Terrance Cole was convicted by a jury of the offense of aggravated assault. His amended motion for new trial was denied, and he appeals. Construed in favor of the verdict, evidence was presented that Cole shot the victim with a “big,” “automatic” gun inside a public swimming pool locker room. Cole does not challenge the sufficiency of the evidence but instead raises arguments concerning the court’s ruling on an evidentiary matter, jury instructions, and closing argument. He also contends that he was denied effective assistance of counsel. We find no reversible error, and we affirm. 1. Cole argues that the trial court erred in not allowing him to present “good character evidence” in the form of “the victim’s general character of violence.” In an attempt to elicit information from one of Cole’s witnesses that the victim had a violent reputation, defense counsel asked a series of questions concerning the extent of the witness’s acquaintance with the victim. The witness testified that he had known the victim “for a couple of years,” had “seen him around a lot,” and knew who the victim “hangs out with.” The witness also testified, however, that he did not “know him good.” Defense counsel asked the witness if he knew the victim’s reputation, and the trial court sustained the State’s objection on the ground that Cole had not laid a proper foundation for the introduction of reputation testimony. Counsel later made a proffer that this witness would have testified that the victim “was known to carry a gun and he is known to shoot people.”
Trial courts have broad discretion to determine whether a sufficient foundation has been provided for the introduction of evidence. Wilson v. State , 241 Ga. App. 426, 428 1 b 526 SE2d 381 1999. We find no abuse of that discretion here, as the witness testified that he did not know the victim “good.” But even if, as Cole argues, a proper foundation was laid for the witness’s testimony concerning the victim’s reputation, we find no reversible error.
