Man accused of killing Athens cop wants to move to DeKalb jail

By Marcus K. Garner

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

A man accused of killing an Athens cop and shooting another in the face last year wants to move from Clarke County to the DeKalb County jail.

Athens-Clarke County Police Depa Jamie Hood

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Defense attorneys for Jamie Hood were in court Wednesday arguing that he be transferred.

Chief Superior Court Judge Lawton Stephens is still considering the motion, court officials said.

Hood, 33, told the court the cold temperatures in the Barrow County jail are causing him to spit up blood, CBS Atlanta reported.

He is charged with murder in the March 22 shooting death of Senior Police Officer Elmer “Buddy” Christian.

Police say Hood was a passenger in an SUV pulled over as part of a carjacking and kidnapping investigation when he shot Senior Police Officer Tony Howard in the face.

Christian was shot and killed when he arrived at the scene to provide back-up, police said. Howard survived his injuries and has returned to the police force.

Athens-Clarke County District Attorney Ken Mauldin filed papers in August to seek the death penalty for Hood.

In addition to Wednesday's request for a transfer, Hood’s attorneys have filed a motion to preserve evidence with the hope to “preclude any additional state action that would alter, reduce or destroy evidence.”