Denny v. State

Summary

The Supreme Court of Georgia affirmed the denial of Ashton Denny’s motion for new trial, concluding that he failed to establish ineffective assistance of counsel. Counsel was not deficient for failing to object to evidence from the Jeep or the door because the proposed chain-of-custody objections would have been meritless, and counsel’s handling of the door was a reasonable strategic choice. Denny also failed to show prejudice from counsel’s failure to introduce the gunshot-residue report because the report contained no exculpatory test results and the evidence of guilt was strong.