Williams v. State

Summary

The Supreme Court of Georgia affirmed Williams’s convictions and sentence for malice murder and related firearm and aggravated-assault offenses. It held that any error in admitting cell-phone evidence or a demonstrative video was harmless, that admitting evidence of Williams’s refusal to undergo gunshot-residue testing was not plain error, and that resentencing under the recidivist statute was permissible because life without parole was mandated and Williams received adequate notice. The court also rejected Williams’s ineffective-assistance claims because counsel was not deficient in the challenged respects or Williams could not establish prejudice.