COLUMBUS, Ga. (AP) - The retrial of a Georgia man initially convicted of murder in the 2005 death of his girlfriend has ended with the man pleading guilty to a lesser charge.
The Columbus Ledger-Enquirer reports Antonio Jerome Magee pleaded guilty Monday to voluntary manslaughter as part of a deal in which prosecutors would recommend a 20-year prison sentence. The deal was reached after prosecutors asked for the trial to be postponed because authorities hadn’t gathered required witnesses.
Magee was granted a retrial after attorneys handling his appeals found the trial transcript irreparably flawed by an uncertified court reporter. Magee had been serving a life sentence. Defense attorney Jennifer Curry says Magee will get credit for the 14 years he has spent in custody and will be eligible for parole almost immediately.
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Information from: Columbus Ledger-Enquirer, http://ledger-enquirer.com
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