Violent Crimes
Murder, aggravated assault, battery and robbery cases are fairly common in Georgia. Our approach to defending these cases is not. We approach these cases with the tenacity and diligence necessary to find all relevant evidence and potential witnesses as soon as we are retained. Our hard work usually uncovers important information the prosecution never found. Sometimes, the prosecutor will re-evaluate their case after seeing our evidence. In other cases, our diligence allows to be better prepared and successful at trial.
For many violent crime cases, we can challenge the prosecution on the basis of self-defense. Georgia law gives people the right to a pre-trial hearing in violent crime cases when they raise the argument of self-defense. If we win that initial hearing, then the case will be dismissed and the client is immune from further prosecution.
Below are some of our notes on recent cases and trends in Georgia violent crimes cases.
A DeKalb County jury acquitted Lona Scott of shooting and killing her unarmed husband. Scott’s lawyer, Brian Steel, argued that she acted in self-defense.
Scott shot her husband, Cliff Scott, six times at their home in Dunwoody. Cliff, who was described as a muscular man, was unarmed and naked at the time of the shooting. An autopsy showed that Cliff had been shot twice in the back, once in the head, once in the chest and twice ...
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On Monday, the Supreme Court of Georgia reversed the convictions of two men who were found guilty of murdering a DeKalb man at his home recording studio. The DeKalb County District Attorney’s Office must now decide whether it will retry the men.
WABE News and the Atlanta Journal Constitution have the story.
Prosecutors say that Steven Manley and Robert Allen planned to rob the home of Emmett Whatley in February of 2007, because they knew he stored large sum ...
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On Monday, a DeKalb County judge declared a mistrial in the case of a Dunwoody woman accused of shooting and killing her wealthy husband. The mistrial was handed down after jurors became deadlocked as to whether the woman acted in self-defense.
The Atlanta Journal Constitution has the story.
The week-long trial forced jurors to answer whether Lona Scott, 47, shot her husband six times to protect herself or whether she was after his millions of dollars. After 20 hours ...
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Barrow County High School student Leland Martin, 18, died of suffocation in 2007 after passing out during a prom party. Authorities say alcohol contributed to the death. On Thursday, a Barrow County jury acquitted Anthony Perry, who was 19 at the time, of playing a role in Martin’s death.
The Athens Banner-Herald has the story.
The Barrow County District Attorney’s Office had charged Perry with reckless conduct, since the party at which Martin died occurred in Perry’s home. ...
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