Georgia Criminal Defense Blog

Grandfather Found Shot to Death in Southwest Atlanta

Posted by Richard Lawson | Dec 11, 2018 | 0 Comments

Kirk Dorsey, a 60-year-old man and grandfather, was found unresponsive with a gunshot wound in SW Atlanta this past weekend. Dorsey was pronounced dead at the scene. 

So far, no one has been arrested in the case but a homicide investigation is underway.

Homicide Offenses in Georgia

Homicide is defined as the act of one human killing another human. There are many offenses that are classified as homicide offenses. A homicide can result from purposeful, accidental, reckless or negligent acts. 

As a Georgia Criminal Defense Lawyer, I will outline the different homicide offenses recognized by Georgia Law in today's post. 

Murder in Georgia is defined by law as:

A person commits the offense of murder when he unlawfully and with malice aforethought, express or implied, causes the death of another human being. O.C.G.A. §16-5-1.

The penalty for a murder conviction in Georgia will be life in prison without parole, the death penalty, or life in prison.

Murder in the Second Degree in Georgia is defined by law as:

A person commits the offense of murder in the second degree when, in the commission of cruelty to children in the second degree, he or she causes the death of another human being irrespective of malice. O.C.G.A. §16-5-1.

The penalty for a second degree murder conviction in Georgia will be a ten to thirty years in prison.

Felony Murder in Georgia is defined by law as:

A person commits the offense of murder when, in the commission of a felony, he or she causes the death of another human being irrespective of malice. O.C.G.A. §16-5-1.

The penalty for a felony murder conviction in Georgia is either life in prison with or without parole or the death penalty.

Voluntary Manslaughter in Georgia is defined by law as:

A person commits the offense of voluntary manslaughter when he or she causes the death of another human being under circumstances which would otherwise be murder and if he acts solely as a result of a sudden, violent, and irresistible passion resulting from serious provocation sufficient to excite such passion in a reasonable person; however, if there should have been an interval between the provocation and the killing sufficient for the voice of reason and humanity to be heard, of which the jury in all cases shall be the judge, the killing shall be attributed to deliberate revenge and be punished as murder. O.C.G.A. §16-5-2.

The penalty for a voluntary manslaughter conviction in Georgia is a prison term of one to twenty years.

Involuntary Manslaughter in Georgia is defined by law as:

A person commits the offense of involuntary manslaughter in the commission of an unlawful act when he causes the death of another human being without any intention to do so: by the commission of an unlawful act other than a felony; or by the commission of a lawful act in an unlawful manner likely to cause death or great bodily harm. O.C.G.A. §16-5-3.

The penalty for an involuntary manslaughter conviction in Georgia is a prison term of one to ten years.

Practice Note

The many different types of homicide offenses often confuse people. Most Georgians are unaware of the legal meaning behind terms like manslaughter, murder, homicide, first, or second degree.

This is why it is so important to have competent, well-experienced, and successful legal representation. A Georgia Criminal Defense Attorney can explain the small differences between laws and help represent you in the best possible way. Contact us today.

About the Author

Richard Lawson

Managing Partner at Lawson & Berry:

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