assertion of the Fifth Amendment right, after which the recorded statement was admitted into evidence and played for the jury.

Wilson v. State

The privilege against self-incrimination is that of the person under examination as a witness.

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