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Colemanv.State

CourtSupreme Court of Georgia
Docket No.S25A0355
DecidedMay 6, 2025
Reporter321 Ga. 476; 915 S.E.2d 603; 2025 Ga. LEXIS 82; 2025 LX 67942; 2025 WL 1297911
JudgesMcMILLIAN, Justice. Peterson, CJ, Warren, PJ, and Bethel, Ellington, LaGrua, Colvin, and Pinson, JJ, concur.
Tags
CriminalHomicideMurderEvidenceOther-Acts EvidenceExpert TestimonyIneffective Assistance of CounselClosing Argument
Case Summary

Amanda Coleman appealed her malice-murder conviction for the death of two-year-old Brooklyn Aldridge, challenging evidence of methamphetamine use, limits on her expert’s alternative-cause testimony, and counsel’s failure to object to the prosecutor’s reasonable-doubt remarks. The Supreme Court of Georgia held the drug-use evidence relevant to the State’s neglect and impaired-caregiving theory and found no plain error in limiting speculative expert testimony. Given the correct jury instruction and the evidence, Coleman could not show prejudice from counsel’s failure to object to the closing argument. The Court affirmed.

Opinion

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