LANDERS v. THE STATE (2009)

Appellant Rodney Landers was convicted by a Spalding County jury of malice murder in 1996.   His conviction was affirmed on appeal.  Landers v. State, 270 Ga. 189, 508 S.E.2d 637 (1998).   Almost ten years later, Landers, acting pro se, filed a “Motion to Vacate a Void Conviction for Lack of Venue,” contending that the trial court had been without jurisdiction because his indictment failed to specify the county in which the murder was committed.   The motion was denied, and appellant, still pro se, appeals.

Pretermitting the issue of the procedural appropriateness of appellant's post-conviction motion,¹ appellant's contention that the indictment fails to allege venue is simply wrong.   The Bill of Indictment reads “Georgia, Spalding County” at the top, and states further that the murder took place “in the County and State aforesaid.”   No other county is mentioned in the indictment.   Under these circumstances, the allegation of venue was clearly sufficient.   Thomas v. State, 71 Ga. 44(3) (1883);  Dixon v. State, 252 Ga.App. 385(4), 556 S.E.2d 480 (2001).   Accordingly, the denial of appellant's motion to vacate was proper and must be affirmed.

Judgment affirmed.

FOOTNOTES

1.   Compare Chester v. State, 284 Ga. 162(2), 664 S.E.2d 220 (2008) (suggesting post-conviction motion under OCGA § 17-9-4 cognizable where based on State's failure to prove venue), with Wright v. State, 277 Ga. 810, 811, 596 S.E.2d 587 (2004) (OCGA § 17-9-4 motion not cognizable where based on failure to allege venue).

HUNSTEIN, Presiding Justice.

All the Justices concur.