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State’s high court reinstates death penalty in Hall County case

October 19, 2011 Express Telegraph
ATLANTA — The state's Supreme Court unanimously voted to reinstate the death sentence handed down to a man convicted in Hall County of the 1994 murders of his girlfriend and her friend. Earlier this year, a lower court threw out the sentence against Scotty Garnell Morrow after finding that he was denied effective counsel during the sentencing phase of his trial. But, in a decision handed down this week, Justice Hugh Thompson writes, “we conclude that trial
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Former DeKalb officer sentenced to federal prison

October 19, 2011 Express Telegraph
ATLANTA — A former DeKalb County police officer faces a year and a day in federal prison for helping hide a stolen vehicle, unlawfully accessing government information and lying to federal agents, the FBI said. Donald Briston, 41, of Lilburn, who pleaded guilty to the federal charges in July, was also sentenced by U.S. District Judge Timothy C. Batten Sr. to three years of supervised release and ordered to pay a $3,000 fine. “The citizens
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Ga. court declines to remove Johnson’s stay of execution

October 6, 2011 Express Telegraph
ATLANTA — The state’s Supreme Court on Wednesday declined to drop a stay of execution a Dougherty County judge granted to a man who was set to be executed for the 1994 murder a woman he met at a west Albany bar. Dougherty County Superior Court Chief Judge Willie Lockette on Tuesday granted the stay of execution to 46-year-old Marcus Ray Johnson. District Attorney Gregory Edwards filed an emergency motion to dismiss the stay, but the
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Stay remains in place for Johnson

October 5, 2011 Express Telegraph
The Supreme Court of Georgia today refused to vacate the stay of execution granted yesterday to Marcus Ray Johnson by Chief Judge Willie Lockette of the Dougherty County Superior Court. In a unanimous vote, the high court dismissed the State's appeal on procedural grounds. District Attorney Gregory Edwards filed an emergency motion this morning, asking the state Supreme Court to vacate the judge's order granting the stay. But the purpose of the stay was toallow
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Johnson faces Monday clemency hearing

September 29, 2011 Express Telegraph
ATLANTA — The State Board of Pardons and Paroles set a Monday appointment to hear why it should commute an Albany man’s death sentence. Marcus Ray Johnson is scheduled to be executed next Wednesday for the 1994 murder of Angela Sizemore, a woman he met at a west Albany bar. If executed, he will be the 30th inmate in Georgia put to death by lethal injection. Johnson and his attorneys will meet with the board
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Dougherty County man faces Oct. 5 execution

September 23, 2011 Express Telegraph
ATLANTA — A Dougherty County Superior Court judge signed a death warrant for convicted killer Marcus Ray Johnson. Department of Corrections Commissioner Brian Owens has set Oct. 5 as the date for Johnson’s execution. Johnson is set to died by lethal injection at the Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Prison in Jackson. Johnson was convicted for the 1994 murder of Angela Sizemore. If executed, he will be the 30th inmate in Georgia put to death by
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Ga. executes Davis for 1989 shooting

September 22, 2011 Express Telegraph
ATLANTA – The state of Georgia late Wednesday executed convicted cop killer Troy Anthony Davis. Davis was pronounced dead at 11:08 p.m., CNN reported. It was the fourth time since his 1991 conviction that Georgia officials sought to execute Davis. His execution was postponed the previous three times pending appeals. On Wednesday, Davis’ execution – originally scheduled for 7 p.m. – was delayed about four hours while state officials waited for word from the U.S.
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CNN: Supreme Court won’t stay Davis execution

September 22, 2011 Express Telegraph
ATLANTA – The U.S. Supreme Court will not stay the execution of Troy Anthony Davis, CNN reported. Davis, 42, was set to be executed at 7 p.m. at the Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Prison in Jackson for the August 1989 shooting death of off-duty Savannah police Officer Mark Allen MacPhail. However, state officials put his execution on hold pending word from the Supreme Court. Davis’ execution has been previously postponed three times pending appeals. His
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Davis execution awaiting SCOTUS

September 21, 2011 Express Telegraph
ATLANTA – The planned execution of Troy Anthony Davis has been delayed – for now – until the U.S. Supreme Court decides whether it wants to intervene, The Associated Press reported. It is not clear when the Supreme Court may decide, but it could potentially come this evening. Davis, 42, was set to be executed at 7 p.m. at the Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Prison in Jackson for the August 1989 shooting death of off-duty