One of Three Murder Suspects Arrested in Georgia

City of West Point officials arrested one of three suspects wanted on murder charges for the death of a 50-year-old man. The city of West Point is divided over Troup County and Harris County and borders Alabama.

Ocatvious Bridges was arrested for his alleged connection with the death. According to reports, the United States Marshals Southeast Regional Fugitive Task Force of Atlanta is assisting in the investigation into the two other suspects.

Today, as a Georgia Criminal Defense Lawyer, I will focus on the offenses of murder and manslaughter in Georgia.

Murder in Georgia

Georgia Law defines Murder in Georgia 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(a).

The offense of murder requires malice. Malice is defined as having a wicked or corrupt motive or an intention to do evil. Malice is implied by the Court when there is no considerable provocation done by the alleged victim. 

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

*Now if the accused persons are found guilty of homicide - however without malice aforethought, then we look to the offense of manslaughter.

Manslaughter in Georgia

Manslaughter in Georgia is divided into two separate offenses by law - either involuntary or voluntary.

Georgia Law defines Involuntary Manslaughter in Georgia 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: 

1) by the commission of an unlawful act other than a felony; 

2) 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.

If convicted of involuntary manslaughter by the commission of an unlawful act other than a felony, the punishment can include between one and ten years imprisonment.

If convicted of involuntary manslaughter by the commission of a lawful act in an unlawful manner likely to cause death or great bodily harm, the punishment can include up to a year in jail, a fine, or both.

Georgia Law defines Voluntary Manslaughter in Georgia 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.

If convicted of voluntary manslaughter in Georgia, the punishment can include one to twenty years of imprisonment.

If you or a loved one has been charged with a crime in Georgia, contact a Georgia Criminal Defense Lawyer today.