Benjamin Hargett, his brother Angelo Armstrong and their cousin Michael Cox were convicted of murder in the shooting death of Tavares Redwine, the aggravated assaults of Adrian “A.J.” Wood and Artis McGinty, and burglary arising out of a home invasion in Coweta County. They appeal from the denial of their motions for new trial.1 We consolidated their appeals and affirm for the reasons that follow. 1. The evidence adduced at trial authorized the jury to find that, in the early hours of May 8, 2006, appellants and at least one other unidentified man forced entrance into a house rented by Redwine and McGinty. Appellants Hargett and Armstrong, with their faces uncovered and armed with handguns and an assault rifle, led the group; appellant Cox, wearing a bandana that covered half of his face, entered later and demanded money and drugs. Wood, who was a guest sleeping on the living room couch, was shot twice as he tried to run away. He survived by pretending to be dead, although his wounds left him permanently unable to use his left arm, and at trial identified appellants as his assailants, testifying that he had known them for years prior to the crimes in issue. McGinty was hit multiple times in the legs and hip by the assault rifle as he left his bedroom and stepped into the lit hallway; appellant Hargett then stood directly over McGinty, demanded he “give it up,” and shot McGinty again in the buttocks. McGinty also testified that, as appellant Hargett was taking the money McGinty offered, the murder victim, Redwine, entered the hallway from his separate bedroom in response to the commotion; appellant Hargett shot Redwine in the mid-section, causing him to fall back into the room; appellant Hargett, joined by appellant Armstrong, then went into Redwine’s room and stood over him; they demanded that Redwine “give it up” and when he did not, they shot him repeatedly in the body and genitals, urged on by appellant Cox, who was standing near the front of the house. McGinty also testified that, before leaving, appellant Armstrong knelt beside Redwine and fired a final shot into his head while appellant Hargett put a gun to McGinty’s head and said “I’ll do you in too.” Redwine survived long enough to drag himself to the doorway before succumbing to his injuries. McGinty, despite suffering ten to fourteen gunshot wounds, survived and identified appellants as his assailants, testifying at trial that he was previously acquainted with appellant Hargett, was related to appellant Armstrong by marriage and recognized appellant Cox as someone he had previously “seen around” at various parties and football games.
The evidence adduced amply authorized a rational trier of fact to find appellants guilty beyond a reasonable doubt of the charged crimes. Jackson v. Virginia , 443 U.S. 307 99 SC 2781, 61 LE2d 560 1979.
