Harmless Error When There Is Overwhelming Evidence of Guilt

In Mims v. State, 264 Ga. 271, 272 (443 S.E.2d 845) (1994), the court found "that the evidence was close enough that [the] failure to give this charge was not harmless." By necessary implication, the error could be deemed harmless when the evidence of guilt is overwhelming. In such situations, the Court has held that reversal would be a perversion of justice. See: Johnson v. State, 236 Ga. App. 252, 256 (3) (511 S.E.2d 603) (1999); Livery v. State, 233 Ga. App. 882, 885 (3) (506 S.E.2d 165) (1998); Cornish v. State, 219 Ga. App. 884, 885 (1) (466 S.E.2d 919) (1996); Ellerbee v. State, 215 Ga. App. 102, 104 (4) (449 S.E.2d 874) (1994); Johnson v. State, supra, 210 Ga. App. at 100.