Nearly 20 years after a 2006 Cobb County sexual assault, DNA evidence has linked the so-called “West Georgia Monster” to the crime, marking his first prosecution outside Douglas County.
The Georgia Court of Appeals recently upheld the conviction of a defendant found guilty of hijacking a motor vehicle and aggravated assault in Rockdale County.
The defendant argued that eyewitness testimony was unreliable because the victims’ encounter was brief, occurred in a dark setting, and their identification was based only on race and clothing. The Court noted that credibility determinations rest with the jury, which chose to believe the witnesses’ account.
The Georgia Court of Appeals ruled that a confidential informant involved in a drug trafficking investigation was a participant-informer, not a mere tipster, affirming the trial court’s decision to keep his identity private.
The case involved a Hall County defendant convicted of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, criminal attempt to sell cocaine, and use of a communication facility in a felony. The defendant appealed, arguing that the State should have been required to reveal the informant’s identity due to his active involvement in the undercover operation.
The Georgia Supreme Court upheld a felony murder conviction despite the defendant’s claims of trial error and insufficient evidence.
The defendant, convicted in Dougherty County, argued that the jury charge was flawed and that the testimony against him—provided by an alleged accomplice—was unreliable. While the Court acknowledged a minor error in the jury instructions, it found enough independent evidence to support the verdict.
The Georgia Court of Appeals upheld the conviction of a DeKalb County felon who claimed his defense attorney failed to properly object to a jury charge.
The defendant was convicted of criminal attempt to commit malice murder, aggravated assault on a police officer, and multiple firearm possession charges following a traffic stop that turned violent when he shot an officer after fleeing.
