Another criminal trial is about to begin in Brunswick, Georgia, a small community in Coastal Georgia. This particular case relates to a law that was recently changed by the Georgia legislature pertaining to citizens arrest. The law was changed in reaction to this particular crime. Those charged followed a black suspect whom they suspected was responsible for neighborhood robberies. They cornered the suspect who charged them and fatally shot him with a shot gun. I
Quite naturally assembling a jury in this case will be a task, and I would favor a change in venue to a location where a more impartial jury could be seated. Presently, over one thousand people have been summoned for jury duty, and many prospective jurors worry about their safety since this crime is one where the race of the victim is a material factor. Brunswick has a population of only 28,000 inhabitants.
I believe the accused will argue that they were attempting to make a legal arrest and discharged the gun in self defense. I believe the defense will fail to exonerate the defendants, and they will be found guilty of either 2nd degree murder or more likely negligent homicide… It is a case of vigilantism, and regardless of the intent to effectuate a lawful arrest, the defendants exhibited a lack of prudent judgment, failed to summon law enforcement, pursued the man, cornered him and subsequently killed him. Video evidence will be important in rendering a judgment. No doubt this case elicits nationwide attention.