Buford, Ga. - A local man in Gwinnett County is currently being sought by officers after his girlfriend's body was discovered in a Buford neighborhood.
The body was found in the roadway near the intersection of Roxwood Park Drive and Woodward Mill Road. The woman was allegedly shot and killed by the wanted suspect. Authorities have stated that the shooting itself was captured on a neighborhood security camera.
As a Georgia Criminal Defense Attorney, I will outline the law behind the offense that the man is currently wanted on in conjunction with aggravated assault - felony murder.
Felony Murder in Georgia
Felony Murder in Georgia is defined by law in O.C.G.A. §16-15-1 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.
The best way to explain this law is through a hypothetical situation. “A” decides to break into a house, committing burglary in Georgia. However, “A” doesn't know that “B” is in the home. “A,” surprised by “B” being present in the home and intending to burglarize the home, ends up accidentally killing “B” during the burglary. “A” will be convicted of felony murder because of the mere fact that he was committing a felony (burglary), and “B” was killed during the commission of the crime.
The offense of felony murder occurs when an individual commits a serious or inherently dangerous felony, and someone else dies during the course of committing or attempting to commit the felony. Felonies that are inherently dangerous include burglary, arson, rape, kidnapping, aggravated assault and cruelty to children.
The penalty for a felony murder conviction in Georgia is either life in prison with or without parole or the death penalty.
Practice Note
If you have been arrested in the state of Georgia, call our firm today.
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