The Georgia Court of Appeals overturned a rape conviction after determining that the defendant’s trial counsel provided ineffective representation in a Fulton County case.

Willie Blackmon had been convicted of rape, aggravated child molestation, and related charges. During the trial, his attorney allowed multiple witnesses to testify about out-of-court statements allegedly made by Mr. Blackmon and permitted the victim’s mother to offer opinions presented as facts about his truthfulness. Additionally, the attorney did not object when the court instructed the jury to consider these statements as prior consistent evidence.