Atlanta criminal attorney requests dismissal of voluntary manslaughter charge in the death of A.J. Jewell
The manager of the Atlanta strip club Body Tap, Frederick Richardson, was arrested for manslaughter in connection with the death of A.J. Jewell in October. Richardson’s attorney asked the judge this week to dismiss the charge after an autopsy revealed that Richardson may not have been the primary actor in causing Jewell’s death
The Atlanta Journal Constitution has the story.
Jewell is best known for being the former fiancé of Kandi Buress, a member of the “Real Housewives of Atlanta”. Police say a fist fight between Jewell and Richardson broke out in the parking lot of Body Tap on October 2. Jewell died at a hospital several hours later which sparked Richardson’s arrest. The Fulton County Medical Examiner released an autopsy report last week which revealed that Jewell suffered from an uncommon sickle cell trait which was the principal cause of death. However, the medical examiner still classified Jewell’s death as a homicide.
Richardson’s attorney, Dennis Scheib, filed a motion on Monday for the voluntary manslaughter charge to be dropped. Scheib claims that Paul Howard, the Fulton County District Attorney, has lost objectivity in the matter since he refuses to acknowledge the medical examiner’s findings. Howard intends to verify the sickle cell trait finding by exhuming Jewell’s body and performing a second autopsy. His office has stated that the decision of whether to prosecute Richardson will depend on the second autopsy’s report. Richardson is currently out on bond pending Howard’s decision.
Our criminal defense lawyers have successfully represented numerous clients who have been accused of voluntary manslaughter. Voluntary manslaughter is similar to murder except that the defendant commits the act under an irresistible and sudden urge due to some provocation. As in this case, the charge is often levied against people who were involved in fights that resulted in a death. A good criminal defense attorney will conduct a thorough investigation into whether some medical condition or intoxication contributed to the death and whether the defendant was simply acting in self defense.
Pate & Brody is an accomplished Georgia law firm with offices in Atlanta, Macon, Madison and Savannah. Our lawyers are dedicated to pursuing justice for people charged with serious crimes. We have successfully represented clients facing serious federal criminal charges and state criminal charges in courts across Georgia. Our lawyers have been recognized on the list of Georgia's "Super Lawyers", and included among Georgia's "Legal Elite" by Georgia Trend Magazine. Page Pate was recently the Chairman of the Criminal Law Section of the Atlanta Bar Association.
